Guyana Times - Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 6549

THE BEACON OF TRUTH TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2026

Govt tackles shortfalls in regional generating …increases power output capacity in Regions 2, 3, 4 & 10 guyanatimesgy.com

Page 7

PRICE $100 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

St Pius Church urges M&CC P16 action as vendors block entrance, drainage works 5 Brazilians P8 fined, deported for illegal entry

Company registered 4 years, not days before Govt contract – Sigma tells US-sanctioned LOO

Page 14

…calumnious, unsubstantiated, defamatory – lawyer tells Mohamed in legal letter

Canada’s envoy bids farewell as tour of duty in P Guyana ends 10

Businessman arrested for P8 allegedly threatening to shoot construction worker King’s FoundationGuyana collaboration A view of Guyana’s landmark US$759 million Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project at Wales, West Bank Demerara shared by Lindsayca Guyana on Monday on its social media page

CXC, CAPE results to be released today Page 2

New Ruimzigt-Tuschen bypass road

Work advances to ease West Coast traffic congestion

See story on page 3

Joinery, P15 blacksmithing, sustainable development being taught – STS rep

15-year-old slapped with Stop open burning housing sites manslaughter over at– CH&PA warns fisherman’s death contractors Page 7

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2 NEWS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CXC, CAPE results to be released today …as Council unveils new certification to recognise national programmes, emerging skills

CXC Registrar, Dr Wayne Wesley

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s parents and students across the region await what can at times be an anxious moment, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is set to officially release the 2026 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) results today. In Guyana, the local results will be released at an event at the Guyana Marriott Hotel Georgetown in Kingston, Georgetown, at 13:00. CXC on Monday announced that it is ex-

panding its regional certification offerings with the introduction of two new product innovations, Hybrid Innovation and Proxy Innovation, designed to allow member states to develop and certify programmes tailored to their national priorities while gaining regional recognition and global acceptance. Introduced by CXC, Hybrid Innovation and Proxy Innovation are certification models designed to provide flexible pathways for recognising regional skills and national priorities. They work alongside “classical innovation,” which includes traditional examinations

such as CSEC and CAPE, to better align education with economic needs. This was disclosed recently by CXC Registrar Dr Wayne Wesley, who explained how the Council is rolling out the new certification models to help more Caribbean people turn their skills into recognised qualifications. “CXC has developed what we call our Product Innovation Model, which now gives our standard classical products, which persons are used to—the CSEC, the CAPE, our associate degrees and diplomas - but now we have created two new additions to the services that we provide and that is Hybrid Innovation and Proxy Innovation. The Hybrid Innovation is simply combining products from CXC with products at the national level that are of importance to that particular country in awarding a particular qualification.”

Hybrid Innovation model

He explained that under its Hybrid Innovation model, member states can combine existing CXC qualifications, such as CSEC and CAPE, with specialised programmes tailored to their national priorities. “So countries and member states might develop a programme that will utilise

our newly minted CTEC (Caribbean Targeted Education Certificate) qualification, or our CSEC or our CAPE, to be combined with specialised programmes that are unique to their country’s priorities. And we work together to certify the students in those areas. The other section, or the other Product Innovation Model that we have come up with, is that of the Proxy Innovation. This is where member states are now able to design their own programmes.” This process will also allow CXC to quality-assure programmes developed by member states, enabling them to receive regional recognition while benefiting from the Council’s global standing. The Council says this will be supported by its Skills and Competency Framework, which identifies the key

skills and competencies needed for modern economic development and employability. “In doing so, we have formulated that within five thematic areas and 15 sub-theme areas that will look at problem-solving, communication skills, critical thinking, and all those areas that are relevant for students to have now if they are going to be productive within our economy, the economies of the region.” “Now, as we do that, we will engage member states. For example, you heard member states speaking about the orange economy and what they want to achieve with the orange economy. There are certain areas of that economy, like design, craft, cultural skills and design skills that persons will display in our carnivals, in Crop Over in the case of Barbados.” Similarly, drawing

reference to Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago and the various festivals held across the region, he noted that several skills demonstrated through these events and activities can now be certified. “And we can do that through our Proxy Innovation, where we give them the seal of quality assurance that will say this programme meets the required standards at the level that is befitting of those skills and competencies, we have formulated within the framework I spoke to you about earlier. Once we do that, then persons can be assured that the qualification that they receive at the national level will now have regional recognition and global acceptance. So, our students are not limited to performing or applying their skills in the region, but globally as well. In that regard, we are also working with.”

NEWS

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2026| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENING

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, August 18 – 07:30h–09:00h and Wednesday, August 19 – 08:05h–09:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny skies are expected during the day, followed by clear skies at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East-North-Easterly to East-SouthEasterly between 4.02 metres and 5.81 metres. High Tide: 08:00h and 20:13h reaching maximum heights of 2.47 metres and 2.46 metres. Low Tide: 13:49h reaching a minimum height of 0.80 metre.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2026

LOTTERY NUMBERS O

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16 19 22

FREE TICKET MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2026

4 Bonus Ball

DAILY MILLIONS

24 25 26

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LUCKY 3

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Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

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PAY DAY

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COMMODITIES Indicators Crude Oil

US$ $91.40/barrel

Change % +0.58

Rough Rice

$255.60/ton

+0.14

London Sugar

$523.00/ton

+2.31

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Low/High

$4395.50 $4366.50

$4397.50 $4436.80

Change

-20.20

-0.46%

Bid/Ask

New Ruimzigt-Tuschen bypass road advances to ease West Coast traffic congestion T

he Government’s planned alternative access road linking Ruimzigt to Tuschen through Leonora is taking shape as part of efforts to ease congestion along the West Coast Demerara (WCD) corridor. President Irfaan Ali highlighted the project on Monday in a video posted to his social media page, noting that the road is being delivered through a collaboration between the Public Works and Housing Ministries. Head of the Special Projects Unit at the Public Works Ministry, Colin Gittens, said the project will involve upgrading and strengthening existing roads along the route and bringing them to an asphaltic finish. “The Special Projects Unit will be upgrading and strengthening all the existing road and bringing it to asphaltic finish, while the Ministry of Housing will be doing all the interconnecting bridges and will be executing the construction of new sections along the corridor,” Gittens said. He said the project is intended to provide an alternative to the heavily congested WCD public road, reducing travel time and improving access for commuters. “This will bring a significant ease in travel along the West Coast Road and also reduce the travel time along the corridor,” Gittens said. The alternative route is being advanced through the Special Projects Unit of the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Housing and Water, with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) responsible for elements of the project. The Department of Public Information (DPI) reported in June that the Government had moved to the bidding stage for the Alternative Bypass Route for West Coast Demerara traffic from Tuschen to Ruimzigt. At the time, the CH&PA invited sealed bids from eligible contractors for 13 lots under the proj-

Head of the Special Projects Unit at the Public Works Ministry, Colin Gittens

ect, with each lot expected to have a construction pe-

riod of approximately eight months. The project forms

part of the Government’s broader plans to improve transportation infrastructure and connectivity in Region Three, particularly as residential, commercial and industrial development continues along the West Demerara corridor. The 2026 Budget allocated $14.7 billion for Region Three’s development programme. Of that amount, $123 million was approved for the construction of several bridges, while another $493 million was allocated for public works across the region, including $100 million for road rehabilitation. The bypass is expected to provide an alternative route for motorists travelling along the West Coast, with the Government aiming to improve traffic flow and reduce pressure on the existing public road. Gittens said the initiative is also intended to provide commuters with a safer and faster travel option along the corridor.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2026

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Views 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

Open burning & errant contractors

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he Central Housing and Planning Authority’s (CH&PA’s) decision to prohibit open burning at all Housing Ministry project sites is necessary. The directive is a responsible approach to construction management, environmental protection and public safety, particularly at a time when elevated temperatures and dry conditions can rapidly turn seemingly controlled fires into serious threats. The warning to contractors is appropriately clear in that open burning of vegetation during land clearing and site preparation, of discarded formwork and timber, construction debris, packaging materials and other construction-related waste must cease. Contractors already engaged in such practices have been ordered to extinguish existing fires immediately. Such firmness is justified, given the potential consequences of uncontrolled burning and the legal obligations governing waste disposal. Construction activity inevitably generates significant quantities of waste; however, the convenience of burning cannot be allowed to override environmental standards, fire safety requirements, or the law. The CH&PA’s directive makes clear that construction waste must instead be collected regularly, removed and disposed of in accordance with its Waste Management Plan and the requirements of individual project contracts. This approach encourages greater discipline within the construction sector while ensuring that housing development does not come at the expense of environmental responsibility. The warning also carries an important message about accountability as breaches of the prohibition may result in fines, imprisonment and other legal sanctions under the Environmental Protection Act, while contractors found violating the directive may also face contractual penalties imposed by the CH&PA. Such measures are not excessive. Rules governing environmental protection and public safety have little value if compliance is treated as optional. The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has independently highlighted the dangers associated with open burning. Its recent advisory, issued amid the El Niño period, cautioned that soaring temperatures and dried vegetation can allow a small spark to develop rapidly into an uncontrollable grass or structural fire. Wind gusts can further carry embers into dry vegetation and toward buildings, creating circumstances in which a routine waste-disposal practice can quickly become a major emergency. The warning is especially relevant to construction sites, where combustible materials, machinery, temporary structures and partially completed buildings may be present in close proximity. A fire that escapes a designated area can threaten workers, neighbouring communities, private property and public infrastructure. Preventing such incidents is considerably more responsible than attempting to manage their consequences after they occur. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has consistently identified open burning as a poor method of waste management because it releases pollutants into the surrounding environment. Smoke from burning waste can contain particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, dioxins and other harmful substances. Fine particles can enter the respiratory system, while prolonged exposure to certain pollutants has been associated with serious health and environmental consequences. The production of dioxins is particularly concerning as these persistent environmental pollutants can be generated when certain materials are burned under inappropriate conditions, including household and construction waste. Once released, such pollutants can settle on vegetation, enter waterways and move through the food chain. Open burning, therefore, cannot reasonably be regarded as an innocuous or environmentally-neutral method of disposing of waste. Incineration for waste disposal requires environmental approval, while the Environmental Protection (Air Quality) Regulations establish penalties for the unauthorised emission of air contaminants associated with industry, commerce, agriculture and institutions. The existence of these provisions demonstrates that environmental protection is not merely a matter of preference; it is an established legal responsibility. The CH&PA, therefore, deserves support for reinforcing compliance among contractors working on public housing projects. Housing development is an essential component of national development, but progress must be pursued through standards that protect communities and the environment. Publicly-funded projects should set an example of responsible construction practices rather than perpetuate outdated methods of waste disposal. The directive should also encourage greater adoption of practical alternatives, including proper waste segregation, scheduled collection, reuse of suitable construction materials, composting of organic vegetation where appropriate, and lawful disposal through approved channels. Contractors, project managers, and site supervisors all have a role in ensuring that waste-management requirements are integrated into daily operations rather than addressed only after violations occur. A directive of this nature must be accompanied by consistent monitoring and consequences for non-compliance. Equally important, contractors should receive clear guidance on acceptable disposal methods and be given access to systems that make compliance practical and efficient.

