Accountability cannot be dismissed as ‘social media nonsense’ – BOCONGO

Botswana’s umbrella body for non-governmental organisations is demanding greater disclosure from government over the African Hero Initiative and an associated school and clinic development in Block 7, saying citizens need clarity on the project’s financing, contractual arrangements and potential public obligations.

The Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO) said it isn’t presenting allegations about the initiative as established wrongdoing, but questioned whether government conducted adequate financial, corporate, legal, integrity and reputational due diligence before engaging with or endorsing the project.

‘What checks were undertaken? What were their findings? Who conducted them?’ BOCONGO asked. The organisation’s intervention follows public reporting and parliamentary discussions over the history of a proposal involving the construction of schools and clinics for government.

According to BOCONGO, the Ministry of Finance had previously indicated that such a proposal was rejected because of ‘significant financial implications,’ with government reportedly saying it wasn’t in a position to borrow for the arrangement.

The initiative has since emerged as the African Hero school and clinic development associated with businessman Zunaid Moti.

BOCONGO is seeking an explanation of what changed in the proposal, financing model, contractual structure and government approval process, as well as how concerns identified earlier were addressed. ‘If this is a privately funded initiative, Government should clearly explain what that means in legal and financial terms,’ the organisation said.

It is also calling for disclosure of any public land, financing, guarantees, future government payments, leases, tax concessions or other public resources and obligations tied to the project. The organisation questioned who will finance the initiative and at what cost, who owns the land and completed facilities, and who would bear the risks if the project fails or costs increase.

BOCONGO also raised questions about reported relationships between Moti and leaders of the UDC, while stressing that such relationships ‘do not, in themselves, establish wrongdoing, improper influence or state capture.’

However, it said those relationships make transparency and due diligence more important, particularly amid reporting and allegations concerning Moti’s business activities and relationships with political and government actors outside Botswana.

The group urged government to publish the material terms of the initiative and school and clinic arrangement, explain changes from the earlier proposal, disclose public financial obligations and account for procurement, legal, financial and due-diligence processes.

‘Public accountability is not ‘social media nonsense’,’ BOCONGO said. ‘It is a democratic responsibility.’

Boko emerges as chair of Moti-linked African Hero

President Duma Boko has emerged as the founding chairman of the controversial African Hero infrastructure initiative linked to businessman Zunaid Moti.

On its website, the initiative reveals that ‘African Hero is led by H.E. President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana and Founding Chairman of African Hero – a statesman whose leadership gives the initiative its moral force, continental ambition and delivery mandate.’

The revelation has placed Boko at the centre of an arrangement that the Botswana Republican Party (BRP) says requires urgent parliamentary and public scrutiny.

African Hero’s flagship project, the Duma Boko School and Clinic in Block 7, Gaborone, was launched in September with Government providing the land while private-sector partners financed construction. Government will operate the facilities, including providing teachers, nurses and medicines. The school is expected to accommodate about 380 learners.

But the BRP says the issue is not whether Botswana needs schools, clinics or private investment; It is whether the State entered the arrangement transparently, lawfully and in a manner that protects taxpayers. In its September 2026 position paper, titled ‘The Boko-Moti-African Hero Arrangement,’ the opposition party argues that public infrastructure cannot be removed from normal scrutiny simply because construction was financed privately.

‘The building of a school is a public good. A clinic is a public good. Private investment is good. Philanthropy is good,’ the BRP says. It adds that; ‘But provision of knock-down infrastructure no matter how pretty it looks does not make an opaque governance arrangement good.’

The party says Government must publish the agreements, financing arrangements, ownership structures, land allocation documents, procurement or exemption records and any present or future financial obligations associated with African Hero.

The BRP says in June 2025, the Ministry of Finance told the Public Accounts Committee that it had received an unsolicited proposal from an investor to construct schools and clinics and lease them to Government. According to reporting from the PAC proceedings, the proposed cost was about P36.4 million per school and P9.1 million per clinic, under a 17-year lease-to-own arrangement. The Permanent Secretary, Tshokologo Kganetsano, said the financial implications were substantial and that Government was not then in a position to borrow for the project. The ministry indicated a preference for scaling down the proposal and, if necessary, open competitive bidding.

The project subsequently re-emerged under the African Hero banner. The BRP therefore asks a pointed question: what changed? The party wants the documentary trail showing how the original proposal evolved into the present arrangement. It says this is particularly sensitive because African Hero identifies Boko as its founding chairman while Moti has been publicly described as the businessman behind the initiative. Recent reporting has also linked Moti to previous financial support for the UDC’s 2019 election campaign.

The BRP stops short, in its paper, of alleging that Boko personally profited from the project. Instead, it argues that the relationship creates a potential conflict-of-interest concern requiring heightened transparency.The party also questions the decision to name the flagship school after the sitting President. At the September launch, Government described the project as a demonstration of a new public-private infrastructure model. Boko said Government did not finance construction and had instead made available land that had remained undeveloped for years. Government would subsequently provide teachers, nurses and medicines and operate the facilities.

