Guyana Times - Tuesday, August 11, 2026 by Gytimes

Guyana, Caricom map out plans for P5 CARIFESTA 2027 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 6542

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026

Pres Ali proposes modern poultry hub, tourism, agro-processing push to drive jobs in Region 2 See story on page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Milk company to start producing mozzarella cheese in P15 Guyana Suriname threatens MV Canawaima with sailing ban; orders P16 safety fixes

Stop blocking fire hydrants – Fire Service P2 warns

CCJ President must NA man arrested Night outing car ends in be given latitude after torched, another vandalised tragedy as to lead Court – 2 friends die Guyana Bar Council in Eversham crash …condemns leak of Judges’ internal correspondence Mother of 1 Guyana extends found stabbed to death in condolences to Colombia Tuschen home as 7.4-magnitude quake kills at least 132

Page 16

Page 7

See story on page 13

Visa renewal applicants with prior medical care, including childbirth, must prove bills were paid – US Embassy See story on page 2

Better Hope man killed during fight with men on scooters P8

2 NEWS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Stop blocking fire hydrants Visa renewal applicants with prior medical care, including childbirth, must – Fire Service warns prove bills were paid – US Embassy

he United States (US) Embassy in Guyana is reminding visitor visa applicants, who previously received medical treatment in the US, including treatment related to childbirth, that they are required to provide evidence that their medical bills were fully paid. In a notice posted on its social media page, the Embassy said applicants reapplying for a visitor’s visa must submit documentation showing that all medical bills associated with their previous treatment in the US have been paid in full. Applicants must also provide evidence that they did not use US public insurance programmes, such as Medicaid, to cover the cost of their medical care. The Embassy encouraged applicants to gather the required documentation before submitting their visa applications. In the comment section, one social media user asked the embassy about what could happen if a person had not paid their medical bills in full or had used public assistance such as

Medicaid. The Embassy in response explained that US immigration law considers whether a visa applicant is likely to become a “public charge,” meaning primarily dependent on the US Government for support. It said visitors are expected to have sufficient financial resources to cover their trips, including any medical care they may require while in the US. According to the

Embassy, reliance on US public benefits for longterm subsistence or institutional care could affect future visa applications if it indicates that an applicant did not have the resources to support their stay as represented. The Embassy also advised people travelling to the US to purchase travel insurance before their trip to provide coverage in the event of a medical emergency.

he Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is urging residents, motorists, businesses and contractors to keep fire hydrants clear of vehicles, garbage, construction materials and other obstructions. The Service said fire hydrants are a critical source of water for firefighters during emergencies, and any obstruction can delay access to the water needed to combat fires. “Seconds matter during a fire emergency,” the GFS said, warning that blocked hydrants can result in valuable time being lost and may place property and lives at risk. The public is being advised not to park vehicles in front of or too close to fire hydrants, dump garbage or waste around them, or store construction materials and other objects nearby. The Fire Service is also reminding members of the pub-

lic not to tamper with, damage or misuse hydrants, and to ensure that they remain visible and easily accessible at all times. According to the GFS, under the Motor Vehicles and Road Safety Act, Chapter 51:02, it is illegal to park, stop or leave a vehicle

in a manner that blocks or interferes with access to a fire hydrant. The Service is therefore calling on members of the public to help keep hydrants accessible as part of efforts to improve fire response and community safety.

NEWS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENING

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, August 11 – 15:45h–17:15h and Wednesday, August 12 – 16:35h–18:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected during the day, followed by partly-cloudy skies at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius. Winds: East-North-Easterly to East-SouthEasterly between 2.23 metres and 4.02 metres.

Pres Ali proposes modern poultry hub, tourism, agro-processing push to drive jobs in Region 2

resident Dr Irfaan Ali has proposed the establishment of a modern poultry farming hub in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) as part of a plan to expand economic opportunities, create sustainable employment and develop agriculture, tourism and small businesses across the region. Speaking during community consultations at Good Hope and Suddie, Ali highlighted the number of residents already involved in backyard poultry farming and the challenges that can arise when such activities

with the potential for significantly increased production. Ali said the initiative is intended to address conflicts associated with backyard poultry farming while providing farmers with an opportunity to increase their earnings through modern production methods. The proposal is part of Government’s efforts to establish designated agricultural hubs, where farming activities can be concentrated and developed on a larger and more sustainable scale.

President Dr Irfaan Ali

High Tide: 15:48h reaching a maximum height of 2.48 metres. Low Tide: 09:18h and 21:36h reaching minimum heights of 0.62 metre and 0.72 metre.

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COMMODITIES Indicators Crude Oil

US$ $87.92/barrel

Change % +0.23

Rough Rice

$252.00/ton

-0.21

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$506.10/ton

+0.54

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$4410.50 $4312.60

$4412.50 $4435.90

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Bid/Ask

Community consultations along the Essequibo Coast, Region Two on Monday

are conducted on a small scale in residential communities. “In this whole area, the NDC (Neighbourhood Democratic Council), you may have about 40 people who are doing chicken in the backyard. Whether you’re doing 300, 400, or 500. And every day you’re in contact with a neighbour or somebody. Isn’t that true?” Ali said. He proposed bringing the farmers together in a designated poultry farming cluster, supported through the Guyana Development Bank (GDB), allowing them to expand production while maintaining ownership stakes in the operation. “We can take those same 40 persons, put them in a cluster under the Guyana Development Bank and have an area designated for poultry farming where they can do 25,000, all of them owning a stake in that without having these conflicts in the community and making more money with a modern way of doing poultry,” the President said. The proposed model would allow farmers to move away from individual backyard operations and towards a structured commercial system,

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026

guyanatimesgy.com

Views UN Secretary General candidate Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett presented her candidature to Liberian President Joseph Boakai during a meeting in Liberia, where she also engaged Foreign Affairs Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti and senior Ministry officials on her vision for a more agile, efficient and effective United Nations, multilateralism and the ongoing UN80 reform process (Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations/Facebook)

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

Clear the way for firefighters

he Guyana Fire Service’s latest appeal for residents, motorists, businesses and contractors to keep fire hydrants free from obstruction deserves more than passing attention and should be treated as a matter of public safety and civic responsibility. Fire hydrants are a critical part of the country’s emergency response infrastructure and during a fire, access to a reliable water supply can determine how quickly firefighters are able to contain flames and prevent further destruction. A vehicle parked over or too close to a hydrant, garbage dumped around it or construction materials left in its vicinity can create a serious obstacle at precisely the moment when every second matters. The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has correctly warned that blocked hydrants can result in valuable time being lost and may place lives and property at risk. Such a warning should not require repeated reminders. A fire emergency is already characterised by urgency, danger, and uncertainty. Firefighters should not also have to contend with avoidable obstacles created by members of the public. The issue is a concern about fire safety in Guyana at a time when the country continues to experience a troubling number of fires arising from various circumstances. Electrical faults, negligence, unsafe practices and other causes have contributed to fire incidents, placing homes, businesses and other properties at risk. While not every fire can be prevented, the consequences can be reduced through responsible conduct, proper safety measures and effective emergency preparedness. The GFS has reminded developers and property owners that buildings three storeys or higher must be equipped with sprinkler systems as part of established fire safety requirements. Such requirements are intended to protect lives and property and should be viewed as essential safeguards rather than unnecessary regulatory burdens. Sprinkler systems provide an important first line of defence by automatically detecting high heat and releasing water to control, slow or extinguish a fire. For smaller residential and commercial buildings, the Fire Service recommends other measures, including fire extinguishers and smoke alarm systems. These requirements reflect the broader principle that fire safety begins before firefighters arrive at an emergency. The same principle applies to fire hydrants. A hydrant is useful only if firefighters can reach it quickly and connect the necessary equipment without having to remove vehicles, garbage, construction materials, or other obstructions. The legal position is also clear. Under the Motor Vehicles and Road Safety Act, Chapter 51:02, it is illegal to park, stop or leave a vehicle in a manner that blocks or interferes with access to a fire hydrant. Compliance, therefore, is not simply a matter of courtesy to firefighters. It is a legal obligation with direct implications for public safety. The GFS is also urging the public not to tamper with, damage or misuse hydrants and to ensure that they remain visible and easily accessible at all times. Businesses and contractors have a particular responsibility to ensure that commercial activities and construction work do not compromise access to emergency infrastructure. Greater attention is also required from property owners and residents. Garbage disposal, parking practices and the storage of building materials should be managed in a manner that does not interfere with emergency services. A few minutes spent moving an obstruction during normal circumstances can prevent critical delays during a fire. Support for the GFS must extend beyond expressions of appreciation for firefighters after major emergencies. Supporting the Service also means respecting the regulations and requirements established to help firefighters perform their duties effectively. Firefighters routinely enter dangerous environments to protect lives and property. Ensuring unobstructed access to hydrants is one practical way the public can assist those efforts. Compliance with sprinkler requirements, proper maintenance of fire extinguishers, installation of smoke alarms and responsible handling of electrical and other potential fire hazards are equally important components of a comprehensive fire prevention culture. Guyana’s increasing development and continued construction activity make adherence to fire safety standards even more important. Larger buildings require appropriate protection systems, while roads, commercial areas and residential communities require unobstructed emergency access. The growing number of fires should serve as a warning that fire prevention cannot remain an afterthought. Strong regulations are necessary, but regulations are effective only when followed. The Guyana Fire Service has a clear mandate to protect lives and property and that mandate deserves public cooperation. Keeping fire hydrants clear, complying with building safety requirements and adopting responsible fire prevention practices are simple and consequential measures.

AI, data-driven innovation in creative industries By Dr Fazal Ali

reative informatics sits at the intersection of the creative industries, digital, data, creative AI, commerce, the arts, culture, and heritage. In the Algorithmic Age, data-driven innovation can be as valuable as the creative product itself. Organisations and creatives in certain sub-sectors of the creative industries are mastering data-led approaches and innovating with data. Digital creative industries are a new hub of innovation, officially recognised as a priority Industrial Strategy Sector pivotal to development, job creation, and the strengthening of the global position of screen economies. Despite their scale and impact, Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes in some jurisdictions struggle to capture this new sector in its entirety. Private data and technology companies have addressed this planning gap by building Real-Time Industry Classifications that serve as Data-Driven Innovation Observatories. They offer bureaucracies a lucid, up-to-date view of Data Artists in the economy, where they are working, their projects, and independent performance metrics. Generative designers, data artists, creative informatics specialists, and creative technologists are the jobs of the future. Some creatives have even discovered that the data generated by their creativity is more valuable than the original business activity and have

pivoted to realise the “new” value in their data. In every moment, we produce a continuous string of data points that flow unhindered into data refineries, data lakes and data cooperatives, all sunk deep beneath a plethora of Apps. TikTok and Spotify are superb at remaining hidden in plain sight. Clicks on Spotify are not colourless. Clicks generate invaluable user data in real time. Spotify’s smart recommendation engine, seamless multi-device control, and rich social and mixing features allow users to discover and personalise streamed content using its “Discover Weekly and Release Radar.” Custom playlists can be updated weekly to match the user’s personal taste and discover new tracks. The AI Playlist and AI DJ allow users to generate custom playlists from text prompts. The Daylist is a dynamic playlist that matches your niche music tastes and microgenres to specific times of day, complete with quirky, AI-generated titles. Playback and Audio Quality allow you to seamlessly switch playback between devices without losing your place. The Lossless Audio feature enables Highresolution FLAC streaming up to 24-bit/44.1 kHz. Smart Mix and Transitions offer custom crossfades, gapless playback, and a mixing tool that fades tracks into one another like a pro DJ. Blend combines the musical tastes of up to 10 friends into a single shared, updating playlist. Jam is a real-time collaborative listening session for groups, whether you are

in the same room or miles apart. In-App Messaging allows listeners to share and react to songs, podcasts, and audiobooks directly inside the App. This is the infosphere that our children now inhabit. They are in a different world. Perhaps this is why we find it hard to understand them. Being ordinary is the worst outcome in the Intelligent Age. The rise of AI needs a proportionate increase in human creativity and innovation. As nations build hyperscale AI campuses and artificial life flourishes, we will crave “human-ness” even more. Brands will begin to embody lovable imperfections and blurred cultural identities. Data-driven innovation will shift from crafting expressions to architecting brand humanity. This means mastering AI, humanising brands, and driving innovation through digital technologies and data. Success will be a blend of cultural victories and creative informatics. Creative AI allows us to be more innovative than just generating shorts and reels. Big innovation can become data-driven. As AI perfects, humans must disrupt. Culture has consistently served as the arena for imagination, and now, AI is firmly established within our cultural métissage. All that remains is to explore AI culture even further. Creative Screen Economies differentiate between data and digitalisation. Digital includes the digitisation of creative practice, digital systems, and

