Govt committed to maritime overhaul to anchor Guyana as regional shipping powerhouse – Ali “Get on the train to progress” – Chase-Green tells Tucville
Guyana, Yale University ink landmark MoU to advance biodiversity science, technology
annually Demerara Bank cut ties with more WIN candidates; other banks expected to follow suit
2024 murder over cellphone Corentyne suspect surrenders after almost 18-months on the run
Fish vendor’s new home goes up in flames days before family moves in
16-year-old hit by stray bullet dies
US experts help boost Guyana’s forensic, fentanyl detection capabilities
Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit: President Dr Irfaan Ali along with President Luis Abinader Corona of the Dominican Republic, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Vice President María José Pinto of Ecuador, former President Iván Duque Márquez of Colombia, and CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre following the signing of the Georgetown Declaration, which reaffirms a unified global commitment to biodiversity protection, restoration,
Govt committed to maritime overhaul to anchor Guyana as regional shipping powerhouse – Ali
The Government of Guyana has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the country’s maritime economy through strategic investments in shipping and port infrastructure.
As part of its modernisation drive, major developments are underway to expand seaport capacity, improve logis-
tics efficiency, and strengthen Guyana’s positioning as a regional trade and shipping hub.
According to President Irfaan Ali, building a modern, competitive maritime economy calls for deepening harbours, upgrading port infrastructure, and establishing an independent National Port
Authority.
Speaking at the Shipping Association of Guyana’s Networking and Business Mixer, the Head of State laid bare the scale of Guyana’s shipping challenges – and the bold vision to fix them.
At the top of the list, however, is the urgent need to deepen Guyana’s harbours, especially the Demerara River, to accommodate larger, modern vessels, given that without deeper channels, the country is locked out of the freight economies of scale driving global logistics.
“How do we create an enabling environment that is incentivised by the system to have the reinvestment in ports? And that is something we are looking at very closely. So, as you know, larger vessels mean low freight costs and higher volumes. But without deeper ports and channels,
these ships cannot dock at our ports. This puts us at a major disadvantage. And that disadvantage translates to higher costs throughout the supply and logistics chains. The second major issue is the efficiency of our port operations. We cannot talk about becoming a competitive nation without addressing inefficiencies in our ports. Turnaround times must be shortened, systems must be digitised, and bureaucracy, including customs processing, must give way to smooth, timely processing and a competitive business environment,” President Ali explained.
Additionally, to match the physical upgrades with institutional reform, the administration is draughting a Modern Port Act. This law will introduce stronger safety standards, transparent regulations, and modern gover-
nance structures.
Ali disclosed that at its core is the establishment of an independent port authority.
President Ali stated that the focus should not be on how individual companies progress, as they lack the scale and capacity to pursue major opportunities on their own. He stressed the need for a shift in strategy, noting that legislation and regulations are being developed to align port operations with the standards of a modern maritime economy. He added that this is only the start, and over the next five years, his administration will significantly ramp up investment in port infrastructure. As the economy continues to expand, he said, there will be increased demand for imports and exports, placing greater pressure on the current port facilities.
“We are moving forward
with plans to deepen the Demerara Harbour,” he stated. He emphasised that if Guyana is to achieve its goal of becoming the region’s energy capital and hub, facilitating the flow of natural gas by-products and refined fuels to markets such as northern Brazil and the wider Caribbean – then a significant increase in maritime traffic is expected.
This initiative, Ali emphasised, supports Guyana’s broader economic diversification agenda, with a strong emphasis on enhancing the blue economy, creating new employment opportunities, and attracting foreign investment. In fact, the infrastructure upgrades will not only improve trade flow and reduce bottlenecks but also enable Guyana to meet international shipping standards, making it more competitive globally.
A section of the audience at the Shipping Association of Guyana’s Networking and Business Mixer
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, July 24 – 03:45hrs05:15h and Friday, July 25 –03:55h-05:25h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, July 24 – 16:35h to 18:05h and Friday, July 25 –17:15h-18:45h.
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 cloudy skies with late-night showers are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.
Winds: North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 0.89 metre and 2.68 metres.
High Tide: 16:28h reaching a maximum height of 2.44 metres.
Low Tide: 10:00h and 22:14h reaching minimum heights of 0.64 metre and 0.77 metre.
Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit 2025 Guyana, Yale University ink landmark MoU to advance biodiversity science, technology
…Pres Ali says country provides over $15.2B in ecosystem services annually
The Guyana Government is embarking on a landmark collaboration with US-based Yale University to enhance biodiversity research here, with a focus on advancing science, data and technology.
President Irfaan Ali made this announcement on Wednesday during his address at the opening ceremony of the inaugural Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit 2025 being held in Georgetown from July 23 to 25.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reflecting this partnership was signed by Permanent Secretary at the Office of the President, Abena Moore, and Managing Director at the Yale Centre for Biodiversity and Global Change, Dr Alexander Killion, on Wednesday during Day One of the summit being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) at Liliendaal.
The Head of State pointed out that this agreement is the beginning of a strategic and long-term collaboration between Guyana and the Yale Centre for Biodiversity and Global Change.
“Under this agreement, Yale – through Map of Life, their global biodiversity intelligence platform – will work with Guyana to support our leadership in the Global Biodiversity Alliance; help us design a world-class International Centre of Excellence for Biodiversity Research right here in Guyana; build a national biodiversity information system, with maps, dashboards, and data layers; and guide the application of cutting-edge biodiversity science to decision-making, including for our 30×30 commitment,” Ali stated.
With Guyana looking to rally and lead global efforts to preserve and protect the world’s diminishing biodiversity resources, President Ali says this partnership with Yale University opens up opportunities for networking with stakeholders.
“Yale brings not only its world-class expertise but also a network of partners, including the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, Map of Life, and the broader Sea-GEO community. This is a monumental step forward not just for Guyana but for South-South and North-South collaboration in biodiversity science. We are building the global biodiversity knowledge infrastructure, from the ground up and from Guyana out,” the Guyanese leader posited.
The Yale Centre for Biodiversity and Global Change is a research centre at Yale University dedicated to studying and understanding the patterns, drivers,
and consequences of biodiversity change on a global scale.
The inaugural Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit is a strategic twoday event that brings togeth-
to have tough conversations on biodiversity preservation.
President Ali says this summit is a call to arms – a rallying cry to Governments, institutions, investors, communities, and citizens to
ful action, and investing in biodiversity is not a luxury but a necessity.
He pointed out that biodiversity is under siege globally, with an estimated 10 million hectares of forest loss annually, one million species facing extinction and wetlands vanishing three times faster than forests.
In contrast, with over 85 per cent of its landmass still heavily forested, Guyana is home to more than 1,200 species of birds, approximately 225 species of mammals and nearly 8,000 species of plants. These, coupled with the country’s mighty rivers and unbroken canopy, have positioned Guyana as a sanctuary of botanical wonder, reinforcing the integrity of its ecosystems.
In fact, while emphasising the importance of nature to the earth’s survival, President Ali disclosed that Guyana’s rich ecosystems have an estimated value of more than $15.2 billion per year.
This rigorous and credible evidence of Guyana’s biodiversity worth was determined through ground-breaking valuation work done by McKinsey & Company along with Conservation International.
“Their analysis tells us that Guyana’s ecosystems provide over $15.2 billion per year in ecosystem services. An overwhelming 96 per cent of that value comes from non-market services— those invisible benefits we all rely on but never pay for.
er world leaders, biodiversity experts, key stakeholders from various sectors, and the local community in Guyana
recognise that biodiversity is the infrastructure of life, measuring biodiversity is the foundation of meaning-
President Dr Irfaan Ali at the inaugural Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit
Permanent Secretary at the Office of the President, Abena Moore, and Managing Director at the Yale Centre for Biodiversity and Global Change, Dr Alexander Killion, sign the MoU to collaborate on advancing Guyana’s biodiversity work
Editor: Tusika Martin
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Guyana’s biodiversity leadership & global environmental agenda
Guyana’s emergence as a central force in global biodiversity preservation was unmistakably affirmed with the launch of the Global Biodiversity Alliance, an initiative spearheaded by President Irfaan Ali. The inaugural summit of this alliance, hosted in Georgetown, drew accolades from influential leaders and global institutions, placing Guyana firmly at the heart of an urgent and coordinated international response to one of the planet’s most pressing challenges.
The decision to convene the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit in Georgetown is a witness to the country’s practical and credible leadership in the environmental arena. At a time when global ecosystems are under siege and biodiversity loss is accelerating at unprecedented rates, Guyana is setting a powerful example of how small nations can lead with vision, strategy, and purpose.
The overwhelming international support expressed at the summit reinforces the significance of this moment. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, in his address, acknowledged that biodiversity loss poses a threat on par with climate change. His call for strengthened political will and expanded financing underscores the urgency of the matter, and the Global Biodiversity Alliance offers a timely mechanism to respond.
Importantly, the emphasis by Lammy and others on innovative financial instruments such as biodiversity credits and green bonds is aligned with Guyana’s ongoing advocacy for nature-based solutions. These mechanisms not only unlock critical resources for conservation but also ensure that environmental protection is integrated into mainstream development financing.
The establishment of the Alliance amplifies the voices of countries and institutions seeking to elevate biodiversity preservation as a central pillar of sustainable development. It also offers a practical platform for scaling up action through shared research, capacitybuilding, and inclusive partnerships that place indigenous and local communities at the centre. Guyana’s approach, grounded in equity, science, and grassroots empowerment, has clearly resonated on the world stage.
The support from countries such as Mexico and India highlights a growing consensus among diverse nations that the time for isolated action has passed. Mexico’s recognition of the need for innovative, predictable, and equitable financial solutions complements Guyana’s longstanding position that global environmental responsibility must be matched by fair access to resources. India’s endorsement of the Alliance as a “timely initiative” reaffirms the importance of collective action in addressing the shared responsibility of planetary stewardship.
Equally notable was the endorsement from non-state actors. Actor and humanitarian Idris Elba’s message on behalf of the Akuna Group sent a message that spoke to the wider influence of Guyana’s environmental leadership. His assertion that biodiversity must not be sacrificed in the name of development reinforces the central argument that economic growth and environmental preservation can, and must, coexist. This sentiment echoed throughout day one of the summit, where Guyana’s model of sustainable development was repeatedly hailed as exemplary.
The presence and praise from a diverse cross-section of global actors, ranging from governments and researchers to philanthropists and entrepreneurs, reflect a recognition that Guyana is punching far above its weight in international environmental affairs. The strategic positioning of the country as a global environmental hub is the result of deliberate policymaking, strong diplomatic engagement, and an unyielding commitment to multilateralism.
President Ali’s leadership, therefore, is not only reshaping Guyana’s international profile, but it is also strengthening global environmental governance. The Global Biodiversity Alliance offers the structure and visibility required to catalyse real change, providing a framework for countries to translate shared commitments into tangible outcomes.
Beyond symbolic value, this alliance is poised to influence environmental policy, financial flows, and conservation action across continents. It will serve as a conduit for knowledge exchange, international solidarity, and scientific collaboration, all rooted in a country that is both a biodiversity hotspot and also a proven leader in forest and ecosystem protection.
Guyana’s credibility on environmental issues has been steadily growing through initiatives such as the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, forest carbon partnerships, and investments in green technology and research. Hosting the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit elevates this credibility to a new level and places Guyana at the forefront of shaping the future of global biodiversity conservation.
As the world confronts the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, Guyana offers practical pathways forward. Through this initiative, Guyana has demonstrated that even small nations can inspire global action.
Kwakwani’s
“Leader” rather than “leadership”
Dear Editor,
During election season, the spotlight is often on the “Leader” rather than “leadership”. True leadership means doing the adaptive work needed to address national challenges and bridge the gap between our current state and our goals and objectives. His Excellency Dr Ali exemplifies this type of leadership.
Since taking office, Dr Ali has prioritised Guyana's development through practical solutions to national issues. He actively engages with communities to address concerns and answer questions. Unfortunately, some have used this open-door policy and leadership style to detract from his accomplishments. However, President Ali’s undeniable achievements underscore his effective leadership of the nation. Here is a brief overview.
Housing & Water
Over 50,000 house lots were distributed: 47 per cent to women, 54 per cent to young adults aged 21–35, and 90 per cent to low, moderate, and middle-income families.
Access to water in indigenous communities increased from 46 per cent five years ago to 90 per cent today. Education
Dr Ali introduced the GOAL scholarship programme. This was a flagship programme which only promised 2000 scholarships over five years. By 2023, in just three years, that number had been surpassed. Today that number stands at 39,000, of which over 70 per cent are women.
Effective January 1, 2025, there are no tuition fees for new or continuing students pursuing diplomas, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, or PhDs across UG’s campuses and online platforms.
Infrastructure
The country now features an extensive network of roads and numerous construction sites distributed throughout its regions. In addition, the construction sector grew by 29 per cent in 2021, 26.3 per cent in 2022, 26.8 per cent in 2023 and 30.8 per cent in 2024 for an average of 28 per cent over a four-year period.
Financial
In December 2024, the Government enacted the Security Interest in Movable Property Bill, paving the way for easier access to credit. Bank deposits grew by over 20 per cent between 2023 and 2024.
Earlier this year, following bilateral discussions
between His Excellency President Irfaan Ali and the Bank’s President Mr Benedict O. Oramah, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) launched a US$1 billion oil services financing facility to support local businesses in the oil and gas sector in Guyana. Its objective is to strengthen economic trade and partnership between Caribbean countries and Africa.
Moreover, there have been ongoing discussions with foreign companies doing business in Guyana to encourage and allow Guyanese to purchase shares in those companies. This would allow Guyanese to participate directly in the development and transformation through equity participation. In addition, President Ali has created an environment of financial stability and incentives that has attracted foreign direct investments at unprecedented levels.
Foreign relations
Under President Ali’s leadership, Guyana has strengthened relationships with our Caricom neighbours, leading the way to ensure food security in the Caribbean. He has been a strong advocate for food security in the Caribbean, actively promoting initiatives and policies to address the region's chal -
lenges. He is a key figure in the CARICOM 25 by 2025 initiative, aiming to reduce the Caribbean's food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025, now extended to 2030. This initiative has seen progress with increased food production and private sector investment in agriculture.
Beyond the Caribbean, Dr Ali has established direct bilateral trade relationships with several other countries. Under his leadership, there are now direct flights between Colombia and Guyana and the Dominican Republic and Guyana. Finally, through his unwavering commitment to national unity and development, Dr Ali has spearheaded initiatives that have revitalised Guyana’s infrastructure, stimulated economic growth, and uplifted marginalised communities. His administration has prioritised investments in education, healthcare, and renewable energy, laying the foundation for a sustainable future. Beyond policymaking, Dr Ali’s ability to inspire and mobilise diverse sectors of society has fostered collaboration and innovation, driving Guyana toward new heights of prosperity.
Yours sincerely, Floyd N Haynes
first luxury hotel, Casablanca Suites, is scheduled to open October 2025. As part of a Region 10 outreach, Chief Investment Officer and agency head of the Guyana Office for Investment, Peter Ramsaroop, visited the ongoing construction of the 25-room hotel on Wednesday. The hotel is expected to feature a fine dining restaurant, penthouse and executive suites, swimming pool, gym and laundry services, among other amenities
Association with sanctioned Mohamed came with risks
Dear Editor,
Reference is made to the article titled "Demerara Bank closes accounts of several persons associated with 'sanctioned individual'."
