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The Guyana government has sought to clarify a statement made recently by President Ali regarding the establishment of a national oil company.

In a statement, Georgetown said what President Ali meant when he made reference to estabishing a national oil company is one that not be a state-run firm producing or investing in oil, but rather an entity built around a domestic refinery to bring down fuel costs and protecting Guyana from global price shocks.

‘The clarification matters because Guyana, despite producing crude oil offshore, imports all of the refined gasoline and diesel used at the pump. This means every spike in global fuel prices is passed on directly to Guyanese consumers and businesses,’ the statement said.

It quoted President Ali as saying ‘we cannot have crude oil and don’t have security of supply’.

Ali further explains that a refinery would give the country control over its own fuel supply and ‘some shield against shocks that are currently existing.’

‘(The national oil company is) not as an investor but… one company that looks holistically at the entire ecosystem in terms of the supply,’ he said when asked directly about plans for a national oil company.

The statement said Ali made it clear that the plan would also require expanding the country’s fuel storage capacity, which he said currently falls short of ‘the development aspirations of our country.’

Storage options being considered range from 30 to 120 days’ worth of supply with Ali indicating that longer term the refinery and expanded storage could also position Guyana as a fuel supplier to the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region.

‘We must be an important supplier in the energy market,’ he said.

Guyana exported just over 260 million barrels of crude oil in 2025, generating an estimated US$17.8 billion in export earnings.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says while the avian influenza A(H5) continues to circulate in the Americas, the

As a result, PAHO is urging countries to maintain and strengthen surveillance in both animals and humans to promptly detect any changes in the behavior of the virus.

According to a new PAHO epidemiological update, between January and 15 July this year, 10 countries in the region reported 455 outbreaks of avian influenza A(H5) in animals, including 386 outbreaks in birds and 69 in mammalsIt said this represents a 25.7 per cent decrease compared with the 612 outbreaks reported during the same period in 2025. The decline was particularly pronounced among mammals, where outbreaks dropped from 196 to 69, a reduction of nearly 65 per cent.

The update also shows that, as of August 2026, no human cases of avian influenza A(H5) have been reported in the Americas this year. Between 2022 and the end of 2025, 75 human infections caused by A(H5) viruses were reported in five countries in the region: Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, and the United States. The most recent human case in the Americas was reported in November 2025.

Globally, between 2003 and 7 August 2026, a total of 1,002 laboratory-confirmed human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1), one of the A(H5) virus subtypes, were reported in 25 countries, including 479 deaths. In 2026 alone, nine human cases, including two deaths, were reported worldwide.

The virus continues to circulate in animals around the world. Between October 2025 and July 2026, a significant increase in detections among wild birds was observed, particularly in Europe.

Available scientific evidence indicates that sustained person-to-person transmission has not been demonstrated. Most human infections reported worldwide continue to be associated with direct or indirect exposure to infected animals or contaminated environments.

PAHO said nevertheless, the continued presence of the virus in wild birds, poultry, and mammals underscores the need for close surveillance.

While the joint assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) maintains that the global public health risk remains low, the risk is considered low to moderate for people with occupational or frequent exposure to potentially infected animals.

Key recommendations include strengthening surveillance among people at higher risk of exposure, such as poultry workers, veterinarians, laboratory personnel, and rural producers; enhancing biosecurity measures in animal production facilities; expanding genomic surveillance to promptly detect changes in the virus; and ensuring the rapid notification and investigation of new outbreaks or suspected cases.

In addition, PAHO recommends monitoring people exposed to infected animals for 14 days following their last exposure to identify symptoms consistent with the disease and enable early action if infections occur.

PAHO is also reminding the public that there is no evidence that avian influenza is transmitted through the consumption of properly cooked poultry, eggs, or other poultry products.

The Limacol Women’s Caribbean Premier League has officially confirmed its overseas player roster for the upcoming season, unveiling a glittering array of international talent from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, and Ireland who will join forces with the region’s finest cricketers.

Defending champions Barbados Tridents have moved decisively to strengthen their title defence with four quality overseas acquisitions.

New Zealand captain Suzie Bates, a veteran of the global game, will headline the Tridents’ foreign contingent alongside compatriot Madeline Green, a hard-hitting batter making her WCPL debut.

