Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 01-07-2024

E-education will help bridge the divide

the Regional Hospital at Lima on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two. Five other

that

construction in Regions Three, Four, Five and Six are on track to

(Office of the President photo)

Packaging, processing of local shrimp now a focus

–– gov’t eying diaspora markets – President Ali

WITH Guyana surpassing its production target of brackish water (swamp) shrimp, the Government of Guyana has revealed plans to boost the processing and packaging of the local produce to tap into the lucrative diaspora markets.

According to President Dr. Irfaan Ali, the country is already exporting its local produce in bulk to the diaspora; however, he believes there is room to add value to the produce.

“We are now producing 708 per cent more swamp shrimp than we were producing a year-and-a-half ago, but we are still exporting it in bulk in the diaspora. We can add value by packaging and processing, and as we build

out the aquaculture [sector],” the head of state said during a recent engagement with agro-processors and other stakeholders.

The government, he noted, has already outlined a strategic plan to not only increase the country’s food production, but also create an agriculture sector that is rooted in sustainability to meet both local and regional food-security goals.

“The true colour of Guyana is in our ability to produce and export food of high quality all across the region and around the world. You will realise that the emergent strategy and strong investment in the agriculture sector is to create an enabling environment; the space and

the competitiveness that is necessary to position our country’s agriculture produce and product as a high-quality differentiated brand in the regional and international market,” the president explained.

He noted that already, the government is establishing regional and sub-regional food production hubs. These will see Guyana producing, processing and packaging commodities for its local and regional demands.

“We have a massive agri-investment plan that we are rolling out, and the plan is not only about planting and introducing new crops. It is critically integrated into the overarching economic framework,” President Ali said.

Currently, Guyana is leading the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) regional bloc in slashing its US$6 billion food-import expenditure by 25 per cent by 2025.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, in a recent interview with this newspaper, explained that the country was able to surpass its production target for brackish water shrimp in the roll out phase of the project.

According to Mustapha, the project which was first launched back in 2021 is now 70 per cent complete.

Initially, the ministry had set a production target of producing 10,000 kilogrammes of shrimp per month, but the farms that have been established are

now producing 135,000 kilogrammes.

“We have started the production of fresh- water prawns at Onverwagt, and we have increased the production of brackish water shrimp there. In Berbice, we have moved the amount from 10,000 kilogrammes monthly to 135,000 kilogrammes and we haven’t completed the entire project as yet. It is about 70 per cent.”

“At the end of project, we would be producing approximately 120,000 kilogrammes but now we are 70 per cent into the project and we have already surpassed that figure,” Mustapha added.

Mustapha is now optimistic that when the project is fully completed pro -

duction could increase to over 200,000 kilogrammes monthly.

In 2023, Guyana earned approximately $1.3 billion from the production of brackish water shrimp for the period between January to November of that year.

The ministry had recorded a total of 815,496 kilogrammes of shrimp being produced for the period between January to November. This showed a 49 per cent increase when compared to the 548,900 kilogrammes produced over the same period in 2022.

In 2023, Guyana saw the highest marine production in the past 5 years, with over 42,000 metric tonnes.

E-education will help bridge the divide

gov’t committed to bringing connectivity to rural communities, President Ali says

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has said that digitalisation and electronic education (e-education) will help to bridge the divide to provide more equitable access, and as such, the government will continue to bring connectivity to rural communities.

The head of state made these remarks during a recent visit to the Santa Aratack community, where he noted that the government will continue to invest in education.

He said that the government will invest in teachers and teachers’ education, as they want to ensure that teachers, wherever they are, are trained.

“All our teachers must have the opportunity to become trained teachers, and you know your salary will increase as soon as you become a trained teacher,” he told the gathering.

But more than that, he indicated that if those teachers are trained, the government wants to ensure that each trained teacher also becomes a trained graduate, and as such they must be able to do a degree, master’s degree and even a PhD.

It was then that he indicated that while residents had complained of connectivity issues, a request was immediately made for better connectivity. Later that day, the request which the residents made for Wi-Fi connection was followed through with, and residents received the service.

President Ali added, “We want our nurses, we want our technicians, we want our children to be in a continuous learning environment.”

However, as he spoke on the development of e-education across the country, he indicated that he had recently received a proposal and assured that it

will be done. He noted that this will help to streamline services and deploy crucial skills across the country.

“Digitisation, digital education, and e-education help to shorten the divide; it helps to bridge the divide so that we can have more equitable access,” he added.

He said: “Education also involves skillset; skillset among teachers’; skillset among children, and we have to utilise those skillsets for all the people of our country.”

Earlier this year, President Ali had highlighted that the government had agreed to work on a programme to make the country’s entire education infrastructure modules, learning curriculum and teaching aids with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and further move same to a fully electronic platform.

Guyana pledges support to sister nations

“We implore everyone in the path of this hurricane to take all necessary protective measures.

has pledged support to its sister Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations as the region prepares to grapple with an intensifying Category Four hurricane.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who is also the current CARICOM Chairman, on Sunday, in a statement on his official

Facebook page, disclosed that he has engaged several leaders, and assured them of Guyana’s support.

“Our prayers, love, and thoughts are with all of our Caribbean brothers and sisters, especially those in the direct path of Hurricane Beryl. Today, I spoke with many leaders to assure them of

Guyana’s support, and we are all praying for the best. I appeal to all citizens in the region to follow their national advisories,” the Guyanese president said.

Meanwhile, CARICOM’s 47th Regular Meeting Heads of Government, scheduled for Grenada from 3-5 July, has been postponed to a date to

be determined.

The regional secretariat, in a statement noted that the primary focus of the region is now on citizen safety and security. Several member states, including host nation Grenada, are now engaged in emergency preparations, and planning to address the aftermath of the hurricane.

“The community stands ready to support our member states which will be affected by this dangerous hurricane,” the secretariat said late Sunday afternoon.

Hurricane warnings are in effect for Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Tobago.

Reports up to press time indicated that the hurricane is expected to produce three

Hurricane Beryl is predicated to bring a risk of heavy rainfall, destructive hurricane-force winds, and dangerous storm surges and waves. Tobago has since been placed under a Red Level warning.

Meanwhile, several regional flights have been postponed, as many of the major airports are also closing their doors.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali addressing residents of Santa Aratack (Office of the President photo)

GUYANA

to six inches of rain across Barbados and the Windward Islands through Monday (today).

Final day of PNCR Congress marred by confusion, complaints from disgruntled members

–– registration woes, lengthy voting process among concerns –– party moves motion that provides for leader to be its automatic choice for presidential candidate

AS expected, the voting process at the People’s National Congress Reform’s (PNCR) 22nd Biennial Delegates Congress was nothing close to smooth.

Countless supporters left Congress Place visibly exhausted and complaining bitterly about the difficulties encountered with registration and the long-winded voting process.

Voting got underway around 10:00hrs on Sunday and ended around 20:30hrs, more than four hours after the scheduled close of poll. Tallying of the votes started shortly after; up to press time, no preliminary results were available.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the par-

When quizzed about Sunday’s proceedings and the concerns that were raised by his party colleagues, Norton declined to respond

ty’s Sophia headquarters, some members were heard complaining about the lengthy registration

process as well as the confusion to ensure that delegates received their necessary badges and identification.

As the day progressed and the voting proceeded, some members were heard complaining about the lengthy lines and the scorching atmosphere in which they had to cast their ballots.

Commenting on this, the returning officer Mr Vincent Alexander said : “The process was relatively slow and that had to do with the voters themselves, particularly voters from the central executive. They had to pick 15 from 60, that took time and that was the main thing that slowed the process.”

According to Ganesh Mahipaul, an executive

member of the party, key officials of the party were on site as the tallying process began.

that the process was in

The voting process was a tiring and frustrating one for PNCR delegates

Mahipaul in an invited comment, acknowledged

deed slow.

However, he expressed belief that party

S

Final day of PNCR Congress marred by ...

members displayed “full comradery [sic].”

“The process was a bit slow because there was only one voting station, meaning there was only one specific area where delegates could have gone to vote …but there were about five or six voting places which is when you collect the ballet paper, when you already present your ID [Identification card] and you already present your delegate badge …so we had anything about five to six persons voting at once,” Mahipaul explained.

“It was very clear, very transparent, very accountable, very democratic, smooth flow. Comrades showed their resilient[sic], they showed their patience and they withstood the heart [sic], they withstood the temperature, they withstood everything and it was full comradery [sic] in display,” he told this publication.

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

It was later disclosed that the party had moved a motion to allow whomever emerges as the party’s leader to be the presidential candidate for the upcoming Regional and General Elections.

This Mahipaul said is not an isolated decision.

