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South Africa may be forced to shorten their only men’s international home series this summer – against West Indies – for both teams to get to the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka on time.

South Africa are scheduled to host West Indies for five T20Is between January 27 and February 6, but as reported by ESPNcricinfo last week, the T20 World Cup is set to be played between February 7 and March 8.

On August 28, the ICC sent participating teams a Member Information Pack, with information regarding warm-up matches. The document, seen by ESPNcricinfo, states that the ICC’s support period – the time in which teams are expected to arrive in the host countries and play non-obligatory warm-up games – starts on January 31.

That has moved up from February 3, while CSA had drawn up their home fixtures with the understanding that South Africa would have enough time to travel to the T20 World Cup.

It is not mandatory for countries to spend the entire support period in the host venue, but the ICC asked participating countries to list by September 5 how many warm-up matches they want to play, with options ranging between none to a maximum of two. Only if a country opts for two matches, will the support period become one week prior to the tournament opener.

CSA are currently in discussions with CWI to see when West Indies want to arrive in the subcontinent and how many matches they want to play there. If teams opt for no warm-up games, the mandatory support period is four days prior to the first match on February 7.

If a team opts for one warm-up then the support period will five to six days prior to the tournament opener.

The warm-up information is significant only because it allows the ICC to confirm an arrival date for each team.

Even if West Indies do not want to play any T20 World Cup warm-up matches, CSA will still have to cull at least two of the five T20Is; the last two games are on February 3 and 6. The fixtures cannot be played any earlier with the SA20 ending on January 25.

CSA is currently deciding which venues should host the matches against West Indies – at present, the venues are likely to be Paarl, Newlands, Buffalo Park in East London, Centurion and Johannesburg. (ESPNcricinfo)

 

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Anasha Ally has been re-elected unopposed as president of the Lusignan Golf Club, following the Annual General Meeting and elections on September 21, 2025.

Ally, who made history last year as the first female to lead the club, will now continue her stewardship for a second consecutive term.

The newly elected executive committee is as follows:

• President: Anasha Ally
• Vice-President: Troy Cadogan
• Club Captain: Ayube Subhan
• Secretary: Chet Bowling
• Treasurer: Aasroodeen Shaw
• Assistant Secretary-Treasurer: Joseph Szeplaki
• Public Relations Officer: Dr. Joaan Deo
• Grounds Superintendent: Brian Hackett

Members of the new executive

In her address following the elections, Ally expressed gratitude to members for their continued support and confidence.

Reflecting on her leadership thus far, she emphasised both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the club.

“It is a pleasure to be re-elected as President of the Lusignan Golf Club once again. I take it that the membership was happy with what we did in the past year. We hope to build on that foundation, which was a great achievement for golf itself,” Ally stated.

She noted that the club continues to grapple with recurring issues such as drainage during inclement weather, pest control, and the overall maintenance of the course.

However, she reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to overcoming these obstacles and advancing the long-term development of the club.

Among her priorities for the upcoming year are expanding membership, with a specific focus on women and youth golfers, strengthening community engagement, and enhancing the facilities to provide an even more welcoming environment for both seasoned players and newcomers to the sport.

“We have plans to increase our membership, especially when it comes to females and youth in our club. We need a greater presence. We look forward to engaging the public and encouraging them to come and play this sport, which is very enjoyable and relaxing, in a pleasant environment,” Ally explained.

She further underscored the strength of the incoming executive, which she described as “a competent team, filled with experience, long-standing members, as well as a few newcomers.”

With this blend of continuity and fresh perspectives, Ally expressed confidence in the committee’s ability to realise its goals and contribute to the betterment of the Lusignan Golf Club.

The Lusignan Golf Club has long been a cornerstone of Guyana’s sporting landscape. As the only nine-hole golf course in the country, it has played a central role in nurturing local talent and fostering cross-cultural sporting exchange.

Its continued growth and modernisation are therefore not only vital to the development of golf but also to the strengthening of Guyana’s wider sporting identity and recreational offerings.

The re-election of Ally marks a pivotal moment in the club’s ongoing journey, as the leadership team prepares to advance both the sport of golf and the institution’s role as a vital part of Guyana’s sporting culture.

(Modified press release from the Lusignan Golf Club)

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President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York on Wednesday.

The two leaders highlighted ongoing cooperation in security, economic development, and regional stability. Over the last few years, the US military has been closely collaborating with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on issues such as transnational crime and drug trafficking.

