New$143.9Mteachingblockfor CampbellvilleSecondarySchool
THECampbellvilleSecondarySchoolissetto undergoasignificant transformationwiththe constructionofanew teachingblock,valuedat $143.9million.
OnTuesday,Minister ofEducationPriyaManickchandvisitedthesite, wheresheturnedthesod forthenewbuilding.
Thenewteachingblock willfeatureeightclassrooms,twosanitaryblocks, interestofprovidingmodern facilitiesthatwillenhance thelearningenvironmentfor contractfortheconstruction hasbeenawardedtoKaiveri ConstructionInc.,andthe projectisexpectedtobe completedwithineleven months.
ThisinvestmentunderscorestheMinistryof Education’scommitment toimprovingeducational infrastructureacrossthe country.
Theschoolcommunity iseagerlyanticipatingthe completionoftheproject, whichpromisestofoster amoreconduciveatmosphereforacademicexcellence,andaccommodate morestudents.
“Wearethrilled aboutthisdevelopment,” MinisterManickchand said,adding:“Itrepforwardinourefforts toprovidehigh-quality education,andbetter facilitiesforourstudents andteachers.”
WakenaamSolarProjecton trackforDecembercompletion
PRIMEMinisterBrigadier(Ret’d)MarkPhillips receivedanencouraging updateontheWakenaam SolarProjectduringa high-levelmeetingrecentlywithkeystakeholders fromMASDAR,BSW Energy,GuyanaPower andLightInc.(GPL)and theGuyanaEnergyAgenCampStreet.
TheUS$2.3Minitiative,whichispartofthe UAE-CaribbeanRenewable EnergyFund(UAE-CREF), issettotransformenergy accessontheislandofWakenaam.
Duringthemeeting,discussionscentredonthe project’sprogress,andits expectedcompletiondate.
ProjectManager forMASDARunderthe UAE-CREF,Mr.Oliver Broughtonreportedthatthe
ourcitizens.”
TheWakenaamSolarProjectisexpectedtoland’senergygeneration capacity,complemented byplannedupgradestothe existingpowerplant.This initiativeunderscoresthe GovernmentofGuyana’s dedicationtoproviding cleanenergy,whichplays apivotalroleinGuyana’s energytransformationand long-termsustainability goals.
AlongwithMr. Broughton,representativesofBSWEnergy,Mr. MiguelThemerandMr. RoqueBocius;CEOofthe GEADr.MahenderSharma;ActingCEOofGPL Mr.KeshNandlall,and GPL’sDivisionalDirector ofEngineeringServices Mr.RyanRosswerealso atthemeeting.
TimWalz:KamalaHarrispicks
MinnesotagovernorforVice-President
VICE-PRESIDENTKamalaHarrisandMinnesotaGovernorTimWalz willappeartogetherfor thefirsttimeonTuesdayastheDemocratic Party'sWhiteHouse ticketatthestartofa multi-daytourofswing statestheyhopetowin inNovember.
Harris,theDemocratic presidentialcandidate, andWalz,herpickfor vicepresident,willhold arallyinPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania,astateseen ascriticaltotheirability tobeatRepublicanrival DonaldTrumpandhis runningmate,SenatorJD Vance,inwhatisexpected tobeacloseelection.
"Icouldn’tbeprouder tobeonthisticket,andto helpmakeKamalaHarris thenextPresidentofthe UnitedStates,"Walzwill sayattherally,according toexcerptsofhisremarks releasedbythecampaign.
"ThesesamevaluesI
learnedonthefamilyfarm andtriedtoinstillinmy students,ItooktoCongressandthestatecapital, andnow,Vice-President HarrisandIarerunning totakethemtotheWhite House,"heisexpected toadd.
Harrisannouncedher choiceofWalzearlier intheday,optingfora vice-presidentialrunning matewithexecutiveexperience,militaryservice andatrackrecordofwinningoverrural,whitevoterswhohavegravitatedto Trumpovertheyears.
"Asagovernor,a coach,ateacheranda veteran,he'sdelivered forworkingfamilieslike hisown,"Harrissaidina statementreleasedbyher campaign.
Walzwaselectedtoa Republican-leaningdistrictintheU.S.Houseof Representativesin2006 andserved12yearsbeforebeingelectedgover-
norofMinnesotain2018 andagainin2022.
Hehaspushedaprogressiveagendathatin-
competitionastooliberal.
"ThisisthemostRadicalLeftduoinAmerican history,"Trumpwroteon
withtheRepublicansayingWalzwasnotassertive enoughincombatingthe rioters.
state,Shapirosaidina statementthatHarrishad his"enthusiasticsupport" andcalledWalz"anex-
cludesfreeschoolmeals, goalsfortacklingclimate change,taxcutsforthe middleclassandexpandedpaidleaveforworkers. TrumpandVancewere quicktocriticizethenew
hissocialmediaplatform.
VanceknockedWalz forhishandlingofprotestsafterGeorgeFloyd, aBlackman,waskilled inMinneapolisbyawhite policeofficerin2020,
"Thebiggestproblem withtheTimWalzpickit'snotTimWalzhimself. It'swhatitsaysabout KamalaHarris,thatwhen giventheopportunityshe willbendthekneetothe mostradicalelementsof herparty,"Vancetold reportersinPhiladelphia. Americanstypicallyfocusontheperson atthetopoftheticket whenchoosingwhomto votefor,butvice-presidentialcandidatescan helporhurttheirrunning matesbasedontheirbackgrounds,home-statepopularityandabilitytosway importantconstituencies orindependentvoters.
"Shewentwithhergut onthisoneandchosethe optionthatwon'talienate youngfolks,"saidRepublicanstrategistRinaShah. WalzbeatoutPennsylvania'spopulargovernor, JoshShapiro,fortheNo. 2role.Shapirohasfaced sharpcriticismfromthe left,especiallyprogressivegroupsandpro-Palestinianactivists,overhis supportforIsraelandhis handlingofcollegeprotestssparkedbythewar inGaza.
AheadoftheTuesday eveningrallyinhishome
ceptionallystrongadditiontotheticket."
SomeTrumpadvisers weregladHarrisdidnot pickShapirobecauseof concernshecouldhelp deliverall-important Pennsylvaniaifhewas ontheticket,oneadviser said.
HarrisandWalzwill seektobuildonthemomentumthatthevicepresidenthassustainedsince becomingtheDemocratic Party'sstandardbearer afterPresidentJoeBiden endedhisre-electioncampaignlastmonth.Harris hasraisedhundredsof millionsofdollarsand reshapedtheraceagainst Trump.
TheWhiteHousesaid HarrisandBidenspoke beforesheannouncedher selectionofWalz.The presidentalsospoketothe Minnesotagovernor. AftertheirjointappearanceinPhiladelphia,HarrisandWalz planamulti-citytour ofcriticalswingstates includingWisconsin, ArizonaandNevada. Vanceisdoingasimilartour,withstopsin MichiganandWisconsin plannedonWednesday. (Reuters)
mapping,dronetechnologyservices
AStheGovernmentof Guyanacontinuesitseffortstoimproveandincreasericeproduction acrossthecountry,farmersinallrice-growing regionswillsoonbenefit fromfreedronetechnologyandGeographicInformationSystems(GIS) services.