“The motion said whomever is elected leader of the People’s National Congress Reform, that person is given the mandate from congress to be the presidential candidate …there was a further be-it-resolved clause that said that … in that person’s mandate [if] there is need for negotiation, compromise, consensus, whatever else, the mandate is given to that person who is elected leader to make the best of choice.[s]”

ELECTORAL CONCERNS

Prior to the party’s election, its leader Aubrey Norton had found himself battling a mountain of allegations regarding numerous infractions.

Just mere days before the opening of the congress last Friday, General Secretary Dawn Hastings-Williams tendered her resignation from her post, while both of Norton’s competitors, Amanza Walton-Desir and Roysdale Forde flagged several concerns which ultimately led them to withdraw from the race for the party’s leadership.

Both Walton-Desir and

Forde “suspended” their campaigns on Thursday due to what they claimed were alleged irregularities and lack of transparency surrounding the congress.

In a letter, Forde said that despite several written communications addressed to the Central Executive Committee and the General Secretary regarding concerns about the integrity of the electoral processes for the party’s elections, he did not receive any response.

He went on to say: “There have been noticeable irregularities concerning the list of delegates, which raise serious concerns about the transparency of the election process.

“Unreasonable timelines have been imposed to meet certain requirements for holding the congress, which have placed undue pressure and constraints on the democratic process,” he added.

Walton- Desir in her statement said: “As of the morning of June 27, 2024, one day before the commencement of our congress, a preliminary list of delegates has not been made available to me as a candidate to allow for claims or objections and further, there is a lack of agreement among all can-

didates contesting on the procedures for conducting the elections.”

Earlier in the day, the Guyana Chronicle approached Norton who had exited the party’s headquarters to greet bystanders.

He was quizzed on the ongoing electoral process and the concerns raised by his colleagues. However, he declined to

respond and maintained that an official statement will be published after the party’s congress had concluded. Nothing had been issued up to press time.

Mahipaul subsequently responded to the concerns raised by his comrades.

According to him, his colleagues fail to communicate through the proper channels. Despite this,

their concerns were addressed and rectified, he said

“The concerns that they raised were concerns that had to do with addressing it at the group. They did not provide information at the group level but we at central dispatched their concerns ….and it was rectified,” Mahipaul said.

Voting in progress at Congress Place on Sunday

IN an era where the lines between truth and misinformation are blurry, Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent call for integrity and honesty within Guyana’s media landscape is both timely and essential.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government’s stance on tackling the escalation of fake news, while still affirming its belief in press freedom, exemplifies a delicate balance that many democracies struggle to maintain.

Dr Jagdeo’s concerns, highlighted during a press conference at the party’s headquarters, address a significant issue: the distortion of facts by media outlets. His disappointment with the selective coverage of President, Dr Irfaan Ali’s press conference underscores a broader problem within the media— the tendency to prioritise sensationalism or political agendas over objective journalism.

The Vice President’s remarks are a poignant reminder of the media’s responsibility to report truthfully and comprehensively. When he stated, “You can’t come with an agenda. You have to come to the press conferences with the idea that you want to portray the truth to your readers,” it was a direct appeal to journalists to uphold the ethical standards of their profession. This is not merely a plea for fairness, but also a call to preserve the very integrity of journalism.

Guyana, like many other countries, is navigating the complex terrain of free speech and the proliferation of fake news. While countries such as Jamaica have drawn firm lines to distinguish between the two, the PPP/C government’s approach reflects a nuanced understanding that press freedom and journalistic integrity are not mutually exclusive.

President Ali’s rejection of “selfish propaganda” and his vision of “One Guyana”

further encapsulate this approach. By focusing on unity and integration, the government seeks to counteract divisive narratives with policies aimed at sustainable development and improving the lives of all Guyanese. The commitment to press freedom, coupled with an insistence on truthful reporting, forms the backbone of this vision.

However, the responsibility does not lie with the government alone. Media houses and journalists must rise to the occasion, ensuring that their reporting is not just accurate but also holistic. Coverage should reflect the breadth of issues discussed and not be selectively edited to fit a predetermined narrative. In this way, the media can contribute positively to the national discourse, fostering an informed and engaged citizenry.

The government’s ambitious agenda for 2030 and beyond, with significant invest-

ments in agriculture, health, and education, further emphasises the need for responsible journalism. As Guyana strives for economic and social progress, the media’s role in accurately conveying these efforts becomes increasingly critical. Reporting should not only highlight achievements, but should also critically assess challenges, providing a balanced view that helps the public make informed decisions.

Dr Jagdeo’s call for integrity and honesty in journalism is a clarion call for the media to uphold its ethical standards. It is an appeal to prioritise truth over sensationalism, to report comprehensively rather than selectively, and to contribute constructively to the national conversation.

As Guyana moves forward, the partnership between a free press and a responsible media will be essential in realising the vision of a united and prosperous nation.

The controversies of cricket in the Caribbean Balancing integrity with freedom

Dear Editor,

POLITICS and cricket, the ultimate but unavoidable combination, is not a unique or unorthodox mix with drinks, but an unending conversation when Guyanese congregate to imbibe intoxicants, critique the critics and entertain the entertainers.

The men’s ICC T20 World Cup has just concluded in Barbados, but the fever will follow the West Indies team as they tour England. Then, the cavalier-type cricketers return to the West Indies to smash bat and ball for the 2024 CPL games as the Guyana Amazon Warriors will defend the title.

As the cricket final was playing out in the field, politics was having a field day with the AFC and PNC delivering yorkers and smashing aces as they defended the avoidance of paralysing the game with bravado over boredom and with the convenience of cancelling candidacy, comes into play. A walkover seems inevitable and bad weather is not to be blamed as the ground umpires do not have to resort to the third umpire to juggle, finagle or fumble for a result.

It was hallelujah and bacchanal time for those castigated, chastised and criticised as “mentally lazy,” proved that their mettle was made of steel, and, their mental stamina was not latent but live, last Saturday at the Kensington Oval. Trinidad’s Carnival overspilled in Barbados to leave a lamentable and laughable hangover from patriots and patrons partying the whole night. It was a nail-biting finish, suspense perhaps suspending the adrenalin and spectators crossing fingers as

they hang on to the edge of their seats or stood up, too nervous to be still and eyes glued to bowler and batter!

Perhaps, what will go down as ‘the catch of the year,’ may prove to provide the pivotal penultimate point, when SKY (Suryakumar Yadav), caught the ball by the rope, bowled by Hardik Panday who was defending 16 runs in the last over. SKY threw it to the sky, jumped out of the boundary and back in to catch the ball again to dismiss the dangerous David Miller from South Africa. Guyanese see everything through the lens of politics while using the race eyes, and, the nostrils to smell the scent of discrimination.

Did the sports world desire, depend and deserve the Indian and South African teams to end up in the finals so that, the insatiable crave of the bookies will influence the placement for high stakes in betting, winning or losing?

It was déjà vu for Rohit Sharma and his side as they reminisced on Kapil Dev’s catch and the Indian players when, the underdog India, defeated two-time champion, Clive Lloyd’s West Indies team, to win the coveted 1983 World Cup Series played at Lord’s. Having won two ODI World Cups, two T20 World Cups, and two ICC Champion Trophy titles, India has established herself as an alltime world leading contender and challenger in the game of cricket and can classify herself as ‘the’ and not ‘a’ cricket icon.

Founded by the Cricket Board of India in 2007, the IPL (Indian Premier League) has outgrown all other cricket leagues in the world to be the most sought-after franchise

series to be played by cricketers throughout the world. It is the most lucrative, lavish and luxurious series organised to attract all the best players internationally, to join their 10 teams to display their skills in the game of the Twenty20 format, while receiving handsome payments. This has not failed to attract the green eyes of enviousness and, has even caused the interruption of some players failing to represent their respective country or team because of IPL commitments which holds a special priority.

India is very resourceful, having been blessed with a population of over a billion to choose her cricketers, her cup is never saturated with talent. Her difficulty lies in choices. Unlike the West Indies, choices are free and fair and not tainted with favouritism or overlooking the obvious choice.

West Indian selection is garlanded with glorious uncertainties and decorated with questionable decisions. There is always the aftermath of pointing fingers, resorting to the blame game and punching holes. At the end of the day, it’s the game that suffers: some players’ talents are suppressed due to frustration from being ignored and the pride of the fans is dented.

