Guyana Times - Tuesday, July 22, 2025

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Govt turning access into action in education sector – President

Raghoo’s Bar sexual assault DJ, selector slapped with rape incitement charge, remanded to prison
Mocha woman’s murder Taxi driver arrested by Police in Sophia

Friday afternoons for sports in schools – Pres Ali declares

…as Govt moves to boost student health, wellness

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday emphasised the importance of physical education in schools and has called for a reduction in children's screen time to promote a healthier lifestyle.

According to the Guyanese Leader this effort will start in schools, with a new initiative that will see Friday afternoons being declared free for physical education, recreation and sports in all schools across

the country.

In his address at the commissioning ceremony for the new Brickdam Secondary School, the Guyanese leader explained that gone are the days of only solving math problems or science quizzes after lunch on Fridays, there will just be footballs, jump ropes, running shoes, and the roar of youthful energy.

“We’re building complete human being, understand-

ing what real human capital really is, and understanding that in our national ecosystem, sports, physical education, plays a very important role. And I've seen the beautiful schools across our country. And in the next five years, great emphasis will be placed

afternoons, after lunch, completely dedicated to sports and physical education. I believe strongly that if we are to make a shift from a device-led world to a human-led world, we need to make these important changes. And I would say that one of the priorities would be

on recreational facilities to support our academic education,”

He added, “I want to see in the education system Friday

reorganising our education system to make Friday afternoons completely dedicated to physical education, recreation, and sports,” he said.

According to President Ali, this move is part of a larger national push to tackle screen addiction among children, reduce sedentary lifestyles, and instill lifelong habits of health, teamwork, and discipline.

“We are not just building schools. We are creating opportunities, entrenching eq-

into action. Because education is not a privilege, it is a right. We have always embraced that principle,” he said. The 2025 national budget for sports in Guyana is a record $8 billion. This significant investment is part of a larger G$1.382 trillion budget and is the largest ever al-

uity, and fostering greater quality. No longer will students have to travel miles or be confined by geography to access quality education. This Government is turning access

location for sports in Guyana's history. The budget is intended to support the continued advancement and modernisation of sports infrastructure and opportunities in Guyana.

Students at St Joseph High School playing table tennis (Inside SJH photo)

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, July 22 – 01:55h-03:25h and Wednesday, July 23 –02:55h-04:25h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, July 22 –14:55h-16:25h and Wednesday, July 23 – 15:45h-17:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers are expected during the day, with sunshine in the afternoon hours. Clear to cloudy skies with late-night showers are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-Easterly to Southerly between 1.79 metres and 2.23 metres.

High Tide: 14:46h reaching a maximum height of 2.30 metres.

Low Tide: 08:13h and 20:31h reaching minimum heights of 0.75 metre and 0.92 metre.

Govt turning access into action in education sector – Pres Ali

…as new almost $700M Brickdam Secondary School commissioned

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday affirmed his government's ongoing commitment to transforming “access into action” in education, where "distance no longer means disadvantage", as he officially commissioned the newly built Brickdam Secondary School in central Georgetown.

The state-of-the-art, near $700 million facility is the latest milestone in the government’s drive to achieve universal secondary education by 2026, a goal that President Ali described as “a bold stride that spans coastland and hinterland alike.”

“The future of education in Guyana is not only bright, it is brilliant. We are not just building schools. We are creating opportunities, entrenching equity, and fostering greater quality,” President Ali said during the feature address at the commissioning ceremony.

In the coming term, the new three-storey school will serve some 485 students and employ 51 teachers. The facility is a complete rebuild of the former St. Mary’s High School however earlier this year it was announced that the facility would be renamed as the Brickdam Secondary School, reviving the identity of the old Brickdam Secondary School that had been relocated to East La Penitence Primary due to unsafe conditions at the previous building.

The modern facility includes 22 classrooms, three staff rooms, science and computer labs, home economics rooms, a counseling room, industrial technology lab, auditorium, sick bay, canteen, and a dedicated play area. The design incorporates essential fire safety features, including fire alarms, extinguishers, and escape exits, while also using fire-retardant materials to ensure safety.

Construction began in 2023 and was completed in six lots by contractors K&S General Construction Inc., A. Ograsein & Sons General Contracting, Cummings Electrical Company Ltd,

Nismes Secondary (Region 3), Christinaburg-Wismar Secondary (Region 10), and Karasabai Secondary in the hinterland.

Major upgrades have also been completed at Queen’s College, Bishop’s High, St Rose’s High, St Joseph’s, and East Ruimveldt Secondary, alongside the extension of Hope Secondary and rehabilitation of Annandale Secondary on the East Coast of Demerara.

“This type of expansion has never before been attempted or achieved in Guyana’s history,” President Ali noted.

President Ali empha-

and R&D Engineering Service Inc.

The school is one of several new or rehabilitated educational institutions under the current administration’s sweeping education agen-

da. Other projects include the rebuilding or expansion of Christ Church Secondary, St. George School of Science, North Ruimveldt Secondary, Houston Secondary (Region 4),

sized that the transformation of education is more than just new buildings.

President Dr Irfaan Ali speaking at the commissioning of the new Brickdam Secondary School

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Bridging Guyana’s cultural & educational divide through student exchange

President Dr Irfaan Ali’s announcement of a proposed student exchange programme between coastland and hinterland schools is a transformative initiative. By fostering deeper understanding of Guyana’s rich cultural and geographic diversity, this programme promises to become a vital tool in reshaping the educational experience for young citizens and uniting the nation’s future leaders through shared experience and appreciation.

The significance of such a proposal extends surely far beyond the classroom as it is a move to bridge not only the physical distance between Guyana’s regions, but also the social, cultural, and educational gaps that have long existed. The urbanrural divide, particularly between Georgetown and the interior regions, often results in students growing up with limited knowledge or exposure to the lives, traditions, and environments of their peers in other parts of the country. This proposal offers a concrete solution to address that disconnection.

Exposure to diverse environments and lifestyles has consistently proven to enrich student learning. The planned exchange will allow coastal students to immerse themselves in the breathtaking landscapes of the hinterland – rolling hills, mountains, and savannahs, as well as experience the resilience and traditions of the communities that call these areas home. Similarly, students from interior regions will have the opportunity to engage with the bustling urban life and academic resources of coastland schools. This mutual exchange of experiences will strengthen cultural competence and deepen students’ understanding of Guyana’s multifaceted identity.

Moreover, the initiative supports the broader objectives of curriculum relevance and experiential learning. Classroom instruction, particularly in subjects such as Social Studies, Geography, and History, becomes significantly more impactful when supported by real-world experiences. A student reading about mountainous terrain, riverine communities, or colonialera urban development can only benefit from physically witnessing these environments. In this regard, the proposed student exchange complements the Government’s broader educational strategy, which emphasises contextual learning and holistic development.

Importantly, the initiative also aligns with ongoing efforts to promote national unity. Guyana’s demographic and geographic composition requires deliberate policies that foster inclusivity and shared identity. By ensuring that students do not grow up in silos defined by regionalism or socio-economic backgrounds, this programme will cultivate mutual respect, understanding, and solidarity from an early age. The value of such connections in a plural society cannot be overstated.

This vision is already being supported by tangible investments in school infrastructure, particularly in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine. New and upgraded facilities in the hinterland will provide quality education to local students as well as be able to host visiting students from coastal regions in a safe, enriching environment.

Creating opportunities for students to learn from each other, share stories, engage in collaborative projects, and witness different ways of life can inspire lifelong empathy and broaden perspectives. The experience can shape values, ambitions, and a sense of responsibility to contribute positively to the nation’s development.

To ensure its success, the programme must be accompanied by robust logistical planning and support systems. Thess include clear guidelines for student safety, trained educators to facilitate cultural integration, and opportunities for reflective learning post-exchange.

President Ali’s articulation of this exchange programme as part of a wider national transformation shows that education is also about shaping minds and nurturing unity. By prioritising this initiative, the Government is demonstrating a progressive understanding of education as both a vehicle for personal empowerment and a foundation for national cohesion.

In the long term, this approach will yield citizens who are both academically competent and also culturally aware, socially conscious, and deeply connected to the Guyanese identity.

West Indies batting in deep trouble

The lowest total in Test cricket history is 26, made by New Zealand against England in Auckland in 1955. In 1924, South Africa was dismissed for 30 by England in Birmingham. They made the same total against the same opponent in 1896 in Port Elizabeth and 35 in 1899 against England in Cape Town. Australia, India, Ireland, and South Africa were all dismissed for 36 at some point. On Monday, July 14, 2025, the West Indies were bundled out for 27 against Australia in Jamaica.

It was a chastening experience for Caribbean cricket fans, who, against much evidence to the contrary, keep hoping for some kind of revival in the sport. And it must have been humiliating for the team and Coach Daren Sammy, who has been given broad control of the West Indies team in all formats. Coach Sammy took that opportunity to make substantial changes to the Test side, some of which irked a number of fans and pundits, and though it is still early days, he must now be wondering about the effectiveness of these changes.

In December 2020, Australia wrecked India for 36 in the second innings to win the first Test of the series in Adelaide. But India’s batting was widely accepted as a high calibre unit. The humiliation was short-lived, and they rallied to win the second Test of the series in Melbourne to level the series. The West Indies have no such pedigree.

Twenty-seven all out was not a fluke or a freak occurrence. To those paying close attention it could not have been all that surprising either. It was the logical low point of the years of decline and deterioration that have plagued the game in the Region.

It has been a long time since it could be said that the West indies are good at cricket, especially that of the red-ball variety. The feeling of frustration and despair is expected, but the state of the game in the Region has long been like a patient gradually getting sicker and sicker from a disease of no known cure.

More specifically, this Kingston collapse is a truthful and worrying sign of the woeful state of batting in the Caribbean. Mitchell Starc’s spell was indeed menacing and malicious, but what he and his fellow fast men were mostly guilty of was assisting the West Indies batters of plotting their own demise.

We all know what Starc was going to do with the new ball. To the right-hander he would send the ball down at high pace, mostly on a fullish length on or about off-stump and swinging in, alarmingly so at times.

So why then did Brandon King, who showed signs of real batting quality in his debut series, essay such a big offdrive to the first ball he faced from the left-hander. Kevlon Anderson, on debut, was like a man lost when facing Starc, and it was hardly surprising that he tragically offered no

shot to a Starc delivery snaking into him. It would have been a harsh initiation for the youngster, who would not have faced that level of threat before.

Starc’s blueprint delivery also accounted for Shai Hope and Mikyle Louis, both falling leg before wicket (lbw).

Since Starc’s mode of attack was feared but known, perhaps the batters could have been much more studious in defence, striving mainly to keep him out until the threat had waned.

But for Captain Roston Chase to have offered such an elaborate drive to a reasonably-wide delivery from Josh Hazlewood while his team was facing disaster with five wickets already down was inexplicable. A shot of Sammy bowing his head in despair right after the dismissal was revealing.

Australia are a good team. They are the top-ranking Test side in the world and recently contested the World Test Championship finals against South Africa, which Australia lost. The West Indies is ranked eighth and were, therefore, not expected to run over Australia. But they had opportunities which they proceeded to squander.

There can be no disputing the lack of batting depth in the West indies. That is why the series was lost. But while the batting needs serious remedial action, it has to be acknowledged that the bowling, the fast bowling specifically, has been on the rise. The bowling unit did their job well against the highly-vaunted Australian line-up. It was the batters who let the team down.

The West Indies now have, within their ranks, a group of young fast men of high quality. Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, and Jayden Seales make up an attack of real pace and ability. Alzarri, the most experienced of the trio, has made huge recent strides towards becoming the elite pacer he hinted at in his youth, while Shamar and Seales have been collecting Test wickets at a very impressive rate. Also, waiting in the wings are youngsters like the tall, spindly Johan Layne from Barbados and the very pacy Kelvin Pittman from Antigua and Barbuda, among others. And so the future of West Indies pace bowling seems relatively secure.

