Sod turned for new $2.6B Christianburg/ Wismar Secondary School
… “we’re building futures for our children” – PM
The sod was officially turned for the new Christianburg/ Wismar Secondary School in Linden, which will be constructed at a cost of $2.6 billion.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, along with Education Minister Priya Manickchand, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, and other officials, participated in the sod-turning ceremony.
The project has been awarded to China Jiangxi Electric Power Construction Company and is expected
to be completed within 17 months. The school will feature modern amenities and specialised departments.
It will be built on 244,000 square feet of land and will comprise nine purpose-built blocks totaling approximately 67,000 square feet.
The campus will feature an administrative building housing the principal’s office, staff room, conference room, and a sick bay. There will be a multipurpose hall to accommodate assemblies, events and performances, as well as certified, fully-equipped classrooms. A
dedicated science block will include three laboratories to facilitate hands-on practical learning. The school will also feature a technology and vocational training block outfitted for instruction in metalwork and woodwork.
A performing arts block will house a music room and a dance studio, while an agricultural block will allow students to engage in modern farming techniques and agricultural science. Additionally, there will be a fully-equipped information technology laboratory, a
language lab, and a library to support literacy and research. Sanitary facilities will be provided for both students and staff, and a recreational area will offer space for sports, physical activity, and student well-being. During his address at the ceremony, Prime Minister (PM) Phillps emphasised that the construction of the school is a significant step forward in enhancing education delivery in Region 10.
The PM also underscored that good infrastructure is only one part of the equation, qualified educators are equally important.
“Good buildings mean little without good educators, and we’re invested in both. Finally, our reforms also reach students with special education needs, who were long underserved. Today, there are stronger frameworks in place, better-trained staff, clearer policies, and resources to ensure inclusivity for all. These programmes and initiatives all form part of a vision that says Guyana is a country that builds systems to support education and build futures for our children.”
He added that infrastructure across all 10 administrative regions has been
modernised. Additionally, he pointed out that by the end of this year, 22 new secondary schools will be operational across Guyana — both on the coastline and in the hinterland.
“So, we are also bridging the development divide in all aspects — digital, educational, you name it. In this holistic vision for Guyana, it is essential to emphasise that Linden matters due to its immense potential. This town has long been a significant contributor to Guyana’s economy, but that’s not what defines it now.”
Quality education
Meanwhile, Education Minister Priya Manickchand whilst giving her remarks noted that the school, which will cater to thousands of students, already has a strong complement of trained teachers ready to deliver quality education
across a wide range of subject areas.
“Construction of this school is going to begin today, when we leave, when we turn this sod. And it’s a school that’s going to be fit for a thousand children. We already have 107 teachers here. Of the 107 teachers, 26 are in college and two are upgrading — so 28 are in college — the rest are trained. In total, 384 teachers were trained in Region 10 over the last four years.” She added that in mere time there will be a vast shift in the environment of where students have to study
“I’m very pleased to say that in less than two years, you’re going to have a very different environment where your children can access secondary education.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips, along with Education Minister Priya Manickchand, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, and other officials at the sod-turning ceremony
A section of the gathering in Linden on Monday
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, June 24 – 02:55h04:25h and Wednesday, June 25 – 03:55h - 05:25h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, June 24 – 15:50h17:20h and Wednesday, June 25 – 16:50h - 18:20h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Rain showers with instances of thunder are expected during the day and at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 2.68 metres.
High Tide: 15:47h reaching a maximum height of 2.49 metres.
Low Tide: 09:17h and 21:31h reaching minimum heights of 0.54 metre and 0.75 metre.
“We will
never gamble with Guyana’s safety” – Pres Ali
…warns of persons who pose national security threats …vows continued alliance with global partners
Warning that Guyana’s allies have signaled to them that there are people in Guyana who pose national security threats, President Dr Irfaan Ali has made it clear that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government will never gamble with Guyana’s safety and will continue to work with its international partners.
In an impassioned speech at the PPP/C’s Family Fun Day at the Everest Cricket Ground, President Ali reiterated his Government’s commitment to ensuring the preservation of peace and security in Guyana. For instance, he highlighted that Guyana’s allies have informed them of persons who are dangerous to national security.
“Our allies and our friends have signaled to us that there are people in this country who are dangerous to the national security. Who are dangerous to the sovereignty. Who will put at risk the sovereignty of this country, because their dealings are intertwined with countries and a particular country that is an enemy to Guyana,” Ali said.
The President noted that when Guyanese go to vote at the September 1, 2025 polls, they will not only be voting for continued economic, social and other forms of national progress. He said they would also be voting for a Government that will continue to uphold Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“The People’s Progressive Party, we have worked hard in building partnerships with our allies and friends. And we will never risk that. We will never gamble with that. This country, every square inch of this country, must be protected.”
“These elections are more than just electing the leaders of the political party. These elections are about the safety and security of our country,” the Head of State said.
Further, the President highlighted the importance of Guyana’s allies and friends, to the country as a whole. According to President Ali, the responsibility of a Head of State to lead the people of Guyana, is an enormous task.
“It is not something that we can gamble with. It is not something we can risk. The safety and security of
our country, our sovereignty and territorial integrity, protecting this land of ours, requires our partners, allies and friends to be on the same side with us,” President Ali said.
While not naming names, the President’s remarks come amid growing scrutiny surrounding a local businessman’s decision to contest the upcoming elections, despite being under United States (US) sanctions. Ali made it clear that the PPP/C will never risk the nation’s peace and stability by aligning with individuals whose affiliations could compromise national security.
Guyana and its western neighbour Venezuela, which has made illegal claims to Guyana’s Essequibo territory and held a sham election on May 25 for a Governor for Essequibo are before
the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to settle the border controversy.
The international community has overwhelmingly supported Guyana, with the country’s international partners consistently putting pressure on Venezuela to respect the ongoing legal process.
After years of failed good offices process through the United Nations (UN), and based on the recommendation of the-then UN Secretary General, Guyana approached the ICJ in March 2018, seeking a final and binding settlement of the 1899 Arbitral Award, which determined the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela. The case is currently pending before the ICJ, which has already established its jurisdiction to hear the matter. Guyana has already filed two written pleadings on the mer-
its, and Venezuela has filed one, with its second pleading due in August 2025. Oral hearings are expected in the first half of 2026, following which the Court will deliberate on the case and issue its final judgment on the Merits, which will be binding on the parties.
Guyana and Venezuela signed the Argyle Declaration – a December 14, 2023 pact, but despite this Venezuela has been using aggressive tactics against Guyana, including the Spanish speaking country’s plans to unlawfully elect a Governor and legislative council of “Guayana Esequiba State”, which is the name Venezuela had given to Guyana’s Essequibo region.
In its Thursday, May 1, 2025 Orders, The Hague, Netherlands-based World Court had stated that, “… Pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from conducting elections, or preparing to conduct elections, in the territory in dispute, which the Co-operative Republic of Guyana currently administers and over which it exercises control …[And] Unanimously, reaffirms the provisional measures indicated in its Order of 1 December 2023, which should be immediately and effectively implemented…”
President Dr Irfaan Ali
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Guyana’s tourism
The transformation of Guyana’s tourism industry stands as a demonstration to strategic vision, investment, and commitment to national development. In recent years, Guyana has steadily redefined its global image, not only as an oil-producing nation, but also as a uniquely-captivating destination that harmoniously blends rich cultural heritage with natural beauty. Prime Minister Brigadier (Retired) Mark Phillips’s address at the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana’s (THAG) Annual Awards Dinner underlined the depth and momentum of this transformation, anchored in a bold and inclusive approach to tourism development.
Once marginalised as a secondary sector, tourism is now firmly embedded within the framework of Guyana’s National Development Strategy. As the Prime Minister rightly noted, the sector has evolved from being an afterthought to becoming a key development pillar, creating jobs, earning foreign exchange, empowering rural and Indigenous communities, and preserving the nation’s cultural and ecological patrimony. This reflects a model that balances economic opportunity with sustainability.
The country’s tourism blueprint has been crafted not merely to attract visitors but to offer meaningful experiences rooted in authenticity. This strategy acknowledges Guyana’s unique assets: the untamed splendour of its rainforests, the warmth of its people, and the richness of its multicultural society. It is a tourism product that respects identity, safeguards the environment, and uplifts communities, a vision well-aligned with global calls for responsible and regenerative tourism.
Institutional capacity building has been a critical early step in this journey. The establishment of the Guyana Tourism Authority and the strengthening of frameworks within the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry provided the necessary backbone for coordinated sectoral development. Parallel to this, major infrastructure investments, once met with scepticism, have proven to be foundational. The Cheddi Jagan International Airport expansion and the construction of the Marriott Hotel have facilitated unprecedented growth in international connectivity and accommodation capacity. These projects, alongside others like the Ogle municipal airport, were strategic precursors to the sector’s modern surge.
Indeed, the results over the past five years speak for themselves. The record-breaking 371,272 visitor arrivals in 2024, representing a 329 per cent increase from 2020, marks a significant leap forward. With projections indicating arrivals will surpass 420,000 by 2025, and with more than 600 new hotel rooms slated for completion this year, the nation is scaling its capacity to meet growing global interest.
Such growth has not occurred in a vacuum. The increase in visitor numbers has been supported by deliberate efforts to diversify the tourism offering. More than 65 new tours and products have emerged since 2020, offering a spectrum of experiences, from culinary and cultural immersion to adventure and heritage exploration. These include the celebrated culinary experience, heritage tours, and activities such as kayaking and ATV riding, all reflecting an industry attuned to global travel trends and visitor desires.
Guyana’s rise on the international stage is further validated by the 11 international tourism awards garnered in the last five years, and the achievement of global sustainability certification by five eco-lodges. These accolades underscore the credibility of Guyana’s commitment to high-quality, eco-conscious tourism.
The success of this growing industry is also rooted in human capital development. The forthcoming launch of the Hospitality and Tourism Training Institute (HTTI) in 2026 marks a strategic move to professionalise the sector. With over 8000 Guyanese already certified in tourism and hospitality, the workforce is being systematically prepared to deliver world-class service. This level of preparedness is vital as Guyana moves to tap into emerging markets such as medical, wellness, and agro-tourism, while expanding sport and entertainment tourism through events like Cricket Carnival and the Global Super League.
Importantly, the success of Guyana’s tourism journey lies also in partnerships. As the Prime Minister aptly highlighted, collaboration among Government, the Private Sector, communities, and international partners remains essential. It is through these alliances that inclusive growth, innovation, and resilience are fostered.
Guyana is no longer simply building a tourism sector, it is crafting a world-class, globally-competitive tourism brand. The work done thus far reflects both policy foresight and national belief in the promise of tourism as a tool for transformation. As infrastructure expands, training deepens, and new markets emerge, the tourism industry stands poised to become one of Guyana’s economic engines, offering prosperity while preserving identity.
Closing the skills gap to create more jobs in the Caribbean
By LiLia Burunciuc WorLd Bank director for the cariBBean
Earlier this year, I met a young graduate who had spent the entire summer searching for a job that matched her education – without success.
As the weeks passed and her options narrowed, she applied to a local meat shop, hoping to find some form of employment. But even there, she was turned away – she was “overqualified” to pack chicken legs.
Her story is not unique. Across several Caribbean countries, young people are discovering that academic qualifications, while essential, do not always open the doors they expected.
Businesses, in turn, report difficulty filling positions, not because of a lack of applicants, but because many job seekers simply don’t have the technical skills or experience required. This disconnect – between the supply and demand of skills – is one of the most persistent growth constraints in the Region.
In Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines, for example, firms consistently rank the shortage of a skilled workforce among the top two obstacles to doing business.
The impact of this shortage is striking: in 2020, 50 per cent of all job vacancies in St Vincent and the Grenadines requiring skilled workers remained unfilled due to a lack of qualified applicants. In neighbouring St Lucia, 40 per cent of employers reported that the skills and education of workers hindered the country's competitiveness. Meanwhile, the problem extends beyond businesses – 61 per cent of youth report difficulties finding jobs or earning a living, often because
their academic qualifications do not align with the demands of the labour market.
The ramifications are wideranging. Youth unemployment in Grenada and St Lucia exceeds 40 per cent, among the highest in the Eastern Caribbean. For those who do find work, many are employed in roles for which they are underqualified – 57 per cent of workers in St Lucia lacked the necessary qualifications for their roles in 2019 – or that fail to fully utilise their education and skills. While such employment may offer income, it can also lead to mismatches between workers' capabilities and job demands, leaving many young people frustrated and limiting the potential of businesses to operate at full productivity.
These challenges reflect deeper structural issues, including inadequate quality of basic education and insufficient collaboration between postsecondary institutions and the Private Sector. Post-secondary institutions often operate in isolation from industry, leaving students with academic credentials but without the practical or technical skills employers need.
