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  • UWI to host first international undergraduate leadership and entrepreneurship conference in September

    UWI to host first international undergraduate leadership and entrepreneurship conference in September

    The University of the West Indies (UWI) is set to mark a historic milestone for global undergraduate education this September, with the launch of its inaugural International Undergraduate Student Leadership Conference and Entrepreneurship Exhibition (IUSLCEE). Scheduled to run from September 23 to 25, 2026, the three-day gathering will be hosted at UWI’s Regional Headquarters in Jamaica, and organized by the institution’s Office of the Board for Undergraduate Studies, according to an official UWI press statement.

    A first-of-its-kind initiative for the regional higher education institution, the IUSLCEE will adopt a hybrid access model that eliminates geographic barriers, enabling student participants from every corner of the globe to join either in person at the Jamaica venue or remotely via digital platforms.

    Centered on the overarching theme “Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s World, Towards 2050: Imagining Roles, Rights, Responsibilities and Relationships,” the conference is crafted to uplift and empower undergraduate learners by creating a dedicated global platform for three core activities: sharing original academic research, showcasing early-stage entrepreneurial projects, and facilitating critical dialogues around modern leadership and global citizenship.

    UWI confirmed that both event registration and content submission portals are now open to eligible students. The core mission of the gathering is to bring together undergraduate learners across diverse academic disciplines, fostering cross-disciplinary idea exchange and collaborative development of solutions that can deliver tangible, positive impact to communities worldwide.

    Professor Canute Thompson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Undergraduate Studies and Chairman of the conference, noted that opportunities for undergraduates to present their academic work and entrepreneurial ideas outside traditional classroom settings are often scarce. “This conference changes that, centring student voice and building bridges to graduate studies, industry, and community,” Thompson explained.

    The full conference program will include a diverse lineup of activities tailored to student needs: student-led research presentations, the public entrepreneurship exhibition, moderated panel discussions with industry and academic leaders, and structured one-on-one and group mentoring opportunities that connect participating students with experienced leaders across academia, private industry, and civil society. Students can choose to take part in the event in three different capacities — as presenters, general attendees, or event volunteers — regardless of whether they join in person or online.

    Event organizers have set a target of attracting at least 200 total participants, alongside approximately 30 accepted student research presentations. Preliminary outreach indicates expected attendance and representation from higher education institutions across the Caribbean, Latin America, the United States, Canada, and Europe.

    Beyond providing a presentation platform, the conference carries three core long-term objectives: to foster a culture of undergraduate research across regional and global institutions, to advance student innovation and entrepreneurial thinking, and to strengthen the development of civic-minded leadership among young learners. It also aims to equip students with the connections and preparation they need for successful graduate study and competitive entry into the global workforce. Crucially, it creates structured space for students to build lasting professional networks with mentors, industry practitioners, and peer learners from across the world.

    Currently, UWI is actively accepting submissions for both research papers and entrepreneurship exhibition proposals. All applicants are required to submit a concise abstract of no more than 300 words, which outlines their research topic, core objectives, methodological approach, and key preliminary findings — or for entrepreneurs, a clear overview of their proposed business or social venture.

    All submissions and exhibits are required to align with the conference’s overarching 2050-focused theme. Eligible topic areas include innovation for sustainable development, global digital transformation, social entrepreneurship, student leadership development, and measurable community impact. The final deadline for all submissions is September 3, 2026.

    General conference registration is also open to interested students. Additional information about registration procedures, abstract submission guidelines, and entrepreneurship exhibition proposal requirements is available directly from the Office of the Board for Undergraduate Studies. Interested parties may also contact Conference Secretariat Chair Ms. Karen Smith via email at [email protected] or by telephone at 876-970-0244, with full updated details published on the official UWI conference website.

  • PM Browne Rejects Claims Government Blocked Cassada Gardens Redevelopment

    PM Browne Rejects Claims Government Blocked Cassada Gardens Redevelopment

    A public dispute over the fate of the EC$30 million Cassada Gardens Racetrack redevelopment project has prompted Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne to set the record straight on the government’s position, emphasizing that the administration has not blocked the project itself – only a controversial request to exempt the foreign investor from a mandatory industry levy.

