219 acres of land assessed for major overhaul in Kaneville Model Village blueprint
…features 314 new utility poles, 20 fire hydrants
Some 314 utility poles and 20 fire hydrants are set to be replaced and installed respectively in Kaneville as part of the Government’s Model Village Initiative, Minister within the Housing Ministry, Vanessa Benn announced during a community consultation session on Tuesday. Benn said the Government is moving to transform Kaneville into a model village through a comprehensive development initiative aimed at improving infrastructure, safety and the overall appearance of the community. As such a Model Village Blueprint for Kaneville was presented to residents. Speaking during the engagement session, Benn said the initiative has been guided by assessments, previous community consultations and ongoing engagement with residents as the design of the project continues to take shape. She outlined three main priorities for Kaneville’s transformation which are creating an environment that en-
ables safe movement for residents and persons travelling through the village, improving drainage systems and enhancing the community’s aesthetic appeal through mea-
sures such as tree planting, street signage and other beautification efforts. An aerial view of Kaneville was presented during the engagement to give residents and stakeholders a clearer understanding of the area targeted for the transformation project. The shaded section highlighted during the presentation represents the specific area assessed by the project team over the past few weeks. Based on the assessment, the area covers approximately 219 acres and includes 18 roads extending east, west, north and south, with a combined road length of about 7,600 metres. The assessment also identified more than 500 households, eight businesses and shops, one Government office and five places of worship within the area. About 800 metres of concrete drains currently ex-
ist within the community. The information provided a snapshot of the existing infrastructure and layout of Kaneville as part of the Government’s plans to transform the community into a model village. Guiding residents through visuals of the area, Benn explained that the assessment also examined the condition and placement of utility poles and lantern posts throughout the community.
Assessment needs
She said that based on the assessment, Kaneville requires 314 lantern posts to be replaced. Benn also noted that the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) and other relevant agencies assessed the community based on population density and other factors to determine the required placement of fire hydrants.
An aerial view of Kaneville
Minister within the Housing Ministry, Vanessa Benn during her presentation in the presence of President Dr Irfaan Ali
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily. Wednesday, August 5 –08:35h–10:05h and Thursday, August 6 – 09:35h–11:05h.
WEATHER TODAY
Sunny skies are expected during the day, followed by clear skies at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East-North-Easterly to East-SouthEasterly between 2.68 metres and 4.92 metres.
High Tide: 09:00h and 21:21h reaching maximum heights of 2.44 metres and 2.47 metres.
Low Tide: 14:51h reaching a
of 0.82 metre.
Govt to build 1-bedroom homes for vulnerable citizens – VP
…says 1000 Lindeners on NICIL lands to get fast-tracked titles
he Government will soon begin constructing one-bedroom homes for some of the country's most vulnerable citizens – including the elderly, persons with disabilities, and those living in poverty, as it moves to fulfil a commitment outlined in its election manifesto. Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo made the announcement on Tuesday, during a Public Day meeting with residents of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) at the Watooka Guest House, where he outlined the Government's continued housing agenda.
"We're launching a programme now, where, for people who are really destitute, like people who've been abandoned by their families, like elderly, those who are extremely poor, and those who are disabled and can't afford to build, the Government will build some small houses for them; one-bedroom houses," Jagdeo stated. The initiative follows an announcement by President Dr Irfaan Ali last month that the Government would launch a dedicated social housing programme aimed at supporting vulnerable Guyanese towards homeownership.
During a national broadcast on July 16, President Ali said the programme would target between 3000 and 5000 social homes for vulnerable groups, including single mothers facing economic hardship, persons living with disabilities, and the elderly. He indicated that strict eligibility criteria would be established to ensure the homes reach those most in need.
also provided an update on the Government's efforts to address the backlog of housing applications across the country. He said that in the nine regions outside of Region Four, the Administration is aiming to eliminate the backlog of
make housing accessible, noting that each developed house lot is a substantial subsidy to beneficiaries.
"It takes as much as about $5 million to develop one house lot. That's what it costs the Government, and then we sell it for around
house lot allocations by the end of next year.
"In the nine other regions, we're hoping by the end of next year to clear all the backlog," he said, noting that he recently received an update from Housing Minister Collin Croal and officials within the housing sector. According to the VP, in Region 10, approximately 1000 residents have been living on lands owned by the former bauxite company that are now under the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). Those lands are being transferred to facilitate the regularisation process.
"We're going to try to accelerate the titling for those people who live on those NICIL lands and they're going to work on a special project," Jagdeo explained. He added that Region 10 currently has a housing backlog of just over 3000 applicants, but expressed confidence that enough house lots are being developed to clear those pending applications by the end of next year. Jagdeo also highlighted the level of Government investment required to
$500,000. So it's a huge subsidy," he said. Since returning to office in 2020, the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has significantly expanded housing programmes across the country. Between 2020 and 2025, the Government invested nearly $240 billion in the housing sector, allocated approximately 53,000 house lots, regularised 24 squatter settlements, and
developed more than 100 housing areas. In addition to house lot distribution, the Government has introduced several initiatives aimed at increasing homeownership, including low-income turnkey houses, the Homestead Project, modular homes, the Hinterland Housing Programme, and the Steel and Cement Subsidy Programme. The Administration has also removed Value-Added Tax (VAT) on several locally and regionally produced construction materials, introduced tax relief on housing loans, and worked with commercial banks to lower mortgage interest rates and expand access to financing.
Recognising the increasing demand for completed homes rather than serviced lots, the Government has set a target of constructing 40,000 homes over the next five years, while expanding its social housing programme to ensure vulnerable citizens also have access to safe and affordable housing.
Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo at the Public Day meeting with residents of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) at the Watooka Guest House on Tuesday
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Awareness & action
Workplace safety cannot remain an afterthought in a rapidlydeveloping economy. As construction activity expands across Guyana, the frequency of workplace accidents has underscored the urgent need for stronger safety practices, stricter enforcement and greater accountability among employers, contractors and workers.
The construction sector, by its nature, involves significant risks. Heavy machinery, elevated structures, electrical systems, excavation activities and hazardous materials create conditions where a single lapse in judgement or failure to follow safety procedures can result in serious injury or loss of life. The increasing number of workplace incidents across various sectors demonstrates that safety standards must not only exist on paper but must be actively implemented, monitored and enforced.
The Labour and Manpower Planning Ministry’s “Putting Safety First in the Construction Sector” campaign is an important step toward addressing longstanding concerns surrounding occupational safety and health. The decision to begin with education and awareness is appropriate, as a strong safety culture must be built on knowledge and understanding. However, awareness alone cannot resolve the challenges facing workplaces unless it is followed by consistent inspections, regulatory action and consequences for non-compliance.
Too often, workplace accidents occur because basic safety measures are ignored, protective equipment is not properly used, training is inadequate or safety protocols are treated as optional rather than mandatory. These failures expose workers to unnecessary danger and place families, businesses and the wider economy at risk.
A workplace accident is rarely the result of a single mistake, and in many cases, it reflects a wider failure in systems, supervision and enforcement. Employers have a responsibility to provide safe working environments, ensure workers receive proper training and supply appropriate protective equipment. Supervisors must ensure that safety procedures are followed, while workers must understand that compliance protects not only themselves but also their colleagues.
The country’s economic growth, particularly in construction, mining and other high-risk industries, must be matched by stronger occupational safety systems. Development cannot be measured only by the number of projects completed or investments attracted; it must also be measured by the ability to protect the people who contribute to that progress.