The report notes that the bank accounts of multiple persons linked to the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party were terminated. According to Demerara Bank Limited’s Chief Executive Officer, this decision was taken in compliance with international
standards and in adherence to Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) legislation.
Several months ago, I weighed in on the reality of associating with an OFAC-sanctioned Presidential Candidate.
I pointed out that, yes, while the Constitution wouldn't bar a candidacy of this nature, it would still carry far-reaching implications. The direct backlash from the Mohameds
comprised a slew of evasive tantrums, painting US Treasury Department sanctions as "mere administrative tools" – and suggesting otherwise would be tantamount to fearmongering. Since then, the contortions only worsened – with some even drawing the false equivalence of President Ali's 19 fraud charges to these sanctions. Before I even venture into the nature of those charges – which curiously only surfaced after he became the
PPP's Presidential frontrunner – it's important to note that domestic court charges have little to no international bearing on a candidacy, let alone be compared to US Government Treasury Sanctions. I even saw one peculiar attempt to compare these sanctions to India's Modi being previously denied a visa.
Mohamed and his father were sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Act, one of the most powerful and far-reaching anti-corrup-
tion tools in the world. Just under 800 persons worldwide have been sanctioned under this act.
And yes, they don't just apply to business deals alone. OFAC's press release stated, "In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action." Once again, the concerted effort
to downplay the severity of these sanctions is the financial equivalent of downplaying skin-to-skin contact with a leper.
That's why the banks closed their accounts with the Mohameds within 24 hours of the sanctions being issued, and this recent development is no exception.
As Mother always told me, "When yuh don't hear, yuh does feel."
Yours faithfully,
Thugs & greener pastures
Dear Editor,
The term ‘thug’ originated from India, and, over time, it has been applied to individuals and groups who have used violence and intimidation for political purposes. Guyana has its fair share of thugs.
In Guyana, thugs have been used for decades by the PNC to unleash mayhem on the Guyanese people, specifically supporters of the PPP. The period before and after Elections have always been characterized by intimidation, violence, sexual assault, ethnic tensions, looting and burning by supporters of the PNC. The ‘slow fyah, mo fyah’ mantra was sung in public by the leaders of the PNC and they perfected it. The people of this country were more often than not had to endure these criminal and terror acts while the security forces watched on (under the PPP/C Government the Security forces undergo a metamorphosis).
However, the Guyanese
populace it seems will always have to face the culture of thuggery and hooliganism which became and still is (given the subtle threats from Mr Norton) the hallmark and modus operandi of the PNC, but unfortunately there seems to be a new addition which has come on display on Nomination Day. The WIN Party has embraced a horde of these who have found that Party to be more lucrative – the ‘job’ pays – and the leader more supportive. But disappointingly within WIN itself, its own supporters are not safe and it’s ‘dog eat dog’ organization.
This propensity for violence was first seen by the public when the Guyana Revenue Authority officials came face to face with an angry mob, inclusive of women and children, which obstructed the carrying out of their legal functions after serving three notices to Azruddin Mohamed to either pay his outstanding taxes on his lux-
ury vehicles or produce the said vehicles. The angry and defiant mob forced the GRA officials to beat a hasty retreat and sought the protection of the Police. Afterwards the mob was treated at the poolside of the thug master. The public had at that time, a preview of the harbinger of ominous things to come. And came it did.
On Nomination Day, a woman who worked for the WIN Party was severely brutalized and gun-butted by a ‘top dog’ of the said Party and confidant of that Party’s leader. This Party had no qualms in violently mistreating its own supporter much less those be-
longing to other parties. At least the PNC has more integrity than this. It was exposed that this woman was short-changed. She promised $50,000 but received $30,000 less. It is ironic that the leader, Azruddin, in his own inimitable style and nature attempted to bribe this woman with ten times the amount (is 10 a magic figure?) but the woman bluntly refused even though she was held captive for a couple hours. Is this how WIN will run this country? Bribery and corruption seem normal for the leader. If he was a law-abiding citizen, he would have allowed the law to intervene; only then can
a settlement be brokered between the victim and the assailant. But Azruddin has an aversion for the legal system. There should be no attempt to cover up and whitewash by inviting the woman to his mansion and then attempted to bribe her.
Unfortunately, when a leader is smitten by the Jekyll and Hyde syndrome his personality is normally characterized by extremities between good and bad behaviour, often in unpredictable ways. Such a leader could never be trusted. In the public eyes Azruddin is extremely charitable and loving for all to behold but then in his private world the
transformation is extremely opposite. It is normal to expect, when you are surrounded by thugs and hoodlums, it would be difficult to exercise total control at all times, and it should be anticipated that when loyalty is bought with money, such loyalty can shift with more money. Supporters of a political party should be influenced by the commitment to put country first not money. Azruddin needs to learn that ‘Loyalty is a characteristic trait. Those who have it, give it free of charge’.
Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf
Nikhil Sankar
Ratios
A ratio is a way of comparing two or more similar quantities. They can be used to compare costs, weights, sizes and other quantities.
For example, suppose we have 12 green apples and 8 red apples. Then the ratio of the green to red apples would be 12 to 8, and it would be written as 12:8.
Note there are no units included (12 green:8 red), and note also the use of the colon to represent the ratio.
Ratios are also used to describe quantities of different ingredients in mixtures. Pharmacists making up medicines, manufacturers making biscuits and builders making cement all need to make mixtures using ingredients in the correct ratio.
For example, mortar for building a brick wall is made by using 2 parts of cement to 7 parts of sand. Then the ratio of cement to sand is 2 to 7 and is written as 2:7.
Write the ratio of the following:
1. 45 students and 15 teachers
2. 60% boys and 40% girls in a class
3. 3 litres of juice and 6 litres of water
BSimplifying ratios
Simplifying ratios is a way of using common factors to divide all the numbers in a ratio until they cannot be divided further.
A simplified ratio is equivalent to a non-simplified ratio.
To make pastry for an apple pie, you need 4 oz flour and 2 oz fat. The ratio of flour to fat is 4:2.
But this ratio can be simplified in the same way that two fractions can be simplified. We just cancel by a common factor. So 4:2 = 2:1
For example, if we have a ratio of 250 to 150, we can simplify it by dividing both numbers by 10 and then by 5 to get 5 to 3:
250:150
25:15
5:3
Express these ratios in their simplest form:
1. 2 to 10 2. 80 to 20 3. 1 3 to 1 4. 50p to £3.50
By William WordsWorth
For I have learned
To look on nature, not as in the hour Of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes The still sad music of humanity, Nor harsh nor grating, though of ample power To chasten and subdue.—And I have felt A presence that disturbs me with the joy Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime Of something far more deeply interfused, Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns, And the round ocean and the living air, And the blue sky, and in the mind of man: A motion and a spirit, that impels All thinking things, all objects of all thought, And rolls through all things. Therefore am I still A lover of the meadows and the woods And mountains; and of all that we behold From this green earth; of all the mighty world Of eye, and ear,—both what they half create, And what perceive; well pleased to recognise In nature and the language of the sense The anchor of my purest thoughts, the nurse, The guide, the guardian of my heart, and soul Of all my moral being.
ecause trees are beautiful and full of life, people are often inspired to write poetry about them. Trees give us shade, clean air, and are home to animals, but they can also tell stories—some trees have been around for many, many years, and they’ve seen lots of things happen. As symbols of life, growth, resilience, and interconnectedness, the topic of trees lends itself to many poetic forms. In reading poems about trees and learning about different types of poetry, kids can express their own ideas and feelings about trees in poems they write and display on a Poetree. How do trees inspire you or make you feel? If you wanted to share something you like about trees, but didn’t want to talk about it, how could you express yourself? Would you write a poem or a story? Make a drawing or sculpture? How could you use different kinds of art to share your ideas or feelings about a tree? (Adapted from startwithabook.org)
Describe what you would see if you went for a ride in a hot air balloon.
Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit 2025 Guyana calls for support to avert global biodiversity disaster
…“We can be wildly successful if we stay focused” – VP at summit
The Government of Guyana is urging increased political and financial backing – both locally and internationally – to prevent a looming biodiversity disaster and fully realise the targets outlined in the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.
Speaking at the Global Biodiversity Summit on Wednesday, the Vice President (VP), Bharrat Jagdeo, highlighted that while Guyana remains a global leader in forest preservation and climate resilience, achieving the ambitious goals of the LCDS requires sustained support.
“We're here now to look at how we get political support for the initiative, how we can marshal all of these things that have been done before and that we will do into clear, concise arguments that will allow us to get more political support globally. And the political support is necessary if we
are going to achieve the target of 30 per cent by 2030.”
“For it to be effective, we need to be focused. I think we can be wildly successful if we are focused. Like, we had to keep that focus very, very tight when we were building our model with all sorts of distractions coming along the way. But if you keep the focus tight, we can come up with a product that would be useful, we can get the political buy-in, and we can get financial flows at a scale that would allow us to avert a biodiversity disaster,” the VP said.
The Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 is a national framework aimed at fostering a low-carbon economy and sustainable development in Guyana and the globe, reinforcing the need to preserve and protect the planet.
According to the vice president, Guyana’s biodiversity ambitions are vast, pointing out that the initial US$250 million forest
carbon deal with Norway laid the groundwork for Guyana’s climate and biodiversity finance framework. That deal – once hailed globally – sold forest carbon at US$5 per tonne and was intended to fund key projects, including a biodiversity centre that was never completed due to several challenges.
To confront the challenges posed, Jagdeo empha-
sised that the strategy moving forward must consider targeted biodiversity protection rather than requiring full jurisdictional scale like carbon credits.
Against this backdrop, he called on international partners to help strengthen legislation, frameworks, and technical capabilities in countries with limited capacity, acknowledging that many developing nations
have strong intent but require institutional support to deliver effective biodiversity conservation.
“For this to work, we have to have international collaboration. We're signing an MOU with Yale. People have to feel that the work is done and that they can benefit from the work. The global community would benefit from the work, but they too can benefit from this work, and it would not come at the expense of their future prosperity… I just don't want us to get caught up back in the science all the time. We've had a lot of science done. We need to do the science. A lot of the countries, the developing countries who may be in here, have very limited capacity to strengthen their legislation, the framework. We have to assist them in doing that. We have to assist them in many initiatives,” he explained.
The inaugural Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit 2025 is being held
in Georgetown from July 23 to 25.
Through the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit, Guyana is looking to rally and lead efforts to preserve and protect the world’s diminishing biodiversity resources, which President Irfaan Ali says is a necessity.
The inaugural summit is a strategic two-day event that brings together world leaders, biodiversity experts, key stakeholders from various sectors, and the local community in Guyana to have tough conversations on biodiversity preservation.
Among regional leaders in Guyana for the summit are Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines Dr Ralph Gonsalves, President of the Dominican Republic Luis Abinader Corona, and former Colombian President Iván Duque.
Global Biodiversity Alliance Secretariat to be established in Georgetown – Pres Ali - as regional leaders laud Guyana’s environmental leadership
President Irfaan Ali was joined by regional member states, conservationists, researchers, financiers and local indigenous leaders to formally launch the Global Biodiversity Alliance (GBA) on Wednesday in Georgetown.
Guyana is currently hosting the inaugural Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), where 15 signatories to the ‘Georgetown Declaration’ have committed to strengthen global action for the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of the planet’s biodiversity as well as support the Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) – an international agreement adopted in 2022 to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
Following the signing of the declaration on Wednesday, President Ali revealed that Guyana will
be the seat of the Alliance, and resources will be allocated to ensure the work of the GBA is implemented.
“Guyana has agreed that we’re going to host the secretariat here. We’re going to put the resources in establishing the Secretariat here to follow up the work of this Alliance and conference,” the Guyanese leader declared during the plenary session of Day One of the summit on Wednesday.
The inaugural GBA summit is a strategic twoday event that brings together world leaders, biodiversity experts, key stakeholders from various sectors, and the local community in Guyana to have tough conversations on biodiversity preservation.
Speaking at Wednesday’s opening ceremony, President Ali noted that this event is being held at a moment of unprecedented urgency and presents immense opportunities to tackle the world’s
diminishing biodiversity resources.
“Today, we are not simply launching an initiative – we are igniting a global movement to protect the living fabric of our planet, and I am proud that this movement begins here, in Guyana, with the support and partnership of all of you in this room. We cannot overcome these challenges individually. We must build strong, resilient, sustainable partnerships so that we can overcome all the headwinds and storms that will come our way,” he noted.
Guyana is already innovating in areas like forest carbon and biodiversity credit, sustainable forestry, community tourism, and low carbon finance but is now looking to take its leadership to a higher level through the Alliance.
According to Ali, the Global Biodiversity Alliance brings together countries, communities,
scientists, and leaders to share knowledge, pool resources, and tackle big problems like habitat loss and climate change faster
Speaking at the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit on Wednesday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo
The inaugural Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit 2025 underway in Georgetown on Wednesday
The 15 signatories to the Georgetown Declaration
and smarter.
However, the Guyanese leader pointed out that no biodiversity strategy can succeed without the full
involvement of those who live closest to nature – the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.
Charlestown farmer granted bail for illegal firearm, ammo possession
ACharlestown farmer was on Wednesday granted bail after being charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. The case was heard before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The accused, 34-year-old Keith Collymore, was arrested on July 21 at a club in Albouystown, Georgetown, where police allegedly found a 9mm pistol and five matching rounds of ammunition in his possession. He was not the holder of a firearm licence at the time.
Collymore pleaded not
guilty to both charges when he appeared in court.
His attorney, in a bail application, described him as a cattle farmer with strong
community ties and a fixed address in Charlestown.
She told the court that Collymore is the sole breadwinner for his family, has no prior convictions, and has been cooperative with law enforcement since his arrest.
“He is not a flight risk; he is known in his community, and he is willing to comply with any reporting condition the court imposes,” the attorney said, requesting reasonable bail.
However, the prosecutor objected, citing the serious nature of the offence and alleging that the weapon was discovered on Collymore’s
person.
Despite the prosecution’s objection, Collymore was granted bail in the sum of $300,000, $150,000 for each charge.
Magistrate McGusty also questioned the quality of the police investigation, particularly after the prosecutor failed to present a signed statement from the arresting officer.
As a condition of his release, Collymore must report to the Ruimveldt Police Station on the last Friday of every month until the matter is resolved.
The case was adjourned to August 20 for a report.
Trio remanded for robbing Corentyne family
Three men have been remanded to prison for allegedly robbing a Corentyne family last Saturday evening of an undisclosed amount of cash and jewellery at their Number 58 Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) home.
Delroy Parks, called “Sticky”, 42, a labourer of Cromarty Village, Corentyne; Amzad Ally, called “Cow”, 30, a taxi driver of Number 70 Village, Corentyne; and Antwan Kyte, called “Turtle”, 34, a security guard of Dukestown, Corriverton, appeared before Magistrate Tuanna Hardy at the Springlands Magistrates Court on Tuesday, charged with robbery under arms.
