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A Memorandum of Understanding that will pave the way for a regional food hub at Yarrowkabra, along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, was signed between Bloomberg Grain and the Government of Guyana on Wednesday.

The MoU signing was conducted at the Ministry of Agriculture’s main boardroom on Regent Street, Georgetown. Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said this memorandum will bolster the country’s agriculture sector to serve as a regional food hub.

“We’ve moved away from that kind of labour-intensive form of production to a more modern and scientific form of production,” Mustapha said.

Bloomberg Grain’s Chairman, Philip Bloomberg, said the renowned U.S.-based agricultural company intends to designate Guyana as its official hub in the Caribbean.

“We’re prepared to invest in processing our Guyanese agricultural products. That means higher value for farmers and an easier way to export.

“We will look to invest in a manufacturing plant because we don’t just do food security — we cover the whole spectrum, and the manufacturing plant will be used to produce the most advanced shade houses,” Bloomberg said.

There have been discussions for further investments in farming. He said President Dr Irfaan Ali has challenged the company to make the project expandable to allow entry into the U.S. market.

Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, reaffirmed agriculture’s central role in Guyana’s development strategy.

“This project represents an important deployment of science and technology in the agricultural production and supply chain to realise greater efficiency,” Dr Singh said.

U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, hailed the agreement as a transformative moment in regional development. This strategic partnership marks a pivotal step in the country’s ability to build a sustainable agricultural sector.

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The United States of America (USA) has dedicated efforts to supporting the Guyana Police Force and local and international observers for the Regional and General Elections, U.S. Ambassador Nicole Theriot has said.

During an interview with reporters on the sidelines of an event on Wednesday, the Ambassador said the Force reached out for this support.

“It was just a result of a request from the GPF that this was something they could use, and we’re happy to provide it. As you know, our elections, no matter how contentious they might be, are always peaceful for the most part, and so we do have a lot of expertise in that in the United States, so we were happy to help,” the Ambassador said.

She said the strength of Guyana’s democracy is a serious concern and, as such, officials from Las Vegas and Miami-Dade are expected to arrive in Guyana soon.

The U.S. Embassy will also have about 50 persons available to support observers on September 1.

“We’re also supporting the observers coming from the OAS, and we assisted with the embedded advisors in GECOM who took up their positions last week. They are from the UNDP — we assisted with that, although the funding came from the UK,” she said.

Additionally, the Ambassador said the observers are coordinating to avoid redundancy, including working with the Private Sector Commission, CARICOM, and the Carter Center.

She also said that the U.S. Embassy has met with GECOM, and based on feedback received, the U.S. believes that this will be a free and fair election if all protocols are followed as needed.

“Having those international observers there, having those party observers there, is going to be very instrumental,” Theriot said.

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From ISKCON of Guyana Hare Krishna Study Centre:

The Ratha Yatra festival has become a common sight in most major cities worldwide since 1967, through the Hare Krishna movement. Its founder-acharya, His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, successfully transplanted this ancient celebration, which now occurs annually in London, Paris, New York, and other major cities around the globe.

Ratha Yatra is a significant religious and cultural festival honouring Lord Jagannath (Krishna) traditionally held at Puri, in the state of Orissa, India, where the oldest and most revered Jagannath Deity resides. Once a year, around mid-June, Lord Jagannath, along with his brother Baladeva, and sister Subhadra, are carried from the temple and pulled on huge chariots through the streets of Puri. These massive chariots are the origin of the English word ‘juggernaut’. Millions of devotees attend this festival every year.

ISKCON devotees from our Georgetown Centre dedicate months of planning and hard work to make their annual Ratha-yatra a success. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the festival in Georgetown; the celebration will span four days from July 10 through July 13.