Though India is historically grounded in the principle of truth and non-violence through Gandhi’s teachings and her rich ancestry of philosophy and religion, sports and entertainment have catapulted the nation from a less sedentary stage to migrate to more rigorous activity. Bollywood is now synonymous with Hollywood. Transforming from colonialism to commercialism, a democracy

fuelled by capitalism, the servants defeated their masters at their own game on their home turf in England in 1971. India never looked back with their caps now feathered and blazed a trail featuring from Gavaskar to Tendulkar, Bedi to Bumrah, Kapil Dev to Dhoni, Ganguly to Gambir, Srikhant to Sehwag, Kumble to Kohli and the melody is unstoppable and gets sweeter. Calypso, soca and chutney, all revere Gavaskar, “the Little Master.”

How were the venues “fixed” for the ICC T20 2024? Barbados is also referred to as “Little England,” but has a 300,000 population with less than 8,000 of Indian origin. Was there a compromising anticipation for a certain expected outcome? England was the defending champion, having defeated Pakistan in 2022. Although Guyana has less than a million people, Trinidad and Jamaica have over a million each, with Trinidad having a high proportion of Indian descendants. Cricket in the Caribbean is controversially political.

CARICOM Day is being celebrated the first Monday in July in the Caribbean. Perhaps, sports closely followed by politics and economics, provide the necessary hat-trick for cricket to survive in the West Indies.

Former CARICOM Chairperson, Mia Mottley, recently noted that, “there must be space for all, regardless of who wins and who loses.” How ideal for politics and cricket!

Yours respectfully, Jai Lall

Undemocratic tendencies, ethnic and religious prejudice are increasingly being frowned upon by voters

AS people are becoming more globalised and connected, we find that certain views of government are also becoming global. In certain strains of social intersectional studies, global viewpoints are thought of as a factor shaping social disposition that impacts national choices. Choice of electoral candidates and political parties are also subject to this social phenomenon. Election after election held across the world over the last five years, show that voters are increasingly signalling that they wish to coexist in a plural and democratic space.

We need not look any further than US elections since 2020. The Republican party in the era of Trump has increasingly embraced policies that are undemocratic and loaded with bigoted religious and ethnic views. Most of the Trumpian MAGA candidates have lost ‘bigly’ at all levels of government. When all political pundits were predicting a red wave; a Republican takeover, or, the flipping of many seats held by the Democrats in the House and Senate, the red wave never came. Instead, the Republicans lost seats in both chambers. The majority of American voters are signalling to their politicians that they prefer to live in a country that respects the tenets of constitutional democracy and in peaceful ethnic and religious synchronicity.

We can then skip over to India where a general election was just concluded. The rockstarish towering political personality Narendra Modi, lost his majority in the Lok Sabha, India’s parliament, which needs 272

seats for its majority. Modi’s BJP is down from 303 seats to 240. This represents a loss of 63 seats requiring Modi to form a coalition in order to govern. Over his last term, Modi went in increasingly undemocratic directions including press censorship, jailing of political opponents and open anti-Muslim lingo. In fact, Modi and other Hindu hardliners in the BJP leadership are often referred to as the Bulldozer Baba, attributable for his policies that led to the bulldozing of entire Muslim settlements and places of worship and replace them with Hindu establishments. Previously, Modi was shy in admitting that his Indian Nationalist outlook and political rhetoric led to discrimination against Muslims. However, during the 2024 election campaign, Modi seemed to have lifted all stops and openly made several speeches and ran political ads that openly referred to Muslims as “infiltrators.”

Modi is credited for lifting millions of Indian citizens out of poverty and is often praised for his sound economic policies and strategic international partnerships along with growing geopolitical respect for India. Despite these massive achievements credited to Modi, he has lost popularity and electoral returns at the ballot box. Modi’s biggest loss took place in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra which are fundamentalist Hindu dominant states. Why? The very voters the discriminatory policies were intended to ‘protect and promote’ are loud in the chants, not in our name. They prefer ethnic and religious

justice alongside democratic values.

I believe Guyana is no different. The party that demonstrates the greatest proclivity to equality, justice and democracy will make the greatest gains at the 2025 polls.

At this juncture, I believe the Dr. Irfaan Ali-led PPP/C is best positioned, given its message and outlook, to reach across Guyana’s ethnic divide and claim greater returns at the ballot box. Further, the post-2020 electoral demeanor of the main opposition and the display of undemocratic instincts at their internal party elections, have created the political aberration and threshing floor for loss of electoral support. I have often lamented

the one-horse pony the opposition rides, with shouts of racism, ethnic boycott and nothing else. Citizens are increasingly wearisome to voters who are seeking conciliation and creative solutions for peaceful coexistence.

The political opposition of Guyana continue to frame their activism around African discrimination to maintain their Afro-dominated support base via fearmongering.

Like the voters of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, African voters in Guyana will reject any policy or political rhetoric built on prejudice even if it is intended to “defend” them. 2025 beckons, the message in Guyana is clear, not in our name!

Guyana, Barbados should form a mini-union

IF you ask the average citizen of CARICOM how it started and who started it, 99 per cent would say, the Big 4, meaning the four CARICOM nations in terms of square miles, population and economic resources – Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados. This is misleading. CARICOM was the outcome of CARIFTA – Caribbean Free Trade Area. But CARIFTA was not the product of the Big 4; rather, it was the brainchild of two of the four, – Guyana and Barbados, and later Antigua. After the acrimonious break-up of the West Indian Federation, there were persistent efforts for Caribbean integration by the Prime Minister of Trinidad, Eric Williams, but it began and ended there.

Across the Caribbean, the integration idea found a home in Guyana. The Premier of British Guiana, Forbes Burnham in 1964 spouted the idea of a Caribbean free trade area. Williams suggested an annual meeting of West Indian heads slated for Barbados, but Burnham asked for it to be held in British Guiana. It was held here, but, strange enough, Wiliams boycotted the confabulation.

Here are the words of Burnham at the 1965 meeting that surprised many of the attendees: “In the spirit of this conference, within the last week, the Government of Guyana and Barbados have agreed to set up a Free Trade Area, and to work towards the eventual establishment of an economic community and a customs union.”

Maybe as a reaction to Williams’ attitude, Barbados and Guyana decided to establish the free trade movement between the two countries, with Antigua agreeing to join from the start. There are some that attribute the ease with which Burnham and Errol Barrow, the Bajan PM, agreed to the formation of CARIFTA was because of their close friendship during their student days in London.

Another theory was that there was always a closeness between Barbados and Guyana, and the Barrow-Burnham formation of CARIFTA was a natural outcome of this closeness. Guyanese historians generally allude to the closeness Guyana has always shared with Barbados.

In fact, there has been only one Barbados Prime Minister who was, subtly, anti-Guyana. Although Prime Minister

Tom Adams was wary of the influx of Guyanese into Barbados, he never pursued a policy of stopping Guyana’s immigrants into Barbados. That policy was implemented by Prime Minister David Thompson. The most welcoming hand of invitation to Guyanese by a Bajan PM was under Owen Arthur.

There seems to be an enduring closeness that is taking shape between the two countries again. It appears that Dr. Ali in Guyana and Mia Mottley in Barbados are set to replicate the Burnham/Barrow friendship. If there is a CARICOM Prime Minister that the Guyanese President gels with in ways more assuring than any other CARICOM leader, it is the current PM in Barbados, Mia Mottley.

Guyana would be the senior partner, of course, in the relation, in terms of size, trade and economy. I once wrote that President Ali should resuscitate the Manning Initiative. PM Patrick Manning of Trinidad, as a reaction to the slow pace of CARICOM integration, suggested a mini-integration process among Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad.

Manning would have known that the first PM of Trinidad, Eric Williams, was always a dedicated proponent of integration. But, of course, there is the contradiction of the seat of the Caribbean Court of Justice being in Port-of-Spain, but Trinidad’s political leaders, cutting across ethnic, political and party lines, do not want to have the court as their final ap-

pellate court. This is one of the strangest occurrences in the history of the British West Indies.

The resuscitation of the Manning Initiative does not look like it will get a willing welcome from the current PM of Trinidad, Dr. Keith Rowley, so President Ali needs to fashion a mini-union between Guyana and Barbados. I would suggest as a start, the abolition of visa requirement for Bajans. At the moment is it automatic in CARICOM, with an initial three-month duration, after which you have to apply for an extension.

I am suggesting the doing away with visa requirement for Bajans. Secondly, I would recommend a single currency between Barbados and Guyana.

Thirdly, I propose the frequent exchange of police, magistrates, judges and senior public servants between the two countries to do a six-week stint in each other’s countries.

Fourthly, Guyana should have a permanent Bajan representative on its national soccer and cricket teams and the same for Barbados.

The Manning Initiative must be resuscitated.

CARICOM, as an integration movement, has been moving at a slow pace that is simply horrible and disastrous.