The Ministry’s planned inspections following the awareness campaign will be a critical test of the commitment to improving workplace safety. Inspections must be regular, thorough and supported by effective enforcement mechanisms. Regulations are only meaningful when breaches result in corrective action and when employers understand that safety violations carry serious consequences.
There must also be greater attention placed on workplace culture, as safety cannot be viewed as solely the responsibility of government agencies or safety officers. It must become embedded in the daily operations of businesses and worksites. A culture where workers feel empowered to report unsafe conditions, where supervisors prioritise prevention and where employers invest in safety will significantly reduce the risk of accidents.
The expansion of similar initiatives into mining, agriculture and other high-risk sectors is necessary. Each industry presents unique hazards, requiring targeted approaches, specialised training and appropriate safety measures. A national safety framework must recognise these differences while maintaining the fundamental principle that every worker deserves protection.
Guyana’s development course presents enormous opportunities, but those opportunities must not come at the cost of worker safety. Economic advancement and workplace protection are interconnected responsibilities.
The “Putting Safety First” campaign sends an important message and requires commitment, investment, oversight and accountability from all stakeholders. As Guyana continues to grow, protecting the workforce that drives that growth must remain a priority.
Rise
and
fall of political parties in Guyana
Dear Editor, Guyanese have witnessed the rise and fall of many political parties which would have promised so much in the beginning, and delivered little or nothing in the end. Many have slipped away into oblivion after having their names printed on the ballot papers, and some of these names are not even recalled today. Then there were those who looked promising, and indeed promised many things under the sun, and then simply faded or vanished into the sunset.
Many Guyanese can recall the United Force Party (UF), founded in 1960 and headed by the late Peter D'Aguiar, which played a major role in facilitating the People’s National Congress (PNC), headed by the late Forbes Burnham, to oust the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) from Government in 1964. Thus began the perilous 28-year journey of the PNC dictatorship rule, which saw Guyana being relegated to the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, only second to Haiti. Those Guyanese who lived during this dark era experienced the worst period in their lives. However, volumes have been written about this dark period, so I will not delve any further. But as karma would dictate, the UF leader, having found his conscience, was unceremoniously kicked out of the coalition which was formed in 1964. Today, the
UF just sits on the ballot paper at election time, but never again in Parliament.
Next was the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), which was formed in 1974 by the late Dr Walter Rodney, and which gave a glimmer of hope to struggling Guyanese. However, after his assassination this party lost its way, then found its way into the arms of the same political party it fought against. It must be noted that the WPA and its founding leader had persistently fought the PNC, which was solely responsible for Dr Rodney’s assassination. The CoI concluded that Dr Rodney's death was a state-engineered assassination. Dr Rodney paid the ultimate price, and today the WPA is indistinguishable from the PNC. Similar to the UF, the WPA joined the PNC and, together with the Alliance for Change (AFC), formed a coalition Government in 2015 which lost no time in once again advancing its dictatorship agenda. There was no coalition in the real sense; it was the PNC which ruled supreme, and the little parties were consumed willingly to foster the PNC’s tyrannical policies. At the last General Election in 2025, the WPA had to piggyback on the PNC to be gifted a seat in Parliament. If it had gone solo, the WPA would never have been able to garner a seat in Parliament. It would have suffered the same fate as the AFC, which went solo and
was soundly thrashed by the electorate.
The AFC was formed in 2005 by the trio Khemraj Ramjattan, Raphael Trotman, and the late Shiela Holder, and in its first outing in 2006 it won six seats, then seven seats in 2011. It was at this point a de facto coalition unfolded against the PPP/C Government and which gave birth to a coalition in 2015. The AFC went against its founding principles and coalesced with the PNC. In its action plan, the AFC had vowed and promised its supporters and members never to coalesce with the PNC. But it did not only coalesce; it became one with the PNC and fully supported all its dictatorial policies, hook, line, and sinker. Then in vain it tried to reinvent itself and went solo in the 2025 General Election, and it was soundly kicked by the electorate.
Then the new kid on the block arrived lately. The WIN Party was formed by fugitive offender (definition as per Cap 10:04) Azruddin Mohamed in June 2025, and contested the General Elections the same year. Many believed that this move was to evade extradition to the US to face charges ranging from money laundering and wire fraud to tax evasion schemes, and to get back at his PPP nemeses, whom he mistakenly felt were responsible for his present predicament.
A child engages President Dr Irfaan Ali during his visit to Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, on Tuesday, where he unveiled the Model Village Blueprint for the community (Office of the President/Facebook)
Driver dies 2 days after overtaking attempt ends in crash
A42-year-old West Coast Berbice man has died from injuries sustained in a two-car collision on the No. 22 Public Road on Sunday.
Dead is Carlton Pluck of No. 8 Village, West Coast Berbice, who succumbed to severe head injuries on Tuesday at about 16:30h, while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
Police said preliminary investigations revealed that Pluck was driving motor car PJJ 94 east along the northern drive lane of the public road at an alleged fast rate of speed when the accident occurred.
While negotiating a right bend, he reportedly attempted to overtake a line of traffic and collided head-on with motor car PAP 2877, which was travelling west along the southern drive lane.
Motor car PAP 2877 was being driven by a 33-year-old
of Bermine Scheme, New Amsterdam, Berbice. Two other passengers, a 37-yearold of the Glasgow Housing Scheme, New Amsterdam, and a 33-year-old also of New Amsterdam, were in the vehicle at the time. Both vehicles were extensively damaged in the collision, resulting in injuries to the driver of PAP 2877 and his passengers.
Pluck was initially taken to the Bath Regional Hospital before being transferred to the GPHC, where he remained unconscious while being treated for his injuries.
The driver of the other car was taken to the Bath Regional Hospital by public-spirited citizens, treated and discharged. One of the passengers was later transferred to the GPHC for further medical attention, while the other, who sustained multiple injuries, remained under observation. Their conditions were listed as stable.
Police said a breathalyser test conducted on the driver of PAP 2877 recorded a reading of 17 micrograms.
Investigations into the accident are ongoing.
219 acres of land assessed...
“Based also on that assessment and how the Guyana Fire Service and the other provisions outline where, based on the population density and so on, where you need to have fire hydrants placed, they have identified that 20 fire hydrants need to be installed in these various locations across Kaneville,” she said.
Meanwhile, Benn urged Kaneville residents to ensure their fences and other structures are properly positioned as the Government moves ahead with the transformation project. She reminded residents that road reserves are public lands and play an important role in maintaining drainage systems, walkways road shoulders and overall road safety. “The reserve along the side of the road is not to park your big truck, not to break the shoulders, but remembering — or if you don’t know — the reserve belongs to Government. It is public land,” Benn said. She added that while residents may use certain areas around their properties, the reserves must remain intact to support
Rise and fall of political...
He ignored the fact that the evidence in the US federal indictment and extradition case against him and his father, Nazar Mohamed, was compiled and investigated by US law enforcement agencies; including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Department of Homeland Security.
His main political argument is selling to the electorate that the PPP/C is “corrupted” and that he can offer to the “poor and unfortunate” a better way of life, not unlike the Coalition’s “Good Life” mantra, and this attracted 16 seats. He claims to represent the poor people, but this is far from the truth. These seats were drawn from the former Opposition Party, the PNC, and to a lesser extent, the AFC. It is one thing to throw cash at people and entice them to
cast their votes in your favour, but then it is a completely different kettle of fish when running a country is at stake. You simply cannot bandage every social and economic sore with money plasters. This will present an appeal, especially to those people who are always reluctant to work, and intend to live on handouts. If the Opposition leader is honestly committed to national development, then his approach will be entirely different – it will comprise sound socioeconomic policies, not chanting the corruption mantra like his predecessors – the APNU and the AFC, and promise every goodies under the sun. We know only too well how that ended – they promised the heaven but delivered hell. According to him, the PPP/C Government never did anything good.