digital skills. Data includes scraping, refining, and combining discrete data to create new data. Screen economies are not built for an endless stream of sameness. Resemblance exhausts consumer interest. Algorithms optimise for immediate needs, not for creating eternal brand adoration. Attachment is not desirable. Relationships are fluid. Liquid moderns crave impermanent bonds that are slack enough to prevent suffocation, but tight enough to provide security. The habitual sources of solace are less steadfast. Our deepest wish is to stop our connections with creative brands from curdling and clotting. But if we tilt the balance too far to freedom, we find ourselves desperate to belong. We want a contradiction; to be free and to be shielded at once. The nouveau embrace is tight but tentative. The curricula vitarum of liquid moderns are beautifully unstable, replete with short engagements and amazing experiences. This is at the heart of data-driven innovation in the creative industries using digital and data. (T&T Guardian) Dr Fazal Ali completed his Master’s in Philosophy at the University of the West Indies. He was a Commonwealth Scholar who attended the University of Cambridge, Hughes Hall; the Provost of the University of Trinidad and Tobago; the acting President of UTT; and the Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission. He is the President of NIHERST and an external services consultant with the IDB.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026

guyanatimesgy.com

News Guyana, Caricom map out plans for CARIFESTA 2027 A

s Guyana prepares to host the 16th edition of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) in 2027, representatives of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat recently held discussions with the country’s Ministers who hold responsibility for culture. Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr and Minister within that Ministry, Steven Jacobs, visited the Caricom Secretariat for talks with a team headed by Adviser, Social Development, Beverly Harry-Emmanuel. Programme Manager, Culture at the Caricom Secretariat, Dr Hilary Brown presented on the background and evolution of CARIFESTA, which formed the basis of discus-

sions on elements of the region’s roving multidisciplinary, mega festival. Its wide range of events; financial, administrative, logistical and marketing components; and opportunities for creative industry development were among the agenda items. The inaugural CARIFESTA was held in 1972 in Guyana, which also hosted the festival in 2008. CARIFESTA XV was last held in Barbados in 2025. The teams also discussed regional youth development following an overview by Programme Manager, Youth Development, Michele Small-Bartley. Since the inception of CARIFESTA, the country’s cultural landscape continues to evolve, with storytelling, literature, music, dance, and oth-

Ministers Charles Ramson Jr and Steven Jacobs meet with representatives of the Caricom Secretariat on CARIFESTA 2027

er creative expressions becoming key contributors to

Guyana’s Orange Economy. Minister Jacobs has noted

that CARIFESTA 2027 is expected to provide story-

tellers, performers, visual artists and other creatives with access to new opportunities while contributing to Guyana’s growing creative and cultural sector. Speaking at the Old Wives and Tall Tales Storytelling Festival at Castellani House on Thursday last, Minister Jacobs stressed that Guyana’s diversity is culturally rich and that storytelling is an important part of preserving that heritage. Against this backdrop, Minister Jacobs explained that events like these will prepare performers for the bigger stage. He highlighted the importance of children enjoying and listening to the storytelling experience. The Minister noted the importance of passing down these traditions to younger generations.

“Eternal Happiness” convention coming to Georgetown remain happy. All in attendance will discover the real joy that comes from a solid hope for the future.” The event is expected to attract more than 4,000 attendees to Georgetown over two weekends, with the first convention scheduled for August 14 to 16, 2026, followed by another from September 18 to 20, 2026. The programme will feature Bible-based videos, interviews and presentations addressing a range of issues related to happi-

ith happiness proving elusive for many, Jehovah’s Witnesses are inviting Guyanese to explore the path to lasting joy through their upcoming three-day global convention, themed “Eternal Happiness.” The convention will return to the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown this year, of-

fering a free three-day programme focused on how everlasting happiness can be achieved through spirituality founded on practical Bible principles. “Who doesn’t want to be happy?” said Andre Darrell, local spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses. “This year’s convention theme discusses how to be happy and how to

ness and personal well-being, including whether abundant happiness is realistic, how people can cope with anxiety and whether they have discovered the true source of happiness. Also anticipated is the debut of Episodes Four, Five and Six of The Good News According to Jesus, which will be released on consecutive days during the convention. The 18-episode video series depict the life and Ministry of Jesus Christ and

is based on the Gospel accounts. Episodes 1 was released during the 2024 conventions, while Episodes 2 and 3 were released in 2025. The Saturday programme will also include a baptism. The Georgetown events form part of a wider international convention series, with the same programme being presented at 19 international conventions throughout the year in countries including Portugal, South Africa and Thailand. Last year,

Jehovah’s Witnesses hosted more than 6,000 conventions in over 500 languages, under the theme “Pure Worship.” The events included 19 international conventions in 13 countries and attracted more than 12 million attendees worldwide. Those interested in learning more about the “Eternal Happiness” convention and finding a location can visit jw.org. The organisation said no collections are taken at its conventions.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026 00:00 06:00 06:30 07:00 08:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:30 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 20:30 21:30 22:00

Sign Off Islam for Guyana TVG Devotional Hour Evening News (RB) HGTV Stop Suffering Documentary: Nat Geo Animals Movie - Mulan (1998) Movie - Marmaduke (2010) Cartoons Indian Soaps The Young & The Restless TVG Music Break Teaching the Truth in Love The Evening News Stop Suffering GIT Perspectives TVG Music Break Movie - The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026

Foundation ◄

Page

guyanatimesgy.com

Types of angles cont’d Sometimes, two angles can be defined by their relationship to each other. Supplementary angles are two angles that form a line. Their sum will be 180o, so if you know the measure of one, you can figure out the other. Note that angles can sometimes be called by one letter, placed near the vertex.

Exercises: Identify whether supplementary

the following angles are

Example:

By Sarah Mkhonza

I didn’t know that tombstones are greedy. I came to talk to you, and they all looked at me and waved unseen hands and said, “This one, too.” I thought they fought with ants over their contents, the bodies of souls, mingled with dirt, but found they fight for me to look at them and wonder: who lies in there so silent? I thought I was alone and yet there was a contest, fighting for my gaze to turn in their direction. My eyes wandered, thinking of my loved one, whose message was so clear.

If angle a = 120o, what is the measure of angle b? Step 1: Think: A straight line = 180o Step 2: Subtract: 180 – 120 = 60 So angle b = 60o

njoy learning to count with this educational ladybird counting game! This interactive craft is perfect for inspiring children to develop their numeracy skills while having fun. Each ladybird is made from felt with wiggle eyes and pipe cleaner antenna, and they feature a different number of spots, allowing kids to practice counting, matching, and simple addition. What you'll need Felt sheets Self-adhesive googly eyes Pipe cleaners Self-adhesive craft dots Glue Pencil Scissors How to make You can use small black pom poms as an alternative to cutting out the black circles for spots. Using the image as a guide, cut out a ladybug body from red felt, the head, smaller circles, big circles, and black strip from black felt and the numbers from white felt. Stick the head and black strip to the body using glue. Stick one spot on the left side of the body (increase the number of spots for each ladybird). Stick the googly eyes to the head. For the antennas, cut a black antenna in half and wrap both halves around a pencil to create 2 spiral shapes.

Stick the antennas to the back of the ladybird’s head. For the numbers, stick the white numbers onto the larger black circles. Stick one side of the craft dots to the right side of the ladybird and the other half of the Velcro to the back of the number. Repeat for each ladybird, you can create 5 or 10 ladybirds. Play by matching up the numbers with the number of spots on the ladybird. (bakerross.co.uk)

Who lies here was beautiful. Who lies here was never sick. Who lies here was strong, princess of lonely spaces. If you do not say “hello,” you will miss a message from beyond the now. I said a loud “Hello!” It echoed in the loneliness, arrested my own thinking, and walked all the way home with me. (Source: Poetry [July/August 2026])

Playing a video game accidentally triggers an in-person adventure.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Night outing ends in tragedy as 2 friends die in Eversham crash T

wo young Rosignol, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) men were killed early Monday morning when a car carrying four friends toppled along the Corentyne Highway at Eversham as they were returning home from the Upper Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). Dead are 19-year-old Admeer Pooran called “Zakka” of Ali Street, Rosignol, and 26-year-old Daniel Singh of Murphy Street, Farming Area, Rosignol. The crash involving motor car PZZ 9131 occurred at about 03:30h. According to Police, the vehicle was being driven by 19-year-old Pooran. He and Singh were rushed to the Number 75 Public Hospital, where they were pronounced dead on arrival, while the other two occupants survived with injuries. According to the police, the vehicle was proceeding south along the eastern drive lane on Eversham Public Road, allegedly at a fast rate of speed when it was alleged that the left rear tire of the car suffered a blowout, causing the driver to lose control. The car subsequently collided with

toppled at Eversham.

“He’s so loving”

Dead: 19-year-old Admeer Pooran

a concrete pile situated on the western side of the said road and overturned on the said bridge. The driver and all three occupants were flung from the said vehicle onto the road surface, where they sustained injuries. They were all picked up in an unconscious condition by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Number 75 Regional Public Hospital, where Singh and Pooran were pronounced dead on arrival. Singh was sitting in the passenger side of the front seat. The two back seat

occupants, Mark Nhace, 16, and Brandon Suban 23, subsequently regained consciousness and they were treated for injuries and later admitted as patients. Information reaching this publication stated that the group had been hanging out at Rosignol on Sunday night before deciding to uplift the car and travel to the Upper Corentyne. They reportedly travelled there to attend a wake connected to the family of Singh’s girlfriend and were making their way back to Rosignol when the car

Singh’s aunt, Karen Singh, said relatives were told that a tyre on the vehicle had blown out before it toppled. Karen said she was informed by her brother that Daniel had been involved in an accident and it was only afterwards that she learnt that her nephew and one of his friends had died. She said he suffered head injuries. She remembered the 26-year-old as a caring and soft-hearted young man who was always prepared to assist others. “He’s good. He’s very good. He’s kind. He’s soft-hearted. He’s loving. He’s so loving,” the grieving aunt said. “Anything you ask for, he’s just there. He’s there to help out. He helps a lot.” His aunt said he had worked at different jobs over the years, including on an estate and in construction.

“My son was a good person”

At another Rosignol home, Devi Anthony was also confronting the sudden loss of her 19-year-old son. Anthony said she had no knowledge during the night that Admeer had been in-

Dead: 26-year-old Daniel Singh

volved in an accident. She was preparing to leave for the market Monday morning when she received a telephone call informing her that something had happened to him. “This morning [Monday] I came downstairs to go to the market. A fellow called me and told me that [he] was in an accident,” she recalled. Anthony and other relatives immediately took a taxi and travelled to the Number 75 Public Hospital. It was there that she saw her son. The mother said

Admeer had sustained several injuries, but she remained uncertain about the circumstances that led to the crash or where exactly the group had been before the accident. The last time she had spoken with her son was on Saturday afternoon. “My son was a good person,” Anthony said as she reflected briefly on the teenager she had lost. Investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Pres Ali proposes modern poultry hub, tourism... Economic opportunities

Apart from poultry production, Ali identified tourism, agro-processing, small-business development and value-added production as key areas through which Government intends to generate sustainable employment and expand economic opportunities in Region Two. Addressing residents during the Anna Regina Model Community consultation at the Anna Regina Secondary School auditorium, Ali said development of the region must go beyond infrastructure and focus on creating an economic environment capable of generating lasting jobs and income for residents. “We want to invest in these small businesses, to create a safe and secure environment, to create an environmentally pleasing environment. We want to invest in agro-processing. We want to invest in value creation,” the President said. He said Region Two is already emerging as a major supplier of tourism products, but there is significant potential to expand the sector through investment in tourism infrastructure and the development of new attractions and experiences. Ali said Government is also examining opportunities for private-sector investment, with the objective of creating economic activity that would have a wider impact on communities. “We want to ensure that the region is built

up in such a way that it creates economic opportunities, economic spin-off that will not only lead to job creation, but that will lead to sustainable job creation in regional areas,” he said. The President identified the coconut industry as one area where agriculture and tourism could be combined to create new income-generating opportunities. He said coconut farmers in the Pomeroon have raised concerns about difficulties in securing workers to harvest their crops and suggested that coconut farms could instead become part of the tourism experience, allowing visitors to participate in coconut picking and purchase

what they harvest. “One of the things that the farmers complain to me about is that they can’t get workers to pick the coconut. Well, I have a solution. Let us make the coconut farms part of the tourism world and invite people to come and pick coconut on the farms, just like people go to pick apples and pick strawberries. And then, whatever they pick, they buy it,” Ali said. He said the concept could be developed into a wider tourism product, with visitors experiencing coconut harvesting, farm activities and locally produced coconut-based food and drinks.