Participants attend the greasy pole climbing race locally known as Panjat Pinang to collect prizes hung at the top during celebrations to mark the 81st Independence Day, Jakarta, Indonesia (Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images)

When they owned the streets By Dr Jason McKay

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n 1997 political gangster, criminal, and Matthews Lane don, Donald “Zeeks” Phipps was arrested in relation to a shooting charge. Because his correct name was not yet known to the complainant, an identification parade had to be held to ground the allegations. His arrest led to a riot across a section of the Corporate Area and certain parts of St Catherine. There were shoot-outs all over the place. Protesters burned a Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) armoured truck to cinders, Police Officers were injured, and lives were lost. It was total, complete chaos. You may have read about it, but I lived it. Massive crowds of supporters descended on the Central Police Station, with criminals using women and children as shields. Strangely enough, these women and children seemed quite enthusiastic about being used as shields. In an effort to quell the crowds the Police in charge of the station put Zeeks on a balcony with a bullhorn. He subsequently told them he was OK and asked them to go home. The crowd immediately left. I have only seen Claudie Massop, Jim Brown, and Dudus Coke command such authority and obedience. By putting Zeeks on that balcony the Police Officers, in effect, destroyed the identification aspect of the case as he was exposed to a large crowd and to television cameras. The reason they did so was not to destroy the case but rather to bring peace and order back to the Corporate Area and to stop what could potentially be a massacre if the crowd attacked the station and the Police had to return fire. It was a decision taken by a besieged authority in an attempt to save lives and save the economy, which was being destroyed by the riots. This was the world that we lived in. This was Jamaica in the 70s, 80s, 90s, and up to about 2010. After the Tivoli Gardens operation, commonly and annoyingly called The Tivoli Incursion, things kind of changed. Criminals weren’t so brazen after they realised that the Government, if nec-

essary, would drop bombs on them. It still was bad, though, and until about 2023 Jamaica was still a very dangerous place to live. The Zeeks phenomenon was not really unusual. We have had many occasions when gang leaders have demonstrated that the real power rested with them back in those days. The Renato Adams infamous raid into Tivoli Gardens was a clear indication of what happens when both sides stand up and refuse to give ground. Lessons were learned that day as well. The cost of lives lost and the international image were significant, but the message sent likely saved many more lives for about a decade. We have had cases where courthouses were shot up in the 80s to signal the celebration of a gang leader being acquitted. A significant one was the acquittal of Lester Lloyd Coke in the 80s. I can recall a bus driver being hauled out of the Police Station in Coronation Market and killed on the steps by Lester Lloyd Coke and his thugs. The reality is that, since 1974 and up to 2010, we lived in a country where gangs ruled. The political arena in which this played out is sort of like a repeat of a soap opera. The Government of the time would be a strong supporter of the Police, and the Opposition would be opposing the Police. Many Police careers and many Police lives were sacrificed on the altar of political ambitions. It really didn’t matter which party was ruling at the time. Same script, different cast. We are currently in an era of gang capitulation. It is an opportunity to view both political parties and see whether they are supporting the Police or the gangs. There is no middle ground. The press was the pioneer in the movement to condemn political support for criminal gangs. It is we who made it “uncool” to appear to support gangs in any way, shape, or form. This occurred long before my time as a writer, but I have continued this practice. The public, the people, the electorate, though, have the real power. The most pathetic thing in the

world is an out-of-work politician, especially one who has been a minister. Politicians need to be elected into power so that they can form a government. This makes them important. If not, they are simply Opposition, parliamentarians being drained of their resources every day by their activists. That is the best-case scenario. If they didn’t win a seat, they are just activists being drained by the people who tried to help them get elected. If you don’t want to go back to an era where politicians marched with the caskets of killers then watch your politicians, both in Government and out. We are living in a time when there can be no allowance for support of racism, no allowance for support of totalitarianism, no allowance for support of colonialism, no allowance for support of imperialism and, just as importantly, no allowance for support of Jamaican criminal gangs. The only reason that the 70s to the 2000s could occur was because of political support. The only reason politicians could get away with it is that the electorate allowed it. We cannot, as a people, go back to what we were. It took too many good lives to get us to this point. Too much bloodshed, too many Police Officers’ careers sacrificed, too many innocent people slaughtered as informants. What is required is an absolute condemnation of gangs by politicians in any of their rhetoric, whether in power or in Opposition. This puts them in a ticklish spot. Gang zones are represented by regular men and women, but the political seats are often determined by gang support. I understand the mountain that politicians who represent these seats have to climb. But I don’t care. Any support of criminal gangs, especially that which manifests itself in the form of condemnation of the Police Force, cannot be accepted and should not be supported by the public. I have lived the last four decades of gang rule. I have spent the majority of that time fighting it in one way or another. There is no reason that my grandson or your grandson should do the same. (Jamaica Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2026

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate, Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Academic authority without academic discipline: A response to Rose’s “Guyana leads the Caribbean with fake PhDs”

Dear Editor, Credential fraud is an egregious assault upon academic integrity. It corrupts recruitment and promotion systems, facilitates the acquisition of professional and economic advantages by deception, diminishes public confidence in higher education and insults those who have earned their qualifications through disciplined study, supervised research and rigorous assessment. A properly documented exposure of such misconduct would therefore serve an important public purpose. Dr. Asquith Rose’s letter, “Guyana leads the Caribbean with fake Ph.Ds,” published on 16 August 2026, does not provide such an exposure. It offers a sensational headline, striking percentages and grave allegations, but no accessible body of data by which its conclusions may be independently examined. Although the letter repeatedly invokes “research,” “findings,” “information” and a “survey,” it identifies no retrievable report, methodology, instrument, dataset or verified case. Its conclusions consequently remain declarations rather than demonstrated findings (Rose, 2026). The subject is serious; the treatment is not. In substance and evidentiary character, the letter is a gossip piece masquerading as academic research. The Claimed Research and Its Missing Audit Trail: Dr. Rose states that an organisation styled

“The Academic Research Foundation” conducted “indepth research” over eighteen months into Caribbean residents who legitimately earned doctorates and those who allegedly purchased fraudulent qualifications. He later attributes additional conclusions concerning the occupations, motivations and social characteristics of alleged purchasers to “the survey.” His language therefore suggests a broader research exercise in which a survey may have been one instrument or component. The precise relationship between the purported research and the survey is never explained. The reader cannot determine whether the researchers conducted documentary credential audits, administered questionnaires, interviewed respondents, examined institutional records, searched national recognition registers, reviewed doctoral outputs or merely accumulated allegations from unidentified informants. No research question, conceptual framework or operational definition is disclosed. There is no account of the target population, geographical coverage, sampling frame, inclusion criteria, data-collection process, analytical procedure, verification protocol, ethical safeguards or limitations. Nor is any distinction drawn among confirmed, suspected, reported and merely rumoured cases. These are not peripheral technicalities. Methodology is the

A little consideration goes a long way Dear Editor, I am a resident along the East Coast of Demerara and my plight is that we seem to have forgotten what it means to live in a community. One recent night, I was home with my children. It was already late, and after a long day, I was trying to get them settled so that I could get some rest myself. My younger child had finally fallen asleep when loud music started playing nearby. The music was so loud that I could hear every lyric, including those of an explicit nature, inside my house. I tried closing the windows. I tried getting my child back to sleep. But every time the music became louder, my child woke up. By the time things finally became quiet, it was well into the night. The next morning, I still had to get up, prepare my children, get them ready for school and go about my own responsibilities. That is the part people sometimes do not think about.

A few days later, I expressed my frustration with my neighbour, but he became upset. I have filed a complaint with my NDC and they have promised to have the atter addressed with my neighbor. I am not against people enjoying themselves. We all need to celebrate, relax and have a good time. But enjoyment should also come with consideration. We cannot live in a community and behave as though we are the only people living there. My community is made up of families, children, elderly people and hardworking residents who all deserve to come home and have some peace. I am simply asking that we think about our neighbours before turning the volume up, especially late at night. Because sometimes, what is only a few hours of fun for one person can become a sleepless night for an entire family. Sincerely, Name withheld

bridge between information and warranted knowledge. Without a transparent audit trail, the reader cannot determine whether the conclusions arose from systematic inquiry or from conjecture, political antagonism, ethnic stereotyping, workplace gossip and unverified accusation. An Unidentifiable Research Organisation: “The Academic Research Foundation” is presented as the principal source of the allegations, yet it is not identified with sufficient particularity to permit verification. Dr. Rose supplies no jurisdiction of registration, official address, website, governing body, research personnel, institutional affiliations, funding disclosure, publication history, report title or bibliographic particulars. Multiple entities may operate under similar names. Nothing in the letter enables readers to ascertain which entity supposedly conducted the investigation, whether it possesses recognised expertise in credential evaluation, or whether the alleged report exists in any publicly accessible form. The words “academic,” “research” and “foundation” confer no automatic scholarly legitimacy. If the research exists, Dr. Rose should provide its complete title, authorship, publication date, institutional affiliation, methodology and location. Until then, his reliance upon an unidentifiable organisation is an appeal to inaccessible authority, not a verifiable academic citation.

The Survey: An Undisclosed Instrument with Limited Probative Reach: A survey is not inherently unscientific. Properly designed and transparently reported, it can generate valuable empirical data about attitudes, experiences, conduct and population characteristics. Its validity, however, depends upon the suitability of the instrument, the quality of the sample, the wording of the questions and the transparency of the analysis. The American Association for Public Opinion Research requires disclosure of the target population, sample construction, recruitment method, sample size, mode of administration, exact questions, response options, weighting procedures and analytical methods necessary for independent tassessment (American Association for Public Opinion Research [AAPOR], 2022a, 2022b). Dr. Rose discloses none of them. We are not told who was surveyed, how many persons participated, how they were selected, what knowledge they possessed, what questions they answered, or whether their responses were independently corroborated. No questionnaire or interview schedule is reproduced. There is no response rate, coding protocol, error estimate or explanation of how the survey findings were integrated into the broader research. More fundamentally, a survey of beliefs cannot,

without documentary verification, establish that particular qualifications are fraudulent. It may reveal what respondents believe, suspect, have heard or are willing to allege. Those responses may constitute empirical data about perceptions; they do not authenticate the proposition perceived. Credential fraud is an objectively verifiable matter requiring examination of an awarding institution’s legal status, degree-awarding authority, official registers, recognition or accreditation records, enrolment history, transcript, doctoral output, examination process and confirmation of the award by a competent authority. International credential-evaluation guidance similarly directs evaluators to official national sources and registers of recognised institutions (ENIC-NARIC Networks, n.d.-a, n.d.-b). The survey might illuminate motives or social perceptions. Standing alone, it could not determine whether a Ph.D. was authentic, unrecognised, honorary, fraudulently procured from a legitimate institution or wholly counterfeit. Assertions Without Verifiable Data or Particularised Cases: Dr. Rose presents neither verifiable empirical data nor particularised anecdotal accounts capable of independent investigation. Empirical data would comprise systematically collect-

ed observations, measurements or records open to examination and verification. The letter supplies no dataset, institutional audit, recognition search, transaction record, transcript, dissertation, official correspondence or authenticated credential. Nor does the letter provide even a sufficiently particularised anecdotal account. Although anecdotal material is methodologically limited and cannot ordinarily sustain population-wide generalisations, it at least identifies a specific occurrence capable of investigation. Dr. Rose names no individual, institution, qualification, transaction, date or documentary irregularity. The phrases “the research found,” “the survey proffered,” “information reveals” and “several Psychologists have asserted” merely announce conclusions. They do not disclose the evidentiary path by which those conclusions were reached. No psychologist is identified, no psychological study is cited, no respondent is quoted and no report is linked. The letter therefore falls below even the threshold of a documented case narrative. It consists of unattributed propositions expressed with the grammatical confidence of findings but without the data necessary to earn that designation. Sincerely, Professor Dr Stanley A V Paul

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2026 0:00 Sign Off 6:00 Islam for Guyana 6:30 TVG Devotional Hour 7:00 Evening News (RB) 8:00 HGTV 10:00 Stop Suffering 11:00 Documentary: Nat Geo Animals 12:00 Movie - Destined to Ride (2018) 13:30 Movie - Dolphin Boy (2022) 15:00 Cartoons 16:00 Indian Soaps 17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 TVG Music Break 18:30 Teaching the Truth in Love 19:00 The Evening News 20:00 Stop Suffering 20:30 GIT Perspectives 21:30 TVG Music Break 22:00 Movie - Bloodshot (2020)

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Foundation ◄

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guyanatimesgy.com

2D shapes 2D shapes are flat shapes that can be drawn on a flat surface (or plane). They have two dimensions, length and width, and have no thickness. 2D shapes can be grouped by the dimensions they have. Here are some familiar 2D shapes.

There are two different types of polygons.

Translated By Otba Jakob Translated from the Arabic

Polygons

Polygons are enclosed 2D shapes with straight sides. Two sides of a polygon meet at a vertex. 2D polygons are flat, meaning they are plane figures. Here is an example of a polygon:

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hese easy-to-make 3D colourful fruit decorations are perfect for brightening up your home this summer! Crafted from cardboard or lightweight materials, these vibrant fruits, such as oranges, pineapples, and kiwis, add a fresh and flavoursome touch to any space. Hang them indoors to bring a burst of summer cheer to your living room.

What you'll need

Cardboard of various colours Satin ribbon Double-sided tape Sticky tape Pencil Scissors Ruler Hole punch

How to make Top Tip

By Nada Al Khawwam

sticking the remaining sides together. Orange: Draw and cut 6 orange circles, 6 green leaf shapes, and a green rectangle. Fold the circles in half and stick them together to form the orange, leaving it open at the top. Create a stalk by rolling the green rectangle and attaching it inside the orange before closing it. Fold two leaves for a 3D effect and attach them to the stalk. Kiwi: Cut 6 large brown, 6 medium green, and 6 small white circles using the template. Layer the green and white circles on top of the brown, and add black seeds using a hole punch. Fold and stick the kiwi halves together, leaving a space for the ribbon. Attach a ribbon loop before closing the kiwi by sticking the remaining sides together. (Adapted from bakerross.co.uk)

I’m sipping the cups of time drifting away on the grass of exile Picking up the deliberate fallout of news There they are talking about my old house About my half-dead books And the falling bitter oranges from our neighborhood trees They talk about the low water of the Tigris and Euphrates I mumble poetry on the lips of the void Stoning the demons of my exile Packing the memories of my long travel And what hung onto my fingers from the grass Keeping them all in the pockets of wishes And then I go ... (Source: Poetry [July/August 2026])

Try to line up each shape as best as possible to create a neater finish. Pineapple: Draw and cut out 6 ovals from yellow card, and 3 pineapple leaves each from light and dark green card. Fold the ovals and leaves in half neatly. Alternate between dark and light green leaves, attaching them to the yellow ovals with double-sided tape. Add a yellow ribbon loop at the top before closing the pineapple by

Write a story in which a character realises that a friend has a secret past.

