Guyana Times - Wednesday, July 2, 2025

“Guyana

who

Pres Ali warns US-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed poses threat to Guyana’s financial system, territorial integrity ...says Govt's lobbying to keep partners informed of Venezuela’s threats

Speeding car jumps median, triggers 3-vehicle crash, several injured …victim reportedly robbed while unconscious

GECOM approves 19 party symbols for 2025 elections including 'leopard' Guyana’s 1st sciencededicated $253.8M secondary institution commissioned

Guyanese man wrongfully convicted in NYC murder cleared after 36 years

Police roll out decentralised system for gun licences,

Newborn in distress medevacked from Suddie by GDF

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, July 2 – 22:55h - 00:25h and Thursday, July 3 –No closure

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, July 2 – 08:00h - 09:30h and Thursday, July 3 –09:40h - 11:10h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers and afternoon sunshine are expected during the day, and cloudy showers are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 11:21h and 23:45h reaching maximum heights of 2.18 metres and 2.23 metres.

Low Tide: 17:14h reaching a minimum height of 1.04 metre.

Pres Ali warns US-sanctioned

Azruddin

Mohamed poses

threat to Guyana’s financial system, territorial integrity ...says Govt's lobbying to keep partners informed of Venezuela’s threats

resident

Ali on Tuesday issued a forceful public statement that tore into controversial United States (US)sanctioned businessman turned-political aspirant Azruddin Mohamed, declaring him a “risk” to Guyana’s financial stability, sovereignty and regional diplomacy.

The Head of State warned that the Guyanese businessman, who has been sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) links to alleged gold smuggling, drug trafficking, as Venezuela threaten the very institutions that protect Guyana’s borders and economy.

“He (Azruddin Mohamed) is a risk to our financial system. I would ask the media and all his handlers to ask the commercial banks why they have not sanctioned him. Why is he a risk to our country? Ask the insurance companies why they cannot conduct financial transactions with him”.

“He is also a threat to our diplomacy and our diplomacy is linked to the defence of our sovereignty and territorial integrity. In those sanctions, the US Government has made it very clear that the US Government or agencies or businesses cannot conduct business with him,” he said.

The President was at the time speaking in response to a media report that the Guyana Government hired a lobbyist firm, Continental Strategy LLC, to target the US-sanctioned businessman, who was called a “Maduro-puppet” by US congressman, Carlos Gimenez on Monday

President Ali made it clear that the Government’s hiring of the firm is to do

diplomatic work to guarantee that Guyana’s allies are well-informed on any threats posed to the country.

In fact, he reminded that Mohamed has been sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury’s OFAC for alleged gold smuggling and drug trafficking.

Citing Guyana’s reliance on allies like the US for defence against Venezuela’s territorial claims, the President said Mohamed’s sanctions threaten those critical diplomatic relationships.

With this in mind, the Guyanese Leader revealed that the Government has been engaged in diplomatic work to guarantee that

Guyana’s allies are well-informed on any threats posed by neighbouring Venezuela.

On Monday, the US Congressman Carlos Gimenez raised concerns over what he describes as Venezuela’s attempt to influence internal affairs in Guyana, specifically through its pro-Maduro puppet candidate Azruddin Mohamed.

“Is our security linked to our relationship with key allies like the US in defence of our border? Yes, it is. This does not require rocket science. These are the facts. Our national security and the greatest threat are that of Venezuela. Is Azruddin Mohamed a threat to the defence of this border against Venezuela? Yes, because our key ally has identified him to the extent that he is sanctioned by them”.

“Let us not be naive about this. This is not about the Government of Guyana. This is about our security, architecture and infrastructure…and let me be very clear, these investigations were there long before he announced his political ambition or aspirations. These things did not come about yesterday,” Ali posited.

Further, President Ali warned against the attempt by Mohamed and

his affiliates to frame the US sanctions and scrutiny as political victimisation, stating bluntly that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is not threatened by Mohamed, labeling him a “political lightweight.”

“Azruddin Mohamed is absolutely no threat to the People's Progressive Party electoral victory. In his imaginative head, he may believe our support is strong, intact and we don't need to move away from facts and what is there. So don't use your current situation that you brought upon yourself because of your action to paint a picture of political victimisation. The world and every right-thinking Guyanese know that this is a total lie and far from the truth,” the Head of State added.

Irfaan

President Irfaan Ali

US-sanctioned businessman, Azruddin Mohamed

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Modern education & national advancement

The commissioning of the $253.8 million St George’s School of Sciences is an important moment in the educational sector of Guyana. This symbolizes a shift in national development strategy one that recognizes education as the most powerful lever for sustainable progress. Located opposite the iconic St George’s Cathedral, the institution stands as an architectural addition to the capital and as a philosophical statement of intent that Guyana is positioning itself to lead through knowledge.

President Irfaan Ali’s characterisation of the new school as a “sanctuary for the diligent, the curious, and the committed” captures the essence of what this facility represents. It is both a learning space, a launchpad for scientific inquiry, innovation, and national leadership in critical sectors of the economy. This is a significant departure from traditional approaches to secondary education, and one that places scientific and technological competence at the forefront of national policy.

The school’s advanced infrastructure speaks to vision. Smart classrooms outfitted with 3D boards, computers, and ergonomic furniture create an environment that meets international standards. The integration of six laboratories focused on Information Technology, Home Economics, and Industrial Technology demonstrates an understanding of the diverse pathways through which scientific thinking can be applied. These are not mere upgrades, they are strategic investments in the future of Guyana’s human capital.

Moreover, the digital integration of learning, where each student is provided with a personal computer and connected to specialized digital platforms, signals a major leap toward modern pedagogy. In a world increasingly shaped by digital literacy, equipping students with the tools and platforms necessary for remote learning, collaborative assignments, and real-time feedback prepares them not just for exams, but for the demands of the global knowledge economy.

Of particular importance is the focus on safety. The destruction of the original school by fire is a poignant reminder of the vulnerabilities that exist in educational infrastructure. The inclusion of fire-retardant panels, escape stairways, alarms, and other protective measures in the new building reflects a commitment not only to academic excellence but also to safeguarding lives. This thoughtful approach must be commended and emulated in future public infrastructure projects.

Crucially, the School of Sciences is strategically aligned with Guyana’s long-term developmental trajectory. With the country’s growing profile in oil and gas, manufacturing, agro-processing, and pharmaceuticals, there is an urgent need for a generation fluent in the language of science, technology, and innovation. The school is designed to be a foundational element in building such a workforce. As President Ali rightly noted, “the value creation from oil and gas… requires a scientific approach.” The curriculum and focus of the St George’s School of Sciences are well positioned to serve this national imperative.

The wider implication is the promotion of a culture that values critical thinking, problem-solving, and evidence-based decisionmaking. These attributes are not confined to laboratories or science fairs; they are the bedrock of modern economies and resilient democracies. By institutionalizing these values within its education system, Guyana is laying the groundwork for a society that can engage meaningfully with global challenges—be it climate change, technological disruption, or public health.

This initiative also sends a message about the role of government in shaping the future. The administration’s continued prioritisation of education, even amid competing national demands, is commendable. It reflects an understanding that longterm prosperity is not measured solely by GDP growth or resource exports, but by the knowledge, creativity, and well-being of its people.

The St George’s School of Sciences should serve as a model for educational reform across the country. Its commissioning represents not the culmination of a project but the beginning of a new chapter in educational excellence. It is an affirmation of Guyana’s readiness to embrace a future led by science, powered by innovation, and sustained by a commitment to equitable access to knowledge.

In this venture, the country charts a course toward a more resilient, intelligent, and globally competitive society. The school’s opening is symbolic of a nation investing not only in infrastructure, but in imagination and intellect.

Has AI replaced teaching expertise?

By Dr Shalieka BurriS

“Can you re-mark my paper? AI said it was good.” This is a sentence I’ve heard far too often lately.

Initially, I was surprised, but now I am genuinely concerned. I’ve noticed a consistent increase in the number of requests coming in. What I have realised, however, is that colleagues from other universities, locally and internationally, echoed similar experiences, and it became clear that my situation was not an anomaly. Students are relying on artificial intelligence (AI) tools to evaluate their academic writing and are placing more trust in these tools over the assessments of experienced educators. If students are outsourcing their judgement to machines, what happens to the role of human insight in learning?

We have to explore these implications. While AI certainly offers many benefits in education, the current trend begs the question: Has AI replaced teaching expertise? The short answer is no, but the longer answer demands a deeper conversation about how AI can support rather than supplant academic judgement.

Allure of artificial intelligence

It’s not hard to see why students turn to AI for feedback. AI-powered tools are fast, readily accessible, and capable of generating coherent, structured responses. Tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Jasper, and Writesonic offer interactive, conversational interfaces that allow students to pose questions, request rewrites, or even get feedback on drafts. They simulate intelligent dialogue, provide rationale for suggestions, and help students brainstorm, organise, or revise their academic

work with ease. When deadlines gather like storm clouds and students are caught in the downpour of assignments, AI can feel like a welcome umbrella, something to shield them as they push through the pressure. To their credit, many are showing initiative and curiosity, using whatever tools they can to strengthen their writing. It’s a sign of their determination to succeed. However, as with any tool, AI must be used responsibly and critically. The concern arises when students accept AI feedback without question, even when it contradicts human evaluations grounded in years, if not decades, of academic and pedagogical expertise.

The rubric isn’t the issue; interpretation is.

Interestingly, many students do use the grading rubric when reviewing their work. In fact, some proudly tell me that they compared their paper to the rubric and even asked ChatGPT to assess it based on those exact criteria. This shows they’re trying to be thorough and responsible. What they may not realise, however, is that while a rubric provides structure, it still requires expert interpretation. A rubric cannot grade a paper on its own; it is a guide that must be applied through the lens of academic and subject-specific understanding. A paper might meet structural expectations: a clear introduction, thesis, paragraphs, and conclusion but lack critical depth, proper synthesis of sources, or discipline-specific conventions. These distinctions are often missed by AI and by students who are still developing their evaluative skills, and understandably so. This gap between surface-level alignment and deeper academic quality has been noted in recent studies, which ac-

knowledged and emphasised that while AI tools assist with grading, the skills and judgement of teachers remain crucial, especially for more nuanced evaluations that require understanding each student’s unique context.

This disconnect can be genuinely confusing for students. It isn’t because students aren’t trying; they are trying to figure things out in a digital world that’s changing faster than ever. They’re using tools that sound like they know what they’re doing, and to a student still honing skills, that can be convincing. My concern isn’t about a lack of effort. In fact, I see many students working hard and taking real initiative. What I worry about is whether they’re getting the kind of feedback that actually helps them grow. It’s one thing to get a quick response from a chatbot; it’s another to sit with someone who can explain why something works, or doesn’t, and help build the skills that last. That’s the kind of support they really need.

Role of the educator

The role of educators should not be reduced to only that of a grader. We guide growth. We know our students, their voices, their effort, and the journey behind each submission. We don’t just see a paper; we see the person who wrote it. AI doesn’t. It doesn’t remember the research proposal or outlines, the class debate, or the breakthrough moment a student had in office hours. At times, AI tools do not flinch when a quote is misused or a source misrepresented. Many times, they don’t notice when a student’s writing suddenly sounds like someone or something else. So, for me, I am not handing over my red pen to a machine. No matter how polished the output, no algorithm can replace the feedback that helps students think

better, write clearer, and grow more confident. Real learning comes from real interaction, and that’s something no chatbot, no matter how sophisticated, can fake.

Striking the balance So how do we move forward without losing what matters most?

First, students can start by treating AI like a writing assistant. Do not treat AI as a final examiner. Use it to generate ideas. Let it tidy up your grammar. But when it comes to meaning, depth, and voice, ask yourself: would this make sense to someone who actually knows me and my work? Second, don’t just check the rubric; understand it. A perfect structure doesn’t guarantee a strong argument. That’s where trained eyes come in. AI can tick boxes. Teachers read between the lines. And here’s a radical idea: Ask a real person. Go to your tutor. Visit the writing centre. Send that e-mail. The best insights often come from a five-minute conversation.

