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President Irfaan Ali has said his administration will drastically restructure government once re-elected, promising a nimble, project-driven model that removes bureaucracy and harnesses technology to deliver on the ruling party’s ambitious targets for the next five years.

Ali, whose People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is seeking another term in September’s elections, said the changes would be implemented from “day one” of a new government. The overhaul, he said, would align state structures with large-scale industrial, infrastructure and social projects intended to transform the economy.

“Definitely the structure of government will change drastically,” Ali told the News Room’s Neil Marks in an interview to be aired Tuesday night.

“You will see a government that is very nimble, but a government that will be bringing in every level of skill that is required to achieve what we are setting ourselves by 2030.”

The president outlined plans to push value-added production in bauxite, forestry and other commodities, while advancing two industrial economic zones in Berbice and Wales to anchor manufacturing and agro-processing. He said mega-projects such as the planned Silica City development and an integrated national infrastructure programme would be accelerated under a new, efficient style of governance.

That approach, Ali explained, would temporarily draw together skilled teams to execute initiatives under strict timelines and performance indicators.

Ali said accountability, transparency and the removal of red tape will be central, supported by technology to reduce human bias and ensure service delivery. He added that investments in human capital would be necessary to strengthen state capacity, while major pushes were planned in data services, tourism, agriculture and renewable energy alongside two power plants at Wales.

“It’s going to be a high-paced, high-speed environment,” Ali said. “We will definitely be reorganizing the structure of government to meet this.”

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The Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has wrapped up its investigation into allegations that an Inspector and three other ranks stole millions of dollars from a Chinese businessman during a stop-and-search exercise in Georgetown.

The four ranks, who were initially placed under close arrest on August 14, 2025, are now under open arrest but remain confined to the Tactical Services Unit pending further action. The case file is expected to be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on Wednesday, August 20, for legal advice.

According to reports, the incident occurred last Tuesday when the businessman was leaving a Church Street casino after a major win. It is alleged that members of the anti-terrorism patrol stopped him, and during a search of his vehicle, the Inspector discovered more than $5 million in cash. The officers allegedly confiscated $4 million before driving away.

The businessman reportedly claimed he even offered the officers $1.5 million to let him go, but the demand was refused. He later filed a formal police complaint, which triggered the internal probe.

Investigators are said to have reviewed CCTV footage of the incident and reportedly obtained a confession statement from one of the ranks.

The police have not released the names of the implicated officers, but authorities have confirmed that the matter is being treated with urgency as the force moves to maintain public confidence.

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Left-arm pacer Daniel Holder produced two brilliant bowling performances, but it wasn’t enough to secure a victory for Trinidad and Tobago as their Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Men’s Under-17 Championship clash against Guyana ended in a hard-fought draw at the Queen’s Park Oval.

Winning the toss and electing to field, the hosts immediately put Guyana under pressure.

Holder led the charge, returning impressive figures of 4 for 15, as he scythed through the Guyanese top order.

Adrian Hetmyer offered the only real resistance, crafting a gritty 45, but it was not enough to prevent his team from being bundled out for a paltry 109 in just 40.3 overs.

Support came from Renaldo Fournillier and Daron Dhanraj, who picked up two wickets apiece.

In response, Trinidad and Tobago built a commanding position thanks to their captain, Saleem Khan, who top-scored with 35, and a solid 30 from Aadi Ramsaran.

However, Parmeshwar Ram and Dave Mohabir mounted a comeback, sharing six wickets to keep their team in the contest. T&T was eventually bowled out for 184, a lead of 75.

Ram led the team in the absence of Romario Ramdeholl as captain.

With their backs against the wall, Guyana’s second innings struggled to gain momentum. Richard Ramdeholl (24) and Adrian Hetmyer (25) showed promise again.

Micah Amsterdam (17) and Feaaz Baksh (21*) also dug in to deny Trinidad victory as the match ended in a draw, with the score at 137 for 8.