WORD SEARCH

NEWS

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt tackles shortfalls in regional generating capacity …increases power output in Regions 2, 3, 4 & 10

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he Government has implemented systems to increase power generation in several regions that previously experienced electricity shortfalls, helping to meet the growing energy demands of their populations. This is according to Public Utilities and Aviation Minister, Deodat Indar via a video posted to his Facebook page on Monday, where he provided an update on each region’s situation. In Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), authorities reported on Friday last that there was a generation shortfall of 1 megawatt (MW) of power. The region was producing 14 MW while the peak demand stood at 15.1 MW. Through several arrangements, power generation will now be boosted by some 6 MW. Indar said that Hinterland Electrification Company Incorporated (HECI) Head Horace Williams met with BOSAI’s general management on Monday morning, during which an agreement was reached to add 3 MW of power to the facility’s grid. However, only one 1.5 MW engine has so far been secured and it is expected to be available by Wednesday. Discussions are continuing to confirm when the second 1.5 MW engine will be available, which would bring the total additional capacity to 3 MW. “We have also spoke to GMI (Guyana Manganese Inc) which is the manganese company in Port Kaituma, and they have five mega-

watts of engine that they are not using. Each one of them carry one megawatt, there’s five engines. So, we are in the process right now as we speak to transport those engines, three of them, to Linden. Those have to be set on a base so that it doesn’t vibrate and cause damage. We have to construct that base and place those engines in Linden. So, there will be another three megawatts coming from Port Kaituma,” he added.

Boa Vista

The Minister also noted that there were some interests from Boa Vista to provide additional power. “Some of the players in the power sector there have said to us that they have about another three megawatts of engine, but these engines require a transformer. So they are currently sourcing that transformer and they will let us know when they get that and those engines will be available for us here in Guyana,” he explained. In addition, Indar confirmed that the Government has met with sawmillers in Linden for them to operate during offpeak hours. He explained that peak demand occurs twice daily, from 13:00h to 15:00h (1pm to 3pm) and again from 19:00h to 21:00h (7pm to 9pm). During the period from August through November, when temperatures are expected to remain high and power supply is constrained, sawmillers have been advised to operate be-

tween 22:00h to 11:00h (10 pm and 11 am) the following day. This provides them with a 13-hour operating window, from which they can determine how many hours they require.

Increase power generation

Similar interventions have been made to increase power generation in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). According to Indar, although there is enough generation at the moment, when the “engines trip”, the region experiences power outages. As such, the Government will add 2 MW of power from GMI. “So, we could take down some of the Caterpillar sets that have been running beyond their overhaul limit. So, we can bring them down to change out their main component parts and do overhaul,” he noted. The Government has also put out a tender, which has closed and is now in its final stage of evaluation for 8 MW for Region Two. In Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), the peak demand has moved from 26 MW to 41 MW but the cable which transmits the power is taxed. According to Minister Indar, the cable is “supposed to be carrying a safe limit of about seven to eight megawatts of power, but it has transmitted 15 megawatts a few days ago, putting this critical piece of infrastructure at risk.” “...because if that cable fries we’ll have problems in Region Three because the power is transmitted from

Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar

Region Four through that cable to Region Three,” he noted. The solution, the Minister said, is to install another cable from the Princes Street substation in Georgetown, running along the floor of the Demerara River, to the Vreed en Hoop substation. He said the contractors mobilised over the weekend and “we’ll start laying the cable on the Demerara River by tomorrow (today)”.

Extra five megawatts

In Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), there will soon be an extra 5 MW of generating power as a result of works executed on Sunday. “Sunday, we had an outage from six in the morning till about three, four in the afternoon. We had a major enhancement and upgrade to the substation at New Georgetown which is near where the Eagle (Roundabout) is and that is the substation that receives

15-year-old slapped with manslaughter over fisherman’s death ...released into parents’ custody; barred from leaving Guyana

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15-year-old boy was on Monday charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of 55-year-old Corentyne fisherman Asmat Mohamed Hussain, who died following an incident at Dukestown, Corriverton, last Wednesday. The teenager appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Michelle Mattias, where the indictable charge was read to him. The charge was laid under Section 94 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01, and relates to Hussain’s death on August 12 at Dukestown. The teenager was released into the care and custody of his parents. As part of the conditions imposed by the court, he is required to report to the Springlands Police Station on the last Friday of every month and was ordered not to leave the jurisdiction until the mat-

Dead: Asmat Mohamed Hussain

ter is completed. The matter was adjourned to September 17. Monday’s charge follows an investigation which initially began as an alleged murder probe. Police had reported last week that Hussain, a fisherman of Lot 23 Dukestown, Corriverton, died following an incident

at about 21:00h on August 12 in the vicinity of a supermarket at Dukestown. The teenager was arrested that night and had remained in custody as investigators sought to determine the circumstances surrounding Hussain’s death. Relatives of the fisherman subsequently relat-

ed that Hussain had been out drinking on the night of the incident. One of his brothers said he was also out drinking when Hussain left the gathering and later returned. According to the brother, he subsequently heard persons shouting that someone was on the ground and, when he went to investigate, he saw Hussain lying unconscious. Hussain was picked up and rushed for medical attention. An autopsy conducted by Government Pathologist Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan gave the cause of death as a fractured skull and haemorrhage. Following the teenager’s arrest, his parents also spoke publicly about the incident and appealed for their son to be given a second chance. His mother had related what she said her son told her about the circumstances leading up to the confrontation.

70 megawatts from the power ship. We had to do a lot of electrical changeover, switch gear, panels, a whole host of works they had to do there with the transmission line and that work was completed on Sunday. So there’s an extra five megawatts that will come by the end of August from the steam operation on the power ship. They will be ready to deliver that extra five megawatts into the grid. Currently they’re already putting 70 megawatts. There are only five more megawatts from that power ship that can come into the grid,” the Minister noted. Additionally in Region Four, he noted that a contract has been awarded to address the taxed transmission line from Garden of Eden to the Linden Soesdyke Highway. “We have awarded a contract to contractor Ramator and Sons and he has already started transporting the materials and by Wednesday we should see pole planting happening,” he said, noting that the works will be done in phases. On general power generation, Indar said

from Friday to now, it has been significantly boosted. “Last Friday I said we were at 256.3 megawatts. That was our operating capacity and I promised that by Monday we’ll have another major generation set online for 9.3 megawatts at Garden of Eden. I just want to report back that that set was made online as of 2:30 this afternoon and is generating 9.3 megawatts which has now brought our total available generation to 266.3 megawatts,” he noted. “That puts us with a reserve on the grid about 26 megawatts because the peak right now is around 240,” he added. Meanwhile, in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), interventions have been made to address the issue of voltage fluctuations there. Indar said 2.2 MW of engine capacity were installed at a central location in the region to help boost voltage and provide a more stable supply for water treatment plants and other facilities. According to the Minister, reports received indicate that voltage levels are now relatively stable.

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Businessman arrested for Pork-knocker nabbed with allegedly threatening to gun, ammo in Linden shoot construction worker

The firearm and ammunition that were confiscated pending investigations

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38-year-old businessman of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara (WBD), was on Saturday taken into custody for allegedly threatening to shoot a construction worker during an argument. Police stated that a 28-year-old construction worker of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), was driving a motor vehicle along the Pouderoyen Public Road, WBD when he came across the businessman, who was on a motorcycle. The two men then engaged in a heated argument, which ultimately led

to an altercation in which the businessman whipped out a firearm, pointed it in the direction of the construction worker and threatened to shoot him. The man became fearful for his life and reported the matter, thus leading to the arrest of the businessman, who was found to be in possession of a licensed .32 Taurus pistol. However, the firearm, along with a magazine containing 11 rounds of matching ammunition, was lodged as investigations continue. The businessman remains in police custody.

The gun and ammo found in possession of the miner

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he 30-year-old pork knocker from Victory Valley, Wismar, Linden, who illegally had a firearm and ammunition in his possession in the vicinity of Dakoura Creek, Wismar, Linden, was arrested pending investigations. Police stated that on Sunday, at about 13:15h, ranks were conducting mobile patrols in the area when they observed the pork knocker acting in a suspicious manner upon seeing the

police. However, he was intercepted, and a search of a shoulder bag he was carrying unearthed one Glock 19 pistol fitted with a magazine containing eight live 9mm rounds of ammunition. The suspect, who is not the holder of a firearm license, was arrested and escorted to the Wismar Police Station along with the firearm and ammunition, which were lodged. He remains in police custody and is assisting with the investigations.

5 Brazilians fined, deported for illegal entry

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ive Brazilian nationals were fined 30,000 each on Friday, and their deportation was ordered after they pleaded guilty to the offence of illegal entry. Fabricio Braga Tomza, 24; Daniel Dos Santos Reis, 23; Cleocione Ferreira de Souza, 44; Edimar Dos Santos Chaves, 40;

and Geovanny Nogueira Ferreira, 23, all from Boa Vista, Brazil, were arrested and charged with the offence. They were charged with entering Guyana by crossing a land frontier and failing to promptly present themselves to the nearest Immigration Officer. Fabricio Braga Tomaz

Daniel Dos Santos Reis

TURN TO PAGE 10

Imbibing… Y

… and enjoying

our Eyewitness has never made a secret of his patronage of that fine Guyanese institution – patterned rather sketchily on the English pub – called a “rumshop”!! As sugar was the mainstay of our economy and its by-product molasses could be distilled into rum, it wasn’t surprising that British sailors weren’t the only folks who enjoyed the latter’s spirituous tipple!! While in the beginning every sugar factory could – and did – distil their molasses into rum, over the years – like its parent sugar factories – the distilleries also amalgamated!! One of the largest ones left standing was Demerara Distilleries Limited (DDL)!! Starting from colonial days when rum shops were slyly introduced to part the labourers from their (hardearned) money- so they’d have to return to the fields come Monday morning – Guyanese became convinced it was an act of patriotism to drink anyone – and everyone – under the table!! Sadly, however - because alcoholism is a disease after all – it created a nation with more than its fair share of drunkards who also let loose all their inhibitions on their friends, family and neighbours!! In the modern context, “drunk driving” – leading to horrendous accident statistics – was added to the list!! So, as your Eyewitness scours the news, he finds it deliciously ironic that DDL – the company behind Guyana’s celebrated El Dorado rums – putting serious energy and money into milk production and fruit juices!! After all, while the name Demerara has been associated with some of the world’s finest grogs, “El Dorado” turned our old sugar-and-rum heritage into an international brand!! Winning international prizes and suchlike!! But perhaps DDL – having a front-row seat to the less glamorous side of that heritage and taking note of the effects of alcohol consumption on Guyanese society – wants to provide an alternative!! So, the move into milk and fruit juices might be more than simple diversification from making drinks that make people forget their troubles – they’ve decided there’s a market in helping them avoid those troubles in the first place!! It’s definitely a sensible hedge since money still gaffa mek!! While rum’s an indulgence – milk and fruit juices are nourishment that “does your body good!!” and can be quaffed at breakfast without the missus worrying about a backslap!! Of course, your Eyewitness don’t expect El Dorado to disappear – the horror!! – since DDL ain’t gonna abandon its money-making world-class brand!! But if its expanding portfolio of milk and juices continues to grow, perhaps the company has quietly recognised a rather profound commercial truth – after all these years of selling Guyana a little – OK…more than a little!! – intoxication, there’s just as good money to be made in selling it something more wholesome!! …Chinese timidity Your Eyewitness thoroughly enjoyed the movie Mulan about the Chinese heroine who saved China – but especially the fireless, fast-talking midget dragon Moshu – played by the inimitable Eddie Murphy!! Moshu talked big – but in the end was just a bluff!! And as your Eyewitness looks at China’s claim to be displacing America as the international hegemon, he sees it as nothing less than a modern Moshu. China’s international record these last fifteen years reads like a ledger of ducking!! Libya was taken out in 2011 while they stood aside in the Security Council, evacuated their workers and issued “regrets”!!! Syria endured a decade of proxy war, its cities ground to dust, and China’s contribution?? Anodyne “statements”!! Finally, Venezuela was strangled slowly and publicly by sanctions then its leader Mad Maduro kidnapped and its government handed the pliable Delcy – while Beijing stands mute!! Each time its self-defined “enemy” took out a state, the Chinese express “concern”, call for dialogue and go back to work!!! With friends like this… …Sanction Man’s poison It’s clear Sanction Man’s so desperate to avoid being fitted for that orange jump-suit in Miami that he’s willing to undermine the one institution that has stood like a rock in our treacherous politics waters – the CCJ!! 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

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Canada’s envoy bids farewell as tour of duty in Guyana ends on September 10, 2024, shortly after being appointed to succeed Mark Berman as Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana and Plenipotentiary Representative to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). His appointment was announced in August 2024 by Canada’s then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly. Sigouin joined Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1997 as a human rights

and humanitarian affairs adviser. He subsequently held several senior positions within the Canadian foreign service and Government. Among his previous assignments, he served as manager of the International Programme and Director of Policy for the Canadian Human Rights Commission between 2002 and 2010. From 2010 to 2015, he was Director of Strategic Planning and Operations for Canada’s development assistance program-

ming. He later served as Deputy Head of Canada’s Permanent Mission to the Organisation of American States (OAS) from 2015 to 2018. Between 2018 and 2022, Sigouin was Executive Director responsible for Canada’s relations with Central American countries, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Before his appointment to Guyana, he served as Executive Director of the Haiti Division.

