Guyana to host CPL final again next year, Barbados to host in 2026
Members of the Diplomatic Corps, President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, along with senior Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) executives, joined President Dr Irfaan Ali in the red stand at the electrifying Guyana National Stadium, Providence, to witness
between GAW and the Barbados Royals. With an intense atmosphere and roaring fans, GAW emerged victorious,
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Saturday, October 5 –03:45h-05:15h and Saturday, October 5 – 04:30h-06:00h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Saturday, October 5 –17:00h-18:30h and Saturday, October 5 – 05:20h-06:50h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Sunshine is expected during the day, interspersed with light to thundery showers in the morning and afternoon hours. Clear to partly cloudy skies, along with light to thundery showers, are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East North-Easterly to Southerly between 0.89 metre and 2.23 metres.
High Tide: 17:18h reaching a maximum height of 2.72 metres.
Low Tide: 10:57h and 23:13h reaching minimum heights of 0.57 metre and 0.46 metre.
“It’s utterly disgusting”
– Jagdeo on
fishing licence woes with
…says system opaque
Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has expressed his dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Surinamese Government is handling the age-old fishing licence issue with Guyana.
Following a high-level meeting in Guyana during August 2021 between Presidents Dr. Irfaan Ali and President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the Surinamese Government had committed to issue 150 fisherfolk here with licences starting from January 2022 to operate in Suriname’s territorial waters. But to date, these licences are yet to be issued despite repeated efforts by Guyanese authorities to get this matter resolved.
“It’s utterly disgusting,” VP Jagdeo declared when he was asked for an update on the matter during his weekly press conference on Thursday.
According to the Vice President, who had in the past upset Surinamese officials with his strong condemnation, the system in the Dutch nation is very opaque.
“It’s a very opaque system and the Surinamese Government has not been courageous enough to address it in a manner that would be consistent with good neighbourliness,” Jagdeo stated.
Guyanese fishermen operate from the Corentyne Coast and have to use the Corentyne River to get access to the Atlantic where they get most of their catch. The Corentyne River is Surinamese territory. Over recent years, however, with the failure of the Suriname Government to uphold its pledge, Guyanese fisherfolk are being exploited and made to pay exorbitant fees to rent licences that are issued to Surinamese businessmen in order to operate in the border river.
Back in February, on the sidelines of the CARICOM Heads of Government Conference held in Georgetown, President Santokhi assured that this issue was on the agenda for dialogue between the two countries. In fact, he had noted that President Ali was scheduled to visit Paramaribo later this year and it would be a priority topic.
Asked by Guyana Times whether there could be a resolution this year, the Surinamese leader had explained that there were some legal issues in his country that could require parliamentary amendments or a new agreement between the two countries. Nevertheless, he reassured that a decision in the best interest of both countries would be taken.
“It is on agenda, let us look at what the views are [when President Ali vis-
it Paramaribo]. You have to take into consideration that this case was thoroughly examined by both sides and one of the issues is that there are some legal implications. But we are leaders who solve things. If things need to be solved in the parliament, if things need to be solved in agreement, if things need to be solved within the spirit of CARICOM Treaty, we have to do it but we are not running away from our responsibility to take a proper decision… The question is on the agenda and we’re looking for the best solution in the interest of both countries,” President Santokhi had stated.
Back in March 2023, operators in the local fishing industry along the Corentyne had called on the Guyana Government to apply more pressure on its Surinamese counterpart to resolve the fishing licences issue.
Authorities in Nickerie, Suriname, only issue licences to business persons in the Dutch-speaking country, who must own a boat and have been paying taxes in that country. Those licensed persons, in turn, rent the permits to Guyanese fisherfolk at an additional 200 per cent markup on the already 500 per cent they had been demanding.
Licences are issued by Surinamese authorities to fish in its waters for SR$2500 which is approximately US$70. In Nickerie, some Surinamese secure dozens of licences, which are then rented to Guyanese for usually US$3000 annually, but they increased this fee last year to as much as US$5000.
In March last year, it was reported that about 250 licences are being rented – an increase from 150. In light of this growing demand by local fisherfolk, the Surinamese licence holders have been demanding between US$4000 and US$6000 in rental fees for the permit document.
Moreover, Guyanese fisherfolk had complained that this high demand locally has led to much corruption with some licences are being rented to two persons.
President Ali had previously expressed that his government was not happy with the way Guyanese fisherfolk are currently treated.
Fisherfolk previously explained to Guyana Times that a 1980 agreement between the two countries stated that the Dutch-speaking country must issue 50 licences directly to Guyanese fisherfolk, but this was stopped in 2003. However, Suriname has argued that under its Constitution, it cannot license non-nationals to operate in its waters.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha had also bemoaned that the impasse
Suriname
on the issuance of the fishing licences still exists, despite a number of bilateral talks on the matter between Guyana and Suriname. This is after he had submitted, since December 2020, a list of Guyanese fishermen who require licences to operate in Surinamese waters. That list was handed over to Surinamese Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Prahlad Sewdien, who had acknowledged receipt of the document and assured Mustapha that the fishing licences would be issued from January 1, 2021.
Given that stalemate, the agriculture minister had left the matter to his Cabinet colleague – Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd, to deal with the matter through diplomatic channels.
But in September 2022, the Guyana Government said efforts at a diplomatic resolution had so far failed.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry had released a statement recounting the sequence of events from the time it got involved in attempting to resolve the fishing licence impasse between Suriname and Guyana.
According to the Ministry, despite Suriname agreeing since 2020 to grant the licences, this did not materialise.
The Ministry went on to note that Guyana had complied with all the requirements Suriname set out for granting the licences, adding that it was evident that diplomacy has so far failed at getting the licences for
the fishermen to fish without being harassed.
In fact, Minister Todd had met his Surinamese counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation of Suriname, Albert Ramdin, in April 2023 during which the fishing licence issue was among the issues discussed.
Later that same month, it was reported by a Surinamese news outlet, United News, that Guyana had imposed a trade embargo on agricultural products from the Dutch-speaking nation. That allegation was levied against Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who was accused by the Association of Surinamese Manufacturers of retaliating against the non-issuance of the fishing licences.
However, VP Jagdeo had said while he was unaware of any such embargo on Surinamese products, he noted that Guyana has phytosanitary standards to maintain.
Nevertheless, with the establishment of the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce (SGCC), which was inaugurated by President Santokhi in Georgetown in February this year, stakeholders in the local fishing industry are now hoping for “affirmative action on the elusive fishing licences.”
“It would be a hallmark achievement for the SGCC, were this to happen,” one letter writer penned in a February 2024 letter to the editor that was published in Guyana Times (G8)
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo
Editor: Tusika Martin
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Rising tide of cancer in Guyana
As efforts continue each year to raise awareness about cancer, the reality facing Guyana today is the steady increase in cancer cases, particularly breast, cervical and prostate cancer. Recent data from the Health Ministry paint an unpleasant picture, underscoring the urgent need for more aggressive interventions and sustained societal support. At the launch of Pinktober 2024, hosted by One Communications, Director for Non-communicable Diseases, Dr Lachmie Lall, revealed that cancer rates have been steadily climbing, with breast cancer leading the charge.
The numbers are sobering: 123 breast cancer cases were recorded in 2020, rising to 186 by 2022. Prostate cancer is not far behind, with a similar upward trend reaching 129 cases in 2022. Cervical cancer, too, is on the rise. These figures indicate that Guyana is in the grip of a growing cancer epidemic that shows no signs of slowing down.
While the statistics are concerning, they also highlight a critical opportunity: early detection. In many cases, timely screening can be the difference between life and death. The Health Ministry has been working to improve access to screening and treatment, equipping more regional hospitals with mammogram services and expanding the availability of critical cancer medications. In 2024, four new mammogram machines were acquired and installed at hospitals in regions previously lacking these essential diagnostic tools. This is a significant step forward, but it is only one part of the solution.
Guyana’s battle against cancer, however, is hampered by misconceptions. Dr Lall highlighted a common but dangerous belief among many women, who attribute lumps in their breasts to mere gas. This mindset delays testing and, ultimately, treatment. Such misconceptions must be dispelled through robust public awareness campaigns, a task that health authorities and corporate partners like One Communications have embraced.
Corporate engagement in the fight against cancer is not merely commendable; it is essential. Director of Brand and Voice at One Communications, Ian Lewis, emphasized the importance of corporate partnerships in this fight. Under the theme “Many Hearts, One Fight,” Pinktober has mobilised funds, awareness, and treatment initiatives since 2017, becoming one of the company’s most significant corporate social responsibility efforts. Corporate support adds vital resources to the Government’s ongoing efforts, ensuring that awareness, screenings and treatment reach as many people as possible.
Nevertheless, there is still much more to be done. Although there has been progress in procuring equipment and expanding cancer care infrastructure, early detection remains the most effective tool in combatting this disease. Guyana must build on these efforts by promoting regular screenings, particularly among high-risk groups, and continuing to make cancer care accessible across the country. Expanding education about cancer symptoms, particularly dispelling harmful misconceptions, would also be crucial in this fight.
As the cases of breast, cervical, and prostate cancer increase, the urgency for continued action cannot be overstated. Guyana's fight against cancer is not just the responsibility of the Health Ministry; it is a national issue that requires collaboration across all sectors of society.
In addition to screening and treatment, it is crucial to address the underlying factors contributing to the increase in cancer cases in Guyana. Lifestyle choices such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, and smoking are significant risk factors that must be tackled through public health campaigns. Education plays a role in promoting healthier living, especially in rural and underserved communities, where access to healthcare is limited and awareness of cancer prevention is low.
The road ahead is long, but with early detection, enhanced facilities, and corporate partnerships driving awareness and funding, Guyana can take significant strides towards reducing its cancer burden.
