Guyana Times - Wednesday, August 12, 2026 by Gytimes

330,000 lbs of chicken to hit local market weekly – Agri Ministry

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Issue No. 6543

THE BEACON OF TRUTH WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026

US to provide US$2M for Guyana air surveillance, unmanned systems See story on page 3

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Fmr Reg 6 REO on $200K bail over P8 Nigg fatal accident

Housing Minister raps enforcement officers over failure to act P5 on community violations

…says proactive approach needed to tackle squatting, drain blockages

Wife recharged with husband’s murder after prisoner’s plea deal yields new P8 evidence President Dr Irfaan Ali met with United States Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau along with US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot and several members of the US delegation at the Office of the President on Tuesday. Also at the meeting as part of Guyana’s delegation were Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd; Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh; Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat; Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud; and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sharon Roopchand Edwards (President Dr Irfaan Ali/Facebook)

“We remain confident in CCJ as a vital regional Bartica man arrested for judicial institution” – regional Judiciary Heads attempting to kill housewife, teen Fuel cost, maintenance, insurance, skilled Show your evidence – BK personnel drive domestic airfares – operators Group hits back at

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Sisters shot during Gaming operators pitch online shift as Govt fight with armed moves to tighten See story on security guard page 11 rules on gambling shops Page 12

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US-sanctioned LOO …questions Mohamed’s acquisition of Versailles land, reserves, duty-free concessions

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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COMMODITIES Indicators Crude Oil

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US to provide US$2M for Guyana air surveillance, unmanned systems …both countries share common interests in fighting organised crime, drug trafficking – Landau ...united against crime, drug trafficking

he United States (US) is set to provide US$2 million to Guyana to strengthen air domain awareness and unmanned aerial system capabilities, as Georgetown and Washington deepen security cooperation, with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau saying the two countries share common interests in combating organised crime and drug trafficking. President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday witnessed the signing of an enhanced Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) intended to strengthen the existing Security Cooperation MoU between Guyana and the US. The agreement was signed at the Office of the President by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd and Landau, who is in Guyana as part of a regional visit to Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana from August 9 to 12. According to the US Embassy in Guyana, the US$2 million initiative will support the development of Guyana’s capacity for air domain awareness and unmanned aerial systems. In an interview on Tuesday evening, Landau said the security cooperation was driven by shared concerns over organised crime and drug trafficking. “We have many common interests in fighting organised crime and stopping drug flows in this region,” Landau said. He said the US and Guyana face similar security threats from organised criminal groups, making cooperation between the two countries important. “This is a tricky neighbourhood, and the United States faces the same security threats from these organised criminal groups as does Guyana, and so it’s natural for us to want to work together,” he said. Landau said the countries want to ensure that criminal groups and drug smugglers do not establish themselves in Guyana. The latest agreement builds on a series of USGuyana security initiatives. In March 2025, the two countries signed the original Security Cooperation MoU, establishing a framework for expanded collaboration. In March 2026, during a visit by then-US Special Envoy Kristi Noem, Guyana and the US announced plans to collaborate on drone monitoring to strengthen surveillance of Guyana’s airspace and Exclusive Economic Zone. In July 2026, the Guyana Defence Force and the Florida National Guard held a Subject Matter Expert Exchange focused on operational drone concepts, further advancing technical cooperation in the area.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd signing the MoU at the Office of the President on Tuesday

Economic, infrastructure

Landau said the security agreement was one of two main areas discussed during his meeting with President Ali, the other being economic cooperation. “I think the two areas that we focused on today [Tuesday] with President Ali are the economic area,” he said, adding that Guyana needs infrastructure to support further economic growth. He pointed to Guyana’s energy resources and said the US wants to work with the country to leverage those resources for broader economic development. “We want to see ports that allow goods to come in, roads that allow those goods to be transported throughout the country and the region,”

Landau said. He also identified housing and other infrastructure as areas where the two countries could cooperate. Landau’s visit comes against the backdrop of growing US-Guyana economic engagement, including Washington’s recent announcement of a US$150 million investment linked to Guyana’s bauxite industry. The investment includes an US$85.5 million equity contribution through the US Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment programme, alongside US$64.5 million in private-sector co-investment. The funds are expected to support the acquisition and expansion of the First Bauxite mine in Guyana, the development of calcination fa-

cilities and a follow-on brownfused alumina facility in the US. Washington has described the project as part of efforts to establish a secure, vertically integrated supply chain for refractory-grade bauxite, a material used in defence and industrial applications. Landau’s visit also follows discussions last month in Washington between US officials and a Guyanese Government delegation led by Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance Dr Ashni Singh. Those discussions focused on opportunities for US Private Sector investment in Guyana, including mining, energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and housing. TURN TO PAGE 11

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026

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

Enforcement must begin before violations become entrenched

ousing Minister Collin Croal’s warning to enforcement officers and rangers that violations in communities must be identified and addressed immediately deserves firm support. The directive goes to the heart of a persistent weakness in public administration: enforcement that too often becomes reactive rather than preventive. Effective enforcement requires vigilance, early intervention, and consistent action to prevent unlawful or hazardous activities from becoming established. Croal’s concern that officers can enter communities, observe violations, and fail to report or act on them immediately raises an important question about the effectiveness of existing enforcement mechanisms. If officers and rangers are assigned to monitor specific areas, there must be clear expectations that emerging breaches will be identified, documented, and addressed without waiting for complaints, referrals, or instructions from the central office. The issue of new squatting is particularly significant, as the Government has repeatedly made clear that new squatting will not be recognised. Yet new settlements continue to emerge. Such developments do not generally materialise overnight. The process of occupying land, clearing areas, constructing structures, and establishing communities presents opportunities for detection and intervention. “If they go into the areas and they are not seeing these matters, then we have a problem,” Minister Croal stated. That observation should not be limited to squatting, as the same principle applies to the obstruction of drains, the improper placement of construction materials and other items on roadways, and activities that interfere with public spaces or create hazards for residents. Too often, enforcement agencies become active only after a situation has escalated, generated public complaints, or become sufficiently serious to demand attention. By that stage, intervention can be considerably more difficult. Structures may already have been erected, drains may have been blocked for extended periods, roadways may have become obstructed, and unlawful practices may have gained a degree of acceptance. Such a pattern cannot be regarded as effective enforcement. The responsibility therefore cannot rest solely with central authorities. Regional enforcement teams must have the authority, capacity, and expectation to act within their assigned jurisdictions. Dependence on the central office for every matter can create unnecessary delays and undermine the very purpose of having enforcement personnel deployed in communities. Croal’s call for stronger collaboration with local authorities and community stakeholders is equally important. Local knowledge can help identify emerging violations before they become entrenched. However, community reporting should complement enforcement, not replace the responsibility of officers whose duties require regular monitoring and inspection. The proposed digital reporting platform is a practical step towards improving accountability. The ability to immediately upload field reports, photographs and other evidence would allow senior management to have direct access to information from the ground. More importantly, it could reduce the delays associated with traditional reporting processes and provide a clearer record of what was observed, when it was reported, and what action followed. The wider principle has already been articulated by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, who previously warned that enforcement agencies must “pull their socks up” or face consequences. Nandlall correctly pointed out that the existence of laws means little if the agencies responsible for enforcing them fail to discharge their statutory obligations. The warning that consequences must apply not only to persons who violate the law, but also to agencies or officials who neglect their responsibilities is especially important. Accountability cannot be one-sided. Where enforcement personnel repeatedly encounter violations and fail to report or address them, there must be mechanisms to determine why action was not taken and who was responsible. Taxpayers fund the institutions responsible for maintaining order, protecting public spaces, and enforcing the law. There must therefore be an expectation of performance, responsiveness, and accountability. The enforcement warning should mark a shift towards a culture in which violations are detected early, reported promptly, and addressed decisively. Proactive enforcement is ultimately more effective than waiting for problems to become crises. Enforcement must begin when a violation emerges, not when it becomes impossible to ignore.

President Dr Irfaan Ali meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on Tuesday

When the keyboard becomes a weapon By Robert Dalley

here was a time when a political attack had to survive the scrutiny of an editor, the caution of a publisher, and the risk of a defamation suit before it reached the public eye. That gatekeeping was imperfect, but it imposed a cost on lies. Today, a single WhatsApp forward or an anonymous Twitter/X account can manufacture a scandal, attribute it to a Government Ministry that never made the statement, and send it careening across the island before breakfast is finished. By the time a denial is issued, the damage is done. This is the terrain in which Prime Minister (PM) Andrew Holness and his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Administration now govern, and it deserves far more sober attention than it currently receives. The PM has been direct about the toll this takes. He has warned publicly that social media posts which are false, erroneous, and fictitious are not harmless noise; they corrode public trust in institutions, distort the public’s understanding of policy, and can ruin the reputations of individual public servants who have no meaningful way to respond at the same speed or volume at which the lie travels. When he says his Government will apply the law when necessary, he is not describing some novel, authoritarian ambition. Jamaica already has a Defamation Act that gives any wronged person – Minister or market vendor – a right of action and a Cybercrimes Act that criminalises the malicious use of a computer system to threaten, harass, or menace another person. The tools exist; what has changed is the scale and speed of the problem those tools must now address. Consider what a fabricated post actually does once it is released into the Jamaican digital ecosystem. It does not stay confined to the platform on which it was created. It is screenshotted, stripped of context, and redistributed through family group chats, community WhatsApp threads, and Diaspora Facebook groups from Kingston to Kendal to Brooklyn. A false claim about a Minister’s conduct, a fictitious account of a policy decision, or a doctored image purporting to show official wrongdoing can shape the opinions of thousands of Jamaicans before a single fact-checker or Government spokesperson has a chance to respond. In a small society in which personal reputa-

tion and political trust are tightly bound together, that kind of unchecked falsehood is not a minor irritant; it is corrosive to the civic fabric itself. There is also a coordinated, deliberate dimension to much of this activity that deserves plain naming. It is not simply that ordinary citizens are venting frustration in intemperate language, which is a different matter entirely and one that any functioning democracy must tolerate; it is that political operatives, sometimes working for or with rival organisations, have been documented cultivating and directing disinformation campaigns designed specifically to mislead the public and damage the standing of the Government of the day. When party hacks manufacture fake statements, invent fictitious rulings by state agencies, or impersonate credible institutions to lend false authority to a lie, they are not engaging in political speech. They are engaging in fraud, and fraud dressed up as commentary does not become protected simply because it appears on a phone screen rather than a printed page. None of this means every critical post about the Holness Administration is dishonest or that the appropriate remedy is a blunt expansion of state power over what Jamaicans may say online. A PM who wields the machinery of law against misinformation must do so with visible restraint and transparent process, using existing defamation and cybercrime statutes to pursue demonstrably false and malicious content rather than reaching for broad new powers that could just as easily be turned against legitimate criticism; investigative journalism; or unflattering, but true, reporting. The distinction between a lie that defames and an opinion that stings is not always comfortable for those in office, but it is the distinction on which a free press and a free society depend. Still, the core point stands. A democracy cannot function well when its public square is flooded with manufactured falsehoods that travel faster than the truth can catch them. The responsibility does not rest with the Government alone; it rests also with the social media platforms that profit from engagement regardless of accuracy and with ordinary Jamaicans who share before they verify. But the Government cannot simply shrug at the problem either. When politically motivated actors fabricate content to destabilise public confidence in the in-

stitutions of state, that activity crosses from robust democratic debate into something far more dangerous, and it must stop. Jamaica’s laws already provide a measured path to hold such actors accountable. The task now is applying them with consistency, fairness, and enough restraint that the cure never becomes indistinguishable from the disease.

Responsible Opposition

A functioning democracy needs more than a Government that governs well; it needs an Opposition that opposes responsibly. For Jamaica, that means a People’s National Party (PNP) willing to hold the ruling Administration to account without descending into obstruction for its own sake or amplifying the same unverified rumours it should be helping to Police. A responsible Opposition asks hard questions about policy, budgets, and governance, and does so on the strength of evidence rather than innuendo. It offers alternatives rather than simply manufacturing outrage, and it treats Parliamentary debate, not social media theatrics, as its primary arena. This matters, especially now, when disinformation spreads faster than any factcheck can travel. An Opposition party that lends its credibility to fabricated claims or stays silent while supporters do so forfeits the moral authority it needs to be taken seriously when it raises legitimate concerns. Jamaicans deserve a PNP that critiques budgets, crime policy, and public spending with rigour while refusing to traffic in fiction. A responsible Opposition strengthens democracy rather than merely contesting power. It keeps the Government honest, keeps debate substantive, and reminds citizens that disagreement need not mean dishonesty. That kind of Opposition benefits every Jamaican, regardless of party loyalty. PM Holness deserves recognition for steering a Government that has, on balance, sought to operate within the bounds of accountability and transparency that Jamaican democracy demands. Under his leadership, ministries have continued to submit to Parliamentary oversight; budget debates remain public and combative; and institutions such as the Integrity Commission and the Auditor General’s Department retain the independence to scrutinise Government conduct, even when that scrutiny proves uncomfortable for the Administration itself. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026

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News Housing Minister raps enforcement officers over failure to act on community violations …says proactive approach needed to tackle squatting, drain blockages dence. He criticised delays in receiving reports, stressing that management must have direct and timely access to information from the field to facilitate swift intervention. Croal made it clear that the current level of performance cannot continue. He stressed that enforcement must become proactive rather than reactive, with officers identifying and addressing violations before they escalate, rather than waiting until matters reach the central office or become more difficult to resolve.