They were not required to plead to the indictable charge, laid under section 222(c) of the Criminal Law Offences Act Chapter 8:01, which stated that on July 19 at Number 58 Village, they, while being armed with guns, robbed Ramona Crawford of cash and jewellery.
The trio was remanded and will have to return to court on July 5.
Police said that on the
day in question, Crawford and three other family members went to Corriverton and were socialising; while doing so, they noticed Parks. Upon leaving the bar, Parks asked them why they were looking at him. “I am just a bodyguard,” Parks reportedly added.
Later, when the four arrived at the Number 58 Village home, opened the gate and drove into the yard, they saw two masked men, one of whom was armed with a gun. They also recognised one to be Park by his appearance and clothing, as he was seen at the bar in the same clothing. However, on this occasion, he was also wearing a face mask.
The two alleged robbers
Protecting…
… the rice industry
One of the unique aspects of our Guyanese heritage is our rice industry – which today has faaar surpassed sugar – once the reason for our country’s existence!! While it ain’t widely known, rice was grown by enslaved Africans – but was a different type than the one we have now – and grown by a different method. That variety was from Africa and was grown in dry soil – as opposed to what the indentured Indians brought, which was cultivated in wet conditions.
pointed at the family members and demanded cash and jewellery. The duo then made good their escape on foot and headed towards a parked car a short distance away.
Acting on information, a team of police officers noticed the suspect, Park, drinking beers and wearing the said clothing as described by the victims. He was told of the allegations made, arrested, cautioned, and taken to the Springlands Police Station.
The police said Parks was searched, and a gold bangle was found in his pants. He was questioned about the engraved bangle, and he said he brought weed to sell, and the seller gave him that in exchange.
In addition, police arrested Ally, called “Cow”.
2024 murder over cell phone …loot, firearm recovered
During the interview, Ally allegedly told the detective that the night before, Parks and Turtle hired him to drop them off at Number 58 Village to rob the family and to pick them back up.
He added that Parks gave him a small gun to “stash”, and he hid it in a washing machine under his house.
He then offered to show the police where the gun was hidden.
According to the police, after visiting his home, police discovered a suspected .32 pistol along with a magazine containing five live rounds.
Ally was immediately informed of the offence and cautioned.
The third suspect, ‘Turtle’, was subsequently arrested.
Corentyne suspect surrenders after almost 18 months on the run
ACorentyne labourer who has been on the run since February 2024, turned himself over to law enforcement officers on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
Twenty-five-year-old Nicholas Johnson, called “Suga”, a labourer of Springlands, Corentyne, was wanted in relation to the February 20, 2024, killing of farm labourer Colane Toney of Number 53 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.
Police said that at about 11:10, Johnson turned himself in at the Springlands Police Station. He was accompanied by an attorney.
He was arrested at the station, pending charges. It had been reported
that at about 23:30h on the day in question, Toney was stabbed several times, including once to the chest.
Reports are that Johnson – a taxi driver at the time, carried out the act.
Toney’s mother, Clair Hope, told this publication back then that Johnson and her son got involved in an argument over a cell phone earlier that night.
According to Hope, her
son had sold the taxi driver a phone for $20,000 but was not paid immediately.
Her son subsequently demanded payment.
“He ask the boy for his money, the cell phone was $20,000 and the boy just give him $5000 and he tell the boy that he could keep the phone and keep the money because he don’t want that. Like they got into an argument and he left and go home,” the mother had related to this publication.
Shortly afterwards, Toney went to a bar where the argument escalated, and he was attacked with a knife.
Police had been on the hunt for Johnson ever since.
Starting from renting small plots of swampy lands from the sugar plantations – where the indentureds were basically subsidising the atrocious wages they were being paid to work from daybreak to sunset – the cultivation of rice grew by leaps and bounds during WWI. Shipments of rice from Burma to feed us here and in the Caribbean were stopped by German U-boats – and local farmers filled the breach. They were the first local entrepreneurs who built an industry – by taking all the risks – and became the largest employer in the land. Not to mention bringing in huge amounts of foreign currency from exports!! Do you realise, Dear Reader, we exported over 700,000 tonnes of rice last year – and we intend to take that up and beyond 1 million tonnes??
So, we’re joining the big leagues in grain production to deal with global food security – with millet and even wheat being tested!! But if we wanna play with the big boys, we gotta up our standards to match theirs. And what’s been proven for successful industries is entrepreneurial risks must be reduced through insurance!! Presently, rice farmers are taking all the risks – on prices, weather, pests, low prices, etc. They should be given national awards annually for having the guts to return to their fields year after year.
Over in the US – which is the largest agricultural global exporter – crop insurance was introduced by their Government during the 1930s Great Depression and has been the biggest reason for their success. The USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) oversees Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP) participation and offers agricultural producers financial protection against losses due to adverse events, including drought, excess moisture, damaging freezes, hail, wind, disease, and price fluctuations.
FCIP covers 134 agricultural commodities – barley, corn, cotton, dry beans, citrus fruits, oats, peanuts, potatoes, rice, soybeans, sugarcane, sweet potatoes, tobacco, and wheat. Premiums for the insurance are subsidised by the govt to the tune of an average of 67% of the costs. Our Government – like the US in the 130s – is introducing crop insurance free for 6000 rice farmers to get them used to the concept. It can be broadened later.
This is very powerful strategic thinking!!
…our financial system
It’s not only in rice we’re entering the global big leagues – we’ve now done that also as an oil producer where we’re impacting the bottom line of some of the largest oil majors like Exxon, Chevron and CNOOC! The oil revenues gotta be intermediated through our local banking system – which has to maintain correspondent relationships with foreign banks – especially in the US and EU – to finance our fastestgrowing economy!!
It’s against this background that the recent decision by Demerara Bank to sever any relationships with any candidate on the WIN ticket – backed by US OFACsanctioned businessman Mohamed – must be considered. We’ve seen how wide a net OFAC casts when US sanctions are imposed on countries and individuals, such as the ongoing sanctions against our Mad Maduro Venezuelan regime.
The OFAC mandate specifically declares: “The prohibition includes …providing…services…for the benefit of sanctioned persons”!! Ain’t this what these Demerara Bank account holders are doing for the sanctioned Mohammed’s bid for political office??
Why should any of our banks take this risk??
…our entrepreneurial heritage
Your Eyewitness mourns the passing of Yacoob Mazaharally – a pioneering entrepreneur in the timber industry, as well as the airline business out of Ogle. He epitomised the essence of entrepreneurship – seeing an opportunity and being willing to take the risks!!
Murder suspect: Nicholas Johnson
Deceased: Colane Toney
Keith Collymore
Delroy Parks
Amzad Ally Antwan Kyte
“That's a real concern” – US Ambassador warns of implications if sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed enters Parliament
The United States of America will view the election of sanctioned Guyanese businessman Azruddin Mohamed to Parliament with serious concern, according to US Ambassador Nicole Theriot.
She cautioned that such a development 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 Wednesday on the side-lines of the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
“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,” she added.
The diplomat noted that the same concerns apply if Mohamed becomes a parliamentarian in the Opposition.
“It’s problematic in multiple ways… We have to be very careful if that
person is involved; let’s say he were 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 specifically,” the ambassador added.
In 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it 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
“Get on the train to progress” – Chase-Green tells Tucville …says “You will waste your time and vote on PNC”
Former Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, who previously served the Peoples National Congress (PNC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), is urging the electorate against voting for that group of leaders at the September 1 General and Regional Elections. She made the appeal on Tuesday as she addressed a gathering at Turning Point, Tucville, South Georgetown while representing the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP).
“Old people say, ‘If Patwa comes from the bottom of the gutter and tells you Hassa has a fever,’ believe him, because he’s been there. I’ve been there for more than 40 years, and I could tell you, you’re wasting your time; you’re wasting your vote. They cannot even manage a city like Georgetown, which they have been doing for years; they can’t manage it, but then they want to manage the whole of Guyana,” Chase-Green said, referring to her former political home.Chase-Green crossed over to the PPP during the 2023 Local Government Elections (LGE). She is currently serving as a PPP councillor on the Georgetown Mayor and Town Council.
At the 2023 LGE in Georgetown, the PPP won five of the 15 constituencies, an increase from three
in 2018. In 2018, the PPP had secured 6813 votes, but at the polls in 2023, ballots in its favour almost doubled to 12,256.The party’s support base increased in areas such as Kingston, Sophia, Albouystown, Tucville, East Ruimveldt, and West Ruimveldt.According to Chase-Green, more people are recognising that when the PPP/C governs, progress is pervasive. She testified that since joining the party, she has witnessed the genuine commitment from its leaders to work towards the development of all sections of society.
Chase-Green encouraged persons to observe the development taking place within their communities and truly compare the leadership of the PPP and other
political contenders.
Referring to the PNC/ APNU, she said, “If you sit down and study the amount of things that we were robbed of as citizens under the previous administration, it’s a shame. Now they’re coming to tell you that they’re going to do the same thing in a different form. If they didn’t do it then, they can’t do it now.”
“Be conscious of what you are doing,” ChaseGreen urged residents as they head to the polls on September 1.“If it is not broken, don’t fix it. We’ve been on the path for the past five years of progress and development; let us continue that path,” she said.“So, get on the PPP train; get on the train to progress,” ChaseGreen added.
Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar has already cautioned that “We remain deeply concerned about efforts to undermine democracy in Guyana. As a strategic ally of the United States, Guyana deserves leaders who respect democratic values. Individuals sanctioned for illicit activities must not be allowed to jeopardise this vital relationship.”
uro puppet candidate Azruddin Mohamed, who is sanctioned by OFAC.” President Irfaan Ali had previously explained that the US-sanctioned businessman is a risk and a threat to Guyana’s financial stability, sovereignty, and diplomacy.
United States
United States Congressman Carlos Gimenez had also raised concerns over what he describes as Venezuela’s attempt to influence internal affairs in Guyana, specifically through a controversial figure. Gimenez stated: “In the US Congress we are alarmed by the regime in Venezuela’s attempt to undermine Guyana through its pro-Mad -
At least one local bank has cancelled the personal accounts of individuals on the candidates lists of WIN. Meanwhile, in addition to the US sanctions, the businessman is also charged locally with tax evasion for amounts totalling some $900 million. In addition to the US sanctions, the businessman is also charged locally with tax evasion for amounts totalling some $900 million.
Nationhood (WIN), and he is running as the presidential candidate. His party has been approved by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to contest the elections on September 1.
US-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed
US Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot
Former Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase-Green
World leaders hail President Ali’s visionary leadership on biodiversity preservation
…actor Idris Elba, inspired by Guyana’s environmental stewardship, hopes to visit soon
World leaders have lauded President Irfaan Ali’s visionary leadership on biodiversity preservation and his ability to bring together international partners to launch the Global Biodiversity Alliance.
The inaugural summit of this alliance got underway in Georgetown on Wednesday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy delivered a virtual address to the gathering, noting that biodiversity loss is as much a threat as climate change and issued a call for stronger political will and more financing to tackle this growing issue.
Lammy noted that the “impact of lost biodiverse hotspots is felt from Georgetown to London in the food we eat and the air we breathe.” He noted that means exist to stop and even reverse levels of biodiversity loss, but this requires stronger political will and more financing.
“Mobilising more finance with innovations like green
bonds and biodiversity credits, strengthening education and research to identify and promote nature-based solutions, and above all, empowering local and indigenous communities, the best custodians of nature there are,” he emphasised.
Lammy noted that the British Government has done a lot of work in these areas and is a top contributor to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, which was established in response to decisions from the Convention on Biological Diversity COP15.
The fund was ratified by
186 countries and launched at the Seventh GEF Assembly in Vancouver, Canada, in August 2023.
As of June 2025, a total of $386 million has been pledged to the GBFF by 12 sovereign and subnational contributors: Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Province of Québec, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
According to the UK foreign secretary, “We’re working with the city to get more sustainable finance to developing economies.”
He further emphasised that the UK continues to back innovative research on nature through initiatives like the £24 million Natural Environment Research Council programme launched this year to support ambitious environmental projects.
“This work matters, but it can only succeed with sufficient political will,” Lammy emphasised as he congratulated President Irfaan Ali for launching the Global Biodiversity Alliance.
“…and bringing together such a powerful group of advocates for nature in Guyana… as you know, I cherish my Guyanese heritage,” Lammy said.
Lammy and his wife, Nicola Green, have founded the Sophia Point Rainforest Research Centre in Guyana, located at River’s View in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice). It was officially commissioned in November 2024 by President Ali. The centre serves as a hub for research, education, and training aimed at empowering stakeholders in the global fight against climate change.
“My work at Sophia Point is just one way I try to give back to the country of my ancestors, but the incredible biodiversity found there is not my inheritance or even the local communities or Guyana’s. It is a gift from past generations to all of humanity – a gift all of us have a duty to preserve so that we too may pass it on to the next generation,” Lammy said.
Mexico, India
Also lauding President Ali’s visionary leadership was Mexico’s Under Secretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, Enrique Ochoa Martínez, who expressed deep gratitude to the Guyana Government for convening the “significant gathering of the international community” with the aim of joining efforts to protect biodiversity.
He noted that as one of the world’s mega-biodiverse nations, Mexico recognises the urgent need to consolidate international efforts aimed at conserving and restoring nature.
“This is essential to en-
suring ecological resilience and the wellbeing of current and future generations,” Martínez said as he welcomed the establishment of the alliance.
He further acknowledged its potential to serve as a strategic platform for mobilising global commitments and scaling up action on biodiversity protection as well as to advocate for innovative financing mechanisms such as green bonds and biodiversity credits, which can significantly enhance longterm conservation efforts.
In this regard, Martínez emphasised that “the protection of biodiversity demands not only political will but innovative, predictable and equitable financial solutions”.
Similar sentiments were expressed by India’s Vice Minister within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shri Kumaran, who described the alliance as a “timely initiative” which calls on the global community to take concerted action for the preservation and promotion of biodiversity.
“After all, we have only one earth, and we need to preserve it for our future generations,” the Indian Vice Minister said.
In this regard, he expressed appreciation for the biodiversity management efforts made by Guyana and commended the country’s record in the field of environmentalism while pursuing a path of rapid growth.
He indicated that Guyana has proven that the two are not mutually exclusive.
David Lammy
Idris Elba
Enrique Ochoa Martínez Shri Kumaran
US experts help boost Guyana’s forensic, fentanyl detection capabilities
Ateam of United States (US) forensic science experts has completed a week-long technical assessment of the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL), as the country intensifies efforts to achieve international accreditation for its forensic services.
The initiative, spearheaded by the US Embassy in Georgetown and the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), ran from July 14 to 18. It was conducted in partnership with the Strategic Capacity Group (SCG), a US-based organisation spe-
cialising in security sector development.
The SCG team evaluated the GFSL’s readiness to meet standards set by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), critical benchmarks for forensic laboratories worldwide.
Throughout the visit, SCG experts engaged with a wide cross-section of Guyana’s criminal justice stakeholders, including the Judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Guyana Police Force’s Criminal Investigations Department,
police prosecutors, and forensic units at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Discussions also involved representatives from the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), the Pan American Development Foundation, and others.
The effort forms part of a new US-funded initiative under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), aimed at enhancing the GFSL’s capacity to produce more timely, reliable, and admissible forensic evidence, including DNA, in support of successful investigations and prosecutions.