    The controversy erupted after the Antigua Turf Club issued a public statement claiming that negotiations over the revitalization initiative had collapsed, citing an unresolved impasse between the government and the unnamed foreign investor over a key concession demand. In response, Browne published a detailed official statement on Tuesday, breaking down the package of incentives the government has already approved to demonstrate its ongoing support for upgrading the public racetrack facility.

    Per Browne’s account, the administration has already delivered substantial financial breaks to the investor, including a full decade-long corporate tax holiday and the approval of a casino license, alongside other tailored concessions. The sole sticking point, the prime minister explained, is the investor’s last-minute demand to waive the statutory 8% gaming fee that all licensed gaming and racetrack operators in the country are legally required to remit to the government.

    Browne argued that approving the requested exemption would fundamentally undermine fair competition across Antigua and Barbuda’s growing gaming sector, creating an unfair advantage for the foreign backer that would put existing local and compliant operators at a disadvantage. “To waive it would give them an unfair advantage and we declined their offer,” Browne noted, pushing back against widespread narratives that the government had outright rejected the redevelopment project. He questioned the logic of framing the refusal of one specific concession as a total withdrawal of support, asking, “How does that translate into the government not supporting the project?”

    The prime minister also outlined a clear alternative path forward for the initiative, noting that if the project can only move forward with the unfair tax exemption, the government is prepared to redirect the full package of concessions to a local operator instead. “If the foreign investor is depending on that tax waiver to develop the facility, we rather give the concession to a local operator, including the Turf Club itself,” Browne said.

    Closing his statement, Browne reaffirmed the government’s red line on fiscal responsibility, stressing that the administration will not approve concessions that erode public tax revenue beyond what is considered reasonable and fair for the Antiguan public. “No plundering and bartering of government’s tax revenue will be entertained,” he wrote.

    For its part, the Antigua Turf Club has defended the requested concession, arguing that the exemption is a core component of the project’s financial model, which is structured to reinvest all available funds back into upgrading the publicly owned racetrack rather than allowing capital to flow out of the initiative. The club has not walked away from negotiations, confirming that it is preparing an updated proposal to submit to the government and expressing hope that constructive discussions can resume in the near future.

  • Family awaiting justice as 21-year-old shooting victim remains in vegetative state

    Family awaiting justice as 21-year-old shooting victim remains in vegetative state

    More than six weeks after a 21-year-old Saint Lucian woman was gunned down in the Bois d’Orange neighborhood, her grieving family is grappling with an unbearable tragedy: the young woman, Kiokya “Kiki” Inglis, remains trapped in a vegetative state, her future irrevocably altered in a single night of violence.

    With the full consent of Inglis’ family, local anti-violence advocacy organization Voices Beyond Violence has stepped forward to share graphic, unflinching details of the young woman’s condition. The group’s goal is twofold: to jolt the public into recognizing the catastrophic harm of gender-based violence across the island, and to pressure authorities and communities to keep this high-stakes case from fading from public view.

    The shooting unfolded on the night of June 4, 2026, when Inglis was shot multiple times before being rushed by emergency responders to the Owen King European Union Hospital. Upon arrival, she was categorized as critically injured. The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force initially confirmed that one suspect had been taken into custody shortly after the incident; that number has since risen to two people held in connection with the attack, though the full sequence of events and ultimate assignment of responsibility remains under official investigation. As Voices Beyond Violence representative Angel Foster emphasized when speaking with local outlet St Lucia Times, only law enforcement investigators and the judicial system can reach a definitive conclusion on what occurred and who is legally accountable.