Expanding inclusivity seems to be a way forward
Dear Editor,
A conversation on shared governance or executive power sharing must be placed within its proper context. It is important therefore to trace the evolution of this idea within the PPP and the PNC in order to garner better insights into this subject.
The PPP’s record on power sharing is aptly described by Dr Cheddi Jagan in his book “West on Trial” as well as in Guyana media reports. The PNC’s historical record in this regard has not been encouraging. It is from such a historical perspective that one could deduce contemporary approaches and perceptions towards power sharing.
The PNCR and other opposition parties do not like when an analysis of politics draws upon historical experience; they tend to debase or minimize such evidence. If they had had a glorious governance regime in the past 6 decades, they would have embraced history. Suffice it to say that History 101 teaches us that we cannot separate ourselves from our history, no more than we can separate ourselves from our shadows.
We turn to some significant moments in history during the past 6 decades. The PPP won the 1961 general elections under the new constitution by securing 20 of the 35 legislative seats. Being painfully aware of the cultural diversity and ethnic cleavages that existed, including the potential for violence, Dr Jagan recognized the need then to share power with the opposition in order to allay fears of ethnic insecurity and
social convulsions, among other things.
Accordingly, Dr Jagan formally invited Mr Forbes Burnham, in December 1962, to form a coalition government.
There were several exchanges on a coalition arrangement between Dr Jagan and Mr. Burnham, but those protracted talks did not yield any productive outcome.
On March 7, 1963, Mr Burnham appeared before the sub-committee of the UN Committee of 24 (UNC24) at UN Headquarters in New York. He attacked the firstpast-the-post voting system, claiming that it would create an “authoritarian regime through the legislative process.” He also insisted that the allocation of the Council of Ministers be equal (5-5) between the PPP and the PNC, with the PNC party to be allocated the Ministries of Finance and Home Affairs.
In keeping with his commitment to a coalition arrangement, Dr Jagan agreed that the two ministries be allocated to the PNC, but insisted that the PPP must have the Ministry of Defence. After consultation with his party, Dr Jagan then offered 5 of 11 ministries to the PNC, but Mr Burnham reneged on his support for a Commonwealth team to help solve the deadlock over coalition arrangement.
Still hopeful for a breakthrough, the PPP had Mr. CV Nunes, in April 1963, and then Mr. BH Benn appear before the sub-committee of the UNC24 to plead the PPP’s case for the type of gover-
nance, including coalition; but to no avail.
Consequently, both Mr Burnham and Dr Jagan were invited to appear before the UNC24, which was of “the view that coalition of the PPP and PNC was the best way forward.” The impasse, however, continued.
When Mr. Duncan Sandys visited Guyana in July 1963, the two sides met (July 18). No progress was made. Mr Sandys was asked to set a firm date for independence and the transfer of residual powers to Guyana. He proposed setting up a “National Government” involving all the parties, but that was rejected, as the PPP and PNC had major ideological differences with the UF.
When the two sides met subsequently, Mr Burnham called for the revocation of the emergency order that was in place to preserve price controls, and for an adequate supply of foodstuff and fuel, but Dr Jagan could not accede to that request. Accordingly, Mr. Burnham used that refusal as an excuse to discontinue talks on any coalition arrangement.
At the Lancaster House Constitutional Conference on November 22, 1963, Dr Jagan put forward proposals like lowering the voting age to 18, establishing several inclusive measures, and establishing parity in the Senate. Deadlock ensued. Dr Jagan agreed for Mr Sandys to break the deadlock. Mr Sandys rejected every proposal that Dr Jagan advanced, but he accepted and implemented Mr Burnham’s call for
Proportional Representation, and set a date for a fresh election in 1964. The election was set for December 7, 1964, and the PNC+UF coalition was declared the winner. The PPP became the opposition party. Though frustrated with Mr. Burnham’s intransigence, Dr Jagan persevered. In 1977, he embraced a proposal for a National Patriotic Front government, but that was thrown to the curb by the PNC, who held the reins of power until 1992. Leading up to the 1992 election, Dr Jagan again showed his passion for national unity when the PPP became integral to a movement of a Government of National Unity. That movement collapsed over the choice of a presidential candidate. The PPP decided to run for office alone but with a “civic” component established in 1992.
The story of the PPP fighting for coalition governance (power sharing) has been filled with opposition resistance, lack of trust, duplicity, subterfuge, and foreign intrigues. Once the PNC won state power, they lost whatever little passion they might have had for power sharing. Now that they are out of state power, they have revived Dr Jagan’s call for coalition or power sharing! Besides the crucial “trust” factor, differences in ideology and approaches to development between the PNCR and PPPC would make any coalition arrangement impracticable. Expanding inclusivity seems to be a way forward.
Sincerely, Dr Tara
Singh
President Dr Irfaan Ali and his two sons, Zaya and Ilan, at Jummah prayer on Friday (President Dr Irfaan Ali’s social media page)
Guyana will need over 6,000 workers for healthcare sector soon – Jagdeo
The country will soon need over 6000 persons to work in the local healthcare sector, according to Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo.
Speaking to reporters during a news conference on Thursday, he estimated that the country will need another 3000 persons to work in
the sector when the six new hospitals “come on stream by the first quarter to the second quarter of next year.”
“About 500 per hospital. That includes cleaners, porters, drivers, a whole range of people,” he explained.
Currently, new hospitals are being constructed at Lima, Region Two; De
Kinderen, Region Three; Diamond and Enmore, Region Four; Bath, Region Five and Skeldon, Region Six.
China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation, a Chinese State-owned enterprise referred to as Sinopharm, is rolling out this massive
project. Each hospital will span 65,000 square feet and equipped with 75 hospital beds, laboratories, accident and emergency units, modernised imaging capacities, operational surgical theatres and outpatient facilities. According to Jagdeo, additional job opportunities will become available in the
The Opposition needs to come up with a realistic campaign strategy
Dear Editor,
The Opposition are bereft of ideas, and are running scared, really scared. In that lost and decrepit state, they are nevertheless still hoping for a small niche to prove to the Guyanese public that they are a worthy alternative government option. They are hoping against hope to, in some way, change people's opinion about them and get a swing vote; but that is not happening, due to the deceitful way they have approached the electorate.
There is no coordinated plan in the Opposition, no meeting of the minds; all we hear is a series of double talking by a divided and misdirected Opposition. Who would listen and believe that garbled message is yet to be seen. There is a drought of ideas and sensible reasoning in the Opposition Camp, hence the root cause of their disarray.
For starters, the OneMan Party led by the dictator Norton is demanding that the Government consult them on any plans or projections for this nation. They would like Government to meet with them first before embarking on any developmental works here; and even when
projects are already in the making, they are asking the PPP/C Administration to conduct feasibility studies.
Those feasibility studies they are talking about are mere obstructionist theories meant to create situations of delay and uncertainty on Government projects. One such example is the Gas-toShore Project.
The Black People Party - he likes us to use the word Afrocentric (Because that is all they've become after the ouster of the Indians)- wants us to give every Guyanese US$5,000 each month.
Now, I do not know who Nigel Hughes is, or to whom he is selling that idea, but the point is: who is listening to him? Is anybody listening to this man? He believes that the lure of free money would be so enticing that it would cause us to rush over to the AFC Party. Well, Hughes is sadly mistaken; Guyanese are not easily fooled, sir.
Hughes forgets that he was ExxonMobil's attorney, in concert with his compatriot Raphael Trotman. These two were the main ‘authors and finishers’ behind the lopsided deal struck with the oil giant, so trying to wipe this off our memory is simply an asinine and
laughable attempt on his part. You cannot be so barefacedly presumptuous as to think that Guyanese would buy-in to that foolishness.
Meantime, their acolytes are evil and foreboding, just waiting for something bad to happen. What if an oil spill should occur? That would destroy the entire ecosystem in Guyana and this hemisphere. They are praying there would be an oil spill, so they can prey on the fears of the Guyanese people.
So, which is it? Do they want us to exploit our God-blessed wealth and be a prosperous country?
Or are we to be frightened by naysaying talk of the Opposition?
The One Guyana Team is light years ahead of this idiotic, lowdown-thinking campaign plan of the Opposition. We, as a nation, have moved on, and would not be daunted by the incoherent strategies of a confused Opposition. They have run out of ideas and plans, and are now running scared. I think they are mortified at the thought of how big a defeat they would experience next election.
Respectfully, Neil Adams
healthcare sector when other hospitals are opened.
He referenced the €149 million Paediatric and Maternal Hospital at Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and the US$161 million new hospital in New Amsterdam. He also spoke about the hospitals being constructed in the hinterland regions. These are in Lethem, Moruca, Kamarang and Kato.
Jagdeo said when other hospitals like those in
Bartica and Linden are fully refurbished, more workers will be needed to support the expanded range of services being offered to the public.
“We’re talking about another 3500,” he said. It is the government’s intention to transform the local healthcare industry into a world-class one. President Dr Irfaan Ali has said that by 2030, Guyana will offer healthcare services that are internationally recognised.
Joseph Jackman, a 35-year-old landscaper of Stevedore Housing Scheme in North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, has been placed on bail in the sum of $150,000 after his arraignment before Georgetown Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty on Tuesday on a charge of attempted murder.
Arrested on September 28 by ranks of the Criminal Investigation Department of the East La Penitence Police Station, he has been accused of attacking Rundell Dowding, and has been charged with attempting to commit murder contrary to section 103(c) of the Criminal Law
Joseph Jackman
(Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01. He was not required to plead to the charge, and has been placed on bail even as this matter has been adjourned to October 16.
Foundation
Create parabolic curves using straight lines
One of the easiest curves to create using curve stitching is a parabola. The straight lines do not actually create the curve, they merely approximate it.