As he shapes his legacy, I would advise President Ali to introduce into CARICOM a unique bond between Guyana and Barbados.

Nature’s benefits to mental health

RECENTLY, in the mental health segment of the US NBC News show, experts talked about the way nature and natural surroundings could be beneficial for a person’s mental health.

And in a subsequent programme psychologists spoke of taking consultations outdoors to parks and other scenic areas, where patients could feel more relaxed.

The general consensus was that the presence of flowers, trees and natural vegetation had a calming and even healing effect on individuals with mental health issues.

The US Mental Health Foundation says, “Research shows that nature is crucial for our mental and physical health. Our relationship with nature significantly contributes to good mental health and well-being”.

And nature is defined as ‘green’ and ‘blue’ spaces like parks and forests, rivers and beaches. However, it can include trees in urban areas or houseplants in your home. It has even been found that watching documentaries on nature can benefit our mental health.

Nature is all around us. But many of us go about our daily lives without paying heed to the natural beauty in our environment.

In this country, where ‘greenery ‘ - in the form of

trees and even small forested areas between housing plots - are commonplace, we have an advantage not afforded to those living in countries where green space comes at a premium.

Within our city limits there are grass and tree-lined streets, fruit trees in yards, flower and kitchen gardens, playgrounds and, on a larger scale, the Botanical and Promenade Gardens - the former housing the zoo.

Bird and animal life are rife in towns and in the countryside and I, for one, am woken up every morning in my daughter’s city home, by the sound of birds whistling in trees near our bedroom window.

Here I am reminded of the words of the Bob Marley song, ‘ Three little birds’. The singer tells of waking up one morning, smiling with the rising sun and hearing three birds outside ‘saying’, “Don’t worry about a thing”. He was really telling of his connection with nature and the way it made him feel, freeing him from worry. This feeling of well-being is borne out by research which has shown that connecting with nature helps to lower levels of mental stress, such as depression and anxiety

According to the Mental Health Foundation, “...people with a strong connection with nature are typically happier

in life, as nature can generate many happy emotions including calmness, joy and creativity.”

Farmers and gardeners alike can testify to the joy they feel when their plants grow and flourish. Many actually talk to their plants, claiming to see improvement. It is not that the plants understand language, but rather that they respond to the positive vibrations in the words.

Says, Dominique Hes, a leading horticulturist, “Plants probably don’t hear like we do...But some research shows that speaking nicely to plants will support their growth... however, this may have more to do with vibration and volume”.

So, it seems that connecting with nature may not only benefit us but our plants as well. Stopping to admire or breathe the scent of flowers, stroking the bark of a tree or just being aware of our natural environment, can contribute to our mental well-being.

And, Tim Pickles, an Australian horticulturist, asserts, “Whether you believe that plants benefit from conversation, we cannot deny there’s something in it for us. The therapeutic effects of plants and gardening have been widely documentedbenefits including boosting our mood, sharpening our focus and lowering out stress

levels”.

The Greek pholosopher, Aristotle said, “In all things of nature there is something marvelous“.

And monk and sage, Buddha, put it this way, “If you wish to know the divine, feel the wind on your face and the warm sun on your hand”.

AccelerateHer 2024 kicks off with weekend boot camp

IN a significant move to bolster female entrepreneurship, the Centre for Local Business Development has launched the AccelerateHer 2024 programme, a pioneering initiative aimed at empowering Guyanese women in business.

The programme kicked off with an intensive weekend boot camp on Friday,

marking the beginning of a transformative journey for a new cohort of women entrepreneurs. The AccelerateHer programme offers a comprehensive suite of business acceleration workshops and professional mentoring opportunities, specifically tailored for women who own, operate, or manage businesses in Guyana.

The initiative is designed to enhance the leadership and business skills of these women, enabling them to grow their companies across various industries and sectors.

At the heart of AccelerateHer is a commitment to fostering a strong, supportive peer-learning environment. The programme leverages successful mentorship

and peer-learning models, matching participants with professional mentors based on their specific business backgrounds and goals. This personalised approach ensures that each participant receives the guidance and support needed to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship and achieve a more sustainable growth.

A key partner in the Ac-

celerateHer programme is the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana (WCCIG). This non-profit organisation plays a pivotal role, providing lead mentors, guest facilitators, and expert speakers who bring a wealth of experience and insight to the programme. WCCIG is dedicated to creating a collective voice for women and helping them achieve economic independence through business ownership and self-employment.

Over 80 applications were received this year, with 25 talented and motivated women entrepreneurs making the final cut.

The weekend boot camp served as an intensive induction, offering participants a chance to engage in peer and mentor interactions, practise their business pitches, and develop their business model canvases.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, was among the distinguished speakers at the launch event. She expressed her enthusiasm for the programme and the opportunities it presents for women in Guyana.

“Make use of those opportunities and see them grow, mushroom into things beyond their imagination and expectation and become way more than a number or statistic in Guyana,” Dr. Persaud urged the participants.

Dr. Persaud also highlighted the significant progress made by Guyanese women in recent years, noting that Guyana’s gender index had risen by 18 places since 2022. She attributed this success to progressive government policies and the increasing availability of

opportunities for women. “I am hoping that at the end of this year, we can have it so that we can see the strides women are consistently making in every sphere of our country,” she added.

Former AccelerateHer participant and current mentor, Filisha Duke, CEO of Sure Gig Inc., shared her inspiring journey with the programme. She encouraged the new cohort to focus on their goals and bring their best efforts to the table.

“Focus on your goal, what is it that you want for your company, where you see yourself in the next two years, year, next five years and bring your ‘A’ game because we will be paying attention,” Duke advised. Additional presentations were given by Rowena Elliot, President of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana, and Dr. Natasha Gaskin Peters, Director of the Centre for Local Business Development. Both leaders underscored the importance of the programme and its potential to drive significant advancements for women entrepreneurs in Guyana.

As the AccelerateHer 2024 programme gets underway, the Centre for Local Business Development remains committed to supporting and empowering women entrepreneurs. By providing tailored workshops, oneon-one mentoring, and fostering a collaborative learning environment, AccelerateHer is poised to make a lasting impact on the business landscape in Guyana, helping women entrepreneurs turn their dreams into reality and drive economic growth across the nation.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, at the opening ceremony for the 2024 AccelerateHer programme (DPI photo)

Interfaith service kicks off 102nd Co-operatives Week

AN interfaith service was held on Sunday morning to kick start Guyana’s 102nd International Co-operatives Week this year

The event took place at the Ministry of Labour

“As we embrace co-operative week in Guyana my call to you is let us come together, let us work for the betterment of Guyana, you as cooperatives as a main and important tool in that process. Can

Representative of the Guyana National Co-operative Union Ltd., Gillian Burton-Persaud delivering remarks

Tarmac under the theme, “Building A Better Future for All.” It included prayers from three religious groups: Hindu, Muslim, and Christian.

In brief remarks, representative of the Guyana National Co-operative Union Ltd, Gillian Burton-Persaud encouraged citizens to unite for the development of Guyana.

we do it, yes, we can,” she emphasised.

Given the country’s diverse population, Burton-Persaud encouraged members of the societies to create new and innovative ideas as part of efforts to contribute to Guyana’s economic development.

Chief Co-operatives

See page 12

Interfaith service kicks ...

Development Officer, Janaknauth Panchu, has acknowledged the need to enhance supervision of cooperative societies across the country.

He noted that the department faces challenges due to a shortage of adequately trained staff to effectively monitor these societies.

Recognising this issue, Panchu said the de-

partment has requested that vacant positions be filled, and these vacancies have been recently published by the Public Service Commission with the hope of prompt recruitment.

In addition, under the guidance of the Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, and the Chief Labour Officer, the department has sought support from

the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The ILO positively responded and will be providing training for department staff from July 2nd to 4th.

Additionally, the department is working closely with the Attorney General’s Chambers to help members of housing co-operatives on the East Coast of Demerara obtain their land titles or trans-

port documents for their houselots.

This aligns with the government’s policy to ensure that all members of housing societies secure legal ownership of their properties.

The importance of co-operatives was recognised early on, leading to the official naming of the country as the Co-operative Republic of Guy-

ana in 1970.

During that time, numerous cooperative societies were formed to pool resources in various sectors such as farming, agro-processing, consumer goods, marketing, and transportation. Several institutions were also established in the late 1970s and 1980s to support these cooperative efforts. (DPI)

Chief Co-operatives Development Officer, Janaknauth Panchu

Mashabo women complete two-day cookery training

FIFTEEN women from the Amerindian community of Mashabo in Region Two, recently completed a cookery training programme which was organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce through the Guyana Tourism Authority, in collaboration with the Basic Needs Trust Fund. Guyana.