OnTuesday,theMinistryofAgriculturethrough theGuyanaRiceDevelopmentBoard(GRDB)hosted aclosingceremonyforits EnhancingPrecisionFarmingPracticesinRiceProductionforGuyana’sSmall FarmersUsingDroneTechnologyProgramme.
Thegroundbreakinginitiative,whichwaspiloted inRegionsTwo,Three,and Six,andsubsequentlyintroducedinRegionFive,seeks tointroducedronetechnologyandGISmapping toimprovericeproduction andbuildcapacityintherice industry.
betweentheGovernment ofGuyana,theUnitedNationsFoodandAgriculture Organisation(FAO),the People’sRepublicofChina, andtheGuyanaRiceDevelopmentBoard(GRDB).
Throughfinancialand technicalsupportunderthe FAO-ChinaSouth-South Co-operationprojectand aRegionalE-Agriculture project,someUS$165,000 advancedcropmanagement dronesandlaptops.ExtenfromtheGRDBalsobenedataanalysts’training. AgricultureMinisterZu-
liveringthefeatureaddress, saidthattheprogrammeis partofthetransformative poweroftechnologyinrevolutionisingGuyana’srice cultivationsector.
“Thisproject,acollaborativeeffortbetweenthe GovernmentofGuyana,the FAO,China,andtheGuyana RiceDevelopmentBoard (GRDB),isatestamentto ourunwaveringcommitmenttoempoweringour farmersandenhancingagriculturalproductivity.
“Riceyieldhasmoved from5.9tons/hain2019 to6.6tons/hainthefirst cropof2024.Theproject’s impacthasbeenfar-reaching.Wehavetrainedskilled dronepilotsanddataanalysts,whoarenowatthe forefrontofagriculturalinnovation,”hesaid.
Theministeralsonoted thatbyintroducingdrone technologyandGIS,farmerswillbeequippedwith invaluabletoolstooptimise theiroperationsandeven furthermaximiseyields.He alsosaidthattheservices willbemadeavailableto farmersfreeofcost.
MinisterMustaphaalso saidthatby2025,therice productionisprojectedtobe 741,054tonnes,addingthat asofJune2024,Guyanarecordedsome362,030tonnes andisontargettoproduce 710,004tonnesbytheend of2024.
FAO’sCountryRepresentativeinGuyana,Dr. GillianSmithsaidthatthere arelotsofbenefitstobe foundinusingdronesand GIStechnology.
“Thisisaprojectthat wasimplementedformany countriesfordigitaltrans-
formationandinnovationin agriculture.Becauseofhow quicklythisprojectmoved forwardinGuyana,weendedupwithaprojectbudget ofjustover165,000USD. Thisprojectisbringingone formoftechnologytothe ricesector.Therearealot drones.Theverybasicthing thatthedronecandoisgive youanaerialviewofwhat youhave.
“Whatwe’vefound throughthisexperiencewith GRDBandthefarmersis thatveryquickly,andwith somesupportfromtechniciansfromChina,farmore canbedone.Asoftoday, asasignofcommitmentto theinitiativethatyouhave shown,we’vebeenable tohandoverfourofthe mostadvancedcropmoni-
toringdronesavailableon themarkettodayandthree high-spec.laptopsthatwill beusedfortheprocessing ofdata,”Dr.Smithrelated.
ChineseembassyinGuyana, RuiHuangsaidthatthedeploymentofdronetechnologywillallowcropyieldsto
“Thisprojecthasbeen asignificantmilestoneby integratingdronetechnology intoricecultivationandupgradingsustainablefarming inGuyana.Withthedeploymentofdronetechnology, cropyieldshaveincreased
“Thisprojecthasshowofprecisionfarmingandhas contributedtoGuyana’sgoal ofreducingitsfoodimport by25percentby2025under
theCARICOMFoodSystem Agenda,”Mr.Huangsaid. ThroughtheGIStechnology,amoreproactive approachtoriceproduction willbetakenasitallowsthe GRDBtodocument,analyse,andsharecriticaldata necessarytoestimatelosses aspartofthegovernment’sforts.
Farmerswillalsobeable toreceivedatatoassistthem withgoodcrophusbandry practicessuchaseffective landpreparation,andplant health.
SeniorExtensionOffi-
cerattachedtotheGRDB, DahasratNarinsaidthatthe GRDBwasabletomapall thericegrowingareasin thecountry,identifyingthe variousvarietiesbeingcultivatedbyfarmersinvarious areas,aswellasthestageof thecrop.
TheGRDButilisedits Farmer’sFieldSchoolProgrammetoengagefarmersandbuildawareness fortheproject.Withthe successofthispilotprogramme,Guyanaispoised torevolutionisericefarmingthroughthepowerof technology.
Safeguardingtheinterestsofcitizens
THEPPP/Cadministrationhasembraceda pathtodevelopmentin whichpeopleareplaced atthecentreofallpolicy interventions.
ThispointwasemphasisedbyPresidentDr.MohamedIrfaanAliduring theswearinginofthe Chairmanandmembers ofthePublicServiceAppellateTribunal(PSAT) andtheChairmanofthe PublicUtilitiesCommission(PUC).
AccordingtoPresident Ali,theneedtoensurethat therightsofconsumersof
publicutilitiesareprotectedisofgreatimportance. Theseincludeessential servicessuchaselectricity, water,andtelecommunications,allofwhichare keyingredientsofagood qualityoflifeforthenation'sconsumers.
ThePublicUtilities CommissionisempoweredbyseveralActs,includingthePublicUtilities CommissionAct,theElectricitySectorReformAct, andtheTelecommunicationAct,whichprovided themandateforthePUC toregulate,investigate
andenforcestandardsthat maintainthebalancebetweenconsumerprotectionandinvestorinterests.
Astheeconomyundergoesaperiodofrapid expansion,theneedfor institutionalstrengtheningandcapacitybuilding ofagenciesempowered bylawtoprotectconsumerrightsbecomesall themoreimperative.This pointwasunderscoredby PresidentAliwhenhesaid thatexpansionisneeded.
“Someexpansionis needed.Criticalskillswill beneededtohelpthePUC
inthisverycompetitive expandedenvironment thatwemustoperatein. AsGuyanaundergoes asignificanteconomic transformation,therole ofthePUCinenhancing servicestobothcitizens andbusinessesbecomes increasinglycrucial.However,thisenhancedrole alsoendowsthePUCwith greatermarketpowerand influencewhichmust becarefullymanagedto avoidpotentialmisuse,” PresidentAliobserved.
Ofnolessimportance istheneedtoensurethat
therightsofthenation's publicservantsaresafeguardedandnotsubjected toabusebythoseinpositionsofauthority.The PublicServiceAppellate Tribunalhasaroleto playinthatregard.The Tribunalprovidespublic servantswithameansof recourseinmattersofappointments,dismissalsor otherformsofdisciplinary action.
Centraltotheestablishmentofconstitutional bodiessuchasthePublic UtilitiesCommissionand thePublicServiceAppel-
lateTribunalistheneed toprotecttheeconomic interestsofthecitizensof Guyanaand,inthecase oftheAppellateTribunal, thesecurityoftenureof professionalsinthepublic service.Thisfullyaccords withthepeople-oriented characterofthePPP/C administration.