Moti, meanwhile, described African Hero as an initiative intended to accelerate construction of schools and clinics across Africa. Government has announced an ambition for the model to deliver 100 schools and 50 clinics in Botswana. The BRP, however, says construction is only the beginning of the financial equation. A school requires teachers, electricity, water, textbooks, security, maintenance, transport and ICT infrastructure.

The party therefore wants Government to publish the full lifetime cost of the facilities.

It also raises questions about claims that the wider programme could expose Botswana to more than P20 billion in long-term obligations. The BRP stresses that the figure cannot be independently verified without access to the underlying contracts, payment schedules, guarantees and other commitments.The party wants Parliament to establish whether the arrangement is a donation, procurement contract, public-private partnership, lease, concession or another legal structure. It is calling for a special parliamentary inquiry examining the original proposal, the Finance Ministry’s 2025 assessment, the subsequent financing model, beneficial ownership, land allocation, procurement procedures, Government’s operating costs and termination arrangements. The BRP further wants an independent value-for-money assessment and conflict-of-interest review.

Its position is that private financing should not exempt a project from public scrutiny once Government land, public employees, public services or potential future State obligations become involved. ‘Build the school. Build the clinic. But publish the contract, disclose the money, explain the obligations and let Parliament do its job,’ the party says.

Botswana faces food security crisis as govt fails to pay farmers

Botswana’s food security is under pressure as grain farmers warn that repeated payment failures by the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) are pushing producers towards bankruptcy and threatening the sustainability of the country’s agricultural sector.

Documents seen by Sunday Standard show that Pandamatenga farmers alone are owed approximately P100 million by BAMB with some farmers reportedly waiting as long as four months beyond the contractual 30-day payment period for grain already delivered.

This emerges in an urgent letter from Pandamatenga Commercial Farmers Association (PCFA) Chairman, Carel Viljoen, who has called for immediate government intervention ahead of the September 30 deadline for farmers to settle their seasonal production loans. The letter was addressed to Chief Executive Officer of BAMB, Lilian Costa Scheepers and copied to Dr Mokganedi Mokopasetso, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture; Dr Tsokologo Alex Kganetsano, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance; Omphile Sehurutse, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship; and Kenalekgotla Sebolao, Chairman of the Botswana Grain Producers Association.

Viljoen says farmers are again carrying the financial consequences of BAMB’s liquidity problems despite having fulfilled their side of the bargain by delivering grain.’Investor confidence is ZERO. Not low, ZERO. It simply does not pay to farm anymore,’ Viljoen states in the letter.

According to the farmers, the crisis is no longer simply a dispute over delayed payments. It is becoming a threat to the viability of the producers expected to supply the country with food.

‘Farmers are businesspeople, and in effect, investors in Botswana’s agricultural sector,’ Viljoen says adding that producers borrow heavily, employ workers and take substantial production and market risks to produce food for the country. The farmers say input costs are rising while grain prices continue to fall, creating a squeeze that is becoming increasingly difficult to survive.’Farmers are paying to farm, not being paid to farm,’ the letter says.

The latest crisis also threatens to repeat a pattern witnessed during the 2024/2025 production season. During that season, Pandamatenga farmers delivered more than 50,000 tonnes of sorghum, together with thousands of tonnes of cowpeas and maize. BAMB subsequently struggled for approximately eight months to secure sufficient funding to pay farmers.

The letter shows that by December 2025, commercial farmers had received only 74 percent of the money owed to them, with the remaining 26 percent only paid in April 2026. Farmers are now warning that the same cycle is unfolding again. Deliveries began in April 2026, meaning some producers have already exceeded BAMB’s contractual 30-day payment period by as much as four months.

According to Viljoen, delayed payments have left suppliers unpaid, affected salaries and seasonal workers, increased overdraft and bank charges, caused loan repayments to fall overdue and left farmers entering new production seasons without adequate cash flow. Small-scale farmers have also been affected, including their ability to meet household expenses, school fees and purchase inputs. The financial damage is significant. One Pandamatenga farmer alone has reportedly incurred approximately P3.8 million in interest attributed to BAMB’s late payments.

The situation was made worse by severe flooding in Pandamatenga at the beginning of the current production cycle. Despite significant crop and input losses, farmers replanted using borrowed funds and personal reserves, citing their commitment to Botswana’s food security.

Now, with the next planting season approaching, farmers want government to provide certainty. They are demanding confirmation that outstanding payments will be settled by September 30, while also calling for urgent consideration of partial payments to enable them to settle suppliers, service production loans and prepare for the coming season. They are also challenging the continued accumulation of interest on production loans while farmers wait for BAMB to pay them. The farmers argue that they have delivered their crops and fulfilled their contractual obligations, yet continue to incur interest because BAMB has not settled its obligations. NDB has extended the loan repayment deadline to the end of October 2026, but farmers have been advised that the interest rate will increase by one percentage point for the extension. Viljoen says the situation presents a fundamental contradiction in government’s stated objective of developing a private-sector-led, export-driven agricultural sector. The farmers are also demanding clarity on national crop planning, BAMB procurement plans, market demand and proposed rules governing access to alternative markets.