Consequences

Minister Collin Croal meeting with enforcement officers and rangers on Tuesday at the Ministry’s Boardroom. The meeting was also attended by Permanent Secretary Bishram Kuppen, CEO of the CH&PA, Dr Martin Pertab, and Head of the Enforcement and Compliance Department, Nigel Hoppie (Housing Ministry photo)

ousing Minister Collin Croal has issued a strong directive for heightened enforcement and immediate action against violations occurring in communities, including new squatting, unauthorised developments, the obstruction of drains and the improper placement of materials and other items on roadways. Croal made the position clear during a meeting with enforcement officers and rangers on Tuesday at the Ministry’s Boardroom. The meeting was also attended by Permanent Secretary (PS) Bishram Kuppen; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Dr Martin Pertab; and Head of the Enforcement and Compliance Department, Nigel Hoppie. Croal expressed strong dissatisfaction with the current level of enforcement and alertness, particularly where officers are entering communities, observing violations and failing to ensure that matters are reported and acted upon immediately. He contended that enforcement personnel cannot wait for complaints, referrals or instructions from the central office before responding to violations. Officers and rangers are expected to know their assigned areas, identify emerging problems and take decisive action before those problems become entrenched. He placed particular emphasis on new squatting, noting that despite the Ministry’s continued public position that new squatting will not be recognised, new settlements continue to emerge. He questioned how such developments can occur in areas that are routinely monitored without

being detected and reported at the earliest stage. “If they go into the areas and they are not seeing these matters, then we have a problem,” the Minister stressed. However, he made it clear that enforcement must extend beyond squatting. Officers are expected to identify and act on a range of violations affecting communities, including persons blocking drains, placing materials or other items on roadways and other activities that create hazards, obstruct public spaces or negatively affect communities. He called for greater re-

sponsibility at the regional level, stressing that regional teams must strengthen their enforcement efforts and reduce their dependence on the central office. He also called for stronger collaboration with local authorities and community stakeholders, who can assist in identifying emerging cases and other violations within communities. The Minister further demanded an overhaul of the reporting process, directing that a digital platform be established to allow officers and rangers to immediately upload field reports, photographs and other evi-

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026 00:00 Sign Off 06:00 Islam for Guyana 06:30 TVG Devotional Hour 07:00 Evening News (RB) 08:00 HGTV 09:00 Stop Suffering 10:00 Food Network 12:00 Movie - Royally Ever After (2018) 13:30 Movie - Secret Life of Pets (2016) 15:00 Cartoons 16:00 Indian Soaps 17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 Documentary: Nat Geo Animals 19:00 The Evening News 20:00 Stop Suffering 20:30 Movie - Yes Day (2021) 22:00 Movie - Grease (1978)

Just a few months ago, Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister

Anil Nandlall had contended that enforcement agencies such as the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) must “pull their socks up” or face consequences. “We have agencies of the state. We have local authorities. We have the police force. We have the public health inspectorate department… So while we can pass the best laws, if they are not enforced, then we are back to zero. So we have to, as a Government, ensure that all these agencies become alive to their individual and collective legal responsibilities and

obligations,” Nandlall had emphasised. He had also reinforced the need for the law to be enforced against these agencies when there is neglect, omission, or refusal to discharge their obligations. “Not only are the delinquent persons who are causing this nuisance or this mischief, not only will they be addressed. But those who are refusing to enforce the law or neglecting to perform their statutory functions, they will also be addressed in the process,” he had noted. Nandlall had further emphasised that “taxpayers’ money are funding these agencies. And taxpayers deserve better.”

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026

Foundation ◄

Page

Types of angles cont’d Adjacent angles are two angles that are side by side and share a common vertex and a common side. They are often formed by intersecting lines or line segments. Since an angle is formed when two rays meet at a common endpoint, adjacent angles are simply two angles that are directly next to each other. Adjacent angles can be complementary angles or supplementary angles. For example, in this diagram, angle XWY is adjacent to angle YWZ. They share a common vertex (W) and a common side (ray WY). Adjacent angles can also be complementary angles. Complementary adjacent angles are angles that add up to 900.

inerals make up Earth’s rocks, sands, and soils. They are found on Earth’s surface as well as deep underground. Minerals are inorganic substances, meaning that they do not come from an animal or a plant. Some of the most common minerals are metals – for example, gold, silver, copper, and platinum. Diamond, quartz, sulphur, mica, talc, and salt are other well-known minerals. Minerals come in many different colours. They also reflect light in different ways. The lustre of a mineral describes how the mineral appears as it reflects light. Some minerals are transparent, or seethrough. Others are iridescent. Rock, or stone, is a hard material made up of one or more minerals. Rock makes up the outer layer of Earth, called the crust. There are three types of rock: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. These names describe how each type of rock was formed. Igneous rock is hardened magma. Magma may escape through cracks in Earth’s crust. It may also come to Earth’s surface when a volcano erupts. As the escaped magma cools, it hardens into solid rock. Granite and basalt are examples of igneous rock. Sedimentary rock may form from pieces of other rock. In a process called erosion, wind and water slowly break rock into tiny pieces. Sedimentary rock also may form from the remains of dead animals or plants. Limestone is a sedimentary rock that is made up of the shells and stony skeletons of certain kinds of living things. Metamorphic rock forms from old igneous or sedimentary rocks. Several forces can change old rock into new metamorphic rock. Great heat and pressure inside Earth’s crust can shape old rock into metamorphic rock. Water can dissolve minerals in old rock or carry new minerals into it to form metamorphic rock. The heat of magma can also change old rock into metamorphic rock. Marble

By Kenneth Koch

Down at the docks Where everything is sweet and inclines At night To the sound of canoes I planted a maple tree And every night Beneath it I studied the cosmos Down at the docks. Sweet ladies, listen to me. The dock is made of wood The maple tree’s not made of wood It is wood Wood comes from it As music comes from me And from this mandolin I’ve made Out of the maple tree.

A linear pair is a pair of adjacent angles that combine to form a straight angle. The angles in a linear pair are supplementary angles, meaning their measures add up to 1800.

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and slate are examples of metamorphic rock. Rock is always being formed, worn down into pieces, and then formed again. This is called the rock cycle. Rock wears down through erosion. Pieces of rock then settle down and slowly become sedimentary rock. If sedimentary rock becomes deeply buried, it may melt into magma. Then the magma may return to the surface as igneous rock. Deeply buried rock may also become metamorphic rock. The rock cycle takes many millions of years.

Jealous gentlemen, study how Wood comes from the maple Then devise your love So that it seems To come from where All is it yet something more White spring flowers and leafy bough Jealous gentlemen. Arrogant little waves Knocking at the dock It’s for you I’ve made this chanson For you and that big dark blue. (Source: Poetry [July 1957])

Write a story where the main character learns an important life lesson through an unexpected event. (Britannica Kids)

WORD SEARCH

7 330,000 lbs of chicken to hit local market weekly – Agri Ministry NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…PSC pushes stronger crackdown on illicit food trade

ome 330,000 pounds (lbs) of chicken will be imported on a weekly basis to meet local demands, as part of temporary measures to address a local supply shortage. This is according to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture issued on Monday, following a meeting between Subject Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and the Private Sector Commission (PSC). Minister Mustapha had told the media that the Government has decided to temporarily lift the ban to import chicken, following a request made by the Guyana Poultry Producers Association (GPPA) in July. The GPPA had highlighted market trends showing a decline in production levels coupled with an increase in demand for chicken. The association’s representatives noted that the measure would assist in maintaining stable market prices during the period of reduced supply and that once local produc-

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during his meeting with representatives of the Private Sector Commission (PSC)

tion returns to normal levels, there would be no need for continued importation. According to the statement on Monday, “Arrangements have been put in place to facilitate the temporary importation of approximately 330,000 lbs of chicken per week. The imports will complement local production and help to maintain adequate supplies on the domestic market while local production continues

to strengthen.” Minister Mustapha stressed that the measure is a temporary and carefully managed intervention, designed to safeguard consumers while at the same time protecting and supporting Guyana’s local poultry producers. The New Guyana Marketing Corporation (New GMC) is facilitating the importation process, with the chicken to be distributed through local distributors and suppli-

“We remain confident in CCJ as a vital regional judicial institution” – regional Judiciary Heads

eads of Judiciary from across the Caribbean have reaffirmed their confidence in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), while expressing grave concern over the disclosure of what appear to be confidential internal communications among the Court’s Judges. The Heads of Judiciary of Barbados, The Bahamas, Belize, Guyana, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago issued a joint statement on Tuesday after taking note of recent public reports concerning internal correspondence and matters relating to the admin-

istration and functioning of the CCJ. The judicial leaders said they would not comment on the merits of statements or allegations attributed to individual Judges, nor on matters arising from the Court’s internal deliberative or administrative processes. However, they said they were concerned about the breach of confidentiality that resulted in the disclosure of what appear to be internal communications. The Heads of Judiciary emphasised the importance of the CCJ within the region’s judicial architecture, noting that for countries

which have acceded to its appellate jurisdiction, the court serves as the final court of appeal. For most Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states, the CCJ also exercises original jurisdiction in matters involving the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which governs regional integration and the Caricom Single Market and Economy. They said the Court’s authority, like that of all courts, depends on public confidence in the independence, impartiality, integrity and competence of its Judges. TURN TO PAGE 12

ers across the country. The Minister said the process will remain subject to monitoring and oversight to ensure that the intervention achieves its intended purpose and that the market remains stable.

Long-term measure

Mustapha also highlighted the Government’s commitment to strengthening the poultry industry over the long-term. He said attention is being given to expanding storage and cold-storage capacity within the sector. According to the Minister, increased storage capacity would provide producers with greater flexibility to manage production and market supply. “During periods when production is high, poultry could be properly stored and subsequently released onto the market when demand increases, helping to create greater predictability and stability for both producers and consumers,” the Ministry’s statement outlined. The Minister said the Government’s approach is focused on maintaining a strong, resilient and sustainable poultry industry, while ensuring that consumers have ac-

cess to an adequate supply of affordable chicken. He further emphasised that the Government will continue to work closely with poultry producers, importers, distributors and other private-sector stakeholders to monitor the market and respond where necessary. “The objective is to ensure that there is a reliable supply of chicken for consumers while creating the conditions for our local poultry industry to continue expanding and becoming more resilient,” Minister Mustapha is quoted as saying in the statement.

PSC engagement

Meanwhile, according to the Agriculture Ministry, the engagement with the PSC forms part of the Government’s ongoing consultations with the private sector as it works to strengthen Guyana’s agricultural value chains, improve market stability and ensure food security. During the engagement, the Minister explained that the Government, in collaboration with stakeholders in the poultry industry, is closely monitoring production, supply and market demand to ensure that any temporary supply gaps are addressed in a timely manner. In its own statement issued on Monday, the PSC noted that the meeting also focused on support for the rice and sugar industries, and opportunities for growth in aquaculture, hydroponics, shade-house farming, and other high-value agricultural ventures. The PSC said discussions also explored improving storage and processing capacity, strengthening market access, expanding linkages between farmers and

the hospitality sector and creating greater opportunities for private sector investment through partnerships and incentives. During the engagement, the Commission said it also highlighted the work of its Agriculture Subcommittee, noting its interest in supporting consortium-based investments in hydroponics and shade-house farming to make modern agricultural systems more accessible to businesses and farmers. The Commission further emphasised the significant potential for aquaculture and seafood production, encouraging greater collaboration to unlock new investment and export opportunities through technical support and strategic partnerships.

Illicit trade

In advancing its commitment to combating illicit trade, the PSC proposed expanding the scope of its Illicit Trade Working Group to strengthen collaboration with the Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department, the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), and the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB). “The expanded collaboration would enhance information sharing and facilitate quicker responses to concerns involving the illegal importation and distribution of food, livestock, and related products, helping to protect consumers, support legitimate businesses, and safeguard Guyana’s food supply chain,” the PSC’s statement noted. According to the Commission, the Minister welcomed the proposal and expressed support for closer collaboration.

