Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 08-10-2025

President Ali orders study for commercial rail link along East Coast, East Bank corridors

WITHIN the next six weeks, the Ministry of Housing will complete a study for the possible construction of a commercial rail link along the East Bank and East Coasts of Demerara corridors, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said.

The Head of State, during a visit and assessment of several road works ongoing at Buzz Bee Dam to the Land of Canaan interconnecting highway on Tuesday, identified a high dam that could possibly facilitate the construction of a rail-

way.

“That is a dam that we had identified for the possibility of a rail link, so that high dam is left there as the rail link possibly and right now I have asked the ministry of housing to come up with a study within the next six

weeks as to the cost for commercial rail link along the East Coast, East Bank Corridor,” the President said.

Back in 2023, President Ali had announced that should the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) secure a second

Within the next six weeks, the Ministry of Housing will complete a study for the possible construction of a commercial rail link along the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara corridors, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said

term, the government will look at the viability of bringing back the railways.

This was in response to complaints of traffic congestion along the EBD and ECD corridors. The government has already taken crucial steps to address this issue by building critical infrastructure.

Since 2023, the government has completed the Ogle to Eccles (Haags Bosch) four-lane highway.

This 7.8-kilometre highway cost approximately US$106.4 million and was constructed by the India-based firm, Ashoka Buildcon Limited.

The highway connects the East Coast Demerara to the East Bank Demerara, significantly reducing travel time between Eugene F. Correia International Airport and Cheddi Jagan International Airport and easing congestion by bypassing central Georgetown.

Additionally, the government has completed over 5,600 community roads since returning to office in 2020.

Other major highway projects such as the Linden to Mabura Road upgrade and the East Coast Road Improvement projects are underway; this

is now 77 per cent completed.

Notably, President Ali recently officially opened the new $10.1 billion Great Diamond to Buzz Bee Dam highway. This highway will be further expanded to Soesdyke and eventually to Linden (Region 10).

The highway, part of a broader national infrastructural plan, is designed to ease traffic congestion, boost economic activities and open up previously inaccessible areas to development, with over 56.5 km of major roadways completed or underway.

These included the Eccles to Great Diamond interlink road, commissioned back in 2021; the Mandela Avenue to Eccles Highway commissioned in 2022 and the Eccles to Great Diamond highway also commissioned in 2022.

The Great Diamond extension four-lane highway, commonly known as the Heroes Highway was commissioned in 2023.

Some decades ago, Guyana had two public railways: the Demerara-Berbice railway and the Demerara-Essequibo railway, which are no longer functional.

Old GuySuCo dam to become new West Bank–West Coast bypass road

PRESIDENT, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has announced a major new road project that will transform traffic flow and open new development opportunities along the West Bank and West Coast of Demerara.

The initiative involves constructing a bypass road along an old Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) dam, linking Canal, Leonora, and Stewartville.

During a site visit to inspect road works at Buzz Bee Dam on Tuesday, President Ali said the new bypass will significantly ease the heavy congestion currently experienced between Hague and Stewartville.

“That investment, that bypass road, will reduce the time from Canal to Leonora to just about 10 minutes,” the President stated.

The project forms part of the government’s

broader effort to improve regional connectivity following the commission -

ing of the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge (BJDRB).

Importantly, construction of the bridge’s connecting road could only

begin after the old Demerara Harbour Bridge was decommissioned, as both

shared the same alignment.

Once completed, the new bypass road will do more than ease traffic. It will unlock vast tracts of land for agriculture and housing.

“That will open up all the farmlands there because we have to find land on the West Coast for at least 20,000 more households,” President Ali explained. “We are now trying to purchase land in Region Two to meet the housing demands there. The same thing with Region Five and Six.”

The West Bank–West Coast bypass forms a critical component of President Ali’s wider infrastructure and housing expansion agenda, aimed at linking communities, reducing travel times, and creating new economic zones across Guyana’s coastal regions. (DPI)

–– Minister Manickchand tells M&CC 'Work goes far beyond sanitation, physical cleanliness'

MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, on Tuesday, met with the Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore and a team from the City Council, with discussions focused on the ongoing city enhancement project.

In a Facebook post, the Ministry stated that during the meeting, Minister Manickchand emphasised that the work goes far beyond sanitation and physical cleanliness.

“It is more than just sanitation,” she said. “It is how we welcome people and treat people. It’s how they feel when they come into our city.”

During the engage -

ment, the Minister highlighted the importance of fostering a culture of pride, hospitality and respect in the way the city operates.

Meanwhile, in a separate post, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) stated that the minister outlined both short-term and long-term plans for the capital city,

which include improvements to urban infrastructure, enhancing service delivery and implementing sustainable development initiatives that will support the city’s

growth and resilience.

It was noted that the mayor welcomed the discussion and emphasised key areas of concern even as he stressed the continued challenges faced related to solid waste management, noting that the city requires additional support to address illegal dumping, collection inefficiencies, and sanitation.

Over the weekend, Minister Manickchand announced a phased national clean-up campaign with health centres, schools and regional administrative buildings set as the first targets.

President Dr Irfaan Ali is pushing ahead with Guyana’s National Solid Waste Management and Beauti -

fication Initiative, and in a meeting with Minister Manickchand and a team of technical officers, last Monday, he outlined plans for new and expanded landfill sites nationwide, emphasising the government’s commitment to promoting cleaner communities and implementing sustainable waste management solutions.

The Minister has also met with the Director of Sanitation at the Mayor and City Council, Walter Narine, on issues regarding waste management in the capital, Georgetown.

The meeting was prompted by several complaints and visible evidence regarding the current state of uncleanliness in the city.

16 new interconnecting lanes to unlock more opportunities, enhance access

––– as work advances for Buzz Bee Dam, Land of Canaan to Soesdyke interconnecting highways, President Ali

Works are advancing rapidly as engineers and contractors are working 24/7 to complete the groundwork for the interconnecting highway from Buzz Bee Dam to Land of Canaan, according to President, Dr. Irfaan Ali (Office of the President photos)

WORKS are advancing rapidly as engineers and contractors are working 24/7 to complete the ground works for the interconnecting highway from Buzz Bee Dam to Land of Canaan, ac-

cording to President, Dr. Irfaan Ali.

The Head of State, during a site visit to a section of the project, noted that once completed, the road would be further expanded to Soesdyke, and

with the other major highways that have already been commissioned, there will be some 16 new lanes of road.

“This interconnecting road will be going all the way back to the

Ogle Highway, into Aubrey Barker [road] into Eccles, Eccles Landfill then into Ogle and then into Enmore. So, you will have 16 lanes, eventually connecting from Buzz Bee Dam to Ogle,” the Presi-

dent explained.

A drainage canal in the area will be redirected and interconnected around a roundabout that will be built to avoid the loss of drainage capacity.

In fact, according to the President, the advanced engineering and design will increase drainage capacity on both sides of the new road.

“The Ministry of Housing has been doing amazing work in terms of getting these projects…all Greenfield projects expedited so that we can have the housing development, industrial development and expansion.

Today, we are at next phase of work, we are hoping before the end of the year we will have the entire design completed from Land of Canaan to Soesdyke,” Dr. Ali.

At Soesdyke, the Government is expected to adopt innovative engineering to construct the road there. To this end, the Government will be examining a similar design to build overpasses that replicate those that are often seen over everglades in foreign countries.

“That section there would have a bit more engineering challenges in the sense that you have to pass

through old sandpits and swamp areas that are going to have some innovative design ideas that we’re already looking at that might be more cost-effective at this point.”

“That is one of the options we are looking at in terms of a cost efficiency, implementation efficiency perspective,” the President added.

The President noted that contractors will take advantage of the good weather conditions to complete critical works.

“We are hoping that with the weather continuing to be good for construction by March next year, we should be well advanced, in the sense that all the work that is dependent on weather which is the drainage work and excavation work will be completed, so that we will have continuous flow of work,” the President said.

Meanwhile, he noted that the Aubrey Barker Road link will be completed soon connecting all the way to the new Ogle Highway and later to Enmore, further up the East Coast of Demerara. Notably, over 56.5 km of major roadways are completed or being completed.

Brazil’s Finance Minister confirms studies on eliminating public transport fares

BRAZIL’S Finance

Minister Fernando Haddad confirmed on Tuesday that the government is conducting studies, at the request of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on a plan to eliminate public transportation fares nationwide.

Speaking on a government radio programme, Haddad acknowledged the initiative, which surfaced in media reports last week and rattled markets amid concerns that Lula’s leftist administration could loosen fiscal discipline ahead of next year’s general elections.

According to the minister, the government is revisiting studies “to assess whether there are more appropriate ways

to finance the sector.”

“We know that public transportation in Brazil, especially in urban areas, is a key issue for workers. At the president’s request, we are conducting a full assessment of the sector,” he added.

Haddad also said he expects Congress to vote on a government measure changing the taxation of investment income, expected to raise 20.9 billion reais ($3.93 billion) next year.

The measure, which faces resistance among lawmakers, was published by the government in June with immediate effect, but must be approved by both houses of Congress by Wednesday to remain valid.

