3 GBTI customers cart off $1M each in “In with the Vroom” auto loan promotion Venezuelan national charged, remanded for beating countryman to death
Bartica man convicted of rape, sentenced to 2 years' imprisonment
ERC hauls in Jennifer Ally for 2nd time over racist comments on social media
1 dead, another critical after bee attack at Triumph Vilvoorden residents plead for urgent action amid severe dust pollution from rice mill
Afire of unknown origin has completely destroyed a Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home in the wee hours of Tuesday, thus leaving four persons to make alternative living arrangements.
The Guyana Fire Service (GFS), days after the devastating fire, stated that the inferno started at about 01:46h on Tuesday and completely gutted a two-storey wooden and concrete building at Block 9 “C” Mon Repos.
The GFS stated that upon receiving the report of the fire, two water tenders and a water carrier, along with crew members, were deployed to the scene.
Upon their arrival on the scene by 01:59h, the nine-member team immediately commenced operations to contain the blaze.
The affected building,
the GFS stated, was home to Raji Ally and his wife, social media commentator Jennifer Ally, and their two children, aged four and five years old. The structure and all its contents were completely destroyed, but no injuries were reported.
An investigation was launched to determine the cause of the blaze. Meanwhile, Ally’s wife, Jennifer is expected to appear before the Ethnic Relation Commission (ERC) today for making several racial comments.
Police destroy $250M worth of ganja along Berbice River
An estimated $250 million worth of ganja was on Wednesday discovered and burnt during a joint eradication exercise at Maria Henrietta, Zion, and Kimbia along the Upper Berbice River.
Police stated that the ex-
tensive operation led to the discovery of five cannabis farms covering a total of approximately 20 acres, containing some 160,800 plants ranging between two and six feet in height.
In addition, three makeshift camps and five drying areas were found, which con-
tained approximately 460 pounds of processed cannabis. All the cannabis plants, dried cannabis and camps were destroyed by fire. The estimated street value of the destroyed narcotics is set at $250 million. No arrests were made during the exercise.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, October 23 –17:05h–18:35h and Friday, October 24 – 05:25h–06:55h.
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
Early and mid-morning thundery showers followed by sunny skies are expected during the day, and clear skies are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East North-Easterly to Easterly between 3.12 metres and 4.91 metres.
High Tide: 17:14h reaching a maximum height of 2.71 metres.
Low Tide: 10:52h and 23:13h reaching minimum heights of 0.63 metre and 0.5 metre.
Pres Ali reiterates
investing in training & technology ...says “a strong nation must have strong defenders”
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Dr Irfaan Ali has reaffirmed his Government’s full commitment to strengthening the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) through continued investments in training, technology, and welfare support, underscoring that “a strong nation must have strong defenders.”
Speaking at the GDF’s 60th Anniversary Medal Presentation Parade on Wednesday at Base Camp Ayanganna, President Ali lauded the men and women of the Force for their courage, discipline, and devotion, noting that their service has been the shield protecting Guyana’s sovereignty for six decades.
He said the event was not merely about the presentation of medals but a tribute to the values and virtues that define the GDF’s service – duty, loyalty, courage, and honour.
“This parade is more than simply medals. Each medal conferred today tells a story – a moment of sacrifice, an act of leadership, a mission fulfilled under challenge, and a distinguished record of dedicated service,” the President said. “In this anniversary year, those stories come together to remind us that the GDF is not just a force; it is a family bound by service.”
The Guyanese leader emphasised that the GDF’s true strength lies not only in its numbers or training but in the trust, loyalty, and shared purpose that bind its ranks. He described the organisation as a family where mentorship, teamwork, and mutual respect form the bedrock of unity and purpose.
Highlighting the significance of the medals presented, the Commander-in-Chief said they stand as visible expressions of the nation’s gratitude, each representing courage, sacrifice, and exemplary conduct. Among the honours bestowed upon the 27 GDF ranks were the Military Efficiency Medal, recognising commitment and professionalism, and the Border Defence Medal, honouring those who safeguard Guyana’s territorial integrity.
“The map of Guyana en-
graved on that medal is not just a symbol; it is a promise that our land will always be defended by those who love it most,” President Ali de-
tance and disaster response, engineering, border operations, special operations, and joint services operations.
“These new medals affirm that service is not confined to combat but also includes non-combat missions,” he explained. “They honour those who save lives from floodwaters, who build bridges where isolation once stood, who deliver relief by air and river, and who operate shoulder to shoulder with our partners in defence of national peace and safety.”
The President further acknowledged the network of support behind every sol-
Administration’s commitment to the GDF’s modernisation, President Ali said investments are being made not only in new equipment but also in transforming the mindset and capabilities of the force.
“As your Commanding Chief, I reaffirm that my Government remains fully committed to your development. We are modernising this force not only in equipment but also in mindset. We’re investing in your training, your technology and your welfare, because a strong nation must have strong defenders. We’re in-
clared.
Marking the GDF’s 60th anniversary, Dr Ali also announced the introduction of a new series of medals created under his authority as Commander-in-Chief to broaden recognition of excellence within the force.
These include medals for search and rescue operations, humanitarian assis-
dier, including fellow ranks and officers whose collective efforts sustain the achievements of their peers.
Addressing younger members of the force, he urged them to be inspired by the dedication of medal recipients, noting that leadership begins with service and humility.
Reiterating his
vesting in yours and your family’s personal well-being. When you leave this force honourably, you can take comfort in knowing that you will be provided for. The support you receive both during and after your time in the force is part of a larger mission, the defence and advancement of our nation,” the President added.
Editor: Tusika Martin
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The commemoration of Lethem’s 10th anniversary as a township marked a celebration of milestones as it underscored the town’s ascension as a dynamic hinterland development and its economic expansion. Under the theme “Unity in Diversity: Celebrating Lethem’s Multicultural Community”, the occasion reflected both the Government’s policy direction and the resilience of a people who have embraced progress without abandoning tradition.
Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips’s address at the anniversary event encapsulated the transformative journey that Lethem has undertaken, one defined by strategic planning, infrastructural investment, and the integration of hinterland communities into the broader national economy. What was once a remote frontier settlement has evolved into an emerging centre of trade, tourism, and opportunity, linking Guyana’s interior to the coast and, by extension, to global markets.
For decades, hinterland regions were viewed as peripheral to national growth, their development constrained by poor infrastructure and limited access to services. That paradigm is now being reshaped through a clear and deliberate policy thrust aimed at bridging the geographic, economic, and social divide between the coast and the interior.
Infrastructure development remains the cornerstone of this transformation. The ongoing upgrade of the Linden-to-Lethem corridor, including the replacement of ageing wooden bridges with durable concrete structures, represents not merely a logistical improvement but a socioeconomic lifeline. Improved roads facilitate trade, enable access to health care and education, and foster mobility across regions.
The planned development of a new regional airport, spanning some 2000 hectares, will further position Lethem as a pivotal gateway for tourism, trade, and regional connectivity. Once operational, this facility is expected to enhance export and import efficiency while opening the Rupununi and its environs to greater investment opportunities.
The diversification of the local economy has also been strengthened through the extension of essential services and institutions to the region. The opening of a Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire & Life Insurance branch in Lethem signals confidence in the town’s growth potential and provides residents and entrepreneurs with much-needed financial and risk management tools. This institutional presence supports small business expansion while also promoting financial inclusion, an indispensable element of sustainable development.
Equally significant are the Government’s targeted investments in aviation, tourism, agro-processing, and health infrastructure. These sectors collectively form the foundation for a diversified and resilient regional economy.
The ongoing construction of the new Lethem Regional Hospital represents a commitment to improving quality of life, creating jobs, and strengthening the social fabric of the region. Similarly, the expansion of housing programmes supports population growth and encourages family stability, thereby reinforcing Lethem’s transformation into a vibrant, sustainable township.
Tourism, in particular, stands to benefit from the region’s multicultural heritage and natural landscapes. The Rupununi’s blend of Indigenous traditions, ranching culture, and ecotourism potential uniquely positions Lethem as both a cultural and economic hub. As air and road connectivity improve, the area’s allure to domestic and international visitors will undoubtedly grow, bringing with it greater opportunities for local entrepreneurship and cultural exchange.
Yet, amid this momentum, the PM’s call for community ownership is timely and essential. Sustainable development cannot rely solely on Government policy or external investment. It demands active participation from residents, local leaders, and businesses who must balance modern progress with the preservation of cultural values. Lethem’s strength lies in its people, rooted in the savannah yet open to the world, steeped in tradition yet adaptive to change.
The transformation of Lethem is, therefore, not a geographic or infrastructural achievement but rather a reflection of a national vision that seeks to ensure that the benefits of growth and modernisation are shared equitably among all regions of Guyana. As the town continues its journey from the periphery to prominence, it stands as an example of what can be achieved through inclusion, investment, and intentional policy.
Lethem’s story is, in essence, Guyana’s story of a nation connecting its people, unlocking its potential, and redefining its horizons. The challenge ahead lies in maintaining this trajectory with foresight, accountability, and shared purpose. For Lethem, the next decade promises to be one not only of continued expansion but also of deeper integration, anchoring its role as a vital link in Guyana’s evolving network of commerce, culture, and community.
At 10 years, Lethem is no longer a distant border town but rather an example of hinterland development and a model for regional transformation.
Dear Editor,
Economist Elson Low’s critique of the Wales Gas-toEnergy (GtE) Project overlooks the strategic necessity of the initiative. His call for disclosure and accountability is valid, but shelving the project over soil stabilisation costs overlooks the longterm vision guiding it.
Public scrutiny is essential, and his queries deserve a response from the authorities. However, constructive dialogue is best built on shared facts, which are most reliably obtained through direct engagement with the relevant agencies.
For over forty years, energy insecurity has been a primary barrier to Guyana’s progress. The GtE project is not merely a power plant; it is a foundational intervention aimed at resolving this chronic issue. Achieving a modern economy is inextricably linked to secure, lowcost energy. Dismissing its promised benefits as “fiction” disregards the strategic long-term analysis behind the initiative.
To provide a balanced perspective, let’s consider two key points:
The $100 Million Soil Stabilisation
Framing the $100 million expenditure solely as a failure of due diligence ignores both global precedent and strategic context. Progressive nations have routinely transformed challenging terrains into engines of growth, and the fol-
lowing two are among many examples:
The Battersea Precedent: The iconic Battersea Power Station in London was constructed on the reclaimed, marshy banks of the River Thames. The significant investment required to stabilise that site yielded a strategic asset that powered London for over 50 years.
The Eemshaven Example: The Netherlands, a global leader in land reclamation, constructed the RWE Eemshaven Power Station on land reclaimed from the UNESCOprotected Wadden Sea. It is now a cornerstone of the Dutch energy grid.
Both of these projects had initial soil stabilisation issues and unforeseen costs, but they confronted those challenges when they needed to be confronted in the interest of their national development. History will show both the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of the Netherlands are better as societies because they persevered and made the hard decisions at the right time. Guyana is in the same position today; we must press on!
Guyana is undertaking several foundational projects on an unprecedented scale, with the GtE being one of them. The challenging, liquefaction-prone soils of our coastal region are a geographical reality. This stabilisation cost, while substantial, is a necessary, one-time investment to create a viable, stable industrial plat-
form for the next 50 years.
The alternative – abandoning development due to complex geology – is not a viable path for a nation on the cusp of transformation.
In this regard, the contractor’s sobering warning about the facility’s risks if built improperly is not an argument against construction; it is a powerful justification for undertaking the correct engineering interventions, regardless of cost, to ensure long-term safety and integrity.
Furthermore, this project is the incubator for a much larger vision: the development of over 30,000 acres of undeveloped land on the West Bank of Demerara as a result of the planned transportation links from Bartica to the Timehri Docks and to the new Jagdeo Bridge passing the GtE Project. Therefore, the GtE is the anchor that makes this broader development – and its potential for cross-subsidisation – economically feasible. I encourage Mr Low to visualise the “BIG THINK”.
The delays and costs associated with these extensive geotechnical investigations have, in fact, provided Guyana with an invaluable repository of knowledge for executing future large-scale projects of a similar nature, since there will be many other projects of a similar scale that will add to the compendium of national assets to push our ambition at industrialisation. Thus, it is to our benefit that the develop-
ers are mitigating these extreme risks with the seriousness they deserve.
The “Dead on Arrival” Prognosis is Flawed
The assertion that the site is now unsuitable is illogical. The soil stabilisation is the definitive solution that transforms the land into a stable asset. The GtE project, as the anchor tenant, will provide the cheap, reliable energy needed to overcome the single greatest barrier to Guyanese manufacturing, attracting the very industries meant to create the jobs and growth in question.
Guyana’s energy instability is a long-standing crisis. The GtE is the permanent solution; the current expensive power ships are interim measures. To blame the GtE for the costs of the crisis it is designed to solve is a circular argument. The call to shelve this US$2 billion strategic project is misguided. It is the cornerstone of Guyana’s economic future. The path forward is not abandonment but rigorous oversight and course correction. Abandoning it now would guarantee the loss of this strategic investment and the promise of a modern, industrialised Guyana for generations to come. The cost of stabilisation, however high, pales in comparison to the cost of forfeiting our energy future.