According to the US Embassy, SCG will provide
targeted support to develop the GFSL’s capabilities in narcotics and synthetic drug detection, evidence handling, and inter-agency cooperation. This includes building links with the US-supported Regional Forensic Science Centre of Excellence in Saint Lucia and accredited forensic labs in the Dominican Republic and The Bahamas.
The collaboration is seen as a strategic advancement in US-Guyana security cooperation, following the March 27 visit of US Secretary of State Michael Rubio to Georgetown.
During that visit, Secretary Rubio and
Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to expand security collaboration on key issues, including narcotics interdiction and the fight against transnational organised crime.
“I’m grateful for INL and SCG’s expertise and the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory’s strong commitment to forensic excellence,” said US Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot. “The United States stands firm in our support for Guyana to reduce criminality and prosecute transnational crimi-
nals who seek to destabilise our countries and communities. This new INL initiative marks an exciting milestone for the United States and Guyana under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative and the recently signed US-Guyana Security Cooperation MOU.” Launched in 2010, the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative is a regional security partnership between the US and 13 Caribbean countries, including Guyana. Its core objectives are to combat narcotics trafficking, dismantle organised criminal networks, and strengthen regional security frameworks.
16-year-old hit by stray bullet dies
Sixteen-year-old
Reyna Depeazer of East La Penitence, Georgetown, who was struck by two stray bullets while attending a birthday party at Mango Lane, East Ruimveldt, on Monday night, has died.
The teenager succumbed to her injuries on Wednesday morning at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where she had been receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit since the night of the shooting.
The incident occurred around 21:00h on Monday outside the East Ruimveldt Learning Centre, where a party was being held. Depeazer was reportedly riding on a motorcycle with a female friend in the vicinity of the venue when the shooting took place.
Suspected cause of incident
Residents in the area told reporters that shortly before the shots were fired, a man on a motorcycle crashed into a culvert near the party location. Not long after, a car sped into the area, and a man exited the vehicle and confronted the motorcyclist. During the confrontation, the man allegedly accused the motorcyclist of being someone he recognised, pulled out a firearm, and attempted to shoot him. The first round reportedly misfired, but two more shots were discharged as the motorcyclist tried to escape. Although the intend-
ed target fled unhurt, Depeazer, who was reportedly riding with her friend in the same direction as the incident, was caught in the gunfire. As the friend allegedly attempted to turn the motorcycle away from the area, Depeazer was struck by bullets to the neck and arm. She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and remained unconscious until her passing on Wednesday.
Despite the severity of the incident and the fact that it occurred in a public area during a crowded event, the Guyana Police Force has not issued any official statement on the mat-
ter as of Wednesday afternoon.
Further speculations
The shooting has reignited concerns among East Ruimveldt residents over the current use of the East Ruimveldt Learning Centre. Originally constructed as a facility for the academic and developmental benefit of children in the community, the building is now reportedly being rented out for private parties and events.
Residents believe that the nature of some of these gatherings has led to unsafe conditions in the area and could be attracting criminal elements.
Other sources revealed that Monday night’s shooting may be connected to an ongoing feud between rival gangs.
This most recent incident follows another high-profile case of gun vio-
lence involving a minor. In July 2024, seven-year-old Jeremiah Gustave was shot in the head by a stray bullet while sitting at his mother’s food stall on Charles Street, Charlestown.
The child was serious-
ly injured and spent several months in critical condition before passing away in March of this year. The bullet that struck him was due to a crossfire between two men in the community.
The East Ruimveldt Learning Centre
Dead: Reyna Depeazer
Scenes from the inaugural Global
Biodiversity Alliance Summit 2025
Fish vendor’s new home goes up in flames days before family moves in
Tragedy struck just days before a Corentyne fish vendor was due to move into a new home with his wife and three children when an early morning fire razed the home on Tuesday.
Michael Ramnarine, 30, who was moving with his family from his mother-in-law’s home, was hoping to move into it this weekend.
In March of this year, he bought a plot of land at the Chesney New Housing Scheme and immediately started constructing his new home. The two-storey, three-bedroom house was almost completed with the family planning to move in on Saturday.
But on Tuesday morning, it was destroyed by fire. Ramnarine claims it was an act of arson since there are three vacant plots of land to one side of his property and one vacant plot at the other side.
“We don’t have electricity
or anything [connected] to the house, and there is no house nearby,” he said.
The fish vendor said that at about 0:30hrs on Tuesday morning, someone telephoned him and told him that his house was on fire.
“I met at about 12:45, and when I met, the fire was blazing… I want to know who burnt down the house. I didn’t see anybody, but the house burnt down.”
Ramnarine said he had been putting all his efforts into constructing his new home, and as he acquired funds, he purchased material.
On Monday, he plastered a section of the concrete wall on the lower flat and had planned to paint the exterior on Friday. According to the fish vendor, he was planning to purchase tiles and a sink for the kitchen, which he would have installed on Thursday.
He said he struggled to get that far, and now he cannot live in the building he laboured to build.
“As I get money, I buy blocks and the wood. I buy like $150,000 and $80,000 next time; as I sell and save my money, I would buy materi-
als,” he said.
While he is not aware of anyone who may want to hurt his family or himself, Ramnarine is appealing for assistance to reconstruct his house.
The police are investigating.
Meanwhile, he and his family will now have to unpack the boxes they had prepared to move into their new home.
Persons who wish to make contact with Ramnarine can do so at telephone number 706-1218.
Good Hope welder arrested during police ‘cordon and search’
A33-year-old welder from Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, was on Wednesday taken into custody after a quantity of suspected stolen items was discovered at his home during a police ‘cordon and search’ operation.
The man, identified as Dinesh Deonarine, also known as Anil, was arrested following a raid at his residence by a team of officers.
According to police reports, the team visited Deonarine’s home as part of an ongoing operation targeting stolen property and illegal items.
During the search, the ranks uncovered six vehicle batteries, three water pumps, two pressure washers, three solar lights, and two Allion motor vehicle grilles.
Arrested: Dinesh
When questioned about the items, Deonarine allegedly claimed that he was coerced into keeping them by a man known to him only as “Black Star”. He was arrested for unlawful possession of the items and subsequently escorted to the Vigilance Police Station, where he remains in custody as investigations continue.
Global Biodiversity Alliance Secretariat to be established in...
Georgetown Declaration
In fact, this commitment to involving the indigenous people in the work of the alliance was reflected in the fact that two major local Amerindian entities were named among the 15 signatories to the Georgetown Declaration. These are the Chairperson of the National Toshaos Council, Derrick John, and the Makushi Conservation Leader at the South Rupununi Conservation Society (SRCS), Leroy Ignacio.
The other signatories included President Ali; President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader Corona; Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves; Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley; Vice President of Ecuador, María José Pinto; former President of Colombia, Iván Duque Márquez; Chief Executive Officer of Conservation International (CI), Dr M. Sanjayan;
Managing Director of the Center for Biodiversity and Global Change at Yale University, Dr Alexander Killion; Executive Director of Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), Dr Christof Schenck; Senior Director of the Keller Science Action Center at the Chicago Field Museum, Dr Erin Hagen; Director of the Campaign for Nature, Brian O’Donnell; Principal Executive-Ecosystems & Biodiversity at the Bank of Latin America & Caribbean (CAF), Mauricio Velasquez; and Head of Origination EMEA – Environmental Products at Mercuria/ Silvania, James Cooper.
During Wednesday’s plenary session prior to the signing of the Georgetown Declaration, several of these regional leaders lauded Guyana’s commitment towards the protection and preservation of biodiversity.
Accolades President Abinader of
the Dominican Republic pointed to the fragility of the ecosystems in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and emphasised the need for the GBA to transcend the declaration of principles.
“Biodiversity is not a luxury. It’s not an abstract concept. It is the foundation of our food security, our health and the economic wellbeing of all our nations… Defending it is an ethical imperative… We need a thriving force of real, measurable and robust financial solutions that ensure equity for the countries of the Global South and, in particular, for the Small Island Developing States,” he posited.
The Dominican Republic leader also spoke of efforts, particularly by his county, on maritime protection.
Similar work being done in Barbados was also shared by Prime Minister (PM) Mottley. According to the Head of State, who is leading the Caribbean’s climate change efforts, the scale of
World leaders hail President Ali’s...
Inspired Meanwhile, world-renowned actor and humanitarian Idris Elba said he is inspired by Guyana’s environmental stewardship and hopes to visit in the near future to witness first-hand how the country contributes to the protection of the environment while simultaneously pursuing a path of economic development.
Elba delivered the written message on behalf of his organisation called the Akuna Group to the inaugural Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit; it was read out to the gathering of world leaders by Guyanese climate economist Pradeepa Bholanath.
“I have long wished to
visit Guyana. Many of my dearest friends growing up were the sons and daughters of Guyanese families, and I grew up listening to vivid stories of your magnificent forests, your powerful rivers, and the deep resilience and warmth of your people,” Elba said.
In thanking President Irfaan Ali for his visionary leadership on the global stage, Elba expressed that “your message resonates far beyond these borders.”
“Biodiversity must not be sacrificed in the name of development. It is, in fact, the very foundation upon which we must build a more equitable, more prosperous and a more sustainable future. Guyana is providing that environmental stewardship
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and economic progress, and they are not mutually exclusive. You are living proof that it is possible to protect the planet while uplifting communities,” Elba added.
The philanthropist said as someone committed to the same ideas, he is “deeply inspired” by the examples being set by Guyana and looks forward to visiting “in the near future”.
The Akuna Group, founded by Elba, is dedicated to nurturing the growth of African industries and entrepreneurship through strategic multi-sectoral partnerships, impact investments, innovative technologies, and high-level advisory services across and beyond the continent.
what the region faces is so great that it cannot be addressed in isolation.
“It is the collective actions of citizens and actions of countries that can stem this regrettable slide into a situation where we are putting at risk those living organisms and animals that are literally required to keep the balance of the earth.
However, PM Mottley went on to note that the issues faced by the planet cannot be addressed without first tackling climate, biodiversity and pollution – all at the same time.
“Those of us, therefore, who live this reality in the region have come to understand that while we will argue strongly internationally, we must act even stronger locally. Today is
an example of such local action,” the Barbadian leader stated.
Meanwhile, the former Colombian president lauded Guyana’s efforts at protecting its rich biodiversity as he bemoaned the significant loss of the Amazon Rainforest over the last four decades and stressed the importance of ending deforestation.
“People may believe that stopping that level of deforestation seems impossible. Well, the response is no, because we are in a country like Guyana that has been able to keep 95 per cent of its territory in tropical jungle successfully,” he declared.
Márquez too underscored the integral role of indigenous communities in
protecting global ecosystems. He further highlighted the importance of a policy initiative like Guyana’s Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), under which the country is earning through the sale of carbon credits from its forest. In fact, the former Colombian leader noted the importance of pricing carbon accurately, which can help to incentivise biodiversity protection and climate action.
“So, it is important that carbon sinking is rightly compensated. The Amazon biome is sinking every year, accounting for almost 15 per cent of all global greenhouse gas emissions. But we need to put the right pricing on carbon.” Márquez contended.
Guyana, Yale University ink...
Genetic resources alone, from plant compounds with medicinal potential to unique species traits, are worth $8.4 billion annually. Existence and bequest values, what our people are willing to pay to preserve nature, amount to $3.6 billion per year. Think about that,” Ali posited.
According to the Head of State, Guyana’s standing forest is providing more economic value than it would have if destroyed. Despite this intrinsic value, however, Ali outlined that biodiversity still remains grossly underfunded.
“Today, we invest just $200 billion per year in nature. But to meet the Global Biodiversity Framework targets, we need at least $700 billion annually. That means we must more than triple global finance for nature. And we must ensure that this finance flows to where it is most needed – especially in the Global
South,” he stated.
To this end, President Ali is hoping that this lack of funding is something that can be addressed at the ongoing Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit in Georgetown.
“The Global Biodiversity Alliance will prioritise this. We are committed to scaling blended finance to de-risk investment in nature-based enterprises; piloting biodiversity credits that reward stewardship; expanding debt-for-nature swaps, modelled on our own experience, and supporting community-driven finance models that place Indigenous leadership at the centre,” he noted.
The Guyanese leader added “implications for development banks, asset managers, impact investors, and router wealth funds to Condition 1. Speak & Act. Because financing nature is not charity—it is insurance. It is resilience. It is return on investment.”
Guyana has already secured a spot at the roundtable later this year at COP30, which is being held in neighbouring Brazil and where the outcomes of the inaugural Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit will be presented to advance work and mobilise funding. In fact, President Ali revealed that only on Tuesday he had “fruitful discussions” with the Chair of the business end of COP – the private sector arm of COP30. Today, President of COP, Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, will be in Georgetown to deliver remarks at Day Two of the summit, focusing on the Road to Belém and exploring how international cooperation, through platforms like the Global Biodiversity Alliance, can accelerate momentum, overcome challenges, and align efforts with the upcoming UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP).
Deonarine
Michael Ramnarine
The newly built home that was destroyed by fire
GECOM urges voters to uplift ID cards ahead of September 1 elections
… says ID card crucial for faster, smoother voting process
With the General and Regional Elections set for September 1, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is urging all eligible voters who have not yet collected their National Identification Cards (ID Cards) to do so immediately.
GECOM emphasised that the National ID Card is the primary and preferred form of identification for voters on Election Day. Its use significantly reduces wait times at polling stations and allows for quicker processing of electors.
“The presentation of
your National ID card helps confirm your identity more efficiently and keeps the voting process smooth and timely for everyone,” the Commission stated in a public notice.
As such, GECOM is calling on all individuals who have conducted any of the registration-related transactions to collect their cards, including new registration, change of name and correction to personal particulars.
The Commission confirmed it is holding ID cards from previous registration cycles, including the most recent Claims and
Objections exercise conducted in June 2025.
ID cards must be collected in person from the Registration Office where the original transaction was done from Monday to Thursday from 08:00hrs to 16:30hrs and Friday from 08:00hrs to 13:30hrs.
GECOM has approved six parties to contest the upcoming 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
Annandale teen charged with attempted armed robbery
An 18-year-old mason from Annandale, East Coast Demerara, was on Tuesday charged with attempting to commit a felony, specifically robbery under arms, two years after he had accused police of burning him while in custody.
The teen, Jahiem Peters, was arrested on July 17 by a rank from the Enmore Police Station in relation to a robbery attempt committed two days earlier on Akeem Hubbard, a 29-year-old resident of the same village.
He appeared at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Courts before Magistrate Sunil Scarce, where the charge was read to him. Peters pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of $250,000. The matter was adjourned to September 16.
Peters is no stranger to the court system. In 2023, the teen filed a civil lawsuit against the Guyana Police Force and the Attorney General, claiming that he was set on fire by an officer while being held at the Vigilance Police Station.
According to his statement of claim, Peters alleged that he was tortured by a police officer who used a lighter to ignite his jersey and deliberately burnt him on his lower arm while he was handcuffed. The incident, he said, occurred during an effort by police to force a confession out of him.
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.
GECOM Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Warde, on Tuesday confirmed that GECOM had received no joinder list submissions by the deadline.