‘A sustainable national grain sector cannot operate without clarity on where farmers may sell their products and under what conditions,’ the letter states. The farmers say they have remained loyal to BAMB despite payment delays lasting more than a year in the previous season and have again delivered their grain in good faith. But they are now approaching another production cycle carrying debt and interest on grain already delivered but not yet paid for. The farmers want a written response before September 30 covering the payment solution and other outstanding grain-sector issues.

BAMB had not responded to Sunday Standard queries at time of going to press.

Govt distances itself from the delay in paying former BCL employee benefits

The government has distanced itself from the delays over payment of outstanding (Ex-gratia/ Soft landing) benefits owed to former BCL and Tati Nickel Mine Workers. Last week Wednesday the Minister of State President Moeti Mohwasa and the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Pius Mokgware met with the former mine workers at Civic Centre in Francistown to update them on their outstanding benefits and the prolonged liquidation process.

Located near Francistown, Tati Nickel Mining Company was liquidated in 2016 owing to a slump in commodity prices resulting in the loss of over 6000 alongside its parent company BCL Limited.

First to take to the podium during the meeting was Minister Mohwasa who told the former mining workers that the independent liquidator has full control and legal mandate over the liquidation proceedings adding that their hands are currently tied to interfere.

‘Up until the liquidation process is finalized, there is nothing that the government can do. At some point we tried to engage the liquidator on some of the issues, but he then released a report suggesting that there was political interference Government is committed to seeing your benefits being paid and we understand the hardships that you are going through. Government will ensure that you are paid your benefits once the liquidation process is completed,’ he said.

Mohwasa expressed his frustration over how the BCL and Tati Nickel Mining Company was closed under the past regime leading to the the adversaries that the former mine employees are going through.

On the other hand the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Mokgware assured the clearly frustrated former mining employees that a new law on liquidation giving priorities to employees will begin in September 2026.

‘The new law will give priorities to employees during future liquidations above creditors unlike in the past. We fully understand what you are going through and we are committed to ensuring that you are paid your dues,’ he reiterated.

The former mine employees had expressed frustrations on what they deem as sluggishness on the part of government as the matter spans a decade. One of the former miners Kefilwe Gaofose accused the government of not giving the issue the urgency it deserves.

‘We are living in abject poverty. We have been given promises after promises but there is no progress. There is need for government to take this issue seriously. Some of the former mine employees are now deceased before being paid their dues,’ he said.

Another former mine employee Masego Lentetse questioned how the liquidator can have more powers than even the President of the country. He expressed uncertainty over the benefits being paid as the liquidator seems to be dragging his feet to finalize this issue which has been pending for 10 years. He also expressed worry that there is no timeline as to when they will be paid .

Botswana Miners Workers Union(BMWU) General Secretary Mbiganyi Gaekgotswe who was also present at the meeting also expressed his concerns suggesting that the government has the power to finalize this matter.

‘You are still waiting for the liquidator to wind up the whole process and this has taken too long. Our belief is that as government you have the powers to repeal provisions that give the liquidator too much powers. It has been ten years since the former mine workers lost their jobs and have been living in misery,’ he said.

However in conclusion the Ministers assured the former mine employees that government will ensure that they will be paid. They reiterated that they cannot by-pass the legal constraints they are currently facing giving hope that the new liquidation law address this challenge in the future.

Botswana-Cuba in multi-million Pula secret ‘slave trade’?

Behind the clean white coats of Botswana’s public service hospitals lies a little-known deal in which Cuban doctors who are keeping the country’s overstretched healthcare system afloat, are allegedly trapped in a lucrative network of state -sponsored ‘modern day slavery.’

Under the confidential bilateral agreement, obtained by the Sunday Standard, the Cuban government takes control of the doctors’ wages, with one international watchdog alleging that as much as 75% of their true earnings is siphoned off by the Cuban state.

While Botswana pays about P56,000 per every specialist every month, sources cited by international watchdog Prisoners Defenders say the Cuban professionals receive about P14,000. The watchdog has denounced the arrangement between the governments of Botswana and Cuba as ‘modern day slave trade.’

The confidential 21-page Memorandum of Agreement between the Government of Botswana and the Government of Cuba, represented respectively by the two countries’ Ministries of Health, provides the contractual framework for the deployment of Cuban specialized health professionals to Botswana. The then Minister of Health Edwin Dikoloti signed on behalf of Botswana on 22 August 2024 while Cuba’s ambassador to Botswana Orlando Alvarez signed on behalf of his country.

The document betrays Botswana’s human rights paradox. While the country is trying to plug critical staffing shortages in its public health system, the structure of the bilateral deal means the country is knowingly financing and institutionalizing an exploitative system that violates Botswana’s own constitutional prohibitions against forced labour.

The document says Botswana has an ‘acute shortage’ of specialized health professionals and records the two governments’ agreement to continue their cooperation in supplying such personnel.