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 Venezuelan women on bail for injuring each other during brawl T Becoming… hree Venezuelan women were on Tuesday granted bail for attacking and injuring each other during a brawl at Third Avenue, Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), on Sunday evening. Beilyn Hernandes, 20, self-employed, and Benyerlin Hernandes, 21, a saleswoman, both of Third Avenue, Bartica, were charged for injuring Yillen Romero on August 9, 2026. They appeared before Magistrate Caressa Henry at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, where the charge was read to them. They both pleaded not guilty

Y Charged: Benyerlin Hernandes

Charged: Beilyn Hernandes

Charged: Yillen Romero

and were each granted bail in the sum of $75,000. On the other hand, Romero, 37, a businesswoman, was also charged for un-

lawfully wounding Beilyn Hernandes. She too appeared in court on Tuesday, where she was granted $75,000 bail after plead-

ing not guilty to the charge when it was read to her. The three women are expected to return to court on September 8, 2026.

Fmr Reg 6 REO on $200K bail over Nigg fatal accident

ormer Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Dr Veerasammy Ramayya, was on Tuesday granted $200,000 station bail as Police continue their investigation into the fatal accident at Nigg Public Road, Corentyne, which claimed the life of 42-yearold Ishwarnauth Bisram. The case file, according to reports, has been sent for legal advice on the way forward. Ramayya, 79, had been taken into Police custody following the accident in which Bisram was struck while crossing the Nigg Public Road on Saturday evening. It was reported that Bisram had reportedly stopped at Nigg to purchase food on his way home when he was struck by a motor

Dead: Ishwarnauth Bisram

car while crossing the public road. Police confirmed that the accident occurred at about 21:55h on Saturday and involved motor car PZZ 1906, owned and driven by former politician Dr Ramayya. Police stated that

Granted bail, Dr Veerasammy Ramayya

the car was proceeding along the roadway at a normal rate of speed when Bisram allegedly walked across the road and into the path of the motor car. The doctor and the Police stated that the brakes were

applied in an effort to avoid a collision, but despite this, the front portion of the motor car collided with Bisram, thus causing him to fall onto the roadway and receive injuries to his body. He was picked up in an unconscious condition and taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A breathalyzer test was conducted on Dr Ramayya, which gave a reading of 11 micrograms, which is below the legal alcohol consumption level. Bisram’s death has left his family grieving, with his mother, Lilawattie Ramnarace, among relatives who spoke about the devastating impact his sudden passing has had on the family.

Wife recharged with husband’s murder after prisoner’s plea deal yields new evidence

ore than five years after she was discharged in connection with the murder of her husband, fuel dealer Ramzan Alli, 56-year-old Mailaini Alli is once again before the court. Police are relying on new evidence obtained from a prisoner who has entered into a plea agreement. Mailaini appeared before Magistrate Teriq Mohammed at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, where the murder charge at common law was read to her in relation to Ramzan’s July 2009 killing. She was not required to plead to the indictable charge, and was remanded to prison until September 29, 2026. Attorney-at-law Bernard DaSilva, who represents Mailaini Alli, said the renewed prosecution follows statements obtained from

Murder Accused: Mailaini Alli

Murdered: Ramzan Alli

Sadiek Mitchell. Mitchell was previously charged in connection with Ramzan’s murder and is alleged to have been Mailaini Alli’s lover. According to DaSilva, Mitchell recently entered into a plea agreement and is expected to be sentenced at the High Court in Demerara in September.

The attorney said the statements Mitchell provided to Police following the plea agreement has resulted in his client facing the murder case for a second time. The specific contents of the statements and the nature of the evidence now being relied upon by the prosecution were not disclosed. Mitchell had previously

been charged in March 2019 in connection with Ramzan’s murder. Following a Preliminary Inquiry (PI), a Magistrate found that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him, and committed him to stand trial at the Demerara Criminal Assizes. During the earlier investigation, Police had alleged that Mailaini Alli was involved in a plot to have her husband killed, and had paid Mitchell $7 million to carry out the murder. Mailaini Alli was first charged in April 2019, almost a decade after Ramzan’s death, after Police reopened the investigation. She was arrested in April 2019 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) after returning from New York, where she had been residing. TURN TO PAGE 14

…a strategic asset

our Eyewitness sees a striking historical irony unfolding in Ole Mudland!! For much of our post-independence history, we’ve struggled desperately to woo foreign investors – and now, the world’s last-standing great power has sent its Deputy Secretary of State to CONCRETISE, not merely encouraging American companies to invest – but to invest itself!! Imagine that!! Oil might’ve given us geopolitical relevance, but bauxite and critical minerals are giving it strategic importance!! The language out of Washington is revealing. The State Department says Landau is gonna expand economic cooperation, particularly in energy and critical minerals. That combination is critical!! We got what the US increasingly wants: abundant energy, bauxite and other mineral resources, a politically stable investment environment, and a geographical position outside the major theatres of conflict that threaten global supply chains!! And Washington ain’t just talking about Guyana’s resources – it’s putting the American Govt’s money behind them!! Only days before Landau’s visit, the US Department of WAR announced an US$85.5 million equity investment in Strategic Bauxite USA to secure refractory-grade bauxite supplies and expand the First Bauxite operation at Bonasika!! For centuries, American interest in Latin American resources was expressed through private corporations. Now, the American Government itself is becoming an economic participant in strategic-resource projects!! Washington’s concern is access to and processing of our top-notch refractory-grade material required by strategically important industries. The US$85.5 million commitment – on top of the private sector’s US$65M – is therefore best understood as part of America’s broader attempt to reduce dependence upon China-controlled mineral supply chains. Up to now, we’ve been interpreting every American conversation through the prism of ExxonMobil and the Stabroek oil discoveries – but Washington’s interest is clearly much broader!! Our oil production’s already transformed our geopolitical significance. The Yanks now appear interested in building a much wider economic relationship encompassing oil and gas, electricity, infrastructure, mining, logistics, and potentially new technologies!! They’re simultaneously deepening their economic engagement with T&T and have announced their billion-dollar investment to reopen their Pt Lisas Steel plant!! We should also use Landau’s visit to dissuade the Yanks from processing the RASC bauxite in the US – but as much as is practical, do that right here!! After all, we’ve got the energy to not only push Cerebrus Data Centers, but also alumina and ceramics plants, etc!! If American strategic interest helps us establish modern bauxite processing, refining, and downstream industries; develop roads, ports, and electricity; transfer technology; train Guyanese engineers and technicians; and create competitive local enterprises – then the relationship can become transformational!! So, while we’ve gotta understand from where the American breeze is blowing, this doesn’t mean everyone else gets “shocked out”!! We have gotta simultaneously maintain constructive relationships with Europe, India, Canada, Brazil, the Caribbean, and the Gulf states!! And where appropriate, China!! …a fulcrum Washington doesn’t have to mention China in every conversation for us to know the Chink factor’s unavoidable!! Critical minerals are of strategic importance, and the Yanks have openly expressed concerns about Chinese control of several minerals!! As such, we offer Washington a plum prize – a source of strategic raw materials located in a friendly country within the Western Hemisphere and increasingly connected to American capital!! So, it would be foolish not to welcome American investment!! But our objective can’t be just to replace Chinese or other foreign purchasers of Guyanese commodities with American purchasers!! Our goal has gotta be value-added development to avoid exchanging one form of dependency for another!! But why should the Yanks listen to us?? And the answer is we got bargaining power BEYOND oil and minerals!! We got strategic geographic positionality on the top of South America that makes us particularly valuable!! Your Eyewitness has long called for a military base in Essequibo to which the Yanks can have access!! …free of Venezuela’s threat Our relationship with the US has always been affected by Venezuela’s border dispute. But our emergence as a major energy and minerals producer – and military ally – changes the equation!! Washington now gets a stake in our autonomy!! The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

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

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

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Fuel cost, maintenance, insurance, skilled personnel drive domestic airfares – operators …suggests Govt put voucher system in place to support vulnerable groups

ays after President Dr Irfaan Ali expressed disappointment with the domestic aviation sector for failing to meaningfully reduce airfares, operators on Tuesday issued a statement defending the current prices, noting that the costs are driven by a range of factors, including fuel, aircraft maintenance, insurance, and the expense of employing skilled personnel. Last week Wednesday, President Ali said, "We are very disappointed in the aviation sector because we have not been able to get the corresponding returns on the investments that we are making." However, the Aviation Operators Association of Guyana (AOAG) said the domestic airfares are driven by the actual costs of providing safe and reliable air transportation, including aviation fuel, aircraft maintenance, spare parts, insurance, financing, regulatory compliance, and the cost of skilled personnel. In fact, the association noted that the domestic avi-

ation market is highly competitive, with several private operators competing daily for passengers and cargo. As a result, it said there is little difference between the prices of the competing airlines. The association explained that "the comparison between the prices charged by the domestic aviation operators for similar journeys in the Caribbean clearly shows that our prices are below those charged in the Caribbean and shows that our domestic operators are not profiteering. It is important to recognise, too, that our domestic operators fly in vastly more challenging conditions than those in the Caribbean.” The local operators also highlighted that they have spent decades investing in aircraft, infrastructure, training, employment, and safety. They explained that modern aircraft suitable for Guyana’s operations are expensive. “For instance, the capital repayment for a Cessna Caravan is over US$40,000 per month, or about US$700

per flight hour, and these costs are regardless of whether the aircraft is parked or flying. A Technam P2012 Traveller costs approximately US$3.2 million, while a Cessna Caravan costs approximately US$3.8 million, and the HAL 228 approximately US$10 million,” the AOAG highlighted. They noted too that aviation insurance premiums are generally some 300 per cent higher in Guyana than for comparable operations in the United States and are amongst the highest in the Caribbean region. They said this because insurance companies assess Guyana as a high operational risk, flying in conditions of remote aerodromes, a tropical environment, limited emergency infrastructure and landing and take-off on short unpaved runways. Notwithstanding, the operators said they acknowledge and appreciate the Government’s substantial investment in continuously upgrading hinterland aerodromes across Guyana, which have significantly

improved safety, reliability and operational efficiency, but “our aircraft must still operate on laterite runways and gravel strips in the remote mining and village aerodromes, requiring higher maintenance costs than, for instance, operating in the Caribbean and the USA." The operators said they remain committed to finding practical solutions that reduce transportation costs without undermining the safety and long-term sustainability of the industry. They also remain willing to participate in an independent review of the economics of domestic aviation so that future policy decisions can be guided by objective data and a shared understanding of the industry’s operating realities.

Vouchers

Moreover, while acknowledging the burdens the current airfares have on vulnerable groups, the association revealed that it had suggested to the Government the implementation of vouchers to support schoolchildren,

medical referrals, pensioners, and low-income residents of hinterland villages. The association said this approach would provide direct assistance to those who need it most while preserving competition and encouraging continued private investment. Earlier this year, nearly all the domestic airlines had announced a reduction in the rates for flights to locations with new airstrips. However, the local operators subsequently increased their airfares back in April after aviation fuel prices skyrocketed in the global market due to the Middle East conflict. The AOAG explained that over the past several months, they have had numerous and constructive meetings with the Government, where the industry’s cost structure was examined in considerable detail. Back in November 2025, President Ali had pointed out that the local aviation sector is financially capable of lowering domestic air transport fares to hinter-

land locations by as much as 15 per cent.

Commercial arm

During the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference last year, Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo announced that the Government was contemplating investing in a commercial arm of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in order to compete with domestic airlines that continue to exploit consumers. The VP had also noted that sometimes, there are middlemen who would charter flights from airlines and charge even higher prices – another issue that needs to be addressed. Nevertheless, the AOAG emphasised that the domestic aviation industry has always regarded itself as a partner in Guyana’s national development. “We remain committed to working collaboratively with the Government to ensure that the people of Guyana continue to benefit from safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable air transportation,” the association noted.

MV Canawaima sailing ban threat

Suriname responsible for maintenance and dry docking – Public Works Ministry

…says Guyana working to ensure resolution

ith the MV C a n a w a i m a threatened with a sailing ban over safety concerns, the Guyana Government noted that it is working with its Surinamese counterparts to ensure a resolution to the issues. Surinamese media reported that the Maritime Authority Suriname (MAS) has given the Canawaima Management Company NV a final opportunity to eliminate the outstanding shortcomings onboard the ferry which services the Guyana-Suriname route. The Canawaima Ferry

Service is jointly owned by the Governments of Guyana and Suriname (each country owns 50 of the issued share capital). It is the holding company for the Canawaima Management Company NV, a wholly owned subsidiary which was incorporated in Suriname. According to a statement from the Public Works Ministry in Guyana on Tuesday, over the last several days, the Guyana side of the joint venture has been engaging their Surinamese counterparts. TURN TO PAGE 16

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Sisters shot during fight with armed security guard

wo sisters, ages 26 and 31, were reportedly injured following a shooting incident on Monday at West Front Road, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Police stated that the two sisters were seated along West Front Road when an altercation ensued between them and a 48-year-old security guard

of Bent Street, Werk-enRust, Georgetown. During the altercation, the security officer reportedly discharged several rounds from a firearm that was in his possession, thus resulting in the 26-year-old woman receiving gunshot injuries to her left ankle and upper left leg, while the 31-year-old woman received

Bartica man arrested for attempting to kill housewife, teen

30-year-old resident of Agatash Village, Bartica, Essequibo River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), was taken into custody on Monday for attempting to murder a 57-year-old woman and a teenager. Police stated that at about 21:30h on the day in question, the two victims were allegedly attacked by a suspect, during which they sustained injuries. They were taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital,

where they were examined, treated, and admitted as patients. The 19-year-old was subsequently referred to the De Kinderen Regional Hospital for further medical attention. His condition is regarded as serious, while the 57-year-old woman is in a stable condition. The suspect was subsequently apprehended and handed over to the Police. He is presently in Police custody, assisting with the investigation.