Compounding the issue, the Eastern Caribbean spends around 14 per cent of their education budget on post-secondary education, compared to 25 per cent in Latin America and 32 per cent in OECD countries. With outdated laboratories, limited digital infrastructure, and low capacity to support inclusive education, many institutions are ill-equipped to prepare students for the demands of today’s labour market. These challenges are further amplified by the emigration of highlyskilled workers, who often leave
the Region in search of better opportunities abroad. This loss of talent reduces the availability of skilled professionals at home and weakens the return on public investments in education.
The skills shortage not only impacts individual job seekers; it undermines the broader economy by stifling productivity, reducing business competitiveness, and limiting opportunities for innovation.
Partly due to missing skills, Eastern Caribbean firms are not adequately investing in and engaging in innovative activities.
Only 2.7 per cent of firms in Grenada and 3.2 per cent of firms in St Lucia have human resources dedicated to research and development.
Research and development are vital for fostering creativity, developing new technologies, and improving business processes. For the Caribbean, investment in research and development is particularly important to address challenges in key sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and renewable energy, unlocking new opportunities for sustainable growth.
However, many firms perceive the cost of innovation as too high relative to the market size. In small economies, businesses often believe that investing in innovation won’t yield sufficient returns due to limited local demand or the high costs of implementing new technologies. This perception discourages companies from pursuing innovation, limiting their growth and competitiveness.
There is no single solution to these challenges – but there are clear areas for action. First, postsecondary education should
receive more attention to ensure institutions are equipped to deliver relevant, high-quality training. Modernising curricula to include both technical and transversal skills – such as problem-solving, adaptability, and digital literacy – is essential for preparing youth for the demands of today’s economy. Equally important is fostering closer collaboration between educational institutions and the Private Sector. While some institutions already maintain partnerships – particularly in tourism – there is a need to expand these efforts across a wider range of sectors. Deeper and more diversified collaboration can help ensure that training programmes align with evolving industry needs, encourage workplacebased learning opportunities, and support research and development initiatives that foster innovation and job creation.
Expanding regional frameworks, such as shared learning standards and qualification recognition, would allow for greater mobility of talent and ensure consistent skill development across the Region. For small island States, such collaboration also offers a practical advantage: the ability to pool resources and benefit from cost-sharing opportunities, making education and training systems more efficient and sustainable. Finally, addressing barriers to innovation by creating incentives for businesses to invest in research and development and improving digital infrastructure will help unlock the Region’s economic potential.
Students of the Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary School proudly showcase their harvest from the school’s shade house initiative, an innovative step towards hands-on, modern agricultural education (RDC 6 photos)
Guyana’s experience with coalition governance fell below expectations
Dear Editor,
The inability of APNU and AFC to agree on satisfactory terms and conditions shows the inherent challenges of coalition arrangements. When in opposition, a political party faces many obstacles, particularly the lack of political power or influence to effect desired changes for its constituents. The situation becomes more complex if a dominant political party holds governmental authority.
Despite being out of power for 23 years up until 2015, APNU, in collaboration with AFC, believed that they could oust the PPPC due to accusations of widespread corruption and ineffective governance. Consequently, they created the Cummingsburg Accord (CA),
outlining their shared interests and governance priorities. Any disagreements during the negotiations were either resolved or mitigated in pursuit of what they considered the "greater good," which was to remove the PPPC from executive power.
The APNU+AFC 20152020 coalition understood that prolonged internal conflicts would benefit the PPPC. Through policy implementation and extra-constitutional actions, they therefore signaled their determination to retain executive power and keep the PPPC in oppostion for an extended period.
The APNU+AFC coalition's 2015 elections victory left the PPPC disheartened, fear-
Nonsense that
PPP
Dear Editor,
The allegations by the PNC-led APNU/AFC and several of the one-man, one-woman parties that the PPP called elections early giving themselves unfair advantage is pure balderdash, sheer nonsense.
ing their chances of reclaiming power were slim. They felt that the coalition would consolidate its executive power by any means necessary, including electoral rigging. In their moments of despair (immediately after the 2015 elections results were declared) a group of PPPC leaders approached Dr Bharrat Jagdeo imploring him to return to active politics and take control over the PPPC. Being a Guyanese nationalist imbued with vast political experience, and to save Dr Cheddi Jagan’s party from disintegration, Dr Jagdeo acquiesced in their request.
Dr. Jagdeo decided to restructure the party and restore its operations. Rebuilding the PPPC at every level was pri-
oritized, with a particular emphasis on youth and women participation. Grassroots mobilization was an essential aspect, leading to a series of community-based meetings across all regions to clarify the party’s vision, development plan, and implementation strategies. This approach contributed to the establishment of the political culture of "taking governance to the people" in 2020.
The source of political disagreements between APNU and AFC differs from that of PPPC. APNU and AFC have prioritized the distribution of Parliamentary seats and ministerial positions over creating a clear vision and development strategy for the country. This approach mirrors the situation
in the early 1960s when Dr. Cheddi Jagan invited the PNC to join the PPP in a coalition.
The PNC leader, Mr. Forbes Burnham, requested equal ministerial roles and control of the Ministries of Home Affairs and Finance. Similarly, those coalition discussions lacked any coherent plan for national development, with power allocation being the primary focus.
Despite the PPPC's efforts at rebuilding between 20152020, the APNU+AFC coalition had a good chance of victory at the 2020 elections. However, their decision to close four sugar estates backfired, thinking it would weaken the PPPC. This inhumane action cost them the elections’ victory. The key lesson here is
that political leaders should avoid vendetta politics and prioritize national interests over personal or sectional issues.
The effectiveness of coalition governance in Guyana is still uncertain. Supporters claim that it benefits a diverse society, but internal power struggles are challenging. The 2015-2020 coalition governance fell below expectations. Supporters must show that it is superior to the "winner takes all" system, which encourages political competition and development relies on democracy that fosters competition.
Yours truly, Dr Tara Singh
called elections early giving themselves unfair advantage
Several of the leaders of small parties and even the leader of the opposition and leader of the PNC, Aubrey Norton, have complained that the President and the PPP have deliberately called elections early, robbing the opposition parties of preparatory time. In the case of Aubrey Norton, he complained that they were preparing to have
tee-shirts as part of the election paraphernalia, but the time is now too short for them to procure tee-shirts and other paraphernalia.
Not only is the allegation nonsense, it is total dishonesty. The constitution caters for elections to be held no later than five years af-
ter the commencement of the last parliament, with a threemonths grace period. The 12th parliament commenced on September 1, 2020. Therefore, the elections are constitutionally due by September 1, 2025. The constitution provides for a three months leeway, and, thus, the President had the op-
Nagamootoo thinks sugar workers are fools, workers can see through his deception
Dear Editor,
The GAWU notes a social media post by former Prime Minister (PM) Moses Nagamootoo titled "Martyrdom or Mockery." After reading the post, which was also published on other social media, it is evident that the former Prime Minister is mocking the truth. From all appearances, the erstwhile gentleman is attempting to rewrite the sordid record while he occupied a senior role in the APNU+AFC Government from 2015 to 2020.
In his post, Mr Nagamootoo talks about the ILO’s socio-impact assessment of the closure of estates in a most convenient and, in our view, misleading manner. Though the former Prime Minister may feign ig-
norance, he knows well, in our minds, that thousands of temporary workers were denied work opportunities when his government decided to close estates. Those workers never received compensation or assistance, but were left to fend for themselves. This was highlighted in the study and deliberately ignored by the former government official. But given the former PM’s chameleon-like attributes, we should not be amazed.
While Mr Nagamootoo seeks to highlight one element of the ILO’s study, we suggest he read on. The subsequent pages and chapters speak to the human toll of the closure. The report highlighted the social upheaval, the economic bleakness,
Closing the skills gap...
The World Bank is working with Caribbean countries to support these goals. The OECS Skills and Innovation Project is one example. With US$36 million in financing, the project focuses on enhancing youth skills, fostering regional collaboration, and strengthening a culture of innovation. By supporting 40,000 young people with targeted training, establishing common learning standards, and encouraging partnerships between businesses and postsecondary institutions, the initiative aims to build an ecosystem where innovation and skills development drive growth.
Beyond the Eastern Caribbean, countries like Guyana and Belize are also stepping up efforts to close the skills gap.
In Guyana, the World Bank is supporting the Government’s
FROM PAGE 4
investment in a broad set of skills needed to power its rapidlyexpanding economy – with a strong emphasis on technical and vocational education and training. Meanwhile in Belize, where women’s labour force participation remains significantly lower than men’s, a forthcoming project will focus on early childhood development and female empowerment –with a dedicated component aimed at expanding women’s employment opportunities through skills development and support for businesses in the care and education sectors.
The Caribbean holds immense potential. Tapping into that potential will require a coordinated effort, longterm investment, and a shared commitment to aligning skills with opportunity. Encouragingly, that work is already underway.
and the tragedy that repeatedly played out in many homes due to the decisions of the ex-PM and his colleagues in the then government. Of course, we are highly doubtful that the former high-ranking government official was unaware of the consequences of their decision. Indeed, they were conscious and fully aware of the implications.
To come now and shed crocodile tears is simply appalling. On March 29, 2015, Mr Nagamootoo’s then colleague, Khemraj Ramjattan, at a public meeting at Whim highlighted the importance of the sugar industry and declared to those present, “…we will not in any way close the sugar industry…”. In the August 15, 2015, Kaieteur News, the former PM reportedly said “…there was no question of Government scaling down or abandoning the industry.” Yet weeks later, the two (2) joined the chorus in the Coalition with the decision to close Wales Estate. These facts, Mr Nagamootoo, are not the invented obfuscations as you seek to pontificate.
It is oxymoronic that Mr Nagamootoo seeks to cling to the ILO’s examination selectively. His government bluntly refused even to consider such an assessment, telling GAWU, and now President Irfaan Ali, among others, on February 03, 2017, that if we wanted such a study, we should do it ourselves. It says a lot about responsibility in office and compassion for our people. Again, it's not hard to distinguish between facts and figments of one’s imagination.
The ex-PM, true to form, attempts to hoodwink the nation and tells us that the redundancy payments to the sugar workers were as he puts it, “…
initially delayed…”. Does he not have any shame? The then Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, admitted publicly that the Coalition Government did not budget to pay the jobless sugar workers. As history records, a hurriedly supplementary allocation was approved to partially settle the workers' entitlements. This was in stark contradiction to the law. And it was after the courts ruled that the workers received their outstanding entitlements with interest in an effort to cure, in some sense, the illegality that was perpetuated against them.
Mr Nagamootoo attempts to burnish his care and compassion for the sugar workers and the sugar industry. Of course, his record speaks unequivocally. Under his tenure as PM, sugar workers' wages remained frozen, the industry was massively downsized, and progress was markedly reversed. No amount of propaganda or airy-fairy writings can erase the legacy of destruction under a government in which Mr Nagamootoo was a senior leader. Today, the ashes of that destruction are still being righted, and the deep cuts inflicted are being healed.
The sugar workers, their families and their communities are keenly aware of these truths. They will not be deceived and misled. As Mr Nagamootoo puts it, the sugar workers will see through his gaffe. If he chooses to write on sugar, once more, we urge him to begin with the phrase “once upon a time…” as all that will follow will be truly fiction, hypocrisy, and deception.
Sincerely,
Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU)
tion of choosing a date between September 1 and December 1, 2025. By constitutional mandate, unless the president opted for an earlier date than September 1, the elections date of between September 1, 2025 to December 1, 2025 was known since September 1, 2020, almost five years ago.
If the president had chosen a date before September 1, essentially calling snap elections, that would have been a date that would have come as a complete surprise and political parties might have had good reasons to accuse the President and the PPP government of giving themselves an undue advantage.
But the President and the PPP government have kept their promise that elections would be held on time, within the constitutional deadline, which was known since September 1, 2020 and was always for between September 1, 2025 to December 1, 2025.
That many of the parties are not ready, that they have been caught with their “pants
down” is a demonstration of their incompetence, of their unpreparedness for government. The allegation that the President “tricked” them is sheer excuse.
Let us be clear, President Irfaan Ali and the PPP government had the option of a surprise. They could have dissolved parliament long before September 1. The government decided to wait for their full term.
Those who wanted to run for the presidency, to run to form the next government, should have been prepared for elections by September 1, if not before.
The government has been unequivocally faithful to the constitution of Guyana. If political parties were caught with their “pants down” for a simple thing like anticipating the elections date, the real question is how can they be trusted to run government?
Sincerely, Dr
Leslie Ramsammy
◄ Page Foundation
Dividing fractions by fractions
To divide a fraction by another fraction, multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the second fraction.
Divide: 1/2 ÷ 2/3
Step 1: Find the reciprocal of the second fraction. The reciprocal of 2/3 is 3/2 .
Step 2: Multiply the first fraction by the second fraction^' s reciprocal. 1/2 x 3/2 .
Step 3: Multiply the numerators: 1 x 3 = 3.
Step 4: Multiply the denominators: 2 x 2 = 4
Step 5: Write the product: 3/4. The product of that multiplication is also the quotient of the original division problem.
