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The trial into the attempts to derail the 2020 General and Regional Elections resumed on Tuesday.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag was one of two persons questioned as the trial restarted.

Parag spoke about efforts to derail the tabulation of ballots after polls closed. And she told persons that she “guarded” the Statement of Polls (SOPs) in her possession while efforts were made to inflate the figures using a spreadsheet to show that the APNU+AFC had secured more votes.

Parag was a candidate for the PPP/C at the time of the elections. She was tasked with comparing the figures from SOPs during the tabulation and verification of votes cast in Region Four.  This process was conducted at the Ashmins building in Georgetown.

During this process, Parag said efforts were made by officials from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Micelle Miller to inflate the numbers to show that APNU+AFC gathered more votes than the PPP/C.

Elections Fraud Trial: Parag details ‘chaos and shouting’ to prevent declaration of fake results

“I recalled standing up and saying that the numbers that were being called are not the numbers I have in my SOP. They were adding for APNU and deducting for PPP.

“I objected to every single one of those boxes, from 4001 to 4021, the numbers did not match for the copies that I had of the SOPs. Every time that I objected I called out the numbers that I had,” Parag said on Tuesday.

She made this disclosure when she took the witness stand at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where the trial into the electoral fraud resumed. Chief Magistrate (ag) Faith McGusty is the presiding magistrate.

In her testimony, Parag detailed among other things, discrepancies with the numbers during the verification and tabulation of votes cast in Region Four. She also spoke about attempts to clear the building and a false declaration made by the Returning Officer of Region Four, Clairmont Mingo.

While the chaos ensued, Parag told the court she “guarded” the SOPs.

“I remained with my SOPs because I couldn’t just leave them.

“The Police said that there was a bomb scare in the building. I remained where I was. I wasn’t moving because I didn’t believe there was a bomb scare in the building,” Parag told the court.

The process eventually continued but was moving “very slow,” according to Parag. Then GECOM staff, including Miller, started to complain of being tired and wanted to stop the tabulation process for the day.

There were objections again and eventually the staff were replaced by two others including Enrique Liven.

Eventually, she said, they too got tired.

“There was a lot of commotion outside. You could have hear noises. For that evening, the process was stopped,” Parag said.

The stalling detailed took place on March 4, 2020. The following day, the tabulation did not continue. Instead, Parag said attempts were made to get persons to evacuate the building but she said she did not.

In the afternoon, Parag recalled Mingo making a declaration of votes cast in Region Four.

“I stood up. I said you cannot do this. The tabulation exercise for Region 4 was not completed.

“He held onto his head and said he is returning to the sick bay and he walked out of the room. As a matter of fact the entire place became chaotic…there were a lot of persons shouting,” Parag told the court in her sworn testimony.

This action, she said, saw an application being filed before the Chief Justice, Roxanne George for several injunctions.

Three injunctions were granted one of which restrained Mingo from declaring the results until the tabulation and verification process was completed.

Then on March 13, Parag related that the tabulation process resumed but it was moved to GECOM headquarters in Kingston, Georgetown.

There, Parag said the votes were being “quickly” tabulated using a bedsheet.

This, Parag added, resulted in continuous objections; the objections were made by Parag and other PPP/C representatives and observers.

And though she could not compare the figures displayed due to poor visibility, Parag told the court that the process continued and Mingo made another declaration.

“The numbers on the spreadsheet was ‘very blurred.’ I was trying to keep up with the numbers by comparing with my own SOPs but I couldn’t, so you really couldn’t verify the numbers,” Parag said.

This led to a recount process–  which she also participated in for 33 days- which showed that the PPP/C had majority of the votes in the 2020 elections.

Rosalinda Rasul, who was an election observer with the American Chamber of Commerce in Guyana (AMCHAM), also testified on Tuesday.

Nine individuals are currently before the court, charged with conspiring to manipulate the election results in favour of APNU+AFC, thereby seeking to deny victory to the PPP. Those charged include former government minister Volda Lawrence, former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, former Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, and former Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers, among others.