U.S. TARIFFS

Following a Monday call between Lula and U.S. President Donald Trump -- and indications from both sides that they plan to meet in person soon -- Haddad said the two leaders are determined to “turn the page” on recent tensions, referring to the ongoing tariff dispute between the countries.

Haddad said he believes Lula’s negotiation strategy with Washington will deliver the best outcome for Latin America’s largest economy.

The sooner the 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods are overcome, the better, he added, noting that ministerial-level discussions between the two countries are likely

to take place before the leaders meet face to face.

“We may find time

for another conversation with (U.S. Treasury Secretary) Scott Bes -

sent, but I don’t know if that will happen,” Haddad said. (Reuters)

Guyana is Ready

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali’s statement at the opening of the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge that “Guyana is ready,” highlights the country’s position as a modern economic centre.

This moment marks a significant point in Guyana’s development, where oil wealth meets strong leadership to build lasting infrastructure that will shape the nation’s future for years to come.

The President’s claim that “infrastructure is not merely a physical structure” but “a statement” to the world shows a deep understanding of development economics. The US$262 million bridge clearly shows that Guyana is turning its oil income into sustainable assets, avoiding the resource curse that has affected many oil-rich nations.

With significant oil revenues expected soon, the government’s plan to reinvest these funds into infrastructure shows good financial management that focuses on longterm success rather than short-term gain.

This bridge is more than just a crossing between Regions Three and Four. It represents Guyana’s rise as a strong player in the global economy.

The President’s focus on the nation being “ready to modernise, ready to industrialise, ready to claim its place in the 21st century world economy” recognises that modern economies need top-notch infrastructure to compete well.

The four-lane, cable-stayed design operating around the clock removes the delays that previously held back economic growth while opening new paths for industrial de-

velopment, housing, and trade.

Critics of infrastructure spending ignore the basic truth that development follows infrastructure, not the other way around.

The government’s broad plan, which includes the new Berbice River bridge, the Kurupukari Bridge replacement, and the nearly finished Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge, shows clear thinking about national connectivity.

These investments create benefits throughout the economy, lowering transportation costs, attracting private investment, and creating jobs that go beyond construction.

Naming the bridge after former President Bharrat Jagdeo shows continuity and recognises leadership that goes beyond party lines.

This act acknowledges that national development needs a steady vision across different administrations, a thoughtful approach that values nation-building over narrow political goals.

As Guyana moves from discovering oil to building a diverse, modern economy, infrastructure like the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge acts as both a driver and a symbol of this change.

The President’s strong statement that Guyana is ready sends a message to international investors, regional partners, and citizens that the nation has the resources and leadership to earn its rightful place among the world’s emerging economies.

The bridge stands not just as concrete and steel, but as a sign of Guyana’s steady progress toward prosperity.

A new chapter of connectivity, progress for generations to come

Dear Editor,

IT is with a heart full of hope and pride that I join the nation in celebrating the commissioning of the Bharat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge.

This magnificent structure is more than a feat of engineering. It is a powerful symbol of a united, forward-moving Guyana—opening a new chapter of connectivity and progress for generations to come.

The naming of the bridge is a fitting tribute. It honours a lifetime of dedicated service to our nation by Dr Jagdeo. His Excellency the President did well to remind us of the importance of recognising our leaders in their time, not only after they are gone.

Before looking ahead, we must also offer a heartfelt salute to the teams who

maintained the old Demerara Harbour Bridge for decades. Their grit and perseverance were a quiet, essential service to our nation, as anyone who endured closure can attest. I am deeply grateful.

As we embrace this new asset, a primary hope for all Guyanese is that its enhanced capacity will ease the traffic congestion that tested the patience of our working people for several generations. To truly realise this promise, we face a gentle but important challenge.

We must match our new infrastructure with a renewed spirit of civic care. The bridge’s full potential depends not just on its lanes, but also on our collective commitment to road-use principles built on “care, caution, and consideration.”

This leads me to reflect on our shared responsibility. The true value of any public treasure lies in how its users preserve

it. It was disheartening to see the new bridge, so soon after opening, marred by litter and other troubling acts—a live act of public urination on the steel barriers even appeared on social media.

These incidents prompt a heartfelt question for our national family. As we build a world-class economy, are we at the same time nurturing a national character that is equally refined?

In this light, the recent call by Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo for a stronger national value system is therefore not just timely—it is essential. Without a foundation of integrity, environmental stewardship, and civic duty to each other, our steel-and-concrete achievements will be hollow monuments without an equal amount of character to showcase our humanity.

Our visitors notice our conduct, and

the legacy we wish to project to the world can be compromised if we do not urgently arrest these acts of public disorder. We can take inspiration from initiatives such as the First Lady’s beautification projects, where the simple garbage bin is reimagined not as a mere receptacle, but as a symbol of an enlightened society—a daily choice to elevate our surroundings and show respect for our community.

Let this magnificent bridge be more than a path over water.

Let it become our collective pathway to a future where our national character is as strong, beautiful, and resilient as the structures we build.

The wrong people rightfully lost in 2025

I HAVE known Francis Bailey of the political party VPAC for a long time now.

He lived two houses from my home in the compound where I live. I have been buying honey from him for years now. My last encounter with him was at the police outpost of the Seawall Esplanade a few months ago.

The police hauled him in for speaking on his phone while driving. I was livid and intervened not to secure special status for Bailey but to ask the police how they could be so discriminately barefaced.

I would be on the esplanade with my dog and would see millions of times when motorcyclists would ride pass the ranks without helmets or would engage in drag racing right in front of them. So, I simply asked why Bailey was so special to be hauled in.

Last week, I had a talk with Bailey about the dispute his party has with Forward Guyana’s leader, Amanza Walton-Desir over parliamentary representation now that the coalition of Forward Guyana, VPAC and Nigel London’s The People’s Movement has won a parliamentary seat as a coalition.

I am not at liberty to disclose what Bailey told me, but it was shocking when you think that all the opposition parties that took part in the general and regional election of 2025 made one huge announcement - the ruling party was undemocratic and they are a democratic alternative.

But look what is happening inside Forward Guyana. The coalition is fighting bitterly over one seat. There is the accusation that within the coalition there

are those who do not want to share the five years in parliament. If these people could fight over just one parliamentary seat think of what they would do if they were in charge of the most important CARICOM economy, had they secured power on September 1 this year. If they had won, democracy would have been thrown out the window.

Look what Azruddin Mohamed did to Dr. Mark DeFrance of ANUG. Here is what Dr. France told me. Mohamed and ANUG signed a document that when ANUG sank its identity under Mohamed’s party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), if WIN got four seats, one would go to ANUG and ANUG’s seats would increase depending on how many seats WIN would get.

WIN collected 16 seats and have allocated only one to ANUG and excluded the head of ANUG, Dr. DeFrance himself. Where in the world that formula would have happened? Just think of the caricature and farce that WIN has become. It got 16 seats and chose which seat it will give to WIN and Dr. DeFrance and the chosen lady accept that kind of naked vulgarity.

Think of what Mohamed would have done had he won power. He probably would have named himself President, Prime Minister, Bank of Guyana Governor, Head of the GRA, Head of GPL all rolled into one.

This man Mohamed after that shameless disgraceful situation with ANUG still has the temerity to speak to Guyanese about democracy. But what about ANUG? Is DeFrance and his single parliamentarian so obsessed with power that they are running wildly over the table to

collect the crumbs?

Next is the AFC; another party that would have brought democracy to Guyana if they had won but let’s see how they approach democracy. The General-Secretary of the AFC, Raphael Trotman said just days before his announcement that he was giving up the leader position, Nigel Hughes attended an executive meeting and did not even hint at his upcoming resignation.

Trotman said Hughes’ exodus was suddenly thrown upon the party. Yet Hughes that treated the AFC in that contemptuous way and could not secure even one seat in parliament is being begged by the AFC leadership to stay on.

But please read what is to follow now. When I read that the AFC in July had appointed Laura George as an organiser, I called my personal friend, Michael Carrington to ask him about George’s status within the AFC.

Carrington is the deputy chairman,

which according to the constitution, makes him third in charge of the AFC. Carrington did not have any information about George’s role. He responded: “Is she an employee or a consultant?”

I was stunned and went silent momentarily. Through Carrington’s reaction, it was clear to me that George’s appointment did not come either to the executive or a small body within the executive because Carrington had no knowledge of what was going on.

This same AFC has accused the ruling PPP the past five years of no democracy, no accountability. Just think of how they would have administered Guyana had they won the 2025 election.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.

Guterres urges countries to ‘seize this historic opportunity’ as renewable energy use grows

WITH clean energy on the rise, the UN Secretary-General renewed his longstanding call for countries to make the transition from fossil fuels that cause global warming.

The latest push follows the release of two reports on Tuesday which affirmed that the so-called “renewables revolution” is accelerating at unprecedented rates.

For the first time ever, renewable energy has generated more power than coal, according to a new analysis by Ember, a global think tank working to speed up the clean energy transition.

ENERGY SHIFT UNDERWAY

Solar and wind outpaced the growth in global electricity demand in the first half of this year, resulting in a small decline in coal and gas when compared to the same period in 2024.

This represents “a crucial turning point,” according to Ember’s Senior Electricity Analyst, Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka.

