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Christian Hampstead is heading to New York after striking gold in the iBet Supreme Goal Rush promotion.

The lucky winner has scooped an all-expense-paid VIP trip for two to witness a highly anticipated Round of 16 clash at MetLife Stadium on July 5.

It represents the ultimate ticket for any football purist, offering a front-row seat to the drama of global football’s showpiece tournament, which rolls around just once every four years.

Hampstead and his guest will receive the full red-carpet treatment, with flights, accommodation, match tickets, and premium hospitality all taken care of by the sportsbook.

To book his place on the plane to the United States, Hampstead simply had to place a sports betting ticket worth $2,000 or more, either online or at a retail hub.

Reflecting on his stroke of luck, a thrilled Hampstead admitted he was extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to attend a World Cup match in New York, quickly labelling iBet Supreme as the go-to sportsbook for fans.

For iBet Supreme Country Manager Dennis Scantlebury, the promotion is all about delivering unforgettable experiences to the fans who drive the game.

He expressed his delight at celebrating Hampstead’s win, noting that the brand prides itself on serving up rewarding and memorable campaigns.

While Hampstead prepares for the bright lights of New York, the excitement does not stop there for local punters. The Goal Rush promotion is set to continue with weekly draws, leaving the door firmly open for others to pick up cash prizes and electronics before the tournament draws to a close. (Modified Press Release)

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The High Court has dismissed a constitutional challenge brought by Terrence Campbell against the appointment of members of the Teaching Service Commission (TSC), ruling that President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali acted lawfully when he appointed the Commission despite the absence of a Leader of the Opposition.

In a decision delivered by Justice Damone Younge, the Court upheld the arguments by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall and found that the President’s appointments were neither unconstitutional nor unlawful.

Campbell had argued that the appointments violated Article 207(2)(d) of the Constitution, which requires the President to appoint three members of the TSC only after meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. He contended that because no Opposition Leader had been elected at the time, the constitutional requirement could not be fulfilled, rendering the appointments invalid.

The Attorney General, however, maintained that consultation was impossible because the Office of the Leader of the Opposition had been vacant since July 4, 2025. The defence argued that the Constitution should not be interpreted in a manner that would paralyse the functioning of a key constitutional body and that the President was required to act to ensure continuity in governance.

In its analysis, the Court acknowledged that meaningful consultation is an important constitutional requirement. However, Justice Younge noted that previous judicial decisions had established that consultation is mandatory only when it is practically possible. Where consultation cannot occur due to circumstances beyond the decision-maker’s control, the failure to consult does not invalidate the resulting appointments.

The Court emphasised that the President was not responsible for filling the vacancy in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, as that responsibility lies with the non-governmental members of the National Assembly under Article 184 of the Constitution. As a result, the President could not be faulted for proceeding with the appointments in the absence of an Opposition Leader.

Justice Younge further held that accepting Campbell’s arguments would effectively prevent the Teaching Service Commission from functioning indefinitely, creating uncertainty within the education sector and undermining constitutional governance. The Court said the Constitution must be interpreted in a way that ensures essential institutions remain operational.

Consequently, the Court ruled that the absence of consultation did not invalidate the President’s exercise of his appointment powers under Article 207(2)(d). The Fixed Date Application filed by Campbell on January 19, 2026, was dismissed.

Given the public-interest nature of the case, Justice Younge ordered that each party bear its own legal costs.

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A 36-year-old labourer has been charged with attempting to obstruct the course of justice in connection with an ongoing murder investigation.

Junior Callender of Hogg Street, Albouystown, appeared before Magistrate Orintha Schmidt at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The charge stems from investigations into the murder of Daintier Vegas Infante, which occurred on May 10, 2026, at Forshaw Street, Alberttown.

Police Headquarters reported that Callender sought to obstruct the course of justice by falsely implicating himself in the matter in an attempt to assume responsibility for a wanted person linked to the murder investigation.

Callender was arrested on Wednesday and charged the following day.

When the charge was read to him in court, he was not required to enter a plea.

Magistrate Schmidt granted him bail in the sum of $175,000 and ordered that he report to the police every Friday at 09:00 hrs.

The matter has been adjourned until July 3, 2026.

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Guyana’s maritime sector has experienced significant expansion since 2020, with vessel traffic increasing by 42 percent and imports more than tripling during the period, according to Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar.

Speaking on Wednesday, Indar highlighted the sector’s rapid growth, driven by increased economic activity and expanding offshore operations.

“From 2020 to date we have seen vessel traffic increasing by 42 percent.

“We have seen imports rise three fold from about 42,000 TEUs per annum to close to 150,000 TEUs per annum now, and that growth is strong and it will continue over the next two decades,” Indar disclosed.

Providing an update on Guyana’s maritime oversight activities, Indar revealed that in 2025 the country conducted 12 physical port state inspections and vetted 286 vessels through its online clearance system, including those operating in collaboration with offshore oil blocks.