Materials and tools
• Paper • Ruler
• Pencil or pen
Instructions
Create a parabola from lines and a right angle:
Draw a right angle and mark two lines of equal length at equal intervals. It should look like you are making a coordinate plane to graph an equation.
Draw a line from the farthest mark from the right angle on one line, to the closest mark to the right angle on the other line.
Now connect the 2nd farthest mark to the 2nd closest mark.
Continue connecting lines between the points as you step down one line and step up the other.
Here I've rotated the image 45 degrees so the parabola is oriented in the
The curve was pretty smooth looking with eight marks on each line, but can be made smoother by adding more marks. There are 32 in this picture.
If you want the parabola to continue, you can extend the lines both beyond the right angle.
If you want the parabola to continue getting steeper, you can extend the marks past the right angle and connect them up as shown below. Remember to count the right angle as a mark.
If you want a narrower parabola, you can follow the process above, but use an angle less than 90 degrees. The angle below is 45
degrees.
If you want a wider parabola, you can follow the process above, but use an angle greater than 90 degrees. The angle below is 120 degrees.
Creating parabolic sections inside polygons
Since the process of creating parabolic sections can be done with any angle, you can use angles that make polygons and use the process on all of the sides. Using the process on regular polygons where all of the angles and sides are the same results in pleasing figures. I constructed a regular triangle below, but the process would work for any regular polygon. You could just find an image of a regular polygon using google image search and use that.
Connect the sides of your regular polygon using lines as in the process above.
After all three sides have been connected.
The path that has been created by the straight lines actually follows the outline of a trefoil knot which was explored in a previous post on torus knots.
Creating star figures from parabolic sections:
If you use the lines that connect up the centre of a regular polygon to each of the sides, you get star figures made out of your parabolas. The image below used a pentagon, which has 5 central angles of 72 degrees.
This reminds me of a three dimensional version I made out of pencils.
Combine parabolic sections to make a work of art:
There are an infinite number of ways to combine these parabolic sections to create interesting figures. I am not a very good artist, but here are a few pieces I have made, plus some ideas for creating your own.
Embedding parabolic curves of smaller sizes can make an interesting self-similar fractal pattern.
Combing the polygons or star figures into tilings, regular tilings of the plane. This one uses star figures based off of the square. Note: It is much easier to use a computer to do this.
Here's one using triangles to tile the plane. Note the strong connections between triangles, circles, and hexagons that you can see in the image below. (Adapted from mathcraft.wonderhowto.com)
By Unknown
Beneath a sunlit, azure dome, Each seed finds Earth, its sacred home. With hope in heart and faith in hand, The sower walks across the land.
Into the furrows, deep and wide, Life’s mysteries quietly reside. With every toss, a future dream, In every grain, a hidden gleam.
For from the tiniest of sews, A mighty tree or flower grows. The dance of life begins anew, With every dawn and morning dew.
WORD SEARCH:
Ahead of 2025 elections
GECOM engages ABCEU nations for electoral support
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has initiated discussions with representatives from the US, British, Canadian, and European Union (ABCEU) missions in Guyana, regarding support for the upcoming 2025 General and Regional Elections.
Speaking with Guyana Times via a telephone interview on Friday, GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj, shared that the discussions aim to explore various forms of electoral assistance, including the potential deployment of observer delegations.
“We met with a delegation from the American, British, Canadian, and European Union missions to discuss providing support for the 2025 General and Regional Elections,” Gunraj stated.
“At this point, it’s a matter of considering what format the support will take. Traditionally, we have received assistance from them… at this point the discussion is to determine what format
the support will take. So after having this discussion with them, the next step for us to discuss is what we want and then we will make a formal request to them.”
In light of the challenges faced during the 2020 elections, GECOM’s meeting with the ABCEU countries marks a proactive step towards ensuring a transparent and credible electoral process come 2025.
The 2020 elections in Guyana were marred by significant controversy, with an attempt by the APNU/AFC to rig, drawn out court battles, and a protracted national recount that extended the electoral process over several months.
Following the March 2, 2020 elections results were not officially declared until the end of July, showing that the elections were won by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). President Dr. Irfaan Ali was finally sworn in on August 2, 2020.
During that tumultuous period, the ABCEU missions played a crucial role in advocating for free
2 remanded
and fair elections. Their observer teams monitored the electoral process closely, emphasising transparency and credibility.
In light of the past challenges, Gunraj expressed optimism about the upcoming discussions. The GECOM Commissioner indicated that following the meeting with the ABCEU representatives, GECOM would deliberate on the specific support required before formally reaching out to these missions.
At present, former GECOM, Chief Elections Officer, Keith
Lowenfield, Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers and former Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo along with former People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairperson Volda Lawrence; PNCR activist Carol SmithJoseph, and GECOM employees Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Babb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller are all before the court on election fraud related charges.
They are accused of a number of offences, including misconduct while holding public office, presenting falsified documentation, and planning to manipulate Guyana’s voters by presenting an inaccurate vote total.
These charges stemmed from attempts to rig the 2020 General and Regional Elections in favour of the then ruling A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition. These accused persons are all out on cash bail.
Shortly after GECOM had an-
nounced the election results on August 2, 2020, charges were brought against the individuals in question.
The election report of former CEO Lowenfield claimed that the APNU/AFC Coalition garnered 171,825 votes, while the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) gained 166,343 votes. How he arrived at those figures is still unknown, since the certified results from the recount exercise supervised by GECOM and a high-level team from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) pellucidly showed that the PPP/C won with 233,336 votes, while the coalition garnered 217,920.
The recount exercise also highlighted that Mingo had heavily inflated the figures in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) – Guyana’s largest voting district — in favour of the then-caretaker APNU/AFC regime.
In August 2021, GECOM voted to terminate the employment of Lowenfield, Myers, and Mingo.
for abduction of ‘‘Bricks’’, man still missing
Two men accused of abducting Joshua David, also known as ‘Bricks,’ were remanded to prison on Friday.
Alpha Poole and Osafo Peters appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday, where they were jointly charged under the Kidnapping Act, Chapter 10:05, for abducting Joshu David also known as ‘Bricks’. They were not required to enter a plea to the indictable charges. Both men were represented by attorneys Glenn Hanoman and Everton Singh-Lammy.
In a bail application, the lawyers argued that under the laws of Guyana, the offence is a bailable one and it does not attract a penalty of more than five years, and, there was no solid evidence connecting Poole and Peters to the September 26 abduction, noting that neither had been captured on ClosedCircuit Television (CCTV)
footage from the scene.
The lawyers also told the court that bulletins were issued for their clients one day after the alleged incident without the Police making any efforts to arrest them.
Hanoman also emphasised that the duo had willingly surrendered to the police, demonstrating their willingness to cooperate with the investigation.
However, the prosecution opposed bail, citing eyewitness accounts that allegedly placed the two men at the scene of the crime. The prosecutor also raised concerns that, if released, the men might flee or tamper with evidence, especially since the victim is now believed to be dead.
Magistrate McGusty granted the prosecution one week to produce evidence linking the men to the abduction and the case will be called again on October 11.
In the meantime, the duo was remanded. The charges come after a legal battle earlier in the day. Poole and Peters were initially released from police custody after Justice Nicole Pierre ruled that they had been unlawfully detained for more than 72 hours without being charged.
Attorney Singh-Lammy, who secured their release, warned that he would seek contempt charges if the police pursued charges after the High Court's ruling. Nevertheless, the men were brought to court and
charged hours later.
The abduction of Joshua David, captured on CCTV, occurred on Thursday evening when he was forced into a vehicle outside New Thriving Restaurant on Main Street, Georgetown.
The suspects, arriving on motorcycles and in a car, were last seen driving toward the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).
Police had also issued a wanted bulletin for Aaron Alleyne, known as “Cats”, from West Ruimveldt, Georgetown; Wayne Barker, 34, from Lot ‘G’ Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown and Dwayne Griffith, 26, from Lot 68 William Street, Kitty, Georgetown. A sixth suspect, 36-year-old Damion Barlow, was also wanted.
On Friday, police reported that all five men who were at large surrendered. (G9)
Wanted: Aaron Alleyne, known as “Cats”; Wayne Barker, 34, and Dwayne Griffith
Remanded: Alpha Poole and Osafo Peters
Missing: Joshua David, called “Bricks”
Damion Barlow
Building...
…people’s wealth
Ahome is probably the first substantial asset an average person is gonna own. After slavery, in a remarkable act of asserting their humanity, the newly- freed Africans pooled their hard-earned savings to buy entire abandoned plantations on which to build their own houses!! “Hard-earned” wasn’t just a figurative expression, cause no bank offered them loans or mortgages. “Hard-earned” is because they were PAID for work done only AFTER they’d completed their assigned tasks for FREE, as “apprentices”. Many of the indentured labourers who succeeded them on the plantations followed suit with home ownership as w wealth.
Well, in Guyana, there’s a big brouhaha – not a DEBATE – about who’s getting all the WEALTH in Guyana. Now, this wasn’t unexpected - cause after two centuries of fighting for scraps from the master’s table, when we hit that unexpected oil bonanza, $$$ signs appeared before everybody’s eyes!! Hadn’t we seen what oil $$$ could do for previously poverty-stricken backwater colonies?? Think the entire Arabian Peninsula!! Especially Abu Dhabi, with its skyscrapers literally scraping the skies and its artificial beaches giving our Caribbean ones more than a run for their money!!
But we gotta be real – if Rome wasn’t built in a day, neither was Abu Dhabi!! Their oil started flowing back in the late 1930s, but, with careful planning, they started transforming their country only in the sixties – over TWO DECADES LATER!! Now, this doesn’t mean we gotta wait two decades for our folks to share in our new wealth!! But to listen to the Opposition, after four years, we should all be tooling around in Lamborghinis!!