Step 6: Reduce the fraction if possible.
When you divide fractions, you will multiply by the reciprocal!
Exercises: Divide
By Walt
The runaway slave came to my house and stopt outside, I heard his motions crackling the twigs of the woodpile, Through the swung half-door of the kitchen saw him limpsy and weak, And went where he sat on a log and led him in and assured him, And brought water and fill’d a tub for his sweated body and bruis’d feet, And gave him a room that enter’d from my own, and gave some coarse clean clothes, And remember perfectly well his revolving eyes and his awkwardness, And remember putting plasters on the galls of his neck and ankles; staid with me a week before he was recuperated and pass’d north, I had him sit next me at table, my fire-lock lean’d in the corner.
Continued To be continued
GECOM swears in Returning Officers ahead of Sept 1 polls
…says citizens can view list of all appointed ROs, SROs on website
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has announced the appointment of 10 Returning Officers (RO) and 10 Supernumerary Returning Officers (SRO), marking a significant step towards the upcoming September 1st General and Regional elections.
The Oaths of Office for the 20 senior election day officials who were approved by GECOM, were administered by GECOM’s Chairperson, retired Justice Claudette Singh, at a simple ceremony held in the secretariat’s boardroom on Monday.
“The oath-taking ceremony marks a key step in preparations for the conduct of the elections since the Returning Officers will be responsible for overseeing the electoral process in their respective districts.”
“(Meanwhile) the Supernumerary Returning Officers will have responsibility for the respective sub-districts in districts three, four, and six as provided for in the Representation of the People Act,” GECOM said
in a statement. According to GECOM, it remains committed to ensuring that transparency, professionalism and integrity in the electoral process are upheld. Further, the election agency also explained that the names of all these RO’s and SRO’s can be viewed on their website.
“Political parties and electors can now visit the offices established in their respective districts to obtain pertinent information in relation to the electoral process and key statutory timelines. A schedule of the names of all the appointed Returning Officers and Supernumerary Returning Officers along with the addresses for their respective offices can be accessed on GECOM’s website at www. gecom.org.gy,” GECOM added.
Earlier this month, the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill 2025 was amended in the National Assembly so that either the SRO or their deputy can oversee tabulation of votes in the electoral sub-districts.
The latest amendments to the Representation of the People Act (ROPA) aim to address irregularities that occurred during the tabulation of results for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) following the 2020 General and Regional Elections. During that process, the then RO for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo—one of nine individuals currently charged with electoral fraud—is accused of
attempting to alter the results for his region.
Mingo was accused of excluding hundreds of thousands of votes from People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) strongholds, to hand victory to A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC).
Meanwhile, with the 2025 General and Regional elections scheduled for September 1st, political
parties have been in the process of submitting their party symbols. These are expected to be approved by the Elections Commission by July 1. Also, in preparing for the upcoming polls, GECOM is conducting a Claims and Objections exercise.
The ‘Claims’ aspect of this exercise is already completed, while the ‘Objections’ leg will be closed off today. This will
then make way for the preparation of the Revised List of Electors, which will be publicised for 21 days before it is finalised and certified. Moreover, the Secretariat is simultaneously working on other critical matters, such as identifying polling station locations.
The timeline for election-related activities after Nomination Day includes: July 15: Notification of any death or withdrawal of candidates and feedback on defects in the lists; July 17: Submission of corrected lists and further withdrawals; July 18: Issuance of approval or rejection notices by GECOM; July 20: Deadline for appeals to the High Court; July 21: Deadline for notifications of joinder of lists; and July 23: Publication (gazetting) of the approved Lists of Candidates.
Meanwhile, the next milestone event will be August 22, when members of the Disciplined Services will be allowed to cast their ballots ahead of the September 1 election day.
Motorcyclist dies after slamming into cow on NA road
Amotorcyclist is now dead after crashing into an animal in New Amsterdam, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), on Monday morning.
The deceased has been identified as 25-yearold Jamal Hughes, who died in the early hours of Monday after the motorcycle he was riding collided with an unbranded cow at the intersection of Main Street and Number 41 Street, Stanleytown, New Amsterdam. Hughes of Glasgow, Greater New Amsterdam, was at the time driving a motorcycle, CP 2700 with Marashia Dehart, 24, of Stanleytown, as his pillion rider.
According to the police, Hughes was proceeding along the public road at a fast rate when the motorcycle collided with the cow, which was crossing the roadway. At the time, both Hughes and DeHart were not wearing safety helmets.
As a result of the collision, they fell onto the road surface where they re-
Sod turned for new $2.6B...
We are turning this sod for a brand-new school here, but every single school across this region is being rehabilitated or rebuilt, as far as necessary.”
Manickchand also committed to addressing infrastructure concerns at McKenzie High School following requests from the school’s board. She chal-
lenged the staff of McKenzie High to step up and deliver improved academic outcomes, noting that stronger results will create more opportunities for students.
“I am told that the school needs significant repairs or a rebuild, and once we assess the situation, you have a commitment from me at this podium that it will hap-
pen. But we need to make sure that we see improvements in Region 10 — and that no one is left behind, not even in riverine communities. We can’t be making these heavy investments and not seeing results. So McKenzie High — young teachers, old teachers, experienced teachers — the challenge is on.”
ceived injuries about their bodies.
Hughes was picked up in a semi-conscious condition, while the pillion rid-
er was picked up in a conscious and taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital.
Police said that Hughes
later succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention. The pillion rider was treated and sent away.
The ROs and SROs meeting with GECOM’s Chair, Retired Justice Claudette Singh after taking their Oath of Office
The motorcycle that was involved in the accident
The unbranded cow that the motorcyclists slammed into along NA public road
Moving…
…to closure?
President Trump announced that his B-2 Bomber strikes of twelve 30,000 pounds of explosives – the dreaded “Massive Ordnance Penetrator” (MOP) that can penetrate 200 feet into solid rock before exploding - “obliterated” the three sites the Iranians were using to enrich uranium in their push to develop nuclear bombs. Since it was this possibility of the Iranians going nuclear that made them a threat to the US and Israel’s – “they said”! , your Eyewitness wondered whether he could now breathe easier without worrying whether our annual Saharan dust clouds would be bringing a sprinkling of nuclear fallout this year. At a minimum – from looking at old pics of post-Hiroshima survivors – his hair and teeth would’ve fallen out!! And he likes those in place, thank you!!
But the Israeli attack on one of those “nuclear sites” the very next day gave him pause. If the nuclear sites were mopped up by the MOPs, why would Israel be attacking them again? To use a possibly anomalous metaphor, wasn’t that be like…well…gilding the lily?? Adding insult to injury is standard in wars!! After the US bombing, the Iranians did say they’d moved out their 60% enriched uranium (Uranium gotta get to 90% purity before it can go KABOOM! on its own) to safety. And in any case the MOPs blasts hadn’t penetrated the 600 feet of mountain rock to the enrichment facility. That there were no increased levels of radioactivity was an early tipoff that “Operation Midnight Hammer” mightn’t have been as successful as announced.
But since our folk wisdom declares, “Knock got knock back”, what’s ahead for us?? Well, for starters, it doesn’t look like Trump’s gonna be getting that Nobel Peace Prize after Pakistan had nominated him for his “intervention” to settle their dust-up with India over Kashmir. The very next day, Pakistan was forced to denounce the US bombing that "constituted a serious violation of international law" and the statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)!! India and Modi had already denied Trump had played any role in their ceasefire with Pakistan.
But what about Iran’s response which they’ve promised. Everyone believes them because of their strategic culture and their Shia religion that combines a proud 3000-year-old culture with a willingness to accept suffering for “righteousness”. Your Eyewitness doubts the Iranians gonna be taking on the US directly… no Siree Bob! That would be foolhardy – and fools, the Iranians aren’t!! With Israel being a proxy for the US –or as some say, the (AIPAC) tail that wags the American dog!! – Iran will keep on pounding them with missiles.
We have seen enough will get through their three vaunted antiballistic “Domes” to drive Israelis back into the stone age in a while!!
La Luta continua!!
…from grief to politics
Two months after poor 11-year-old Adriana drowned in that hotel pool on the West Side, her body was finally laid to rest as she was interred into her grave. No child deserved what happened to her. Here it was, she was taken for an “outing” by her grandmother – which was followed by a most tragic series of unfortunate events that stirred Guyanese across the world.
The pool had no lifeguards; her grandmother left her and her cousins unsupervised; the pool wasn’t drained when she was discovered missing; a false Police report was issued of her leaving the hotel; the Police mishandled the outraged crowd that gathered; protests, riots, etc followed. But the unkindest cut of all was dragging her body across to America for a totally unnecessary second autopsy – and using her body for opposition harangues.
Even her final rites were marred by a confrontation between the grandmother and her aunt and finally by some who turned the occasion into a “wine-down”. Sad.
…Oil prices
For us in Mudland one good thing is coming out of the mess in the MidEast is an OilPrice forecast has Brent crude rising to as high as US$110 and then settling to US$95 in the fourth quarter!!
T&T State firm bids to build gas processing plant in Guyana
Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited (PPGPL), a stateowned company from Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) has submitted a proposal to set up a natural gas processing facility in Guyana. T&T’s Energy Minister, Dr Roodal Moonilal, described the bid as a significant step toward strengthening his country’s influence in the regional energy sector.
Dr Moonilal made the announcement while addressing the House of Representatives during discussions on the supplementary budget, where he outlined the United National Congress (UNC) Government’s energy plans. He noted that negotiations are progressing not only with Suriname but also with Guyana.
“Phoenix Gas is involved in a bid to assist with developing a gas processing plant in Guyana. We are hoping that that bid goes well. We are hoping that something can happen there. Because it is critical that the state enterprises in Trinidad and Tobago establish themselves as serious investment entities in Suriname, Guyana and later Grenada.”
“We also had discussions with the American Company Fulcrum that is involved in Guyana and their massive gas exploration and production venture with ExxonMobil. We have had discussions with them and will follow up with them,” Moonilal further said. According to the Energy Minister, this is how T&T aims to become an energy hub. With Guyana currently producing over 630,000 barrels of oil per day and expected to increase production to as much as 1.2 million barrels of oil per day in the next few years, Moonilal noted the impossibility of matching or outproducing Guyana’s oil production figures.
“It is not secret. Guyana produces more barrel of oil per day than they have people. We are in touch with the Guyana Energy Chamber. I have been asked to say publicly, that the Trinidad and Tobago Government has been in touch with the Guyana Energy Chamber in Georgetown, that has pledged to give their support to companies in Trinidad and Tobago to work,” he explained.
“One of the realities we discovered after entering office, a sad reality is that we have been in oil and gas for over 100 years. Our sister CARICOM countries have been in oil and gas for a decade or so, in terms of their own programmes and production. And you know,
upon coming into office we discovered we had no footprint in those CARICOM countries.”
Energy footprint
Moonilal highlighted that despite Trinidad’s status as the oldest oil producer in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region, as well as its extensive technical expertise, the country did not have a satisfactory footprint in either Guyana or Suriname. Moonilal lamented that Trinidad had its chance to gain an early footprint in Guyana a few years ago under the former People’s National Movement (PNM) Government.
“It was the service contractors of Trinidad and Tobago, who of their own will and hard work, went to Suriname and Guyana. Off their own. And were able to get business in the energy sector. In some cases, against the odds. But they had no help from the Government. None,” the Minister said.
“We have discovered that even when there was a serious attempt by national energy to get involved in Guyana in providing operational, technical and production assistance to the Guyanese Government, through the international private sector, to assist with bringing gas onshore, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago at that time said no. It was too risky.”
Soon after her election, T&T Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had made it clear that her Government would be seeking out potential gas development collaboration with Guyana. It had marked a pivot from the former PNM Government, which had struck the Dragon field gas deal with
Venezuela, Guyana’s western neighbour with whom tension currently exists as Venezuela has made illegal claims to Guyana’s territory.
The Dragon gas field project, was to be developed in Venezuelan waters, undertaken by Trinidad’s state firm National Gas Company (NGC) and SHELL. A 30-year licence, issued in December 2023, had granted Shell and NGC the rights to produce the gas and export it to Trinidad.
However, in April it was announced that the United States (US) Government had notified the project by revoking the licences Trinidad and Tobago had been granted for the Dragon and ManakinCocuina cross-border gas fields.
The licences had previously been issued under the then President Joe Biden administration, by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Since his return to office, US President Donald Trump has taken a more hardened line to Venezuela.
This has come amid the loss of democratic rights for the Venezuelan people by the Nicolás Maduro regime and breaches to agreements Venezuela had made to ensure free and fair elections last year.
Meanwhile, with general and regional elections scheduled for September 1st, 2025 in Guyana, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government has already indicated that no new contracts, including those involving Fulcrum LNG which is seeking to monetise Guyana’s gas, will be signed in the pre-election period.
Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited (PPGPL)
Inaugural Research Conference
UG Berbice Campus to drive development of Guyana’s ‘Golden Corridor’ – VC
The University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC) will play an important role in the development of what President Ail refers to as the “Golden Corridor”, which is the linking of Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil. This is according to the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Guyana (UG) Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin. Speaking at the opening of the inaugural interdisciplinary research conference, which opened on Monday at the Berbice Campus, the VC pointed out that there is tangible development taking place in the region and there will be people who will be needed for that. She said that is where the university will
play a major role.
The conference has attracted participants from across the country. The inaugural interdisciplinary research conference, which
Construction. So, you want to study those things, you have to be in Berbice.”
Those courses are not being offered online, as well as wellness tourism
opened on Monday, goes until Thursday and is being held under the theme; ‘Embracing innovation and change through interdisciplinary perspective. The seminar coincides with UGBC's 25th anniversary. The institution opened its doors on November 6, 2000.
The VC noted that to help develop more interest in the campus, programmes are being placed in Region Six and one is the newly developed Institute for Marine and Riverine Economies and Ecologies.
“So if you want to study anything about river economies, marine, etc, you have to come and study in Berbice and live in Berbice. The other one is going to be the Institute for Infrastructure and
and health tourism, which will only be available in Region Six.
Meanwhile, Director of Confucius Institute at the UG, Professor Al Creighton, in evaluating the Berbice Campus, said he was there from the inception and as Deputy VC, he was designated the responsibility of oversight for the project during construction. He said the campus now stands on two locations; one at Tain and the other at Johns. The campus, Creighton said, provides training for over 600 students in seven divisions of seven faculties of the university.
“Educational Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, the School of
Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation, and the Institute of Marine and Riverine Ecologies and Economies.” The Berbice Campus also offers several degree, diploma, and certificate programmes Creighton added.
Critical challenges through academia
Meanwhile, in delivering the feature address, Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister Alfred King, speaking of the conference, explained that it is where leaders, academic experts, and a wide cross-section of other stakeholders are invited to engage in meaningful dialogue on how to address critical challenges through academia.
“This is a necessary approach and an innovative move for the University of Guyana, which will directly impact on how we think, work, and build a future for Guyana. The theme of this conference, Embracing Innovation and Change Through Interdisciplinary Perspectives, could have been chosen for any country in the world, but it means something different for Guyana. Here it speaks directly to the country on the crossroads where we now stand as a country in motion,” King said. The challenges we face today are no longer confined to a single sector or field.
He pointed out that in coastline areas, there are many issues affecting both climate and economic concerns, as well as food security, housing and education.
“The diverse impact requires of course, an integrated approach so that we can find meaningful solutions that can see us continue with the trend of development. This conference calls for a useful interdisciplinary exchange where researchers, planners, students, and even professionals ask questions that do not fit neatly within a single department or discipline and where answers come from shared insights rather than individual experts.” The Permanent Secretary said it is fitting that this takes place at the Berbice Campus.
Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister, Alfred King, along with Professor Al Creighton, cutting the ribbon to officially declare the conference opened
Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin
Security guard wanted for $13.1M heist at Giftland’s Fantasy Game Lounge
Police are on the hunt for a security officer attached to Castle Security after he robbed the Fantasy Game Lounge, Giftland Mall, Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara (ECD) of $13.1 million on Sunday.
At the time of the robbery, the 24-year-old security officer was on duty at Fantasy Game Lounge and was armed with the security service 9mm pistol and 17 live rounds of ammunition.
Preliminary investigation revealed that at 5:30h on the day in question, the 21-year-old supervisor at Fantasy Game Lounge, Raywat Sankar, exited the cashier area to assist a female floor supervisor in cleaning the gaming area since no customer was there at the time.
The suspect, however,
approached the two employees, whipped out his firearm, pointed it in their direction, and discharged one round in the air after which he demanded Sankar to open the electronic door to the cashier area.
Fearful for his life, Sankar complied and the suspect then ordered him and the female supervisor into the cashier’s room where he further instructed Sankar to open the vault and place all the cash into a garbage basket.
Police stated that the suspect then walked out of the building with the cash.
Close Circuit Television cameras (CCTV) at the Giftland mall captured the suspect walking out of the Giftland access road, turned west on the Railway Embankment and then stopped a motorcar bearing registration number
Wanted: Rakameem Nicholas
PZZ 569 which sped off the scene. The matter was reported and the police received one spent 9mm shell at the establishment. The suspect’s home was subsequently searched but no cash was found. The police also stated that efforts are being made to locate the motorcar.
The police have since issued a wanted bulletin
for Rakameem Nicholasm, the suspect in the Fantasy Gaming Lounge robbery. His last known address is given as West Ruimveldt,
Georgetown. Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the suspect to contact them at telephone
numbers 225-6940;2267476; 225-8286; 911 or the nearest police station. Investigations are ongoing.
Sophia man slapped with 3 counts of armed robbery
Thirty-three-year-old Rafael Hintzel, of Red Road, Sophia was on Monday slapped with three counts of armed robbery when he appeared at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.
The accused was arrested on June 20, 2025 for the robbery committed on Dexroy Singh also called ‘Bow’, 30, a Barber from Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD); Kishon Pompey also called ‘Breeze’,25, a construction worker also of Ann’s
Grove, ECD and 20-yearold Lawrence Pellew also called ‘Delwin’, a construction worker of Dutch Four Housing Scheme, ECD. The crime was reportedly committed on November 4, 2024 at Ann’s Grove main access road, ECD. However, on Monday, he appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce, where the charges were read to him. He pleaded not guilty and placed on $350,000 bail. He will make his next court appearance on August 6, 2025.
The Fantasy Game Lounge at Giftland Mall
Charged: Rafael Hintzel
NGSA results to be announced on Wednesday
Nearly two months after thousands of Grade Six students across Guyana sat the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), the anticipation for results day has officially commenced. The release date for the NGSA was officially announced by Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Monday during a live broadcast on her Facebook page.
“I'm very, very glad to tell you that we are going to be announcing NGSA 2025, the results of NGSA 2025, on Wednesday the 25th of June at 11 o'clock, and we'll be live. So, join us. I'm very excited to be able to announce these results for many reasons, because this is where you see how well we've done.”
The Minister emphasised that the Ministry had previously assured citizens that the NGSA results would be released before June 26, a commitment that has now been honoured.
“I am very glad to say
that we had said that we would announce the NGSA on or before the 26th of June. From the moment we wrote it, in fact, before it was written we said that.”
Additionally, the Minister noted that Grade Five students across Guyana are writing the National Grade Five Assessment. This preliminary examination, she explained, will provide the Ministry with critical data on student performance. The results will help inform the development and implementation of targeted measures to ensure that each child is adequately prepared to undertake the NGSA.
“So this morning [Monday] and tomorrow [Tuesday], our Grade Five children are preparing for, well, writing, not preparing their national grade Five exam and that came out of us using this as a diagnostic to determine where our children are, what they know, what we need to improve on.”
Manickchand added, “And we started that last year and it has been very successful in letting us know centrally, regionally and as well as in every classroom, what children need help with and reinforcement of where they're strong and, you know, what topics we need to redo and so on.”
Meanwhile, the 2025 sitting of the NGSA took place on April 16 and 17. The assessment was primarily based on the Grade Five curriculum, followed by content from a consolidated curriculum. However, the Ministry reminded stakeholders that key concepts from Grades Three and Four are also included in the examination, reflecting the cumulative nature of the assessment.
This year, more than 15,000 pupils across Guyana sat the NGSA examinations of 2025, with the Ministry of Education reporting a record-high attendance rate of 98 per cent, the best turnout since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of 15,813 students were registered to write the two-day national examinations and of that number 15,497 turned up for the assessment. Among those sitting the exams were 115 students with Special Education Needs (SEND) and, notably, 91 students wrote the assessments in Spanish, a historic first, in-
troduced last year.
NGSA is spearheaded by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). Similar to the structure since 2016, CXC prepares the examination, supervises its administration, marks the scripts, conducts quality checks and conducts consequential reviews if any are requested.
For this National
exam candidates are tested in four subjects namely, Mathematics, English, Science and Social Studies. The examination in each subject area consists of two papers. Paper One consists of multiple-choice items while Paper Two consists of essay-type or open-ended items.
Cops trained to use body cameras
Ranks from the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Traffic Department and HeavyDuty Course 1/2025 were on Saturday, engaged in a specialised training session on the operation, use, and maintenance of 500 newly acquired body cameras.
The training provided participants with comprehensive instructions on how to operate the cameras, alongside a detailed overview of their key features. These include capabilities for digital, audio and video evidence collection. The session was conducted at the Officers’ Training Centre, Eve Leary, and was led by Sergeant Matthews of the Police Information Technology (IT) Department. The addition of the new body cameras form part of the GPF’s wider efforts to enhance transparency, accountability, and operational
efficiency within its ranks. The devices are expected to support a range of functions including investigations, patrol duties, and various police operations.
The 500 cameras are slated for decentralisation across police divisions countrywide, making them accessible for use by frontline officers in all regions.
Ranks being trained to use body cameras
Present at the training were Traffic Chief, Assistant Commissioner Mahendra Singh; Superintendent Raun Clarke; Assistant Superintendents Sherwin Henry and Garvin Boyce; and Inspectors Ulene Morris and Richard Trotz. The implementation of the body cameras is in alignment with the Force’s ongoing efforts to strengthen public trust and ensure greater accountability during interactions between law enforcement and citizens.
File photo: Students sitting the NGSA exams in April 2025
Across the country, children are writing the National Grade 10 MATH assessment and National Grade 5 Assessments. They will serve as a diagnostic for students, teachers and parents
Photos: MoE
EMT on duty at fire station loses home in WCB blaze
…2nd fire within hours
Asecond fire has destroyed a West Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) house hours after a fire flattened a building at D’Edward on Saturday afternoon.
Firefighters were called on again even before they had returned to the Onverwagt Fire Station on Saturday after battling fire which was threatening a second building.
The second fire on Saturday which was at Lot 6 McRay Street, Rosignol, West Bank Berbice (WBB) and owned by Cyril Agard, his wife, and two children.
Agard, who is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) attached to the New Amsterdam Fire Station, was at work at the time.
He said that at bout 15:30h he received a telephone call informing him
that his house was on fire.
“When I meet, I see a lot of people group up on the road, and I see a big gulf of flame on my house. I panic because I have family, my son, my wife, my kids, and I run in to see if they are okay and if anything is alright with them, and when I go inside, I burst out in tears. Nevertheless, I have to be strong, I have two vehicles, I try to get them out of the yard, push them out. The public came out and helped me, and I am very thankful for that. However, I am seeking help because, in this situation, for a young man like me with a family, building a home like this is very hard, especially with the current cost of living in Guyana. I am seeking help from the public,” Agard told this publication.
Apart from being an EMT, Agard also operates a mechanic shop and, at
Rehab Week
The Health Ministry officially launched Rehabilitation Week 2025 with the unveiling of a range of new tools and expanded services intended to modernise and enhance rehabilitation care across Guyana. The launch ceremony was held last Friday at the Ministry’s Boardroom and was led by the Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony.
During his address, Anthony introduced three major resources aimed at transforming the delivery and scope of rehabilitation services nationwide.
The Guyana Rehab App: A comprehensive mobile platform offering personalised exercise plans, progress tracking, appointment booking, and easy access to nationwide rehabilitation services.
the time, had several vehicles in his yard.
“A lot of people's motorcycles could be burned up in the fire. I can't give account for that because it's not something that no one planned for.” At least four motorcycles were destroyed.
“We have a CBR, we have a CB1, and we have a Honda Rakos, here all burnt,” he noted.
The entire building was reduced to ashes.
“It leaves me now without a home. Just rubbles and ash and burn wood.”
Earlier on Saturday, a mid-morning fire at D’Edward Village, West
Coast Berbice (WCB) left six persons seeking alternative arrangements while contemplating the way forward.
There was no response from the Zeelust/Rosignol Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) which was recently provided with a firefighting truck from the Local Government Ministry. Meanwhile, persons desirous of making contact with Agard can do via telephone numbers (592) 617-481 or (592) 732-1773.
“My wife exercise bicycle, and all my documents burned. Car registration, land paper, licence, ID card, bank card, all the documents gone,” Agard said as he broke down in tears. He noted that there were three television sets in the two-bedroom upper wood building, apart from all of the amenities to make his home comfortable.
Health Minister pledges focus on preventing complications, lowering rehab needs
reintegration into daily life.
The Amputee Handbook: Guyana’s first national resource for individuals living with limb loss, providing step-by-step guidance from pre-operative care to longterm prosthetic use and rehabilitation.
These initiatives form part of the Ministry’s broader strategy to enhance the accessibility, consistency, and effectiveness of rehabilitation services, particularly for vulnerable and underserved communities.
“If we manage this as a continuum, we can address the root causes and prevent more people from needing rehabilitation in the first place,” Dr Anthony stated. He emphasised the strong connection between chronic disease management and rehabilitation needs, underscoring the Government’s
commitment to reducing complications from diabetes, hypertension, and stroke.