The controversy surrounding the March 2020 elections delayed the results for five months until PPP candidate Irfaan Ali was sworn in as president in August 2020.

The trial continues on Wednesday. However, Parag has national duties which require her attention. So another witness is expected to give evidence.

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The ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) is set to amplify its offering for its second edition, promising an electrifying fusion of T20 cricket and major musical performances when it returns to the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, from 10-18 July 2025.

Organisers have confirmed that the 11-match tournament, featuring champion franchises from globally renowned T20 leagues, will be significantly enhanced by the introduction of “Super Concerts” to bookend the cricketing action.

Speaking at the official announcement on Tuesday, GSL’s Commercial and Marketing Director, James Stewart, unveiled plans to elevate the spectator experience beyond the boundary ropes.

“We’re taking the fan experience to the next level,” Stewart declared. “GSL 2025 will kick off and close with Super Concerts, and every Guyana Amazon Warriors game will feature a halftime concert, ensuring non-stop entertainment.”

The ambitious musical undertaking will be delivered in partnership with Hits and Jams, one of Guyana’s leading entertainment entities.

“We’ve teamed up with Hits and Jams – a name synonymous with high-energy events – to curate a concert line-up featuring the biggest soca stars from across the Caribbean alongside Guyana’s top performers,” Stewart added, promising a vibrant Caribbean flavour to the events.

Cricket enthusiasts can anticipate a high-calibre tournament featuring hosts Guyana Amazon Warriors, defending champions Rangpur Riders of Bangladesh, New Zealand’s Central Stags, a Hobart Hurricanes XI from Australia, and the UAE’s International League T20 champions, Dubai Capitals.

Tickets for this combined sporting and musical spectacle are scheduled to go on sale at the Georgetown box office from Tuesday, 27 May. Prices will range from GY$500 to GY$5,000, which organisers have touted as “exceptional value”.

The 2025 ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League aims to build on its inaugural success, showcasing top-tier T20 talent and further establishing Guyana as a premier destination for international cricket and entertainment.

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Climate discussions among international bodies commenced this week in Guyana and Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips said new methods to track flooding in the region are being adopted here.

This was disclosed during his remarks at the launch of the Mechanism for Disaster Cooperation Exercise (MECODEX) 2025, where delegations from neighbouring states are part of these exercises. Emphasis is being placed on flooding in the hemisphere, brought on by climate change.

Prime Minister Phillips said Guyana has taken several significant steps to improve the national and regional response systems for flooding, and other natural and man-made disasters.

As such, Guyana has taken several significant steps to improve the national and regional response systems for natural and man-made disasters. These include targeted capacity training and strategic partnerships such as the notable Air Force’s Lessser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) 2025 mission.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips during his remarks at the event on Monay. (Photo: Office of the Prime Minister/May 19, 2025)

“This initiative provides hands on training in practical combat casualty care, enhancing the skills of our first respondents and fostering international cooperation,” Prime Minister Phillips said.

He added that there has been an expansion of early warning technology for flooding in remote communities and flood prone areas.

“We developed the national flood forecasting system that integrates numerical weather prediction model and the nationwide hydrological model.

“This system piloted in vulnerable communities such as Paruima, Chenapau, Lethem, Kwakwani, enables the creation of flood maps for extreme events, thereby improving our disaster resilience,” the Prime Minister said.

MECODEX aims to strengthen nation’s disaster preparedness and response and this year’s exercise builds upon previous exercises in Peru and beyond. Next year the event will be hosted by neighbouring Brazil.

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Students attached to seven technical institutions across Guyana were trained on Tuesday to help them better understand the importance of verified measurement standards and associated regulations in Guyana.

The training was conducted by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) at the National Exhibition Complex, Sophia.

The training session is part of observances for World Metrology Day. It is being observed under the theme “Measurements for All Times, for All People.”

Shailendra Rai, the Head of the Legal Metrology Department, said the focus on measurement is important as it is used to ensure safety to prevent accidents.

“It’s a very wide topic and it covers a wide cross section in terms of trade, almost anything that we do.

