…say pipeline sits idle while costing Guyanese billions

By Rehanna Ramsay

(Kaieteur News) – The announcement by ExxonMobil Guyana that it will be undertaking maintenance on the gas pipeline offshore of Crane should be a source for concern.

A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) politician, Sharma Solomon has noted the billions of dollars that are being wasted as the oil giant steps in to maintain the infrastructure that is yet to yield benefits for the citizens.

ExxonMobil Guyana announced on Thursday that it is set to begin maintenance work on an offshore pipeline near Crane, West Coast Demerara, on October 14, with the activities expected to continue until approximately December 1.

According to Exxon, the maintenance is intended to address a finding identified during inspection of a near-shore section of the pipeline earlier this year and is part of measures to ensure the safety, integrity and reliability of the infrastructure.

The pipeline, which is a major piece of a US- multibillion dollar national energy project, was completed nearly two years ago. This is while the actual Gas-to-Energy facility at Wales has been delayed.

APNU politician, Sharma Solomon

To this end, Sharma explained pointed to expense of having the pipeline has now been sitting there, filled with nitrogen, waiting for the plant at Wales.

“The plant has been delayed. The costs have continued to rise and now, before the system has even delivered its first commercial benefit to the people of Guyana, ExxonMobil is telling us that another round of maintenance will have to be carried out from October into December because an anomaly was identified during inspection,” the opposition Member of Parliament stated

He continued “Nobody should object to proper inspection or maintenance of critical infrastructure. That is not the issue. The issue is the quality of the planning behind the entire project. When you are spending billions of dollars of Guyanese money, you do not build one major component years ahead of another and then leave that infrastructure sitting idle, accumulating costs, while the rest of the project struggles to come together.”

According to Sharma, this represents the epitome of poor planning by the government.

He noted that in the meantime, the Government is yet to deliver on a promise of a 50 percent reduction on citizens’ electricity bills.  Additionally, Sharma questions how much it will cost to maintain the pipeline as it sits idly.

“The government chose Wales as the location for this project. It therefore has an obligation to explain the technical, logistical and economic basis for that decision, because what Guyanese have witnessed is a project surrounded by delays, rising costs, technical challenges and an ever-moving completion date,” he said adding that government cannot make the decision, announce the project, promise cheaper electricity and then, every time another problem emerges, point somewhere else and say that somebody else is responsible.”

“The government must also answer when the project is delayed, when costs increase and when the promised benefits remain out of reach and to be honest about what was promised…. Guyanese were told that Gas-to-Energy would transform the electricity sector. We were told it would significantly reduce the cost of electricity. We were told it would improve reliability and competitiveness,” Solomon stressed.

He noted that as billions are being spent while the project continues to encounter delays and additional costs, the ordinary man is feeling the consequences.

“That is not what development is supposed to look like. Development cannot be the number of projects announced. Development is whether the project is properly planned, properly executed, delivered on time, delivered within a reasonable cost and whether the ordinary citizen actually feels the benefit. Guyanese deserve to know where their money is going, why the project has taken this long, why costs continue to move upward and who is ultimately accountable for the decisions that brought us here,” the MP stated

Last week, former finance minister, Winston Jordan questioned whether Guyana’s Gas-to-Energy project will deliver the additional electricity generation being promised by the end of this year, while criticising the government for failing to provide the public with sufficient information about the project.

Former Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan

Jordan said the project is already significantly behind schedule, pointing to the pipeline which, according to him, has been sitting in Guyana for close to two years without being put into productive use.

He said the lack of transparency surrounding the project makes it difficult for the public to properly assess its progress or determine when the country can realistically expect the cheaper electricity that the project is intended to provide.

“I cannot give up a true answer because the government is not transparent with the population. We don’t have enough information in the public domain to determine what is going on with that project,” Jordan said.

He noted that by the end of this year, the project would be approximately two years overdue.

“We have a pipeline in there that has been there and languishing now for two years,” he said, adding that he understood the pipeline was completed in 2024.

Jordan also raised concerns over reports that the pipeline may have developed leaks and could require servicing, which he said would mean additional expenditure on infrastructure that is already not being used.

“We’re hearing that there are leaks that have developed, that it has to be serviced, so a lot of money is being [spent] on a pipeline that is useless to us at the moment,” he said.