The Minister also highlighted efforts to improve access to assistive devices, revealing that the Ministry distributed nearly 1,000 wheelchairs last year and has procured 3,000 more to be provided free of cost in 2025.
Meanwhile, Director of Rehabilitation and Disability Services, Dr Ariana Mangar, described rehabilitation as an essential pillar of Guyana’s evolving healthcare system. She noted that the sector is undergoing significant transformation through digital innovation, expanded service delivery, and a focus on patient empowerment and quality care.
Cyril Agard
Persons at the launching of Rehabilitation Week 2025
Guyana’s diplomat urges global action as A3+ sounds alarm over Afghanistan crisis at UN Security Council
At a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) briefing on Monday, the A3+ group— comprising Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Guyana, delivered a joint statement expressing deep concern over the worsening humanitarian, security, and human rights situation in Afghanistan.
The statement was delivered by Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations (UN), Carolyn RodriguesBirkett on behalf of the A3+ group. It underscored the group’s firm commitment to Afghanistan’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national unity, while reaffirming solidarity with the Afghan people.
Rodrigues-Birkett thanked the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Roza Otunbayeva,
Assistant SecretaryGeneral Joyce Msuya of Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous for their briefings.
Humanitarian crisis worsens
Citing alarming humanitarian conditions, the A3+ drew attention to the plight of nearly 23 million Afghans in need of lifesaving assistance, attributing the crisis to persistent food insecurity, malnutrition, natural disasters, and limited access to basic services. The group called on international donours and humanitarian agencies to increase support, noting that the closure of health and nutrition facilities has left millions without access to essential care.
The statement also condemned violence and detentions targeting humanitarian personnel, including 13 UN staff members. The A3+ called on the Taliban to en-
sure safe and unhindered humanitarian access across Afghanistan.
Rights of women and girls under siege
A central focus of the statement was the continued repression of Afghan women and girls under Taliban rule. The A3+ expressed deep concern over the enforcement of
the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Law (PVPV), which has led to increased restrictions on women’s rights and freedoms.
"Regrettably, 2025 marks the fourth consecutive year in which girls and women of Afghanistan have been denied access to education beyond grade 6," the statement read. "Afghanistan remains the only country in
the world where girls and women are systematically barred from secondary and higher education."
The A3+ reiterated its call for the immediate reopening of schools and universities to all Afghan girls and women and urged the Taliban to rescind discriminatory laws and policies.
Security and counterterrorism concerns
On the security front, the A3+ highlighted ongoing threats from terrorist groups, including ISIL-K, which recently claimed responsibility for attacks in Kunduz City and Kabul. The group urged the Taliban to intensify counterterrorism efforts and welcomed regional cooperation aimed at stabilising Afghanistan.
They also expressed alarm at the toll of unexploded ordnance, particularly on children, and called for increased international support for demining and risk
education initiatives. Call for inclusive and coordinated engagement
Looking ahead, the A3+ emphasised the need for structured and inclusive engagement between Afghanistan and the international community. The group welcomed ongoing dialogues under the Doha process, including working groups on counter-narcotics and private sector development, as confidence-building measures.
They also acknowledged efforts by UNAMA and the UN Secretariat to facilitate multilateral engagement with the Taliban, emphasising the importance of inclusivity in any future political framework.
The A3+ reaffirmed its full support for UNAMA and Special Representative Otunbayeva, and urged the Taliban to adhere to Afghanistan’s international obligations for the well-being of all its citizens.
Late-night road rehabilitation works upgrading more sections of Georgetown. Works being done by the Ministry’s Special Project Unit (Public Works Ministry photos)
Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett
Guyana deepens collaboration with India’s forensic sciences university
The Home Affairs Ministry on Monday officially welcomed a high-level delegation from India’s National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Gandhinagar, marking the start of a strategic week-long visit aimed at bolstering bilateral cooperation in forensic science, law enforcement, and criminal justice.
The visit, which runs from June 22 to 27, 2025, stems from commitments made during bilateral discussions between President Dr Irfaan Ali and Indian Prime Minister (PM) Shri Narendra Modi. The talks, held during the Indian PM’s visit to Guyana, laid the groundwork for closer collaboration in science, technology, and security.
changes, and collaborative research initiatives tailored to the Caribbean context.
Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn, underscored the importance of the visit, describing it as a continuation of Guyana’s ongoing efforts to modernise its criminal justice system through enhanced inves-
Leading the visiting delegation are Prof Dr Naveen Kumar Chaudhary and Prof Dr Satish Kumar, both senior figures at NFSU. They are accompanied by Mr Manoj Kumar of the High Commission of India in Guyana.
tigative and forensic capabilities. He emphasised the Government’s longterm vision of establishing a strong institutional partnership with NFSU to develop the country’s forensic infrastructure.
"This engagement reflects our determination to
equip our institutions with the tools and expertise necessary to deliver justice efficiently and reliably," Minister Benn stated. "We look forward to building a framework that supports innovation, training, and sustainable development in forensic science."
The NFSU delegation in turn conveyed their appreciation for the warm hospitality and reiterated their enthusiasm for deepening cooperation. Discussions during the visit are expected to focus on the establishment of joint training programmes, academic ex -
A key component of the partnership is the proposed establishment of an Institute of Excellence in Forensic Science in Guyana. The institute is envisioned as a centre of regional significance that will: advance Guyana’s national security and justice reform objectives; provide cutting-edge training and certification for local and regional forensic professionals; develop a skilled corps of forensic trainers and foster applied research and innovation in criminal investigations across the Caribbean.
The Home Affairs Ministry noted that the initiative is aligned with Guyana’s broader agenda of improving institutional resilience and professional capacity in law enforcement and judicial processes.
Hemp Association hails Govt’s plan to empower ex-sugar workers
Just days after Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo announced that several farmers in Skeldon are set to benefit from a hemp production initiative on land owned by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the Guyana Hemp Association (GHA) has commended the Government for moving in the right direction.
During his weekly press briefing, Dr Jagdeo last week emphasised that 2,000 acres of the 26,000-acre Skeldon estate will be allocated to displaced or current sugar workers, with each receiving two acres to cultivate hemp, primarily for export—including cigar production.
This initiative falls within the legal framework already established, with production restricted to Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice). According to the VP, the national plan for agricultural and economic diversification extends beyond hemp.
The GHA representative, Cort Gomes highlighted the Government's progress in a recent interview with the publication.
“What I've noticed is that they're moving forward with their commitment, Regions Six and 10 are being allocated land, and the land we speak of is in the Region Six area. In our association’s
view, it’s a forward step in the right direction.”
He added that this move would open opportunities for disenfranchised workers.
“Some of the former sugar workers will now have a chance to return to agriculture with hemp. And if that's the case, that's a plus because, of course, if you take the bread out of someone's mouth by phasing out sugar, and now you're able to replace it with hemp, that's enabling a family to earn again.”
Gomes highlighted that this initiative will add revenue for the country significantly.
“We're in 2025, and the Government is pushing to achieve a 25 per cent reduction in imports by yearend. One of the things with hemp is that the manufacturing segment—value-added products—will open up a whole new income stream. If
Guyana can produce at least 1,000 to 3,000 value-added hemp products, that represents a tremendous increase in economic value for the country.”
He also highlighted how this would boost employment for Guyanese.
“On the other end, job creation—my company under the Guyana hemp association is poised to employ over 3,000 people once their licences are granted. We hope to have those jobs before by the end of the year. That's another significant plus.”
The Industrial Hemp Act, ratified by the Government in August 2022, paved the path for the legalisation of industrial hemp in Guyana and created new business and agricultural prospects for local farmers.
Hemp is a multibillion-dollar industry that can lend to the production
of hundreds of items. Some uses for hemp include rope, textiles, clothing, shoes, food, and belts.
Hemp is often confused with marijuana, but it is crucial to understand the distinction between the
two. Both hemp and marijuana are varieties of the cannabis plant, which includes over 100 to 156 different strains. The two most recognised strains are hemp and marijuana.
Hemp presents significant
economic opportunities for Guyana, with potential benefits spanning various sectors. With around 100,000 to 150,000 potential use cases and products, hemp can be a versatile addition to Guyana’s economy.
Guyana Hemp Association Secretary Cort Gomes
Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn along with Prof Dr Naveen Kumar Chaudhary and Prof Dr Satish Kumar and other high-level delegation members from India’s National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) and local officials
“All the opportunities are before you to succeed” – Hamilton tells 128 BIT graduates
Over 100 residents of Region Four have received certification in various skilled areas through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT). This certification provides a valuable pathway for graduates to enter the local job market and contribute meaningfully to the workforce. The BIT on Monday hosted a graduation ceremony to recognise and celebrate the achievements of 128 residents from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), who successfully completed training in various technical and vocational disciplines.
The ceremony, held at the Theatre Guild, Georgetown, marked a significant milestone in the lives of the graduates, many of whom are now equipped with the skills needed to enter the workforce or advance their career paths.
The graduating cohort included 56 males and 72
Some of the BIT graduands
females, reflecting BIT’s ongoing commitment to inclusive training and equal opportunity for all.
Graduates were awarded certificates in key occupational areas such as Electrical Installation, Plumbing, Cosmetology, and Commercial Food Preparation fields that are
in high demand and essential to both the public and private sectors.
Delivering the feature address, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton encouraged the graduates to make full use of the skills they have acquired, emphasising that a wide range of opportunities now await them.
He highlighted the growing demand for technical and vocational skills across the country and urged the newly certified individuals to actively pursue employment, entrepreneurship, or further training in their respective fields.
“To you young people
that are here if you fail you have no one else to blame but yourself, all the opportunities are before you to succeed all the opportunities.”
Also present at the ceremony was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), Richard Maughn, who delivered remarks that underscored the importance of technical and vocational education in national development.
He expressed his confidence in the graduating class, noting that the skills and training they have received will not only improve their individual livelihoods but also contribute meaningfully to the growth and resilience of their communities.
“And I'm confident that you would have developed capacity, you would have developed skill set that now you can use to make meaningful contribution to yourself, to your family, to
the society at large, hence to Guyana.”
The CEO added, “You will be successful when you realise that you're serving people and serving your nation as you implement or as you put into good use the varying skills that you have acquired. Ladies and gentlemen, I congratulate you.”
The training programmes were designed to equip participants with a strong foundation of theoretical knowledge while also offering extensive hands-on practical experience through a variety of structured activities.
Moreover, since 2020, the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) has successfully upskilled over 13,000 Guyanese, supported by a significant Government investment of $1.5 billion. This initiative reflects the state’s ongoing commitment to workforce development and national capacity building.
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza has farreaching global implications – COFCOR …urges immediate ceasefire
The Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) has issued a strong statement expressing deep concern over the escalating violence and worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as well as rising tensions throughout the Middle East.
In a statement released this week, COFCOR said it is "gravely concerned" about the continued loss of civilian life—particularly among women and children—and the ongoing obstruction of humanitarian aid. The Council warned that the deepening crisis threatens not only the stability of the region but also global peace and security. The regional foreign Ministers reaffirmed CARICOM’s unwavering commitment to the principles of international law and the protection of human rights. COFCOR condemned in the strongest terms the
bombardment of Gaza and the deliberate deprivation of essential services such as food, water, electricity and medical aid—actions it described as serious breaches of international humanitarian law.
“The indiscriminate targeting of civilian infrastructure and the blockade of humanitarian assistance have resulted in immense human suffering and the worsening of an already dire humanitarian catastrophe,” the Council stated.
COFCOR also denounced all acts of violence against civilians, including the
October 7, 2023 attacks and the taking of hostages. The Council characterised these as clear violations of international norms and conventions and reiterated its call for an immediate, unconditional, and sustained ceasefire in Gaza. It urged all parties to allow safe humanitarian access and to ensure the immediate release of hostages and administrative detainees.
Reaffirming its long-standing support for a two-state solution, COFCOR emphasised that this remains the only viable path toward achieving a compre-
hensive, just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The Council called on the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts to reach a peaceful resolution through dialogue and negotiation.
COFCOR also voiced concern over the recent direct military confrontations between Israel and Iran and
the broader volatility across the Middle East. It stressed the urgent need for de-escalation and the avoidance of retaliatory actions that could fuel a wider conflict.
“We call on all actors to exercise maximum diplomatic efforts to facilitate a durable solution to the concerns of the parties,” the statement added.
The Council expressed solidarity with all victims of the ongoing conflict and reiterated its commitment to working alongside the international community to achieve a sustainable peace that meets the legitimate aspirations for security and stability for all peoples in the region.
Caribbean delegation to travel to Brussels, London to discuss slavery reparations
ACaribbean delegation is set to travel to Brussels and London next month to bring the highly-divisive issue of reparations for slavery and colonialism to the table, organisers have told Reuters.
At least 12.5 million Africans were kidnapped, forcibly transported by European ships and sold into slavery from the 15th to the 19th centuries.