Kind regards, Sasenarine Singh
Acontractor was killed and a worker hospitalized after a bee attack at Surat Drive, Triumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Wednesday
The deceased has been identified as 29-year-old Winston Semple, a contractor from Prince William Street, Plaisance, ECD, while 40-year-old Glendon
Twenty-three-yearold Jusus Bagot, a Venezuelan national and maintenance worker, was on Wednesday allegedly electrocuted while cleaning at a Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home.
Police stated that Bagot was at his residence, cleaning his yard, when he reportedly came into contact with an electrical source. He was later pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor.
An investigation is underway.
Almost two years after 52-year-old Bharrat Ramrattie was killed in an accident along the Vreed-en-Hoop Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD), the driver responsible was slapped with a causing death by dangerous driving charge.
Forty-seven-year-old
Jermaine Anthony Wallerson of La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD), appeared before Magistrate Rabindra Singh at the Vreed-enHoop Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Police stated that he was the driver of motorcar HD 3233, which was involved in an accident that claimed the life of Ramrattie on June 1, 2024.
He pleaded not guilty to
Charged: Jermaine Anthony Wallerson
the charge and was granted $150,000 bail. He will make his next court appearance on November 4, 2025.
Simpson of Non Pariel, ECD, remains in critical condition at the Enmore Regional Hospital.
Based on reports, Semple, Simpson, and other workers, were engaged in road construction activities in the area when they were attacked by a swarm of bees.
Both men sustained multiple stings during the attack. They were later taken to the Enmore Regional Hospital, where Semple was pronounced dead and Simpson was admitted as a patient in critical condition.
An inquiry into the incident has been launched.
Forty-two-year-old Haniff Khan of Four Miles Housing Scheme, Bartica, was on Wednesday sentenced to two years’ imprisonment after he was found guilty of rape.
Khan was charged in July with sexual activity with a child family member. Khan, who is unemployed, was arrested by Police on July 1, following investigations into the incident.
He later appeared before Magistrate Teriq Mohammed at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge but was remanded to prison.
However, following a trial, he was found guilty and will spend the next two years in prison.
tence will run concurrently.
AVenezuelan national was charged on Wednesday for the murder of his fellow countryman, who was beaten to death in Quartz Stone Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven, two weeks ago.
Twenty-five-year-old Jose Manuel Garvajal, a gold miner of Quartz Stone Backdam, Cuyuni River, appeared before Magistrate Teriq Mohammed at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court and was not required to plead to the indictment.
Police stated that he murdered 35-year-old Yosber Alberto Rivero Sojo.
Dear Editor, Prime Minister Mark Phillips made the announcement that there would be an addition to the cash grant pay out, verbatim, “The cash grant would be more than the last pay out.” That sentiment was re-echoed by President Ali when he said there would be a bright Christmas 2025. These promises were made during the run-up to
the September 1st Election; however, there has never been an announcement of the pay out, nor was there any clear indication as to the real cash total of the pay out that is to be made.
Now, we are fast approaching two months since that promise was made, and persons are in eager anticipation awaiting the day for the announcement of that
real sum of money.
As is the case with a cash promise, some have affixed a total to the anticipated cash grant; it would be $200,000, it should be $150,000, or, as my friend emphatically remarked, “It would be $360,000.”
Now, all of these statements are mere projections of what the cash pay out should be, not an official an-
nouncement, but anticipatory glimpses of what someone as a payee should be given.
In any event, I am very optimistic of a pay out on or before Christmas because the PPP/C Government never promises anything they cannot deliver. We are waiting!
Yours respectfully, Neil Adams
Dear Editor, Democracy is not a slogan; it’s a standard. Laws and by-laws must be just, clear, and liveable – and when they’re broken, justice must be evenhanded. That means exemplary penalties when guilt is proven, no matter a person’s title or party.
Former APNU+AFC
Parliamentarian Devin Sears was reportedly intercepted by Police with bags suspected of containing mar-
ijuana. The facts belong to the courts. The principle belongs to all of us: the law cannot blink for the powerful. Other democracies offer warnings. Canada learnt how fast public trust evaporates when politicians preach “zero tolerance” and later profit from legal cannabis – hypocrisy that turns voters cynical. In the United Kingdom, drug controversies have triggered independent probes, suspensions, and
byelections – consequences, not excuses. Germany is legalising under tight rules, yet standards for public servants remain strict. The message is the same: shifting drug policy is no cover for double standards.
Guyana should set the bar, not lower it. Conduct a thorough, independent investigation. Publish the timeline. Hold every accused person to account, irrespective of status or affiliation. If
charges are laid and guilt is proven, let the punishment be unmistakable – both as justice and as deterrence.
We can argue about policy tomorrow. Today, we must prove that the rules apply to everyone. Guyana deserves leaders who live as if law and integrity both matter – especially when no one is watching.
Yours sincerely, Philip Inshanally
It was reported that Sojo, a gold miner, was confronted and beaten by a group of about 12 men, all reportedly Venezuelan nationals, after being accused of theft.
Initial reports stated that Calvin Johnson, a security guard attached to a Russian company in the area, reported the death to the Bartica Police Station.
According to the Police, Johnson told officers that a female informed him that a male Venezuelan national was lying dead on the roadway.
As the officers arrived at the scene, they observed the man lying motionless, and his body was covered with a multi-coloured hammock, with his face exposed. With the new information, Police arrested Garvajal, who was later charged with murder.
Negative numbers are numbers that are less than zero. You identify them by adding a minus sign to the front of a number. So – 1 is 1 less than 0. – 35.5 is 35.5 less than 0. .
Example:
Look at the number line. Notice that – 4 is four spaces to the left of 0 on the negative side. Also note that 4 is four spaces to the right of 0 on the positive side.
The Property of Additive Inverses: When you add a negative number to its inverse (its exact opposite on the other side of the number line), the total is 0. For example, – 5 + 5 = 0.
Remember:
Zero (0) is neither positive nor negative.
Exercises: Solve
1) (– 4) + 4 = 2) ( – 10) + 10 = 3) (– 14) + 15 + 12 + (– 15) =
4) 50 + (– 50) = 5) (3 )/6 + (– (3 )/6) = 6) 210 + 201 + ( – 210) + ( – 210) =
7) 41 +( – 44) + 0 = 8) 79 + (4 )/8 + (–(4 )/8) + (– 79) =
Next, have a clean spoon ready nearby. Then, using a clean medicine dropper, add a few drops of the wet mixture to the dry ingredients. What happens when you add a drop of the wet mixture? You should see it fizz; this is the bath bomb reaction taking place! Because you do not want the bath bombs to react yet, quickly press down on the fizzy spot with the back of the clean spoon. This should stop the fizzing (and just leave a damp spot). After you stopped the reaction with the spoon, mix the damp spot in with the rest of the ingredients in the bowl. You want to evenly distribute the moisture as much as you can. Repeat until your bath bomb mixture has the right consistency. You may not have to use all of the wet mixture. Important: Part of the challenge of making bath bombs is adding the
right amount of wet ingredients. If you live in a humid environment, you may not need to add all of the wet ingredients. Making bath bombs can be significantly affected by surrounding humidity levels. If the bath bomb mixture ever appears to continue to puff up and fizz even after you have thoroughly mixed in some wet ingredients, then the mixture may be too wet and the bath bombs will not form properly. Instead of trying to "rescue" the mixture, it is best to start over, but this time reduce the amount of water in your recipe. It is also possible to make the bath bombs too dry. If the bath bombs are very crumbly, the bath bomb mixtures may not have enough water in them. The mixture should be damp enough so that it holds shape when you press together small pieces with your fingers. If the bath bombs are too dry, they will fall apart after they have dried. To fix
this, use more water.
After mixing the wet and dry ingredients together, use a clean medicine dropper to drop one drop of vegetable oil into the bath bomb moulds. Then use a finger to spread the oil all around the surface. Doing this will make it easier for you to remove your bath bombs once they have dried.
Take the mixture and put it in the moulds. Add a spoonful at a time and use the back of the spoon and/or the palm of your hand to press the mixture down. It is important to carefully and continually press down hard on the mixture as it is added to the moulds so that the bath bombs turn out hard and solid.
Put all bath bomb moulds on a plate and let the bath bombs dry.
Let the bath bombs sit at room temperature to dry them overnight. (Adapted from Teisha Rowland, PhD, Science Buddies)
By Nikki GiovaNNi
I always like summer best you can eat fresh corn from daddy's garden and okra and greens and cabbage and lots of barbecue and buttermilk and homemade ice-cream at the church picnic and listen to gospel music outside at the church homecoming and you go to the mountains with your grandmother and go barefooted and be warm all the time not only when you go to bed and sleep
If you could break a world record, what would it be? What do you think would be necessary to be able to break the world record?
Guyana’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry on Wednesday raised concerns about the inconsistency in the remarks being made by the Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana regarding the visit of United States (US)sanctioned and indicted Guyanese businessman, Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, to the embassy in Georgetown.
Back in August, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd expressed concerns over the Mohameds’ frequent visits to the Venezuelan Embassy in Georgetown. Weeks later, video evidence emerged showing Mohamed leaving the Venezuelan Embassy earlier that month.
At the time, Todd said he had summoned Venezuela’s Ambassador to Guyana, Carlos Amador Perez Silva, to a meeting on the issue, and the diplomat indicated that Mohamed “visited the embassy to apply for visas to go to Venezuela, specifically Caracas” – something which the Foreign Minister noted is alarming in light of recent concerns raised by at least two US Congress members over what they described as Venezuela’s attempt to influence internal affairs in Guyana, specifically through the younger Mohamed.
Nazar and his son, Azruddin Mohamed, the latter of whom founded the We
their businesses and were recently indicted by the US for gold smuggling.
But now, the Foreign Ministry has called out the Venezuelan diplomat for changing his remarks on the matter, questioning, “...why the Ambassador is being secretive about the visit of Mr Nazar Mohamed to the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela regarding a visa application.”
During a recent interview with a local newspaper, it was reported that neither Mohamed, the father, nor the son had been to the embassy – something which, the Ministry said, stands in direct contradiction to the Ambassador’s earlier account during the meeting with Minister Todd.
According to Wednesday’s statement from the Foreign Ministry, “On that occasion, the Ambassador clearly confirmed that Mr [Nazar] Mohamed had indeed visit-
The invitation letter sent to
Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party that contested the September 1 elections in Guyana as the presidential candidate and is now on the verge of entering Guyana’s Parliament as the Opposition Leader after his party secured 16 seats to become the main opposition, were previously sanctioned along with several of
ed the Venezuelan Embassy and further offered specific details concerning the doc-
umentation presented and the purpose of the engagement.”
In fact, the Ministry revealed that the Venezuelan diplomat indicated that the event referenced in the visa application was scheduled for July 2025, while the actual visit to the Embassy occurred in August 2025.
“This information was shared directly by the Ambassador when summoned for clarification on the matter. The Ministry, therefore, views the Ambassador’s subsequent denial as both troubling and inconsistent with his previous statement,” the missive from Takuba Lodge in Georgetown detailed.
Nevertheless, the Ministry went on to reaffirm its expectation that all representatives of foreign missions accredited to Georgetown will conduct their duties with the highest standards of honesty, professionalism, and respect for the norms governing diplomatic relations.
With Venezuela making claims to more than twothirds of Guyana’s landmass and portions of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) offshore, a matter that is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for settlement, coupled with the country’s September 1 elections,
the Guyana Government was concerned about the Mohameds’ association with Venezuela.
In fact, earlier this year, US Congress members Carlos Gimenez and María Elvira Salazar called Azruddin Mohamed a “puppet” of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an accusation the Guyanese businessman has refuted.
Moreover, Azruddin Mohamed has also denied visiting the Venezuelan Embassy, but Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo subsequently said that there is video evidence of the elder Mohamed going to the embassy.
That CCTV footage, obtained by this publication on August 29, shows Mohamed walking out of the Venezuelan Embassy in the company of another person at about 14:01h on August 7, 2025. He could be seen entering a vehicle, which subsequently drove off. This publication has since confirmed that the vehicle, PAG 3664, is registered to the Mohameds.
In 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed, as well as several of their companies, for smuggling more than 10,000 kilograms of gold into the US and avoiding paying
over US$50 million in duty taxes in Guyana.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, a grand jury in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida indicted the father and son duo on 11 criminal charges ranging from wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering, primarily connected to the export of gold to the US by Mohamed’s Enterprises.
Nazar Mohamed is said to own 90 per cent of Mohamed’s Enterprise, while Azruddin Mohamed owns the remaining 10 per cent.
According to court documents, a shipment containing some US$5.3 million in gold bars that was shipped from Guyana by Mohamed Enterprise was seized at Miami International Airport on June 11, 2024 – something that was not previously reported. The Mohameds are facing a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment on the most serious charge. The father and son were jointly indicted on 10 counts, while Azruddin is facing an additional charge in relation to the importation of a Lamborghini vehicle into Guyana.