Under Guyana’s proportional representation (PR) electoral system, a joinder list is when two or more parties agree in advance of the election to pool their votes together for the purpose of seat allocation after the election. The parties remain independent during the campaign, and voters vote for each party separately, but when seats in the National Assembly are calculated, their votes are combined as one.
GECOM earlier this month clarified that under the legal procedures govern-
ing the Joinder of Lists and the Filling of Vacancies in the National Assembly, if only one seat is won by the combination, then that seat is awarded to the party with the highest number of valid votes (Single Seat Scenario).
However, addressing the procedures for filling parliamentary vacancies, GECOM cited Section 99A of ROPA, stating that if a seat becomes vacant out-
side of a general dissolution of Parliament, the replacement must be someone who is not currently an elected Member of Parliament, be qualified and willing to serve, and be selected from the same list from which the original MP was elected. As such, only members from the same party can continue to successively occupy the parliamentary seat if it becomes vacant.
Over 180 teachers granted duty-free concessions under multi-year agreement
Ithough he was a minor at the time, he was held in an adult facility, where he was allegedly interrogated without the presence of his parents.
At the time, Peters was reportedly apprehended by police and taken into custody in relation to an armed robbery probe.
Through his attorney, Eusi Anderson, Peters argued that he had complied with all police instructions and never resisted arrest, describing the officer’s actions as “deliberate, wilful and reckless.”
He further stated that al-
Peters claimed he sustained severe multi-degree burns to his torso, back, and upper limbs, which resulted in him being hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s Burn Care Unit. He reportedly underwent surgery, including skin grafts, and was left with permanent scarring and partial disability.
The police, however, had provided a different version of events, suggesting that Peters had sustained the burns after lighting a cigarette while in the lockups. That version was flatly denied by Peters and his family, who insisted that he was tortured.
The civil suit is still ongoing. Meanwhile, Peters is now before the court once again, this time on an attempted robbery charge. Investigations are continuing.
PM confirms teen carpenter drowned
Apost mortem performed on the body of 18-yearold Yodesh Inderjit of Number 71 Village, Corentyne, confirmed that the teen died by drowning.
Government pathologist Dr Vevikanand Bridgehohan, who performed the autopsy on Wednesday at the Skeldon Hospital mortuary, said the cause of death was due to drowning.
Inderjit’s lifeless body was fished out of the Atlantic on Monday afternoon by his father, after the teen had disappeared beneath the murky wa-
ter. The teen’s father, Loknauth Narine, said his son and two friends left home around 15:00h on Monday to catch 'wisy wisy' ducks on the seashore.
An hour later he received information stating that his son had drowned, and he immediately rushed to the scene where he was shown the area where the teen went under the water and did not resurface.
Narine said he and others searched the area and, within minutes, found the lifeless body which was submerged.
The teen’s body was taken
to the Skeldon Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
One of his friends related that they were swimming when one of them fell into a deep section of water.
While the other friend was attempting to rescue him, Inderjit was behind and might have been kicked in the stomach during the struggle, causing him to go under.
The teen’s mother, Roopawattie Latchman, said that it is very difficult for her to accept that her son drowned since he was considered an excellent swimmer.
n a major boost to the education sector, some 187 teachers across Guyana have been granted duty-free concessions as part of the 2024-2026 multi-year agreement signed between the Education Ministry and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) on August 21, 2024.
The initiative, which spans several regions, allows eligible teachers to access duty-free exemptions primarily for the importation of motor vehicles – an incentive long sought by education stakeholders.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Education released the official list of teachers eligible for the duty-free concession for the year 2025.
The Ministry’s detailed regional breakdown of teachers approved for the benefit includes five teachers from Region One (BarimaWaini), 12 from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 24 from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 21 from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), 17 from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 21 from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), four from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), two from Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), four from Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), 14 from Region Ten (Upper DemeraraBerbice) and 26 teachers from Georgetown.
Additionally, the Ministry recognised age-based eligibility for teachers above 32 years old, resulting in one
teacher each from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) being approved, two each from Region One (Barima-Waini) and Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), seven teachers from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), eight teachers from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), five teachers from Region Ten (Upper DemeraraBerbice) and 11 teachers from Georgetown.
The concessions cover vehicles with capacities of up to 1800 cc, outboard engines of up to 75 hp for persons in the riverine areas, and AllTerrain Vehicles (ATVs) for eligible persons in the hinterland.
The new agreement also sees an increase in the number of concessions that will be granted to teachers by 50 per cent, in addition to the policy that all teachers who hold a substantive appointment as a senior master, mistress or above within three years of retirement and have not received a previous duty-free concession are entitled.
Criteria
To access concessions, applicants must submit copies of their birth certificate, first and present appointment letters, TIN certificate, and national identification card. There are different criteria for which teachers can benefit from duty-free concessions.
Criterion A includes all heads or principals and depu-
ty heads or deputy principals of grades A and B institutions. They get this concession immediately on appointment or with three years remaining before retirement.
Criterion B covers head teachers or administrators of grades C, D and E institutions. They get this concession after three years in their appointment or with three years remaining before retirement.
Criterion C is applicable to all senior masters or mistresses; heads of departments of all schools; and lecturer IIs of CPCE, technical, or craft institutions. They get this concession after serving six years in the same position after their appointment. These persons must have at least three years of service remaining before retirement.
In 2019, 300 educators from across the country were selected to benefit from duty-free concessions as part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was signed between the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and the Education Ministry. The concessions were covered under the Memorandum of Understanding for 2018 to 2020 and saw 100 teachers benefitting from the provision per annum.
This new agreement, inked under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government, will see an additional 187 teachers benefitting from concessions over three years.
Arrested: Jahiem Peters
US-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed
Demerara Bank cut ties with more WIN candidates; other banks expected to follow suit
The fallout continues for candidates of the WIN (We Invest in Nationhood) party, as Demerara Bank Limited has reportedly severed ties with several more individuals associated with Azruddin Mohamed, who was sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Unites States (US) Department of the Treasury and now is contesting the September 1 polls as leader of WIN.
On Wednesday, Trishanna Park-Cort, a longtime customer and WIN candidate, became the latest to publicly confirm the closure of her personal account. In a detailed social media post, Park-Cort stated that after viewing her party’s recent press conference addressing the issue, she checked her email only to find the same notice sent to other WIN candidates: a termination of banking services.
Park-Cort, who claims she maintained an account with Demerara Bank for over 11 years, said she visited the Rose Hall branch in person to seek clarification from the manager.
The manager reportedly maintained that the closure stemmed from a review of the bank’s “internal policies”.
On Tuesday, other candidates from WIN confirmed that the bank had closed their accounts.
Among the candidates who were notified that their accounts will be closed on July 25, 2025, are Duarte Hetsberger and Natasha Singh-Lewis, the latter a former APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) Member of Parliament who recently crossed over to WIN.
At a press conference on Tuesday where only a se-
lected group of media practitioners were invited by WIN, it was revealed that the candidates were informed via email and calls from the bank, but no explanation was provided besides the entity citing “internal policies”.
Following the public announcement, this publication reached out to Demerara Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Dowlat Parbhu, for comment regarding the bank’s recent decision.
However, Parbhu declined to provide a response, stating only that he is unable to discuss the personal details of account holders.
Nevertheless, in an interview with Demerara Waves Online also on Tuesday, Parbhu revealed that the decision was made to ensure the bank complies with international financial sector rules governing relations with sanctioned individuals.
He was quoted by that publication as saying, “I don’t think it should be unclear. If they had read all the provisions of international compliance legislation and protocol dealing with an individual that was sanctioned by OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control), then they should be very clear. If those who are interested go and read it, they will find the reason why Demerara Bank had to take such a decision.”
Further, according to that same report, he had explained that the decision was taken in light of DBL’s risk assessment. “Anybody who has a relationship that poses a compliance risk with the bank, we have an obligation under the AML (Anti-Money Laundering) legislation to take action and de-risk, and that comes with international correspondent bank guidelines,” he added.
Other banks
Guyana Times understands that a second local bank is moving to cut ties with candidates affiliated with Azruddin Mohamed’s political party, in a clear testimony that banks are not willing to put their business and that of other customers at risk by continuing to do business with those linked to Mohamed, who is sanctioned by the US.
With this move, more candidates are expected to receive letters from another bank informing them that their accounts will be closed and/or services discontinued.
Financial systems at risk
Back in March, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had explained that Guyana would put its financial systems at risk if the Government continues to engage in business with the Mohamed family, members of whom have been sanctioned by the US for alleged corruption and gold smuggling.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, President Irfaan Ali issued a public statement that challenged controversial US-sanctioned businessman-turned-political aspirant Azruddin Mohamed, declaring him a “risk” to Guyana’s financial stability, sovereignty and regional diplomacy.
The head of state too had warned that the Guyanese businessman threatens the very institutions that protect Guyana’s borders and economy.
“He [Azruddin Mohamed] is a risk to our financial system. I would ask the media and all his handlers to ask the commercial banks why they have not sanctioned
him. Why is he a risk to our country? Ask the insurance companies why they cannot conduct financial transactions with him.”
“He is also a threat to our diplomacy, and our diplomacy is linked to the defence of our sovereignty and territorial integrity. In those sanctions, the US Government has made it very clear that the US Government or agencies or businesses cannot conduct business with him,” he said.
In 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s OFAC had announced that it sanctioned Nazar Mohamed and his son, Azruddin Mohamed, several of their companies, and a Guyanese Government official, Mae Thomas, for their roles in alleged public corruption in Guyana.
According to a statement from OFAC, this is related to the evasion of taxes on gold exports, noting that between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10 thousand kg of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana.
Maduro puppet
Recently, US Congressman Carlos Gimenez expressed that “in the US Congress we are alarmed by the regime in Venezuela’s attempt to undermine Guyana through its pro-Maduro puppet candidate Azruddin Mohamed, who is sanctioned by OFAC.”
Additionally, United States Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar recently cautioned that “individuals sanctioned for illicit activities must not be allowed to jeopardise” the important Guyana-US relations.
Local tax evasion
Mohamed is currently before the local court charged with allegedly fraudulently under-declaring the value of a Lamborghini Aventador, which is currently at the centre of the dispute between him and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The US Department of Justice, under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), provided an original invoice for the Lamborghini Aventador, which was billed to Azruddin Mohamed himself, to the tune of US$695,000.
However, in his previous declarations to the court, Mohamed claimed to have spent US$76,000 on the luxury car. A difference of some US$619,000.
In April, GRA officials, backed by police, attempted to seize several luxury vehicles – including a Lamborghini Roadster, Ferrari, Rolls
Royce, and Land Cruisers – from the Mohamed’s residence in Houston, Greater Georgetown. The operation was aborted after a hostile crowd, reportedly paid by Mohamed, blocked access to the premises.
GRA has said that the vehicles were imported under the remigrant scheme but failed to meet key requirements, including residency status and proper declaration of value. The total tax liability in the matter is estimated at nearly $900 million.
Among the outstanding amounts are: GY$479.7 million for a 2020 Ferrari registered to Hana Mohamed; GY$371.7 million for the Lamborghini tied to Azruddin Mohamed; GY$320 million for a 2023 Rolls Royce registered to Bibi Mohamed; and additional millions linked to a Range Rover and Toyota Land Cruisers under various family names.
Chief Magistrate decries poor police investigations in gun cases
Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty has raised concerns over what she described as a series of poorly investigated gun-related matters brought before her over the past week.
While presiding over a case on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates Courts, the Magistrate made a statement after the prosecution failed to provide details on a gun-related incident.
The Magistrate noted bluntly that over the past week, she has presided over several cases involving firearm offences in which the police investigations were carelessly done. She noted that this recurring issue is disturbing and reflects a worrying trend in how such serious matters are being handled.
the prosecution’s turn to speak, he was unable to provide any details on whether the firearm was found on the man’s person. He said, based on his knowledge, there was a search conducted at the club, and the man was arrested.
When probed for further details on how the firearm was found and how Collymore was linked to its discovery, the prosecutor was unable to provide such details. As a result, the Magistrate granted the defendant bail.
found with the firearm.
Rodney Raghubansee, a resident of Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, was arrested Saturday night on Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown, following reports of a disorderly individual. He was later charged with being in possession of a Taurus .38 revolver without being the holder of a firearm licence.
According to police reports, the weapon was reportedly discovered in the waist of his pants after police stopped and searched him.
physically assaulted him. She told the court that her client had been drinking at the time, and as he tried to leave the venue, the men allegedly hurled threats, warning, “Watch and see what’s going to happen to you. You’re not going to get far.” Shortly after the incident, Raghubansee reportedly left the bar and was on his way home when he was stopped by police officers.
The Acting Chief Magistrate emphasised that when investigations are carelessly done and brought before the court by the police, and the Magistrate grants bail, it is the Magistrate who is blamed.
old Keith Collymore, who was charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Gun cases On Wednesday, Magistrate McGusty granted $300,000 bail to 34-year-
Collymore, according to police, was found with an illegal firearm at a club in Albouystown.
However, when it was
A day before this proceeding, a 52-year-old businessman, who was recently arrested after police allegedly found him with an unlicensed firearm, was released on $200,000 bail by Magistrate McGusty.
This resulted from the prosecution’s no objection to bail and the fact that there were few to no details provided on how the man was
During the court hearing, Raghubansee’s attorney asked that he be released on bail, stating that he was not aware of the weapon and denied having any knowledge of it.
According to the attorney, Raghubansee had been at a bar on Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, when he got into a heated exchange with a group of men who later
The prosecution raised no objections to bail, only noting that the firearm had been recovered and lodged as part of the ongoing investigation. As a result, the Magistrate granted bail in the amount of $200,000.
There was also another case this week, where a taxi driver was granted $750,000 bail on multiple wounding charges stemming from a club incident that involved a gun.
WIN party candidate, Trishanna Park-Cort
Acting Chief Magistrate, Faith McGusty
World Court says countries legally obligated to curb emissions, protect climate
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, issued its advisory opinion on the obligations of states in respect of climate change, read out by the President of the Court, Judge Iwasawa Yuji, on Wednesday.
The UN’s principal judicial body ruled that states have an obligation to protect the environment from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and act with due diligence and cooperation to fulfil this obligation.
This includes the obligation under the Paris Agreement on climate change to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The court further ruled that if states breach these obligations, they incur legal responsibility and may be required to cease the wrongful conduct, offer guarantees of non-repetition and make full reparation depending on the circumstances.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a video message welcoming the historic decision, which came a day after he delivered a special address to member states on the unstoppable global shift to renewable energy.
“This is a victory for our planet, for climate justice and for the power of young people to make a difference,” he said.
The court used member states’ commitments to both environmental and human rights treaties to justify this decision.
Firstly, Member States are parties to a variety of environmental treaties, including ozone layer treaties, the Biodiversity Convention, the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement and many more, which oblige them to protect the environment for
people worldwide and in future generations.
But also because “a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is a precondition for the enjoyment of many human rights”, since Member States are parties to numerous human rights treaties, including the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, they are required to guarantee the enjoyment of such rights by
addressing climate change.
In September 2021, the Pacific Island State of Vanuatu announced that it would seek an advisory opinion from the court on climate change. This initiative was inspired by the youth group Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change, which underscored the need to act to address climate change, particularly in small island states.
