The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, August 20 –01:55h–03:25h and Thursday, August 21 – 02:55h–04:25h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, August 20 –14:45h–16:15h and Thursday, August 21 – 15:35h–17:05h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Thundery showers and late-afternoon sunshine are expected during the day, and cloudy skies with late-night thundery showers are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.
Winds: North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 3.12 metres.
High Tide: 14:44h reaching a maximum height of 2.24 metres.
Low Tide: 08:10h and 20:31 reaching minimum heights of 0.86 metre and 0.98 metre.
2025 elections
No evidence of bloated list, campaigning in Guyana remains peaceful – Carter Center
…urges GECOM to boost public communication to safeguard confidence
eleasing its Preelection Statement for Guyana’s September 1 General and Regional Elections (GRE), the Carter Center reported no evidence of inflation in the Official List of Electors (OLE) and noted that campaigning has proceeded mostly peacefully, aside from only minor incidents.
The organisation praised legal reforms introducing new voter registration rules, decentralised tabulation and greater transparency. However, it urged GECOM to improve public communication and emphasised the need for equal access to public resources and media, transparent campaign finances and citizens’ full participation in the political process. The Carter Center reported that, despite public concern about the size of the OLE, which currently stands at 757,690 registered voters, no credible evidence of voter list manipulation or inflation was found.
“While the relative size of the OLE raises concerns for many Guyanese, The Carter Center has not received evidence of inflation of the voter roll,” the statement read.
On its observation of the campaign period thus far the organisation noted that: “To date, the campaign has proceeded in a generally peaceful manner with no major incidents of violence, although some confrontations at public meetings and overheated rhetoric have been reported.”
Code of Conduct
However, the Center also expressed concern that only four of the six contesting parties signed the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) Code of Conduct. The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) lead by Presidential Candidate, Aubrey Norton, and Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) led by Amanza Walton-Desir have not signed the Code of Conduct. The Carter Center also highlighted concerns of incidents of destruction of campaign materials by opposing party supporters.
In one such incident earlier this year, video captured We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) supporters aggressively removing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) flags from a vehicle and tossing them roadside in the presence of WIN Presidential Candidate, United States (US)-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed. The incident sparked outrage among PPP/C activists, who saw it as a deliberate and confrontational sign of escalating political hostility. A report was subsequently made to the police. In another incident on the cam-
paign trail, which was not in the Carter Center report, was WIN representative Bradley Sampson, known as “Doggie,” beating a woman with a firearm during a dispute over underpayment of individuals mobilised to participate in the nominations march for WIN.
Another incident that was not captured in the pre-elections report, WIN associate, Bryan Max, was caught on camera threatening to kill a sitting Government Minister with a machete in his hand. Additionally, Mohamed faced complaints from Amerindian communities after campaigning in their villages without permission, violating the Amerindian Act. Objections from Toshaos were met with intimidation by Mohamed and his supporters. However, this too was not reported in the pre-election report.
Vote buying
In yet another incident, which too was not captured in the report, the USsanctioned Mohamed could be seen distributing cash at a public meeting in an indigenous community and making certain promises. This
prompted GECOM to issue a warning that it is a criminal offence to pay voters in exchange for their vote.
In their statement, the Carter Center appealed to the parties for peace, saying: “The Center urges all political parties and state bodies to respect the rights of individuals to associate freely and calls on all parties to refrain from any actions that could be construed as intimidation or victimisation.”
The Carter Center also addressed the case of three local commercial banks having closed the personal accounts of around 40 WIN candidates, party members and associates. However, while expressing concern that the banks may be over-complying with the sanctions, the US Treasury Department has not clarified the extent of the banks' liability when dealing with associates of sanctioned individuals, nor has it addressed whether such transactions pose a risk to the banks’ licences.
Debanking (sometimes spelled de-banking, and also known within the banking industry as de-risking) is the closure of people's or or-
ganisations' bank accounts by banks that perceive the account holders to pose a financial, legal, regulatory, or reputational risk to the bank.
Announcements before election day
The organisation also addressed what it termed the “misuse of state resources”, accusing President Dr Irfaan Ali sought to give the PPP/C an unfair advantage by announcing the promotion of over 2800 Guyana Police Force (GPF) officers and making bridge crossings free from August 1, after July 30.
However, while these measures were implemented after July 30, they were in fact announced earlier in the year, even before the election date was set in May. The bridge toll removal was disclosed in March, while the police promotions are part of a broader reform of the Joint Services.
In January, President Ali announced an increase in the minimum wage for junior ranks to $130,000 and years ago reaffirmed the Government’s restoration of the Joint Services’ annual one-month bonus.
Following an invitation from the Government in April, The Carter Center’s team arrived in Guyana in June and will continue observing the election through and after voting day. The organisation will issue a preliminary report shortly after the election, followed by a final comprehensive report in the coming months.
The warnings issued by cardiologist Dr Mahendra Carpen on the dangers of vaping and recreational drug use must not be taken lightly. His alarm over the growing prevalence of vaping devices, increasingly laced with hard drugs, exposes an urgent public health predicament that has been quietly unfolding, particularly among the country’s youth. What began as a seemingly harmless alternative to traditional smoking has morphed into a dangerous and addictive habit with potentially devastating consequences.
Vaping, often marketed as a modern substitute for cigarettes, has gained a foothold among teenagers and young adults, lured by sleek devices, enticing flavours, and the perception of being a safer alternative. Yet, beneath the veneer of sophistication lies a cocktail of chemicals with serious health risks. As Dr Carpen has emphasised, even nicotine-based vaping on its own causes acute harm: elevated heart rate, heightened blood pressure, increased inflammation within blood vessels, and the very real risk of heart attacks and strokes.
What makes the situation even more alarming in Guyana is the reported infiltration of far more lethal substances into vaping liquids. Cocaine, ecstasy, and other narcotics are being discreetly mixed into these products, transforming them into potent tools of dependency. This practice is not only a public health hazard but also a predatory act by those who profit from addiction. The deliberate inclusion of highly addictive substances ensures repeat customers while devastating the health of young people who may not fully grasp the risks they are taking.
The issue extends well beyond individual choices. Recreational drug use, whether through vaping, alcohol abuse, or harder narcotics, erodes the social fabric of the nation. Addiction destroys families, diminishes productivity, and drains public healthcare resources. The economic cost of treating cardiovascular disease, strokes, and other drug-related illnesses will inevitably rise if this trend continues unchecked. The ripple effect is enormous: children grow up in broken homes, communities face increased crime linked to drug dependency, and national development suffers as a result of a weakened workforce.
The gender-specific consequences outlined by Dr Carpen underscore the complexity of the crisis. Men, often dismissive of long-term health risks, are especially vulnerable to conditions such as erectile dysfunction, a condition increasingly tied to drug and alcohol abuse. This reality, while uncomfortable, can serve as a compelling deterrent in health education campaigns. Women, on the other hand, face even harsher cardiovascular effects. Their bodies are less capable of metabolising and withstanding the toxins in alcohol, nicotine, and hard drugs, resulting in higher rates of serious cardiovascular complications. The impact is both physiological and societal, as women often carry the greater burden of caregiving in families.
Addressing this crisis requires a multidimensional approach entrenched in prevention, awareness, and accountability. Public education must go far beyond generic anti-drug campaigns. Messaging should be tailored to resonate with different demographics, addressing the distinct risks men and women face while emphasising the long-term damage caused by what is too often perceived as “recreational”. Schools, parents, and community leaders must be brought into the fold, recognising that young people are particularly susceptible to peer pressure and aggressive marketing tactics from industries profiting off addiction.
Equally important is enforcement. Authorities must intensify efforts to regulate the sale of vaping products, particularly those targeted at minors. Stronger penalties for the distribution of illicitly laced vape liquids are necessary to send a clear message that the health of Guyana’s citizens is not negotiable. Alongside enforcement, there must be improved treatment options and rehabilitation services for those already caught in the cycle of addiction. Without a robust system of support, the problem will only deepen.
The allure of vaping as a modern lifestyle choice must be stripped of its deceptive glamour and replaced with clear, evidence-based education about its dangers. Dr Carpen’s warnings are not speculative, but rather they are grounded in medical evidence and frontline experience. Ignoring these warnings would be a costly mistake, one paid not only in hospital bills but in lives lost prematurely.
the new
PPP/C's 2025 manifesto offers a vision for people, planet, and prosperity
Dear Editor,
As we approach the upcoming elections, much discussion has rightly centred on the release of the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)'s 2025 manifesto.
I wish to offer my perspective as a citizen who has carefully examined this document, which I believe is the boldest and most revolutionary fiveyear plan ever presented to the electorate in our country's history.
Of course, a full review of the manifesto would require far more space than a single newspaper column can accommodate. Nevertheless, there are several important elements that deserve recognition, especially by those who seek an objective analysis of what this manifesto represents for Guyana's future.
Firstly, the manifesto draws on decades of policy formulation as it incorporates strategies such as the National Development Strategy (NDS), Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers I and II (PRSP), the National Competitiveness
Strategy, and the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). What stands out is the way these frameworks are synthesised into a forward-looking plan that directly addresses the present and future challenges facing Guyana.
If the PPP/C continues its strong record of delivering on commitments, citizens can be assured that critical issues such as the cost of living, energy security, food security, poverty reduction, private sector competitiveness, and climate resilience will be comprehensively addressed over the next five years.
Secondly, the manifesto emphasises the continued diversification of our economy—a policy that has already borne fruit. Unlike the dependency on a few primary sectors during the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s, which left us vulnerable to global shocks, the PPP/C's economic diversification strategy has allowed Guyana to withstand and even grow through multiple crises, including the 2007/08 glob -
al economic and financial crises, the COVID-19 pandemic, and supply chain disruptions stemming from the Russia/Ukraine conflict.
These are not mere coincidences but a direct result of the successful implementation of the manifesto by successive PPP/C Governments. I am encouraged by the fact that the 2025 manifesto not only promises to build on our past successes but also ensures that our economy is more resilient, sustainable, and capable of generating high-paying jobs across multiple sectors, which in turn will allow citizens to benefit directly from our economic transformation.
Thirdly, the PPP/ C's 2025 manifesto also speaks to other dimensions of development. Specifically, it sets out measures to strengthen social justice, social equity, and social harmony by creating a country where every citizen can study, work, live, and retire in dignity. Importantly, the manifesto is not limited to the well-being of humans
alone. The 2025 manifesto makes clear that biodiversity, our forest, and even animal rights form part of the PPP/C's vision, underlining the party's commitment to the well-being of every living entity in Guyana.
Finally, the PPP/ C's manifesto positions Guyana as a global leader on issues of climate change and environmental stewardship. This innovative policy document envisions a "green economy" where environmental sustainability is not a tradeoff but a driver of innovation and global leadership and an important source of substantial non-tax revenue. As voters, we should carefully consider this vision as well as the capability of political parties to deliver on their promises. Any review of our post-independence history would reveal that the only party that has delivered on all its visionary policies since independence is the PPP/C.
Yours faithfully, Kevin Persaud
Students taking in
North Ruimveldt Secondary, commissioned on Monday (Education Ministry photos)
The real outcome of the election campaign will be clear after real polls on September 1
Dear Editor, APNU has lost several key PNCR leaders, including Geeta Chandan Edmond, Dawn Hastings, Amanza Desir, Jermaine Figueira, Simona Broomes, and James Bond, and has side-lined senior politicians from the last APNU+AFC government.
The emergence of Azruddin Mohamed’s WIN party, which draws support mainly from APNU's base, poses a new threat. While some people believe that WIN could revitalise third-party governance, others are unsure. However, both major parties, PPPC and APNU, recognise WIN's potential influence on the electorate, given its financial appeal to voters.
APNU leader Mr Aubrey Norton downplays the impact of losing top PNCR members but expresses deep concern about WIN's campaign approach. Notes Mr Norton: “Don’t be carried away by people robbing the economy and making fancy offers. Be sensible: if they are thieving out of government, what would happen when they get into government? Since when did the thief man change overnight?”
APNU is worried that WIN may achieve results similar to when AFC emerged on the political scene in 2006. As a new and third political force, AFC won five seats in 2006,main-
ly at the expense of PNCR, thus reducing its representation from 27 to 22 seats in Parliament. During the same period, PPPC increased its seats from 35 to 36.
WIN’s lack of credibility, citing lack of governmental experience and noting that its leader has been sanctioned by the US OFAC Unit for alleged gold and drug smuggling. The PPPC also suggests that if members of WIN are elected to Parliament, it could present challenges for the country's relationship with the US.