“Solar and wind are now growing fast enough to meet the world’s growing appetite for electricity. This marks the beginning of a shift where clean power is keeping pace with demand growth,” she said in a press release.

SOLAR-POWERED SUCCESS

In a separate report, the International Energy Agency (IEA) revealed how installed renewables power continues to grow and is expected to double by 2030.

Global renewable power capacity is projected to increase by 4,600 gigawatts (GW) - “roughly the equivalent of adding China, the European Union and Japan’s total power-generation capacity combined,” the agency

said.

Growth is being led by the rapid rise of solar PV (photovoltaic) technology, which converts sunlight into energy. It will account for around 80 per cent of the increase, followed by wind, hydro, bioenergy and geothermal.

‘A

BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL’

In response to the news, UN Secretary-General António Guterres tweeted that “the clean-energy future is no longer a distant promise – it’s here.”

He urged the international community to “seize this historic opportunity and supercharge the global shift towards a better future for all.”

The reports echo the findings of the Secretary-General’s Moment of Opportunity report, issued in July.

They also reflect messages by world leaders attending his Climate Sum-

Increasing investments in solar, wind power, hydropower and biomass will be essential to reducing global reliance on coal and oil (UNDP Georgia)

mit held last month during high-level week as part of the lead-up to the COP30 conference in Brazil this November.

However, the UN chief has consistently stressed that whilst progress has been made, the energy transition is not yet fast or fair enough.

Therefore, efforts need to be stepped up if the world is to meet the goal of limiting global

temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as

outlined in the Paris Agreement on climate change. (UN News)

Gold hits record US$4,000 an ounce as uncertainty fuels rally

THE price of gold has hit a record high of more than $4,000 (£2,974) an ounce as investors look for safe places to put their money over concerns about economic and political uncertainty around the world.

The precious metal has seen its biggest rally since the 1970s, rising by more than 25% since April when US President Donald Trump announced tariffs which have upset global trade.

Analysts point to delays in the reporting of economic data due to the US government shutdown as another reason for the rise.

Gold is seen as a so-called

strategist.

The shutdown is about to enter its second week.

Investors have turned to safe haven assets like gold during previous US government shutdowns.

It rose by nearly four per cent during the month-long shutdown in Trump’s first term in the White House.

But gold prices could fall if the shutdown ends more quickly than some investors are expecting, said Mr Wong.

Gold’s “unprecedented rally” in the past month has surpassed analysts’ expectations, said UOB bank’s head of markets strategy Heng Koon How.

He added that the rise is

safe-haven investment, which is expected to retain or increase its value in times of market turbulence or economic downturns.

The price of spot goldthe amount you receive if you sell the precious metal over the counter - hit $4,000 for the first time on Wednesday morning in Asia.

Gold futures - which serve as a gauge of market sentiment - reached the same level on 7 October. Futures are agreements to buy or sell the asset at a pre-determined date in the future.

The US government shutdown, which was triggered by repeated impasses over public spending, is a “tailwind for gold prices”, said OCBC’s Christopher Wong, who is the Singapore-based bank’s rates

years,” he said.

As Mr Gregersen highlighted, gold prices fall as well as rise.

Its price may dip if there is a hike in interest rates or geopolitical tensions and political uncertainties ease, said OCBC’s Mr Wong.

In April, for instance, the price of gold fell by around 6% after Trump backed off from firing Fed Chair Jerome

Powell, he said.

“Gold is often seen as a hedge against uncertainty, but the hedge can be unwound.”

And in 2022, gold’s value plunged from $2,000 to $1,600 an ounce, after the US central bank raised interest rates to curb the inflation which was triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, said UOB’s Mr Heng.

A key risk to gold’s current

rally is a sudden resurgence in inflation, which could prompt the Federal Reserve to raise rates, he added.

The recent climb in gold prices reflects expectations that the Fed will lower interest rates, making gold more attractive, said Mr Wong.

Meanwhile, Trump has ramped up pressure on the Fed, publicly criticising Mr Powell for not cutting rates

quick enough and attempting to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook.

The president’s targeting of the Fed can “undermine confidence in the [its] ability to act as a credible, inflation-targeting central bank,” said Mr Wong.

In such an environment, gold’s role as a hedge against uncertainty “gains renewed importance,” he said. (BBC)

also tied to the weakening US dollar and more non-professional buyers, known as retail investors, purchasing gold.

Gregor Gregerson, the founder of precious metals dealer and storage provider Silver Bullion, said he has seen customers numbers more than double in the last year.

Retail investors, banks and wealthy families have increasingly turned to gold, viewing it as a safeguard against global economic uncertainty, he said.

“Most of our clients are long-term holders,” Mr Gregersen added, explaining that the majority of his customers store their gold for more than four years.

“Gold will fall at some point, but I believe given the economic environment, it’s on an upward trend for a least five

Minister Todd attends Italy-Latin America and the Caribbean Ministerial Conference

THE Honourable Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, attended the XII Italy-Latin America and the Caribbean Ministerial Conference held on October 6th and 7th, 2025, in Rome, Italy, under the theme: “Italy-Latin America and the Caribbean: a growing partnership.”

The conference was held under the chairmanship of the Honourable Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International

Cooperation, Italy. The conference featured thematic panels on areas, including economic partnerships for growth and free trade, energy co-operation, and legal diplomacy in anticipation of the 4th EU-CELAC Summit.

During his intervention, Minister Todd reminded the conference that “the world has evolved significantly, and the dynamics of the international community have shifted, since the launch of the biennial forum in 2003.

The minister further highlighted that the growing

economic inequality, climate change, energy security, food insecurity, and significant demographic shifts, remain some of the major challenges that require international attention and policy solutions.

Minister Todd stated that the rapid global changes and challenges to the rules-based order anchored in the UN Charter, highlight the urgent need for shared solutions and reinforced bi-regional partnerships.

He posited that the Italy-LAC mechanism offers a valuable framework for effectively addressing the common economic and

developmental challenges, while advancing mutual interests.

In concluding, Minister Todd said that Guyana recognises the vital role of international trade which serves as a strategic instrument to deepen political and economic relations. He further underscored the significance of expanding and deepening collaboration, free trade, and economic partnership agreements between the European Union and Latin American and Caribbean countries, to foster inclusive, fair, and sustainable growth.

The Italy-Latin America

Minister Hugh Todd at the XII Italy-Latin America and the Caribbean Ministerial Conference held in Rome, Italy (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation/Facebook)

and Caribbean Ministerial Conference is the main forum for political dialogue, which meets every two years and is organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in collaboration with the Italian-Latin American Institute (IILA).

GCOPD

Minister Todd was accompanied by Mr Colin Luckie, First Secretary of Guyana’s Permanent Mission in Geneva. (Foreign Affairs Ministry)

welcomes plan to

reform

‘Board of Guardians’ –– to enhance access to public assistance

THE Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) has expressed appreciation to the Government of Guyana for the announcement regarding the reform of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Board of Guardians.

On Thursday, October 3, 2025, Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo made this announcement in his press conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. Dr. Jagdeo emphasised during his press conference that these reforms are essential to tackle the various reports of exclusion and bias in the approval process for public assistance.

He also mentioned that the reforms will guarantee accessibility and fairness in the process for all eligible applicants.

“As a community, we embrace this announcement with great enthusiasm. For an extended period, numerous individuals with disabilities faced exclusion from public assistance because of arbitrary decisions made by the Board of Guardians, despite the clear visibility of their disabilities. We are glad that the reforms will lead to the development of a criteria-based system with clear metrics, ensuring objectivity in the approval process,” GCOPD said in a press release.

The council added: “We urge the Government to guarantee that an individual with a disability is appointed to each Board of Guardians to ensure that the interests of persons with disabilities are adequately represented.” GCOPD said it is pleased to embrace this essential reform and committed to contributing to the reform process as it progresses.

Authorities report steady progress on GtE project

WORK on the landmark gas-to-energy (GtE) project continues to progress as another concrete pour took place earlier this week.

This was according to the Office of the Prime Minister in a social media post, which stated, “Another major concrete pour took place last evening at the Wales Gas-to-Energy project site, marking steady progress on this transformational national project.”

These concrete pours serve as a critical part of the foundation for several parts of the project.

Just last month, Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar conducted a site visit to the project.

At that time, it was noted that overall construction of the project stood at some 68 per cent.

It was disclosed during that visit that the foundation for the natural gas liquids

facility and the foundation for the gas turbines are being built.

Most recently, the foundation was poured for the first one, and the second foundation will be poured in another week. This will continue until the foundations for all turbines are complete.

To this end it was further noted that by the end of the year, contractors told officials that the foundations for all components will be complete.

As part of the project, Lindsayca officials disclosed that they have implemented a 120-day schedule to complete the foundation works for the turbines by the end of the year.

According to official Ruben Figuera, this timeline was set to bring the project up to speed with the civil works among other things to prepare for the installation of turbines and other aspects of the project.

More local content benefits to come

––

with

new PSAs

to

be

signed from recent bid round, Local Content Secretariat Director says

DIRECTOR of Guyana’s Local Content Secretariat, Michael Munroe, has said that with new entrants coming soon to Guyana’s energy sector, bountiful opportunities lie ahead for local businesses.

