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President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Saturday called for greater ambition and regional positioning within Guyana’s aviation industry as he delivered the keynote address at the commissioning of JAGS Aviation’s new Hindustan H-228 aircraft.

The two Dornier 228 aircraft each seat 19 passengers and are expected to significantly enhance service delivery. They also introduce a first for domestic aviation in Guyana, featuring onboard washroom facilities an added level of comfort for passengers travelling long distances.

The planes were procured from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in India, further strengthening bilateral ties.

The president said the investment represents more than fleet expansion, describing it as another signal of Guyana’s broader economic transformation and its ambition to become a regional aviation hub.

Commending JAGS Aviation’s continued growth, the head of state said local aviation companies should begin looking beyond domestic operations and position themselves to compete regionally.

“It is a local company that I believe has the potential to become more than a local carrier, and indeed I believe that our aviation players should come together to look towards developing a regional carrier, because Guyana’s ambitions now seem limitless,” he stated.

President Ali said the government’s long-term strategy is to ensure Guyana becomes a premier aviation gateway connecting the Caribbean, South America, North America and Africa.

According to him, the country’s aviation development agenda includes strategic investments in airport infrastructure, air traffic management systems, expanded airline connectivity, digitisation and emerging technologies.

The president outlined a 10-pillar aviation development framework, anchored by the goal of transforming Guyana into a regional aviation and logistics hub.

He highlighted major initiatives already underway, including the construction of a new terminal at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, development of municipal airports and investments in aviation training and safety systems.

“Terminal Two is a new state-of-the-art terminal that will reshape this region. It will celebrate our heritage, our culture, our biodiversity, our ecosystem. It is not just a terminal, it is built as an experience,” he said.

President Ali also announced that plans remain on course for a national aviation school, which he said is intended to serve not only Guyana but the wider region.

“That will be the premier school for all of the region,” he said, adding that language training, including Spanish, should form part of the curriculum to improve competitiveness.

The head of state said aviation remains critical to Guyana’s development because of the country’s geography and growing economic opportunities.

He said, “We are a country of vast forests, mighty rivers, scattered communities and immense distances. In such a landscape, aviation is not a luxury — it is a lifeline.”

He noted that aviation’s role is evolving beyond supporting mining operations and now includes tourism, trade, investment and improved access to hinterland communities.

President Ali said increasing visitor arrivals and growing investor interest in sectors such as tourism, manufacturing and food production require stronger transportation infrastructure and greater private sector alignment.

He praised JAGS Aviation for continuing to invest despite changing market conditions and pointed to the company’s focus on developing human capital.

“The only way a company can grow and reinvent itself is through investment in human capital,” the president said.

Congratulating the company on the commissioning of the aircraft, President Ali said such investments support Guyana’s wider development agenda by improving connectivity, expanding economic opportunities and strengthening national integration.

“These aircraft will help move people and goods across our beautiful country. They will strengthen connectivity, support economic activity and contribute to ensuring that development reaches every region and every community.”

Jags Aviation now operates a fleet of 14 aircraft, continuing its expansion following the acquisition of two Tecnam P2012 Traveller planes from Italy last year (Republished from the Department of Public Information)

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The weather was not the only scorching thing this weekend as Jumbo Jet Events staged the first round of its Need for Speed Karting Championship at the 555 Speedway in Georgetown.

Jeremy Tenpow, Paige Mendonca, Zachary Persaud, and Asrudeen Mohamed were all successful in their bids to take early leads in their respective classes of the three-round championship.

Tenpow rode to three wins on the day, including the day’s champion rider in the SuperMoto Senior Class.

In the first heat, he left Andrew Jordan and Matthew Phang to squabble for second, while in the Pre-Final, Phang got the better of Jordan.

A joint second was awarded, and the points were shared between Elan Rahaman and Jordan due to an error with the flags in the final.

Menconda was another competitor on the day to rack up three wins and a champion driver of the day trophy in the Female Briggs Class. In the Heat, Pre-Final, and Final, Malicia Lawrence finished second ahead of Mickelly Rahaman.

Zachary Persaud was the ‘top dog’ in the Honda GX200 Class, sweeping the Heat, Pre-Final, and Final.

In the final, he withstood a momentary pressure from Nathan Rahaman midway through the 20-lap fixture and, in the end, comfortably crossed the line; Rahaman finished second, with Aqueel Edwards third.

In the earlier Pre-final, the result was the same, while the early-morning heat saw Edwards and Rahaman switch spots.

