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A disappointing batting performance from Guyana has put the Leeward Islands in a commanding position after day one of their Regional Under-17 Two-Day match at the Inshan Ali Park.

The Leewards secured a vital first-innings point in the final Two-Day match, but with Guyana’s batting struggling in their second innings, an outright win is now a real possibility.

Opting to bat first, Guyana’s top order struggled against a disciplined Leeward Islands attack.

Only Dave Mohabir (32) and Shamar Apple (23) showed significant resistance as the team was bowled out for a meager 124 in just 35.4 overs.

Jathan Edward was the chief destroyer, claiming four wickets for 35 runs. He was well supported by Tayari Tonge (2-8) and Kunal Tilokani (2-30).

In response, the Leeward Islands’ batsmen also faced some difficulties but managed to edge past Guyana’s total, finishing with 154.

Lawshorn Bergan top-scored with a stubborn 38 not out, while Eirette Richards (21) and J’Quan Athanaze (20) made useful contributions.

For Guyana, seamers Parmeshwar Ram (3-23), Feaaz Baksh (3-47) and Navendra Sankar (2-26) did the bulk of the damage.

With a 30-run first-innings lead, the Leewards fired in Guyana’s second innings as Kasim Challenger ripped through the top order, claiming all three wickets to fall.

Guyana ended the day on 33 for 3, a fragile lead of just three runs.

They will need a much-improved performance on Thursday to salvage a draw or claim their first tournament victory, having drawn their two previous matches.

FULL SCORECARD: https://matchcentre.windiescricket.com/match/f78e2efc-4853-4583-a821-341581ad7e42/scorecard

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The new $930 million Tuschen Secondary School on the East Bank of Essequibo will facilitate night classes for individuals studying through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship programme.

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali made the announcement at the commissioning ceremony of the Tuschen Secondary School on Wednesday, noting that this feature will be established at other secondary institutions.

“I have asked [Minister] Priya Manickchand to look at the secondary schools, including Tuschen here, and for us to outfit it with full technology so that those who are registered in the GOAL programme can come here in the evening and study and complete their diplomas and degrees,” President Ali explained.

President Dr Irfaan Ali speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the Tuschen Secondary School (Photo: DPI/August 20, 2025)

The president further revealed that space will be dedicated at Tuschen Secondary with proper internet access for the evening session.

More than 39,000 Guyanese have benefitted from free GOAL scholarships since 2020.

The president stated that education is the single most important foundation upon which the country’s future will be built.

“When we build a school, we are not simply erecting another centre of learning, we are laying the foundation of the new Guyana that is being created.”

The PPP/C government prioritises education as it sees it as a way to move from poverty to prosperity.

“It is the passport from struggles to success. It is a revolution that transforms people from surviving to thriving.” (DPI)

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The Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) has filed legal action in the High Court against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), challenging what it describes as the unlawful exclusion of duly approved political parties from ballots in several regions ahead of the September 1 general and regional elections.

The fixed date application, filed under Part 56 of the Civil Procedure Rules, seeks constitutional relief on the grounds that the omission violates Articles 59, 149, and 160 of the Constitution, as well as provisions of the Representation of the People Act (ROPA).

The new political party is headed by former APNU+AFC member and Parliamentarian, Amanza Walton-Desir; they have since coalesced with the Assembly of Liberty and Prosperity (ALP) party.

The affidavit alleged that FGM and the ALP have been left off ballots in Regions Seven, Eight, and Nine, while the ALP has also been excluded in Regions One and Two. Both parties contend that they had satisfied all legal requirements to contest the elections.

The application argues that the omission deprives voters in those regions of their constitutional right to choose among all approved national lists freely. The plaintiff, Krystal Hadassah Fisher, a registered elector in Region Nine and FGM candidate, contends that this amounts to discrimination and undermines proportional representation in the National Assembly.

Through attorney Dr. Vivian Williams of VMW Law, FGM is asking the court to declare elections held without the full inclusion of qualified parties null and void, restrain GECOM from excluding any duly approved national list, and order the immediate inclusion of FGM candidates in the affected regions.

“The issue is not a mere technicality,” the party said in a statement. “It is about fairness, dignity, and ensuring every Guyanese—whether on the coast or in the hinterland—has an equal chance to participate in shaping the country’s future.”

The matter is expected to come up for urgent hearing in the High Court. GECOM has not pronounced on the matter.

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Guyana this week began a validation workshop for its National Adaptation Plan (NAP), a blueprint for tackling the impacts of climate change over the medium and long term.

The plan, developed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, is aligned with Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy and incorporates ecosystem-based and nature-based solutions. It covers 10 key sectors: agriculture and food security, water resources, coastal zones and the blue economy, health, education, ecosystems and biodiversity, land use and settlements, transportation, energy, and disaster risk management.

Pradeepa Bholanath, Senior Director of Climate and REDD+ at the Ministry of Natural Resources, told the opening session at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Monday that the workshop represents a critical step in Guyana’s collective response to climate change.