Inthisregard,creditmustbegiventothe PPP/Cadministration forputtinginplacethe requisitestatutorybodiestosafeguardtheinterestsofthecitizensof Guyana.
NigelHughesandtheAFCarecreatinganIronTriangle
DearEditor, THEstability,security, andwell-beingofanypopulationrelyonprioritising nationalinterest,orthe commongood,overindividualorbusinessgains. Thatisafundamental principleofpoliticsand humanrights.
Byrefusingtoseverties withhisfirm’semployer, ExxonMobil,AFCLeader MrNigelHughesiseffectivelysettingthestagefor thecreationofanIronTriangle,whichthreatensthis country’snationalinterest.
Editor,forthebenefitof thosewhomaynotknow, anIronTrianglerefersto themutuallybeneficialrelationshipbetweenpolitical/governmentagencies, legislators,andinterest
groups,inwhicheachcomponentsupportstheothers toachievespecificpolicy goals.
Thoughnotillegal,iron trianglesgenerallyunderminenationalinterestby promotingandenacting policiesthatservethenarrowobjectivesofinterest groups,oftenattheexpense ofthebroaderpublicgood anddemocraticaccountability.
Tobaccocompanies,for example,spendmillionsof dollarslobbyingintheUS everyyearinanattempt toweaken,delay,orkill life-savingpublichealth policies.
TheActiononSmoking andHealth(ASH)reported thisyearthatin2023the tobaccoindustryintheUS
had262lobbyistsregistered atthefederallevel,75.57 percentofwhomwereformergovernmentemployees likelytohaveincreased accesstohighlyinfluential peopleinthelegislature andfederalagencies,tothe detrimentofpublichealth.
Imaginetheuproarif, in2017,whenGuyana’s TobaccoControlBillwas beingpilotedbythethen government,anemployee oftheDemeraraTobaccoCompanywaseither theleaderofanopposition partyrepresentedintheNationalAssembly,orasitting legislator.Justimagine.
fuel-economystandards, promptingasuitbyCaliforniaandseveralother states.Toavoidcontradictingthen-presidentGeorge Bush’spolicygoals,the EPAalsorevisedinternal positionsonGlobalWarming.
Inbothcases,theEPA clearlyworkedagainstits mandatewhichistheprotectionofthenaturalenvironmenttothebenefit oftheAmericanpeople. Asagovernmentagency, theEPAdependsonthe USlegislatureandtheUS Presidentforpatronageand funding,whichleadsitto actintheinterestsofthose who,inturn,patronisethe politicalclass.
Intheearly2000s,the EnvironmentalProtection Agency(EPA)intheUS movedtopreventstates fromsettingtheirown
MrHugheswoulddo welltoknowthatthe‘Iron’
aspectofthetriangleisthat itslargelyimperviousto outsideinfluence;solongas donorscankeeppoliticians inoffice,thosepoliticians willsupportdonor-friendlypolicies,whichinturn enablethedonorclassto thrivewithinafriendlyregulatoryenvironment. Ironically,itwasMr Hughes’partythatjusta fewmonthsagoaccused Guyana’sEPAofbeing moreinterestedinprotectingtheoilcompanyitwas supposedtoberegulating,thantheinterestofthe Guyanesepeople,whenthe EPAappealedJusticeSandil Kissoon’srulingonoil-spill insuranceobligations.
Editor,asGuyana movestostrengthenits legalandregulatoryframe-
workforitsrapidlyexpandingoilandgassector, theseeffortsmustbeinsulatedfromtheinfluenceof oilcompanieswhichhave deeppocketsandextensive reach.
ThecreationofanIron Triangleinvolvingthe country’sbiggestinvestor cancatastrophicallyharm oursocietalwell-beingand createacycleofinfluence anddependencythatunderminestransparency,democraticaccountabilityand goodgovernance.
Surely,theGuyana HumanRightsAssociation,TransparencyInstituteGuyanaIncandother “civilsociety”groupscannotremainsilentonthis.
Yoursfaithfully, RavinSingh
IHAVE,relentlessly,pursuedthetopicthatifpeopledonotrespondtothe insanitiesofanti-governmentemotionalismthat performsundertheguise ofindependentcriticismof government’saction,then, thesocietybecomespoorer initsintellectualqualities, innocentmindsarefooled, andacreepingnarrative thatisbasedonracialand politicalhateandclasscontemptembedsitself.
Guyanahasmanagedto escapethisMephistopheleanpathwaybecausethe responseshaveledtoexposureofahiddenagenda.In lastSunday’seditionofthe StabroekNews(SN),oneof themostlearnedcritiquesof thenastystateofjournalism intheprivatepresswaslaid outforGuyanesetolearn frombytheAttorney-General,AnilNandlall.Onreading Mr.Nandlall’srejectionofthe typeofjournalismtheSNputs out,youhavelearnedmany thingsaboutGuyanain2024.
TheAG’slettercannotbe discussedinonecolumn.SoI willdevotetwocommentaries totheAG’sadumbration.The firstanalysiswilllookatthe editorialnoteattheendof theAG’sletter,inwhichIam deridedbythenewspaper.The secondinstallmentwillexaminetheincrediblepoliticised journalisminthatveryeditorialnoteinwhichSNnow
entersthemostdangerous pathwaythatmosthumans avoid—thearrogantprivilege togivewordsandactions one-dimensionalmeaning.
Let’slookatthepaper’s editorialnotedismissingmy intellectualworth.Iquote:“It isunfortunatethattheAttorney-Generalseekstofound anargumentusingstatements fromFrederickKissoon.” BeforeIquotetheAG’sreferencetome,itisimportant tocitesomethingthatisofthe utmostimportanceinongoing exposureofthepoliticised journalismthatSNpractices.
SNpublisheditsintellectualdismissalofmeinits veryedition,whereitelevated thenon-existentvalueofthe GuyanaHumanRightsAssociation(GHRA).Inthesame editionwhereIamrelegated toanon-entity,SNgavethe GHRAprominentcoverage bymakingananti-governmentpressreleaseofthe GHRAongoldmining,its leadstory.IasktheGuyanese peopleifitisnot“unfortunate”(SN’sword)thatithas givenfrontpagecoverageto anorganisationthatisliterally moribundandthattheGuyanesepeopledonotrecognise asafunctioninghumanrights group.
SowhatdidtheAGwrite aboutmeinhismissivelast SundaythatledtoSN’semotionaloutburstagainstme? IquotefromtheAG.“The
readingpublic,mustbynow, beacutelyawareofthenumerousarticleswrittenbyMr. FrederickKissoon,accusing theStabroekNewsofpublishingtheviewsofcommentatorswhowritecriticalof theGovernmentbutrefusing topublishrepliessupportive oftheGovernmentfromDr. RandyPersaud.Stabroek Newshasneverdefended thisaccusation.Itsveracityis therefore,inferred.”
WhatistheRandyPersaudscandalallabout?Two yearsago,Dr.Persaud(who incidentallyisapresidential adviser)informedmethat sincehisletterswerenotbeing publishedbySN,hesoughtan explanationfromMr.Anand Persaud,editor-in-chief.Dr. Persaudshowedmetheemail replybytheeditorinwhich headvisedthepresidential adviserthathisletterswillnot bepublishedbecause,inthose correspondences(myword) Dr.Persaudattackscivilsocietygroups.
