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The USA bandwagon is gathering impressive pace after the FIFA World Cup 2026 co-hosts comfortably defeated Australia to move into the Round of 32 with a game to spare. They are guaranteed a place as one of the best third-placed teams with this victory.

USA had not won back-to-back games at a World Cup since the start of the inaugural edition in 1930. Mauricio Pochettino’s team have now put that right- and did so in highly exciting, high-energy fashion.

What was all the more impressive about the result was that it came without star player Christian Pulisic, who was ruled out with a calf injury.

They were as bright as the Seattle sunshine as they pressed high up the pitch and overwhelmed Tony Popovic’s Socceroos. USA took the lead for the second game running through an own goal.

Folarin Balogun was the creator with an electric surge into the box from the left side and his low cross was turned into his own net by Cameron Burgess.

The Stars and Stripes got their second goal just before the interval when a deflection sent Sergino Dest’s shot from the edge of the box looping towards goal.

As the ball dropped in the six-yard box, Alex Freeman, the son of a Super Bowl hero, got his head there ahead of goalkeeper Patrick Beach to nod in.

Balogun might have added a third goal but Alessandro Circati made a vital block. Yet for the irrepressible co-hosts, those two first-half goals were more than enough as they secured a first clean sheet in ten matches. (FIFA)

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Georgetown, Guyana. June 19, 2026: CAM Motors will officially launch this weekend in Guyana, introducing the Jetour and Foton brands to the local market through a new partnership between ATL Automotive, Continental Group of Companies, and MMKJ Inc.

The launch marks ATL Automotive’s partnership in Guyana through CAM Motors, bringing together the regional expertise and customer experience of the Caribbean’s largest automotive dealer group, Continental Group’s 65-year presence and investment in Guyana, and the technology and business leadership of MMKJ Inc., both of which are parent companies of ENet.

Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of ATL Automotive, a joint shareholder in CAM Motors, and Regional Master Dealers for Jetour and Foton, as well as leading brands such as MG, Omoda Jaecoo and BMW and MINI, who will attend the launch, said the company sees Guyana as one of the most important emerging markets in the region.

“Guyana is one of the standout growth stories in the Caribbean today, and we believe the market is ready for a new generation of automotive brands backed by strong service, technology, and regional expertise. Jetour has seen tremendous global momentum in the SUV category, while Foton is exceptionally well-positioned for a fast-growing economy that requires dependable commercial and utility vehicles. Alongside CAM Motors, we are bringing not only globally competitive brands, but also the gold standard of customer experience and after-sales support to Guyanese drivers.”

Chairman of Continental Group, Rakesh Puri, said the venture reflects rising expectations among Guyanese consumers and businesses. Continental Group has considerable investments across the real estate, manufacturing, finance, and technology sectors.

“Guyana is entering a new phase of economic and infrastructure growth, and with that comes rising expectations from consumers and businesses alike,” Puri said.

“People are looking for quality products, trusted brands, strong after-sales support, and modern mobility solutions. CAM Motors was built with that future in mind.”

Vishok Persaud, Director of MMKJ Inc., said the partnership reflects growing confidence in Guyana’s long-term development.

“This is about more than selling vehicles,” Persaud said.

“It is about investing in the future of Guyana and helping build the infrastructure, services, and customer experience expected in a modern economy. CAM Motors represents a long-term commitment to the market, combining international automotive expertise with strong Guyanese partners who understand the needs of local consumers and businesses.”

“With Guyana’s economy growing so rapidly, we need to be able to scale with the demands of the transportation industry, especially in the commercial segment. That is where we see this new dealership being particularly strong.”

CAM Motors will also host a public Open Day on Sunday, June 21, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Railway Courtyard, Lamaha Street, where members of the public can explore the vehicles, meet the CAM Motors team, enjoy entertainment and football screenings, and learn more about these new brands entering the Guyanese market.

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The ExxonMobil Guyana-sponsored Future Warriors Tapeball tournament for Primary Schools heads to the Anna Regina National Stadium this weekend, with defending champions C.V. Nunes Primary entering the 16-team knockout tournament as favourites on their home turf.

West Ruimveldt Primary and St. Therese Primary have already claimed the Demerara and Berbice zone titles.

The winner of this zone will secure the final spot in the Champion of Champions scheduled for August/September.

Tournament Director John Ramsingh highlighted the high level of talent seen so far and thanked the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for providing access to the stadium during the rainy season.

To support grassroots development, the top four schools will receive cricket equipment bags, agility kits, and electronic scoring tablets, while all 16 participating schools will receive baseline fitness equipment.

The action begins on Saturday morning with matches running simultaneously across four pitches.

The opening round bowls off at 10:30h.

Defending champions C.V. Nunes Primary take on 8th of May Primary on Pitch 4. At the same time, Riverstown Primary plays Taymouth Manor Primary on Pitch 1, Hampton Court Primary faces Lima Sands Primary on Pitch 2, and Good Hope Primary meets Sparta Primary on Pitch 3.

The second wave of fixtures starts at 11:30h.

Huis T’ Dieren Primary faces Mainstay Lake Primary on Pitch 1, Onderneeming Primary plays Fisher Primary on Pitch 2, Charity Primary takes on Friendship Primary on Pitch 3, and Capoey Primary matches up against Suddie Primary on Pitch 4.

Admission to the Anna Regina National Stadium is free to the public.

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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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