US to provide US$2M for Guyana air... FROM PAGE 3

“Booming” economy During Tuesday evening’s interview, Landau described Guyana’s economy as “booming” and said he believed the country was the fastest-growing in the world. He said the US wanted to be part of Guyana’s future development and prosperity, while noting that discussions with President Ali covered projects and development across the country, including Berbice, Lethem and the Demerara region. “I think together we can build stronger, safer, and more prosperous countries,” Landau said. He also described Guyana as a key strategic partner for

the US, pointing to its leadership role in CARICOM and the countries’ cooperation on several areas of mutual interest. “We see Guyana as a key strategic partner,” Landau said, adding that Washington was eager to partner with Guyana and hoped to be part of the country’s “success story.” Also present for Tuesday’s signing were US Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot; Senior Minister Dr Ashni Singh; Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat; Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud; and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sharon Roopchand-Edwards.

gunshot injuries to her right foot and left leg. Both women were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where they were treated and admitted in stable condition. The suspect, however, was subsequently contacted at a private hospital, where he was receiving medical attention for an injury he also received during the fight. Meanwhile, the firearm, which was identified as a licensed Glock 19 pistol, for which the security officer is the licensed firearm holder, was lodged along with two magazines containing a total of 27 live 9mm rounds of ammunition. Police confirm that one spent shell was also recovered at the scene. CCTV cameras were seen in the area and will be reviewed as investigations continue.

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“We remain confident in CCJ as a vital regional...

FROM PAGE 7

“We do not consider it appropriate to comment upon the merits of statements or allegations attributed to individual Judges nor upon matters arising within the internal deliberative or administrative processes of the Court,” the Judicial Heads said. They nevertheless stressed that confidential-

ity within judicial institutions must be protected. The statement comes one day after the Bar Council of the Bar Association of Guyana also raised concerns over reports of leaked internal correspondence among CCJ Judges. In a statement dated August 10, the Bar Council said the disclosure of con-

fidential communications could undermine public confidence in the administration of justice. The Council said robust discussions among Judges are expected as part of the judicial process but argued that any unauthorised disclosure of internal correspondence would constitute a serious breach of confidence.

It said it was not taking a position on the substance of the matters contained in the leaked communications. The Bar Council also addressed the role of the CCJ President, saying the court’s leader should be given sufficient latitude to develop and implement a vision for the institution, and establish princi-

ples governing its administration while exercising that leadership in accordance with the CCJ’s Code of Judicial Conduct.

Confidence in CCJ

The regional heads of judiciary, meanwhile, reaffirmed their confidence in the CCJ as a “vital regional judicial institution” and in the commitment of

its Judges to the principles underpinning the administration of justice across the Caribbean. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the independence of regional judiciaries, the institutional integrity of the CCJ and the importance of maintaining public trust and confidence in the courts.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Gaming operators pitch online shift as Govt moves to tighten rules on gambling shops

eeks after the Gaming Authority Bill was tabled in Parliament to strengthen oversight of Guyana’s rapidly expanding gambling industry, several gaming businesses have approached the Government with a proposal to close their physical betting shops, and transition to online operations. A Government official told this publication that the bill is expected to come up for debate in October when Parliament reconvenes, but ahead of that, operators have sought a way to have their businesses still operate through regulated online platforms. The official said that this proposal comes as some operators met with some members of the Opposition recently. “So some Opposition members met with some of the operators and are saying that the Government is trying to take bread out of their mouths… but at the same time telling us to shut them down,” the official said. The official added that the proposal made by the operators has found much favour

an opportunity for further consideration of measures aimed at strengthening the regulatory framework govern-

ing the gaming industry. The Government has said the reforms are intended to respond to growing concerns

over the industry’s expansion while addressing its social and economic impact on communities across Guyana.

Wife recharged with husband’s...

FROM PAGE 8

with the Government. The proposed legislation, tabled by Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, seeks to tighten the regulation of gaming activities amid growing concerns over the social consequences of increased access to gambling through betting shops and mobile applications. The move follows months of lobbying by religious organisations and other groups concerned about the impact of gambling on vulnerable individuals, families and rural communities. Those concerns have centred on issues such as gambling addiction, financial hardship, and the broader social effects associated with the industry’s rapid growth.

The bill also fulfils a commitment made by Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo in October last year, when he announced that the Government would introduce sweeping reforms to the sector. At the time, the VP warned that gambling had evolved from a tightly regulated activity associated primarily with the hotel sector into what he described as “gambling on demand”, driven by the proliferation of hundreds of betting outlets and smartphone applications. The bill is expected to be referred to a Special Select Committee at the next sitting of Parliament, which will allow for a detailed examination of its provisions and provide

Mailaini Alli spent approximately 20 months on remand while the matter proceeded before the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court. However, in December 2020, following the conclusion of a PI, then Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, withdrew the murder charge against her, resulting in her discharge. The renewed prosecution stems from the July 2009 murder of Ramzan, 50, whose body was discovered in the trunk of a rental car along Coldingen Railway Embankment Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on July 12. Ramzan was last seen alive the previous day when

he left his Good Hope, ECD home. Police had alleged that he was attacked while asleep before his body was placed in the vehicle. A plastic bag was reportedly duct-taped over his head, and a post-mortem examination determined that he died from asphyxiation. The investigation initially resulted in arrests in 2009, but those persons were released due to insufficient evidence. The case was later reopened, eventually resulting in Mailaini Alli’s arrest and prosecution in 2019. That case ended with her discharge in December 2020.

Mailaini Alli’s health

Meanwhile, Attorney DaSilva raised concerns about Mailaini Alli’s health before the court, informing Magistrate Mohammed that she is currently suffering from a number of illnesses. Medical documentation detailing her condition was submitted for the court’s consideration. Following the submission, the court directed the prison authorities to ensure that the murder accused receives the medication prescribed for her conditions while she remains in custody. The matter was subsequently adjourned to September 29, 2026, when the prosecution is expected to provide disclosure.

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ramsammy’s Temporary shutdown for vending on Ruminations roads near Bourda Market for clean-up Noticed the coordinated …health must take priority – Mayor, as vendors face stricter rules political assault on CCJ since its Mohamed ruling?

et it be pellucidly clear – the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) made a unanimous ruling dismissing the appeal brought by Azruddin Mohamed and Nazar Mohamed, who alleged that the Guyanese courts were wrong to declare that bias did not affect extradition proceedings. None of the CCJ Judges dissented with the ruling. The present CCJ email controversy does not change the fact that the CCJ unanimously dismissed Azruddin’s Dr Leslie Ramsammy appeal. The orchestrated effort in the last few days to create a hype that the Guyana Government, miraculously, somehow influenced the CCJ is nothing but a desperate, wicked conspiracy to support the false allegations that the extradition proceedings are part of an Irfaan Ali/Bharrat Jagdeo-led political persecution of the Mohameds. The unrestrained freedom with which the Mohameds have attacked both the CCJ and the local courts, questioning their integrity and fairness, demands our attention and our voice. It is commendable, therefore, that the Guyana Bar Association issued a statement cautioning about normalising leaks of communication that are intended to be confidential business among the Judges of the CCJ. Azruddin Mohamed has always patterned his behaviour and strategies after famous Latin American drug lords, such as Pablo Escobar and El Chapo. Very much like them, he has invoked claims of political persecution, and, just like these drug lords in Colombia, Mexico, and other places, he has attacked the fairness of the courts to avoid extradition and jail. Just like the drug lords attacked the integrity and fairness of the International Criminal Court, he now attacks the integrity of the CCJ. Like Latin American drug lords, Azruddin Mohamed freely and massively finances public relations campaigns to promote claims of bias and political persecution to delay legal actions, and buy public sympathy. Just like these drug lords, he portrays himself as a victim of corrupt Governments and courts. Leaked emails where the President of the CCJ panel is alleged to act in a dictatorial manner in administering the court are part of the conspiracy to bring disrepute to the CCJ and to question its integrity and fairness. Importantly, nothing in the leaked emails in the CCJ thread indicated any difference between the Judges in the final ruling on the main appealed matter. But the email leaks are being used in Guyana by Azruddin Mohamed and his sycophants to maximally question the integrity and fairness of the court. It is no coincidence that soon after the CCJ dismissed the appeal brought by the Mohameds in their attempt to stymie the extradition proceedings in the Magistrate’s Court, there has been a coordinated massive political attack against the CCJ. Our view is that there is a centrally directed effort by players politically directed to question the CCJ’s integrity and fairness. The playbook has been widely predicted. The integrity and fairness of the CCJ were bound to become the newest battlefield in the Mohameds’ desperate attempt to further stall their extradition. It was always the plan by the Mohameds to frame their sanctions and criminal charges for money laundering and gold smuggling by the US Government as political persecution. It is their only defence against a mountain of evidence behind the criminal charges. The CCJ is collateral damage in a desperate effort to avoid facing the American courts. To be clear, President Irfaan Ali and his Government have nothing to do with the sanctions and criminal charges brought by the Government of the United States. The sanctions and the criminal charges against Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, were a result of an investigation by Government authorities in America. The investigation was started long before Dr Irfaan Ali became President; long before he was even selected as the PPP Presidential Candidate. The sanctions against the Mohameds occurred before the re-election of President Irfaan Ali. The indictment and charges were filed by the US Government, and it is the US Government that requested the extradition of the Mohameds. Once the courts determined that the extradition request met the provisions of the treaty, President Ali had no say in the matter. The extradition treaty between Guyana and the US existed long before the Irfaan Ali-led Government came into place, and long before the Mohameds became politicians. The extradition proceedings before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman are not intended to establish guilt or innocence. That would be done by an American court in Miami, before an American Judge, and with an American prosecutor. These are hard, cold facts. Political persecution that the Mohameds and their mostly paid defenders have been aggressively pushing is merely a desperate ploy to find some way of avoiding criminal persecution in the US. One would think that if the Mohameds truly believed that the Government of Guyana controls and influences rulings of the Guyanese courts and the CCJ, they would be eager to face the charges in the US. Or is it that they know that the evidence against them is overwhelming? We must not forget that the Mohameds know of some of the evidence because they were confronted by the FBI in a meeting the FBI arranged in Barbados. The leaked emails coming out almost immediately after the CCJ’s Mohameds’ ruling raise the question of motivation and who leaked the emails. We perhaps will never know if the Mohameds were involved with something nefarious in the leaked CCJ emails. This is especially so since we know that the Mohameds have used their almost unlimited resources to buy favours and votes. Whether they have the ability to reach into the belly of the CCJ is another matter. But enquiring minds cannot avoid the temptation of pondering whether their capacity to buy favours has anything to do with the leaked CCJ emails. We have no evidence that the Mohameds somehow have anything to do with leaked emails. But the coincidence is too pregnant with possibilities. The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance

Vending in the vicinity of Robb Street, Alexander Street and Bourda Street in Georgetown has been paused as the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) have initiated a clean-up exercise to address the unsanitary conditions in the area

ending in the vicinity of Robb Street, Alexander Street and Bourda Street, Georgetown, has been paused as the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) have initiated a clean-up exercise to address the unsanitary conditions in the area. Last week, the vendors were ordered to cease trading and remove all structures to facilitate a clean-up exercise from Monday to Wednesday. The exercise intends to address sanitation, drainage and sewage-related issues in the area. Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore inspected works on Monday, where he emphasised the importance of this exercise, noting that “sometimes we got to stop prioritising economics over health.” “What we’re trying to achieve here, as you can see, is regularise how the vendors operate. We’ve had conversations with not only the vendors but people who own properties here, and we realise that we have to do something to be able to fix and have this place in a way that is more healthy and more

habitable for people selling vegetable and fruits and otherwise, and we believe the place was not as clean as it should [be],” the Georgetown Mayor said. He noted that this exercise must be conducted on a regular basis, ei-

tables in order to vend, as permanent structures will not be allowed. “Ideally, these makeshift tents and these pallets – you know, we’ve always been named a ‘pallet place’ or a ‘pallet city’ – we’re trying, as a council, to remove pallets

ther monthly or quarterly. Meanwhile, upon completion of the clean-up exercise, he said affected vendors will be able to return to the location under strict conditions until they are permanently relocated to Merriman’s Mall. The vendors will be required to use collapsible tents and

all along Regent Street, all along Robb Street, and all along a number of places,” he noted. “The pallets is something we want to dismantle and not have in our system,” he added. Meanwhile, Mayor Mentore further emphasised the importance of vending in safe environ-

ments for both sellers and buyers. “We want people to vend; we believe vending is very necessary in our economy and in our society, and we want to encourage it, but we want to encourage a more healthier environment and an environment that is more pleasing to persons and also to not get people sick,” he posited. In fact, he said authorities will look into making it easier for vendors to dispose of their garbage. “We’ve also just okayed a contract with one of our persons that do waste disposal to have one of their trucks parked just at the corner of Regent and Alexander Streets…so you can’t say that you got to walk too far; we’re bringing things closer to you, we’re bringing a truck closer to you,” he explained. Mayor Mentore added that there will be consequences for vendors who fail to properly dispose of their garbage. “You must help to walk the person that you

gave that garbage to – to take it to the right place so that persons don’t carry it and drop it somewhere else. And if we find out that you, as a vendor, is not complying with that particular term or is not giving it to someone who will be able to do that, you will not be able to sell in these environments,” he outlined. Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Denise Miller noted that the vendors were consulted more than a month ago on the clean-up campaign. “We understand for the three days, yes, they will suffer some amount of setback in terms of their business, but they have to understand where the balance between their health and what their income means to them,” she noted. The City Council has indicated that other market locations around the city will be targeted for a similar exercise soon.