Festival Schedule:

• Thursday, July 10: The celebration begins off at our Temple located at Lot 1, UG Road, ECD, with a three-hour Kirtan Festival from 6:00 pm, featuring ecstatic chanting of devotional melodies to uplift the soul.
• Friday, July 11: Day 1 RathaYatra parade starts at3:00 pm from Delhi & Dennis Streets, Belair to the Hare Krishna Temple at UG Road, followed by a Cultural Program at 6:00 pm.
• Saturday, July 12: Day 2 Ratha Yatra parade begins at 2:00 pm from Better Hope Community Centre to the Hare Krishna Temple at UG Road, with another cultural program from 6:00 pm.
• Sunday, July 13: The celebrations culminate with the observance of the 9th anniversary of the Temple, with the program starting at 3:00 pm. There will be expressions of heartfelt gratitude and reflections on the years of service.

Each day’s festivities will feature ecstatic Kirtan, drama performances, spiritual discussions, and various displays to enhance your spirituality. This year’s festival will be graced by special guest His Holiness Guru Prasad Swami, Governing Body Commissioner for ISKCON Guyana. Everyone is cordially invited to enjoy the wholesome entertainment, awaken their inner spirituality, and be delivered from material distress.

Traditional Stories of Ratha Yatra

Two fascinating stories are associated with Ratha Yatra. The first tells how Krishna appeared to His great devotee, King Indradyuma, instructing him to carve a Deity from a log that would wash up on the seashore. King Indradruma found a mysterious old Brahmin carpenter to carve the Deity, who insisted on working undisturbed. After a period of silence, the worried king opened the doors – only to find the Deity half-finished and the carpenter vanished! The mysterious carpenter was none other than Vishvakarma, the celestial architect.

The distraught king lamented that the Deity had no arms or legs. His remorse at interrupting the carving was only eased when the sage Narada appeared and explained that these Forms were legitimate manifestations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna, His brother Balaram, and sister Subhadra-devi.

The second story explains how Krishna was eavesdropping on His beloved devotees, the gopis (cowherd girlfriends), as they spoke of His pastimes and their love for Him. Sister Subhadra was supposed to keep watch but became so captivated by the gopis’ devotion that she failed to notice Krishna and Balaram approaching. As the brothers listened, their hair stood on end, their arms retracted, their eyes widened, and they similed broadly in ecstasy – explaining the distinctive appearance of Lord Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra.

A third story reveals the inner meaning of Ratha Yatra. During His earthly pastimes 5,000 years ago, Lord Krishna, with Balaram and Subhadra, visited Kurukshetra in north-central India. There, Krishna met friends and relatives from Vrindavana who longed for Him to return to His childhood home. The Ratha Yatra festival embodies this sentiment – the emotional process of bringing Krishna back to Vrindavana and into the hearts of devotees.

Spiritual Significance of the Rath Yatra Festival

This festival commemorates these divine pastimes of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Though Krishna is the source of the entire cosmos, He periodically appears within it in human form while displaying His supreme powers and opulences. His earthly pastimes aim to reestablish the essence of all religious principles – pure love for God.

The Ratha Yatra festival gives everyone an opportunity to remember and celebrate Krishna’s pastimes. The wooden Deity forms of Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra are not mere idols but authorized incarnations of the Absolute Truth, who appears in these forms at the request of His pure devotees. Participants in the Festival of the Chariots experience a blissful transcendental connection with Lord Krishna through these Deity forms. The entire celebration fosters love and devotion that promotes universal peace, harmony, and goodwill for all creation.

Scared scriptures repeatedly glorify this special festival. It is said that even touching the chariot or the ropes used to pull it confers the benefits of numerous pious deeds or years of penance. According to the Bhavisya Puräna, whoever joins in the Ratha Yatra parade and festival will be elevated to the kingdom of God.

You will be captivated by the sight of devotees in white and saffron robes playing double-headed drums and brass hand-cymbals, leading the crowd in dancing and chanting: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare.

Come and be blessed!

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Two construction workers were remanded to prison for the murder of a teenager from Litchfield.

Antwone Campbell, 19, and Rayon Frank, both residents of Number 40 Village, appeared before Magistrate Michelle Matthias at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning.