“This year is a very special year because this year marks the 150th anniversary for the signing of the meter convention,” Rai said.

Shailendra Rai, the Head of the Legal Metrology Department. (Photo: News Room)

The international bureau of weights and measures was established using the metric system and Guyana has adopted the metric system as the only legal system for measurement.

Rai warned the students that any other measurement system would be deemed illegal in Guyana. He said GNBS does not calibrate or verify any imperial instruments

Rai also informed the students that the GNBS has the authority to remove devices that have inaccurate readings from the public use.

As part of the bureau’s mandate, it frequently conducts training and awareness sessions at schools and agencies.

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Should commercial airline operators operating in Guyana’s hinterland areas continue to unfairly hike the cost of flights, the government will invest in an airline service, according to Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo.

The Vice President acknowledged that there are instances where the cost to transport people and goods increases intermittently, placing a significant burden on villagers in Indigenous communities.

Jagdeo said the government has engaged commercial flight operators on this matter. However, he said, the operators claim that “middlemen” are involved in chartering the flights and then charging higher rates when passengers are flown or freight transported.

Even so, Jagdeo said the government will intervene as necessary.

“If they can’t be reasonable about these rates, then the government will invest in a commercial arm of the Guyana Defence Force to compete with them.

“…We may very well buy four more aircraft to do this in the next term in office,” Jagdeo told the Toshaos on Tuesday.

His statement earned him rousing applause from the Toshaos gathered at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal for this year’s National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference.

And he reiterated, “We are going to operate a government service if we can’t solve the gouging of market, (that is), unfairly increasing the rates.”

He also assured the leaders that the government will continue to upgrade and expand airstrips.

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President Dr. Irfaan Ali posited that there is a major healthcare expansion in Guyana’s hinterland communities, allowing Indigenous communities to benefit from much-needed services.

He spoke at length about the healthcare transformation in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine as he addressed Toshaos (Indigenous leaders) at the opening ceremony of the 2025 National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference on Monday.

Referencing major improvements since 2020, President Ali said thousands of surgeries were done in hinterland hospitals that could not do surgeries before.

“In Region One, we had less than 23 community health workers. We had zero surgeries conducted in the region, zero ophthalmology surgeries conducted, zero facilities, zero facilities with vaccine refrigerators, zero oxygen generation and production, and zero telemedicine facilities,” the President revealed.

Last year, over 500 surgeries were conducted at the Mabaruma Regional Hospital. Referrals to the Georgetown Hospital for critical cases also decreased due to investments in healthcare in the region.

Going forward, President Ali revealed that the new Moruca Regional Hospital will be completed; the Mabaruma Hospital will have expanded services; a nursing and Allied training complex will be established; health centres will be upgraded to polyclinics, and the electronic health record system will also be rolled out in the region.

Additionally, the government will establish a regional pharmaceutical bond, enhance transportation for patients and build more accommodation for doctors and nurses.

Between 2020 and 2024, in Region Seven the government invested in more than 45 pieces of transportation for the easy movement of medical practitioners and patients.

Prior to this period, President Ali said there was less than 45 per cent of drugs and medical supplies available in this region.

“We’ve expanded the services available in this region by leaps and bounds. We have added new medical specialties, both in equipment and in human resources, to this region. 43 new community health workers were trained and added to the staff, more nurses, more doctors, more patient care assistants and all, most of which came directly from your communities in your region,” the Head of State said.

He promised that health centres will also be upgraded to polyclinics and that a state-of-the-art hospital will be builtin Bartica.

In Region Eight, the President explained that a few years ago, X-rays and ultrasound services had to be referred out of the region.

“Almost 40% of all patients had to be medevaced out of the region.
“Today, what do we have? Let me give you one example. In 2020, 360 cases were referred to GPHC. Today, 180 only; half were referred and 94 persons were referred to the Regional Hospital at Mahdia,” the President revealed.

In Region Eight, President assured of the completion of the new Kato hospital; upgrades to Mahdia Hospital, Monkey Mountain and similarly health centres will be upgraded to polyclinics.