Even if your Eyewitness is exaggerating a tad, giving US$5000 ANNUALLY TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN GUYANA –all 230,000 of them – would amount to US$1,150,000,000 a year!! What’ll be left to develop the country??
Was that the way Abu Dhabi did it?? No siree Bob!! Since they were living in a desert, where there wasn’t even water – in fact they struck oil while looking for water!! –they FIRST built all the infrastructure that it takes to live like the rich folks up north!! Yep…the Europeans and the Yanks were THEIR models too!!
But isn’t this what the PPP government’s doing?? Just take a walk in your village or ward – ANY VILLAGE OR WARD- and you’ll stumble across some bridge, road, building or factory going up!! Not to mention mega bucks being pumped into agriculture etc to short circuit that dreaded Dutch Disease!!!
But the individual family hasn’t been left behind. The Government announced that a basic unit of wealth was made possible for over 30,000 families by giving them house lots - plus providing the wherewithal to construct houses!! With over 50% going to African-Guyanese and 7000 to women!! What discrimination??
…on arbitral award
Oct 3rd was the 125th anniversary of the international Arbitral Award that delineated our present boundary with Mad Maduro’s Venezuela. It was declared to be a “Full, Perfect and Final Settlement”, but due to the usual opportunism of Venezuelan politicians, they’ve resurrected their claims to annex our Essequibo. They insisted that Venezuelans weren’t on the Arbitral Commission – but avoided mentioning that it was they who chose to be represented by an American law firm that deployed the Venezuelan Severo Mallet-Prevost to the Arbitral panel!!!! The same Mallet-Prevost who posthumously claimed the Brits and Ruskies had colluded to screw the Venezuelans!! This was after THEY invoked the Yanks’ Monroe Doctrine in its first deployment against the European Powers – here Britain. It’s more than ironic that today they complain about the Yanks interfering in their affairs!
Anyhow, we’ve taken the controversy to the ICJ; but we know that Maduro will reject their decision if it’s for us –as is expected.
We gotta prepare to give the bullies a black eye!!
…with what we get
Former PM Sam Hinds’s comment that we might’ve had problems absorbing more funds from the bad deal the PNC signed with Exxon seems to have set off a firestorm of indignation!! He just wants us to quit squabbling!!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
VP warns foreign companies against naturalising managers to shut out Guyanese workers
…says “loopholes will be closed”
Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo is urging companies to desist from naturalising foreign workers to secure high-paying jobs meant to be passed on to Guyanese.
During his weekly press conference on Thursday, the Vice President said many companies have been engaging in this practice in an effort to adhere to the Local Content law.
“It’s our intention to close the loopholes that some foreign compa-
nies are utilising…because some of them have high-paying jobs for the management, the foreigners, [and] over time, they have to change the management,” he said.
“… we’ll start exposing them [because] they’re trying to get their foreign staff to claim that they’ve lived here for five years and to get them Guyanese nationality,” he added.
Jagdeo noted that this practice is being monitored and efforts will be made to have it stopped.
“I see some of the big companies
applying for that, let me say here now, they are not going to succeed. We have to give our people more opportunities and better paying jobs too,” he noted.
The Vice President said it is the government’s intention to strengthen the local Content Act of 2021 and expand opportunities for Guyanese.
Despite loopholes however, he said the law remains successful in its objective.
“This Act should be hailed as having the biggest impact,” he said
noting that by the end of 2024, local companies would earn a combined US$700 million.
“That is major change and we intend to create more room for our people providing they develop the capacity…Just imagine if we didn’t have the law… maybe US$50 million of the US$700 million would have come to Guyanese,” he told reporters.
Earlier this year, the Local Content Secretariat warned contractors, sub-contractors, and licens-
ees that they are required to ensure that Guyanese nationals employed to support their operations continuously benefit from training and capacity development. This provides opportunities for Guyanese to become skilled in the developing and new industries.
The Secretariat informed the foreign employers mainly in the energy sector, that it will be conducting audits to ensure compliance with the requirements outlined in the Act.
Police to beef up security for Mavado concert amid violence concerns
As anticipation builds for the Super Concert featuring Jamaican artiste Mavado at the National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) today, police have announced strict security measures aimed at protecting concertgoers from potential violence and ensuring the event remains safe.
Commander of Georgetown, Senior Superintendent Simon McBean, outlined a series of restrictions that will be enforced at the show, citing concerns over public safety following past incidents of violence at similar events.
The police have made it clear during a radio programme: no firearms or weapons of any kind will be allowed inside the concert
venue. Only authorised police officers on duty will be permitted to carry firearms. Security personnel and law enforcement officials will be the only individuals allowed to possess weapons during the event. Concertgoers who possess licensed firearms must lodge them at the Providence Police Station on
the EBD before attending the show and can retrieve them after the event.
“We want a clean show and we want people to go and enjoy themselves in a very safe environment,” he said.
In addition, attendees have been warned not to carry any items that could be deemed offensive or dangerous. Police also urged patrons to avoid wearing expensive jewelry, as concerns over potential thefts and robberies during large gatherings have been raised.
The heightened security measures come in the wake of previous high-profile incidents involving violence and weapons at concerts in Guyana. In 2008, Mavado, along with fellow Jamaican artist Bounty Killa, was banned from performing in
Guyana. The ban was imposed after Bounty Killa’s performance in the country led to gunfire, and authorities deemed both artists a security risk. The ban was later lifted. However, the then-government under President Bharrat Jagdeo cited their “track records” as a reason for the ban, making Mavado’s upcoming return a
notable development.
Also, Jamaican dancehall artist Skeng was banned from performing in Guyana in 2022 following an incident at the Baderation concert at the Guyana National Park, where patrons opened fire during his performance, causing widespread panic and injury. The concert descended into chaos after Skeng performed his hit song “Protocol,” which was linked to the glorification of gun violence. That incident led to tighter restrictions on the types of music that could be performed at large gatherings and increased scrutiny of dancehall artists.
Additionally, weapons such as knives and firearms have been found at various entertainment events in recent years, prompting calls for stricter measures
to safeguard attendees. In December 2021, several patrons were arrested after police found illegal firearms and other dangerous weapons at a popular music event in Georgetown. These instances have raised alarm bells for authorities, who want to ensure that the upcoming Mavado concert does not become a similar hotspot for criminal activity.
Mavado, a Jamaican dancehall icon known for his street anthems, is set to perform at the National Stadium that has drawn large crowds for other major concerts in the past. With heightened security and a zero-tolerance policy on weapons, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is hoping to avoid the violence and disruptions that have plagued previous events.
Commander of Georgetown, Senior Superintendent Simon McBean
Jamaican dancehall artiste Mavado
Pres Ali tells newly accredited UN Rep about Guyana’s commitment to global leadership
Guyana’s commitment to positioning itself as a global leader has recently been emphasized by President Dr Irfaan Ali, on the occasion when he accepted the Letters of Accreditation from newly-appointed United Nations Resident Coordinator Jean Njeri Kamau.
Kamau, on Wednesday, presented her credentials to the Guyanese Leader at State House in Georgetown, signalling the official start of her mandate in Guyana.
During discussions, President Ali told the new UN Representative that his administration is building Guyana with a focus on the country being a global leader on harmony and women and youth empowerment, among other key areas.
According to a post on his social media page, the Guyanese Leader added that his administration would continue to champion democracy; the rule of law; and being a global leader in food, energy, and climate security.
Kamau, a national of Kenya, is replacing Ms. Yesim Oruç, who served in Guyana for three years.
In a statement on Friday, the UN Office in Guyana said Kamau has more than 20 years’ experience in human rights, women’s rights, peacebuilding, institutional development, governance, and development.
Prior to her appointment as the highest-ranking UN Official in Guyana, Kamau served as a diplomat in the Republic of South Africa, in the Kingdom of Eswatini, in
the Kingdom of Lesotho, and in Washington, DC.
Before joining the diplomatic service, Kamau worked in multiple roles in the public sector and civil society, including as Country Director for Action Aid International in Kenya and Lesotho, and as the first Executive Director for the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya.
Kamau holds a bachelor’s degree in Law from the University of Nairobi and a master’s degree in Democratic Studies from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.
President Ali was in
New York as recently as last week, to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), at which forum he underscored that the UN has special responsibility for the security of small states which look to multilateralism and the rule of international law to protect them from foreign aggression.
Citing the theme of this year’s UNGA – ‘Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for present and future generations’ – the Guyanese Leader noted that the UN must con-
tinue to be a beacon of hope amidst a turbulent global environment.
“Today we find ourselves in a world where the quest for peace is met with the defiant echo of conflict; where the promise of sustainable development is eclipsed by the dangerous spectre of climate change and food insecurity; and where the dignity of millions of people is trampled upon with impunity,” he declared at that forum. “The future we seek — a future where no one is left behind — demands courageous action. The UN must fulfill its role as a custodian of greater global peace; the foremost promoter of sustainable development; and an unflinching protector of human rights, human dignity, and international law. And since the UN is all of us, this body of nations, this is a collective responsibility for us all,” President Ali had told the UNGA.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, Guyana was among the Ten Elected Members of the United Nations Security Council (E10) who threw support behind UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the UN system. Guyana, elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2024-2025 period, is the coordinator of E10 for the month of October. (G8)
President Dr Irfaan Ali with newly-accredited UN Resident Coordinator Jean Kamau and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd at State House
Rise in cervical, breast and prostate cancer cases recorded
As efforts continue every year to raise awareness about cancer and early detection, the Health Ministry has revealed that the country has seen an increase in at least three types of cancer.