India’s Pooja Vastrakar, a fast-bowling all-rounder, and middle-order batter Kiran Navgire complete the Tridents’ international lineup, providing captain Hayley Matthews with a formidable blend of experience and explosive potential.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors, still chasing their maiden WCPL crown, have assembled a powerhouse overseas group led by South African pace sensation Shabnim Ismail.

The fiery quick, who has claimed 16 wickets across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, will spearhead the bowling attack alongside compatriot Nadine de Klerk.

Australian all-rounder Erin Burns, who notched two half-centuries for the Warriors in 2024, will anchor the batting unit with support from South African stars Chloe Tryon, a dynamic all-rounder, and top-order batter Tazmin Brits, the only member of the Warriors’ overseas contingent making her WCPL debut.

Newcomers Jamaica Empress have wasted no time in making their presence felt, securing the signature of Australian legend Meg Lanning.

The former Australia captain, boasting over 200 international white-ball appearances and more than 150 franchise T20S globally, is set for her maiden WCPL campaign.

The 34-year-old Lanning will be joined by Ireland wicketkeeper-opener Amy Hunter, South African left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba, and New Zealand seamer Rosemary Mair.

Pakistani spinner Syeda Aroob Shah, also a tournament debutant, rounds out the Empress’s international contingent.

Trinbago Knight Riders have complemented their strong regional core with world-class overseas talent. South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp, with more than 200 T20 franchise matches to her name, will make her WCPL debut alongside Australian duo Laura Harris and Madeline Penna.

Harris brings valuable WCPL experience, having represented Guyana Amazon Warriors in five matches in 2025 and Barbados Tridents in 10 games across the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Leg-spinner Penna is expected to lead the Knight Riders’ spin attack at Kensington Oval, while Indian wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia joins the squad for the 2026 campaign.

Several children, including a one year old child born in the United States were among the latest batch of Haitians deported from the United States on Thursday to the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

Haitian authorities confirmed that the child arrived here on the ICE Air Global X charter flight A6196, carrying 57 Haitians, including several other children born in the United States when the second flight in a week landed in Cap-Haitien.

Deportation flights to Haiti had been occurring on average once a month, but the Trump administration has ramped up its programme following the US Supreme Court’s decision authorising the government to end Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

More than 300,000 Haitians were enrolled in this humanitarian programme, which allowed them to live and work legally in the United States due to the situation in their country. Haitian immigrant rights organizations and other stakeholders argue that Haiti remains far too dangerous for mass returns, while the DHS maintains that the situation has improved sufficiently to allow Haitians to return.

Of Haiti’s nearly 12 million inhabitants, more than half are in need of humanitarian assistance due to escalating gang violence and worsening poverty. Furthermore, nearly 1.5 million people have been displaced by gangs, as many as during the 2010 earthquake, which prompted the Obama administration to grant the TPS.

Earlier this week, The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, known by its French acronym, BINUH, said at least 1,408 people were killed and 656 injured from April through June this year. It said this was about 14 per cent fewer casualties than during the first three months of the year, a modest decline masking starkly different realities across the country. By May, nearly 1.47 million people were internally displaced across Haiti, more than half of them children

Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski is urging President Donald Trump to reconsider his decision to deport the Haitians saying last Sunday’s massarce in Kenskoff, overlooking the capital Port au Prince, that left at least 47 dead, including 22 inside a church, underscores the security situation in the country.

‘This shows that the country is not safe, that Haiti is still a house on fire. This should cause our administration to rethink its decision to send back into Haiti over 300,000 Haitians’ he said, urging a rethink of the TPS revocation.

He said that Haitians are being returned to a country where crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and limited access to healthcare had become the norm.

‘Haiti is a tragedy, and what we’re doing is compounding it by trying to send these people back,’ he said, adding ‘even if you send a couple of planes a week, it’ll take several years before you are successful in deporting all those people.

‘And what happens in the meantime is that they’ve lost their work permits, and they’ve lost their driver’s licenses for the most part. So if they can’t work, they can’t pay their rent, they can’t buy food. Relatives in Haiti who depend upon remittances …will also be deprived of critical funds needed to educate children in the Caribbean nation,’ he added

Haiti Friday said that the massacre that occurred in Kenscoff, a mountainous commune south-east of Port-au-Prince last weekend, underscored the need for the international community to put in place measures to enforce an arms embargo on the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

In addition, Haiti said that the attack last Sunday also calls for the full and rapid deployment of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) a UN-backed multinational security mission to be deployed in Haiti to dismantle violent gangs and protect civilians.