5 Brazilians fined...

FROM PAGE 8

Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Sébastien Sigouin with Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd on Monday during a farewell courtesy call

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anada’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Sébastien Sigouin, on Monday paid a farewell courtesy call on Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd bringing his two-year tour of duty in Guyana

to an end. The Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry said in a social media post that Sigouin met with Todd on Monday. During the meeting, Todd acknowledged Sigouin’s role in promoting bilateral relations between Guyana and

Canada during his tenure. Sigouin, in turn, expressed appreciation to Todd and the Government of Guyana for the support provided throughout his tour of duty. The Canadian diplomat presented his credentials to President Dr Irfaan Ali

Cleocione Ferreira De Souza

Edimar Dos Santos Chavas

Geovanny Nogueira Ferreira

The five accused appeared on Friday before Magistrate Nikkisha Logan at Lethem Magistrate’s Court, where they pleaded

guilty to the charges. As such, they were fined and are expected to be deported soon. Back in April, two Brazilian nationals of Boa

Vista, Roraima, Brazil, who were arrested and charged with the offence of Illegal Entry, were also fined and deported.

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New O&G approvals prioritise environmental safeguards – petroleum coordinator

Senior Petroleum Coordinator Bobby Gossai Jr

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enior Petroleum Coordinator at the Natural Resources Ministry, Bobby Gossai Jr, has underscored the importance of sustainability in managing the country’s oil and gas resources, noting that every approval

granted within the industry takes environmental safeguards into account. He made the remarks during a recent episode of the Energy Perspectives podcast, where he explained that environmental considerations remain

central to every decision made by the Government within the oil and gas industry. “Even our crude that we trade, there is a carbon level on that that we must maintain over time, in order to ensure that our crude is very competitive,” Gossai Jr highlighted. He also noted that environmental considerations are incorporated into every new field development plan reviewed and every environmental permit granted. “Every new approval that we give, will take into account those environmental safeguards,” he expressed. For environmental permits, he emphasised that they include stringent measures including penalties for breaches, such as for excessive flaring. Guyana’s regulatory framework penalises unauthorised or excessive gas flaring by offshore operators, at a rate of US$50 per tonne of carbon diox-

ide equivalents emitted beyond permitted startup or maintenance windows. Latest available data indicates that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collected almost $1 billion in flaring fines from ExxonMobil as of April 2025. Meanwhile, in addition to these safeguards, Gossai Jr pointed to the Petroleum Activities Act as well as the Oil Pollution Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Responsibility Act

which include measures to protect the environment. For the Petroleum Activities Act, the petroleum expert noted that the Government is in the process of developing regulations to support the legislation. “We’re hoping to have that done before the end of this year,” he said. He also reminded that Guyana is the only oil-producing nation in the region and one of only 13 in the world equipped with an in-country capping stack to

contain potential offshore well blowouts. Gossai Jr further explained that even with the gas to energy pipeline landed at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD), safeguards are in place through a “buffer zone” along the corridor. He said authorities ensure no activities are taking place in that area, including farming or the use of heavy-duty equipment. According to Gossai Jr, authorities continue to work in harmony to ensure the country stays updated with international best practices governing the sector. For instance, he said the Ministry of Natural Resources is currently working along with the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning to strengthen regulations to ensure both people and the environment are protected. Additionally, he said the EPA continues to monitor offshore activities.

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ERC Harmon young Guyan country’s sha

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ighty-six young Guyanese and their guardians on Monday took part in the Ethnic Relations Commission’s (ERC) Harmony Tour of Demerara, visiting a range of religious, cultural and historical sites across Georgetown. The group comprised 50 children accompanied by 36 guardians and was led by members of the ERC, including Chairman Shaikh Moeenul Hack, Deputy Chairman Charles Ogle and Commissioners Norris Whitter, Ras Khafra, Reverend Rodwell Porter, Chandrowtie Sarran and Dwayne Adams. The Harmony Tour, organised in collaboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) is intended to expose young Guyanese to the country’s diverse faiths, cultures and histories through direct visits to significant sites. The tour began at the Botanical Gardens and the Place of the Seven Ponds before taking participants to several places of worship and heritage sites. It concluded at the 1823 Monument on Carifesta Avenue. In opening remarks, Ogle said the initiative provided an opportunity for participants

to gain experiences that could not be obtained solely through classroom learning. “While we may learn in school about the names and traditions of the various religions practiced in Guyana, we do not often get the opportunity to visit these places and experience first-hand the richness and diversity of our faiths and cultures,” he said. Ogle said the tour also highlighted the common experiences shared by Guyanese despite differences in religion, ethnicity and culture. “We share the same country, the same history and the same hopes for a peaceful and prosperous Guyana,” he said. Hack, meanwhile, emphasised the role of religious education in promoting tolerance and mutual respect. He said understanding the beliefs and practices of other communities could help young people become ambassadors for harmony within their families, schools and communities. The religious component of the tour included visits to St George’s Cathedral, the Radha Krishna Mandir at Camp and Quamina Streets, Queenstown Jama Masjid on Church Street

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ny Tour takes nese through ared heritage and Sacred Heart Church on Main Street. At each place of worship, representatives of the respective faith communities introduced participants to their beliefs, practices and customs. The children were also briefed on appropriate courtesies before entering each site. The tour also highlighted the country’s ethnic and cultural heritage. Indigenous heritage was featured through visits to the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology and the Umana Yana, while African heritage and the struggle for freedom were represented at the 1763 Monument at the Square of the Revolution, the 1823 Monument and the African Liberation Monument at Kingston. Indian heritage was highlighted at the Indian Arrival Monument on Camp Street and the Mahatma Gandhi Monument in the Promenade Gardens. Sacred Heart Church represented Portuguese heritage, while the Chinese Association of Guyana on Brickdam formed part of the tour’s focus on Chinese Guyanese heritage. The tour was guided by veteran tour guide Paul Waldron,

who shared historical information with participants throughout the journey. Parents, guardians and children expressed appreciation for the initiative, with some guardians noting that the tour provided an opportunity to expose their children to sites and traditions they had not previously been able to experience. The ERC also acknowledged the support of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), which provided buses for transportation, and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for assisting with the safe movement of participants across Georgetown. The Commission also thanked religious leaders, site managers and institutions that welcomed the group and shared their knowledge. The Harmony Tour will continue this week, with visits to Essequibo scheduled for Wednesday, August 19, and Berbice on Friday, August 21. The ERC said the programme is part of its efforts to create opportunities for Guyanese to learn about the country’s diverse histories, cultures and faith traditions while promoting greater understanding and respect among communities.

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Company registered 4 years, not days before Govt contract – Sigma tells US-sanctioned LOO … calumnious, unsubstantiated, defamatory – lawyer tells Mohamed in legal letter

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igma Engineers Limited Inc has rejected recent allegations made by United States (US)-sanctioned and indicted Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed regarding its operations in Guyana, while legal counsel for Mohamed Aqtar Ali has demanded the withdrawal of statements made about his client and warned of legal action. Mohamed, in a video posted to the Team Mohamed Facebook page on Monday, alleged that Sigma Engineers Limited Inc was established days before receiving a contract from the Guyana Government. However, Sigma said the

Guyanese company was registered on October 6, 2022, while its first contract in Guyana was awarded in 2026 following a national competitive bidding process conducted through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). “Sigma Engineers Ltd has been incorporated and operating in Bangladesh since 2003,” the company said in a statement issued on Monday. Sigma also rejected claims surrounding Aqtar Ali, the brother of President Dr Irfaan Ali, noting that he was engaged in a senior technical consultant capacity. “He has

no affiliation with the company in Bangladesh,” the company stated.

Calumnious, unsubstantiated, defamatory

Meanwhile, Attorney-atlaw Kashir A. Khan, acting for Aqtar Ali, issued a letter dated August 17 to Mohamed demanding that statements made about his client in the video be withdrawn. The letter identifies several statements attributed to Mohamed including claims that Sigma Engineers is “Aqtar’s company,” that Aqtar was involved with the company’s financials and that he and others were attempting to “rob tax-

payers.” Khan stated that his client is “not a director or shareholder in any of the companies referenced in the video clip, nor has he ever been.” The attorney further rejected the allegation that Aqtar intended to “rob taxpayers,” describing the statements as “calumnious, unsubstantiated and defamatory.” “My client asserts that your statements about him in the video clip are calumnious, unsubstantiated and defamatory in their entirety,” the lawyer wrote. Khan warned that any repetition or further publication of the statements, whether electronically or otherwise, would further amplify what he described as their defamatory nature. “These baseless allegations must be withdrawn forthwith in the appropriate manner, failing which my client will take legal action as may be advised to protect his reputation, without further notice,” the letter stated. Sigma Engineers similar-

ly said it has engaged legal counsel and intends to pursue appropriate legal action over what it described as misinformation being circulated on social media. “As the company continues to engage its legal counsel on this matter, further information regarding its operations and the issues raised will be provided at the appropriate time,” the company said. Sigma added that it remains committed to operating in accordance with Guyana’s laws and regulations and maintaining standards of professionalism, accountability and integrity. “The company respects due process and believes that public discourse concerning businesses operating in Guyana should be grounded in accurate and verifiable information,” it said.

Series of claims

The allegations against Sigma Engineers Limited Inc are the latest claims made by Mohamed through

Team Mohamed’s Facebook page that have prompted responses from various organisations and authorities. Local contractors, as well as the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Enmore Regional Hospital, have recently issued statements providing clarification or rejecting claims made by Mohamed. Mohamed and his father, Nazar, are facing an 11-count indictment in the US in connection with alleged financial crimes, including wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering. US authorities are seeking their extradition, with the matter continuing through Guyana’s court system. Following legal challenges to the Government’s Authority to Proceed, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) dismissed the Mohameds’ appeal, clearing the way for committal proceedings in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to resume on September 3.