Ididacolumnonthis attitudebySNbecauseit wasanunbelievabledescent inthejournalismofcensorship.Howcananewspaper refusetoprintlettersfroma presidentialadviserbecause suchsubmissionsattacksome typesoforganisations?No decent,professionalpaper wouldevergothatroute. Ifyoucannotconfront,in newspaperexchangespeople
DearEditor, ALLOWmethespacetoadd myfewcentsinresponseto Mr.LincolnLewis'recentletteronthestateoffreedomand developmentforAfro-Guyanese.
ContrarytoMrLewis'assertions,Ihaveseenserious effortsbythisgovernmentto ensurethatAfro-Guyanesebenefitequallyfromthenation's resources.
Someofthesemanifest themselvesingovernment scholarships,skillstraining,and thedistributionofhouselots, increasesinsalariesandbenefits forpublicsectoremployees,and variouscashgrantssuchasthe "BecauseWeCare"grantfor everyschool-agedchild.
Additionally,thegovernmenthasempoweredAfro-Guyanesethroughnumerous businessopportunitiesandjob creation,includingpositions withintheCabinet,asPermanentSecretaries,andasheads ofvariousgovernmentagencies.
MoreAfro-Guyanesebusinesses—small,medium,and large—havebeenestablished andcontinuetothriveunder thePPP/Cadministrationthan duringthetenureofLewis’s party.
Thegovernment'scommitmenttoeconomicempowermentisevidentinthecreation ofinitiativesaimedatfostering businessdevelopment,and supportingentrepreneurswithin Afro-Guyanesecommunities.
ThedistributionofEmancipationfundstoallAfro-Guyanesegroups,andtheactive participationofPresidentAli andhisCabinetmembersin Emancipationcelebrations acrossthecountry,inmyview, showsthegovernment'sdedicationtohonouringanduplifting Afro-Guyanesecultureandheritage.Unlikepreviousadministrations,thecurrentgovernment hasdemonstratedaconsistent presenceandengagementin thesesignificantculturalevents.
Further,numerouscommunitiesacrossthecountry havebenefittedfromunprecedentedinvestmentsinroads, recreationalspacesandotherinfrastructure.Butmore so,communitiesinhabitedby Afro-Guyaneseinwhichthe oppositiongainssignificant supporthavebenefitted.
Sophia,Albouystown,East andWestRuimveldtinGeorgetown,alongwithcommunities inNewAmsterdamandLinden,arebutafewthatcome
youthinkoughttobeexposed,thentheFourthEstate becomesavehicleforcensorship,theoppositeofitsraison d’être.
Sincemyexposureto SN’smistreatmentofDr. RandyPersaudtwoyears ago,therehasnotbeenone, Irepeat,notone,publiccommentontheissuebythose folkswholovetoridiculethe government.Iwentfurther andexposedtheabysmal professionalismofSNwhen theeditor-in-chiefdeclined tocommentwhenIcontacted him.
Finally,morethantwo yearslater,duetotheAG’s letterlastSunday,wehave seenaresponsefromSNon theRandyPersauddebacle.I
quote:“MrRandyPersaud wastoldbythisnewspaper thatadhominenattackson civilsocietyorganisations wouldnotbetolerated.”Inow askdecentpeoplewhobelieve inafreepress,therighttobe heardanddemocraticvalues, iftheycannotseethedanger, theabominablethreattopress freedombythewords,“ad hominen.”
tomind.
Apointtonoteisthat whilstLewispaintsafaçade ofconcernfortheinterestsof Afro-Guyanese,hesoughtto bullyanentireAfro-Guyanese communityfromlandtheyown andoccupiedfordecades.
Infact,hewaseven chargedforassaultingafew ofthem.Lewis’party,whilst ingovernment,increased land-rentalfeesbyasmuchas 400percentinsomeinstances, placingseverehardshipson manyAfro-Guyanesefarmers withoutevenasqueakofobjectionfromLewis.
Itisthisverygovernment thatreversedthatincrease, inadditiontotheincreases inover200taxesandfees imposedbyhispartywhilst ingovernment,whichbrought untoldsufferingonGuyanese ofallethnicities.
ThisPPP/Cgovernment, ledbyDr.IrfaanAli,has donewaymoreforallGuyanese,inclusiveofAfro-Guyanese,intheshortperiodthat itisinoffice;waymorethan Lewis’partyhasdoneinthe 33yearsithasheldthereins ofgovernment.
Yourssincerely, BrianAzore
SotheSNcandenypublicationofyourviewsonan organisationthatSNfavours bydismissingyourcommentaryasadhominenattacks. CanthelearnedAGandothersadvisemewhatisanad hominenattack?
DISCLAIMER:The viewsandopinionsexpressedinthiscolumnare solelythoseoftheauthor anddonotnecessarily reflecttheofficialpolicy orpositionoftheGuyanaNationalNewspapers Limited.
PresidentAliandthePPP/Chaveestablished freedom,justice,honourandhope
DearEditor,
BOBMarleysang,“Better todiefightingforfreedom thanbeaprisonerallthe daysofyourlife”.Despite gainingindependencefrom GreatBritainin1966to claimsovereignty,Guyana wasdeniedtheblessings ofwhattruedeliverance meanttoberelievedfrom thegraspofthecolonial masters.
Guyaneseendedupinthe clutchesofacallousconniver whomorphedtobecomea corruptedcriminaluntilhis ironicdeathin1985.Buthe becameaniconicsoresight forthosewhothinktheywill survivefromanendinorder toliveforever.
Guyanesehadtoendure tofightaninternalbattleto removethekneeofdespotism fromthenecksofGuyanese, asthetyrannyofthePNC, ledbyBurnham,suffocated
anyhopeofdemocracy.After 28yearsofgruesomePNC hardship,Guyanawasable tobreatheasighofreliefand strivetowardsrecoveryfor thenext23yearsunderthe astuteleadershipofthePPP/C government.J.R.R.Tolkein wrote,“Notallthosewho wanderarelost.”
Dr.CheddiJagan,who wasbanishedfor28years bythePNCto“Banbas”, returnedsuccessfullywith thePPPin1992toreclaim thegovernmentafterwinning themuchchallengingelection in1992.
Amuch-demurredPresidentHoytehadtorescindthe PNC’sruthlessreluctancyand venomousviolence,andcave intotheUS’advicetorecogniseandaccepttheunquestionablewinner(thePPP),as thenewadministrator.
FormerUSPresidentJimmyCarter,himselfledthe
Carterteamtoobservethe electionandtodealwith PNC’s“hooliganism”,asthe PNCPartytooktothestreets ofGeorgetownwiththeir thugsengagedinillegalactivitiestoprotestandpreventDr. JaganandthePPPfrombeing declaredthenewgovernment.
Inthatperilousperiod, HoyteandthePNCwerein thesafetynetofallthearmed forcesandthePPPprotection waspoignantlyprecarious. ButacallfromCarterto hisPresident,GeorgeBush, straightenedthewaveringand intolerablevehemenceofthe diabolicPNC.