This statistical information was revealed by the Director for Noncommunicable Diseases for the Health Ministry, Dr. Lachmie Lall, at the launch of Pinktober 2024, hosted by One Communications at the Pegasus Corporate Centre Conference Room on Friday.
“The statistics from the Health Ministry show that in 2021 and 2022, breast cancer incidents marked higher than all other cancers. In 2020, there were
on these efforts; the ministry could not do this on our own.”
Dispelling the common misconception women have – thinking that when they feel lumps in parts of their bodies that its gas, she urged them to dispel this mindset and seek swift testing.
Early
detection
“With early detection, proper care, and support, we can overcome this. Our partnership with the ministry and One Communications is an important one. We must continue to build on these efforts. Through One Communications’ branding, we have been able to
123 cases; in 2021, there were 144; and in 2022, there were 186. So, you can see how the numbers are slowly increasing.”
Additionally, she said this increase is not limited to breast cancer but also cervical and prostate cancer.
“Right behind breast cancer is prostate cancer, which had 96 cases in 2020, 104 in 2021, and 129 in 2022. So, you can see that if you look at the cancer registries, you are going to see a sharp increase in the three prevalent types of cancers, which are breast, cervical, and prostate cancer.”
Due to this factor, various measures have been taken by the government, including the provision of mammograms.
“We have been committed to ensuring that each person has access to necessary screening, diagnosis, and treatment options. Over the past year, we have made significant enhancements in public health infrastructure, equipping more regional hospitals with mammography services by the end of this year and ensuring that critical cancer medications are available in our public health care systems. But we must continue to build
change the mindset. Early detection remains the most powerful tool in combating cancer; this is why we are continuing with a robust campaign.”
Meanwhile, Ian Lewis, Director of Brand and Voice for One Communications, emphasised the importance of corporate partnership in the fight against cancer.
“This year, under the theme ‘Many Hearts, One Fight,’ our commitment remains stronger than ever, we will continue our efforts for all of Guyana to donate funds to support the treatment and care for those affected and to support the ongoing effort to raise awareness.”
Pinktober is not just a movement; it is a cry. Pinktober has been one of the telecommunication company’s most impactful corporate social responsibility initiatives since its inception in 2017.
The Health Ministry, in a bid to expand capacity for early detection of breast cancer, has this year procured four new mammogram machines in July. The state-of-the-art equipment was purchased through a partnership between the Guyana Government and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Scores of officials were present at the event
These machines were carded to be four hospitals: the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), the New Amsterdam Hospital in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), the Lethem Hospital in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and the Linden Hospital Complex in Region Ten (Upper DemeraraBerbice).
As of 2023, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) had the only public mammogram machine in the country, which recorded about 1300 mammograms in 2022. (G2)
Director for Non-communicable Diseases for the Health Ministry, Dr Lachmie Lall
Banks DIH, Union sign deal for 25% wage increase, enhanced worker benefits
Taking strides to enhance the benefits for its employees, Banks
DIH Limited employees will receive a 25 per cent salary increase and enhanced benefits over three years. This information was revealed by Finance
$5M reward being offered for information on warehouse break-in attempt
Businessman Frank Sanichara is offering a $5 million reward following an attempted break-in on Wednesday at the SURI Trading Warehouse, located at Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
The incident occurred at around 1:19h. According to Sanichara, four individuals attempted to enter the warehouse, but their plans were thwarted by security personnel on-site.
"They tried to overpower one of our watchmen, who courageously fought back. Thanks to the swift response from other security personnel on site, their mission was foiled," Sanichara stated.
In an effort to bring the perpetrators to justice, Sanichara is appealing to the public for assistance and is offering a substantial reward for any information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those respon-
sible. He has assured that all information will remain confidential.
Anyone with information is urged to contact him on (592) 662-1523.
Director of Banks DIH Limited, Deonarain Seepaul during a recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Banks DIH Limited and the General Workers’ Union (GWU) at the Labour Ministry in Georgetown.
According to Seepaul the agreement is a significant milestone and underscored the company’s commitment to job security, medical benefits, life insurance, and retirement benefits.
Additionally, he highlighted that the negotiations were concluded swiftly, resulting in a 25 per cent wage increase and enhanced benefits over three years.
He also took the oppor-
tunity to emphasise the importance of sustainability for shareholders, employees, suppliers, and customers
Also chiming in similar views at the signing activity was, Norris Witter GWU President.
Whilst giving remarks he emphasised the smooth and non- adversarial nature of the negotiations, which were completed in five days over 30 working hours.
Additionally, he praised the positive relationship between the union and the company, highlighting the mutual reliance and recognition of employee importance.
Meanwhile, Chief Labour Officer, Dhaneshwar
Deonarine commended the negotiations as a model for other companies, praising the willingness of both parties to engage constructively.
Attendees at the signing of the MoU on Friday were Pancham Singh (General Secretary), Quincy Bailey (Branch Chairman), Lawrence Drakes (Branch Secretary), Colin Miller (Field Officer), Dennis Glasgow (Branch Committee Member), and Nunyam Haynes (Shop Steward). Banks DIH Limited was represented by its Finance Director, Seepaul and Kavorn Kyte-Williams (HR Chief Executive/General Counsel).
(From left): (GWU President Norris Witter, Chief Labour Officer Dhaneshwar Deonarine, Finance Director Deonarain Seepaul, and Banks DIH Limited HR Chief Executive/General Counsel Kavorn Kyte-Williams
The attempted robbery at Suri Warehouse
Freak storm
Rebuilding works in Linden almost completed – CDC
…says several additional homes repaired
Following the passage of a freak storm through the mining town of Linden in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) last month, the Civil Defence Commission, working in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, had mobilised several contactors to begin immediate rebuilding works on several structures that had been affected.
Speaking with <<Guyana Times>> on Friday, Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Patrice Wishart, said all minor repairs have already been completed, while most of the rebuilding works on severely damaged homes are nearing completion.
“We would have received the last set of building materials recently - earlier this week, rather - and the works are almost complete for most
of the homes. The minor repairs have been completed; it’s the major repairs they are working on right now,” Wishart detailed.
He also revealed that following a walk-through exercise done by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, wherein some 33 homes were identified to be repaired, several additional homes were so identified, and assistance has been rendered.
“We noticed a few other homes with minor structural damage, (and) we rendered assistance as was required,” he disclosed.
Further, Wishart disclosed that the rebuilding process has been smooth thus far. “We are accustomed to (being) operational in these regards. I don’t want to say it was a walk in the park, but we understood what we had to do, and we executed it perfectly,” he said.
Workers executing rebuilding works ripped off the entire roof of some homes. Moreover, flash flooding had also affected several residents as heavy rains washed through the town.
RECAP
Several houses in Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraUpper Berbice), had been affected by heavy winds that swept through the mining town last month. Those structures were left exposed to the elements as heavy winds damaged and, in some cases,
Sonia Parag, as well as officials from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), conducted a walkthrough exercise at several communities with the express intention to render assistance to affected residents.
Through the efforts of central Government, materials such as hygienic products, food supplies, cleaning supplies, zinc and tarpaulins were made available for the benefit of affected residents.
Following that freak storm, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Local Government and Regional Development Minister
Central Government also provided dinner for affected residents, while those whose homes were severely dam-
aged were given the option of being housed at a shelter until further notice.
Additionally, in an effort to tackle the issue of flooding in the region, an emergency meeting was held by the Regional Disaster Preparedness Team, and it resulted in an on-the-ground assessment being done in various communities across the town in order to improve drainage and irrigation system within these areas. However, due to the inclement weather, progress on this initiative was subsequently delayed.
One of the recently-repaired roofs
Banking services resumed in Lethem
Residents of the Region Nine township of Lethem (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) now have access to banking services following a service disruption that occurred when heavy-duty equipment collided with two utility poles in the town.
Resumption of banking services was confirmed by Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock on Friday during
a telephone interview with Guyana Times.
“The banking services are back; the internet cable was restored late on Wednesday,” he said.
Regional Chairman Allicock also revealed that old age pension is currently being paid by the post mistress following the resumption of banking services.
“It takes days to get the pensioners back to the
post office, so we catered for that. They are still getting paid every day, the Toshaos are bringing the pensioners out of the villages to receive their monies here, and those who didn’t receive this week will receive next week,” Allicock detailed.
In a public statement issued on Friday, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) said, “Our Lethem branch will be open
Haitian gang kills at least 70 people as thousands flee – UN
2024 (Reuters/Ralph Tedy Erol/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights)
Armed men belonging to the Gran Grif gang killed at least 70 people, including three infants, and forced at least 3,000 to flee as they swept through a Haitian town shooting automatic rifles at residents, the U.N. said on Friday.
"We are horrified by Thursday's gang attacks in the town of Pont-Sonde in Haiti's Artibonite department," U.N. spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said in a statement.
At least another 16 people were seriously injured in the attack in the early hours of Thursday, including two gang members hit during an exchange of fire with Haitian police, according to the U.N. The gang members reportedly set fire to at least 45 houses and 34 vehicles, forcing residents to flee their homes.
The killings are the latest sign of a worsening conflict in the Caribbean nation, where armed gangs control most of the capital Port-auPrince and are expanding to nearby regions, fuelling hunger and making hundreds of thousands homeless, while nearby countries continue to deport migrants back to the country.
"This odious crime against defenseless women, men and children is not only an attack against victims but against the entire Haitian nation," Prime Minister Garry Conille said on X.
Conille added that security forces were "reinforcing their intervention" in the area. His office said the public hospital in nearby SaintMarc was boosting capacity to treat the wounded.
Haitian online TV showed security forces moving into Pont-Sonde, where a burnt-out vehicle lay on the road and bullet casings were gathered on the ground.
In an audio message shared on social media on Thursday, Gran Grif leader Luckson Elan, who was sanctioned by the U.N. last month, blamed the state and victims for the attacks, accusing residents of remaining passive while his soldiers were killed by police or vigilante groups.