GSF personnel from various contributing countries began operations on June 1 this year with the deployment of 5,500 expected by October 2026.

The assault claimed the lives of at least 47 persons, including three boys and two girls. It also left dozens abducted and many others injured, and caused further displacement and suffering. Homes were also set ablaze, and local population seeking refuge from the violence was attacked, including at a church, where gang members executed people and killed others as they attempted to escape.

As the international community condemned the massacre at an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council called requested by Panama, the United States and Colombia, Haiti’s ambassador Eric Pierre said his country condemns ‘in the strongest possible terms these acts of extreme barbarism’ that followed the deadly gang attack on August 23-24.

Haiti Friday said that the massacre that occurred in Kenscoff, a mountainous commune south-east of Port-au-Prince last weekend, underscored the need for the international community to put in place measures to enforce an arms embargo on the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

In addition, Haiti said that the attack last Sunday also calls for the full and rapid deployment of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) a UN-backed multinational security mission to be deployed in Haiti to dismantle violent gangs and protect civilians.

GSF personnel from various contributing countries began operations on June 1 this year with the deployment of 5,500 expected by October 2026.

The assault claimed the lives of at least 47 persons, including three boys and two girls. It also left dozens abducted and many others injured, and caused further displacement and suffering. Homes were also set ablaze, and local population seeking refuge from the violence was attacked, including at a church, where gang members executed people and killed others as they attempted to escape.

As the international community condemned the massacre at an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council called requested by Panama, the United States and Colombia, Haiti’s ambassador Eric Pierre said his country condemns ‘in the strongest possible terms these acts of extreme barbarism’ that followed the deadly gang attack on August 23-24.

‘We express our deep solidarity with the victims, their families and the communities affected by this violence and we remain mobilised to provide urgent responses commensurate with the security challenges,’ he said, adding that ‘these attacks constitute a new demonstration of the capacity for violence and terror of armed criminal gangs despite the considerable efforts made by the Haitian National Police and the armed forces of Haiti which remain fully mobilised on the ground with the support from the Gang Suppression Force.

‘The heinous criminal attack in Kenscoff underscores the urgent need for the international community to accelerate the deployment of the GSF to the planned strength of 5,500 personnel as soon as possible and above all to provide it with the full means necessary to carry out its missions alongside the national security forces.’

Pierre said that all security forces in Haiti have been placed on high alert in order to gradually regain control of the areas occupied by the gangs, adding that the ‘instructions are clear, protect, secure and restore the authority of the state’.

Pierre noted that in recent years, the UN Security Council has adopted a number of important decisions on Haiti in order to held the government in its efforts to restore security and the authority of the state.

He said that the government led by the Prime Minister, Alex Didier Fils-Aimé, is continuing with the same momentum, in particular through the implementation of the P4000 project, which aims to substantially increase the number of personnel and the operational capacities of the Haitian National Police as well as continuing to strengthen the armed forces.

‘Today, we need greater synergy at the international level to support the government in restoring security, which is an essential condition in order to organise the upcoming elections in the country.’

The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) recently announced that the first round of long-awaited presidential and legislative elections, alongside a constitutional referendum, for December 13, this year, marking the first time Haitians will be casting ballots since 2016 when President Jovenel Moise was elected. Moise was later assassinated on July 7,2021.

The preliminary results are expected to be published December 19, with final results for the first round scheduled for January 9, 2027. A second round of presidential and legislative elections, along with local elections, is scheduled for February 21, 2027 with final results for the second round of presidential and legislative elections scheduled for March 7, with final local election results expected March 12.

The electoral campaign for the first round is scheduled to begin October 5 and run through December 12. The campaign for the second round is scheduled for January 10 through February 20, 2027.

The CEP said that 17 out of the 18 political groups, representing 228 political parties have received approval to contest the polls.

Pierre told the UN Security Council that as the country gears up for the polls, the actions of the international community must be directed towards accelerating the deployment of the GSF.

‘…in this context, we thank Chad, Mongolia and Cote d’Ivoire, which have already signed agreements with Haiti, to join the GSF, and steps are underway in this direction with Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and Guatemala.