Participants at the validation workshop for the National Adaptation Plan (NAP)

“For us, the climate crisis is not distant. It is here and it is now. Our low-lying coastal plain, home to over 90% of our population and economic activity, stands on the front line of rising sea levels, storm surges and saltwater intrusion,” she said.

She added that hinterland regions and indigenous communities face intensifying heat stress, shifting rainfall patterns, droughts, and spreading pests and diseases. “These realities threaten livelihoods, infrastructure, ecosystems and the cultural heritage of our people,” she said.

The NAP sets out a costed roadmap of priority adaptation measures and identifies potential financing mechanisms. It also establishes an institutional framework for implementation and a monitoring and evaluation system to ensure continuous improvement.

“The plan is designed to reduce vulnerabilities across communities and sectors, strengthen resilience, and integrate climate adaptation into national planning and budgeting,” Bholanath said.

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Over 800 students will be accommodated at the $930 million Tuschen Secondary School, Region Three (Essequibo Islands – West Demerara), commissioned by President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Wednesday.

The school will accommodate students from Meten-Meer-Zorg, Zeelugt and other nearby villages. Its modern design accommodates 24 classrooms and will consist of several scientific and research centres, a multi-purpose and cafeteria hall, a storage and changing area and a library and document centre. There are six lots in the compound.

An aerial view of the school at night. (Photo: Ministry of Education)

President Ali, in his speech to the large gathering, said the school will revolutionise access and the delivery of education in the country. He urged the teachers and students who will benefit from the facility to grasp the opportunities being provided.

“We’re not just teaching lessons for the classroom; we are writing the blueprint for a brighter tomorrow.

“At one time, there were insufficient schools to allow every student to access secondary education, but there were also secondary schools without secondary education. Education is not the building; it’s about teachers, opportunities, all of that we’ve invested in,” Dr. Ali said.

There is also a science centre, equipped with physics, chemistry and biology labs, while the TVET Centre will have industrial and home economics laboratories. The Head of State said this school supplements the buildout of a modern, digital-focused education sector. He also said the school will be used as a study and research hub for persons living in the region and studying at the tertiary level.

The clothing and textiles room at the school. (Photo DPI)

These are part of efforts to provide world-class education that transforms the lives of people, making it possible for them to lead better lives.

In a message to the teachers, Dr. Ali also urged them to take up the free tertiary training opportunities offered by the government and continue to upskill themselves.

One of the rooms that will be used at the school for teaching. (Photo: DPI)

Education Minister Priya Manickchand said this is one of the five secondary schools being constructed in the region: Tuschen, West Minister, De Willem, Nemes, Crane and a dormitory at Leonora.

“By next year September, all over this country, children will be able to go to a [secondary] school close to where they live and get a sound secondary education,” the Education Minister said.

A total of 42 secondary schools are being built across the country. This is part of efforts to attain universal secondary education in Guyana.

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President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Wednesday announced that the newly commissioned Tuschen Secondary School will be used as a branch of the University of Guyana’s College of Medical Sciences.

This announcement was made during the commissioning of the $930 million school.

The Head of State said the school will accommodate some 144 persons who applied to join the programme this year but were not able to do so at the Turkeyen campus.

“This facility will be converted in the evening as a branch of the College of Medical Science for the University of Guyana,” the Head of State said.

He said over 17 programmes are available in the college and 206 applications were submitted for the region. Only 86 people were able to secure places in the programme. This was due to the lack of space to accommodate them.

Dr. Ali further said the senior doctors and nurses living in the region will be employed at the new De Kinderen hospital and are now able to benefit from tax incentives that accommodate persons with second jobs.

“Senior doctors who will be working at the hospitals and senior nurses and technicians who are working in the system in here in Region Three will now have their tax incentive in their second job lecturing at the College of Medical Sciences here in Tuschen,” President Ali said.

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Mohammad Rizwan has agreed a deal to join St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for the remainder of the Caribbean Premier League 2025 (CPL).

ESPNcricinfo understands the league will officially confirm the signing in the next 24 hours.

The former Pakistan T20I captain has been signed as a replacement for fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi, who is set to link up with Afghanistan ahead of the tri-series in the UAE involving Pakistan and the UAE.

It is unclear whether Rizwan will be available for Thursday’s Patriots match against the Barbados Royals.

But with Pakistan leaving him out of their T20 squad for that tri-series and the Asia Cup, the path to Rizwan’s involvement elsewhere has been fully cleared.

It is understood an NOC (no objection certificate) from the PCB, which enables players to take part in overseas leagues, is a formality.

It is the first time the wicketkeeper-batter will play in the CPL, and adds to a growing Pakistani roster in the tournament.

It was announced earlier on Thursday that legspinner Usama Mir had signed for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, while the Patriots already have two Pakistanis in their squad: fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Abbas Afridi.

Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir and Salman Irshad are also part of this year’s competition.

The signing also means that Rizwan will use up his quota of two overseas T20 leagues the PCB has stipulated as the maximum number centrally contracted players can take part in over a 12-month period starting in July. Earlier this year, he was confirmed as a signing by Melbourne Renegades for the Big Bash League.