Under Article 10, Botswana agrees to pay the Cuban government not more than pound 2,469,600 per annum, inclusive of withholding tax, for the provision of the services. The agreement further provides that Cuba will issue a monthly invoice to Botswana showing both the amount to be paid to Cuban health professionals in Botswana and the amount to be transferred to Cuba. The agreement places responsibility for paying the Cuban health professionals on the Government of Cuba rather than directly on the Government of Botswana.

The document states that payment to the professionals ‘shall be the responsibility’ of the Cuban government. It identifies an account in Botswana under the name ‘CUBAN MEDICAL TEAM IN BOTSWANA ‘for payments to the health professionals while the balance due to Cuba is to be transferred to a Cuban bank account in Havana.

That arrangement creates a fundamental question: how much of the money paid by Botswana actually reaches the doctors and other Cuban professionals working in Botswana, and how much is retained or transferred to the Cuban state?

The agreement itself does not answer that question. What it does reveal is the official rate attached to the personnel. Appendix B lists pound 3,500 per month for specialist physicians, including the coordinator while allied professionals, including pharmacists and biomedical engineers, are listed at pound 2,800 per month.

The financial architecture therefore places Botswana on one side of the transaction, the Cuban government on the other, and the individual medical professionals within a system in which their remuneration is administered by Cuba.

It is this structure that fuel claims that Botswana is effectively financing a system in which Cuban doctors do not directly control the full value generated by their work.

However, the agreement itself does not establish that Cuban doctors are victims of slavery nor does it disclose what proportion of their remuneration Cuba retains. The agreement nevertheless gives Cuba substantial control over the personnel arrangement.

Botswana selects personnel from a pool provided by Cuba, while Cuba undertakes to provide specialized professionals and ensure that they possess the required training and experience. The professionals normally serve for two years with the possibility of extending their assignments by another two years.

Botswana, meanwhile, assumes a wide range of costs. These include economy-class air travel between Cuba and Botswana, repatriation costs in the event of death, accommodation and certain household costs. Botswana must also provide housing and basic furniture, while covering security or alarm-system costs and up to P1,900 per household per month for basic amenities.

The agreement also gives Botswana the right to request the replacement of a Cuban professional deemed not to be performing duties satisfactorily or who has committed an act of indiscipline.

At the same time, Cuba undertakes to ensure that participation by the selected health professionals is voluntary. The document expressly states that the selected Cuban professionals must have ‘voluntarily expressed’ their intention to participate in the arrangement.

The agreement was signed in Gaborone in 2024 and provides for an initial five-year term, renewable for subsequent five-year periods unless terminated earlier. Article 8 requires both governments to keep confidential information received from the other party during implementation of the agreement and prohibits disclosure without prior written approval, subject to exceptions including court orders, applicable laws and international obligations. The secrecy provision is likely to intensify demands for transparency over the financial relationship. The agreement covers a broad range of specialties, including surgery, pediatrics, nephrology, neonatology, neurosurgery, emergency and intensive care, obstetrics and gynecology, cardiology, oncology and gastroenterology.

Commenting on the confidential document, international watchdog, Prisoners Defenders said; ‘the current Duma Boko government materially and knowingly supports the economic architecture that allows for a modern slavery scheme.’

‘ Princess Marina Hospital’s official administrative documents record stipends, such as the one dated March 9, 2020 and later, of up to $800 for 18 specialist or coordination positions and which are forwarded to financial administration with a copy to the government’s Ministry of Finance; The State’s connivance cannot therefore be attributed to a lack of knowledge of the payment mechanism, ‘the organisation argues.

It says ‘The gross contractual fee paid by Botswana, under the Agreement, amounts to $4,094.65 per month per specialist. However, direct sources from Prisoners Defenders confirm that Cuban professionals receive only $1,000 a month: 24.42% of the fee paid for their work. The gross difference is 75.58%.’

Prisoners Defenders notes that ‘In August 2026, several direct first-hand sources in the country placed the current salary of Cuban medical specialists at $1,000 per month, presenting a slight increase.’

It says ‘Although this is a nominal improvement of $200 compared to 2020, the price paid by Botswana for each doctor has also risen markedly and has reached the equivalent of $4,094.65 per month. so the structure of extracting wages from Cuban workers for the benefit of the regime has even been aggravated.’

‘The Cuban specialist, receiving only $1,000 a month, receives less than a quarter of what Botswana pays Cuba for his work and only 20 to 23 percent of the documented remuneration for a local specialist, ‘says Prisoners Defenders.

Responding to Sunday Standard queries, The Ministry of Health spokesperson Malepa Dibonwa said; ‘The Government Of Botswana pays an agreed fee for the services rendered by the specialists to the Government of Cuba. Cuban specialists remain employees of the Government of Cuba.’ He added that; ‘Accordingly, the remuneration arrangement between the Government Of Cuba and its personnel are matters governed by the arrangement applicable to the Cuban health professionals and the Government Of Cuba. .Government Of Botswana does not determine or negotiate the individual remuneration payable by the Government of Cuba and its personnel.’

