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General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, said the party will support legislation to stamp out discrimination faced by members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community, noting that no Guyanese should be denied service or opportunities.

However, he clearly stated that the party will not support the legalisation of gay marriages.

“…. we’re going to support any legislation to prevent discrimination. We don’t want any discrimination against our people for education, health, or jobs,” Jagdeo said at his weekly press conference on Thursday.

This commitment to support legislation for the prevention of discrimination, Jagdeo said, will likely be included in the party’s manifesto. That document will be released in a few weeks, he said, but noted that many plans and promises have already been revealed.

Elections 2025: Political parties oppose LGBTQ+ discrimination at town hall 

Jagdeo also disclosed that the PPP/C engaged members of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) recently. That organisation launched a LGBTQIA+ Manifesto 2025, focused on several key measures including Constitutional Reform, healthcare, education and training, sexual and gender-based violence protection, and the establishment of shelters to provide safety for persons.

For years, SASOD has been advocating for amendments to the 1997 Prevention of Discrimination Act to explicitly protect queer persons from workplace discrimination.

Currently, the Act prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on: “race, sex, religion, colour, ethnic origin, indigenous population, national extraction, social origin, economic status, political opinion, disability, family responsibilities, pregnancy, marital status or age…”

SASOD has, however, been advocating for the prohibition of discrimination based on an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics.

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General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, on Thursday, vowed that all public servants will enjoy salary increases and increased benefits in the party’s next term in government. He also announced that there will be changes to the taxation system so people keep more of the money they earn.

Additionally, Jagdeo said pensioners, individuals receiving public assistance, government part-time workers, and Community Service Officers (CSOs) will all get increases.

“So clearly in the public sector, you’re going to have massive increases in earnings for people,” Jagdeo, who is also Guyana’s Vice President, said during his weekly press conference.

However, he explained that the private sector will also benefit.

Specific sectors, from mining to fishing, forestry, and agriculture, would get direct support from the government.

He also said, “The taxation system would evolve in such a way that if you make more money, you are going to keep more money.”

But that’s not all.

Jagdeo said the PPP/C government will also focus on cost reduction measures, some of which are already unfolding. The removal of bridge tolls, an initiative that takes effect from August 1, is one such venture.

Plans to slash the cost of electricity and reduce the cost of hinterland freight and travel are also new ventures that will be pursued.

The PPP/C is seeking re-election in the September 1, 2025 polls.

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General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C). Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo condemned attacks on Afro-Guyanese who have chosen to support his party.

Jagdeo, who is Guyana’s Vice President, maintained that the PPP/C is a multiethnic party with a proven track record of supporting all Guyanese. However, he highlighted the increasingly horrid occurrence, particularly online, of opposition forces attacking Afro-Guyanese vocal about their support for the PPP.

Jagdeo said there seems to be an expectation that Afro-Guyanese must support the opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), though those parties have not delivered. And if Afro-Guyanese express support for the PPP, as they have been doing, Jagdeo lamented that they are being labelled as “sellouts.”

“All week long, we are hearing this assault on Afro-Guyanese, and it will get worse closer to the elections,” he said at his weekly press conference.

The General Secretary later added, “The ‘group think’ that APNU wanted us to have is being dismantled by many people, including many young Afro-Guyanese. Many people have come to the PPP because they think performance matters.”

So Jagdeo told Guyana to reject the racist rhetoric peddled by other parties. He also encouraged individuals to support each other, especially in the face of “trolls” online.

“Don’t be demoralised,,” Jagseo said, speaking directly to the individuals vocal about their support for the PPP/C.

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In a move aimed at bridging the financing gap faced by small businesses in Guyana, a Business Support Desk—conceptualised by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and facilitated by the Private Sector Commission (PSC)—was unveiled on Thursday.

Jared Kissoon, an IDB consultant, explained that the support desk was developed in response to persistent concerns from the private sector, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), about the difficulty in accessing finance needed to grow their businesses.