He was at the time addressing the 31st Annual Caribbean Port State Control conference.

Indar said the expansion presents significant opportunities for Guyana but also places greater demands on maritime authorities to ensure safety, efficiency and environmental protection.

“This growth represents opportunity. It places greater responsibility on authorities to maintain high standards of maritime governance, environmental stewardship and operational excellence,” he said.

Over the past decade, Indar said the Caribbean Port State Control regime has undergone considerable transformation through increased digitisation, stronger integration with international systems and more structured inspection practices.

“We hate to see vessels ground, vessels sink because of failed inspection and boats, ships, whatever it is, went out into the ocean and put lives at risk,” Indar said, underscoring the importance of rigorous oversight and compliance measures.

He credited collaboration with international partners for strengthening the effectiveness and continued relevance of the Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding (CMOU), while noting that the region has recorded improvements in adherence to international maritime standards.

He added that participation in regional workshops and structured training programmes continues to improve the capabilities of personnel within the Maritime Administration Department.

Looking ahead, Indar said Guyana is continuing to modernise its maritime infrastructure through the expansion of its logistics framework and the implementation of digital port management systems to support future growth.

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Wooden pallets lining the streets around Stabroek Market are on their way out and vendors have been put on notice to clean up or face consequences as Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore met with vendors at the market on Thursday.

This engagement forms part of efforts to make the city more appealing for vendors and consumers alike. Mentore said the pallets currently used by vendors have become a serious problem. He further added that the pallets have also become an eyesore when left packed up at the road corners.

“The pallets itself has been causing tremendous harm, breeding a lot of rodents,” he said.

For this reason, in the coming weeks, the city will begin removing them and work out what alternatives can replace them. At this time, the City Council is considering the use of tables or some kind of fabrication to improve the look of the market.

Beyond the infrastructure, Mentore called on vendors to take greater responsibility for waste disposal. He urged them to use the bins provided by the Ministry of Local Government.

“We need to be more responsible with our garbage, we got to be more responsible with how we place those garbage, not dump but [put them] in the bins provided,” he said.

He said the place is not as clean as it was expected to be after the new bins were provided by the ministry which has been working assiduously to improve the market’s appearance.

Mentore made it clear there will be consequences for those who choose to litter. Vendors who fail to dispose of garbage properly will lose the right to sell at the market and will face littering penalties.

He said these persons, if caught, could be prosecuted and based on a joint effort between the Guyana Police Force and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to tackle littering across the country, persons found improperly disposing of waste could face fines of up to $50,000.

As such, the City Constabulary has been tasked with enforcement and will be keeping watch for violations.

“We value the business of vending and we value the economic opportunities that vending provides for you our city residents and other residents outside of the city,” Mentore said.

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Guyana is currently racing to modernise its drainage and irrigation strategy as rainfall pattern shifts dramatically, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Thursday said as he unveiled the country’s first-ever National Drainage and Irrigation Strategy 2030.

The Strategy, which tackles climate realities, was soft-launched at the Ministry’s Regent Street Boardroom. It is made possible through funding secured by the Global Green Growth Institute, amounting to US$500,000.

Mustapha warned that past and present weather patterns pose a threat and the country can no longer afford to rely on outdated approaches in the face of a rapidly changing climate.

“The traditional approaches are no longer sufficient for us. Gone are the days when we had two or three inches of rainfall in a month, today we have five and six inches of rain in an hour. We have to prepare our drainage system,” the minister said.

The strategy is published by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).  The minister said that without proper planning in place, food production is compromised and citizens are deeply affected. With livelihoods at risk, these important factors led the Government to look into such a strategy.

“This strategy will help us to balance what is good and what is bad. Without effective drainage systems, communities become vulnerable to flooding and economic losses,” Mustapha said.

Mustapha noted that the project was designed to align with Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030 and enable inter-ministerial collaboration on drainage, irrigation, and flood management efforts.

He said that drainage and irrigation must be viewed as national development issues, not merely agricultural.

Georgetown has 16 operational pumps and dozens of sluices and canals as infrastructure to support drainage but it is being stretched to its limits. The outer areas have upgraded infrastructure with 93 sluices earmarked for rehabilitation which will be supported by improved pumps and canals also underway.

The NDIA is mapping the entire country’s drainage system so that plans can be made and that data will feed into a soon-to-be-launched situation room. A digital command centre that will allow authorities to identify drainage capacity across regions in real time and guide farmers on where and when to cultivate.

This will further support the government in advising farmers on areas of farming and improve the country’s ability to tackle flooding.

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Guyana and Peru have taken a major step toward strengthening bilateral air connectivity with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between their respective civil aviation authorities.