According to Prisoners Defenders, the alleged financial exploitation of the Cuban doctors is only the first layer of the system. According to a recent exposé by Prisoners Defenders, the bilateral contract is sustained by an aggressive legal framework of surveillance and severe civil restrictions engineered directly by the Cuban Medical Mission leadership in Gaborone.

The human rights watchdog revealed that on 3rd July 2026, Mission Head Dr. Pablo Ricardo Betancourt Álvarez issued an official Resolution mandating nine restrictive control measures explicitly designed to prevent Cuban doctors from integrating into Botswana society or attempting to escape the program.

· The Curfew and Isolation: Under the mandate, specialists face strict, mandatory nightly curfews. They are completely prohibited from staying overnight anywhere outside their designated official residences. Furthermore, they are banned from visiting or socializing with any Cuban nationals residing in Botswana who are not part of the active Brigade.

· Asset and Travel Bans: To eliminate any possibility of unauthorized long-distance transit or local independence, the resolution strictly prohibits the medical professionals from purchasing or driving private vehicles. Their movement is tightly boundaried, with a blanket ban on traveling outside their specifically assigned working districts without explicit, written permission from mission handlers.

· Passport Seizure and Digital Surveillance: Testimonies collected from the ground reveal that a staggering 84% of doctors report being subjected to continuous surveillance. Central to this control is the immediate seizure of their passports upon arrival. By physically withholding their official travel documents, handlers leave the doctors legally trapped inside Botswana’s borders, unable to apply for local asylum, leave through Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, or return home voluntarily.

The report by Prisoners Defenders says the testimonies of professionals stationed in Botswana reproduce the pattern of slavery documented in all Cuban medical missions:

All stated that they did not voluntarily participate in the mission.

None received a copy of their contract; In 60% of the cases there was a contract, but it was never delivered, and for the rest no contract was even formalized.

All of them suffered the withdrawal of their passports by the Cuban authorities, restrictions on movement and control of relations with the local population.

Prisoners Defenders requested that the government of President Duma Boko should include among others;

The publication of the complete agreement, all its addenda, budgetary authorizations, monthly invoices and payments executed, protecting only legitimate personal data.

The direct payment to each Cuban professional for the full amount that corresponds to their work, subject only to ordinary and transparent taxes, prohibiting forced salary transfers to third parties.

Interview all aid workers individually, without the presence of Cuban coordinators, with interpreters and independent legal assistance.

Ensure that each worker retains his or her passport, contract, credentials, freedom of movement, accommodation, association, communication, and the right to complete the mission without retaliation. Immediate comment from the Cuban embassy was not available. Claims by Prisoners Defenders have been backed by independent sources. The 2025 US Trafficking in Persons Report specifically warned that the Cuban regime ‘may have forced approximately 80 Cuban regime-affiliated medical professionals in Botswana to work’ and recommended that Botswana systematically screen Cuban medical workers for trafficking indicators. That warning did not emerge in isolation. Previous US trafficking reports have repeatedly identified Cuban medical personnel in Botswana as a potentially vulnerable group. The 2024 report recommended that Botswana proactively identify trafficking victims among Cuban government-affiliated medical professionals.

Cyprus Deparetment of Meteorology – Forecast for the Sea Area of Cyprus (A)

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 21/09/2026 UNTIL 0600 22/09/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1012hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine but early morning increased low cloud may be present.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 28°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning Northeast to Southeast 3, gradually Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon West to Northwest 4 Slight

Night Northwest to Northeast 3 Smooth to Slight, locally offshore Slight

South Coast

Morning Northeast to Southeast 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southwest 4, at times locally 4 to 5 Slight

Night West to Northwest 3 Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Morning Northwest to Northeast 3, later Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 3 to 4, at times offshore 4 Smooth to Slight

Night West to Northwest 3 Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Morning Southeast to Southwest 3, soon Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 4 Slight

Night Southeast to Southwest 3 Smooth to Slight

President does not rule out development regarding the resumption of Cyprus talks

President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides said Sunday addressing an event in New York that he does not rule out significant developments towards the resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus issue.

He also said that major announcements concerning new investments by US corporate giants will be made in the immediate future.

Speaking at a meeting on the evening of September 20 with officials and members of the Federation of Cypriot American Organizations in New York, the President of the Republic said that ‘it is always a particular pleasure to meet with you. I have known most of you since 1993; 33 years have passed since I first came to New York.’

Christodoulides stressed that ‘this is a very full week, with the Cyprus issue dominating the meetings, and despite the prevailing sentiment – particularly in Cyprus – that there will be no developments, I do not rule out developments, indeed significant ones, towards the resumption of negotiations.’

The President of the Republic said that on Friday evening he would also give an assessment of the week.

‘I want us to discuss a number of issues regarding which, over these three and a half years – and I am genuinely pleased because there are results from our foreign policy – Cyprus, after many years, has once again become known in the United States for positive reasons, through our initiatives in the region and through a very successful Presidency [of the Council of the EU]. I am pleased because, for the first time since 2011, our economy is in the A category, having also been upgraded by Standard and Poor’s on Friday evening,’ he noted.