I had predicted the demise of
infrastructure maintenance and public safety.
Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali who was at the meeting told residents that the Government’s vision for model villages goes beyond physical upgrades, with communities expected to become economically active spaces where residents can work, operate businesses and create opportunities without having to leave their hometowns.
“We need to make our villages economically alive. This means creating space for agriculture, markets, shops, small businesses, workshops, artisans, services, light manufac-
turing, digital business, and other forms of entrepreneurship,” President Ali said. He added, “The objective is to create a village that is economically productive, while remaining a good place to live.”
The Model Village initiative is being spearheaded by the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry alongside the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Agriculture. Public consultations on the initiative will continue throughout the week across various communities.
the PNC and the AFC, and now I will predict the fall of Azruddin’s WIN party. Everyone in the WIN Party, including the leader, is cognisant of the fact that when he is extradited, his party will collapse, since there will be an insane rush to fill the vacancy and everyone feels that they are eligible and can do a better job. Moreover, the flow of funds will dry up. There is no party structure to keep the party alive and sustain its longevity, since it was built around one man and his money. It is gradually dawning on the public that the WIN’s leader is more concerned about his own survival.
Maybe the PNC will then have a second coming as the Opposition party.
Yours sincerely, Haseef
Yusuf
Sign Off
Islam for Guyana
Evening News (RB)
HGTV
Stop Suffering
Food Network 12:00 Movie - The Griddle House (2018)
Movie - Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008)
Residents during the presentation of the Model Village Blueprint for Kaneville on Tuesday
Page Foundation
Standard Form
Standard form is a way of writing very large or very small numbers by comparing the powers of ten.
Numbers in standard form are written in this format:
a×10ⁿ
Converting to and from standard form is where we convert an ordinary number to a number written in standard form or scientific notation.
Converting between ordinary numbers and numbers in standard form can help us to compare numbers and interpret answers given in standard form on a calculator.
To do this we need to understand the place value of a number.
Example
Let’s look at the number 350,000 and place the digits in a place value table:
So 350000 written in standard form is 3.5×105
In order to convert ordinary numbers to standard form:
Identify the non-zero digits and write these as a decimal number.
In order to maintain the place value of the number, this decimal number needs to be multiplied by a power of ten.
Write the power of ten as an exponent.
Write your number in standard form.
Writing numbers in standard form with positive powers
Example
Write this number in standard form:
480,000
1. Identify the non-zero digits and write these as a decimal number.
The number will begin as 4.8.
2. In order to maintain the place value of the number, this decimal number needs to be multiplied by a power of ten.
4.8 × 100,000 = 480,000
Write the power of ten as an exponent.
100,000 = 105
Write your number in standard form.
4.8 ×105
Converting a small number to standard form
Example
Write 0.00081 in standard form.
This number will begin with 8.1.
8.1 ÷ 10,000 = 0.00081 =10-4
8.1 × 10-4
She does it so devotedly
In the middle of her most ecstatic spasm There seems to be no water In the murky birdbath at all. It’s all in the air
Converting standard form to an ordinary number
Example
Write 6.2 × 104 as an ordinary number.
104=10,000
6.2 × 10000 = 62,000
Example 5
Write 1.9 × 10-3 as an ordinary number.
10-3 = 0.001
1.9 × 0.001 1.9 × 0.001 = 0.0019 1 10000
At once, all showering above Her paddling wings or running Among her feathers spread like fingers. She crouches, puffs the white down Of her underbreast as if settling On something pale blue, and the water gathers Beneath her, against her.
Now she thinks a long moment Without thinking, stares North and south at the same time At nothing. And suddenly she’s all done with it, Up on the dripping edge, shaking And sleek, alert, herself again, Flying into hiding.
(Source: Poetry [January 1979])
Write a dialogue between two objects in your bedroom. What are they discussing?
WORD SEARCH
Linden Public Day
Not distracted by “extraneous noise” – VP Jagdeo on Opposition’s failed attempt to disrupt event
…as hundreds attend to resolve issues, engage Govt
Vice President (VP)
Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Tuesday said that attempts by United Statessanctioned and indicted Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and supporters to disrupt his Public Day outreach in Linden, Region 10, failed, as residents continued to turn out in large numbers to engage Government Ministers, agencies, and senior officials.
Jagdeo, speaking after the outreach at Watooka Guest House, said the protest activity did not affect the turnout or prevent residents from seeking assistance.
“And I heard some people were making noise in the compound. It did not distract the large [number]
from what was happening here, and it didn't deter the large number of people who showed up here today. They were hoping that people would boycott coming to this activity. They failed miserably. They failed miserably. People just ignored all that they had to say,” Jagdeo said.
He added that the situation demonstrated that residents were more concerned about addressing issues affecting their daily lives than political disagreements.
“You know, it shows that people don't care too much for the politics when it concerns their lives. And so I'm happy that they have failed. I'm very happy that they have failed,” he said.
The VP said the out-
reach allowed Government officials to address a range of concerns raised by residents, particularly issues relating to housing, land leases and public assistance.
“So, as is typical of many of these public days, the issues surrounding housing and leases for land, some public assistance and a lot of issues are similar issues. Not any surprise because we have encountered similar issues across the country,” Jagdeo said.
Criticism or shortterm measures
The VP said the Government remains committed to resolving these matters across the country, including in Region 10.
“The Government is
committed to working to resolve all of these issues for people everywhere in our country, regardless of where they live. And the people of Region 10 are no exception,” he said.
VP Jagdeo said the Administration would continue focusing on long-term development rather than being distracted by criticism or short-term measures.
“We will just continue doing what we are doing, which is keeping a focus on what matters most to our country and our people. We're not going to be distracted by extraneous noise and by those who try to knock us off this course that we have defined,” he said.
He noted that while some Government initiatives may take time to produce results, they are aimed at creating sustainable progress and economic opportunities.
“Sometimes the things that we work on yield results in the long term. So they're not as attractive as what some may propagate, the short-term fixes. But it's the long-term issues that matter most to the country because they create sustainable progress and wealth for our people and lead to a prosperous life,” Jagdeo said.
The VP also highlighted Government spending on public sector wages and salaries, noting that public servants are now earning significantly more compared with when the administration returned to office.
“Whilst we're addressing short-term help, and a lot of people have received short-term help, you just look at the wages and salaries built in the public sector. It has gone up phenomenally. It means more public servants are earning literally over $100 billion more per year since today and since when we returned to office,” he said.
Jagdeo thanked the Ministers, Members of Parliament and technical staff from various Government agencies who participated in the outreach and spent the day addressing residents’ concerns.
“So we had a long day and I think a very successful day. We've addressed many issues, and I think a lot of people will get help,” he said.
Throughout the day, Linden residents continued to turn out in large numbers for the Public Day, where they engaged officials on matters involving housing, education, agriculture, the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), and other sectors.
Welcomed opportunity
Former A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)
Member of Parliament
Jermaine Figueira said residents welcomed the opportunity to directly engage Jagdeo and Cabinet members.
Figueira said despite what he described as attempts by the political Opposition to disrupt the event, residents remained focused on getting their concerns addressed.