Finally, remember this: Teachers aren’t here to set traps for you. We’re not feeding your essays to AI and comparing notes. We read. We reflect. We respond with your growth in mind. That’s more than just evaluation. We provide mentorship. If students truly want to thrive in this AI-shaped world, they’ll need more than fast feedback. They’ll need discernment, dialogue, and the courage to trust human guidance over machine confidence.

Today’s students must not only be information literate; they must also be AI literate. They should learn how AI works, what biases it might have, and when to question its feedback. Educators can help facilitate these discussions in the classroom.

The ceremonial drum piling and flag laying during the Guyana Police Force's Drum Head Church Service, to mark the commencement of celebrations for the Force's 186th anniversary on Tuesday at the Police Officers' Mess Annexe, Eve Leary. The Drum Head Service serves as a precursor to a series of activities honouring the establishment of the British Guiana Police Force on July 1, 1839. (Office of the Prime Minister photo)

US congresspersons are not rubber stamps who publish unverified info – AG

Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has responded to criticisms regarding recent social media posts by two United States (US) Congresspersons about political developments in Guyana, emphasising that these elected officials are not “rubber stamps s” who disseminate unverified information that contradicts US policies.

On Monday, US Congressman Carlos Gimenez raised concerns about what he described as Venezuela’s attempts to influence Guyana’s internal affairs, specifically through a controversial figure. In a statement posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Gimenez stated: “In the US Congress we are alarmed by the regime in Venezuela’s attempt to undermine Guyana through its pro-Maduro puppet candidate Azruddin Mohamed, who is sanctioned by OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control).”

The remark refers to Azruddin Mohamed, a Guyanese businessman and political aspirant, who has been sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury’s OFAC for gold smuggling. According to the US Treasury Department’s OFAC, Mohamed’s Enterprise smug-

gled some 10,000 kilograms (kg) of gold out of Guyana between 2019 and 2023, thus avoiding paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes.

Then, on Tuesday, US Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar posted on the same platform: “We remain deeply concerned about efforts to undermine democracy in Guyana. As a strategic ally of the United States, Guyana deserves leaders who respect democratic values. Individuals sanctioned for illicit activities must not be allowed to jeopardise this vital relationship.”

However, some Opposition sections of society have sought to downplay the statements made by the US politicians, instead shifting the narrative to the firm hired by the Guyana Government for federal engagements and advocacy in the US – a matter already addressed by President Dr Irfaan Ali.

During his programme Issues in the News on Tuesday evening, Nandlall contributed to the discussion, pointing out that “you can’t hand an American congressman a piece of paper and say tweet this and he will tweet it. It must be something that is part of their policy, that they are aware of, that they have investigated, and that reflects their position.”

Noting that social media – particularly X (formerly Twitter) – has become an acceptable medium for US politicians to disseminate information, Nandlall stated, “When an American congressman or woman makes a tweet, they don’t parrot a position, they’re not rubber stamps s. They express a policy position. They make important disclosures via this media platform.”

Responding directly to those suggesting that the US Congresspersons only made the recent posts because of the lobbying firm, Nandlall asked, “Are they suggesting that the US Congress and the US Congressmen and women are a bunch of rubber stamps s?”

“That these people have no integrity? That they have no self-respect? That they will just prostitute their position as members of Congress and

simply publish something that somebody hands them?” Nandlall further questioned, describing such a narrative as “extremely shocking.”

In a Reuters article published on July 14, 2023, it was revealed that the family is under investigation by several US agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Homeland Security. Citing five sources with direct knowledge of the matter, Reuters has reported that the Mohameds are suspected of smuggling both Colombian cocaine and Venezuelan gold to international markets. Further, an intelligence report referenced in the investigation suggests that they may also be involved in laundering money for drug traffickers and criminal organisations, including

Has AI replaced teaching...

A call to action for institutions

Educational institutions must also play a proactive role. Universities need to provide guidance on responsible AI use, integrate digital ethics into the curriculum, and train both staff and students in interpreting AI-generated feedback. Rather than banning AI tools, we should teach students to use them wisely, balancing innovation with academic integrity. At the same time, policies should reinforce the

primacy of the instructor’s evaluation. Appeals based solely on AI feedback should be discouraged unless corroborated by human expertise. The goal is not to wage war on AI but to re-establish trust in human judgement.

AI is here to stay, and rightly so. When used responsibly, it can be an incredible asset to both students and teachers. But we must be clear-eyed about its limits. It does not and cannot replace the value of trained educators who un-

derstand not just the mechanics of writing but the deeper layers of meaning, growth, and learning. To the students who place their faith solely in AI: know that we see your effort, your creativity, and your willingness to grow. Excellence comes not from shortcuts but from struggle, feedback, and authentic engagement with your learning journey. And to the teachers feeling side-lined by this technological wave: take heart. Your voice still matters, perhaps now more than ever.

Let us guide our students, not away from AI, but through it, so that in learning to write well, they also learn to think deeply, critically, and wisely. (Jamaica Observer)

(Dr Shalieka Burris is an academic literacy lecturer at the University of Technology, Jamaica. She is a leadership consultant specialising in teamwork development, emotional intelligence, and organisational growth. She is also a trained guidance counsellor.)

A call for Figuiera to join peace, progress and the progressive

Dear Editor, Jermaine Figuiera has made that first bold step in his resignation from the PNC Party, one that has grave question marks against its name as it relates to developmental works for this country. Being in a party that promised so much and gave very little in its resurgence in 2015 – 2020 would have also weighed

heavily on his mind. These and other major considerations he would have had to ponder before sending in his resignation.

He served under a party that boasted of the rigging of elections, he himself having done embarrassing things for his party. However, when reality struck him and the folly of his ways loomed large before him, he became

a more reformed individual, much to the appreciation of many. He chaired the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) quite admirably, and in this regard, I say Mr Figuiera would have shown that he can rise above partisan politics and make a mark as a statesman for his country.

This same zeal and enthusiasm shown in the PAC should be put to greater use

party

in the One Guyana PPP/C Team. Yes, you can and will make a valuable contribution to nation building, sir; otherwise, your efforts would have faded from view as a waste of valuable human resources. Come on over and join the progressives.

Sincerely,

Neil Adams

sanctioned Russian nationals operating in the region.

Tax evasion and fraudulent declaration

In May, Mohamed was placed on $500,000 bail for tax evasion and fraudulent declaration charges in relation to the purchase of the Lamborghini Roadster SVJ.

Mohamed appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty on May 29 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where he answered to the two charges brought by Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) of false declaration to the GRA and fraudulent tax evasion.

The first charge alleged that the 39-year-old on or about December 7, 2020, caused to be made and subscribed, a false declaration to the GRA when he stated on the GRA’s custom declaration form that the purchased amount for the Lamborghini was US$75,300, instead of the true purchase price of

US$695,000.

The second charge accuses Mohamed of, on the same date, fraudulently declaring to the Revenue Authority US$75,300 as the purchase price for the luxury vehicle thus resulting in the sum of $383,383,345 in taxes being evaded. Mohamed, who is also currently facing sanctions by the US Government over gold smuggling and tax evasion allegations, pleaded not guilty to both charges. It was previously reported that these charges were filed by the GRA after it obtained evidence from the US Department of Justice (DoJ). GRA Commissioner, Godfrey Statia had written the US authorities for information on the purchase of the luxury vehicle.

The Revenue Authority and Mohamed are currently embroiled in legal proceedings in the High Court. The GRA filed the matter to recover the outstanding taxes owed by the businessman.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2025

00:00 Sign Off 06:00 Cartoons 07:00 Evening News (RB) 08:00 HGTV 09:00 Stop Suffering 10:00 Food Network 12:00 News Break

12:05 Indian Movie- Azhar (2016) 14:30 The Fairly Oddparents 15:00 How I Met Your Mother S2 E1

16:00 Indian Soaps

17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 Aljazeera

19:00 The Evening News

19:45 AEMG Episode 37

20:00 Stop Suffering 20:30 Stand-up Comedy 21:00 Good Trouble S4 E7 22:00 Superman and Lois S2 E10

23:00 The Office S8 E4

23:30 The Last Man on Earth S3 E13

US Congressman Carlos Gimenez

US Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

Changing fractions to decimals

A decimal is really a fraction expressed in another way. So 4/10 = 0.4, and 6 18/100 = 6.18. Decimals are expressed in tenths, hundredths, thousandths, and so on. However, you can convert a fraction into a decimal. Just divide the fraction’s numerator by its denominator.

Example: What decimal equals 3/4 ?

Step 1: 3/4 = 3 ÷ 4. Set this up as a regular division problem: 4⟌3. However, 4 does not go into 3. You need to add a decimal point to the 3 and as many placeholder zeros as necessary for you to divide. You must also use a decimal point in the quotient. Be sure to line it up with the decimal point in the dividend.

Step 2: Add a decimal point and one placeholder zero. Then add a decimal point to the quotient:

Step 3: Start dividing:

Step 4: If you have a remainder, add another placeholder zero:

Step 5: Keep adding placeholder zeros until you have no remainder. If you already have added four placeholder zeros, think about rounding your decimal to the nearest thousandths place.

Remember: A rounded decimal will not exactly equal the fraction you started with.

Exercises:

Change fractions to decimals. Round to the nearest thousandth if necessary: 1) 1/4

7/8 15) 1/2

The wonderful world of trees

Where would we be without trees? We need trees—and the trees in our communities are more than just something pretty to look at that offers shade or a challenge to climb. Trees clean our air and give us food, play a role in the water cycle, provide habitats for wildlife, connect communities, provide products that we need like wood, keep us cool and stop erosion. We cannot survive in a treeless world.

Trees are amazing plants. Tall and woody, they can live for hundreds – sometimes thousands – of years. Part of that is due to their unique way of growing and the ability to make new parts if they lose some. Trees also make use of their internal, dead framework which supports their large size, allowing them to grow big without using too much energy. Because each tree species has its own way of growing and thriving, there is great variation in species, and trees look different from each other.

Questions to guide explorations and experiments

1. What makes trees different from other plants?

2. Are all trees the same?

3. How do a tree’s parts help it live and grow?

4. Why are trees important?

5. Why is it important to identify trees?

6. How can we help others learn more about trees? (Adapted from startwithabook.org)

By Walt Whitman Continued

The bride unrumples her white dress, the minute-hand of the clock moves slowly, The opium-eater reclines with rigid head and just-open’d lips, The prostitute draggles her shawl, her bonnet bobs on her tipsy and pimpled neck,

The crowd laugh at her blackguard oaths, the men jeer and wink to each other, (Miserable! I do not laugh at your oaths nor jeer you;)

The President holding a cabinet council is surrounded by the great Secretaries,

On the piazza walk three matrons stately and friendly with twined arms,

The crew of the fish-smack pack repeated layers of halibut in the hold, The Missourian crosses the plains toting his wares and his cattle,

As the fare-collector goes through the train he gives notice by the jingling of loose change, The floor-men are laying the floor, the tinners are tinning the roof, the masons are calling for mortar, In single file each shouldering his hod pass onward the laborers; Seasons pursuing each other the indescribable crowd is gather’d, it is the fourth of Seventh-month, (what salutes of cannon and small arms!)

Seasons pursuing each other the plougher ploughs, the mower mows, and the winter-grain falls in the ground; Off on the lakes the pike-fisher watches and waits by the hole in the frozen surface, The stumps stand thick round the clearing, the squatter strikes deep with his axe, Flatboatmen make fast towards dusk near the cotton-wood or pecan-trees, Coon-seekers go through the regions of the Red river or through those drain’d by the Tennessee, or through those of the Arkansas, Torches shine in the dark that hangs on the Chattahooche or Altamahaw,

Draw the poem by hand

Bonus points: Try to recreate your drawing using a computer-based tool or app of your choice

Write a story that includes the line “Do I know you?” or “Have we met before?”

“Guyana deserves leaders who respect democratic values” – US Congresswoman

…warns sanctioned individuals must not undermine, jeopardise bilateral US ties

United States (US)

Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar has issued a pointed rebuke of any efforts to derail democratic norms in Guyana, underscoring that sanctioned individuals must not be allowed to threaten the country's relationship with the US.

She made this remark on Tuesday via social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating “we remain deeply concerned about efforts to undermine democracy in Guyana. As a strategic ally of the United States, Guyana deserves leaders who respect democratic values. Individuals sanctioned for illicit activities must not be allowed to jeopardise this vital relationship.”