The skills gained from the training will complement a restaurant that is currently under construction in the village, allowing the women to offer their culinary expertise and provide visitors with a unique dining experience.

The two-day training was led by the Carnegie School of Home Economics, with the primary goal of empowering the women.

Participants learned essential components of food safety and how to integrate indigenous ingredients into traditional Guyanese dishes.

The dishes prepared included farine fried rice, farine potato balls, and farine callaloo cook-up.

Among the other meals prepared during the training were vegetable salad, corn on the cob, metemgee, macaroni pie, breaded fried fish, baked

chicken in pineapple sauce, and soya balls.

The women expressed their satisfaction with the training, noting how much they were able to learn.

Vendita Wilson, one of the participants, mentioned that the skills she gained would make her more marketable.

“I love independence, and once the restaurant is completed, we can get jobs and provide for our families,” Wilson said.

Another participant, Viola (only name given), shared that she learned many new things and that her cooking skills will

see significant improvement.

“When I heard about the training, I made sure to be part of it, and I’m glad I was. It was a great experience, and now I know how to cook better,” Viola said.

Afeerah Shabeer, the Toshao of the village, expressed her happiness that the women were able to benefit from such an exercise.

She highlighted the ongoing infrastructural development in the community and noted that enhancing the women’s skills would lead to more employment opportunities as tourism spots are established and more tourists visit the area.

Previously, the women of Mainstay had benefited from training provided by the ministry in areas such as bakery, digital marketing, and delivering quality service.

The Mashabo women who recently completed a two-day cookery training programme

The women were guided in the preparation of a number of dishes which included vegetable salad, corn on the cob, metemgee, macaroni pie, breaded fried fish, baked chicken in pineapple sauce, and soya balls (Indrawattie Natram photos)

JCI demonstrates commitment to fostering unity, civic responsibility, community development

–– PM says as organisation celebrates 60 years of service to Guyana

PRIME Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, on Saturday, lauded Junior Chamber International (JCI) Guyana for 60 years of dedicated service to Guyana.

During his remarks at the organisation’s 60th anniversary Diamond Soiree and opening of the 64th national convention of the JCI West Indies, at the Umana Yana, PM Phillips highlighted the chamber’s commitment to fostering unity, civic responsibility and community development in Guyana and the wider world.

In his address, Prime Minister Phillips praised JCI Guyana’s enduring commitment to community service: “Over the past six decades,

Scenes from the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Guyana’s 60th anniversary Diamond Soiree and opening of the 64th national convention of the JCI West

this organisation has demonstrated its mission to serve humanity and foster community development, weathering challenges and emerging stronger each time. This celebration reflects the countless achievements, from impactful community projects to leadership programmes, that have left a lasting positive mark on communities and

individuals across Guyana.”

Prime Minister Phillips underscored JCI-Guyana’s impact on local communities, stating, “Through your community development initiatives, you have created sustainable solutions for local problems, and the results have brought forth improved healthcare, better educational opportunities, and enhanced environmental sustainabil -

ciety and pledge to support them through collaborative projects and resources.”

The Prime Minister also called on the private sector to increase its support for JCI-Guyana, emphasising that: “The collective effort of businesses, Government, and civic organisations can significantly amplify the reach and effectiveness of

community service activities.”

As Guyana undergoes rapid development, Prime Minister Phillips emphasised the importance of collaboration: “Guyana is changing at a terrific rate and there are so many areas for collaboration....There are so many projects that the JCI can make a positive

impact on working with Government and the private sector.”

The event also saw Mrs Mignon Bowen Phillips, wife of Prime Minister Phillips, who has served as a member of the JCI, inducted as a JCI-Guyana Senator as part of the Chamber’s 60th anniversary celebration. (OPM)

ity in many communities throughout the length and breadth of Guyana.”

Looking to the future, he pledged government’s support, noting “Our government is fully committed to fostering partnership opportunities with JCI-Guyana in its community service activities. We recognise the profound impact that these initiatives have on our so-

Indies, which was held at the Umana Yana (OPM photos)

GNBS contributing to development of regional standards

GUYANA is set to join the other member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in celebrating CARICOM Day today.

This national holiday marks a significant occasion for the 15 member states and five associate members that make up CARICOM, highlighting the community’s ongoing efforts in foreign policy coordination, human and social development and economic integration and trade.

In a press release issued on Friday, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) stated that, at the

heart of these efforts is the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), established in February 2002.

CROSQ’s mission is to develop regional standards, harmonise metrology systems, and support the sustainable production and trade of goods and services within the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Supported by regional governments, CROSQ also plays a crucial role in promoting the development of National Standards Bodies (NSBs) in member states, ensuring they have access to necessary

technical assistance, both within and outside the region.

The GNBS is a leading NSB within CROSQ, instrumental in the development and revision of regional standards. The GNBS provides essential technical assistance to other NSBs in areas such as verification, certification, calibration, and testing.

Currently, the entity is actively working with at least eight committees on new regional standards covering a wide range of areas including the specification for compost, requirements for nutritional labelling on pre-packaged goods, sampling of cocoa beans, specification for biodegradable products, specification for rum, and hazardous substances.

The role of the GNBS on these committees is multifaceted. It involves organising meetings, providing research materials, sourcing local experts, and communicating with relevant agencies and stakeholders to gather feedback on the standards. These regional standards are critical not only for trade and regulatory purposes, but also serve as industry guides for product, service, and process quality. They play a vital role in implementing the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), which aims to reduce the impact of standards and regulations as trade barriers.

Over the years, the GNBS has successfully adopted various regional standards, helping local stakeholders meet regional requirements for a myriad of products and

services. Notable examples include standards for the labelling of tobacco products, pesticide labeling, and alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

The adoption of standards for fresh agricultural produce has also been crucial in facilitating trade within the agricultural sector across the region.

In addition to these, regional standards have been adopted for sustainable tourism practices, such as sewage treatment and management, integrated pest management systems, energy management and efficiency, and solid-waste management requirements for sweet potatoes. Stakeholders are encouraged to propose the adoption or development of regional standards through the GNBS, further contributing to the standardisation efforts.

Beyond the development of standards, CROSQ supports NSBs in implementing internationally recognised quality infrastructure (QI) components, including conformity

assessment, accreditation, and metrology. These QI components are essential for ensuring that products and services meet international standards, thus enabling bilateral and multilateral trade. This is particularly important for developing countries in the Caribbean that are working to build and expand their production sectors. The GNBS has been at the forefront of delivering QI services, ensuring that local businesses and firms can maintain a competitive edge.

As Guyana gears up to celebrate CARICOM Day, the nation takes pride in the positive outcomes achieved through regional collaboration. Significant strides in standardisation have been made, reflecting the collective efforts of CARICOM member states.

The GNBS encourages all citizens to take pride in these accomplishments and to recognise the importance of regional integration and cooperation.

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards is committed to better standards in Guyana and throughout the Caribbean (GNBS photo)

Works moving apace on six regional hospitals

The De Kinderen Regional Hospital in Region Three

The New Lima Regional Hospital in Region Two

The New Diamond Regional Hospital in Region Four

The New Enmore Regional Hospital in Region Four

Works moving apace ...

The

Hospital in Region Six

new regional hospitals across the country are moving apace and on track for completion by the end of 2024.

This was highlighted in a recent production which shed light on the ongoing construction of the hospitals at Anna Regina, Region Two; De Kinderen, Region Three; Diamond and Enmore, Region Four; Bath, Region Five, and Skeldon Region Six.

Late last year, it was noted that the foundations for all six health facilities were laid, and that infrastructure works would start to take shape at all sites.

The production, called, “Big Things Happening”, highlighted the significant infrastructure works that are ongoing at the six sites.

At the Skeldon Hospital site, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony had said that they were there to examine the pace at which the construction is going.

“Given the development that is going to be happening in this part of Region Six, and in anticipation of a new bridge

from Suriname, this here is obviously going to be an area where a lot of growth will happen,” he had said.

Meanwhile, at Bath, Region Five, Member of Parliament Faizal Jaffarally stated that the construction of the hospital is a demonstration of the further commitment by the Government of Guyana to improve healthcare delivery.

“When it has been completed, there will be no need for us as residents of Region Five to travel all the way to Georgetown as we normally do,” he said. These facilities will have 24-hour Accident and Emergency, 24-hour labs, a suite of imaging services, including ultrasound, digital X-Ray, and CT scans, along with operation theatres and more.

The six hospitals are being constructed through a partnership with China’s Sinopharm International, and serve as part of a larger $37.2 billion initiative that will modernise the regional healthcare system in Guyana.