“Despite the minor hiccup by the combined Opposition, the people were undeterred by the minor interruption because they were here for the specific reason of getting their issues addressed. The Vice President listened to their concerns and addressed them directly,” Figueira said.
He said he also observed that some persons who participated in the protest later joined residents seeking assistance from the Government officials.
“What I found equally interesting was the fact that some of the supposed protestors who were in the gathering were equally in the crowd here getting their issues addressed,” he said.
Figueira said one individual he engaged with was not from Linden but Georgetown and alleged that she had received financial assistance to travel to Linden to participate in the protest before also seeking help for her concerns.
“I’ve lived in Linden all of my life, and I recognised that a lot of persons (in the protest) were not from Linden,” he said.
Breached Police barricades
Meanwhile, APNU Leader Aubrey Norton joined US-sanctioned Mohamed and other party members in a protest outside Watooka Guest House.
The Opposition had claimed that the protest would be peaceful, but protesters later breached Police barricades by pulling apart despite Police’s effort to prevent them and moving onto the stairs of the guest house, led by Mohamed.
The group subsequently assembled within the Watooka compound, where they remained but did not access the services being offered by the Government agencies.
The outreach continued largely uninterrupted despite the actions by the joint Opposition.
The protesters chanted and displayed placards concerning the appointment of the Region Ten Chairman, and they also called for the dismissal of Public Works Minister Juan Edghill over the MV Barima tragedy.
3 Cubans slapped with murder charge
Three Cuban nationals have been remanded to prison after being jointly charged with the murder of a fellow Cuban national at Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
Charged are Alejandro Igalza Rios, called “Papote”, 26, a barber; Juan Pablo Ferrer Perez, 29, a construction worker and Mairely Felicita Medinas Alvarez, 24, a labourer. All three are residents of Timehri, EBD.
Alejandro Igalza Rios, called “Papote”
War-break… …in Trinidad??
TThe three appeared on Tuesday before
The trio was arrested on July 29 and July 30, 2026, in connection with the murder of 20-yearold Yudivian Cardenas Amador Almagro, which occurred on July 22, 2026, at Diamond, EBD.
Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court, where the indictable charge of murder, contrary to Common Law, was read to them.
As the offence is indictable, the accused were not required to enter pleas. They were all remanded to prison.
The matter was adjourned to September 21.
rinidad has never experienced the open racial warfare between the two major race groups – Indians and Africans competing for political power – as we did in the 60s. Afro-Trinidadians were the majority and – mobilised by Eric Williams – ran the country under the PNM from 1956 to 1995 when the UNC slipped in with Indo-Trini support!! While the oil revenues flowed into a state-led economy dominated by African Trinis, enough trickled into Indianowned businesses to keep that community off the streets!! Trinis sniggered at our racialised politics and smirked in self-satisfaction at their “Trini identity”!!
Well, they found out that while Eric Williams was right when he boasted, “Oil doan spoil", he neglected to warn that oil does, however, run out!! And creates its own political dynamics of zerosum race relations. The latter has become increasingly tense after the politics became more competitive after 1995, with the Indiandominated UNC regularly alternating governance with the Afrodominated PNM!!
And nothing exemplifies the callousing of their Trini “one people” ideal more than the fireworks that exploded during their Emancipation Day commemoration!! It seems that PM Kamla –who’s UNC! – was invited to a particular Emancipation event where she’d been billed as the feature speaker – but didn’t show up!! Even though she’d attended two other emancipation events – dressed in full African garb – all hell broke loose! The unmerciful heckling by a woman dressed in African regalia of her Culture Minister, Benjamin, might’ve explained her no-show!! As was that of her friend, African culture activist and UTT head Cudjoe at his university's commemoration!
PNM leader – and leader of the Opposition Penelope Beckles – didn’t skip a beat as she tore into Kamla, claiming her “disdainful” absence was an insult to Afro-Trinis and was divisive to national unity!! At the same time, there was a leaked video from PNM elements that referred to Kamla as a "coolie", and she responded, "This version of the PNM under Pennelope Beckles is the most hateful, racist and divisive. What they did to Michelle Benjamin and UTT Selwyn Cudjoe over the Emancipation weekend is disgusting. I don’t care if the PNM MPs and supporters insult and call me a “stinking coolie", but Michelle Benjamin and Selwyn Cudjoe are wonderful people who were viciously attacked because the PNM believes that spreading coolie hatred and destroying Afro-Trinidadians supportive of the UNC is a political strategy.”
She immediately posted a video of a talk she had made on the subject a couple of years ago when Indian FM Jaishankar was visiting. "In Trinidad, Indians are still referred to as 'coolies' in some places. I feel no shame in that. I am proud that today a little 'coolie' girl is the Prime Minister of Trinidad."
Whither T&T’s race relations?
…in Parliament
Meanwhile here in Mudland, we’ve broken the back of racialised voting under the twin pressures of an Irfaan Ali Government, vigorously and effectively bringing aboard African and Amerindian Guyanese in development, and the Indian-origin Sanction Man using his ill-gotten gains to cripple the PNC!! But having lost the racial advantage, the Opposition – Sanction Man’s WIN and Aubrey Norton’s PNC – look determined to shoot themselves in the foot!!
Controlling the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that audits the Government spending, they’ve complained that PPP members’ absences deny the quorum to hold meetings – to hold their feet to the fire!! Yet last week, when they DID have a quorum and the WIN chairman was ready to charge, you’ll never believe what happened!! The PNC decided to STAGE A WALKOUT – cause they couldn’t be in the presence of Juan Edghill – who’s one of the PPP’s members!!
While both Opposition parties have branded Edghill a “mass murder” who must resign, the PNC decided to play to the gallery!! Survival’s a bitch!!
…against Big Oil??
President Trump came out swinging at ExxonMobil and Chevron for making windfall profits during the US war against Iran – to keep oil flowing!! He feels they should’ve cut gas prices at the pump!! And Guyana??
Juan Pablo Ferrer Perez Mairely Felicita Medinas Alvarez
MV Barima tragedy Search and recovery mission ends; Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre remains active
…5 victims remain unidentified
Search and recovery operations following the MV Barima tragedy have concluded, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) announced, while noting that the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) remains operational. This was revealed hours after Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips attended an inter-agency meeting on Tuesday, convened as part of the After-Action Review of the response to the MV Barima incident at the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) headquarters, Thomas Road, Berbice. The meeting facilitated a review of the coordinated response to the MV Barima incident, while also examining measures to strengthen national emergency preparedness. It brought together principal agencies involved in the response, including the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), through the Coast Guard and Air Corps, the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the CDC, the MRCC, the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), regional authorities, and other Government agencies. The MV Barima, a passenger and cargo ferry, departed the Kingston Goods Wharf in Georgetown at approximately 15:15h on July 18, 2026, on its scheduled voyage to Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini), carrying 179 passengers including crew. However, at about 23:01h, the vessel transmitted a distress signal after encountering difficulties off the Essequibo Coast near the mouth of the Pomeroon River, triggering Guyana’s largest maritime search-andrescue operation. The disaster claimed 73 lives, while 76 people survived and approx-
imately 30 remain missing. Five of the persons who died and whose bodies were recovered are yet to be identified. Efforts to reposition the sunken vessel, which is lying on the seabed about nine miles off the Essequibo Coast, were futile, and the Government committed to engaging the families of those missing persons on whether to salvage the ferry or preserve the site as a memorial. In fact, President Dr Irfaan Ali held one-on-one engagements with survivors and families of the victims from this tragedy last week, both at Mabaruma in Region One and in Georgetown. A day after the tragedy, PM Phillips disclosed that two crew members, including the captain, had tested positive for cannabis. The captain and two crew members – Kevin Price, called “KP” (captain); Rondell Dwayne
Roberts (chief mate); Delon Granderson (goods superintendent) - were subsequently arrested and charged for murder. Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali has established a five-member Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to examine, among other things, the circumstances surrounding the sinking, regulatory oversight and the emergency response. Additionally, the Government has decided to move ahead with the salvaging of the MV Barima and has opened up the tender process for specialist companies to undertake
the task. MARAD, under the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation, is inviting qualified and experienced marine salvage contractors to submit expressions of interest (EoIs) for the salvage of the motor vessel Barima.