The largest class of the day was by far the Briggs and Stratton Senior Light class, which saw Calvin Ming sweep the Heat, Pre-Final, and Final. In the heat, it was Ming ahead of Steven Nobrega and Justin Tenpow, with Tenpow and Nobrega swapping places in the Pre-Final.

In the Final, Zachary Persaud moved onto the final step of the podium behind Nobrega and class champion driver Ming.

In the Briggs Senior Heavy, Ming was made to work for his win the final, pipping Mikhail Persaud to the line in a decision that had officials reviewing video cameras for over an hour due to the closeness of the finish.

In the end, Ming crossed the line a half a bumper ahead of Persaud with Tenpow, who held Ming off for most of the 20-lap fixture, finishing third. In the Pre-Final, it was Tenpow ahead of Ming and Persaud in that order, while in the earlier Heat, Ming took the win ahead of Persaud and Nobrega.

Another unchallenged competitor was Matthew Daby, who swept the Briggs Junior class en route to his champion driver award.

He won the Heat ahead of Adam Mohamed with debutant Amaya Mohamed third, while in the pre-final, he came home ahead of Zane Edwards and Adam Mohamed. The final featured the same order.

Perhaps the most anticipated class was the Cadet class, with future stars on show. And when the dust settled, it was Asrudeen Mohamed who had three commanding wins on the day. He converted from the pole all three times.

Mohamed picked up the win in the heat ahead of Hodges and Seejatan and went on to take the Pre-Final ahead of Seejatan and William Vieira. The final had Seejatan finishing behind Vieira and Mohamed, who also picked up the champion driver trophy.

In the Veteran class, it was Stanley Ming who won the heat with Brian Tenpow taking the Pre-final and final, demoting Ming to second on both occasions.

Ming won the champion driver class by virtue of the points. The Rookies had only John Mohamed.

In the opening heat of the IAME X30 125cc, Calvin Ming had the early lead before an opportune move from Tenpow turned a half chance into the lead, which held to the end; Benjamin Phang picked up third.

In the Pre-final, the top two remained unchanged with Denzel Hopkinson returning to the karting podium, while in the Final Justin Tenpow smashed the grid ahead of Ming and Phang, snagging the champion driver trophy.

Lashon Lewis made a clean sweep of the Supermoto Jnr class, with Troquille Sealy second and Joshua Holder third in the heat.

In the Pre-Final, the other two podium positions were flipped with Holder second and Sealy third while in the final Sealy finished ahead of Holder.

There were also two exhibition races for children six years and under with Senna Seejatan and Malya Daby both getting trophies.

The second round of the championship is billed for September 13 at the Leonora Stadium with the final round set for December 20 at a venue to be announced.

(Press Release from Jumbo Jet Events)

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Guyanese youth athlete Zion Hickerson has taken a significant step toward tennis stardom by signing a sponsorship agreement with French tennis giants Babolat.

The prestigious brand, famed for powering the careers of multi-Grand Slam champions Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, as well as Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime, spotted the young talent during a competitive stint in Miami, Florida.

It was there that Hickerson caught the eye of Babolat scout Parker McGuiness, Babolat’s VS North America’s Sports Marketing Coordinator, triggering discussions that finalised earlier this year.

Babolat is the oldest racquet sports company in the world, whose products include racquets, strings, shoes, balls, shuttlecocks, bags, apparel and accessories.

According to a press release, the partnership was cemented following Hickerson’s impressive runner-up finish at the Casely International Championships, which immediately followed his performance at the renowned ‘Little Mo’ tournament.

While the agreement is a half-sponsorship, the player’s father, Orin Hickerson, welcomed the development as a monumental “step in the right direction” for his son’s burgeoning athletic career.

It precedes an incredibly demanding summer schedule for the multi-talented youngster.

Hickerson is set to balance his commitments on the court with his passion on the pitch, juggling high-profile tennis tournaments with elite football camps at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and a local club in France.

Before heading to Europe, Hickerson will represent Guyana on the regional stage at the Junior CASA tournament in the British Virgin Islands, scheduled for July 10-16.

Proving his versatility as a dual-sport athlete, the youngster is currently keeping sharp on home soil, competing in the FIFA-backed Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Youth Ensemble U13 Football Tournament. ( Modified Press Release)

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The grassroots tapestry of Guyanese cricket found its latest chapter of high drama at the Anna Regina National Stadium on Sunday, as Charity Primary clinched the Essequibo Zone title in the Future Warriors Tapeball tournament, powered by ExxonMobil Guyana.