The New Bath Regional Hospital in Region Five

Skeldon

New AFC leader classified as a politically exposed person under AML/CFT law

–– VP Jagdeo urges him to read the Act

WITH reports coming out that recently appointed leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Nigel Hughes, who has made it pellucid that he will not leave his law firm despite there being a conflict of interest with the energy sector, Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has pointed out that the attorney did not read the definition of politically-exposed persons in the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the

or has been entrusted with a prominent function by an international organisation, at a level of senior management, including directors, deputy directors and members of the board or equivalent functions including family members or close associates of the politically exposed person whether that person is resident in Guyana or not.”

Meanwhile, in a letter carried by this publication, Financial Analyst Joel Bhagwandin highlighted the glar-

Financing of Terrorism Act 2009.

VP Jagdeo made this observation in a Facebook post on Sunday, following the publication by a local news agency in which Hughes was quoted as saying he would not break ties with his law firm which represents ExxonMobil Guyana unless he is elected to government.

According to the Act, a politically-exposed person is defined as “Any individual who is or has been entrusted with prominent public functions on behalf of a State, including a head of state or of government, senior politicians, senior government, judicial or military officials, senior executives of state-owned corporations, important political party officials, and a person who is

ing conflict of interest as Hughes made it public that ExxonMobil Guyana and several of the oil companies are clients of his law firm.

In a comment to the Guyana Chronicle, Bhagwandin said: “Now that he [Nigel]’s elected, [you think] he would come out and publicly say that, ‘I’m terminating all my contracts with all the oil companies, because I can’t be the leader of a political party contesting a national election, regional and general election to be president and I’m working for the oil companies.’

“Then, whose interests are you representing? Are you representing Exxon’s interest, or are you representing the people of Guyana? And that is a general rule of conflict of interest.”

Recently elected AFC leader Nigel Hughes

World getting a ‘failing grade’ on Global Goals report card

WITH just six years remaining to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), global progress is alarmingly insufficient, with a mere 17 per cent of the targets currently on track, according to a new UN report released on Friday.

The 2024 Sustainable Development Goals Report highlighted that nearly half the 17 targets are showing minimal or moderate progress, while over a one-third are stalled or going in reverse, since they were adopted by UN Member States back in 2015 to bring peace and prosperity for people and the planet.

“This report is known as the annual SDG report card and it shows the world is getting a failing grade,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the press conference to launch the comprehensive stocktake.

“The takeaway is simple – our failure to secure peace, to confront climate change and to boost international finance is undermining development. We must accelerate action for the Sustainable Development Goals, and we don’t have a moment to lose,” he stressed.

MAJOR OBSTACLES

The Report identified the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating conflicts, geopolitical tensions and worsening climate chaos as major obstacles to progress.

It noted that an additional 23 million people were pushed into extreme poverty and over 100 million more were suffering from hunger in 2022 compared to 2019, while the number of civilian deaths in armed conflict skyrocketed last year.

2023 was also the warm-

est on record, with global temperatures nearing the critical 1.5°C threshold.

URGENT PRIORITIES

Mr. Guterres emphasised the urgency of boosting international cooperation, stating “we must not let up on our 2030 promise to end poverty, protect the planet and leave no one behind.”

The report outlined key priorities to address the deficit.

Foremost, it highlighted the need for financing for development. The SDG investment gap in developing countries is $4 trillion per year. It is crucial to rapidly increase funding and fiscal space, as well as reform the global financial system to unlock funding.

Resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy is equally crucial. With nearly 120 million forcibly

displaced people by May 2024 and a 72 per cent increase in civilian casualties between 2022 and 2023, the need for peace is more pressing than ever.

In parallel, a surge in implementation is desperately needed. Massive investments and effective partnerships are vital to drive transitions in key areas such as food, energy, social protection, and digital connectivity.

SEIZE THE MOMENT

The report comes ahead of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), taking place at the UN Headquarters, in New York, from 8 to 17 July.

Under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Forum will review global progress towards Goal 1 on ending poverty, Goal 2 on zero hunger, Goal 13 on climate action,

Goal 16 on peaceful and inclusive societies, and Goal 17 on means of implementation.

In addition, the upcoming Summit of the Future in September will be pivotal for realigning efforts towards achieving the Goals. The Summit aims to address the debt crisis affecting many developing countries and the urgent need to reform international financial architecture.

KEY FINDINGS

The SDG Report highlights stark economic challenges, with per-capita gross domestic product (GDP) growth in half of the world’s most vulnerable nations slower than in advanced economies.

Nearly 60 per cent of countries faced abnormally high food prices in 2022, exacerbating hunger and food insecurity.

The report also highlight-

ed gender inequality, noting that 55 per cent of 120 surveyed countries lack laws prohibiting discrimination against women.

It also cited education as a significant concern, with only 58 per cent of students worldwide achieving minimum proficiency in reading by the end of primary school.

At the same time, despite global unemployment reaching a historic low of five per cent in 2023, many obstacles to achieving deent work across all societies persist.

However, there are positive developments in renewable energy, which expanded at a rate of 8.1 per cent annually over the past five years.

Technological advancements also saw significant strides, with mobile broadband accessibility (3G or higher) increasing to 95 per cent of the world’s population from 78 per cent in 2015. (UN)

Over 100 students participate in acting workshop, meet Hollywood actor Silvio Semac

–– Minister Ramson says gov’t will continue to invest in the arts

By Shaniya Harding

ENTHUSIASTIC secondary school students with a passion for the arts had the opportunity to both learn intricate acting skills and showcase their understanding of performing at a Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s young actors workshop held at the National Cultural Centre on Sunday.

Students from schools around the country who attended this first-of-its-kind workshop, had the chance

to meet internationally acclaimed actor Silvio Simac, who has appeared alongside actors like Keanu Reeves and Jet Li.

The highlight of the event was the show put on by the students, who took to the stage to display their passion, charisma, and talent.

The Director of National Events at the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport, Andrew Tyndall, opened the workshop, emphasising that it had been a long-time goal of the ministry.

“We’ve done a lot of

work in dance, music, and visual arts. We’ve worked in theatre and drama, but we haven’t been able to have an actor’s workshop until now.

Having a Hollywood actor here is exceptional, and this is something we must expose to the young people of Guyana,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport

Charles Ramson, in his address said the workshop was an opportunity for students to gain first-hand

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson

Students from as far as Skeldon in Region Six made the trip to Georgetown to participate in the young actors workshop.

See page 22

Over 100 students participate in acting ...

experience.

He stated that the knowledge gained from initiatives such as these is pivotal in many ways.

“Most of us in Guyana don’t get that first-hand information, which means we don’t have a realistic view or the information necessary to help us chart our own direction. As young people, the decisions you make to help chart your career are very important.”

Minister Ramson also emphasised that the performing-arts sector is growing in Guyana. He highlighted institutions such as the Guyana School of Theatre Arts and Drama, noting, “Preparation is very important for anything you do in life, which is about

success. Always remind yourself, this is not a race. Starting something new, getting the ball rolling, and initiating momentum always requires [sic] the greatest effort.”

Simac also advised the students to seek out opportunities and take setbacks in stride. “Each setback is not a failure, it’s a lesson; each struggle is not a roadblock, it’s a work in progress.”

He further added that there will be challenges in the performing arts and the key is to stay committed. “It’s easy to stay committed when everything is going smoothly, but true character is revealed when faced with adversity.”

Moreover, he urged the students to call on their emo-

practice. We’re making this investment in you because we believe in your potential.”

Accomplished martial artist and actor Max Massiah shared sentiments about his friend and fellow actor Simac. He stated, “Silvio was born in Croatia and has been living in London, where he started his career and got into acting. In a short space of time, Silvio has moved from zero to hero in terms of his accomplishments.”

Silvio Simac spoke to the young aspiring actors, expressing his belief in the potential of Guyanese actors. He said: “Thank you ever so much for such a warm welcome. It’s been a very good experience coming to Guyana for the first time. I want to thank you all for gathering here today and giving me the opportunity to share my experiences and inspire and motivate some of you along your journeys. It’s an honour for me to stand here before you, not just as an actor and martial artist, but as someone who genuinely and deeply believes in Guyana’s potential.”

He encouraged the students to take small steps towards their goals, stating, “Make small changes that will contribute to long-term

tions in their acting endeavours and throughout challenging times “Think back to the moment when you first set your goals. Remember the excitement, motivation, and sense of purpose you felt at the time. That initial spark will sustain you through tough times and challenge you to be better. When you face obstacles, remind yourself why you started in the first place.”