Munroe was at the time speaking on the ‘Starting Point’ podcast, during which he stated that the Local Content Act remains pivotal in ensuring that Guyanese meaningfully participate in the oil and gas sector.

With new entrants set to sign Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs), he noted that these companies, too, will be required to comply with the provisions of the act, paving the way for expanded local content prospects.

“The story ahead of us is very exciting because we have now new entrants coming into the market, new entrants having to comply with the local content Act. So, there will be bountiful opportunities within our local space for local companies to participate,” he said.

He noted that the Act introduced a structured framework for participation and accountability, requiring operators to develop a five-year Local Content Master Plan outlining procurement activities, employment targets, and local development strategies.

Against this backdrop, he said, “So they too now have to do accommodation, transportation, every single sector that is listed in the first schedule.”

Guyana’s local content framework created a schedule with 40 sectors where capacity existed and requires that companies in the oil and gas industry, in their yearly spend, must seek to achieve those targets identified by procuring those services from Guyanese companies.

Further to this, he indi-

cated that the framework has been critical in allowing local companies to not only participate but to grow through consistent year-on-year procurement across those areas.

He stated that the new petroleum companies entering Guyana’s basin will now have to prepare to implement similar plans once they are granted petroleum exploration licences.

The local content head said, “There is tremendous opportunity for local companies currently participating to expand and grow their businesses, but more so to allow other Guyanese who might have an interest to explore the opportunities and see how they can be a part of Guyana’s petroleum story.”

Munroe emphasised that the Act was designed to ensure that Guyanese benefit directly from the country’s petroleum resources. “In many producing countries, citizens don’t get to meaningfully participate, but Guyana’s story is different,” he said.

With a bid round concluded, four companies are expected to sign their first PSAs with the Government of Guyana this month.

Private sector in support of President Ali’s plan to ‘rescue’ city -former PSC chair

–– says council should work with gov’t on initiative

FORMER Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and chairman of the GAICO Construction company, Komal Singh has thrown his full support behind President, Dr Irfaan Ali’s recently announced plans to transform the capital city, Georgetown.

Singh was at the time speaking on the “Spotlight” programme, during which he described the President’s intervention as long overdue and urged the Mayor and City Council to embrace the initiative as a collaborative effort rather than view it as interference.

“When he announced this initiative, the first thought that came to my mind, it’s long overdue,” Singh stated.

“It was very encouraging to see that the President is taking that bold initiative but at the same time, it was somewhat regrettable that the President had to intervene to help bring our city back to some semblance of order, when the basic responsibility for maintaining our city and keeping our city up to [a] certain standard should have come from the Mayor and City Council,” he added.

Singh went on to say that while the situation is unfortunate, the intervention will serve as a catalyst for broader development across the country.

“Whatever we see going to be happening here over the next couple of months, as they unfold, it will also use now as a catalyst to transcend across our country… the intention here is to make sure that our country, and not just our city alone, but our country, meets some level of international standard when it comes to cleanliness,” Singh said.

Against this backdrop, he stated that the private sector is prepared to support the President’s efforts.

He said, “I think all the private sector [bodies] across the country, here right now, will welcome this initiative and jump on board and work with the President to make sure we can see some level of transformation within the shortest possible time.”

Further to this, he stated that he believes the challenges facing the city council are

not solely financial, but also stem from a lack of political will and enforcement.

“It is not about the funding. It is with having the political will to get it done,” he stressed. “If the city is allowing people to dump garbage with no consequences, then people continue to dump the garbage; there need to be consequences for your action.”

Singh added that enforcement should be a joint effort.

“We need to hold people accountable for it. And I think that that is a collective effort from the City Council and government and police and EPA need to start getting involved and making sure that people are held accountable for their actions.”

To this end, he defended the president’s right to intervene, noting that it is the president’s right to ensure that every citizen around the country lives and does their business on a daily basis in an environment that is clean, conducive and healthy.

Singh further encouraged co-operation between the council and government.

“If the President gets involved… I don’t think it’s in any shape or form he’s taking away any authority from the City Council.

The City Council should be very happy that government is participating in helping develop the city and I will encourage the city council to work with the government on this initiative.”

VPAC raises concerns over Mohamed’s

ability to take up seat in National Assembly

— highlights serious criminal indictment, implications in U.S

THE Vigilant Political Action Committee (VPAC) has issued a strong call for a consensus opposition leader to be named in light of a formal indictment of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Party Leader and Member of Parliament-elect, Azruddin Mohamed, in the United States on serious criminal charges.

According to VPAC, the charges, which have been

derived from an extensive investigation by U.S. authorities, have cast a ‘dark shadow’ over the integrity of the country’s parliamentary system and raise significant doubts about Mohamed’s future participation in the National Assembly.

“If it has not already been initiated, we fully expect the United States Government to issue a formal extradition request to the Government of Guyana,

which, from all indications, will be granted,” a statement from the party read

“Once extradited, there is serious doubt that he would be granted bond, given the gravity of the charges and the clear interest of US authorities in securing his immediate custody,” VPAC added.

In light of these developments, VPAC is urging the senior leadership of all Opposition parties to

urgently convene and determine a consensus candidate for the role of Leader of the Opposition, as well as to decide on who will be nominated as Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

“The Opposition cannot afford to stumble out of the gate. The eyes of the country and indeed the world are now on how the Opposition conducts itself in this delicate moment. With WIN holding 16 seats, APNU

12, and the Forward Guyana Movement One, it is not the time for jockeying, grandstanding, or internal rivalries,” VPAC added.

In its statement, VPAC also stressed that opposition must first demonstrate an ability to lead itself before it can credibly offer leadership to the people of Guyana.

U.S. prosecutors recently unsealed an indictment against Nazar Mohamed and his son, Azruddin Mohamed. The paper trail painted a clear picture of an alleged sophisticated scheme to evade millions in taxes and royalties owed to Guyana while funnelling their wealth through international wires, shipping companies and luxury assets.

A 17-page indictments handed down in the Southern District of Florida sketch a trail of gold and deceit that began in 2017, during the tenure of the APNU+AFC Coalition government and allegedly ran for seven years across flowing from Georgetown to Miami and from Dubai to California, through a system designed to evade taxes and enrich the men behind one of Guyana’s largest gold exporters.

According to U.S. prosecutors, the family business, Mohamed’s Enterprise, paid the Guyana Revenue Authority (2 per cent tax) and Guyana Gold Board (5 per cent royalty) the required taxes and royalties on select gold shipments in order to secure official seals.

Meanwhile, criminal charges have since been instituted against Azruddin

under the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01, with hearings ongoing before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The junior Mohamed is charged under the Customs Act with knowingly making and subscribing to a false declaration to the GRA on or about December 7, 2020, by declaring the purchase price of a 2020 Lamborghini Roadster SVJ as US$75,300, while the authority contends the actual value of the vehicle was US$695,000.

According to the particulars of another charge, on or about December 7, 2020, at GRA’s Camp Street office, he fraudulently declared the value of the vehicle to be US$75,300 instead of $695, 000, which resulted in taxes in the sum of $383,383,345 being evaded.

In addition to the Lamborghini, the GRA has alleged that Mohamed and several family members significantly undervalued other luxury vehicles during importation, prompting the Authority to seek payment of approximately $1.2 billion in taxes.

In April 2025, the Full Court of Demerara denied the GRA’s application to overturn the injunction granted by Justice Gino Persaud, leaving the vehicles in the Mohamed family’s possession.

GRA has appealed the Full Court’s ruling.

The decision on the Judicial Review proceedings and the GRA’s Notice of Application is expected from Justice Persaud on October 31.

Gov’t lowers truck axle load limit to 15 tonnes

TRUCK operators in Guyana will now face stricter weight limits as part of government’s new regulations which aim to curb road and bridge damage caused by overloaded vehicles.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill announced on Monday that Cabinet has approved a maximum axle load of 15 tonnes for trucks traversing the nation’s roads and bridges.

The new regulation replaces the previous limit of 18 tonnes that was permitted on the old Demerara Harbour Bridge.

The move is expected to curb the growing problem of overloaded vehicles damaging the country’s infrastructure, Minister Edghill said during a Monday press briefing.

To ensure compliance, the Ministry of Public Works will soon introduce a “clampand-weigh” system using advanced weigh-in-motion technology.

According to Minister

Edghill, 1,000 truck clamps have already been procured for the police to enforce the new rule.

“Fifteen tonnes per axle. That is the weight we are allowing on bridges and roads in the country. When you’re caught with overweight, it’s not just a ticket — we’re clamping you, and you’re going to stay there until you discharge the weight,” the minister warned.

“If we allow you to continue to go overweight, you’re causing damage as you go along. The ticket can’t pay for that. So, wherever you are caught with the overweight, you will park there, we will clamp you, and you will get another truck to discharge,” he said.

He stressed that the government will strictly enforce these measures to protect public investments in the country’s expanding road and bridge network.

“Cabinet has already given approval for the regulations, which I am now

GCCI commends govt’s initiatives for economic advancement through business development

THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has recognised the Government of Guyana’s strategic and decisive actions to bolster economic advancement through business development by creating accessible financing and banking options, and modernising the stock exchange.