Calls for reparations are longstanding, but have been gaining momentum, particularly among the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and the African Union (AU).
Backlash against it has also been growing, and many of Europe's leaders have opposed even talking about reparations.
Organised by the Repair Campaign, a group advocating for reparations in
the Caribbean, the trip will start in Brussels on July 1, where the delegation will host a briefing with European Union (EU) lawmakers.
In 2023, the EU said Europe inflicted "untold suffering" on millions of people, but even though some member states have acknowledged past wrongs, no country has agreed to reparations.
The delegation will then travel to London, where they will hold a briefing in Parliament on July 2.
The delegation's aim is to "open a dialogue" with European and British representatives about their countries' roles in advancing reparations, according to organisers.
The delegation includes Caribbean academics and policy experts, as well as
members of national reparations committees established by Caricom Member States and backed by their respective governments.
Caricom has a reparations plan, which, among other demands, calls for technology transfers and investments to tackle health crises and illiteracy. The AU is developing its own plan.
Opponents of reparations argue that contemporary states and institutions should not be held responsible for their past. But advocates say action is needed to address the legacies, such as racism.
Britain, which transported an estimated 3.2 million persons, the most active European country after Portugal, has also rejected calls for reparations. (Reuters)
Dozens of soldiers seized by locals in Colombian mountains
Colombia's military says 57 soldiers have been kidnapped by civilians in the country's south-western Micay Canyon area.
It says 31 soldiers were seized on Saturday while the rest were abducted on Sunday by a group of more than 200 persons.
The military says the civilians are acting under pressure from dissidents of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group, which agreed a peace deal with the Government in 2016.
The mountainous region is a key zone for cocaine production and remains one of the most tense in the coun-
try's ongoing conflict with rebel groups.
In a video statement on social media, Brigadier General Federico Alberto Mejía said four non-commissioned officers and 53 soldiers had been seized over the weekend.
"This is called kidnapping," he said.
Reports in local media suggest that the EMC rebel group – the largest offshoot of the FARC – may have ordered the kidnappings.
The EMC has not commented on the issue.
General Erik Rodríguez told Colombian newspaper El Tiempo that the incident had been triggered by the arrest of a suspected EMC rebel on Saturday.
As the soldiers prepared
to airlift the suspect out of the mountainous area, the General explained, they were surrounded by more than 100 persons.
A second military unit was then seized the following day by an even larger group of locals, he said.
All of the soldiers are being held at the same location and negotiations are under way to ensure their speedy release, General Rodríguez said.
The Micay Canyon is used for transporting cocaine to Pacific ports, after which drugs are then illegally shipped to other countries.
The Colombian military said it had been present in the area since October, "on constant patrol" and "capturing and neutralising armed combatants".
According to estimates by the military, more than 90 per cent of the inhabitants of the area depend on the cultivation of coca bushes – the plant used to make cocaine –for a living.
General Rodríguez said that the soldiers were seized because their presence in the area was seen as a direct threat to the illegal cocaine trade which flourishes there.
(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Costa Rican President Chaves charged with illicit campaign financing
Costa Rica's Attorney General's office filed illicit campaign financing charges against President Rodrigo Chaves and six other government officials on Monday, asking the Supreme Court to lift the president's immunity and put him on trial.
Among the accused are Foreign Minister Andre Tinoco and Stephan Brunner, one of Chaves's
Vice Presidents, the Atto rney General's office said in a statement.
Chaves's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The investigation, which began in 2022, found that two parallel financing structures were allegedly used to fund Chaves's presidential campaign and were not adequately re -
ported, the statement said.
The Attorney General's office has already accused Chaves in a separate influence peddling case.
Prosecutors in April alleged that members of his Government awarded kickbacks to a top Government ally using funds from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. (Reuters)
Dominican PM wants “sincere conversation” on Caricom
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit on Monday said that the regional integration movement Caricom needs to have a “sincere conversation” about the present and future state of the grouping, but insisted that Dominica would not support calls for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to leave the movement that was established in 1973.
“Certainly Dominica does not support the exit from the CSME (Caricom Single Market and Economy), neither do we support the suggestion of exiting from Caricom,” Skerrit told a news conference, adding that he hopes the upcoming Caricom summit in Jamaica on July 6-8 will address these issues.
“In a family, you will have disagreements, but you have to look at it…and I think Caricom has to have a very sincere conversation about the present state of Caricom and the future of
Caricom where all members are concerned.
“I am hoping that at the Caricom meeting in Jamaica next month that those matters can be discussed and fleshed out. But certainly we do not support the notion of exiting. I don’t think it makes any sense for individual countries to exit Caricom and go and have bilateral engagements. We don’t have the mass…that
each of us in this Caricom, we are Prime Ministers and Presidents of this big continent and this huge populations and huge economies and …it is important in this very difficult, challenging and uncertain world that Caricom rises to the occasion and get even closer together for the greater good of our citizens,” Skerrit said.
(Excerpt from CMC)
Venezuela's 2nd-largest refinery halted due to blackout, sources say
Venezuela's second-largest refinery, the 310,000-barrelper-day Cardon plant operated by State company PDVSA, remained halted on Monday after a blackout, three sources with knowledge of its operations said.
Venezuela's aging refining network has had frequent outages after years of insufficient investment, mismanagement and US
sanctions preventing the import of spare parts. In recent months, Cardon has been key to processing feedstock from some of the Orinoco Belt's heavy crude projects.
The blackout began early in the morning and did not affect Cardon's neighbouring refinery, the 645,000-bpd Amuay plant, one of the sources said. In the afternoon, power ser-
vice to the facility was restored and workers began preparations for restarting some units, but the facility remained suspended, according to another source.
"We have power back in the refinery, but there is no steam or air yet," the person said, referring to the supply of industrial services to the facility, which is required to restart operational units.
(Reuters)
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit speaking at a news conference on Monday (CMC photo)
Organised by the Repair Campaign, a group advocating for reparations in the Caribbean, the trip will start in Brussels on July 1
Coca crops in Colombia's Micay Canyon, March 2024 [Getty Images]
Around the World OIL NEWS
Oil prices fall to over 1-week lows as Trump announces Israel-Iran ceasefire
OIsrael and Iran agree on ceasefire to end 12-day war, Trump says
US President Donald Trump announced on Monday a complete ceasefire between Israel and Iran, potentially ending the 12-day war that saw millions flee Tehran and prompted fears of further escalation in the wartorn region.
deal in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump appeared to suggest that Israel and Iran would have some time to complete any missions that are underway, at which point the ceasefire would begin in a staged process.
il prices tumbled today to their lowest level in more than a week as US President Donald Trump said a ceasefire has been agreed between Iran and Israel, relieving worries of supply disruption in the area.
Brent crude futures fell US$2.69 or 3.76 per cent to US$68.79 a barrel as of 0006 GMT, after falling more than four per cent earlier in the session and touching its lowest level since June 11.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude slumped US$2.7, or 3.94 per cent, to US$65.46 per barrel, having hit its weakest level since June 9 earlier in the session and falling around six per cent.
Trump announced on Monday that Israel and Iran have fully agreed to a ceasefire, adding that Iran will begin the ceasefire immediately, followed by Israel after 12 hours. If both sides maintain peace, the war will officially end after 24 hours, concluding a 12-day conflict.
He said that a "complete and total" ceasefire will go into force with a view to ending the conflict between the two nations.
"With the ceasefire news we are now seeing a continuation of the risk premium built into crude oil price last week all but evaporate," said Tony Sycamore, analyst at IG.
Iran is the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC's) third-largest crude producer, and the easing of tensions would allow it to export more oil and prevent supply disruptions, a major factor in oil prices jumping in recent days.
Both the oil contracts settled over seven per cent lower in the previous session after rallying to five-month-highs after the US attacked Iran's nuclear facilities over the weekend, stoking fears of a broadening in the Israel-Iran conflict.
"Technically, the overnight sell-off reinforces a layer of resistance between approximately US$78.40 (October 2024 and June 2025 highs) and US$80.77 (the year-to-date high), and it's clear that it will take something extremely unexpected and detrimental to supply for crude oil to break through this layer of resistance," Sycamore added.
(Reuters)
9 killed in Kyiv in intense Russian air attack
At least nine persons were killed and several injured in a Russian missile and drone attack in the Kyiv region in the early hours of Monday morning, the Interior Minister said.
In a post on social media, Ihor Klymenko said residential areas, hospitals and sports infrastructure had been hit.
At least six of those killed were in a high-rise building in the capital, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. The city's military administration said a further 33 persons had been injured.
In the latest barrage, 352 Russian drones and 16 missiles targeted Ukrainian territory, mostly in the Kyiv area, the Ukrainian air force said.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy travelled to London on Monday for talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on UK military support for Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters this week in the capital, Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky vowed to step up Ukrainian strikes on Russia. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Israel, joined by the United States on the weekend, has carried out attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, after alleging Tehran was getting close to obtaining a nuclear weapon.
"On the assumption that everything works as it should, which it will, I would like to congratulate both Countries, Israel and Iran, on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end, what should be called, 'THE 12 DAY WAR'," Trump wrote on his Truth Social site.
While an Iranian official confirmed that Tehran had agreed to a ceasefire, there was no immediate comment yet from Israel.
A senior White House official said Israel had agreed so long as Iran does not launch further attacks and that Trump brokered the
Iran denies ever having a nuclear weapons programme, but Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said that if it wanted to, world leaders "wouldn't be able to stop us".
Israel, which is not a party to the international NonProliferation Treaty, is the only country in the Middle East believed to have nuclear weapons. Israel does not deny or confirm that.
Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani secured Tehran's agreement during a call with Iranian officials, an official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters on Tuesday.
US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US special envoy Steve Witkoff were in direct and indirect contact with the Iranians, the
White House official said.
Neither Iran s United Nations mission nor the Israeli embassy in Washington immediately responded to separate requests for comment from Reuters.
Hours earlier, three Israeli officials had signaled Israel was looking to wrap up its campaign in Iran soon and had passed the message on to the United States.
Netanyahu had told Government Ministers whose discussions ended early on Tuesday not
to speak publicly, Israel's Channel 12 television reported.
There did not appear to be calm yet in the region.
The Israeli military issued two evacuation warnings in less than two hours to residents of areas in the Iranian capital Tehran, one late on Monday and one early on Tuesday.
Israeli Army radio reported early on Tuesday that alarms were activated in the southern Golan Heights area due to fears of hostile aircraft intrusion.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
US Supreme Court allows Trump
to resume deportations to third countries
The US Supreme Court has cleared the way for President Donald Trump's Administration to resume deportations of migrants to countries other than their homeland.
By 6-3, the Justices reversed a lower court order requiring the Government
to give migrants a "meaningful opportunity" to tell officials what risks they might face being deported to a third country.
The court's three liberal Justices dissented from the majority ruling, saying it was "rewarding lawlessness".
At least 43 Palestinians killed in Gaza, including aid seekers
At least 43 persons have been killed in various Israeli attacks since dawn as the military relentlessly pounds the besieged enclave, medical sources say, with the overall Palestinian death toll in the war surpassing a staggering 56,000.
Those killed on Monday include at least 20 aid seekers who lost their lives while desperately trying to access food for their families at distribution centres run by the controversial United Statesand Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which the United
Nations has condemned for its weaponisation of aid.
The killings are the latest in a wave of daily carnage, targeting hungry Palestinians who continue to make the perilous journey to the food distribution points. Critics have slammed the sites as human slaughterhouses amid a worsening hunger and looming famine crisis.
Israeli attacks on Palestinians near aid centres have killed more than 400 and wounded about 1000 since the GHF began distributions on May 27. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
The case involves eight migrants from Myanmar, South Sudan, Cuba, Mexico, Laos and Vietnam, who were deported in May on a plane said to be heading for South Sudan. The Trump Administration said they were "the worst of the worst".
Boston-based US District
Judge Brian Murphy ruled the removals had violated an order he issued in April that migrants must have a chance to argue they could be tortured or killed if they were removed to third countries even if their other legal appeals had already failed.
(Excerpt from BBC News)
Iran ready to respond again in case of any further action by US, Foreign Minister says
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Monday that Tehran's attack on US military base al-Udeid in Qatar came in response to the US "aggression against Iran's territorial integrity and sovereignty." He said Iran will be ready to respond again in case of further action by the US, according a statement posted by the Iranian Foreign Ministry's account on Telegram. (Reuters)
A woman stands on a street, amid the Iran-Israel conflict, in Tehran, Iran, June 23, 2025 (Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)
In a post on social media, Ihor Klymenko said residential areas, hospitals and sports infrastructure had been hit
SUDOKU
Keep an open mind and heart and live in the moment. Use your discipline and ingenuity to stand up and make a difference. Invest time and money in what's most important to you.
Sign up for activities that encourage better health and lifestyle choices. Be open to learning and expanding your mind and interests. A physical change will boost your confidence.
Your thirst for knowledge will lead to research and discovery. The possibilities are endless if you put a plan in place. Don't sit on the sidelines; master the art of staying ahead of the competition.