He was also skeptical about claims that additional generating capacity would be available by the end of this year, saying that based on information from engineers, he was not convinced the project could be brought on stream within that timeframe.

Jordan said he understood that claims were being made about additional megawatts becoming available by year-end, but questioned whether the configuration of the equipment and plant would allow the system to be brought online in the manner being suggested.

He stressed, however, that the lack of publicly available information makes it difficult to independently determine the project’s actual status.

“We are not privy to any information of any substance and we always have to take the little that is dripping out from them,” he said.

Despite his concerns, Jordan said bringing the project into operation would ultimately be beneficial to Guyana, particularly because cheap electricity is critical to the country’s economic development and manufacturing ambitions.

“As I said, if we get it eventually, it will be a plus,” he said.

Jordan said the country’s current situation on the electricity front is “not very, very, very encouraging,” underscoring the importance of delivering a reliable and cheaper source of power.

Source: Kaieteur News

(Kaieteur News) – Cognizant of the hurdles citizens face when attempting to access Schengen visas to travel to European countries, EU Ambassador to Guyana, Luca Pierantoni said the EU has been working to achieve a smoother, hassle-free travel process.

Ambassador Pierantoni said that the EU has been working intensively to facilitate people-to-people and business-to-business exchanges between the EU and Guyana, including by making travel to Europe easier for Guyanese nationals. He said given the concerns raised recently, he believes tangible results could be achieved soon.

“We have taken the concerns expressed by the Guyanese government and civil society representatives very seriously, and we believe tangible results can be achieved soon. We will continue to build new political, economic and cultural bridges between the EU and Guyana,” Ambassador Pierantoni said in a comment to this publication.

EU Ambassador to Guyana, Luca Pierantoni

President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday criticised visa barriers facing Caribbean travellers, noting that visa and biometric requirements are undermining tourism, regional connectivity and the hosting of international conferences.

Speaking at the State of the Tourism Industry Conference 2026 (SOTIC), held at the Atlantic Suites by Hyatt in Georgetown, President Ali compared the Caribbean’s travel connectivity with that of other regions, particularly the Middle East and Europe.

He pointed to the availability of electronic visas in the Middle East, pointing out that the Caribbean and its international partners must modernise how visitors access the region.

“The European Union is still backward in this region. We have to travel to Trinidad and Suriname to get biometrics to do it.”

The Guyanese leader said the requirement for travellers to spend several days completing visa procedures makes it difficult to build tourism partnerships and attract visitors to major international events.

“In a day of digitisation in AI, we have the EU that is operating from a stone age kind of operation, and they’re our friends. We can tell them frankly, but it’s the truth,” he said.

“We can’t have people have to go two days and three days. We can’t build partnership and friendship like that, where people gotta spend four days to get a visa before they travel to your country,” the president added.

He said the issue becomes even more significant when countries seek to host international conferences and other major events.

He addressed the practicality of inviting people to conferences while requiring them to spend several days securing a visa before they can travel.

The president said modern technology should allow authorities to verify a traveler’s identity and background quickly, rather than relying on lengthy processes.

He told delegates that the region must decide whether it is prepared to take bold steps to improve connectivity or remain on the defensive.

Ali also stressed the need for Caribbean countries to determine together which major international events they want to attract, stating that regional cooperation is critical to making that possible.

Using the Middle East as an example, he pointed to the ease of movement between countries across a wider regional network, including Greece, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, China and the Philippines, as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states such as Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

“That entire circuit flights almost every hour, between one hour flight to two and a half, three hours,” he said.

The president said such connectivity was not accidental, but the result of countries investing in infrastructure and building an ecosystem that allows travel, business and tourism.

Source: Kaieteur News

Family members searching for body of Keron Atkinson

Feared drowned, as Keron Atkinson, 3

(Kaieteur News) – A three-year-old boy reportedly drowned in the Essequibo River at Agatash Village, Region Seven, during the early afternoon hours on Friday.

The child has been identified as Keron Atkinson. According to reports, he was in the company of his seven-year-old cousin when he went underwater.

Police, relatives and villagers reportedly joined efforts to search the nearby waters in the hope of finding the toddler alive.

Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.

The area where three-year-old Keron Atkinson reportedly drowned on Friday afternoon.

Source: Kaieteur News

(Reuters) – US President Donald Trump’s administration-imposed sanctions on ​the International Criminal Court on Friday, hours after one of its former judges won the Nobel Peace Prize, putting Washington on a diplomatic collision course with European allies.