Social commentator Ravi Dev states that the PNCR is currently at its weakest and likely to lose seats in the next Parliament. As stated before, there is speculation that WIN could match the AFC's 2006 performance (of winning five seats) in the 2025 elections. This possibility places APNU in a difficult situation. How they react in the next 2 weeks on their campaign trail will be interesting.
While the PPPC continues to criticise WIN’s inexperience and policy ineptitude, it has risen above this to highlight its own achievements and fulfilment of 2020 manifesto promises. At the core of those promises was the trust factor. The PPPC has announced at a minimum level a hefty annual increase from $55,000 to $100,000 in the “Because
Voting with conscience means voting for a Government that has delivered and continues to deliver
We Care” grant; an annual student transport grant of $100,000; a monthly disability grant of $40,000; and an increase of the old age pension to $60,000 monthly plus an annual travel grant of $50,000 to seniors. Announcements of increases in the public sector will be made later.
Notwithstanding these beautiful measures, the breath-taking success of projects like the new Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) has evoked a powerful response from a Region 3 community leader: “This new DHB alone makes President Dr Irfaan Ali and his party qualify for a second term,” to which not many Guyanese would disagree.
Without national polls, it is hard to gauge voters' attitudes. While political parties may conduct internal surveys, high turnout at rallies suggests much of the electorate is engaged, making the 2025 elections especially noteworthy. However, there is little public information on smaller parties like AFC, FMM, and ALP. The real outcome of the election campaign will be clear after the real polls on September 1, 2025.
Yours sincerely, Dr Tara Singh
Dear Editor,
As the men and women of our Joint Services prepare to cast their votes this Friday, I urge them to reflect carefully on the progress made in recent years under the leadership of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the PPP/C Government.
This is a pivotal moment, not only for the future of our security sector but also for the wider development of Guyana.
As Head of the Region Three Private Sector Inc., I have consistently championed fairness, opportunity, and progress for all Guyanese, including those who dedicate their lives to public service.
I would like to remind our policemen and women that they must vote with their conscience and ask themselves, 'Who has truly been looking after our interests?'
The evidence speaks for itself. President Ali has delivered the largest mass promotion in the history of the Commonwealth for the Guyana Police Force, a long-overdue recognition of the dedication and sacrifice of our ranks.
From constables to inspectors, thousands of of-
ficers now have their service and professionalism fairly rewarded.
Beyond promotions, this Government restored the annual bonus that was stripped away by the former administration, ensuring that police ranks once again feel valued and respected.
Salaries have been increased, career development pathways created, and for the first time, officers at all levels can pursue diplomas, degrees, and even master’s programmes free of charge, opening doors that were once firmly shut.
This is not empty talk. Since 2020, the PPP/C Government has steadily prioritised the welfare of disciplined services, promoting over 600 officers earlier this year, and now, with this latest sweeping reform, ensuring no dedicated officer is left behind.
Officers who gave 20 years of service will no longer retire as constables or corporals but will rightfully advance to inspector, provided their record is clean. This is fairness, justice, and recognition in action.
President Ali has also made it clear: professionalism and integrity will
guide these reforms. Those who abuse their office will be removed. In this way, the Government is not just giving promotions but is strengthening the entire force to better serve and protect Guyana.
On Friday, our police officers and joint services ranks must remember these hard facts. They must remember who restored what was taken from them, who rewarded their sacrifices, and who continues to build a system where they can thrive.
Voting with conscience means voting for the Government that has delivered and continues to deliver. It means supporting the leadership that has your back, values your contribution, and is building a stronger, fairer Guyana for all.
Any political leader who seeks to use race for their own agenda must be very careful. Likewise, those who oppose the development of our police ranks, who are now benefitting from timely increases in rank and salary, are standing against progress.
Yours sincerely, Halim Khan
◄
Negative numbers
Negative numbers are numbers smaller than zero. They are written with a minus sign (–) in front.
Example: –2, –5, –10
They often show things like temperatures below zero or money you owe.
Think of a number line:
Numbers to the left of the origin are negative, while numbers to the right are the positive numbers you are already used to!
Adding Negative Numbers
Rule of Thumb:
• Moving right on the number line = adding a positive.
• Moving left = adding a negative.
Example 1:
−3 + 2 = −1
(Start at –3, move 2 steps right, land on –1.)
Example 2:
−4 + (–3) = –7 (Start at –4, move 3 steps left, land on –7.)
Subtracting Negative Numbers
Subtracting a negative is like the opposite of what it looks like:
−2 – (–5) = 3
Because subtracting a negative is the same as adding the positive.
Practice Problems
Here is a blank number line, Use it to try these on your own! 1) −5 + 3 = 2) −8 + (−4) = 3) 6 + (−2) = 4) −7 + 10 = 5) −3 − 6 = 6) 4 − (−5) = 7) −2 − (−7) = 8) −10 + 15 = 9) 9− (−4) = 10) −12 + (−8) = 11) −1 −3 = 12) −6 − (−2) = 13) 5 + (−9) = 14) −20 + 11 =
By Jane yolen
You are building a new city! What types of things do you think your city needs? How will you convince people to move to your new city?
Drug cartels target Guyana as cocaine gateway to Europe, North America,
West Africa – CANU Head
…says bulk of drugs originates from Venezuela for transshipment
Director of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), James Singh, has warned that drug traffickers are intensifying efforts to use Guyana as a gateway for cocaine shipments to Europe and beyond but insisted that robust enforcement, international partnerships, and public vigilance are preventing Guyana from sliding into narco-state status.
Singh has also revealed that the majority of the narcotics in Guyana originate from Venezuela for transshipment to other parts of the world, such as North America, West Africa and Europe.
Speaking during this week’s ‘Safeguarding Our Nation’ – a state-produced programme – Singh explained that because of the country’s geographical location, it is caught between suppliers of drugs in the region and consumers on other continents.
Singh said that the threat from transnational cartels is constantly evolving. While Guyana is not a producer of cocaine, he explained that its location
shift. Now, drugs are still coming into Guyana and then transhipped towards West Africa and Europe.”
The shift, he noted, is a direct result of tighter patrols in the Caribbean basin, forcing traffickers to seek “the path of least resistance”.
CANU has recorded some of the region’s most significant drug busts in recent years. Singh pointed to the seizure of a semi-submersible vessel constructed locally in 2014, another captured last year off the coast, and a dramatic raid that netted 4.4 tonnes of cocaine at an illegal airstrip.
International cooperation has also paid off. “We seized 4.7 tonnes of cocaine on board a vessel that had departed from Guyana…
role in intelligence sharing. It's one of our greatest partners. Whether it's a phone call or persons in communities, if they see something or hear something, they call it in. Basically, what we do is do the right thing, and that has helped us tremendously in the fight against narcotics,” he said.
Not alone
Singh emphasised that Guyana’s fight is not waged alone. CANU works closely with U.S., British, Canadian, Brazilian, Colombian, and Caribbean counterparts in what he described as an unprecedented level of collaboration.
“Partnerships are key in the fight against drug trafficking,” he stressed. “The partnerships are a testi-
and we trapped it all the way to West Africa,” Singh recalled.
These busts underscore traffickers’ growing sophistication. CANU has documented smuggling attempts via low-flying aircraft, contaminated shipping containers, and even semi-submersible submarines.
“How are we doing it?
mony to the international respect and confidence, not only in Guyana, but in CANU’s willingness to combat the drug trade.”
One such operation, dubbed Operation Zeus, brought together 31 countries to destroy 31 illegal airstrips and seize more than 3.5 tonnes of cocaine in the region.
makes it highly vulnerable.
“Guyana, because of its geographic location, is caught between the suppliers in the Andean region and consumers on other continents,” Singh said. “Recently, there’s been a
Intelligence. We're working through informants, undercover operations, and sharing of information again from our colleagues overseas, as well as working with various communities. The public. The public plays a vital
While high-profile raids grab headlines, Singh was adamant that everyday citizens remain the unit’s strongest ally.
“We couldn’t do this job without the public support, the public assistance,” he
said. “We have several operations that are credited to someone in a community picking up the phone and calling, sharing a tip.”
CANU also runs outreach programmes in schools and communities under its “Hearts and Minds” campaign, aimed at prevention through awareness.
“If we can sensitise you to what the dangers are, the effects on you, on the community, and obviously the
country as a whole, that proactive approach is very impactful,” Singh explained.
The fight is far from over.
CANU said it is confronting a surge of synthetic drugs such as MDMA and high-potency marijuana from abroad, alongside increasingly sophisticated concealment tactics.
“No longer are persons trying to hide cocaine in wood or fish,” Singh noted. “They’re contaminating commercial shipments after they would have been scanned… or loading vessels off the coast after they leave Guyana.”
Singh added that the ultimate mission is ensuring Guyana does not fall prey to the same fate as countries overrun by cartels.
According to the CANU Director, the majority of drugs comes into Guyana from Venezuela.
“It doesn’t help that it’s a narco-state and claims twothirds of our territory, but it comes from Venezuela by
plane or by boat to be further transhipped. Some is remaining here, and as I said, some is transhipped, the majority being transhipped to other territories,” he noted.
“We are trying to ensure that Guyana does not become a haven, does not become a narco state that drug trafficking organisations see here as a bad place to do business,” he said. “Because of two reasons: CANU’s zeal to fight drugs, but also the Government’s commitment to ensuring that Guyana does not become a narco state.”
In his view, he said the fight against narcotics is not only about seizures and arrests; it is about protecting Guyana’s borders, reputation, and communities.
“CANU isn’t just about conducting seizures,” Singh concluded. “It’s safeguarding Guyana’s borders, reputation, and communities. Its work is a vital part of national security.”
Director of the Customs AntiNarcotic Unit (CANU), James Singh
The cocaine that was found stashed at the clandestine airstrip in Region One (Barima-Waini) (CANU photo)
The 5000 lbs of cocaine that were found off Guyana’s coast (US Embassy photo)
The narco-submarine with the cocaine (US Embassy photo)
CID investigating fatal accident at Supply as possible homicide
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has taken over the investigations of the fatal accident at Supply, East Bank Demerara (EBD) last week which claimed the life of
23-year-old Alex Persaud. Traffic Officer of Regional Division 4B, Assistant Superintendent Michael Ramdas on Tuesday told the Guyana Times that the traffic department would have wrapped up its investigation and the findings were handed over to the CID Headquarters. Guyana Times understands that the matter is being investigated as possible homicide on the basis that Persaud of Timehri Base Road, EBD and the driver of the motor lorry involved in the accident were engaged in an ongoing court battle. A source related that the investigation remains active and that the Police have secured the relevant permission to further detain the suspect despite the 72hour detention period had elapsed.
Consummating…
…transformation
So, there it was, the PPP’s tried and true Three Musketeers – who’d defended the realm for the last five years against the sniping of the Opposition and the vicissitudes of domestic and international forces –presented their plans for Guyana for another five years! They were magnanimously at the Pegasus Corporate Centre – owned by a fella who’d floated his own party against them in 2020! – to launch “Forward Together for a Better Guyana, Manifesto 2025”.
Now – as your Eyewitness has been pointing out forever – these chaps in the PPP take the pledges in their manifestos extremely seriously. As it ought to be – but sadly never is with the wannabe parties barking at their heels!! Take, for instance, when – as victims of twentythree years of incumbency fatigue – they were thrown out by the APNU/AFC “Dead Meat” coalition. These jokers made a manifesto pledge to save the sugar industry – and then blithely rejected their own COI’s recommendations and CLOSED four sugar estates – throwing 7000 persons into the breadlines!! How can anyone believe their successors gonna be different when they promise to fulfil THAT “legacy”??!!
On the other hand, whatever your views about the PPP might be, you gotta admit they did their darndest to complete their manifesto pledges. Now this doesn’t mean they completed all their promises – there’s always gonna be contingencies in the real world. But you gotta give them credit for trying! Take the aforementioned sugar industry, which they promised to resuscitate. The Opposition has the unmitigated gall to CRITICISE the PPP for spending too much!! Guess they figure all it would take was waving a magic wand to undo the destruction wrought by their closures!! Realistically, the PPP’s pushing for a diversification of the industry – in conjunction with the global demand for food security!!
Then there’s the Wales GtE project, where associated natural gas from our oil fields would be piped to both generate electricity and become feeder stock for a host of value-added products like fertilisers, etc. The project was unfortunately delayed due to unforeseen problems with the successful bidders – but the Government has kept the faith – and their commitment to complete it.