Her remarks follow heightened scrutiny over US-sanctioned businessman and political hopeful Azruddin Mohamed who was sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for alleged involvement in gold smuggling and transnational crimes, drawing a stern response from Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali and further international attention.

On Monday, Salazar’s colleague, US Congressman Carlos Gimenez called Mohamed a “Maduropuppet”. Gimenez had raised concerns over what he describes as Venezuela’s attempt to influence internal affairs in Guyana, specifically through a controversial figure. In a statement posted on social media

platform X, Gimenez stated: “In the US Congress we are alarmed by the regime in Venezuela’s attempt to undermine Guyana through its pro-Maduro puppet candidate Azruddin Mohamed, who is sanctioned by OFAC.”

Back in June 2024, the US had sanctioned Guyanese businessmen Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed, along with their businesses: Mohamed’s Enterprise; its subsidiary, Hadi’s World and Team Mohamed’s Racing Team over gold smuggling and public corruption allegations.

According to the US Treasury Department’s OFAC, Mohamed’s Enterprise smuggled some 10,000 kilograms (kg) of gold out of Guyana between 2019 and 2023, thus avoiding paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes. Shortly after the sanctions, Guyana had requested the relevant information and documentation from the US Government to conduct its own investigations.

In March of this year, local law enforcement agencies, including the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) received a ‘sufficient volume’ of evidence to take action against the businessmen.

In a Reuters article published on July 14, 2023, it was revealed that the family is under investigation by several US agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the

Department of Homeland Security. Citing five sources with direct knowledge of the matter, Reuters has reported that the Mohameds are suspected of smuggling both Colombian cocaine and Venezuelan gold to international markets. Further, an intelligence report referenced in the investigation suggests that they may also be involved in laundering money for drug traffickers and criminal organisations, including sanctioned Russian nationals operating in the region.

Tax evasion and fraudulent declaration

In May, Mohamed was placed on $500,000 bail for tax evasion and fraudulent declaration charges in relation to the purchase of the Lamborghini Roadster SVJ.

Mohamed appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty on May 29 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where he answered to the two charges brought by GRA of false declaration to the GRA and fraudulent tax evasion.

The first charge alleged that the 39-year-old on or about December 7, 2020, caused to be made and subscribed, a false declaration to the GRA when he stated on the GRA’s custom declaration form that the purchased amount for the Lamborghini was US$75,300, instead of the true purchase price of US$695,000.

The second charge accuses Mohamed of, on the same date, fraudulently

declaring to the Revenue Authority US$75,300 as the purchase price for the luxury vehicle thus resulting in the sum of $383,383,345 in taxes being evaded. Mohamed, who is also currently facing sanctions by the US Government over gold smuggling and tax evasion allegations, pleaded not guilty to both charges. It was previously reported that these charges were filed by the GRA after it obtained evidence from the US Department of Justice (DoJ). GRA Commissioner, Godfrey Statia had written the US authorities for information on the purchase of the luxury vehicle.

The Revenue Authority and Mohamed are currently embroiled in legal proceedings in the High Court. The GRA filed the matter to recover the outstanding taxes owned by the businessman.

Venezuelan gold smuggling

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday last committed to putting the necessary measures in place to curb Venezuelan gold from being smuggled into Guyana.

This comes as Guyana received an advisory from the US earlier on Friday about the threat that this illicit activity poses by funding the Nicolás Maduro regime.

Speaking at a reception hosted by the US Embassy in Georgetown to celebrate the 249th anniversary of America’s independence, the Guyanese head of state disclosed that the US reminded all of its partners about this serious threat

from Venezuela.

“Only today, the US reminded all of its partners about the serious threat with Venezuela, as it relates to gold smuggling. And we have received that advisory today and we want you to know that we are putting enormous resources into ensuring that the threat of illicit gold smuggling that could help to empower or safeguard undemocratic forces is uprooted,” President Ali stated on Friday evening.

Local authorities have long suspected that Venezuela is smuggling gold into Guyana to be laundered through various networks here.

In recent years, there has been a widespread crackdown on gold smuggling in Guyana with a series of operations targeting foreign nationals suspected of being involved in unlawful mining activities here.

According to President

Ali, the US, through its Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, has been supporting ongoing efforts to enhance law enforcement and security cooperation with Guyana as well as the wider Caribbean.

He pointed out that the March 27, 2025 signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the visit of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscores the joint commitment between Washington DC and Georgetown to addressing common security challenges.

“The MoU builds on our long-standing partnership and aims to deepen collaboration in areas such as counter narcotics and the fight against transnational organised crime and strengthening security and defence cooperation,” President Ali said.

United States Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar

Speeding car jumps median, triggers

3-vehicle crash, several injured

…victim reportedly robbed while unconscious

Several persons were injured on Tuesday morning following a three-vehicle collision along the Rupert Craig Highway, in the vicinity of the UG Access Road, East Coast Demerara.

The accident, which occurred around 09:00h, involved a hire car, HD 3223,

driven by 63-year-old Neil Lewis of Sisters Village, East Bank Berbice; a motorcar, PAK 9877, driven by Kamel Daniels; and a motorcar, PMM 3778, driven by Narayan Sikandar.

According to police reports, preliminary investigations revealed that Daniels was driving motor-

car PAK 9877 at a fast rate of speed heading east along the northern lane of the highway. Upon reaching the UG Access Road area, he reportedly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to swerve south over the concrete median that separates the dual carriageway.

In the process, his ve-

hicle collided head-on with Sikandar’s car (PMM 3778), which was heading west. The impact propelled Sikandar’s vehicle into the path of Lewis’s hire car (HD 3223), also travelling west on the southern carriageway.

The collision left all three vehicles extensively damaged.

Public-spirited citizens responded swiftly, transporting all five injured persons, including the three drivers and two male passengers, to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for medical attention.

Sikandar, the driver of the motorcar PMM 3778, sustained a fractured right arm and was admitted for further care. Daniels and Lewis, along with the two occupants of the hire car, suffered injuries including chest pains and facial lacerations. They were treated and listed as being in stable condition.

Eyewitnesses at the scene confirmed that the speeding vehicle involved in the initial crash, a white motorcar, veered across the median and triggered the chain-reaction accident. One witness recounted that the driver of the speeding car appeared to be ejected from his seat due to the force of the impact and was in critical condition when pulled from the wreckage.

There were also reports of theft amid the chaos. According to family members of one of the injured drivers, valuables including a gold chain, iPhone, and wallet were missing by the time they arrived at the scene.

The third vehicle involved, the hire car, was reportedly pitched into a nearby trench following the secondary impact. The driver, who had been attempting to retrieve the vehicle, confirmed he would be seeking medical attention after complaining of chest pain.

Police in Regional Division 4C have since launched an investigation into the crash.

Fallout…

…from Madman’s denials

Who does Mad Maduro think he’s foolin’?? Everybody and their uncle know that with US sanctions once again squeezing his oil production, he’s had to revive all the old subterfuges used to counter America’s sanctions!!! Oil’s practically the only generator of the foreign currency to pay for vitally needed items like medicine, etc. – lacking which, some eight million Venezuelans have flown the coop. Think of the worst years of Burnham’s destruction of our economy – and multiply it by TEN!!

And that’s why when – at the US Ambassador’s Independence bash – Pressie said, “We’re putting enormous resources into ensuring that the threat of illicit gold smuggling that can help empower or safeguard undemocratic forces is uprooted,” Mad Maduro went into a tizzy!! The madman retorted nastily, “Venezuela firmly rejects Irfaan Ali’s shameless statements!! Ali has made outrageous and baseless accusations against Venezuela, lying about an issue that he knows very well.” That’s right… Pressie and most Guyanese DO know about the smuggled gold issue – which has provided a valuable lifeline to Mad Maduro’s tenuous hold on power.

Back in 2019, the US Treasury Department had blacklisted Venezuela’s state mining firm Minerven as part of its widereaching sanctions programme to force Maduro to accept democratic elections. In terms of our gold exports, in 2021, the Royal Canadian Mint had suspended imports from El Dorado Trading over allegations that shipments included gold from Venezuela. It’s widely suspected that the reason why the Americans were so concerned about another gold exporter that they slapped sanctions on them when US$50 million in taxes to Guyana were evaded was that Venezuelan gold had been mixed in the TWO TONNES of gold involved!!

And that much of that gold was being shipped to the Mid East, where it could be financing terrorist activities. One 2021 report pointed out questionable discrepancies involving the US and the UAE as follows: In 2018, Guyana reported sending 827 kg to the United States; the United States reported imports of 2 862 kg. Guyana’s reported 2019 exports to the UAE totalled 3 492 kg, while the UAE reported a significantly higher 9 423 kg in imports.

In trying to evade American sanctions on their gold – and knowing that Minerven was being monitored by the Yanks –Mad Maduro has sponsored Sindicatos gangs to extract and smuggle gold out of the so-called Gold Crescent adjoining our Essequibo border. As that 2021 report says, “Everything has to go through the military… it’s a chain that starts from the lowest grade: the Hoti or Sanema, then the Yekuana [indigenous peoples], then the mafia groups and armed groups, and at the top is the general who controls the entire area.

And above him: the high government in Caracas”!! Gotcha!!

…from American shift

As a small nation we have resorted overwhelmingly to the multilateral system that developed after WWII. Guyanese are – or should be – aware of the role played by the UN and its organs like the ICJ, the WTO, the World Bank, the IMF, etc. But the US – still the largest economy and the most powerful country militarily – is recalibrating its involvement under the Trump II administration!

Most recently, 70 world leaders and other delegates unanimously adopted the so-called Seville Commitment to deal with world poverty. Many delegates were glad to see the US walk out of talks this week: a recently leaked draft version of the outcomes document laid bare Washington’s demands, which included rejection of debt reform and reference to the Sustainable Development Goals. It underscores the sharp policy shifts under US President Trump by what had been formerly the world’s largest aid donor and long-standing patron of the global multilateral system.

We’re gonna have to do some rethinking ourselves.

…and diversification

After that crack by Secretary of State Rubio about the Chinese-built “Concussion Highway”, your Eyewitness was pleased with the smooth, just-commissioned Indian-built Ogle to Eccles 4-lane highway! It received its seed funding from India over a decade ago – when we didn’t have oil.

The scene of the accident which occurred at the UG Access Road, Greater Georgetown

Guyana’s 1st science-dedicated $253.8M secondary institution commissioned

Nearly three years after it was ravaged by fire on July 20, 2022, the St George’s High School, a landmark of over a century, which was reduced to rubble in a matter of minutes, was recommissioned on Tuesday. The new school is now the first-ever educational institution dedicated exclusively to science.

The rebuilt St George’s School of Science, located on the same site as the original St George's High School, was reconstructed at an estimated cost of $253.8 million.

The new school is a specialised institution with a focus on medical science ed-

ucation. It aims to provide a clear pathway for students interested in medical fields, particularly those who may not have initially qualified for top-tier secondary schools.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, President Irfaan Ali highlighted that the institution has an indepth focus on students attaining strong results in Mathematics, English and most especially, Science.

“Admission to the institution is not automatic, it is earned. Students

must demonstrate strong competence in English, Mathematics and Science with marks that reflect discipline and potential. This school will not be a haven for idlers.”

He added that the features make this institution a torchbearer for the world-class education system being built across Guyana: Smart classrooms equipped with interactive boards, multimedia technology and digital tools that support 21st-century learning. State-of-the-art science and information technology (IT) laboratories designed to foster hands-on learning, where students can conduct experiments, build simulations, and develop strong digital literacy.

Device-based learning — every student will receive a laptop, a powerful tool for research, learning and creativity. A daily breakfast programme, ensuring that no student starts their day hungry — because a nourished mind starts with a nourished body and a holistic curriculum that deliberately departs from the narrow confines of rote learning. The school will provide extended learning opportunities through tutorials and will require student participation in music, sports, foreign languages, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and community service.

President Irfaan Ali along with Education Minister, Priya Manickchand look on as Home Affairs

Minister Robeson Benn plays a game of chess with a student

8 months after fatal Corentyne crash Driver charged with causing teen’s death, release on $800,000 bail

he was not a flight risk. She said the taxi driver would attend the court for the trial and asked for bail to be granted.