After the country lobbied other UN member states to support this initiative in the General Assembly, on 29 March 2023, it adopted a resolution requesting an advisory opinion from the ICJ on two questions: (1) What are the obligations of states under international law to ensure the protection of the environment? and (2) What are the legal consequences for states under these obligations when they cause harm to the environment?
The UN Charter allows the General Assembly or the Security Council to request
the ICJ to provide an advisory opinion. Even though advisory opinions are not binding, they carry significant legal and moral authority and help clarify and develop international law by defining states’ legal obligations.
This is the largest case ever seen by the ICJ, evident by the number of written statements (91) and states that participated in oral proceedings (97).
The ICJ, informally known as the “World Court”, settles legal disputes between UN member states and gives advisory opinions on legal questions that have been referred to it by UN organs and agencies.
It is one of the six main organs of the UN, alongside the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Trusteeship Council and the Secretariat, and it is the only one not based in New York. (United Nations: UN News)
Chief Magistrate decries poor police investigations
The accused, Uquawn Williams of South Ruimveldt-Lamaha Park, Georgetown, was charged with maiming, disfiguring, disabling, or causing grievous bodily harm to Joshua Persaud, Asher Waddell, and Sherwin Vincent.
The incidents are alleged to have occurred on July 19, at Robb Street, Bourda, Georgetown.
Williams was also charged with possession of an illegal firearm and 10 live 9 mm rounds of ammunition without a licence.
Represented by attorneys Darren Wade and Meshonn Persaud, Williams pleaded not guilty to all the charges. His legal team told the court that Williams had a previous altercation with the same individuals and that both parties were taken to the police station on an earlier occasion, where they agreed to resolve the matter.
However, on the date of the current incident, which occurred at the Red Dragon Bar, his attorneys allege that Williams was attacked, beaten, and robbed by the same individuals. They said he was thrown at the corner of Rob Street and left for dead. He was later found in an unconscious state by police, who transported him to the hospital for treatment.
After regaining consciousness, he was taken into custody.
The defence argued that Williams had no firearm and denied ever discharging one.
Despite these claims, the prosecution strongly objected to bail, citing public safety concerns and the seriousness of the charges.
The prosecutor argued that Williams discharged a firearm in a crowded area, endangering lives, but again
was unable to provide details on whether Williams had a gun.
In fact, they stated that the weapon was not recovered from Williams but was given to the police by the attackers. This was even after they stated that they had video evidence of Williams with the alleged gun.
While the defence claimed the footage only showed Williams entering the venue after being searched, the video presented in court revealed Williams outside the premises before his entry.
Nonetheless, the Magistrate noted that the footage did not clearly indicate Williams was in possession of a firearm.
The court also acknowledged that the weapon was never found on the accused, nor was there conclusive evidence linking him directly to it.
Taking this into consideration, the Magistrate granted Williams bail of $150,000 for each of the offences, a total of $750,000.
Another popular case this week, where the public expressed disappointment that Magistrate McGusty granted bail, was the case of Bradley Sampson, a 36-yearold Georgetown businessman popularly known as “Doggie”. He was granted bail totalling $270,000 for a string of charges linked to a chaotic confrontation at the Square of the Revolution.
The incident allegedly stemmed from a dispute over payments to individuals mobilised to participate in a political march hosted by We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), a movement spearheaded by United States (US)-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed.
Sampson turned himself in to the police on Thursday in the company of his attorney, Jevon Cox, after a wanted bulletin had been issued for him in relation to the confrontation.
The alleged victim, identified as Genista Fordyce, claimed that she was assaulted by Sampson with a firearm during a heated argument over underpayment for mobilisation work.
That incident was partially captured on video and circulated widely on social media, showing an aggressive exchange between Sampson and the woman in the vicinity of Cuffy Square.
In court, Sampson was slapped with six charges in total: possession of a firearm without a licence, for which bail was set at $150,000; unlawful carrying of a firearm in a public place, which attracted a bail sum of $50,000; unlawful wounding of Genista Fordyce, for which the Magistrate imposed bail in the amount of $30,000; threatening behaviour, for which bail was fixed at $20,000; disorderly behaviour, for which the Magistrate set bail at $10,000; and obscene language, for which he was granted $10,000 bail.
During the bail application, attorney Cox argued that no firearm was recovered at the scene of the incident or during subsequent police operations. He told the court that for any object to be legally classified as a firearm, ballistic testing must be conducted by a specialist.
In Sampson’s case, no such testing allegedly had been done, and no expert was presented to testify whether the object seen in a circulated video was in-
deed a firearm. According to the lawyer, law enforcement was relying entirely on social media videos and photographs, which, he argued, are insufficient to confirm the presence of a weapon under the law.
Sampson also confirmed that his home had been searched by police and that he was tested for gunshot residue, tests that yielded no evidence implicating him.
Cox further noted that the virtual complainant, Genista Fordyce, had not attended court and that no medical certificate had been produced to support the unlawful wounding charge.
Cox also claimed that before the confrontation escalated, Fordyce had unlawfully entered Sampson’s vehicle and removed his car
keys. He pointed out that in the video, Sampson could be heard demanding that his keys be returned. The attorney maintained that whatever actions his client took afterward were in self-defence and not driven by criminal intent.
Credibility
Despite the defence’s arguments, the prosecution objected to bail, contending that Fordyce was afraid for her life and had initially hesitated to make a formal complaint because of alleged connections between Sampson and members of the police force.
The prosecutor also told the court that the woman had gone to a hospital and was examined by a doctor but admitted that no medi-
in...
cal document had been submitted to support the claim that she was wounded. Magistrate McGusty, after listening to both sides, questioned the credibility of the firearm allegation. She noted that no weapon was ever recovered, no ballistics tests were conducted, and no specialist was present to confirm the nature of the item shown in the video. She further highlighted the absence of medical proof in the unlawful wounding charge and questioned the reliance on videos and photographs alone, without proper verification.
After weighing the submissions of both the prosecution and the defence, the Magistrate granted bail totalling $270,000.
Police seeking public’s help to locate
Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating two men who are wanted in separate serious criminal investigations: one for rape and the other for money laundering.
The first suspect, Ray Bowen, is wanted in connection with a rape that allegedly occurred on October 13, 2024, at Barnwell Village, East Bank Essequibo.
Bowen, whose date of birth is September 7, 1996, is from Parika, East Bank Essequibo. Authorities have issued a wanted bulletin and are urging anyone with information on his whereabouts to immediately come forward.
In a separate case, Alphius Buchanan Sampson Rohiman is wanted by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for money laundering.
His last known address is
two wanted men
Lot 37 Block CC, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. Rohiman is described as being of mixed ancestry and of brown complexion.
Members of the public who may have any information about either individual are encouraged to contact the relevant units.
For Ray Bowen, please contact the Guyana Police Force on any of the following numbers: 227-1149, 225-8196, 2271611, 268-2328, 268-2329, 2263405, 225-6978, 333-3876, 2258196, or visit the nearest police station. For Alphius Rohiman, contact the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) on 2253079, 225-3084, or your nearest police station.
Investigations into both matters are ongoing.
Climate activists voice their opinion outside the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague
Ray Bowen
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Cops, watch your backs –T&T Police Commissioner warns of growing threat to law enforcement
Amid apparent death threats to law-enforcement personnel, Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro on July 22 issued an "advisory" reminding officers on and off duty to stay on alert so they can be prepared to defend themselves against criminals.
He acknowledged that working in law enforcement was, "by its very nature, very dangerous."
However, in the current climate and particularly under the ongoing state of emergency, he said those risks had been further increased.
"Officers are reminded that their safety is of paramount importance, and their vigilance both on and off duty must remain uncompromised," Guevarro said via a media statement.
"Protective protocols are being strengthened, all intelligence units remain on high alert, and targeted countermeasures are being actively implemented to neutralise any emerging threats."
He charged that the police service remained unwavering in its commitment to safeguard its officers, protect the public, and dismantle the operations of criminal syndicates nationwide.
The police held a series of coordinated operations between the night of July 21 and the early hours of
July 22.
Those precision efforts led to the safe recovery of kidnapped victim Jankie Satie Karim, 44, of Valsayn.
After the overnight operations, the police received credible intelligence indicating increased threats to law-enforcement personnel through planned coordinated criminal activity targeting both police and prison officers.
The top cop said the "intelligence community" remains fully engaged and continues to unearth vital information that is proving instrumental in disrupting the plans of the organised criminal syndicate.
Guevarro's advisory came the same day an audio recording, believed to have been recorded by an inmate, began circulating on social media.
In the almost two-minute recording, the speaker used coded language like “purge the place” and “put it on them”, interpreted as threats against law enforcement.
The man also named people, “Buckman”, “John Wick”, and “Fish”, as part of his plans, and mentioned targeting an officer in on a named street and two others "up in south" Trinidad.
He also spoke about organising rental transportation and sending updates in pieces owing to poor cell service.
The speaker referenced a separate incident involving $100,000, saying someone got “spooked”, and expressed frustration about being “oppressed” and “depressed” while in prison.
(Excerpt from Trinidad & Tobago Newsday)
Brazil court freezes Bolsonaro’s son’s assets
ABrazilian Supreme Court Judge has ordered that the bank accounts and assets of Jair Bolsonaro’s congressman son be frozen, as a political crisis – pitting Brazil’s far-right former president and Donald Trump against the current administration – intensified.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes – who has spearheaded a series of Supreme Court investigations into Bolsonaro – targeted the finances of Eduardo Bolsonaro, the ex-president’s third son, as a result of police suspicions that money being sent to him by his father was bankrolling his efforts to lobby
the Trump Administration to help Bolsonaro avoid punishment for an alleged coup attempt after the 2022 election.
Eduardo Bolsonaro, a 41-year-old politician with ties to Steve Bannon and Trump’s MAGA movement, has lived in the US since February after going into self-imposed exile. He has spent recent weeks boasting on social media about his apparent success in convincing the White House to pile pressure on Brazil’s supreme court and left-wing president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, over his father’s plight.
On Monday, Eduardo Bolsonaro condemned
Moraes’s “arbitrary” decision to freeze his accounts. “If he thinks this will make me stop, let me be clear: I will not be intimidated, and I will not be silenced. I've prepared myself for this moment,” he tweeted.
The drama looks set to escalate further in the coming days and weeks as the supreme court prepares to announce its verdict in the trial investigating whether Bolsonaro masterminded a plot to seize power through a military coup. Bolsonaro –who, at 70, faces spending the rest of his life behind bars – has repeatedly denied the charges. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
Colombia: 7 Chiquita Brands banana growers sentenced for financing paramilitary groups
In a landmark ruling for Colombian justice, a court in Antioquia sentenced seven businessmen from the multinational Chiquita Brands to 11 years in prison for having financed paramilitary groups during the 1990s and 2000s. In addition to their prison terms, each was ordered to pay a fine of $13.8 billion.
In addition to the conviction, the court acquitted a former agricultural manager, a former manager of Banacol, and a former
financial vice president of Banacol from 1993 to 2008.
What the court ruled in the 170-page ruling seen by this newspaper is that the seven Chiquita Brands executives were responsible for a criminal network that, at least between the 1990s and 2000s, financed members of the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) in the Magdalena Medio region.
This was an illegal relationship that the businessmen should have known about and from which the armed group profited for years.
Furthermore, the Judge who made the decision, Diana Lucía Monsalve, confirmed what victims, human rights organisations, and former paramilitary leaders have denounced in various courts: that the Convivir organisations (which were initially legal) were used by factions of the AUC to legalise payments from Chiquita Brands. (Excerpt from El Espectador)
Skeleton in Guatemalan jungle likely US birdwatcher missing since 2023
Human remains found near an archaeological site in the Guatemalan jungle are thought to be those of a US birdwatcher who was reported missing almost two and a half years ago, local officials say.
A lilac shirt, sandals and shorts which match those worn by Raymond Vincent Ashcroft the day of his disappearance were found at the same location where the human bones were discovered, Carlos Soza of the attorney-general's office said.
Ashcroft, 66, was part of a birdwatching group visiting the ancient Maya city of Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in February 2023.
At the time of his disappearance, his wife said that Ashcroft had decided to return to the hotel but had never arrived.
She had stayed behind with the group, taking photos, and reported him missing as soon as she realised he had not arrived at their hotel room in the Tikal National Park, local media reported at the time.
Search parties were quickly sent out – just half an hour after Ashcroft had split from his group – but
found no trace of the missing tourist.
Sniffer dogs were brought in to search the dense vegetation of the national park but to no avail.
Weeks after his disappearance, Interpol issued a yellow notice, but no reports of any sightings were made, and no trace of his belongings was found until this week.
Human bones and clothes matching those worn by Ashcroft were spotted in the jungle 14 kilometres (km) from the archaeological site
by residents of a nearby village, Mr Soza told a local radio station.
According to the official from the Guatemalan Attorney General's Office for Crimes Against Foreign Tourists, the remains lay within dense vegetation and could only be reached on foot. He added that a DNA test would determine if the remains were those of Ashcroft. Tourists have gone missing before and since in the vast national park. (Excerpt from BBC)
Attempt to smuggle bananas from Suriname into Guyana foiled: three suspects arrested
Detectives from the West Region thwarted an attempted illegal export of a large shipment of bananas to neighbouring Guyana. 25-year-old HS, 22-yearold RB, and 51-year-old HR were arrested last week during a targeted check.
The suspected owner of the shipment, HS, stated during questioning that
he had purchased the bananas from a local company, intending to transport them to Guyana via the Corentyne River without the required export permits. After consultation with the Public Prosecution Service, the three suspects were initially remanded in custody.
On Saturday, July 19, the men were released af-
ter being given the opportunity to settle the matter out of court by paying a fine of SRD 60,000. Both the truck and the entire cargo of bananas were seized by the police.
The investigation into the origin and intended destination of the bananas is still ongoing. (Source: Suriname Herald)
T&T Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro (T&T Newsday File photo)
Officials said the clothes they found matched those Raymond Ashcroft wore on the day of his disappearance
Oil prices steady with trade talks in focus
OOIL NEWS
Trump announces new US withdrawal from UN agency UNESCO
Til prices were little changed on Wednesday as investors assessed trade developments between the European Union and the United States (US) after President Donald Trump reached a tariff deal, opening a new tab with Japan.
Brent crude futures settled 8 cents, or 0.12 per cent, lower at US$68.51 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 6 cents, or 0.09 per cent, at US$65.25 per barrel.
On Wednesday, EU officials said they were heading towards a trade deal with Washington that would result in a broad 15 per cent tariff on EU goods imported into the US, avoiding a harsher 30 per cent levy slated to be implemented from August 1.
Just hours earlier, Trump said the US and Japan had struck a trade deal that lowers tariffs on auto imports and spares Tokyo from punishing new levies on other goods in exchange for a US$550 billion package of US-bound investment and loans.
"The trade deal with Japan might be a template for trade deals with other countries," said Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates. "On the other hand, the market is still concerned about the US coming to an agreement with the European Union and China."
The European Commission planned to submit counter-tariffs on 93 billion euros (US$109 billion) of US goods for approval to EU members. A vote is expected on Thursday, though no measures would be imposed until August 7.