“In response to the outcry from the private sector, particularly small businesses with regards to inability to access finance in Guyana, to grow their businesses, the Inter-American Development Bank did a study and in consultation with both small businesses, large businesses and lenders. What we found is that there is a disconnect,” Kissoon said.

Jared Kissoon, an IDB consultant

He explained that while small businesses report that finance is hard to access, lenders often claim that these businesses are not ‘bankable,’ too high-risk, or simply not ready for investment.

To address this gap, the Business Support Desk has been designed as a platform to empower Guyanese businesses, specifically those operating outside of the oil and gas sector.

The support desk aims to provide tailored capacity-building services, facilitate strategic partnerships, and offer innovative market solutions.

Kissoon revealed that this will be done through direct engagement and collaboration with financial institutions, business service providers, and private sector partners such as the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), and the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG).

The initiative seeks to strengthen access to finance, promote sustainable growth across non-extractive industries, and support the development of a resilient and diversified Guyanese economy.

“Our unique value proposition is creating linkages, not duplication,” Kissoon said.

He further highlighted that a website is also in development where an ecosystem will be built that connects small businesses with service providers and lenders, all in one space.

“So everyone can have access to everyone else, everyone can see what minimum baseline requirements are for lending and lenders can also start to reach out to small businesses that have been shortlisted by us what we would be deemed ready to be finance,” Kissoon said.

Among its core objectives, the Business Support Desk will: strengthen business readiness to access commercial financing; implement risk mitigation strategies to address concerns from lenders; and build business capacity to develop viable financial proposals.

To ensure continued support, the desk will also host annual capacity-building workshops, quarterly networking events to connect businesses with lenders and investors, and offer in-house services such as personalised business plan development and advisory services.

Fifty small businesses are expected to benefit directly from the programme in its initial phase.

Meanwhile, Kissoon said while many opportunities exist for SMEs to access finance, these businesses must first get themselves ready—a gap that the IDB hopes to close through the Business Support Desk.

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Graduates from the Atlantic Alliance Maritime & Offshore Training Institute (AAMOTI) under the country’s first internationally accredited maritime programme will receive internships with global companies.

The graduates, whose studies were funded by the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), will now be placed with international shipping and offshore companies for internships.

“All of our graduates can work under any flag, including the United Kingdom,” said Miranda Thakur-Deen, Managing Director of AAMOTI at the graduation ceremony Wednesday.

“So today I stand proud. I didn’t just open an institute; I opened an accredited institute that has the standards that can stand up in the global market, ready for the maritime and oil and gas sector.”

AAMOTI confirmed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Seavie Caribbean Ltd, a regional maritime management company that supplies highly qualified seafarers for global commercial fleets, including LPG and LNG tankers and offshore vessels. This agreement is expected to provide Guyanese cadets with access to high-tech ships and structured internship placements across the world.

In addition to Seavie, AAMOTI has established strategic ties with Hafnia, Bourbon Marine & Logistics, OMS Thome, and Tidewater—each a leading global operator in its segment of the shipping and offshore energy sectors.

The cadets completed rigorous training in maritime operations, offshore safety, and technical protocols.

The graduates are excited about the path ahead.

“We started out journey thoughtful, uncertain, and somewhat overwhelmed. The sea was just a concept, navigational charts was just paper, and the engineering lab was quite intimidating.

“But with every drill, every lesson, every muster, we rose as cadets, then as colleagues and now we emerge as seafarers,” said valedictorian Bharat Bhopal.

The cadets completed rigorous training in maritime operations, offshore safety, and technical protocols.

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, delivering the keynote address at the graduation ceremony, praised the achievements of the cohort and highlighted the significance of their training to Guyana’s expanding energy and shipping industries.

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, Captain Hassan Fouda of AAMOTI, and Managing Director of AAMOTI Miranda Thakur-Deen.