Congratulating President Ali on his reelection, Secretary Rubio underscored the importance of further deepening the work already happening in order to achieve shared goals for the region.

Rubio also commended Guyana’s active support for Haiti, including its endorsement of the UN Support Office for Haiti and the establishment of a new multinational Gang Suppression Force. He further pledged U.S. support for Guyana’s territorial integrity and announced plans to bolster collaboration with the Guyana Defense Force in counternarcotics and wider security operations.

Today’s meeting builds on the momentum of Secretary Rubio’s state visit to Georgetown earlier this year, where he and President Ali signed a series of agreements aimed at expanding US–Guyana cooperation. The visit saw discussions on energy development, trade, and investment opportunities as Guyana continues to emerge as one of the fastest-growing economies in the Western Hemisphere, driven largely by its burgeoning oil and gas sector.

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A 19-year-old woman from Baramita, North West District, has been charged with the murder of 20-year-old miner Kevin Smith, following a fatal altercation earlier this month.

The accused, Naderia James, appeared virtually before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Port Kaituma Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. The murder charge was read to her, and she was not required to enter a plea since the offence is indictable. James was remanded to prison until her next court appearance on 14 October 2025.

Investigations revealed that James and Smith, who were in a relationship and had been living together for about a year in a wooden and plastic camp at Baramita, became embroiled in a violent confrontation on 18 September 2025.

According to police reports, James returned home around 17:00 hrs after consuming alcohol and found Smith lying in a hammock. Upon noticing her, Smith allegedly armed himself with a cutlass and struck her on the left shoulder and right hand.

In retaliation, James reportedly drew a handmade knife from her waist and stabbed Smith once in the left side of his chest. The injured miner stumbled out of the camp before collapsing in nearby bushes.

James fled the scene but later went to the Baramita Police Station, where she provided a statement about the incident.

Smith, a Guyanese Amerindian miner also from Baramita, was pronounced dead shortly after the attack.

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Two Brazilian nationals were fined on Tuesday after pleading guilty to purchasing gold from unauthorised sources in violation of Guyana’s mining laws.

The men—58-year-old Jose Antonio Rodrigues Dos Santos and 36-year-old Isac Aguiar Abreu, both miners from Boa Vista, Brazil—were arrested on 22 September 2025 and charged with the offence of purchasing gold from a person other than the Guyana Gold Board or its authorised agents.

The charge was brought under Section 7(2) of the Guyana Gold Board Act, Chapter 66:01, and is in contravention of Section 23 of the same legislation.

When they appeared before Magistrate Omadatt Chandan at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, the charge was read to them separately. Both defendants pleaded guilty.

They were each fined $75,000, with an alternative of seven months’ imprisonment if the fine is not paid.

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In its role as Co-chair of the Forest and Climate Leaders Partnership (FCLP), Guyana has stepped into a central leadership role as part of a coalition of 34 governments that launched the Forest Finance Roadmap for Action—a six-point plan to close the $66.8 billion global forest finance gap and accelerate efforts to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030.

The initiative, unveiled during New York Climate Week in collaboration with Brazil and supported by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), marks the first joint framework uniting governments from both the Global North and South around a common vision for financing forest protection.

Aligned with the COP30 Action Agenda and Presidency Priorities, the Roadmap translates previous high-level pledges—such as the COP26 Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration—into practical, finance-ready solutions that can be scaled in Belém and beyond.

At the launch, Guyana’s Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, stressed the importance of stable, reliable financing for countries and communities safeguarding forests. “If we want forests to stay standing, finance must be reliable and fair, so that communities and countries can make choices for the long term. Stability of finance is the bridge between ambition and action,” he said.

The Roadmap outlines six priority actions to unlock billions in public and private investment, including:

• Establishing innovative financial mechanisms such as the Tropical Forests Forever Facility,

• Expanding demand for high-integrity jurisdictional forest credits,

• Accelerating growth of the forest bioeconomy,

• Redirecting supply-chain finance,

• Aligning fiscal policies with forest goals, and

• Leveraging sovereign-debt instruments to reward forest resilience.

Real-world examples already show the model at work. Guyana and Costa Rica are using carbon credit revenues to fund conservation and support Indigenous communities. Meanwhile, Kenya is scaling sustainable wood for construction, Brazil is expanding rural credit for climate-smart agriculture, and Uruguay has issued the first sovereign bond linked to deforestation.