In fact, the businessman-turned-politician is also facing tax evasion charges in the local courts over the luxury vehicle. (G8)
Despite losing its case against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in two local courts and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) over the party’s exclusion from the national ballot, the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) is now contesting the legitimacy of the 2025 General and Regional Elections through an election petition – a move Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall
is confident will fail.
“The Attorney General’s [Chamber] is already preparing an application to strike it out,” Nandlall declared on Tuesday evening during his weekly programme, “Issues in the News”.
Prior to the September 1 elections, FGM – a party founded by former APNU Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir – filed legal proceedings against GECOM after the party was
excluded from the ballot in Regions Seven, Eight, and Nine – regions where the party did not submit the required lists of candidates to contest. FGM was only approved by GECOM to contest seven of the 10 regions.
In his August 29 ruling, acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh noted that GECOM’s decision to exclude the party from the ballots in the three regions was consistent with constitution-
al principles that ensure the ballot access reflects parties contesting within specific constituencies. In dismissing the case, the Chief Justice said the applicant, Crystal Fisher, failed to prove her claims of discrimination, describing the assertion as “malicious”. This decision was then appealed at the Court of Appeal, where it was unanimously rejected.
A26-year-old man, of Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, and Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was arrested on Tuesday after being found with a quantity of cannabis during a Police operation at the Mango Landing Police Outpost, Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
According to Police, several individuals and their belongings were taken to the outpost for a search, during which the suspect was found in possession of
a white plastic bucket with a false bottom containing cannabis.
He was taken into custody and escorted to the
Mahdia Police Station, where the marijuana was weighed and amounted to 215 grams. Investigations are ongoing.
With the National Assembly about to be convened – any day now – by Pressie, one of the hot topics du jour is whether APNU can survive. Another hot topic, of course, is whether Sanction Man might be rendered by the US to face those charges in Miami before he faces the embarrassment of making a speech from the floor – without a teleprompter!! Let’s face reality in Guyanese politics, shall we?? And start with this arrangement called “APNU”, shall we??
To try to hide its sins from the electorate back in 2010 or so, the PNC under Robert Corbin had done his darndest to convince us it was now part of a “coalition” – APNU! Like a Russian Babushka doll hidden within FOUR PARTIES, we’d now consider it as just another party from the hood!! Trouble is, none of those parties – separately or collectively! – could ever muster more than a handful of votes – generally from friends and relatives!! One of them was the vestige of the WPA that had sold Rodney’s soul and was worshipping at the feet of his assassin, Burnham!!
It was like an elephant trying to hide behind a literal fig leaf!! Granger had exposed the enormity of the PNC’s cynicism when two of APNU’s paper parties departed and he unilaterally declared that a member from each had immediately created two new parties – to become members of the “APNU Coalition”!! One of them who had been with the WPA is now a big one in Sanction Man’s WIN!! Talk about political opportunism!!
What your Eyewitness thinks is Norton needs to do a couple of things if he wants the PNC – which has been around for almost seventy years – to survive. Firstly, DUMP the APNU label – it has done NOTHING electorally for the PNC, and yet, to keep the illusion going, he had to give a seat to the WPA’s Black Pudding Man!! The APNU label in general and the inordinate influence of Black Pudding Man and Neanderthal-type politics in particular were why so many from their traditional base moved over to Sanction Man’s blue team!!
Nowadays, no one wants to hear the convoluted, confounded nonsense that the dinosaurs from the WPA spout. Their rhetoric comes from a time and place that’s completely irrelevant to the world the present voters in Guyana live in!! They see opportunities abounding all around them. The second thing Norton should do then would be to announce with gusto that the PNC’s totally committed to having those who support them get rich by exploiting the opportunities in the new economy!!
No more of the blame game and victim mentality politics of Black Pudding Man and his ilk!!
It’s then gonna be a whole new ball game!!
…and FDIs
Ever since colonial times, we were convinced we needed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to “develop”. Money made the world go round, and we didn’t have any money. We had resources, we boasted, so we needed money to extract and develop them to bring in money and higher standards of living. Our own Caribbean Nobel Prize-winning economist Arthur Lewis pushed the idea.
Burnham, however, had his own ideas – or rather the ideas he cogged from Uganda’s Nyerere’s “Ujamaa Socialism”. FDI would “recolonise” us!! Burnham thought he was clever to’ve just changed the name to “cooperative socialism” to make it “original”!! Anyhow, we know that folly collapsed ignominiously. His successor Hoyte dumped the co-op idea and tried to attract FDIs. He didn’t do too well, and it took the PPP 23 years to get things back on an even keel. So with the PPP back in the saddle and oil revenues pouring in, whither FDI??
Since money comes to money, it’s beating a path to our doors on its own!!
…of riggers
The rigging combine on trial for their 2020 attempt to keep the PNC in power are using every artifice – and then some – to delay judgement. Absent and ill lawyers and unwell defendants are only some of the ploys!!
“I have nothing to say” when questioned about fraudulent numbers
Avideo shown Wednesday in court revealed that former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield remained silent on September 26, 2020 when Police questioned him about how he calculated figures in his election reports to GECOM for the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections (GRE).
As the testimonies continue in the election fraud case at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, the video evidence showed that Lowenfield’s attorney, Nigel Hughes, was present during his interrogation.
The recording was based specifically on the election reports Lowenfield submitted to the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on June 23, 2020, and in July 2020.
“How did you arrive at the figures?” Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Komal Pitamber continuously enquired as he questioned Lowenfield about the reports. “I choose not to answer the question,” Lowenfield is seen repeatedly responding. At one point, he quipped, “Stay blank and say nothing.”
Nevertheless, the video evidence was presented despite objections by his attorney, Nigel Hughes. Lowenfield’s reports de-
livered results giving victory to the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC).
The recordings were presented to the court, presided over by Magistrate Faith McGusty, and formed part of the testimony of Sergeant Alwyn Jones, an officer attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) who was the videographer for the interview with Lowenfield.
Jones was also the videographer for interviews with Lowenfield’s co-defendants, Enrique Livan and APNU+AFC Chief Scrutineer, Carol Joseph. However, the admissibility of the interview with Livan was challenged on the alle-
gation that Livan’s lawyer was asked to leave during the interrogation.
Lowenfield, Livan, and Smith-Joseph are among nine individuals currently facing 19 charges of conspiracy to commit electoral fraud for the events that occurred following the March 2, 2020, GRE.
Other persons charged include former Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers, former APNU+AFC Minister Volda Lawrence, and former GECOM employees Sheffern February, Michelle Miller, and Denise BabbCummings.
During his interview, Lowenfield was also ques-
tioned about Statements of Poll (SOP) received from Mingo, pursuant to Mingo’s tabulation of the Region Four votes in 2020. At the end of his testimony, three discs containing interviews recorded between August and September 2020 were admitted by the court.
Chaos erupted over the 2020 elections after Mingo attempted to make a declaration of the Region Four results using numbers that would have given the APNU+AFC a win in the elections. However, the numbers were contested, given that they were not verified and did not correlate with numbers seen on existing SoPs.
The declaration of the election results was delayed pending a five-monthlong recount process that proved Mingo’s original numbers to be inaccurate. Mingo originally awarded the APNU+AFC 130,289 votes and 74,877 votes to the PPP/C.
When the recount process concluded on June 7, 2020, Lowenfield released a new set of results on June 23, 2020, in which he had invalidated over 115,000 votes. The new results had the APNU+AFC as the winning party with 171,825 votes and 33 seats, and the PPP/C in second place with 166,343 votes and 31 seats.
How he arrived at those figures is still unknown, since the certified results from the recount exercise supervised by GECOM and a high-level team from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) plainly showed that the PPP/C won with 233,336 votes, while the coalition garnered 217,920.
The recount exercise also
highlighted that Mingo had
In August
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has recognised Guyana’s progressive legislative agenda, particularly as it relates to tackling societal issues such as domestic violence.
Next week, the IDB will host a regional high-level symposium in Barbados to advance state responses to domestic violence in the Caribbean. Guyana is among 18 countries from the region that will participate in the event.
In fact, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, during his weekly programme, “Issues in the News”, revealed that the IDB has commended the policy and legislative work Guyana has done in the areas of domestic and sexual violence.
“Guyana has demonstrated true and thorough leadership for the region in
the areas of domestic and sexual violence legislation and policy. It would therefore be an honour to have your presence at this symposium, to participate in a panel of your peers... So, we are recognised by the IDB for our work in these important areas,” an invitation letter from the IDB read.
According to Nandlall, Guyana was also invited to participate in two other similar regional conferences next month dealing with law and legislation in the Caribbean.
One, he explained, is a conference hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on violence as a public health hazard in the Caribbean, while the other will be hosted by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Academy for Law.
Guyana has been invited as one of the main present-
ers at both events – something the Attorney General posited is a direct result and recognition of the investments that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administrations have made in recent years to bolster the local judiciary.
“[It is] because of the work that we are doing legislatively and in policy. In fact, the symposium that’s being held by the CCJ primarily focuses on how Governments can assist in the rule of law, its enforcement, and judicial development. And Guyana is being looked at again because of the crucial role the executive is playing in nurturing and advancing the rule of law and in resourcing the judiciary.”
“The judiciary of Guyana has never been resourced in the manner in which it is being resourced now – never in its history, and we are
seeing the benefits of these investments... We are seeing the public’s trust in the judiciary increasing,” AG Nandlall posited.
Nandlall further boasts that they have managed to almost eliminate the decades-old backlog that has burdened the High Court and are now aggressively tackling the backlog at the Court of Appeal. He also cited other initiatives that have enhanced the magisterial system, like new courthouses across the country, the addition of 12 new Magistrates, and the introduction of mobile courts –all equipped with the technological apparatus of any courts across the region.
But even as Guyana is being lauded for its legislative and policy work on domestic violence, he remains cognisant of the fact that domestic violence continues to be a societal plague.
“Domestic violence is a serious problem in our country... But the State can only play a role to a certain extent,” he contended, citing various investments made to address this scourge. Nandlall also highlighted that all the Police Stations across the country have been equipped with special capabilities for domestic vi-
olence, while Police officers have been trained on how to take and treat domestic violence complaints.
Additionally, specialised vehicles and facilities are in place to address domestic violence complaints at the Police Stations.
The Government has also set up facilities across the country to help domestic violence victims so that they do not have to return to abusive homes and has trained counsellors and social workers throughout the country to assist domestic violence victims.
“We have put a law in place that is of its most modern type that the IDB just recognises as a model law for the Caribbean... [And] they want to use our Domestic Family Violence Act as a model law for the rest of the Caribbean because it has so many different provisions in it, both civil procedures and civil remedies, as well as criminal remedies. We have put all of that in place to tackle this deadly problem of domestic violence. Our experience has shown that domestic violence gets progressively worse and, on many occasions, it ends up in death. This is not something that we take lightly,” the AG stressed.
Acting Chancellor Justice Roxane George declared in her October 10 decision that the case had no merit, reiterating that GECOM acted lawfully in excluding the party from the ballot in the three regions. Moreover, the Chief Justice noted that the case was improperly before the court; that is, it did not arise from an election petition, and as such, the court had no jurisdiction to entertain it.
Dissatisfied with the Appeal Court’s judgement, the FGM went to the CCJ – Guyana’s final appellate court. However, the party did not follow the required procedures, that is, obtaining leave from the Appeal Court in order to file an appeal with the regional court. Consequently, the CCJ also rejected FGM’s appeal.
Nandlall bemoaned the party’s lack of knowledge of the basic procedural requirements despite having a leader who is also a lawyer.
“The Caribbean Court of Justice rightfully rejected their attempts at filing an appeal. So, they are back at the Guyana Court of Appeal, seeking leave to appeal a decision of the Guyana Court of Appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice. While that application for leave is pending and not being satisfied with the series of adverse rulings they have received,
they now file what they are describing as an elections petition,” the AG stated.
Filed in the High Court on October 14 in the name of Randolph Critchlow, the election petition challenges the validity of the September 1 elections, claiming that Guyana’s electoral laws and GECOM’s enforcement of those laws violated citizens’ constitutional right to participate freely, fairly, and fully at any and every level of the electoral process across the country.
But according to Nandlall, even this petition is non-compliant with the rules and procedures of preparing and filing an election petition, which allow no room for errors.
“The rules and procedures governing election petitions are of a unique type... They are called sui generis... If there is any flaw, either in the form of the petition or in its substance or in its procedure, that flaw is fatal. It’s not like an ordinary case where a flaw or a deficiency can be corrected. In election petitions, any rule of procedure that is breached or any deficiency in relation to form is normally fatal, and the petition will be dismissed,” he stressed.
The AG explained that an election petition questions an election, the formation of a Government, and the com-
position of the Parliament, adding that this type of litigation does not permit mediocrity, mistakes, or errors, whether genuine or not.
“Well, this thing that they filed, that they’re calling an election petition, is not an election petition. When you look at what an election petition looks like, it is not this. They just titled it an election petition and think that is an election petition. And they have violated almost every rule and every procedural requirement surrounding the preparation and filing of an election petition.”