To ensure the workshop was a comprehensive learning experience, the sessions focused on different aspects of acting. The students participated in improvisation exercises, learned about stage presence and received feedback on their performances. The interactive nature of the workshop allowed the students to engage directly with Simac, who provided personalised advice and encouragement.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport plans to continue such workshops, seeing the value they bring to the development of young talent in Guyana.

The success of this first workshop has set a positive precedent, and the ministry is already looking forward to organising similar events which can provide opportunities for young people across the country.

Hollywood actor Silvio Simac

More than a 100 students were at the one-day acting workshop. Many of them expressed gratitude for the knowledge and experience gained (Troy Gaskin/ DPI photos)

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Monday July 01, 2024)

CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Nicholas Pooran-8 catches

(2) 81 for the third wicket – Kyle Mayers/Roston Chase (vs SA, Antigua)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) Who has played most T20 World Cup matches for the WI to date?

(2) Who has captained the WI in most T20 world Cup matches to date?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

ENGLISH RACING

WINDSOR 12:45 hrs Big Time Rascal 13:15 hrs Invincible Crown 13:45 hrs Beset 14:15 hrs Rohaan

14:45 hrs Crystal Mariner

15:15 hrs Weston Court 15:45 hrs Lipsink WOLVERHAMPTON

12:25 hrs Prince Rasam

13:00 hrs Capo Vaticano 13:30 hrs Night On Earth 14:00 hrs Boldly

14:30 hrs Magic Gem

15:00 hrs Coast

15:30 hrs Virtual Hug 16:00 hrs Bossy Parker

PONTEFRACT

hrs Lennon 09:40 hrs Glory Hyde 10:15 hrs Ardeur 10:45 hrs Old Cock

Guyana’s U-19 Boys aim for clean sweep at Junior Caribbean Squash Championships

Guyana's Under-19 squash boys have gotten off to a dominant start at the Caribbean Area Squash Association Junior Championships, with all four players securing convincing opening-round victories on Sunday in Tortola.

Leading the charge was Mohryan Baksh, cruising to an 11-6, 113, 11-4 win over Andrew Cox.

Defending champion

Nicholas Verwey displayed similar control, dispatching Trinidadian Anthony Allum 3-0 (11-3, 11-6, 11-4).

Michael Alphonso Jr. and Louis DaSilva completed the clean sweep for Guyana's U-19 boys, securing comfortable 3-0 victories.

All four will return to the court today to book their spots in the semifi-

nals.

The Guyana girls' campaign saw contrasting fortunes.

Safirah Sumner dominated Jamaican opponent Pirya Stoddart in straight sets (11-2, 11-4, 11-4) and returned later in the day to defeat Ciara George 11-3, 11-8, 11-0 to seal her semi-final spot.

However, Rylee Rodrigues narrowly fell short in a thrilling five-set battle

against Bermuda's Somers Stevenson (10-12, 11-3, 6-11, 11-9, 10-12).

Malia Maikoo also lost, dropping her match 4-11, 3-11, 11-13.

There was joy in the Boys' Under-17 category, with Shiloh Asregado defeating Trinidadian Yohann Marchock in a tightly contested four-setter (11-6, 9-11, 12-10, 12-10).

However, Asregado's journey ended in the quar-

terfinals, falling to familiar foe Eli Carpol of Bermuda (11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 8-11). Demetri Lowe also bowed out, losing to the number-two seed Daniel Henderson in straight sets (11-1, 11-3, 11-0).

Barbados dominated Guyana in the boys' under-15 division, with their top-seeded players Ben Shepherd and Daniel Sealy defeating Justin Goberdhan and Jacob Mc-

Donald, respectively. In the Under-11 category, Zion Hickerson started strong with an 11-5, 11-1, 11-3 victory over Zavin Garrick. However, he couldn't maintain the momentum, falling to Barbadian Finn Graham (118, 4-11, 3-11, 7-11) and missing out on a semi-final spot.

Guyana Cup 2024 to be biggest horse-race event ever; more than 40 million to be paid

THE Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee will continue to rewrite history in Guyana’s horse racing when the 2024 Guyana Cup race meet runs off on August 11 at the Rising Sun Turf Club.

This year’s Guyana Cup, which will be the 16th year running of the event, will see more than G$40 million in cash to be paid out, and the top horse for the feature race will be rewarded a whopping sum of G$ 11,625,000.

Last year’s Guyana Cup saw a total purse of G$24 million across all races, while the top horse in the feature event was paid out G$10 million.

The 2024 Guyana Cup will certainly be the biggest, and the day will be packed with side attractions. The first-ever fun park is set to ignite the Rising Sun Turf Club, where kids will witness a

parading bar on spot, and multiple stages will be set up across the venue.

Guyana’s most influential horse-racing promoter, Nasrudeen Mohamed Junior, is urging fans to come out in their num -

bers. Despite there being an absence of the usual entertainment show after the races, the biggest DJ competition will be hosted this year.

The fun park and the horse racing combined

will provide the perfect recipe for a fun-filled day for the entire family. “This is something Guyana has never witnessed,” Junior Mohamed said.

While the side attractions will be major, the

horse racing itself promises to be exhilarating with defending champion Easy Time coming back for more glory. More horses are being imported across various stables, and two new horse owners will

make their entry at this year’s Guyana Cup.

Ten races are listed on the provisional programme and entries will open from July 27, and close on August 3. No late entries will be accepted at this year’s Guyana Cup.

With this year’s Guyana Cup purse being the biggest in the Caribbean, horses from various countries will be compelled to travel to Guyana and battle for supremacy.

In addition to the feature event which will be run off at approximately 1800 metres, other races on the provisional card include: the 1600-metre derby, 1000-metre sprint classic, the 1000-metre two-year-old, 1000-meter F1 class, the 1600-metre H1 class, the 1400-metre J & Lower, 1400-metre ‘K’ Class, 1400- metre L Class and 1400-metre non-earners.

Easy Time will return to defend his Guyana Cup title on August 11

KFC Elite League…

Den Amstel and Western Tigers secure victories

DEN Amstel and Western Tigers picked up wins when the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) KFC Elite League continued on Saturday evening at the National Training Centre (NTC) at Providence Andrew Murray continued to lead Western with pride and skill as he picked up a brace to steer them past Ann’s Grove united.

The veteran Murray was in a no-nonsense mood as he got into his stride not long after the opening whistle, his first goal coming nine minutes into the matchup before doubling up with an an 11th minute

goal to give the West Ruimveldt-based side the advantage.

Ryan Seals would try to rescue his team in the 22nd, pulling back the scoreline 2-1 and the two teams battled for the remainder of the first half to no avail.

The second half ended without either side troubling the scoring columns.

Earlier in the evening, Den Amstel stopped Buxton United by the same scoreline in an almost identical fashion.

In the contest, Den Amstel’s Jahshawn Moore scored a second half (60th minute) strike which opened

the scoring before his side through Anthony Benn made it 2-nil in the 80th minute.

Buxton’s Inceford Charles would find their lone goal in the match a minute later, but the West Coast Demerara’s Den Amstel held on for the victory, 2-1.

The Guyana Defence Force lead the points table with 11 wins in 12 games with one draw ahead of Slingerz FC, who has 10 wins in 12 games with two draws.

Third on the table is the Guyana Police Force with nine wins in 12 games with two losses and a draw.

The KFC-spon -

sored league will see each team playing 18 games for 2 million dollars to the winning team, 1.2 million to the second-placed team and $800,000 to the third-placed finisher.

‘Carlos’s World Record performance lifted a nation’ – Ninvalle

By Sean Devers

When 2024 World Classic

Open Powerlifting Championships’ 93kg Squat record holder Carlos ‘the Show stopper’ Petterson-Griffith disembarked his flight from Lithuania close to 1 AM Sunday morning at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Timheri, he was given a well-deserved ‘welcome home’ ceremony.

There was a fusion of pulsating drumming by the Young Warriors Tassa drummers from Good Hope, East Coast and the ‘592 Drummers 4 Life’ Congo drummers from Albertown.

An entertaining Indigenous dance sequence was performed by the Riverside Angles was also a part of the early morning celebrations to honour the ‘show-stopper’, who was greeted by his fiancée Candace Lam and his 19-month toddler Charles which is the English name for Carlos.

The 30-year-old Petterson-Griffith, who finished 5th overall in a field of 34 competitors, etched his name in the annals of world history by

setting a new benchmark for the squat with a mammoth 337.5 kg (744.06 lbs), besting the previous mark of 337 kg held by American Gavin Adin.

He became only the second Guyanese Powerlifter to achieve a world record following Winston Stoby's world record 272.5 kg in the deadlift in the 74. kg weight class at the World Masters Powerlifting Championships in Texas, USA in 2012.