“Momentum of opportunities”

According to Ali, the initiative is an example of how existing agricultural and natural resources can be transformed into new economic opportunities. “These things may seem strange, but these are important natural assets that we have that we can enjoy,” he said. Ali also highlighted the potential of sports tourism to create additional economic activity, arguing that sports facilities should be integrated into a broader tourism and recreational system. He explained that hotels and other tourism facilities should be surrounded by activities that encourage

visitors to spend more time within communities, including sporting and recreational activities. The President said the development of attractions and supporting infrastructure can create a “momentum of opportunities” by drawing visitors and stimulating spending within surrounding communities. He said Government’s broader vision is to develop communities that are not only safe and resilient, but also economically vibrant and capable of providing opportunities for residents. “We want to look at in developing a comprehensive, sustainable, resilient community that brings value, that adds val-

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ue. Communities that are livable, that you enjoy living in. And that is what we want to demonstrate today,” Ali said. Among those attending the Model Communities consultations were Housing Minister Collin Croal; Minister within the Housing Ministry Vanessa Benn; Minister within the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry Pauline Sukhai; Director General of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Sonia Latchman; Regional Chairman Devin Mohan; Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oodit and other regional officials and representatives.

8 NEWS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mother of 1 found stabbed to death in Tuschen home T

he lifeless body of 45-year-old Sonia Wilson, a mother of one, was found lying on the verandah of her Phase One, Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) home on Monday with suspected stab wounds. The now dead woman only recently returned from an interior location where she worked as a cook. Based on reports, the woman’s body was discovered at about 15:00h by a Spanish-speaking man who had gone to sell home appliances. He immediately raised an alarm, and the relatives of

the now dead woman were summoned along with the police. Neighbours told police that they last saw her alive at about 10:00h. Following the discovery, the body was inspected by detectives, and an investigation had commenced. Police are hoping to find nearby CCTV recording that will assist them in solving the crime. Nevertheless, up to late Monday evening, the police were yet to release any information about the discovery. The woman’s body was taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a postmortem.

Dead: Sonia Wilson

Better Hope man killed during fight with men on scooters A

n altercation at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) in the wee hours of Monday has led to the death of 23-year-old Navin Jangbir also called “Buddy”. Based on reports received, at about 12:30h, Jangbir and several men on motorcycles were involved in a head

argument in front of his home. The argument escalated into a scuffle. The deceased man ran into his yard but later collapsed. Relatives who rushed to his aid observed a serious stab wound to his chest. He was rushed to the Emore Regional Hospital, where he was pro-

nounced dead. His body was taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination (PME). Up to press time, the police were yet to release any information of the fatal stabbing.

NA man arrested after car torched, another vandalised …suspect caught on roof of unoccupied building

tack. There was extensive damage to the windscreen, particularly on the driver’s side, as well as damage to the side window. Shane Lindie, the owner estimates the damage to his vehicle at approximately $150,000. Police were summoned to the scene, while members of the New Amsterdam Fire Service also responded to the vehicle fire. Shortly afterwards, police officers and firefighters went to a property at 42 Stanleytown, where the suspect was reportedly spotted on the roof of an unoccupied building. He was subsequently arrested by police. It was not immediately clear what prompted the attacks on the two vehicles or whether the suspect had any pri-

The torched and damaged cars

man is in police custody after he allegedly torched a car and vandalised another during an early-morning incident in New Amsterdam on Saturday. The incident occurred at about 04:00h in

the vicinity of Stanleytown, Strand, New Amsterdam, where one of the vehicles was parked in front of its owner’s yard. The car was reportedly set alight and was extensively damaged by the blaze. The same man

is also accused of damaging a second vehicle during the incident, smashing a front side window and the windscreen. The driver of that vehicle managed to move it a short distance away from the scene following the at-

or connection to their owners. The man remained in police custody up to press time as investigators continued their probe into the circumstances surrounding the early-morning incident.

Checking… W

…a guardrail

hile we in the Caribbean are very young as far as nations go, we’re now facing a conundrum as old as civilisation!! The Romans posed it in Latin as “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” – who will judge the judges?? The Judiciary, of course, is our third component of governance and they’re the ones who intercede in the fracas between the squabbling parties in the Government and the legislature! Which – as we know to our cost has now become the reflexive, default situation seeing as how our parties aren’t given to settling disputes on their own!! Your Eyewitness sees our present situation as more acute given that the Judges in question are from our highest court and judicial authority – the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)!! The reports are astounding: five of the CCJ’s six sitting Judges have reportedly raised concerns about President Justice Winston Anderson’s leadership –- including allegations of an authoritarian or “dictatorial” management style, attempts to influence colleagues, and concerns about the handling of judicial panels!! Most significantly for us in dear old Mudland, Justice Peter Jamadar reportedly referred specifically to an alleged attempt to influence Judges whose views differed from the President’s in the Sanction Man’s extradition matter!! That doesn’t, by itself, establish that the Sanction Man’s judgement was improperly decided!! Not that you’d suspect this from the jubilation in his camp – especially from his two sisters! – who would naturally grasp at any straw!! The CCJ’s published position is that the appeal was dismissed, allowing the extradition proceedings to continue – and the judgement was delivered publicly as a UNANIMOUS decision!! But the internal allegations create a serious institutional question that can’t simply be dismissed because the judgement happened to go against Mohamed!! The real issue is for Guyana and us Guyanese!! The irony is most painful since we’ve spent decades building the CCJ as an institution capable of replacing the old colonial judicial Privy Council!! Quite a few heavyweights – and several territories – including T&T where the Court is located – expressed doubts as to whether local jurists could maintain their impartiality!! The doubting territories didn’t sign on – and the revelations have come at a time when they were being pressured to do so!! They were being assured that the CCJ was precisely what it was supposed to be: a Caribbean institution whose authority rests on independence, intellectual seriousness and public confidence rather than political power!! We could do it – yes we could!! But if the Judges can’t be confident of independence from their own President, how can we poor shmoes be confident it’s independent of everybody else? It gotta protect its authority – and do this pronto – by demonstrating that even its President is subject to the discipline of judicial independence!! Res Judicata!! …birth tourism For years, some Guyanese – especially some big ones!! – discovered one of the world’s most ingenious immigration strategies: if you couldn’t get America to give you a passport, you could always arrange for America to give one to your baby!! It was migration planning with a maternity ward attached. Fly to NY on a visitor’s visa, have the baby, collect the birth certificate and return home with the proud announcement: “Baby is American!” Suddenly the family had an insurance policy against local uncertainties — and a ticket to Uncle Sam’s land of opportunity. But now Pres Trump has decided that the maternity ward ain’t no immigration office!! His latest executive actions target “birth tourism” – tightening the rules on children born in America to foreign visitors!! The irony is delicious: America spent decades telling the world it’s the land of opportunity for all. But with Trump’s “No Baby Loopholes” in place, all those who were planning to benefit next year, the stork may’ve missed the visa appointment!!

…water We’re known as the “Land of Many Waters” …it’s our international tag line!! So, why are some upset the Govt started bottling water – to join all the private companies doing so?? Who’s to decide the limit of “many” but the Govt??!! The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

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

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

10 NEWS Embrace technology, AI, migrant labour to bridge widening skills gap – PSC Chair A TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

s Guyana’s unprecedented growth across all sectors continues to place demand on the local workforce, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Gerry Gouveia Jr has underscored the importance of embracing technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to help address these challenges. Speaking during the Energy Perspectives podcast on Monday, Gouveia Jr emphasised that the current labour shortages can also be addressed by continuous upskilling of the workforce as well as turning to migrant labourers. “…that’s the only way we can continue the pace of growth, its embracing technology with our workforce, migrant labour, continue upskilling and finding some way of engaging our diaspora to do remote work, contract work or so on, giving them an opportunity to come back home,” he noted. On embracing technolo-

gy, Gouveir Jr said “we have to embrace things like AI that act as force multipliers and that allows us now to take one Guyanese and allow them to do the work of ten”. In fact, he encouraged persons, especially young entrepreneurs, to be trained in this area. “Learn how to use technology to be a force multiplier, it will give you a competitive advantage. Learn how to use AI, learn how to implement the resources that are available out there to make sure that whatever action you’re doing, has a ten-x result,” he noted. Apart from embracing technology, the PSC head underscored the importance of continuous training and upskilling of the local workforce to keep up with the country’s economic growth. In fact, he posited that lots of opportunities exist now to train and retrain Guyanese. “The fact is, we can now certify our lawyers in Guyana, that was

not the case years ago, you had to go Trinidad for that… next, hopefully, some flight schools, we can start putting pilots to be certified in Guyana. We have engineers that are currently being certified in Guyana,” he outlined.

So much opportunity

“Academically, the fact is, with the GOAL (Guyana Online Academy of Learning) programme, you can get a PhD now for free, from internationally-accredited universities,” he added. Gouveia Jr also referred to the aviation training facility, the tourism and hospitality training institute, and the oil and gas training centre. He also highlighted ExxonMobil’s investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education across the country. “There’s so much opportunity now to upskill yourself. It really now comes down to individual Guyanese

PSC Chairman Gerry Gouveia Jr

to take advantage of it,” he noted. Notwithstanding, the PSC Chair explained that the reality is there are not enough Guyanese to do the work needed in the expanding and emerging industries across the country, citing the population size of 1,025,334 as of 2025, according to the Bureau of Statistics. “Let’s say for example, I’m a very good safety manager… there’s only one of me and as I mentioned, every other industry is growing and they all need a me,” Gouveia Jr highlighting, noting that migrant labour is needed. He said Guyana would need to adopt systems like Dubai, where imported labour becomes necessary due to rapid economic growth. Qatar and Dubai, both major oil-producing economies, have seen expatriates grow to make up over 50 per cent of their populations. According to Gouveia

Jr, “we have to start learning how do we utilise migrant labour” whilst making sure that Guyanese are not disadvantaged. Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo previously explained that locals will be given first preference to fill these human resources gaps and that imported labour will be guided by a migration policy. Already, the Government has permitted some companies to import labour for big projects, including the Demerara River Bridge. However, these instances were done in limited amounts and in an ad hoc manner. The migration policy will allow for this process to be more formalised and according to Jagdeo, the Government will ensure the country does not become overrun by foreigners. This is where the electronic identification card will play a significant role in tracking the movement of people in the country. Foreign nationals are being issued a card distinct from the one provided to Guyanese citizens. The VP has also cautioned against xenophobic attitudes, reminding the public that there was a time in the country’s history when Guyanese themselves sought employment opportunities abroad. Just a few months ago, Labour and Manpower Planning Minister Keoma Griffith made it clear that foreign workers are not a threat to Guyanese. “Migrant labourers do not present a threat; they pose no threat to Guyanese. It is a pathway for competitiveness, and so

even when every foreigner, whether from the diaspora or otherwise, comes to Guyana to work, they do not come to bring a threat to our labour force. They come to build on what we already have,” Griffith had said during a Stakeholder’s Forum on “Bridging Guyana’s Skills Gap: Diaspora and Migrant Labour” in May. Similar sentiments were also expressed by Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud, who stressed the importance of looking at the retention of foreign workers, including those from the diaspora, in a holistic way. “This is to complement our local talent and skills, to complement those persons who are living here and who are bettering themselves and improving themselves to, as it were, satisfy or help bridge that skill gap. So, this type of conversation, while we’re putting the spotlight on migrant labour and the diaspora, is not to ignore or in any way reduce the tremendous importance of utilising the skills that reside here; but not only utilising how we can retain and develop those skills, so they too can, as it were, support what we all are seeking to do to bridge that skills gap,” Persaud had noted. Studies show that Guyana will require a significantly larger workforce to sustain its projected growth; one study states that approximately 160,000 additional workers would be required in the medium term for the country to fully realise its economic potential.