In a clinical display of modern, short-format chase management, Charity overhauled Lima Sands Primary’s total to secure their spot in the coveted national finals.

Chasing a target of 74 after Lima Sands posted 73-3 from their eight overs, Charity Primary showcased the tactical composure that defined their tournament campaign.

Rovaldo Campbell anchor-dashed his way to an unbeaten 32, anchoring the innings with precision, while the tournament’s eventual Most Valuable Player, skipper Troy Botson, provided an essential injection of momentum with a fluent 22.

Despite tidy, solitary breakthroughs from Lima Sands’ Miguel Marcus (1-16) and Kevin Margow (1-25), Charity cruised across the line at 78- 2 with an over to spare, completing an authoritative eight-wicket victory.

Lima Sands’ earlier innings had struggled to fully break the shackles against a disciplined Charity bowling unit.

Margow (22*) and Marcus (16*) fought hard to inject late impetus into the death overs alongside an opening hand of 11 from Nameuel Watson, but Charity’s frontline options gave away nothing.

Botson led from the front with a stifling spell of 1 for 7, supplemented by Hafeez Yazidyudin (1-8) and Campbell (1-15), to keep the target within manageable territory.

While the final was a masterclass in control, the third-place play-off earlier in the day provided the tournament’s pure theatre.

In a breathtaking high-scoring heist, Mainstay Lake Primary stunned the 2025 champions, C.V. Nunes Primary.

Driven by a spectacular blitz from Anthony Garraway, who hammered a tournament-high 68 off just 20 balls—laced with eight sixes and four boundaries—C.V. Nunes appeared to have put the game out of reach with a formidable 90 for 2.

Yet, Mainstay Lake scripted a remarkable counter-narrative.

Jared Charles matched Garraway’s aerial fireworks stroke for stroke, blasting an unbeaten 59 off 26 deliveries, including eight maximums of his own, to guide his side to 91 for 2 with three balls to spare.

The final block of group matches had earlier set up the afternoon’s narratives.

In the first semi-final, Lima Sands executed a flawless chase against C.V. Nunes, tracking down a target of 69 in just 6.1 overs on the back of Watson’s 16-ball 26* and Margow’s 19*.

In contrast, Charity’s passage to the final was a standard template of defensive dominance; they restricted Mainstay Lake to a meagre 40 before strolling to 41 for 1 in 5.4 overs courtesy of Nickel Garraway (15*) and Batson (13).

The tournament’s individual charts reflected a high standard of junior talent.

Lima Sands’ Watson finished as the zone’s premier accumulator, finishing with 94 runs across four matches at an impressive average of 47.00 and a scoring rate of 174.07.

However, the definitive individual impact belonged to Charity’s skipper, Botson.

His 10 wickets across four outings came at a staggering average of 2.50 and an economy rate of 3.12, sending down 32 dot balls—equivalent to more than five overs of unscoreable deliveries.

Paired with his 70 tournament runs, his MVP accolade was a formality.

Beyond the immediate silverware and competitive fires, the tournament’s broader architecture emphasised a progressive shift toward modern development.

The top four finishing institutions were outfitted with comprehensive equipment bags, agility kits, and electronic scoring tablets.

The inclusion of digital scoring infrastructure marks an institutional push to introduce grassroots players to digital match metrics, effectively bridging the gap between recreational tapeball and data-driven talent identification.

With the Essequibo crown secured, Charity Primary now advances to the national Champion of Champions tournament scheduled for August/September.

There, they will join Berbice’s St. Therese Primary and Demerara’s West Ruimveldt Primary to contest the ultimate prize: a novelty fixture against the Caribbean Premier League’s Guyana Amazon Warriors.

The Essequibo Zone also featured spirited campaigns from Riverstown Primaary, Taymouth Manor Primary, Hampton Court Primary, Good Hope Primary, Sparta Primary, Huis T’ Dieren Primary, Onderneeming Primary, Fisher Primary, Friendship Primary, Capoey Primary and Suddie Primary.

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A 63-year-old man of Perseverance, Essequibo Coast, was arrested on Saturday after an unlicensed firearm was found at his residence.

Police said at about 10:30h, they were conducting an operation and acting on information received, went to a residence at Perseverance Public Road, where they contacted the 63-year-old self-employed male.

A search was conducted of his residence, during which one .45 pistol, along with one magazine containing seven live matching rounds of ammunition, was found concealed in a bedroom.

The suspect was arrested and escorted to the Anna Regina Police Station along with the firearm and ammunition where were lodged.

The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.