At a time when two wars are underway, the Cypriot economy is growing, the President of the Republic said. ‘We inherited public debt of around 80% of GDP; today it stands at 48% of GDP and is on a downward trajectory. We will reduce public debt even further, and we have budget surpluses.’

With regard to unemployment, he said that Cyprus is ‘experiencing conditions of full employment for the first time since 2008, with unemployment at around 3.6%-3.7%.’

‘And I am pleased because a major effort we made, which has produced results and to which you also contributed, was to achieve a significant increase in US investment in Cyprus. You will recall that last year I visited three states. We are seeing results, particularly in the technology sector,’ he said.

President Christodoulides announced that he would be back in the United States at the end of November and would take part in a Financial Times conference in New York on Cyprus.

‘For the first time, we will launch a campaign in New York aimed at bringing Cypriot talent back to Cyprus. Our brain gain campaign is producing results. There was a time when people left Cyprus to come and work in the United States; today, we want to bring people back to Cyprus,’ he stressed.

In addition to New York, he said he would visit Ohio, Boston and Florida for meetings with companies interested in investing in Cyprus.

Christodoulides said that in the immediate future there would also be some major announcements regarding new investments by US corporate giants.

‘Our economy is doing well. We are strengthening our country’s deterrent capability. Last Wednesday, we approved the 2027 budget at the Council of Ministers, with by far the largest increase allocated to the defence sector,’ he said.

He added that ‘the fact that the economy is doing well allows us to invest more in the defence of our country, to invest in education and healthcare. We have increased social spending, while at the same time addressing challenges. I remember that when I took office in 2023, Cyprus’ biggest problem was migration. Today, we are a model country when it comes to migration, with arrivals down by more than 90% and returns from our country up by more than 85%.’

Referring to Cyprus-US relations, the President of the Republic said that he had recently received the new US Ambassador.

‘For the first time, we have a political appointee in Cyprus, an Ambassador with personal ties to the US President. Based both on the discussion we had and on certain actions we saw immediately after he took office, I believe there is potential to further strengthen our relations. I will keep you informed so that we can coordinate our actions. After all, you were the first to begin this effort to strengthen relations, you were the first to believe in it, and I am pleased that, so many years later, we have achieved it,’ he said.

On his part, Federation President Kyriakos Papastylianou, welcoming the President of the Republic, said, among other things, that the President always keeps his appointment with the Cypriot diaspora. He noted that the issues to be discussed that evening would include the Cyprus issue, which is of particular concern to the diaspora, Cyprus-US relations, and how the diaspora can contribute to their further development.

The President of the Republic then spoke with members of the Cypriot community and answered their questions.

’Muli’ opens boxes of ‘what ifs,’ finding songs to keep and stories to unpack

What if you could go back and make a different choice? What if the life you have now had taken a completely different path? These are the questions at the heart of FlipMusic’s Muli, an all-new Filipino musical that looks at memories, relationships and the possibilities that linger in the question of ‘what if?’

Featuring 11 original OPM songs, the musical follows Anita, a 42-year-old mom looking back on the different paths she could have taken, with ’90s and early 2000s nostalgia woven throughout the show.

It begins with Anita, played by Kakki Teodoro, and her daughter Kath, played by Janine Teñoso, sorting through boxes of old belongings and memorabilia. Among their finds are old video recordings of Anita singing, setting up its preoccupation with nostalgia and looking back.

Y2K core

That idea of looking back is practically built into the production. Nostalgia runs through “Muli,” not just in its story but in its music, visuals, references and costumes. The show knows how to evoke the ’90s and early 2000s, with callbacks to everything from beepers and early mobile phones to the unmistakable sound of dial-up internet, alongside details that have fueled the current Y2K revival.

For those who grew up in the era, there are plenty of familiar details to spot, recognize and laugh at.

The stage gives the production a much bigger canvas, though its darker, almost somber look can sometimes make “Muli” feel heavier than the nostalgia at its heart suggests. The costumes also help make each version of Anita feel distinct and believable. I especially loved seeing her in the school uniform with its oversized skirt, which felt so convincing and familiar, down to the kind of girl you might remember seeing around school.

Beautiful score, compelling castThe 11-song score, written and produced by Nica del Rosario and Matthew Chang, is easily the production’s most fully realized element. You can hear the artistry and chemistry between the two, which they have also demonstrated in their earlier work on “Gregoria Lakambini: A Pinay Pop Musical.”

Here, they bring that same knack for crafting distinct sounds and moods into “Muli,” with the songs shifting alongside Anita through different eras of her life. The track ‘Anita’ is infectious, while ‘Ina Niyong Lahat’ builds into a grand ensemble number that makes for a fitting Act 1 closer.

More importantly, the songs feel like they were written for a musical rather than tracks simply placed between scenes. They move the story and reveal character… where “Muli” feels most fully formed.

Kakki Teodoro is convincing as Anita, carrying much of the musical’s weight with remarkable stamina. She is almost constantly onstage, moving between Anita’s younger, more ‘tweetums’ self in the lookbacks, particularly in her scenes with Ian (Vien King), including their number ‘Sarili Nating Kwento,’ and the more mature mother she becomes, as seen in her scenes with Marvin Ong (Maki). She also takes on different versions of Anita across the what-if scenarios, giving each iteration of the character its own distinct take.