Private sector announcements at the launch added weight to the effort, including a $4.5 billion commitment by the Brazil Restoration and Bioeconomy Finance Coalition.

With five years left to 2030, the Forest Finance Roadmap aims to demonstrate that protecting forests and driving economic growth are not competing goals, but mutually reinforcing solutions for a sustainable future.

Unlocking-Forest-Finance_Roadmap_FINAL-1

The Forest & Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP) is a group of almost 40 governments working to expand and maintain high-level political leadership on forests, land-use and climate.

The current co-chairs are Guyana and the United Kingdom under the leadership of Minister Bharrat and Minister White, respectively. In May, Guyana hosted an all member meeting which focused on forest finance and other solutions. Guyana will be working intensively to support Brazil in the run up to the upcoming COP30 in Belém.

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Newly appointed Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, has outlined her vision to place Guyana’s tourism sector on a stronger, more predictable path, with a focus on consistency, affordability, and private sector investment.

In her first in-depth interview since moving from the Ministry of Housing and Water to Tourism and Commerce, Rodrigues said she intends to introduce a well-structured national calendar of events and push for competitive pricing, allowing visitors to plan ahead and enjoy year-round experiences across the country.

“I find this sector extremely exciting. It allows me to think outside the box, be creative, and engage with stakeholders I view as critical to our economy—our hotels, tour operators, and entertainers,” she said.

The minister underscored the importance of private sector investment in driving growth, noting that there remain untapped opportunities across the industry. “I have a good working relationship, I think, with people, with the private sector. I come from a private sector background. There are a lot of unique opportunities for investment by the private sector that are missing from the tourism industry—areas that people have not tapped into,” she explained.

For now, her immediate priority is to improve predictability and consistency. Plans are already in motion to introduce an annual calendar of events, giving both local and international visitors the ability to plan trips months in advance.

“Predictability was missing from the sector. Whether visitors are here for one day or ten days, they must have access to information about what’s happening, and be assured of high-quality, affordable experiences,” Rodrigues said.

On affordability, the minister stressed that hotels and operators must keep services within reach of Guyanese and the diaspora. “We’ve asked the hotels to look at a price cap of about US$200 a night for Guyanese—that is, if you are a local resident or from the diaspora,” she noted.

Rodrigues also pointed to the need for a cultural shift among Guyanese, emphasising that promoting the country as a destination requires citizens to be hospitable, informed, and engaged. “Tourism is not just the responsibility of hotels or tour guides. Every Guyanese has a role to play in protecting our image, making visitors feel welcome, and helping to raise the profile of destination Guyana,” she said.

The government will continue to focus on upgrading heritage sites, ecotourism destinations, and urban attractions such as Georgetown’s historic core. Meanwhile, the new Tourism and Hospitality Institute in Region Six—expected to be completed by June 2026—will provide hands-on certification in areas such as mixology, cosmetology, and hospitality services.

With strong private sector collaboration and the full support of President Irfaan Ali, Rodrigues said she is confident that Guyana can achieve its target of filling hotel rooms year-round, ensuring tourism becomes a reliable driver of economic diversification.

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The 2020 election fraud trial continued this week with testimony from former Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) Presidential Candidate Lenox Shuman, who described witnessing what he say was a deliberate attempt to tamper with the Region Four vote tabulation during the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Taking the witness stand at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Monday, and returning Tuesday for cross-examination, Shuman told Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty that he repeatedly objected to irregularities at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Command Centre located at Ashmin’s Building.

He recalled seeing former GECOM staffer Enrique Livan operating a computer connected to a printer that was generating a spreadsheet filled with “pre-populated numbers” for Region Four, which he believed could have replaced the official Statements of Poll (SOPs).

“I saw Mr. Livan in front of the computer in a typing motion, a flash drive in the computer… a printer actively printing paper. On the paper it contained pre-populated numbers for Region Four with all the votes. Mr. Livan did not say a word. He simply closed the computer screen down and put his head on the desk,” Shuman testified.

He further recounted that when he arrived at the centre on March 3, 2020, there was a “commotion” as some counting agents complained of fatigue and a suggestion was made to use a spreadsheet instead of the SOPs. Shuman said he strongly objected, insisting that the official process be followed. According to him, party agents soon began noticing discrepancies between the numbers being called and the SOPs—a situation that worsened when Livan assumed control of the process.