NEWS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

One Communications CEO urges stronger telecom security as mobile fraud risks grow O

ne Communications Guyana Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abraham Smith has called on telecommunications operators across the Caribbean to strengthen their approach to security and fraud as mobile numbers become increasingly linked to financial transactions, digital identities and access to essential services. Smith made the call while participating in the 41st Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organisations (CANTO) Conference, held under the theme “From Connectivity to Global Competitiveness.” He addressed the GSMA Technology Summit, which brought together industry leaders and experts to examine technologies and priorities shaping the region’s mobile ecosystem. Smith said the role of mobile numbers has changed significantly over the past two decades. While they were once primarily used for calls and text messages, mobile numbers are now commonly used to authenticate bank accounts,

authorise transactions, recover passwords and access Government and other digital services. “Over time, we have now become these custodians of trust,” Smith said, stressing that telecommunications companies must increasingly consider the broader identity and trust ecosystem connected to their services. He pointed to SIM swaps as an example of how routine telecommunications processes can present greater risks in the current digital environment. A SIM replacement request, for instance, could potentially be used to gain control of a customer’s mobile number and subsequently facilitate an account takeover or unauthorised financial transaction where the number is used for identity verification. Smith said operators must move beyond traditional telecommunications fraud, including SIM box and roaming fraud, and address threats that increasingly overlap with the financial and digital sectors. He identified four areas that require greater attention from operators.

tomer verification subject to stronger security measures. Smith also called for greater collaboration among telecommunications operators, mobile money providers, banks, fintech companies and regulators. “The threat actors already collaborate, and so our defence ecosystem needs to adapt as well,” he told the forum. He said the issue is becoming increasingly important as Caribbean countries accelerate digital transformation and consumers rely more heavily on mobile connectivity to conduct financial transactions and access digital services. According to Smith, vulOne Communications Guyana CEO Abraham Smith

First, Smith said Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures and customer onboarding should be viewed as strategic security and trust-building tools rather than simply regulatory requirements. Second, telecommunications companies should expand their fraud expertise to include financial scams, account take-

over attempts, agent fraud and digital identity abuse. This, he noted, may require operators to draw on expertise traditionally associated with banking and financial services. Third, he said identity management should become a central enterprise risk priority, with processes such as SIM replacement, device replacement and cus-

nerabilities in identity and authentication processes can now have consequences beyond telecommunications networks and operator revenues, making regional cooperation essential to addressing emerging threats. “It’s already a problem. We see it every single day. But I know as we work together we can overcome it,” he said. Smith’s participation at the CANTO Conference is part of One Communications’ engagement with regional industry leaders on telecommunications, security and the continuing digital transformation of Caribbean economies.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Guyana extends condolences to Colombia as 7.4-magnitude quake kills at least 132 mote communities that are accessible mainly by boat or aircraft. The geography could complicate efforts to assess the full extent of the damage and casualties, according to Al Jazeera. Colombia’s newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella declared an emergency to facilitate funding for recovery and said he planned to visit the affected area. The latest earthquake comes amid heightened seismic activity in the region. Al Jazeera reported that two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela in late June, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, with the death toll later surpassing 6,000.

Residents search through the rubble after the 7.4 magnitude earthquake (Photograph: Miguel Angel Lopez/AP)

resident Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday extended condolences to the Government and people of Colombia following an earthquake that killed at least 132 people and caused widespread damage across parts of the country. “The Government and people of Guyana join me in extending deepest condolences to the families and communities of Colombia af-

begins its recovery efforts. “Guyana stands in solidarity with the Government and people of Colombia in their journey of recovery and assures of our readiness to support this journey,” Ali said. According to an Al Jazeera report, citing the Associated Press (AP) and Reuters, the 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck near the municipality of San José

collapsed, trapping people under debris and leaving scores injured. Authorities also reported evacuations in several areas, including Bogotá, where residents rushed into the streets as alarms sounded. Al Jazeera reported that airports in Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura and Pereira suspended flights following

Residents dig through the debris of a collapsed building, in Cali, August 10, 2026 (Reuters/Juan Pablo Arbelaez photo)

fected by the devastating earthquake that resulted in the loss of lives and destruction earlier today,” President Ali said. “During this difficult time, our hearts and prayers are with those who have lost loved ones and with those who have been injured,” he added. The President said Guyana stands in solidarity with Colombia as the country responds to the disaster and

del Palmar in Colombia’s Choco region, about 400 kilometres (km) west of the capital, Bogotá. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) placed the depth of the earthquake at about 107 km. Colombia’s Geological Service described it as the highest-magnitude earthquake recorded in the country in the last decade, Al Jazeera reported. Dozens of buildings

the earthquake. In Pereira, local media footage showed sections of the airport ceiling falling as travellers sought shelter. The quake was followed by two aftershocks measuring 2.8 and 4.8 in magnitude. No tsunami warning was issued. The Choco region, located along Colombia’s Pacific coast, is among the country’s poorest areas and includes re-

President Dr Irfaan Ali

14 NEWS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Head of State unveils sweeping development plans for Region 2 …upgraded homes, jobs, new business opportunities

o m m u n i t i e s across Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are set to benefit from a wide-ranging transformation programme aimed at improving infrastructure, creating economic opportunities and building safer, greener and more sustainable communities. President Dr Irfaan Ali outlined the plans during ‘Model Village’ community consultations at Good Hope Primary School and Suddie Primary School, where he engaged residents on the Government’s development vision for the region. The initiative is intended to go beyond physical infrastructure upgrades by creating opportunities for residents to earn, invest and establish businesses while

improving the overall quality of life in communities. Among the proposed interventions are the cleaning and removal of encumbrances from road shoulders, drains and public reserves; upgrades to roads and bridges; improvements to utility poles

and street lighting; construction of pedestrian walkways and suitable road shoulders; landscaping and streetscaping; tree planting; road demarcation; and upgrades to existing public spaces, green spaces and vending hubs. Ali said the objective is to create “living communities” that are safe, clean, sustainable and resilient. He pointed to the possibility of developing agricultural technology hubs and said community investments must also be used to generate employment, business opportunities and entrepreneurship. At Good Hope, the President used poultry farming as an example of how better planning could address existing challenges while expanding economic activity. He said res-

idents involved in backyard poultry production could potentially be organised into clusters, allowing farmers to operate from designated areas, expand production, improve efficiency and reduce conflicts with neighbouring residents. Ali said

Government is examining how such initiatives could be supported through financing and institutions such as the Guyana Development Bank (GDB). He also said opportunities could be created for persons seeking to upgrade their homes, provide elderly care and develop services for children.

Waterfront development

Waterfront development was also identified as having the potential to generate employment and business opportunities. At Suddie, Ali highlighted Region Two’s growing tourism potential and said future development should take advantage of the region’s natural and recreational assets. He said waterfront areas could become important components of the tourism economy, while upgraded parks, sports facilities and recreational spaces could contribute to sports tourism. The President envisioned visitors spending weekends in Region Two enjoying sports, parks, waterfront areas and other recreational attractions, creating an ecosystem in which community development and tourism work together to stimulate the local economy. The Model Village plans also place emphasis on safety and the environment. Ali said modern community planning must include proper traffic management, fire hydrants, CCTV cameras, improved drainage systems, green spaces, reserves and play areas. He also highlighted the importance of mental health and said communities should provide safe and enjoyable spaces for children, parents and elderly residents. According to Ali, infrastructure alone cannot guarantee a better quality of life if communities continue to face noise nuisance, environmental hazards and a lack of discipline. The plans therefore seek to combine physical improvements with efforts to create peace-

ful and healthy living environments. Housing remains another major component of the development agenda. Ali announced that persons who applied for house lots in Region Two will receive their allocations as Government works to address outstanding housing applications and move residents towards land

one-bedroom homes, while support would also be provided to young people and low-income families seeking to construct two-bedroom homes. Education and professional training are also part of the development agenda. Ali said Government intends to expand opportunities for students in Region

inary proposals. Residents were then invited to provide feedback on those proposals and identify issues requiring urgent attention. Ali said Government intends to continue returning to communities to discuss projects and initiatives, including opportunities for residents to access financing through the

ownership and, ultimately, homeownership. He said the Government’s objective extends beyond allocating land to supporting families in constructing homes. Housing was among the major concerns raised during a recent Cabinet outreach in the region, during which 641 issues were raised. Ali said more than 110 of those matters have already been resolved, while about 300 housing-related issues are expected to be re-

Two, including increased access to medical sciences and professional fields such as medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and engineering. He said the objective is to build an ecosystem capable of supporting young people’s aspirations without requiring them to leave the region to pursue every area of study. The President also pointed to the Government Service Centre in Region Two as an example of decentralised services. He said more than 11,000 transactions had already been conducted

Guyana Development Bank. The Government is positioning the ‘Model Village’ Initiative as a broader transformation programme through which Region Two communities can benefit not only from improved roads and public spaces, but also from new jobs, stronger businesses, tourism opportunities, housing support and improved living conditions. Among those attending the consultations were Housing Minister, Collin Croal; Minister within the Housing Ministry, Vanessa

solved before the end of the year. The President also announced plans for a social housing programme targeting persons facing extreme vulnerabilities, including elderly persons, single parents and persons living with disabilities. Eligible beneficiaries would be assisted with the construction of approximately 400-square-foot,

through the centre, saving residents from travelling to Georgetown to access services. Residents are expected to continue playing a role in shaping the Model Village plans. Ali said teams of engineers, planners and other technical personnel have been visiting communities over recent months to identify challenges and opportunities and develop prelim-

Benn; Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Pauline Campbell-Sukhai; Director General of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, Sonia Latchman; Regional Chairman Devin Mohan; Regional Vice Chairman Humace Oodit and other regional officials and representatives.

Major concerns

NEWS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Pres Ali calls for Matarkai consortiums to advance farming, forestry & mining ...says Govt committed to empowering citizens to build wealth

resident Dr Irfaan Ali has called on residents of the Matarkai sub-district in Region One (Barima-Waini) to form consortiums to advance farming, forestry and mining activities within their communities. The President made the call during a Cabinet outreach to the region last week. During his engagement with residents of the Matarkai sub-district, he highlighted the opportunities available in these sectors and emphasised the need for communities to work collectively to fully capitalise on them. Noting that if three consortiums are formed, each focusing on agriculture, mining and forestry, President Ali said “we can bring these three consortiums together and we can have the Development Bank in a few weeks…and we can work with these three clusters in this subregion”. “That would allow us to determine an area, maybe 200 acres, that we can clear, open up for the development of agriculture, the development of the swine

President Dr Irfaan Ali during his outreach at Matarkai, Region One

industry, poultry industry,” he noted. President Ali highlighted that the success of these ventures depends on the residents’ commitment. “How willing are we to form ourselves into a consortium to have a small to medium sized mining operation…how willing are we to start the community for-

estry association…how willing are we to form a group to do the poultry, to do the swine, a group to do other agriculture production,” he posited. President Ali also floated the idea of developing an eco-tourism facility in the subdistrict. “How we can get young people together to develop an eco-tour-

ism facility here, now that we have this beautiful airstrip that will be completed. Where do we put that tourism facility? How we can help you, doing the logging right here to build the log cabins for the eco-tourism development. Through the Guyana Development Bank (GDB), we get 20 young per-

sons, each one of them working with the forestry association, building a cabin each, so 20 of them can own an eco-resort with 20 cabins,” he suggested. In fact, the President highlighted how Government’s investments in the region will support these ventures as he underscored his administration’s commitment to empowering citizens to build wealth. “As we continue to invest, we must now move to a phase where we empower people to create new forms of wealth, to create new economic opportunities, to create jobs and one of the things we are mindful of, is that we have to build a long-term sustainable plan for your area,” he noted. “A plan that ensures you produce food here, not only for this subregion, not only for Region One, but food that can be transferred to all across Guyana and that is why the airstrip is being built at the length it is being built, because we want to have cargo capacity coming out of this subregion. We have to improve the trans-

portation network between Port Kaituma and here, we have to integrate the region in a greater way,” he further outlined. Meanwhile, Minister of Housing Collin Croal also addressed residents of the subdistrict, acknowledging their past concerns about feeling overlooked amid the development taking place across the region. “You would recall, in not so recent times, you were complaining, you were saying to us that, first of all, at a local level, you feel neglected, at a local level, you feel the region is just ‘Mabaruma-based’, you felt the Government was operating like Port Kaituma is Matakai, those were the sorts of comments that you made,” Croal reminded, noting that under the Peoples Progressive Party Civic administration (PPP/C), those sentiments should no longer exist. Residents of Pakera, Minab, Heaven Hill, Hell Hill and Flats attended the forum which was held at the Skill Training Centre in Matthew’s Ridge.