In the advertisement published on Saturday last, MARAD explained that the MV Barima is a passenger and cargo ferry of approximately 38.6 metres in length overall, 8.9 metres in beam, and 2.9 metres in depth, registered in Georgetown, Guyana, and fitted with twin Caterpillar
C18 diesel main engines and Caterpillar diesel generator sets. According to the department, the vessel is presently lying as a wreck in approximate positions Latitude 07° 28′.213 North, Longitude 058° 23′.443 West, in water depths of about 13-15 metres (42-49 feet). “Visibility at the wreck site is poor, and strong currents and tidal streams may be encountered at times, necessitating suitably robust procedures and equipment for safe operations…
Officials present at the inter-agency meeting on Tuesday for an after-action review of the response to the MV Barima incident at the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) headquarters, Thomas Road
GMSA calls for review of State-owned bottled water plant …says venture could discourage investment by
The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) is calling on the Government to review plans for a state-owned bottled water facility, arguing that the country's goal of achieving 100 per cent locally-produced bottled water can be realised through partnerships with existing local manufacturers rather than direct State participation in the market. The Association's call comes after the National Assembly approved $496.3 million for a Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI)operated water bottling facility. On Tuesday the GMSA said it supports the Government's objective of producing all bottled water locally and noted that earlier this year it met with Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar and GWI officials, along with local bottled water manufacturers, to discuss opportunities and challenges with-
in the industry. According to the Association, the initiative presents an opportunity to strengthen local manufacturing, create jobs and improve Guyana's economic resilience. However, it maintained that the proposed State venture should be designed to support, rather than compete with, businesses that have already invested in the sector. The GMSA said several of its members have invested significant capital, developed distribution networks and created employment through bottled water production over many years. The Association also referenced President Irfaan Ali's announcement in February, in which he spoke of achieving 100 per cent locally-produced bottled water through close collaboration between the Government and the private sector, including shared production infrastructure such as bottle manufacturing to reduce costs across the industry.
State competing with local producers
The GMSA said it supports that approach and urged GWI and the Public Utilities and Aviation Ministry to structure the project as a partnership that expands industry capacity and lowers production costs, rather than establishing what it described as a taxpayer-funded competitor to existing manufacturers.
It expressed concern that direct State participation in an already established market could discourage future private investment, create uncertainty for businesses that have committed substantial resources to the sector and undermine the Government's wider private sector-led development agenda. The Association also stressed that GWI's primary responsibility remains the provision of safe and reliable potable water to households across Guyana, adding that any
local producers
commercial diversification should complement, rather than detract from, that mandate. The GMSA has called on the Government to undertake further consultations with local bottled water manufacturers and other stakeholders before proceeding with the project, adding that it remains willing to work with GWI and the Ministry on behalf of its members.
However, even as the Association called for a review of the project, the Public Utilities
and Aviation Ministry on Tuesday announced that GWI is moving ahead with another aspect of its bottled water initiative. In a post on its social media page, the Ministry announced the launch of the GOG-GWI Water Initiative Bottle Refilling Station at the Port Mourant Water Treatment Plant on Friday, August 7, at 11:00h.
The Ministry said members of the public will receive free five-gallon water refills throughout the launch day, after which
refills will cost $100 per five-gallon container. The $496.3 million investment is intended to establish a GWI-operated water bottling plant aimed at reducing Guyana's dependence on imported bottled water while strengthening national self-sufficiency and water security. According to Government, despite Guyana's abundant freshwater resources and GWI's existing treatment and distribution network, the country continues to rely heavily on imported bottled water.
GMSA President Rafeek Khan
Ramsammy’s Ruminations
President Ali providing support while Opposition exploits a national tragedy
President Irfaan Ali and his Government have been responding to one of Guyana’s worst national tragedies. The President himself has been on the ground daily. He has been meeting one-on-one with survivors and with families who have lost loved ones. He has been in close contact with responders from both the public and private sectors. President Ali and his Government have been trying their best to ensure the survivors and those who have lost loved ones get all support humanly possible.
Dr Leslie Ramsammy
Ruminations cannot help thinking that some people, mostly Opposition politicians and the usual anti-PPP band, behave as if this tragedy was something that could benefit them. While Ruminations simply cannot fathom that anyone would absolutely want such a tragedy, these antiGovernment persons believe they could exploit the tragedy to gain political support. There is no doubt that the anti-Government crew has wasted no time in ensuring they politicise the tragedy to mobilise political support.
Let us be clear – it is a national obligation that the capsized ferry boat be recovered, even if the task is very difficult and even if the cost is exorbitant. The Government, given the overwhelming national sentiments for the recovery of the ferryboat, has advertised for experts to submit proposals. This is what the families want; this is what the majority of Guyanese want. Even though the experts might have advised that the task is very difficult and may not be possible, the Government believes it must satisfy the national need for an earnest effort to recover the boat. The Government believes that it is imperative that the nation know that everything possible is being done.
The political Opposition and a few misguided persons have twisted the Government’s action to seek professional and expert help to recover the boat as a victory for the Opposition. Instead, Ruminations commends President Ali and the Government. It demonstrates that the Government is one that listens. In any case, the Government had never decided against recovering the boat. From the beginning the Prime Minister had said that, in spite of the experts’ determination that the recovery of the boat will be difficult, the Government will consult with the families, and the Government will follow the advice of the affected families. The Government has kept its promise.
While President Ali and the Government have been working every single day, every single moment, to ensure everything possible is done to support the families, the Opposition has been engaged in drama and theatrics. Walking out of Parliament, protesting, and utilising drama in Parliament are not unusual, and every political party has engaged in such theatrics. But a responsible Opposition cannot ask for answers and then ignore their opportunity to get the answers they want. Last week, while they were abusing their privilege in Parliament, the Speaker called on the leaders of the Opposition parties in Parliament to make statements relating to the MV Barima. They refused the opportunity while they were in the House, loudly trying to prevent the Government’s business. They sent in written questions for oral answers; the Speaker called on them to ask the questions. They refused to seize the opportunity.
The Opposition have called for the Minister of Infrastructure and the Minister of Utilities to resign. They have begun to conduct protests in front of the homes of the two Ministers. It is their democratic right to protest and to demand the resignation of the Ministers. But there is an opportunity for them to litigate this matter. The President has appointed a Commission of Inquiry (CoI). The members of the CoI have been appointed and have been sworn in. Work has already started. The CoI has wide scope to determine accountability. This is the opportunity for the Opposition to work with the Commission to ensure full accountability and, as the President has openly stated and as the TOR of the CoI have indicated, “let the chips fall where they will."
They have tried to use the action of the Police and the DPP to charge three officers who were in charge of the boat and its loading as evidence that the Government is trying to create scapegoats. The truth is that the Police and the DPP have their own roles whenever any tragedy occurs in Guyana or elsewhere. The Police determined they have enough evidence, and the DPP agreed that the three officers have some culpability. The court will determine that. This has nothing to do with President Ali. Should a President interfere with the Police doing their work?