Meanwhile, Janine Teñoso is another standout. As Kath, she brings both vocal power and emotional conviction to the role, making it easy to forget that this is her theater debut. Her scenes with Teodoro ground the mother-daughter relationship. The two make the song ‘Baka Bukas’ especially believable and moving.

The supporting cast gets its own moments to shine, too, particularly Anita’s three best friends, played by Baus Rufo, Marynor Madamesila and Justine Peña, who also double as her backup performers in most of the musical numbers. Their friendship provides some of the show’s lighter and genuinely funny moments, especially in ‘Barkadolls’ and a portion of ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time.’ The trio share an easy chemistry, whether they’re teasing Anita, backing her up or simply being there for her.

A musical about what could be”Muli” finds a deeply relatable premise in one of our most human impulses: wondering what might have been. ‘What if?’ can surface in a quarter-life crisis, when we question our careers or relationships, or much later, when we look back at roads not taken.

Sometimes, it comes from comparing our lives with others and imagining whether we would be happier, more successful or simply different had we chosen otherwise. “Muli” taps into that familiar longing without suggesting that another version of our lives would necessarily be better. Sometimes, it is enough to wonder.

Funny, nostalgic and emotionally stirring, “Muli” takes audiences on a rollercoaster of emotions as it turns the universal question of ‘what if?’ into a distinctly Filipino musical experience.

At times, the ideas do not always come together as neatly. As we get to know Anita, we begin to wonder what prompts her regrets and looks back, and while the eventual reveal makes sense, its payoff feels less satisfying. Some emotional turns could also use more buildup and tigthening, but these are relatively small gaps in an otherwise affecting exploration of possibility.

This is where the status of “Muli” as an entirely new Filipino musical becomes most apparent: its music already feels formed, while its story is still finding its shape – with room to become even richer and more cohesive.

Perhaps the cabinets and boxes that fill its set offer a fitting metaphor for the musical itself: there is much worth opening up, even if some pieces could use more sorting. However, rummaging through them is all part of the fun: songs worth streaming again, a cast that gives the material plenty of life, and nostalgic references that are fun to spot. There is something for audiences to recognize in its mix of original music, Filipino nostalgia and the very human urge to wonder about the road not taken.

Like Anita, “Muli” may still be sorting through some of its pieces, but it has already found many worth keeping. There is enough heart, music and familiarity here to make the rummaging worthwhile and make this a musical worth opening yourself up to.

“Muli” runs until September 27 at the BGC Arts Center in Taguig.

Verbruggen edges Federiso to rule Sunrise Sprint

Yuen Verbruggen saved his biggest burst of speed for last, surging past Jerald Federiso in a frenetic closing run to capture the overall Sunrise Sprint crown in the Damosa Land 5150 Triathlon in Davao del Norte here Sunday.

Verbruggen stayed within striking distance of Federiso through the 750-meter open-water swim and 20-km bike leg before unleashing a powerful finishing kick over the 5-km run to clock 1:11:31.

He timed 14:06 in the swim, 34:24 on the bike and 20:15 in the run to complete the sprint-distance course.

Federiso had the early advantage, posting faster splits of 13:46 and 33:48 in the first two legs. But Verbruggen proved too quick in the run, where his 20:15 was more than a minute better than Federiso’s 21:18, allowing him to secure the overall victory by 40 seconds.

Federiso settled for second in 1:12:11, while John Carl Lim completed the podium in 1:12:49.

Verbruggen, Federiso and Lim also swept the top three spots in the 18-24 age category in the Sunrise Sprint, a fast-paced side event designed for newcomers, returning competitors and seasoned triathletes looking to sharpen their speed and race strategy.

In the women’s division, Alessandra Aquino dominated the field to claim the overall and 18-24 titles in 1:26:01. She posted splits of 14:42 in the swim, 42:18 on the bike and 25:17 in the run, finishing well ahead of Andrea Cui (1:29:38) and Keena Clarke (1:46:58).

James Van Ramoga and Natalie Doromal-Lim, meanwhile, captured the overall titles in the second Damosa Land 5150, while Edgie Arances and Anisha Caluya topped the Filipino Elite categories in the demanding Olympic-distance event featuring a 1.5-km swim, 40-km bike and 10-km run of the event organized by Sunrise Events, Inc., with the support of Damosa Land president Cary Lagdameo and Samal Mayor Lemuel Reyes.

Other Sunrise Sprint age-group winners were Yohann Hernandez (male 16-17, 1:29:03); Seanna Clarke (female 16-17, 1:45:20); Justine Pabuala (male 25-29, 1:19:14); Elaine Montante (female 25-29, 1:46:26); Rolen Tarife (male 30-34, 1:13:15); Regine Valentin (female 30-34, 1:34:08); Jefferson Tabacon (male 35-39, 1:18:40); Kristine Dasargo (female 35-39, 1:35:50); Randie Briones (male 40-44, 1:22:23); Monica Ugarte (female 40-44, 1:45:44); Eric Vasquez (male 45-49, 1:32:12); Tyr Cyd Alarin (male 50-54, 1:37:14); Fe Justeniani (female 50-54, 2:11:47); Porferio Banquirigo Jr. (male 55-59, 1:35:26); and Ed Camacho (male 60-64, 1:53:21).