Holder was again the star with the ball for T&T, finishing with a sensational 6 for 23, his second five-wicket haul of the match.

After two successive draws, Guyana is in fifth place with 17.4 points, while Barbados leads the table with 35.2 points.

Guyana will now look to regroup as it faces the Leeward Islands in its next encounter on Wednesday, August 20, at the Inshan Ali Park.

FULL SCORECARD: https://matchcentre.windiescricket.com/match/4d59438a-c2ca-4d5e-8f43-5fec07b34fad/2

 

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Competitive chess is set to return to the Berbice region as the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) organises a one-day 20/20 Rapid Chess Tournament for Sunday, August 24.

The event, open to all Berbice players, will be held at the Little Rock Suites Conference Hall in New Amsterdam and is designed to revitalise the game in an area where it was once very popular.

Mirroring the fast-paced nature of Twenty20 cricket, each player will have 20 minutes on the clock to complete their moves.

This time constraint adds an element of high-stakes pressure to the seven-round Swiss System competition.

“The greatest challenge for me while only playing with 20 minutes, is playing the endgame,” said New Amsterdam player Steve Leung.

“There’s usually little time on the clock, where every second matters. Under time pressure, there is an increased chance for mistakes to arise, which could cost you the game.”

Tournament organisers hope the event will attract players of all ages, helping to build a vibrant local community.

Registration is free, and the top three finishers will receive trophies and cash prizes. A special prize will also be awarded to the best female player.

To secure a spot, players must register online at the GCF’s website, guyanachess.gy, by Thursday, August 21.

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The PCB has not awarded its most prestigious category A contracts to any Pakistan player for the 2025-26 season. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan – the only two players in category A last season – have been demoted to B.

Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood, who was in the B category last year, is now in D, with ten players in each tier; this means the total number of centrally contracted players has increased from 27 to 30.

Fakhar Zaman, who missed out on a central contract for the first time in eight years in 2024 amid disciplinary hearings, is back in category B.

The decision to place no player in the highest category has been attributed to performance. ESPNcricinfo was told the team’s performance “did not lend favour to any player deserving a category A contract”.

It has been internally communicated that players can be promoted to category A only if their performances justify it. Both Babar and Rizwan had relatively unremarkable seasons over the past 12 months, as did the Pakistan side across formats.

In its official statement, the PCB pointedly stated the absence of a player in the highest band. “Notably, no player has been selected for Category A in this cycle,” the statement said.

There have been promotions elsewhere, though. Abrar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, Haris Rauf, Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan have all been promoted to category B.

Sufiyan Muqim, Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Haris, each of whom did not have a central contract last year, have been awarded one – the first one in the cases of Muqim and Hasan. Meanwhile several players,dropped out of the central contract list altogether, notably Aamir Jamal, Kamran Ghulam, Mir Hamza, Irfan Khan Niazi and Usman Khan.

This is the final year of the landmark three-year deal the players reached with the PCB on central contracts.

It gave players their highest pay raises in history, and more notably, a fixed share of revenue from the PCB’s earnings at the ICC. The board has stuck to the same arrangement this time, only tweaking which categories particular players are placed in, as was previously agreed.

The contracts will be backdated to cover the period starting July 1, 2025, running for another 12 months before a revision can be made.  (ESPNcricinfo) 

Category B: Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Category C: Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sahibzada Farhan, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel

Category D: Ahmed Daniyal, Hussain Talat, Khurram Shahzad, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Wasim jr, Salman Mirza, Shan Masood, Sufyan Muqim

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The governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) says it will explore extending the Local Content Act, which guarantees jobs and business opportunities for Guyanese in the oil and gas sector, to the mining industry if re-elected on September 1.

The pledge, outlined in the party’s 2025 manifesto launched on Monday at the Pegasus Corporate Centre in Kingston, comes amid large-scale developments in gold and bauxite mining.

The Local Content Act, passed in 2021, requires oil companies and their contractors to source goods and services locally across 40 categories, including catering, transportation, security and accounting. It also sets minimum hiring quotas for Guyanese.