16 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

9 Guyanese doctors head to Suriname responsible for... China for specialised training

FROM PAGE 10

China’s Ambassador to Guyana Yang Yang, CEO of GPHC Robbie Rambarran and Senior Advisor on Government Relations of CNOOC Petrolium Guyana Limited Bayney Karren along with the doctors and other officials

ine Guyanese doctors are set to travel to China for three months of specialised training and capacity building, in a move expected to strengthen specialist healthcare services in Guyana. The initiative follows a partnership involving the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), the Government of Guyana, the Chinese Medical Brigade and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Acting as the third cohort of the health personnel training programme, where medical professionals will receive direct special training in China, the nine doctors will receive training in ophthalmology, pathology, nephrology, orthopaedics, anaesthesia, obstetrics and gynaecology, plastic surgery and general surgery. The initiative is being facilitated through the continued health partnership between Guyana and the People’s Republic of China. Speaking during the ceremony, China’s Ambassador to Guyana Yang Yang reflected on last year’s cohort of doctors who travelled to China for specialised training, noting that the future remains bright as the programme continues to build on a legacy of medical excellence. “Last year, seven doctors completed their residency training in China successfully. Now another nine doctors will follow their footsteps and further strengthen ChinaGuyana health cooperation. We hope that more medical professionals in Guyana with strong expertise, international outlook and innovative spirit can be cultivated, thereby supporting the development of Guyana’s healthcare system in the long term.” “Looking ahead, guided by the four global initiatives, China stands ready to work with Guyana to enhance pragmatic health collaboration. Together, we are committed to strengthen cooperation in medical technolo-

gy, personnel training and addressing public health challenges.” Highlighting China’s deep support to Guyana, she stated that over the years, bilateral cooperation in the health sector has yielded fruitful results, with successive Chinese medical teams serving in Guyana with unwavering dedication and contributing to the strengthening of the country’s healthcare system. “Chinese Government is also committed to support Guyana’s public health development by donating medical supplies constantly. Among our pragmatic cooperation, human resources development has always been a key area. Alongside their clinical work, the Chinese medical team enthusiastically participated in various national medical education initiatives and clinical teaching programmes in Guyana.” Further, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPHC, Robbie Rambarran, touched on the importance of the initiative in strengthening healthcare services. He also noted that additional equipment and supplies are on the way to further support the country’s healthcare system. “Dr Lee just informed me that he has more supplies and equipment for us. He’s just waiting on the Ministry of Health to sign off the donation certificate, and we will get those. So while we are training and building that capacity, there are also other contribution from the Chinese Government to us in terms of equipment and supplies, which we are very grateful for, and we thank you.” Meanwhile, Senior Public Relations (PR) Manager of CNOOC, Bayney Karren, highlighted the compa-

ny’s direct sponsorship of five doctors who will receive specialised training in China. “This donation from CNOOC reflects a part of CPGL’s (CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited) commitment to benefit the people of Guyana through our principles of corporate social responsibility, and it is executed under the framework of the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) that CPGL has entered into with the Ministry of Health. CPGL regards very highly the outstanding achievements that have been made by the Ministry of Health in advancing health care in Guyana.” He also highlighted CPGL’s collaboration with the 21st Chinese Medical Brigade from Jiangsu Province, noting that Chinese medical teams have been supporting Guyana for more than two decades by bringing advanced medical expertise, hard work and dedication to the country’s healthcare sector. According to him, the programme reflects the cooperative spirit between Chinese and Guyanese doctors and aligns with CPGL’s objective of building a bridge of friendship between Guyana and China. He also recognised the contributions of the Chinese Embassy, the Chinese Medical Brigade, the Ministry of Health, the GPHC and other partners involved in implementing the programme. He expressed hope that the latest cohort of doctors would make full use of their training in China and return to Guyana with enhanced experience and skills to continue providing care to patients.

“We anticipate, out of those engagements, a resolution to this matter,” the statement noted. “Guyana commits itself to the letter and spirit of the joint venture signed between Guyana and Suriname, and is committed to ensuring a safe transport link by way of an efficient and seaworthy ferry,” it added. Moreover, the Public Works Ministry explained that based upon the Joint Venture agreement, Guyana supplies all fuels, lubricants and batteries to facilitate the daily operation of the ferry while Suriname takes care of the maintenance and dry docking of the vessel. According to reports coming out of Suriname, the threat to ban the sailing of the MV Canawaima was made in a letter dated August 7, 2026, from the MAS to the terminal manager of the Canawaima Management Company N.V in Southdrain, Nickerie. The letter follows an earlier correspondence dated July 26, 2026, in which the company was instructed to send a plan of action with regard to the inspection report of the MV

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

valid Basic Safety Training and Crowd Management certificates. If certain certificates are not yet available, it must be demonstrated in writing that the relevant training courses will be completed within one month. In addition, an independent, accredited ship surveyor must carry out an inspection and assessment of the watertightness of the vessel’s hull and cofferdams. A positive inspection report is a condition for possibly obtaining a temporary exemption from the mandatory docking. The MAS has pointed out to Canawaima Management Company NV the consequences if the requirements are not met in time. If the required measures are not carried out by August 13, 2026, at the latest, the MV Canawaima will be banned from sailing with effect from August 14, 2026, at 00:00h. According to the MAS, the sailing ban will remain in force until the requirements set to ensure safe shipping have been fully met.

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Show your evidence – BK Group hits back at US-sanctioned LOO

- questions Mohamed’s acquisition of Versailles land, reserves, duty-free concessions

he BK Group of Companies has come out swinging at United States (US) sanctioned and indicted Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, following his recent visits to several Government-funded infrastructure sites, where he made allegations about the cost, awarding, and execution of major projects, including the Versailles to Parika Four-Lane Highway. The company said it was concerned by statements made by Mohamed regarding construction work on the highway, a portion of which was awarded to BK International. According to the company, work on its portion of the project has not yet commenced, and there is no stockpile of materials for the project, contrary to what it said was asserted by Mohamed. BK Group rejected any suggestion that it is a “flyby-night” operation, pointing out that it has been in business since 1988 and has undertaken several major infrastructure projects in Guyana. Its portfolio, according to the company, includes construction works involving sea defences and roads, as well as commercial properties such as banks and schools. BK International further highlighted its experience with major projects funded through international agencies and financial institutions, including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB). The company said these projects were rigorously supervised and managed by the respective international agencies and local experts. “Our company has been known to deliver projects on time and to the standards required in contract documents. We have never failed on any of our projects, whether foreign-funded or locally funded. The complexity of projects and the values attached to each project must be analysed differently based on the specifications of the project involved. Mr Mohamed seems to be opening his mouth in a manner that would indicate that all projects are the same and that the costing must therefore be the same costing and standard.”

Mohamed’s acquisition of land, road reserves

The BK Group also turned the spotlight back

company was “disenfranchised” after the Government transferred a quarry to the Mohamed family within a day. The company said the quarry had been owned and paid for by BK and that the matter is currently before the courts. The company also questioned Mohamed’s conduct and character, accusing him of attempting to deflect attention from his own alleged wrongdoing by accusing others of dishonesty. Despite the ongoing dispute, BK Group maintained that it has a proud track record of contributing to Guyana’s development over the years, regardless of which political party is in Government.

US-sanctioned and indicted Azruddin Mohamed

on Mohamed, questioning whether he fully understands the procedures governing the award of Government contracts under the Procurement Act. The company argued that the procurement process is open and transparent, with information on contract awards publicly available and verifiable. It also pointed to the involvement of international funding agencies in several projects as further evidence of the scrutiny surrounding the procurement process. But BK Group did not stop there. Turning the focus to Mohamed’s own business dealings, the company challenged the US-sanctioned Opposition Leader to explain how he and his family business acquired more than 25 acres of land at Versailles which, according to the company, previously belonged to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). BK Group also questioned how Mohamed acquired road reserves to facilitate the construction of four large homes opposite Happy Acres in Le Ressouvenir, as well as how he came to acquire what the company described as thousands of acres of mining lands and related assets.

Duty-free concessions

The company further questioned Mohamed’s ownership of several Black Raptor 4x4 vehicles, alleging that the vehicles were provided as duty-free concessions to another individual involved in the sand business. In a pointed counterattack, BK Group said Mohamed should account for these matters be-

fore levelling allegations of impropriety against contractors and the Government. The company added that Mohamed does not take into consideration the complexity of bridges, their dimensions, and other specifications, outlined in individual project contracts. Instead, it said, he appears to present the impression that Governmentawarded projects are riddled with fraud and overpricing. BK Group urged Mohamed to adopt a more scientific and analytical approach when assessing such projects, including examining the technical data, specifications and contractual requirements before drawing conclusions about project costs and execution. The company also called on him to show greater respect for the President and Vice President (VP).

“Mouth full of garbage”

“He speaks blandly and opens his mouth full of garbage every time to accuse the Government and contractors of committing fraud on the nation when, in fact, from his early childhood, he has been tainted with fraud and has built an empire based on fraudulent conduct and corrupt practices. These are evident with the recent indictment by the US Government against this godly gentleman and his father. Imagine a corrupt individual under indictment accusing contractors and the Government, without any evidence of committing fraud with respect to the awarding of contracts.” BK Group further raised a dispute involving BK Quarries, claiming that the

Founder and CEO of the BK Group of Companies, Brian Tiwarie

The company suggested that Mohamed may be dissatisfied with contractors who are not politically aligned with his party, while arguing that a person’s character should be judged by their deeds and integrity rather than their public statements. BK Group said it reserves the right to continue responding to what it described as “malicious accusations” concerning the

awarding of Government contracts to contractors, including BK International. The company also issued a 14-day deadline to Mohamed, stating that if he does not withdraw what it described as erroneous statements against BK International within that period, it reserves the right to seek redress in the courts.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026

guyanatimesgy.com

Regional

Rescuers scramble for Fuel exports to Cuba spur survivors with 180 dead chaotic black market in Colombia earthquake U R escue workers in Colombia are working against the clock to free survivors trapped in buildings and under rubble following Monday’s powerful earthquake. More than 180 persons have been confirmed dead – most in the cities of Cali and Pereira. The magnitude 7.4 quake struck at 07:34h on Monday, and was felt across an enormous area, stretching for hundreds of miles across western Colombia, with fresh aftershocks still being felt on Tuesday. While the official death toll remains 181, an aggregated figure gathered from local officials puts it higher – potentially at more than 240. A State of Emergency has been declared by President Abelardo de la Espriella. Giving an update on Tuesday from Pereira, one of the worst-hit cities, President Espriella said that as well as those killed, almost 2600 had been injured, and almost 200 persons remain missing. He also reported that more than 1100 homes had

been destroyed, and more than 8000 damaged. Overnight on Monday into Tuesday, several people spent the night outdoors in cities like Pereira and Cali – either due to their homes being destroyed or fear of further collapses. Across the country, dozens of larger buildings have

also collapsed. Further tremors were felt in Cali on Tuesday – part of a pattern of aftershocks across the country, with more than 70 having taken place since Monday’s earthquake, according to Colombia’s geological service. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Venezuela, Israel restore consular ties as relations warm

enezuela and Israel have agreed to restore consular relations in a major shift. The announcement by both Israel and Venezuela on Tuesday comes as the interim President, Delcy Rodriguez, has pursued a major realignment since the United States military abduction of leader Nicolas Maduro in January. That has included thawing ties with Israel after Caracas severed ties 17 years ago in light of Israeli attacks on Gaza. Under Maduro, Venezuela had remained staunchly opposed to Israel, while aligning with regional foe Iran. In a statement on X,

Felix Plasencia Gonzalez, Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Relations, said the decision to restore consular ties came after Israel deployed a team to Venezuela after twin earthquakes devastated the South American country. Consular relations typically help provide joint services to citizens and travellers. They can signal a warming of relations, even while falling short of re-establishing full diplomatic ties. Rodriguez has hewed close to the administration of US President Donald Trump since Maduro’s abduction. The shift towards the close US ally has accompanied Caracas’s

move away from its long-time ally Cuba. In July, Venezuela announced it was withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing alleged bias against the Global South. The move aligns with the Trump Administration’s antagonistic approach to the tribunal, which it has pledged to “disable”. Israel saw its ties with several countries in Latin America deeply strained amid its genocidal war in Gaza, but the election of several rightwing candidates has seen a renewed push across the region to restore relations. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

US backs deeper economic ties with T&T

he United States Government is working to support Private Sector projects in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) as both countries seek to deepen investment and trade ties. US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau made the commitment during a Private Sector dinner hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) of T&T and the US Embassy on Monday. Landau said recent investments and continued interest by US firms in T&T provide reasons for optimism about the future of economic relations between the two countries.

