Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo today urged Commonwealth countries to make the most of new opportunities to access climate finance and advance development.
The Vice President joined a Commonwealth roundtable on the Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation, adopted in Kigali in 2022. The roundtable, supported by The King’s Foundation, brought together member states, along with experts and civil society organisations, to address how to manage rapid urbanisation while improving quality of life, strengthening economic opportunity, and building resilience.
Commonwealth leaders have spoken repeatedly of its role as a platform for practical cooperation. One example is the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub – developed from work Vice President Jagdeo chaired and presented at the 2014 CHOGM in Colombo. Twelve years later – and now headquartered in Mauritius – the Hub has helped mobilise nearly US$500 million in climate finance, supported over 100 projects, and deployed expert advisers across more than 15 countries.
Speaking after, Vice President Jagdeo said:
“The progress of the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub is welcome and important. It shows what can be achieved when countries are given practical support to turn home-grown ideas into investable projects.
But the scale of today’s climate and development challenges requires far more.
Helping all our people to secure better lives now requires managing complexity at a speed and scale not seen before.
We need new thinking, new tools, and a step change in how the international community supports developing countries and smaller states.
Today, Commonwealth stakeholders focused on urbanisation – how we plan and build cities that are liveable, productive, and attractive for investment and jobs. But the same challenges are seen right across all areas of development – and that increasingly means the need for better data and applications that can use the data.
At the recent AI Summit in New Delhi – which brought together Heads of Government and leaders from technology companies like Microsoft, Google, OpenAI – I saw how artificial intelligence is already strengthening planning and accelerating decision-making across the world.
This presents a major opportunity – but only if it works for everyone.
As I said today, if AI models are not trained on data from small and developing countries, it will not work for them.
So we must invest now – in solutions, both traditional and AI-driven – that support small countries and the developing world. The Commonwealth – home to about a third of the world’s people – can play a leading role.”
PRESS RELEASE || The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and DOF Subsea have formalised a transformative partnership aimed at advancing the development of female football in Guyana, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday, April 24, 2026, at the World Trade Centre, High Street.
Under the agreement, DOF Subsea will make a financial contribution of GYD$40 million over five years to support the operations of the DOF FIFA Arena Girls Football Academy for the development of female football in Guyana.
The agreement establishes a strategic, five-year collaboration between the two entities and marks a significant milestone in the Federation’s long-term vision to expand structured opportunities for girls in football. Central to the partnership is the creation of Guyana’s first dedicated girls’ football academy, to be known as the DOF-FIFA Arena Girls Academy.
The initiative is anchored within FIFA’s global FIFA Arena Project, which seeks to install 1,000 high-quality mini-pitches worldwide by 2031, with a focus on increasing access to safe and inclusive football spaces for young people, particularly in underserved communities.
The agreement establishes a strategic, five-year collaboration between the two entities and marks a significant milestone in the Federation’s long-term vision to expand structured opportunities for girls in football (Photo: GFF)
Guyana is among the first Caribbean nations to implement the initiative, with two state-of-the-art, all-weather mini-pitches identified for construction at Haslington, East Coast Demerara, and Retrieve, Linden.
Under the terms of the MoU, the GFF will design and deliver a comprehensive girls’ development programme, operating primarily from the FIFA Arena facility to be constructed in Haslington, East Coast Demerara, with the flexibility to expand to additional locations as required.
The programme will adhere to the technical, governance, safeguarding, and development standards of FIFA, Concacaf, and the Caribbean Football Union (CFU).
The Academy will provide participants, particularly from East Demerara area, with structured access to grassroots and technical football training, alongside life skills development.
The long-term objective is to nurture a new generation of players capable of representing Guyana at the international level within the next five to six years.
Speaking at the signing, GFF President Wayne Forde outlined the Federation’s broader ambition for national expansion of the initiative.
“We are laying a sturdy foundation for the development of Women’s Football by ensuring that young aspiring players have access to structured football development programmes.
The DOF-FIFA Arena Girls Academy will serve as a hub for weekly grassroots programmes, community football, FIFA Football for school activities and Elite Youth Players Development.
On behalf of our football fraternity, I would like to express my gratitude to our partners at DOF Subsea for their landmark commitment to this fantastic and transformational initiative.”
Marco Sclocchi, Executive VP North America of DOF, emphasised the organisation’s commitment to social investment through sport.