I agreed with Sammy for going against the norm by recruiting white-ball players like King and Hope for redball cricket. But the most urgent issue facing West Indies cricket is the need to develop world-class batters throughout the Region. Hope, for example, oozes class, but he was dropped from the Test team some time ago for a lack of production. It was a lot to expect that somehow he had suddenly cracked the code for scoring runs in the game’s longest format. The West Indies are in urgent need of a few good batters. Until they find them, Caribbean fans will continue to endure the kind of mediocre performances that now prevail. (Jamaica Observer) (Garfield Robinson is a Jamaican living in the US who writes on cricket for a few Indian and English publications)

Five weeks of learning: Secondary students on work-study attachment spent time with the Agriculture Department Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo); National Agricultural Research and Extension institute (NAREI) and Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) teams, gaining valuable knowledge and experience in the field, and at Stockfarm (Agriculture in Region 9 photos)

Emancipation 2025 is your story, make it matter

Dear Editor,

The African Cultural & Development Association (ACDA), now in its 32nd year, will be hosting its 32nd Emancipation Day Festival in the National Park on Freedom Day, Friday, 1st August 2025. Emancipation 2025 is not just another annual observance; it is a historic milestone. This year marks

400 years since the first Africans were brought to Guyana, a foundational moment in our history that has been buried in Dutch colonial archives for centuries. However, this critical moment in Guyanese history has received little to no public, civic, or governmental recognition beyond the efforts of ACDA and the Guyana

Outrageous claims by Paul Williams

Dear Editor, In retrospect, based on his own public pronouncements, Paul Williams was justifiably denied promotion to Police Commissioner by two presidents. At a PNCR-APNU political event at Melanie Damishana over the past weekend, William made the outrageous claim that the GPF deliberately allow[ed] a protest march from Golden Grove to Mon Repos Market in June 2022, knowing fully well that the market would have been a flash point for attacks on vendors”. Here is a man who wanted to be the top cop, but who clearly lives in a world of conspiracy theories.

The man also states that “…they had a scheme plotted in order to cre -

ate that situation so that you can look as the one who are the criminals, the thugs and the thieves” (Ibid). This is an old ‘scrape’ defence, namely that the criminals, thugs and thieves who we can all see with our naked eyes are innocent church goers who have been wrongfully framed. This is criminal defence of a different species.

President Granger did the right thing by refusing to promote this conspiracy theorist. President Ali also did the right thing to ignore him. Williams current narrative is that he is moving from policing to politics. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Sincerely, Dr Randy Persaud

Reparations Committee, both of whom will honour this milestone during August, which is celebrated across the Caribbean as Emancipation Month.

On August 1, Guyana will mark the 187th anniversary of Emancipation Day, the end of more than 200 years of enslavement. This is the single most widely celebrated holiday across the Caribbean, a national holiday in most CARICOM countries, symbolising freedom and resilience for millions. Yet in Guyana, the national discourse has become preoccupied with elections, partisan politics, and daily survival, leading many to become detached from the significance of this anniversary.

Why should Guyanese care?

Because the legacies of enslavement are not distant history - they are the structural roots of the inequalities and social divisions we live with today. While elections come and go, the wounds of slavery remain - visible in our land tenure, education system, economic marginalisation and continued struggle for dignity and justice. If we ignore this 400-year reckoning, we risk repeating a cycle of erasure and neglect that diminishes us all, regardless of race or political

allegiance.

The rest of the Caribbean is not asleep. Antigua is suing Harvard University for restitution; Barbados is demanding the return of the Drax Plantation; Suriname has €200 million for awareness projects and €27 million for a museum from the Dutch Government following their apology for slavery, and the Caribbean Netherlands has also received millions in reparative funds. The world is moving toward accountability. Guyana must not be left behind. Our Government, civil society and every citizen must demand action and join the call for reparatory justice, because this is about our shared future as much as our shared past.

ACDA’s Emancipation 2025 festival at the National Park is more than a cultural event; it is an act of national memory and unity. It is a call to all Guyanese, Afro-descendants, IndoGuyanese, Indigenous, Portuguese, Chinese, Mixed, every resident and visitor, to participate in the healing and transformation of our society.

This year, ACDA’s programme includes the Main Street Bazaar (July 1531); Spiritual Events such as Ancestor Veneration Night (July 29, Demico

House), Night of Elements (July 30, Parade Ground), Candle Light Parade (July 31), and the Sunrise Service (August 1, 6am, National Park).

Emancipation Day will feature something for everyone: African cuisine, folk games, children’s fun centre, parade, face painting, cook-up competitions, sports, dominoes, fashion displays, exhibition booths, drumming, dancing, singing, crafts, spoken word, DJs, and educational exhibits. Special international guests include Grammy Award nominee Maxi Priest, international artists from Nigeria, the USA, Suriname, and regional drumming groups.

Our local icons: First Born, Calvin Burnette, Charmaine Blackman, and many more, will take the stage.

Educational booths will showcase “400 Years of Africans in Guyana”, the African Village Movement, contributions to hairstyles, music, names, inventions, and more. This year, Burkina Faso will be honoured, as most Guyanese of African descent cannot trace their roots to a specific African country, ACDA seeks to reconnect all generations to Africa’s rich diversity.

We also pay tribute to Buxton, the village found -

ed in 1840 by 128 formerly enslaved Africans, purchased by their own hands, and a beacon of self-governance, agricultural achievement, and social activism. Buxton, together with Friendship, represents the resilience, ingenuity, and hope of Afro-Guyanese communities. We especially honour Bro. Eusi Kwayana, centenarian and national hero.

Let us not allow politics, division, or apathy to overshadow Emancipation 2025. This is not a holiday for some; it is a Guyanese and Caribbean holiday, a Guyanese moment, and a human moment. The world is watching how we honour our ancestors and claim our rightful place in history. Will we seize this moment, or will we again leave our story to be written by others? ACDA invites all Guyanese, diplomats, and foreign guests to join us at the National Park. Children under 12 enter free, thanks to the Gladstone Family. This is more than a festival, it is our collective call for memory, unity, and justice. Emancipation 2025 is your story. Make it matter.

Yours sincerely, Eric Phillips

ACDA Guyana Reparations Committee

Percents and decimals

Because percents are really hundredths, a percent can always be changed to a decimal. But be careful!

Examples:

Change 7% to a decimal.

Step 1: Think: 7% = 7 hundredths

Step 2:Write the correct decimal: 7% = .07

Decimals can also be changed to percents. The easiest way to do this is to move the decimal point two places to the right and add the percent sign.

Change .8751 to a percent.

Step 1: Move the decimal point two places to the right: 87.51

Step 2: Add the percent sign. So .8751 = 87.51%.

Continued

Exercises:

Convert the percents to decimals. Round to four digits to the right of the decimal.

1) 10% 2) 73% 3) 30% = 4) .04

5) 84.6% 6) 65.5% 7) 1775% 8) .9678% 9) 450.2% 10) 53.78%

Continued Step 5: Now, revisit the question: which is a better strategy for combating climate change: planting more trees or saving and protecting the trees and forests we already have?

It doesn’t have to be either/or. New trees are always needed, as old trees die, some trees are lost to fires or natural disasters, and some are harvested for wood. But it is especially important to protect forests – especially old-growth forests – from destruction. When forests are destroyed, the Earth loses its aircleaning and cooling power, and the carbon stored in the trees gets released back into the atmosphere.

Branch out!

Scientists have figured out equations that allow us to know, based on a tree’s species and age, how much carbon is stored in its trunk, branches, crown, and roots. They’ve also found that because young trees grow quickly, they capture carbon faster than old trees. But old trees can still capture more carbon than young ones. If you want to dig deeper, you can calculate how much carbon a tree can sequester. Branch Out! to a park or arboretum to identify old, big trees and young trees growing fast in the sun or slower in the shade. iTree has easy-to-use online tools that can guide you through the carbon capture calculation process: itreetools.org.

(Adapted from startwithabook.org)

His little, nameless, unremembered, acts Of kindness and of love. Nor less, I trust, To them I may have owed another gift, Of aspect more sublime; that blessed mood, In which the burthen of the mystery, In which the heavy and the weary weight Of all this unintelligible world, Is lightened:—that serene and blessed mood, In which the affections gently lead us on,— Until, the breath of this corporeal frame And even the motion of our human blood Almost suspended, we are laid asleep In body, and become a living soul: While with an eye made quiet by the power Of harmony, and the deep power of joy, We see into the life of things. If this Be but a vain belief, yet, oh! how oft— In darkness and amid the many shapes Of joyless daylight; when the fretful stir Unprofitable, and the fever of the world, Have hung upon the beatings of my heart— How oft, in spirit, have I turned to thee, O sylvan Wye! thou wanderer thro’ the woods, How often has my spirit turned to thee! And now, with gleams of half-extinguished thought, With many recognitions dim and faint, And somewhat of a sad perplexity, The picture of the mind revives again: While here I stand, not only with the sense Of present pleasure, but with pleasing thoughts

To be continued...

Contracts for science labs in hinterland schools to be signed soon

In a continued effort to bridge the divide between schools in the hinterland and coastland, while simultaneously ensure that the administration delivers on its promise of universal education by 2025, President Dr Irfaan Ali has announced that contracts for science laboratories in hinterland schools will be signed in the coming days. The Head of State who was at the time addressing a gathering at the commissioning ceremony of the new state-of-the-art Brickdam Secondary School, emphasised that with over 40 new secondary schools commissioned, under construction or planned since 2020—a feat never before attempted in Guyana’s history— the next phase includes establishing fully-equipped science labs across remote hinterland communities, ensuring that no student is left behind in the digital and scientific age.

“It is a bold stride that spans coastline and hinterland alike. For a matter of fact, in the coming days, we'll be signing the contract for a number of labs across our hinterland schools, making science not only accessible but reachable to our students in the hinterland. On that point, I want to pause to recognise one important fact. That is, we have been able, and the Ministry of Education, to build in our education system the academic and technical requirement for the future. I see a particular emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital technology, having our students understand the digital world they expect to operate in,” he said. Since assuming office in August 2020, the Government has pumped nearly $600 billion into the education sector, with a record $175 billion allocated in the 2025 budget alone. The President noted that this in-

vestment is not only visible in bricks and mortar but in people, technology, and curriculum innovation.

The system now incorporates training in advance science, AI, robotics and digital technology aimed at equipping Guyanese students with the skills to compete in a global knowledge economy. “We are building an education system that is not just modern—it is futuristic,” Ali said. “Our children must not just use technology—they must create it.”

Partnership with medical institutions

Meanwhile, on a broader spectrum, Ali announced plans to significantly increase Guyana’s training partnership with medical institutions. In fact, engagements have already begun through the Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh.

“I've already mandated the Minister of Finance to commence negotiations also with other accredited institutions here, especially in the field of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, engineer-

ing, so that we can come up with a negotiated outcome so we ensure every single student who wants to pursue higher education that they are placed in a university, a college or in an institution,” the President said. This publication understands that the agreement with these institutions will follow a similar format to the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL).

Govt turning access into action in education...

“Since 2020, we've injected almost $600 billion into our education sector. This is an investment in the brains, hearts, and hands of our children,” he said. “We are not waiting for opportunities; we are preparing our people to create them.”

He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to bridging the education divide between the coast and hinterland, noting that most of the new schools are being constructed in Regions One (BarimaWaibi); Seven (CuyuniMazaruni); Eight (Potaro-

Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo).

“We are building infrastructure to give equal opportunity,” he said. “No longer will students have to travel miles or be confined by geography to access quality education.”

Also speaking at the event, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand expressed heartfelt pride in the occasion.

Headmistress of the school Yvette Hawker, also made remarks at the event calling the commissioning a “Landmark occasion” illustrating that “education remains a national priority.”

“Today marks a milestone for public education in Guyana. This new facility… is more than just a structure of concrete and steel it is a symbol of progress,” Hawker remarked.