He said commercial ties are an often-undervalued tool in developing relations between states and that more could be done to strengthen economic cooperation. The August 10 engagement brought together senior US Government officials and representatives from Trinidad and Tobago’s Private Sector to discuss “T&T’s Next Chapter: Energy, Investment, and Supply Chain Security”. Landau said the US Government is actively working to support Private Sector projects that can benefit the local economy and further deepen economic ties between the two countries. AMCHAM T&T President

Anna Henderson said the engagement provided an opportunity for members of the business community to engage directly with senior US Government leadership on issues that will influence T&T’s economic future. AMCHAM T&T CEO Nirad Tewarie said stronger relationships are built through dialogue and that such engagements could help identify areas for deeper cooperation between T&T and the United States. The dinner included US Embassy officials and senior representatives from major Private Sector companies. (Trinidad and Tobago Guardian)

nder Washington’s crippling oil embargo against Cuba, an exception that allows US firms to export fuel to private Cuban businesses has kickstarted a chaotic black market, and pried the lid off an energy sector tightly controlled by the state ever since Dwight Eisenhower was in the White House. Oil shipments from Cuba’s traditional suppliers Venezuela and Mexico ended abruptly after the US ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January. ‌US Coast Guard cutters patrol the waters off Cuba, while sanctions and threats have dissuaded tankers from even setting sail. The embargo has hobbled essential state-run services like the healthcare system, public transport, and schools. But under the Commerce Department exception, a trickle of gasoline

People walk with their bikes while getting off a special bus that transports people and their two-wheelers through the Havana Bay tunnel

and diesel is reaching private restaurants, retailers and taxis, the first significant landing of US fuel on the Caribbean island since Castro nationalised refineries after the 1959 revolution. Reuters could not determine which US companies are shipping fuel to Cuba, but there is no sign major oil

traders are involved. While providing some relief, the new system is sharpening wealth disparities. Black-market prices peaked at an eye-watering $10 a litre ($38 a gallon) this spring before easing as the volume of imports grew. (Excerpt from Reuters)

PM Browne calls for tougher sentences for gun crimes, repeat offenders

rime Minister (PM) Gaston Browne has called for tougher and more proportionate sentences for gun crimes and repeat offenders, saying short prison terms are failing to deter crime and protect the public. Speaking at a national security meeting with senior law enforcement officials, Browne raised concern that people convicted of serious firearm offences are sometimes receiving sentences of two or three years, despite legislation allowing penalties of up to 15 years for certain offences. He said the independence of the judiciary must be respected but argued that greater cooperation between

the judiciary, Parliament, and Government was needed to address rising crime and violence. Browne criticised what he described as a “revolving door” in which repeat offenders are arrested, imprisoned and released before allegedly committing further offences. He called for dangerous repeat offenders to remain incarcerated when warranted, while stressing that longer sentences should be combined with rehabilitation. The PM proposed mandatory vocational and trade training for inmates, particularly repeat offenders without employable skills, to improve their chances of

finding work after release. He also suggested that suitable inmates could contribute to national programmes, including the cleaning and maintenance of public spaces, as part of structured rehabilitation. Browne urged law enforcement agencies to provide courts with relevant information about repeat offenders, including their criminal histories, to help judicial officers make informed sentencing decisions. He said the Government would continue reviewing its response to crime, with a focus on balancing deterrence, rehabilitation and public safety. (Antigua Newsroom)

Brazil’s Supreme Court to weigh cases that could weaken Amazon protections

razil’s Supreme Court is set to hear several cases that could reshape protections for the Amazon rainforest after a mostly conservative Congress overrode several of leftist Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s environmental vetoes. The court will take up the cases on Wednesday, as lawmakers and environmental groups remain divided over how Brazil should balance economic development with environmental protections. Deforestation in the Amazon has fallen to its lowest level in a decade during the first half of 2026. The cases put some of Brazil’s most consequential envi-

ronmental fights before the country’s top court. On Friday, Brazil’s Supreme Court began reviewing final motions seeking clarification of a 2025 ruling that rejected the “time limit” thesis. The legal theory, backed by Brazil’s agribusiness lobby, restricts Indigenous land claims to territories occupied or under legal dispute when Brazil’s 1988 Constitution took effect. On Wednesday, the court will consider a legal fight over the future of Brazil’s soya moratorium, an agreement that barred major traders from buying soya grown on land deforested in the Amazon after 2008.

The court will also consider on Wednesday a challenge to a new environmental licensing law that fast-tracks approval for projects including mines, highways and industrial plants, prompting environmental groups to warn that it could weaken safeguards in one of the world’s most important ecosystems. Suely Araujo of the Climate Observatory said the law is already having tangible consequences in the Amazon, citing the paving of a controversial highway and plans to dredge the Tapajos River without adequate prior environmental review. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026

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Around the World

OILNEWS OIL NEWS Oil prices continue to climb on USIran deal doubts; stocks retreat

il prices touched a one-week high on Tuesday, and Wall Street finished lower as traders grew more pessimistic about a potential deal to bring stability to the Middle East and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Gold prices retreated from a two-month peak ahead of ‌consumer price data due on Wednesday. The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed as long as the US does not change its behaviour and accept Iran’s conditions to end the war, the newly appointed secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said on Tuesday. ”Markets are grappling with the prospects of some form of detente, although they’re misguided in thinking that any form of resolution is the last chapter of this story,” said Ron Albahary, chief investment officer at LNW. World equities gave back earlier gains, with MSCI’s gauge of stocks across the globe down 0.23 per cent. A back-and-forth between the US and Iran has been in focus amid escalating tensions that sent oil prices surging five per cent on Monday. US President Donald Trump on Monday had ⁠responded to Iranian conditions for a deal with his own, calling for Iran to pay compensation for those killed in wars, attacks and protests, potentially complicating efforts to reopen the crucial waterway. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Truck crash in Egypt kills 18, many of them child labourers

New attacks on shipping as Iran war talks hit fresh impasse

he United States and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis reported separate attacks on shipping on Tuesday as prospects for ending the five-month-old Iran war appeared to dim, with Tehran saying the Strait of ‌ Hormuz would remain closed unless Washington accepted its conditions. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis, who said on July 20 they would impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, attacked a Saudi ship carrying military equipment in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Houthi-run news agency Saba reported. There was no immediate Saudi confirmation of that at-

Damage on the cargo vessel Tihamah near Murad, Yemen, August 11, 2026

tack, but Yemen’s Transport

Ministry said four crew mem-

Trump secretly switched to different plane in Turkey amid Iran missile threat

hortly before Air Force One took off from Turkey at the end of last month’s NATO summit; President Trump secretly slipped away from the Presidential jet and was whisked to another plane with the help of an airport catering truck, according to a US official with direct knowledge of the matter.

The ruse was employed because the US had learned of a threat from Iran and its allied proxies. US intelligence had detected a credible plot to fire a missile at the plane Mr Trump was on as he left the Turkish capital of Ankara, CBS News reported exclusively. The President had expressed awareness of the

risks posed by the US-Iran war, calling himself Iran’s ”number one target” during the NATO summit. The Washington Post was first to report on the secret plane-switching. Multiple Trump administration officials expressed frustration Monday night that highly classified tactics and procedures lea-

t least 18 people, many of them children, have died when a pickup truck carrying agricultural labourers crashed in Egypt. The crash on Tuesday happened on a link road in the Al-Dawawis area of the Ismailia governorate, according to Egypt’s AlAhram news. Egypt’s Ministry of Health said there were 47 casualties, including about 30 injured. Victims were rushed to hospital in the nearby town of ElKassasin. “Most of the dead are children 13 and 14 years old,” a medical source at the hospital told AFP. The youngest victim was 10 years old. The workers were mostly from two villages in the Sharqiya governorate and were employed on

a farm in Ismailia, a local security source said. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had ordered an investigation into the accident, and the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Ministry of Labour said they would provide financial assistance to the families of those killed and to injured workers. Pick-up trucks are a common way for Egypt’s informal workers to reach their jobs. At least 1.3 million minors are engaged in child labour, according to official figures. Road fatalities and injuries in the country have risen by more than 10 per cent, according to Egypt’s state statistics agency. Children under 15 recorded the highest toll from such incidents. (Al Jazeera)

ked into the public eye, potentially limiting future protective operations for US Presidents. Asked Monday about the decision to secretly switch planes in Turkey, White House communications director Steven Cheung didn’t respond directly to the question. (Excerpt from CBS News)

US says helicopter fired missiles to disable ship breaking Iran’s blockade

Relatives and friends wait outside the Al-Qassasin Specialised Hospital for news following a road accident in which some 18 were killed

bers were killed in a suspected Houthi attack on a small cargo vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Tuesday. The fatalities aboard the Egyptianowned vessel Tihamah would be the first deaths in a Houthi strike on shipping since the Iran-Houthi war began. The US military, meanwhile, said a US Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles to disable the steering gear of a Panamaflagged cargo ship after it ignored repeated warnings to stop violating a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Maritime sources told Reuters the ship was hit off Pakistan while sailing into the Gulf of Oman. (Excerpt from Reuters)

he US military says one of its helicopters has fired missiles to disable ”the steering gear” of a cargo ship attempting to violate the US blockade of Iranian ports. In a statement, US Central Command (Centcom) says its MH-60 aircraft on Tuesday fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of the Panama-flagged M/V Vela Nova vessel as it attempted to transit the Gulf of Oman. Centcom said it acted after ”the ship’s civilian crew ignored repeated warnings from American forces”. The vessel ”is no longer transiting to Iran”, it added. Iran has not commented. The US has been enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports, following failed attempts to end the war it and Israel started

Centcom says its helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles on the Panama-flagged ship

on February 28. Tehran retaliated by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied states across the Gulf. It has also effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz – a key oil shipping waterway. A fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas used to transit the strait before the war, and prices have fluctuat-

ed wildly since then. Mediators have so far failed to bring the sides to an agreement on reopening the strait – and, since the latest ceasefire collapsed in June, both the US and Iran have exchanged fire intermittently. In its statement on X, Centcom said M/V Vela attempted to sail to an Iranian

port without naming it. It also did not say whether there were any casualties or injuries. It says the US blockade ”remains in full effect”, adding that as of 11 August Centcom has ”redirected 55 commercial vessels attempting to run the blockade, disabled 3 non-compliant vessels, and boarded 2”. In a separate development on Tuesday, Yemen’s internationally recognised government said six people were killed and 10 injured in strikes by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis on a cargo ship in the Red Sea. The Houthis said they hit a vessel carrying Saudi military equipment. It appears to be the first deadly attack by the group on a ship since the war began. (BBC News)

Europe breaks more heat records as temperatures soar

igh pressure has dominated Central and Eastern Europe in early August, breaking temperature records across the region. Austria recorded a high of 41.2C (106.2F), while Slovakia reached 42.2C. Hungary hit a peak of 41.8C, surpassing a record set in 1905, while overnight temperatures remained above 28C in some areas, marking it as a tropical night.