"It's Pont-Sonde residents who are at fault. What happened in Pont-Sonde is the fault of the state," he said.
The U.N. has accused Elan's gang of killings,
rapes, mass kidnappings, robbery, destroying property, hijacking trucks and forcing farmers off swaths of land, threatening to kill them if they return.
"Gran Grif has also committed some of the highest levels of child recruitment in Haiti," according to the U.N. Security Council. The U.N. believes Haiti's gangs are armed largely by guns trafficked from the United States.
But Haiti's judicial system has been paralyzed for years. According to the U.N., no progress has been made in the cases of any mass killings committed since 2021, as well as several major massacres since 2017.
Police are alleged to have taken part in some massacres. Gang leader Jimmy "Barbeque" Cherizier, a former police officer was accused by the U.N. of planning and taking part in the 2018 killing of 71 civilians in the capital's port-side neighborhood of La Saline.
The port, a key supply corridor, has been closed since late last month due to gang attacks, worsening the already dire food crisis. (Reuters)
on Saturday October 5 to facilitate customers who may have been inconvenienced by the branch’s closure earlier this week.”
RECAP
Residents of the township of Lethem were unable to access banking services on Tuesday because heavy-duty equipment had collided with two utility poles in the region.
In a telephone conversation with this publication,
Region Nine Chairman Bryan Allicock had said that power and internet services had been disrupted after an excavator and a truck had collided with utility poles in the community.
“The power went out because we lost two poles due to an excavator and truck coming into contact with the poles and the wires, including the GT&T (One Communications) wires also that feeds the internet connection to the bank,” he had stated. He had also revealed that in an effort to ensure senior citizens have access to their monthly financial obligations on time, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) had sourced money to pay pensioners.
“The bank was good enough to give us money to pay pensioners, so the postmistress got money to pay the pensioners…,” the chairman had said.
Police officers patrol after dispersing demonstrators who were calling for help from the government and security forces after gangs attacked neighbourhoods and set houses on fire in Port-au-Prince, Haiti August 19,
Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Lethem branch
Look for opportunities and learn from those who have already achieved what you want. Be attentive and willing to do the prep work; the outcome will be more valuable than anticipated.
Embrace opportunity and own the results. Focus on home, family and meaningful relationships. Review your life and monetary expectations. It’s time to take stock so you can forge ahead.
Reason, simplicity and faith in yourself will help you find the best path forward. View the big picture and eliminate unnecessary steps before you begin your journey.
Overthinking will be your downfall. Cast your fate to the wind, go with the flow, unleash your creativity and display who you are and what you can achieve.
Rethink your plans before you act. Spend more time figuring out what’s important. Intelligence and efficiency will be crucial. Avoid cutting corners to appease others.
Lay down some ground rules before you get involved in something or with someone. Offer a clear description of what you are willing to do or contribute before getting underway.
Broaden your outlook, and you’ll discover a unique way to use your attributes to get what you want. Attend events that inspire you. An exciting encounter will lead to a commitment.
Don’t play with fire. Consider every angle and be precise. Assess the time, cost and importance of anything you want to pursue for those you intend to include in the effort.
By offering to do what you feel passionate about, you will motivate others to step up and contribute their best. Build a strong team, and something good will happen.
Anger will solve nothing; use your energy to activate your plans. Surround yourself with support, not with criticism. Love yourself and be proud of your accomplishments. Think and act positively.
Take a moment to breathe, observe and rejuvenate. Be astute regarding money, investments and health. Tend to your well-being, and seek peace of mind and a clear picture of what to do next.
You’re sitting in a good position. Do whatever it takes to meet someone who interests you. The world is your oyster; observe what’s available and go after what you want.
Women’s T20 World Cup 2024…
South Africa in effortless win against West Indies
– through heroics of Mlaba, Wolvaardt, Brits
South Africa reeled off an effortless win in the World Cup opening game against West Indies, with the left-arm spin of Nonkululeko Mlaba devastating the West Indies' top order before Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits produced fuss-free unbeaten fifties.
The openers walked South Africa home with 13 balls to spare in the Dubai curtain-raiser for this women's T20 World Cup, and the West Indies couldn't really get out of the blocks with either bat or ball. Stafanie Taylor was their top scorer with 44 not out off 41, but they never seemed like putting up a huge total, and
South Africa never seemed at risk of failing to chase it down.
Middle order collapse
Nonkululeko Mlaba struck once in the powerplay, firing a flatter delivery into Qiana Joseph's off stump to end a pained innings of 4 off 14 balls. However, she did most of her damage through the middle order, by which stage West Indies were already battling to put up a decent score.
She was tight with her lines, and that quicker ball was dangerous. She bowled Shemaine Campbelle off her thigh pad in the 12th over, before slowing it down
SCOREBOARD
West Indies Women (20 ovs maximum)
Hayley Matthews (c) c †Jafta
b Kapp 10
Qiana Joseph
b Mlaba 4
Stafanie Taylor not out 44
Deandra Dottin c Wolvaardt
b Kapp 13
Shemaine Campbelle †
b Mlaba 17
Chinelle Henry c †Jafta
b Mlaba 0
Aaliyah Alleyne c Brits
b Mlaba 7
Zaida James not out 15
Extras (lb 1, w 7) 8
Total 20 Ov (RR: 5.90) 118/6
Did not bat: Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack, Shamilia Connell
Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Hayley Matthews, 2.5 ov), 2-18 (Qiana Joseph, 4.4 ov), 3-32 (Deandra Dottin, 6.5 ov), 4-62 (Shemaine Campbelle, 11.4 ov), 5-62 (Chinelle Henry, 11.5 ov), 6-83 (Aaliyah Alleyne, 15.1 ov) • DRS
O-M-R-W
Bowling
Marizanne Kapp 4-0-14-2
Ayabonga Khaka 3-1-12-0 Nonkululeko Mlaba 4-0-29-4
Chloe Tryon 4-0-23-0
Nadine de Klerk 2-0-14-0
Annerie Dercksen 1-0-14-0
Sune Luus 2-0-11-0
South Africa Women (T: 119 runs from 20 ovs)
Laura Wolvaardt (c) not out 59
Tazmin Brits not out 57
Extras (lb 2, w 1) 3
Total 17.5 Ov (RR: 6.67) 119/0
Did not bat: Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, Sune Luus, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta †, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Ayabonga Khaka
DRS
Bowling O-M-R-W
Chinelle Henry 2-0-20-0
Zaida James 0.1-0-1-0
Qiana Joseph 1.5-0-9-0 Hayley Matthews 4-0-22-0
Karishma Ramharack 3.5-0-22-0
Afy Fletcher 3-0-24-0
Aaliyah Alleyne 2-0-11-0
Shamilia Connell 1-0-8-0
and getting Chinelle Henry caught behind with the next ball.
In her final over - the 16th of the innings - she had Aaliyah Alleyne failing to keep an off-side slash down, before Brits took a spectacu-
the time the fielding restric tions had ended. In the same period, Brits collected 12 off 16.
With the required rate whittled down to about 5.5 an over, the pair set about accu mulating through the middle overs as they played large ly risk-free cricket.
Wolvaardt was dropped by Karishma Ramharack when on 33. Ramharack couldn't hold on to a difficult return chance. Otherwise, South Africa's progress was smooth.
South Africa got to 100 off the first ball of the 15th over, with Wolvaardt reach ing her half-century off the 45th ball she faced. Brits got there in the next over, also off her 45th ball, having struck four further bound aries since that powerplay. West Indies were never able to put either batter under se rious pressure for long.
Valiant play
With Hayley Matthews getting out in the third over,
lar diving catch at cover.
Mlaba finished with 4 for 29 from her four overs, having conceded only two boundaries -- a four to Deandra Dottin and a six to Taylor -although she did bowl five wides down the leg side off her hat-trick ball.
Bossing things
Wolvaardt and Brits both struck authoritative boundaries in the first over, which was bowled by Henry. Brits was quieter through the rest of the powerplay, but Wolvaardt was on the charge, hitting especially memorable boundaries through the leg side to move to 29 off 20 by
Joseph being bowled soon after, and Dottin out for 13 in the seventh over, it was always incumbent upon Taylor to produce a battling innings.
Aside from smashing one Annerie Dercksen half-volley down the ground in the ninth over, Taylor was largely unambitious through the first half of the innings as she attempted to rebuild. She tried some bigger shots through the back end of the innings, but didn't find a lot of timing. Still, without her, West Indies could have collapsed to a double-digit score.
Vital strikes
Marizanne Kapp was not needed for her foremost suit today, but she still had plenty of impact on the game, as she removed two of the West Indies' most dangerous top-order batters. She first had Matthews caught behind, the batter scarcely believing she had edged that ball; then she had Dottin holing out to extra cover while attempting a big shot over the off side.
She bowled three of the first seven overs, taking 2 for 11 in the process, before coming back at the death and giving away just three runs.
Nonkululeko Mlaba took 4 for 29
Marizanne Kapp was chuffed after dismissing Deandra Dottin cheaply
Tazmin Brits had a great start to her World Cup campaign
Stafanie Taylor hit two fours and a six during her 41-ball stay on a hot Dubai afternoon
GFF thanks West Ham United for hosting Goalkeeper Coach Eon De Viera
The Executive Committee of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has extended heartfelt gratitude to West Ham United Football Club for generously accommodating Eon De Viera, one of Guyana’s most qualified goalkeeper coaches, during his recent visit to the club's training camp in England; where he spent two highly productive days gaining invaluable insights into both the Academy and first-team facilities.