Thetextureofemancipationchangedwithadifferent shadeoffreedomin2015 whenGrangerandhisPNC partynarrowlyrecoupedthe governancebywinninga questionableelection,achallengedresultwhichremains unheardinthecourttodate.
From2015to2020,theirasciblePNCparty,absconded fromtheteachingsofMartin LutherKingJr,“Letusnot seektosatisfyourthirstfor freedombydrinkingfromthe cupofbitternessandhatred.”
Instead,theyunleasheda pathofarchaicanimosityand executedaplanofdestruction fromdayone,muchtothe chagrinofGuyanese,especiallythosefromtheirembarrassedconstituents.Crowning themselveswithloyaltyto royalty,theimpoverished PNCbandofimposters,improvisedtheartofdeceit todisfigurethe23yearsof PPP/Cgloriousgainsandto generatethenextfiveyears inglamorousgaloreforonly theboysandgirlsinthePNC Party.Apositivethree-letter potentword,“yes,”fromone oftheirown(nottheirkitand kin),broughtthemtotheir tremblingkneesandback totheircrumblingworld,as theircushionedblanketwas miraculouslyyankedfrom undertheirfirmfeetinDecember2018.
Guyanaiscurrentlyinthe moodforLiberty,Equality andFraternity.Thisstateof mindhasnotchangedthe stagesinceAugust2,2020, whenthePPP/Cgovernment wassworninlegallytolegitimatelymanagetheaffairsof thecountry,afterconvincinglywinningtheGeneraland RegionalElectionsasperthe willofthepeople.
Butthissubtlesubtlety maybecomeunsettled,as, daily,insurgentsinternal-
lyandexternally,attempt totarnishtheimageofthe country,thegovernmentand thepeople.Miscreantsunderminethepeace,progress andprosperityofthepeople andnationbypeddlingfalse information.
Itwasanuphilltaskto winthe2020mother-of-all electionsbecause,theformer PNCGovernmentattempted torigtheelectioninfront theeyesofthewhole,wide worldandevenrefusedto vacatetheirseatsevenaftera recountofthevotesvalidated thePPP/Cvictory.Itwasthe diligenceandvigilanceofan entireinternationalcommunitywhichbroughtthePNCto itsdefeatandorderedthemto dotherightthingbyrespectingthelawandacknowledgingtheirlossbyconceding.
FromdaytwoinAugust 2020,arejuvenated,young andfullycomposedPresident Dr.MohamedIrfaanAli,after beingswornin,hittheground runningandnotwalking, startedworkingandnotskylarking,andbecameproactive andnotpassive.
Withtheconstraintsofa pandemic,provokingpriority, theconsternationofapilfered Treasury,supportingbankruptcy,thecontamination ofapamperedbureaucracy,accruinguneasinessand, thecorruptionofapained PNC,brewingvengeance, theknittedPPP/CExecutive, functionedasaunitedteam determinedtoovercomeall obstaclesandimpediments. Theywerepreparedforthe
worsescenarioasreality slowlybutsurelyunfolded asthedaystocome,wentby.
Manisculpableofmakingmajormistakesandcapableofminimizinginsteadof maximizingmistakes.MahatmaGandhiconfirmed,“Freedomisnotworthhavingifit doesnotincludethefreedom tomakemistakes.”
ThePPP/Cgovernment hasachievedmostoftheir promisesmadeintheir2020 electioncampaign.Their manifestoisalmostexhaustedwithalltheprojectsthey haveaccomplishedintheir 4-yeartransformativeexecutionwhichhascatapulted Guyanatounsurmountable heights,enviedbytherestof theworld.
ThePPP/Chasabstained fromduplicatingthemistakesundertakenbythePNC duringtheirfiveyearsof pompousandbombasticreign ofarrogantirritability.
ThePPP/Chasbeen onthedefenseandnotto offendthenationbyslippingthroughthecracks. Armoredwiththesuiteof resilienceandthetoolof vision,PresidentAliand thePPP/CGovernment havemanagedtoharness theconfidenceofthecountryandwintheworthiness oftheworld,toestablish freedom,justice,honorand hope,asadutifulservant andpatrioticpartytothis nationandthepeople,fora “OneGuyana.”
Yoursrespectfully, JaiLall
Thecornerstoneforpeaceisfoundinfood
ByRattanLal andManuelOtero
GRIMstatisticsareindicativeofthemagnitude oftheglobalproblem: some820millionpeoplesufferfromsevere malnutrition.Another2ger.Some700million peopleliveinextreme poverty,onlessthanUS $2.15aday,whilenearly halfoftheworld’s8bilpovertyonlessthanwhat therestspendonatripto Starbuckseachmorning.
Thisishappeningon thesameplanetthatinsix decadeshasbeenableto increasetheavailabilityof caloriesandproteinby40 percent,despiteanalarmingincreaseinglobalpopulation,aglobalpandemic, andclimatechallenges. Theknowledgeandability exist,ifwearewilling,to facetheseissuesheadon.
Whiletherearemultiplecausesoffoodinsecurityontheplanet,one ispredominant:armed conflict.Thisyear,with 20countriesorterritories plungedintoviolenceor war,nearly140million peoplearemadevulnerabletofoodcrisis.Hunger isaweaponofmassdestructionthatthreatens globalpoliticalinstability.
Nearly300million peoplein60countriesmostofthemsufferingferedacutehungerlast year.Thisastheworld’s governmentstogether spentmorethan$2.4trilliononweapons,equipmentandmilitarypersonnel.
Theincreaseinhunger thefertilisertradefollowingtheoutbreakofwarin EasternEurope,whichacceleratedcostincreasesto bothfarmersandconsumersalmosteverywhere.
farmingandfoodsystems supplychainsextending impactedborders.
Inadditiontofamilies wipeoutlivelihoodsand agri-foodsystems,driving peoplefromtheirhomes andintosituationsofincreasedvulnerability.Wars
nationsintofailures.They eraseprogressinprotectingbiodiversityandthe climate.
Alongwiththeweakeningorcollapseofgovernment,theydestroyagriculture,trustandsocial cooperation;makerural areasmoreinsecure;triggerthecultivationofillicit crops;promoteextortion, violence,forcedmigration andunbridledcompetition fornaturalresources.
Theyalsowipeout farmingcommunities, withtheconsequentlossof knowledgeandknow-how, generatingdependenceon internationalaid.
Twodecadesago, themultilateralsystem calledontheworldto movedecisivelytoreplace thecultureofimposition, dominationandviolence withacultureofencounter,dialogue,conciliation, partnershipandpeace. thiscallmustberenewed again,withfreshrecognitionoftheroleofagrifood systemsasessentialforsocialandpoliticalstability, aswellashumandevelopment,withinaframework ofsustainabilityandglobal co-operation.
Agricultureisthecornerstoneofthissystem, whoseperformanceisstrategicforruralandterrito-
rialdevelopmentandthe well-beingofbothurban andruralpopulations.
Achievementofthe 2030SustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs) adoptedbyworldleaderstoeradicatepoverty,protecttheplanet andensureprosperity arechallenged.They canonlybeachievedby placingagricultureat thetopofpublicagendasandstrengthening itsweakestlink–small farmers–byincreasing theirincomesandfacilitatingtheirproductive andcommercethrough accesstoknowledgeand technology.