The extreme temperatures have been driven by a heat dome beneath the high-pressure system, which traps warm air close to the surface. The prolonged heat has dried out soil and vegetation, creating conditions conducive to the spread of wildfires. Fires have burnt across Italy, France, Serbia and Bulgaria, damaging forests and forcing residents

to evacuate. Water levels in the Danube, which flows through much of the affected region, have fallen to an all-time low. The receding river has exposed archaeological remains and wartime wreckage, including woolly mammoth bones, Second World War ships and remains associated with the Roman-era Constantine’s Bridge. Low water levels have

also affected energy production, reducing the efficiency of nuclear power plants in Slovakia and Serbia and forcing Hungary to shut down a plant because there was insufficient water for cooling. Meanwhile, a buoy in the Mediterranean recorded a sea-surface temperature of 33°C. If verified, it would be the highest recorded in the region. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026

guyanatimesgy.com

ARCHIE

DAILY HOROSCOPES

(March 21-April 19)

Process information, consider your options and put a foolproof plan in place before you act. Don’t let anger motivate you when intelligence and the will to make your life better are the paths to positive results. Choose to elevate situations by having an upbeat attitude to get others on board with your plans.

(April 20-May 20)

Take a moment to breathe, process and formulate a plan that is within your means. Refuse to let bravado or stubbornness take over when showing restraint and having a polished plan and the energy to oversee every detail are necessary. Overreacting and overdoing will lead to poor decisions and emotional and financial debt. Keep the peace.

PICKLES

(May 21-June 20)

(June 21-July 22)

Channel your energy wisely. Situations will turn negative if you aren’t careful with your words. Don’t trust body language. Ask direct questions, and prepare to meet in the middle if you want to put situations behind you with the least amount of aggravation. Your best returns will come from focusing on self-improvement, not trying to change others.

(July 23-Aug. 22)

Participate in something that motivates you to contribute and to make a difference. Bringing about positive change will attract attention and the people who can help you find the path to satisfaction and the confidence to continue to pursue your objective. If you are true to yourself and those you are trying to help, something good will transpire.

PEANUTS

CALVIN AND HOBBES

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

SUDOKU

Take a moment for yourself. Refrain from letting anyone push you into making a premature decision. Align yourself with positive people and pastimes that bring out the best in you. Once you feel comfortable with yourself, you will make better decisions. Deal with unfinished business, and pursue health and exercise programs that fit into your routine.

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Hit the ground running. You can accomplish plenty if you are willing to test your strength, endurance and energy levels. Refuse to let resentment ruin your day. Filter through the good and the bad, and acknowledge the truth before you make a move. Surround yourself with those who share your beliefs and lifestyle. Make selfimprovements that boost your confidence.

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Stop, look and listen. It’s in your best interest to slow down, observe and assimilate to what’s happening around you. Blending in will give you a chance to explore the possibilities and to distance yourself from anything that is not to your advantage. Understanding the magnitude of situations unfolding will help you make better decisions.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Keep moving. The more you do, the better. Your ability to think and react fast will help you carve your way forward. Making personal gains, updating your look and learning something new are all highlighted. Socializing with people who enjoy the same interests will lead to a special connection. Having a change of heart will bring about adjustments.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

(Feb. 20-March 20)

Turn your thoughts and dreams into reality. Assess your lifestyle and surroundings, and consider what makes you happy and comfortable. Home is the best place to start when you want to take responsibility for your peace of mind. A change will have a positive impact on how others view and accept you. Improve your standards to meet demands. Refrain from blaming others before you get the facts. Let things play out in real time, and make suggestions and decisions that are good for everyone, not just you. Having a positive attitude and an open ear will help you gain clout and respect. Learn from experience, and initiate discipline to offset negative outcomes. Call on and enlist the help of those you trust to make positive contributions. Avoid hasty purchases or agreements that lack continuity. Agree to and sign off on only what you feel will benefit you and promote your interests. Setting up your surroundings to ensure you can handle the additional pressures you are taking on will make a difference. Walk away from disruptive situations. Put your time and effort into making personal changes that ease stress and give you room to rethink what’s in your best interest. Problems with partners and those you hire or set up a work relationship with will not be up-front regarding what they will or can do. Protect yourself with written agreements.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026

Crash cuts short Inaugural Elite Basketball League bounces off in Linden tonight Cutting’s campaign …Kings clash with Jets, Royals in French Guiana face Raiders on opening night T

jani Cutting’s campaign in French Guiana ended prematurely after the Kaieteur Attack Racing Cycle Club (KARCC) rider suffered a high-speed crash during the Grand Prix S3T/Ouest Fleurs in Saint-Laurent du Maroni on Saturday. Cutting was one of three KARCC cyclists invited by the Vélo Club du Maroni to compete in two Grand Prix events over the weekend. He was joined by Kwame “Key Man” Ridley and Andre “Padlock” Greene, while Kevin Edwards served as team manager. According to Cutting, two cyclists directly ahead of him touched wheels and fell, leaving him with little time to avoid the collision. He was thrown forward from his bicycle before being run over by other riders caught in the incident. Cutting injured his right thigh, and he was transported by ambulance to the starting point for medical treatment. Although he initially believed he would be able to compete in Sunday’s Grand Prix Sanyrapid/LA Transports, the injury proved more serious than first thought. The KARCC team faced a difficult weekend as the strong pace of the peloton tested the Guyanese riders. Many of the French Guiana

Ajani Cutting’s campaign in French Guiana ended prematurely after the Kaieteur Attack Racing Cycle Club rider suffered a highspeed crash during the Grand Prix S3T/Ouest Fleurs

cyclists were reportedly preparing for an upcoming international assignment and displayed a high level of fitness throughout the races. Despite the setback, Cutting, who is competing in his first year at the elite level in Guyana, said there were positives to take from the experience. He was particularly

impressed by the speed and conditioning of the riders before his race was brought to an early end. Cutting said he hopes to compete more regularly in French Guiana, believing that the challenging terrain and competitive racing will help him develop as an emerging cyclist.

he inaugural staging of the Linden Elite Basketball League will start with a double header feature tonight, August 12, as competitive basketball returns to the mining town featuring six elite teams. The tournament will be staged at the Retrieve Hard Court. In the opening fixtures tonight, the Central Mackenzie Kings will come to grips with Amelia’s Ward Jets, beginning at 19:00h, while the second game pits the national club champions and number one ranked club, Victory Valley Royals, against the home side Retrieve Raiders, which tips off at 21:00h. The six clubs which will be involved in this specially promoted competition, namely, Victory Valley Royals, Amelia’s Ward Jets, Retrieve Raiders, Block 22 Flames, Central Mackenzie Kings and making their debut, are ⁠Yankees. Each club will face each other in the preliminary round play, after which the top four will advance to the semi-finals. The playing nights after tonight’s open-

The Retrieve Hardcourt in Linden is set to come alive with basketball action from tonight (file Photo)

ing matches are FridayAugust 14, SaturdayAugust 15, Sunday-August 16, Monday-August 17, Tuesday-August 18, Wednesday-August 19, and Thursday-August 20. While the semi-final is scheduled for Friday, August 21, on Saturday, August 22, the final and third-place playoff games will be staged. Teams will receive a champions’ trophy, and the second-place finishers also a trophy, a Most Valuable

Player Award, a Best Scorer Award, a Best Defensive Player Award and Coach of the Tournament awards. Several cash incentives are also at stake for the top teams in this tournament, which will be played at the Retrieve Hard Court. Further, Friday night’s double header will see Retrieve Raiders going against Central Mackenzie Kings at 19:00h, and the second match at 21:00h will see Vikings opposing Block 22 Flames.

Essequibo U-13 Inter-Academy Tournament launched …set to advance youth cricket development

he Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) officially launched the Essequibo Under-13 InterAcademy Tournament on Monday, August 10, at the Joe Jagmohan Ground, Hampton Court, Essequibo, a missive from the body indicated. The tournament was launched by ECB President Deleep Singh in the presence of players, coaches, and Board members. The competition brings together Under-13 players drawn from cricket academies across Pomeroon, North Essequibo, South Essequibo, Wakenaam, Leguan, East

Young cricketers at the launch of the Essequibo Under-13 Inter-Academy Tournament

Bank Essequibo and Bartica, providing an important developmental platform for 56 young cricketers. The 35-over competition comprises four teams com-

peting in seven matches, including the final. Matches will be played at the Reliance Community Ground, Affiance No. 1 Ground, and Joe Jagmohan Ground. The

two leading teams will contest the championship final on Thursday at the Joe Jagmohan Ground, Hampton Court. During his address, President Singh announced that the tournament will become an annual championship, giving Under-13 players across the county an opportunity to compete for the title each year. He also reiterated that the South Essequibo Academy will be renamed in honour of the late Coach Forbes Daniels, in recognition of his immense contribution to the growth and development of cricket in

Essequibo over several decades. The tournament was established to provide young academy players with meaningful competitive match experience while strengthening their preparation for the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board Under-13 InterCounty Tournament. Throughout the competition, players will have the opportunity to test their abilities against others within their age group, further develop their technical and tactical skills, build friendships with players from other academies, and gain valuable experience in a

structured competitive environment. The tournament also places emphasis on the players’ personal growth and development both on and off the field, with guidance being provided by competent and qualified coaches throughout the competition. The Essequibo Under-13 Inter-Academy Tournament is an initiative of the Essequibo Cricket Board and assistance from the Guyana Cricket Board, with additional support and contributions from several individuals committed to the advancement of youth cricket in Essequibo.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026

Guyana stumble again in Rising Stars U-19 Championship G

uyana’s Under-19 Women suffered their second consecutive defeat in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Women’s Under-19 Championship yesterday, going down by 21 runs to Jamaica at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua. Jamaica, after winning the toss and electing to bat, posted 103 before being dismissed in 19.4 overs. Sashane Ricketts top-scored with 22 from 31 balls, while Shamara Hall retired out for 13 from 22 deliveries. Guyana’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Christina Jackson, Danellie Manns and Shenesa Thomas claiming two wickets apiece. In reply, Guyana struggled against the Jamaican attack and were bowled out for 82 in 17.2 overs. Akeela Stephen offered some resistance with 18 from 16 balls,

Guyana’s Under-19 women suffered another defeat to Jamaica on Tuesday (file photo)

including three fours. Neveah Webley led Jamaica’s bowling effort with three for 19, while Adanya Baugh and Ricketts claimed two wickets each. The result leaves Guyana still searching for their first victory in the championship, following an opening-round washout and successive defeats.

At the same venue, Barbados Under-19 Women produced one of the outstanding batting displays of the tournament, crushing Leeward Islands Under-19 Women by 90 runs. Opener Eboni Brathwaite blasted a remarkable 135 from just 76 balls, including 17 fours and seven sixes, as

Aroaima lead weekend winners as Summer Super Cup continues T

he Summer Super Cup 2026 continued at the Bayroc National Stadium in Linden over the weekend, with Aroaima Football Club (FC) producing the biggest attacking display of the round while Haynes Winner Connection and Milerock FC also secured victories. Netrockers FC and Pdey Stars, meanwhile, battled to a goalless draw. Saturday’s opening encounter saw Aroaima FC run riot against Hi Stars, securing a commanding 6-1 victory. Aroaima wasted little time getting on the scoresheet, with Lleuton Lyte opening the scoring in the seventh minute. Hi Stars responded four minutes later through Jermaine King, to level the contest at 1-1. The equaliser, however, only provided temporary relief for Hi Stars as Aroaima regained control. David Belgrave restored the lead in the 21st minute, before Lindon Benjamin extended the advantage in the 37th minute. Belgrave struck again shortly after the restart, completing his brace in the 48th minute as Aroaima continued to dominate. Dave Torrenton added another in the 58th minute, before Emanuel Surawing completed the scoring in the 78th minute, handing Aroaima a convincing fivegoal victory margin. Later that evening, Haynes Winner Connection

Summer Super Cup action produced some exciting encounters over the weekend (file Photo)

recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory over Blueberry Hill FC. Anthony Lane was the architect of the win, scoring twice inside the opening 11 minutes. Lane broke the deadlock in the third minute before doubling the advantage in the 11th. Blueberry Hill struggled to find a response, and Haynes Winner Connection eventually put the result beyond doubt when Kevin Dare scored in the 81st minute to complete the 3-0 victory.

Milerock edge Silver Shattas

Sunday’s action saw Milerock FC maintaining a slim lead over Silver Shattas FC to eventually prevail, 2-1. Milerock took the lead in the 28th minute through Tyrese Lewis, and held their advantage for much of the contest. The lead was doubled

in the 72nd minute when Michael Jeffers found the back of the net, leaving Silver Shattas with a difficult task in the closing stages. Silver Shattas did manage to pull one back through Kilan Newland in the 76th minute, but Milerock held firm during the final minutes to secure all three points. The final match of the weekend produced a tight defensive battle, with Netrockers FC and Pdey Stars playing to a 0-0 draw. Neither side was able to find the decisive breakthrough despite their efforts, resulting in the points being shared. The latest round added further intrigue to the Summer Super Cup, with teams continuing their battle for valuable points as the competition progresses at the Bayroc National Stadium.