“There are many rules governing how this has to be done. All of them have been violated. And the court will now have to deal with another colossal abuse of its process. The parties who ought to have been named by law are not even named... What I’m saying is that this petition is hopelessly misconceived and woefully deficient. One can predict with almost virtual certainty that it will be dismissed,” the AG posited.
Citing what he described as a colossal abuse of the process, Nandlall indicated that when this matter is thrown out by the court, he will not only file an application for costs from the litigant but also from the lawyer leading the case. (G8)
PMark Phillips on Tuesday announced that bids have been opened for the financing, construction, ownership, and management of the new Lethem regional airport, which will span 2000 hectares.
He was at the time addressing a gathering in observance of the 10th anniversary of Lethem as a township under the theme “Unity in Diversity: Celebrating Lethem’s Multicultural Community”.
The Lethem airport will be a major Government-
backed investment aimed at strengthening trade, tourism and cross-border connectivity with Brazil. The project is expected to attract both domestic and diaspora investment.
According to the PM, this will be one of 11 new tourism-related projects for the region, while referencing ongoing investment in transportation infrastructure such as the Linden-Lethem Road, which includes the replacement of old wooden bridges with modern concrete structures.
These initiatives, he noted, will boost the avia-
tion, tourism, agro-processing, and healthcare sectors, thereby raising the standard of living, creating jobs, and strengthening communities.
He, however, reaffirmed that the full upgrade of the Linden-Lethem corridor remains a priority while stating that future plans include road and rail connections linking Lethem directly to the coast to boost national integration and trade expansion.
“Together, these initiatives align with the national vision of transforming Lethem into a major economic and travel hub. It is no longer just a border town but an important link in Guyana’s expanding network of commerce, tourism, and opportunity.”
However, he noted that the Government remains committed to partner-
ing with regional and local stakeholders to further Lethem’s development as a major economic and cultural centre in Guyana’s hinterland.
He praised the residents for preserving their rich traditions while embracing new opportunities cre-
Ajoint “Prison Search Operation” conducted at the New Amsterdam Prison on Monday has unearthed several prohibited items.
Police stated that the two-hour-long exercise was led by a senior Police Officer and 38 other ranks, along with a senior Prison Officer attached to the New Amsterdam Prison and 17 subordinates.
During the search, sev-
en improvised weapons were found along with 17 packs of cigarettes, seven cellular phones, 43 ZipLoc bags containing ganja and 21 lighters.
The suspected cannabis was taken to the Central Police Station, where it was weighed and amounted to 37 grams. The operation was conducted without a glitch, the GPF stated on Wednesday.
ated through national policy while reflecting on the community’s transformation over the years, “Lethem has evolved from a remote frontier settlement into a more connected centre, serving ranching, cross-border trade, indigenous communities, and now, broader national infrastructure.”
He added, “Today, Lethem stands at the
threshold of a new era. With ongoing investments in infrastructure, tourism, and trade, it is rapidly emerging as a vast economic hub that connects Guyana’s hinterland to the region and, by extension, the world.”
Speaking on the broader development agenda, PM Phillips highlighted the Government’s deliberate strategy to extend national progress beyond the coast to the hinterland, ensuring inclusive and equitable growth.
“Policies aimed at integrating the hinterland with the coast and neighbouring countries have opened up markets, broadened opportunities, and raised the prospect of sustainable regional development. When connectivity improves, so do opportunity and inclusion.”
He pointed to the growing presence of financial and institutional services in Lethem as further evidence of its integration into the national economy. Notably, he highlighted the opening of a branch of Hand-inHand Mutual Fire & Life Insurance Companies.
“The opening of a branch of Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire & Life Insurance Companies marks another
milestone, bringing essential financial and risk management services to residents and businesses. Local entrepreneurs and families can now access the kind of institutional support needed to invest, grow, and build resilience.”
Nevertheless, he encouraged the residents to take ownership of their community’s continued progress.
“You have in Lethem both heritage and promise. Your traditional values – community, service, the land, the savannah – are assets. As you engage with modernity, hold tight to those values. Let them guide how you build your town, how you shape your economy, and how you raise your children.”
Meanwhile, he stated Lethem has moved from being at the edge of the country to being at the heart of a vision.
“Your anniversary is an invitation to honour your past, embrace your present, and seize your future. You have a town that stands at a border yet looks to many horizons. That is your strength. You have people rooted in the savannah yet open to the world. That is your advantage.”
In light of reports of the disappearance of four Guyanese fishermen after their boat capsized in Surinamese waters on Saturday evening, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha described the situation as “unfortunate” and noted that local authorities are trying to get more information on the matter.
On Tuesday, the Jamaican Observer reported that rescue teams in Suriname were searching for four Guyanese, now feared dead, after their fishing vessel sank in the Saramacca River near Lareco on Saturday.
“Presently, I don’t know what the circumstances are. I have spoken to our ambassador in Suriname to get some more information. Hopefully, I can get more information soon,” the minister noted.
It was reported that the Police said that they had received a report early Monday morning that the crew was seen floating on ice cubes. The report also stated the people in the area had used their boats to search for the four people, without success.
The National Army, Marine Corps, and the Groningen Police were also deployed in the search.
The wife of the boat owner reported that her husband and three crew members were missing, but she did not provide the names of the crew members.
According to her, her husband departed from the mooring at Huwelijkszorg on the evening of Friday, October 17, 2025, in a recently purchased and renovated fishing boat, heading for Paramaribo for a mandatory seaworthiness inspection by the Maritime Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LVV).
She said that on Saturday morning, her husband, identified only as RL, called her to say the boat was taking on water and they were floating on ice. The call was abruptly cut off.
Later that evening, he called again and asked her to quickly write down the coordinates because “he wouldn’t make it.” According to authorities, the location she gave turned out to be more than 100 kilometres offshore, in the direction of the Atlantic Ocean.
Minister Mustapha, however, noted that the situa-
tion is very concerning.
“We are very concerned because, generally, whenever our fisherfolk encounter difficulties like those, we tend to work along with our Coast Guard and work along with the other agencies so that we can try as much as possible to locate them. However, this incident took place in Suriname waters, and I’m hoping that the
Surinamese authorities, because I have also seen news that the Surinamese authorities have sent out their patrol vessels and also helicopters to look for these guys.”
“I am hoping by the end of today (Wednesday), I can get some more information from our ambassador here, and then I can put out an official statement from the Ministry of Agriculture…
We are hoping that these people, that vessel, can find them alive and bring them back to Suriname safely. So, I am very optimistic that that can happen,” he said. Guyana Times understands that the fishermen were Guyanese-born but migrated to Suriname some time ago. Up to press time, no update was given on the situation.
3 GBTI customers cart off $1M each in “In with the Vroom”
auto loan promotion
– 4 auto dealers also recognised for referring customers to bank
Three lucky Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) customers walked away with GY$1 million each on Wednesday as the curtains were drawn on the “In with the Vroom” auto loan promotion.
Orlando Mattes, Keiamsha McAndrew, and Kimberly Baird were ran-
Further, Yokohama Trading received GY$400,000, while Dhanraj Auto Sales, Mikeson Enterprise, and Green’s Auto Sales and Rentals carted off GY$200,000 each as the four top-performing auto dealers during the promotion. These dealers were acknowledged for referring the most customers
our winners today and to continue offering opportunities that make financial dreams a reality.”
In addition, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shawn Gurcharran congratulated the winners and expressed his appreciation for their trust in GBTI, while adding that the bank is committed to a continued
domly selected from among customers who acquired financing from the bank to purchase their vehicles during the promotion that ran from March 1, 2025, to July 31, 2025.
In addition, three Mastercard holders were also rewarded with US$500 after they, too, were randomly selected from among customers who spent a stipulated amount during the promotion period.
to GBTI during the period.
At a simple ceremony on Wednesday at the bank’s High and Young Streets, Kingston, Georgetown Headquarters, the respective winners were presented with their cheques.
Personal Banking Manager Jewsuan Edmondson related, “This promotion was designed to reward our customers for choosing GBTI. We are delighted to celebrate with
partnership with the auto dealers and customers.
GBTI in a release stated that the event highlighted the bank’s ongoing commitment to helping customers achieve their goals through flexible and affordable financing solutions. The bank, meanwhile, will continue to roll out promotions and initiatives that bring value and excitement to its clients across Guyana.
Twenty-eight families from West Bank Demerara in Region Three, as well as the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara in Region Four, are the latest beneficiaries of brand-new core homes provided through the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHUAP).
Funded by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), the AHUAP Core Homes Support Initiative is designed to provide safe and affordable housing for about 300 vulnerable households.
Beneficiaries were selected during the programme’s open application phase, which has since concluded.
To date, 176 homes have been handed over, including those presented on Tuesday. Each core home is 400 square feet and features two bedrooms, a kitchen area and washroom facilities.
Beneficiaries were re-
The Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Ministry on Wednesday announced the full operationalisation of Guyana’s Collateral Registry, a landmark development in advancing financial inclusion, transparency, and security within the country’s business environment.
The registry, established under the Security Interest in Movable Property Act, No. 20 of 2024, allows individuals and businesses to use movable property such as vehicles, equipment, inventory, consumer goods, farm products, petroleum or minerals, and receivables as collateral when seeking loans or credit.
According to the Ministry, the initiative was implemented in collabo-
quired to contribute $100,000 toward the construction – a small investment in a foundation for a better future.
Housing Minister Collin Croal reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring that all citizens have access to sustainable and affordable housing.
“Housing is not a luxury. It’s a right; a fundamental right.”
“Our commitment [is] that every Guyanese must have access to adequate housing, and to go with that, the improved living conditions, no matter the person’s background, their income or their circumstance,” he added.
In addition, Minister within the Ministry Vanessa Benn encouraged the families to take pride in maintaining their new homes, adding, “It is where you are starting afresh. You’re stepping up from your current circumstances, and it’s go-
ing to help you to build.”
She also noted that the homes were designed to allow for future expansion as families grow and their needs evolve.
Moreover, the Country Representative of the IDB,
Government to bridge housing gaps among low-income families.
She highlighted that the programme promotes not only access to safe homes but also supports broader socio-economic benefits and commended the Government for ensuring
Lorena Solórzano-Salazar, emphasised the IDB’s ongoing partnership with the
that no Guyanese is left behind in the national housing drive.
ration with the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, and the Commercial Registry to bring the Collateral Registry into full operation.
“With the system now active, banks, automotive
dealers, retail suppliers, and other credit-based businesses can register their security instruments directly through the Collateral Registry, facilitating more efficient, transparent, and enforceable credit transactions across Guyana’s finan-
cial sector. This will simplify lending processes and ensure that financial institutions and borrowers operate within a clear and reliable legal framework,” a missive from the Ministry stated.
Subject Minister Susan Rodrigues stated that the establishment of the registry marks another important milestone in the Government’s agenda to create a more inclusive, efficient, and modern financial system. She emphasised that the initiative forms part of the Government of Guyana’s broader efforts to improve access to credit, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women entrepreneurs, and vulnerable groups by expanding the range of assets that can be used to secure financing.
Meanwhile, for many recipients, homes represent a long-awaited new beginning.
Cindy Sookhoo shared that the new home will greatly improve her standard of living. “I am living […], at the back of the premises, but the home is falling apart.”
She said that the new home will provide a much-needed upgrade to her standard of living.
Another recipient, Sharon Shepherd, who has been living with relatives and friends, is happy to receive her own home. “I won’t have any more problems at nobody’s house or anything. I’m so happy I have my house to move in,” she shared while adding that she now looks forward to reuniting with her son, who is staying with another individual.
In addition, Lynette James noted that the home will make a meaningful difference for her and her sons.
“It will be a tremendous change because we will be
having our own little cosy home. So, I’m happy about it, and I know they too will be happy.”
The $5.8 billion AHUAP comprises three components: affordable and sustainable housing, consolidation of existing housing schemes, and institutional strengthening.
The initiative’s reach extends across Georgetown to Grove on the East Bank Demerara, Haslington on the East Coast Demerara, and several West Bank Demerara communities, including Westminster, Onderneeming, Recht-DoorZed, Lust-en-Rust, and Parfaite Harmonie Phase II. The Director of Community Development Gladwin Charles, Deputy Director of Community Development Donell Bess-Bascom, and staff of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) were also part of the handing-over ceremony on Tuesday.
Rodrigues also highlighted that this achievement represents a major milestone in the Government’s digital transformation agenda within the financial sector, reflecting its commitment to modernising systems, enhancing efficiency, and promoting greater accessibility to financial services across Guyana. As such, Rodrigues expresses her appreciation to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for its financial and technical
support in funding this important initiative and to consultants IOS Partners and Dr Tom Johnson for their outstanding technical assistance and collaboration in its successful implementation. Several other individuals were also thanked for their invaluable partnership, technical expertise, and commitment to implementing this transformative reform, which benefits citizens, businesses, and financial institutions across the country.
By Raywattie DeonaRine
Residents of Vilvoorden, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), are appealing for urgent intervention as they grapple with severe dust pollution allegedly caused by the Hack’s Rice Mill, which is registered as Vilvoorden Rice Investment Inc.
The constant piling of black, dusty residue after the rice milling process has made daily living unbearable for the residents in
close proximity, especially during the dry season.