Police prosecutor, Mark Edwards while not providing any facts on the case, said that the police was not objecting to bail.

Magistrate Matthias set bail at $800,000 on the condition that Batson must report to the Albion Police Station every other Friday.

The matter will be called again on July 15, when the police are expected to make available statements in the matter.

Some eight months after a Corentyne Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) teenager passed away as a result of a motor vehicular accident, the man allegedly responsible for the incident has been charged. Shakir Batson of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, appeared before Magistrate Michelle Mathias at the Albion Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

18-year-old Rampersaud, of Ankerville, Port Mourant was riding a motorcycle with 15-year-old Stephon Verrapen as the pillion rider, when they were allegedly hit by a car.

Following the crash, the two teenagers were taken to the Port Morant Hospital and subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. However, Rampersaud was transferred to the Georgetown Post Public Hospital (GPHC), where some 12 days later, he succumbed to his injuries.

the Corentyne Highway when the motorcycle, CN 9498, rode up from behind and hit his car, damaging the rear lights in the process. The driver reportedly said the motorcyclists did not stop and as such, he said he gave chase and eventually caught up with them.

However, Rampersaud’s mother had told reporters that the rear of the car showed no visible signs of damage, but rather, the front of the car, which hit the motorcycle, was damaged.

Batson, 25, is accused of driving motorcar, PAG 6823, in a manner dangerous to the public along Hampshire access Road on October 27, 2024, causing the death of 18-year-old Jainarine Rampersaud.

It was previously reported that on October 27, 2024,

It was reported that the driver of the car claimed that he was driving along

Rampersaud’s mother has been repeatedly calling for justice for her son.

Attorney-at-Law Sasha Roberts representing Batson told the court that

Charged: Shakir Batson

Dead: Jainarine Rampersaud

2025 General and Regional Elections PPP’s campaign powered by supporters –

Pres Ali rejects claim of use of State funds

President Irfaan Ali has delivered a firm response to allegations surrounding the misuse of state funds for political campaigning, asserting that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is fully self-funded and committed to transparency and integrity as the country heads toward national elections.

“People's Progressive Party does not need state resources to run our campaign. We are not using any state resources to run our campaign. Our campaign is run by the People's Progressive Party with all resources supported by the humble people of Guyana” the President asserted.

The Head of State was at the time responding to

several lines of questioning from reporters following the commissioning ceremony for St George’s Secondary School on Tuesday.

The Guyanese leader not only assured that no state funds are being used to finance the campaign, but also voiced confidence in his party's return to office under his leadership, declaring, “We are strong. We are ready. And we will defeat every force that is ahead of us.”

The governing PPP/C is gearing up to formally launch its campaign and manifesto this month for the upcoming 2025 General and Regional Elections slated for September 1.

According to PPP/C’s General Secretary (GS)

Bharrat Jagdeo, vetting is also ongoing for candidates to be included in the backers list, which will be in compliance with the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) prescribed form, which has a declaration at the top to indicate that persons are knowingly and willingly signing to support a particular political party.

Jagdeo called on the Guyana Elections Commission to ensure that all political parties utilise these designated forms to enlist nominators/backers for the upcoming elections.

He alleged that "some people are paying to get backers and some are being misled, and they [are] not showing people the form".

“I hope GECOM will rigidly enforce that the appropriate form is used, because in the past…they will go with a blank sheet and get people to sign off and then they will add a covering letter, and many of those people never even knew they were supporting a list of candidates for a particular party; they may not even support that party,” the GS added.

On July 14, Nominations Day, parties will be required to submit their approved symbols and their Lists of Candidates: one National Top-Up List, at least six Geographical Constituencies’ Lists, and the Regional Democratic Councils’ Lists.

The National Top-Up list, which identifies the

presidential candidate, must have at least 42 candidates and between 300 and 330 nominators countrywide. Each geographical constituency list must have between 150 and 175 nominators from each geographical constituency.

While the PPP/C is currently facing the challenge of excess candidates for its lists, Jagdeo says the sit -

uation is reversed for other parties that are having a difficult time enlisting candidates or backers.

“One political party with a criminal enterprise linked to it is calling people… They’re looking for people to be on their list because people are afraid of being sanctioned or getting into trouble,” the PPP/C GS stated.

GECOM approves 19 party symbols for 2025 elections including "Leopard"

After a week of heated debate and public scrutiny, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has officially approved some 19 political party symbols for the upcoming 2025 Regional and General elections, including the con-

tentious "Leopard" symbol submitted by United States (US) sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed’s party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), who has been labelled as a “Maduro-puppet” by US congressman, Carlos Gimenez on Monday.

A total of 22 total submissions were made to GECOM, however, some symbols were approved on the condition that minor changes would be made.

GECOM will be engaging directly with those parties to address the necessary adjustments.

In a statement issued the Electoral body clarified that the “final approval of the remaining three (3) symbols would be subject to minor modifications, the nature of which is in the process of being communicated to them. Importantly, GECOM takes this opportunity to clarify that although twenty-four (24) symbols were initially submitted to the Commission, two of those political parties have since joined the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU); resulting in the symbols being included within the partnership”.

Last week, GECOM had ruled that the use of the jaguar, a national symbol found on the country’s Coat of Arms, by any political party is not permissible.

This decision was made by GECOM Chairperson, (Ret’d) Justice Claudette Singh, following concerns raised over the use of the jaguar by the political party

WIN, led by US sanctioned, Azruddin Mohamed. Justice Singh cited Article 7 of the Constitution of Guyana, which outlines the duty of citizens to respect national symbols, as the basis for her decision.

The matter was brought to public attention when Chairman of the National Protected Areas Commission (NPAC), Robert Persaud, issued a statement on June 19 objecting to the use of the jaguar by a political party.

“Turning this national symbol into a party logo strips it of that shared meaning and tries to turn it into something small, partisan and representing only a few,” Persaud had stated.

The objection was supported by the Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), Derrick John and the Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Lennox Shuman, who also voiced their disapproval of WIN’s use of the symbol.

Not a jaguar

Later, reports surfaced which stated that WIN leader, the US-sanctioned presidential candidate, Azruddin Mohamed just hours after GECOM’s decision was made public, said that the symbol of his political party is a leop-

ard, not a jaguar. GECOM accepted this explanation and approved the symbol.

Nomination Day is set for July 14, when political parties are required to submit their Lists of Candidates to the Chief Election Officer (CEO) along with their approved party symbols.

Preparations for the September 1, 2025 elections are ongoing. GECOM recently administered the Oath of Office to ten Returning Officers and ten Supernumerary Returning Officers during a formal ceremony. These officers will manage the electoral process in the various districts and sub-districts, including Regions Three, Four, and Six.

The appointments were made in accordance with the Representation of the People Act. Their names and office locations have been published on GECOM’s official website, www.gecom.org.gy.

GECOM has also been engaged in the statutory Claims and Objections process. The ‘Claims’ phase has ended, and the ‘Objections’ period concludes today. Once complete, the Revised List of Electors will be published for 21 days before being certified.

In addition, legislative amendments to the Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill 2025 now permit either the Supernumerary Returning Officer or their deputy to conduct the vote tabulation process within sub-districts. This change follows controversies surrounding the 2020 elections, specifically the tabulation of Region Four’s results. Following Nomination Day, other key electoral dates include July 15: Notification of death or withdrawal of candidates, and correction of defects; July 17: Submission of corrected Lists and additional withdrawals; July 18: GECOM to issue approvals or rejections; July 20: Deadline for appeals to the High Court; July 21: Notification of joinder of lists; July 23: Publication of approved Lists of Candidates Members of the Disciplined Services will vote on August 22, ahead of the national polling day.

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

America-sanctioned Mohamed ruthless in the utilisation of lies and misinformation

Guyana is a free country, one that is constantly working to strengthen democracy. There are always threats to the fledgling democratic movement in Guyana. In 2020, the thenincumbent government, led by the then president, David Granger, and by the PNC, tried desperately to derail Guyana’s democracy by the most transparent, clumsy effort to thief Elections 2020 after it became apparent that they had lost the elections.

Presently, as Elections 2025 get nearer and nearer, scheduled for September 1, 24 political parties have signalled their intentions to contest. Not all of them will be able to field slates of candidates. Their only option will be coming together with the hope that they will meet the bare minimum for eligibility to participate. ANUG, for example, with perhaps only two people, has meekly agreed to be absorbed into the party owned by Azruddin Mohamed. The Mohamed party is blatantly open in buying candidates to fill their lists and in getting backers for the lists. One rich man is openly using his money to corrupt the process to buy candidates and votes.

One of the oldest threats against democracy is the use of lies and misinformation. Azruddin Mohamed is shameless in how he utilises the weapon of lies and misinformation. In fact, not only does he lie constantly, but he has used his money to create a social media network to spread lies and misinformation. Today, in Guyana and around the world, while guns and criminals continue to be a major threat against democracy, lies and misinformation are proving to be every bit an equal threat to democracy.

Last year, America sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed for gold smuggling and for other criminal activities. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury, an American government department, on June 11, 2024, announced the imposition of sanctions against the Mohamed family, specifically targeting Azruddin Mohamed, and businesses, namely Mohamed’s Enterprise, Hadi’s World and Team Mohamed’s Racing. OFAC was joined by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York, on June 12th, which also announced the sanctions. The sanctions were pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuses and corruption around the world.

These sanctions were never initiated by any investigation or request from the Government of Guyana. President Irfaan Ali, VP Bharat Jagdeo and the PPP government at no time were involved in any action that led to the American sanctions.

A US congressman recently asserted that the US is looking closely at Azruddin Mohamed as a Maduro mole. On June 30, in a statement posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Gimenez stated: “In the US Congress we are alarmed by the regime in Venezuela’s attempt to undermine Guyana through its pro-Maduro puppet candidate Azruddin Mohamed, who is sanctioned by OFAC.”

President Irfaan Ali, VP Bharat Jagdeo and the PPP government have no control over any action taken by any congressman, senator or any other American government official.

Following the OFAC sanctions in June 2024, in a decisive move, all banks in Guyana closed accounts they had with the Mohamed family and their businesses. The banks decided to close the accounts of the Mohameds to de-risk themselves. This process often involves banks and other financial entities severing ties with customers to avoid legal, financial, or reputational damage. The Mohameds, therefore, now have no active accounts with any of the country’s commercial banks. At this time, the Mohameds are the only gold dealers that have had their accounts completely closed by commercial banks.

The Mohameds were part of a consortium that established a shorebased business to work for EXXON. After the sanctions, the consortium was under threat of being blacklisted by the American government. The blacklisting threat was never a threat from the Government of Guyana. This was purely an American government-driven action. The Mohameds were forced to sell off their part of the business.

Outside of the banks in Guyana, other Guyanese businesses, cognisant that OFAC has the power to extend sanctions to business associates and people who conduct business with the Mohameds, decided to also stay clear of the Mohameds. These businesses include airlines operating in Guyana. These are independent actions, as these businesses ensure they stay clear of potential US government sanctions. The Guyana government has nothing to do with actions taken by businesses to protect their selfinterest.

In the most selfish act, Mohamed decided to run for office to take cover. He presents himself as a victim of political harassment, claiming that President Irfaan Ali, VP Bharat Jagdeo and the PPP have targeted him because he is running to be president. He goes around in small meetings and tells people that he was sanctioned by President Ali, VP Jagdeo, and the PPP government, a total barefaced lie. In the meanwhile, he exposes innocent people to severe actions by the US government.

He further asserts that the PPP government has instructed private businesses to stop conducting business with him and his family. For example, he alleges that the PPP government has instructed the airlines operating in Guyana, out of Ogle, not to permit him to travel on their planes. This is an outright lie. Instead of outlining policies and what he will do for Guyana, he spends all his time accusing the government of employing foreign operatives to lobby the US government for actions against him.

The charges made against him by the US government do not include the recently exposed acts of cheating the GRA and Guyana of more than a billion dollars in taxes for vehicles he imported with ridiculous undervalued prices. He claimed the president approved his action. The president never approved of him lying to the GRA.