Stop open burning at housing sites – CH&PA warns contractors

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he Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) on Monday issued a notice, warning contractors of consequences of open burning, particularly of vegetation in site preparations and of construction waste, at all Housing Ministry project sites. For those already engaged in such practices, the CH&PA ordered that “contractors must immediately cease and desist from all open burning and extinguish any existing fires.” The Authority explained that the burning of vegetation for land-clearing and site-preparation, discarded formwork and timber, construction debris and packaging materials, any other construction-related waste, is strictly prohibited under the Environmental Protection Act. “Breaches may result in fines, imprisonment and other applicable legal sanctions,” the CH&PA noted. It advised that all construction waste must be regularly collected, removed and disposed of in accordance with CH&PA's Waste Management Plan (WMP) and the requirements of the respective Project Contract. “Any contractor found in breach of this directive will be subject to the applicable contractual penalties enforced by CH&PA,” the agency emphasised. Fire Safety Only recently, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) issued an advisory, warning against open burning, especially amid the he El Niño period. “With soaring temperatures and dried-out vegetation, a small spark can rapidly transform into unmanageable grass or structural fire,” the GFS had cautioned in a statement last month. As such, the GFS

urged all citizens to refrain from burning garbage, dried leaves or yard waste. Farmers were also advised against open burning for land clearing and to seek alternatives such as composting or manual clearing to minimise wildfire risks. “Under El Niño conditions, sudden wind gusts can carry embers into dry grass or nearby buildings instantly,” the GFS had also cautioned. Additionally, businesses and farms near heavily vegetated areas were encouraged to establish effective firebreaks (clear strips of land with no vegetation) to protect properties from approaching bushfires. Environment Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has noted that open burning is an environmentally poor waste management option. “Burning waste can result in the release of highly toxic pollutants into your home or environment and some people are at greater risk of being affected. Pollutants include particulate matter, nitric oxides, dioxins and many other dangerous chemicals. Some particulate emissions that are commonly found in smoke are small enough to enter the respiratory system. This means that you can simply breathe in dangerous fine particles. Contact with pollutants that can have immediate effects such as rashes, nausea and headaches, and long-term health effects such as asthma, emphysema and other respiratory illnesses, nervous system, kidney or liver damage and reproductive or developmental disorders,” the EPA explained on its website. Additionally, it noted that

dioxins can be produced in harmful quantities during burning. “Dioxins are a group of hundreds of chemically-related compounds that are persistent environmental pollutants (POPs). These chemicals are members of three closely related families, chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs), chlorinated dibenzofurans (CDFs) and certain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). CDFs and CDDs are not usually created intentionally but as a result of human activities such as burning household garbage. Some types of dioxins may result from natural processes such as forest fires. According to the US EPA, Dioxins are highly toxic and can cause cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, damage to the immune system, and can interfere with hormones. These compounds though not present in the materials before they are burnt, are produced and introduced into the environment. Pollutants are then released at the ground level where they can be readily inhaled, deposited on plants and released into waterways and can enter the food chain. More dioxins are produced in a burn barrel as compared to large incinerators because of low oxygen and lower temperature,” the EPA further explained. To dispose of waste by incineration requires an environmental permit. It is an offence under the Environmental Protection (Air Quality) regulations, to emit any air contaminant related to industry, commerce, agriculture or any institution, without approval from the EPA with penalties ranging from $75, 000 to $500,000 and to imprisonment for six months.

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King’s Foundation-Guyana collaboration

Joinery, blacksmithing, sustainable development being taught – STS rep

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S u s t a i n a b l e Thinking Scotland (STS) team has spent three weeks at Highgrove and Dumfries House in Scotland receiving training in joinery and sustainable development as part of its collaboration with the King’s Foundation. The training is intended to strengthen the group’s capacity to work with forest materials and develop products from resources collected from the forest floor. The initiative was highlighted by President Dr Irfaan Ali in a video posted to his social media page, during which an STS representative outlined the group’s experience at the facilities. According to the representative, the programme included exposure to joinery, blacksmithing and

President Dr Irfaan Ali in a video posted to his social media page with an STS representative

other areas of sustainable development. The representative said the STS team worked alongside a joiner, identified as Bob L, for three weeks, learning tech-

niques that could be used to train others in joinery. “It was quite amazing work. We usually do these kinds of joinery woodworks, in a sense. Also, they of-

fer blacksmithing classes and other areas of sustainable development itself,” the representative said. The training, he added, has helped the group to build

its capacity to teach joinery work. President Ali said the next step would involve using materials sourced from the forest floor to create finished products. “And you guys are now going to harvest from the floor of the forest and create products,” the President said. The STS representative said the group’s aim is to take products made from Guyana’s forest resources directly to consumers. “We would like to bring the story from the forest to the homes of citizens and other people,” the representative said. The initiative is part of the collaboration between Guyana and the King’s Foundation, which has focused on sustainable development, skills training and the application of practical approaches to commu-

nity development. The King’s Foundation operates from Dumfries House and has programmes covering areas including construction, traditional crafts, sustainable agriculture, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and skills development. During Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo’s visit to Scotland in April, he toured several of the Foundation’s programmes at Dumfries House and engaged with officials on its international collaboration with Guyana. That engagement also included discussions on sustainable urban development and the development of practical skills suited to climate-resilient economies.

Tiperu Village gets new concrete road Work has begun on a new concrete road in Tiperu Village, South Pakaraimas, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) delivering on the Government’s commitment to stronger hinterland infrastructure. The project responds directly to residents’ calls for better, all-weather access and will improve connectivity for families, students, health workers and farmers (Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo/Facebook)

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

St Pius Church urges M&CC action as vendors block entrance, drainage works T

he St Pius Catholic Church is seeking urgent intervention from the Georgetown City Council to clear vendor structures from the church’s entrance, citing concerns that the structures are obstructing drainage works and affecting access to the sacred space. The matter was raised during the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) meeting on Monday, where councillors discussed a request from the church for the vendors to be removed or restricted to movable structures that can be cleared at the end of each day. According to correspondence from the church, the continued presence of the structures has hindered essential drainage works and affected the entrance to the church, which it said should reflect “holiness, dignity, and sacredness.” The church also warned that continued delays could force it to consider legal action as a last resort to protect its property and allow the necessary works to proceed. According to Mayor Alfred

es when construction and drainage works were obstructed. The church has reportedly indicated that, following further consultation, it may have to seek legal advice if the matter remains unresolved. However, the church stressed that this was not intended as a threat, but rather as a last resort to protect its property and allow essential works to proceed. It has therefore called for urgent intervention to ensure that the Council’s previous commitment is honoured.

Public spaces near churches

Mayor Alfred Mentore at the M&CC statutory meeting on Monday

Mentore, the Council had previously reached a compromise with the church, allowing vendors to continue their livelihoods using movable structures, provided that the structures are removed at the end of each day. “Father would have written, and he also sent a note of gratitude to St Pius Catholic

Church. Following our previous discussions and correspondence with the City Council, the Church and Parish, Council agreed to a compromise allowing the vendors to continue their livelihoods with movable structures, provided these are removed by the end of the day.” Mentore said the Council also received corre-

spondence concerning the movement of the structures to allow the church to carry out essential drainage works and restore what it described as a fair and dignified entrance. He said the church maintained that its entrance should reflect “holiness, dignity and sacredness” and that the cur-

rent situation continues to hinder this objective. According to the Mayor, the church said it had made efforts to resolve the matter peacefully and cooperatively, but the continued delay was causing serious difficulties, particularly as it had previously suffered significant financial loss-

Meanwhile, concerns surrounding the management and upkeep of public spaces near churches have also been raised in other parts of Georgetown. Last April, following complaints about the triangular area situated along Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, opposite St Sidwell’s Primary School, the Georgetown City Council cleaned the area after it had become a garbage dumping site.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2026

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17

Regional

Colombia’s President pegs Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ early quake losses at US$9.6B Association slams Antigua PM’s remarks

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Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella delivers a statement on recovery efforts following the recent earthquake, which struck several major cities in western Colombia, at San Carlos Palace in Bogota, Colombia, August 12, 2026 (Reuters/Jose Vargas photo)

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he economic losses from a powerful earthquake that ‌s truck Colombia last week are expected to reach 30 trillion pesos (US$9.58 billion), Colombia’s President Abelardo De La Espriella said on Monday. De La Espriella said the impact included roughly 24.5 trillion pesos in buildings and 5.5 trillion pesos in infrastructure. “Just imagine the scale of the disaster,” De La Espriella said, noting that

the figures were likely to change. “This is a preliminary figure that will be adjusted as we obtain more information and as the damage caused by this earthquake is assessed in each of the regions.” The 7.4-magnitude quake toppled buildings in various parts of western Colombia, ‌ i ncluding the major cities of Cali and Pereira, killing 280 persons, injuring more than 4000, and leaving another 143 persons missing. By comparison, the

earthquakes that struck neighbouring Venezuela on June 24 caused damage to housing and infrastructure estimated at US$37 billion, according to an initial assessment by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction published last month. The Colombia quake is the first major crisis facing De La Espriella, who took office just days before and now must oversee relief and reconstruction efforts. (Reuters)

Brazil Minister says fiscal reforms face painful final mile

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razil’s Finance Minister Dario Durigan said on Monday that the country faces a “painful final mile” of fiscal reforms to address high interest rates, rising public debt and household leverage ‌ h overing around record levels. “We have to deal with it. This needs to be addressed quite quickly so that we can return to having a development project, a country project,” he said at an event hosted by Santander Brasil in São Paulo. Durigan pointed to a series of issues that need to be tackled, including curbing mandatory spending and revisiting the size of congressional earmarks, the budget allocations individual lawmakers direct to projects in their districts. He also called for addressing privileges within the pension system, particularly for military personnel, and reining in above-cap sala-

he Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association has issued what is being seen as the strongest rebuke yet of Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s remarks against a judge. The Association said it is “extremely concerned” about Browne’s recent remarks attacking members of the Judiciary, particularly judicial officers considered too lenient in sentencing, and his threat to remove them from office, “tantamount to deportation”. The organisation said it fully endorses the joint statement issued by the Caribbean Heads of Judiciary on August 12 and warned that democracy would be “gravely undermined” if court judgments are not respected. It said the remarks are “particularly unfortunate and are unproductive,” especially with Antigua and Barbuda

set to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) later this year, when the country “should be setting an example in protecting and promoting the rule of law and the separation of powers.”

The Association said any move by the Government that appears to erode the Judiciary’s authority, independence or integrity “is a matter of grave concern.” It called on Browne and the Government to “respect the authority of the Judiciary and ensure that due process is followed in line with the constitution and its international obligations.” The statement follows the joint declaration by the Caribbean Heads of Judiciary, condemning remarks Browne made on August 10 during a National Security meeting on gun crime. Browne told a judge to fol-

low Parliament’s lead on longer sentences or leave the country voluntarily, warning he could be deported and declared persona non grata. The Antigua and Barbuda Bar Association and the OECS Bar Association have also condemned the remarks, saying they threaten judicial independence and the constitutional separation of powers. Browne responded on August 13, saying his comments did not amount to an instruction against any judge. He said “there has never been any request or action” by his Government “to remove, or reassign or deport any member of the Judiciary.” The prime minister said he has written to the Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court proposing an independent committee to review sentencing for firearm and other serious violent offences. (Antigua Observer)

Cops kill 2 in Trinidad

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elatives of 28-yearold Nigel “Poogie” Mohammed are demanding justice following a pre-dawn Police operation in La Romaine on Sunday that left Mohammed and another man dead. Police reportedly stormed a house on Ashley Street after jumping a fence near a church. According to the Police account, officers encountered a man inside the house who opened fire at them, prompting them to return fire. But Mohammed’s relatives and residents are disputing that account, saying they believe the two men were killed in cold blood and are calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths. The identity of the second man remains unknown, but

Mohammed’s relatives say he lived in Pleasantville and La Brea. Standing outside Mohammed’s family home Sunday, his sister Melissa Mohammed, 44, described the incident as an “unjust Police killing”. “This is a targeted Police killing,” she said. Melissa said her brother was inside the house when Police entered. “He was in the bedroom, yes, but he did not get shot on the bed,” she said. She questioned the circumstances of the operation and called for a thorough investigation into what happened inside the house. Mohammed’s brother Aaron also disputed the claim that the men fired at Police, questioning whether forensic

tests were carried out to determine if either man had discharged a firearm. “Why didn’t they ask for gun residue?” he asked. Aaron said such testing should have been done immediately. He said Mohammed had been trying to turn his life around and had been working at a construction site in Tarouba. “He was trying to change his life,” Aaron said. Meanwhile, Police said the two male suspects were fatally shot and two firearms seized during an intelligence-led anti-crime exercise targeting firearm-related offences, robberies and home invasions within the San Fernando Police District. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Barbados Central Bank seizes control of Zeemoney