Eightypercentofthe poorliveinruralareas anddependlargelyon agriculturefortheirlivelihoods.Mostproduce foodonsmallfarms,many withdegradedsoils.Their roleiscrucialtoworld
agricultureandespecially relevanttothelivelihoods ofmillionsofpeoplein developingcountries.
Itisthesesmallhold farmers-menandwomen-whoproduce65per centoftheworld’srice, aswellasmostofthe
rubberandpalm.Despite theirimportance,their economicviabilityisin
thebalance.Theyhave littlesellingpowerand lowsocialmobility.
Thisvulnerability feedsbackintoconflict andinstability.Forthis
povertyandhungerrequire strategiestomaintainand strengthentheadaptive capacityofsmallfarmers toextremeweatherevents andtoworkresolutely torecoverandmaintain peace.
Itistimetolookat ruralterritoriesasareas ofopportunityandsocial progress.Thisrequires appropriateinstitutional designs,anewgenerationofpublicpoliciesfor familyfarmingandthe facilitationofaccessto digitaltechnologiesand otheradvancementsso farmershavebetteryields andincomes.Thetimeis now.Wordsonpaperare
Tomakeprogress,we needgloballeadersto turnawayfromarmed toprovideresourcesand solutionsthroughglobal co-operativeeffortsto theproblemsassociated withsmall-scaleagriculture,suchaslowyields, poorlinkstothemarket holdsthekeytobuilding aprosperousandpeaceful world.
Mr.LalisDirectorof theRattanLalCarbon ManagementandSequestrationCentre(Lal CarbonCentre)atThe OhioStateUniversity, andthe2020WorldFood PrizeLaureate.Mr.OteroisDirectorGeneral oftheInter-American InstituteforCo-operationonAgriculture.
RattanLal
ManuelOtero
Electoralfraudtrialfurtherpostponedowing tomagistrate’sillness
INyetanothersetbackfortheelectoral fraudtrialconcerningGuyana's2020 GeneralandRegional Elections,proceedings havebeenpostponed untilnextmonthdue toMagistrateLeron Daly’sprolongedillness.
Thetrial,whichwas setforitsfourthhearing onWednesday,August 7,attheGeorgetown Magistrates’Court,has facednumerousdelays sincecommencinglast week.
Unfortunately,the magistrate’scontinued illhealthhasnecessitatedfurtherpostponement,withnewdocumentationforsickleave submittedonTuesday.
King’sCounselDarshanRamdhani,representingthestate,confirmedthatthematter hasbeenrescheduled forSeptember17.
Thelasthearingtook placeonWednesday, July31,whenRamdhaniraisedconcerns overexcludedevidence inthecase.
MagistrateDalyhad adjournedthetrialto August5toallowa thoroughreviewofthe evidenceandcourtrecords.
However,duetothe magistrate'sillness,the hearingwasfirstpostponedtoAugust7,and nowfurtherdelayed.
Thedefendantsin thecaseincludePeople’sNationalCongress/Reform(PNC/R) activistCarolSmith-Joseph;formerHealth MinisterVoldaLawrence;formerChief ElectionOfficerKeith Lowenfield;former DeputyCEORoxanne Myers;andGECOM staffersSheffernFebruary,EnriqueLivan,De-
niseBabb-Cummings, andMichelleMiller.
Theyface19conspiracychargesrelatedtoallegedelectoral fraud.
ItisallegedthatbetweenMarch2,2020, andAugust2,2020, Lowenfield,Myers, andMingo,whilein Georgetown,conspired withtheothersixdefendantsandothersto defraudtheelectorate bydeclaringafalseaccountofthevotescast.
Amongotherthings, itisallegedthatthedefendantsinflatedorfacilitatedtheinflationof resultsforRegionFour, thecountry’slargest votingdistrict,togive theAPNU+AFCcoalitionamajoritywinat theMarch2020polls, when,infact,thePeople’sProgressiveParty/ Civic(PPP/C)hadwon byover15,000votes.
TheAPNU+AFC received171,825votes, whilethePPP/Creceived166,343votes, accordingtoformer CEOLowenfield’s electionreport.
Sincethetrialbegan, ithasbeenmarkedby variousmotionsfrom thedefence.
Attorney-at-Law EusiAndersonhas mademultiplerequests, includingaccesstothe originalStatementsof Poll(SoPs)andadditionalsecuritymeasuresfortheninedefendants.
Andersonalso soughtpermission tovisittheformer GECOMCommand Centre,citingthenecessityofthesesteps forafairtrial.
However,Ramdhani counteredthatthese motionsseemedlike attemptstomanipulate thetrial’stimelineand
togainmediaattention. Keywitnesseshave alreadyprovidedtestimonies,including SoniaParag,Minister ofLocalGovernment, andRosalindRasul,
HeadoftheDiaspora UnitattheMinistryof ForeignAffairs.Rasul,whoservedasan electionobserverfor theAmericanChamber ofCommerce(AM-
CHAM)Guyanaduring the2020elections,is expectedtocontinue hertestimony.
Theprosecution's effortstorecallParag tothewitnessstand withoutimplicatingindividualsnotnamedin theproceedingsremain contentious.
MagistrateDalyindicatedarulingonthis
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Electoralfraudtrialfurtherpostponed...
matterwillbemadeas thetrialproceeds.
Duringhertestimony,Paragrevealedthat ClairmontMingo,formerReturningOfficer forDistrictFour,used spreadsheetsforvote tabulationinsteadof adheringtotheSoPs, despiteChiefJustice RoxaneGeorge’sorders.
Paragrecounted thatonMarch5,2020,
Mingoattemptedto declareresultsbased onincompletedata, leadingtosignificant objections.
TheChiefJustice issuedaninjunction preventingthedeclarationofvoteswithoutpropercompliance withsection84ofthe Representationofthe PeopleAct(RoPA).
Despitetheinjunction,Mingocontinued usingspreadsheets,
promptingfurtherobjectionsfromParagand others.Thetestimony alsohighlightedthe tenseatmosphereatthe GECOMCommand Centre,withMingoand Lawrenceinvolvedin contentiousexchanges.
Theprosecution contendsthatthedefendantsmanipulatedtheelectionresults inRegionFour(Demerara-Mahaica),the country’slargestvoting
district,tofavorthe APNU+AFCcoalition.
Anofficialrecount, conductedunder thesupervisionofa high-levelCaribbean Community(CARICOM)team,confirmedthatthePeople’s ProgressiveParty/Civic (PPP/C)hadwonthe electionbyasignificantmargin.
Initiallysettobegin inearly2024,thetrial hasfacednumerousde-
laysduetoobjections andapplicationsfrom thedefence.
InApril2023,the PresidentialCommissionofInquiry(CoI) intotheeventsofthe 2020GeneralandRegionalElectionsfound thattherewascollusionandcollaboration amongseniorGECOM officialstodivertvotes totheAPNU+AFC insteadofsafeguarding andpreservingtheintegrityoftheelectoral system.
Chairman,Stanley Johnandcommissioners—formerChancellor,CarlSinghandSeniorCounselGodfrey Smith—madethose findingsbasedonevidencefromthemany witnesseswhohadtestified,alongwiththe reportsoftheinternationalobservers.