On the supply side, US Energy Information Administration data showed US crude inventories fell last week by 3.2 million barrels to 419 million barrels, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.6 million-barrel draw.
"That’s a bullish swing," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho. "It was largely a function of import-export dynamics."
In another bullish sign for the crude market, the US energy secretary said on Tuesday that the US would consider sanctioning Russian oil to end the war in Ukraine.
The EU on Friday agreed its 18th sanctions package against Russia, lowering the price cap for Russian crude. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Migrant Abrego wins release from US jail as he faces smuggling charges
Kilmar Abrego, the migrant who was wrongly deported to El Salvador by the Trump Administration and brought back to the US to face criminal charges, on Wednesday won release from jail and a temporary block on any effort to deport him again.
US District Judge Waverly Crenshaw in Nashville upheld a magistrate judge’s ruling that prosecutors had not shown sufficient evidence that Abrego posed a public safety threat or was a flight risk to justify his continued detention ahead of trial on human smuggling charges.
President Donald Trump's administration had previously said if
Abrego is freed from criminal custody, he will immediately be taken into immigration detention and face a second deportation to a country other than El Salvador.
In a simultaneous ruling, US District Judge Paula Xinis in Greenbelt, Maryland, who is overseeing a civil lawsuit brought by Abrego, put a threeday pause on any further attempt by the Trump Administration to deport Abrego to give his lawyers the chance to contest his removal.
Neither the Justice Department nor the Department of Homeland Security immediately responded to requests for comment. (Excerpt from Reuters)
he US will once again withdraw from UNESCO, the United Nations cultural and educational organisation. The Trump administration announced this on Tuesday. The move is a repeat of an earlier decision from Trump's first term, which was reversed in 2023 by President Joe Biden. The withdrawal will take effect at the end of next year.
According to the White House, UNESCO supports
cultural and social positions "completely at odds with the common sense and values Americans have chosen." The US State Department also criticised the 2011 admission of the Palestinians to full membership, which Washington said was contrary to US policy and had contributed to "anti-Israel rhetoric".
UNESCO Executive Director Audrey Azoulay reacted with disappointment, but not surprise: "The
situation has changed significantly in recent years. Political tensions have subsided, and UNESCO has today become a rare platform for concrete and cooperative multilateral consultations." She emphasised that UNESCO plays a key role in Holocaust education and in the fight against antisemitism.
UNESCO officials indicated that the impact of the withdrawal will be limited.
The United States contrib -
uted approximately 8 per cent of the organisation's annual budget. Since previous American withdrawals, UNESCO has begun diversifying its funding. Some American senators expressed concerns. Democrat Jeanne Shaheen called the decision "shortsighted and a victory for China," which became UNESCO's largest donor after the American withdrawal in 2017. (Star News)
Wildfire kills at least 10 forest workers, rescuers battling blaze in Turkey
Awildfire killed at least 10 forest workers and rescuers on Wednesday who were battling to douse the flames near Eskişehir in western Turkey, the authorities said.
The Agriculture Minister, İbrahim Yumaklı, said the fire killed five forest workers and five rescuers. Local lawmaker Nebi Hatipoğlu and news website BirGün had earlier said 11 had died.
High temperatures and strong winds have fanned the wildfire between Istanbul and the capital, Ankara, since Tuesday morning, with the spread threatening homes and forc-
ing the evacuation of several villages. The victims were
wrong-footed when the flames suddenly changed direction, causing them to be
“burnt alive”, according to BirGün.
Twenty-four workers were caught in the “brusque evolution of the flames”, of whom 14 were being treated in hospital, Yumakli told broadcasters on Wednesday evening.
“Unfortunately, we have lost five forest workers and five (rescuers),” he added. Hatipoğlu, a deputy from the ruling AKP party, wrote on X there were “no words to describe our grief”.
Turkey has been sweltering since Sunday under temperatures between 6°C and 12°C above the seasonal norms, and several fires have been declared. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
Gang leaders among first to be hit by UK small boat sanctions
Gang leaders and small boat suppliers are among the first 25 targets to have their United Kingdom (UK) assets frozen in an effort to combat migrants crossing the Channel.
The suspected criminals are also banned from travelling to the UK after they were the first to be hit by a wave of new sanctions targeting people-smuggling.
The list includes Albanian Bledar Lala, linked to smuggling migrants from Belgium, and Alen Basil, a former police translator now said to be running a people-trafficking network from Serbia.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the move as a "landmark moment", but experts said the impact was likely to be limited given the scale of smuggling networks.
UK investigators can now seize the British assets of sanctioned individuals and groups, while firms
in Britain must cut any financial ties with them.
Among the targets is a Chinese company, Weihai Yamar Outdoors Product Co., accused of manufacturing inflatable boats being advertised for people-smuggling.
Also on the list are people accused of sourcing fake passports, middlemen facilitating illicit payments and gang members involved in people-smuggling via lorries and small boats.
The BBC has confirmed
one of the men on the list was interviewed as part of the Smuggler's Trail podcast. As part of securing the interview, the BBC promised to protect his identity.
The man called Britain's immigration system a "big joke" and claimed to have smuggled himself in and out of the UK repeatedly.
He told the BBC's Sue Mitchell and Rob Lawrie he could make up to £100,000 in a single night through putting people on small boats to the UK from
near Calais.
The smuggler, who has worked in people trafficking for several years, said his capture would not stop anything, as others would take his place.
He confirmed that a child on one of the boats he had organised had drowned recently but claimed he "did not want to" put them on the boat.
Despite this, he refused to provide life jackets for those using boats he had organised, saying it "doesn't matter" to him.
The BBC understands the smuggler was arrested recently but managed to evade detention before his identity could be confirmed.
Challenged over whether the sanctions would have an impact, Migration Minister Seema Malhotra told the BBC that freezing assets would leave groups unable to interact with the UK economy and "disrupt" their operations. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Take a mid-week breather; it will help you see any troubles you face through a different lens. Too much of anything can weigh you down; whether you overeat, overspend, or overdo, it’s best to re-evaluate the reasoning behind such behaviour. A lifestyle change may be in order. Put health and finances first.
Gauge situations as they unfold. Keep things in perspective and avoid overreacting or letting those who try to force their drama on you get to you. Focus your energy where it matters and work diligently to resolve outstanding issues. Less talk and spending will help you avoid unfortunate situations. Take control.
Mingle, gather information, and pay attention to the changes those in power initiate. Make a concerted effort to block or protect yourself from any fallout that can hurt you physically. A concept someone offers will spark your imagination and encourage you to develop something you can market. Home improvements look appealing.
Avoid aggressive situations. Put your energy where it can do some good and encourage you to get ahead. Consider ways to reduce your overhead, increase revenue, or generate a profit from items you no longer use. Focus on decluttering, lifestyle changes, and making more time for the people and pastimes you enjoy most.
Curiosity will lead to research and positive change. Focus your energy on something that leads to a happy outcome. Refuse to waste time on trivial matters or those trying to pick a fight with you. Let your charm lead the way, and your path will result in personal growth and the lifestyle you desire.
Simplify your plans to suit your needs. Stay close to what and who matters, and maintain a good rapport to ensure you get the best outcome. An opportunity to meet someone who can offer insight based on experience will give you the confidence you need to forge ahead with your plans.
A day trip will change how you think or do things. Attending a function that offers knowledge or guidance on filtering, decluttering, and making your life run efficiently will give you hope for a brighter future. Adopt the change of choice, and adapt it to fit your lifestyle and prospects that lay ahead.
Someone will crush your optimism if you are too accommodating or share personal information. Take advantage of what’s available and consider unique ways to intertwine what you discover into your long-term plans. Refuse to let hostile encounters disrupt your day or your pursuit of your goal. Work alone if possible.
Keep moving, thinking, and implementing positive change. Set boundaries to offset anyone taking up too much of your time. Protect your rights, space, and ability to satisfy your needs first. Happiness is your responsibility, so don’t allow anyone else to invade your freedom to do as you please.
Set goals and stick to your schedule. Meeting the demands you set for yourself will build confidence that allows you to go the distance and achieve even more. Keep your budget in mind and quickly shut down anyone suggesting you spend more than your budget allows. Own and control the outcome.
Refuse to fade into the background when you have so much to say and to offer. Show your worth and challenge anyone who tries to belittle or outshine you. Trust and believe in your ability to use your resources and intelligence to reinvent any idea you want to play out in real time.
It’s midweek, and a break will recharge your energy to ensure you can finish the week off with vim and vigour. A change of atmosphere, coupled with some pampering, will go a long way in soothing the soul and opening your mind to utilizing your skills effectively and efficiently.
ARCHIE
Harry Brook’s performative sprinting between overs could not mask the fact that this was a slow day, with neither team in the ascendancy. India fought hard after being inserted under gloomy Manchester skies, personified by B Sai Sudharsan’s dogged maiden Test half-century, but they never got away from England and lost Rishabh Pant to a serious-looking foot injury.
to retire hurt, falling to Stokes for the third time in as many innings in his nascent Test career when cramped for room on the pull and picking out Brydon Carse at long leg. Jamie Smith, who had dropped a chance for a leg-side strangle when Sai Sudharsan had only 20, breathed a sigh of relief.
Stokes’ decision at the toss demanded that his team must make history if they are to seal the series this week. No team has ever gone on to win a Test at Old Trafford after opting to bowl first, which left Shubman Gill to reflect on what he described as “a good toss to lose” in murky conditions.
Rahul and Jaiswal underlined his point by batting through the morning session and looking largely untroubled, despite the occasional ball beating the outside edge. Rahul extended his fine overseas record, becoming the fifth Indian to score 1,000 Test runs in England, and played the role of senior partner, soaking up 25 balls
This was not the day that Ben Stokes had in mind when he won his fourth consecutive toss and chose to bowl first, with India’s openers batting through the morning session and only four wickets falling in 83 overs. But in conceding barely three runs per over, England’s bowlers kept them in the game, even if the sluggish tempo left Brook making his own fun at slip.
KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 94 for the first wicket in 30 overs, but it was Sai Sudharsan, recalled in place of Karun Nair, who embodied India’s patient approach. His half-century was the first by an Indian No. 3 since the final Test of their home defeat to New Zealand last year and anchored the innings through the afternoon and evening sessions.
But he was dismissed shortly after Pant was forced
in Jofra Archer’s first fiveover spell.
The stands were only halffull at the start of play, and Lancashire issued an apology to the thousands of fans who were stuck in queues outside the ground. The club blamed long bag searches and their late arrivals, but those who were stuck outside missed a sleepy morning in which England’s seamers strayed too often from a good length.
It was Chris Woakes, retained despite a tired performance in England’s tense win at Lord’s last week, who struck first. Rahul had spent the morning playing late and looking to score square of the wicket, but attempted to punch Woakes through mid-off as he approached his half-century, and his outside edge flew to Zak Crawley at third slip.
After two failures at Lord’s, Jaiswal played un-
characteristically watchfully in reaching a 96-ball half-century, his eighth 50-plus score in 16 innings against England. He punished width outside his off stump from England’s seamers – Brydon Carse in particular – but could not resist driving when spin came on and edged Liam Dawson’s seventh ball of the day to Brook at first slip.
Dawson wheeled away in celebration, marking his comeback with a significant wicket. England have picked 11 different spinners in the eight years between Dawson’s third and fourth caps, but he forced his way to the front of the queue to replace the injured Shoaib Bashir through performances for Hampshire and bowled with control and skill on this opening day.
England’s close fielders
after his pre-match sugges-
breached the spirit of the game at
Lord’s, and he did not last long. After one crisp on-drive for four off Dawson, Gill was trapped on the pad while shouldering arms to Stokes’ nip-backer for 12, trudging
off after taking a review with
His dismissal brought in Pant, who batted cautiously for most of his innings before occasional jolts of ultra-aggression, most notably a slog-swept four off Archer followed by a failed reverse-sweep. He added 72 with Sai Sudharsan, leading India’s rebuild after the tea interval under floodlights. When England reviewed for LBW after another attempted reverse-sweep off Woakes, it soon became apparent that he had not only under-edged the ball onto his foot but done himself some serious damage in the process. A substantial bruise had developed by the time he left the field on the back of an ambulance cart, retiring hurt on 37.
Sai Sudharsan reached his half-century soon after, driving Joe Root through the covers, but his dismissal to Stokes kept England fighting. Shardul Thakur walked out ahead of Washington Sundar to much surprise and kept Ravindra Jadeja company for 9.1 overs before England’s attempts to take the second new ball were thwarted by light, with the Test in the balance.
(ESPNcricinfo)
raised the volume when Gill walked to the crease at No. 4
tions that they had
KL Rahul started well again
Ben Stokes got B Sai Sudharsan with a short ball
Daniel Gidney, Clive Lloyd, Farokh Engineer and Andy Anson pose in front of the newly renamed stand
B Sai Sudharsan scored his maiden Test fifty
Yashasvi Jaiswal drives down the ground
Rishabh Pant leaves the field on a medical cart after hurting his foot
Ablistering, record third-wicket stand for Australia between Josh Inglis and Cameron Green, combined with five wickets to Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell, denied Andre Russell a fairy-tale farewell to international cricket at Sabina Park and handed the visitors a 2-0 series lead.
Player-of-the-Match Inglis smashed 78 not out off just 33 balls, with seven fours and five sixes, while Green made his second consecutive half-century, finishing on 56 off 33, to guide Australia to the target of 173 with eight wickets and 28 balls to spare after they were 42 for 2 in the powerplay.
West Indies dropped six catches, including three in the seventh over of the chase. Inglis and Green were dropped twice each. Russell unfortunately dropped Inglis and Mitchell Marsh and conceded 16 in his last international over, having given West Indies hope with a remarkable 36 off 15 to rescue the home side from 99 for 5 in the first half.
Earlier, Zampa and Maxwell had scythed through the top order, taking 3 for 29 and 2 for 15, respectively, after the West Indies had reached 63 for no loss by the eighth over thanks to Brandon King’s 51 from 36.
Australia spinners set game up Australia made the unusual move of picking two specialist spinners in the XI with an eye towards the T20 World Cup next year. Matthew Kuhnemann bowled three overs in the powerplay on his T20I debut. His first two overs were excellent, conceding just ten runs, but the gamble from Marsh to bowl him a third straight did not pay off as King launched him for two sixes and two fours. It helped West Indies get to 49 in the powerplay, with King facing 29 of those balls. He reached his 50 off 33. But
Zampa and Maxwell tore through the West Indies top order straight out of the powerplay. King fell off the last ball of the eighth over to Zampa and Hope off the first of the ninth to Maxwell. They took 3 for 23 in four overs with brilliant control of length and line and some excellent help from their fielders. Marsh and Green took superb running catches back with the flight, although Marsh dropped Roston Chase at cover off Zampa. The leg spinner would later get his man in the 14th when he also had Sherfane Rutherford miscue to Green in the deep. It left West Indies 99 for 5 and Zampa with figures of 3 for 15 from three, while Maxwell had 2 for 15 from two.