“For me, it’s not just a building, it’s the rooms where we will create Guyana’s next leaders,” she said. “This is not just a promise. This is a deliverance, a tangible deliverance of our love for you and your children.”

One of the labs at the newly-commissioned Brickdam Secondary School

Raghoo’s Bar sexual assault

DJ, selector slapped with incitement charge, remanded to prison

Two men were on Monday charged with incitement in connection with the recent sexual assault incident at Raghoo's Bar at Soesdyke, which sparked public outrage and led to the closure of the establishment.

Leon Defreitas, 36, a DJ of Kuru Kururu, SoesdykeLinden Highway and Ryan Rajnarine, 30, an Office Assistant and "Music Selector" from Soesdyke Back Road, appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Friendship Magistrate’s Court.

The charge of incitement was read to them in relation to their alleged roles during the sexual assault, which occurred in full view of patrons and was later circulated on social media. Defreitas and Rajnarine were not required to enter a plea and were subsequently remanded to prison. The case has been adjourned to August 18 as investigation continues.

Police on Saturday confirmed that the young woman was taken to the Timehri Police Station to file a report. The victim alleged that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by three men at

the bar. In light of this incident, the bar was shut down, with the Human Services and Social Security Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud stating that it should remain permanently closed. Meanwhile, the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) has said that, “this act is not only a vile crime but a blatant violation of human dignity and a chilling reminder of the systemic violence faced by Indigenous women in Guyana”.

On Friday, Minister Persaud condemned the incident in a public statement calling the footage “most reprehensible.”

“It was most reprehensible to see persons filming the incident rather than helping this woman, and the DJ encouraging the perpetrator to perform lewd acts on the victim,” Dr Persaud stated. “I immediately alerted the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs; and the Ministry of Human Services has been collaborating with them to address this reprehensible incident.”

The Ministry of Human Services has since pledged full support to the victim, while also urging members of the public not to share the video, citing that doing so

would further violate the victim’s rights.

Meanwhile, the Home Affairs Ministry also issued a statement expressing deep concern over the circulating videos and confirmed that the GPF has launched a formal investigation into the incident. Police have also appealed to members of the public to refrain from spreading the video and instead share any relevant information with law enforcement. Witnesses are encouraged to contact the 4B Divisional Headquarters at Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) or report to the nearest police station.

Suspect caught stealing cables in Plaisance, nabbed after chase

Police are investigating a case of property damage and simple larceny involving telecommunications cables belonging to One Communication Company. The incident occurred around 16:30h on Sunday at Robert Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

According to a statement from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), ranks attached to the Sparendaam Anti-Crime Patrol responded to a transmission received from the Region Four ‘C’ Operations Room. Upon arrival at the location, Police said ranks observed a man on a metal

ladder affixed to a utility pole.

On spotting the approaching police vehicle, the suspect quickly descended the ladder and attempted to escape by running into a nearby yard. Officers gave chase on foot and were able to apprehend

the suspect a short distance away. He was immediately taken into custody. A search of the surrounding area led to the discovery of a large quantity of wire believed to have been stolen from the utility post. The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.

A tale…

…of two rallies

Back in the day, Britain’s imperialist chronicler Kipling had pronounced: “East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet”. While his gaze was wider than your Eyewitness’, last Sunday in Guyana, it was the PPP in the East and PNC in the West with their elections rallies – with the latter not only trying the MEET the former but actually BEAT them!! So, what was learnt from Sunday’s forays??

They say the Wise Men came from the East so your Eyewitness will begin with Pres Ali carrying the PPP banner to the land of the party’s founder – Cheddi Jagan. He’d brought the ideology of communism to presumably deliver the promised gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Now Pres Ali has been at the helm of Guyana for five years – as oil revenues flowed in increasingly larger streams. So, all he had to do was mention some of what’d been achieved and what’s coming down the pike - if he’s reelected for another five years!!

There was notably the PPP’s resuscitation of the Rose Hall Sugar Estate - which had been shuttered by the PNC back in 2017. That, of course, was a good entry point – since Berbicians had been betrayed by their countrymen Naga Man and RamJhaat who’d hooked up with the PNC – that they’d boost sugar!! Now while sugar hasn’t been exactly setting the world afire, Pressie could point out it certainly wasn’t for want of his govt trying!!

He then elaborated on the Happy Days that lay ahead for Berbice: the second oil and gas hub; a new power plant and AI Centre; a deep-water port linking Northern Brazil and the rest of the Caribbean; the expansion of rice; crop insurance etc, etc. Pointedly, Pressie reminded the massive throng that unlike 2015 when they split their vote, this time he wanted the old 55,000 to ensure no minority govt!!

Over in the West at Melanie, PNC leader Norton faced a decent turnout – all things considered. His main point was to promise “truth in govt”. In the opinion of your Eyewitness, while positive it would’ve been more believable if he’d announced he was gonna release the PNC’s 2020 SOP’s as a mark of good faith!! He did go on (and on!!) about all the house lots he was gonna be delivering – but against the background of the PPP surpassing their promise of 50,000 in the five years since 2020, it was hard to make an impression!! He did mention a “house repairs program” – but not the rent-to-buy-later scheme that had been earlier touted!! There was the “cash transfer” program adopted from his WPA coalition partner but he still didn’t address VP Jagdeo’s contention that the program would bankrupt Guyana!! As Burnham had done!!

…of sleepers

During the Cold War, tales of “sleepers” of the USSR were rampant. These were individuals planted by the Ruskies in all levels of American government etc who would act at the USSR’s behest when called upon. When Burnham massively increased the Disciplined Forces, he explicitly announced that while they had to support his PNC government – it was their decision on future governments!!

The PPP has therefore had to be extremely wary about where the incumbent's loyalties lay. The appearance of Retired Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Williams on Norton’s platform at Melanie demonstrated that the wariness is justified. Williams had been promoted to Deputy Commissioner by then President David Granger in 2018and interviewed for the Commissioner of Police post. The incoming PPP govt sent him on his accumulated leave in 2020 – and he was succeeded by the incumbent.

Williams bluntly declared his loyalies: “I couldn’t wait to finish my term to step up as a leader!! He discouraged youths from adopting the name “Scrapes’.

…of PNC’s destruction

New ferries are coming from Greece – following those from China and India. Back in 1878, Sprostons' built our first ferry while Malali and Torani were built there in the 1960sbefore Burnham destroyed it as GNIC!

Charged and remanded: DJ Leon Defreitas
Charged and remanded: Ryan Rajnarine

Linden teacher’s murder Ex-partner allegedly confesses to killing, claims he tossed gun into Demerara River

Just one day after the devastating loss of a Linden teacher, her accused ex-partner has confessed to the killing.

The murder suspect Shaka Phillips, also known as ‘Concrete Man’, a 21-yearold resident of Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden, admitted to investigators that he allegedly shot and killed his 26-year-old child’s mother, Jenel Pollydore.

Phillips was arrested on Sunday and told investigators that on July 19, he had been calling Jenel’s cellphone, but she was not answering. As a result, he went to the R&R Hotel in Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden, where a wedding reception was being held, and saw Jenel talking to a man.

Phillips said he confronted her and asked why she was not answering his calls, leading to an argument. He stated that he became upset, took a gun from his shoulder bag, and shot her. Jenel ran into the hotel yard, and he chased her, shooting her again. He saw her fall to the ground, then fled the scene on a bicycle and went into hiding in Amelia’s Ward.

He told investigators that he subsequently went to 'Adams boat landing' and threw the gun into the Demerara River. Police on Monday said that he was taken back to the scene and the area where he claimed he threw the gun however due to the spring tide on Sunday investigators were unable to conduct a search for the gun. The interview with the suspect was video and audio recorded.

The man was arrested hours after he killed the mother of three. He was arrested at South Amelia’s Ward on Sunday.

Initial police reports concluded that, the couple had been in a relationship and

were cohabiting, but Pollydore had reportedly separated from Phillips after enduring repeated physical abuse.

A restraining order had been taken out against him, but that did not stop the violence. The victim’s relative, Malika Pollydore, told investigators that they were attending a wedding reception at the hotel when the incident occurred. Pollydore was standing near the hotel’s gate when Phillips approached her and questioned why she was not answering her phone. An argument followed, during which he pulled out a handgun and shot her.

She ran toward the pool area inside the hotel, but Phillips reportedly chased her and fired two more rounds. Pollydore collapsed and lay motionless on the floor. Police, upon arrival, discovered her body with gunshot wounds to the right side of her face and the back of her head. Two 9mm spent shells were recovered at the scene. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the Linden Hospital Complex.

“She tried, she did everything” In a live video interview conducted by Simona Broomes, former Government Minister and member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), the

woman’s stepmother, Madonna Pollydore, gave an emotional account of receiving a chilling phone call. “She asked me yesterday [Saturday] to take care of the baby, she wants to go to a wedding. At approximately 8 o’clock, she messaged me back and she said she was waiting on a car and that she will be home shortly… then not long after, she called and I heard, ‘Madonna, I get shoot. Then couple minutes after somebody take the phone and you hear them saying come to R&R hotel now.”

The stepmother said her cousin, who witnessed the incident, described how Pollydore had begged for her life. “She said they were waiting on the car and the individual came up there and started an argument …he pull out the gun and she start to beg. She said don’t kill me, don’t kill me went on her knees, begging him, ‘Stop, don’t shoot me”, she explained.

“He shot a first bullet at her and she run behind… and that was when she was shot two more times… she begged him for her life. Even though she got shot, she get up and she run.”

Harassment and abuse

“He tried to stab her before”, her father stated. “He would show up at all hours. He even threw gasoline on himself to light himself on fire. He took her phone and he damaged it. Once, in front of the children, he started lashing himself in the head with a hammer.” Repeated reports were made to the police, but the family claims their pleas for help were ignored. “We were told they didn’t have a patrol. One officer even told us to ‘throw stale pee’ on him. They did nothing.”

Despite a restraining order and ongoing complaints, Phillips continued to stalk Pollydore, showing up at her workplace, home, and other locations, even as she tried to protect her children. The most recent of the Pollydore’s children is just three months old.

The victim had confided in friends that she feared for her life. In a voice note shared online, Pollydore said she broke up with Phillips because he had “started acting like he was running mad.” She said, “I didn’t block him because I didn’t want to take his child away from him.”

The family is calling for justice. “She tried. She did everything. We made the reports. She got the restraining order and still, she died,” the stepmother lamented. “When she was alive they did nothing, now that she dead, a set of them guarding her body. For what?!” she asked.

Murder Suspect: Shaka Phillips
Dead: Jenel Pollydore

New Nursery school commissioned in Nonpareil …new

facility to end long commutes for young

learners

The official commissioning of a new nursery school in Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara (ECD) has brought much-needed relief to parents in the community who, until now, had to travel to neighbouring villages such as Enterprise or Melanie to access nursery education. The new school is expected to ease the burden on surrounding institutions and significantly reduce travel time for students.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the school on Friday, Education Minister, Priya

Manickchand said, “Today [Friday] is a really special day for us here at Non Pareil because before the opening of this school, your children had to go to Enterprise or Melanie from this community, as there was no Non Pareil nursery. And in five years, because nursery children are usually from young parents, young people, because they’re the small babies—those having babies now and in the near future will not know that five years ago, they would have had to take their children to Enterprise or Melanie. This

is going to become normal for them. And it should be. That’s what service is.”

The new Non Pareil Nursery School is outfitted with modern classrooms, child-friendly furniture, and indoor play areas. She also relayed that the school has an array of trained teachers. Manickchand has emphasised that the newly commissioned nursery school represents a deliberate investment in quality early childhood education.

Manickchand noted that the school is staffed with four trained teachers for

just 40 pupils, allowing for a significantly lower student-teacher ratio than the national average. “In most nursery schools, one teacher caters to 15 to 20 children. Here, it’s just 10 per teacher, which allows for more individual attention and support,” she explained. She further highlighted the Ministry’s shift towards a more interactive and handson approach to early education, focusing on developing literacy, numeracy, motor and life skills tailored to the developmental needs of young learners.