Extending the law to mining would complement other commitments by the PPP/C, including partnering with private investors to bring new large-scale gold and bauxite projects into production, creating thousands of jobs. The party also promises to make more lands available for small miners and continue upgrading hinterland roads and airstrips to improve access to mining areas.

The manifesto says operators can expect the current favourable fiscal regime to remain in place, with no increase in royalties, no VAT on heavy equipment, and no tributors’ tax.

The PPP/C further pledges to work with private investors to expand the metallurgical grade bauxite project in Linden, already employing hundreds, and to revive mining at abandoned sites along the Berbice River. It also commits to exploring alumina refining, once gas from offshore pipelines becomes available onshore.

In addition, the party plans to support rapid growth in quarry stone and sand production, with demand soaring due to Guyana’s construction boom.

 

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The incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has pledged to roll out 5,000 new projects in Indigenous communities over the next five years if re-elected on 1 September, aiming to boost hinterland village economies.

The plan is outlined in the party’s 2025 manifesto, launched on Monday at the Pegasus Corporate Centre in Kingston under the theme “Forward together for a better Guyana.”

“We will support and expand implementation of Village Sustainability Plans (VSPs) and develop over 5,000 new projects across Amerindian communities, aimed at improving the lives of our Amerindian brothers and sisters,” the manifesto states.

The projects will be financed mainly through the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, Guyana’s framework for climate-resilient, low-carbon growth. So far, Guyana has earned US$750 million from forest conservation, with 15% of revenues channelled directly to Indigenous villages. More than GY$14 billion has already been invested in community-led projects in over 240 villages, spanning agriculture, tourism, water supply, ICT and other sectors.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali engages with Indigenous leaders before the opening ceremony of the 2023 National Toshaos Council Conference (Photo: President Irfaan Ali/ Facebook/ August 28, 2023)

The PPP/C says this support will expand if it secures another term.

“Over the next five years, we will continue to provide access to LCDS funding for sustainable development, and increase support for VSPs,” the manifesto notes.

Beyond LCDS-funded projects, central government financing covers major infrastructure in the hinterland, including roads, bridges, schools and hospitals.

The party also promises to back community-based enterprise and job creation, widen training opportunities to encourage entrepreneurship, and place special focus on agriculture and agro-processing to strengthen food security.

Tourism is another priority. The manifesto commits to supporting the development of village-level tourism products, including packaged multi-village tours, alongside training to improve the visitor experience.

 

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The Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) has laid out an ambitious roadmap for the remainder of 2025.

The roadmap focuses on preparing for the world stage while nurturing the next generation of talent.

The proactive strategy follows a promising showing by the nation’s junior squad at the Pan American Games in Paraguay, where they have thus far added a relay bronze to the country’s medal tally.

In a significant move to elevate the national team, AAG President Sheryl Hermonstine is scheduled to travel to Germany later this month.

According to a press release from the AAG, she will hold discussions at Adidas headquarters from August 24 to 27, with the primary objective of securing new equipment for the country’s athletes.

This initiative is crucial in preparing Guyana’s competitors for the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo.

In March 2025, Track and Field received a massive boost, with the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) landing a significant multi-year deal with Adidas, a global apparel brand.

The initial payout is worth US$300,000 (equipment only), and for the next three years, the sport will benefit from US$250,000 each year.

The partnership with the German brand, facilitated by Guyanese Cubie Seegobin, is premised on equipment and also financial support.

Recognising the importance of developing grassroots talent, the AAG will also begin its preparations for the 2026 CARIFTA Games on September 13.

Niall Stanton has been appointed to coordinate the preparations for this premier regional youth athletics competition.

A relay fest is planned for later in September, further highlighting the association’s commitment to youth development.

The event promotes team-based competition and unearths new sprint talent, building a strong pipeline for future national teams.