Thick layers of black dust coat their homes, windows, and surroundings, and despite cleaning several times a day, the dust keeps reappearing.
The situation has reportedly worsened in recent weeks, with the dry conditions amplifying the spread of the residue. Families have expressed concern over potential respiratory issues and other health risks linked to prolonged exposure.
As such, the residents are calling on authorities to intervene and for the businessman responsible to relocate the dust heap to a safer, more suitable area away from homes.
The Guyana Times spoke
with several residents who have all expressed deep frustration and anguish over what they describe as years of unbearable pollution caused by piles of paddy shells and burning residue from the rice mill.
Modiram Beepat, one of the affected residents, described the situation as devastating.
“This issue has touched the lives of everyone... This pollution caused by the rice factory in our community is harmful to our health, our homes, and the environment. For many years, we have lived peacefully in this area, surrounded by fresh air, clean water, and fertile soil. But since the owner piled up the paddy shale and then recently burnt it, our way of life has begun to
change.”
Beepat explained that thick smoke and dust rise daily from the paddy husk, turning the once clean drains and waterways murky and foul-smelling.
He noted that the smell of burnt rice, husk, and chemicals has become a constant part of residents’ daily lives, causing health problems, particularly for children and the elderly, including coughs, asthma, eye irritation, and skin allergies.
He added that the pollution has also affected animals, with cows unable to graze properly due to the dust-covered grass, and some animals dying as a result. Beepat emphasised that while the community understands the economic importance of the rice factory, development should not come at the expense of hu-
man health or the environment.
He stressed that residents are not asking for the factory to be closed, but rather, they are demanding changes that would allow them to breathe clean air and drink safe water.
Beepat further called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), and the Ministry of Health to conduct proper inspections and enforce environmental regulations.
He also urged the management of the factory to work collaboratively with residents to implement sustainable solutions, warning that silence would only worsen the problem.
He concluded that by uniting their voices, the community could make a positive difference not only for themselves but also for
future generations.
Additionally, eightyyear-old resident Sahidan also shared her struggles living opposite the rice mill. She noted that she has lived in Vilvoorden for over 60 years and has never experienced dust pollution of this magnitude.
She described having to clean her home daily, as dust covers the floors, furniture, and even her bedding, making it difficult to maintain hygiene. She added that the water quality has deteriorated, and managing the cleaning on her own has become nearly impossible, forcing her to spend much of her small pension just to cope.
Sahidan also expressed her frustration and fear, emphasising that the community simply wants to live in peace without being constantly burdened by the dust.
“I have lived here for 60 years now, and when the mill was here before, we never had dust like this. Now it’s dust every day, every day. We have to clean every day. An old lady like me has to clean. The water isn’t good; the dust is everywhere on the floor, on the bed, on everything. I have to spend my little pension money just to keep cleaning. I alone
can’t manage. How long will we live like this? We want to live in peace now,” she said.
Another resident, Abdool Shameer, related that the issue of dust pollution has been around for years, but recently it has become unbearable. He noted that he has been highlighting the issue publicly, including on social media, to raise awareness about the plight of his community and neighbouring villages.
“This is not a new situation. It has been here for many years. If you check my Facebook page, you’ll see how long I’ve been highlighting this plight not only in Vilvoorden but also in nearby villages,” a frustrat-
ed Shameer stated.
He further expressed frustration that the authorities have not taken meaningful action. He observed that the mill operator showed no intention to resolve the issue and that the problem seems to be tolerated because many residents are elderly or widows who are unlikely to rebel. He warned that if such pollution occurred elsewhere, it would have provoked significant public outcry.
“It is clear there is no intention by the operator of this mill to fix anything. And it’s as if this is being allowed to happen. Many residents here are elderly or widows, and maybe that’s why this continues because no one is rebelling. If this were happening anywhere else, chaos would have broken loose. But here we are, suffering silently.”
He added that residents have tried every possible avenue to address the issue, including going public on social media, but no action has been taken. The continuous dust has caused health problems and stress, and residents have even been verbally abused by the mill operators.
“We’ve reached out to everyone. We’ve gone public on social media. Even though our posts went viral, nothing is happening. People are getting sick. Some residents have gone mentally ill from the stress and the constant cleaning. And on top of that, the owners verbally abuse us; they call our women names. How much more can we take?” Shameer
questioned.
He warned that the community’s patience is running out while adding that the ministers had previously promised to address the situation by April 2024, but as 2025 draws to a close, the situation has worsened.
He insisted that if authorities fail to act, the residents will take matters into
their own hands to protect their community. Long-time resident Daood Baksh, who has lived in the community for over 40 years, said he is now suffering from serious health complications due to the dust.
“Four years now this has been affecting us. Last Ramadan, I had to be rushed to Suddie Hospital emergency; the doctor said I have a lung problem because of the dust. Recently, one of my neighbours died from the same problem. My wife is seriously ill; she can’t sleep, she can’t breathe properly, and she’s mentally breaking down,” Baksh lamented.
The Regional Security System (RSS) Biannual Security Chiefs Meeting was held in St Lucia from October 20–21, 2025, to address evolving regional security challenges and formulating collaborative, actionable strategies in response.
Chief of Defence Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Omar Khan, joined Executive Director of RSS, Rear Admiral Errington Shurland, and security chiefs from RSS member states and regional and international partners for the two-day forum.
Discussions during the event centred on enhancing cooperation in key areas, including the fight against illicit drug trafficking, transnational crime, border security, maritime domain awareness,
Amonth after being summoned by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) for “reprehensible and deeply offensive” comments made on social media by Jennifer Ally, targeting the deceased Adriana Younge and her family, she is once again hauled in by the relations body.
The ERC on Wednesday stated, “The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) notes with deep concern the recent racially charged statements circulated on social media by Ms Jennifer Ally, who was previously cautioned for similar conduct.”
The commission noted
that such comments are divisive, offensive, and contrary to the spirit of respect and harmony that the commission continues to advocate across all communities in Guyana.
As such, the ERC reminds all citizens that freedom of expression carries with it the responsibility to ensure that public statements, particularly those made online, do not inflame ethnic tensions or undermine social cohesion.
Article 146 (3) of the Constitution of Guyana states that freedom of expression “…does not relate to hate speeches or other expressions, in whatever form, capable of exciting hostility
or ill-will against any person or class of persons.”
As such, Ally is required to appear before the Commission today, October 23, 2025, to respond to these renewed allegations of racially insensitive remarks.
The ERC noted that failure to comply with this summons will result in the Commission taking appropriate action as provided for under the relevant laws of Guyana.
Back in June, Ally had issued a recorded apology to the Younge’s family for the racial comment she had made. At that time, the ERC had stated, “The Commission expressed its dismay that during a time of mourning, such vile and hateful expressions were publicly shared, further inflicting pain on a family already burdened by tragic loss.”
The ERC reiterates that racial hostility in any form has no place in Guyanese society while adding that it will continue to encourage citizens to use social media responsibly, to speak out against intolerance, and to promote messages that build unity rather than division.
The ERC, meanwhile, stated that it remains committed to fostering a society where mutual respect and understanding form the foundation of national harmony.
and disaster response coordination.
The meeting also served as a platform for reviewing ongoing joint initiatives and exploring new opportunities to strengthen operational effectiveness across the region.
Brigadier Khan’s participation reaffirmed the Defence Force’s commitment to regional collaboration in safeguarding the Caribbean’s stability, security, and resilience.
The RSS Biannual Security Chiefs Meeting continues to play a vital role in reinforcing unity among member states and ensuring the region’s security framework remains agile and responsive to both traditional and emerging threats.
He added that the situation has become unbearable and is calling on authorities for immediate intervention.
“We are begging the authorities; we are dying from this dust. I can’t work; I have to look after my wife, cook, wash, and care for animals, and our house is full of dust every day. They even charged a resident for throwing away some dust, but the owner who’s giving us this dust every day walks free. This is injustice. We need urgent action,” he stressed.
Another resident, Mohamed “Chabby” Mohamed, who operated a small food business, said he was forced to shut down due to contamination concerns.
“I own a small snackette, selling things like pholourie and egg balls, but I had to close three months ago. I can’t open because the dust would get into the food, and that’s dangerous for customers. I lost my daily income. Every day, I have to clean and wipe, but I can’t manage anymore.”
The residents of Vilvoorden say they are not opposing the rice industry but are calling for responsible practices that protect their health and environment. They want immediate relocation or proper disposal of the paddy husk piles and enforcement of environmental standards. As their voices grow louder, they hope their
cries will finally be heard before their once-peaceful village is completely engulfed in dust and despair.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Kemraj Parsaram, on Monday told sections of the media that the agency has been actively addressing the issue and that the matter is now before the court.
Among the immediate directives issued by the EPA is the removal of large heaps of paddy husk stored on the mill’s compound –one of which is reportedly on fire, causing thick plumes of smoke to affect nearby residents.
...innovation will boost yields, lower costs, and modernise
Guyana’s rice industry is set for a major transformation with the introduction of Nano Urea Fertiliser – a development that Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha has hailed as a game changer, promising lower production costs, improved soil health, and higher yields nationwide.
Speaking at the Rice Research Station at Burma, Mahaicony, Mustapha said the new fertiliser represents another milestone in the Government’s effort to modernise agriculture and equip farmers with cutting-edge technology.
“This partnership between the GRDB [Guyana Rice Development Board] and the Government of Guyana to launch this product will be a game-chang-
er for the industry... We must change the way we do things. If we can do that, we will have better yields, better production, and larger profit margins.”
He pointed out that the nano fertiliser’s advantages, including reduced input costs, ease of transportation, and environmentally friendly application, will help the sector remain competitive regionally and internationally.
Guyana’s rice production has grown steadily, from 559,789 tonnes in 2021 to 725,282 tonnes in 2024, with projections to reach 820,000 tonnes by the end of 2025. Mustapha credited this growth to the Government’s sustained investment in agricultural research and innovation.
“This launch reflects our Government’s belief that
farmers must benefit first from innovation... We are modernising agriculture to enhance productivity and lower costs.”
He also announced plans to establish a local fertiliser plant, which would further
cut expenses for farmers and strengthen national food security.
Under the leadership of President Dr Irfaan Ali, Guyana continues to play a leading role in CARICOM’s initiative to reduce the re-
The Government of Guyana, through the Health Ministry, has begun administering Gardasil 9 vaccines to children between the ages of nine and 15 as part of its expanded immunisation programme, aimed at reducing the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and cervical cancer nationwide.
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony announced that the vaccine rollout began about two months ago, marking a significant advancement in the country’s ongoing fight against cervical and other HPV-related cancers.
HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection responsible for the majority of cervical cancer cases worldwide. In addition to cervical cancer, the virus has also been linked to penile and anal cancers, which is why the vaccination campaign will include both boys and girls.
According to Dr Anthony, Gardasil 9 offers protection against nine strains of HPV, compared to the previous tetravalent vaccine that tar-
geted only four.
“We are starting to give this vaccine to children between ages nine and 15. And up until recently, we were using what we call a tetravalent vaccine. That’s a vaccine that is aimed at four strains of this virus, and four of the strains that cause the most cases of cervical cancer... And we are targeting both boys and girls. Now you might ask, why is it that we are giving it to boys? Well, we are giving it to boys because HPV can also cause penile cancer. HPV can cause anorectal cancer. So that is why we want to make sure that both sexes are protected using the HPV vaccine.”
He further noted that Guyana is now among a select few countries globally – and the only one in the Caribbean – to introduce the 9-valent Gardasil vaccine into its national immunisation schedule. Outside of the region, the vaccine is primarily available in the United States (US), Canada, and Panama.
He emphasised the high cost of the vaccine, highlighting that Guyana’s deci-
sion to offer it free of charge represents a major investment in public health and cancer prevention.
“But Gardasil 9 is a very expensive vaccine. In the US, Gardasil 9 would cost US$360 for one dose. Right? So, if you do the math, you can convert that into Guyanese dollars. You would see how much money that is really costing. About two months ago, the Government of Guyana was
laboratory across the country.
Each voucher is valued at approximately $8000 but is distributed free of cost to women across Guyana. So far, about 19 per cent of those tested through the voucher programme have returned positive results for HPV, enabling the Ministry to provide early medical intervention.
Dr Anthony urged community leaders and health
able to bring in Gardasil vaccines so that we can immunise our children using Gardasil 9. And that is now available free of cost.”
“But there is no Caribbean country that is currently able to offer Gardasil 9 to their population. We have offered that to our population. So, we have the best vaccine on the market available to our children, ages nine to 15. So, we want you to talk to parents and children, telling them the importance of getting these kids vaccinated,” the Minister added.
While encouraging parents to ensure their children are vaccinated, Dr Anthony also stressed the importance of early screening and diagnosis for various forms of cancer. He pointed to ongoing efforts to promote the use of HPV screening vouchers for women, which allow recipients to undergo free testing at any accredited
advocates to help spread awareness and encourage the use of both the HPV vaccine and screening vouchers.
“The Government last year started another programme where we are giving women an HPV voucher,” he said. “You can use that voucher to do an HPV screening, and with that screening, we are able to know if someone is positive and what strain of the virus they have. The doctors and nurses can then offer the right types of treatment.”