Mohamed is insulting the intelligence of the Guyanese people. Having adopted the strategy of lies and misrepresentation as his election platform, he cannot expect a free pass. His opponents will expose him. The truth is plain to see, and he will pay a hefty price when he is overwhelmingly rejected by the people.

Guyanese man wrongfully convicted in NYC murder cleared after 36 years

For more than 30 years, Brian Kendall has insisted he and a few friends were simply playing video games inside a Flatbush game room after school when a man wearing a hoodie casually strolled in and fatally shot a clerk in the head.

That was in 1988. Kendall, who was 17 at the time, and his shocked friends ran outside to chase the shooter and flag a police car, according to his account.

Police and prosecutors didn’t believe him.

On Tuesday, in a dramatic reversal decades in the making, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez’s Conviction Review Unit (CRU) will announce that it has found Kendall is “likely innocent” and should have his conviction vacated and indictment dismissed.

“I only wish my mother and father were alive to see this day,” Kendall said in a statement.

About a week after the February 24, 1988, shooting, police took Kendall from his parents’ Flatbush apartment in handcuffs. They said two eyewitnesses identified him as the gunman in the 7PM shooting and charged him with the murder of Raphael Reyes inside the building on Cortelyou Road.

At his lawyer’s urging, he pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in 1989 and was sentenced to eight years and four months to 25 years. His family was running out of money to pay the private attorney who had warned it would be “suicide” to take the case to trial.

Kendall served 16 years and eight months in prison before he was released in 2004. He was deported to Guyana, where he was born, the following year. He was technically a lawful permanent resident but unable to become a naturalised citizen on his own as a minor.

The decision is even more notable because Kendall pleaded guilty before trial and at six parole hearings. He says he did that because he believed that was his only path to his eventual freedom.

“For years, I carried the weight of a conviction that never should have happened,” he said in a statement issued Tuesday. “Today’s action doesn’t erase the pain or the time I lost, but it does give me hope.”

‘I Thought It Was a Big Mistake”

Eric Bjorneby, the prosecutor who handled the case, never disclosed to Kendall’s lawyer at the time that he wrote a letter seeking leniency on behalf of a key witness who was in prison on a drug conviction, according to the CRU report.

Bjorneby, who later became a Nassau County judge, served as a prosecutor in four other cases from

the 1980s that were vacated by the CRU decades later, according to a May 2024 report in the news site Indypendent.

It remains unclear why police initially focused on Kendall.

Kendall said he was stunned when police came to his family’s apartment in Flatbush about a week after the killing.

“I thought it was a big mistake that they would correct,” Kendall told THE CITY during an interview last year.

Inside the police precinct, officers put him in a line-up and refused to let him call a lawyer, according to his account.

“I was the only teen in the line-up,” Kendall recalled. “The others were adults.”

“It was like these people kidnapped me,” he added, noting he was held without bail until the trial. His family hired a private attorney, Harry Dusenberry, who interviewed at least five people inside the game room at the time. They all said Kendall had nothing to do with the murder, according to the 35-page CRU report.

Many of the same people spoke to prosecutors at the time, the report said.

Witness Nicholas Ruiz, a friend of the victim, told cops the shooter was a man in his 40s, about 5’3” and 155 pounds, wearing a grey coat and cap. Kendall was 5’7” and 135 pounds at the time.

Police later said Ruiz didn’t want to cooperate with them after making that initial statement, according to the review unit’s investigation.

The DA insisted another two supposed eyewitnesses — a drug addict dealing with a potential jail sentence and a 13-year-old — were enough for a conviction and refused to drop the second-degree murder charges, the CRU report revealed.

The addict — identified only as “F.F.” in the report — claimed that he had been at the location earlier in the day and witnessed a verbal dispute between two teenagers and the clerk.

F.F. also told cops he saw the shooting and identified Kendall via a police photo

array and in the line-up, according to the CRU report.

The case was before a judge, Francis Egitto, who had a reputation for doling out maximum sentences.

Plus, Kendall said his family was running out of money to pay Dusenberry.

“My mother was crying because of the anguish, the stress, the anxiety,” Kendall recalled.

Dusenberry, in turn, told the family that it would be “suicide” for Kendall to proceed to trial where he would almost surely be convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life, according to the CRU report.

“I had no choice,” Kendall remembered, saying he was never told he’d be deported at the end of his sentence.

After the sentencing, Dusenberry told CRU investigators that the prosecutor told him he was surprised the case didn’t go to trial.

“The prosecutor said the prosecution’s case was weak: there were problems with the witnesses, one may have become unavailable and the other may have had drug-related problems,” the CRU report said — without disclosing the name of the prosecutor.

Dusenberry thought Kendall was “screwed” but did not take any other legal steps to help him out, the report said.

The lawyer, who currently practises with his son according to the firm’s website, did not return a call or email seeking comment.

On Rikers before his sentencing, Kendall said he was repeatedly “jumped” for his clothes and food and had to constantly struggle to “survive the place”.

“You know how many fights I had?” he asked. “How many times was I knocked out?”

After he pleaded guilty, he was first sent to Elimira Correctional Facility and then transferred to Coxsackie Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison in Greene County. He ultimately did time in 16 state prisons.

His parents never got over it, he said.

“This incident killed my family,” he said through tears. “My father used to say on the phone, ‘I failed you, my son.’”

“You can’t imagine your father telling you that,” he added.

Years to Resolve

A friend of his in prison, Mark Denny, whose wrongful conviction was overturned by the CRU in 2017, told him about the Brooklyn unit and gave him guidance on how to file a similar request to reinvestigate.

He reached out to Denny’s lawyer and other attorneys for help, but no one had the bandwidth to take his case.

So, in 2019, he filed his own case before the unit,

praying someone there would give it a read.

The unit, revamped by the late DA Kenneth Thompson, is nationally acclaimed and considered a model for others throughout the country.

Despite a lack of legal assistance, Kendall’s initial filing made what seemed like a legitimate case and caught the attention of the unit, according to people familiar with the process.

But the unit also prioritises cases involving people still in prison.

Kendall’s request to reopen the case took years to resolve and went through multiple lead investigators. The case became the longest outstanding application in the unit when Charles Linehan took over in January 2022. He vowed to clear a backlog of cases and exonerated 12 people based on recommendations made by his staff during his three-year tenure.

As for Kendall, the CRU reinterviewed all the witnesses, police officers involved in the case, his defence lawyer and the prosecutor.

Many of the key witnesses, including the two lead detectives, are no longer alive, the CRU report noted. Still, CRU staff discovered archived police radio transmissions that “in ways undermine the credibility” of the two purported eyewitnesses who identified Kendall, the report said. The radio reports indicate officers in a police car near the crime scene right after the deadly shooting saw a group of teens chasing a possible suspect.

The CRU report also discovered that the prosecutor handling the Kendall case — Bjorneby — promised to help F.F. with his prison case. Bjorneby wrote a letter to his “counsellor” asking for his earliest possible release, the CRU report said.

That missive was never handed over to Dusenberry, according to the CRU report. Under prior discovery laws at the time, that sort of information was not required to be turned over to defence lawyers before trial.

The law was changed in 2019 to include that sort of material.

The discovery reforms were pared back in the latest budget, but they would still require prosecutors to disclose deals with potential witnesses, according to defence lawyers familiar with the rules.

When interviewed by CRU staff, F.F. said he no longer remembered who shot the clerk and could not recall the earlier altercation.

“He turned his life around and did not like to recall the earlier period when he was ‘lost to crack’,” the report said.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Brian Kendall, who was 17 at the time, was convicted for a fatal shooting

Guyana, China renew medical cooperation with new agreement

Guyana and China on Tuesday reaffirmed its longstanding cooperation in the health sector with the signing of a new agreement aimed at enhancing medical training and support. The Protocol on the Dispatch of the Chinese Medical Team to Guyana was signed by Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Yang Yang, and Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, at a formal ceremony in Georgetown.

The focus of the new protocol is on advancing the training and development of Guyanese doctors while maintaining support for healthcare delivery across the country.

Ambassador Yang highlighted the longstanding nature of the cooperation, noting that Guyana was the first country in the Caribbean to receive a Chinese medical team.

“Over the past 32 years, China has dispatched 20 batches of medical teams to Guyana, consisting of 295 medical professionals,” Ambassador Yang said. “These teams have served a combined total of more than 11,000 working days, treated nearly 1.31 million patients, saved over 30,000 critically ill individuals, and performed more than 70,000 surgeries.”

She reaffirmed China's

dedication to improving the health and well-being of the Guyanese people, adding that the medical teams have earned widespread praise for their professionalism, work ethic and commitment.

Meanwhile, Minister Anthony expressed appreciation for China’s consistent support of Guyana’s health sector, especially in areas such as infrastructure, equipment donations, and collaborative health programmes. “China has stood with Guyana for many years,” he said. “We look forward to further deepening our cooperation and continuing to build a resilient and effec-

tive healthcare system.” He also acknowledged the importance of the protocol in supporting Guyana’s efforts to train and retain skilled medical personnel and praised the Chinese medical teams for their dedication and service.

Diplomatic relations between Guyana and China were formally established on June 27, 1972, with Guyana being the first English-speaking Caribbean country to do so. Since then, the two nations have expanded cooperation in a range of sectors, including infrastructure, education and public health, fostering greater cultural and economic ties.

Police force launches online testing system for recruits

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has launched an online testing system at its academy, marking a transformation in how police recruits will now be assessed and trained to meet the challenges of modern law enforcement.

The virtual learning environment, developed by a team led by Assistant Superintendent Gladwin Hanover, alongside Inspector Jason McAlmont, Corporal Tony Dindial, and Corporal Reon Venture, represents a shift from traditional paper-based examinations to a more convenient digital assessment platform.

The online assessment platform was successfully rolled out on Tuesday at the GPF’s Essequibo Campus, where the first batch of recruits accessed the platform to complete their assess-

ments.

Under the leadership of its Director, Woman Senior Superintendent Sonia Herbert, the GPF Academy has embraced technology to enhance the quality and efficiency of recruit training.

This new system allows recruits to complete module examinations through a secure online platform, bringing unprecedented levels of efficiency, transparency and accountability to the assessment process.

According to Herbert, the platform is more than just a technological upgrade but rather represents a shift in how future police officers are trained for the evolving digital landscape and the complexities it brings to law enforcement in Guyana.

"This is more than just a technological upgrade – it's a fundamental reimagining of how we prepare our

officers for the complexities of 21st-century policing," Senior Superintendent Herbert said.

She further stated that by digitising assessment methods, the Force is not only modernising its pro-

2 gold miners slapped with murder charge

Two young gold miners were on Tuesday remanded to prison after being charged with the murder of 28-year-old Riley Abrams, whose body was discovered with multiple incised wounds at Balamani Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

The accused, 21-yearold Rovel Santiago of Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini), and 20-year-old Shawn Williams of Kuru Kururu village, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, were jointly charged with murder, contrary to Common Law under the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01.

The charge stems from the June 28 killing of Abrams, which reportedly occurred during an incident in the remote mining district.

Remanded: Rovel Santiago

The case was called on Tuesday at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Teriq Mohammed. The charge was read to the two accused, who were not required to plead to the indictable offence. They were both remanded to prison, and the case will continue on August 14.

Remanded: Shawn Williams

Meanwhile, a post-mortem examination conducted on June 30 by government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh confirmed that Abrams died as a result of “multiple incised wounds”. Police have not yet released details on the motive or circumstances leading up to the killing.

cesses but also ensuring recruits are comfortable with the technology they’ll encounter throughout their careers.

The online testing sys-

tem offers numerous advantages over traditional assessment methods, including immediate results and feedback, enhanced examination security, data-driven insights and increased accessibility.

Assistant Superintendent Hanover, the project’s lead developer, emphasised the system's robust design, "We've created a platform that not only meets our current needs but can scale and evolve with emerging technologies and training requirements. The system incorporates multiple question formats—from multiple choice to scenario-based assessments—ensuring comprehensive evaluation of both theoretical knowledge and practical application," he explained.

Team member Inspector McAlmont added, "The collaborative effort between our team members brought together diverse expertise in education, technology and law enforcement, resulting in a solution tailored specifically to the unique needs of police training."

Plans are already underway to expand the platform to include continuing training for serving officers and specialised modules for different police units.