    Foster laid out the devastating scope of Inglis’ injuries for the public: she was shot in the head, abdomen, and spine, leaving her completely dependent on medical intervention for basic survival. Diagnosed in a persistent vegetative state by her treating physicians, Inglis requires a feeding tube to receive nutrition, cannot walk, cannot initiate independent movement, and is unable to speak. While medical teams are preparing to discharge her from the hospital in the coming weeks, Foster confirmed that her condition remains extraordinarily serious, and doctors cannot offer any guarantee of long-term improvement or recovery.

    The harm of the attack extends far beyond Inglis herself, tearing through her entire family. Her parents, sister, and closest friend have all been left shattered by the sudden turn of events. Foster shared that the family describes themselves as “devastated and heartbroken,” noting that even speaking about Kiki’s condition is an almost unbearable burden.

    Beyond fighting for Kiki’s care and visibility, the family is demanding formal justice. They want local law enforcement and judicial authorities to acknowledge the severe gravity of the attack, and they hope sharing their story will draw renewed attention to the repeated crisis of gender-based violence in Saint Lucia. Foster also voiced frustration that the case has garnered far less public and media attention than it warrants, pointing out that the shooting occurred just two weeks after another high-profile fatal act of gender-based violence: the May 20 killing of 24-year-old Joy St Omer, whose estranged husband currently faces murder charges for her death.

    “It is shocking that what happened to Kiki came only a fortnight after Joy’s death,” Foster said. “We are deeply disappointed that this pattern of violence against women keeps repeating itself on our island.”

    Voices Beyond Violence has committed to continuing its advocacy work on three core fronts: pushing for stronger legal and social protections for women across Saint Lucia, demanding consistent accountability and justice for survivors and victims of gender-based violence, and building broader public awareness of the scope of the crisis. For their part, Kiki’s family continues to hold out hope for a medical miracle, but they are asking the public to not let the public forget what happened to their daughter — a young woman whose life changed in an instant, and whose future now hangs precariously in the balance.

  • DAT president encourages teachers to lead with courage and embrace innovation during summer training

    DAT president encourages teachers to lead with courage and embrace innovation during summer training

    As the Caribbean nation of Dominica prepares for the start of a new academic year in September, hundreds of educators have gathered for the annual Dominica Association of Teachers (DAT) Summer Training Institute, a two-week professional development event designed to equip teaching professionals with the skills and motivation needed to meet the evolving demands of 21st-century education.

    The opening ceremony of this year’s institute was held on Monday at the Convent High School Auditorium, where top DAT leadership urged participating teachers to approach the program as more than a passive training requirement — framing it as a transformative opportunity to reignite their professional passion and recommit to their core mission of supporting student success.

    Mervin Alexander, President of the DAT, opened the event by challenging attendees to move beyond the role of passive listeners during the two weeks of workshops and collaborative sessions. In his opening address, he called on educators to actively engage with new concepts, exchange insights with fellow teachers, and draw on their own classroom experiences to enrich group discussions.

    “I urge you teachers, [during these] two weeks, do not be impassive listeners through this workshop,” Alexander told the gathered crowd. “Challenge the ideas presented, collaborate with the colleague sitting next to you, [and] share your brilliant successes.”

    Alexander encouraged participants to leave the institute with a renewed sense of professional purpose, urging them to build on the training to bring fresh energy to their classrooms when the new school year kicks off. He emphasized that students across the country are counting on educators to return ready to drive meaningful, positive change in their learning journeys. “Live these two weeks with a renewed vow: a vow to teach with passion, to lead with courage and to innovate without fear,” he said. “Build that version right here, starting today.”

    This year’s institute centers on the intentional theme: “Empowering Educators for Inclusive, Innovative, and Effective Teaching and Leadership.” DAT Treasurer Kathleen Cornelius explained in her address that the theme was chosen to reflect the shifting requirements of modern education, and the critical role that continuous learning plays in maintaining a strong, equitable national education system.

    Cornelius noted that as the education landscape continues to evolve to meet changing student needs, educators must also grow their skills and approaches to keep pace. Today’s dynamic classrooms require more than just strong mastery of subject content, she explained: modern teachers must also be prepared to embrace new teaching methodologies, foster inclusive learning environments that support every student, integrate educational technology into daily instruction, lead with confidence, and inspire learners to reach their full potential.