“While we have these mammography machines and screening programmes, we need to work with people in the community to raise awareness so that more people can come and get tested,” he said. “All of this is free –the equipment is there, the people are there to provide the service – but if people don’t show up, then we are not going to change outcomes.”
gional food import bill by 25 per cent by 2030.
“Agriculture is central to food security not only for Guyana but for the region. With continued support and innovation, our farmers will help make the 25 by 2030 target a reality.”
Nano fertiliser is a product of India and signals the collaborative efforts of the two Governments toward ensuring food security. India has committed to providing technical support and other assistance to boost Guyana’s agricultural industry.
Speaking at Tuesday’s event, Director of the Industrial Energy Efficiency Division at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Dr G R Narsimha Rao, said the company is grateful to the Government of Guyana and the Minister of Agriculture
for their unwavering support in advancing innovative technologies within the agricultural sector.
He noted that Guyana has expressed its readiness to establish a local production facility, which will ensure a sustainable and continuous supply of nano fertilisers (including nano urea) in Guyana.
“The introduction and use of Nano Power Nano Urea mark a transformative step toward sustainable farming. With each application, our farmers are not only embracing smart agriculture but are also actively contributing to the goals of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 and the global fight against climate change,” he said.
(Andrew Carmichael)
Some 27 errant motorists were, on Wednesday, slapped with several traffic-related charges following a “Traffic Enforcement Exercise” along the new Little Diamond access road and Heroes Highway, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
Police stated that traffic ranks attached to Regional
As such, charges were instituted. These include sev-
en for the prohibition of tinted glass, four for obscured ID marks, five for breach of prescribed fitness, two for failing to wear a safety helmet, one for breaching a provisional licence, one for having no reflector mirror, one for being an unlicensed driver, one for breaching insurance, one for driving an uncertified motor vehicle, two for riding a motorcycle without a safety helmet, and two for a rider carrying a pillion rider without a safety helmet. The errant drivers are expected to make their court appearance shortly.
Cuba has arrested an alleged Chinese fentanyl kingpin who escaped custody in Mexico in July and is also wanted by the United States (US), Mexican security sources told AFP on Wednesday.
Zhi Dong Zhang, known by the alias “Brother Wang” and with alleged ties to Mexico’s Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation drug cartels, will remain in Cuba awaiting a decision on his possible extradition, the sources added.
Zhang escaped from house arrest in Mexico earlier this year while awaiting extradition to the US, where a warrant has been issued
for his arrest on money laundering charges.
Zhi Dong Zhang is considered “a major international money laundering operator” responsible for “establishing connections with other cartels for the transfer of fentanyl from China to Central America, South America, Europe, and the United States,” Omar Garcia Harfuch, Mexico’s security secretary, said last year.
Washington under Donald Trump has been applying pressure on Mexico and China to curb drug trafficking, particularly of fentanyl, the powerful painkiller behind an overdose
epidemic in the US.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more powerful than heroin and much easier and cheaper to produce.
It has largely replaced heroin and prescription opioids like oxycodone as a cause of overdoses in the US.
Although Mexico has been the main source of fentanyl sold in the US, Washington has increasingly focused its attention on China-based suppliers of precursor ingredients.
Communist Cuba has not officially commented on the reported arrest. (The Guardian)
Argentina’s Foreign Minister, Gerardo Werthein has presented his resignation, Argentina’s presidential office said on Wednesday, marking the second departure from that role under the nearly two-year-old Administration of President Javier Milei.
It was not immediately clear why Werthein stepped down or who would replace the South American nation’s top diplomat, who previously served as Ambassador to the United States.
The announcement comes days before a key legislative election on Sunday, in which Milei’s libertarian party is hoping to grow its minority presence to safeguard his strategy of steep funding cuts and austerity to improve Argentina’s economy.
Local newspaper La Nacion reported that Werthein had been expected to leave office after Sunday’s vote, but he instead presented his resignation on Tuesday night.
Werthein held the post for close to a year, taking over from Milei’s first Foreign Minister, Diana Mondino, after she was fired for voting in favour of lifting the US embargo against Cuba at the United Nations. His resignation comes at a sensitive time for Milei, whose popularity over success in lowering inflation has been hit by public anger over the impacts of his
cuts, particularly on the old and disabled, and a recent Government corruption scandal.
Milei earlier this week said there would be a Cabinet shake-up after the midterm elections, which face increased scrutiny after Washington signalled that its financial support of Argentina could hinge on the results. (Excerpt from Reuters)
eru’s interim
PPresident Jose Jeri has declared a state of emergency in the capital, Lima, to stem a wave of protests that contributed to the recent downfall of his predecessor.
In a televised message on Tuesday, Jeri said the emergency in the city would last 30 days.
“Wars are won with actions, not words,” the President said, adding that he is planning a new approach to fighting crime that he described as going “from defence to offence”.
Al Jazeera’s Mariana Sanchez, reporting from
Lima, said the announcement comes after six days of uncertainty over whether the interim Government would push ahead.
In the decree formally declaring the emergency, the Government did not mention how it intended to gather critically needed intelligence to curb extortion cases, which are estimated at 18,000 this year, up 30 per cent from last year, Sanchez said.
The rise in extortions has also led to an increase in killings in recent years.
Between January and September, police authorities reported 1690 homi-
nited States (US) forces have struck another vessel alleged to be carrying drugs, this time in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Pentagon has confirmed.
According to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, two people on board the vessel were killed. No US forces were harmed.
The vessel was known to US intelligence and was believed to be carrying drugs along a known trafficking route in international waters, Hegseth added.
The strike marks the eighth US strike against suspected drug boats since September 2 – but the first in the Pacific.
In a leaked memo recently sent to US lawmakers, the Trump Administration said it determined it was involved in a “non-international armed conflict” with drug-trafficking organisations.
US President Donald Trump and Administration
J’ca:
officials have repeatedly justified the strikes as counter-narcotics measures necessary to fight drug-trafficking organisations, several of which have been designated as terrorist organisations by the US.
Citing a defence official, CBS has reported that the strike took place in international waters near Colombia.
On Sunday, Trump denounced Petro as an “illegal drug leader” who is “strongly encouraging the massive
production of drugs, in big and small fields, all over Colombia.”
Trump added that the US will no longer offer subsidies to Colombia, which has historically been one of its closest allies in Latin America.
To date, US officials have offered few details on the identities of those killed in the strikes or what drug trafficking organisations they allegedly belong to. (Excerpt from BBC News)
ducation Minister
EDana Morris Dixon has urged schools to make preparations to shift classes online as the country braces for a potential impact of Tropical Storm Melissa this weekend.
Morris Dixon, who was speaking during a special press briefing held on Wednesday in preparation for Tropical Storm Melissa, explained that some 798 of the schools across Jamaica will be designated as national shelters.
“Many of our schools are
used as designated shelters. 798 schools across Jamaica are among the 881 that Mr [Evan] Thompson spoke about earlier, and so our schools are definitely going to be mobilised in particular areas, we believe, and so in terms of schools, what we are saying to our schools at this point is that they need to make preparations to potentially go online,” the Education Minister said.
While acknowledging that not all communities will have access to the internet, she urged schools to prepare work
materials for students to prevent learning gaps.
“We understand also that not every community has internet access in that way, and that’s really why for us in the Ministry we don’t like closing schools because some students are really very disadvantaged, but the safety of our students and everybody is of utmost importance,” she said.
The Minister committed to providing an update on whether schools will remain open on Thursday. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)
Vcides, compared with 1502 during the same period of 2024.
“The state of emergency will lift constitutional rights, and people will not be able to protest,” Sanchez said.
Dina Boluarte was removed as President by Peru’s Congress on October 10 after an impeachment during which lawmakers said she had been unable to tackle the crime wave. Jeri, the Parliament speaker, replaced her immediately and will serve as interim President until July next year. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
enezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez is warning that the United States is “deceiving” Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar over the new licence for exploration of the Dragon gas field.
Speaking during the Venezuela Productiva 2025 Business Expo forum in Caracas on Wednesday, Rodriguez made it clear that T&T must pay for Venezuela’s gas.
“The Prime Minister is heading off a cliff by believing that (US Secretary of State) Marco Rubio can give them Venezuelan gas. They have to pay for Venezuelan gas. Any molecule exported has to be paid for; that’s international cooperation, those are natural trade rela-
tions,” Rodriguez said.
She stressed that all of Venezuela’s gas must be paid for in accordance with international cooperation and trade agreements and solely through Venezuela’s Bolivarian Government.
She added, “They (the Americans) are deceiving them (T&T) and they are going to leave them hanging. It is not Marco Rubio, but Venezuela who will give you the gas you need, T&T.”
She also indirectly threatened T&T, cautioning that the country’s economy will “collapse” if Venezuela does not conclude a deal with Port-of-Spain.
“If Venezuela doesn’t export gas to Trinidad, that country’s economy will collapse and it will impact the
Caribbean. Marco Rubio is selling pregnant birds to the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.”
On a trip to the United States in early October, Persad-Bissessar met with Rubio and was assured the US Treasury Department would issue a new Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) licence to explore the Dragon gas field on condition that the Nicolás Maduro regime does not benefit.
Rubio acknowledged the significance of the Dragon gas plan to T&T’s economic prosperity and regional stability, noting that US support would include steps to safeguard the project’s implementation. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)
Oil prices extended gains after settlement on Wednesday, rising by more than US$2 a barrel after United States (US) Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said more US sanctions targeting Russia would be announced.
Brent crude futures jumped US$2.44, or 3.98 per cent, to US$63.76 after settlement at 15:44h EDT, and US West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed US$2.42, or 4.23 per cent, to US$59.66.
Brent futures settled US$1.27, or 2.07 per cent, higher at US$62.59 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed US$1.26, or 2.20 per cent, to US$58.50.
Bessent said the US sanctions would be announced on Wednesday or Thursday.
"We are going to either announce after the close this afternoon or first thing tomorrow morning a substantial pickup in Russia sanctions," Bessent told reporters at the White House on Wednesday.
Oil prices were also supported by growing US energy demand.
US crude oil, gasoline and distillate inventories fell last week as refining activity and demand strengthened, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.
Crude stocks fell by 961,000 barrels to 422.8 million barrels last week, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.2 million-barrel rise.
"Very impressive for shoulder season," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with Price Futures Group. "It shows the demand side of the equation of oil is robust, and the supply numbers are not suggesting this oil glut, at least here in the US." (Excerpt from Reuters)
The Louvre failed to spot a gang of thieves early enough to stop the theft of €88 million (£76 million) worth of French crown jewels, the museum's director has revealed.
The only camera monitoring the exterior wall of the Louvre where they broke in was pointing away from the first-floor balcony that led to the Gallery of Apollo housing the jewels, she said.
Her words gave an extraordinary insight into the difficulty of securing the world's most visited museum and how bad its security really was.
The CCTV system outside the Louvre was "very unsatisfactory", she said, and inside, some areas were simply too old to adapt to modern technologies.
Des Cars, who became director of the Louvre in 2021, said she wanted to double the number of CCTV
cameras.
She said she was warned about how "obsolete" the equipment at the Louvre was when she took the job, in contrast to the modern equipment of the Musée d'Orsay, where she had worked previously.
Some of the senators she faced at Wednesday's hearing expressed incredulity at the Louvre's security, asking why there was just one camera – on the external wall facing the river – and why it was pointing the wrong way.
"There is a weakness at the Louvre, and I acknowledge it completely," des Cars told the senators.
Some of the museum's problems she raised at the hearing included cuts in surveillance and security staff over the past decade and decaying infrastructure that could not handle the latest generation of video equipment. (Excerpt from BBC News)
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued an advisory opinion saying that Israel must support United Nations (UN) relief efforts in Gaza, including those conducted by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), regarding Israel’s legal responsibilities towards UN agencies and other international organisations operating in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The court found that Israel’s allegations against UNRWA – including that it had been complicit in the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel – were unsubstantiated.
“The court finds that Israel has not substantiated its allegations that a sig-
nificant part of UNRWA’s employees are ‘members of Hamas … or other terrorist factions’,” said ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa.
The court also said that
Israel, as the occupying power, had to ensure that the “basic needs” of the Palestinian population of Gaza were met, “including the supplies essential for survival”, such as
food, water, shelter, fuel, and medicine.
Israel was also able to use the accusation to effectively ban the agency from the enclave – as well as the occupied West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem – in January of this year, forcing Gaza’s population to rely even further upon Israel for the food, aid and resources needed to sustain life.
According to a statement issued by UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini in the wake of what he called the ICJ’s “unambiguous“ ruling, Israel “is under an obligation to agree to and facilitate relief schemes provided by the United Nations and its entities, in particular UNRWA”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
ABritish woman will avoid execution for drug smuggling in Indonesia under an agreement between the two nations to repatriate her and another Briton serving a life sentence.
Lindsay Sandiford, 68, has been imprisoned in Bali since 2012. She was arrested at the resort island’s airport after authorities found 3.8 kilograms (kg) of cocaine worth US$2.5 million hidden in the lining of her suitcase. During the trial, she said she was forced to carry the drugs by a gang that threatened her children.