The Patriots got off to a rocky start, following a win in their first match with three successive defeats, and sit second from bottom on the points table. They won the CPL in 2017 and 2021. (ESPNcrcinfo) 

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See below the full statement issued by the Joint Services of Guyana: 

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and its partners in the Joint Services continue to stand on the frontlines of safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty, protecting our nation’s security, and ensuring the safety of every citizen.

Every mission undertaken, whether defending borders, upholding the rule of law, or responding to national emergencies, is carried out with professionalism, integrity, and sacrifice.

Recent comments in the public domain, including on social and traditional media, have sought to cast doubt on this commitment. Such remarks overlook the dedication of the men and women in uniform who serve the country with impartiality and discipline.

The members of the Joint Services serve all Guyanese, without fear or favour, regardless of politics, religion, ethnicity, or social standing. This has always been and will remain a core component of the Joint Services as we continue to execute our mandate to serve our citizens.

Stakeholders and commentators are encouraged to engage constructively and to recognise that national security is a shared responsibility and a cornerstone of the nation’s independence and freedom.

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The Carter Center’s limited election observation mission has urged Guyana’s Elections Commission (GECOM) to immediately publish detailed tabulation procedures and step up its communication with the public, warning that gaps in information could weaken confidence in the integrity of the September 01 general and regional elections.

The Carter Center stressed that Guyana’s elections remain on track but trust hinges on action in the days ahead.

In its first report since deploying a core team to Georgetown in late June, the mission also called on all political parties to sign and uphold the Ethnic Relations Commission’s (ERC) code of conduct, noting with concern that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) have refused to do so. The code commits parties to avoid hate speech, inflammatory rhetoric, and ethnically divisive campaigning.

“Without clarity, transparency and a common set of ground rules, public confidence in the process suffers,” the mission warned, adding that GECOM must make the tabulation process publicly understandable and predictable to prevent confusion or suspicion on election night.

Guyana amended its electoral laws in 2022 to address problems exposed during the disputed 2020 elections.

Despite these changes, the Carter Center stressed that most of its recommendations from 2020 remain unaddressed, and that civil society and some opposition parties lack understanding of the new procedures. It pressed GECOM to release its full tabulation plan and to hold regular press briefings throughout the pre-election period and the count.

Six parties are approved to contest the elections, with 2,790 polling stations planned across 1,128 polling places. Over 11,700 polling staff have been identified and will undergo refresher training. Ballots printed in Canada have already arrived in the country.

Still, the mission flagged concerns about GECOM’s impartiality, noting that in the absence of a legal officer, the commission has at times turned to the Attorney General—himself a political candidate—for advice, raising questions of conflict of interest. It welcomed moves to recruit an independent legal adviser.

The mission described the campaign as generally peaceful, though not without tension. It reported sporadic confrontations, flag removals, and delays in police approvals for new parties’ events. The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party’s presidential candidate was also denied interior airline service and access to some public spaces—obstacles that, the mission said, compromise equal participation rights.

It urged all parties to discourage provocation by supporters and to guarantee freedom of assembly without fear.

The Carter Center said it received reports of intimidation affecting public workers and business owners, including instances where employees were transferred after encounters with opposition candidates. It also cited concerns raised by the Guyana Press Association over attempts by both government and opposition figures to censor or intimidate journalists.

The mission pointed to multiple allegations of the misuse of state resources and state media output, it noted, appears skewed in favour of the ruling party, with limited or no coverage of opposition events and at least one report of a party being denied advertising space.

One of the most serious developments flagged is the banking sector’s response to U.S. sanctions imposed in 2024 on WIN candidate Azruddin Mohamed, his father Nazar Mohamed, several businesses, and senior government official Mae Thomas Jr.

Since WIN’s list was approved in July, three local banks have closed accounts belonging to about 40 WIN candidates, members, and associates. Some candidates were reportedly dismissed by employers for joining the ticket.

The Carter Center warned that such “de-risking” goes beyond what FATF and OFAC guidelines require, stressing that sanctions risk arises from prohibited financial transactions—not political association. It said blanket account closures undermine democratic rights and electoral integrity by deterring citizens from political participation.

The mission, which the Carter Center characterises as “limited” because no long-term observers are deployed outside Georgetown, will issue a preliminary statement after election day and a full report in the months following.

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The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has issued a Red Notice for Brazilian national, Fernando Teles Pereira, following a request from the Guyana Police Force.

Pereira is wanted in Guyana for the murder of 21-year-old Venezuelan national, Miguelys Centeno Gerdez, who resided at Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

Police Headquarters said investigators revealed that on February 5, 2025, Pereira, who was employed with W. Golding, Logistic and Aggregate Company picked up Gerdez at the Diamond Junction, East Bank Demerara, in motor lorry GAJ 8825.

Her body was discovered on March 4, 2025, along 9 Miles Road. An autopsy revealed she died from severe trauma to the head.

Following the incident, Pereira fled Guyana and returned to Brazil, evading local law enforcement.

With the Red Notice now issued, Police said INTERPOL has called on law enforcement across its 196 member countries to locate and provisionally arrest Pereira, pending extradition or other legal proceedings.

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