Region Nine was no different from the other hinterland regions with surgeries and other essential services not available prior to investments in the healthcare system.

“Today, less than 2% needs to be transferred out of the region. Between 2015 and 2020, 39% of patients required medical evacuation to the GPHC. In 2024, this dropped from 39% to 3% because of the investment we are making, the improvement in the services, the quality of services,” President Ali said.

He further mentioned the training of over 500 health care professionals in the region and the completion of over 1000 surgeries at the Lethem Hospital.

“Today, the services of the Lethem Hospital are of such high and exceptional quality that we are now taking a record number of patients from Brazil getting their surgeries done here in Guyana. It was the reverse before,” President Ali said.

But President Ali said all of the advances and successes in healthcare is not a celebration of his government, but a celebration of the country and its people.

Promises were also made to expand and improve agriculture with projects in aquaculture, honey, coffee, cocoa, and spices.

“You are part of a revolution in the agricultural sector, the spices, new investment in coffee, cocoa, high-value commodities. We are going to partner with you, a continued social transformation in health, education, important infrastructure,” the President said.

Grants, subsidies, and economic literacy programmes will also be introduced in the Indigenous communities as the President further pledged continued support for Amerindian land titling.

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The sustainable use of Guyana’s natural resources by Guyana’s Indigenous communities will be on full display at an upcoming international forum, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said on Monday.

Guyana is set to host the world’s first Global Biodiversity Alliance, a groundbreaking initiative that will spotlight the country’s leadership in sustainable development under its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030. As he addressed the opening ceremony of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference on Monday, President Ali said Guyana’s indigenous leaders will play a vital role in the forum.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali addressed the opening ceremony of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) conference 2025 (Photo: May 19, 2025)

“We are expanding the LCDS to include biodiversity as in the LCDS 2030 and Guyana will be hosting the first Global Biodiversity Alliance right here… where once again you the leaders of the Indigenous communities will have an opportunity to showcase to the world what sustainable development really feels like, looks like and mean,” the Head of State said.

At the two-day Global Biodiversity Summit in July, participants will focus on establishing a market for biodiversity credits, scaling conservation efforts, and promoting nature-positive actions.

“The greatest contribution to the LCDS came from you, the Amerindian leaders and people, because we did it through consultations with you, we did it by honouring your intellectual ability, your cultural contribution, your sustainable ideas. We did it by engagement with you,” President Ali affirmed.

On Monday, he also commended Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who the president described as the “architect” of the LCDS, for his vision and leadership.

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The Guyana Blind Cricket Association (GuyBCA) has unveiled its national squad, which will compete in the 11th Regional Blind Cricket Tournament in Barbados, scheduled from May 21 to May 28, 2025.

The team will vie for honours in a 40-over round-robin competition and a T20 championship.

Kevin Douglas, a seasoned West Indies blind cricketer, will lead the 17-member contingent.

He’ll be joined by fellow West Indies stalwarts Ganesh Singh and Leroy Phillips, adding significant experience to the squad.

Four West Indies female blind cricketers—Rosemarie Ramitt, Robecka Edinboro, Ackila Smith, and Crystal Aulder—are notable inclusions, highlighting the growing inclusivity within the sport.

Travis Mohamed will take on coaching duties, Mahendra Algu will be the team manager, and Shaniyah English will be the physiotherapist.

The GuyBCA extends its heartfelt appreciation to all the companies and individuals whose contributions have made the team’s participation possible, and it especially thanks the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports for their unwavering support.

Guyana Squad: Kevin Douglas (captain), Ganesh Singh, Leroy Phillips, Anthony Robinson, Roell Sumner, Musa Haynes, Robecka Edinboro, Rosemarie Ramitt, Crystal Aulder, Ackila Smith, Robindra Ramnauth, Patrick Howard, Seon Mitchell, Teshawn Rodney, Asif Khan, Dimitry Waldron, Joshua Augustin

Management Team: Travis Mohamed (coach), Mahendra Algu (manager), Shaniyah English (physiotherapist)

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Guyana’s young female footballers are poised to compete in the 2025 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U-14 Girls’ Challenge Series, which will take place in Trinidad and Tobago from August 15-24.