“We believe that investing in young people creates a lasting impact, not only for the individual, but for the family and the community as a whole. There is no better way to put this value into action than by supporting the formation of Guyana’s first girls’ football academy, helping to provide the facility, structure, and organisation needed to train young girls in a sport where respect, teamwork, and excellence are fundamental to success.”
Concacaf General Secretary Philippe Moggio underscored the regional significance of the initiative, describing it as a meaningful moment for football in both Guyana and the Concacaf region.
“This launch deserves to be recognised because it reflects something very important, it reflects a belief that development must be intentional, structured and sustained overtime. And that is what this agreement between DOF and GFF represent. This is a serious commitment. It reflects planning, continuity and long-term investment in young people. Most importantly, it reflects that a real commitment of creating opportunities for girls in Guyana to play football and to grow with a system that is designed to support the development in a very meaningful way, which is deeply aligned with how we see progress at Concacaf.”
Moggio added: “Over the last decade, Concacaf has undergone a deep transformation through our One Concacaf and Football First vision, and a major part of that transformation has been in women’s football. We have worked to create stronger ecosystem, more opportunities to compete and clear a pathway for women and girls across the region. When we speak about advancing women’s football we’re not speaking only about competitions at the highest level, we are speaking about building pathways, increasing access and making sure that more girls in more communities can see a place for themselves in the game we love.”
Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steven Jacobs, highlighted the Government’s support for the programme: “The signing of this MOU for the establishment of a girls’ football academy is more than ceremonial; it is a powerful investment in the future of young women. It reflects a clear commitment to inclusion and provides much-needed opportunities for girls across Guyana.
He added: “While the government will continue to provide the necessary infrastructure, we are also investing in a high-performance centre that will support this initiative. That centre will be open to all disciplines, ensuring development is taken to another level.
For far too long, the potential of girls has been under-represented and under-supported. Tonight, that narrative is changing. This initiative will empower young girls across Guyana to pursue their passion for football with confidence, discipline, and ambition.”
The signing of this MoU signals a decisive step forward in strengthening the ecosystem for women’s football in Guyana, positioning the country as an emerging leader in structured female youth development within the Caribbean.
For generations, the Caribbean has blessed the cricket world with some of the most exciting icons of the game, from the swagger of Sir Vivian Richards to the lethal pace of Michael Holding and the effortless brilliance of Brian Lara.
That legacy remains unquestioned, but the global game has evolved.
Across the cricketing world, nations have invested heavily in high-performance systems, sports science, and cutting-edge technology, raising the standard of preparation and performance at every level.
The reality for the Caribbean is clear; natural talent alone is no longer enough to consistently compete and dominate.
To keep pace with the modern game, there must be a deliberate shift towards structured development, advanced facilities, and integrated support systems that match those of the world’s leading cricket nations.
Cricket West Indies, with the full backing of the Antigua and Barbuda government, is taking a decisive step in this direction by announcing its plans to develop a High-Performance Campus at the site of the Coolidge Cricket Ground, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem where elite sport, education, and commercial activity intersect.
For the coaches on the front lines of the ongoing West Indies Championship, this move has been applauded, with the view being expressed that it is critical to the future of West Indies cricket.
Robert Haynes, Jamaica Scorpions Head Coach and former selector, believes the planned facility is essential in bridging that gap.
“I think it’s a magnificent idea. When I was a selector, it was always spoken about in terms of having something for the youngsters. I think it’s a magnificent effort by the Antiguan government and Cricket West Indies to get this going because we need it.”
Haynes pointed to the widening gap between the Caribbean and other cricketing nations in terms of investment in elite development systems.
“With limited first-class games available, you need your younger players to be in a system that you can depend on because in international cricket, everybody else has a High-Performance centre.”
Windward Volcanoes Head Coach Keon Peters echoed that sentiment, noting that the region’s challenge is not a lack of ability, but the absence of the structures needed to maximise it.
“With the amount of talent that we have, for us to compete against the other international teams we must have this in place. We know resources have been difficult for us, and I think it’s a good initiative by Cricket West Indies. It’s never too late to start.”
Trinidad and Tobago Head Coach Rayad Emrit made the point that in addition to talent development, there is the issue of retention, highlighting the need for a stronger system to carry players beyond the youth level.
“I honestly think there’s a lot of talent in the Caribbean coming through from Under-19, but after Under-19 a lot of them fade away and we don’t get those core players coming through the system”,
he said.