President Ali has constitutional responsibilities for appointing CoIs in cases where there is an event of national significance. There is no doubt that the MV Barima tragedy is a national catastrophe. In keeping with this responsibility, President Ali has appointed a CoI to seek answers. The CoI is tasked with wider scope than the Police. The CoI’s TOR give it further scope to look into matters that might be beyond the scope of the Police. The two pathways are not in conflict. In fact, together they can ensure those who are culpable get to account for their behaviour and that we minimise any possibility that such a tragedy could ever happen again in Guyana.
President Ali has also ensured that Guyanese experts review the overall maritime safety mechanisms in place and recommend changes to strengthen the system. He has also ensured a mechanism is in place to provide support for the family, both short-term and long-term. There is no political gamesmanship in the actions of the Government; it is doing what needs to be done. The Opposition has decided that they are the beneficiaries of the tragedy; they have decided to exploit peoples’ misfortune to gain political relevance and support. This is unacceptable. We reject this posture.
IMF commends Guyana's climate strategy, clean energy transition
Senior Director for Climate and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) at the Natural Resources Ministry, Pradeepa Bholanath, on Tuesday said that the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) positive review of Guyana’s forest conservation reflects the country’s integrated approach to long-term development, with macroeconomic stability, climate resilience, clean energy expansion and community-led financing being pursued as connected elements of the country's growth strategy.
Bholanath's comments followed the release of the IMF’s concluding statement after its Article IV mission, which commended Guyana's progress in market-based forest conservation and its transition to a cleaner and more cost-effective energy mix under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.
According to the IMF, the Government's commitment to strengthening resilience to climate-related risks and protecting biodiversity remains central to its development agenda.
The Fund also highlighted the Gas-to-Energy project, noting that it is expected to significantly reduce Guyana's reliance on fuel-based electricity generation by 2027. As electricity demand increases, the project is expected to lower ener-
gy costs and improve the country's long-term competitiveness.
The IMF further pointed to initiatives aimed at expanding agricultural production and reducing dependence on imported food. It said these measures are expected to support export diversification while strengthening food security.
Under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, climate-resilient agriculture has been identified as a key adaptation priority. The strategy links investments in drainage and irrigation systems, sea defences and water management to efforts to protect agricultural production from flooding, drought and other climate-related impacts.
The IMF also noted Guyana's continued expansion of renewable energy, with the country on track to install 50 megawatts (MW) of solar generation capacity by the end of this year.
In Lethem, renewable energy capacity has increased through two hy-
dropower plants with a combined capacity of 2.2MW and a one-MW solar system. More than 60 per cent of the town's electricity is now generated from renewable sources, while hydropower has displaced the use of more than 20,000 drums of diesel.
LCDS benefit-sharing mechanism
The IMF's statement also coincides with the ongoing implementation of the LCDS benefit-sharing mechanism for Indigenous communities.
This year, Indigenous villages are expected to receive $2.5 billion under the programme, which allocates 15 per cent of Guyana's forest earnings to Indigenous communities.
The latest allocation will bring total LCDS funding provided to Indigenous and forested communities to nearly $17 billion. Village Councils are responsible for identifying, approving and implementing projects that address local development priorities using the funds.
Search and recovery mission ends...
"The Contractor must propose methods and sequences for all stages of the operation," the ad detailed. To this end, MARAD is seeking reputable salvage companies with a proven track record of successful vessel salvage operations in Guyanese or wider Caribbean waters, particularly environments characterised by strong currents
and restricted visibility. Interested and suitably qualified companies are invited to submit an EOI containing, at a minimum, a corporate profile, including ownership, principal place of business, and years of operation in marine salvage. Evidence of relevant experience over the last 5-10 years, including a track record of successful salvage op-
erations in the region, with a brief description of location, depth, vessel type and size, method used, and client references, is also required.
President Ali has since established an audit team to undertake a comprehensive review of the safety and compliance standards governing marine vessels operating in Guyana.
Senior Director for Climate and REDD+ at the Natural Resources Ministry, Pradeepa Bholanath
Guyana emerging as major voice on global climate policy – UK
United Kingdom (UK) Member of Parliament (MP) David Lammy has hailed Guyana’s growing influence on the global climate stage, saying the country is helping to reshape international discussions through its environmental leadership and commitment to sustainable development. Lammy, who is of Guyanese de-
scent, was the feature speaker during the latest edition of Conservation Conversations, hosted by the Environmental Management Consultants (EMC) Foundation, where he discussed the link between geopolitics and conservation. He said while thousands of conservation programmes around the world are working along-
side local and Indigenous communities to protect human rights and the environment, many require long-term funding commitments to remain effective. “The truth is that there are many thousands of wonderful conservation programmes around the world aligned with local Indigenous communities and preserving human rights and
they really are making a difference, but they need long-term fundamental funding commitments to thrive,” Lammy said. He noted that conservation initiatives often influence global discussions and policy decisions beyond their size and scale, adding that Guyana is increasingly playing a critical role in that space.
“In international fo-
rums, they change the conversation and influence policy far beyond their size and scale, and that’s where I see Guyana increasingly important, playing this very crucial role because, of course, it is a country that is part of the Caribbean and a central part of South America,” Lammy said.
United Kingdom Member of Parliament, David Lammy
Guyana emerging as major voice on global climate...
“Guyana is no longer simply a country of immense natural wealth; it is becoming a country of immense environmental significance, and I’m very proud to see the work done in collaboration with the UK that Guyana is making on many fronts,” he added.
Lammy highlighted several initiatives that have strengthened Guyana’s standing in global climate and conservation efforts,
including the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, the country’s “30 by 30” conservation target, the expansion of protected areas, the Global Biodiversity Alliance led by President Dr Irfaan Ali, and ongoing efforts to strengthen the rights and opportunities of Indigenous peoples.
He said Guyana demonstrates that economic development and environmental protection do not have
to be competing priorities.
“So Guyana is a nation that the world is now looking at anew, a nation that demonstrates that economic development and environmental stewardship do not have to be opposing forces,” Lammy said. “There shouldn’t be a zero-sum game between climate and the cost of living.
As President Irfaan Ali recently said, if we manage proper development, environmental stewardship
can go hand in hand, and they’re not mutually exclusive,” he added. Lammy said Guyana is among a growing number of developing countries showing that economic progress and environmental responsibility can advance together, positioning the country as an important voice in global climate discussions.
Lammy also emphasised that addressing climate change requires shared solu-
tions, noting that the future of the environment depends on cooperation between Governments, communities and institutions. He said the global energy transition requires new approaches and described the need for countries to adopt what he called “progressive realism” — being ambitious in their goals while remaining practical in their approach. According to Lammy, countries must work together through
stronger partnerships and multilateral cooperation to address emerging challenges, while adapting to a changing global landscape where energy security, clean energy and resilient supply chains have become increasingly important.
He added that climate action is also a matter of justice, highlighting the need to consider the experiences of vulnerable and underrepresented communities.
Around the World
Projectile sinks Indian-flagged ship off Yemen's coast
An Indian-flagged vessel capsized and sank after it was hit by a projectile off the coast of Yemen, officials say.
All 14 persons on board the MSV Faize Noore Oliya – 13 of whom were Indian nationals – were safely rescued, India's Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said.
Sonowal condemned the "unprovoked attack" and said steps would be taken to ensure the safety of seafarers in the region. It is not clear who struck the ship.