    Against this backdrop, Cornelius argued that ongoing professional development is no longer an optional add-on for teaching professionals — it is a non-negotiable requirement to deliver high-quality instruction. “It enables us to refine our practices, strengthen instructional delivery and ultimately improve the learning outcomes for every child entrusted in our care,” she said.

    She confirmed that the DAT designed the 2026 Summer Training Institute specifically to address these changing sector demands, with programming tailored to give teachers the practical tools and mindset shifts needed to thrive in today’s diverse, technology-integrated classrooms.

  • President should decide on public disclosure of assets- PPP Executive Secretary

    President should decide on public disclosure of assets- PPP Executive Secretary

    A heated political debate over asset transparency has erupted in Guyana, centered on claims surrounding President Irfaan Ali’s agricultural holdings and the origin of his investment capital. The controversy first took shape Sunday, when opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed of the A Partnership for National Unity/People’s National Congress Reform (APNU/AFC) made explosive allegations: that President Ali misused his executive office to secure a 150-acre plot of land along the popular Linden-Soesdyke Highway, and poured at least 2 billion Guyanese dollars into the development of the farm. Mohamed has since doubled down on these claims, calling for the president to step down immediately over the alleged improprieties.

    President Ali has forcefully pushed back against all accusations, pushing back on claims that he has hidden the true origin of his investment. He confirmed that the farm is indeed his property, noting this fact has never been kept secret from the Guyanese public. To counter claims of illicit funding, Ali explained that he has already complied with existing ethics rules by submitting all required financial disclosures to the country’s Integrity Commission annually, and his official banking records confirm he used legitimate borrowed capital to fund the agricultural project.

    The clash has drawn comment from the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), with the party’s Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha weighing in on the growing demand for public disclosure of the president’s full asset records. After initially declining to address the issue with Demerara Waves Online News, Mustapha clarified his stance when pressed on whether Ali should authorize the Integrity Commission to release his full financial documents to the public.

    “That is for the President to decide on that,” Mustapha stated, declining to pressure the country’s leader one way or the other on the disclosure question. He did, however, emphasize that the president has already met all legal obligations for financial transparency, noting that annual mandatory disclosures to the Integrity Commission signal the president has no undeclared assets or hidden misconduct to conceal.

    Mustapha’s comments came just under an hour after the main opposition bloc publicly reiterated its position that the president has a clear democratic duty to release his full financial records to the public in order to put all lingering concerns about alleged financial misbehavior to rest. As of Tuesday morning, no final decision on public disclosure has been announced from the president’s office, leaving the Guyanese public waiting for clarity amid intensifying political pressure.

  • Derde helft WK 2026: Argentinië ontmoet Egypte, Ronaldo sluit WK-carrière af

    Derde helft WK 2026: Argentinië ontmoet Egypte, Ronaldo sluit WK-carrière af

    The 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered its most high-stakes phase, with every knockout round clash carrying the weight of football history and national pride. As the tournament narrows its field to the final eight contenders, two more quarterfinal spots will be claimed on Tuesday, July 7, with two highly anticipated matches set to take place across North American host venues.

    The opening clash of the day will see defending world champions Argentina kick off their quarterfinal bid against African side Egypt at Atlanta Stadium, kicking off at 13:00 local time. The two nations have only met once before, a 2008 friendly in Cairo where Argentina claimed a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Sergio Agüero and Nicolás Burdisso, though star forward Lionel Messi missed that fixture through injury. Argentina enters the clash as clear favorites, boasting a dominant historical record against African opponents at World Cup finals, but the Pharaohs cannot be overlooked as they target the first quarterfinal appearance in their nation’s World Cup history.