To your Eyewitness, the manifesto is a comprehensive, integrated and internally consistent plan to transform not only the nation’s economy but indeed our society and its institutions – including governance. As your Eyewitness predicted yesterday – before seeing the new manifesto – the PPP’s gonna positively continue to concentrate on “wealth creation”. For the ordinary folks, this means creating well-paying jobs through facilitating businesses – small, medium and mega enterprises in all areas of production and services!!
This is unlike the Opposition that’s negatively fixated on “poverty reduction” – and actually resents folks getting wealthy!!
…Ukraine peace?
The process unfolding with President Trump trying to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine to end their war reminds your Eyewitness of the advice on how porcupines make love – VERY carefully!! So we had the carefully orchestrated minuet steps of Trump’s first meeting with Russia’s Putin out in Alaska, followed by him hosting Ukraine’s Zelensky in the Oval Office. Then it was Trump meeting Zelensky over dinner in the company of a host of European leaders. And all of which ended with an agreement that Putin would soon meet Zelenskyy, followed by a summit with Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy.
So where’s the “peace” in all of these meetings, you ask, Dear Reader?? Patience, we were told, is a virtue – and it looks like we’re gonna have to be very virtuous before peace is consummated between these porcupines!! It’s like buying something in a Turkish bazaar – you just don’t pay what’s advertised; haggling is expected!!
So we’ll keep hearing about who’ll keep land and who’ll give land!!
…corruption
Your Eyewitness was quite intrigued by one former GuySuCo bigwig criticising the PPP, PNC and AFC for “corruption”. Yet he supports WIN – whose leader’s wealth came from corruption across nations!! Putting a thief to catch a thief?
Dead: Alex Persaud
The lorry which Persaud allegedly exited before being struck down
Vapes laced with recreational drugs prevalent in Guyana – cardiologist
…heightening cardiovascular risks among youth
Guyana’s leading Cardiologist Dr Mahendra Carpen, has sounded the alarm over the growing prevalence of vaping devices laced with recreational drugs in the country, warning of their dangerous and often irreversible impact on cardiovascular health, particularly among young
people. Dr Carpen is the Head of Medical Services and Cardiology at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).
Vaping also known as e-cigarettes involves breathing in an aerosol that contains several chemicals, including nicotine and flavoring. Vaping is growing in popularity among teenag-
ers and there are mounting evidence that suggests that vaping is dangerous. This is also the view of Dr Carpen, who explained during a recent broadcast of the Starting Point Podcast that the concern in Guyana extends beyond nicotine-based vaping.
According to Dr Carpen, substances such as cocaine, ecstasy and other hard drugs are being mixed into vape liquids, making them far more harmful and addictive.
"Yeah, so there's international work, not just Guyana that recognises the absolute link between vaping and those habits with adverse cardiovascular outcome. Even the straight vaping, it has the effect of increasing heart rate, it has the effect of increasing inflammation inside the blood vessels. And when there's inflammation, clots form and can block up vessels and cause heart attack, stroke, you know, all kinds of stuff. These are just the major ones. And it also increases blood pressure, you know, so from like an acute stage, that is what it does," the cardiologist said.
These additives are often used to intensify the sensation or to create dependency, ensuring repeat customers. Dr Carpen emphasised his opposition to both vaping and traditional tobacco use, acknowledging that while some people turn to e-cigarettes as a bridge to quitting smoking, the long-term health effects remain devastating. “I believe you know, things like cocaine and all of that, much harder, much more dangerous stuff gets mixed in with vaping substances, designed either to
create a higher sensation, or also to create a dependency syndrome for recurring customers. So, I'm absolutely against vaping. I've seen people vape as a bridge to seizing or stopping tobacco smoking, which it can work. But I'm against vaping. I'm against tobacco consumption. The long-term effects are very harmful,” he added. Addressing the wider issue of recreational drug use, the cardiologist highlighted that these substances–whether used in social settings or privately–carry grave health consequences. Cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and even excessive alcohol fall into this category. He also pointed out that men and women face different risks. Men are particularly vulnerable to conditions such as erectile dysfunction linked to drug and alcohol abuse, a fact which Dr Carpen has used as a persuasive preventive argument in clinical settings.
Women on the other hand, experience more severe cardiovascular consequences, as their systems are less capable of tolerating the same levels of alcohol, vaping substances or hard drugs. While the trend of vaping and recreational drug use among Guyana’s youth continues to rise, health experts are urging greater awareness, education and targeted prevention campaigns. Dr Carpen stressed that tackling this issue is not only about individual health but also about protecting the country’s social fabric, as addiction and related illnesses can have far-reaching consequences for families and communities alike.
Head of Medical Services and Cardiology at the GPHC, Dr Mahendra Carpen
Ahead of 2025 elections Top Cop warns ranks as GPF steps up training, neutrality, crisis preparedness
WThe muster, held on Saturday at the Mahdia
in Region
Commander Stanley emphasising the importance of maintaining law and order throughout the electoral
process. He urged ranks to remain disciplined and professional at all times.
Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Force policies.
He emphasised the importance of professionalism, neutrality and preparedness within the Force during the elections. The Top Cop also noted that in the coming weeks, newly promoted ranks will undergo training at the Police Academy, where they will receive cer-
Force (GPF) at all times, especially when dealing with members of the public.
Elections preparation Division #8
Meanwhile, Commander of Regional Police Division Eight, Senior Superintendent Ravindra Stanley, conducted a general muster and election pre-
ith just under two weeks before the 2025 General and Regional Elections, Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, along with deputy commissioners, conducted a pre-elections operational muster with officers and ranks at Police Headquarters at the Tactical Services Unit Drill Square, Eve Leary.
During the muster, Commissioner Hicken delivered stern warnings, cautioning officers that there would be consequences for any actions taken outside of the established Standard
tificates upon completion. Hicken took the opportunity to thank the ranks for their involvement and commended them for their good work. Finally, he charged those in attendance to uphold the integrity of the Guyana Police
paredness training session with ranks covering the roles and responsibilities of officers assigned to polling stations, as well as for general policing on Joint Services Voting Day on Friday and Election Day, September 1.
Police Station
Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) saw
Ranks participating in the crisis management training underway at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary on Tuesday. The training is being conducted by members of the US-based Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office (GPF photo)
An aerial view of the muster with officers and ranks at the Police headquarters on Tuesday
Ranks of Regional Division 8 at the general muster and election preparedness training session
INTERPOL issues Red Notice for Brazilian wanted in Guyana for murder
The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) on Tuesday issued a Red Notice for Brazilian national Fernando Teles Pereira, who has been charged in absentia with the murder of 21-year-old Venezuelan woman, Miguelys Centeno Gerdez. The Red Notice was issued after an application
was made by the Guyana Police Force (GPF). After committing the act back in February, Teles Pereira al legedly fled the jurisdiction back to Brazil.
However, the Red Notice issued by INTERPOL on be half of the GPF is a request to law enforcement world wide to locate and provi sionally arrest the named person pending legal ac tion. Police alleged that Pereira murdered Centeno on February 20, at 9 Mile Trail, Mabura, in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Pereira was not present in court when the case was called earlier this month before Magistrate Rhondel Weaver at the Mackenzie Magistrate’s Court.
As such, the case was adjourned to October 22. At that time, the Police had stated that an application will be made to INTERPOL for a Red Notice to be issued for the fugitive’s arrest. Centeno was first reported missing on February 20 after she was last seen
The young mother of one, who was employed at a bar in Eccles, was last observed wearing a pink striped top with dark blue jeans and was known to wear braces on her teeth. She had been in the area awaiting transportation when the vehicle of the accused approached.
Top Cop warns ranks...
Crisis training
On Monday, the GPF in collaboration with the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office launched a Crisis Management Training Programme at the Officers’ Training Centre (OTC), Camp Road, Georgetown, with 58 ranks participating, all drawn from the Tactical Services Unit (TSU). United States (US) Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot has since reaffirmed Washington’s support for Guyana’s security and democratic processes following a joint election security crisis response training exercise
held under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).
In a post made on the US embassy’s social media page in Georgetown it was stated that the exercise brought together Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken, officers of the GPF and counterparts from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. According to Ambassador Theriot, the training focused on enhancing preparedness and collaboration in safeguarding the electoral process.
“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to public safety, region-
Two weeks after her disappearance, Police ranks on patrol at 9 Mile Trail, Mabura, discovered skeletal remains alongside clothing and personal items matching what Centeno had last been seen wearing. The remains were found with braces on the teeth, consistent with her description. DNA testing is being carried out by the Guyana Forensics
Laboratory to confirm the identity.
Initial investigations linked Pereira to the woman’s disappearance and death. In early March, the GPF issued a wanted bulletin for him in relation to both abduction and murder. His last known addresses are in Guyana and Brazil.
Relatives of Centeno have said that she was not
known to have had any prior relationship with the accused. Law enforcement officials are now working with international agencies to locate Pereira and have him extradited to Guyana to face trial. Meanwhile, the Red Notice is applicable to all law enforcement agencies of the 196 member countries under the umbrella of INTERPOL.
al cooperation and protecting the rights of Guyanese citizens,” Ambassador Theriot said. She added that the US remains committed to assisting Guyana in strengthening institutions, promoting security and protecting its sovereignty.
The CBSI launched in 2009, is a US security partnership with Caribbean nations aimed at addressing crime and security threats in the region. The initiative has supported a range of training programmes and technical assistance to bolster law enforcement capacity. FROM PAGE 11
It was reported that Persaud had exited motor lorry GAK 9080, when it was struck by another lorry, GAC 5784, driven by the suspect, David Ragnauth of Kalicharran Road, Soesdyke, EBD. As a result of the impact, the truck driven by the suspect collided with Persaud who was at the time speaking with his boss on the corner of the road. Persaud sustained injuries to his head and body and was later pronounced dead at the Diamond Regional Hospital. The lorry involved in the hit and run accident was later found locked and abandoned at Sarah Johanna.
The suspect reportedly failed to stop after the collision, continued driving further south and fled the scene. He was later apprehended at the Demerara Harbour Bridge overpass, during a police operation.
Following the accident, the relatives of the now dead Persaud whom had tied the knot three weeks prior to his demise believed that the hitand-run might have been premediated. His widow, Selina Lumelino, told this publication that her husband was targeted by the suspect, recalling that they had known each other through work. But things turned sour after Persaud was given the task of supervising other workers, including Ragnauth. The suspect was reportedly
not happy about taking instructions from Persaud and started to give him a hard time. Persaud subsequently left the job but soon after was accused of theft.
“When Alex left the work, he parked the truck at Kwakwani, where he used to work, but Javid (allegedly) stole some parts from the truck and blamed Alex. Alex didn’t say anything; he just stayed quiet… Every time Alex wants to see him, he does run and hide,” the wife had stated.
In addition, a few days prior to the accident, one of Alex’s cousins was working on the truck when he was physically assaulted by Ragnauth. This led to a heated argument and ultimately a scuffle between Ragnauth and the now dead Persaud. The matter was reported and both men were charged. In light of this development, Persaud was threatened several times. The duo was expected to return to court on Monday, August 18 but instead, Persaud was killed.
Demerara (EBD) boarding a truck driven by Pereira.
The abandoned lorry that the suspect was driving
Wanted: Fernando Teles Pereira
Murdered: Miguelys Centeno Gerdez
2025 General and Regional Elections OAS deploys election observation mission led by former Jamaican PM
Former Jamaican Prime Minister (PM)
Bruce Golding who had described Guyana’s 2020 elections debacle as "the most transparent effort to alter the results of an election", will once again lead the Organisation of American States (OAS) Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) for Guyana's 2025 General and Regional Elections, that will be held on September 1. In 2020, Golding led the OAS EOM for Guyana's March 2 General and Regional Elections, where he had highlighted the glaring instances of attempts to alter the election results in
favour of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
According to an OAS statement released on Tuesday members of the Mission have already begun to be deployed to Guyana, ahead of the Disciplined Services voting this Friday, August 22.
The Mission will comprise 27 experts and observers from 18 countries and will focus its work on electoral organisation and registries, electoral technology, political-electoral financing, electoral justice and the political participation of women. “This will allow the team to analyse the process in a structured and technically rigorous manner,” the statement said. Members of the Mission will observe both the Disciplined Services voting, as well as the main poll on September 1. They will be visiting polling stations from the opening of the polls to the counting of votes, and the processing of results.
“Ahead of the elections, the Chief of Mission and the OAS observer team will meet with Government and electoral authorities, political parties and candidates, representatives of civil soci-
ety and other stakeholders to hear their perspectives on the ongoing electoral process,” the statement said.