According to a press release from GCCI, the Chamber eagerly anticipates the positive impacts that the implementation of these decisions will have on the business community, particularly Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME).

At the GCCI’s recently held ‘Energy Insights Breakfast Brief’ by President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali announced that the reports from the technical teams on these pursuing endeavours will be completed within this month.

“With the inclusion of US$200 million in seed funding, mechanisms for more accessibility of bank accounts for citizens, and an interest-free development bank in these planned initiatives, the Chamber welcomes this renewed focus on private sector development.

“Timely, too, is the planned modernisation of the stock exchange, which will create new avenues for Guyanese to invest through the purchase of stocks, and the creation of new potential capital streams for businesses,” GCCI said.

The formal announcement of these initiatives follows several meetings hosted by Dr. Ali with representatives of business support organisations, as well as stakeholders of the finance industry.

The GCCI said it is pleased that the government is acting with urgency in addressing the challenges raised by the private sector while creating the framework for a thriving business landscape.

The chamber remains committed to collaborating with the government for the progressive development of the private sector.

putting into effect as the minister responsible for transportation,” Edghill stated.

Minister Edghill also issued a warning to operators transporting loose materials such as sand and slush, reminding them that it is an offence to drive without properly covering their loads.

“It is an offence to trav-

el without a covering,” he stressed.

He recounted a recent incident on the East Coast of Demerara, where he personally ordered a truck to be grounded after it was spotted spilling sand onto the roadway—a hazard, he noted, that endangers other motorists and was highlight-

ed by the recent death of a motorcyclist.

The minister urged truck drivers to act responsibly and comply fully with the new rules.

He emphasised that responsible road use is essential not only for safety but also for the longevity of the country’s infrastructure.

Work ongoing to complete northern section of four-lane approach road to new BJDRB

THE Ministry of Public Works has said that following the official opening of the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge on the evening of October 5, 2025, and the subsequent closure of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, works will now commence to complete the northern section of the four-lane approach road at Meer Zorgen.

With the bridge now in operation, the contractor has been granted full access to the area to undertake the final phase of road construction.

“This involves the completion of the two additional lanes on the northern side of the approach road, which will facilitate smoother and more efficient traffic flow to and from the new bridge,” the ministry said in a press release.

The ministry added: “Be-

ginning today [October 7, 2025] the contractor will be working around the clock to ensure the timely completion of this critical infrastructure.

The ministry anticipates that the works will be completed within two weeks.”

During this period, mo-

torists and residents in the vicinity are advised to exercise caution and follow all traffic advisories and signage in place for their safety and the safety of construction workers.

The Ministry of Public Works thanked the public

for its patience and co-operation as they move swiftly to finalise this important national project — a key step in improving connectivity, reducing travel time, and supporting economic growth across the Demerara region.

CDC supports ExxonMobil Guyana’s national oil spill response exercise

THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has thrown its support behind a major multi-agency oil spill response exercise which started on Tuesday and will conclude today at the Guyana Marriott Hotel.

This event, hosted by ExxonMobil Guyana and facilitated by The Response Group (TRG), aimed to bring together national and sectoral stakeholders to test coordination, communications, and incident command procedures under simulated offshore incident conditions.

The CDC’s participation reinforced its mandate as

Guyana’s competent national authority for Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and particularly for oil spill response and its key coordinating role in ensuring an integrated and effective response to potential oil spill incidents.

The CDC is supported by the attendance of other key government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), and the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

CDC Director General, Colonel Nazrul Hussain, noted that this exercise forms part of Guyana’s broader efforts to strengthen preparedness and inter-agency coordination in alignment with the New Oil Pollution Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Responsibility Act, 2025, and the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP).

CDC remains committed to supporting all national and regional partners in developing a cohesive, well-trained response network that protects people, ecosystems, and economic assets. (DPI)

Police constable remanded for raping girl, 14

A 19-year-old police constable was on Monday charged with the rape of a minor and remanded to prison when he appeared before the Friendship Magistrate’s Court.

The accused, Erwin Gentle of Supenaam, Essequibo Coast, was arrested by ranks of Regional Division 4B and formally charged on Monday by an officer from the Division’s Gender-Based Violence Unit.

Erwin Gentle, a 19-year-old Police constable

He is accused of raping a 14-year-old girl. The charge was read to him by Her Worship Magistrate Tameika Clarke. Gentle was not required to plead and was remanded to prison.

The matter has been adjourned to October 27, 2025, for the presentation of protection statements.

CCJ commemorates its fourth president with special sitting

HEADS of Judiciaries, dignitaries, other regional judicial representatives, and staff of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), on Monday, convened at the Seat of the Court in Port of Spain, for a Special Sitting to commemorate the inauguration of Justice Winston Anderson as the Court’s fourth President.

According to a press release from the CCJ, Justice Anderson was inaugurated as CCJ President on July 6, 2025, in Montego Bay, Jamaica, ahead of the Opening of the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Before he was elevated to the Bench of the CCJ in 2010, President Anderson was a lecturer at The UWI Faculty of Law, joining in

The full CCJ Bench, along with Heads of Judiciaries of Barbados, Belize, Guyana, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, and Trinidad and Tobago, presides over the day’s proceedings

1988 and becoming a professor in 2006. At the Faculty, he served as Deputy Dean, Head of Teaching, General Counsel to the Caribbean Community

(on secondment), and Executive Director of the Caribbean Law Institute Centre. He is the founding Chairman of the CCJ Academy for Law,

established in 2010.

In his remarks at the Special Sitting, President Anderson said the establishment of the CCJ has increased access

to final appellate justice for Caribbean citizens. Citing Barbados as an example, President Anderson shared: “There were 19 appeals from Barbados to the Privy Council in the 20 years immediately before 2005 [before the Court was established]; in the 20 years since then, there have been 105 appeals from Barbados to the CCJ, an increase of over 450 per cent.”

However, he added: “There would have been a significantly larger number of CCJ appellate decisions had there been full compliance with the obligation in the CCJ Agreement for all member states to join the Appellate Jurisdiction of the Court. The opportunity cost of non-accession can therefore be measured in terms of reduced access to justice, which is also a denial of justice. Equally, there is a corresponding loss in the opportunity to fulfill the mandate of the CCJ Agreement to develop a Caribbean jurisprudence that is responsive to all areas of Caribbean life.”

President Anderson’s remarks on delivering access to justice to all Caribbean citizens were echoed by the various speakers throughout the event. Among them was Chief Justice of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Justice Ivor Archie, ORTT, who said the Trinidad and Tobago Judiciary stood ready to work with President Anderson to fulfil his vision of making justice more accessible to the region.

“Today’s ceremony celebrated the embodiment and continuance of a dream long held across the region, a dream of a Caribbean jurisprudence shaped by Caribbean minds and serving Caribbean people,” Chief Justice Archie said, noting: “Although the dream is still under construction, there could be no better argument for its pursuit than the people who sat on and led the CCJ Bench.”

Also speaking on his experience with the CCJ President was Senator John Jeremie, SC, the Attorney General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

He recalled his first encounter with President Anderson, at the Faculty of Law at the University of the West Indies (UWI).

Attorney General Jeremie said he was impressed by President Anderson’s calm demeanour and integrity, adding: “over the years, I came to respect his deep appreciation for the rule of law and to our Caribbean project.”

Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, Principal of UWI, St Augustine, said his appointment was also a win for UWI.

Professor Belle Antoine made the call for advocates and judges who identify with the regional ethos and understand its issues, to reflect deeply on them, and then go on to support or rebuild our system if needed. CCJ President Anderson, she said, fills that spot.

Also present at the sitting was former CCJ President, Sir Dennis Byron, who offered a vote of confidence to President Anderson and reflected on some of his landmark cases and his involvement in the development of the Needham’s Point Declaration, which has “provided a concrete, regionally-approved framework for our collective fight against crime.”

In her opening remarks, CCJ Judge, Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee said President Anderson’s ascension marked his dedication to the peoples of the region.

Justice Rajnauth-Lee said: “Your respectful engagement with different perspectives and your steadfast commitment to collaborative problem solving have not only elevated the quality of our discourse and enriched the work of the Court but have also inspired each of us.”

Lisa Shoman, General Counsel, CARICOM, underscored that the CCJ was greatly needed in a time of global instability, insecurity, and turmoil.

She said: “More than ever, CARICOM depends on our commitment to integration, the rule of law, democracy, and respect of human rights. The Caribbean Court of Justice plays a seminal role in offering us guidance, support, and a guarantee of impartial decision-making in its original jurisdiction.”

General Counsel Shoman said: “The innings of the next seven years helmed by President Anderson will shape and transform the Community.”

Guyana School of Agriculture to be upgraded

AS Guyana moves forward with developing its agricultural sector, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha visited the Guyana School of Agriculture’s (GSA) main campus at Mon Repos on the East Coast of Demerara to discuss some of the policies that will be implemented over the next five years.

Minister Mustapha, while engaging students, teachers and other staff members of the institution, said that the government was positioning GSA to be at the forefront, producing graduates who are innovative and solution-driven.