Additionally, the academy has plans to implement smart classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards, automated attendance systems, and integrated multimedia capabilities to create a fully immersive learning environment.

Tuschen man jailed for ganja possession

A28-year-old gold miner was on Monday sentenced to two months’ imprisonment and fined $30,000 after pleading guilty to a narcotics possession charge.

Wesley Nelson, of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, appeared before Magistrate Teriq Mohamed at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court, where the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking was read to him.

Nelson admitted to being in possession of marijuana when he was intercepted by ranks at the Itaballi Police Checkpoint on June 28. The charge was filed under Section 5(1)(a)(i) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, Chapter 10:10.

Upon his guilty plea, the court imposed a custodial sentence of two months, along with a fine of $30,000.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony alongside Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Yang Yang, displaying the signed agreement

Scores of police recruits participating in the online assessment platform which was rolled out on Tuesday at the GPF’s Essequibo Campus, Region Two

Jailed: Wesley Nelson

Iwokrama sparks environmental awareness with conservation outreach

TInternational Centre (IIC) for Rain Forest Conservation and Development continued its renewed school outreach programme, engaging students from five primary schools in June. The initiative targeted Grade Five and Six pupils, aiming to foster conservation values through interactive sessions focused on biodiversity, climate change, and the harmful effects of littering.

The programme involves visits to schools, interactive sessions and workshops to raise aware-

ness about issues such as climate change, protected areas and the impact of littering. The outreaches also focused on educating students about the Iwokrama forest, Guyana's protected areas, the importance of biodiversity, and the impact of human activities like littering.

For the first time, Iwokrama is including primary schools, engaging with Grade Five and Six students to raise awareness on conservation.

During the month of June, the Centre visited five primary schools, de -

littering. Special focus was placed on schools that often have limited access to environmental awareness initiatives.

These visits were designed to encourage a deeper understanding of Guyana’s natural resources and promote individual responsibility in protecting the environment.

The schools engaged included St Angela’s Primary, St Pius Primary, West Ruimveldt Primary, Paradise Primary and

livering interactive sessions on protected areas, Iwokrama’s work in conservation, and the impacts of

Guyana’s 1st science-dedicated...

“We want to produce scientists with soul, technicians with talent, and leaders with compassion. So, that is what we want to do also — produce leaders with compassion.”

According to the President, this school will serve as an incubator for future scientists and innovators. In this regard, he said there are several areas in which the Government aims to take global leadership efforts that will require a strong scientific approach.

“The science of the environment, the science of climate change — these are the areas we are preparing ourselves to lead in globally, and all of it requires a

scientific approach.

“We need local talent to fill those roles. We need to train our children, not just to get jobs, but to lead industries. We are also building a national digital ecosystem — one that connects classrooms, hospitals, Government services, agriculture, commerce and industry — through the power of information and communication technology (ICT).”

He added that, as the Government rolls out this system, they need to prepare their citizens for a digital future. He also mentioned that the Government cannot do so unless science and technology assume greater impor -

tance within our education system.

“We need students to be equipped with analytical skills, technical competencies, and a creative mindset to thrive in a digitally connected and data-driven world.”

Students attending the new school must have scored at least 80 per cent in English, 65 per cent in science, and 60 per cent in Mathematics to be eligible.

The school has been operational for about a year since it was reconstructed.

Following the blaze, the Education Ministry had put systems in place for the displaced students to ensure that they were placed in a school.

Guyanese man wrongfully convicted...

David Crow, of the Legal Aid Society, took on Kendall’s case last year and urged the CRU to vacate the conviction.

“Brian Kendall’s case is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of a system that too often fails young people of colour,” Crow said Tuesday. “Despite clear evidence pointing to his innocence, Brian was forced to plead guilty under the weight of a broken process.”

Kendall told THE CITY that he filed the case with the CRU to “clear his name” and that he hopes to make

his way back to the United States.

He plans to file an appeal with the US Department of Justice after his conviction is formally vacated in Brooklyn criminal court on Tuesday. The immigration case will be handled by the Board of Immigration Appeals.

When he was sent back to Guyana, he struggled financially and initially spent time sleeping on friends’ couches, Kendall recalled. He now lives in a modest apartment with his partner and works as an electrician.

“It’s been rough in

Golden Grove Primary.

While Iwokrama continues to support youthled conservation efforts through its Wildlife Clubs in the North Rupununi, this programme extends those efforts to coastal regions, bringing environmental education to more of Guyana’s

young minds. The IIC was established in 1996 under a joint mandate from the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat to manage the Iwokrama forest, a unique reserve of 371,000 hectares of rainforest “in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general”. The Centre, guided by an international Board of Trustees, is unique in providing a dedicated, well-managed and researched forest environment. The forest is zoned into a Sustainable Utilisation Area (SUA) and a Wilderness Preserve (WP) in which to test the concept of a truly sustainable forest where conservation, environmental balance and eco-

nomic use can be mutually reinforced. The IIC collaborates with the Government of Guyana, the Commonwealth and other international partners and donors to develop new approaches and forest management models to enable countries with rainforests to market their ecosystem services whilst carefully managing their resources through innovative and creative conservation practices. In more recent years, the Centre has received support from corporate partners such as Exxon Mobil (Guyana) Limited who has funded the development of its Science Programme and continues to provide an annual contribution to the implementation of this programme. School outreach will continue in November 2025.

Man who caused death of pensioner in accident offers compensation …released on self-bail

Aman who caused the death of a pensioner in a vehicular accident has offered compensation to the victim’s children and pleaded guilty to two related charged when he made a court appearance on Tuesday.

FROM PAGE 15

Guyana,” he said. “Work isn’t coming as anticipated. I’m just surviving to pay the rent.”

When he was in prison, his mother died after a long battle with cancer.

“I stopped calling my mother because her voice started changing up, man,” he remembered. “I didn’t want to remember my mother like that.”

He was allowed to attend her funeral in handcuffs.

“My mother is not at rest,” he said. “This killed everybody in my family.”

(www.thecity.nyc)

Kenwin Collins on Number 1 Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) appeared before Magistrate Michelle Mathias at the Albion Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

It is alleged that on March 26, Collins rode his motorcycle in a dangerous manner along the Chesney Access Road causing the death of the Minwattie Hairilall.

Collins, who pleaded not guilty to that charge and was also charged with riding without a safety helmet and also carrying a pillion rider without a safety helmet.

He pleaded guilty to those two charges.

Attorney-at-Law Everton Singh-Lammy, who appeared for Collins told the court that a settlement was

Charged: Kenwin Collins

reached with two of the pensioner's children.

The children, who were in court told the court that they had received $300,000 and were satisfied with the compensation offered.

However, Police Prosecutor Corporal Meika Crawford stated that the prosecution has a legal mandate to pursue the matter, but will seek guidance from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The Magistrate imposed a $25,000 fine for each of the two offenses Collins pleaded guilty to and released him on

his own recognisance to return to court on July 29. It had been reported that Meenawattie Harrilall, called ‘Auntie Dhora’, an 81-year-old pensioner of New Area in Chesney Village died after being hit by a motorcycle moments after she had just finished praying. She was crossing the road to dispose of flowers in water when she was hit.

CCTV footage had showed Harrilall crossing the road and a motorcycle passing in front of her. Moments later, a second motorcycle that comes into view crashes into her, knocking her to the ground.

FROM PAGE 10

he Iwokrama

Dead: Meenawattie Harrilall, called "Auntie Dhora"

Students of Golden Grove Primary School pose for a group photo (Nathan Chinapen photo)

Iwokrama staff engaging students of St Angela’s Primary on Protected Areas in Guyana (Makena Alleyne photo)

Students of St Angela’s Primary School being engaged by Iwokrama staff and volunteers

Police roll out decentralised system for gun licences, fitness, clearances

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is working to improve the lives of its officers and civilians alike with enhanced services and facilities.

This is according to Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken on this week’s edition of ‘Safeguarding Our Nation’, where he noted that the GPF is decentralising the delivery of its services to outlying regions while im-

proving the working conditions within the Force.

Some of the services that are being decentralised include the delivery of passports, certificates of fitness for motor vehicles, gun licences and police clearance.

“What we’re doing now is that it goes straight back to the home instead of people coming to Georgetown. That is happening with the [vehicle] fitness too, that is

happening with ammunition and police clearance,” the Police Commissioner said.

He noted that this service reduces not only time, but money spent by residents of outlying areas such as those in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Ten in retrieving their documents.

“Even to Region 10, those people have to come to Georgetown to acquire

Newborn in distress medevacked from Suddie by GDF

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Tuesday successfully executed a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) from the Suddie Public Hospital in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), following an urgent request from the Health Ministry.

The emergency mission was launched in response to the critical condition of a newborn infant, who was delivered via Caesarean section and presented with severe respiratory distress. The baby required advanced medical care that was not available at the regional facility.

The GDF aircraft, piloted by Command Pilot Lieutenant Colonel Anson Weeks and Co-pilot Captain Dwight Bonus, departed Base Camp Ayanganna at 13:26h. Onboard were two civilian medical professionals and GDF Grade 2 Medic Akeem Martin, all

The

assigned to provide necessary in-flight medical support during the transfer.

The aircraft arrived back at Base Camp Ayanganna at 14:30h, where the infant was swiftly transferred

to a waiting GDF ambulance and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for continued treatment.

services and when they are coming to Georgetown, they are spending a lot of money – ten times more than they are paying for the packages they are coming for, so we decided that we will help these people out,” he noted.

Hicken assumed his role on March 30, 2022. After taking up his post, he said the Force developed a strategic plan focused on six pillars surrounding development of people, infrastructure, partnership, operation, performance, professionalism and ac-

countability.

Emanating from the infrastructure aspect of its plan, he said it was recognised that “the police are behaving how they were behaving because the stations aren’t conducive for them to optimise their full potential.”

As such, the Force embarked on constructing new police stations across the country which meet the minimum standards for international best practices.

“What is not completed yet, is at an advanced stage of completion,” he

said.

The new facilities have also improved the relationships with the public, he said. This is complemented by the expansion of the GPF’s Community Relations Department.

The Commissioner encouraged citizens to file complaints with the Regional Commanders, the Office of Professional Responsibility, the Police Complaints Authority or himself if they are not receiving the required services from the police officers.

Ann’s Grove man on self-bail after felonious

wounding charge

A25-year-old painter from Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was on Tuesday granted self-bail after being charged with felonious wounding in connection with an alleged attack on a fellow villager.

Careme Charles, of Middle Street, Ann’s Grove, ECD, was arrested on June 27 by a rank from the Enmore Police Station. He was charged with felonious wounding, contrary to Section 57(a) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01.

Charles is accused of unlawfully and maliciously

wounding Leary Herod, a 24-year-old labourer, also of Ann’s Grove, during an in-

cident that occurred on the same day of his arrest. He appeared on Tuesday at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Orinthia Schmidt, where the charge was read to him. Charles pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

However, during the hearing, the virtual complainant, Herod, opted to offer no evidence in the matter. As a result, the accused was released on self-bail, and the case was adjourned to August 4 for report.

Police have not released further details on the nature of the incident.

Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, along with the senior ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) at Mabaruma, Region One in on January 18, 2025

baby being taken to the MEDEVAC by the GDF

Charged: Careme Charles

Around the World

OOIL NEWS

Oil settles up on signs of strong demand, investors await OPEC+ decision

il prices edged higher on Tuesday as investors took stock of positive demand indicators, while also treading cautiously ahead of a meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+) to decide the group's August output policy.

Brent crude settled up 37 cents, or 0.6 per cent, at US$67.11 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude settled 34 cents higher, or up around 0.5 per cent , at US$65.45 a barrel.

The gains were likely due to supportive data from a private-sector survey in China, which showed factory activity returned to expansion in June, said Randall Rothenberg, a risk intelligence expert at US oil brokerage Liquidity Energy.

Expectations that Saudi Arabia will raise its August crude oil prices for buyers in Asia to a four-month high as well as firm premiums for Russian ESPO Blend crude oil were also supporting the notion of robust demand, Rothenberg said.

Oil's gains were kept in check by expectations that the OPEC+ group will boost its August crude oil output by an amount similar to the outsized hikes agreed in May, June, and July. Four OPEC+ sources told Reuters last week the group plans to raise output by 411,000 barrels per day next month when it meets on July 6.