There were speeches from Assistant Director of Sports and President of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) President Franklin Wilson and General Secretary Roger Rogers, Director of Sports (DOS), Petterson-Griffith and Stoby.

Wilson congratulated Petterson-Griffith on his achievement and described the occasion as ‘significant and historic.

“We are here to celebrate an auspicious occasion since winning a world record in any sport is a great achievement” stated Wilson who thanked Sports Minister Charles Ramson, Ninvalle and NSC and by extension, the Government for their assistance.

“We (GAPLF) have received support from the government for four International Competitions and we have medalled in every one of them.

Winston Stoby was a trailblazer who achieved Guyana’s first world record in Powerlifting and is being recognised for his achievement over a decade ago” informed Wilson.

The GAPLF Head informed that Romio Hunter will travel to Malta in August as a sub-Junior and posited that bigger things are on the horizon for the sport and Guyana.

The 65-year-old Stoby, a former National Rugby player, picked up powerlifting due to a shoulder injury in Rugby which required weights therapy and went on to make his international debut in 1993.

Ninvalle congratulated Petterson-Griffith and promised that the GOG, Ministry of Sports and NSC will continue to support Carlos and GAPLF.

“Carlos is known as the ‘show stopper’ but he is really the ‘Show Starter’ his achievement in Lithuania is the start of many world records for Guyanese Powerlifters. Carlos has

lifted a Nation” said the Director of Sport.

“What Carlos did should be an example for other athletes that if they work hard, be dedicated and love what they do they don’t have to go overseas to achieve world acclaim at the international level. Carlos achieved that feat right here in the Gym at home” emphasised Ninvalle, who is also the President of the GBA.

“Having promised to rock the world, that is exactly what he did when he achieved what no other Guyanese in any sport has done: claim a world record.

Carlos fulfilled his promise to Minister of Sport Charles Ramson Jr. made just before heading to the Airport that he would set a world record” Ninvalle continued, explaining that Minister Ramson was overseas or else he would have been here.

Carlos said that he tries his best to set the bar high and spoke of some of the hurdles he overcame.

The Guyanese arrived in Lithuania about seven hours before competition and was faced with another challenge of having to shave off 2kgs to make the

93kg weight.

“With no rest in 32 hours due to traveling I worked with my Coach Dexter Jones to shed the weight while the top four lifters had three to four days before the start of the tournament. There was a lot of respect for me by the competitors”

Petterson-Griffith achieved a best bench-press of 177.5kg while his best deadlift was 345.0kg.

“I attempted 370 as the competition to the top three medals was very fierce, but began cramping just before completing the lift.

I decided not try for the overall winner since my hamstring could blow and as we say in Guyana live to fight another day” explained the strongman from the Space Gym.

The overall winner of the 93kg class was Sweden’s Gustav Hedlund who was second in the quat with 327.5kg.

Expressing gratitude to his sponsors—Fitness Express, Digicel, and Superior Concrete.

Meanwhile, Carlos’ coach, Dexter Jones, hailed his athlete’s performance as “remarkable, given the short prep time, the

seemingly improbably but necessary targets that were established to get him into a competitive position and mind-numbing prospect of competing at the most prestigious Power Lifting Competition ever.”

He acknowledged the support from the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) under the guidance of President Franklin Wilson and the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport, highlighting their commitment to leveraging technological advancements in athlete preparation to bolster Guyana’s standing on the global stage.

Wilson, on behalf of GALF and the powerlifting community, congratulated Carlos “for bringing himself and the nation great joy with his historic performance.”

According to Wilson, “We are proud of this achievement, which further strengthened the foundation for the sport to advance even more. He has worked hard and is very dedicated to the sport, and we are all that this is another hurdle crossed in his still-growing career.”

Western Tigers goal scorer Andrew Murray Jr Den Amstel’s scorers Jahshawn Moore and Anthony Benn

GABA/Wilson Plumbing Service U23 league… Cummingsburg Bounty Colts capture title

THE Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association on Saturday brought the curtain down on its U-23 basketball league sponsored by the Wilson Plumbing Service and General Supplies, held at the National Gymnasium Hard Court, with Bounty Colts taking home the title.

The Colts, who had been one of the most dominant senior

club sides in the city, showed their youth programme is still as vibrant as they got the better of Kwakwani Untouchables.

Bounty Colts pipped the first period 17-16 in what looked set to be thriller as the two teams went toe to toe with shots.

Colts started well after Shannon Wilson and Charles Williams shot the ball effortlessly after tip-off, but Kwakwani’s

Kelon Phllips was equally as good to keep his side in the contest.

In the second half, Colts’ Carmelo Man-Son-Hing started to find his own before finishing with 17 points in the game; his stride handing his team a threepoint lead at the half, 36-33.

The game was by no means done as Kwakwani fought back valiantly in the third to turn the

game on its head and take a onepoint lead, 54-53.

Kadeem Dover would do the job for Kwakwani with 20 points with 10 from Travis Lewis in their comeback effort.

Colts’ Wilson, who had 14 in the contest and Williams with 23 showed poise and skill to stave off Kwakwani in the final period, as they ended the fourth quarter 23-21 to take the one-

point victory 76-75.

Meanwhile, the third-place contest also proved a close clash as Prospect Kobras defeated North Ruimveldt Ravens 56-55.

Elijah David was the top player for Kobras with a gamehigh 26 points with Ronnel Campbell also adding 15 points in the win.

Ravens skipper Alroy Nurse played well for his 21 points in a

losing cause.

Colts’ Charles Williams for his awesome performance was adjudged the most valuable player by the organisers with his Colts team collecting the MVP trophy. Man-Son-Hing won the clutch player of the tournament award.

Next up for GABA is the senior clubs league alter this year.

Championship Royals down Jets to capture title

By Joe Chapman

THE Victory Valley Royals shot down the Amelia’s Ward Jets, 76-63 to capture the Nigel Hinds/ Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) Senior League Championship on Saturday evening.

The country’s top club was led to their win by their big three in national players Harold Adams, Yannick Tappin and Orlan Glasgow.

The eventual winners took a 16-7 first-quarter lead and at the end of the first half were coasting 48-29, a 32-22 run which seemingly silenced the home team’s fans.

However, after the break, with an inspired display and rival spectators on hand chanting for their teams, the Jets revved up and outdid the Royals, 30-14.

This was engineered by Shannon Cadogan who netted eight of his 10 points of the game in that pivotal session, with Dennis Niles

(Jr.) in fine form getting seven points along with their leading scorer Quincy Easton who added four.

This brought the Jets to within striking distance when the third quarter ended with them trailing, 59-62. But with Dennis Niles (Jr.) being fouled out, the

hopes of an upset by the Jets never materialized, as Yannick Tappin and Harold Adams combined for 10 of their final 14 points of the game and the champions coasted to victory, 76-63, to remain unbeaten in the tournament.

Adams finished with 17

points as Orlan Glasgow and Keifer Tappin netted 11 apiece for the winners.

Easton had 15 points with Niles netting 12 and Shannon Cadogan 10 in that losing cause.

Earlier in the evening with trophies and $100,000 at stake for the winning side

and $50,000 for the losers, Block 22 Flames edged Retrieve Raiders to claim third position with an exciting, 58-57, win after both teams were 55-55, when regulation play ended.

This followed the Flames leading, 11-6, at the end of the first quarter and

26-20 at half time before the scores remained level when the third quarter ended, 36-36.

Jonathan Clarke led the scoring for the Flames with 18 points and Cleon Johnson had 13 as Shawn Cameron added seven in that win.

Shemar Savoury got a game-high 19 points for Raiders and Neil Marks (Jr.) 10, for the Raiders.

For their win, the royals walked away with $400,000, the winners’ trophy and bragging rights, as the Jets for their flight earned $200,000 and a trophy.

To witness the night’s action was Nigel Hinds, the former national player and past president of the Guyana Amateur basketball Federation, whose firm was the major sponsor of the tournament.

The tournament was also sponsored by United States-based James Brusche and Gary Stephens, Aubrey Major and the 20/20 Bar

Bounty Colts Clutch player Carmelo Man-Son-Hing

Cummingsburg Bounty Colts after collecting the winner’s U23 league trophy

Nigel Hinds/ LABA Senior Club

Harold Adams of Royals being sandwiched by two defenders from Amelia’s Ward Jets

Nigel Hinds hands over the trophy to Royals’ captain Yannick Tappin

Guyana’s U-19 boys aim for clean sweep at Junior Caribbean Squash Championships

Nicholas Verwey in action on Sunday

Louis DaSilva won his opening U-19 match

Carlos greeted by his by his fiancée and son

Carlos is flanked by Ninvalle (right) and Wilson (left) while Stoby (2nd from left) is also the photo