According to Manickchand, one of the Ministry’s core objectives is to ensure that every single child in Guyana is equipped with the fundamental skills of reading, writing and comprehension by the time they reach Grade Four. She em-

phasised that literacy is not just about decoding words, but about truly understanding the content being read. This goal, she explained, is a cornerstone of the Ministry’s broader strategy to improve learning outcomes at the foundational level.

She went on to highlight that the Education Ministry is preparing to launch a new programme by the end of the month. Once implemented in schools, she expressed confidence that within the next four to five years, every child completing Grade Four will possess the essential literacy and numeracy skills expected at that level.

Meanwhile, Manickchand announced that the Government of Guyana has constructed 54 nursery schools over the past four and a half years as

part of a nationwide push to strengthen early childhood education.

“Every child of primary age, every single child of secondary age, can now go to school. And so, what we have right now is that in the last four and a half years, we have built 54 new nursery schools, including this one, across the country. We have reconstructed, meaning broken down and rebuilt, 13 nursery schools. So that’s 54 plus 13. And we have extended 39 nursery schools in this country in the last four and a half years.

Meanwhile, “As for primary schools, we have built 24 new ones in Guyana, reconstructed 21, and extended 36. And we have built, or are currently building, 40 new secondary schools in Guyana as we speak.”

Education Minister Priya Manickchand playing with students at the school
Section of inside the school

1 arrested, hunt ongoing for 2nd suspect in Linden taxi driver’s murder

Police have arrested one of two men wanted in connection with the murder of 30-year-old taxi driver Ron Clarke, whose bullet-riddled body was discovered in a drain at Victory Valley, Linden, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on last Thursday.

Arrested is 20-yearold Seon Johnson of Well Road, South Amelia’s

Linden. Police said on Monday that efforts are still underway to locate the second suspect, Travis Brewster, also 20, of Blueberry Hill, Linden, who remains at large. Clarke, who resided at William Street, Kitty, Georgetown and Wisroc Housing Scheme, was found dead by a 19-year-old construction worker, who alerted Police. Clarke’s body was

transported to the Linden Hospital Complex by a passing vehicle, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem revealed Clarke sustained 14 gunshot wounds, five to the right arm, two to the groin, one to the hip, and six to the right thigh. A warhead was also found in his underwear.

At the crime scene, investigators recovered ten 9mm spent shells.

Mocha woman’s murder

Taxi

driver arrested by Police in Sophia

Police have arrested a suspect as investigations continue into the fatal shooting of Mocha businesswoman Desiree Hyman, who was gunned down on Friday last, at First Street, Mocha, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Police have said that the arrest was made during an intelligence-led opera-

tion conducted on Saturday, July 20, between 18:00 and 19:30 hours. The operation led to the apprehension of 42-year-old taxi driver from Paradise, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Acting on information, detectives proceeded to Dennis Street, Sophia, where they made contact with Oudkerk, Police said, adding that he was informed that he was wanted in connection with Hyman’s murder. According to Police, the suspect denied knowledge of the incident. He was nevertheless arrested and subsequently transported to the Providence Police Station, where he remains in custody as the investigation continues.

Hyman, a boutique owner was shot dead on Friday last during what police believe was a robbery at her place of business in Mocha, EBD.

The mother of six was attacked around 14:30h at

Lot 297 Mocha, where she operated a small boutique. Investigators have since that she was attacked by two masked men who arrived at the shop on a motorcycle. One of the suspects was armed with a handgun. During the encounter, she attempted to fight off her attackers and one of the suspects opened fire. Hyman was shot six times, three bullets struck the left side of her lower abdomen, two hit the right side, and another was lodged under her right breast. After the shooting, the suspects fled the scene on the motorcycle, heading in a northern direction. Police later recovered two 9mm spent shells and one suspected projectile about three feet away from her body. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) from the Eccles Fire Station responded and a doctor from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) pronounced her dead.

Police seize ganja, meth in Buxton drug raid

Following an intelligence-led operation in Buxton, East Caost Demerara (ECD) on Sunday, Police targeted known drug blocks between 20:45h and 22:15h, which led to the arrest of a construction worker and the discovery of narcotics. According to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), a 33-year-old man of Buxton Middle Walk was intercepted and searched during the raid. Officers found a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis in a black one-strap bag he was carrying. The man was arrested and taken to the Vigilance Police Station, where the suspected narcotics were weighed and amounted to 41 grams. He

remains in custody pending charge. Further searches were conducted in the area known as Spliff Street, Buxton Middle Walk, where several items believed to be illicit drugs and drug paraphernalia were found abandoned on a table. These include 59 transparent ziplock bags with suspected cannabis; 18 green plastic containers with suspected cannabis; one large white plastic bag with suspected cannabis; 29 transparent ziplock containers containing a whitish substance suspected to be Methamphetamine; several empty ziplock bags and wrappers commonly used for smoking. The items were tak -

en to the Vigilance Police Station. Police confirmed that the suspected cannabis weighed 379.8 grams and the suspected Methamphetamine amounted to 19.6 grams. Meanwhile, in a separate case, 52-year-old Trevor Melville, known as ‘Fineman’, a labourer of Mahaica, ECD was charged with possession of narcotics last Friday. The charge stemmed from the discovery of 14 grams of cannabis in his possession. Melville appeared at the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Allan Wilson, where he pleaded guilty. He was fined $10,000 and ordered to perform two months of community service.

The narcotics and other items that were found during the Buxton raid
Ward,
Seon Johnson
Dead: Ron Clarke Travis Brewster
Dead: Desiree Hyman

New Brickdam Secondary School: A sneak peek inside the modern, state-of-the-art facility designed to enhance learning and student life

Inside the newly-commissioned Non-Pariel Nursery School, a bright, modern space fully equipped with engaging learning materials and activities designed to support early childhood development (Education Ministry photos)

PPP/C plans are clear-cut vision for prosperity – Jagdeo

…Party confident with definitive vision; no faltering of ‘later’, ‘very soon’ – Dr Irfaan Ali …no guesswork, leaders know exactly where they are heading, how to get there

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is going to all lengths to provide information on its future plans and according to the party’s General Secretary, who is also Guyana’s Vice Dr Bharrat Jagdeo it is seeking to registered an overwhelming victory at the September 1, General and Regional elections.

Addressing a rally organized by the party at Albion, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Sunday, Jagdeo outlined several initiatives that will see more jobs being created and the cost of living being reduced. He said the party is currently out there pro-

ernment can this region make progress. And in the last elections, we got 40,000 votes from this region. I am looking for at least 55,000 votes in these elections,” told supporters.

Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali in speaking of some of the initiatives to be implemented over the next five years said the PPP/C is not doing like one political leader who ween asked by reporters to outline some of his plans for the future should he win the elections said those plans will be made known ‘later’ and ‘soon’.

“When they asked him about his plan, he went into a jam,” Ali said.

by reducing the taxes, es-

pecially on four-door, double-cab, open-back vehicles, that is so critical for our productive sector.”

Ali said the future is about connecting people, markets, and connecting dreams, as he promised to modernise the agriculture sector, which includes sugar.

“Open up new land, modernising our drainage and irrigation system, building a new hope-like canal, completing that canal so that you will not have the burden of flooding and we'll reduce that substantially so you can have more support in fertilizer because with you and the government

viding information on the Party’s plans it has for the future.

However, the President went on the outline a series of initiatives to be imple-

working together, we are going to build our own fertilizer plant in Guyana so that

“Berbice, you would have been a forgotten county because there's an institutional discrimination in the PNC and APNU against people who live in Berbice. So whether you're from New Amsterdam, or Liverpool or Manchester or Port Mourant or Albion or Topoo or Chesney or Black Bush Polder, or anywhere else in this region, you have to understand what is at stake here. Only with a PPP gov-

mented should his party be returned to office at the upcoming poll.

“We are going to pursue more family-friendly-oriented policies and programs that are going to reduce the tax burden on families, put more money in the pockets of families, and give you more disposable income to live a high-quality life in every region. We are going to ensure that vehicle ownership becomes easier for you

when elected to office at the September 1 General and Regional elections it will further bring down the cost of living.

Jagdeo, who was outlining some of the party’s plans for the next five years, said the party has a track record of providing jobs, pointing to when it took office in 2020. Jagdeo recalled that tens of thousands of jobs were created for Guyanese.

“The last few years, we had to take care of our people from COVID, and then we had to breathe life back into the economy. We had to ensure that more people had jobs. Sixty thousand more of them have jobs now. Thousands of sugar workers have been rehired. Now, we have labour shortages. In the next term, for people in Berbice and across the country, we have to ensure they get more jobs, better-paying jobs,” Jagdeo said.

He zeroed in on the agriculture sector, saying that the part will give support to farmers and sugar workers.

Apart from implementing initiatives to reduce the cost of living, Jagdeo said much attention will be placed on security during the PPP/C’s next term in office.

“We have to make sure that we get more loans to people who want to start small businesses. In every one of your villages, we want to make sure that we have street lights and security cameras to fight against crime.”

Speaking about infrastructure, the Vice President pointed out that the plan is to have the drainage system improved. the

you can have accessible, cheap fertilizer. We are going to expand and invest in an agro-processing and storage facility, including coal storage.”

The future, Ali said, will be prosperous for Region Six as the economy becomes diversified.

Bring down cost of living

The ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has assured that

“We want to do concrete drains. We want to make sure that all your communities are secure. We have to pick up the garbage better. We get a lot of complaints about the NDCs, etc. We need to fix a lot of things in the future. But only one party can do that, and that's the People's Progressive Party. I want you again to commit to safeguarding that future,” the Vice President said.

Array of initiatives

The PPP Government has implemented a wide array of initiatives aimed at directly improving the live-

In addition, pensions raised from $36,000 to $41,000 per month in the 2025 budget, boosting disposable income for over 76,000 pensioners. Public assistance increased from $19,000 to $22,000 per month starting January 1, 2025, offering enhanced support for vulnerable groups; $10,000 universal healthcare voucher for every citizen, financing basic health tests and targeting around 500,000 persons, costing an estimated $5 billion; Removal of all Customs Duty and VAT on electric vehicles in the 2025 National Budget, encouraging greener transportation and environmental responsibility; a 50% write-down allowance on electric vehicles, further incentivizing their purchase; reduced import duty on new motor vehicles under 1500cc from

lihoods of Guyanese families and reducing everyday expenses. These total projected cost of over $100 billion to the treasury between 2024 and 2025 alone.

Among some of the initiatives already implement are $100,000 one-time cash grant to every Guyanese over the age of 18; free tuition at the University of Guyana (UG); electricity and water subsidy for pensioners; minimum monthly salary of $100,000 for all government workers; increased tax threshold and also $10,000 per child per month for one parent per family; $100,000 payout for every newborn to support early childhood needs.

45% to 35% in 2023, saving approximately $200,000 per vehicle; introduction of a flat $800,000 tax on used vehicles under 1500cc, replacing the variable tax and reducing overall import costs by around $300,000 per vehicle; reduction of excise tax on gasoline and diesel, reducing fuel costs for all motorists.

This is in addition to $1B in fertilizer for farmers; removal of VAT on sheetrock and concrete boards, basic construction materials; removal of value added tax (VAT) on fertilisers, agrochemicals, pesticides and several inputs in the poultry industry.

President Dr Irfaan Ali along with Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo
Thousands of persons in attendance at the PPP/C rally at Albion, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Sunday

Caught without a helmet? Join safety squad instead of facing charges

…as GPF, Road Safety Council new initiative aims to train 2000 youth volunteers

In a new approach to road safety, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana National Road Safety Council (NRSC) have announced an initiative that allows motorcyclists caught without helmets to opt into a volunteer training programme instead of facing charges. Coordinator at the National Road Safety Council, Romona Doorgen, revealed the strategy during a broadcast of “Road Safety and You”. The programme is part of a wider series of campaigns being launched by the NRSC in partnership with the Home Affairs

Coast-hinterland

student

exchange proposed to bridge cultural divide, boost national unity

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday signaled his Government’s interest in establishing a student exchange programme between coastland and hinterland schools, aimed at giving Guyanese children a deeper, more realistic understanding of the country’s diverse geography and culture.