This is the seventh EOM that the OAS has deployed in Guyana. In the days after the election, the OAS/EOM will present its Preliminary Report with observations and recommendations that seek to strengthen the country's democratic and electoral processes. It was in presenting the OEM 2020 Preliminary Report to the OAS Permanent Council, that Golding described his shock at the blatant attempts at election rigging by the Returning Officer of Region Four, Clairmont Mingo, who attempted to manipulate the election results in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).
Mingo attempted to alter the numbers to give the APNU a lead at many of the Region’s polling stations, while simultaneously decreasing the numbers for the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C). This is notwithstanding the results of those polling stations already being public on the Statements of Poll (SoP) that were posted outside of
Coding in schools, free tech certifications, innovation hubs to power Guyana’s future – PPP/C
Within the next five years, the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) intends to incubate digital talent amongst the country’s youth population.
To achieve this, it will develop and implement a National Digital Literacy Programme targeting youths, women, the elderly, Amerindian communities, and other unserved and underserved groups. Further, it will introduce coding in every secondary school, including with the use of on-
line instruction where appropriate.
The party also committed to offering free digital certifications in cloud, cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science as well as to organise regular hackathons and digital bootcamps for youth, to stimulate interest and involvement and facilitate competition and innovation.
The PPP/C said it will make the necessary investments to promote the incubation of a digital industry in the country. “…we will
facilitate and support private investment in technology and innovation by creating Tech Parks and/or Innovation Hubs, with basic infrastructure built out to host AI, fintech, software development, cloud services and other ICT-based and technology-based firms,” the party outlined in its manifesto. Further, it was noted that the PPP/C Administration will encourage the creation of remote and hybrid tech jobs in all 10 Regions of Guyana.
the polling stations.
“You know it takes an extraordinarily courageous mind to present fictitious numbers when such a sturdy paper trail exists,” Golding had said during his presentation of the Mission’s findings to the OAS Permanent Council.
The 2020 EOM issued a statement noting that Mingo’s actions did not meet the required standard of fairness and transparency and would not produce credible results. Mingo’s efforts to fraudulently ma-
nipulate the numbers were eventually laid bare during a recount of the election results, which showed that his numbers did not line up with the numbers on the original SoPs. Representatives for the APNU, who were in coalition with the Alliance for Change (AFC), at the time nonetheless argued that they possessed SoPs that had numbers that lined up with those that were tabulated by Mingo. Since 2020 however the APNU and AFC representatives have
refused to release those SoPs. They have also maintained that they won the elections.
Mingo, along with former Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, and seven other persons are currently before the courts collectively facing 19 charges of conspiracy related to alleged fraud during the controversial vote tabulation process for the part they played in the attempts to rig the 2020 elections.
Former Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding
APNU succeeds in call for GECOM to ban cell phones in polling stations
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has announced a comprehensive set of measures to prohibit the use of cell phones within polling stations during the September 1, 2025 General and Regional Elections. The policy aims to ensure the secrecy of the ballots and prevent potential vote-selling linked to photographing ballots. In a release on Tuesday evening, GECOM said that the prohibition, grounded in the Representation of the People Act, Cap. 1:03, includes strict enforcement measures to ensure that voters can cast their ballots freely and confidentially.
The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) had called earlier this month on GECOM to ban electors from taking cell phones into polling booths during the upcoming General and Regional Elections, in order to preserve the secrecy of the ballot and prevent vote buying.
Under the new rules, no-
tices will be prominently displayed at the entrance and inside every polling station, warning that cell phones are prohibited; polling officials will regularly remind voters in the queue to turn off their phones before entering; every voter will be reminded to
Targeted job opportunities, housing support for PWDs – PPP/C
The Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) has recommitted to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all Guyanese, including persons with disabilities (PWDs). According to the party’s manifesto, over the next five years, it will develop and implement an updated Special Education Needs (SEN) policy aimed at ensuring that children with disabilities have an opportunity to acquire meaningful education. Additionally, the PPP/C said it will increase the integration of children
with disabilities into mainstream schools as well as establish SEN facilities in every region. Furthermore, the party said it will increase the availability of durable mobility and other assistive aids including electronic assistive aids to persons with disabilities, ensuring greater independence.
The party will also create targeted job opportunities for PWDs, including through collaboration with the private sector and with the construction of more business centres for PWDs. Moreover, the PPP/C will
promote improved access to public buildings and public services for PWDs and provide special support to PWDs for access to house lots and housing solutions.
The party reminded that since August 2020, a comprehensive agenda to enhance the lives of PWDs has been implemented. “The PPP/C has provided financial support through targeted cash grants, distributed assistive aids, and provided skills training in a wide range of relevant areas,” the manifesto noted.
turn off their phone before receiving their ballot; voters’ national ID cards, passports, or driver’s licences will be retained by the presiding officer until after the vote is cast; voting compartments will be arranged to allow officials and accredited party agents to monitor for attempts to photograph ballots, while maintaining voter privacy; any attempt to photograph a ballot will be formally recorded, and incidents will be reported to the Guyana Police Force (GPF)
for investigation, and designated desks or tables will be placed next to voting compartments for voters to place their phones before voting. Officials will ensure the instruction is applied consistently.
GECOM, in its statement, emphasised that these measures align with international best practices for election administration and reflect a commitment to preventing electoral fraud.
Vote-selling carries serious penalties under the law,
GECOM reminded, adding that individuals found guilty may face a fine of $65,000 –and six months’ imprisonment.
The Commission urged voters to cooperate with the new measures, stressing that they are essential to maintaining the integrity and transparency of the electoral process. GECOM reaffirmed its commitment to free and fair elections and to prosecuting attempts to undermine the democratic process.
GPF strengthens crime-fighting, election readiness with 41 new vehicles
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has received a boost to its fleet mobility with the acquisition of 21 brand-new 2025 Toyota Hilux Double Cab pickup vehicles and 20 Honda XR 150 motorcycles. A simple handing-over ceremony was held at the Tactical Services Unit Drill Square, Eve Leary where the vehicles were formally presented to the Force. In attendance were Commissioner
erage and expand its overall fleet management capacity. Delivering remarks, Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Watts welcomed the addition, noting its impact on the Force’s operational effectiveness.
“I’m extremely happy, as Deputy Commissioner Operations, to be receiving 21 brand-new 2025 Double Cab Toyota Hilux pickups and 20 XR 150 motorcycles. These additions will
date during the elections. They will also remain a critical asset in supporting patrols, strengthening public safety, and fulfilling other policing responsibilities.
of Police Clifton Hicken, Deputy Commissioner (Administration) Ravindradat Budhram, Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Errol Watts, along with senior officers and ranks of the Force.
The new vehicles and motorcycles are expected to strengthen the Force’s ability to respond swiftly to crime, improve patrol cov-
enhance our fleet management capability on land, improve our response time to crime and most importantly, aid in our preparation for the upcoming General and Regional Elections slated for September 1,” Watts stated.
He further noted that the two sets of transportation resources would significantly assist the Force in carrying out its constitutional man-
Meanwhile, Commissioner Hicken extended gratitude on behalf of the GPF, emphasising that the vehicles and motorcycles will not only improve operational readiness but also highlight the importance of partnership between the private sector and law enforcement.
“These resources will go a long way in boosting our service to members of the public,” the Top Cop stated.
The vehicles were procured through the Home Affairs Ministry, from Queensway Security Services Inc and Marics & Company Limited, respectively.
First Lady Arya Ali at the commissioning of the Centre for Equity, Opportunity and Innovation at the Empower Guyana building in Palmyra, East Berbice-Corentyne
The motorcycles that have been added to the GPF fleet
A fleet of vehicles acquired
Ramsammy’s Ruminations
Azruddin Mohamed has proven he is neither truthful nor upfront with nation
Another one bites the dust. A WIN party candidate had his visa revoked upon arrival in New York. He was promptly sent back on the returning flight to Guyana. There are real repercussions for associating oneself with an American-sanctioned individual. It is sad to see that ordinary Guyanese citizens are facing serious consequences and the person responsible continues to lie to them and the nation.
American-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed stands accused by the world’s most powerful country of gold smuggling, money laundering and tax evasion. Because of his sanctioned status, persons associated with him are at risk for either losing visas issued by the US Government or not being eligible for an American visa. Such persons also could have their bank accounts closed by their respective banks in Guyana. In fact, we know of many persons who have lost their visas and who have had bank accounts closed.
Mohamed has not expressed any remorse for the misfortunes of those who have already suffered because of his reckless behaviour. He placed people and their families in jeopardy, and he never once warned them of the dangers they were expected to face. In fact, he has lied to them by telling them and the nation that it was Bharat Jagdeo and Irfaan Ali who sanctioned him. Even as people suffered consequences, Mohamed kept lying to them.
The truth remains incontrovertible – Azruddin Mohamed was sanctioned by the OFAC on behalf of the American Government. President Irfaan Ali and VP Bharat Jagdeo had zilch say in OFAC’s sanctioning of Mohamed.
This past weekend, in a conspiracy with his sister and others around him, Mohamed tried to hoodwink a whole nation once again. Confirming they wrote to OFAC for clarification on whether local banks had a right to close bank accounts of candidates from the WIN party, which Mohamed “owns”, they claimed OFAC stated that the local banks had no such right. In a “how stupid you could be” moment, they published the OFAC email response, which unequivocally reiterated that Americans and non-Americans could suffer consequences for associating with an OFAC-sanctioned person. Far from saying the banks had no right, OFAC made it clear that the banks had an obligation to do due diligence and protect themselves and their clients.
Every right-thinking Guyanese immediately asked the obvious question – if the President and the Vice President sanctioned him, why did he write OFAC for clarification? The stunt has backfired. If “dunce” had a face, then we know what that face looks like.
This man insisted to the GRA that he bought a Lamborghini for US$75,000 when there is an invoice provided by the US government that Mohamed procured that same car for US$695,000. He is also on camera telling a Canadian that he paid a million dollars. The lie was to evade taxes. The American Government has also accused Azruddin Mohamed of tax evasion. He, therefore, stands accused of being a serial tax evader.
Last week we learnt from the Venezuelan ambassador that Azruddin Mohamed and his father applied for Venezuelan visas. VP Bharat Jagdeo challenged Mohamed to disprove what the ambassador admitted to. It has been almost a week since VP Bharat Jagdeo issued his challenge. Before the challenge, Azruddin Mohamed denied visiting the Venezuelan embassy, but he did not deny the story officially told by the Venezuelan ambassador. His father, in response to VP Jagdeo, insists now that since VP Jagdeo made the allegation, then it is up to the VP to produce the evidence. The problem is that the VP is merely reiterating what the Venezuelan ambassador stated in a formal communication with the Guyanese Foreign Affairs Minister.
Azruddin Mohamed owes the nation the truth – did the Venezuelan ambassador lie when he told the Minister of Foreign Affairs that the Mohameds applied for Venezuelan visas? Given the military threat by Venezuela of forcefully annexing two-thirds of Guyana’s territory, why would a political leader in Guyana want to visit Venezuela? For a vacation? For business? For some nefarious activity? Or is it a case of an exit strategy, a getaway plan?
Azruddin Mohamed denies he is buying votes or paying people to attend rallies and meetings. It is common knowledge that he is “paying” people. He himself has stated many times that he provides “gifts” to people, that he “helps” them from his pockets. Many people who wear the blue WIN shirts admit that they only attend the meetings because they expect to be paid. It is dishonourable for any political leader to bribe people for votes. In any case, as GECOM has pronounced, buying votes is illegal.
It is not just the lies that show total disrespect for the Guyanese people; it is also the refusal to be upfront with the nation. Azruddin Mohamed’s party presented a slate for national elections but refuses to say who the prime ministerial candidate is.
If one examines the list of candidates on the WIN lists across all ten regions, outside the alarming number of persons who have had problems with the law, one thing becomes conspicuous – the number of candidates that are on all three lists (national top-up, geographic and RDC) in each region. For example, in Region 6, four of the five candidates on the geographic list are also on the top-up list and the RDC list. This also is seen in all the regions. This indicates that WIN had a problem filling its lists. Yet, Mohamed and the sordid band around him insist that people were begging to become part of his “movement”. This is clearly a bald-faced lie.
It begs the question, therefore, why his US-citizen sister and brother-in-law were not on the list. Is it that she needed to be shielded from US-instituted repercussions?
Anyone who wants to be our president should be truthful to our people and should be up-front with the nation. Azruddin Mohamed is neither truthful nor upfront.