De Viera’s visit began with a courtesy call and warm welcome by Academy Head Kenny Brown. He then had the pleasure of viewing goalkeeping sessions in U9, U16, U18 and U21 areas hosted by various goalkeeper coaches, respectively Larry Raji, Chris Lewington, Dan Hill and Billy Lepine. This allowed him to indulged in discussions with the coaches before the sessions, and he also gained valuable feedback afterwards.
Further, he met separately with U21 Head Coach
Mark Robson, and was given the opportunity to view the coaches’ game analysis session.
De Viera also met with West Ham legend Steven
LGC hosts highly anticipated Trophy Stall golf tournament today
The Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) is thrilled to announce that the much-anticipated Trophy Stall Golf Tournament will tee off today at 12:30h on the club’s meticulously maintained course.
This prestigious event is set to attract top golfing talent from across the region, and an exciting day of competition can be expected.
Renowned for its high-quality trophies, awards, and sports memorabilia, Trophy Stall has been a steadfast supporter of the development of golf in Guyana for over two decades, and has cemented its role as a key player in fostering the growth of this sport.
This partnership with the Lusignan Golf Club reflects Trophy Stall’s longstanding commitment to promoting not just competitive golf, but camaraderie and community engagement as well.
This Medal play tournament will follow the traditional format, with golfers competing across multiple categories. First, second and third place finishes in each of the two handicap flights of 0-14 and 15-28 will be awarded special prizes.
Closest to the Pin, Longest Drive, and Best Gross will also be up for grabs, offering participants ample opportunities to showcase their skill and precision.
Ramesh Sunich, proprietor of Trophy Stall, expressed his enthusiasm for the event by noting, "Every year, Trophy Stall sponsors at least two golf tournaments. This year is special because my brother Victor Sunich, who owns the Trophy Stall branch in Canada, is here with us. Trophy Stall has been a long-time supporter of golf and other sporting activities in Guyana, and we are committed to continuing our support for the growth of the sport."
LGC captain Ayube Subhan has said, “The executive is very excited about this tournament, as it serves as a preparatory event leading up to the highly-anticipated Guyana Open. There's significant in-
Potts, who has 399 league appearances and is now the U23 head coach.
Reflecting on his experience, De Viera shared, "The experience was very inspiring and enlightening. It placed me in a different space mentally, and I am eager to transfer this knowledge into my training. This will be a tremendous benefit to the youths, the Federation's programmes, and Guyana as a whole."
The GFF has said it recognizes the importance of this type of international exchanges in enhancing local football development, and greatly appreciates West Ham United’s openness in fostering this relationship. Moreover, it is eager to explore further collaboration as it continues to elevate the standard of football coaching in Guyana. “Once again, the
7th Fitness Expo set for November 3 at National Gymnasium
Wterest from players who are also using this as a warmup for the Suriname Open, scheduled for October 11-12, 2024, which typically leads into the Guyana Open. The Trophy Stall tournament provides a valuable opportunity for golfers to gauge their current performance and fine-tune their game.”
Besides fierce competition, participants and spectators can look forward to a day of socializing and networking, with refreshments and post-event activities planned.
The Lusignan Golf Club is inviting golfers of all levels to participate in the tournament, and is encouraging spectators to join in the excitement as the club continues to showcase the finest in local golfing talent.
ith fitness being a prerequisite for good health, the Guyana Fitness Games will be hosting the 7th edition of the Fitness Expo at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue in Georgetown on Sunday, November 3.
The Fitness Challenge starts at noon, and the day is anticipated to be one of sweat, strength, and sheer determination as participants engage in strenuous exercises that would test the limits of their vigour and expand the boundaries of their endurance.
The Fitness Challenge includes the Elite Teams Competition for both males and females, where top athletes would showcase their prowess. Those who are new to the fitness game would find that the Scaled Competition is designed for less seasoned athletes of both genders because it offers a challenging
but accessible experience for all fitness enthusiasts.
In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport, event organizer Noshavyah King expounded on the aims and expectations of the game when she said, “The game is to raise awareness for the importance of fitness and being fit. (Fitness is) not just (about) playing a sport, but you have to be fit and healthy as well. This stage is still a month away. I can just say, in terms of registration, (that) so far, I have over 30 athletes registered; (they are) coming from Guyana and Suriname.”
Continuing her disclosure, Ms King said, “The competition has not yet happened, so I can’t comment on the performances; but we do have some student athletes who've been competing for years, (and) we're expecting to see greater competition (from them) because they have been -- you know, we've been -- doing more competitions and have been in the gym training. Those I've seen in the gym I've seen much improvement (in their performances), so I'm expecting these athletes to perform well.”
In 2023, Rowlley Chandler and Shanika Estwick won the respec-
GFF sincerely thanks West Ham
United FC for the opportunity, and looks forward to continued engagement.”
Eon De Viera and West Ham legend Steven Potts
Local Goalkeeping Coach Eon De Viera
What to expect in this competition
Event organizer Noshavyah King
Owner of the Trophy Stall branch in Canada, Victor Sunich, making a presentation to LGC club captain Ayube Subhan
tive Male and Female Scaled Categories, while Omisi Williams and Kellon Reid, Semonica Duke and Tonnica Dey won the Male and Female Team Categories.
Cricket West Indies announces T20I, ODI squads for tour of Sri Lanka
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the squads selected for the eagerly anticipated tour of Sri Lanka, wherein its teams would be competing in three T20Is and three ODIs from October 10 to 27, 2024.
After a resounding 3-0 series sweep against South Africa earlier this year, the West Indies have climbed the rankings, moving to fourth place and established themselves as serious contenders on the world stage.
Several senior players, including Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Akeal Hosein and Shimron Hetmyer, have opted out of the tour for personal reasons, opening the door for newer faces and returning players. Captain Rovman Powell will lead the side, with Roston Chase continuing in his role as ViceCaptain.
Head Coach Daren Sammy, who now leads on selection under the revamped system, noted the importance of this series in evaluating players for key roles and understanding the conditions ahead of future ICC tournaments.
On the T20 squad, Coach Sammy said, “The
tour of Sri Lanka gives us a chance to test our depth and assess players in different situations, especially with several senior players missing out for various reasons, including a need for rest and rehabilitation from injury. We are confident in the squad’s ability to compete strongly against Sri Lanka.”
West Indies T20I Squad:
Rovman Powell (Captain)
Roston Chase (Vice Captain)
Fabian Allen
Alick Athanaze
Andre Fletcher
Terrance Hinds
Shai Hope
Alzarri Joseph
Shamar Joseph
Brandon King
Evin Lewis
Gudakesh Motie
Sherfane Rutherford
Romario Shepherd
Shamar Springer
The series will begin on 13 October with the first match at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, followed by two more matches on 15 and 17 October.
ODI Squad
The ODI squad is set to face Sri Lanka in a three-
match series from 20 to 27 October 2024. Shai Hope will continue as captain, with vice-captain support coming from Alzarri Joseph. This series provides an opportunity for CWI to focus on building its ODI team ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
A notable inclusion is Jewel Andrew, the young Antiguan wicketkeeper-batsman who has impressed and earned his place in the squad. The
GBBC expresses sadness at Terrence Poole’s passing
The Guyana Boxing Board of Control
(GBBC) has expressed it sadness at the passing of renowned Boxing Coach Terrence Poole, MS.
In a statement issued earlier this week, the GBBC has said: “It is with shock, dismay and enormous sadness that the Guyana Boxing Board of Control has learnt of yesterday’s sudden passing of Terrence Poole.
“Never looking for accolades or praise, Terrence Poole’s quiet, unassuming but unwavering commitment to boxing (both the amateur and professional aspects of the sport) over decades of service cannot be understated.
squad also sees the return of several key players, including Brandon King and Sherfane Rutherford.
Head Coach Sammy remarked on the ODI squad’s balance and potential for growth: “As we continue to build our ODI team, this tour offers a valuable opportunity to evaluate strategies and give opportunities to emerging talent. We are excited to see young players like Jewel Andrew, who has earned his place as an exciting prospect for the future.”
West Indies ODI Squad:
Shai Hope (Captain)
Alzarri Joseph (Vice-Captain)
Jewel Andrew Alick Athanaze
Keacy Carty
Roston Chase
Matthew Forde
Shamar Joseph
Brandon King
Evin Lewis
Gudakesh Motie
Sherfane Rutherford
Jayden Seales
Romario Shepherd
Hayden Walsh Jr.
Team Management:
Head Coach: Daren Sammy
Team Manager: Rawl Lewis
Assistant Coach (Fielding): Rayon Griffith
Assistant Coach (Batting): Floyd Reifer
Assistant Coach (Bowling): James Franklin
Physiotherapist: Neil Barry Strength & Conditioning
Coach: Ronald Rogers
Masseuse: Fitz Alleyne
Team Analyst: Avenesh Seetaram
Media & Content Officer: Jerome Foster Team management remains the same across both squads.
The ODI series will start on 20 October 2024 with the first match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, followed by matches on 23 and 26 October.
Tour Schedule: T20I Series: 1st T20I: October 13, 2024 – Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium 2nd T20I: October 15, 2024 – Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
3rd T20I: October 17, 2024 – Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
All matches 7:00pm local time/9:30am Eastern Caribbean/8:30am Jamaica.
Caribbean fans can catch the action on Rush Sports, the Bluu App and Sports Max App.
ODI Series:
1st ODI: October 20, 2024 – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
2nd ODI: October 23, 2024 – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
3rd ODI: October 26, 2024 – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium All matches 2:30pm local time/5:00am Eastern Caribbean/4:00am Jamaica
Barbados Royals announce Warrican as replacement for Maharaj in CPL
“His undeniable impact on the development of our young talent, on the representation of the formidable Guyana Defence Force’s boxing teams over the years, on the sterling reputation of our numerous medal winning Guyana National boxing teams in international competition over decades, on our regional leadership of the sport, on the ability of the GBA to execute its annual plans and mandates, is all overwhelming visible testimony of a life of dedication to boxing that has served our community, our country and our region with great distinction.