She was sentenced to die by firing squad, and Indonesia’s highest court upheld it in 2013.
Another prisoner,
Shahab Shahabadi, 35, has been serving a life sentence since 2014. He was arrested in Jakarta as a result of an investigation
into an international drug trafficking network. He had previously sent 30 kg of methamphetamine powder in several shipments
from Iran to his partner for distribution in Jakarta before finally arriving in Jakarta himself, prosecutors said.
“Both of them are facing problems. The first one is ill and has been examined by a doctor from the British Consulate in Bali. She is seriously ill and is 68 years old,” said Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Yvette Cooper. She signed the repatriation agreement with Indonesia’s senior law Minister, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, on Tuesday. Mahendra said the transfer of the prisoners will take place after both countries have completed technical and administrative steps. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
Russia said on Wednesday it had conducted a major training exercise involving nuclear arms, and the United States (US) appeared poised to announce new sanctions against Moscow, a day after plans for a summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin were put on hold.
The Kremlin released a video showing General Valery Gerasimov, head of the General Staff, reporting to Putin on the drills. Russia said it fired missiles from ground launchers, submarines and aircraft, including intercontinental ballistic weapons capable of striking the US. In a further show of strength, Russia's Defence Ministry said its long-range Tu-22M3 strategic bombers
At key moments in the war in Ukraine, Putin has issued reminders of Russia's nuclear might as a warning to Kyiv and its Western allies. NATO has also been conducting nuclear deterrence exercises this month.
In Washington, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters that more US sanctions targeting Russia will be announced on Wednesday or Thursday. He called it a "substantial pickup in Russia sanctions".
states.
Russia and Ukraine pounded each other with heavy overnight missile attacks as renewed uncertainty enveloped the US-led peace effort. (Excerpt from Reuters)
The help you offer others will position you for advancement. A partnership, financial gain, or positive news is heading your way. Dealing with legal, institutional, or secret matters will put your mind at ease and bring you one step closer to your goal. Update your appearance, and it will boost your confidence.
A force play will lead to a change in direction or a chance to try something new and exciting. Think big, speak up, and do the legwork necessary to follow through with your plans. It’s up to you to seek out opportunities and pursue the goals that excite you the most.
Let your mind wander and your imagination lead the way. Turn your ideas into something tangible. Persistence will pay off, and thorough research will ensure that you follow the necessary protocol to make things happen. Join interest groups, and you’ll connect with someone who can help you expand your dreams. Let your charm lead the way.
Apply for a new position, diversify how you utilise your skills, experience, and knowledge, and you will discover new opportunities that can help you advance financially. Shoot for the stars and you won’t be disappointed. A passionate approach will draw positive attention and support. Trust your instincts, and forward-thinking will ensure you outmanoeuvre the competition.
Take greater interest in what’s going on behind closed doors. Pay attention to domestic issues and partnerships. Be open to discussions, and do your best to resolve problems before they spin out of control. Gather the facts and offer the truth, and you’ll discover a workable solution. Make your way forward with love and compassion.
It’s all in how you approach others. Communication is the key to getting things done on time and with perfection. Resolve and establish financial matters, contracts, and investments. Mix business with pleasure, and it will give you the inside scoop on how to get others to see things your way.
Pay attention to domestic issues and make changes to offset any negativity you face at home. Learn from past mistakes, and turn a wrong into a right. Share your feelings, and you’ll gain trust and respect from someone who matters to you. Honesty is the way to victory and new beginnings. Self-improvement and romance are favoured.
Give a little, take a little, and watch your life turn into a masterpiece. Please don’t deny yourself stardom when it’s your turn to shine. Embrace conflicts with optimism and enthusiasm, and you will outshine anyone who tries to outmanoeuvre you. Take a chance on you, instead of buying into someone else’s dreams, hopes, and wishes.
Question your own and others’ motives. A change of heart can alter your perspective regarding shared expenses or how you earn your living. Listen attentively and you’ll gain insight into how to handle matters. Keep your secrets hidden until you feel safe sharing your intentions and feelings. A home investment, commitment, or lifestyle change is favoured.
Take better care of yourself physically. Pace yourself and avoid excess. The help you offer others must be within reason and provide something in return. A partnership looks promising if you communicate openly and come up with a fair and budget-friendly deal that benefits everyone. Take your time; a premature decision will fall short.
Keep your thoughts and intentions to yourself. Someone will pry into your life, background, or qualifications. Put your time and effort into your home, personal life, and health. It’s best to isolate if you want to get things done. Personal growth, gain, and self-improvement are in your best interest. Choose peace and love over chaos.
Take the initiative and make plans to socialise, participate, and learn all you can. Knowledge and interaction will help you gain acceptance and connect with people as enthusiastic and creative as you. Put your best foot forward, learn as you go, and make things happen. Invest time and money in you and your future.
Pakistan are effectively 23 for 4 after South Africa's lower order flipped the script and gave them a 71-run first-innings lead in Rawalpindi.
Senuran Muthusamy and Kagiso Rabada both walked away with batting career bests –Rabada with the first 50 of his Test career, off just 38 balls – as Pakistan ran out of answers against the tail. For the first time in the series, the hosts find themselves chasing the game.
Muthusamy will get fewer plaudits than Rabada, whose innings was studded with sexy hits straight down the ground, but deserves all the praise. He held South Africa together after they lost 4 for 50 in the morning session and looked certain to take a deficit into the second innings.
Muthusamy shared a 71-run stand with fellow left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj and a 98-run partnership with Rabada and, on a deteriorating pitch, has given South Africa a big advantage. It is only the second time both the ninth and tenth wickets have put up stands of more than 50 and the first since the Adelaide Test in 1998.
Pakistan were clearly stunned by the late assault, as their spinners were blunted, Shaheen
one powerful pull. He is one run away from a 30th Test 50 and the first at home since his century against New Zealand in December 2022. Alongside him is Mohammad Rizwan, unbeaten on 16, with Salman Agha the last recognised batter to come.
All that may overshadow the 38 reasons Pakistan
his fourth ball and got a thin edge, which Mohammad Rizwan gleefully pouched.
Stubbs, who was on 68 overnight, was back in his defensive shell and added just eight runs to his score before being trapped in the crease by a quicker Asif ball that hit him on the pad. Asif struck again in his next over, when Harmer
proactively but offered plenty of chances. He was dropped by Imam-ul-Haq at silly mid-off in what was a tough chance akin to Tony de Zorzi, which dismissed Babar on day two, then could have been stumped off Asif as he charged down, but Rizwan was unsighted and could not react in time and then offered Asif a re-
had to celebrate when Asif Afridi, on debut, became the oldest man to take a Test five-for in his first match.
Asif's fifth wicket was that of Simon Harmer, when South Africa were 210 for
missed a reverse sweep and was pinned in front of the middle stump.
Muthusamy, who had been at the crease from the first over of the morning, looked fairly comfortable
turn chance that he could not hold on to. Muthusamy decided to live dangerously too and swung across the line to hit Sajid high over the keeper. Salman ran back but could not get to the
South Africa went to lunch 48 runs behind and most likely with a view to cutting the deficit to as little as possible but ended up doing much more. Three overs into the second session, Muthusamy got to his second Test 50, off 88 balls, and three overs after that lost Maharaj. Encouraged by his ability to charge down, Maharaj did it one too many times as Noman flighted the ball and was stumped. At that stage, South Africa was still 27 runs behind.
Muthusamy reverse-swept Sajid in a shot that suggested he was going to accelerate in anticipation of the end. But Rabada had no intention of going anywhere quickly. He swung hard and sent Noman over his head for his first four, and the fun began. He slogswept Sajid for six and then hit Shaheen over long-on and just short of long-off for back-to-back boundar-
ies before taking six more off Sajid.
His 50 came with a touch of class as he guided Sajid through point, and then he tonked Agha over his head for another six. While Rabada went crazy, Muthusamy quietly collected runs to move into the 80s, and soon the race was on to see whether they could both get to three figures. Neither did Rabada, as he played one big shot too many and was caught at long-on to give Asif a six-for and South Africa a precious foot in front.
On a high from their batting effort, South Africa were quickly brought down to earth when Rabada started with a no-ball in an over that cost nine, but they pulled things back quickly. Harmer shared the new ball and spun it past Imam's inside edge onto his front pad. He was given out and reviewed but remained out on the umpire's call. In his next over, Harmer had Shan Masood stuck on the back foot as he tried to drive through mid-on and was also given out lbw. Masood reviewed too and lost the review as he was confirmed out. It was two wickets in two balls for South Africa as Rabada got Abdullah
South Africa 1st Innings
Aiden Markram (c) mc Saud
Shakeel b Sajid Khan 32
Ryan Rickelton c †Mohammad Rizwan b Shaheen Shah Afridi 14
Tristan Stubbs lbw b Asif Afridi 76
Tony de Zorzi lbw b Asif Afridi 55
Dewald Brevis c Agha
Salman b Asif Afridi 0
Kyle Verreynne † c †Mohammad Rizwan b Asif Afridi 10
Senuran Muthusamy not out 89
Simon Harmer lbw b Asif Afridi 2
Marco Jansen lbw b Noman Ali 12
Keshav Maharaj st †Mohammad Rizwan b Noman Ali 30
Kagiso Rabada c Abdullah Shafique b Asif Afridi 71
Extras (b 5, lb 4, nb 4) 13
Total 119.3 Ov (RR: 3.38) 404
Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Ryan Rickelton, 8.2 ov), 2-54 (Aiden Markram, 20.4 ov), 3-167 (Tony de Zorzi, 57.5 ov), 4-171 (Dewald Brevis, 59.3 ov), 5-185 (Kyle Verreynne, 65.4 ov), 6-204 (Tristan Stubbs, 73.4 ov), 7-210 (Simon Harmer, 75.5 ov), 8-235 (Marco Jansen, 84.4 ov), 9-306 (Keshav Maharaj, 99.6 ov), 10-404 (Kagiso Rabada, 119.3 ov)
was dropped off several edges. This time, loose defence took the edge, and Jansen at third slip took the catch. Pakistan were effectively -55 for 3, with two batters yet to score at the crease, and South Africa tried to close in. They burnt two reviews hoping to get Babar lbw, and both times he had inside-edged onto his pad, which only underlines the danger South Africa knew he posed. Babar showed glimpses of his classy best, timing Rabada through point, cutting Harmer over cover point and then advancing on Maharaj. He dominated a 44-run stand with Saud Shakeel, who laboured his way to 11 off 43 before edging Harmer to Markram at slip. Still, Pakistan were behind. They took the lead when Rizwan swept Muthusamy through backward square leg for his boundary, and the game really began. Babar and Rizwan saw out the day without further drama until Rizwan knocked the bails off on the last ball and South Africa appealed for hit wicket. The umpires called it a dead ball to end an action-packed day.
(ESPNCricinfo)
Indomitable Australia were at it again, this time with an unbroken 180-run stand between Annabel Sutherland and Ash Gardner which dug them out of early trouble and put them back into the top spot on the World Cup table with a six-wicket win against England.
It almost feels misguided to use the word "trouble" when it comes to an Australian side packed with so many gifted all-rounders and boasting such depth that someone, anyone, in their XI can always get the job done.
On Wednesday in Indore, where Australia lurched to 24 for 3 then 68 for 4, it was Sutherland and Gardner who proved so dominant in their pursuit of 245 that they inadvertently turned the closing stages into a battle over who would reach a century first.
Gardner did it, rocking back with intent to steer a Lauren Bell delivery to the boundary through deep
third. She'd romped there from 69 balls, yet three dot balls followed to give Sutherland the strike, with four runs needed for victory and five for her tonne.
Sutherland attempted a six off Sophie Ecclestone and miscued high over cover where Heather Knight spilt the chance. Though she got back on strike with a two, a subsequent single left her at the non-striker's end on 98, with Gardner hitting the winning boundary as Australia cruised to victory with 57 balls to spare.
Both had played their part with the ball too in restricting England to 244 for 9. Sutherland claimed three wickets and Gardner two, while leg spinner Alana King was instrumental in smothering England through the middle overs with a miserly eight-over spell. She yielded just 13 runs while claiming the big wicket of Nat SciverBrunt for just 7. King finished with 1 for 20 from 10. Tammy Beaumont found
form with the bat, but with out her half-century and a late charge by seventh-wick et pair Alice Capsey and Charlie Dean, England would have been worse off than defending a total that still looked sub-par against a side as strong as Australia. So it proved as Australia – missing injured captain, wicketkeeper and in-form batter Alyssa Healy – consigned England to their first defeat of the tournament.
After a best score of 32 from five innings at this World Cup, Beaumont stood up for England with 78, sharing a 55-run open-
cameo from No. 8, this time worth 26 from 27, as the pair put on 61 runs together.
It looked briefly like their efforts might have been good enough when new-ball duo Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith sent Australia reeling.
Bell's third ball was a gem which moved away from left-hander Phoebe
first over.
Healy pursed her lips and shook her head in the dugout as she watched a replay of her batting replacement, Georgia Voll, bottom-edging a slog-sweep off Smith onto off stump, losing her balance and toppling onto the ground into a backward somersault to complete the indignity.