T Brazilian Finance Minister Dario Durigan speaks during an interview with Reuters in Beijing, China, June 25, 2026 (Reuters/ Maxim Shemetov photo)

ries in the public sector. “Do we need to do it? We do. Let’s bring it into the light of day,” h ‌ e said. The lack of what investors see as a credible path to stabilising Brazil’s public debt, amid rapid growth in government spending, has forced the country to pay hefty risk premiums to finance itself. Since leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is seeking re-election in October, took office in 2023, Brazil’s gross pub-

lic debt as a share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has risen by more than 10 percentage points. With the exception of the goal to reduce congressional earmarks, Lula’s government platform for the coming years does not detail fiscal adjustment measures aimed at curbing mandatory spending, nor does it outline steps to address privileges in the pension system or the public sector. (Excerpt from Reuters)

he Central Bank of Barbados has seized management and control of Zeemoney (Barbados) Limited, citing concerns over the company’s financial position and business practices. The action took effect Monday under Section 59 of the Financial Institutions Act, Cap. 324A. According to a notice issued by the Central Bank, the move was taken to protect Zeemoney’s creditors, amid concerns that the company is unlikely to meet its financial obligations. The Bank also said Zeemoney had not maintained high standards of financial probity or was not following sound business practices. As a result, the powers of Zeemoney’s directors, of-

ficers and management to manage or deal with the company’s business, affairs or assets have been suspended and vested in the Central Bank and persons authorised by it. The company’s licensed business, including all money or value transmission services, remains suspended. The Central Bank said it intends to apply to the High Court for the compulsory winding-up of Zeemoney. Customers and creditors have been advised to retain records relating to their accounts, transactions and claims. The Bank said it will provide further information on the process for verifying balances and submitting claims as the resolution process continues. “No person should

make any new payment to Zeemoney or act on any payment or refund instruction unless expressed by the Central Bank of Barbados,” the release said. The Bank suspended Zeemoney’s licence from May 25 to June 4 this year and the company subsequently shut down operations. It was a subsidiary of Zeepay, which was founded by Ghanaian businessman Andrew Takyi-Appiah in 2015. It started operations in Barbados in 2022. The High Court in Ghana recently seized his home after ordering him to pay a settlement of US$11.6 million. The fintech company offered remittance services, mobile money, digital transfers and wallet and payment services. (Nation News)

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2026

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Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Iran threatens new offensive while Oil climbs as fading US-Iran peace hopes raise supply risks

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il prices rose today as a deal to end the Middle East war s‌ eemed further out of sight with Iran saying it will adopt a more offensive stance and the United States ruling out extending a ceasefire agreement, heightening worries about energy supply. Iran will shift to a “fully offensive” military posture because efforts to negotiate a permanent end to the war with the US have stalled, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday, as Washington ruled out extending a temporary ceasefire agreement. Brent crude futures climbed 27 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to US$91.14 by 0003 GMT, after rising to their highest since July 30 on Monday. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 42 cents to US$85.04 a barrel, after gaining more than one per cent earlier in the session to reach US$85.37, their highest since July 31. “Oil has jumped to start the week as US-Iran relations look increasingly shaky. A deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz still does not appear to be in sight, ‌and shipping numbers remain at a trickle,” said chief market analyst at KCM, Tim Waterer. Following attacks on tankers, only five commodity vessels transited the Hormuz Strait on Saturday, with none registered for Sunday, ship-tracking data from Kpler showed, versus 31 in the prior weekend. Yemen’s Houthis attacked what they described as a Saudi military ship and four escort vessels in the Red Sea with missiles, according to the group’s military spokesperson Yahya Saree on Telegram. “The dual chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb remains highly significant. These are not secondary concerns. They sit at the centre of the current supply-risk narrative,” KCM’s Waterer said. Iran has separately been negotiating an agreement on managing the Strait with Oman and says they are close to a deal. But Trump responded to those negotiations with a threat to bomb the Gulf state, a longstanding US security partner. In a glimmer of hope for diplomacy though, media reports said Trump had opened back-channel discussions with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. US crude oil stockpiles were expected to have fallen last week alongside product inventories, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday. (Reuters)

Zambia’s Hichilema wins 2nd term in presidential election

US rules out extending ceasefire deal I

ran will shift to a “fully offensive” military posture because efforts to negotiate a permanent end to the war with the United States have stalled, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday, as Washington ruled out extending ‌a temporary ceasefire agreement. Outward progress towards peace talks and a resumption of oil tanker traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz has ground to a halt, threatening to extend the conflict that the US and Israel launched with attacks on Iran on February 28. “Iranian entities must be prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and wider region, as Iran

Asked by reporters on Monday if the US was seeking to extend June’s interim agreement, US President Donald Trump said no

will be ready to make decisions and take action on difficult decisions,” the Iranian official said, adding that Tehran would conduct a “timely and precise” military attack to break the US

naval blockade if diplomacy failed. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in June to end the war had given Iran and the US until Monday to reach a

final peace agreement. Signed on June 17, the memorandum set a 60-day time frame for a broader deal on Iran’s nuclear programme and US sanctions. The agreement, which declared the “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts”, quickly unravelled over a dispute about control of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flowed before the war. Asked by reporters on Monday if the US was seeking to extend June’s interim agreement, US President Donald Trump said no. (Excerpt from Reuters)

“We will not allow Gaza to be rebuilt” until Hamas disarms, Kushner says

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nited States envoy Jared Kushner has stressed that the Administration of President Donald Trump will not allow reconstruction in the devastated Gaza Strip until Hamas gives up its weapons. Kushner, Trump’s sonin-law, held talks with

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, but the meeting did not produce a breakthrough to implement a roadmap for Gaza that Hamas already agreed to. “We have a plan to rebuild Gaza, but we will not allow Gaza to be rebuilt until the demilitarisation

occurs,” Kushner told Fox News in an interview. “Nobody wants to put more money into a place that’s gone on for so long if it’s just going to be taken over by terrorists or blown up again.” Hamas had agreed to disarm as part of a USbacked process that would

include Israeli withdrawal and an end to the deadly attacks on the Palestinian territory. But Israel rejected the proposal earlier this month, saying that it would not make any concessions until Gaza is fully demilitarised. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Actress Hayden Panettiere dies at age 36

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ributes have been paid to actress Hayden Panettiere, star of US TV shows “Heroes” and “Nashville”, following her death at the age of 36. Oscar winner Viola Davis described Panettiere as an “amazing talent”, while One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy-Lenz noted how as a young star she had acted “like no child I’d ever seen on camera”. Panettiere died on Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina, and police said there were not “any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances”. The star had struggled for years with substance abuse, but no cause

Hayden Panettiere

of death has been released. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office said crews treated a woman in “cardiac arrest” and her autopsy showed “no signs of trauma”. Audio from Police dispatchers and crews who responded to the address said

they were responding to a “cardiac arrest” and detailed their efforts to resuscitate the woman after a possible “overdose”. Panettiere’s death was announced by her father Skip, who said: “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of

our beloved Hayden. “She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her and to the millions who watched her onscreen.” Panettiere’s father asked for privacy “as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss”. The actress played a cheerleader with superpowers in Heroes and an upand-coming country singer in Nashville. Earlier as a child star, she had other memorable roles including in the films “Remember the Titans”, “Raising Helen” and a starring role in the third instalment of the “Bring It On” franchise. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Russia, Ukraine trade more deadly strikes An election official displays a ballot paper as observers look on during the counting of votes after the polls closed at a polling station in Lusaka, Zambia, during Zambia’s general elections, including the presidential election, August 13, 2026 (Reuters/ Moses Mwape photo)

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ambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema ‌secured a second term in office after winning the Southern African country’s presidential election, official results released by the Electoral Commission ‌ of Zambia showed in the early hours of morning.

After restructuring Zambia’s debt in his first term, Hakainde Hichilema says there is more work to be done in his second and wants to double the size of the economy, create more jobs and expand opportunities for households. (Excerpt from Reuters)

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ine persons have been killed and 23 injured, including a child, in Ukrainian strikes on Russia, local officials have said. Eight persons were killed in the western Belgorod region bordering Ukraine in the past 24 hours. A woman died overnight in the southern Astrakhan region. Ukraine said two persons were killed in Russian drone attacks on the north-eastern Sumy region, and another two in the east-

ern Donetsk region. The strikes come a night after what Russia described as the “largest-scale” attack by Ukraine this year, in which at least seven persons were killed. Russian attacks on Ukraine also killed at least seven persons and injured more than 39 on Saturday night. Russia launched its fullscale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently controls approximately a fifth of Ukrainian territory. Meanwhile, a senior

member of Russia’s liberal Yabloko party was sentenced on Monday to 11 years and one month in a penal colony for condemning the war in Ukraine, which he described at his trial as a catastrophe for ‌Russia. Lev Shlosberg, the party’s Deputy Chairman, was accused of discrediting Russia’s armed forces and spreading false information about them. In a closing speech to the court in the city of Pskov

last Friday, he maintained his innocence, said he was the victim of a political trial and repeated his call for an immediate ceasefire in the four-and-a-half-year war. The verdict, published by the court, follows an August 10 decision by Russia’s Supreme Court to exclude Yabloko from taking part in a parliamentary election next month. The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal against that ban. (Excerpts from Reuters)

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2026

ARCHIE

19

DAILY HOROSCOPES

(March 21-April 19)

Restraint is necessary when dealing with financial or medical issues. Too much of anything will work against you. Limit what you agree to do, and look out for your best interests when dealing with partnerships. Take a break, sit back and observe. A lifestyle change that points you in a healthier direction or fitness and dietary improvements will pay off personally and professionally if you put in the time and effort.

PICKLES

(April 20-May 20) A change of pace and scenery will elevate your curiosity and encourage you to up your game and pursue knowledge and skills. Make prominent connections with individuals.

(May 21-June 20)

PEANUTS (June 21-July 22)

Put your energy toward something that challenges you to look and feel your best. Engage in competitive activities or spend time with motivating individuals who offer positive support.

Think big, but know your limits. Set boundaries and implement discipline, and what you achieve will be a learning experience that helps you propel what you want to present and promote.

(July 23-Aug. 22) Revise your schedule and rearrange your routine. How you set things up will reflect how well you do. Knowing exactly what’s available mentally, physically and financially will put your mind at ease.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Take any negativity you encounter and turn it into sunshine. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Choose the path that allows you the freedom to be yourself.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

SUDOKU

Refuse to let situations escalate, costing you your position, reputation or relationship with an associate or loved one. Put more time and effort into money management, contracts and medical issues.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Take pride in how you live. A well-run home can propagate an attitude that makes your life easier. Address clutter and unfinished business, and you’ll alleviate pressure. Use your intelligence.

Put your discipline and energy into cleaning up any mess that is crowding your space. Dig in and go above the call of duty to ensure you offer the best assistance. (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Don’t wait for change to manifest itself. If something new is what you need, make it happen. Leave nothing undone or in someone else’s jurisdiction. Set a budget. Spend more time on comfort and convenience. Time at home working to lower your overhead and putting a financial plan in place that offers less stress and more time having fun will be conducive to growth.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2026

Greene claims top honours Lewis’s blistering 97 powers at Lineage Classic Transport A

ndre Greene of Kaieteur Attack Racing Cycle Club (KARCC) captured the open title at the Lineage Classic cycling event, which was staged on Sunday along the Linden-Moblissa highway circuit. Greene led the field in the feature race, finishing ahead of KFC Evolution’s Segun Hubbard and Robin Persaud of AC Marriott Carlton Wheelers. KARCC’s Ajani Cutting secured fourth, while Continental Cycle Club’s Paul DeNobrega and KARCC’s Alex Mendez completed the top six. The event, hosted by Team Velocity, started and finished at the Linden roundabout. Riders travelled across the challenging 19.46-kilometre course, which included the climbs at Bamia and Moblissa hills. Hubbard complemented his runner-up finish in the open race by winning the Masters 35-and-over category. Persaud placed second, while KARCC’s Kwame Fortune finished third. In the Masters 50-andover division, Tallim Shaw of AC/MC CW took first place ahead of Flying Stars’ Ian Jackson and KFC

to victory

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ransport Cricket Club produced a commanding performance to defeat GT XI by 80 runs when the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Under-17 Eline Security Logistics 50-Over competition continued over the

Andre Greene of Kaieteur Attack Racing Cycle Club (KARCC) captured the Open title at the Lineage Classic cycling event (file photo)

Evolution’s Mark Spencer. Collin Williams of AC/ MC CW won the Category Four contest, with Quincy Punch of We Stand United finishing second and KFC Evolution’s Roy Mangru placing third. Velocity’s Kevin

Stephens emerged as the junior champion, while KARCC’s Tandeia Noel won the female category ahead of Velocity’s Shevian Alder. The race was contested on a closed course with Police, medical and technical support.

Tyrell King played a composed innings

weekend. Transport won the toss and elected to bat, posting an imposing 265 for five from their allotted 40 overs. The innings was anchored by a sensational knock from Emmanuel Lewis, who narrowly missed out on a century after smashing 97 from just 44 deliveries. His aggressive innings included 10 fours and seven sixes. Opener Afraz Khan provided a solid foundation with 47 from 77 balls, including four fours, while Mario Singh contributed 28 and Mickel Johnson added 29. Jeremiah Johnson, Roshaun Lowkashawar, Aditya Khan, and Ajay Kissoon each claimed one wicket for GT XI. Chasing 266 for victory, GT XI struggled to maintain the required scoring rate and were eventually dismissed for 185 in 39.2 overs. Tyrell King offered the main resistance with a

Emmanuel Lewis scored 97

well-composed 62 from 75 balls, striking four fours and one six. Kissoon added 20, while Nathan Puran chipped in with 22. Transport’s bowlers, however, kept control of the innings, with Azariah Duncan leading the attack with three wickets for 32 runs. Afraz Khan and Nyia Latchman claimed two wickets apiece to complete a convincing 80-run victory for Transport. The result further highlighted Transport Cricket Club’s strength in the Under-17 competition, with Lewis’s explosive innings providing the standout performance of the match.