“He shall be deeply missed, forever remembered and respected by our fraternity as a true ambassador of our sport, crossing seamlessly from amateur to professional, from boxer to coach, from local trainer to national team coach, from local administrator to regional and international team manager.
“Often the face of Guyana’s regional and international efforts in the sport, Terrence Poole with his affable, calm and sincere demeanor, his enduring smile, his integrity, his boundless energy, his big heart and his willingness to work for the betterment of the sport, will always oc-
cupy a special place in the hearts, the memories and the history of Guyana’s boxing fraternity.
“I suspect that our next card, amateur or professional, shall be the first that he will miss in nearly three decades. An overwhelming sense of loss and sadness shall surely accompany, if not entirely envelop, this particular ten count.
“On behalf of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control, we extend our deepest condolences to Terrence’s family and relatives, the GBA Executive, and to the entire boxing fraternity, particularly to the numerous young boxers whose lives may have been in some way influenced by his.”
Royals Sports Groupowned franchise Barbados Royals today announced the signing of leftarm spinner Jomel Warrican as a replacement player for South Africa's Keshav Maharaj, who will not be available for the remainder of this year's Caribbean Premier
League. The 32-year-old Warrican has represented the West Indies across 17 Tests, picking up 54 wickets. The slow leftarm orthodox who represents Barbados last played in the CPL in 2015, where he grabbed 2 wickets in 3 matches for St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots.
Meanwhile Maharaj, who was taking part in his first-ever CPL season, picked up 8 wickets in 7 matches for the Royals at an economy of 8.74. The South African spinner was however unavailable for Friday night's Qualifier 2 against Guyana Amazon Warriors.
West Indies’ Men will spring into action immediately after the CPL against Sri Lanka
Jomel Warrican joined the Barbados Royals on Friday
Boxing Coach Terrence Poole, MS
The Guyana Amazon Warriors
Defending champs ‘Warriors’ march into 2024 final
defend their Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title in the 2024 final, following a commanding victory against the Barbados Royals in Qualifier 2 on Friday night.
The fans at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence sat on pins and needles as captain Imran Tahir won the toss and opted to bat, but
the Warriors produced a disciplined bowling performance and spectacular batting to follow as they defeated the Royals by 8 wickets.
The Amazon Warriors’ bowling attack appeared much more composed than had been the case in the previous game, and it reined in the renowned firepower the Royals possess in the initial overs.
Gudakesh Motie was again handed the ball first, and he bowled a tidy over which produced 7 runs, and that ultimately set the tempo for the rate Barbados would go at for much of their innings.
Moeen Ali followed with an over of 2 runs, and in the following rotation from Motie, the prized wicket of Quinton de Kock fell, as the South African batsman chipped the ball back to Motie for a caught-and-bowled fall for 15 runs.
Romario Shepherd was sent for a hat trick of fours in the 5th over but the Berbician rebounded with the wicket of Rahkeem Cornwall. Though not given initially by the umpire, the Amazon Warriors managed to retain their review with a successful request of the third umpire, and Cornwall went back to the dugout for 19 runs.
Admittedly, the Royals were able to find the boundary or further at least once per over, but the defending champions’ bowling was fool- proof on Friday night, and not too much fireworks was allowed to take place.
SCOREBOARD
Barbados Royals (20 ovs maximum) Quinton de Kock †
c & b Motie 15 Rahkeem Cornwall lbw
b Shepherd 19 Alick Athanaze c Paul
b Imran Tahir 26
Kadeem Alleyne c Hetmyer
b Ali 11
Rovman Powell (c) c Sinclair
b Ali 12 David Miller c Hetmyer
b Pretorius 36 Jason Holder c †Hope
b Shepherd 19 Maheesh Theekshana run out
(†Hope/Shepherd) 5 Naveen-ul-Haq c Sinclair
b Shepherd 0 Obed McCoy run out (†Hope/Shepherd) 0 Ramon Simmonds not out 0
Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w 3) 5
Total 20 Ov (RR: 7.40) 148
Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Quinton de Kock, 2.5 ov), 2-36 (Rahkeem Cornwall, 4.5 ov), 3-73 (Kadeem Alleyne, 9.4 ov), 4-75 (Alick Athanaze, 10.2 ov), 5-87 (Rovman Powell, 11.5 ov), 6-139 (David Miller, 18.1 ov), 7-147 (Jason Holder, 19.3 ov), 8-148 (Naveenul-Haq, 19.4 ov), 9-148 (Obed McCoy, 19.5 ov), 10-148 (Maheesh Theekshana, 19.6 ov) •
Bowling O-M-R-W Gudakesh Motie 4-0-27-1 Moeen Ali 4-0-24-2
A brilliant catch from Shimron Hetmyer sent Kadeem Alleyne back to the dugout and ended a burgeoning partnership between Alleyne and Alick Athanaze. Imran Tahir struck soon after in dismissing Athanaze for 25 from 24, but the
Dwaine Pretorius 4-0-32-1 Romario Shepherd 4-0-35-3 Imran Tahir 4-0-29-1
Guyana Amazon Warriors (T: 149 runs from 20 ovs) Rahmanullah Gurbaz c Naveen-ul-Haq b Theekshana 40 Moeen Ali not out 44 Shai Hope † b Simmonds 56 Shimron Hetmyer not out 1
Extras (lb 3, w 5) 8 Total 14.3 Ov (RR: 10.27) 149/2 Did not bat: Keemo Paul, Dwaine Pretorius, Romario Shepherd, Raymon Reifer, Kevin Sinclair, Gudakesh Motie, Imran Tahir (c) Fall of wickets: 1-54 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 4.6 ov), 2-147 (Shai Hope, 14.1 ov) • DRS Bowling O-M-R-W Maheesh Theekshana 4-0-36-1 Jason Holder 2-0-25-0 Naveen-ul-Haq 2-0-26-0 Ramon Simmonds 3.3-0-26-1 Rahkeem Cornwall 1-0-14-0 Obed McCoy 2-0-19-0
danger of the Barbados batting lineup still loomed with David Miller, who robbed Trinbago of a chance in the Qualifier 2, and Rovman Powell at the
However, the duo did not so much for their team’s scorecard, adding only 12 and 36 runs respectively.
Then a hat trick of wickets in the final over, served up be Romario Shepherd, kept the Royals to 148 in their 20 overs. Miller’s 35 eventually became the top score, while Athanaze’s 16 was a close second.
Romario Shepherd was the pick of the Warriors’ bowlers. He claimed 3/35 from 4 overs, while Moeen Ali picked up 2-24 in 4.
Clearly with an intention in kind, Rahmanullah Gurbaz got off to a flying start in the chase, slamming 2 fours and 4 sixes for an 18-ball 40. Then Moeen Ali, who became the Warriors’ most recent opening talisman, put on a 93-run partnership with Shai Hope to take the defending champions within 2 runs of victory.
Unfortunately, Hope’s campaign ended in the 15th over on 56 from 33 deliveries, as young Ramon Simmonds castled his more experienced countryman. But Ali and Shimron Hetmyer divided up the reaming two runs between themselves to take the home side to victory in 14.3 overs with 33 balls to spare. Moeen Ali, in what eventually became an all- round performance, ended unbeaten on 44 from 35 deliveries.
Only Maheesh Theekshana and Ramon Simmonds were able to make inroads for the Royals with one wicket each.
As such, the Amazon Warriors will be back at the Guyana National Stadium on Sunday to defend their title against the St. Lucia Kings, with the action bowling off at 19:00hrs.
Guyana to host CPL final again next year, Barbados to host in 2026
The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) finals will be hosted in Guyana in 2025 and Barbados in 2026. CPL have agreed to a one year deal for the finals to be held in Guyana in 2025. For 2026 the finals will be held at the iconic Kensington Oval in Barbados for the very first time.
His Excellency Mohammed Irfan Ali, President of Guyana, said: “I want to take this opportunity to wish Guyana Amazon Warriors all success on behalf of all Guyanese as we try to make it two in a row. To all the other teams we wish you well as we play together in unity. I am also very delighted to announce that Guyana will be hosting CPL 2025 finals.”
The Honourable Mia Mottley, Prime Minister
of Barbados, said: “I am so happy to say that the CPL finals 2026 will be in Bridgetown at Kensington Oval. As you prepare for the long march to Bridgetown let’s hope my own team, Barbados Royals, can take it to the finals this year. If we don’t we will catch you next year, and for sure we are going to catch you in Bridgetown in 2026.”
Pete Russell, CPL’s CEO, said: “Guyana and Barbados have been amazing partners for CPL over the last 12 years and it is really exciting to be able to announce that they will be hosts for the finals in 2025 and 2026 respectively. We would like to thank the governments of both Guyana and Barbados who have agreed to play host to the conclusion of CPL.” ABOUT THE REPUBLIC BANK
CARIBBEAN PREMIER LEAGUE:
First started in 2013, the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is a franchisebased T20 format cricket tournament that combines two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life – dramatic cricket and a vibrant Carnival atmosphere. The 2024 tournament will take place from 29 August to 6 October. The broadcast and digital viewership in 2023 was 853.5million to make it one of the most watched leagues in world cricket. Guyana Amazon Warriors are the current Republic Bank CPL champions, and the other franchise teams are Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, Barbados Royals, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Saint Lucia Kings, Trinbago Knight Riders.
Romario Shepherd claimed 3 wickets to keep the Royals quiet
Shai Hope registered another half-century
Moeen Ali produced an all-round performance to be declared the man-of-the-match
Gurbaz got off to a flying start