The court heard that Campbell and Frank murdered 18-year-old Jerroy Gordon of Litchfield Village on Thursday, July 3.

The defendants were not required to enter a plea regarding the serious murder charge.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Garfield Edwards indicated to the court that while the case file is complete, the postmortem examination report for the deceased is still pending.

Following this, Magistrate Matthias reminded the two defendants of the gravity of the charges they face and ordered their remand in custody.

The case has been scheduled to be heard at the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court on August 8.

According to reports, around 21:30 hours July 3, Jerroy and his 16-year-old brother Jerry were returning home on a motorcycle after buying food when they were ambushed a short distance from their home. Jerry recounted that one of the attackers ran across the road with a rope at Number 40 Village, forcing them off the motorcycle. Both brothers fell to the ground, and when Jerry looked back, he saw several men charging at them armed with cutlasses. Fearing for his life, Jerry ran to Litchfield to alert relatives, only returning to the scene later to find his brother critically wounded.

Jerroy was rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. He had sustained a deep wound to his neck and other injuries. Investigators revealed that Jerroy had previous disputes with some of the suspects earlier this year—a matter that was before the court but has since concluded.

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[Jamaica Gleaner] – Four CARICOM member states will implement full free movement of nationals by October 1, 2025, marking a major step forward in regional integration under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

They are Barbados, Belize, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Dominica.

The announcement was made by CARICOM Chairman and Jamaican Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness during the closing news conference of the 49th Regular Meeting of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government in Montego Bay.

“We agreed that the pace and scope of implementation [were] just too slow, and we agreed that we will do everything in our power to speed up implementation,” Holness said.

Holness said the four nations reiterated their willingness to implement full free movement under the Protocol on Enhanced Cooperation, which all CARICOM members signed.

Full free movement within CARICOM allows for the free movement of skilled nationals, services, capital, and the right to establish businesses or offer services in other participating member states without restrictions. The free movement of skilled nationals means that qualified workers can seek employment in other member states without needing work permits.

Holness said Jamaica remains committed to the goal and is working to overcome its own internal constraints.

“I want to make clear that Jamaica remains committed to implementing full free movement in accordance with the treaty amendments, and we are also examining ways to speed up our own implementation,” he stated.

Explaining Jamaica’s slower progress, he noted: “Due to our legislative framework and other considerations, we have had to move with greater consideration. However, it is our intention to speed up the implementation of full free movement.”

The Prime Minister also announced that CARICOM leaders agreed to expand the list of approved skilled categories under the CSME regime.

“Aviation personnel have been added to the list, and it is worth noting that Jamaica contributed three new occupations: photogrammetry, field maintenance personnel, and aircraft maintenance personnel,” he said.

The Protocol on Enhanced Cooperation, signed in 2023, aims to eliminate the need for work permits or skills certificates for nationals moving across CARICOM borders.

The October rollout in four countries is expected to serve as a key test case for full free movement across the region, part of CARICOM’s broader 2030 agenda for deeper economic and social integration.

Holness also called for better governance and implementation structures across the Community.

“The reality is that our operations must be more agile and fit for purpose as we seek to deliver outcomes for our community in more efficient and timely ways,” he said.

Progress will be reviewed at the upcoming CARICOM–Africa Summit in Ethiopia this September.

 

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Former West Indies captain Chris Gayle has criticised South Africa’s stand-in captain Wiaan Mulder for not going after Brian Lara’s record of the highest individual Test score earlier this week, when he declared on 367 not out against Zimbabwe.

Gayle, a former team-mate of Lara, said Mulder “maybe panicked” and made an “error” by not chasing the “once in a lifetime opportunity.”

“If I could get the chance to get 400, I would get 400,” Gayle told talkSPORT. “That doesn’t happen often. You don’t know when you’re going to get to a triple-century again. Any time you get a chance like that, you try and make the best out of it.”