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West Indies spinners set up a third straight victory as they strangled Sri Lanka’s batters before Stafanie Taylor steadied a nervy chase to see them home by five wickets in Bristol. The result brings the West Indies joint-top of Group 2 with England – only trailing on net run rate – while Sri Lanka’s hopes of progression took a bashing.

Hayley Matthews was central to West Indies’ effort, arguably setting up the win inside the opening powerplay.

Having put Sri Lanka into bat, the West Indies reduced them to 24 for 4 inside the powerplay, a position from which Sri Lanka never truly recovered. Mathews picked up innings best figures of 3 for 15.

Then with the bat, Matthews did her part in a 28-run opening stand with Deandra Dottin, and while Sri Lanka plugged away with wickets through the middle overs, a combination of poor catching, excess extras and Taylor’s stewardship ensured West Indies’ chase was never truly under threat. (ESPNcricinfo) 

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Police in Regional Division #3 are investigating the discovery of a quantity of suspected cannabis which was found on Saturday, June 20, 2026,  during an operation conducted at Westminster Last Bridge, West Bank Demerara.

The discovery was made between 17:00hrs and 17:15hrs.

During the exercise, ranks conducted a search of a flat structure situated south of a wash bay, during which one brown cardboard box containing leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis was found.

The suspected cannabis was escorted to the La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station, where it was weighed and amounted to 118 grams before being lodged.

No arrest was made. Investigations are ongoing.

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The Rainforest Waters brand, under the umbrella of Banks DIH Limited, has officially recommitted as the official hydration partner of the One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast for a fourth consecutive year.

This renewed partnership ensures the extension of the tournament’s signature ‘Rainforest Water Break’ in every match, a feature that has become synonymous with the tournament’s matchday structure.

The extension underscores the burgeoning market value of grassroots tapeball in Guyana, a format that has rapidly transitioned from a recreational pastime into a highly structured, lucrative sporting property.

Basant Ramsarup, Brand Manager for Water Beverages at Banks DIH Limited, emphasised that the corporate giant’s sustained investment aligns with a broader mandate of community development and wellness.

Ramsarup noted that this is the fourth year the brand has walked hand in hand with the tournament, stating that the partnership perfectly mirrors the brand’s core philosophy.

For Banks DIH and Rainforest Water, the commitment is more than just branding on a boundary board; it serves as a vital way to give back to the communities that support them while actively promoting a healthy, active lifestyle through sport.

He added that the tournament has grown exceptionally well, and the brand is thrilled to keep the athletes refreshed as the stakes get even higher.

Tournament Director John Ramsingh welcomed the renewal, framing Rainforest Water as a foundational pillar of the competition’s ethos.

Ramsingh stated that Rainforest Water is a household brand in Guyana, and having them return for a fourth season speaks volumes about the mutual value of the relationship.

He further explained that their continued presence is monumental for the tournament’s operational growth and sustainability, providing a sense of stability that allows organisers to scale up their ambitions year after year.

Those ambitions are reflected in a heavily restructured, high-stakes 2026 season, featuring a revolutionised prize purse that guarantees financial windfalls even at the regional levels.

Teams reaching the zonal quarter-finals are assured G$25,000, with scaling rewards that culminate in a G$500,000 prize for zonal champions before they even cross into the national bracket.

The eventual national champions will secure a life-changing G$2,000,000 purse, with the runners-up taking home G$1,000,000. Additionally, the top four national finalists will earn qualification berths to represent Guyana at the International T10 Tapeball Tournament scheduled for late October.

Individual accolades are equally heavy, with the tournament MVP set to claim G$150,000 and a new motorbike, while the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker will each pocket G$100,000 alongside new television sets.

With the tournament structure locked in, organisers have issued an urgent directive to regional teams to secure their spots immediately rather than delaying registration to tinker with squad selection.

Ramsingh stressed that registration operates on a strict first-come, first-served basis, noting that captains frequently jeopardise their entries by overthinking their lineups during the initial window.

To guarantee a spot, teams must pay the G$35,000 entry fee now, which secures their franchise slot and grants them logistical flexibility to finalise their 15-man rosters closer to their respective zonal start dates.

The entry caps will be rigidly enforced to maintain the integrity of a dense schedule.

The Berbice, East Bank/West Demerara, and Essequibo zones are strictly capped at 16 teams each, while the combined Georgetown/East Coast Demerara zone will accommodate a maximum of 32 teams.

Registration forms can be accessed via the tournament’s official social media handles or by WhatsApp at +592 635-2235.