Team Juna 2 ruled the men’s relay in 1:02:30, followed by Team FOV Tri Team (1:05:04) and Team Orangutri SR1 (1:08:56), while Team TDN Consteel Builders Tri captured the women’s relay in 1:23:53 and also topped the mixed relay in 1:10:27, beating Team Tri FM (1:15:27) and Team SCTR Plus 1 (1:27:31).

In the Damosa Land 5150 team competitions, Team Somats, led by Leo Bingcang and Gio Juaneza, topped the women’s division in a combined 13:11:35. Ferrumtri was second in 13:44:29, followed by Tri DavSur in 13:49:07.

Team TDN Consteel Builders won the men’s relay in 1:57:39, while Team NCC Tri Team 3 topped the mixed relay in 2:08:03.

Other Damosa Land 5150 age-group winners were Zita Clarke (female 16-17, 2:57:07); Moira Aves (female 18-24, 3:05:24); Lorelle Sorongon (female 25-29, 2:58:02); Aime Teodisio (female 35-39, 2:57:14); Joanna Cruz (female 40-44, 2:55:15); Rhen Marte (female 45-49, 3:07:58); Catherine Arias (female 50-54, 2:52:10); Maria Goc-ong (female 55-59, 2:58:36); Jo Cudmore (female 60-64, 4:01:14); Allan Sola (male 25-29, 2:27:55); Jupert Remollo (male 30-34, 2:30:12); Nelson Cañedo (male 35-39, 2:24:31); Johnson Ejase (male 40-44, 2:35:04); Arthur Abogado (male 45-49, 2:23:09); Ritchie Solana (male 50-54, 2:28:36); Andreas Goros (male 55-59, 2:41:55); Jens Jacobsen (male 60-64, 3:01:24); Rodrigo Lara (male 65-69, 3:26:01); and Nick Cudmore (male 70-74, 3:09:08).

Team Alfa captured the women’s team title in 2:35:01, edging Team FLIQ FerrumTri (2:36:02) and NCC Tri Team 2 (2:37:19).

NiMet warns of strong winds, thunderstorms across Nigeria

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast thunderstorms and rainfall across several parts of Nigeria from Monday to Wednesday.

NiMet disclosed this in its weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, warning that strong winds may precede thunderstorms in some areas.

For Monday morning, the agency forecast thunderstorms accompanied by light rain over parts of Taraba and Kebbi states.

It predicted scattered thunderstorms with moderate rain over parts of the North-East, Kaduna, Taraba and Kebbi later in the day.

‘For the North-Central region, thunderstorms accompanied by light rain are expected over parts of Niger State during the morning hours.

‘Later during the afternoon or evening hours, thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rain are expected over most parts of the region,’ it said.

NiMet forecast cloudy skies across the southern region on Monday morning, with isolated thunderstorms and light rain over parts of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

It predicted thunderstorms accompanied by light rain across the region later in the afternoon or evening.

For Tuesday, NiMet forecast patches of cloud over the northern region during the morning, with thunderstorms and light rain over parts of Taraba.

Later in the afternoon or evening, thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rain are expected over most parts of the northern region.

The agency said: ‘For the North-Central region, partly cloudy skies are expected during the morning hours.

‘Later in the day, thunderstorms with moderate rain are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Nasarawa and Plateau States.’

For the southern region, NiMet forecast mostly cloudy skies during Tuesday morning, followed by thunderstorms and light rain over parts of Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia and the South-South.

For Wednesday, the agency predicted partly cloudy skies across the northern region, with thunderstorms and moderate rain over several states during the morning.

The affected areas include Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Adamawa and Taraba states.

NiMet also forecast thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rain across most parts of the northern region later on Wednesday.

For the North-Central region, it predicted partly cloudy skies during the morning, with isolated thunderstorms and light rain over parts of the FCT, Plateau, Niger and Nasarawa.

The agency forecast thunderstorms accompanied by moderate rain over most parts of the region later in the day.

Across the southern region, NiMet predicted cloudy skies during Wednesday morning, with thunderstorms and moderate rain over most parts later in the day.

It warned that strong winds might precede thunderstorms in areas where rainfall is expected, urging residents to take necessary precautions.

‘The public should take adequate precaution and ensure that loose objects are fastened to avoid collision,’ NiMet said.

It advised motorists to avoid driving during heavy rainfall and urged residents to disconnect electrical appliances from sockets during thunderstorms.

‘Stay away from tall trees to avoid impact from falling branches and broken trees,’ the agency advised.

NiMet also advised airline operators to obtain airport-specific weather reports and flight documentation for effective operational planning.

‘Residents are advised to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet. Visit our website,’ the agency said.