    Following the Argentina-Egypt clash, the second quarterfinal spot will be decided at Vancouver’s BC Place, where Switzerland will face off against Colombia at 17:00 local time. The two sides have met four times previously, with three of those matches being friendlies. Their most recent encounter came in March 2007, when Colombia claimed a 3-1 victory behind goals from Edixon Perea, Jhon Viáfara and Andrés Chitiva.

    Beyond the day’s scheduled matches, the 2026 tournament has already delivered a string of historic and emotional moments, headlined by the farewell of one of football’s all-time greats. Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed that his 2026 World Cup appearance would be his last, closing out a remarkable 6-edition World Cup career that has cemented his legacy among the greatest players to ever play the game.

    After Portugal’s elimination from the knockout round, the 41-year-old forward shared his disappointment at how his final World Cup run ended. “I am sad to have to leave the World Cup this way,” Ronaldo told reporters. “I gave everything, I did my best, and I leave with a clear conscience. Yes, this was my last World Cup, but now I will take time to reflect and spend time with my family. I will not make any hasty decisions.” The striker declined to confirm whether this would also be his final cap for the Portuguese national team, saying he did not want personal speculation about his future to overshadow the national side’s collective efforts during the tournament.

    One of the most emotional eliminations of the round of 16 came for host nation the United States, whose dream of a deep knockout run on home soil ended in disappointment at the hands of Belgium. The Red Devils secured a dominant 4-1 victory on Monday, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring two goals and setting up another to punch Belgium’s ticket to the quarterfinals.

    Raw images captured the depth of American heartbreak after the final whistle: star winger Christian Pulisic lay injured on the pitch with an ankle injury, goalkeeper Matt Freese stood stunned with his hands on his head after a costly error, defender Chris Richards collapsed onto the turf in frustration, and even head coach Mauricio Pochettino let his emotions show, kicking a training rack by the team bench and sending water bottles flying.
    “ It’s frustrating,” said United States midfielder Tyler Adams. “This was a chance to push through and do something really special. We fell short.” Despite the controversial last-minute reinstatement of striker Folarin Balogun, who had his red card suspension overturned by FIFA ahead of the match, defensive errors cost the United States dearly. Two first-half mistakes put Belgium on the scoreboard, before a second-half error from Freese gifted the visitors another late goal.

    As Egypt prepares for its historic clash against Argentina, Pharaohs head coach Hossam Hassan has used the global platform of the World Cup to deliver an emotional message in support of the Palestinian people. Fresh from holding up a Palestinian flag after Egypt’s round of 16 win over Australia, Hassan spoke for more than four minutes during Monday’s pre-match press conference, earning applause from journalists in attendance.

    “ If anyone in the world does not have compassion for the Palestinian people, they are not a human being, whether they are Arab, European or American,” Hassan said. He criticized the global response to civilian suffering in Gaza, comparing the global outcry for animal welfare to the muted response to daily civilian casualties, adding that the death of thousands of people in a single day should never be treated as normal.

    The tournament has also seen a powerful stand against racism from France captain Kylian Mbappé, who sharply condemned Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla after she posted a racist tirade against him following Paraguay’s round of 16 loss to France. After France secured their quarterfinal spot, Amarilla published a vulgar, racist post on social media platform X, describing Mbappé as a “colonized Cameroonian desperately trying to pass as French,” calling him an “uneducated brute” and claiming Paraguayan players should have physically attacked him after the match.

    Mbappé issued a forceful rebuke, calling Amarilla’s comments “despicable” and saying she was “unworthy” of her position in the Paraguayan congress. In a post on X, Mbappé accused Amarilla of letting her racism overshadow the passionate, honorable performance the Paraguayan team delivered throughout the tournament.
    “Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position,” Mbappé wrote. “You do not represent Paraguay, that country that has radiated passion and honor throughout this tournament.” France will face Morocco in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Amarilla later deleted her post and issued an open letter of apology to Mbappé, noting that she herself is of mixed race and expressed regret for her offensive comments.