The President made the announcement during his

Guyana feels and looks like.

That is the type of investment we are making, in infrastructure, buildings and the development of human capital,” President Ali said.

Highlighting the stark differences between the urban landscape of Georgetown and the natural beauty of the hinterland, the President said it is essential for students on the coast to wit-

of State said.

President Ali said that over the next five years, the Government would also work on expanding school tours and outdoor learning experiences to help students connect classroom lessons, particularly in social studies and geography, to real-life environments across the country.

“Our efforts extend beyond Georgetown and the coast. One of our key priorities is to narrow educational gaps between hinterland and coastland regions. For decades these gaps have hindered our national progress, but not anymore,” he said.

The President reaffirmed that the Government is accelerating school infrastructure development in hinterland areas, noting that the majority of new schools cur-

feature address at the official commissioning of the newly constructed Brickdam Secondary School in the heart of Georgetown. He emphasised the importance of fostering national unity and cultural awareness by allowing students from different regions to experience life and learning beyond their own communities.

“We have to be able to have exchange programmes among and between schools, [so that] our children can grow up knowing what all of

ness firsthand the scenic landscapes that characterise the hinterland regions.

“When you look at some of these schools, and the environment in which they're being built if you look out of the windows here in Georgetown, you see massive buildings around you [but if] you look out of the windows in the hinterland, you see rolling hills and mountains and beautiful savannahs. And we want our children in Georgetown to experience that,” the Head

rently under construction are located in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine.

However, he stressed that expanding access is only one part of the transformation, with building meaningful connections between students being equally vital.

“This is transformation. This is not by chance, it is by choice, the choice we have made as a Government to equip our educators, empower our students and elevate our communities,” Ali declared.

Ministry and the GPF’s Traffic Department.

“We’re asking that the police, when the Ministry will give us, I think we’ve got 2,000 helmets coming, fullface helmets, and when the Ministry gave the helmets to the different divisions, we’re expecting… when you get the person who is not wearing the helmet, inspectors will say to them, okay, you’re going to be charged for the minor offence, or you can join the volunteers group,” Doorgen said.

The initiative forms part of a nationwide campaign aimed at training and empowering youth through

road safety education. According to Doorgen, the campaign includes five key focus areas, one of which specifically targets motorcyclists.

“Our priority is the motorcyclists, the pedestrians and… I think we’re doing one for the trucks also, because our stats are showing those are the vulnerable groups.”

Through the campaign, the Council hopes to enlist 2,000 vibrant young volunteers across the country, particularly those preparing for their theoretical driving tests. These individuals will receive training to become

Raghoo’s Bar sexual assault

peer educators and safety advocates.

“We want to bring you, train you, make you trainers and let them be the trainers of the trainers,” she said. “So we get them to train, train, and even advocate for safety for that group of persons.” Doorgen emphasised the collaborative nature of the project and the Council’s goal of reaching deeper into communities.

“We’re working with the police force, the police traffic department closely with that programme… So it’s going to be some vibrant campaigns, we can’t wait to get them on the ground.”

Barry Sullivan wanted for rape

The Guyana Police Force has issued a wanted bulletin for Barry Sullivan, 28, in connection with a rape that occurred on July 13, 2025, at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara.

Sullivan’s last known address is listed as Ice House Road, Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

Police are urging members of the public who may have seen Sullivan or have information regarding his whereabouts to immediately contact law enforcement by calling 225-6940, 2258196, 226-7476, 225-2317, 227-1149, or the nearest police station.

This wanted bulletin

comes as police continue their investigations into the sexual assault case that recently occurred at

Raghoo’s Bar in Soesdyke. Two men, Leon Defreitas and Ryan Rajnarine, have already been charged with incitement in relation to the incident, which involved the drugging and sexual assault of a young woman in full view of bar patrons.

The footage of that incident, which circulated widely on social media, triggered outrage and led to the closure of the bar.

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and the Ministry of Home Affairs have both condemned the incident and pledged full support for the victim. Investigations are ongoing.

Barry Sullivan
Coordinator at the National Road Safety Council, Romona Doorgen
President Dr Irfaan Ali

Aviation pioneer Yacoob Mazaharally passes away

Yacoob Mazaharally, the legendary aviation trailblazer whose ingenuity and vision gave rise to Air Services Limited (ASL), one of the country’s largest domestic airlines, has passed away. His passing marks the end of an era for a man whose life was a story of ambition, innovation, and national transformation.

The funeral arrangements have been released by the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG). A public viewing will take place on Tuesday, July 22, at the MYO Compound, Woolford Avenue from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., followed

by Janazah prayers at Queenstown Masjid at 1:15 p.m. Burial will be held in Lethem, Region Nine, a fitting farewell in the heart of Guyana’s hinterland — a region he helped connect to the rest of the nation.

Mazaharally’s journey began in the 1960s when, as a timber entrepreneur in British Guiana, he recognized the need to access deep interior concessions. Rather than rely on unreliable transport, he became a licensed pilot, acquired a four-seater Darter Air Commander, and personally built airstrips across the hinterland.

According to a friend, what began as a timber

logistics solution soon evolved into a passion that transformed a country.

Yacoob’s single air -

craft venture expanded over decades into Air Services Limited (ASL) — now boasting a 22-aircraft fleet, a helicopter unit, a modern flight school, and daily lifeline routes to Guyana’s remotest communities.

He introduced Cessna 206s, Britten-Norman Islanders, and eventually Cessna Grand Caravans that now ferry thousands of passengers and cargo annually.

ASL played a critical role in Guyana’s medivac services, saving countless lives. From flying critically ill patients to delivering babies midflight, Mazaharally's fleet

became the unsung hero of Guyana's medical system.

In 2003, he founded one of Guyana’s most advanced GCAA-approved flight schools, equipping a new generation of pilots with the knowledge and skills to continue soaring. His school featured a modern simulator and training aircraft, a first in local aviation.

His son, Captain Mohamed Yacoob Mazaharally Ally, would go on to become Chief Pilot of ASL, cementing the family’s multigenerational legacy.

Under Yacoob's leadership, ASL built critical aviation infrastructure

across Guyana. In Mahdia, ASL’s hangar and cargo hub move an average of 350,000 pounds of goods monthly — a lifeline to interior communities. By 2011, ASL even launched its own fuel farm, and in 2012, it became Guyana’s first locally owned helicopter operator — a record-setting achievement in the country’s 100-year aviation history.

Earlier this month, just before Mazaharally’s death, Air Services Limited officially commissioned the brand-new airstrip – opening skies to new possibilities for the farming community of Handsome Tree, Mahaica.

Public road from Nandy Park to Ramada Princess Hotel to be closed this weekend

The contractor executing the New Demerara River Bridge Project has announced a full closure of

a section of the East Bank Public Road as critical works advance.

According to a public advisory issued by the

project’s Joint Venture (JV) Contractor, the East Bank Public Road between the Ramada Princess Hotel and Nandy Park will be closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic from 02:00h on Saturday, July 26, 2025, to 04:00hon Monday, July 28, 2025.

During this period, southbound vehicular traffic will be redirected via Haags Bosch Road to Heroes Highway to continue their journey south. Conversely, northbound traffic will be rerouted through Massy Road to Heroes Highway to proceed north.

Pedestrians travelling between Peter’s Hall and Providence are advised to use the Thomas Street Peter's Hall/Old Road Providence access road as an alternative route.

The contractor is urging all road users to adhere to the traffic control measures that will be in effect during the closure to ensure safety and minimize disruptions.

Zelenskyy says Ukraine, Russia to hold peace talks in Turkey on Wednesday

Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia – the first in seven weeks – are planned for Wednesday in Turkey, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy quoted a senior Kyiv official as saying on Monday. Zelenskyy appealed earlier in the day for greater momentum in negotiations.

Russia's state TASS

news agency quoted a source in Turkey as saying the talks would take place on Wednesday. The RIA news agency, also quoting a source, said they would take place over two days, Thursday and Friday.

The Kremlin said it was waiting for confirmation of the date of the talks, but said the two sides were "diametrically opposed" in their

positions on how to end the war.

Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address that he spoke with Rustem Umerov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, on Monday in preparation for a prisoner exchange and another meeting with Russia in Turkey.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

The temporary closure is part of ongoing works on the New Demerara River Bridge, a key infra -

structure project aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving connectivity between Regions

US Judge sentences ex-Police Officer to 33 months for violating civil rights of Breonna Taylor

Former Louisville Police

Officer Brett Hankison was sentenced on Monday to 33 months in prison for violating Breonna Taylor's rights during the raid in which she was shot and killed, after President Donald Trump's Justice Department asked the Judge to imprison him for a single day.

Taylor was shot and killed by Louisville, Kentucky Police Officers in March 2020 after they used a no-knock warrant at her home. Her boyfriend, believing they were intruders, fired on the officers with a legally-owned firearm, prompting them to return fire.

Taylor's death, along with the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, sparked racial justice protests across the US over the treatment of people of colour by police departments.

US District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings, who handed down the sentence on Monday, criticised Prosecutors for making a "180-degree" turn in its approach to the case and said political factors appeared to have influenced its recommendation for a one-day prison sentence.

The sentence was at the low end of the 33 to 41 months called for under federal sentencing guidelines, but far more severe than the Justice Department under Trump had sought.

Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, several other family members and Kenneth Walker, her boyfriend at the time, all spoke in court to ask the Judge to impose the maximum penalty.

In a brief statement to the court, Hankison apologised to Taylor’s family and friends.

“This sentence will not and cannot be measured against Ms Taylor’s life and the incident as a whole,” Jennings said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

US sanctions could cause chaos on Latam farms run on Russian fertilisers

Latin American farmers are in for a rough ride if the United States slaps secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian exports, such as the fertilisers essential for

cash crops from Mexican avocados to Brazilian soybeans and corn.

For farm powerhouse Brazil, which covered about a third of its fertiliser demand with US$3.7 bil -

lion of imports from Russia last year, there is virtually no alternative to fill the gap if those flows are halted, experts and industry players said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

The late Yacoob Mazaharally
Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica)

Nosebleeds are common. They may be scary, but they rarely indicate a serious medical problem. The nose contains many blood vessels, which are located close to the surface in the front and back of the nose. They’re very fragile and bleed easily. Nosebleeds are common in adults and children between the ages of 3 and 10.

There are two kinds of nosebleeds. An anterior nosebleed occurs when the blood vessels in the front of the nose break and bleed.

A posterior nosebleed occurs in the back or the deepest part of the nose. In this case, blood flows down the back of the throat.

Posterior nosebleeds can be dangerous.

Causes of nosebleeds

There are many causes of nosebleeds. A sudden or infrequent nosebleed is rarely serious. If people have frequent nosebleeds, they could have a more serious problem.

Dry air is the most

common cause of nosebleeds. Living in a dry climate and using a central heating system can dry out the nasal membranes, which are tissues inside the nose. This dryness causes crusting inside the nose. Crusting may itch or become irritated. If the nose is scratched or picked, it can bleed.

Taking antihistamines and decongestants for allergies, colds, or sinus problems can also dry out the nasal membranes and cause nosebleeds. Frequent nose blowing is another cause of nosebleeds.

Other common causes of nosebleeds include:

Foreign object stuck in the nose

Chemical irritants

Allergic reaction

Injury to the nose

Repeated sneezing

Picking the nose

Cold air

Upper respiratory infection

Large doses of aspirin

Other causes of nosebleeds include:

High blood pressure

Bleeding disorders

Blood clotting disorders Cancer

Most nosebleeds don’t require medical attention. However, people should seek medical attention if their nosebleed lasts longer than 20 minutes or if it occurs after an injury. This may be a sign of a posterior nosebleed, which is more serious.