The tournament caravan kicks off with the Berbice Zone on August 8–9, across four premier venues including the Port Mourant Community Centre Ground, No. 69 Ground, and the Welfare Ground in Canje, before concluding with the zonal finals at the Albion Sports Complex on August 9.

The action then moves to the East Bank/West Demerara leg on August 15–16, followed by the Essequibo Zone on August 22–23.

In a strategic scheduling move designed to avoid clashing with regional cricket priorities, the tournament will observe a complete hiatus during the Caribbean Premier League window, ensuring local fans can engage with the premier T20 tournament without domestic scheduling conflicts.

Action resumes post-CPL with the Georgetown/East Coast Demerara leg on September 26–27 and October 3–4, leading into the national grand finale on October 11, 2026.

In a historic first for the competition, the final will be hosted at the Anna Regina National Stadium in Region Two, bringing elite-level tapeball directly to the cricket-passionate demographic of the Essequibo Coast.

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The opening day of the Essequibo Zone in the ExxonMobil Guyana-powered Future Warriors Tapeball Tournament for Primary Schools produced a spectacle of high-octane grassroots cricket on Saturday, culminating in four teams securing their spots in the semi-finals at the Anna Regina National Stadium.

Defending champions C.V. Nunes Primary led the charge into the final four, keeping their back-to-back title hopes firmly alive.

Joining them in today’s final-four showdown are Charity Primary, Mainstay Lake Primary, and Lima Sands Primary, following an intense day of knockout action that tested the grit of the region’s finest young cricketers.

The quarter-final stage saw defensive bowling masterclasses, clutch boundary-hitting, and clinical run chases as the initial field of 16 schools was whittled down to the final four.

The defending champions sent a clear message to the rest of the field with a dominant all-round performance as Sparta Primary struggled to break the shackles against a disciplined C.V. Nunes bowling attack, grinding their way to a modest 36-7 in their allotted eight overs.

The champions made light work of the target, blasting their way to 37-2  in 4.4 overs to secure a comprehensive eight -wicket victory.

Charity Primary showcased their chasing credentials in a high-stakes encounter against Suddie Primary, navigating a tricky target with poise.

Suddie managed to post 52-6, giving their bowlers something to defend.

However, Charity’s top order played with freedom and intent, ticking off the required runs inside six overs to finish at 56-2 and seal a comfortable eight-wicket win.

Mainstay Lake’s batting unit stepped up big to bat out Onderneeming Primary as they chased 54 in 6.2 overs, while Lima Sands posted a massive 88-2 and restricted Riverstown Primary to 36-6.

Beyond booking a spot in the national ‘Champion of Champions’ tournament against Demerara winners West Ruimveldt and Berbice champions St. Therese Primary, all four semi-finalists have guaranteed themselves comprehensive cricket equipment bags, agility kits, and electronic scoring tablets to boost their school’s sports programme.

The tournament concludes today at the Anna Regina National Stadium with the semi-finals, followed immediately by the third-place playoff and the grand final.

Admission is entirely free to the public.

FULL SCORES: https://cricheroes.com/tournament/2085988/future-warriors-(essequibo)-primary-school-tapeball-tournament-2026-sponsored-by-exxonmobil-guyana/matches/past-matches

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Tunisia’s miserable World Cup continued as their inability to progress from the group stage was confirmed by defeat against Japan.

After a tumultuous week in which they suffered a 5-1 defeat by Sweden, sacked Sabri Lamouchi and appointed ex-Saudi Arabia boss Herve Renard as head coach, it took less than four minutes for them to go behind in Guadalupe, Mexico.

An impressive Japan, who were well drilled throughout, broke the deadlock with a quick counter-attack which ended in Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada prodding home from close range at Monterrey Stadium.

It did not take long for a dominant Japan side to inflict a second blow as Ayase Ueda produced a lovely finish to arrow the ball through the legs of a defender and into the far corner from the edge of the box.

Tunisia looked devoid of ideas for much of the game and gifted Japan ample space, which they used to display their free-flowing possession-based style.

Junya Ito added another when he rolled a simple finish past Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen after being threaded through one-on-one.

Ueda wrapped up victory when he tucked a looping header into the far corner.

Japan were constantly a cut above and were never threatened by a Tunisia side who were pedestrian and had every attack easily neutralised.

Japan have four points and are likely at least to progress as one of the best third-placed sides, but they will hope to earn a guaranteed spot in the last 32 when they take on Sweden on Friday in their final group game.

Tunisia play the Netherlands, who are top of the group, at the same time. (BBC)

 

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