The court the move as an “assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order,” and called on its 125 member states to take action to defend it.

“The Court cannot stand alone. Its fate now rests also in the hands of the states that created it,” it said in a statement. “This is not just about defending a single institution, but about safeguarding the international order grounded upon the rule of law. History will judge this ​moment.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Mark Schiefelbein/Pool via REUTERS

The Trump administration has long been hostile to the court, founded in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, and has previously imposed sanctions on its prosecutors and judges. ​Friday’s move would go much farther, by potentially punishing companies that provide services to the court itself.

“President Trump will never allow the International Criminal Court ⁠to prosecute Americans,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement, first published by Reuters.

“That is why, today, the United States is sanctioning the International Criminal Court. We will ban transactions with this ​rogue court, cutting off their resources and crippling its ability to operate.”

The US Treasury announced the sanctions with a six-month initial grace period, and some other exemptions that would allow some transactions for telecoms, software, ​payment of pensions and transactions related to detainees.

Rubio said the sanctions had been structured to give the court and its member states an opportunity to address US concerns, and would be adjusted if those demands were not met.

Washington has denounced the ICC over arrest warrants issued for Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and a past investigation into actions of US soldiers in Afghanistan, which the ICC says is “deprioritized”.

“The sanctions are intended to undermine the rule of ​law internationally and the work that an independent judicial institution is doing,” ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan told Reuters. “Our work will continue across all our situations, our investigations and our prosecutions.”

The ICC has ​issued arrest warrants against more than 70 people, including world leaders and major figures in global conflicts. In addition to Netanyahu, it has sought the arrest of Hamas figures. Others who were the subject of arrest warrants include President ⁠Vladimir Putin, former Sudan President Omar al-Bashir and former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Charges against Kenyan President William Ruto and former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta were withdrawn.

NOBEL COMMITTEE CITES POLITICAL ATTACKS IN AWARDING PRIZE

The court has received strong backing in the past from its member states, which include all EU countries and all members of the NATO alliance apart from the United States and Turkey. It is based in the Netherlands, an EU and NATO member.

The Nobel Prize awarded hours earlier to South African jurist Navi Pillay, who sat on the ICC’s Appeals Chamber from 2003-2008, was explicitly described by the prize committee as a ​gesture of support for such tribunals at a time ​when “judges and institutions of international law are ⁠under political attack”.

“An international legal system in which war criminals are held to account and the victims of abuse see justice served is a precondition for a peaceful world,” the prize committee said.

US sanctions typically bar all US-based companies from any work with a sanctioned organization, forcing banks to shut accounts, insurers ​to end coverage and software companies to halt cooperation.

The Trump administration previously imposed targeted sanctions on court officials during his first term, which were ​rescinded under President Joe Biden. ⁠Washington announced new sanctions just days after Trump returned to office in January 2025.

Court officials have been preparing for months for the prospect of sanctions on the court itself, shifting office computers from Microsoft software to open-source equivalents and making new arrangements for banking and health insurance.

The court’s registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler called earlier this week for the EU to be prepared to use a so-called “blocking mechanism” that lets it shield European countries from the ⁠extraterritorial effects ​of sanctions.

In his statement, Rubio said the United States had delayed its sanctions hoping that the ICC and the countries party ​to its founding Rome Statute would address US concerns, but they had failed to do so.

“Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC. We expect our allies, many of whom are part of the ICC and that ​rely on American service members for their defense, to rein in the court,” Rubio said.

Source: Kaieteur News

(Kaieteur News) – The Linden teaching fraternity has been plunged into mourning following the death of 48-year-old Leslyn Major, who was killed in a tragic accident on Friday afternoon at Empire Drive, Ameila’s Ward, Linden, Region 10.

The circumstances surrounding the accident are unclear at this time but initial reports reaching Kaieteur News state that it involved a car and truck and Major was an innocent bystander.

Police are yet to divulge any details about the accident. Major was reportedly standing alongside Empire Drive when she was struck by the car.

Some reports are that the car was involved in an accident with the truck and the impact sent it flipping in Major’s directions, while other versions are that the car’s driver lost control in an attempt to overtake the truck.

Killed in an accident, Linden Teacher, Leslyn Major.