Injuries that might cause a nosebleed in-

HEALTH TIPS

NOSEBLEEDS – EPISTAXIS

clude a fall, a car accident, or a punch in the face. Nosebleeds that occur after an injury may indicate a broken nose, skull fracture,

CT scan of the nose X-ray of the face and nose

Treatment

or internal bleeding.

Diagnosing a nosebleed

If a person is seeking medical attention for a nosebleed, their doctor will conduct a physical examination to determine the cause. They’ll check the nose for signs of a foreign object. They’ll also ask questions about your medical history and current medications.

Tell doctors about any other symptoms and any recent injuries. There’s no single test to determine the cause of a nosebleed. However, doctors might use diagnostic tests to find the cause. These tests include: Complete blood count (CBC), which is a blood test to check for blood disorders

• Partial thromboplastin time (PTT), which is a blood test that checks how long it takes for your blood to clot

• Nasal endoscopy

a nasal spray decongestant to close off the small blood vessels.

See a doctor immediately if persons are unable to stop a nosebleed on their own. They might have a posterior nosebleed that requires more invasive treatment.

Posterior nosebleed

If persons have a posterior nosebleed, they bleed from the back of their nose. The blood also tends to flow from the back of their nose down their throat.

Posterior nosebleeds are less common and often more serious than anterior nosebleeds.

Treatment for nosebleeds will vary depending on the type and cause of the nosebleed.

Anterior nosebleed

If persons are having an anterior nosebleed, they bleed from the front of their nose, usually the nostrils. This can be treated at home. While sitting up, squeeze the soft part of the nose.

Make sure that the nostrils are fully closed. Keep the nostrils closed for 10 minutes, lean forward slightly, and breathe through the mouth.

Don’t lie down when trying to stop a nosebleed. Lying down can result in swallowing blood and can irritate the stomach. Release the nostrils after 10 minutes and check to see if the bleeding has stopped. Repeat these steps if bleeding continues.

Persons can also apply a cold compress over the bridge of their nose or use

Posterior nosebleeds shouldn’t be treated at home. Contact a doctor immediately or go to the emergency room in case of a suspected posterior nose-

device or silver nitrate, a compound used to remove tissue.

Doctors may pack the nose with cotton, gauze, or foam. They may also use a balloon catheter to apply pressure to the blood vessels and stop the bleeding.

Prevention

There are several ways to prevent nosebleeds. Use a humidifier in your house to keep the air moist.

Avoid picking the nose.

Limit the intake of aspirin, which can thin the blood and contribute to nosebleeds. Discuss this with a doctor first because the benefits of taking aspirin might outweigh the risks.

Use antihistamines

bleed.

Nosebleeds caused by foreign objects

If a foreign object is the cause, the doctor can remove the object.

Cauterisation

A medical technique called cauterisation can also stop persistent or frequent nosebleeds. This involves the doctor burning the blood vessels in the nose with either a heating

and decongestants in moderation. These can dry out the nose.

Use a saline spray or gel to keep the nasal passages moist. Nosebleeds are common and not usually serious. Most are anterior nosebleeds and can often be treated at home. These usually occur suddenly and don’t last long

Brazil's top court threatens Bolsonaro with arrest, demands explanation for order breach

Brazil's Supreme Court threatened to order former President Jair Bolsonaro's arrest unless his lawyers explain within 24 hours why he breached restrictions on his use of social media, a decision showed on Monday evening.

The order summoning Bolsonaro's lawyers was issued by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the case in which Bolsonaro is accused of plotting a coup.

Bolsonaro's lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside normal business hours.

Moraes had on Friday ordered Bolsonaro to wear an ankle bracelet and banned him from using social media, among other measures –which were later upheld by a court panel – over allegations he courted the interference of US President Donald Trump, who tied steep new tariffs on Brazilian goods to what he called a "witchhunt" against Bolsonaro.

In an interview with Reuters on Friday, Bolsonaro described Moraes' decision to prohibit his social media use as "cowardice," and said he intended to

continue engaging with the press to ensure his voice was heard.

On Monday, Moraes said Bolsonaro breached the Supreme Court order when speaking with Journalists earlier in the day, following a meeting with allies in the Brazilian Congress.

The moment, which marked the first time Bolsonaro publicly showed his ankle bracelet, came hours after Moraes issued a clarification of Friday's ruling, which stated that Bolsonaro's use of social media included use through

third parties.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week called Moraes' court orders a "political-witch hunt", responding on Friday with immediate visa revocations for "Moraes and his allies on the court, as well as their immediate family members."

The court's crackdown on Bolsonaro adds to evidence that Trump's tactics are backfiring in Brazil, compounding trouble for his ideological ally and rallying public support behind a defiant leftist Government.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuela to investigate Bukele, other officials for alleged detainee abuse

Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab said on Monday that his office would investigate El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele and two other officials for the alleged abuse of Venezuelans who were detained in the Central American country.

More than 250 Venezuelans held in El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison returned to Venezuela on Friday, under the terms of a prisoner exchange agreed with the United States.

Detainees suffered human rights abuses ranging from sexual abuse to beatings, were denied medical care or treated without anaesthesia and given food and water that made them ill,

Saab said at a press conference. As well as Bukele, Venezuela will investigate El Salvador's Justice Minister Gustavo Villatoro and Head of Prisons Osiris Luna Meza, Saab said, after showing videos of former detainees recounting torture and showing injuries – including a missing molar, bruising and scars – they said were the result of the abuse.

Bukele's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters was not able to immediately confirm the assertions made in the videos. Two of those shown speaking were identifiable as former detainees in CECOT.

The Venezuelans were

sent to El Salvador from the United States in March after US President Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang without normal immigration procedures.

The deportations drew fierce criticism from human rights groups and a legal battle with the Trump Administration. Family members and lawyers of many of the men deny they had gang ties.

The former detainees arrived near Caracas on Friday, where some reunited with their families, but they have not yet returned to their own homes.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

T&T PM: Country deserves an apology from Dr Rowley

Hours after his damning public claims that he was placed on an Interpol watch list, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is saying former Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley owes the entire nation an apology, after the T&T Police Service confirmed he was not neither on any watch list nor is wanted.

In a statement on July 21 at 17:20h, Persad-Bissessar said, "After nearly a decade marked by mismanagement and decline, followed by his quiet retreat into a life of luxurious retirement, Dr

Rowley re-emerged to host a press conference only to level spurious, unfounded and inflammatory allegations."

She added that Dr Rowley, in his press conference, suggested that the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and the independent TTPS conspired to have his name placed on Interpol’s watch list.

"Rather than seek a direct explanation from the TTPS – something any responsible citizen could have done – Rowley chose to broadcast insinuations of a politically-driven interna-

tional smear campaign."

Persad-Bissessar added that now that the true facts had been clarified by the TTPS, "and the fog of sensationalism begins to lift," she is suggesting that Rowley should once again summon the media, "not to fan the flames of paranoia, but to issue a full and unreserved apology to the nation".

Persad-Bissessar, who is also MP for Siparia, ended the release by saying, "The people of Trinidad and Tobago deserve better than reckless conspiracy theories and baseless claims."

(Trinidad Newsday)

US to deport Haitian legal permanent residents with alleged gang ties

The Administration of President Donald Trump has said it will deport Haitians living in the United States as legal permanent residents if they are deemed to have “supported and collaborated” with a Haitian gang.

The announcement on Monday is the latest move against Haitians living in the US amid the President’s mass deportation drive, and comes as the Trump Administration has sought to end two other legal statuses for Haitians.

The update also comes as rights groups are questioning how the Trump

Administration determines connections to organisations it deems “terrorist organisations”.

In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not reveal how many people were being targeted or any names, saying only that “certain individuals with US lawful permanent resident status have supported and collaborated with Haitian gang leaders connected to Viv Ansanm”.

Following the determination, the Department of Homeland Security can pursue the deportation of the lawful permanent residents, also known as green-card

holders, Rubio added. As the Trump administration has sought to ramp up deportations, the State Department has been invoking broad powers under the Immigration and Nationality Act to attempt to deport people living in the US on various visas, including as permanent legal residents or students.

Under the law, the State Secretary can expel anyone whose presence in the US is deemed to have “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States”.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

9 killed in Ecuador pool hall were “collateral victims” – Police

Police in Ecuador say nine persons shot dead by gunmen in a pool hall on Saturday were "collateral victims" and not the intended targets of a premeditated attack.

Preliminary investigations suggest the gunmen were chasing two men on a motorcycle in the town of Playas on Saturday.

When one tried to hide in the pool hall, the gunmen burst in and opened fire indiscriminately, killing nine persons inside, investigators said.

It is the latest shooting where locals have been caught up in spiralling

gang violence that has sent Ecuador's murder rate soaring to one of the highest in the region.

Local media said the nine were childhood friends who had gathered in Playas, a coastal town in Guayas province, to play pool.

"At one point, a person who did not belong to this group of guys snuck in,"

Police Lieutenant Colonel Gem Villacís said.

The gunmen arrived in a car and fired at least 80 bullets, investigators said.

"It wasn't the group [of friends] the gunmen were after, but apparently this individual," the officer said

without disclosing the identity of the man in question. The nine dead included a local football coach and the son of a radio presenter. Two other people were injured.

Playas has declared a state of emergency and extra Police and soldiers have been deployed.

Daniel Noboa, Ecuador's president, declared war on the gangs in January 2024, but preliminary figures show that more than 4000 persons were murdered in the first five months of this year.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Jamaica: 5 killed in Police confrontation in Jack’s Hill

Five men were shot and killed in an alleged confrontation with the Police in Jack’s Hill, St Andrew on Monday. Reports reaching Observer Online are that a team from the Counter-Terrorism and

Organised Crime (CTOC) Investigation Branch received information that gunmen were at a location in the Jack’s Hill community.

The identities of the deceased have not yet been revealed.

Four illegal firearms were also seized, the Police said.

Upon arrival at the location, the Police were reportedly fired at which prompted the lawmen to return fire.

(Jamaica Observer)

Relatives of political prisoners hold balloons during a vigil outside the headquarters and detention centre of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) known as "Helicoide", in Caracas, Venezuela, April 10, 2025 (Reuters/Gaby Oraa photo)
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attends an interview with Reuters in Brasilia, Brazil, July 18, 2025 (Reuters/Mateus Bonomi photo)

Around the World

OOil edges lower as trade war concerns increase worries about fuel demand

OIL NEWS

UK and 27 other nations condemn Israel over “inhumane killing” of Gaza civilians seeking aid

The United Kingdom and 27 other countries have called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza, where they say the suffering of civilians has "reached new depths".

The Ministry accused the armed group of spreading lies and undermining aid distribution, rather than agreeing to a new ceasefire and hostage release deal.

il prices edged down today as concerns the brewing trade war between major crude consumers the US and the European Union will curb fuel demand growth by lowering economic activity weighed on investor sentiment.

Brent crude futures fell 24 cents, or 0.35 per cent, to US$68.97 a barrel by 0055 GMT after settling 0.1 per cent lower on Monday.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was at US$66.99 a barrel, down 21 cents, or 0.31 per cent, following a 0.2 per cent loss in the previous session.

The August WTI contract expires on Tuesday and the more active September contract was down 23 cents, or 0.35 per cent, to US$65.72 a barrel.

Still, the oil market has struggled to find any direction since the ceasefire on June 24 ending the conflict between Israel and Iran removed concerns about major supply disruptions in the key Middle East producing region.

Since then, Brent has traded in a range of US$5.19 and WTI in a range of US$5.65 as supply concerns have been alleviated by major producers raising output and investors are increasingly worried about the global economy amid US trade policy changes. However, a weaker US dollar has provided some backing for crude as buyers using other currencies are paying relatively less.

Prices have slipped "as trade war concerns offset the support by a softer (US dollar)", IG market analyst Tony Sycamore wrote in a note.