BCB/Cardiologist Services U21 Tournament…

Pottaya, Deonandan lead RHT NAMILCO into semi-finals

The victorious RHT NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour team

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he Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Under-21 team on Saturday defeated Bush Lot United of West Coast Berbice (WCB) to advance to the semi-finals of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)/ Cardiologist Services Inc Under-21 50over tournament. The NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour team was spearheaded by out-

standing bowling from skipper Matthew Pottaya and national junior players Tameshwar Deonandan and Ramzam Koobeer with the bat. Bush Lot won the toss and elected to bat first in steamy conditions at the Area H Ground. They slipped to 14 for 2 in the third over as both Afraz Ali and Akash Ramdeowar ran themselves out in total mix-

ups with opener L Henery. T Henery was then caught behind off pacer Rafeal McKenzie for 1 as the visitors soon fell to 24 for 3 in the fifth over. Opener L Henery and the promising Atta Ali then batted well to add 78 for the fourth wicket before Ali was caught by Nicholas Cameron off the bowling of off-spinner Pottaya for a well-played 26 (two fours).

Tameshwar Deonandan

Matthew Pottaya

Henery was then trapped lbw by Cameron for 48 with three boundaries to spark a collapse as the visitors were bowled out for 126 from 40 overs. Pottaya ended with 3 for 23 from nine overs while Asif Marimuthoo took 2 for 23 from 8 overs. McKenzie, Cameron and Jayden Ganpat all took a wicket apiece. Needing to score 127 to advance to the semi-finals,

the home team were given an opening partnership of 56 in eight overs by Koobeer (30) and Matthew Perreira (21) before Koobeer was bowled by S Seecharran. From 56 for one, Rose Hall Town NAMILCO fell to 89 for 5 as Perreira (21), Leon Reddy (3), Junior Babb (1) and Pottaya (0) fell cheaply. Former national Under-13 player Deonandan and the hard-hitting Cameron then batted well

to lead their team to victory with 130 for 5 in the 19th over. Deonandan ended on 35 not out with seven delightful boundaries while Cameron struck a four and a towering six in his unbeaten 18. Bowling for Bush Lot United, C Odel took 3 for 21 from seven very impressive overs of medium pace while Seecharran and Justin Doobay both claimed a wicket each for 23 and 13 runs respectively. The Cardiologist Services U21 tournament is one of several junior tournaments to be organised by the BCB as part of its cricket development programme. Other junior tournaments for 2026 include U-12, U-13, U-14, U-16, U-19, U-21 and U-23 contests. The U-21 tournament is sponsored by the Cardiologist Services Inc, based at the Mercy Hospital and is headed by Dr Mahendra Carpen.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2026

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

21

Lotto/Let’s Bet T10 Tapeball…

Mahdia down Eccles to secure spot at national finals M

ahdia (Movements Family) dethroned 2025 zone champions Eccles All-Stars in a tense, high-scoring encounter to secure an eight-run victory in the East Bank/ West Demerara Zone final of the Lotto/Let’s Bet One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast on Sunday at the MetenMeer-Zorg Community Centre Ground. Batting first in the showpiece clash, Mahdia laid down a formidable marker by posting 128 for 5 in their allotment of 10 overs. The innings was built on a collective top-order contribution, headlined by Andy Lall’s aggressive 31. Devendra Latchman provided valuable support with 21, while Ershaad Ali (19), Andrew Gibson (18), and an unbeaten late cameo from Orrin Gibson (18*) ensured Mahdia set a challenging total. Nandkumar Ramanan was the standout bowler for Eccles, taking 3 for 29, but could not completely stem the run flow. Eccles All-Stars mount-

Mahdia (Movements Family) dethroned 2025 zone champions Eccles All-Stars in a tense, highscoring encounter

ed a spirited title defence in response, led by a blistering half-century from Akeim Vieira, who smashed 55. Solid contributions from Andrew Lim (25) and Quazim Yusuf (20) kept Eccles well in touch with the required rate, setting up a thrilling finish. However, Mahdia’s attack showed steely nerves under pressure.

Gavin Moriah claimed 3 for 26 and Sanjay Algoo picked up 2 for 27, striking at vital intervals to halt Eccles’ momentum and restrict the former champions to 120 for 8 as the overs ran out. Earlier in the day, both finalists produced dominant semi-final performances. Mahdia made light work of Airport SVC, restricting

them to 67 for 9 – thanks to a stingy spell of 2 for 4 from Devendra Latchman alongside two-wicket hauls for Algoo and Moriah – before racing to 70 for 2 in just four overs powered by Lall’s 39. In the other semi-final, Eccles brushed aside Village Rams by seven wickets, chasing down a target of 101 in only 5.4 overs as

Vieira hammered an unbeaten 52. The zonal triumph earns Mahdia $500,000 and a spot in the National Finals at the Anna Regina National Stadium on October 11, where they will face Berbice Zone champions Grillmaster Sip N Play All-Stars. Eccles took home $200,000 courtesy of MS Roshandin Group of Companies, while losing semi-finalists Village Rams and Airport SVC received $50,000 each from Camille’s Academy, and the quarter-final losers pocketed $25,000 courtesy of Scoop Ride Inc. Attention now turns to the Essequibo Zone, where 16 teams battle from August 22-August 23 for the next spot in the finals. On Saturday on the Essequibo Coast, matches will be held at 10:30h, 12:30h, and 15:30h, with venues at Pomona, Affiance, Anna Regina National Stadium, and Hampton Court. On Sunday, August 23,

the zone finals are from 14:30h at the Anna Regina National Stadium. The tournament is also backed by KFC Guyana; Office of the President; Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; Banks DIH Ltd; Star Rentals; Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal Inc; S&K Imports; I&S Trading; Impressions Branding; Regal Stationery; SAWA Investment Inc; Betcabana; Shawn Mini Mart; Trophy Stall; ENet; Supreme Transportation Inc; ETS – Environmental Technical Solutions Inc; Windsor Estates; Smart Choice Pharmacy; G Mining Ventures; V-Net Technologies; Guyana Oil Company Limited; Camille’s Academy; 3D Lee Hub; Trinchloro; Superbet Guyana; Guyana Cup; The Laundry Chute Inc; Bernie’s Pharmacy; Mannol Oil; Montra Restaurant and Lounge; Continental Transportation Inc; D&S Ramdehol and Sons Jewellery and Navin and Son Construction.

9th Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Championships…

2-member St Maarten boxing team to vie for glory

The St Maarten boxing team flank their Federation’s President, Shawn Blair (centre)

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t Maarten will be represented by two promising 16-year-old boxers when the Caribbean’s emerging pugilists converge at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) for the ninth edition of the Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Boxing Championships. The two-member fighting contingent comprises Tahnicio Peterson, who will compete in the 60kg category, and Samir Arndell, who will campaign at 75kg. The pair will be guided by Shawn Blair, President of the St Maarten National Boxing Federation, who brings a particularly strong connection to Guyana and its boxing fraternity. Blair was born in Guyana and began his own boxing journey here, representing the Guyana Police Force during the early 1990s. In 1993, he was ranked number two in Guyana’s welterweight division and competed at the Guyana National Open before eventually relocating to Saint

Martin. More than three decades later, Blair remains deeply involved in the sport and has dedicated much of his life to developing boxing on the island, particularly by creating opportunities for young fighters to gain competitive and international experience. “This tournament is very special to me, because Guyana is where I was born and where my boxing journey began,” Blair said. “I have returned to Guyana with St Maarten boxing teams in the past, including in 2015 and 2018, and on both occasions, we were able to capture gold medals.” Blair said he is particularly pleased to return with another young team and provide Peterson and Arndell with the opportunity to test themselves against some of the Caribbean’s best emerging fighters. “I am very much looking forward to returning once again and giving these two young boxers the opportunity to represent St Maarten

and compete at a high level,” he added. The St Maarten team enter the championship following a period of focused preparation, highlighted by the Federation’s recently-staged fourth annual Test Your Skills Boxing Event. The competition provided the island’s boxers with an opportunity to gain valuable ring time while testing their physical, technical and mental readiness ahead of the trip to Guyana. For the Federation, however, the significance of the tournament extends well beyond wins and medals. Blair believes regional competitions such as the Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Championships are critical to the development of young athletes, exposing them to different styles, cultures, and levels of competition while helping to build discipline, confidence, and sportsmanship. The ninth edition of the championships is scheduled for August 20-22, continuing Guyana’s long association with the tournament. The competition was first conceptualised and staged in Guyana in 2016 and has developed into one of the region’s most important youth boxing events. It is now named in honour of Winfield Braithwaite, Guyana’s 1978 Commonwealth Games gold medallist and the country’s only Commonwealth boxing gold medallist.

The tournament has also established itself as an important developmental pathway, with previous editions producing fighters who subsequently progressed to higher levels of regional and international boxing. Among the Guyanese boxers associated with the competition is Olympian Keevin Allicock, while sib-

lings Abiola and Alesha Jackman have also emerged through the country’s youth programme. Guyana has traditionally dominated the championship, reflecting the strength and depth of its grassroots boxing programme. The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has continued to place significant

emphasis on its youth programme, using local competitions and training camps to prepare young fighters for international competition. The GBA had described the competition as vital to maintaining a strong regional nursery, particularly after the pandemic disrupted youth boxing programmes across the Caribbean.

Police U25 crush Essequibo Academy by 161 runs

The Police Under-25 squad

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he Guyana Police Force’s Under-25 Cricket team produced a dominant all-round performance to secure a commanding 161-run victory over Essequibo Academy after posting a formidable 243-8 and then bowling out their opponents for just 82. Batting first, Police Under-25 were led by Captain D Dick, who topscored with a composed 54 to anchor the innings. D Singh provided valuable support with 38, while L Williams

made 30, J Budhram 28 and S Prince 25 as Police steadily built a challenging total of 243-8. N Lovell was the pick of the Essequibo Academy bowlers, claiming 4-42 from five overs, while D Crossom took 2-16 from four overs. In reply, Essequibo Academy struggled to cope with the Police bowling attack and never threatened to mount a serious challenge. The innings eventually folded for 82, handing Police Under-25 a comprehensive

victory. Dick completed an outstanding all-round performance by claiming 4-15 from six overs, spearheading the attack and dismantling the Essequibo batting line-up. J Budhram supported him with 2-12 from 5.1 overs, while S Prince took 2-20 from six overs and J Kishundial claimed 2-29 from six overs. The four Police bowlers shared all 10 wickets as Police Under-25 completed a convincing 161-run triumph.

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Slingerz Racing adds Brazilian G1 performer VITRUVIAN to formidable Guyana Cup line-up S

lingerz Racing Stable is turning up the heat ahead of the 18th running of the Guyana Cup, adding another proven Brazilian campaigner to an already formidable line-up as the stable seeks to reclaim the prestigious title on August 23 at the Rising Sun Turf Club. Stable owner Javed Ali has confirmed that VITRUVIAN, a five-yearold Brazilian-bred campaigner, will join 2024 Guyana Cup champion Olympic Kremlin and Guyana Cup debutant Olympic National as Slingerz Racing’s major weapons for the feature Banks Guyana Cup. With the competition expected to be fierce, Ali said Slingerz Racing had little choice but to strengthen an already well-stocked stable if it were to regain the crown it surrendered last year. “We know the other stables would have also made moves and brought in formidable horses, so we had to go above and beyond to put ourselves in the best possible position to reclaim the title,” Ali said. Ali acknowledged that

2025 was a disappointing mance further strengthens Guyana Cup for Slingerz his credentials. Racing, but stressed that On August 1 at the the stable has moved be- Hipódromo da Gávea in Rio yond that setback and is de Janeiro, VITRUVIAN now focused squarely on finished second August 23. in a 13-horse VITRUVIAN brings sig- field, pronificant credentials to the ducing anSlingerz line-up. other strong The five-year-old has performance competed at the highest over 1600 melevel of Brazilian racing, tres. including Group 1 (G1) T h e competition, the top classification in the Brazilian racing system. His reVITRUVIAN will be making c o r d his Guyana Cup debut infor Slingerz Racing cludes victories in the G1 Grande Prêmio J

Adhemar de Almeida Prado over 1600 metres and a sec- o n d - p l a c e finish in the G1 Grande Prêmio Presidente da República, also over 1600 metres. His most recent perfor-

r e sult came just weeks before his expected Guyana Cup appearance and underlines his current form. Ali believes the horse’s affinity for the mile makes him particularly suited to the Banks Guyana Cup, which will be contested over one mile (1600 metres). The Brazilian import is not, however, expected to carry the entire burden of Slingerz Racing’s challenge.