“Lil Man” sentenced to 20 years for murder of elderly pensioner
A26-year-old man was on Monday handed a 20-year prison term for the gruesome killing of 72-year-old pensioner Mathura Etwaru.
Justice Zamilla AllySeepaul imposed the sentence on Marco Seudatt, also called “Lil Man” or “Bissoon”, at the High Court in Demerara after weighing both aggravating and mitigating factors before arriving at the final decision.
Seudatt, who resided at Fourth Street, Foulis, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was indicted for the capital offence of murder in connection with the tragic events of February 22, 2021.
The incident came to light when Etwaru’s burnt body was discovered around 08:16h on the northern side of Huaxin Supermarket at Enmore, ECD. A post-mortem examination later confirmed that the father of five had died as a result of severe burns compounded by neck compression.
Investigations by the Guyana Police Force, supported by CCTV footage from the supermarket and
nearby locations, traced the sequence of events. The footage showed Seudatt and Etwaru in a heated argument around 02:46h. At one point, Seudatt was seen shoving the pensioner toward the northern side of a fence. By 03:12h, cameras captured him gathering cardboard boxes, setting them on fire, and then fleeing the scene on a motorcycle.
In handing down the sentence, Justice Ally-Seepaul
underscored the particularly brutal and calculated manner in which the crime was carried out. She pointed out that Seudatt not only choked the elderly man but also set him ablaze, describing it as “an unjustified act of violence”.
The judge further highlighted his decision to abandon the injured victim without rendering aid and emphasised the devastating emotional toll on Etwaru’s family.
Although the court recognised that Seudatt had no prior convictions, was relatively young, and had shown remorse, expressing willingness to complete his secondary education and take part in rehabilitation programmes, these factors were weighed against the cruelty of the act.
His guilty plea at the initial stages of the trial allowed him to benefit from a one-third reduction in the sentence, lowering the starting point of 30 years to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Reports from the prison indicated that Seudatt had maintained good behaviour
while in custody, and during proceedings, he offered an apology to the family of the deceased.
The family, however, described Etwaru as a kind and patient man and expressed their grief while stressing their hope for justice.
Prosecutors Praneta Seeraj, Christopher Belfield, and Nelissa Peterkin, representing the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, appeared on behalf of the State.
The court also noted that Seudatt had admitted to being under the influence of a narcotic substance during the commission of the offence. Justice Ally-Seepaul remarked that the victim’s advanced age left him especially vulnerable, a fact that weighed heavily in the sentencing decision.
While acknowledging the mitigating factors that suggested potential for rehabilitation, the judge concluded that the crime’s premeditated and merciless nature necessitated a lengthy custodial penalty.
Elderly man found dead in drain outside city church
An elderly man was on Tuesday discovered dead in a drain outside the Trinity Guyana
Methodist Church, located between Leopold and High Streets, Georgetown. The discovery was made just af-
ter 11:00h, according to reports.
An eyewitness told this publication that the man
was first seen on Tuesday morning sitting on a piece of cardboard in front of the church. He claimed that the man removed his clothing, went into the drain, and began swimming in the water. Moments after, he said the man went down into the water and did not resurface. However, upon investigating, he, along with others, observed the man’s motionless body in the drain.
Persons in the area alerted the police, who responded and removed the body from the location. The deceased, who appeared to be of African descent, has not yet been identified.
The body was taken to Memorial Garden’s Funeral Home, awaiting identification and an autopsy. Investigations are ongoing.
Tuschen miner found dead with chop wound to head
Police recovered the body of a 27-year-old miner Christopher Stephens from Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, floating face down in the Puruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), with what appeared to be a chop wound to the head.
His body was discovered around 06:20h on Monday, just minutes from the Puruni landing.
According to a police report, ranks were acting on information received
when they journeyed to the area and found the lifeless body clad in a black shortsleeved jersey, orange boxers, and short blue pants. Investigators immediately observed a suspected chop wound to his forehead.
The deceased was later positively identified by his sister, 25-year-old Catianna Stephens, also of Tuschen.
Police are continuing their investigations as they work to determine the circumstances that led to Stephens’ death.
Dead: Christopher Stephens
The man’s motionless body was pulled from the drain
Jailed: Marco Seudatt, also called “Lil Man” or “Bissoon”
4 Policemen under probe in alleged $4M shakedown of casino winner
Asenior Police Inspector and three other ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) are under internal investigation over allegations that they robbed a Chinese national of $4 million in casino winnings during what was purported to be a routine stop and search.
The incident reportedly occurred early last week after the Chinese businessman left a popular casino on Church Street, Georgetown. According to his complaint, a group of Policemen intercepted him shortly after his win and relieved him of part of his cash. In a statement
issued on Monday, the GPF confirmed that the case is being probed by its Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
Following the complaint, the Inspector and the three ranks were detained on August 14 and placed under closed arrest. They have since been released under open arrest but remain confined to the Tactical Services Unit pending the outcome of the probe. The Force has indicated that the case file will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on Wednesday, August 20, for legal advice on the way forward.
Edghill calls on Region 10 residents to deliver majority for Pres Ali, for PPP on RDC
In order to ensure progress and development continue to come their way, the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) is urging citizens of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) to vote for the cup on September 1 – for both the General and Regional Elections. The call was made by PPP/C's Juan Edghill during an engagement with members of the business community in the region on Tuesday.
"The time when people in Region 10 were ashamed to be identified with the PPP/C is long gone," Edghill declared. He highlighted that at the last elections, the party secured just over 3000 of the votes in the region. At this year's polls, he said the
Region 10 like a stonewall that we got to break down because no matter what the Government does, once the RDC (Regional Democratic Council) has that kind of thinking and mentality...and is resistant to development, what should be happening in Linden will not happen in Linden. So we don't only want you to vote for the PPP/C or President Ali to be the President, we want you to vote for the PPP/C so that for the first time we must win the Regional Democratic Council," Edghill, who is currently the Minister of Public
party hopes to gain more than 11,000 votes.
"We got to bridge that gap," Edghill said. At the 2020 General Elections, the
now the largest party in the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). The PPP/C’s votes in Linden moved from 402 in 2018 to 2464. As a
PPP/C earned 3162 from Region 10; at the Regional Elections it got 3208.
Additionally, at the Local Government Elections in 2023, the PPP/C made significant inroads in the region – once regarded as a stronghold of the Peoples National Congress (PNC) which is
result, the PPP earned two seats on the Linden Town Council while APNU received 14. Previously, the PPP had one seat.
Meanwhile, Edghill underscored the importance of the PPP/C winning more than just the presidency. "There's been a blockage in
Works, expressed. He pointed to the massive development taking place in the region and across the country that are as a result of direct policies, strategies and execution of the PPP/C.
He highlighted the large number of job opportunities and income earning ventures that have already been created in the last five years in the region and the many more to come under another PPP/C Administration.
"There will be zero new taxes. The mortgage interest relief that you are enjoying will continue. The income tax ceiling will grow. The minimum wage will rise," the Minister assured.
In this regard, Edghill said "I am unashamedly asking for your vote...I want your vote for President Ali on September 1, the cup at the top and you'll vote for the RDC, the cup at the bottom."
No evidence of bloated list...
With less than two weeks to go before voters’ head to the polls, the Center urged continued vigilance and commitment to democratic norms, emphasising that the integrity of Guyana’s electoral process depends not only on laws and procedures, but on the conduct of political actors, state institutions and the public at large.
Welcomed electoral reforms
The Carter Center praised recent electoral reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and voter access, including new voter registration rules, decentralised tabulation procedures and strengthened requirements for publishing polling station results. Among the most notable changes highlighted by the
Center were the subdivision of Regions Three, Four, and Six into polling subdistricts for decentralised tabulation and legal mandates for the immediate publication of Statements of Poll (SoPs) and tabulation forms online, Enhanced verification methods for the removal of deceased persons from the OLE.
“The legal and electoral framework governing Guyana’s general and regional elections has undergone important reform since the country’s last national election in 2020, particularly in the areas of tabulation and voter registration,” the statement said. However, while the Carter Center welcomed the electoral reforms, it expressed concern that many of the legal changes are not
well understood by the general public and some political actors. The organisation urged GECOM to take urgent action to improve transparency and public engagement, particularly in the run-up to election day and during the tabulation process.
The Carter Center recommends that GECOM engage the press regularly and predictably in advance of election day and throughout the tabulation process to inform the public about the status of its preparations,” the statement said.
A recognised leader in the international election observation community and has conducted 125 election observation missions globally, including in Guyana in 1992, 2001, 2006, 2015, and 2020.
The business luncheon in Linden with members of the business community
The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is setting commitments to strengthen the oil and gas framework, advance a second Gas-to-Energy (GtE) project at Wales, and modernise national security through artificial intelligence (AI)-driven border surveillance. These priorities, outlined in the party’s 2025–2030 manifesto, reflect a vision of energy security, economic expansion, and enhanced national defence.
Since assuming office in August 2020, the PPP/C Government has focused on building the foundation for Guyana’s rapidly growing oil and gas industry. According to the manifesto, the administration has established a comprehensive legal framework that governs the sector in a manner considered globally replicable, while at the same time ensuring that local content development allows Guyanese citizens and businesses to participate and benefit.
The next five years are projected to bring exponential growth, with production capacity expected to reach 1.7 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2030, supported by eight active developments. This expansion will be backed by a stronger Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), the operationalisation of a Petroleum Data Repository, and policies designed to attract further investment in
infrastructure that monetises Guyana’s vast gas reserves.
The manifesto highlights a plan to accelerate oil and gas exploration, starting with the conclusion of PSAs under enhanced terms with successful bidders from the 2022 auction. New offshore blocks are expected to move rapidly into exploration and production. To support this, the Government intends to complete 3D seismic surveys across unlicensed blocks, operationalise the Petroleum Data Repository, and stage additional international auctions to bring more players into the basin.
Energy security remains central to the PPP/C’s development agenda. The first Wales Gas-to-Energy
project, which includes a 300 mega-watt (MW) power plant and a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility, is already under construction. Once operational, it is expected to supply sufficient cooking gas to meet domestic demand and reduce costs for households. Building on this, the manifesto outlines a plan for a second Walesbased GtE project, also with a capacity of up to 300MW, designed to meet future electricity demand. Beyond Wales, the Government intends to monetise additional offshore gas reserves by developing a major industrial complex in Berbice. This could include power generation for export markets, supported by integration with a deep-water port,
new road and bridge infrastructure, and potential rail links to northern Brazil.
The PPP/C has also committed to reviewing the Local Content Act of 2021, with an eye toward expanding opportunities for Guyanese businesses and workers in the energy sector. The administration is considering extending the Act’s applicability to other industries, such as gold and bauxite mining, while strengthening training and capacity-building programmes to prepare nationals for high-quality jobs. To further stabilise the domestic energy supply chain, the manifesto proposes the establishment of a strategic national fuel depot – potentially in partnership with
Family IDs 22-year-old victim in crash at
The accident which occurred on the Rupert Craig Highway
The family of a 22-yearold man is demanding justice after he was struck down and killed late Friday night by a motorcar. At the time the accident occurred, the victim was not identified. Days after, he was identified as 22-year-old Emmanuel King Boodie of Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown. It was report-
ed that Boodie was struck down while attempting to cross the road at Rupert Craig Highway, in the vicinity of the Russian Embassy. Police said the man was struck down by a motorcar, PXX 8048, owned and driven by a 26-year-old. It was reported that the driver of the car was proceeding along the Rupert Craig Highway
at a fast rate when, allegedly, the pedestrian suddenly ran across the road and ended up in the path of the vehicle.
However, due to the short braking distance, the front portion of the car collided with the pedestrian. He was reportedly flung onto the road surface, and his body partly ended up un-
der the car. He sustained injuries to his head and body and was pronounced dead on the spot.
When Guyana Times visited the dead man’s home on Tuesday, his mother, Shondell Boodie, told this publication that her son was missing for two nights. She claimed that she last saw Emmanuel on Friday when he visited his sister.
“Friday, he come here to his sister’s house… Since then we didn’t see him. We started looking for him from Friday,” she recalled.
Shondell described her son as quiet and withdrawn and said it seemed very odd that he did not return home.
“He doesn’t speak to people; he doesn’t talk, talk. Sometimes he might be having trouble with his little nerves,” she explained.
She said Emmanuel returned to Guyana in April last year after spending years abroad. He was not formally employed but occasionally did odd jobs. She said she was working on
the private sector – alongside continued exploration of refining options to reduce reliance on imports.