It is the latest in a spate of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, an alternative waterway that some tankers had been using since Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz in February.
India's Ministry of External Affairs later released a statement calling attacks on commercial shipping in the region "deeply worrisome".
Much of the region's shipping routes have been disrupted since the US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.
Since then, Iran has blocked the Strait
of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest oil shipping channels, hugely impacting global oil prices.
Some ships carrying oil from Saudi Arabia had instead passed through an alternative shipping lane in the Red Sea, but a recent spate of attacks by Yemen's Houthi fighters on Saudi tankers has further heightened risks in the region.
Yemen's Transportation Ministry, part of the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised government, accused the Iran-backed
Houthis of carrying out the attack by using a boat laden with explosives,
Reuters news agency reported. The group has not commented on the incident. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Kuru Kururu sweep EBFA Youth Ensemble titles
The Kuru Kururu Football Club (FC) completed a successful campaign in the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) leg of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Youth Ensemble Programme by winning both the Under-13 and Under-15 titles.
The victories secured Kuru Kururu places in the National Championship in both age groups. Under-13 runners-up Timehri United FC and Under-15 runners-up Friendship All Stars FC also qualified for the national competition.
The Under-15 tournament featured 27 matches, with 127 young footballers participating and 96 goals scored.
Brandon Bruce was named the Most Valuable Player, while Khadil
Jaden Harry received the Best Goalkeeper award after conceding seven goals during the competition.
Kuru Kururu’s Teshawn Castillo led the scoring charts with 11 goals to claim the Golden Boot.
In the Under-13 division, 48 players competed across nine matches, with a total of 34 goals scored.
Okel Morrison was named the division’s Most Valuable Player while Dokari Robertson earned the Best Goalkeeper award after allowing only four goals.
The Golden Boot was shared by Kuru Kururu’s Immanuel Reid and Timehri United’s Jeremiah Straut, who both finished with four goals.
The victorious Kuru Kururu FC U13 unit
Falcons crush MADA 7s to secure 3rd place at St Lucia Carnival 7s
The Guyana Police Falcons Rugby Club rebounded strongly from their semi-final disappointment to claim third place in the Elite Men’s division of the St Lucia Carnival Sevens with a commanding 29-0 victory over Martinique-based MADA Sevens.
After narrowly missing out on a place in the final following an early yellow card that reduced
them to six players, the Falcons delivered a clinical performance in the thirdplace playoff.
Captain Lionel Holder led the charge by scoring the opening try after breaking down the sideline to give the Guyanese side a 5-0 advantage. Holder struck again soon after to double the lead.
Tyresse Prescod then extended the Falcons’ advantage with a sharp left-foot step that left his defender stranded. He converted his own try
to send the Falcons into halftime with a comfortable 17-0 lead.
MADA applied heavy pressure early in the second half, but the Falcons defended strongly and refused to concede.
Holder later completed his hat-trick after slicing through the MADA defence before Co-Captain Godfrey Broomes capped the dominant display with a well-worked try under the posts. Broomes converted his own try to seal the 29-0 victory.
Holder opens
Several female Falcons players competed for the St Lucian teams Blue Ice and Blue Flame. Blue Ice captured the women’s title, while Guyana’s Jelena Shepherd was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
The Elite Men’s competition featured eight teams from Martinique, Canada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Guyana, and the United States. This was the Falcons’ third appearance at the St Lucia Carnival Sevens.
up on hidden burden of Windies captaincy
Former West Indies Captain
Jason Holder has delivered a candid reflection on his time leading the regional side, admitting that if he had known then what he knows now, he would not have accepted the captaincy at such a young age.
Speaking on the Super Over podcast, hosted by international cricket commentator Nikhil Uttamchandani alongside former West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite, Holder revealed that the greatest challenges of the role had little to do with cricket itself and far more to do with the off-field responsibilities.
Responding to a question from Brathwaite about the toughest part of captaining the West Indies, Holder said he initially believed the position would revolve around tactics, leadership on the field and helping the team perform.
"I always said to people I don't live with regrets, but I didn't know back then what I know now. When I took the captaincy at a young age, I probably would not have done it," Holder admitted.
The Barbados all-rounder explained that he expected the role to be centred on "marshalling troops on the field", analysing opponents and playing quality cricket with his teammates. Instead, he quickly found himself immersed in administrative issues, contractual negotiations and acting as the intermediary between players and Cricket West Indies (CWI).
"You've got to deal with the off-the-field stuff, the contractual stuff. You've got to be that middleman between players and the board, and every single day was something different. It was draining to a point," Holder said.
He disclosed that one of the most difficult periods came during negotiations surrounding changes to the Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) and the players' payment structure.
According to Holder, the revised financial arrangements significantly affected players, leaving many looking to the Captain for answers and solutions.
"At that time there was the change in the MoU, the change in the structure of payment. For us, obviously, it hurts a lot when we feel it in the pocket," he explained.
Holder said he tried tirelessly to represent the concerns of his teammates, frequently engaging CWI in an effort to improve the terms being offered.
"For a lot of players, it was really, 'How can we get back or how can we get more money?' You're trying to fight battles with the board, trying to help them understand this has been a massive cut; this has been a massive change. Can we not do better? Basically, we got a lot of pushback, and it was tough."
As Captain, Holder said he shouldered much of that burden in an effort to earn and maintain the trust of the dressing room. However, the constant demands eventually took a toll on his own performances.
"I kept taking it on, obviously trying to please players to win the trust, and it just became overbearing," he said.
The former skipper admitted there came a point when he realised the emotional and mental strain was affecting his cricket, while efforts to negotiate with the board yielded little progress.
"My cricket performances were dwindling, and it was like banging your head against a brick wall trying to get some kind of headway with the board."
Ultimately, Holder said he encouraged players to make their own decisions regarding contracts rather than relying on him to resolve every issue.
“I said to myself, ‘Look, fellas, you sign the contract and
you're reading the terms; come and play. But you've got the option not to sign your contract, and you decide your own fate in the future.'”
Holder's remarks provide a rare insight into the pressures faced by West Indies Captains, highlighting that leadership in regional cricket often extends well beyond performances on the field, encompassing player welfare, contractual negotiations and the delicate balance of managing relationships between the team and the governing body.
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The Guyana Police Falcons Rugby Club lost their St Lucia Carnival Sevens title, but rebounded to clinch third place
Shafique, Sajid star in see-sawing day as Pakistan seize control
Psee-sawed one way and then the other. While the West Indies had improved upon their position from 24 hours ago in the first half, a disastrous last session saw Pakistan rip through six batters with the hosts leading by a precarious 60 runs. It means they face an uphill battle on a wearing pitch to set a target any where near the one that won them the first Test.
the potential to be makeor-break for either side. For large parts, it ap peared as if both sides were just about holding their ground, but Pakistan blew the house down in the final hour. An errant newball spell from Mohammad Ali had seen the West Indies wipe out Pakistan's 43-run lead with their opening partnership, but the game changed when Sajid Khan and Ali Usman were introduced, and the pitch sprang to life.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul betwixt and between with his footwork and trapped him deep enough in his crease for Hawk-Eye to show the ball clipping the top of the stumps. With Brandon King picking up a back spasm in the field and Kavem Hodge pushed up to open, Amir Jangoo was the next man in – but he was castled by an unplay able off-spinner that land ed on length and ripped
The first half hour saw Seales and Warrican starve Pakistan of runs by consistently landing their lines. Babar, so positive on day two, was suddenly reticent, adding just two runs in 21 deliveries before inexplicably heading off for a single to a packed cover field. Shafique wisely turned him away, but King picked up sharply and effected a direct hit to catch the Pakistan Captain out. It injured King in the process, and he required a stretcher to wheel him away, but there was a spring in his team-
Warrican continued to stifle Pakistan and got his rewards when debutant Awais Zafar showed every inch of his inexperience as he danced wildly down the pitch, failed to get to the ball and swung anyway. It rattled his leg stump, but the West Indies were only halfway through. Shamar Joseph set Salman Agha up beautifully, moving one out before nipping the next one into his pads square in front; Pakistan had lost three wickets for five runs.