"All eyes will be on OPEC+'s decision over the weekend, when the group is expected to add another 411,000 bpd of production in an effort to gain more market share, primarily over the US shale producers," StoneX energy analyst Alex Hodes told clients.

Besides gaining market share from US shale producers, which pumped oil at a record pace in April, according to official data released on Monday, the group has also been trying to punish overproducing members.

OPEC+ member Kazakhstan, one of the world's 10 largest oil producers, raised oil production last month to match an all-time high, a source familiar with the data told Reuters on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of the OPEC+ group, raised its June crude oil exports to the fastest rate in a year, data from Kpler showed.

"These exports are flooding out even faster than the OPEC+ deal implies during the summer, when peak domestic demand typically keeps oil supplies closer to home," Hodes said.

In the US, crude oil inventories rose by 680,000 barrels in the past week, according to sources citing figures from the American Petroleum Institute (API). Official data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) is due today at 10:30h ET.

Investors are also watching trade negotiations ahead of US President Donald Trump's tariff deadline of July 9. Trump on Tuesday said he is not thinking of extending the deadline.

A trade deal with India was very close, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday. Trump also said the US will possibly have a deal with India, but he added that he doubted there would be a deal with Japan.

Bessent also warned countries could be notified of sharply higher tariffs, despite good-faith negotiations as the July 9 deadline approaches, when tariff rates are scheduled to revert from a temporary 10 per cent level to the ones Trump announced on April 2 and then suspended.

The European Union wants immediate relief from tariffs in key sectors as part of any trade deal with the US, EU diplomats told Reuters. (Reuters)

US Senate passes Trump's sweeping tax-and spending bill, setting up House battle

US Senate Republicans passed President Donald Trump's massive tax-andspending bill on Tuesday by the narrowest of margins, advancing a package that would slash taxes, reduce social safety net programmes and boost military and immigration enforcement spending while adding US$3.3 trillion to the national debt.

The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives for possible final approval, though a handful of Republicans there have already voiced opposition to some of the Senate provisions. Trump wants to sign it into law by the July 4 Independence Day holiday, and House Speaker Mike Johnson

said in a statement that he aimed to meet that deadline.

The measure would extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts, give new tax breaks for income from tips and overtime pay and increase spending on the military and immigration enforcement. It also would cut about US$930 billion of spending on the Medicaid health programme and food aid for low-income Americans and repeal many of former Democratic President Joe Biden's green-energy incentives.

The legislation, which has exposed Republican divides over the nation's fast-growing US$36.2 trillion debt, would raise the federal Government's self-imposed debt ceiling by US$5 trillion.

Congress must raise the cap in the coming months or risk a devastating default.

The Senate passed the measure in a 51-50 vote with Vice President JD Vance breaking a tie after three

Venezuelan lawmakers declare UN human rights chief persona non grata

Venezuela’s National Assembly has voted to declare United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk persona non grata after he publicly criticised the Government’s human rights violations.

The unanimous Tuesday declaration follows comments from Turk last week before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, condemning what he said were arbitrary detentions and forced disappearances.

In remarks before the declaration, Assembly

President Jorge Rodriguez accused Turk of turning a “blind eye” to other rights abuses, such as the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants living in the United States to a detention facility in El Salvador.

However, Turk released a statement expressing concern over those deportations in May, while his remarks about alleged abuses in Venezuela come at a time when numerous human rights organisations have condemned the Venezuelan authorities’ crackdown on political opposition after a contested election last July.

Trump urges Hamas to accept 'final proposal' for 60day Gaza ceasefire

US President Donald Trump urged Iranbacked Hamas militants on Tuesday to agree to what he called a "final proposal" for a 60-day ceasefire with Israel in Gaza that will be delivered by mediating officials from Qatar and Egypt.

In a social media post, Trump said his representatives had a "long and productive" meeting with Israeli officials about Gaza.

He did not identify his representatives, but

US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance had been due to meet Ron Dermer, a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump said Israel has agreed to the conditions to finalise a 60-day ceasefire, "during which time we will work with all parties to end the War". He said representatives for Qatar and Egypt will deliver "this final proposal" to Hamas.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Mercosur, EFTA blocs finalise free-trade agreement –

outh American bloc

SMercosur has concluded talks for a freetrade agreement with a group of four European nations known as European Free Trade Association (EFTA), sources from the Brazilian Government said on Tuesday.

An announcement is expected today during a Mercosur summit in Buenos Aires, the sources said. Despite the agreement in principle, the deal would still lack internal approvals from the countries involved to come into effect.

EFTA and Argentina, which currently hold the Mercosur presidency, did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside normal business hours.

Talks on an agreement between the EFTA group of four

sources

non-EU nations – Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein – and Mercosur, which includes Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia, have been happening since 2017.

An agreement was announced in 2019, but it did not advance amid disagreements on environmental issues.

Mercosur and the European Union reached an agreement for a free trade deal last year, which has faced pushback from countries such as France and which also lacks approval by member nations.

One of the sources said that, unlike the MercosurEU agreement, no resistance for a deal is expected from countries of the EFTA group.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

People pass by the National Debt Clock in New York City, US, July 1, 2025 (Reuters/Brendan McDermid photo)

Republicans – Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky – joined all 47 Democrats in voting against the bill.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk delivers a speech at the opening of the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, on February 24, 2025 (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP photo)

(Excerpt from Reuters)

SUDOKU

Proceed with caution. Someone will be easily offended if you ask too many questions or make demands. Do your own thing, participate in something intellectually stimulating and let your success shine through.

Engage in learning, expanding your interests and fine-tuning your skills. You have plenty to gain if you participate in a group activity that offers physical health benefits.

Make changes at home that improve your life. Discuss issues you have with anyone who is causing you concern or grief. Face situations headon instead of letting your stress consume you.

Finish what you start. You must build momentum and maintain a solid grip on your goals before you face opposition. Actions speak louder than words.

Rethink what you want and how to make it happen. Put pressure on any person or situation that stands between you and your goal. A partnership will turn out better than anticipated.

Slow down, give yourself a chance to think and formulate the best path forward. Refuse to let anger set in when dignity and grace are necessary. Life is too short to let upset or people consume your mind and time.

Overreacting is the enemy. Talking with someone you trust to give you an honest opinion will help you figure out how to handle stressful emotional scenarios.

The lessons of experience will push you in the right direction. Displaying an open mind will be necessary, but don't feel obligated to donate cash.

Spend only what you can afford. Concentrate on bringing in more cash and investing in your future. Maintaining a secure lifestyle will require additional funds.

Avoid making the same mistake twice. Whether you are dealing with money, love or health, choose the route that has the best track record. A change within will encourage those you love to follow suit.

It's up to you to bring about change and to go after what you want. Be the one to start a conversation or take a step. Share your interests and find out where you stand.

Let your heart lead the way, and opportunities will unfold. An energetic attitude will help you pursue happiness and manifest the life you want to live. Physical improvements will exceed your expectations.

Bosch's The first ball of the day set the tone.

Corbin Bosch wished Zimbabwe good morning by cramping Nick Welch with a sharp short delivery, which he ended up fending to short leg. That left Bosch on a hat-trick after he had had Takudzwanashe Kaitano caught at third slip off what had turned out to be the last ball of the third day. Sean Williams avoided the hattrick, but soon after, a collapse of 4 for 18 left little scope for Zimbabwe to take the game deep after South Africa had set them 537 to win. The visitors won by 328 runs soon after lunch.

From 82 for 6, Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine and Wellington Masakadza doubled the total in a fighting seventh-wicket partnership of 83. South Africa's frus-

tration lasted for just over an hour, as a superb diving catch by Tony de Zorzi –again at short leg – helped Bosch break the stand. Ervine departed on 49 to give Bosch his fourth wicket, and with that, ended South Africa's irritation.

Bosch bagged his maiden Test five-for when, four overs later, he had Vincent Masekesa chopping on. That added to the milestone of scoring his first Test hundred with the bat on the first day and made Bosch the fifth South African to achieve that double in a Test. Eventually, his and Wiaan Mulder's all-round heroics, coupled with debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius' 153 on day one, confined Zimbabwe to their heaviest Test defeat in terms of runs.

But apart from that

union between Ervine and Masakadza, Zimbabwe provided brief spells of entertainment on the fourth day. Although Williams arrived to bat in a tricky situation, he didn't hesitate in attacking the bowlers. He had four boundaries off his first eight balls and fell for 26 off 18 balls when, in the 25th over, he ended up top-edging a short ball from Bosch to Kyle Verreynne.

Codi Yusuf replaced Bosch in the 28th over and had Prince Masvaure caught at second slip for 12. Yusuf's fun continued when Wessly Madhevere nicked to Verreynne in the 30th over, and Tafadzwa Tsiga found fourth slip in the 32nd. But Ervine and Masakadza blunted all that with a flurry of boundaries.

maiden five-for

helps SA complete monster win over Zimbabwe

Ervine had already swept, reverse swept and chipped Keshav Maharaj for boundaries, and Masakadza didn't shy away from playing his shots either. When on 10, Mulder had Masakadza dropped by Verreynne, and the life Masakadza got helped the stand grow. The partnership passed fifty in the 33rd over when Ervine reverse swept Maharaj past slip, as the left-arm spinner looked short of ideas both as a bowler and captain.

After lunch, when Masakadza punched Bosch for four past gully to raise his maiden Test fifty –his previous highest Test score was 17 – there seemed to be no end to South Africa's misery. But when Bosch had Ervine caught by de Zorzi, that started another collapse. Masekesa and Masakadza followed, but there was more annoyance in store for South Africa.

Blessing Muzarabani, Zimbabwe's No. 10, went 4, 4, 6 off parttime leg-spinner Dewald Brevis in the 64th over and then smashed a six and four each off Maharaj in the 66th. Finally, two overs

SCOREBOARD

South Africa 2nd Innings

Matthew Breetzke c Madhevere

b Chivanga 1

Tony de Zorzi c Williams

b Chivanga 31

Wiaan Mulder c Kaitano

b Madhevere 147

David Bedingham c Williams

b Masakadza 35

Lhuan-dre Pretorius

b Masekesa 4

Dewald Brevis

b Masekesa 3

Kyle Verreynne † c Ervine

b Masakadza 36

Corbin Bosch

b Masakadza 36

Keshav Maharaj (c)

b Masakadza 51

Codi Yusuf not out 8

Kwena Maphaka

b Muzarabani 8

Extras (lb 5, nb 2, w 2) 9

Total 82.5 Ov

(RR: 4.45, 341 Mins) 369

Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Matthew Breetzke, 1.2 ov), 2-64 (Tony de Zorzi, 18.1 ov), 3-136 (David Bedingham, 32.1 ov), 4-141 (Lhuandre Pretorius, 33.5 ov), 5-155 (Dewald Brevis, 37.1 ov), 6-259 (Wiaan Mulder, 58.6 ov), 7-259 (Kyle Verreynne, 59.3 ov), 8-351 (Corbin Bosch, 77.4 ov), 9-352 (Keshav Maharaj, 79.1 ov), 10369 (Kwena Maphaka, 82.5 ov)

Bowling O-M-R-W

Blessing Muzarabani 11.5-1-38-1

Tanaka Chivanga 16-0-76-2

Wellington Masakadza 22-0-98-4

Wessly Madhevere 10-1-35-1 Vincent Masekesa 23-1-117-2

later, Brevis had his first Test wicket when Tanaka Chivanga chipped down the pitch and missed a ball out-

side leg and was stumped. South Africa now has a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. (ESPNcricinfo)

Corbin Bosch becomes the first South African player to take a hundred & fivewicket haul in a Test after 23 years

Wellington Masakadza and Craig Ervine put up a half-century stand

The Proteas secure a comprehensive victory against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo

National U19 team off to Rising Stars tournament

On Monday morning, 14 vibrant, talented cricketers, a part of Guyana’s Under19 squad, departed local shores for St. Kitts & Nevis, where they will compete in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Regional Under19 Tournament.

Captained by Jonathan Van Lange, with Romario Ramdeholl serving as his deputy, the team features a mix of rising allrounders and bowlers. Among them are Parmeshwar Ram and Shamar Apple, both fresh from the U15 ranks, mak-

ing a bold leap as their talent shines through junior levels.