The agreement lays the groundwork for the negotiation of a formal Air Services Agreement (ASA), which is expected to facilitate greater cooperation in aviation, enhance connectivity, and create new opportunities for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between the two South American nations.

The Civil Aviation Authorities of Guyana and Peru expressed satisfaction with the longstanding relationship between the two countries and reaffirmed their commitment to concluding an ASA that supports mutual development and shared objectives.

Once finalized, the Air Services Agreement will be signed and ratified in accordance with the legal and administrative procedures of both countries.

According to the MoU, airlines from Guyana and Peru will be able to operate regular passenger, cargo, and mail services on agreed routes. The framework also provides extensive traffic rights, including third, fourth, fifth, and sixth freedom rights for mixed services, as well as up to seventh freedom rights for all-cargo operations.

Officials believe these provisions will significantly improve regional connectivity while boosting commercial activity and people-to-people exchanges.

The agreement was signed virtually by Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field, and Director General of Peru’s Directorate for Civil Aviation, Paola Mariella Marin Ugarte.

During the signing ceremony, both officials highlighted the importance of the initiative in advancing regional integration and improving air transport links between the two countries.

The MoU also reflects a shared commitment to strengthening aviation safety standards, enhancing regulatory frameworks, and pursuing innovative solutions within the aviation sector.

Signed in both English and Spanish, the agreement underscores the spirit of partnership and mutual respect that continues to characterize relations between Guyana and Peru.

Officials say the initiative positions both countries to play a leading role in regional aviation collaboration while creating new opportunities for economic growth and connectivity across the region.

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The Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, has issued a clarification on the formula used to determine representation on Parliamentary Committees following recent public discussions and media queries about the composition of those bodies.

In a statement, Isaacs said the method currently used to allocate committee seats among political parties is not new and has been in place for decades. He explained that the system is designed to ensure that Parliamentary Committees reflect, as closely as possible, the balance of political representation in the National Assembly. Committee membership is therefore based on the number of seats held by each party in Parliament.

According to the Clerk, this principle is set out in Standing Order 94 of the National Assembly. The Standing Orders state that every Select Committee should be constituted in a way that reflects, as far as possible, the balance of parties in the Assembly, while the Committee of Selection is empowered to determine the size of committees unless otherwise specified.

Isaacs provided examples of how the formula is applied. In a 10-member committee, the PPP/C would receive six seats, while WIN and APNU would each receive two seats. In a nine-member committee, the PPP/C would hold five seats, WIN two seats and APNU two seats. For a seven-member committee, the PPP/C would have four seats, WIN two seats and APNU one seat. In each of the examples provided, Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) would not receive a seat because of the limited number of positions available.

The Clerk noted that while every effort is made to achieve proportional representation, perfect proportionality is not always mathematically possible because committees have a finite number of seats.

He stressed that the allocation formula is not based on discretion or political preference, but is a longstanding parliamentary mechanism aimed at ensuring fairness and proportional representation in the work of Parliamentary Committees.

Isaacs said the clarification was issued to help members of the public better understand how committee membership is determined in the National Assembly.

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Canada created men’s World Cup history at a roaring, sold-out BC Place in Vancouver, dismantling Qatar 6-0 in a Group B encounter defined by an electric Canadian offence and a pair of Qatari red cards.

With this result, Canada secures its largest-ever margin of victory at a men’s World Cup, positioning itself strongly at the top of the group on goal differential.

From the opening whistle, Canada relentlessly pressured the Qatari backline. The breakthrough came in the 16th minute when Cyle Larin pounced on a loose rebound to open the scoring. Jonathan David doubled the advantage in the 29th minute, capitalizing on Canada’s tactical fluidity in the final third.

Qatar’s uphill battle turned into a mountain in the 33rd minute when defender Homam Ahmed was shown a straight red card for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity by hauling down Tajon Buchanan inside the area. Deep into first-half stoppage time (45+3′), David struck again from close range to secure his second of the night and send Canada into the break with a commanding 3-0 lead.

The second half began under somber circumstances. In the 51st minute, Canadian midfielder Ismaël Koné suffered a horrific lower-body leg injury following a late challenge from Assim Madibo.

Following a VAR review, Madibo was issued a straight red card, reducing a deflated Qatar side to nine men. Koné was stretchered off and taken to a local hospital.

Nathan Saliba, who subbed on for the injured Koné, made an immediate impact. In the 64th minute, Saliba curled a beautiful direct free kick into the top corner via the inside of the post. In an emotional tribute, Saliba celebrated by holding up Koné’s number 8 jersey to the home crowd.

Canada showed no mercy against the nine-man opposition. In the 75th minute, a low cross from Jacob Shaffelburg deflected heavily off Qatar’s Mohammed Manai for an own goal.

The historic evening was capped off in the 92nd minute when Jonathan David completed his hat-trick, reacting sharply to drill a loose ball past Qatari keeper Mahmoud Abunada.

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