Dre Russ puts on one final show
The crowd rose as one when Russell walked out to bat after earlier receiving a guard of honour from the two teams at a pre-match presentation. West Indies’ talisman and Jamaica’s hero rose to the occasion one more time, thumping three sixes in his first five balls off Ben Dwarshuis to get the home side back on track. He took down Zampa in the following over for a six and a four to dent the leg spinner’s figures. Russell was 35 off 12 and threatening to destroy Australia in the death overs, but he
was undone by the guile of Nathan Ellis, with Inglis holding a towering skier. Every Australian player shook Russell’s hand before he soaked in a standing ovation on the way off.
Australia were a little shook thereafter. Both Cooper Connolly and Dwarshuis dropped simple catches in the deep, while Mitchell Owen missed a simple run out to allow Gudakesh Motie to eke out 18 not out from nine balls and help West Indies post a defendable 172 for 8.
Contagious case of the drops
Australia’s three drops were thoroughly outdone by the West Indies, who clanged six in total and paid the price. The effectiveness of spin in Australia’s bowling innings saw the visitors promote Maxwell to open alongside Marsh for just the fourth time in his T20I career. The ploy was to attack Akeal Hosein in the powerplay. Maxwell switchhit a six and a four
off consecutive balls in the first over, justifying his promotion. But his struggles against pace and bounce were evident again as he edged Jason Holder behind for 12 off ten.
Marsh was dropped twice in the fifth over off Hosein. First, Russell launched a Superman-style dive to his right at cover-point but could not hold on. Then Hope dropped a difficult bottom edge behind the stumps. Those misses did not prove as costly, given Marsh skied Alzarri Joseph to Hope next over.
But Motie’s first over, the seventh, proved the most expensive. Inglis sliced the left-arm spinner over cover, and Russell again could not hold on, running back with the flight. Green smashed a brutally struck return chance back at Motie next ball so that he could not cling onto it. Two balls later, Hope dropped another one,
aaa
this time an outside edge as Green tried to launch down the ground. Inglis and Green make them pay
The cost of those drops was immediate. Green swept the next ball, the last of the seventh over, fine for four. Inglis flicked the first of the eighth for six before finding the boundary twice more in the same Joseph over. Inglis went up another gear with some extraordinary shot-making on a tricky surface. He lofted Motie off the back foot over cover and pulled him into the midwicket stand in the same over. He treated Russell with contempt to reach 50 off just 22 balls, launching him onto the roof over longoff before reverse ramping him twice in his final over in international cricket. Green joined the party, launching four sixes himself.
The final self-inflicted West Indies wound came
SCOREBOARD
West Indies (20 ovs maximum)
Brandon King c Green
b Zampa 51
Shai Hope (c)† c Marsh
b Maxwell 9
Shimron Hetmyer c Ellis
b Maxwell 14
Roston Chase b Zampa 16
Rovman Powell c Green
b Ellis 12
Sherfane Rutherford c Green
b Zampa 0
Andre Russell c†Inglis
b Ellis 36
Jason Holder c Maxwell
b Dwarshuis 1
Gudakesh Motie not out 18
Alzarri Joseph not out 2
Extras (b 2, lb 3, w 8) 13
Total: 20 Ov (RR: 8.60) 172/8
Did not bat: Akeal Hosein
Fall of wickets: 1-63 (Brandon King, 7.6 ov), 2-63 (Shai Hope, 8.1 ov), 3-82 (Shimron Hetmyer, 10.6 ov), 4-98 (Roston Chase, 13.3 ov), 5-98 (Sherfane Rutherford, 13.5 ov), 6-139 (Andre Russell, 16.5 ov), 7-142 (Jason Holder, 17.4 ov), 8-148 (Rovman Powell, 18.2 ov)
Bowling O-M-R-W
Matthew Kuhnemann 4-0-33-0
Ben Dwarshuis 4-0-37-1
Nathan Ellis 4-0-34-2
Cooper Connolly 1-0-10-0
Adam Zampa 4-0-29-3
Glenn Maxwell 2-0-15-2
Mitchell Owen 1-0-9-0
Australia (T: 173 runs from 20 ovs)
Glenn Maxwell c †Hope b Holder 12
Mitchell Marsh (c) c† Hope
b Joseph 21
Josh Inglis † not out 78
Cameron Green not out 56
Extras (lb 1, w 5) 6
Total: 15.2 Ov (RR: 11.28) 173/2
Did not bat: Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Adam Zampa
Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Glenn Maxwell, 1.6 ov), 2-42 (Mitchell Marsh, 5.3 ov)
Bowling O-M-R-W
Akeal Hosein 4-0-31-0
Jason Holder 3-0-28-1
Alzarri Joseph 3-0-50-1
Gudakesh Motie 3-0-33-0
Roston Chase 1.2-0-14-0
Andre Russell 1-0-16-0
when Holder dropped a skied ball from Inglis off his own bowling. At the start of the 12th over Australia had needed 73 off 54. By the end of the 14th, which cost Joseph 22 runs, Australia needed just four to win with 30 balls remaining after Green’s 50 had come off 28 deliveries. (ESPNcricinfo)
Brandon King celebrates his fifty
Josh Inglis pulls a ball for six on his way to a half-century
Adam Zampa took 3 for 29
One last time for the West Indies – Andre Russell walks back
With matches in the Essequibo zone in the Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast set for only Sunday, July 27, the organisers believe it will be filled with action from morning to night.
Instead of the initially scheduled Saturday and Sunday, all the action will be on Sunday, with the hunt to crown the final zone champion.
Montra Jaguars (Berbice), Eccles All-Stars (East Bank Demerara/West Demerara), and Titans All-Stars (East Coast/ Georgetown) are the threezone champions, and attention is now on who will fill the final spot.
Matches in Essequibo will be held on Saturday, July 26, at Pomona Ground and Hampton Court, while on Sunday, all the action moves to Anna Regina Ground.
The participating teams for the Essequibo zone are: Aurora Knight Riders, Team Evolution, Team Royals, Renegades Cricket Club, The United Crew, Mahdia (Movements Family), Matarkai CPG, Bartica Royals, Moruca Super Strikers, Queenstown (Ariel XI), Inevitable XI, Avinash All-Stars, and Essequibo Jaguars.
Adding to the excitement, admission to all venues throughout the tournament is free, and matches commence at 09:00h.
Beyond the bragging
action is brewing for Essequibo on July 27
rights, significant financial rewards are also on offer.
The zone champion will receive a handsome $300,000, while the runner-up will receive $100,000. However, the stakes get even higher at the national final, where teams will vie for an additional $1.7 million grand prize.
The national runner-up will pocket $700,000 along with a trophy and medals,
and even the losing semi-finalists will be rewarded with $300,000 each.
The national finals will be on Sunday, August 3, at the National Stadium, Providence.
Individual brilliance won’t go unnoticed either, with a host of prizes up for grabs, including MVP ($150,000 + motorcycle), Most Runs ($100,000 + trophy + TV), Most Wickets
National Boxing
Coach Lennox
Daniels is eagerly anticipating this weekend’s staging of the Andrew Lewis Novices Championship, describing the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) event as the premier scouting ground for unearthing the country’s next generation of amateur boxing stars.
Daniels will be ringside at the National Gymnasium from July 25 to 27, keeping a keen eye out for the next Keevin Allicock, Desmond Amsterdam or Abiola Jackman, three of Guyana’s most decorated amateur pugilists in recent years.
“This is where we’ll identify the raw talent that we need to develop and invest in,” Daniels said. “We already have a solid core of boxers, but the Novices Championship is our nursery; this is where we begin grooming future champions.”
Daniels noted that amateur boxing in Guyana is experiencing a resurgence, fuelled by increased opportunities for young fighters to compete at the regional and international levels.
He pointed to the upcoming Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Boxing Championship, scheduled for August 1–3 in St Lucia, where several young Guyanese fighters will be tested on foreign soil.
“I’m really excited about what this weekend holds. We’ll get to see talent from all across the country step into the ring. This is one of the most crucial events on the GBA calendar because it’s where we first see the boxers who have the potential to rise through the
ranks,” Daniels noted.
When asked about the return of the Republican Gym (Guyana Prison Service) to competition, Daniels responded cautiously, “We’ll see. I know they’ve been putting in some work behind the scenes. It’s always good to have Republican Gym involved; they’ve been an integral part of the sport, but right now, our focus is on identifying and nurturing the young fighters who can impact the national programme in the long run.”
At last year’s edition, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Boxing Gym reaffirmed their dominance, capturing the Best Overall Gym title. Daniels commended their preparation and welcomed the challenge they bring to the ring.
Notable performances in 2024 included Jagwan Milo, who was crowned Best Novice Boxer; Ryan Rogers of Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym, named Best Schoolboy Boxer; and rising female standout Kenisha Plass, who walked away with the Best Female Boxer award.
($100,000 + trophy + TV), Man-of-the-National Final ($75,000 + trophy + TV), Highest Strike Rate ($35,000), and Best Economy ($35,000).
The Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast has garnered support from Kares Engineering Inc., the Office of the President, the Ministry of Culture, Youth
and Sport, KFC Guyana, Star Rentals, Banks DIH, ENet, the Guyana Lottery Company, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Impressions, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal, Shawn’s Mini Mart, the Giftland Group of Companies, Kris Jagdeo Construction Company, Montra Restaurant &
Lounge, Windsor Estates, The New Doctor’s Clinic, GuyOil, ANSA McAL, SuperBet Guyana, Digital Technology, Camille’s Academy, Navin Construction, Demerara Mutual Life Insurance, Continental Transportation, and Environmental & Technical Solutions.
Local cricket in Berbice has been at a standstill due to consistent rainfall across the ancient county.
Weather permitting, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is calling on all cricket clubs to prepare their respective grounds for hosting BCB fixtures.
The Canada PA are inputting that the Dr Dukhi Under-15 final preliminary games be played on Saturday, July 26. Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club B will take on Albion Community Centre Cricket Club at Area H from 9:00h in the Zone C fixture.
In the other fixture, Rose Hall Canje Community
Centre Cricket Club is set to lock horns with Tucber Park Cricket Club at Rose Hall Canje from 9:00h.
The BCB is also advising that the inter-club under-13 competitions will commence next month.
The BCB first division two-day round robin competition which was scheduled to start earlier this year, on April 12-13 but was severely affected by rain, will be rescheduled. The BCB did not propose a new date for the first-division fixtures but will continue to monitor the weather. The BCB is also in discussion for sponsorship of a 50-over format first-division inter-club tournament. Additionally, the Anil
Lalsa second division county-wide competition will resume as soon as weather permits and grounds across Berbice are fit to play. Since the start of 2025, the Cecil Beharry-led BCB administration has been left uncertain as it relates to hosting cricket. However, cricket clubs across Berbice commenced their summer academy. The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club and the Rose Hall Canje Community Centre Cricket Club are those to date that started their cricket academy in their respective areas. Since schools are out, more clubs will be taking this pattern to keep the youth actively involved in cricket.
Young cricketers
National Coach Lennox Daniels
More pulsating
“We
have enough people who love West Indies cricket to fix West Indies cricket.”
On the heels of West Indies’ record-low Test score of 27 against Australia last week, legendary Guyanese cricketer and former West Indian batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan has joined scores of his peers, weighing in on the West Indies Test saga.
Sarwan, who was hesitant to beat up on players over the shortcoming, insisted that there is still talent in the region, chalking up their losses to technical deficiencies and, in some cases, a lack of facilities.
“I think there are a lot of ongoing issues in terms of lack of facilities and so forth, and I think one of the biggest challenges we have in the Caribbean is being able to finance better facilities. So, I’ve spoken about it before where we probably need CARICOM to help assist,” Sarwan exclusively told the Guyana Times Sport on the side-lines of another event.
The former right-handed batsman went on to suggest, “Apart from that, from a cricketing aspect, I think technically, there are a lot of deficiencies. I mean, no doubt
This weekend, the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Elite League will resume with the second half of Season 7 to be completed.
After 45 gruelling games in the first stanza, Vergenoegen-based Slingerz FC stands triumphantly at the top of the points table, playing unbeaten this far.
In anticipation of the upcoming games, Slingerz have been hard at work bettering their skills for the challenge ahead. As such, the Guyana Times Sport managed to catch up with forward Bryan Wharton, who divulged on their mid-season preparation and how he’s anticipating the second half.
Wharton expressed, “I think the vibes have been good around the camp. Everybody’s mindset is one; we have one goal, and it’s to come out champions in the league. So, yeah, we’ve been putting in the work; Coach Man has been pushing us very hard. Definitely ready.”
“Yeah, really looking forward to it. Looking to put my best foot forward, I’ve been working hard in the preseason leading up back to the second round. Like I said, just looking to put my best foot forward and get the championship that we
there’s talent, but I know talent alone would not be able to sustain you at a high standard at that level. It also has to go hand in hand with the mental aspect of it, and I
think, at the moment, we lack both of them.”
Sarwan also shared his thoughts and some calls for the West Indies to move away from the Test format, expressing a hope that something can be done to make a turnaround, even if Cricket West Indies has to look to international players for ideas.
“I have represented the West Indies, and there’s a lot of pride and history there. I think if that is to ever happen, then that will be a very sad day throughout the Caribbean. Ideally, you don’t want to really see something like that happening, but at the end of the day, I think we have enough people who love West Indies cricket to fix West Indies cricket,” Sarwan assured.
He further opined, “And like I said before, we really need some help in terms of people to intervene,
need,” the teenaged forward went on to share.
Wharton went on to discuss how Slingerz closed their first half campaign with a 1-0 win against GDF FC, noting that it could have been a much bigger margin.
“We want to do much better. We could’ve easily beaten them about 3-0, but that’s how the game is sometimes. We’re grateful for the win at least, just the win. But
we play every game as a final; we don’t take anybody lightly and for granted,” he noted.
Quizzed about how his team dropped the ball in the second half last year, the forward was optimistic about a better performance this time around and being able to personally contribute to such.
Wharton admitted to this publication, “Yeah, we want to do much better. Last season, we fell
not only cricketers, past players who are legends, but we need a proper plan for West Indies cricket for probably the next 20-25 years, and hopefully, we’ll be able to set something. Maybe reach out to one of these major countries, whether it’s Australia, India, or England, and see what sort of structure they have in place and try to put in place something similar because those are the teams that have been successful over a very long time now.”
Ramnaresh Sarwan has shared some solutions to West Indies’ current test woes
Last week, the West Indies were bowled out for 27 runs at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, in the third of three Test matches against Australia, chalking up the second-lowest Test score in history, after New Zealand’s 26 in 1955. The score was triggered by a 6-fer for Mitchell Starc, who now holds the record for the fastest five-wicket haul, attained in 2.3 overs. West Indies eventually lost the Test series 0-3; an alarming whitewash in their own backyard.
short a couple of well points. We got a good start in the league, so we just have to continue the momentum and go and get the championship.”
He went on to express, “I’m looking forward to this season most of all. I’ve been putting in a lot of work, actually, getting in the gym and doing some personal work, so I’m definitely looking for more goals and helping the team much more in the second half of the season.”
Season 7 of the Elite League is set to resume on Saturday, July 26, with a doubleheader at the GFF’s National Training Centre at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Match 1 will see the Santos Football Club taking on Lake Mainstay Goldstar at 18:30 hrs while Guyana Police Force FC battles Monedderlust FC at 21:00 hrs. Slingerz FC will resume their campaign the following week.
Bryan Wharton is optimistic about a dominant second half of the Elite League season for Slingerz FC