“With Guyana’s coastline emerging as a gateway to international trade and offshore energy production, the relevance of your training could not be more timely or more vital,” he said.

“This is not only a personal milestone for each of you but a national achievement in building capacity for the future.”

AAMOTI, established in 2021, is a Guyanese-registered maritime institute delivering IMO-compliant training.

Recognising the pivotal role AAMOTI has played in cultivating Guyana’s maritime talent, Prime Minister Phillips said that since its establishment in 2021, the institute has served “as a launching pad for careers in the global maritime and offshore industry.”

He also emphasised the evolving landscape and the continuous demand for certified, competent, and skilled local professionals as Guyana’s oil and gas sector continues to expand.

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Citizens Bank has now moved to close the accounts of candidates affiliated with the party of US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed.

This follows similar action taken by Demerara Bank and GBTI.

Banks have been compelled to review their compliance measures in line with international banking regulations, particularly those mandated by Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) laws, which are designed to prevent the use of illicit funds.

When the Mohameds were sanctioned, all local banks closed their accounts, including that of Mae Thomas, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, who was also sanctioned.

Individuals closely associated with sanctioned persons or entities may expose financial institutions to serious legal and financial risks. As such, banks are taking steps to protect themselves.

This caution stems from the need to safeguard their correspondent banking relationships. A correspondent bank is a foreign bank that helps a local bank conduct international transactions and business.

Instead of establishing branches overseas, local banks work with correspondent banks to send money abroad, facilitate international card payments, and handle accounts and documentation related to cross-border transactions.

Given this, local banks are exercising heightened caution in avoiding transactions with individuals directly linked to Azruddin Mohamed, as such associations could jeopardise their operations.

On 11 June 2024, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury announced the imposition of sanctions against the Mohamed family—specifically targeting Nazar Mohamed, his son Azruddin Mohamed, and their businesses: Mohamed’s Enterprise, Hadi’s World, and Team Mohamed’s Racing. These sanctions were related to alleged gold smuggling and corruption.

As a result of the OFAC sanctions, the Mohameds’ business licences were revoked, and their bank accounts were closed.

Azruddin has accused the government of political persecution; however, the actions taken against his party’s candidates are being carried out by banks seeking to protect their institutional interests.

When an individual is sanctioned by OFAC, local banks face severe operational and legal consequences.

They are required to immediately block any assets or property belonging to the sanctioned individual under their control, and must also prevent any transactions involving that person or entity.

This entails freezing accounts, stopping transfers, and terminating all dealings with the sanctioned party.

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President Dr. Irfaan Ali has issued a stern warning to health officials, declaring that those responsible for managing the country’s medical supplies must deliver results or “find a new road to walk on” by year end.

Emphasising that the government is investing heavily in drugs and equipment, the President said the era of excuses and shortages is coming to a swift end, and the people must benefit fully from the healthcare system every single day.

 “If it is not done by this year end, then some people will have to find a new road to walk on,” President Dr. Irfaan Ali warned, as he issued a stern ultimatum to health officials over the management of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies in the public health system.

The President made it clear that the government is making major investments to ensure the availability of medication and other resources, and there will be no tolerance for inefficiency or excuses.

“The government is spending on having the drugs and medical supply and I don’t want to hear that it is not available,” he said.
“The days for that is coming to an end and coming to an end quickly. We are making the investments and the people must enjoy the investments every day of the year,” the President emphasised.

Dr. Ali was at the time addressing attendees at the commissioning of the Bath Regional Hospital in Region Five (Mahaica–Berbice), where he also announced a series of interventions aimed at bolstering the healthcare system.

He has instructed Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony and Permanent Secretary Malcolm Watkins to ensure that every hospital is adequately staffed.

“Whatever skill level, [the Minister] has that authority to bring that skill level because I don’t want to hear that we don’t have the doctors, the nurses, the lab technicians or anyone at these hospitals to provide quality care,” the President stressed.