While police are yet to clarify the circumstances, Kaieteur News was able to confirm that the car driver is hospitalised while Major succumbed to her injuries while at the Linden Hospital Complex. A cell-phone recorded video of an unconscious Major lying on the roadway has since surfaced on the internet.

She was seen bleeding from what seemed like head injuries. She was rushed to the hospital where she passed away.

There has been an outpouring of tributes following the news of her tragic demise.

Major was reportedly a senior teacher at the Christianburg Primary School in Linden. Some described her as a former nationals’ athlete and a great coach.

Meanwhile the Department of Education in Region 10 said that it has lost a ‘gem’.

In a Facebook post the department wrote, “Her dedication, compassion and commitment to education and the well-being of children have left an indelible mark on our schools and communities” before adding “She will be remembered for her kindness, professionalism and the positive impact she made on so many lives”.

Source: Kaieteur News

(Kaieteur News) – Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed is urging the government to explore swapping the country’s crude oil for refined fuels like diesel and gasoline as prices soar on the international market in light of ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

In an interview with Kaieteur News, Mohamed highlighted the significant jump in fuel prices since the beginning of this year, pointing to the fact that this increase is directly affecting families across the country. The opposition leader was keen to note that Guyana is producing approximately 900,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) yet the population remains exposed to vulnerable fuel prices that is driving inflation as admitted by President Irfaan Ali.

According to him, “Guyanese families are paying more at the pump while the country produces about 900,000 barrels of oil a day. That is not bad luck; it is bad planning. We have no refinery, and no strategic fuel reserve, so every global price shock lands on working people.”

Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed

He argued that for years government has discussed the possibility of storage, a reserve and a refinery but Guyanese still await the fulfillment of these promises.

In the meantime, leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party noted that citizens in an oil-rich nation feel no benefit, especially when driving into a gas station or paying freight costs.

Mohamed said that the suggestion by an energy analyst, as reported recently in Kaieteur News, for the country to swap its crude oil for refined fuels is worth exploring and should be studied. More importantly however, he stressed the importance of transparency in such transaction involving the country’s natural resources.

“The idea of swapping crude for refined fuel deserves serious study, but we will not sign a blank check on it. Even the analyst who proposed it says it works only “when structured transparently,” and this government’s record on transparency is the problem,” he said.

The opposition leader reminded that the US$214 million audit dispute with ExxonMobil has dragged on for five years and is only now before the International Chamber of Commerce while a far larger audit, covering US$19.6 billion in costs, has been with the government since May 2025, but the report remains hidden from the public.

Consequently, Mohamed urged, “Before any swap, the government must tell Guyanese what it will cost, who the counterparties are, and what price they will pay.”

Additionally, he said, “We are calling for a strategic fuel reserve set up by law, with a clear target, a deadline, and public rules for when it is released. Fuel should be bought through open, tendered contracts, with the pricing formulas and winning bids published.”

Regarding the barter of Guyana’s crude oil, the leader was adamant that swap volumes, suppliers, and prices must be reported to the National Assembly and audited by the Auditor General.

In the meantime, he said that government must publish studies it conducted for the construction of a local refinery and storage facility. The party leader noted that the administration should explain to Guyanese why the proposed US$300 million Curlew Midstream depot was never signed.

As Guyanese continue to struggle to afford fuel in the oil-rich nation, he said an urgent and measured intervention is required by the government.

According to him, “government should show the public exactly how each pump price is built and give direct, time-limited help to farmers, minibus operators, and fishers. The Wales gas-to-energy plant will help with electricity costs, but it is not a fix for pump prices, and the people deserve to hear that plainly.”

To address the situation the country currently finds itself in, an international energy analyst suggested that Guyana explore an initiative that involves swapping its sweet light crude in exchange for refined fuels that can cushion the high prices burdening citizens.

In the absence of a refinery, Guyana imports expensive refined fuels to power its grid and economy, leaving working-class citizens to shoulder escalating costs of living, high freight rates, and frequent power outages managed by the state utility, Guyana Power and Light (GPL).

The urgency for a localised solution has been magnified by a deepening global energy crisis, with Middle East conflicts disrupting tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and targeted Ukrainian drone strikes crippling Russian refining infrastructure throughout 2025 and 2026. The situation has caused global diesel supplies to fall and instead of buffering itself against this volatility, Guyana operates almost entirely on the spot market for its refined fuel imports.