‘We call on the members of the international community to strengthen their contribution to upholding and implementing of the arms embargo imposed by the Security Council Sanctions Committee Resolution 2653 on Haiti in order to stem the flow of arms and ammunitions which fuel the violence of criminal gangs.’

Pierre told the UN Security Council that the urgency of the situation calls for a ‘rapid, coordinated and resolute response’ adding that ‘Haiti continues to count on the support of its partners in the international community to accompany it in its efforts to restore lasting security, to fully restore the authority of the state and to create the conditions necessary for the holding of elections’.

Earlier, the Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) Carlos Ruiz Massieu, said that last weekend’s massacre ‘is deeply shocking, but it is not an isolated tragedy.

‘It is the latest in a series of attacks affecting the commune of Kenscoff since early 2025. It demonstrates the continued capacity and determination of gangs to terrorise the population, expand their influence beyond the capital and pose a direct challenge to state authority and the rule of law’.

Massieu said Haitians continue to pay a devastating and intolerable human cost, with BINUH documenting 1,408 people killed and 656 injured between April and June 2026 alone.

‘The attack in Kenscoff has generated a new wave of public indignation across all sectors of Haiti’s society, as well as international partners, with renewed calls to protect populations, strengthen security institutions and restore public order. These reactions reflect a growing recognition that security is the foundation for progress in all other areas.’

The senior UN official in Haiti said that national security institutions cannot be left to confront this threat without adequate support and that the GSF ‘represents a critical component of the international response authorised by this Council.

‘Its swift and full deployment must now be accelerated. Sustained cooperation and coordination among national authorities and with the Gang Suppression Force will remain essential to address insecurity, protect communities and restore confidence among Haitian citizens.

‘For far too long, Haitians have lived in fear of being killed, kidnapped or subjected to sexual violence,’ he said noting that this latest attack occurs at a critical moment in Haiti’s political transition.

‘Without improved security conditions, efforts to strengthen governance, accelerate the political process and advance electoral preparations will remain severely constrained and vulnerable to setbacks.’

He said equally important is breaking the cycle of impunity and that the perpetrators of the attack on Kenscoff, as well as those who finance, arm and enable gang violence must be held accountable.

‘The effective activation and operationalization of the specialized judicial units mandated to investigate mass crimes, sexual violence, financial crimes -including the prompt opening of investigations into the attack on Kenscoff – will be paramount to strengthen the rule of law and restore public confidence in State institutions.’

In his address to the UN Security Council, the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Indrika Ratwatte, said more than half of Haiti’s population, an estimated 6.4 million people, need humanitarian assistance and that the ‘latest attack on Kenscoff is yet another grim reminder of the suffering Haitians face every day.

‘And violence is not the only threat. Haiti remains highly vulnerable to recurring climate shocks and other natural hazards. Hurricane Melissa brought death and destruction to Haiti last year, and now the country is facing another hurricane season. Recent seismic activity in the region is a stark reminder of Haiti’s vulnerability to earthquakes,’ he said.

He said that as Haitians confront the reality of the daily situation, deportations to Haiti continue at scale.

He said that in the first eight months of 2026, almost 200,000 people were forcibly returned, a 10 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.

‘Many arrive without resources, documentation or support networks, and some have especially urgent protection needs, including survivors of sexual violence, pregnant and lactating women, people with disabilities, and unaccompanied and separated children.

‘Our humanitarian partners have recorded over 5,500 incidents of gender-based violence, or about 30 cases per day, in the first six months of the year alone. Women and girls constitute the vast majority of survivors. Approximately 70 per cent of reported incidents of gender-based violence involved rape, and nearly three quarters of reported rape cases involved collective rape. Women and girls are being subjected to horrific sexual violence with utter impunity. This must stop,’Ratwatte said.

He asked the international community to consider three issues.

‘First, stop the violence. No child should fall asleep to gunfire. Hospitals, schools and aid workers must never be targets. Second, fund the response. Humanitarian organizations remain committed and ready to deliver life-saving assistance, but surging needs mean we need continued predictable and flexible funding…, and third, tackle the causes of this crisis.

‘Lasting progress requires broader efforts including in the realms of security, political stability, and sustained investment in essential services. The people of Haiti deserve more than mere survival. They deserve safety, opportunity, and hope for a better future,’ Ratwatte told the UN Security Council.