According to CFU, the Guyanese squad will feature in Tier II of the competition.

The Challenge Series will see 23 Member Associations participate, split across two tiers. Tier I comprises eight teams divided into two groups of four:

• Group A: Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Martinique
• Group B: Aruba, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago

Tier I group stage matches will be played in a round-robin format. Group winners and runners-up will progress to the semi-finals, culminating in the Tier I final on August 24. Playoff matches will determine the 5th to 8th place rankings.

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Tier II, where Guyana will compete, features 15 teams across three groups of five:

• Group A: St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Bonaire, US Virgin Islands, Saint Lucia
• Group B: Grenada, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, French Guiana, Suriname
• Group C: Cayman Islands, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Turks and Caicos Islands, Guyana

Teams in Tier II will also play a round-robin format.

The three group winners will advance to the semi-finals, joined by the second-placed team with the highest points total across all Tier II groups.

The top-ranked group winner will face the best second-placed team, while the second—and third-best group winners will play in the other semi-final.

Tier II action will commence on August 15, with Tier I kicking off a day later on August 16.

Further details regarding the official match schedule are expected to be released soon.

The CFU U-14 Challenge Series, established in 2018, is a cornerstone of the CFU’s developmental strategy.

It aims to provide young male and female players (in alternating years) with their first taste of international competition, aligning with both the CFU’s and FIFA’s commitment to grassroots football development in the region.

Beyond player development, the series also serves as a crucial training ground for aspiring match officials through the CFU’s Next Generation Referee Course, offering essential technical and practical experience for those looking to advance to the FIFA International Refereeing Lists.

Additionally, the event provides valuable training for match and venue coordinators.

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The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has unveiled a 21-man training squad as preparations ramp up for the eagerly anticipated Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Under-19 Tournament.

The announcement, made on Monday, signals the start of an intensive camp designed to hone the skills of both seasoned campaigners and promising new faces.

Jonathan Van Lange, named captain of the provisional squad, will lead the charge.

Garvin Nedd, appointed as the team’s coach, will provide crucial guidance from the sidelines, with Nazeer Mohamed stepping into the role of team manager.

Andre Percival, the lead selector, confirmed that training sessions will commence shortly. However, with the current weather patterns, outdoor practice might be limited initially.

“Because of the weather, there may not be much outdoor work at first,” Percival noted, “but we’ll be utilizing the indoor facilities at the National Gymnasium, courtesy of the GCB President, to get in technical drills and fitness work.”

Percival expressed confidence in the squad’s composition, highlighting a blend of experience and raw talent.

“We have five emerging players currently in the CWI group under Coach Felix, and a few others who showed promise during the rain-affected Inter-County tournament,” he explained. “We feel this 21 offers a strong foundation.”

The final 14-member squad for the CWI Regional Under-19 Tournament will be named after the training camp, following comprehensive input from the coaching staff.

Despite his recent commitments with the Breakout League tour, Percival has been closely monitoring the selection process.

“I’m confident in the group. I wasn’t directly involved in the initial selections due to my tour commitments in the Breakout League. I’ve followed the process closely, and I believe these boys have what it takes,” he asserted.

The Guyanese unit is scheduled to depart for St. Kitts on June 29, where the tournament will be hosted.

Guyana Under-19 training squad: Rampersaud Ramnauth, Parmeshwar Ram, Romeo Deonarine, Sachin Balgobin, Jonathon Van Lange, Afraz Ali Boodhu, Romario Ramdehol, Shamar Apple, Salim Khan, Riyad Latif, Golcharran Chulia, Nityanand Mathura, Bruce Vincent, Micah Amsterdam, Wavell Allen, Neeran Bani, Sanjay Algoo, Jayden Dowlin, Shiloh Adams, Matthew Pottoya, and Ronaldo Jeffery.

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