As the CARICOM region’s premier agricultural academic institution, Minister Mustapha said that the GSA is a critical component to developing a resilient agricultural sector for the region.

“As Guyana leads regional efforts in agri-food production and food security, GSA must be at the forefront, producing graduates who are not only trained, but innovative and solution-driven. As you know, Guyana is leading the agriculture and food security agenda in CARICOM. As the next generation of agricultur-

ists, GSA must play a direct role in achieving every target set by CARICOM which included ‘Vision 25 by 2025 + 5’ through enhanced training, meaningful research, and community engagement as the future of agriculture depends on our ability to produce skilled technicians, agro-entrepreneurs, and researchers,” he noted.

Minister Mustapha also said the government will be restructuring the curriculum to include ICT, agri-business and biotechnology.

“We have to modernise the curriculum to ensure it reflects academic and technical excellence. Globally, agriculture today is data-driven, tech-enabled, and globally connected. Our curriculum must evolve to include ICT in agriculture, agri-business, climate-smart farming, and biotechnology and this institution, GSA, must become a hub for applied research that supports our national priorities like climate resilience, pest management, agro-processing and food safety. Even as we make those adjustments, it’s critical for us to align our training programmes with the needs of today’s agriculture

sector by ensuring that every graduate is job-ready and innovation-ready,” said Minister Mustapha also told the gathering that investments are being made to upgrade classrooms, labs, and demonstration plots. He also said that ICT tools will also

–– Minister Mustapha announces, says institution a key stakeholder as nation leads regional efforts in agri-food production, food security

be made available to ensure GSA becomes a 21st-century facility.

Additionally, as an immediate intervention, tractor operator certification training will recommence at the facility. Students attending the GSA will be thought to operate

manually operated tractors as part of their practical training and will receive a certificate at the end of their academic courses.

Over the last five years, the Government of Guyana has also offered scholarships to CARICOM countries for students to study at the GSA. Currently, students from St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada and Jamaica are attending the institution. Minister Mustapha was accompanied by Director General, Dhaneshwar Deonarine. (Ministry of Agriculture)

Traffic Chief warns of prosecution for lawbreakers at Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge

By Feona Morrison

TRAFFIC Chief, Mahen -

dra Singh, has issued a stern warning to motorists who disregard traffic rules on the newly opened Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, making it clear that offenders will face prosecution.

“For every action of yours that is not contextualised to be lawful, and the points will be proven, you can and will be charged or

ticketed and placed before a court of law,” Singh declared during a Ministry of Public Works media briefing on Monday.

The Traffic Chief said his department will ensure daily accountability and enforce-

ment as authorities work to manage the heavy traffic volumes experienced since the bridge opened.

“We will report every day to Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill as to offenders, cases made, and

the follow-up when they are prosecuted,” he stated.

Singh said that the police had observed early congestion on Monday but moved swiftly to remedy the situation. “It was remedied to the two lanes of traffic flowing in either direction — that is from the access road onto the bridge and away from the bridge.”

He assured that measures are now in place to prevent a recurrence of Monday morning’s gridlock and to maintain continuous traffic movement.

“Taking that into consideration, the traffic ranks will now be positioned to deal directly with offence commission — that is, to see that the roundabouts, as they are self-regulated, will operate in that manner,” he said.

Singh also reminded drivers of the importance of obeying international traffic signage, particularly at the roundabouts. “Drivers are expected to understand that there is an international standardised signage that is on the roundabout that says, yield — not to come to a complete stop, but that you recognise speed must be broken to an acceptable level that will allow for continuous movement from either direction into the roundabout.”

He emphasised that law enforcement will act “in an unbiased manner” against any offender.

The Traffic Chief underscored that officers would continue to monitor and manage the situation closely in co-ordination with regional commanders.

He expressed frustration that traffic officials have had to repeatedly address the same issues without sufficient improvement.

“You wouldn’t want to go on only talking about this thing as a traffic officer. It’s painful to come each time for the past two years just to be talking. I’m not noted for being much of a talker, so I’d rather be doing something, or I should be re-

moved for doing nothing,” he said frankly.

He urged motorists to use the various routes available to access the new bridge. Drivers departing central Georgetown can reach the bridge via two primary routes: the East Bank Highway, turning east at Providence’s Red Road to connect with Windsor Access Road leading directly to the bridge; or through the Mandela-to-Heroes Highway link, continuing west to the bridge’s access point.

Motorists travelling from the East Coast can utilise the bypass road, while those approaching from the southern direction have several options — including Greenfield, Red Road, or by proceeding directly to the main roundabout that connects to the bridge.

He concluded by assuring the public that the Traffic Department is committed to ensuring smoother, safer, and more efficient use of the new bridge.

The US$262 million bridge, constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation Limited, has a lifespan of 100 years and offers toll-free access.

The new bridge features four lanes and stretches 2,798 metres, linking Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) to La Grange on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD). At its tallest point, the structure reaches 50 metres, allowing Handymax vessels to pass safely beneath it. Its design features the Cacique Crown.

More than 50,000 daily commuters are expected to benefit from the new bridge, resulting in an estimated $3.5 billion in annual savings.

The project adheres to strict international best practices, with materials tested to the highest standards, and processes meeting International Organization for Standardization (ISO) benchmarks.

UG’s Dr. Edwards appointed President

of Caribbean Sociological Association

DOCTOR Duane Edwards of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Guyana (UG), has been appointed President of the Caribbean Sociological Association (CASA).

According to information from UG, his appointment places him among a distinguished line of Caribbean leaders who have guided CASA, including Professors, Vice-Chancellors, and Deans of universities across the region.

Reflecting on the honour, Dr. Edwards said sociology has always been his life’s passion and that leading the foremost sociological association in the Caribbean is both an accomplishment and a responsibility.

As President, he will be responsible for steering the association toward its objectives, including mainstreaming sociology as a scientific discipline to better understand and develop Caribbean societies.

His plans include creating more opportunities for sociologists and social scientists in the region and diaspora to share their research, strengthening connections between academia, policy, and society, and hosting CASA’s flagship annual conference. Dr. Edwards has also shared that the 2026 edition of the conference will be held in Guyana.

At the recently held CASA Annual Conference at the University College of the Cayman Islands, Dr. Edwards participated in plenaries and panels, including a roundtable on the state of sociology globally.

He shared his perspective on the role of Caribbean sociology in shaping global sociology and presented a paper examining the shift in Guyana’s national development priorities since becoming a petroleum economy.

The University of Guyana was well represented at the conference, with a contingent of faculty members contributing to important discussions on Guyana’s socio-economic development and wider Caribbean issues.

Among them were FSS’ Dean, Dr. Dianna DaSilva-Glasgow, former Dean, Dr. Paulette Henry, and Assistant Dean, Ms. Dionne Frank, along with other colleagues from the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Dr. Edwards noted that his appointment creates fresh opportunities for research collaboration, student and faculty exchanges, and stronger regional linkages to tackle shared challenges across Caribbean societies.

The Fifth CASA Annual Conference, held from September 24–26, 2025, at the University College of the Cayman Islands, formed part of UCCI’s 50th anniversary celebrations and

was the Association’s largest gathering to date.

The event featured more than 60 papers, along with roundtables and plenaries, and brought together schol-

ars, students, policymakers, and practitioners from across the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.

The conference served

as a platform for advancing sociological research, dialogue, and collaboration across borders.

The University of Guyana congratulated Dr. Edwards on this significant achievement and extended best wishes for his tenure as President of the Caribbean Sociological Association.

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CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) 14 WI players (2) 15 Nepal players

Today’s Quiz: (1) What has been the result of the first Test match in the current WI/IND series? (2) Who was voted Man of the Match?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue (Wednesday October 8, 2025)

(CMC) - West Indies legend

Brian Lara has issued a dual challenge in the wake of the team’s recent struggles, urging current players to rediscover the “passion” that defined his generation, while acknowledging the undeniable financial lure of global T20 leagues that pull talent away from the regional side.

Lara’s comments come after the West Indies’ defeat to India in the first Test, where current captain Roston Chase pointed to “infrastructure problems” and a continuous “struggle for finances.”

Both men are part of

Cricket West Indies’ cricket strategy and officiating committee, highlighting the internal recognition of these systemic issues.

“If you want to get things done, you have to have the capital to do it. So that is a major part,” Lara stated on the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards.

“But at the same time, I would like to urge Roston Chase and the other guys, do they have cricket at heart? Do they really want to play for the West Indies?”

Lara pointed to the past as a benchmark for desire. “We did not have better facilities

30-40 years ago. Viv Richards didn’t bat on any better practice pitches, but the passion was different.

The passion to play for the West Indies was different,” he said. “So I agree with [Chase], but I still believe there is an onus on each young player to create that love and desire.”

However, the former captain was emphatic that players cannot be blamed for seeking financial security. He highlighted the stark “disparity” between the earnings from franchise cricket and those from representing the West Indies.

“I can’t blame any single player for wanting to pursue cricket as a career outside of the West Indies,” Lara said, calling for empathy.

“The onus is on Cricket West Indies to find a way to create, unify the efforts of the young players who want to go out, but also have them playing for us. In a series against India, we want to play good cricket against the best team in the world. So you want your best players out there.”