The energy transformation agenda also includes a 50 per cent reduction in electricity tariffs for consumers on the national grid once the GtE projects come online. A complete overhaul of the transmission and distribution network, the introduction of a smart grid, and investment in renewable projects such as the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project and 100MW of new solar capacity are also in the works.
Security
Security is another major pillar of the PPP/C’s vision. The party promises to strengthen the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) with advanced aerial, maritime, and land assets to safeguard borders, the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and natural resources. AI-driven automated border surveillance systems – integrating radar, satellite technology, and drones – are to be deployed to provide comprehensive coverage. The plan also includes expanding barracks and accommodation facilities while ensuring that personnel are equipped with the training and expertise required to manage new technological systems.
Complementary reforms are proposed for the Guyana Police Force (GPF), with initiatives such as the “Safe Country” programme, fea-
turing expanded CCTV coverage, regional command centres, automated citizen reporting platforms, digital case management, and smart road safety systems. The manifesto also outlines significant upgrades to the Guyana Prison Service, including new detention facilities, advanced management systems, and stronger rehabilitation programmes, especially for juvenile offenders.
Other agencies are also targeted for modernisation. The Guyana Fire Service is expected to see the construction of additional hinterland fire stations, enhanced marine capabilities, and training in industrial fire hazards. Voluntary firefighting brigades will be expanded to all Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). Meanwhile, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) will be strengthened with advanced surveillance tools, enhanced data analytics, and new anti-corruption mechanisms.
Through this comprehensive programme, the PPP/C is seeking to simultaneously transform Guyana’s energy sector, strengthen its economic base, and reinforce national security. The manifesto presents a forward-looking vision that aims to leverage the country’s newfound oil wealth into sustainable development while ensuring sovereignty, security, and prosperity for all citizens.
Russian Embassy
Dead: Emmanuel Boodie
Monday when a friend sent her a photo telling her that her son was dead.
“I dropped everything, and I couldn’t work anymore…” she said.
According to the family, upon going to the police, they were informed that Emmanuel was struck around 11:00h on Friday while crossing the road.
Emmanuel’s mother said he was devastated by the loss. “I really feel it, because if I could do it back, I would.
I bring my children up and I struggle,” she said.
Emmanuel’s father, Darrell Junor, said he was devastated by the loss.
“We are poor and now we have to find a way to bury our son, because nobody is saying anything. We are very hurt… he got a family… they just feel like he is a junkie and everything can just go down like that,” he said,
The family was further upset after learning the driver had been granted bail.
Shondell explained that they reported him missing at Middle Road and Kitty Police Station. “We went to the Kitty Police Station, and they told us to come back in the morning. It was only after, friends from overseas send me a post on my phone that I find out,” she said.
The Boodie family, which includes nine children, is now preparing to bury Emmanuel and is calling for justice.
Court rejects house arrest for ex-Colombian President
Long Island beaches ban swimming as Hurricane Erin creates life-threatening rip currents
Uribe
during appeal
Bogota's superior court has overturned a Judge's order that former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe be held on house arrest while he appeals convictions for bribery of a public official and abuse of process, the court decision showed on Tuesday.
Uribe was placed on house arrest this month by Judge Sandra Liliana Heredia, who sentenced him to 12 years of house arrest in a long-running case about his connections to former right-wing paramilitaries.
Uribe has always maintained his innocence and is appealing the convictions, which he and his supporters have characterised as political persecution.
The court said it has ruled "to leave without effect" the order for house arrest "until the corresponding criminal court of this tribunal defines the recourse of appeal."
The conviction made Uribe the country's first ex-President to ever be found guilty at trial and came less than a year before Colombia's 2026 Presidential election, in
which several of Uribe's allies and protégés are competing for top office.
Detractors of Uribe, 73, have celebrated his conviction as deserved comeuppance for a man who has been accused for decades of close ties with violent rightwing paramilitaries.
Uribe, who was President from 2002 to 2010 and oversaw a military offensive against leftist guerrillas, was charged over allegations he ordered a lawyer to bribe jailed paramilitaries to discredit claims he had ties to their organisations. (Excerpt from Reuters)
2 Americans drown, another bitten by shark in The Bahamas
A63-year-old American man, who was attacked by a shark while spearfishing near Big Grand Cay, The Bahamas, has been airlifted to the United States (US) for medical treatment.
Bahamian police say they are also investigating the deaths of two American tourists who drowned in separate incidents over the last weekend at Celebration Key on Grand Bahama.
“Our lifeguards and medical team responded to two separate water emergency incidents at Celebration Key…one in the lagoon
and one at the beach,” Celebration Key said in a statement.
“Sadly, both guests have passed away. One guest was sailing with family on Mardi Gras, and one guest was sailing with family on Carnival Elation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the guests and their families, and our care team is providing assistance.”
In its statement, the police said in the first incident, the body of a 79-year-old man had been discovered on board a commercial boat.
“According to the initial report, the male became un-
responsive while snorkelling on a beach. A lifeguard assisted him from the water, and CPR was administered, but to no avail. As a result, the male, who is reported to be an American national, was pronounced deceased by a medical doctor,” the police statement said.
It said that in the second incident, a 74-year-old American woman became unresponsive while swimming in a pool.
She was assisted out of the water by a lifeguard, and CPR was administered, but she later died. (Jamaica Observer)
Brazil issues last-ditch plea for countries to submit climate plans ahead of COP30
Brazil has issued an urgent call for all countries to come forward with strengthened national plans on the climate, in a last-ditch attempt to meet a key September deadline.
Only 28 countries have so far submitted carbon-cutting proposals to the UN, with some of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases – including China and the EU – still
to produce their plans.
On Tuesday Brazil, which will host the crunch COP30 UN climate summit this November, issued a summons to all Governments to a key meeting on 25 September, on the sidelines of the UN annual general assembly in New York. The UN needs all national plans – known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs) – by that date to
compile a “synthesis report”, which will show how far off track the world is on the crucial goal of limiting global heating to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels.
André Corrêa do Lago, the veteran Brazilian diplomat who will preside over Cop30, wrote to Governments on Tuesday to urge them to submit ambitious NDCs and warned that if they were not strong enough, then further action would be needed at Cop30.
He wrote: “Far from representing mere climate targets for 2035, our NDCs represent the vision of our shared future. They are vehicles of cooperation, enabling us to realise this vision together. If the image shown by NDCs turns out disappointing, it is our collective responsibility to convert it into a picture that will ensure a liveable planet, protect all economies, and improve living standards and life opportunities for all peoples, for all generations.”
(Excerpt from The Guardian)
Hurricane Erin was slamming through the North Atlantic on Tuesday, forecast to bypass Long Island this week but still make its presence felt in life-threatening rip currents and large waves from Brooklyn to Montauk.
Forecasters say breaking waves as high as 10 to 15 feet or more and elevated storm tides beginning Thursday are likely to cause widespread dune erosion, beach flooding and escarpment through the week.
The storm, now a Category Two, is expected to track north through Wednesday — then turn
northeast, bringing the potential for coastal flooding and dune erosion to Long Island and much of the Eastern Seaboard, hurricane experts said.
"Dangerous conditions are expected around inlets and the entrance to eastern Long Island Sound," the National Weather Service said. "There is a potential for gale-force wind gusts Thursday into early Friday morning (particularly south and east of Moriches Inlet)."
The impact on Long Island's oceanfront could be significant beginning Tuesday. The threat for dune erosion, beach flooding and escarpment "will
become more widespread with successive high tides (Tuesday) evening into Friday morning," forecasters said.
Swimming was prohibited at Robert Moses Field 5 at noon, as lifeguards put up multiple red flags from the water to the concession stands. Other ocean beaches are likely to follow.
"Widespread areas of dune erosion are likely with localised overwashes during the Thursday evening and Friday morning high tides from a combination of 10-15 foot breaking surf and an elevated storm tide." (Excerpt from Newsday)
Venezuela’s Maduro to mobilise millions in militia over US ‘threats’
The move comes after the US doubles the bounty for Maduro’s arrest to $50m and deploys three warships in the Caribbean.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has pledged to mobilise more than four million militia fighters in response to new United States “threats” after Washington raised a reward for his arrest and launched new antidrug operations in the Caribbean.
“This week, I will activate a special plan with more than 4.5 million militiamen to ensure coverage of the entire national territory – militias that are prepared, activated and armed,” Maduro said in a televised address on Monday.
Venezuela’s militia was created by former President Hugo Chavez and is officially said to have about five million members, although analysts suggested the real figure is lower. The country’s total population is about 30
million.
Maduro denounced the “extravagant, bizarre and outlandish threats” from Washington. His comments came after US President Donald Trump’s Administration doubled its reward for his arrest to $50m. It accuses him of leading a cocaine smuggling network known as the Cartel de los Soles.
The US Government, which refuses to recognise
Maduro’s last two election victories, recently imposed new sanctions on both his administration and the alleged cartel. The US has not provided any evidence linking Maduro to drug cartels. At the same time, the US military has deployed three US guided-missile destroyers to the southern Caribbean as part of a broader operation against Latin American drug cartels. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Peruvian court shields Boluarte from criminal investigations until end of term
Peru's constitutional court has suspended investigations into President Dina Boluarte until her term ends next July, a decision released on Tuesday showed.
Boluarte was being investigated for her role in the deaths of dozens of protesters after she came to power in late 2022 and for alleged illicit enrichment for possessing luxury timepieces without proving how she got them during her administration, which is set to end July 28, 2026. Dozens of police and prosecutors raided her home and office over the
Easter weekend looking for evidence in the case.
The deeply unpopular president also faced a probe for abandoning her post after she underwent a rhinoplasty without informing Congress that she would temporarily hand over her duties as head of state.
Boluarte has denied all accusations.
In its decision, the constitutional court ruled that it would side with a complaint filed by the executive branch against the prosecutor's office and the judiciary, ordering the investigations to be halted until
Boluarte's term is up. Peru has undergone a period of significant political turmoil, with six presidents in the past seven years.
Boluarte has already survived two attempts to start impeachment proceedings, but both failed to receive 52 votes to proceed. Impeachment is unlikely since right-wing legislators have a majority in Congress and support Boluarte. Six of Boluarte's Ministers, including the interior Minister, have resigned over the scandal. (Reuters)
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro
André Corrêa do Lago, the Brazilian diplomat who will preside over COP30, wants proposals submitted before a UN meeting in September
Around the World
OOIL NEWS
Oil prices fall on talks to end Russian invasion of Ukraine
il prices fell on Tuesday as traders bet that talks over a possible agreement to legitimise or end Russia's invasion of Ukraine could ease sanctions on Russian crude oil, boosting global supply.
Brent crude futures settled at $65.79 a barrel, down 81 cents, or 1.22 per cent. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures for September delivery, set to expire on Wednesday, finished at $62.35 a barrel, down $1.07, or 1.69 per cent.
"Even with this peace dividend, we have a record short position," said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with Price Futures Group. "Because of the size of the short position, people are betting on a ceasefire, and if we don't get one, there could be a bounce."
Following a White House meeting on Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies, US President Donald Trump announced in a social media post that he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump said arrangements were being made for a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, which could lead to a trilateral summit involving all three leaders.
Suvro Sarkar, lead energy analyst at DBS Bank, said Trump's softened stance on secondary sanctions targeting importers of Russian oil had reduced the risk of global supply disruptions, easing geopolitical tensions slightly.
Chinese refineries have purchased 15 cargoes of Russian oil for October and November delivery as Indian demand for Moscow's exports has fallen away, two analysts and one trader said on Tuesday. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Entire church begins 2-day journey across Swedish city
Alandmark 113-yearold church at risk from ground subsidence is being relocated in its entirety – in a 5 km (3 miles) move along a road in Sweden's far north.
The vast red timber structure in Kiruna dating back to 1912 has been hoisted on giant trailers and is on its way to the new city centre.
Travelling at a maximum speed of 500 m an hour, the journey is expected to take two days.
The old city centre is at risk from ground fissures after more than a century of iron ore mining. The church's move is the most spectacular and symbolic moment of the wider relocation of buildings in Kiruna, which lies 145 km north of the Arctic Circle.
The journey began with a blessing from the church's vicar, Lena Tjärnberg, and
NATO military leaders to meet today to discuss Ukraine as Trump teases air support
NATO military leaders are expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss Ukraine and the way forward, US and NATO officials said on Tuesday, as Washington and European capitals work out details of what security guarantees might look like for Kyiv.
Ukraine and its European allies have been buoyed by US President Donald Trump's promise during a summit on Monday of security guarantees to
help end the war, but many questions remain unanswered.