Shuman alleged that at one point, Livan shut down the computer, left the room, and re-entered another area where he appeared to manipulate data using a flash drive. He said he collected printed papers as evidence and later handed them over to police.

He also testified that the then Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, attempted to prematurely declare results on March 5, 2020, even though the tabulation was incomplete. According to Shuman, the spreadsheet he observed already contained results for all districts before those numbers were officially tallied.

Under cross-examination by defence attorneys Nigel Hughes, Eusi Anderson, and Darren Wade, Shuman was questioned, among other things, on his authority to comment on the SOPs.

Nine individuals, including former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, former Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers, Mingo, and former government minister Volda Lawrence, are charged with conspiring to manipulate the Region Four results in favour of the APNU+AFC coalition, thereby denying victory to the PPP.

Meanwhile, defendant Carol Smith-Joseph was granted an extension by the High Court to remain overseas for medical treatment.

The trial is scheduled to continue on Wednesday.

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Senior police officers from multiple regions are raising the alarm over persistent hurdles in securing successful prosecutions. Key challenges include reluctant witnesses, victims opting to settle serious matters out of court, and difficulties in accessing crucial evidence.

Assistant Commissioners Khali Pareshram (Region 4C), Dion Moore (Region Seven), and Kurleigh Simon (Region Ten) each detailed the obstacles their divisions face in ensuring justice is served.

“In terms of our prosecution, a lot of person will say it depends solely on the police because of how they conduct the investigation as recent there were some deliberations on social media in a particular incident.

“The thing is the police is just responsible for the investigation and in the magistrate or high court, it solely depends on what you have in black and white or via technology to present in court,” Pareshram explained during a recent episode of ‘Police & You’.

In Division 4C, Pareshram revealed a troubling trend over the past few years.

“We have seen an increasing number of matters being dismissed due to negligence of witnesses. One, witnesses are not appearing in court, and two, some victims are now going to court to settle the matters. We have even seen cases as serious as robbery being settled,” Pareshram stated.

According to Pareshram, this creates a cycle where offenders are released back into the community, only to reoffend.

“It does affect our cases, our prosecution rate, and it actually sends the suspect back in the same communities to commit again. So, when persons speak out against the police, it is not only the police, victims and witnesses also play a role,” Pareshram revealed.

Commander Pareshram further noted that technology is playing an important role to strengthen prosecutions. He said 70 security cameras have so far been installed targeted in communities.

“Since their installation, we have seen decreases in activities in those areas. We are pushing on the positive side with more technology in our prosecution,” he explained.

Over in Region Ten, Assistant Commissioner Kurleigh Simon, echoed similar concerns. He pointed to the reluctance of eyewitnesses to cooperate fully with investigations.

“You find that witnesses [or] eyewitnesses to crime, are very reluctant to come forward and to put their story in statement form. A victim would say, ‘this person was there,’ but when you contact them, they say, ‘I didn’t see anything,’ or ‘I don’t want to be involved,’ Simon said.

He also highlighted challenges in acquiring evidence from private businesses and residences.

“Even trying to get CCTV footage from residents and business places is difficult. The challenge can be very real,” Commander Simon said.

To counter these issues, Simon said the Force continues to build capacity and provide training for investigators and ranks, ensuring they are better equipped to handle prosecutions.

In Region Seven, Assistant Commissioner Dion Moore also pointed to witness-related challenges.

“Often, when you go to find a witness, the person no longer lives at their last known address. This puts the police in a very difficult position,” Moore explained.

Despite the hurdles, Moore reported high conviction rates in his division over the past years. And, now, Commander Moore said it is mandatory to conduct video interviews.

“With video interviews, the accused cannot divert or make excuses. It’s played in court, the judges can see, and they can make their decision,” Moore said.

 

 

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A 49-year-old businessman from Diamond Housing Scheme and Alberttown, Georgetown, was today remanded to prison after being charged with Trafficking in Persons involving a Cuban national.

The accused, Alvin Parag, was arrested on September 19, 2025, and appeared before Senior Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court on September 23.

He is accused of trafficking a 31-year-old female Cuban national between March 29 and June 7, 2025, at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

Parag pleaded not guilty to the charge. However, the prosecution strongly objected to bail, and the Magistrate upheld the objection, ordering that he be remanded to prison.

The case has been adjourned to October 6, 2025, for statements and disclosure.

In a brief statement, the Guyana Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to working with stakeholders to combat Trafficking in Persons in all its forms.

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