Using a football analogy, Lara cited Lionel Messi, who spent his entire club career in Europe, but remained a

dedicated and passionate cornerstone of the Argentine national team.

“Australia can do it. England can do it to keep their players loyal to their country. So we have to find a way to do that,” he said, calling for a unified effort from administrators, coaches, and players.

On the field, Lara identified batting as a critical weakness, noting the touring squad lacks a single batter with a Test average of 30. He advocated for a stronger firstclass system where players are picked on proven statistics, not just potential.

“I believe that if a player

Lara urges players to ‘rediscover passion’ for West Indies cricket Tourism Stakeholders must pull their – CWI CEO weight

CMC

– In a powerful address to the region’s tourism leaders, Cricket West Indies (CWI) CEO Chris Dehring issued a stark challenge, calling on airlines and hotels that profit from the sport to finally “pull their weight” and provide crucial financial support.

Speaking at the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), Dehring laid out the uncomfortable truth that while West Indies cricket has pumped over $200 million into the Caribbean tourism economy over the last 15 years, it has received almost nothing in return from the sector. “We’ve spent US$82.5 million on airlift over the last fifteen years, but received zero dollars in sponsorship from airlines,” Dehring stated, highlighting a relationship he described as “one-sided.” “It is not fair to the development of our sport.” The financial figures presented were staggering: US$82.5 million spent on airlift for teams and officials. US$120 million spent on hotel accommodations across the region.

Despite this massive injection of cash, Dehring revealed that sponsorship from the tourism sector has been virtually non-existent, with one notable exception: Sandals Resorts International.

He praised Sandals for setting “the benchmark for meaningful support,” while pointing out that the rest of the regional hotel sector has failed to follow their lead.

“The truth is, the rest of the regional hotel sector has never matched their example,” Dehring said.

The CWI CEO framed this not as a plea, but as a necessary conversation for the survival of the game.

He argued that tourism reaps tremendous benefits from cricket, driving visitor arrivals, filling hotel rooms, and strengthening the Caribbean brand—while CWI is left to shoulder the entire financial burden.

“This is not about shifting responsibility. It is about acknowledging that CWI as an organisation cannot do it alone,” Dehring stressed. “Shared investment is critical at this juncture for future-proofing our beloved game.”

is being picked on potential only and he does not have the stats to go with it, it is very difficult for him to get to this higher level,” Lara explained. He suggested that the current situation may lead to players maturing later, similar to Graham Gooch or Mike Hussey, and stressed the importance of a stronger domestic grind.

“Back in my day, you had to break records,” Lara recalled. “You carried the towel, carried the water, before you finally got in. And during that period of time, you grew, you matured. And some mature faster than others.”

Minister Jacobs, Assistant Director of Sport Wilson visit West Ruimveldt

JUNIOR Minister in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steven Jacobs and Assistant Director of Sport Franklyn Wilson headed a delegation on their ongoing Community Outreach Programme by visiting Gilhouse Square in West Ruimveldt over the weekend.

That area is called Gilhouse Square because Gordon Gilhouse, the former police officer turned magistrate, lived there.

Minister Jacobs, a former West Indies U-19 captain and national senior cricketer, interacted with the commu-

nity on the basketball court, where he presented footballs to the footballers.

Minister Jacobs and his team listened to complaints and suggestions from the community to improve the standard of the facility and its environs. There is a large grass area at the back of the concrete tarmac, and a group of residents lamented that they had to weed the area monthly to prevent it from being an eyesore. That area was littered with plastic bottles since there are no garbage bins. It also revealed that garbage collectors allegedly ask for

payment to dispose of articles not in garbage bins.

Councillor Alfonso De Armas was asked to work on the garbage issue. A member of the team was mandated to work on the weeding issue.

The youths who were reminded of the importance of attending school informed Minister Jacobs that football, cricket and basketball share the tarmac. The youngsters suggested that the grass area be prepared for football.

The residents requested that the entire area be fenced and lights installed, so that those who work in the day could participate in physical

activities at night.

It was disclosed that many young men in the community are unemployed.

The minister disclosed that interested persons can register on the ministry’s Facebook page to learn a trade at the GTI.

“Make an appointment to go to the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport on Main Street (opposite COURTS) for more details about getting involved in skills training,” he said.

Rastafarian ‘Nia Man’ is accomplished in making African drums, and Minister Jacobs spoke to the former

Queen’s College student to see what he could do to help, since culture is a part of his ministry.

The minister said it was a mandate from President Ali to meet communities and find out what they would like from the government.

“We might not be able to do everything you ask, but please know that this government is committed to improving your lives,” Minister Jacobs told the gathering.

The small area has produced several national footballers, including Christopher Giles and boxers, including Guyana’s only Olympic

medalist, Mike Parris, former Caribbean Table Tennis Champion and GOA President Godfrey Munroe and weightlifter Wayne Cosier.

Other notable performers from the area include now CEO of Ansa McAl Troy Cadogan, who played youth cricket for Malteenoes, along with Kenneth Wong and Sean Devers who both represented Malteenoes and Guyana in cricket and the former of whom is a sport journalist.

The late Calvin Roberts had also played youth cricket for Malteenoes before he became a sports Journalist.

Hetmyer sets sights on ILT20 trophy with Desert Vipers

CMC – WEST Indies powerhouse Shimron Hetmyer has laid down a bold marker for the start of 2026, setting himself a formidable triple challenge: win the DP World ILT20 with his new team, the Desert Vipers, force his way back into the West Indies squad, and then clinch the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

The 28-year-old lefthander, a marquee wildcard signing for the Vipers, believes a triumphant campaign in the UAE could be the perfect springboard to propel him back onto the international stage and help the West Indies reclaim a global trophy. After a stint with the Guyana Amazon Warriors that saw them finish as CPL runners-up, Hetmyer is eager to make an immediate impact in the Vipers’ colours.

“I am going to try to repay the faith shown in me,” Hetmyer stated. Hopefully, we can gel as a team and lift the franchise’s first trophy. I’m also aiming to hit my best form leading into the

World Cup and do everything I can to help the West Indies win it.”

Hetmyer brings a proven winner’s mentality, having already lifted the ILT20 trophy in its inaugural season with the Gulf Giants. He is confident the Vipers, who have reached the finals in two of the first three seasons, are on the cusp of their own championship.

“I am sure our chances this year are high,” he said.

“It’s fun to join a team with a very good record. I just cannot wait to get there and help the team cross that line.”

The Guyanese batter replaces his compatriot Sherfane Rutherford in the Vipers’ squad and arrives with glowing endorsements about the team’s environment from both Rutherford and fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell. He also has a strong existing relationship with Head Coach James Foster.

A globetrotting T20 veteran, Hetmyer has a special fondness for the ILT20, citing the unique competitive challenges it presents. “It’s one of my favourite leagues to play in. The pitches are good, but the ball nips around early on, which is a challenge compared to the Caribbean or India. The bigger grounds force you to hold your shape when executing big shots. That discipline helps me everywhere else, and it gives me the confidence to know I can hit more boundaries when I need to.”

As he prepares to don his preferred number 189, a tribute to his highest childhood score, for the Vipers, Hetmyer’s mission is clear: to transform personal ambition into collective success, starting in the UAE and culminating on the world stage.

“He is one of my favourite coaches,” Hetmyer revealed. “He is easy-spoken, someone you can easily go up to, ask questions, or just sit and talk cricket with. He helps take your mind off the game. I’ve heard nothing but good things, and I’m excited to experience it in person.”

RHTYSC/Bakewell Naeem

Nasir Memorial Tournament...

Underdogs Belvedere United emerges as champion

THE 13th annual Naeem Nasir Memorial Tournament organised by the cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club was played on Sunday last at the Area H Ground and Underdogs Belvedere United fought hard the entire way to emerged champions in almost darkness.

Six teams played in the tournament - Rose Hall Bakewell, Skeldon Community Centre, Achievers, Belvedere, Guymine and Rose Hall Tigers.

The tournament was organised in memory of the founder of Bakewell, Naeem Nasir who died in 2012 after a profound illness and was totally sponsored by the popular bakery.

In the opening round which was played over ten overs per side, Guymine defeated Achievers by 30 runs, Belvedere United breezed

past Skeldon Community Centre by nine wickets while Rose Hall Town Bakewell defeated their counterparts Rose Hall Tigers by 35 runs.

After a public draw, Guymine drew the bye to the finals while Rose Hall Bakewell and Belvedere United clashed in the semifinals.

The visitors won the toss and inserted the home team to bat first in the six overs match.

Rose Hall Town Bakewell chalked up 60 for 5 with guest player Omesh Mathura top scoring with 21 and Jonathan Rampersaud 12. Belvedere United knocked off the required runs for the loss of one wicket with four balls remaining. Devindra Latchman was 32 not out when victory was achieved.

With light failing fast, the organisers were forced to reduce the finals to a five

overs per side affair.

Belvedere won the toss again and invited Guymine to take first strike. Guymine led by an attacking 33 from national youth player Romario Ramdeholl was able to reach 71 for 3 from their allotted five overs. Marlon Shepherd supported with 29 as off spinner Leon Cecil took two wickets for sixteen runs from his one over.