Mohammad Rizwan, alongside the unflappable Shafique, offered resistance for a while, but without a sense that momentum could actually turn. The West Indies took the new ball but trusted Warrican with it, and he deceived Rizwan with an arm ball that kept low and crashed into his stumps.
Pakistan's tail has not contributed much of late, but in Sajid, they have one
of their most adept lower-order batters. Alongside Shafique, who grew in confidence and looked impregnable for much of the day, Sajid held his end of the bargain, frustrating the West Indies as Pakistan got up to, and past, the hosts' first-innings score. He was at the other end when Shafique pranced down the track and regally lofted Hodge over his head for the six that brought up his 150, and at that stage West Indies looked out of ideas.
Seales eventually broke through when a stray Sajid cut nicked through to the keeper. Shafique finished the over off with a four and would perhaps have been bet-
ter served preserving the strike and controlling the run-scoring, particularly given the vulnerability of the tail. He took a single off Warrican with four deliveries to go in the over, and the West Indies spinner drew Usman into a slog that found deep cover. Two balls later, he had a five-wicket haul as he skidded through Ubaid Shah's gate and repeated the feat on the first ball against Mohammad Ali to finish with six. At the time, it appeared to have kept West Indies in the game. Sajid and Usman, meanwhile, were already busy plotting them out of it. (ESPNcricinfo)
SCOREBOARD
Pakistan 1st Innings
Azan Awais lbw b Warrican 55
Imam-ul-Haq c Warrican b Joseph 14
Abdullah Shafique not out 160
Babar Azam (c) run out (King) 88
Awais Zafar b Warrican 1
Salman Agha lbw b Joseph 0
Mohammad Rizwan † b Warrican 18
Sajid Khan c †Hope b Seales 30
Ali Usman c Roach b Warrican 10
Ubaid Shah b Warrican 0
Mohammad Ali b Warrican 0
Extras (b 4, lb 2, nb 5) 11
Total 115 Ov (RR: 3.36, 499 Mins) 387
Fall of wickets:
1-34 (Imam-ul-Haq, 7.3 ov), 2-98 (Azan Awais, 20.5 ov), 3-281 (Babar Azam, 74.5 ov), 4-283 (Awais Zafar, 76.5 ov), 5-286 (Salman Agha, 77.5 ov), 6-311 (Mohammad Rizwan, 88.3 ov), 7-370 (Sajid Khan, 109.1 ov), 8-387 (Ali Usman, 114.3 ov), 9-387 (Ubaid Shah, 114.5 ov), 10387 (Mohammad Ali, 114.6 ov)
Bowling O-M-R-W
Kemar Roach 13-1-50-0
Jayden Seales 19-4-55-1
Jomel Warrican
46-8-112-6
Sajid Khan of Pakistan celebrates the dismissal of Amir Jangoo
Jomel Warrican of West Indies celebrates his six-wicket haul
Abdullah Shafique continues to anchor Pakistan's innings
Republic Bank CPL to offer free health testing for fans across 8 host venues
…largest Caribbean health testing programme of
its kind to roll out
The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will partner with regional health authorities and Non-Governmental Organisations to provide free health testing for fans at all eight of its host venues this season, as part of the tournament’s ongoing support for the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The programme will see CPL use its reach to signpost fans toward appropriate health services, with organisers planning for the initiative to become a permanent fixture of the tournament calendar.
The initiative will run across Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St
this summer
Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago, with health professionals stationed at CPL venues throughout the tournament, offering fans the opportunity to check in on their well-being while they take in the cricket. Services will include vital signs screening covering blood pressure; blood glucose testing; Body Mass Index (BMI) assessment; urinalysis and PSA testing.
NCDs, including hypertension, diabetes, and certain cancers, remain a significant public health concern across the Caribbean. By bringing testing directly into stadiums, CPL and its health partners aim to reach fans who might not otherwise ac-
cess screening, using the reach of the Region’s premier T20 league to support early detection and awareness.
CPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Pete Russell said: “Noncommunicable diseases have touched almost every one of us in some way, whether as patients ourselves or through a loved one. Being a good corporate citizen means using the platform we’ve built for something bigger than the game itself. Early detection is key to combating non-communicable diseases – this programme puts that principle into practice. CPL reaches fans across eight territories every season, and we believe that reach carries a responsibility to give back.
Bringing health screening into our stadiums is a simple, practical way to put that responsibility into action.”
As Republic Bank CPL continues to grow and expand its
footprint across the Region, the league remains focused on using its platform to support health and wellness initiatives that benefit fans and host communities alike.
Edghill advances before Guyana’s singles campaign ends at CAC Games
Chelsea Edghill produced Guyana’s standout performance in the table tennis singles competition at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, before the country’s remaining players were eliminated on Tuesday.
Edghill opened her women’s singles campaign with an impressive 4-0 victory over El Salvador’s Samirah Muñoz in the Round of 64. The Guyanese completed the match in just 17 minutes, winning 116, 11-7, 11-9 and 11-2.
the Round of 32, where she faced highly rated Puerto Rican Adriana Díaz. Díaz controlled the contest and secured a 4-0 victory, winning 11-1, 11-7, 11-5 and 11-6.
Guyana’s other female representative, Jasmine Billingy, was eliminated in the Round of 64. Billingy went down 4-0 to Puerto Rico’s Kristal Melendez, with the games ending 11-4, 11-8, 11-2 and 14-12.
Shemar Britton was the only Guyanese player to win a game, but he fell 4-1 to Mexico’s Dario Arce. Britton made a strong start by taking the opening game 11-5, but Arce responded by winning the next four, 11-3, 11-7, 11-3 and 11-6.
fered a 4-0 defeat against Cuba’s Rene Mendez, losing 11-2, 11-6, 11-7 and 11-8, while Niran Bissu was beaten by host player Wu Jiaji of the Dominican Republic. Wu won 11-3, 11-1, 11-6 and 11-6.
Although Guyana’s singles campaign has ended, the players will return to action in the mixed doubles competition today.
The experienced Edghill controlled the encounter from the opening game and remained composed when Muñoz offered her strongest challenge in the third. She then finished the match emphatically by allowing her opponent only two points in the final game.
Billingy showed her best form in the fourth game, pushing Melendez beyond the regulation 11 points before eventually losing 14-12.
In the men’s singles,
Edghill’s run ended in
Elishaba Johnson also showed periods of resistance against Costa Rica’s Jeison Martínez. After losing the first game 11-4, Johnson pushed the next two games to deuce, but was edged 12-10 on both occasions. Martínez completed the 4-0 victory by taking the fourth game 11-8. Malachi Moore suf-
Johnson will partner Billingy, while Britton and Edghill will combine as Guyana looks to rebound and remain in contention at the regional games.
Chelsea Edghill produced Guyana’s standout performance in the table tennis singles competition at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
All eight host venues for this year’s Republic Bank CPL will feature free health testing