As military planners started work on options, Trump ruled out sending US troops into Ukraine but suggested Washington could provide some type of air support.
US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, who also oversees all NATO operations in Europe, will brief the chiefs of defence on results of the Alaska meet-
ing between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.
Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chairman of NATO's military committee, said there would be a video conference on Wednesday.
"As diplomatic efforts to secure peace in #Ukraine progress, looking forward to (Grynkewich's) update on the current security environment," Dragone said on X.
Officials pointed out that
the meeting was taking place during unique circumstances and expected topics such as the security guarantee to be discussed.
A US official speaking on condition of anonymity said US General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was expected to attend the meeting, but plans could change.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Pakistan restores electricity, reopens roads after floods kill hundreds
Pakistan has restored 70 per cent of electricity service and reopened damaged roads in the north and northwest after flash floods killed more than 300 people, officials say.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Tuesday that engineers were working to fully restore the electricity system that was knocked out by flooding last week. Monsoon rains triggered floods that have killed more than 700 people nationwide since June 26, the National Disaster Management Authority reported, while Tarar said more than 25,000 people have been evacuated.
The information Minister said most roads
have been cleared, facilitating the supply of food and other essentials to flood-affected areas.
Army spokesman Ahmed
Diphtheria cases spiralling in Somalia, health officials warn
DBishop Åsa Nyström of the Diocese of Luleå.
As the short ceremony ended, engines rumbled to life, and the massive wooden church began inching forward. In the first hour, it managed just 30 m, the trailers' wheels slowly turning under its weight.
Large crowds lined the streets under clear blue skies, watching in awe as the timber structure rolled forward. Safety barriers kept people back, but the building passed so close that many said it felt as though they could almost reach out and touch it.
"It's a big crowd. People came not just from Kiruna and other parts of Sweden. I heard many different languages being spoken," said culture strategist Sofia Lagerlöf Mättää. "It's like history taking place in front of our eyes." (Excerpt from BBC News)
iphtheria cases are rapidly increasing across Somalia, officials and humanitarians warn, with children accounting for more than 97 per cent of the cases.
Diphtheria, a highly contagious and deadly bacterial disease that mainly affects children, is preventable by a vaccine. While Somalia has improved vaccination rates in recent years, the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) blames the uptick in cases on persisting immunisation gaps.
Abdulrazaq Yusuf Ahmed, the director of Demartino Public Hospital in the capital, Mogadishu, said, “The number of recorded cases of children sick with diphtheria has increased across the regions in the whole country. We have received about 49 patients in the whole of 2024, but this year, 2025, we have received 497 diphtheria cases during the last
four months alone.”
Deaths had risen from 13 to 42, according to a report by Ahmed’s hospital this month. The report described the resurgence of diphtheria as “one of the most urgent and dangerous threats to public health”.
Earlier this month, the health ministry said it had recorded 1,616 cases and 87 deaths from the disease so far this year.
MSF’s Somalia medical coordinator, Frida Athanassiadis, said, “We are seeing a rapid increase in diphtheria among children under 15 in central Somalia,” adding that they accounted for roughly 97 per cent of cases. “Low vaccination coverage, vaccine hesitancy and poor living conditions are driving the spread.”
Athanassiadis said that in some medical centres the basic resources were “insufficient to cope with rising caseloads”. (Excerpt from The Guardian)
Sharif said military doctors are treating survivors and engineers are repairing damaged infrastructure. Soldiers using helicopters have also delivered food and supplies to remote villages cut off by floods and landslides.
Monsoon rains continued to lash the country on Tuesday, including the southern port city of Karachi, flooding streets and disrupting everyday activities, officials said. Despite the Government’s claims of preparedness, people could be seen wading through chest-high water along many roads.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered authorities to accelerate recovery efforts in Buner, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where torrential rains and a cloudburst on Friday killed at least 280 people, Tarar said. It was among the worst flooding since the rains began.
Twenty bodies were found on Tuesday there, the local district commissioner said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Israel demands release of all Gaza hostages, casting doubt on ceasefire proposal
Israel is demanding the release of all 50 hostages held in Gaza, an Israeli official has said, casting doubt on whether it will accept a new proposal for a 60-day ceasefire that Hamas agreed to on Monday.
The proposal, put forward by Qatar and Egypt, would see the release of around half the hostages and is "almost identical" to a US proposal Israel had previously accepted, according to Qatar.
Israel has not explicitly rejected it – but Israeli Government spokesman David Mencer told the BBC that it is not interested in "partial deals".
"Things have changed now. The Prime Minister has laid out a plan for the future of Gaza," Mencer said.
Palestinian sources said the proposal would
see 10 living and 18 dead hostages handed over while the sides negotiated a permanent ceasefire and the return of the other hostages.
Israel believes that only 20 of the 50 hostages are still alive after 22 months of war.
Later this week, the Israeli cabinet is expected to approve the military's plan to occupy Gaza City, where intensifying Israeli strikes have already prompted thousands of people to flee.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel's intention to conquer all of Gaza –including the areas where most of its 2.1 million Palestinian residents have sought refuge – after indirect talks with Hamas on a ceasefire deal broke down last month. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Residents watch rescue workers look for victims after a storm that caused heavy rains and flooding in Dalori Bala village in Gadoon district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan [Reuters]
The church is leaving a place where it truly belongs, says Vicar Lena Tjärnberg
Let your personality shine. Engage in events where you can share your thoughts, ideas, and plans. The feedback from outsiders will be helpful and help you reflect on why someone close to you may not be on board with a venture you want to pursue. A compromise will help ease any rift you encounter.
Play by the rules. Trying to take shortcuts will backfire. Use your voice to cross-examine what others suggest. Opportunities will come from well-informed people and proper care when verifying what you hear. Alter your space to encourage adequate flow and comfort, not because you or someone close to you has an emotional meltdown.
Pick up the pace, participate in events that make you think, and try new things. Let the explorer evolve into the seasoned adventurer as you proceed with enthusiasm, plenty of questions, and a desire to improve yourself and your life. Expect to face opposition from those close to you who are unwilling to adopt change.
A creative investment will have more leverage than you first imagine. Follow the dots and see where they lead. Be open to change, and you’ll discover something or someone who has a positive impact on your life. Love, romance, and personal improvements will give you the boost you need to take control.
Change will be costly. Research and reform your plans to fit your budget. Intelligence and action combined will carry you forward. Step up to the podium and share what you know and plan to do, and you will convince others to help. Travel, teach, and lay down a solid foundation to build prospects.
Do your part and regulate matters to ensure you get the notoriety you deserve for your contributions. A high-energy approach to change will give your plans an appealing spin to anyone seeking a positive transformation. An opportunity to connect with people in a position of power is apparent. Jump into action and participate.
A change will motivate you to find new outlets for your skills, entertainment, and network. Expand your circle and see what others are doing to combat boredom or to ensure you spend your time wisely. Let go of the past, and it will be easier to manifest how you want your life to unfold.
What you do will have a more significant influence on your future than what you allude to. Stop worrying about what others think or how they react, and start creating an agenda that gives you the breathing room to expand your interests. Learn, travel, and talk with experts who can offer insights and worthwhile connections.
With change comes opportunity. Look around and head in a direction that offers hope for a brighter future. Dwelling on the past doesn’t help promote new beginnings. Invest time, money, and experience in building a strong foundation to support your next adventure. Home improvements or a move are favoured.
Put your cash and possessions in a safe place. Be wary of scammers and unrealistic propositions. Stick to what and who you know and trust. Pay attention to how you present yourself and make physical changes that enhance your confidence. Engaging in talks that lead to long-term plans and promises are in the stars.
Put friendly force behind your voice and the changes you want to implement, and it will make a difference to the outcome. Discipline, hard work, and innovative ideas will separate you from any competition you encounter. Take pride in who you are, and your confidence will make you the go-to person among your associates.
March 20): Peace, love, and happiness are the best antidote for getting past unexpected changes that throw you off guard. Don’t dwell on what doesn’t happen; press forward with fortitude and enthusiasm, and you’ll find better opportunities. When one door closes, another will open. Be ready, willing, and able to take advantage of whatever comes your way.
ARCHIE
Maharaj's masterful maiden ODI 5-for hands South Africa
1-0 series lead
Keshav Maharaj claimed his first One-Day International (ODI) career five-for as South Africa registered an emphatic, seriesopening win over Australia in Cairns.
Defending the highest total at the venue, 296, South Africa grabbed the match by the horns when they took 6 for 29 between the eighth and 17th overs, as Maharaj delivered a sterling spell in which he found appreciable turn and maintained a consistent line to pick up 5 for 33. The margin finished as Australia's heaviest run defeat at home since 1991.
Maharaj was omitted from the T20Is, as all-format coach Shukri Conrad preferred spin-bowling all-rounders in the squad, but served up a reminder of his efficacy in shorter formats with his performance in Cairns. Conditions suited him, as they did the other spinners involved. Offspinner Prenelan Subrayen was the other early wicket-taker and finished with 1 for 46 from his 10 overs on ODI debut, while in the first innings Australia relied on part-time offspinner Travis Head, who bowled nine overs with a return of 4 for 57.
As the numbers suggest, the surface was slow and spinner-friendly, and with this being just the sixth ODI to be played in Cairns, it was difficult to judge a par score. South Africa proved to be in excess of par, and their trio of halfcenturies from Aiden
Markram, Matthew Breetzke and Temba Bavuma were more valuable than they initially appeared to be.
Australia's only real batting resistance came in the form of their captain Mitchell Marsh, who fell 12 short of a fourth ODI century. He shared in a 71run seventh-wicket stand with Ben Dwarshuis, which gave their innings some heft.
That partnership came after Marsh watched his lineup collapse and squander a rollicking start against South African seamers. Marsh and Head scored 60 in the first seven overs, and the highlight was Head's takedown of leftarm seamer Nandre Burger, whom he hit for five fours in an over. One of those came off the edge, but the other four were full-blooded blows down the ground, over midwicket and through the offside as Australia brought up fifty in five overs.
The introduction of spin put a stop to all that. Head charged at Subrayen in his second over and missed, which gave Ryan Rickelton plenty of time to complete the stumping. Maharaj was brought on at the other end and struck the first ball. He had Marnus Labuschagne lbw, hit on the back pad by a ball that straightened. Labuschagne reviewed, but replays showed the ball was hitting the top of the middle stump.
As if on script, the first ball of Maharaj's second over also brought a wicket, with the best
delivery he bowled. It pitched on middle and straightened to beat Cameron Green's edge and take off stump. Maharaj had to wait slightly longer for his third, but only until the second ball of his third over, which Josh Inglis tried to hit offside, but was stuck on the back foot and bowled. Alex Carey was then given out lbw sweeping the first ball he faced, and Maharaj was on a hat-trick. He didn't get it, but completed his five-for two overs later when Aaron Hardie was bowled in similar fashion to Green.
At that stage
Maharaj had figures of 5 for 9, and South Africa could have hastened the end of the contest in the next over when Dwarshuis, on 4, drove Subrayen to cover, but Maharaj spilt the chance. He wasn't the only one drifting. South Africa meandered through the next 13 overs, using double spin until Maharaj was bowled out. In that time, Marsh brought up a 51-ball fifty when he cut Maharaj through point, and South Africa seemed out of wicket-taking ideas. Burger was brought back after 28 overs and had his first success when Dwarshuis, on 33, pulled him to Dewald Brevis at midwicket.
Still, with Marsh in the
middle, Australia would have had hopes of pulling off a heist, but Burger's more disciplined return also ended his knock. Marsh top-edged a pull, and Rickelton completed the catch. Tristan Stubbs' catching nightmare in Australia continued as he put down Adam Zampa at cover in what was his third drop of the tour. Zampa was last out after Lungi Ngidi wrapped things up in the 41st over with two wickets in three balls.
South Africa's innings had earlier started well, albeit somewhat slowly thanks to a 92-run opening partnership between Markram and Rickelton. They were circumspect in the face of a stern examination from Australia's opening bowlers, Josh Hazlewood and Dwarshuis, who found a hint of movement and denied them width. They were 32 without loss after seven overs, with Markram fairly comfortable opening the batting in an ODI for the first time in four years. Rickelton could have been run out for 8, but a Carey throw missed the stumps. He was given lbw to Head out on 25, but reviewed successfully, survived an Australian lbw review on 28 when replays showed Zampa had pitched outside leg and was dropped on 31 when Inglis could not hold on to a tough chance. His troubled stay at the crease ended when he tried to hit Head over mid-off and was caught by a diving Labuschagne.