Needing to score 72 runs from five overs to clinch their first ever tournament in the ancient county, Belvedere United was indebted to the informed Latchman who blasted two massive sixes and three fours in his score of 31 from only 12 balls. They needed two runs from the final ball of the match and Leon Cecil struck Dishawn Crandon for a boundary to start wild celebrations by his teammates.

RHTYSC Secretary Hilbert Foster stated that the

club was very pleased with the success of the tournament and he expressed thanks to the six teams for the role they played in the tribute to Mr Nasir.

Foster, the former President of the Berbice Cricket Board stated that the success of the club is closely tied to the support of Bakewell, who came on board as an official sponsor in 2000.

The relationship has resulted in over twelve Berbice championship at the under 17 and first division level.

The Rose Hall Town Bakewell teams has also pro-

duced over seventy-five players for Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies combined.

Players produced include Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Kevin Sinclair, Kelvon Anderson, Ashkay Homraj, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneeta Grimmond, Dominic Rikhi and Shabaki Gajnabi.

The Rose Hall Town Bakewell teams over the last twenty five years have also successfully hosted over one thousand personal development programmes under the sub headings of charity, educational, social, commu-

nity development and youth development.

The winning team Belvedere United took home one hundred thousand dollars and the Naeem Nasir Memorial trophy while the runner up and the third-place winner also received cash and trophies.

Man of the finals, Devindra Latchman also received a cash prize and trophy.

The day proceeding also included musical entertainment by a popular set and live ball by ball commentary by respected commentator Inderjeet Persaud.

CWI resumes Foundation Level & Refresher Coaching Courses

IN keeping with its strategic approach to train and develop an adequate high-quality coaching pool throughout the region, Cricket West Indies (CWI) has resumed its second (2nd) round of Foundation Level & Refreshers Cricket Coaching Course in the Leeward Islands and St. Vincent, in anticipation of the restart of primary schools and community-based grassroot cricket programmes.

The engagements commenced in Antigua & Barbuda on Thursday, 2nd October 2025 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, with the remaining sessions slated for Sunday, October 5th in Montserrat; Tuesday, October 7th in the British and US Virgin Islands; Friday, October 10th

in St. Maarten & Anguilla and concluding on Thursday, October 30th in St. Vincent.

Commenting on the importance of the ongoing coaching-education initiative, CWI’s Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe said, “The continuation of the Foundation Level and Refresher Coaching Courses reflects CWI’s strong commitment to developing high-quality coaching talent and strengthening cricketing infrastructure across the region.

"As we work closely with government and private sector partners to grow age-group cricket at both the school and community levels, investing in coaching education at this early stage is essential to building a solid foundation for the growth and future sustainability of the

sport in the region.”

Bascombe added, “By equipping coaches with the right tools and knowledge, we are creating a more inclusive and sustainable cricket pathway; one that supports the resurgence of grassroots and mass-participation cricket throughout the Caribbean.

"Flagship age-group development initiatives such as the Republic Bank Limited (RBL) Five for Fun Cricket and the Girls Under-16/19 Territorial Cricket Hub programmes, which are vital to driving development and inspiring the next generation of cricketers, will now benefit significantly from having a well-trained and qualified pool of foundation-level coaches in each territory.”

Leading the facilitation of these important courses are

Mr. Brendon Ramlal and Mr. Keshava Ramphal, both of whom hold Level 3 Coaching Certifications, and have

backgrounds in the primary and secondary education systems in Trinidad & Tobago.

The duo has been involved in age-group cricket development programmes and coaching for well over a decade, bringing a wealth of knowledge in areas such as child protection & safeguarding, analytics, tactical awareness, physical literacy & fitness and session-plan development, along with effective communication and feedback.

Demonstrating CWI’s commitment to the safety and well-being of young players, all participants were required to complete the online UNICEF Child Protection Course and attend a virtual Cricket Safeguarding & Child Protection Workshop before starting the coach -

ing-education programme. These vital prerequisites ensure that every coach enters the pathway equipped with the knowledge to create a safe, supportive environment for player development.

Previously, the Foundation Level & Refresher Coaching Courses were successfully hosted in Dominica, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, Grenada (inclusive of Carriacou), Jamaica and Barbados, with over 150 participants engaged in the coaching courses designed to equip current and aspiring coaches with the essential skills and knowledge to foster young talent and promote the growth of cricket at the grassroots level.

‘Great exposure’ for U-14 players in

THERE are many opportunities abound for Guyana’s female footballers in the ongoing Women’s Division One League, being staged by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) with support from FIFA.

Amongst those opportunities is a golden one presented to several national under-14 players who have thus far, featured for a handful of clubs in the tournament.

Ashante Scott of Monedderlust Football Club, Kellyann Ellis of Den Amstel and Guyana Police Force’s

(GPF) Leandra Henrito are amongst the under-14 girls who are competing following their semi-final finish in this year’s Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Girls’ U-14 challenge series.

Quizzed about the young girls’ participation in the tournament, which has produced goals thus far, GFF president Wayne Forde expressed that competition at a higher level can be good.

“I think the exposure is great because, you know, any player that is really developing well, if you give

Division One League

them a chance to play one or two years up, you don't want to take them too far up, and they can compete, they can be safe, because you always have to concern yourself in how the bigger, stronger players can hurt them.

If the coaching and technical staff of that team is managing that well and paying attention to it, and the safety of the player remains of utmost importance, then I think it's a good thing for them,” Forde reasoned.

The GFF Boss went on to share, “I think it's a further

statement of how good these girls are, that they're able to play in the division one league.

So, you know, kudos to them and their parents and their communities, who are certainly supporting them in this undertaking.”

Describing the teen players as ‘gifted’ Forde relished the rapid growth opportunity participation in the League presents.

“Because they're clearly gifted. They have good quality on the ball. They may not be able to have the

same strength and speed as compared to the older girls, but if they are pushing themselves, then their growth will be much faster as compared to if they were only playing at their age level,” he explained.

“So, I think it's a good thing and I would like to see more of these young women participating.

Of course, the logistics, because where some of them live, it's clearly a challenge, but we are happy to see some of them playing in the Women's Division One League,

and hopefully, the next edition, we can see more of them but I think it's all positive,” Forde went in to add.

The GFF Women’s Division One League will continue this evening at the National Training Centre (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Tonight’s first matchup at 18:00hrs will feature Den Amstel FC taking on the Guyana Police Force (GPF) while at 19:00hrs Fruta Conquerors battles the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

Works to re-commence on GFF National Training Centre

PRESIDENT of the Guyana Football Federation, Wayne Forde, said that they expect work to commence shortly on the next phase of the National Training Centre at Providence.

The facility is home to the lone all-weather surface for football in Guyana.

According to Forde, “The National Training Centre -- we will be making some announcements very soon about the next phase of work. We’ve just finished the tender process and there are some negotiations taking place as to how much funds will go towards the first phase but very soon, construction activity will start there.

I see us getting into those activities probably sometime late 2026 into 2027. It could be sooner based on the MoU and the energy or the commitment or the urgency of all the parties that the MoU brings to the table.”

World football governing body, FIFA, this year, approved the upgrades of the facility, advising the local body to work in partnership with the government.

‘We recently submitted a draft MoU to the government of Guyana because FIFA has asked us to do this in partnership and collaboration with the government. We are very optimistic that we will sign that at some point of time where the roles and responsibilities of FIFA, GFF and Government will be clearly identified.” The next phase will focus on essential infrastructural elements needed to host international matches.

Some key development include building of spectator stands on the western and southern sides of the pitch, modernised washroom facilities, a new service road encircling the pitch and upgraded areas for vending and concessionary services.

- GFF hopes to fully complete by 2027

DVA National B-Division Volleyball Tournament GT leg…

Classic Ball blasters are the top team

CLASSIC Ball Blasters proved the superior side over the weekend when Demerara Volleyball Association hosted their Georgetown leg of the National B division competition at the National Gymnasium.

In the men’s category Classic Ball Blasters had to contend with the likes of Guyana Defence Force, Vanguards, Castrol Strikers and Saints Stanislaus College.

The Classic Ball Blasters path to the final saw them defeating Saints and GDF in straight sets 3-0 in the five-match game. They had a tough fight from Vanguard who they needed all five sets to overcome as they won it 3 sets to 2. The other top team Castrol Volleyball Club had similar path to the final playing undefeated.

They got pass Vanguard 3-1 and the GDF by the same score line before taking a

walk-over against Saints Stanislaus College.

In the finals that followed Classic Ball Blasters beat Castrol strikers Volleyball Club 3-0 to dominate their opponent in the final game.

The two top teams will now advance to the National B division playoff representing Georgetown sponsored by the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports and Republic Bank Guyana. Meanwhile, on the distaff side saw two team participating Classic Ball Blasters and Saint Stanislaus College volleyball clubs. In the lone of match-up CBB won the best of five game, winning it 3-1.

The Georgetown leg of the National B-Division Volleyball Tournament, was staged on the 4th and 5th October 2025 at the Mandela Avenue Sports facility in Georgetown.

Classic

Minister Jacobs, Assistant Director of Sport Wilson visit