In an interview with this newspaper, the energy analyst pointed out that the country lacks a multi-month Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)—a standard macroeconomic tool used by sovereign nations to stabilise prices.

“During an international supply shock, a government can release state-owned, stockpiled fuel from an SPR to artificially lower local pump prices and maintain market liquidity,” the analyst said, requesting to be unnamed.

The analyst noted that this physical buffer hurts the working class, who are forced to absorb imported inflation while the same volatility guarantees high returns for private fuel importers.

To this end, the source suggested, “One heavily debated strategy is the implementation of a crude-to-distillate swap arrangement, paired with the creation of a Strategic Fuel Reserve. Under a swap agreement, a producing nation leverages its share of equity crude—in Guyana’s case, its profit oil allocations—directly exchanging it with global trading houses or refiners for equivalent volumes of refined products like diesel and Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO).”

It was explained that the model is designed to bypass the international spot market entirely.

“When structured transparently, swaps eliminate heavy logistics markups, mitigate currency exchange pressures, and secure a predictable supply of distillates to keep vital assets like Karpowerships and GuySuCo mills operational,” the analyst said.

Source: Kaieteur News

(Kaieteur News) – Retail giant Regal Super Centre has officially presented the remaining individual awards for the Lotto/Let’sBet One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast ahead of Sunday’s national finale at the Anna Regina National Stadium.

On Thursday, Regal Super Centre handed over three television sets to the tournament’s top performers and a lucky spectator, following the earlier presentation of a brand-new motorbike reserved for the Most Valuable Player.

It marks the fourth consecutive edition in which Regal Super Centre has sponsored a suite of individual awards.

Romario Samaroo (left) of One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast and Rehanna Gobin of Regal Super Centre

Alongside the motorbike, the tournament MVP will walk away with $150,000 in cash. The leading run-scorer and top wicket-taker will each earn $100,000 plus a television set, while the Player of the Final will receive $75,000.

The tournament will also award $50,000 bonuses to the players with the Super Strike Rate and Best Economy Rate (minimum 12 balls).

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Regal Super Centre representative Rehanna Gobin highlighted the company’s commitment to grassroots development.

“We have loved this tournament and supported it since year one,” Gobin said. “To see how the One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast has expanded across the country is incredible, and Regal Super Centre is always happy to stand behind an event that brings communities together and showcases local talent.”

One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast representative Romario Samroo praised the ongoing corporate backing, noting the impact on player motivation.

“Regal Super Centre has been a cornerstone partner of this tournament from day one,” Samroo said. “Their commitment to rewarding individual excellence adds immense value to the competition, giving players extra motivation to perform at their absolute best. We are deeply grateful for their continued partnership.”

Four undefeated sides—GrillMaster Sip N Play All-Stars, Mahdia (Movements Family), Lusignan Bulls DTP II, and Kemol Savory’s SVC/AJM CC—will clash in Essequibo on Sunday for national supremacy and the $2m top prize. The runners-up will pocket $1m, and both losing semi-finalists will receive $500,000.

Action bowls off at 14:30 local time as GrillMaster face Mahdia in the opening semi-final, before SVC/AJM CC take on Lusignan Bulls DTP II at 16:30. A six-over women’s exhibition match between Tapakuma (Elite Warriors) and Capoey United follows at 18:30, ahead of the grand final under lights at 19:30.

Source: Kaieteur News

(Kaieteur News) – The five-member Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the MV Barima tragedy on Friday continued its preliminary investigations with visits to two dry docks on the East Bank Demerara, where the vessel was maintained and repaired at various times before the deadly July 18 incident.

The visits form part of the commission’s efforts to gather information and familiarise itself with facilities relevant to the investigation ahead of the commencement of oral hearings on October 14.

According to a statement issued by the commission’s secretary, both facilities were associated with the maintenance and repair of the MV Barima at different times before the tragedy.

The inspections are intended to give commissioners a clearer understanding of the sites and operations that may be relevant to their examination of the circumstances surrounding the vessel’s capsising.

Friday’s visits followed a series of inspections on Thursday, October 8, at the Transport and Harbours Department’s (T&HD) Goods Wharf in Kingston, Georgetown.

The commissioners also visited the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and the Transport and Harbours Department as part of their preliminary fact-finding activities.