“I think we have enough players who have natural talent, and one of the main factors for us not producing the players that we thought we would have is the facilities.”
The proposed campus aims to address this gap by embedding professionalism into every aspect of player development, from technical training and sports science to media readiness and personal development.
Leeward Islands Head Coach Steve Liburd believes exposure to such an environment will be transformative.
“Across the world, there are lots of high-performance centres all around and they reap benefits for younger players over time. Having such a centre will be beneficial for West Indies cricket on a whole with players being exposed to technology, having a place where they can go and do media work and develop their skills.”
Guyana Head Coach Ryan Hercules shares that optimism, viewing the initiative as a turning point in aligning the region with global best practices.
“This is something overdue, but whenever it’s here, it’s here. When that starts, we will probably start seeing a change in West Indies cricket.”
Former West Indies fast bowler and current Barbados Pride Head Coach Vasbert Drakes emphasised that while the campus is a major step, the broader goal must be a region-wide uplift in infrastructure and systems.
“I think it would be great if all the franchises in the Caribbean would be in a position where they can have a high-performance system, because we have tremendous talent and we want a better pathway system for them”,
he stated.
“It is good to see that the West Indies is going in that direction, but I would also like to encourage all of the territorial boards to find a way through government and local sponsors to make it work.”
For too long, the Caribbean’s natural flair has carried it onto the global stage. But in today’s game, sustained success belongs to those who combine talent with preparation, technology, and world-class systems.
The planned High-Performance Campus represents a clear and focused strategy geared towards ensuring West Indies cricket is not just rich in talent, but also fully equipped to compete with the best in the modern era. (Windies Cricket)
Punjab Kings produced a stunning victory against Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League by hunting down a target of 265 to record the highest successful run-chase in the history of T20 cricket.
Punjab crossed the line with seven balls to spare at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, surpassing their own previous best chase of 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024.
KL Rahul had struck an unbeaten 152 – the highest score by an Indian in IPL – as Delhi reached 264-2 batting first, but Punjab attacked from the outset and reached 116-0 – the second-highest powerplay score in the tournament.
Punjab openers Prabhsimran Singh, who hit a blistering 76 from just 26 balls, and Priyansh Arya, who scored 43 off 17 balls, set the tone for the visitors with a 126-run opening stand in the sweltering Delhi heat.
Captain Shreyas Iyer then capitalised on two dropped catches by Karun Nair to reach an unbeaten 71 from 36 balls and take Punjab home with relative ease.
However, the record-breaking win was overshadowed by an injury to Delhi’s Lungi Ngidi, who was rushed out of the stadium in an ambulance.
With Punjab racing to 43-0 in the third over of the chase, the South African fast bowler back-pedalled from mid-off to attempt a catch off Arya but fell backwards, hitting his head on the turf.
The match was stopped for 15 minutes as the 30-year-old received medical attention and an ambulance was called to take the Delhi player off the ground for further assessment.
Vipraj Nigam replaced Ngidi as a concussion substitute before the match resumed.
Unbeaten Punjab remain top of the table with 13 points from seven matches – three ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals. Meanwhile, Delhi are sixth with six points. (BBC)
Police are investigating an alleged robbery under arms that left a 37-year-old bodywork technician injured during an early morning attack in Campbellville, Georgetown.
The incident occurred around 00:40hrs on Saturday, at the victim’s Delph Street residence.
According to preliminary reports, the man was in his yard speaking with another individual when a lone suspect entered the premises. The suspect reportedly brandished a firearm and forcibly removed a yellow metal chain from the victim.
A confrontation ensued between the two men, during which the suspect discharged a round, striking the victim to the left side of his chest.
The suspect then fled the scene, escaping south along Delph Street.
Residents in the area quickly responded, transporting the injured man to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was treated and admitted. His condition has been listed as stable.
Police recovered a 9mm spent shell at the scene, and investigators have identified nearby CCTV cameras which are expected to aid in the investigation.
The suspect remains at large as police continue their probe into the incident.
Police in Regional Division #7 have launched an investigation into an alleged murder at Blackwater Backdam, Cuyuni River, which has left a man known as Moses Chapelle, called “Bizo,” dead.
The incident reportedly occurred around 21:30hrs on Thursday.
According to preliminary investigations, Chapelle had returned to Blackwater Landing with another man after visiting a mining operation in the backdam. The two were later reportedly drinking in the vicinity of a shop when a loud explosion—suspected to be a gunshot—was heard.