Sycamore also pointed to the possibility of an escalation in the trade dispute between the US and the EU over tariffs.

The EU is exploring a broader set of possible countermeasures against the US as prospects for an acceptable trade agreement with Washington fade, according to EU diplomats. The US has threatened to impose a 30% tariff on EU imports on August 1 if a deal is not reached.

There are also signs rising supply has entered the market as the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and their allies unwind output cuts.

Saudi Arabia's crude oil exports in May rose to their highest in three months, data from the Joint Organisations Data Initiative (JODI) showed on Monday.

(Reuters)

“Cosby

Show” star Malcolm-Jamal Warner dies aged 54 from drowning

Malcolm-Jamal

Warner, an actor best known for his role as Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show”, has died.

Warner, who was 54, drowned on Sunday while on vacation in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency confirmed the death in a news release.

Warner appears to have been dragged out to sea by a swift ocean current while swimming at Playa Grande around 14:00h local time in Cocles, a town in the province of Limón, local authorities said.

Warner played the son of Bill Cosby on the massively-popular US sitcom from 1984-1992.

Authorities said bystanders rescued Warner and brought him to shore, where the Costa Rican Red Cross tried to treat him, but he was declared dead at the scene.

Warner

He is survived by his wife and daughter.

Warner was Emmynominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a comedy series for his work on “The Cosby Show” in 1986. He was handpicked for his breakout role by Cosby on the final day of a nationwide audition.

"I was literally the last person they saw," he recalled in a 2023 interview.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

A joint statement says Israel's aid delivery model is dangerous and condemns what it calls the "drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians" seeking food and water.

Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry said more than 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire while waiting for food over the weekend and that 19 others died as a result of malnutrition.

Israel's Foreign Ministry rejected the countries' statement, saying it was "disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas".

There have been many international statements condemning Israel's tactics in Gaza during the past 21 months of its war with Hamas. But this declaration is notable for its candour.

The signatories are the Foreign Ministers of the UK and 27 other nations, including Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and Switzerland.

The statement begins by declaring that "the war in Gaza must end now".

800

"We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food.

It is horrifying that over

It then warns: "The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. The Israeli Government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy later told the House of Commons a "litany of horrors" was taking place in Gaza.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

At least 19 killed, scores injured as Bangladesh air force jet crashes into college campus

At least 19 persons were killed and 164 injured as a Bangladesh air force training jet crashed into a college and school campus in the capital Dhaka on Monday after experiencing a technical problem shortly after take-off, a military spokesperson said.

The F-7 BGI jet took off at 13:06h (0706 GMT) from the Bangladesh Air Force base in Kurmitola, Dhaka, as part of a routine training mission, but encountered a mechanical failure, said the spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury.

"The pilot ... made a valiant attempt to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas. Despite his best

efforts, the aircraft ... crashed into a two-storey building belonging to Milestone School and College," he said.

The pilot was among those killed in the incident, the military said, adding that a committee had been formed to investigate its cause.

The F-7 BGI is the final and most advanced variant in China's Chengdu J-7/F-7 aircraft family, according to Jane’s Information Group. Bangladesh signed a contract for 16 aircraft in 2011 and deliveries were completed by 2013.

The Chengdu F-7 is the licence-built version of the Soviet MiG-21.

Videos of the aftermath

Washington says China will not let US Government employee leave the country

The US State Department said on Monday that the Chinese Government had blocked a US Patent and Trademark Office employee visiting the Asian country in a personal capacity from leaving.

"We are tracking this case very closely and are engaged with Chinese officials to resolve the situation as quickly as possible," a State Department spokesperson said.

The US Patent and Trademark Office is part of the federal Department of Commerce.

The individual's name

and whether the person was detained were not disclosed.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington and the US Commerce Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Washington Post reported on Sunday that a US citizen who works for the Commerce Department had travelled to China several months ago to visit family. The man was being prevented from leaving the country after he failed to disclose on his visa application that he worked for the US Government, the newspaper said, citing sources.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Trump Administration releases files on Martin Luther King Jr

US President Donald Trump's Administration has released a trove of records on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr, including FBI surveillance files on the civil rights leader. A court-imposed order had kept the FBI documents, totalling 230,000 pages, blocked from public view since 1977.

Many members of King's family had opposed the release. A statement from his two living children condemned "any attempts to misuse these documents in ways intended to undermine our father's legacy".

King, a Baptist minister, was shot in Memphis on 4 April 1968, at age 39. James Earl Ray, a career criminal, pleaded guilty to the killing,

but later renounced his plea. King Jr's two living children, Martin III and Bernice, who were notified ahead of time about the release, said in a statement on Monday: "We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family's continuing grief.

"The release of these files must be viewed within their full historical context.

"During our father's lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)." (Excerpt from BBC News)

An air force training aircraft crashed into Milestone College campus, in Dhaka
Starving Palestinians seek desperately-needed food aid in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, July 20, 2025 [Ramadan Abed/Reuters]
Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid.”
Malcolm-Jamal
[Variety via Getty Images]
of the crash showed a big fire near a lawn emitting a thick plume of smoke into the sky, as crowds watched from a distance.
(Excerpt from Reuters)

Be careful what you wish for. Domestic problems require restraint. It's best to set your emotions aside and focus on positive ways to address any issues that surface. Overreacting will only make matters worse.

Explore the possibilities. Travel, seek knowledge and information, and update your skills. Make positive domestic changes. Let your actions speak for you. Be cautious regarding joint ventures and shared expenses.

Participate in events that shed light on your goals. The information you gather will push you down an enlightening and educational path. New beginnings look gratifying.

Emotions will be difficult to control. Refuse to let outside influences tempt you into something bad or costly. Arguing over what you cannot change is useless; instead, focus on what you can do to enhance your life.

Jump into action and take charge. Your leadership skills will help you win favors and make allies. Don't expect everyone to agree with you. Prepare to offer incentives. Love and personal improvements are favored.

Refuse to let the little things get to you. Select your destination and strive to achieve your dreams. Don't give in to someone trying to bait or intimidate you. Consider how to reach your goal and focus on what matters most.

Think before you speak or act. You'll tend to let your emotions take the lead if you are too quick to respond. Discipline, courtesy and seeking out people who share your beliefs and goals will pay off.

Avoid risky ventures and environments that can affect your physical or emotional well-being. Focus on your accomplishments, and don't hesitate to move forward. Walk away from temptation.

Knowing what you want and being able to act fast are important, but not all deals are equal. Hit the reset button if something doesn't feel right. Think before you act to avoid unnecessary loss.

Charismatic individuals will draw your attention. Listen, ask questions and determine what has value and what doesn't. Opportunity is within reach, along with the promise of emotional stability.

Get the ball rolling. Pick up the pace and take steps toward positive change. Looking and doing your best will help you present or market yourself and your skills. Rely on your native charm.

Attend functions or events that excite you. An open mind will allow you free rein when dealing with possibilities; however, before you jump into someone else's gig, consider doing your own thing.

Adream debut for Mitchell Owen with bat and ball alongside a stunning half-century from Cameron Green guided Australia to a three-wicket win over West Indies after a masterful death bowling display from Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis set the game up at Sabina Park.

Owen took a key wicket before clubbing 50 off 27 to become the third Australian behind Ricky Ponting and David Warner to make a half-century on T20 International (T20I) debut and bag the Playerof-the-Match award. He smashed six sixes while Green thumped five and two boundaries in a 26-ball 51. The pair added 80 from 40 to rescue Australia from 78 for 4 and gun down the target of 190. Australia out-hit West Indies, smashing 17 sixes to just nine overall.

Earlier, Dwarshuis took 4 for 36 including three in an over, as he and Ellis combined to take four wickets for just seven runs in the last 16 balls of West Indies innings to restrict them to 189 for 8 after half-centuries from Roston Chase and Shai Hope had threatened to set-up a huge total. Chase made 60 off 32 at number three while Hope made 55 from 39. Shimron Hetmyer also clubbed 38 from 19, but West Indies' lower order combined for 11 between them as they lost 6 for 30 in the final five overs.

Chase-ing Hope early

In the absence of the injured Evin Lewis, West Indies’ new-look top three laid a superb platform. Brandon King made the switch from Test cricket to T20 mode look easy, thumping four boundaries in the first three overs as Australia's quicks missed wide. The early introduction of spin halted momentum with Cooper Connolly bag-

Cameron Green

fifties put Australia 1-0 up

open in place of the injured Matt Short. But there was very little surprise when he struggled to 2 off 7 before miscuing Jason

Mitchell Marsh was in an all-or-noth ing mood, mixing three

fore playing four superb strokes off Sean Abbott in the 10th to find the boundary four times. He first paddle-scooped fine, before showing power and touch to thread the same gap between short third and backward point before again paddling a predictable full and straight ball fine again. West Indies looked set for a huge score at 123 for 1 in the 13th over.

Dwarshuis and Ellis death bowling masterclass

Dwarshuis started a West Indies collapse as Chase holed out to longon trying to clear the rope again. Hope slowed down significantly before Owen made his first impact in T20I cricket with the ball, forcing a miscue from Hope with a wide slower ball. Either side of that though he conceded two sixes to Hetmyer. Ellis and Dwarshuis then put on a clinic. Hetmyer was threatening to push West Indies well over 200, smok ing Ellis' first two balls of the 18th over to the rope. But thereafter West Indies lost 4 for 7 off the last 16 balls of the innings. Ellis' last four balls of the 18th over were a mixture of bril liant slower balls and york ers. Dwarshuis took three wickets for one run in the 19th with three mishits caught in the deep. Ellis closed out the last thanks to some help from Green who denied Hetmyer a certain six at long-off with a stunning catch that no other Australian field er could have caught at full stretch on the rope.

Fraser-McGurk mis fires yet again Eyebrows were raised when Australia's selectors recalled Fraser-McGurk in place of the injured Spencer Johnson as a reserve wick etkeeper for Josh Inglis, and they remained raised when he was selected in the XI to

he got a thin edge to the extra pace of Alzarri Joseph. Green fought fire with fire. He got away with a top edge that flew for six over fine third be fore being pinned on the shoulder. He then depos ited Joseph over fine leg twice to finish the powerplay.

Australia looked in all sorts of trouble when Inglis top-edged Akeal Hosein to short fine and Glenn Maxwell skied Gudakesh Motie straight up to end an indifferent innings of 11 off 10.

Green and Owen power Australia home, just Neither man had much experience as middle-order finishers coming into the game, but the pair showed

and power to rip the game away from West Indies. Owen was fearless, getting off the mark with a six off Andre Russell and launching another later in the over for good measure. He then deposited Hosein three times in the 12th over to dispel any concerns over his ability against spin in the middle overs. Green played really smartly at the other end knocking three twos to keep the board moving with

He then took Holder and Motie down to blaze to 50 off 25 balls and get the target to just 32 off 31 balls. But he fell trying to hit Motie out of the ground again.

Owen kept going, pounding Joseph into the stands to reach 50 off 26 but he too fell next ball trying to go again with Australia still needing 15 off 21. But Connolly,

Dwarshuis and Abbott did just enough to steer the visitors home, but not without help from West Indies' fielders. Substitute fielder Jewel Andrew dropped Abbott at fine leg off Holder with seven to win. He was almost run out too, but they nurdled their way home with seven balls to spare. (ESPNcricinfo)

Ben Dwarshuis bagged four wickets
Gudakesh Motie celebrates a wicket
Mitchell Owen celebrates his fifty

CWI Rising Stars…

Rain forces no result for Guyana U-19s

Guyana’s Under-19 men's most recent match versus Trinidad and Tobago in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Men's Under-19 Championship ended in a no result owing to rain at the Elquemedo Willett Park in Nevis.

Guyana scored 221 for 8 after batting their allocated 46 overs. With two boundaries and four sixes

in an outstanding 75 off 83 balls, Captain Jonathan Van Lange stood tall. Rampersaud Ramnauth supplied 36 runs and Afraz Ali Budhoo scored 43. For the twin-island republic, Brendan Boodoo had figures of 3 for 28 in his 8 overs.