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With the landmark Gas-to-Energy (GtE) project poised to halve electricity costs by the end of 2026, the next wave of industrial growth will see estates established in Regions Three and Six dedicated to manufacturing fertiliser, cooking gas, and other essential commodities.

This was one of several key initiatives outlined in the PPP/C’s 2025 manifesto, launched today at the Pegasus Corporate Center, Kingston, ahead of the 1 September polls.

With the imminent operation of the GtE project, the party assured Guyanese and the business community that manufacturing enterprises will become viable and can achieve global competitiveness for the first time in the country’s history.

This ambitious vision, it said, will be realised through continued collaboration between the public and private sectors, positioning Guyana as the industrial capital of the Caribbean.

To achieve this, the party said it will complete the industrial estate at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD), over the next five years. The estate will host a vast complex of industrial and manufacturing enterprises.

Facilities will include the production of sufficient cooking gas to meet and exceed domestic demand, along with ammonia and urea for use as fertiliser, and the establishment of a hub utilising electricity for other manufacturing processes.

A second industrial estate of a similar nature will be constructed in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), where private capital could be mobilised for activities such as oil refining, alumina refining, fertiliser manufacturing, and a new petrochemical industry.

The PPP/C also intends to work with the private sector in its next term to achieve full occupancy at existing and soon-to-be-completed industrial estates at Onderneeming in Region Two, Belvedere in Region Six, Lethem in Region Nine, and York in Region Ten.

The party highlighted plans for additional estates to meet growing demand and the establishment of a Small Business Development Complex in Georgetown, providing small, micro, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with organised spaces and proper infrastructure to grow and operate more efficiently.

To enhance communities and improve living conditions, mini-industrial and commercial zones will be designated to accommodate the relocation of specific categories of businesses, according to the manifesto.

The 300MW GtE project is expected to end Guyana’s longstanding energy crisis, addressing both frequent blackouts and high electricity costs.

 

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The incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic has released its re-election manifesto – a wide-ranging plan it says will deliver the most ambitious transformation in Guyana’s history. From oil and gas to education, healthcare, housing, and infrastructure – the promises are big. So, what’s in it? It’s 65 pages long, so here is a summary

The PPP manifesto begins with a message from its three leaders: President Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Brigadier (R’td) Mark Phillips and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.

At the start of the manifesto, they point out that in 2026, Guyana will celebrate 60 years since attaining political independence after centuries of colonial rule and on the eve of this milestone the country is at one of the most crucial junctures in its entire political and economic history.

They say the PPP is a party with tested and proven vision and leadership that will realise the prosperity Guyanese have long anticipated and awaited as a country and as a people.

The next five years, the PPP leaders say, is one that will see them delivering a modern, prosperous, and inclusive Guyana, one in which the stated aim of translating national prosperity into community, household, and individual prosperity will be realised.

TAXES & COST OF LIVING

On disposable income, the party says:

• No new taxes
• The Because We Care cash grant will double to $100,000 per child, plus a new $100,000 transport grant
• Old age pensions and public assistance will continue to climb
• Fuel and utility subsidies will remain in place

MINING

On mining, the PPP promises:

• Work with private investors to realise new large-scale mining operations
• Make more lands available for small miners to be able to access concessions
• Invest aggressively in hinterland roads and airstrips
• No increase in royalties, no VAT on heavy equipment, and no tributors tax.
• In the bauxite mining sector, continue to work with private investors to ramp up fully the metallurgical grade bauxite (MAZ) project in Linden
• Engage with private investors to resuscitate bauxite mining at the abandoned locations in the Berbice River, while encouraging exploration of other areas
• Explore the viability of alumina refining, in collaboration with private investors Support rapid expansion in the production of quarry stone and sand products

INDUSTRIAL CAPITAL OF THE CARIBBEAN

Over the next five years, the PPP/C government will:

• Complete the industrial estate at Wales to host a vast complex of industrial and manufacturing enterprises, including the manufacture of enough cooking gas to meet and exceed domestic requirements, along with ammonia and urea for use as fertiliser, and establishment of a hub to use the electricity for other manufacturing
• Construct a second such industrial estate in Region 6, where private capital could be mobilised for such activities as oil refining, alumina refining, fertiliser manufacturing, and a new petrochemical industry
• Work with the private sector to achieve full occupancy at existing and soon to-be completed industrial estates at Belvedere, Lethem, Onderneeming, and York, and construct additional estates to meet growing demand
• Establish a Small Business Development Complex in Georgetown to provide SMEs with organised spaces and proper infrastructure, to grow and operate more efficiently.
• Designate mini- industrial and commercial zones to relocate particular categories of businesses, thereby also enhancing living conditions in established communities

AGRICULTURE

The PPP says it wants to make Guyana the the food producing capital of the Caribbean. It promises to:

• Encouraging mega-production systems to harness the benefits of greater economies of scale
• Operationalising the regional food hub at Yarrowkabra, which will include technologically and scientifically driven storage, processing, and packaging facilities
• Establishing an agri-tech and agro-industrial complex and co-invest with agro-processors to crowd in private capital into value-added food production and create additional markets for farmers for their fresh produce
• Open up more than 100,000 new acres of arable land
• Continue to upgrade farm-to-market roads in farming communities
• Expand D&I systems and networks
• Provide additional support to farmers, including breeding stock, planting materials, and fertiliser

EDUCATION

The manifesto pledges:

• Free university tuition at UG.
• Unlimited scholarships under the GOAL programme
• A new Guyana Digital School to give parents online learning options
• Payment for up to 8 CSEC and CAPE subjects per child
• Construction of over 100 new schools, with modern labs and ICT facilities
• Higher salaries and better working conditions for teachers

HEALTHCARE

Healthcare pledges include:

• Completion of 12 new hospitals, 25 health centres, and regional drug distribution hubs
• Recruitment of 6,000 new nurses in the next term
• Telemedicine at 200 sites linking hinterland villages to specialists
• A National Ambulance Authority with land, river, and air ambulances
• Use of AI in diagnostics and rollout of electronic health records nationwide

 

INFRASTRUCTURE

The manifesto highlights mega-projects:

• A new four-lane Berbice River Bridge
• Completion of the Linden–Lethem highway with bridges at Kurupukari and Puruni
• The four-lane East Coast Demerara highway from Mahaica to D’Edward
• Expansion of the East Bank highway all the way to CJIA
• A four-lane road from Schoonord to Goshen
• And the creation of Silica City, Guyana’s first smart city

HOUSING & COMMUNITIES

Housing pledges include:

• 40,000 new homes built in the next five years
• Clearing the entire backlog of house lot applications
• Continued core homes and young professional homes programme
• Upgrading communities with concrete drains, LED street lights, recreational spaces, and security cameras
• Advancing the new Silica City as a prototype for smart living

OIL & GAS

The oil and gas agenda promises:

• Completion of the 300 MW Gas-to-Energy project at Wales, slashing electricity costs by 50 percent
• Building a 300 MW second gas-to-energy plant at Wales and a new national fuel depot to enable export of cooking gas to the Caribbean
• Expansion of local content opportunities to train and employ more Guyanese
• Strong oversight of the Natural Resource Fund, with all spending going through Parliament

AMERINDIAN & HINTERLAND COMMUNITIES

For Amerindian communities:

• At least 15 percent of carbon credit revenues will continue to flow into village projects and see the start of 5, 000 new projects
• More scholarships and training opportunities.
• Expanded use of telehealth and ICT to bridge the development gap

SECURITY & GOVERNANCE

The manifesto also promises:

• Expansion of the Safe City CCTV network
• More police stations and vehicles
• Constitutional reform through a 21-member commission
• New courts and a nationwide e-litigation system for faster justice

From new homes and highways, to hospitals and schools – the PPP/C says this is the roadmap to a modern Guyana. But the real verdict will be at the ballot box in exactly two weeks and the PPP is hoping for a very comfortable victory.

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