Milk company to start producing mozzarella cheese in Guyana

he Amaya Milk Company (AMC), which launched the first milk-processing facility in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), is gearing up to start mozzarella cheese production. This announcement was made by the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Omkaar Sharma during a guided tour of the facility with Chief Investment Officer and Head of the Guyana Office for Investment (GOInvest), Peter Ramsaroop. Launched in 2023 with an ambitious plan to push locally-produced dairy products such as milk and paneer, AMC has since invested in modern processing facilities, food safety systems, and a refrigerated distribution network. The company’s focus is on replacing imported dairy products with high-quality Guyanese alternatives that meet international standards. Today, AMC supports 30 local dairy farmers, purchasing approximately 180–200 gallons of fresh raw milk every day, providing them with a stable income and a guaranteed market for their produce. According to a statement from GOInvest following the visit of the facility, CEO Sharma said the company will soon launch 100 per cent locally produced mozzarella

GO-Invest CEO Peter Ramsaroop during a tour of the AMC facility in Region 5

cheese, further expanding the firm’s portfolio of value-added dairy products and reinforcing Region Five’s growing contribution to Guyana’s dairy industry. “The visit underscored the important role strategic private sector investment plays in supporting His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s vision for food security and sustainable agricultural development. By strengthening local dairy production, supporting farmers, creating value-added products, and reducing dependence on imports, in-

vestments such as these contribute directly to Guyana’s economic transformation and the advancement of Caricom’s regional food security agenda,” the statement reads. It was in 2021 that it was first announced that Canada-based AMC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the GO-Invest and the Agriculture Ministry for the establishment of a milk plant to process, bottle, and sell high-quality pasteurised cow’s milk in the local market. Soon after, a $150 million facility was commissioned.

16 NEWS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CCJ President must be given latitude to lead Court – Guyana Bar Council …condemns leak of Judges’ internal correspondence

he Bar Council of the Bar Association of Guyana has expressed concern over media reports concerning the leak of internal correspondence among Judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), warning that the disclosure of confidential communications could undermine public confidence in the administration of justice. In a statement dated August 10, 2026, the Bar Council said the CCJ, as Guyana’s final appellate court and the only court with jurisdiction to interpret and apply the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, must remain an institution whose integrity is respected and protected. The Council said internal correspondence and deliberations among Judges must remain confidential, arguing that the disclosure of such communications, irrespective of their content, creates a risk of bringing the admin-

CCJ President, Justice Winston Anderson

istration of justice into disrepute. “The Bar Council of the Bar Association of Guyana has noted with grave concern media reports concerning the leak of inter-

nal correspondence among the Judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice,” the statement said. According to the Council, robust discussions among members of the Court are ex-

pected and form part of the judicial process. However, it said any unauthorised disclosure of internal correspondence to the media would amount to a serious breach of confidence. “The legal profession expects and respects robust discussion among the members of the Court,” the Council said, adding that the unauthorised disclosure of internal correspondence would constitute “a gross breach of confidence and a serious dereliction of duty” by anyone responsible. The Bar Council also addressed the role of the President of the CCJ, stating that the Court’s leader should be given sufficient latitude to develop and implement a vision for the institution and establish principles governing its administration. It said such leadership should be exercised with due regard to the Code of Judicial Conduct of the

President, Bar Council of the Bar Association of Guyana, Arudranauth Gossai

Caribbean Court of Justice. While raising concerns about the disclosure of the correspondence, the Bar Council made clear that it was not taking a position on the issues contained in the leaked communications. “The Bar Council expresses no view on the sub-

stance of the matters raised in the correspondence,” the statement said. The Council’s position comes as media reports have drawn attention to internal communications among CCJ Judges, placing renewed focus on confidentiality, judicial administration, and the institutional integrity of the Region’s highest court. The CCJ serves as Guyana’s final court of appeal and has responsibility for interpreting and applying the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which governs the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Single Market and Economy and other aspects of regional integration. The Bar Council said preserving confidentiality within the Court is essential to maintaining confidence in the judicial system and ensuring that the CCJ continues to discharge its responsibilities with institutional integrity.

Suriname threatens MV Canawaima with sailing ban; orders safety fixes

he Maritime Authority Suriname (MAS) has given Canawaima Management Company NV a final opportunity to address the outstanding shortcomings on board the MV Canawaima. This is evident from a letter from the MAS dated 7 August 2026

and addressed to the terminal manager of Canawaima Management Company NV in South Drain, Nickerie. The letter follows earlier correspondence dated 26 July 2026, in which the company was instructed to submit a plan of action regarding the inspection report of

the MV Canawaima to the MAS within one week of receipt. On August 5, 2026, the MAS carried out another on-board inspection. During this re-inspection, it was found that a majority of the previously identified deficiencies had not yet been remedied. Last opportunity for plan of action The MAS has therefore given the company the last opportunity to submit a plan of action. This plan must include a clear timetable for the elimination of the deficiencies identified, the implementation of the necessary major repairs and the planned docking of the vessel. In addition, the maritime authority has determined that various safety matters must be in order by 13 August at the latest. This includes the complete presence and readiness for use of all legally prescribed safety equipment. All firefighting equipment must also be present, approved and immediately deployable and the fire detection and firefighting system must be fully operational. Certificates and technical inspection also required.

The MAS also requires that all crew members have valid Basic Safety Training and Crowd Management certificates. If certain certificates are not yet available, it must be demonstrated in writing that the relevant training courses will be completed within one month. In addition, an independent, accredited ship surveyor must carry out an inspection and assessment of the watertightness of the vessel’s hull and cofferdams. A positive

inspection report is a condition for possibly obtaining a temporary exemption from the mandatory docking. Sailing ban from 14 August in the absence of measures The MAS has emphatically pointed out to Canawaima Management Company NV the consequences if the requirements are not met in time. If the required measures are not carried out by 13 August 2026 at the latest, the MV Canawaima will be banned from sailing with effect from

14 August 2026 at 00:00. According to the MAS, the sailing ban will remain in force until the requirements set to ensure safe shipping have been fully met. The maritime authority thus indicates that the safety of the vessel, the crew and shipping traffic is paramount. The Canawaima Management Company NV has been called upon to take the necessary measures without delay. (www. gfcnieuws.com)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Colombia earthquake: Death Diaspora backs Golding toll mounts as workers for courageous stance on search collapsed buildings US-Jamaica relationship

t least 130 persons are dead and a state of emergency has been declared after Colombia was hit by one of its largest earthquakes in years. The death toll is likely to rise, with more feared trapped under collapsed buildings. The magnitude 7.4 quake struck at 07:34 (12:34 GMT) at a depth of 103 kilometres (64 miles) in Chocó province, the country’s geological service said. It was felt across an enormous area, stretching for hundreds of miles across western Colombia. Many of the deaths have been concentrated in the city of Pereira, in Colombia’s coffee-growing region, with surrounding cities and the Valle del Cauca region also hit hard. The epicentre of the quake was near the village

Residents dig through the debris of a collapsed building in Dosquebradas, Colombia, August 10, 2026 (Reuters/Juan David Duque photo)

Videos verified by the BBC show at least one building collapsing in Plaza Bolívar, the city’s main square, with scattered debris and dust across the open space where many people had gathered. Local authorities have reported at least 40 persons

A car crushed by a collapsed building in Cali, August 10, 2026 (Reuters/Christian Escobar Mora photo)

of San José del Palmar, in Chocó province, but local mayor León Fabio Marín Moncada said that there had miraculously been no deaths or injuries – despite the roads in and out being damaged. About 55km (34 miles) from the epicentre of the earthquake, the city of Pereira saw some of the worst damage.

dead in the city’s metropolitan area, with 65 collapsed buildings. People are believed to be trapped in 15 of them. A curfew is in place in some parts of the city until 05:00 local time today. Thirty-two buildings collapsed in Cali, located about 160km south of Pereira and about 200km from the epicentre.

There were also reports of deaths in Manizales, Quibdó, Medellín, across the Chocó and Valle del Cauca regions. At least two persons have died in Manizales. Speaking to BBC World Service, Angélica Ávila said she had been staying in a hotel in Manizales. She said as the earthquake hit, cracks appeared in the walls. “Everyone was screaming... I saw dust coming out of the neighbouring buildings, and bricks were falling off the walls,” she said. Journalist and meteorologist Luis Felipe Molina, from Manizales, was at home when the earthquake struck - about 150km from the epicentre. He explained that due to previous earthquakes, the city has “very strict seismic-resistant building regulations” – so his building was able to resist the impact. “I have 450 books and only a few were left standing on the shelves. You could hear glass breaking and people screaming,” he told BBC Mundo. “It was a terrible and terrifying experience.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

Brazilian Police accuse Goldman executives of fraud over Oncoclinicas tender offer

ão Paulo civil police have formally accused two Goldman Sachs representatives of fraud in a dispute o‌ver a public share tender offer demanded by minority shareholders of cancer treatment group Oncoclinicas, according to a Police document seen by Reuters on Monday. The executives allegedly concealed ownership details in public documents and executed transactions to transfer shares without triggering a mandatory ten-

der offer, deceiving minority shareholders and causing them losses in violation of statutory obligations, the Police documents say. Goldman Sachs said the allegations were unfounded. “We continue to believe that we acted appropriately,” it said in a ‌ statement. Oncoclinicas declined to comment. Goldman Sachs is also accused of reviewing information, with its new version only emerging when the corporate restructuring threat-

ened to trigger a mandatory tender offer, contradicting the bank’s previous statements to the market. According to the Police filing, the information was used to “convince Oncoclinicas, the CVM (Brazil’s securities regulator), B3 (the stock exchange), and shareholders that the tender offer was not required”, ultimately blocking the offer to the detriment of minority shareholders. (Reuters)

Former Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding

ormer Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding has earned the backing of many within the Diaspora community for what is being described as his “bold, factual and truthful posi-

tion” on the souring relationship between Jamaica and America, two staunch allies. Speaking in P h i l a d e l p h i a , Pennsylvania last week, Golding expressed hopes

that “the United States will soften the tone of its relationship with Jamaica and rekindle the strong, decades-old bond between both nations which Jamaicans cherish. Saying that current demands by Washington are “at odds with the very essence of true friendship”, he pointed to the many challenges facing the island as established rules are being discarded and “new rules are being handed down, not after discussions and negotiations, but unilaterally by social media postings at 2:30 in the morning when most of us are asleep”. The former Jamaican leader, who stepped away in 2011 and handed over the reins to now Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, was addressing the annual Team Jamaica Bickle Independence Gala on Emancipation Day, August 1, 2026. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

PM Browne sees “blessing” in US visa restrictions

rime Minister Gaston Browne says the tightening of United States visa and immigration policies could ultimately prove beneficial to Antigua and Barbuda by helping the country retain more of its skilled and qualified citizens. While speaking on a radio programme, on Saturday, the PM acknowledged that the changes could create difficulties for residents seeking to travel to the US, but urged the public to remain patient while his administration continues pressing Washington for a review. “There’ll be many blessings as a result of this new US policy, and they will manifest themselves in due course,” Browne said. He said one possible benefit would be a reduction in the number of trained Antiguans and Barbudans leaving for the United States and other developed countries. According to the Prime

Minister, the country has struggled to hold on to skilled workers because many leave for the United States soon after becoming qualified, creating shortages that sometimes force employers to recruit from overseas. Browne said retaining more qualified people would strengthen the local workforce and reduce dependence on imported labour. His comments come against the backdrop of significant changes to US travel rules affecting nationals of Antigua and Barbuda. Under a proclamation issued by US President Donald Trump in December 2025 and which took effect on January 1, 2026, Antigua and Barbuda was placed among countries subject to partial US entry restrictions. Washington suspended the issuance of B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M and J student and exchange visas, as well as immigrant visas to affected nationals, subject to specified exceptions and

case-by-case waivers. The White House specifically cited Antigua and Barbuda’s history of operating a Citizenship by Investment Programme without a residency requirement as the country-specific basis given for its inclusion. More broadly, Washington has said the restrictions form part of efforts to strengthen screening and vetting and address national security, immigration and information-sharing concerns. Antigua and Barbuda is also among the countries whose nationals may be required to post a visa bond when applying for certain US visitor visas. Browne rejected suggestions that Antigua and Barbuda was being punished by Washington, saying his administration had cooperated fully with the United States on issues including the Citizenship by Investment Programme. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026