Barbados raced to 206 for two from their 20 overs. Zaniyah Bruce added 20 from 18 balls. Leeward Islands managed 116 for three from their 20 overs, with Zara Skerritt making 37 from 55 balls and Innaka Wilson contributing 26 from 20. At the Liberta Sports Club, Trinidad and Tobago’s Under-19 Women completed a commanding 10-wicket victory over the Windward Islands. Windward Islands were bowled out for just 52 in 19.2 overs, with Jaeda Tyrell making 16 and Kaela George 12. Samara Ramnath was the chief de-

stroyer with four for 10, while Brianna Harricharan took two for nine. Trinidad and Tobago needed only 6.3 overs to reach 53 without loss, with Ramnath unbeaten on 27 from 22 balls and Amrita Ramtahal 18 from 18. The fourth round continues today, with the Leeward Islands facing Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica meeting Barbados from 09:00h. Guyana will then take on the Windward Islands from 14:30h, hoping to finally get their campaign off the mark.

Centurion Eboni Brathwaite

Heavyweights collide as Lotto/Let’s Bet T10 Tapeball heads to East Bank and West Demerara

f the electrifying nocturnal action at Albion set the benchmark for the Lotto/Let’sBet One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast, the upcoming East Bank/West Demerara (EBD/WCD) leg threatens to crank the intensity up another notch. Fresh off a masterclass performance in Berbice – where New Amsterdam’s Grillmaster Sip N Play All-Stars pocketed GY$500,000 courtesy of Sawa I n v e s t m e n t , and became the tournament’s first official qualifiers – the travelling cricket showcase now pivots toward a stacked weekend of elimination clashes. The draw has thrown defending zone champions Eccles All-Stars and Mahdia Movements Family into the deep end, alongside established heavyweights Village Rams and Airport SVC, among some new and talented units. It is a line-up that leaves virtually zero margin for error. “The thrills we witnessed under the lights at Albion in Berbice were nothing short of sensational, but this upcoming zone promises even more intensity,” organiser John Ramsingh declared. “When you look at the draw, having two previous zone champions in Eccles All-Stars and Mahdia (Movements Family) coming in alongside formidable powerhouses like Village Rams and Airport SVC, every single ball is going to be a battle.” The action unfolds on Saturday, August 15, across four venues with admission free to the public. Farm Ground will host the opening salvo at 10:00h as Soesdyke XI faces Laluni Sports Club, followed by The Elite Conquerors taking on Eccles All-Stars. Over at Goed Fortuin Ground, Village

Rams meet Brave Heart before Team Eastsyde tangle with Vintage All-Stars. Meten-Meer-Zorg features Knight Riders against Young Steppaz, alongside Young Guns taking on Airport SVC, while Uitvlugt Ground sees Hyde Park face Trendsetter, and Zeelugt Sports Club clash with Mahdia

GY$50,000 each. Courtesy of ScoopRide, every losing quarter-finalist will also receive GY$25,000. Once the EBD/WCD champions book their date with destiny against Sip N Play, the T10 caravan will roll into the Essequibo Zone from August 22–23, culminating with the regional finals at the Anna Regina National Stadium on August 23.

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Movements Family. The respective ground winners will battle in the afternoon quarter-finals to secure passage into Sunday’s final four. MetenMeer-Zorg will then host the grand finale on Sunday, August 16. The semi-finals are scheduled for 10:00h and 12:00h, culminating in the zone final at 15:00h to crown the regional champions. Beyond securing a coveted place in the National Finals on Sunday, October 11, at the Anna Regina National Stadium – where a monumental GY$2 million top prize, alongside GY$1 million and GY$500,000 for secondand third-place, awaits- there is plenty of immediate silverware and cash on the line. The EBD/WCD zone runners-up will walk away with GY$200,000 donated by Mohamad Shairaz Roshandin, while losing semi-finalists take home

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Olympic Kremlin’s final furlong…

Slingerz Racing calling time on celebrated thoroughbred O

lympic Kremlin will have one last shot at Guyana Cup glory before he, as one of Guyana’s most celebrated thoroughbreds, bows out of racing. The nine-year-old Brazilian-bred chestnut is being prepared for what will be his final competitive appearance when the 18th annual Guyana Cup takes centre stage at the Rising Sun Turf Club on August 23. For Slingerz Racing Stable, it is more than a bid to reclaim a coveted crown. It is the final chapter in the career of the horse that helped transform the relatively young stable into a household name in Guyanese racing. Stable owner Javed Ali confirmed that Olympic Kremlin will be retired after the Guyana Cup, bringing the curtain down on a career that has already secured his place among the country’s elite thoroughbreds. Bred from Agnes Gold as sire and Sweet Lemonade as dam, Olympic Kremlin was foaled in Brazil in 2017 and joined Slingerz in 2024. He, in fact, arrived in Guyana from Brazil just mere

days before he delivered the g e s t stable its bigbreakthrough, storming to victory in the 2024 Guyana Cup, the “holy grail” of local racing, a n d a n nouncing

being crowned 2024 Horse of the Year at the One Guyana Thoroughbred Racing Awards. Now, Slingerz Racing wants its champion to go out on top. The Guyana Cup headlines a blockbuster 14-race programme organised by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee, with more than $65 million in total prize money up for grabs. But for many fans, Olympic Kremlin’s final appearance in the $22m Banks Guyana Cup will be the day’s biggest attraction. There is also unfinished Olympic Kremlin in action business. Last year, Olympic Kremlin returned to defend his Guyana Cup crown before a starting-gate malfunction robbed him o f the opportunity. The champion and another Slingerz runner Slingerz as w e r e left stranded while a force to be r e c k o n e d the re- mainder of the field with. broke away. It was a bitter ending for a Olympic Kremlin’s 2024 campaign was nothing short horse that had entered as deof outstanding. He added fending champion and carried the President’s Cup and the the hopes of thousands who Showdown of Champions at had turned out to see him race Port Mourant Turf Club before for back-to-back victories.

GFF raises stakes with $12M prize package for Elite League Season 8

Ali, however, says the stable has moved on and is focused entirely on this year’s showdown, particularly after receiving assurances that the problems experienced last year will not be repeated. Slingerz has also taken a calculated approach to Olympic Kremlin’s preparation, carefully managing his campaign and building him up towards his final assignment. The veteran has shown enough in recent outings to suggest he remains a serious contender. He finished second behind Dataman in this year’s Banks DIH Classic before placing third behind Stat and Mapa Do Brasil in last month’s

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has announced a $12 million prize package for Season Eight of the Elite League, which is scheduled to kick off on August 29, with defending champions Slingerz Football Club (FC) among 10 clubs competing for the title. Slingerz will be joined by Guyana Police Force FC, Guyana Defence Force FC, Western Tigers FC, Santos FC, Monedderlust FC, Ann’s Grove United, Den Amstel FC, Fruta Conquerors FC, and newly promoted Camptown FC. The champions will receive $4 million, while the second-, third- and fourth-place

finishers will collect $3 million, $2 million, and $1 million, respectively. The fifthplace team will earn $500,000, with the remaining five clubs receiving $300,000 each. Season Eight will be contested over two rounds, and is expected to provide approximately six months of top-level domestic football. The league remains the country’s main platform for identifying and developing players for Guyana’s national teams. Several changes have also been introduced following consultations between the GFF and the participating clubs. Teams will now be allowed to register as many as 35 players, up from 30 last season,

while match-day squads have been increased from 20 to 23. The federation is also reviewing the commercial and infrastructural requirements for clubs interested in staging matches at their home venues. Any venue selected must first satisfy the required competition standards. The updated regulations were developed using feedback from the clubs and lessons from Season Seven, with the GFF aiming to improve the playing environment and strengthen the competition. The federation has encouraged supporters to attend matches and back their respective clubs throughout the season.

CARICOM Cup. For Ali, though, the Guyana Cup is about more

Beharry U19 T20 Cricket…

Fredericks, Dejonge, Thomas highlight Round 2 of national playoffs S

cintillating knocks were the order of the day on Tuesday as the likes of Lemuel Dejonge and Ravid Fredericks highlighted Round Two in the Beharry Group School’s Under-19 T20 Competition national playoffs. Essequibo Islands, Abram Zuil, the Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) and Annandale Secondary racked up huge wins as each team makes a push for spots in the final four and ensuing knockout games in the Ministry of Education (MoE)supported tournament. Importantly for the tournament, Tuesday’s four games were contested at four grounds across the country, from Albion in Berbice to Walton Hall on the Essequibo Coast.

Essequibo Islands whip Covent Garden by 9 wickets at Wakenaam

A look at the fixtures for the first half of the 2026/27 League

Slingerz Racing Stable owner Javed Ali

than reclaiming a trophy. It is about allowing Olympic Kremlin to write the final line of his own story. The horse has become a fan favourite and one of the most recognisable names on the local racing circuit. On August 23, thousands are expected to flock to Rising Sun not only to witness another Guyana Cup but also to salute a champion who has given them some of the sport’s most memorable moments. Slingerz wants the title back. Olympic Kremlin wants one final victory. And the racing fraternity will be hoping the old champion has one more run left in him.

Convent Gardens could only muster 62-10 in 14.1 overs, with Jamele Schultz (14) and Vinesh Kalpoo (14) trying to offer something to their team after another brilliant spell this tournament from Demarcus Thomas (4-25) and national all-rounder Bhomesh Lall (223). The Island lads then spend 69-1 in six overs flat, as Kalpoo (1-15) got no help from his teammates against the unbeaten duo of Nickel Retemiah, who raced to 33* off 15 balls, and Justin Dowlin (19*), who helped to see his team over the line yet again during these crunch stages.

Abram Zuil maul Queen’s College by 8 wickets at Walton Hall Ground

In another dominant showing, Abram Zuil stormed to a massive win after successfully chasing a 126-6 score made by a spirited QC team. Their efforts were led by a run-a-ball, 45 from Emilio Singh and 35 from Nathan Gurcharran. Bowling for Abram Zuil was ordinary, with Joash Inniss grabbing 2-16, but it was opener Ravid Fredericks’ belliger-

Lemuel Dejonge receives his Player of the Match Award for a brilliant 90*

ent knock of 91 not out off 30 balls that was extraordinary. Arguably one of the best batters of the tournament, Fredricks hit eight fours and nine sixes as he piloted his team to 130-2 in a mere seven overs, following his power-hitting exhibition. which took his team home with tons of momentum going forward in the competition.

BEI inflict pain on West Side High by 142 runs at Albion Ground

The in-form Lemuel Dejonge missed out on a possible ton but nevertheless played with class for his 59-ball 90* (10x4, 1x6); soon Arush Hemraj (47) helped pile on 1863 batting first for BEI. Only Nathan Karamchand (2-24) made inroads with the ball for West Side High, which crumbled to 44-10 in 14.3 overs of their chase. West Side High’s Devendra Samaroo (17) and the in-form Ricardo Danesar (15) failed to get past the combined might of the three-headed monster composed of national youth players Brandon Grimmond (3-14), Gilbert Griffith (3-7) and Ray Ramnauth (3-0).

Annandale get past St Stanislaus by 2 runs at QC Ground

Batting first, Annandale posted just 99-7 after Ruel

Dindyal (29), Akeem Persaud (15) and Joshua Bollers (13) led the efforts with the bat. Saint’s bowling struggled as Jessie Craig (1-13) emerged as the pick of the lot before his team agonisingly fell short of their target, being kept to 97-6 by the end of 20 overs despite a fighting 38 from Craig. Shawn Ramjit (3-25) and Dindyal (1-8) kept Annandale’s nerves together as they delivered an emphatic win for their school. Round 3 of the playoffs continues Thursday. Abram Zuil will oppose the Essequibo Islands in a blockbuster match at Pomona Ground in Group A’s Game One at 10:00h. Elsewhere, at QC Ground, the home team will take on Covent Garden at 09:30h. Group B, meanwhile, features a highly anticipated match between Annandale and West Side High at Cotton Tree Ground in Game One from 10:00h. Game Two will see St Stanislaus looking to get past the lads from BEI in their match at QC Ground from 13:30h. Both Abram Zuil and Essequibo Islands have already qualified for the final knockout playoff stage and will now battle to see which school emerges atop Group A.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026

Pg 23

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

Olympic Kremlin’s final furlong…

Beharry U19 T20 Cricket…

Fredericks, Slingerz Dejonge, Thomas Racing highlight calling Round 2 of national playoffs

time on celebrated thoroughbred

Pg 23

Ravid Fredericks blasted 8 fours and 9 sixes in his unbeaten 91

GFF raises stakes with $12M prize package for Elite League Season 8 Pg 23

Season Eight of the Elite League is scheduled to kick off on August 29 with defending champions Slingerz FC among 10 clubs vying for the title (Elite League photo)

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