“…ourinquiryrevealsthattherewere, infact,shockingly brazenattemptsby ChiefElectionOfficer(CEO),Keith Lowenfield,Deputy ChiefElectionOfficer (DCEO),RoxanneMyersandReturningOfficer(RO),Clairmont Mingo,toderailand corruptthestatutorily prescribedprocedure forthecounting,ascertainingandtabulation ofvotesoftheMarch 2ndelection,aswell asthetruedeclaration oftheresultsofthat election,andthatthey didso–toputitinunvarnishedlanguageof theordinaryman–for thepurposeofstealing theelection,”thecommissionerssaidintheir report.
Thereportfound thatLowenfieldblatantlymadedecisions andemployedproceduresindirectcontradictiontothelawand thewillofthepeople. Thefindingsrevealed, too,thatGECOMstaffersignoredspecific instructionsfromthe court,usedmaterials thatwereillegaland/or manipulated,andsidedwithAPNU+AFC agentstoberateobserverswheneverobjectionswereraised.
Aftercarefulscrutiny,theCoIcommissionersconcludedthat therewasaconscious anddeliberate–even brazen–efforttoviolatetheprovisionsof section84(1)ofthe Representationofthe PeopleAct(RoPA).
Insodoing,certain“seniorGECOM officials”abandoned allneedforneutrality andimpartiality,and demonstratedabias fortheAPNU+AFC and,inthecourseof eventsoverthosedays, showedan“openconnection”withthatparty,andbytheirefforts soughtadesiredresult forthecoalition.
Assuch,thecommissionerssaidthat afterconsideration andanalysisofthe evidence,Lowenfield, MingoandMyers “wereprincipallyresponsibleforclear anddeliberateattemptstofrustrate, obstructandsubvert theascertainmentof votesinelectoraldistrictNo.4.”
Steadyasitgoes
ByDavidMorris
NObigbang,butclearcommitmenttofurtherreform andopening-upinpursuitof modernizationgoals.
Theglobaloutlookforthe nextfewyearsisfullofrisk anduncertainty,withsome criticalchallengesincluding bigpowerrivalry,technologicaltransformationandclimate change.
Chinaitselfhasahostof domesticchallenges,too,as itadjuststoaslowerphase ofgrowth,andmustattendto imbalancesandproblemsof transition.Givenitssizeand deepeconomicintegration withmanyothereconomies, howChinarespondstothese challengesisimportantforthe world.
Theoutcomesfromthe recentthirdplenarysessionof the20thCentralCommitteeof theCommunistPartyofChina and,evenmoreimportantly, howtheyaretobeimplemented,willthereforebeeagerly studiedtounderstandthepolicyagendaforChinainthenext fiveyears,asitapproachesthe 80thanniversaryofthePeople'sRepublicofChina.
Thethirdplenumofeach CentralCommitteeisnotable forsettingacourseforfuture significanteconomic,social andotherpolicyreformprogrammes.
Internationalanddomestic observersalikerememberthe signatureimportanceofthe thirdplenumofthe11thCPC CentralCommitteein1978, whichheraldedthebeginning ofChina'shistoricreformand opening-up.
Itistooearlytotellthefull significanceoftherecently concludedthirdplenumofthe 20thCPCCentralCommittee, butsomeimportantmessages wereincludedintheresolution andcommuniquethatcanhelp ustopredictthedirectionof China'sdecision-makingover thenextfiveyears.
Thecommunique'stitle, "DeepeningreformandadvancingChinesemodernisation"indicatesconsistency ratherthananymajorredirectionlikethatin1978.The big-picturegoalsalsoremain unchanged:A"high-standard" socialistmarketeconomyby 2035,anda"greatmodern" socialistcountryby2049,the centenaryofthePRC.
Noneofthisissurprising totheChinesepeople,butit isimportanttoexplaintointernationalaudiencesthatstabilityismuchvaluedinChina, andthatthenatureofChina's politicalsystemisthatreform andmodernisationareusually designedtobeimplemented inapredictable,step-by-step manner,undertheleadership oftheParty.Therewillbeno "bigbang"ofradicalchanges.
Nevertheless,everyoneis lookingforsignsofpragmaticreform.China'seconomy hasaccumulated,andfaces manychallengesfromitssuccessfulhigh-growthphasein recentdecades,whichcreated "unequal,uncoordinatedand unsustainable"development.
Now,Chinamustmanage aslowergrowthphasethat mustbemorebalancedifitis tobesustainable.
Chinaneedslessspeculativerealestatedevelopment
andmoreproductiveinvestmentintheindustriesofthe future.
Itneedstomanageademographicchallengeofa decliningworkforcewhile ensuringthereareenough new,well-paidjobs,asnew technologieseliminatesome oftheoldlow-paidjobs.
Itiswidelyconsidered thatChinaneedstomove fromaninvestment-ledtoa demand-ledmodel,ifitisto escapetheso-calledmiddle-incometrap,tospreadthebenefitsofgrowthmorewidely.
Thismeansanewemphasisonproductivityratherthan simplyproductionatallcosts, qualityoverquantity.Italso meansincentivisingdomestic consumptionofthegoods andservicesbeingproduced, includingwithbettersocial protectiontoraisepeople's confidencetospend.
Amoreactiveagendaof centrally-directedreformcan beexpectedoverthenextfive yearstomanagemarketrisks infinanceandothersectors, aswellastomanagepublic sectorriskssuchaslocalgovernmentdebt,whileexpectationsarehighforhukou,or householdregistration,reform andothermeasurestoaddress theurban-ruraldivide.
Thereisacommitmentto givethemarketmechanism "betterplay",andtocreate"a fairerandmoredynamicmarketenvironment".Howsuch aspirationsareimplemented willbecloselywatchedby foreigninvestors.
Therehasbeenaslowing offoreigninvestmentinChina,influencedbymanyfac-
tors,includingslowerChinese growth,diversificationtoother emergingmarkets,andalsoin responsetoanincreasingrole oftheStateinthemarket.
Giventheprivilegedlocal roleforsomeinefficientStateownedenterprises,internationalbusinessandChina'sprivate sectorinnovatorsarekeenly lookingforsignsofalevel playingfield,atleastinthose sectorsinwhichtheprivate sectorisdemonstrablymore innovative.
Oneoftheclearestsignalsfromthethirdplenumof China'snewprioritiesisthe centralroleof"newgrowth drivers"forhigher-productivityeconomicactivitytoreplace lower-valueproduction.We canexpectChinatodouble downonitspushforinnovationinnewtechnologies, andthefurtherdigitisationof industryandservices.These gohand-in-handwithChina'spushfora‘green’and low-carbontransition.Itisalso inresponsetoUSattempts topreventChina'saccessto high-endsemiconductorsfor itsdevelopmentofartificial intelligence.
Domestic-driveninnovationintechnologieswilllikely seetransformativechangesin howgoodsareproducedand howservicesaredelivered, withgreaterefficiencyand lowerenvironmentalimpact. China'sinvestmentinrenewableenergy,electricvehicles andnewbatterytechnolo-
giesaredemonstratinghow tomakedevelopmentsustainable.