  • LIVE: Disaster and You 7th July 2026 presented by Dominica Meteorologial Office

    LIVE: Disaster and You 7th July 2026 presented by Dominica Meteorologial Office

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  • Bajan-made gin captures Gold at Gin Masters

    Bajan-made gin captures Gold at Gin Masters

    Barbados’ centuries-old legacy of spirit craftsmanship has earned new global attention, after a homegrown gin produced at the island’s Stade’s West Indies Rum Distillery claimed top honors at one of the spirits industry’s most prestigious international competitions. Citadelle Bajan, a 100% Barbadian-made gin, took home a Gold Medal at the 2026 Gin Masters, an annual tasting contest organized by leading industry publication *The Spirit Business* that is widely counted among the most respected judging events for premium gins worldwide.

    What sets Citadelle Bajan apart from other gins on the global market is its deep ties to Barbados’ iconic rum-making heritage. Unlike most traditional gins crafted from grain bases, the award-winning spirit is distilled from a molasses foundation, a nod to the island’s 323-year history of rum production. It is then infused with a signature blend of Caribbean botanicals: locally grown grapefruit, hibiscus, bay leaf, and lemongrass, resulting in a bright, layered profile that reflects the island’s terroir. Notably, grapefruit itself was first cultivated in Barbados in the mid-1700s, adding an extra layer of local identity to the gin’s flavor profile.

    In a statement following the award announcement, Andrew Hassell, Managing Director of Stade’s West Indies Rum Distillery, emphasized the win as a testament to Barbados’ enduring distilling expertise. “Barbados has an extraordinary distilling culture, and Citadelle Bajan is one more expression of what can be created here,” he said, crediting the on-island production team for the achievement. “This recognition belongs to the people behind it, the teams who worked together and brought a Barbadian point of view to a French gin brand.”

    Citadelle Bajan is a regional offshoot of the globally renowned Citadelle Gin brand, which traces its origins to France. The parent brand has already cemented its reputation for excellence, collecting more than 180 international awards to date. Its past honors include Spirit and Gin of the Year at the 2024 Bartender Spirits Awards, and a Master Medal — the competition’s highest distinction — at the 2025 Gin Masters.

    Stade’s West Indies Rum Distillery itself carries a long legacy of Caribbean spirit production. Founded in 1893 in Brighton, St. Michael, the facility spent more than a century producing iconic Bajan rum before it was acquired by French spirits conglomerate Maison Ferrand in March 2017. Today, alongside Citadelle Bajan, the distillery produces a range of award-winning spirits including Planteray Rum and Stade’s Rum.

    The 2026 Gold Medal win puts a spotlight on a growing trend in Barbados’ spirits sector: the emergence of a homegrown gin industry that builds on the island’s existing rum-making expertise. Craft distillers across the island have adapted traditional rum fermentation and distillation techniques to create gins infused with native Caribbean botanicals, carving out a unique niche in the global premium spirits market. Citadelle Bajan is not alone in this space; it joins other local Bajan gin labels such as Perkins & Sons, produced by the family-run Hopewell Distillery, which also draws on rum-making traditions to craft its distinctive products.

    Industry observers note that the expansion of Barbados’ gin segment offers a new avenue for the island’s spirits sector to grow its global footprint, leveraging the existing international reputation of Bajan rum to introduce a new line of award-winning products to consumers around the world.

  • FARMGATE: PNCR says Ali must make “full disclosure” of assets

    FARMGATE: PNCR says Ali must make “full disclosure” of assets

    GEORGETOWN, Guyana – July 7, 2026 – Guyana’s second-largest parliamentary opposition bloc, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) led by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), has publicly called on President Irfaan Ali to release a complete breakdown of his personal finances to verify that his acquisition of a sprawling 150-acre agricultural property along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway aligns with his reported income and documented borrowing.

    In an official statement released Tuesday, the 12-seat opposition coalition emphasized that in a functional democratic system, no public official – regardless of the highest office in the land – is exempt from public oversight. The group argued that Ali is obligated to address growing public questions and deliver the level of accountability that Guyanese citizens are entitled to expect from their head of state.