The man collapsed shortly after, and persons in the area observed what appeared to be blood on his back.
With assistance from individuals at the landing, the injured man was rushed to the Puruni Health Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival at approximately 01:37hrs on Friday, April 24, by a medic on duty.
An examination of the body revealed a small circular wound to the left lower back, consistent with a gunshot injury.
Police later processed the scene, where suspected bloodstains were found on the ground. Samples were collected as part of the ongoing investigation.
A 45-year-old gold miner of Company Road, Buxton, East Coast Demerara, has since been arrested and remains in custody.
The body has been taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital and will await a post-mortem examination.
The fourth instalment of the One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast will reach a new high in terms of cash prize payouts, with over G$8 million up for grabs alongside high-quality trophies.
In a move to further professionalise the grassroots format, organisers have introduced a quarter-final payout for the 2026 season.
Each zone winner will now pocket $500,000, and by advancing to the National Finals, teams can compete for an additional $2 million for first place, $1 million for second place, or $500,000 for each of the losing semifinalists.
This structure effectively increases the overall winning prize to $2.5 million, while the overall runner-up will take home $1.5 million. The two losing semi-finalists at the National Finals will walk away with a combined $1 million overall.
In an effort to remain player-centred, organisers FL Sport have expanded rewards for teams that fall short of the final stage. The losing finalist at the zone level will receive $200,000, while the losing semi-finalists get $50,000 each.
For the first time in the tournament’s history, losing quarter-finalists will also be rewarded with $25,000 each.
Beyond team prizes, individual excellence will be heavily incentivised with a suite of cash awards: Most Valuable Player ($150,000) + motorbike, Most Runs ($100,000) + television, Most Wickets ($100,000) + television, Player-of-the Final ($75,000), Super Strike Rate ($50,000) and Best Economy Rate ($50,000).
Non-monetary prizes are also on the cards for players recording the most dot balls, sixes, and fours.
Tournament Director John Ramsingh noted that the mission has always been to provide a platform for talent to be rewarded.
“Without question, we have one of the highest cash payouts for any tournament within the Caribbean,” Ramsingh stated, adding that interest from regional counterparts to compete in Guyana continues to grow.
Registration for the 80-team tournament opens in early May with a $35,000 fee, and teams can register for any zone.
The competition will maintain its straight knockout format across four zones: Berbice, East Bank/West Demerara, Essequibo, and Georgetown/East Coast Demerara.
The tournament is scheduled to run from early August to mid-October, with the National Finals set for the brand-new Anna Regina National Stadium.
In addition to the prize money, zone winners will earn an automatic spot in the upcoming Global T10 Tapeball tournament.
Guyana’s manufacturing sector expanded by 20 per cent in 2025, and the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) has rolled out a targeted programme to support small businesses capitalise on this growth.
At the GMSA’s Annual General Meeting on Friday, its President Rafeek Khan credited this growth to the strength and resilience of local businesses. He said the growth is a major achievement for the sector and underscored its role in employment and national development.
“That is a testament to every investment made, every production line expanded, and every product developed by our members,” Khan said.
Importantly, he noted that manufacturing remains a key pillar of the economy alongside a rapidly expanding services sector. Against this backdrop, the GMSA has moved to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the inaugural Resilience, Innovation and Skills for Enterprise (RISE) Programme, which was launched on Wednesday.
Khan said the initiative is designed for Guyanese businesses, addressing real challenges in business readiness and competitiveness.
“It’s designed for Guyana, for the realities of doing business here, for the challenges our entrepreneurs face every day and for the extraordinary opportunities that exist at this moment in our national story,” he said.
Fourteen entrepreneurs are currently participating in the pilot programme, which provides training in critical areas including financing, pricing, sales strategy, pitching, and operational efficiency. The initiative aims to make businesses more bankable and better positioned to scale up.
Khan noted that the programme represents a shift toward deeper, more targeted support for members, with plans to expand its reach in the coming years.
Guest speaker, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, said continued growth in manufacturing is closely tied to developments in the agriculture sector, which is projected to expand by 7.9 per cent in 2026. He emphasised that agriculture remains a foundational driver of economic activity, supplying raw materials for agro-processing and manufacturing.
“Much of the growth in the manufacturing sector is in part driven by agriculture,” Mustapha said.