Mulder said he did this out of respect for Lara’s record and Gayle accepted that, to an extent: “But he was so generous and said he wanted the record to stay with Brian Lara. Maybe he panicked, he didn’t know what to do in that situation.

“Come on, you’re on 367, automatically you have to take a chance at the record. If you want to be a legend… how are you going to become a legend? Records come with being a legend.

Mulder, 27, was playing only his 21st Test, against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo where South Africa were put in to bat.

Mulder went out at No. 3 in the 10th over of the innings and Zimbabwe were unable to dismiss him in the 334 balls he faced, of which 49 were stuck for fours and four for sixes.

He was unbeaten on 264 at the end of the first day and not far from Lara’s record on 367 when the teams took lunch, but South Africa never returned to bat as they had declared.

“I think it was an error from his side, not to try and go to get it,” Gayle said.

“We don’t know if he would go on and get it or not. But he declared on 367 and he said what he had to say. But listen, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to get 400 runs in a Test match. Come on, youngster, you’ve blown it big time.”

Gayle further said the quality of the opposition did not matter in such records.

“It’s the same cricket, Test cricket,” Gayle said. “Sometimes you can’t even get one run against a team like Zimbabwe, if you want to put it that way.

It doesn’t matter, the opponent, if you get a hundred against any team, that’s a Test century. If you get a double or triple, 400, that’s Test cricket. That’s the ultimate game.

“Like I said, he panicked and he blundered, straight up.”

Much of the cricket world has been debating the event, and a question was even put to England’s Ben Stokes at the press conference ahead of the Lord’s Test. Would he have declared on a batter so close to the record?

“As captain, you’d rather do it to yourself than the captain pulling out on a groundbreaking day,” Stokes said. “I think he said something about how it should stay with Brian. He’s not going to get that opportunity again. They got the win, which obviously is the big thing that counts.” (ESPNcricinfo)

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Christian Horner has been sacked as Red Bull team principal after 20 years in the role.

The 51-year-old has been in charge of the Formula 1 team since its inception in 2005, leading them to eight drivers’ championship and six constructors’ championship titles.

The dismissal follows months of declining form for the team and internal disputes at the highest level.

It also comes 17 months after Horner was accused of sexual harassment and coercive, controlling behaviour by a female employee.

Horner was twice cleared of the claims, firstly after an internal investigation conducted by an independent lawyer, then by another independent lawyer who dismissed the complainant’s appeal.

“Red Bull has released Christian Horner from his operational duties with effect from today,” the team’s parent company, Red Bull GmBH, said in a statement on Wednesday.

While Horner has been removed from his role, it has not been made clear if he has formally departed the company, or if a settlement or severance is yet in place.

The Englishman will be replaced as team principal and chief executive of Red Bull Racing by Laurent Mekies, who has been promoted from second team Racing Bulls.

The 48-year-old Frenchman had been in the role since the start of the 2024 season and was previously racing director for Ferrari.

Englishman Alan Permane, 58, has been promoted to team principal of Racing Bulls from his position as racing director.

Under Horner, Sebastian Vettel won the drivers’ championship from 2010-2013, with Max Verstappen winning the past four titles.

“We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years,” added Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull’s chief executive of corporate projects and investments.

“With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula 1.

“Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history.”

Horner’s dismissal comes amid uncertainty about the future of star driver Verstappen, 27.

The four-time world champion is under contract to Red Bull until 2028 but is being courted by Mercedes to potentially join them for next season.

Red Bull have won only two races this season, with McLaren taking over their position as the team to beat.

Their decline began in the middle of last season; while Verstappen won his fourth straight world title, he won only twice in the final 14 races. (BBC)

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The Guyana Police Force is hunting for 34-year-old Brian Semple, known as ‘Big Face’, who is wanted for the brutal murder of 18-year-old Jerroy Gordon at #40 Village, West Coast Berbice. The fatal attack occurred on the night of July 3, 2025.