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Around the World

Hopes for Hormuz deal fade as OILNEWS OIL NEWS Trump demands Iranian reparations Oil steadies near 1-week highs as US-Iran peace deal hopes dim

il prices steadied today at more than one-week highs amid fading hopes of a deal between the United States and Iran to end their war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, after President Donald Trump demanded ‌compensation for damage the US has incurred. Brent crude futures were flat at US$87.81 a barrel by 0013 GMT, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures held at US$82.20 a barrel. Both benchmarks rose more than five per cent on Monday to their highest since July 31, ‌after Trump responded to Iran’s conditions for a peace ⁠deal with his own demands ⁠that Iran pay compensation for people killed in wars, attacks and protests, which is likely to complicate efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Later in the day he added that the US had control of the Strait and had swept the strategic oil waterway for Iranian mines. “There appears to be a gulf, no pun intended, between ⁠the US and Iran over what any agreement would actually look like,” said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade. “As a result, some of the optimism that built up last week is being unwound, giving oil prices a ‌decidedly bid tone.” Meanwhile, Saudi Aramco has postponed the restart of its 400,000-barrel-per-day Jazan refinery to August 30 after the Houthis claimed two attacks on the plant on Sunday. “The chokehold risk around both the Strait of Hormuz ⁠and the Bab el-Mandeb remains highly significant. Even intermittent restrictions or the threat of further incidents keep insurance costs elevated and force longer shipping routes … hence energy flows look ‌likely to stay constrained near term,” Waterer said. In a note on Monday, analysts at Barclays said that in the ‌week ending August 7, crude oil and refined product net exports through the Strait of Hormuz averaged three million barrels per day, down from 4.4 million bpd the previous week. Elsewhere, Iraq raised the September official selling price (OSP) for Basra Medium crude to Asia by US$2.50 to minus US$4 a barrel against the average of Oman/Dubai quotes. (Reuters)

30 years later, former gang member will stand trial for Tupac’s murder

S President Donald Trump on Monday responded to Iran’s conditions for a peace deal with his own demands that Iran pay compensation for people killed in wars, attacks and protests, in a rhetorical escalation likely to complicate efforts to reopen the Strait of ‌Hormuz. Trump’s proposal, which had not been raised before, was a response to Tehran’s demands for compensation and an end to sanctions. The Iranian demands were largely in line with the terms of a preliminary peace deal signed in June, which has since broken down. Since the war began in February, Trump has repeatedly oscillated between threats of escalation and claims that a peace deal is imminent. “We’re going to ask for money for the damage they’ve done over a 50-year period,” Trump said at the White House, saying payments

US President Donald Trump on Monday

would cover deaths among both civilian demonstrators and US forces in the region. “So if there’s damages to be paid, I think Iran should pay those damages,” Trump said. Oil prices settled five per cent higher on Monday after

the demands dimmed prospects for a deal to reopen the strait. Referring to Tehran’s crackdown on demonstrations in late 2025 and 2026, Trump said Iran had killed some 52,000 protesters as of six weeks ago. While some

Iranian opposition and exile groups have claimed tens of thousands killed, the USbased Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) in February reported around 7000 deaths including 6500 protesters. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US court rules Meta, other tech firms must face thousands of lawsuits over social media addiction

US appeals court on Monday allowed thousands of lawsuits to move forward against Meta Platforms, Alphabet’s Google, ByteDance’s TikTok and Snap Inc’s Snapchat over claims ‌they designed their products to be addictive to young users. The San Franciscobased 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an appeal by Meta and TikTok seeking to overturn a lower

court ruling requiring them to face more than 3000 lawsuits filed in federal court, saying the companies had appealed too early. The companies had argued that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 — which generally shields online companies from claims over content posted by their users — also bars lawsuits claiming they failed to warn the public about the addictive nature of their platforms.

Most appeals come after a case has concluded with a ruling or a verdict. The companies contended that they should not have to wait until the litigation ends to challenge the lower court’s rejection of their immunity defence. But the 9th Circuit said Section 230 provides a defence to liability, not immunity from lawsuits, so the appeal was premature. The court also denied Meta’s bid to postpone a tri-

al beginning on Wednesday in a lawsuit brought by 29 State Attorneys General alleging that the company illegally collected and used children’s data, designed its social media platforms to keep young users hooked, and misled consumers about their safety. The company had argued that the trial could not go forward while the appeal had been outstanding. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Trump signs order to limit childhood vaccines and split MMR shots

Tupac and Snoop Dogg were both part of the LA record label Death Row Records, run by Suge Knight

he drive-by shooting that killed rap superstar Tupac Shakur on September 7, 1996 changed the trajectory of hip-hop and elevated the rapper from the face of the genre to a cultural icon. His killing became one of popular culture’s great mysteries, with countless theories, but no arrests until 2023, when Duane “Keffe D” Davis was unexpectedly charged with murdering the famous rapper. The 63-year-old former gang boss is due to stand trial in Las Vegas, where he is accused of murder with a

deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further, or assist a criminal gang. He’s pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he faces life in prison without parole. The trial is likely to unravel the intricacies of the bitter and deadly East Coast vs West Coast rap rivalries and turf wars between the Bloods and the Crips street gangs that were immortalised in rap lyrics and news reports in the 1990s. For nearly three decades, the killing remained one of America’s most famous unsolved murders. (Excerpt from BBC News)

resident Donald Trump has signed an order that calls for fewer childhood vaccines and also recommends splitting the mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) shots. “Decades ago, children received only a small fraction of the vaccines required today,” Trump said on Monday. “In those times,

people were much healthier and of course the high rates of autism now observed did not exist.” The President has long cast doubt on the safety of MMR vaccines, but multiple studies have found no connection between the shots and autism. The order also recommends that the number of

childhood vaccines drop to 11 from the existing 18 recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said that his administration “is recognising gold standard childhood vaccine recommendations for only 11 core vaccinations against the most serious and

dangerous diseases”. The immunisations recommended for all children under the order are for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus, and varicella or chicken pox. (Excerpt from BBC News)

At least 13 killed in Ukrainian drone strike deep into Russia

t least 13 persons have been killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on the Russian republic of Tatarstan, local officials have said. They confirmed one child was among those killed, with 75 more persons injured as drones hit Nizhnekamsk, more than 1100 kilometres (680m) from the Ukrainian

border. Ukraine’s Armed Forces said the city’s Tanevo oil refinery had been hit. It is one of the deadliest single attacks on Russia since the start of Moscow’s full-scale war in Ukraine in 2022. Kyiv has recently stepped up its long-range strikes on facilities it says contribute revenue and logistics to

Russia’s war on Ukraine. The strike on Nizhnekamsk lasted several hours overnight and into the morning, according to local sources. Verified images on social media show large plumes of smoke and flames rising into the sky in daytime, with air raid sirens howling in the background.

The Uzkbek consulate in Tatarstan said seven of those killed were citizens of Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, a Moscow court has ruled that Russia’s only liberal, anti-war party will not be able to take part in next month’s parliamentary elections. (Excerpts from BBC News)

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026

ARCHIE

DAILY HOROSCOPES

(March 21-April 19)

Put your imagination to work. Explore the possibilities, and put your talents to good use. Being social will allow you to pick the brains of people who have something to contribute to your well-being and prospects. Slow down, consider the consequences and refrain from sharing too much personal information. Focus on using your skills and traits to ferret out specifics regarding domestic and professional situations.

PICKLES

(April 20-May 20)

(May 21-June 20)

Push for answers. Having open dialogue will be your ticket to success and new beginnings. If you explore activities and projects of interest, you’ll expand your mind and insight into what’s possible. Go over documents carefully, and make changes that protect you from being taken advantage of. Leave nothing to chance, and refuse to give anyone the right to disrupt your life.

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Let your personality shine through and your enthusiasm mesmerize those you want on your team. How you present what you want to accomplish and promote who you are will determine who wants to tag along. You’ll be tempted by suggestions. Use information as a starting point to dissect and establish how you can incorporate what might work to help improve your skills and develop your plans.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Put your best foot forward and let your charm and intellect lead the way. Refuse to show disappointment or upset if someone gives you a hard time; instead, come back with kindness.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

It’s time to take a step back and reevaluate your situation. If you refuse to rush into something you have even the smallest reservation about, you’ll spare yourself money, time and upset. Pay attention to detail. Ride the wave, and engage in what excites you. Pay attention to where your money goes and the returns you receive. You can bring in cash if you handle your investments with insight and intelligence. Communication with someone close to you will confuse and unnerve you. Don’t let anger set in when what’s necessary is having understanding and the ability to redirect your energy into something that works for you. Observe what outsiders have to offer. If you show interest, you’ll receive double the information regarding how to avoid pitfalls and make the most out of what you want to pursue.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Put your energy into domestic solutions and improvements. Change may not be required, but an adjustment that offers space to redesign what’s important to you will lead to better results.

(Feb. 20-March 20)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026

Rashid books Afghanistan’s spot in 2027 ODI World Cup

Afghanistan qualify for ODI World Cup 2027

match that swung wildly from one side to the other eventually ended with Afghanistan clinching a thriller to seal their spot in the 2027 One-Day International (ODI) World Cup in Southern Africa, courtesy of their global superstar, Rashid Khan. At 176 for 7, Ireland were more than in with a sniff of defending 206. But Rashid held firm, making 37 of the most valuable runs to help his team cross the line. Rashid’s batting efforts topped up a typically aggressive spell of legspin that fetched him 3 for 44 earlier in the afternoon, a spell that turned the tables on Ireland along with mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar. Trailing 1-0 down in the five-match series, Ireland put up a spirited defence. From 97 for 2, Gavin Hoey bowled a terrific spell of legspin himself. He lulled batters with flight,

troubled them with dip and sharp turn and suddenly found himself in with a chance of delivering a knockout blow. His 4 for 34 through the middle overs – including the prized scalp of opener Rahmanullah

Gurbaz for 71 – cracked the game open. At the other end, he was well complemented by seamer Mark Adair, who c o n tinued to reap minute

Gavin Hoey picked up four wickets for Ireland

deviations off the deck all through the evening. But in having to go all out, Ireland eventually ran out of steam once Hoey was bowled out by the 33rd over. That Ireland made a fist of this was down to a record

Rashid Khan took 3 for 44 and made 37 not out off 43 balls to win it for Afghanistan

ninth-wicket stand between Jai Moondra and Hoey. The pair added 76 for the ninth wicket after Ireland were in tatters at 128 for 8, all at sea against the turning ball in

Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored with 77

conditions that were far from treacherous. Hoey top-scored with 36, while Moondra made 31 enterprising runs in just his second ODI innings. He was easily the more adventurous of the two during their partnership, showing excellent game awareness and footwork to counter the Afghan spin threat. Having walloped a full toss first up, Moondra hit four more boundaries in his knock, before nicking behind to Gurbaz to give comeback man Yamin Ahmadzai – playing his first ODI since 2022 – his second wicket. The innings ended in the 47th

o v e r when Hoey was bowled attempting a big hit down the ground off Azmatullah Omarzai. By then, Rashid and Ghazanfar, who ripped through the top order to pick up the wickets of Lorcan Tucker, Curtis Campher and Ben Calitz, had combined figures of 6 for 73. Gurbaz took the attack to the fast bowlers in the chase, feasting on anything pitched up. He was particularly aggressive against Moondra, the left-arm seamer, who did not quite manage to extract the same movement as Adair in conditions tailor-made for the quicks in Belfast. Gurbaz waltzed to his eighth ODI fifty with a heave over deep midwicket, but then had to buckle down in the face of some quick wickets. Sediqullah Atal dragged a flighted delivery from Hoey

to long-on for 27, and Rahmat Shah, the Captain, was bowled by a superb nip backer from Adair that beat the inside edge to clip top of off. Hoey took a leaf out of the Afghan spinners’ book, varying his pace and largely bowling stump-to-stump. Even so, Hashmatullah Shahidi dragged a half-tracker straight to Moondra at deep square, while impatience got the better of Darwish Rasooli, as he swiped across the line to toe end one to midwicket to leave Afghanistan 154 for 6. That was not the only brain fade of the innings. Omarzai attempted a lofted

aaa

hit, only to be caught at cover to leave Ireland dreaming of an unlikely heist. Then Rashid stood tall, playing a sedate but confident innings, resisting the urge to hit out until Afghanistan were within 15 runs of victory. Then he brought the target into single-figures with his wristy whip; he fittingly hit the winning runs – a brace off Harry Tector in the 45th – to spark massive celebrations. Ahmadzai played no small part, facing 26 balls for his 4 not out, as Afghanistan secured entry into a fourth straight World Cup. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Ireland (50 ovs maximum) Andy Balbirnie c Sediqullah Atal b Fazalhaq Farooqi 7 Paul Stirling (c) c Darwish Rasooli b Yamin Ahmadzai 23 Cade Carmichael lbw b Rashid Khan 32 Harry Tector b Rashid Khan 14 Lorcan Tucker †lbw b Ghazanfar 1 Curtis Campher c & b Ghazanfar 4 Ben Calitz c Rashid Khan b Ghazanfar 20 Mark Adair b Rashid Khan 4 Gavin Hoey b Azmatullah Omarzai 36 Jai Moondra c †Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Yamin Ahmadzai 31 Byron McDonough not out 0 Extras (b 4, lb 3, w 27) 34 Total 46.3 Ov (RR: 4.43) 206 Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Andy Balbirnie, 4.1 ov), 2-63 (Paul Stirling, 12.3 ov), 3-82 (Cade Carmichael, 18.4 ov), 4-85 (Lorcan Tucker, 19.1 ov), 5-89 (Curtis Campher, 21.3 ov), 6-106 (Harry Tector, 26.2 ov), 7-125 (Mark Adair, 28.6 ov), 8-128 (Ben Calitz, 29.4 ov), 9-204 (Jai Moondra, 45.5 ov), 10-206 (Gavin Hoey, 46.3 ov) Bowling O-M-R-W Fazalhaq Farooqi 8-0-36-1 Yamin Ahmadzai 9-0-35-2 Azmatullah Omarzai 8.3-0-45-1 AM Ghazanfar 9-0-29-3 Rashid Khan 10-0-44-3 Hashmatullah Shahidi 2-0-10-0

Afghanistan (T: 207 runs from 50 ovs) Rahmanullah Gurbaz †c Adair b Hoey 71 Ibrahim Zadran c Balbirnie b McDonough 12 Sediqullah Atal c Adair b Hoey 27 Rahmat Shah (c) b Adair 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi c Moondra b Hoey 22 Darwish Rasooli c Campher b Hoey 13 Azmatullah Omarzai c Tector b Adair 13 Rashid Khan not out 37 Yamin Ahmadzai not out 4 Extras (w 4) 4 Total 44.5 Ov (RR: 4.61) 207/7 Fall of wickets: 1-53 (Ibrahim Zadran, 9.2 ov), 2-84 (Sediqullah Atal, 14.1 ov), 3-97 (Rahmat Shah, 17.5 ov), 4-132 (Hashmatullah Shahidi, 24.5 ov), 5-149 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 28.1 ov), 6-154 (Darwish Rasooli, 30.5 ov), 7-176 (Azmatullah Omarzai, 35.4 ov) Bowling O-M-R-W Mark Adair 10-1-36-2 Jai Moondra 10-0-67-0 Byron McDonough 10-2-51-1 Gavin Hoey 10-0-34-4 Harry Tector 4.5-0-19-0

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Albert returns after break to win ENet Golf Tournament L

usignan Golf Club (LGC) was the stage for an exhilarating showdown on Sunday, August 9, 2026, as 49 golfers competed in the ENet Golf Tournament. Under brilliant sunshine, the course offered contrasting challenges: the front nine played relatively easy, allowing players to settle into a rhythm, while the back nine proved far more demanding, testing stamina and precision. These conditions set the stage for a thrilling contest that kept spectators engaged throughout the day. In a remarkable comeback, Rohan Albert, who had not played competitive golf for three months, delivered a composed performance to claim victory with a Gross 90, Handicap 19, and Net 71. The top finishers were: 1st Place: Rohan Albert – Gross 90, HC 19, Net 71 2nd Place: Richard Hanif – Gross 84, HC 12, Net 72 3rd Place: Mike Mangal – Gross 84, HC 11, Net 73 Special awards included:

A look at Sunday’s winners

Best Gross: Avinash Persaud – 78 Nearest to Pin: Feroze Barkat Longest Drive: Richard Hanif ENet Trademarketer Safraz Mohamed highlighted the company’s pride in supporting the tournament, “Sponsoring this event reflects ENet’s vision of expanding opportunities and strengthening community ties. We are delighted to reward excellence, and today’s first-place winner will receive

a Unnecto phone, courtesy of ENet.” The celebration was further enhanced by ANSA McAL, who sponsored hampers for the first- and second-place winners, adding a special touch to the prize ceremony. Meanwhile, LGC expressed heartfelt appreciation to ENet for their partnership, noting that such sponsorships are vital in advancing the sport locally and creating memorable experiences for players and fans alike. “The

club looks forward to continued collaboration with ENet and other valued sponsors in promoting golf across Guyana,” LGC shared in a brief statement. ENet is Guyana’s leading telecommunications provider, delivering fibre Internet, mobile connectivity, and entertainment solutions. Its support for community events like the Lusignan Golf Club Tournament reflects its commitment to innovation, development, and the promotion of sports nationwide.

getting going,” he said. “It was the ideal move for me at this stage in my career. I think it was a move that was necessary for me to take. “As soon as I heard that interest from Liverpool, everything went into action really, really quickly.” Liverpool have been looking to strengthen their defence this summer after France international Ibrahima Konate left the club to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.

Araujo has made more than 200 appearances for Barca, winning three La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey trophies, and was given the captaincy in January following the loan departure of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Spanish football commentator Alvaro Romeo says three years ago Araujo was “a colossus” during Barca’s title-winning run. “He was phenomenal in defence and the best defender

in La Liga by far,” Romeo told BBC Radio 5 Live. “But then after he got injuries, a little bit of absent-mindedness, in some moments he lost concentration. “If he can regain that, which is not impossible in my opinion, then he’s going to be a very good asset for Liverpool.” Araujo is under contract at the Nou Camp until 2031, but he only made 11 league starts last season as Barca were crowned Spanish champions for the 29th time. Liverpool start their Premier League campaign away at Newcastle United on Sunday, August 23 at 16:30 BST. Araujo found his playing time limited under Barca Manager Hansi Flick, who arrived in May 2024, as Spaniards Gerard Martin and Pau Cubarsi became the club’s preferred central defensive pairing. In December, he was granted a leave of absence by the club to prioritise his mental health, following his sending off in the Champions League defeat by Chelsea a few weeks earlier. After spending time with his family in Uruguay, Araujo returned to training at Barca in January, scoring on his first start since his break in the club’s Copa del Rey quarter-final win at Albacete a month later. Speaking to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, in February, the defender said he “had not been well for a while”, adding: “I had anxiety for 18 months and it became depression.” Araujo made his debut for Uruguay in 2020 and has been capped 27 times for his

Rohan Albert copped first place and also walked away with a brand new Unnecto phone compliments of ENet

Liverpool sign Araujo on loan from Barcelona

iverpool have signed Uruguay centre-back Ronald Araujo on a season-long loan from Barcelona. The deal for the 27-yearold, who joined Barca from Uruguayan club Boston River in 2018 and can also play right-back, includes an option to buy. “I’m excited to be here at this massive club with lots of history. I’m excited to meet my team-mates, excited to get started playing, and I’m very motivated and really up for

Dilraj’s 5-for fires West Indies past India in O-60 World Cup opener

eg-spinner Rajendra Dilraj produced a match-winning five-wicket haul as West Indies opened their campaign at the 2026 International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over60 45-over World Cup with a comfortable four-wicket victory over India on Sunday at Paul Coffey Park in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Dilraj claimed an impressive 5-18 from 8.4 overs to lead a disciplined West Indies bowling effort, which dismissed India for 151 in the 44th over after the Caribbean side won the toss and elected to field. West Indies then completed the chase with 22 balls remaining, reaching the target for the loss of six wickets to begin the 14-team tournament on a winning note. Opening batsman Deonarine Deyal anchored the successful run chase with an unbeaten 60 from 139 deliveries, including three fours.

Rajendra Dilraj snared 5-18 to help dismiss India for 151 in 44 overs

Captain Zamin Amin provided important support with 37 as West Indies overcame some resistance from India’s bowlers. KR Kishore was India’s most effective bowler, returning economical figures of 3-17 from his nine overs, but his efforts were not enough to

prevent West Indies from getting across the line. Earlier, Dilraj proved difficult for the Indian batting order to negotiate and received excellent support from Rajendrasammy Chetana, who captured 3-28 from his maximum allocation of nine overs. Hyder Ali offered the main resistance for India with a well-played 52, but regular wickets prevented his team from building a more imposing total. Dilraj was subsequently named Player of the Match for his decisive bowling performance. The 14-team round-robin tournament continues today with several matches across the Greater Toronto Area. West Indies will have a bye, while India will return to action against the United States. The IMC Over-60 World Cup is scheduled to conclude on August 23.

Liverpool agree loan deal to sign Ronald Araujo from Barcelona

country. He was part of exboss Marcelo Bielsa’s squad at this summer’s World Cup, although he did not feature at the tournament. Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez, Araujo’s international team-mate, wrote on X, he was joining a “great club”. Nunez added: “I’m deeply glad that you can feel what the affection and support of the Liverpool fans is like. “They are special and they’re going to make you feel it that way, now you’re a red too.”

Liverpool’s problems in defence

As well as Konate’s departure, Liverpool’s other centre-back options Joe Gomez, new signing Jeremy Jacquet and Italian teenager Giovanni Leoni are all continuing their recoveries from injury. Frenchman Jacquet, 21, officially joined the Reds last

month in a 60 million deal from Rennes, but has not played in any of the club’s pre-season friendly games so far because of a minor knee issue. New Head Coach Andoni Iraola told LFCTV Jacquet “should be fine” to be included in Liverpool’s double-header against Como on Sunday. Iraola paired 35-year-old Captain Virgil van Dijk with Austrian teenager Ifeanyi Ndukwe in defence in the 3-2 friendly defeat by Monaco at Anfield at the weekend. Ndukwe, who is 6ft 6in (1.98m), became a Liverpool player this summer after agreeing a move from Austria Vienna in January. The 18-year-old has impressed during pre-season; however, Iraola will not be able to use him this year as he does not yet qualify for a United Kingdom work permit. (BBC Sport)

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026

Belts on the line as CBO stages 2nd Pro Card …”Doggie” calls out “Magnum”

he Cliff Anderson Sports Hall will be blessed by professional boxing action next month as the Caribbean Boxing Organisation (CBO) stages its second event this year. While boxers from across the Region will get some much-needed time in the ring, ‘celebrities’ will also have a chance to throw some punches. The CBO’s card is set to take centre stage on Saturday, September 12 with seven professional bouts already confirmed for the star-studded card. Pugilists from Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Barbados, Jamaica and Venezuela are lined up to compete. During a press briefing on Saturday at Tower Suites in Georgetown, CBO President Seon Bristol divulged that new belts would be on the line. “Most importantly, you’ll see in front of us, there’re two belts. As a promotional body, when putting heads together, we say the outcome should be superior. We’ve been able to have fighters amongst to fight for what would be considered a promotional belt – the CBO

CBO President Seon Bristol

belt,” Bristol announced. The CBO President went

himself could even mention some of the interest that

Manager Charwin Estwick called out “Magnum” on behalf of “Doggie”

on to add, “In addition to that, due to the excitement that – I believe Mr Abdool

was shown and from that, here we have growing the Caribbean Celebrity belt.