The minister added that the government is investing heavily to strengthen agro-processing capacity. He urged the Association to strengthen the integration between agriculture, manufacturing, and services, key areas for sustaining economic growth and unlocking new opportunities for businesses.
In a proactive step to advance the ongoing rehabilitation of Dennis Street, Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, recently convened a meeting in the Ministry’s boardroom with vendors currently operating along the corridor in the vicinity of ‘C’ Field, Sophia.
The primary objective of the engagement was to establish a clear and mutually beneficial path forward, ensuring that the vendors’ economic activities remain completely undisrupted as critical roadworks continue.
During the discussions, Minister Edghill announced that within two weeks, the vendors will be smoothly transitioned to a newly constructed, designated tarmac prepared specifically for them by the Ministry. To guarantee fairness, a transparent lottery system will be utilized to allocate the new vending spaces, with the Ministry offering additional transition support on a needs basis.
Emphasizing the project’s strict timelines and the necessity for swift cooperation, Minister Edghill stated: “Once you pull your number for your spot, you must move to the tarmac by the following day because the road will be handed over to the contractor and all hindrances in the path of the project will be removed for the continuation of the road.”
Beyond the immediate logistics of the relocation, the Minister underscored the importance of establishing a high standard for the new vending area’s aesthetics, challenging the business owners to elevate their operations.
“This can’t be a shanty town operation. Therefore, I encourage all of you to utilize the Development Bank loan to beautify your space as a long-term goal for your respective businesses,” he reaffirmed.
The vendors responded positively to the directive, pledging their full support for the upcoming relocation exercise and welcoming the financial initiative pitched by the Minister to help grow their enterprises.
The relocation exercise is a necessary component of the wider infrastructural transformation taking place in the Sophia area. Dennis Street is currently undergoing a major upgrade from the Eastern Highway heading east to Red Road (also known as ‘E’ Field). This is being executed simultaneously with ongoing works on the internal main access points for various fields, including B and C.
Upon completion, this major upgraded artery will boast two widened lanes, significantly improved drainage systems, and the complete rehabilitation of several bridges along the alignment. (Ministry of Public Works press release)
Noor Cricket Youth Club (NCYC) of Canada has announced its squad for the upcoming six-match tour of Guyana. The series, from May 6-11, will give youngsters from the club an opportunity to play against different oppositions and test their skills in varying conditions.
Fresh from their dominance in the Canadian Commonwealth Cricket First Division League where they secured back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025, the NCYC has named what it describes as “a balanced 14-man roster.”
The squad reads: Mu’adh Shariff, Jaffar Samaif, Moksh Patel, Jatan Mehta, Fayaaz Hanif, Keerthivardhan Susarla, Bhumeshwar Ramkissoon, Stephen Moore, Jamaal Shamsudeen, Jaden Singh, Adrian Singh, Ved Patel and Kavya Amin.
The tour includes matches against Georgetown Cricket Club, Everest Cricket Club, Lusignan Sports Club, Albion Community Centre Cricket Club, Cotton Tree Cricket Club and Guyana Police Force cricket team.
The series will feature four T20 matches and two 40-over games.
Experienced coaching staff
On the coaching side, the club has surrounded its young talent with “an enviable support staff boasting deep international and first-class experience.”
Head Coach Abdool Samad is a veteran of the 2003 and 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup and most recently served as the batting coach of Canada at the T20 World Cup in India.
Mentor Azib Ali Hanif is a former standout for Guyana at the senior first-class level and a former Guyana Under-19 player.
“He brings invaluable local knowledge and tactical depth to the side,” NCYC said in a release.
Hanif is also the coach of the Canadian Girls Under-19 team which will play in the Under-19 World Cup Qualifiers.
“Assistant Coach Aftaab Shamsudeen adds further international pedigree to the dugout, having represented Canada at the highest level, while Team Manager Quasim Shariff returns to oversee operations for this South American leg after a successful stint during the 2025 Barbados tour,” NCYC added.
According to NCYC, this tour is not just an exhibition, but a rigorous preparation phase for a packed 2026 domestic calendar. Upon return home in mid-May, NCYC will begin the hut for more silverware.
“The team is looking to use this tour as a springboard,” a club representative said.
“With the Premier 40-over and T20 Divisions of the Commonwealth League on the horizon, testing ourselves against Guyanese talents is the best way of sharpening our skills.”