Think each move through before you act. It's OK to think big, but common sense will be necessary to complete your mission. A financial gain is apparent if you follow the rules and oversee expenditures.
It's best to step back and take a pass when in doubt. Making a premature move will put you in a vulnerable position. Trust your instincts, not what someone else claims is true.
Refuse to let what others do or say interfere with your progress. Choose the path that allows you to show off your talents and value instead of letting someone light your fuse.
Nurture partnerships; listen, respond and offer positive reinforcement, and you'll get the desired results and shift how others treat you. Domestic changes will improve your personal life.
Speak your mind, get your point across and move on to what's important to you. Changing how you handle others will help you gain respect and the support you need to reach your goal.
Improve your surroundings, but don't go over budget. Haste makes waste, and snap decisions will cost you. Listen to reason before you sign contracts that lock you into something you cannot afford.
Pay attention to your relationships with others. Kindness will help ameliorate any uncertainty or disagreements you have with someone you value. Fix up your personal space to suit your needs.
Get active, and you'll be ready to conquer the world. Refuse to let the changes others make interfere with your plans. Overspending to appease someone will not help you gain respect.
Put your feelings aside and concentrate on being and doing your best. Home improvements, networking, marketing and promoting what you offer will bring stellar results.
ARCHIE
Pant, Rahul centuries set England 371 to win at Headingley
England will need 371 to win the first Test at Headingley after India were dismissed for 364 in their second innings late on day four. The hosts will return today needing 350 more, after Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett negotiated the first six overs of the chase without alarm to close on 21 for 0.
Only once have India lost when defending a total in excess of 350, but that anomaly within a 59-match sequence came on
A stand of 195 for the fourth wicket began af skipper Gill failed tively ride the bounce of a steepling ball from Brydon Carse that seamed into the right-hander, and was played on to the base of his own off stump. With Carse on song and Chris Woakes enjoying the favourable conditions following short morning showers prior to the 11am start, India shut up shop, scoring just 63 runs in the first session. The key was just losing the one wicket, though it should have been more.
sent Bashir earlier for back-to-back six es. Both he and Rahul had just started tucking into the rookie offspinner. Karun Nair then reverse swept Bashir for four, tak ing himself off a pair and moving India's lead beyond 300.
these shores, against a previous iteration of this England side. Three years ago, during the first summer of Baz and Ben, England broke their own record for a chase, scything down 378 for the loss of just three wickets at Edgbaston. If successful, the effort at Headingley would be their second highest. But India should have asked more from their opponents. Fine centuries from KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant –his second in the match – bossed England for most of the day. But upon Rahul's dismissal for 137 after Pant had earlier made 118 – his fourth century in England, equalling the record for the most by a wicketkeeper in the country – a familiar collapse ensued. Having managed just 24 between the last five wickets on day two, the last six on day four managed just 31. From 333 for 4, India were 364 all out in 71 balls, with four balls in succession from Josh Tongue that accounted for three wickets. Having removed Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj back-to-back, Tongue knocked out Jasprit Bumrah's middle stump. Just as he did in the first innings, a previous wicketless set of figures was polished by India's lower order, thus eventually finishing with 3 for 72. Yet again, India failed to take an England win out of the equation, and perhaps most frustrating will be the fact that Rahul and Pant had done all the hard work. Their different approaches to the job at hand were reflected in the 202 and 130 deliveries, respectively, they took to reach three figures.
Rahul was given a life on 58 as Harry Brook, the beneficiary of three lives in his innings of 99, repaid the favour with a drop at gully when Rahul attempted a second consecutive guide to the deep-third boundary off Tongue. And though Pant was not offered a similar gift, he did push his luck with an unnecessarily chaotic start to his innings.
The left-hander charged Woakes and skewed over the cordon off his second ball. He had done exactly the same to get off the mark on his way to 134 in the first innings –- advancing at Ben Stokes second ball – but had made far better contact then. Pant then moved to 15 with a mow across the line for a fortuitous boundary down to fine leg that had Shoaib Bashir interested. Three deliveries later, he was subject to a voracious lbw appeal attempting his patented fallaway ramp.
Umpire Paul Reiffel gave it not out, and England's review proved him right, with an inside edge. But it
tact on 61.
Rahul calmed Pant down, who himself knew he was taking things a little too far. What followed was a far more composed and an impressively devastating afternoon from India, as both batters dragged England all over the field and left Stokes unsure who to turn to at certain points.
Rahul was his usual serene self on the drive, unwilling to miss out on anything drivable – particularly as the pitch was starting to show uneven bounce. He bore three blows to the top hand, but used it strongly to push a two through the covers to move to his eighth overseas century. It was his sixth outside of Asia as an opener, with only Sunil Gavaskar ahead of him (15).
Pant's celebration was similarly subdued by his own standards, remaining upright this time but promising Gavaskar, who was there in the stands, the first innings front-flip would make another appearance soon. His record suggests there will be indeed a next time. Pant accelerated upon passing fifty, taking 44 off 25 deliveries to move to 95.
The journey from there to 100 took 22 balls more, though he made up for lost time by smashing Joe Root for four, six and four in the very next over. An attempt to do the same to Bashir resulted in a catch for Crawley at long-on.
Bashir celebrated like he had won the battle, but he really had not given Pant was aiming for the stand in which he had
By this point, England were naturally keen to slow the game down, and India were not exactly in a hurry. A steady stand of 46 off 77 balls between Rahul and Nair spoke of a lack of real urgen cy, even if such accumu lation at close to four runs an over would work just fine.
The issue, though, was how front-loaded the runs are in this visiting batting card. So when Carse got another to lift to remove Rahul – playing on again, this time on to middle stump – and Nair gifted Woakes a return catch (his first dismissal of the match) in the space of 11 deliveries, suddenly the end of the India innings at least was in sight.
Up stepped Tongue for his second feasting on rabbit pie, before a bit of catand-mouse with the final pair as Ravindra Jadeja looked to protect Number 11 Prasidh Krishna. Jadeja was doing a good job, and starting to find boundaries;
The first-ever Asian wicketkeeper in Test history to score twin centuries
Tongue was flipped to the stands at deep square leg from outside off, before a bumper was pulled fine for four. Alas, Prasidh, tempted by Bashir, lifted high to Tongue at deep midwicket in the very next over to cap India's lead at 370. What could have been an awkward 30 minutes for England was anything but, the tension cut by Crawley with back-to-back fours in the fourth over –the second being an airy flash over the slip cordon. There will be plenty more strikes in anger on day five. England, of course, believe they can chase these. Only the weather will prevent them from trying.
(ESPNcricinfo)
KL Rahul scored 137 runs from 247 balls
Matthews hits 65 as West Indies secures
2-1 T20I
series victory over South Africa
Matthews hits 65 as West Indies secure 2-1 T20I series victory over South Africa
The West Indies Women defeated South Africa Women by six wickets in the third T20 International (T20I) at the 3Ws Oval in Barbados on Monday to secure a 2-1 series victory.
South Africa first posted 147-6 from their 20 overs after winning the toss and batting first.
Miane Smit led the charge with the bat with a 38-ball 59* inclusive of seven fours and a six while captain Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits made 28 and 20, respectively.
Karishma Ramharack controlled the game expertly with her off spin, conceding only 18 runs in four overs while picking up two wickets.
Afy Fletcher was also excellent with her leg spin, picking up 2-28 in her four overs.
Abram Zuil crowned Janet Jagan National Windball Champions
Abram Zuil Secondary, hailing from the county of Essequibo, stormed to victory in the inaugural National Windball Cricket Play-offs, held in memory of the late former President Janet Jagan.
The tournament was sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and coordinated by the National Sports Commission (NSC).
In what was a significant expansion from previous editions, formerly limited to Regions Three and Four, this year’s national showdown welcomed participation from schools across all 10 administrative regions, with the exception of Regions One, Eight, and Nine.
a national programme of such magnitude.
The West Indies then reached their target with nine balls to spare thanks to excellent performances from Hayley Matthews and Shemaine Campbelle.
balls as the pair shared in an 82-run third-wicket stand that set up the victory for the hosts.
Organisers cited logistical challenges for the exclusions, but assured stakeholders that efforts were already under-
into the final after demolishing Three Miles Secondary. Fredricks smashed 69 (10 sixes) in their total of 129-1, before Benjamin wreaked havoc with the ball, taking 3-4 in a single over. Fredricks also contributed with 2-0, bundling Three Miles out for just 52-6.
Captain Matthews continued her phenomenal form this year with 65 off 50 balls, including nine fours and a six, while Vice Captain Campbelle made 42 off 38
The finishing touches were applied by Chinelle Henry who made 20* off 11 balls including two fours and a six. Pacer Marizanne Kapp took 2-27 from her four overs.
(Sportsmax)
Montra Jaguars, Cotton Tree, Mahaica Hawks among 16 teams for Berbice zone
The Berbice zone of the Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast is set to ignite with 16 teams vying for supremacy on June 28 and June 29.
Finalists from the 2024 edition, Montra Jaguars, will be looking to go one step further this year, but will face stiff competition from fellow returnees Cotton Tree Die Hard and Mahaica Hawks, among other talent-filled teams from Berbice, before they can reach the national finals.
Other teams in the Berbice zone are Champ XI, Crabwood Creek, Bath Sports Club, Corriverton Spartans, Line Path Select XI, Ethan XI, D’Edward Sports Club, New Amsterdam XI, Tucber Park, and Name Brand Titans, who played in the 2023 edition of the tournament.
Saturday's action will be split across two venues: the #48 Ground and the Rose Hall/Canje Ground (Welfare Ground).
The intensity then shifts to the Albion Sports Complex on Sunday, where the zone's champion will be crowned under lights.
Play is scheduled to commence at 9:30h local time each day, and entry for all spectators is free.
Tournament Co-Director John Ramsingh is enthusiastic about the Berbice leg, stating, "Berbice marks the beginning of our expansion, and we are eager to witness the talent within this county. We anticipate high-octane cricket and encourage fans to rally behind their local teams. Ultimately, both the teams and their supporters will emerge as win-
ners."
The stakes are high, with the Berbice zone winner securing a coveted spot in the national finals slated for Sunday, August 3 at the National Stadium in Providence, commencing at 14:00h (2:00pm).
Beyond the national final berth, the Berbice zone champion will also pocket a significant $300,000 prize, along with a special- crafted trophy, and will have the opportunity to compete for an additional $1.7 million at the National Stadium.
The runners-up in the zone final will receive $100,000.
Cricket enthusiasts in Berbice are in for a thrilling weekend of tapeball action as the road to the national finals begins.
The national finals will offer even greater rewards, with the runners-up taking home $700,000, a trophy, and medals, while the losing semi-finalists will each receive $300,000.
Individual brilliance will also be recognised throughout the tournament, with prizes including: MVP ($150,000 + motorcycle), Most Runs
($100,000 + trophy + TV), Most Wickets ($100,000 + trophy + TV), Man of the National Final ($75,000 + trophy + TV), Highest Strike Rate ($35,000), and Best Economy ($35,000).
The Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast has garnered significant support from a wide range of sponsors, including Kares Engineering Inc; the Office of the President; the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; KFC Guyana; Star Rentals; Banks DIH; Enet; Guyana Lottery Company; Regal Stationery and Computer Centre; Impressions; Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal; Shawn’s Mini Mart; Giftland Group of Companies; Kris Jagdeo Construction Company; Montra Restaurant & Lounge; Windsor Estates; The New Doctor’s Clinic; GuyOil; ANSA McAL; SuperBet Guyana; Digital Technology; Camille’s Academy; Navin Construction; Demerara Mutual Life Insurance; Continental Transportation and Environmental & Technical Solutions.
way to ensure full participation in future editions.
At the tournament, which drew over 2000 student-athletes, Abram Zuil’s path to glory was paved with powerful hitting and disciplined bowling, with star performers Ravid Fredricks and Eron Benjamin leading the charge.
In a thrilling start to the knockout stage, Three Miles Secondary chased down St Rose’s High’s 59-2 with ease.
Narindra Isurdeen struck a resilient 35 for Rose’s, but Three Miles, powered by Christiano Ram’s 44 and Mario Ramjag’s 12, breezed to 63-2.
Abram Zuil announced their intent with a dominant 145 without loss against JC Chandisingh Secondary. Fredricks blasted an unbeaten 84 decorated with 10 sixes, while Benjamin chipped in with 41 (six sixes).
In response, JC Chandisingh managed 86-5, with Arif Marimotoo's entertaining 64 (nine sixes) the lone resistance.
In a shock result, 11-time champions Covent Garden Secondary were knocked out by Parika Salem Secondary.
Despite Covent Garden posting 105-2 thanks to Venesh Kalpoo’s 46 and handy knocks from Terick Ramotar and Devindra Ram, Parika chased it down, making 1061. Bharat Seepersaud struck 48, while Linsdyl Harris hammered seven sixes in his 46.