    “PNCR/APNU calls on the President to make full public disclosure of all his income, assets, liabilities, and the specific financial arrangements underpinning the acquisition and development of these lands,” the statement read. “Full transparency would serve to dispel existing doubts, strengthen public trust in government, and demonstrate a clear commitment to the core principles of good governance.”

    The demand follows viral public scrutiny sparked earlier this week when Azruddin Mohamed, leader of the 16-seat main opposition party We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), published a video tour of the highly developed, modern agricultural operation on the site. Mohamed labeled the property a private ranch, noting it includes commercial livestock enclosures, fruit orchards, a private on-site electricity transmission network, climate-controlled ventilated poultry tunnel houses, shaded crop growing structures, cattle barns, and multi-level housing for sheep.

    Responding to the initial revelations over the weekend, President Ali confirmed he is the legal owner of the farm, but pushed back against allegations of impropriety. He stated that his asset declarations filed with Guyana’s Integrity Commission, paired with official banking records, confirm he funded the property and its development through personal borrowing. A former Minister of Housing and Water, Ali vehemently denied abusing his public office to acquire the land or secure the infrastructure for the project, adding that most long-time political observers and Guyanese citizens were already aware of his ownership of the farm.

    “There is absolutely no State involvement or no State financing for any single thing on my farm. It is in existence long before I became President and all of my assets have been declared to the Integrity Commission,” Ali told Demerara Waves Online in an interview Sunday. “Further to my assets being declared to the Integrity Commission, the financial system can verify and support every single investment I have made, and all my assets and liabilities which include my loan. So it is completely false that any part of this was supported by any State investment.”

    PNCR/APNU however pointed to a previous unresolved legal matter to back its call for full disclosure: the bloc noted that 19 fraud-related charges against Ali were ultimately dropped after he assumed the presidency, one of which specifically concerned parcels of land along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. “The recent revelations regarding these lands are therefore not new and raise serious questions that demand clear and transparent answers,” the coalition said.

    The opposition is demanding Ali explicitly confirm whether he is the full beneficial owner of the farm land, and address questions over the property’s financing. Local reports put the annual lease payment for the land at approximately 25 million Guyanese dollars, a sum that PNCR/APNU argues demands public explanation. “The Guyanese people deserve to know how such payments are being financed and whether they are consistent with his declared sources of income,” the statement added.

    Ali’s monthly salary as President currently sits just under 4 million Guyanese dollars.

    The coalition stressed that as head of state, Ali holds a legal fiduciary responsibility to the people of Guyana and is required to uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability. “The public is entitled to know how this wealth was acquired and whether all relevant declarations have been made in accordance with the law,” the statement concluded.

  • Goal rush in BFA Women’s League

    Goal rush in BFA Women’s League

    The opening weekend of the Barbados Football Association’s Kotex Women’s League delivered high-scoring drama across three matches, with a combined 19 goals hitting the back of the net to kick off the new season. Action got underway on Saturday at the BFA’s Technical Centre in Wildey, where RF Prime put on an unmissable attacking masterclass to crush Police by a staggering 9-0 margin. Forward Daphne Watson-James led the rout with a clinical hat-trick, and the goal spree did not end there: Danisha Antoine, Jamiliah Neblett-Phillips, Jesse Robinson, Kerisha Catlyn and Keidasha Thomas all got on the scoresheet, cementing RF Prime’s dominant first impression of the campaign.

    In Saturday’s evening fixture, another exciting matchup saw Mavericks secure a solid 4-1 victory over White Hall. Strikers Felicia Jarvis and Makayla Alleyne stole the show for the winning side, each netting two goals to steer their team to a comfortable opening weekend win. The only match scheduled for Sunday brought another high-scoring contest, as Empire claimed a convincing 4-1 win over Technique to round out the weekend’s action. The opening three games set a high-tempo, attacking tone for the rest of the league season, leaving fans expecting more offensive fireworks in upcoming matchups.