“Those who love the system and love what they do, they will grow with the system and reap enormous benefits … but those who do not want to grow and give quality care, we cannot accept that,” he added.

Highlighting infrastructure expansion, President Ali noted that the government has, in the last five years, established twelve new hospitals and twenty-six health centres.

But staffing and infrastructure are only part of the transformation. The President said the Materials Management Unit (MMU) at the Ministry of Health must be fully digitised by the end of 2025 to ensure proper procurement, storage, and distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment across the public health sector.

In another major development, the government plans to launch a comprehensive Laboratory Integration System using containerised labs placed within communities across several regions.

“Just like you see us putting down these containerised police outposts, we will be putting down containerised labs across our country especially in larger communities, integrating those labs with health, development, and healthcare management,” Dr. Ali explained.

“We want to have these facilities where the population can go…to allow ease of access, to enhance primary healthcare and support healthy living.”

Additionally, the government is collaborating with Northwell Health to build out the infrastructure for emergency medicine, including the expansion of ambulance services.

Efforts are also ongoing to attract private sector investment in the local production of saline and other medical fluids, as the administration works to strengthen the healthcare system in Guyana and across the wider CARICOM region.

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Guyana Amazon Warriors have announced two changes to their squad for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League, slated for August 14 to September 21.

New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips has picked up an injury and has been replaced by Australian big-hitter Ben McDermott, while all-rounder Hassan Khan will miss the first three games and in comes fellow Pakistani Iftikhar Ahmed.

Guyana Amazon Warriors squad: Imran Tahir, Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Shai Hope, Ben McDermont, Gudakesh Motie, Moeen Ali, Shamar Joseph, Keemo Paul, Dwaine Pretorius, Shamar Brooks, Kemol Savory, Hassan Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Jediah Blades, Kevlon Anderson, Quentin Sampson, Riyad Latif

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Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced that the West Indies Men’s squad will feature four changes heading into the three-match T20 International (T20I) series against Pakistan, to be played from July 31 to August 3 at the Broward County Stadium in Florida.

The changes come relative to the squad that faced Australia in the recent five-match T20I series in the Caribbean, with fast bowler Shamar Joseph, along with batters Keacy Carty, Alick Athanaze and Johnson Charles being drafted into the squad for Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Brandon King and Shimron Hetmyer respectively.

Alzarri Joseph has been granted rest for the T20 leg of the Pakistan home series to manage his workload ahead of a busy schedule of cricket for the rest of the year, after full participation in the recent tour of the UK and the home series against Australia.

Lewis has been ruled out of the series with an injury and will return home for monitoring ahead of the 50-over leg of the series.

Shimron Hetmyer and Brandon King both sustained side strains in the fifth and final T20 international against Australia in St. Kitts, causing Hetmyer to be ruled out of the series, while King is still being assessed to determine his availability for the 50-over leg of the series, which bowls off on August 8 in Trinidad.

West Indies Squad for T20I Series vs Pakistan: Shai Hope (Captain), Jewel Andrew, Alick Athanaze, Jediah Blades, Keacy Carty, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd.

Team Management:

Head Coach: Daren Sammy

Team Manager: Rawl Lewis

Assistant Coach (Batting): Floyd Reifer

Assistant Coach (Bowling): Ravi Rampaul

Assistant Coach (Fielding): Rayon Griffith

Physiotherapist: Dr. Denis Byam

Strength and Conditioning Coach: Ronald Rogers

Massage Therapist: Fitzbert Alleyne

Team Analyst: Avenesh Seetaram

Media and Content Officer: Jerome Foster

Match Schedule- West Indies vs Pakistan T20I Series

1st T20I: July 31- Broward County Stadium, Florida

2nd T20I: August 2- Broward County Stadium, Florida

3rd T20I: August 3- Broward County Stadium, Florida

All matches begin at 20:00h local time.

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