New York-based immigration advocates have welcomed a lawsuit against the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office for failing to comply with legislation preventing collusion with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

The Local Cops, Local Crimes Act legislation prohibits New York State and local law enforcement agencies and local governments from entering into or maintaining 287(g) agreements with ICE for federal civil immigration enforcement and requires any agreements in place to be terminated by August 25, 2026.

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James in their lawsuit claim that Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault has refused to terminate its 287(g) agreement.

James said all law enforcement agencies are expected to uphold New York’s laws and that the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office has been given every opportunity to follow the law, yet has chosen not to.

‘My office is suing to enforce New York’s laws and ensure that local law enforcement agencies remain focused on their most fundamental responsibility: keeping New Yorkers safe,’ she added.

Hochul said compliance with the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act is not optional. Rensselaer County’s failure to act in accordance with the law sends a clear message ‘these elected leaders are not serious about New Yorkers’ safety.

‘Today, we are taking action to ensure the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office performs the duties required of it under state law, because no one in New York State is above the law,’ she added.

President and chief executive officer of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), Murad Awawdeh, said he applauds the decision taken by James and Hochul ‘for taking every step necessary to ensure that New York’s law enforcement agencies remain accountable to the communities they serve and focused on keeping all New Yorkers safe, not carrying out ICE and the Trump administration’s deportation agenda.

He told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that every law enforcement agency in New York has a duty to serve and protect every resident, while upholding state and local law.

‘Instead of complying with the new state law, the Sheriff’s Office in Rensselaer County has chosen to defy state law, putting political posturing ahead of its responsibilities and obligations to its community.

‘This lawsuit makes clear that no one is above the law, not even an elected sheriff,’ Aawadeh said.

James said that Thursday’s lawsuit is the first legal action brought by the newly established Office of Immigrant Trust (OIT), which was created to enforce New York laws limiting state and local involvement in federal civil immigration enforcement. It is authorised to investigate potential violations and bring civil actions when warranted.

She said that, in June, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a federal lawsuit challenging the legislation and that on August 3, the US District Court for the Northern District of New York denied the federal government’s request to block New York’s ban on 287(g) agreements.

The Belize government is dismissing claims that Cuban doctors are being shown the exit door after prominent activist, conservationist, and politician, Wil Maheia earlier this week said that boxes containing the personal belongings of the doctors were being shipped back to Cuba

Health and Wellness Minister Kevin Bernard in rejecting the allegation, said it is ‘so unfortunate to see somebody taking something out of context’ and that the Cubans who are here ‘take vacation every year at different times of the year’Not everybody could go on vacation at the same time of the year and it is a norm that when they go back, they take items for their families. So, for Mr. Maheia, and I will call his name, because that was very irresponsible of him to go on social media to try and paint a picture as if it is fact, when that is far from true’.

The Health Minister said that the Cubans are working within the local health system, and ‘ as I have said yesterday in response to the two media houses who reached out to me, there are ongoing diplomatic talks as it relates to the Cuban brigade.

‘These people continue to be employed and continue to work across our health system here in Belize and we are hoping that at the end of the day, when these diplomatic talks are over, we can find an amicable solution as it relates to the Cuban brigade.

‘But I will continue to say that we appreciate the support the Cuban people have been giving to Belize. And there is no truth to us sending Cubans home one by one, as is insinuated in that post. That is will say about that,’ said Bernard.

The United States has been urging Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries to cancel their health medical programmes with Havana, claiming that these programmes are being conducted under forced labour.

Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, and Guyana have either ended or scaled back their official use of Cuban medical brigades even as some Caribbean leaders say they are willing to risk losing their United States visa rather than drop the health programmes.

Washington has said there is ‘alternative methods available for Caribbean nations to recruit foreign medical workers and ethically meet the healthcare needs of their people’.

Bernard said the Belize government is also strengthening the country’s own medical workforce with the goal being to ensure Belizeans continue receiving essential healthcare services, regardless of the outcome of those diplomatic talks.

‘I believe that, as I said, the discussions are ongoing and I believe that Cabinet will be briefed in terms of what possible solution we will have and I am hoping that by this September, both for the benefit of the Cuban brigade, they want assurances as well, and so we need to ensure that we can solve this matter amicably and for the benefit of Belizeans. There are people here in our health system providing a service,’ he added.

Bernard said talks are also underway to bring medical professionals from the Philippines to serve in Belize.