Smith claimed her second with a simple return catch off Ellyse Perry's leading edge as she backed away from a shorter delivery, while stand-in skipper Beth Mooney was left chewing her top lip after she spooned Sophie Ecclestone to midwicket, where Sciver-Brunt took a sharp catch dive-rolling to her left.
Sutherland looked scratchy early in her rescue mission, but she settled into a rhythm, moving into the 40s with a powerful slog-sweep off Smith and clearing the covers off Dean for four to bring up her fifty. She then skipped down the
England reached 55 for 0 in eight overs, which was already their highest powerplay total of the tournament.
But Sutherland's introduction to the attack delivered instant rewards with a wicket maiden as she plucked out Jones, playing inside the line of a perfect ball on the top of off stump, and when Garth closed out the powerplay with her own maiden to Beaumont, Australia's mid-innings fightback was underway.
After a wise Australia review removed Knight,
read a Gardner delivery, advancing and heaving towards the leg side as the ball spun past the outside edge. Mooney whipped off the bails as she tried in vain to make her ground.
Capsey defied her lean run at No. 7 with back-toback fours off Sutherland, taking her past her previous best of 20 for this tournament. But when she was pinned on the pad by Molineux and Dean chipped Gardner to cover two balls later, Australia wrested back control.
(ESPNCricinfo)
The action intensified on Monday night as the second round of matches in the Berbice Football Association (BFA) Senior Men’s League took centre stage at the All Saints Ground in New Amsterdam, Berbice. With fans packed along the sidelines under floodlights, three competitive encoun-
ters delivered goals, grit, and standout individual performances.
In the opening game of the triple header, Paradise FC came from behind to secure a 2–1 win over Fyrish FC in a tightly contested battle. Fyrish drew first blood in the 21st minute through a well-taken goal by Keyshan Mingo, who
capitalised on a defensive lapse to slot the ball home.
However, the lead lasted just two minutes as Paradise responded swiftly. Anthony Lynch levelled the score in the 23rd minute with a composed finish, bringing the match to life.
After the break, it was Ronaldo Gorden who emerged as the hero for
Paradise, netting the goahead goal in the 46th min ute to complete the come back and seal their first win of the tournament.
Game two of the eve ning saw Ithaca FC put on a clinical early display to defeat Trabajar FC 2–1. Ithaca came out firing, with Garson Baker opening the scoring in the 7th minute. Just four minutes later, Niel Lonlton doubled their lead, finishing a swift counterattack that left Trabajar reeling.
Summersett, who bagged a brace in a commanding 2–0 win over Kildonan FC.
of packed 2026
The West Indies Women’s Senior Team has begun an intensive eight-week training camp in Antigua as they prepare for a landmark year in 2026, featuring six tours, 15 ODIs, a Test match and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
The camp, which started on 20 October, is designed to lay a strong foundation as the Maroon Warriors gear up for a demanding international schedule.
The regional side will start the year by hosting Sri Lanka in February, followed by an allformat home series against Australia in March and April.
In May, the squad travels to Ireland for a tri-series with the hosts and Pakistan before heading to England for the T20 World Cup. After the tournament, they return to Ireland for a bilateral ODI series in July. September and October will see the squad do battle against Zimbabwe in a whiteball-focused tour, before closing the year with another white-ball home series against Pakistan in December.
Approximately 20 senior squad members are in camp, with the goal of having the full group fully prepared by the end of the year to sustain peak performance, particularly for the World Cup.
The camp is structured around three pillars: strength
and conditioning, individual skill development, and team culture and leadership, with small-group coaching being put in place to ensure individualised attention and high-performance standards.
With the squad set to spend long stretches together in 2026, part of the camp’s focus is building a strong team environment and leadership depth. Mental Skills
Performance Coach Nadine Sammy will guide initiatives to unify goals and strengthen leadership across the group.
Head Coach Shane Deitz underscored the importance of this preparation window as the team looks to improve on their semi-final finish in the last T20 World Cup and chase its first title in a decade, in addition to achieving success across the various series.
"Individual skill development is the main focus," said Deitz.
"It’s also about getting our players focused on what they're here to achieve, push harder than they've ever pushed before, and maintain that motivation to train every day. We only get this one opportunity to do this period of training, and what we do now will determine our success next year.”
He added, “One area we've got to get right is our strength and conditioning and team fitness. We need fast, athletic
and robust cricketers who can play the style of cricket we want, entertain the crowds, put on a massive show and win lots of games, but also stay fit and healthy through a tough period.”
Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe spoke to the alignment of the camp with CWI’s long-term development focus:
“This is an example of the intentional investment being made in high performance across all levels of West Indies cricket. The aim is to take a very individual approach to player development, providing each
Though Trabajar found a lifeline in the 26th minute when Michael Williams pulled one back, Ithaca’s resolute defence held firm to secure all three points.
The final match of the night belonged to Cougars FC and their standout striker William
Summersett broke the deadlock in the 21st minute with a well-timed strike, and he doubled his tally in the 48th minute, capping off a confident display by the Cougars. Kildonan struggled to break down a disciplined Cougars defence.
Kildonan goalkeeper Shamar Emanuelson brought out his A-game to slow down a relentless Cougars attack.
Earlier, on Saturday
night, the tournament opened with Ithaca needling Fryish Black Sharks, while Paradise went on a goal spree to record a 4-1 win over Kildonan and Trafalgar, and Cougars played to a 2-2 draw. Action in the tournament continues on Friday with a doubleheader, when play moves to the Number Five Village Ground in West Berbice. The Cougars will take on Ithaca, and then Paradise will do battle with Trafalgar in an allWest Berbice affair. (G4)
Shai
GilgeousAlexander scored the winning points deep into double overtime as the Oklahoma City Thunder started their NBA title defence with a 125-124 victory over the Houston Rockets.
Last season's MVP scored 35 points, including two from the free-throw line with just 2.3 seconds remaining in the second overtime, to get the champions off to a positive start.
Houston's Alperen Sengun top-scored with 39 and also hit a career-high five three-pointers.
But Chet Holmgren, who scored 28 points for the Thunder, played a major role alongside
match-winner GilgeousAlexander.
"Grit, determination and defence," GilgeousAlexander said of their performance.
"We know that when we do it (on defence), we give ourselves a chance no matter what's going on –makes, misses, good luck or bad luck. We did enough defence to get the win. We're pretty rusty, but it's a good start."
Prior to the game, Oklahoma's championship banner was raised at their home court, while the players were presented with championship rings.
The Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers in last season's best-of-seven NBA Finals. It was their first title since the franchise moved in 2008 to Oklahoma City from Seattle, who had won the 1979 crown. The Pacers will have the chance to secure some early revenge on Friday when they host Oklahoma, while the Rockets return to action on the same day at the Detroit Pistons.
Elsewhere, a huge effort of 43 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists from Luka Dončić was not enough to prevent his new team, the Los Angeles Lakers, from falling to a 119-109 defeat against the Golden State Warriors.
Jimmy Butler picked up 31 points, and Stephen Curry added 23 for the visiting Warriors.
The Lakers were without the NBA's all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, as he recovers from sciatica. (BBC Sport)
It was a busy weekend at the Pegasus Suites and Conference Centre in Kingston, Georgetown, for the heads of the Caribbean’s National Olympic Committees
(NOCs) as the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) hosted their General Assembly and Workshop in the land of many waters.
A plan that has been in the pipeline for quite some months, CANOC President Keith Joseph explained during an interview how they settled on Guyana as a host venue this year.
Joseph reflected, “When Guyana applied to host the event, we were pleased because over the last few years in particular, Guyana has made tremendous strides economically, and one of the areas in which Guyana has excelled is in sport, particularly in track and field. We’ve been looking at the performance of Guyana in the last three editions of CARIFTA Games and that has given Guyana a new impetus.”
to do is assist our members in building capacity, in preparing for succession planning so we have successive generations of leaders, and gender equity, and the foundation must be sport for all,” the CANOC President noted.
He went on to divulge, “The strategic plan is to take us to a pathway where we build our brand, where we engage in higher levels of communication among our members, and where we work together as members of the Caribbean sport fraternity to locate sport as a critical filler in national and regional development, and I think, if we do that, we will be as successful as any other nation.”
Responding to enquiries about Guyana’s growing potential in hosting events, the CANOC President recognised Guyana’s development, hailing it as a step toward Caribbean leadership.
“Not that Guyana has ever been bad in sport. It’s important for us to be able to showcase the development of our Caribbean countries. We are happy that we’ve seen Guyana come through some very difficult economic circumstances and have now taken their place, rightfully, among the sporting nations in the Caribbean,” he
Guyana’s National Under-17 Boys’ football team, the Junior Jaguars, will compete in Group H of the 2026 CONCACAF U17 Qualifiers, following the official draw on Tuesday
The tournament will take place from February 3 to 12, 2026, across six countries and include the participation of 34 CONCACAF Member Associations.
The tournament will follow the same format introduced in 2025, with a single round-robin stage. The 34 teams will be divided into eight groups, with each team playing every other team in its group once. At the end of group play, the eight group winners will qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The eight groups are as follows:
Group A: Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten
Group B: Panama, Nicaragua, Guadeloupe, Anguilla, Dominica
Group C: Haiti, Guatemala, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada
Group D: Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
Group E: United States, Dominican
Republic, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Group F: El Salvador, Curaçao, Cuba, Belize
Group G: Canada, Jamaica, Aruba, Cayman Islands
Group H: Honduras, Bermuda, Guyana, Suriname
Matches will be divided across venues in six nations; Honduras, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, Costa Rica, and Guatemala have been confirmed as hosts.
In the previous edition of the Concacaf Under-17 Qualifiers, played under the same format, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and the United States topped their respective groups to secure qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025.
Guyana’s run in the 2025 edition of the tournament was a history-making one, which saw the Junior Jaguars ending unbeaten against the likes of Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago with three draws and a win in their group stage.
Discussing the elements of their agenda over the weekend, which also included a financial management workshop hosted by the IOC, Joseph divulged some of their current objectives and aspects of their muchtalked-about “strategic plan”.
“In terms of our own regional development in sport, we believe that sport has a place as a strategic pillar in national development and, by extension, regional development. So, what we want
Joseph highlighted, “When we were here in January for the retreat, we had an audience with the President, and one of the things he was talking about was, ‘Is the private sector contributing enough to sport? Is it left only up to the Government, etc.? I know of Aliann Pompey, and when she has her meet, I know Kirani James came here. I’ve seen the development of the stadium, and I understand the plan to build more stadiums across Guyana. We can only have an improvement of what Guyana has done so far, and we believe that Guyana is now in a position, not just to help the leadership of the Caribbean locally.”
“You’ve had a history of scholars, alongside a history of sportspeople, and I think if we merge our academics with our sporting developments, Guyana can play a more important role in leading the Caribbean out of
the present state that we’re in,” he went on to opine. Meanwhile, Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr also graced the CANOC event over the weekend, delivering remarks. In his progressive presentation, Minister Ramson spoke on three thematic areas focusing on the shift of perspective towards Government collaboration and opportunities for the region in the dynamic global situation. Minister Ramson offered a sketch of Guyana’s evolving sports landscape and its vision for development. He interacted warmly with top sports leaders and commended the Executive Committee of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) for its proactive leadership and collaboration. The Minister emphasised that the Ministry and the GOA are working in close alignment to advance sport governance, athlete welfare, and international competitiveness, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening the Caribbean’s collective role in global sport. CANOC’s AGM and workshop began on Thursday last and concluded on Sunday.
The three-match One Day International (ODI) series between West Indies and Bangladesh is tied 1-1. All will be on the line in today’s final match, starting at 03:30h local time in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Shai Hope played a crucial innings in the second ODI, scoring an unbeaten 53. His knock kept the West Indies together and took the game deep. West Indies ended on 213-9 after 50 overs, tied with Bangladesh.
Captain Hope said it is important for the West Indies to learn from that match, especially in the batting department.
“We always keep the fans on the edge of the seats, very important for us to pull this game off. We thought that we could restrict them to 160-170;
guys played very well in the back end, and that happened.”
“Tough going once again, and really proud of the way the guys fought. It was a tricky chase, and we wanted to keep wickets in hand, just happy that we got over the line. Hopefully we can learn from this game, especially the batting innings, and look forward to the next game,” Hope said.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan described the second ODI as a new experience for his team. It was the first time in history that Bangladesh played a super over.
“It's a new experience (super over) for us; the boys played well. Mustafizur bowled really well (in the super over), and we would have been happy if we had won.”
The surface has been a hot topic for discussion, and Hasan admitted it was not the easiest for batting.
“It is not easy to bat on this surface, and Rishad scored some crucial runs for the team, and he has played really well. He is playing very confidently all the time. We don't have options for that final over (on bowling Saif), and we believed that if we could get one wicket, we can have the game.”
The Bangladesh skipper added, “If we had taken that catch (off the final ball of the game), we would have won. We are looking forward to the next game.”
After the final ODI, West Indies and Bangladesh will feature in three T20Is starting on Monday, October 27.