According to reports, Jerroy and his 16-year-old brother Jerry were returning home on a motorcycle after buying food when they were ambushed a short distance from their home. Jerry recounted that one of the attackers ran across the road with a rope, forcing them off the motorcycle. Both brothers fell to the ground, and when Jerry looked back, he saw several men charging at them armed with cutlasses. Fearing for his life, Jerry ran to Litchfield to alert relatives, only returning to the scene later to find his brother critically wounded.

Jerroy was rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. He had sustained a deep wound to his neck and other injuries. Investigators revealed that Jerroy had previous disputes with some of the suspects earlier this year—a matter that was before the court but has since concluded.

Region Five Commander Lonsdale Withrite confirmed that several individuals have already been detained for questioning as investigations continue. However, Brian Semple, whose last known address is Lot 26, #40 Village, West Coast Berbice, remains on the run.

Police are urging anyone with information about Semple’s whereabouts to come forward. Citizens are asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 225-6940, 225-8196, 226-7476, 225-2317, 227-1149, or to report to the nearest police station. The Guyana Police Force’s Corporate Communications Unit is encouraging the public to assist in ensuring that Semple is arrested and brought before the court to answer for this crime.

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The campaign manager for Azruddin Mohamed’s newly formed political party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), has been forced to backpedal after posting animated images online that have sparked widespread criticism for their perceived racial undertones.

On Tuesday morning, Odessa Primus, who manages WIN’s campaign activities, shared two photos depicting children appearing hungry and begging for food with bowls in hand. The images prominently feature a flag in the party’s colours and its official symbol. One of the images shows a lighter-skinned child standing in the centre with folded hands, surrounded by other children.

While Primus clarified her intent in sharing the images, but many social media users slammed them as distasteful and divisive, suggesting they carry an implied racial message about poverty.

Primus distanced herself from the content, claiming: “I do not like the message the images seem to be implying. Not for any political campaign would I create it nor approve its creation.”

Despite this, the original images remain on her page and continue to circulate widely. WIN has issued a brief statement insisting it bears no responsibility for the images.

The incident comes as WIN attempts to build legitimacy amid questions surrounding its leadership.

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The atmosphere was electric at the El Dorado Rum National 8-Ball Team Championship as the Butcher Big Boyz claimed a stunning victory over the Suicide Squad, showcasing their skill and strategy in a nail-biting final on July 6.

The championship, which took place at Butchers Chill Spot, culminated in a memorable showdown that highlighted the prowess of the participants and the spirit of camaraderie within the cue sports community.

The final match saw both teams displaying extraordinary talent and composure, but it was the Butcher Big Boyz who ultimately triumphed, securing their place as champions of this prestigious tournament.

Suicide Squad captured the runner-up spot

Their expert gameplay and teamwork proved too much for the Suicide Squad, solidifying their reputation in the tournament.

In the closely contested semi-finals, Team Predators and Chief Pool Club claimed third place, rounding out the tournament’s competitive spirit. Both teams demonstrated remarkable resilience and skill, garnering respect from their peers and fans alike.

Team Predators (top) and Chief Pool Club (bottom) claimed third place

“On behalf of the Cue Sports Association, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors whose generous investment has made this event possible. Their unwavering support for the sport we all cherish is invaluable. We would like to thank: Mix and Mingle Berbice, KM Technology, WM Services, KBS Electrical, Suraj Sports Bar, Sunil and Son Pool Bar, Jason Pool Bar, Butcher’s Chill Spot, D&L Sports Bar, Embassy American Style Sports Bar and Geo Enviro Support Services,” the Cue Sports Association said in a press release.

“We would also like to offer a special thank you to our title sponsors, El Dorado Rum, for their commitment to promoting cue sports and for helping us bring this thrilling competition to life.”

Raveena Mangal, El Dorado Brand Executive, shared, “It’s been wonderful to see the camaraderie, good sportsmanship, and community spirit throughout the tournament; values that El Dorado is proud to support. Thank you to everyone who came out, participated, and joined us for the promotions.”

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