Camille’s Academy also impressed with a commanding 149-0 win over Berbice High School. Darwin Larose (70) and Yuvraj Bhagwandin (65) lit up the park, and Berbice’s 104-2 in reply was not enough despite Gilbert Griffith’s unbeaten 47.
Abram Zuil marched
In the other semi-final, Parika Salem defeated Camille’s Academy in another run-fest. Camille’s posted 981, with Bhagwandin scoring a brilliant unbeaten 50.
However, Parika Salem responded with 101 without loss, led by a scintillating 69 from Linsdyl Harris (eight sixes).
Camille’s Academy and Three Miles Secondary were declared joint third-place finishers.
In the much-anticipated final, Abram Zuil were sent in to bat and posted 96-4, with Benjamin leading the way with a powerful 56 (eight sixes), supported by Fredricks' 24. Montey Miguel claimed 2-21 for Parika Salem, while Kevin Wong and R Persaud chipped in with a wicket each.
In response, Parika Salem’s chase faltered under pressure. Despite contributions from Harris (24), Wong (16), and Subraj Chaitram (15), they were restricted to 79-3. Fredricks once again made his mark with the ball, taking a crucial 1-1 and was deservedly named Player of the Final.
Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, in his closing remarks, lauded the initiative, crediting the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for their unwavering support.
"This year is historic. We have a national final, and it’s only going to get better," Ninvalle noted. "We’ve seen improvement, and we’ll be going back to the drawing board to make next year even more successful."
The DoS also disclosed that the NSC was likely to add a cash incentive next year.
He praised the players, organisers, and especially the staff of the NSC for executing
Allister Munroe, the lead Sports Officer behind the event, expressed gratitude to all contributors, including the Education Ministry, Guyana Police Force, parents, head teachers, officials of ASTP, and most importantly, the over 2000 student-athletes who participated.
Final placings Champions – Abram Zuil Secondary Runners-up – Parika Salem Secondary Joint third –Camille’s Academy and Three Miles Secondary
Director of Sport Ninvalle presents the championship trophy to Abram Zuil Secondary
Hayley Matthews led Windies to a series win
Kevlon Anderson of the Montra Jaguars plays a shot in the 2024 final against the eventual champions, Titans All-Stars
Guyanese Joseph, Millington bag awards at CWI/WIPA 8th Awards Gala
Sunday night at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle, Cricket West Indies (CWI) hosted their eighth Gala Awards.
Emerging superstar Guyanese Shamar Joseph and the ever-consistent Hayley Matthews were the main headline winners on Sunday.
With 29 wickets in eight games at an average of 26.75 and a strike rate of 38.6, Joseph, whose maiden series against Australia last January captivated the cricket world, won the Men’s Test Player of the Year 2023-24 award.
The 25-year-old has now claimed three five-wicket hauls in just eight games, including two in the previously-mentioned Australia series.
Prior to his game-winning career-best 7-68 in the second innings of the second Test, he took 5-94 in 20 overs in his debut in Adelaide, a match that the home team won by 10 wickets.
In an interview, Joseph stated, “It’s an amazing feeling for me, winning an award for the first time and also experiencing an award ceremony for the first time.” He added, “I definitely want to keep putting in the performance, so I can receive more awards in my future going forward."
Shai Hope, the recently-anointed West Indies T20 Captain, was one of the other winners at the ceremony. He was named Men's One-Day International (ODI) Player of the Year for his ongoing leadership
MCYS/ANSA McAL June Madness Futsal…
and batting prowess. In appreciation of her continuous excellence with bat and ball, Matthews, the inspirational Captain of the West Indies women's team, won both the Women's ODI and T20I Player of the Year awards. Nicholas Pooran was named the Regional T20 Player of the Year, and Alzarri Joseph was named the Men's T20I Player of the Year.
Mikyle Louis won the West Indies Championship Player of the Year title, while Justin Greaves was named the CG United Super50 Cup Player of the Year on the domestic circuit. Plaffiana Millington was named the CWI T20 Blaze Player of the Year, while Kycia Knight was named the CG United Women's Super50 Cup Player of the Year in the women's division.
Semi-final showdowns on tonight
…men’s finalists to be decided
The teams earning the right to battle for the top prize of $2 million will be formalised tonight when the semi-finals of the June Madness Futsal championship are contested at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Forty-eight teams commenced the quest to be the best in this inaugural edition of the June Madness championship and it’s now down to the real business end of the action. All the hard work will pay the requisite dividends as only one team will end as the best and have bragging rights for the next year.
In the line-up with just two games to lifting the championship trophy and the cheque are Road Warriors who will battle Gold Is Money in the first semi, with Sparta Boss tackling Back Circle A in the second.
Back Circle have scored the second highest number of goals in their three matches so far – 21 and have conceded four. Their level of efficiency on the offensive end is more than double their opponents, Sparta, who have scored 10
goals whilst conceding six.
From that perspective alone, Back Circle will start as favourites to move on to the championship game but for this to become reality, the likes of Chris Macey, Simeon Moore, Cecil Jackman, Darren Benjamin, Stephon Reynolds, Ravin Naughton, Fabian Abrams, Amos Ramsey and goalkeeper Azriel Davis, will all have to come to the party in some way, shape, or form.
Back Circle A’s Darren Benjamin told Guyana Times Sport about their quarter-final and tonight’s semis, “You know, we come with hard work, dedication, wasn’t an easy game but we come out successful.”
“We real excited, but we have to work ‘cause they have four good team leave,” Benjamin went on to add.
Sparta boast a formidable line-up of current and former national players in their armoury, and while they have not been very convincing in their three wins to date, they certainly know how to win when it matters.
The likes of Curtez Kellman, who has scored in every game; talisman Jermain “Panky” Junor, Ryan “Bum” Hacket, Kelsey Benjamin, Nicholas McArthur, Jobe Caesar, Darron Niles and the reliable goalie, Omar Jones, will have to combine in a rocksolid way to deny Back Circle. Kellman, in reflecting on their quarter-final, stated “It was a good game. We know North East is a very good team; they always come out with a fighting spirit in each tournament and any team, once they coming against Sparta Boss, they always come out to play their best. So, we were well-focused tonight, we got indiscipline in the end, but we capitalised and scored the goals and got the victory.”
The Golden Jaguars international then turned his attention to the semis, “I would always tell Sparta Boss fans to come out and support us. You know, it’s going to be a very good game coming against our rivals Back Circle. We just have to continue focus and be strong men-
tally, so we could go in the game and come out victorious.”
The other matchup features a very offensive-minded Road Warriors unit that has scored a total of 27 goals in their three matches whilst letting in four goals, taking on the mean Gold Is Money who have scored the least goals of the four semi-finalists – nine, but they have also conceded the least – just two.
This is the perfect matchup between offence and defence and fans are in for a mouthwatering shindig.
Following their massive opening win by a 16-0 margin, the Road Warriors’ potency in offence has dipped as their second match ended 7-1 and their third, a very close 4-3. This might be good news for Gold Is Money whose technical staff would have been studying the Brazilians’ style of play and will have to come up with a strategy to counter them.
Gold Is Money’s Jamal Pedro shared about their clash with Bomb Squad, “I think what Bomb Squad
lacked is the cohesiveness.
Gold Is Money been playing together for a while now, we got the cohesiveness and an understanding with each other. That is what contributed to us coming out victorious.”
He moved on to the anticipated encounter with Road Warriors, sharing, “So, Gold Is Money plays one way: possession football, pass, move. We’re experienced and we would’ve played against Road Warriors in the previous Kashif and Shanghai tournament, so this game we’re coming out hungry, looking to come out victorious. We would like for all of our supporters to come out, support Gold Is Money and come enjoy some football.”
The likes of Road Warriors’ Luis Da Silva, who has the most goals of all players; Matheus De Souza; Arckson Andreazza; Wendrecky De Souza; Ricardo Silva and company will have to be mindful of the almost airtight defence of the Gold Is Money team.
They’ll be spearheaded by the Pedro brothers, Jamal and Hubert, elder statesman
William Europe, Randolph Wagner, Dextroy Adams, Stephon Jupiter, the youthful Bryan Wharton and the most efficient custodian to date, Joel Yhap.
The respective winners will battle in Saturday night’s final with the biggest prize money in futsal at stake, $2 million for the winner and $1 million for the loser. The third-place winner will be rewarded with $500,000 while fourth place is valued $250,000.
Preceding the semis tomorrow will be a masters match between Linden All Stars and the GT Masters, the winner will clash with another city team on Saturday when there will be $100,000 and $50,000 at stake for the winner and loser.
And, the female segment of the June Madness championship will also continue this evening from 20:00h when Lady Canaimas seek to win their second match against Pouderoyen Females. The other game will see The Lioness facing Tucville Terrorists.
Double awardee Hayley Matthews(being presented with one of the awards by Barbados PM Mia Mottley) claimed both the Women’s ODI and T20I Player of the Year titles
A glimpse of what to expect when June Madness continues tonight
Men’s Test Player of the Year Shamar Joseph
confirmed after players’ draft
The squads for the 2025 Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) have been officially confirmed following the successful completion of the player draft on Monday morning. Each franchise will feature a 15-player squad comprising four overseas stars and 11 local talents, as they prepare for another thrilling season of women’s T20 cricket in the Caribbean.
Guyana Amazon Warriors chase maiden title on home soil With all matches of the 2025 tournament being played at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence, the Guyana Amazon
they chase their first WCPL title. The team retain a wealth of experience with Stafanie Taylor, Karishma Ramharack, and Shemaine Campbelle anchoring the squad.
The Warriors have a strong local core with seven Guyanese players in the line-up. They welcome back English World Cup winner Lauren Winfield-Hill and South African speedster Shabnim Ismail, returning for her third season. The squad also secured Laura Harris, a key contributor to the Royals’ 2023 and 2024 triumphs, and Australian leg-spinning all-rounder Madeline Penna, who adds dynamic balance.
Barbados Royals aim for historic 3-peat
Defending champions Barbados Royals will once again be led by world number one all-rounder Hayley Matthews, who has captained the side to consecutive WCPL titles. The Royals retain a strong Caribbean core with the return of Chinelle Henry, Afy Fletcher, and Aaliyah Alleyne, and welcome Kycia Knight to her home franchise for the first time.
On the overseas front, the Royals are bolstered by the return of Australian wicketkeeper Georgia Redmayne and Sri Lankan opener Chamari Athapaththu, both integral to last season’s championship run. They are joined by Indian off-spinner Shreyanka Patil, who shifts from the Guyana Amazon Warriors, and Australian multi-sport athlete Courtney Webb, adding fresh versatility to the squad.
Trinbago Knight Riders set sights on redemption
After finishing runners-up in 2024, the Trinbago Knight Riders are determined to reclaim the title they last held in 2022. Deandra Dottin remains the squad’s corner-
stone, supported by an exciting group of young talent including Jahzara Claxton, Zaida James, Jannillea Glasgow, and Samara Ramnath – all 21 years old or younger. They’ve complemented youth with experience, drafting players like Shabika Gajnabi, Rashada Williams, and Abigail Bryce. Their overseas line-up is spearheaded by Australian all-rounder Jess Jonassen, returning Indian pacer Shikha Pandey, and South African power-hitter Lizelle Lee, who makes her WCPL debut. Rising leg-spinner Salonee Dangore also joins the side, adding depth to the bowling unit.
The 2025 Massy WCPL will take place from September 6 to September 17 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Each team will play four groupstage matches, with the top two sides advancing to the final to compete for the coveted WCPL title.
The full squads read: Guyana Amazon Warriors: Stafanie Taylor, Ashmini Munisar, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Chedean Nation, Plaffiana Millington, Britney Cooper, Kaysia Schultz, Shemaine Campbelle, Karishma Ramharack, Nyia Latchman, Realeanna Grimmond, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Shabnim Ismail, Laura Harris and Madeline Penna.
Trinbago Knight Riders: Deandra
and Salonee Dangore.
Barbados Royals: Hayley Matthews, Chinelle Henry, Afy Fletcher, Aaliyah Alleyne, Kycia Knight, Steffie Soogrim, Shamilia Connell, Sheneta Grimmond, Qiana Joseph, Trishan Holder, NaiJanni Cumberbatch, Chamari Athapaththu, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Webb and Shreyanka Patil.
Warriors will look to harness home support as
Dottin, Shabika Gajnabi, Shawnisha Hector, Rashada Williams, Nerissa Crafton, Jahzara Claxton, Zaida James, Jannillea Glasgow, Keila Elliott, Abigail Bryce, Samara Ramnath, Jess Jonassen, Lizelle Lee, Shikha Pandey
The Guyana Amazon Warriors Women will host the Massy WCPL for the first time
Laura Harris will switch allegiances to the Amazon Warriors this time around
A look at the Guyana Amazon Warriors squad for the 2025 Massy WCPL
A look at the Trinbago Knight Riders squad for the 2025 Massy WCPL
A look at the Barbados Royals squad for the 2025 Massy WCPL