The site visits were part of the commission’s broader efforts to gather information before the oral hearings begin.

The inquiry is tasked with examining the circumstances surrounding the MV Barima tragedy, which occurred on July 18, 2026.

With oral hearings scheduled to begin on October 14, the commissioners are continuing their preliminary work to familiarise themselves with the facilities, operations and agencies connected to the vessel before proceeding with the formal examination of evidence.

Source: Kaieteur News

(Kaieteur News) – The Governments of Guyana and Jamaica have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in tourism and hospitality, deepen longstanding relations between the two countries and create new opportunities for collaboration and investment.

The agreement was signed by Guyana’s Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues, and Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, during the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2026 at the Atlantic Suites by Hyatt. The signing took place in the presence of Permanent Secretary of Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffith; Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Kamrul Baksh; and Secretary-General and CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Ms Dona Regis-Prosper.

The MOU establishes a framework for both countries to share knowledge and expertise, strengthen engagement between tourism stakeholders and encourage travel between the two destinations. It also creates opportunities for collaboration in tourism investment, air connectivity, education and training, sustainable tourism development and tourism resilience.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, and Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett.

Minister Rodrigues welcomed the agreement, noting that it provides an opportunity for both countries to strengthen tourism ties, share expertise and explore new avenues for collaboration.

“This partnership allows us to learn from each other’s experiences, build stronger connections between our tourism stakeholders and create opportunities that benefit our people and the wider Caribbean,” Minister Rodrigues said.

Minister Bartlett stated that the partnership with Guyana, an emerging destination, will add great value to Caribbean tourism integration and the strategies for multi-destination tourism. He emphasised the importance of moving beyond visitor arrival numbers to ensure that tourism delivers greater value to local economies and contributes meaningfully to the prosperity of Caribbean people.

“Guyana is adding much more to the Caribbean tourism experience, with its forests, hidden valleys and rich natural heritage. We want to build the capacity of our people to respond to the demands of prosperity and ensure that we retain greater value from tourism for our people,” Minister Bartlett said.

The agreement comes as Guyana continues to expand its tourism sector, strengthen international partnerships and position Destination Guyana as a competitive, sustainable tourism destination. Closer collaboration with Jamaica will create opportunities to exchange experiences, develop partnerships and advance a more resilient and inclusive regional tourism industry.

The signing during SOTIC 2026 reinforces the importance of regional cooperation in advancing shared tourism priorities and ensuring that the sector creates lasting opportunities for Caribbean businesses, workers and communities.

Source: Kaieteur News

(Kaieteur News) – After three rounds of intense action, the field has been cut to sixteen. Today at the Ministry of Education ground, every one of them is playing for a place in this year’s quarterfinals.

Kickoff is at 12:00, and the stakes are clear: win and you stay in the title race, lose and you drop to the battle for positions nine to sixteen. Only eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals, but the other eight will get the extra playing time and an equal chance to finish strong.

Today’s Contenders

Defending champions Leonora Primary lead the pack with a defence that has been hard to crack, three wins from three. They are not alone. Santa Rosa, Waramuri, West Ruimveldt and Tucville also arrive with perfect records and have marked themselves as this year’s teams to beat.

For St Gabriel’s, St John the Baptist, Georgetown International Academy and St Pius Primary, today brings their first real test outside the group stage.

Today’s first two matches will both commence at noon.

Round of sixteen fixtures are Redeemer Primary vs Potaro Primary, St John the Baptist vs GIA ‘A’ (Match 41) both matches are scheduled to begin at 12:00noon.

Following those two clashes see Pakuri Primary vs Tucville Primary and Leonora Primary vs St Theresa Primary, with the defending champions looking to keep their title defence on track.

Action will continue when West Ruimveldt Primary takes on Plaisance Orphanage followed by St Pius Primary vs Marian Academy.

At 3:00pm Santa Rosa Primary will confront St Gabriel’s Primary while GIA ‘B’ will take on Waramuri Primary for the final ticket into the quarterfinals.

As the tournament narrows to its final eight today, expect the intensity to rise with every whistle.

Eight matches. Only a win gets you through.

The tournament is proudly sponsored by Courts Optical, with support from MVP Sports, Demerara Mutual Life, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, SkyTec Enterprise and Sterling Products Limited (Igloo Ice Cream).

Source: Kaieteur News