Something just to feed off of and we trust that it will be sports, fun and laughter,” Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) President Peter Abdool detailed how such events can help develop pugilists within the Region, hailing the CBO’s efforts. “I cannot tell you how pleased we are by the CBO’s activities. They’re precisely what we’re looking for,” Abdool expressed. “When you look at him, you see this tremendous fighter coming into the ring and he defeats somebody, everybody is happy about it, they don’t appreciate the amount of work and involvement that goes into building that fighter. It’s not just the fighter, it’s the people that put on the fights that are so important. “Essentially what happens, you need a process by which you are able to fight the fighters in your country and your region, where they’re able to develop and build their records to the point where they become regional champions and then from there become world champions. They have, at least, a shot. This is an imperative role

GBBC President Peter Abdool

and it is extraordinary that the CBO, under the guidance of Mr Bristol, is taking up that mantle,” the GBBC President further expounded. On the ‘celebrity’ side of things, having missed out on similar bouts earlier this year, Bradley “Doggie” Sampson’s Manager Charwin Estwick called out a new opponent. Estwick declared on behalf of “Doggie”, “We would like to call out “Magnum” [Dorrel Romeo], we want to find out where his balls is really at. He been doing a lot of stuff, throwing tyres over the bridge and all of that. So, “Magnum”, where are you? “Doggie” is trying to find out where is “Magnum”? He has another opportunity to see what he has in the ring.

Let’s make it happen for the celebrity fight.” The confirmed bouts will see Kevin Isaacs taking on Trinidad and Tobago’s Shakir Garcia, Joel Williamson battles Richard Howard, Jamal Eastman goes toe-to-toe with Septon Barton, Suriname’s Mitchell Wilson dukes it out with Rickenson Henry of Grenada, James Moore clashes with Joel McRae of Trinidad and Tobago, Laured Stewart takes on Venezuela’s Williams Okando and Barbados’s Tyrese Tate trades punches with Chivaro Blackson. CB1 Construction, Tower Hotel, Superbet Guyana, Nickie’s Fish Shop and Canjie Restaurant of Texas, USA are amongst the card’s sponsors thus far.

Kool Kidz Football Festival returns GBVA launches Elite High-Performance with nationwide grassroots push Beach Volleyball Programme

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and Guyana Beverages Inc have renewed their partnership for the fourth edition of the Kool Kidz Football Festival, which will provide boys and girls between the ages of six and 11 with organised football activities across Guyana during August. The 2026 festival will be staged through the GFF’s nine Regional Football Associations (RFAs), with each association scheduled to conduct five days of activities before the end of the month. The initiative is aimed at introducing young children to football in a structured, enjoyable and inclusive setting while continuing the expansion of grassroots development throughout the country. Ahead of the rollout, each RFA has received new football equipment to assist with the delivery of the programme. Cases of Kool Kidz beverages have also been distributed to the Associations as part of the support provided by Guyana Beverages Inc. Now entering its fourth year, the festival has become one of the GFF’s avenues for taking organised football directly into communities and giving children an early opportunity to become involved in the sport. The programme will cater to both boys and girls,

CLASSIFIED ADS VACANCY

The GBVA programme will start soon

GFF Technical Director Bryan Joseph (right) along with representatives from Guyana Beverages Inc at the handing over of football equipment and cases of Kool Kidz juice

with the Federation hoping the activities will help youngsters develop an early appreciation for the game while strengthening the base from which future players can emerge. According to the Federation, player welfare will also remain an important part of the festival. Safeguarding officers will be involved in the activities to help ensure participating children are provided with a safe, welcoming and positive environment.

The GFF expressed appreciation to Guyana Beverages Inc for continuing its partnership and supporting the expansion of grassroots football around the country. With nine RFAs involved and five days of activities scheduled in each area, the 2026 Kool Kidz Football Festival is expected to provide numerous opportunities for children across Guyana to participate in the sport during August.

he Guyana Beach Volleyball Association (GBVA), in collaboration with the Ogle Fitness and Conditioning Gym, has launched its Elite HighPerformance Beach Volleyball Programme 2026, aimed at preparing athletes for higher-level competition while improving their overall physical and technical performance. The six-week programme is designed to provide participants with a combination of strength and conditioning, agility training, technical development and tournament preparation. Training sessions will be held on Fridays from 18:00h to 20:00h, focusing on gymbased strength and power training. Saturdays will feature gym-based conditioning and recovery sessions from 13:00h to 15:00h, while Sundays will be dedicated to sand-based agility and volleyball-specific conditioning from 14:00h to 17:30h. According to the GBVA, the programme will feature pro-level coaching, strength and agility training, sand skills and drills, and tour-

nament preparation, giving athletes an opportunity to sharpen their skills while developing the physical attributes required for competitive beach volleyball. The programme is open to a maximum of 10 participants per session, allowing for more focused coaching and individual attention. GBVA-affiliated members will be able to participate free of charge, while non-affiliated participants will pay $1000 per session. The initiative is expected to benefit players seeking to improve their game intelligence, conditioning and technical abilities as the Association continues to develop beach volleyball at a higher competitive level in Guyana. The GBVA is encouraging interested players to register early, with limited spaces available. Persons seeking additional information or wishing to register can contact the Association at 753-6003. The programme carries the slogan: Train Elite. Play Elite. Perform Elite.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026

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Lotto/Let’s Bet T10 Tapeball…

Classy Hetmyer seals thrilling Berbice title for Sip N Play G

rillmaster Sip N Play All-Stars were crowned the new champions of the Berbice Zone in the Lotto/Let’s Bet One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast after pulling off a nail-biting four-run victory over a power-stacked Lusignan Bulls DTP I at the Albion Sports Complex under lights on Sunday. The triumph was engineered by an unbeaten half-century from Seon Hetmyer, who showed his immense pedigree with the bat. Seon, the elder brother of Shimron Hetmyer, anchored the innings from start to finish, carrying his bat for a classy 52* off 28 balls. Punctuated by four boundaries and three tow-

ering sixes, Hetmyer’s knock propelled Sip N Play to a total of 116 for 5 in their 10 overs. He was ably assisted by the in-form Zeynul Ramsammy, who smashed a brisk 22 off 12 balls, while Ricardo Ramdeholl added 11 as Parmesh Parsotam (1-23) and Nigel Deodat (127) bowled well for Bulls. In reply, the Bulls made a strong push through contributions from Akshaya Persaud (22), Myhiem Khan (18), Chandrapaul Hemraj (17*) and Ricardo Adams (16). However, Ramsammy transformed his batting momentum into a match-turning spell with the ball, strangling the Bulls’ chase with exceptional figures of 2 for 8 off his two overs.

Seon Hetmyer’s half-century ensured a defendable total for Grillmaster Sip N Play All-Stars in the Berbice Zone final

With 24 runs needed off the final over, Zameer Nazeer was handed the ball

for Sip N Play. The tension spiked when Nazeer conceded two maxi-

mums in his first three deliveries, leaving the contest on a knife-edge. Showing remarkable composure under pressure, Nazeer held his nerve across the final three balls to finish with 1 for 18 and restrict the Bulls to 112 for 5. The New Amsterdambased champions pocketed $500,000 compliments of Sawa Investment and became the first team to secure a place in the national finals, scheduled for Sunday, October 11, at the Anna Regina National Stadium. The runners-up Bulls were awarded $200,000 from Guyana Cup, while losing semi-finalists Grillmaster Avengers and The Mavericks each re-

ceived $50,000. In the female exhibition match, Team Lotto secured victory over Team Let’s Bet on the back of unbeaten efforts from Realeanna Grimmond (26*) and Shenetta Grimmond (16*). Sip N Play will meet the winners of the East Bank/West Demerara Zone, which takes place on August 15 and August 16 with matches across Farm Ground, Goed Fortuin, Meten-Meer-Zorg, and Uitvlugt, culminating in the zone final at MetenMeer-Zorg on August 16 from 10:00h. The Essequibo Zone follows on August 22-23, with the zone final set for the Anna Regina National Stadium on Sunday, August 23.

Beharry T20… Republic Bank/VMFA kicks off all-girls camp Bridgemohan, Dowlin

confident of teams’ success

A look at the faces and facilitators of the Republic Bank/VMFA All-Girls Football Camp

he Republic Banksponsored Vurlon Mills Football Academy (VMFA) All-Girls Football Summer Camp got underway on Monday at the St Stanislaus College Ground on Carifesta Avenue, bringing together young female footballers for five days of training, development, and education. The annual camp, which caters for girls between the ages of six and 16, will run until August 14 and continues the Vurlon Mills Academy’s commitment to providing meaningful opportunities for young girls to enter and develop within the sport. Republic Bank, the camp’s title sponsor, has described its support as a worthwhile investment in the development of women and girls through football. Republic Bank’s Marketing and Communications Manager Jonelle Dummett said the sponsorship reflected the institution’s commitment to providing young girls with a safe and comfortable environment in which they can learn and enjoy the game. Dummett also highlighted

the progress of several participants who have gone on to represent Guyana at the various national youth levels, underscoring the camp’s growing contribution to the country’s football development pathway. The Guyana Women’s Football Association (WFA) has also endorsed the initiative, with its President Andrea Johnson describing the camp as an important pathway for young girls into organised football, club competition and, ultimately, the national team. Johnson noted that the programme fits squarely within the WFA’s broader strategy for the development of women’s football. She identified the camp as an important introduction to organised football for girls who are taking their first steps in the sport. The WFA’s endorsement is complemented by the Guyana Football Federation’s investment in coach education, with several qualified coaches now working with the Vurlon Mills Academy during the camp. Their involvement provides participants with structured technical instruc-

tion while exposing them to coaches equipped with recognised qualifications. For Mills, a former Guyana international who turned his attention to youth development after retiring from club and international football, the All-Girls Camp remains one of the Academy’s most important annual programmes. Held during the August school holidays, the camp is designed not only to develop footballing ability but also to encourage more girls to become actively involved in the sport. Mills believes greater attention must be given to creating opportunities for young females, particularly at the grassroots level, if Guyana is to build a stronger future for women’s football. The camp has also expanded beyond football, with financial literacy incorporated into the programme for participants between the ages of 14 and 16. Republic Bank staff will conduct sessions aimed at equipping the teenagers with practical knowledge and skills to better understand and manage their finances.

hivesh Bridgemohan and Justin Dowlin were all-round standouts in the first round of the Beharry Group National Under-19 T20 Cricket tournament play-offs. Now with a win under their belts, both youngsters are confident their teams can go all the way. The scripts were almost the same for Abram Zuil and Essequibo Islands Secondary on Sunday last: both restricting their opponents and going on to chase manageable totals within eight overs.

Justin Dowlin swings big

I found my length and just got my wickets.”

Shivesh Bridgemohan serves up a delivery

Abram Zuil Secondary battled Covent Garden Secondary in the first match, restricting the East Bank/Upper Demerara zone champions to 64-8. A chief player in their undoing was Bridgemohan claiming 3-7 for Abram Zuil. Speaking to Guyana Times Sport, the youngster admitted that he needed to get a feel of conditions before wreaking havoc on his opponents. Bridgemohan admitted, “The first two overs I slack up a little. The second over,

“It was easy, the pitch was playing good. Yeah, the pitch was playing nice.” The opening win has given Bridgemohan and co confidence that they can take home the inaugural title. “I feel confident going into the other games ‘cause since we start playing this tournament, we’re winning all the games,” Bridgemohan shared. The Abram Zuil bowler added, “I think we gon win this tournament, 100 per cent. We got to work on our fielding, batting, and bowl-

ing a little more.” On the other hand, Dowlin produced the goods with both bat and ball to ensure Essequibo Islands’ eight-wicket victory over Queen’s College. Dowlin claimed 2-10 in 3 overs and later smashed an unbeaten 41 off 21 balls to steer his side home in eight overs, chasing 71. The national player expressed his satisfaction with conditions and the way his team played. “The conditions were good, the pitch was playing well, the ball was coming on,” Dowlin told this publication. The all-rounder went on to share, “Well, the team played their role today and we restrict the team to a small total. So, it gave us a small total and it was easy to make.” When quizzed about the feeling in the Essequibo Islands camp after their first win, Dowlin described it as “great”. The Beharry U19 tournament was scheduled to continue at venues across the coast today.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026

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

Lotto/Let’s Bet T10 Tapeball…

Classy Hetmyer seals thrilling Berbice title for Sip N Play

Pg 23 Grillmaster Sip N Play All-Stars celebrate their victory in the Berbice Zone of the Lotto/Let’s Bet T10 Tapeball Blast

Republic Bank/VMFA kicks off all-girls camp

Pg 23 Republic Bank Marketing and Communications Manager Jonelle Dummett officially kicks off the all-girls camp

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