Ali believes Olympic Kremlin, Olympic National and VITRUVIAN are all ble of winning capathe G u y a n a Cup, giving the stable three legiti-

mate options for the sport’s biggest prize. “At the end of the day, all three horses are capable of winning the Guyana Cup,” Ali said. “But we also have to be realistic. Other stables have added some very formidable horses, so we are cautiously optimistic. We know it will not be easy.”

Olympic Kremlin will return to the scene where he established himself as one of Guyana’s premier thoroughbreds, having captured the 2024 Guyana Cup for Slingerz Racing. Olympic National, meanwhile, adds another Brazilian connection to the stable. The horse has already raced successfully at Gávea, including a victory in the Much Better Classic over 1900 metres in November 2025. Slingerz Racing has also strengthened its sprinting ranks with the acquisition of Calypso Queen, a twoyear-old filly from Miami, who is set to make her racing debut in Guyana. Ali s a i d Calypso Q u e e n was foaled in 2024 and is bred from Authentic (sire) and Gadabout (dam). “She comes from a solid racing background, so we made the investment. This will be Calypso Queen’s first-ever race,” Ali said.

Chinese Association shoots for Archery Guyana ahead of historic October championships

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he Chinese Association of Guyana has thrown its support behind Archery Guyana as the federation intensifies preparations to host the 2026 Caribbean Development Championships this October. The support was formally handed over at the Chinese Association of Guyana’s Brickdam office, with President of the Chinese Association of Guyana, Stephen Su, representing the Association. The gesture comes at a critical stage in preparations for what promises to be one of the most significant international archery events to be hosted in Guyana. Archery Guyana is preparing to welcome athletes, coaches, judges and officials from across the Caribbean and the wider region for the October championships. For Archery Guyana President Vidushi PersaudMcKinnon, the support represents far more than a contribution to an upcoming sporting event. “Hosting an international championship is never the work of one federation alone. It requires a country, its institutions, businesses, communities and

President Stephen Su of the Chinese Association of Guyana hands over a ceremonial cheque to Archery Guyana President Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon

supporters to come together with a shared belief in what Guyana can achieve. We are deeply grateful to President Stephen Su and the Chinese Association of Guyana for recognising the importance of this championship and for standing with Archery Guyana at this important moment,” Persaud-McKinnon shared. She added that partnerships such as this demonstrate the increasingly important role of community and Private-Sector support in building sustainable sport.

The Chinese Association of Guyana has a longstanding presence in Guyana and has continued to contribute to national development and community initiatives. Under the leadership of President Su, the Association has also participated in partnerships aimed at strengthening cultural, social and economic engagement in Guyana. The upcoming championships will provide Guyanese athletes with the opportunity to compete on home soil against regional competitors while giving

the country the opportunity to demonstrate its capacity to host international sporting events to a high standard. Persaud-McKinnon stressed that every contribution towards the championships has a direct impact on the federation’s ability to deliver the event professionally. Archery Guyana extended its sincere appreciation to President Su and the Chinese Association of Guyana for their confidence in the federation and for supporting the continued development of archery in Guyana. The Federation also called on other members of the business community, civil society and the wider Guyanese community to join the growing circle of partners supporting the October championships. “We are building something that belongs to Guyana,” PersaudMcKinnon said, “And we want Guyanese businesses, organisations and communities to see themselves as part of this story. When the first arrow is shot in October, it will represent not just the athletes on the shooting line, but everyone who helped us get there.” President Su said the Chinese Association of

Guyana was pleased to support Archery Guyana and its efforts to host the 2026 Caribbean Development Championships and the inaugural Caribbean championships. “The Chinese Association of Guyana is proud to support Archery Guyana as Guyana prepares to welcome athletes and sporting representatives from across the Caribbean,” he articulated, “International sporting events such as this are not only about competition; they are also opportunities to bring communities together, encourage our young people to participate in sport, and showcase Guyana to the region and the wider world. We believe that supporting initiatives like this is part of our responsibility as a community organisation, and we are pleased to play a small part in helping Guyana successfully host this important championship.” He added, “We wish Archery Guyana every success with the October championships and hope that this partnership will encourage more organisations and businesses to come forward and support the continued development of sport in Guyana.”

While Calypso Queen is not expected to feature in the Banks Guyana Cup, her arrival represents another investment by Slingerz Racing in strengthening its stable across different categories. This year’s Guyana Cup itself is shaping up as one of the biggest editions in the event’s history. The 18th staging will feature a 14-race programme with more than $66 million in cash and prizes at stake, including a $22.5 million purse for the Banks Guyana Cup, which will be run over one mile. The programme also includes the $7.5 million Peter Lewis Guyana Cup Sprint and the $7.5 million Forrester’s Imported Derby, adding depth to a race day expected to attract the country’s leading owners, trainers, jockeys and horses. Defending champion Dataman is expected to headline the opposition as he seeks to retain the crown, ensuring that Slingerz Racing’s challenge will face tough resistance. For Ali and Slingerz Racing, however, the attention remains firmly on the track. “We want to win,” he said. “We have put together horses that we believe can get the job done, but we also respect the competition. The other stables have prepared well, so we have to be at our best on the day.”

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Captain Tahir relishing responsibility

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Captain Imran Tahir

…as Warriors record most wins in CPL history

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he Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) started the 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a dominant win against the Jamaica Kingsmen on Thursday last. That win was the 93rd victory for the Guyanese franchise in CPL history. Current Captain Imran Tahir, since he took the reins, has led the Amazon Warriors to three finals and he has ensured success follows the Amazon Warriors. The veteran said he is honoured to wear the captaincy armband. “Look, it’s a responsibility I’ve been given, and I take

that as an honour. If I come to play any game for Guyana, it’s the first and last game for me. I think there are many Guyanese players that want to be here. And if I’m representing everybody, then I need to take all the responsibility as a captain, as a bowler, and whatever I can benefit to the team,” Tahir said. He also thanked his teammates for their contribution. “But I also want to be thankful to my teammates. Their hard work and the way they prepare coming to this comp and in the previous comps. There is no fault in that. So, we’re really happy that we have a good start,

but we have t o make sure we carry on the same plan what we’ve been doing over the years, and hopefully, this year as well,” Tahir said. The Amazon Warriors will play their second game of the season, against St Lucia Kings at Daren Sammy Cricket Ground on Wednesday, August 19. That fixture is set to bowl off at 19:00h local time.

Bravo, Bishop are inaugural CPL Hall of Fame inductees ing a sixth as Head Coach, guiding Trinbago Knight Riders to the title in 2025.

Ian Bishop: inducted as a non-player

Dwayne Bravo will be the first player inducted into the CPL Hall of Fame

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he Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Monday confirmed Dwayne Bravo and Ian Bishop as the two inaugural inductees into the newly-established CPL Hall of Fame. Bravo joins as the first player inducted, with Bishop recognised in the non-player category for his contribution to the tournament’s success since its launch in 2013. The launch of the CPL Hall of Fame marks a historic moment for Caribbean cricket: an honour created to celebrate the players and individuals who have shaped the tournament since its unforgettable beginnings in 2013. Bravo and Bishop will make history as the inaugural inductees, taking centre stage at a landmark Hall of Fame Gala Dinner at The Hilton Hotel in Barbados on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. The evening will bring together the biggest names in West Indies cricket to celebrate a tournament that has become a source of enormous regional pride, making it one of the unmissable nights on the Caribbean cricket calendar. Proceeds from the evening will go to The Sir Clive Lloyd Healthcare Foundation, supporting its

work to raise awareness and improve testing for prostate cancer across the Caribbean.

Dwayne Bravo: inducted as a player

Dwayne Bravo is one of the icons who built T20 cricket and helped cement CPL as one of the greatest tournaments in the world. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players the format has ever seen, the Trinidadian all-rounder won more than 15 T20 titles across the globe over an 18-year career, including two International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cups with West Indies in 2012 and 2016, multiple Indian Premier League titles with Chennai Super Kings, and more silverware in the Big Bash League and Pakistan Super League. He was the first bowler in the history of the format to reach 500 T20 wickets. In the CPL, he is the tournament’s third-highest wicket-taker of all time with 129 wickets, and its most decorated player, winning five CPL titles as a player, with Trinbago Knight Riders in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020, and with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in 2021, before add-

Ian Bishop has long been the voice of Caribbean cricket, delivering some of the most electric commentary the sport has ever heard. When Carlos Brathwaite smashed four consecutive sixes to win the 2016 ICC World T20 for West Indies, it was Bishop’s now-iconic call, “Carlos Brathwaite! Remember the name!”, that turned a stunning finish into one of cricket’s most unforgettable moments. Yet that is just one of countless times his words have brought the game to life. His passion for the game, and for CPL, has been vital in making the tournament the success it is today, as he tells the stories that make CPL special to fans across the world.

Hall of Fame Gala Dinner: Barbados, Tuesday, September 15

Bravo and Bishop will be formally inducted at the inaugural CPL Hall of Fame Gala Dinner, held in Barbados on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. The evening will bring together the players, coaches, broadcasters, franchise owners, and partners who have shaped CPL’s story over more than a decade, celebrating the tournament’s history in the country that has hosted some of its most iconic nights. Bravo said, “It’s a real honour to be the first player inducted into the CPL Hall of Fame. This tournament has been a huge part of my career, and I will always treasure every title I’ve won here. I’ve played cricket all over the world, but

there’s nothing like playing at home. CPL is a true celebration of Caribbean culture and the game I love.” Bishop said, “Cricket has given me so much, and commentary has allowed me to give something back to a game and a region I love deeply. To be inducted into this inaugural CPL Hall of Fame class, and to be recognised for the stories I’ve had the privilege of telling, is an honour I’ll carry with me always. This tournament has always represented something bigger than the sport itself, it’s a

stage for Caribbean talent, culture and pride, and I’m grateful to have had a courtside seat to its history.” Pete Russell, CPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO), shared, “Dwayne Bravo and Ian Bishop have both been central to CPL’s story since day one: Dwayne as one of the greatest match-winners this tournament has ever seen, and Ian is the voice who has brought that story to fans across the world. It is only right that they are the first names in our Hall of Fame and fitting that we celebrate them ahead of our

final. We are also delighted to be able to support Sir Clive Lloyd, another West Indies legend, on his journey to raise awareness of prostate cancer across the Region.” The CPL Hall of Fame will now run as an annual celebration, with future inductees announced ahead of each tournament. The event will become a major highlight of the CPL calendar, honouring the tournament’s past while supporting causes that matter to the Caribbean community.

Junior Jags go two-in-two with 4-1 victory over Anguilla

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nother rampant victory was on the cards for Guyana’s national Under-14 boys’ team on Monday; this time downing Anguilla 4-1 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in their second match of the 2026 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U14 Boys’ Challenge Series. Changes to Monday’s starting XI saw Adiel Hamilton and Malik Sobers starting in place of Teon Francis and Andrew Brown. With the remainder of the line-up reading Captain Dylan Kendall, goalkeeper Royston Winter, Daniel Chesney, Gilbert Frank, Cavon Peters, Fabio Kowlessar, Aaron Vasconcelles, Dontay Kowlessar, and Dane Vancooten. Kowlessar opened the scoring for Guyana in the eighth minute, converting a penalty opportunity after Vancooten was taken down in the box. A brilliant combination play set up Guyana’s second strike in the 24th minute as Peters’ pass in the

Captain Dylan Kendall (5) defends against Anguilla during Guyana’s 4-1 win (CFU photo)

box found Vasconcellos, who finished with his right foot. However, Anguilla pulled one back in the 32nd minute as bodies in the box for a set piece created just enough chaos for Anguilla’s Jacob Fleming to slip the ball past the Guyanese keeper at the near post. Guyana finished the half strongly though, as another Anguilla infraction handed the Guyanese team a second penalty in the 35th minute. This time, it was Vancooten who converted to

put Guyana up 3-1 at halftime. Guyana’s fourth came off the boots of Asher McIntyre in the 56th minute. Another combination play going forward saw Forde square the assist to McIntyre for a simple finish. The Junior Jags will return to the pitch on Wednesday, August 19, taking on Bahamas in a bid to maintain their unbeaten streak and finish at the top of Group C.

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

Bravo, Bishop are inaugural CPL Hall of Fame inductees

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Captain Tahir relishing responsibility …as Warriors record most wins in CPL history

Lotto/Let’s Bet T10 Tapeball…

Mahdia down Eccles to secure spot at national finals

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