The squad also includes Sachin Balgobin, Romeo Deonarine, Nityanand Mathura, Bruce Vincent, and Micah Amsterdam, alongside other top prospects.

Overseeing their preparation is Head Coach Garvin Nedd, backed by Manager Nazeer Mohammed.

Guyana will open their campaign tomorrow, Thursday, July 3, against Barbados at Elquemedo

Willett Park in Nevis. Their remaining confirmed fixtures include matches against the USA, Jamaica, the Windward Islands, and Trinidad & Tobago, all played in a round-robin format before potential playoff matches on July 22.

The team has had a packed build-up, including inter-county trials and two weekend camps in Essequibo. Now, with the journey underway, their sights are firmly set on regional glory.

Guyana last won the tournament in 2018.

Gauff stunned in first round on day of upsets

World number two Gauff knocked out in first round of Wimbledon

French Open champion Coco Gauff, a contender for the Wimbledon title, was stunned in the first round as three of the top seeds fell on a day of shocks at the All England Club.

The American second

Yastremska a rare opportunity against the world number two, and she grasped it with both hands to reach the second round.

The shock result follows first-round exits for fellow top-five seeds Jessica Pegula

doping suspension this year

seed was beaten 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 by Ukraine's world number 42 Daryana Yastremska on a packed Court One under the roof.

Gauff, 21, was predicted to go far at SW19 following her triumph at Roland Garros less than a month ago.

But a performance strewn with double faults and unforced errors handed

and Zheng Qinwen on day two at the Championships.

American third seed Pegula lost 6-2, 6-3 to Italy's world number 116, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, while Olympic champion Zheng went down 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 to Katerina Siniakova.

World number one Jannik Sinner cruised into the second round at Wimbledon, but third seed Alexander Zverev

was stunned by Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech.

Contesting his first Grand Slam match since losing one of the all-time great French Open finals to Carlos Alcaraz last month, the top Italian seed lost just seven games in a dominant straight-set win over fellow Italian Luca Nardi.

The 23-year-old, a threetime major winner, comprehensively outclassed his 95th-ranked opponent in a 6-4 6-3 6-0 victory on Court One.

After completing an efficient victory in one hour and 48 minutes on the UK's hottest day of the year, Sinner will face Australian Aleksandar Vukic next.

"New tournament, new chances, new challenges," Sinner said, reflecting on his French Open loss.

"You have one opponent at a time, so obviously I try to keep going and enjoy playing here.

"If you don't enjoy playing on these courts, I don't know where you will enjoy [it]. I'm very happy to be here, and let's see what is coming."

In a match that finished almost 24 hours after it started, suspended at one set apiece late on Monday night, Zverev came up short against the inspired Rinderknech in five sets.

Zverev twice served to stay in the match in the fourth set and recovered from a 4-1 deficit in the tiebreak to force a decider.

But Rinderknech, the world number 72, held his nerve after securing an early break in the fifth to win 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (8-10), 6-3, 6-7 (57), 6-4 and achieve his first career victory over a top-five player.

Zverev, whose wait for a first major title goes on, is the fourth top-10 seed to exit the men's draw in the first two days at the All England Club, after seventh seed Lorenzo Musetti lost earlier on Tuesday. (BBC Sports)

Alfred, Thompson headline a number of Caribbean stars set to ignite track at Prefontaine Classic on July 5

Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred and Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson headline a number of Caribbean stars set to ignite Eugene, Oregon’s Hayward Field track at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic set for July 5.

Alfred, the reigning Olympic champion, will be in an absolutely loaded field in the women’s 100m, including American reigning world champion Sha'Carri Richardson.

Newly crowned Jamaican national champion Tina Clayton, as well as her twin sister Tia, will also be in the line-up.

The field is completed by Great Britain’s Dina AsherSmith, the USA’s Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Twanisha Terry, Nigeria's Favour Ofili and the Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta LouSmith.

Thompson, who recently claimed his second Jamaican title with a personal best and world-leading 9.75, headlines the field in the men’s equivalent that also includes countryman Ackeem Blake, who also ran a personal best 9.88 to finish third at the

National Championships.

2019 World champion Christian Coleman, Trayvon Bromell, Jeremiah Azu, Brandon Hicklin, Zharnel Hughes, Lachlan Kennedy and Bayanda Walaza complete the line-up.

The men’s 200m will see Jamaica’s two-time national champion Bryan Levell and Trinidad & Tobago’s Jereem Richards trying to knock off the likes of reigning Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo and current world leader and two-time Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek.

Grenadian World and Olympic champion Kirani James will line up in the men’s one-lap event, while runner-up at the Jamaican championships, Dejanea Oakley, will compete in the women’s equivalent.

Jamaica’s Assinie Wilson and Malik James-King, who took second and third at the National Championships, will compete in the men’s 400m hurdles, while the women’s sprint hurdles will include Jamaica’s two-time

In

On the women’s side,

national

will participate in the long jump. (Sportsmax)

Guyana’s Male Under-19 Cricket team prior to their departure on Monday

world champion Danielle Williams and world indoor 60m hurdles bronze medallist Ackera Nugent.

the field, Jamaican Olympic champion Roje Stona and newly crowned national champion Ralford Mullings will both compete in the men’s discus, while Olympic bronze medallist Rajindra Campbell will do battle in the shot put.

three-time

champion Ackelia Smith

Kishane Thompson

Julien Alfred Jannik Sinner has held the top ranking for 12 months, despite serving a three-month

Scores of chess players from around the Caribbean Region have converged in the Land of Many Waters for the second edition of the CARICOM Chess Classic, which will unfold over the course of this week.

The tournament is the collaborative effort of the CARICOM Secretariat and the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), which saw its inaugural hosting last year.

Teams from Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname,

CARICOM Chess Classic underway

Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, St Lucia and the Cayman Islands, amongst others, will be competing in the Open and Under 16 categories of the tournament.

Relating the tournament’s conception story was GCF President Anand Raghunauth, who also detailed its growth over the past year.

“We had to strategise; we noticed there was a push for sport tourism. In 2023, Grand Master Nigel Shortt visited Guyana, and he sat down with our

GBF

and GYMMAF President endorses President Irfaan Ali for 2nd term

…Michael Singh cites transformative impact on sports

Michael Singh, president of both the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) and the Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Federation (GYMMAF), has publicly endorsed His Excellency President Mohamed Irfaan Ali for a second term as Head of State, highlighting the President’s visionary leadership and unprecedented investment in sports development as key reasons for his support.

With national elections set for September 1, Singh believes that Guyana’s sporting future, particularly in basketball and mixed martial arts, will benefit immensely from another term under President Ali’s stewardship.

“Over the past five years, we’ve witnessed a level of government support for sports that is truly historic,” Singh stated. “President Ali has not only built infrastructure but has built hope. His administration’s investment has created a foundation for sustainable growth across multiple disciplines.”

Since taking office in 2020, President Ali’s government has allocated a staggering G$21.61 billion toward sports development, an unmatched level of funding in the country’s history.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport saw its budget grow from $805.3 million in 2020 to a record $8 billion in 2025. Singh noted that such investment reflects a deep understanding of sport’s power to unify communities, empower youth, and elevate Guyana’s international presence.

As a long-serving head of the GBF, Singh praised the

direct impact of government backing on basketball’s resur gence in Guyana.

“Under President Ali, we’ve seen new courts built and old ones brought back to life across the country. That kind of in frastructure sets the stage for real grassroots and national development,” Singh said.

He added that the na tional basketball teams have received full government funding to participate in international competitions, which was practically non-existent before 2020.

In addition, Singh spot lighted the government-spon sored One Guyana Basketball League, describing it as a landmark achievement for the sport.

Looking forward, Singh said the GBF is aiming to secure three new indoor facilities to support youth academies and club-level competitions, two mini-buses to provide transportation for school, academy, and senior players across regions, comprehensive medical insurance for players and referees, and a professional basketball league modelled after the CPL, with salary caps designed to attract top-tier regional talent.

Meanwhile, although newly elected as president of the GYMMAF, Singh is already laying out ambitious plans for the sport’s growth, putting forward plans he believes can be realised with continued support from the Ali administration.

“MMA in Guyana is on the cusp of a breakout,” Singh said. “With government backing, we can equip gyms for academy-to-senior-pro-level train-

ing, implement healthcare and insurance coverage, and provide recovery amenities like cold plunge pools and saunas.”

For Singh, endorsing President Ali is about continuity and vision.

“This election is not just about politics; it’s about progress. And in President Ali, we have a leader who sees sport not as a pastime but as a pillar of national development,” he said.

According to Singh, both the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) are closely monitoring Guyana’s development across various sectors and are expected to play a significant role in advancing the country’s sports landscape.

With basketball and MMA poised for continued growth, Singh believes that a second term for President Ali would further cement Guyana’s rise as a sporting nation to watch.

[then] president; from that conversation was born a tournament that was sitting to be developed for over ten years, that is the CARICOM Classic. That tournament was visualised by Shiv Nandalall, our director way back; however, nobody wanted to execute it, and the Guyana Chess Federation took it upon themselves to grow that idea and execute that project,” Raghunauth related to the gathering.

He went on to divulge, “We have included and expanded this year with the under-16s. We’ve had 9 to 10 incoming persons to participate in our under-16open tournament. So, the CARICOM tournament is now growing.”

During the event’s prestigious opening cer-

emony on Monday evening at the Pegasus Suites in Georgetown, Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. brought the feature remarks, speaking to the prestige of collaborating with CARICOM whilst also pledging his commitment to the future of the tournament.

Ramson expressed, “I know how important it is to have this particular tournament. Not just the fact that you’re hosting a tournament, but it’s the CARICOM Classic. I remember last year, when we had our first engagement, just to discuss this, and I was very pleased that CARICOM had given its seal of approval. In fact, it was one of the seminal events that was happening during that pe-

riod [CARICOM’s 50th Anniversary celebrations], which shows the scope as well as the ability to think laterally about the role that CARICOM plays, not just about regional integration but also the importance of human development.”

The sport minister further vowed, “And I would like to make a commitment too, that this CARICOM Classic, we are happy to be the host of the CARICOM Classic for as long as the federation would like to maintain hosting this tournament here in Guyana.”

The CARICOM Chess Classic moved off today and will run until Sunday, July 6th. Trinidad and Tobago won the inaugural edition of the tournament, with Guyana finishing a close second.

Chung to represent Archery Guyana at Junior Pan Am Games

Archery Guyana on Tuesday announced that they have officially accepted the position allocated to Guyana by the Confederación Panamericana de Tiro con Arco (World Archery Americas) for participation in the Recurve Men Category at the Pan American Junior Games to be held in Asuncion, Paraguay.

This exciting opportunity marks Guyana's first-ever participation in the Junior Pan American Games for archery, a historic milestone for our Federation and country.

Young athlete Lucas Chung, together with Assistant National Coach Jeewanram Persaud, will represent Guyana at the games and as such, will continue dedicated training in preparation for this prestigious event.

On behalf of the Federation, President Vidushi PersaudMcKinnon expressed, “This is an incredible moment for Archery Guyana. To be represented on such a significant international

stage for the first time at the Junior Pan American level is a testament to the hard work and vision of our entire team over the years. We are immensely proud of Lucas and Coach Jeewanram and stand in full support of their journey to Asuncion. We’ve come a long way.... and this is only the beginning!”

Archery Guyana noted through a missive,

“We extend our sincere appreciation to World Archery Americas and the Executive Committee of the Guyana Olympic Association for their support in making this possible. Let us rally behind our athlete as he proudly carries our flag to Paraguay!”

Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr

A section of the CARICOM Chess Classic opening ceremony

GCF President Anand Raghunauth

Junior Pan Am Games-bound athlete Lucas Chung and Archery Guyana President Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon shared a moment together at the seawall to commemorate Olympic Day 2025

GYMMAF & GBF President Michael Singh

bundle on sale now

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unique celebration of Caribbean cricket and entertainment. Get your tickets early and experience the best of both leagues – all in one unforgettable bundle. The Camp Street box office will be open from 08:30h-16:30h (8:30am to 4:30pm) Monday to Friday and 09:00h-13:00h (9:00am to 1:00pm) on Saturday.