Markram's 13th ODI fifty
came off 54 balls and was laced with well-timed drives and cuts and would have gone a long way to easing concerns about his form. He moved through the gears quickly and was on 82 off 81 balls, set for his first century in 20 innings, but loosely edged behind against Dwarshuis.
Bavuma, in a new position at number three and batting for the first time since the World Test Championship final, was underway with a signature pull over midwicket, but found it difficult to keep going. Breetzke proved a complementary partner who took on more of an aggressor role. He hit Dwarshuis over midwicket for the innings' first six in the 28th over and took on Australia's third spinner, Labuschagne, when he swept him for back-to-back fours,
but did not last into the last ten overs for a big finish. Breetzke top-edged a slogsweep in the 39th over to leave it to the power-hitters to finish off.
Stubbs and Brevis both holed out to long-on in the space of four balls as Head removed South Africa's two most destructive middle-order hitters. Bavuma brought up his fourth successive half-century with a paddle sweep, but inside-edged onto his stumps and could not close the innings out.
Instead, Wiaan Mulder's 31 off 26 balls added the finishing touches. He ended the innings with South Africa's third six, hit high over longon off Dwarshuis. South Africa scored 73 runs in the last 10 overs, but lost five wickets in that time. (ESPNcricinfo)
Keshav Maharaj
Mitchell Marsh tried to hold Australia together
Travis Head claimed four wickets, including Dewald Brevis
“Disability Sixes” emerge winners of GCOPD/ExxonMobil Dominoes competition
Recently, the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD), with support from ExxonMobil Guyana, hosted a dominoes competition for persons who are blind and those with physical disabilities. The event took place at the headquarters of the Guyana Society for the Blind, 44 High Street, Werken-Rust, Georgetown.
Organised through the GCOPD ExxonMobil Guyana-funded Orientation and Mobility programme for persons who are blind or visually impaired, the competition aimed to promote disability inclusion in sports while creating an environment for social interaction among programme beneficiaries.
The participating teams included the “Cane Raiders”
GMIN Ventures Tournament strengthens Private Sector support for golf in Guyana
The Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) recently hosted its second consecutive GMIN Ventures Golf Tournament, a fixture that has already begun carving a niche for itself in the local sporting calendar. Though still relatively new, the event has grown in significance, and this year’s edition reinforced both the resilience of the club and the importance of private partnerships in sustaining and expanding the sport in Guyana.
While the tournament coincided with a period when many players were away on holiday with their families, LGC Public Relations Officer Brian Hackett described the turnout as satisfactory and noted that the event nonetheless succeeded in capturing the attention of golfers eager to test their skills. “This is the second year we’ve staged this tournament, and while many of our players were on vacation, we are pleased with the numbers. The support reflects a genuine commitment to the game, and we are always happy when we can attract significant participation,” Hackett said.
For Hackett, the partnership between LGC and GMIN Ventures is an encouraging sign of how private support can serve as a catalyst for growth. “Events like these always contribute to the development of the sport. When Private Sector partnerships support golf, it is always welcome. The private sector plays a great role in ensuring that sports continue, and through collaborations like this, we have already seen quite a few new players join this year. This particular partnership has been very successful.”
Hackett further highlighted that the club has witnessed a noticeable increase in new players this year, a trend directly linked to the opportunities created by such tournaments. Beyond competition, the GMIN Ventures Tournament provides visibility for the sport, demonstrating its potential to attract participants from diverse backgrounds.
The event also symbolises the broader relationship between sport and business in Guyana. At a time when rec-
reational activities are competing with numerous other demands on people’s at tention, sustained investment from the private sector ensures that golf remains accessible, vibrant, and relevant. The syn ergy between LGC and its corporate part ners has therefore become more than sponsorship; it is a model of collaboration that supports com munity engagement and longterm sporting culture.
For the Lusignan Golf Club, this year’s GMIN Ventures Tournament was not just a compe tition but a statement of intent. It demonstrated that golf in Guyana is growing steadily, supported by both tradition and innovation, and that with continued part nerships, the sport can expand its reach and flourish even further in years to come.
from the Guyana Society for the Blind, “Blind Sixes” from the Guyana Blind Cricket Association (GUYBCA) and the “Disability Sixes”, a team of persons with physical disabilities. The three teams engaged in six intense rounds of dominoes, with all players living with disabilities.
After a competitive tournament, the “Disability Sixes” team emerged victorious with a total of 49 games. The “Cane Raiders” followed closely with 45 games, and the “Blind Sixes” were last with 41 games. Notably, Silas Rogers, from the “Blind Raiders” and who is blind, copped the most games, a total of 12 individually won games.
The winning team were awarded a trophy and cash
prizes were donated by GCOPD.
During the prize-giving ceremony, Ganesh Singh, Programme Manager of GCOPD, thanked the players for their enthusiastic participation in the highly competitive dominoes tournament and pledged the organisation’s continued support for similar competitions that promote disability inclusion in sports. He also highlighted the opportunities for social interactions provided by events like the dominoes competition.
The GCOPD’s Orientation and Mobility programme, which launched in 2022 with funding from ExxonMobil Guyana, is a transformative initiative. The programme provides training to persons who are blind and visually impaired across Guyana to facilitate their independence. Training include the use of the “white cane”, using computers and mobile phones with screen readers, navigating public spaces, and completing simple household tasks independently.
Centuries from Damion Cecil and Jonathan Foo led Albion to a crushing innings and 206-run win against Port Mourant in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) twoday First-Division tournament.
Playing at the Albion Community Centre Ground, the 18-year-old Cecil stroked a solid unbeaten 155, sharing in an unbroken 166-run third-wicket partnership with the experienced Foo, who blasted four sixes and six fours in a blistering 101 not out.
Albion declared on 381 for 2, after 70 overs. In Port Mourant’s response, they were shot out for 68 in 23.4 overs.
day.
Earlier on day one, the right-handed Cecil’s maiden first division ton contained 19 fours. He featured in an impressive first-wicket stand of 129 with AriAfrizal Kadir, who made an even fifty.
With the departure of Kadir, national Under-15 batsman Nathaniel Ramsammy joined Cecil, but with four runs added, Ramsammy was forced to retire hurt, having suffered an injury to his knee.
Afraz Budhoo, returning from duties with the Guyana Under-19 team, then added 82 for the second wicket with Cecil before Budhoo was dismissed for 39, with the score on 215.
brother of Damion, bagged 4 for 19 with off-spin bowling for Albion and was well supported by left-arm spinner Kelvin Umroa with 3 for 21. There was also a wicket for fast bowler Shiv Harripersaud. Port Mourant, in their second innings, slumped from 71 for 1 to 107 all out.
Ramnauth, who helped open the batting, was the only Port Mourant batsman to offer resistance with a composed 51.
Left-arm spinners Umroa and Gouraf Ramesh bagged 3 for 15 and 3 for 46, respectively, while off-spinner Leon Cecil supported with 2 for 31.
The winning team display their trophy
A glimpse of the prize winners following the Gmin Ventures Tournament
Damion Cecil slammed a maiden First-Division century for Albion
“I have a point to prove to myself” – Paul on GAW call-up
he disclosed.
Guyana Amazon Warriors all-rounder
Keemo Paul has rekindled his love and passion for cricket. The 27-year-old, who had a history with injury, is fit and ready to go, and is more focused mentally on the 2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League.
Paul disclosed that he has been focused more on business and things outside cricket while injured, but his excitement is high this time around. He highlighted that this season is a do-or-die season for him.
“My career has been plagued by injury. I don’t think I lived up to my full potential. This CPL is a bit different for me mentally.”
“I think I am well prepared. For a long while I feel like this CPL; I feel excited. The love is coming back, and I am enthusiastic about this season,” Paul said.
In previous seasons, Paul did more batting than bowling due to injury.
trying to be different, putting more work in. This season is probably a do-or-die season. The word for me this season is 'enjoyment'. That’s what I want to be this season,” Paul said.
“I am backing myself 100% to do well. I don’t have a point to prove to anyone but myself. I want to live up to my full potential.”
The right-hander is fo cused on returning to good bowling form. He made ad justments to his run-up, and he is expected to clock high speeds.
“I have never been worried about the critics. I am
CFU Girls Challenge Series…
“I had fallen out of love with cricket. I was focused on business and other stuff. I was not zoned in and living up to what I should have,”
The Junior Lady Jags, Guyana’s National Under-14 Girls’ football team, have completed their unbeaten run in the group stage of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-14 Girls’ Challenge Series and, as a result, will progress to the competition’s semi-final round.
“While out of cricket, it was tough. Watching the television, you see guys you played with at a certain level, and they are representing the West Indies and playing all over, and I am home sitting injured. Mentally, it was not easy, but my family has always been sup-
portive of me,” Paul added. Paul missed out on the Warriors’ opening game against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. The Warriors will return to action for their
4x400m
second game of the season on Friday, August 22. Warriors will play Antigua and Barbuda Falcons at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
Gforce stalemate to remain unbeaten
Thais Charles, Sonia Simon, Kaleigh Todd, Skylar DeNobrega, Kira Chor, Tissanne Hughes, Lehiana Benjamin, and Kellyann Ellis.
uyana raked in their second medal of the ongoing Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay, on Monday night, striking bronze in the mixed 4x400m event in athletics.
The Guyanese quartet, comprising Malachi Austin, Narissa McPherson, Simeon Adams and Keliza Smith taking the track in that order, stopped
is Guyana’s second medal at the 2025 games, following Raekwon Noel’s recordbreaking bronze in the men’s 200m butterfly last week. Also in athletics, Smith also hit the track earlier on Monday, clocking 11.45s for fourth place in the women’s 100m semifinals. Smith narrowly missed out on a spot in the event’s final, which was claimed by
At the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on Tuesday, Guyana held on for a taxing nil-all draw against the Cayman Islands to solidify their spot at the top of Group C with 10 points from four games.
Head Coach Nichola Argyle opted for a starting line-up that featured Captain Sabana Simon, goalkeeper Shantelle Jobe, Leandra Henrito,
The defence on both sides of the field worked overtime through the game’s 70 minutes, while some crucial saves were integral to the result. While Kira Chor provided many opportunities for Guyana to go ahead, one of the Junior Lady Jags’ best chances came in the dying minutes of the game when second-half substitute Leah Rodrigues’ shot was narrowly deflected by Cayman’s keeper, Olivia Anderson, with her leg.
Meanwhile, Guyana had some lastminute saving of their own to do, as another substitute, Andrea Adrian, sent the ball wide when Cayman’s striker almost set up a one-onone with Guyana’s keeper.
The drawn result kept Guyana unbeaten thus far. The Junior Lady Jags will now look ahead to the Tier II semi-final scheduled for later this week.
Malachi Austin and Narissa McPherson were a part of Guyana’s medal-winning 4x400m team
Guyana’s U14 girls enjoy a cheer prior to the start of the match
Chase and Kings close out Warner Park thriller
SWiese’s last ball. Wiese nailed his yorker for most of the over but missed his length slightly on the crucial delivery to put one in
Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in Basseterre. A brilliant debut innings from breakout League pick Navin
Navin Bidaisee slammed a half century
the slot. Navin duly bunted down towards the boundary at long off, only for the towering Tim David to pull off
Bidaisee saw the Patriots stay in contention throughout a tight run-chase as they attempted to haul down the Kings' total of 200/8. The match came down to the final delivery, with Bidaisee and the Patriots requiring four to win off David
Roston Chase
an ice-veined catch to give the Kings a victory by three runs and break the Patriots’ hearts in the process.
Roston Chase was named player of the match for scoring 61 off 38 deliveries with the bat and cementing an all-round per-
formance with 2/27 with the ball, his wily spin economical as ever and pocketing the wickets of Rilee Rossouw and Patriots skipper Jason Holder.
“It was a bit nerve-rack-
the Patriots to swallow; to lose at the last after Bidaisee played such a spectacular maiden CPL innings, finishing with 50 runs off just 36 balls, to see the game go right down to the wire.
Johnson Charles got the defending champions off to a fast start
ing!” said Chase post-match. “I think we made it a hard victory. I thought we could have won it a bit more outright, but I’m still grateful for the two points.” With the momentum shifting back and forth all match, it was a bitter pill for
The loss sees the Patriots with just one win in four matches and three defeats on the bounce. The Kings head to the top of the CPL
table on net run rate despite their first match
aint Lucia Kings and St Kitts & Nevis Patriots were involved in a last-ball thriller in game six of the Republic Bank