In other results, Jamaica Under-19s defeated Leeward Islands Under19s by one wicket in their

encounter. Batting first, the Leeward Islands were bowled out for 149 in 36 overs. Roshawn McKenzie, Tamarie Redwood, and Rhevon Morgan all picked up two wickets to cap a disciplined bowling performance from the Jamaicans. Micah McKenzie led the Leeward Islands with figures of 4 for 35 as he gave his team a fighting chance to snatch victory. Redwood

Rouge Salon and Spa powers upcoming National Junior Chess Championship qualifiers

The upcoming National Junior Chess Championship Qualifiers Tournament, scheduled from Friday, July 25, to Tuesday, July 29, 2025, with Sunday as a rest day, is set to receive title sponsorship from Rouge Salon and Spa. The seven-round competition, hosted by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), will be held at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence, aiming to select the top nine junior chess players who will challenge the current National Junior Chess Champion, Ricardo Narine in the National Junior Chess Championships scheduled to begin on August 1, 2025.

This eagerly-awaited annual competition, open to players under 20, will be conducted using the Swiss format. Each match will feature a 90-minute time control

and U16 Girls). Other key players contesting are Kyle Couchman, Alexander Zhang, Kishan Puran, Alek Ubaldo-Singh, Micaiah Enoe, Tremusa Marshall, Omar Shariff, Arysh Raghunauth, Rafael Park, Jaden Todd, and Ciel Clement, to name a few.

Champions for the 2025 age cate gory competitions: Nicholas Zhang (U14 Open); Emma John (U14 Girls), Abel Fernandez Ciria (U12 Open), and Kataleya Sam (U12 Girls) will all vie for a chance to make the top nine contenders for the 2025 National Junior Chess Championship title.

and McKenzie brought the game home as they finished on 150 for 9 in 39.3 overs. Tyreik Bryan topscored with 41. Meanwhile, Windward Islands were defeated by the United States of America Under-19s 1 by a margin of four wickets.

After winning the toss, the Windward Islands Under-19 men decided to bat first. Earsinho

Fontaine had the highest score of 45, followed by Theo Edwards with 43. The USA held the Windward Islands to 209 all out in 49.3 overs, with Utkarsh Srivastava scoring 3 for 19 in 7 overs. In response, the USA reached 213 for 6 after chasing down their target in 44.2 overs. With 57 off 62 balls, Amrinder Gill was the most impressive batsman.

Chung, Toppin for highperformance training in Paraguay

of children over the past two years, thanks to chess ing on the curriculum in Georgetown secondary schools through the Ministry of

With over 70 competitors participating in the National Junior Qualifiers annually, the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) is setting an ambitious

with an additional 30 seconds added to the clock after every move.

goal to boost attendance by 20 per cent this year.

Chess activities hosted by

Education's Five Priority Areas Programme.

With this initiative, the Federation is actively considering plans to include chess in schools in other regions outside of Georgetown.

The GCF expressed its appreciation to Rouge Salon and Spa, a consistent sponsor of chess, especially noted for its significant contributions to the Women in Chess programme. The GCF acknowledged the support of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport which will be providing the venue for the tournament.

The FIDE-rated tourna-

a

and

the GCF, including tournaments, chess camps, chess clubs, and training sessions, have encouraged children's participation over the past year.

The GCF has expanded its reach to thousands

ment will be supervised by FIDE Arbiters, John Lee and Anand Raghunauth.

For more information on the tournament and signup details, interested persons can visit the GCF website (guyanachess.gy).

The Board of Directors of Archery Guyana recently announced that Lucas Chung and Karin Toppin, alongside Coach Jeewanram Persaud, have been selected to participate in a prestigious High-Performance Training Camp in Asunción, Paraguay from August 2-August 6, 2025, ahead of Guyana’s historic debut in archery at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games.

The exciting opportunity comes as a result of the activation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, which provided for the participation of one male athlete, one female athlete, and one coach in the training camp.

Selection was based on the winners and rankings from the 2024 Recurve Category competitions, ensuring that athletes were chosen on merit and recent performance. The female spot was initially offered to Roshini Boodhoo, the highest-ranked female recurve archer from 2024, who unfortunately had to decline due to personal reasons. The opportunity was then extended to second-ranked female recurve archer from 2024 Karin Toppin, who

graciously accepted and will benefit from the full training experience.

Following the conclusion of the training camp, Toppin will return to Guyana, while Chung and Coach Persaud will remain in Asunción, to represent Guyana in archery at the Junior Pan Am Games – a historic first for the country.

All associated costs, including airfare, internal transportation, accommodation, meals, and training, are fully covered under this international collaboration.

Participants will receive:

* International air transportation

* Internal transfers to training venues

* Accommodation at the Olympic Park Hotel

* Full board (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner)

* Access to Olympicstandard training facilities

* Use of the Olympic Gymnasium and SND High-Performance Gym

* Support from a dedicated sports science department

* Structured training programmes with international coaches

The Board of Directors of Archery Guyana extends its sincere appreciation

and thanks to President Godfrey Munroe and the Executive Committee of the GOA for their leadership and continued commitment to athlete development. Their efforts in establishing and operationalising this MoU have directly contributed to expanding international opportunities for Guyana’s athletes. This marks a proud and exciting moment for the federation and the nation, as Guyana steps confidently into the Junior Pan American archery arena for the very first time.

The tournament boasts
formidable line-up of top junior talent. Reigning champions expected to compete include Candidate Master (CM) Sachin Pitamber (U16)
Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Aditi Joshi (Women's
Lucas Chung in action
Reigning National Junior Chess Champion, Ricardo Narine
Jonathan Van Lange scored 75
A look at what to expect during the upcoming qualifiers

lead Chase’s boys,

Bartica’s girls to ExxonMobil U-14 supremacy

It was two battles of Georgetown vs Region 7 on Sunday afternoon, when the grand finale of the ExxonMobil Boys’ and Girls’ Under-14 schools’ football tournament was staged.

Vying for the vacant girls’ title, newcomers to the tournament, Chase’s Academic Foundation took on last year’s third-place finishers, Bartica Secondary.

The contest saw both sides sending numerous shots at the nets, but the first half bore no fruit for either team. In the second half, Bartica finally got their opportunity to go ahead when they were awarded a free kick from outside the box. Alesha Gonsalves took the shot, which initially found the keeper’s hands but deflected into the back of the net to break the ice.

Williams said, “I felt better because last year we come third and now we wanted to come first. And we come first.”

“It will be nice [the celebrations]; we make them feel proud of we,” she concluded.

Meanwhile, Chase’s Academic Foundation’s boys had their revenge for their female counterparts, ensuring that the championship trophy stays at Parade Street for a second consecutive year.

Three Miles Secondary’s defence was stiff, but it was their goalkeeper who worked overtime to ensure they had not conceded earlier. However, Chase’s Captain, Nyron Barrow found a gap in the 25th minute, sending a rocket shot into the left corner of the goal.

Secondary fought their way onto the girls’ podium with a 1-0 victory against Marian Academy. An own goal off a Marian Academy player in the 20th minute accounted for the only strike of the game, handing the win to the Region One outfit.

Then, Captain Nerismar Williams made it a 2-0 affair, capitalising on a build-up in front of the net to score in the 35th minute and seal the victory.

The half ended 1-0 in Chase’s favour, but the second would see an even bigger show from the defending champions.

Following the game, Bartica’s Captain shared what the win meant to herself and team.

Jaden Christian extended their lead in the 31st minute, followed by a tap into the left corner off the boots of Aaron Vasconcellos in the 35th.

Akeem DaSilva pulled one back two minutes later for Three Miles’ consolation goal, but a successful penalty taken by Barrow in the 44th sealed the victory for Chase.

Captain Barrow later shared how confident his team were heading into the match-up.

“Well, we had to go and train hard. Coach man tell us ‘let we come out with a different mindset to win the game’ and we had a prayer before we play and we come out successful,” Barrow divulged.

He added, “We was always confident that we will come away with a big win in the finals, yeah. Bartica been fighting like us, they wanted to win too.”

In the third-place play-offs, Waramuri

Briton John claims top spot in Edge Criterium Cycling

Briton John dominated the Vlissengen Road circuit under piercing sunshine on Sunday afternoon to walk away with top honours in the Edge Series’ inaugural Criterium Cycling race. Riding for an hour on

the circuit, capturing 18 of the 30 lap prizes, he clocked some 34 laps for first place.

Aaron Newton was close behind, claiming second while Alexander Leung completed the podium.

Alex Newton, Jamaul John, Rayuath Jeffery, Christopher Griffith and Kwame Ridley finished in that order to complete the race’s top eight.

Briton rode away with a $150,000 grand prize while Newton and Leung received $85,000 and $50,000 for their respective second and

third-place exploits. As the entire top eight received cash prizes, finishers from fourth to eight pocketed $40,000, $30,000, $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000 respectively.

While the race went on for one hour, there was a knockout gap of two laps.

The event received support from KFC, REP868, and the EDGE Series, in addition to SQ Apparel, Allform Solutions, Dragonfly Drones and Geospatial Services, and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS).

Meanwhile, the boys’ third-place game was equally riveting. After battling for more than 40 minutes, neither West Ruimveldt nor Waramuri Secondary could find the back of the net at the end of regulation time. As such, the contest went down to penalties where West Ruimveldt prevailed 4-1.

During the presentation, Barrow and Williams were named the boys’ and girls’ Most Valuable Player (MVP) respectively while Micah Boodie and Norismar Williams, both of the winning teams, were the best goalkeepers.

The Bartica Captain walked away with the girls’ highest goal scorer award for her 10 goals in the competition, while Chase’s Christian and St John’s College’s Robinho Abrams shared the boys’ award with nine goals each.

A new individual award, introduced and funded by the National Sports Commission (NSC) recognised the tournament’s most promising players. Chase’s Leandra Henrito won for the girls

Slingerz confident of defending Guyana Cup after Summer Stakes win

The 2025 Guyana Cup is less than one month away, and the champion stables, Slingerz Racing Stables are confident of defending their title.

Slingerz Racing Stables are fresh from double wins at J’s Summer Stake, with Ritorna Vincentori and John Bull claiming wins in their respective events.

Javed Ali and his Slingerz Racing Stables became household names in the last two years with Olympic Kremlin claiming wins at the Guyana Cup and President’s Cup.

On August 17, 2025, Ali is confident that he will continue to dominate the Guyana Cup and further lift the Slingerz name to greater heights.

The J’s Summer Stakes main event saw the former Guyana champion horse, Spankhurst being the favourite, but the Slingerz horse out of Brazil, Ritorna Vincentori was too hot to handle.

“It’s a great feeling to see Vincentori winning. We know he has a strong finish.”

“This race is a prep race for Guyana Cup. We know Spankhurst was going to come hard early, but we were waiting for them to come around the home turn,” Ali said after the Summer Stakes.

Meanwhile, trainer Glendon Sooklall said the aim was two wins in two races.

“We worked hard to get good results. We kept our head on to do the right things with Ritorna Vincentori and John Bull.

“I expected this win be-

cause the horses were working well. This is the same thing that will happen at Guyana Cup. God gave me this knowledge to train champions,” Sooklall said.

The next official race day has been shifted to August 3, at Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club, Bush Lot, East Berbice.

The most-anticipated horse racing event in Guyana is the Guyana Cup, which will run off on Sunday, August 17 at the Rising Sun Turf Club, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

while St John’s Abrams won the boys’ award. Chase’s boys and Bartica’s girls carted off
Chase’s Academic Foundation’s boys celebrate their title retention
A glimpse of the girls’ final between Bartica (grey and white) and Chase’s Academy
Nyron Barrow was the boys’ tournament MVP
Another look at the Edge Series cycling action on Sunday
Briton John came out on top of the competition
Javed Ali and his Slingerz Racing Stables are confident heading into the Guyana Cup

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