ThetransitiontoEVsisthe mostevidentchangeintoday's China,withnewenergyvehiclesaccountingforalmosthalf ofnewcarsales,andmorenew productiveandgreenerinnovationscanbeexpectedinthe future,particularlyifprivate sectorinnovationisenabled andnotstifledbyregulation. Givenitsscaleandadvantages,Chinawillseektoleadthe worldintheseindustriesof thefuture.
Therewasalsoaninterestingcommitmentmadeat thethirdplenumtoimproving themechanismsforhigh-qualitycooperationundertheBelt andRoadInitiative,through whichChinahasstimulated$1 trillionworthofinfrastructure connectivitybutofvarying qualityandlocalgovernance.
Modernisationisabout morethaneconomicdevelopmentandenvironmental sustainability.Thethirdplenumcommittedto"ignitethe culturalcreativityoftheentire nation".Chinahasunique culturalassetstonurtureand develop,andcanequallybe enrichedbymoreinternationalculturalexchangesinboth directions.
Let'shopemodernization canthereforeincludeahealthy exchangeofcontemporaryart, musicandotherculture,which cancontributetocross-civilisationaldialogue,respectand
understanding.
Modernisationmustalso meanpeacefuldevelopment, andobserverswillwelcome thethirdplenum'spledgethat Chinaremainscommittedto aforeignpolicyofpeaceand aimedatbuildinganinternationalcommunitywitha sharedfuture.
ThenewChineseinitiatives,theGlobalDevelopment Initiative,theGlobalSecurity InitiativeandtheGlobalCivilizationInitiative,willallbe judgedbytheworldonthe contributiontheymaketo peace,developmentandunderstanding,atatimewhenweall needmoreofeach.
Ofcentralimportance, thethirdplenumreiterated thecommitmenttofurther openingtotheoutsideworld andpromotingreformthrough opening-up,whichrecognises thishasbeenafundamentally importantpartofChina'smodernsuccessstory.
TheworldoutsideChina willwelcomeopeningand reformthatisconsistentwith globalrulesdevelopedthrough theWorldTradeOrganisation, widelypursuedinternational normsandthatbringsallroundbenefitstoChinaaswell asitsinternationalpartners. (ChinaDailyGlobal)
Theauthorisaformer Australiandiplomatand vice-chairoftheUnitedNationsSustainableBusiness NetworkfortheAsia-Pacific region.
Guyanarecordsincreaseinriceproduction
THEGuyanaRice DevelopmentBoard (GRDB)isalready surpassingitshalf-
yeartargetfor2024 duetothesteadfast implementationofadditionalstrategiesand
programmeswithin theMinistryofAgriculture. Thiswasrevealed
onTuesdaybyMinisterZulfikarMustapha.Duringthefirst quarterofthisyear,the GRDBreportedthat
Theministerwas speakingattheclosingceremonyofthe drone-technologyprogrammeattheGrand
over360,000tonnes ofricehavebeenproduced,accordingtothe minister.
CoastalInn,EastCoast Demerara.
TheGRDBhasset itsentire2024target forriceproductionat approximately710,000 tonnes.
“Forthefirsthalf oftheyear,wehave alreadysurpassedour targetandweachieved aproductionof362,030 tonnes,”MinisterMustaphasaid.
Productionhasalso increasedincrementally duringtheyears2022 and2023.In2022, 610,000tonnesofrice wasproduced,while 653,710tonneswas producedin2023.
“Whenwelookat thericeindustry,we areseeingalsoalotof revenuecomingin… Forexample,in2023, itbroughtinUS$212 million.Fortheyear, almostUS$127million hasalreadybeengeneratedbythisindustry,” theministerrecounted.
TheGRDBisalreadytargeting750,000 tonnesby2025.With theprogressiveincrease inriceproduction,the ministerforeseesthat thetargetwillbemet.
Additionally,between2020and2024 (firstcrop),therice yieldhasincreased from5.9tonnesper hectaretoapproximately6.6tonnesperhectare.
Itmeansthatafarmerin2020harvested38 bagsofriceperacre andin2024isgetting 41bagsperacre.
“Thiscameabout becauseoftheinvestmentthatthegovernmenthasbeenmaking intheagriculturesector, especiallyinthericeindustry,”theagriculture ministerstressed.
Overthelastfour years,farmershave witnessedalmostnine high-yieldingricevarietiesbeingreleasedfor commercialproduction, whichhavesinceboostedriceproductivityand sustainability.
Thelatestvariety ofricetobelaunched wasthebiofortified rice.Itwaslaunched lastyearduringthe AgriInvestmentForumandExpo,incollaborationwiththe Inter-AmericanInstituteforCooperation onAgriculture(IICA). Thishigh-yieldingrice attractspreferential priceswithinthemarket.
NandPersaudGrouppartnerswith FAWTRUCKSfornewlocalventure
NANDPersaudGroup,a well-establishedlocalconglomerate,hasannounced itscollaborationwith FAWTRUCKS,aleading manufactureroflight, medium,andheavy-duty trucks.
Thispartnershipwillsee theintroductionofFAW TRUCKSintotheGuyanesemarket,markingasignificantmilestoneforboth thelocalconglomerateand theglobalmanufacturer.
Accordingtoapress release,thepartnershipis aclearreflectionofFAW TRUCKS'growthstrategy. asthecompanycontinuouslyworkstoincreaseits globalreach,andtapinto newmarkets.
ForNandPersaud Group,thispartnershipis atestamenttotheircommitmenttobringingworldclassproductsandservices tothelocalmarket,andto contributetothegrowthof Guyana'seconomy.
Inreadinessforthis venture,NandPersaud GrouphasinvestedanimpressiveUS$10million ininventory,showcasing theirconfidenceintheFAW TRUCKSbrand.FAW TRUCKSisknownforits heavy-dutycomponents thatcaneasilyhandleheavy loadsandroughterrains.
NandPersaudGroup,awell-establishedlocal conglomerate,hasannounceditscollaboration withFAWTRUCKS,aleadingmanufacturerof light,medium,andheavy-dutytrucks
Withpropermaintenance,FAWTRUCKSoffersmanyyearsofservice, providingbusinesseswith along-termvalueproposition.
TheFAWlineisrecognisedforitsreliability, durability,fuelefficiency,andversatility,making themsuitableforvarious applications.Withanideal advantageintheconstructionandagriculturalindustry,thelocaldealerhasalso mademajorinvestmentsin unitsfortheoilsector.
Thesetankershaverecordedremarkablesuccessinthelocalmarket.
TheintroductionofFAW TRUCKSintotheGuyanesemarkethasalready seenapositiveresponse, withNandPersaudGroup reportingstrongsalesand positivefeedback.This earlysuccesssuggestsa brightfuturefortheFAW TRUCKSbrandinGuyana.
Thispartnership betweenNandPersaudGroupandFAW TRUCKSisastrategic movethatpromisesto bringasignificantboost tothelocaleconomyand markinganeweraforthe country'stransportation andlogisticssector.
PareshramisnewheadofGPF’sStrategicPlanningUnit
THEGuyanaPolice Force(GPF),onTuesday,announcedseveral changesinitscommandstructuretofurandbuildcapacity.
Inthisregard,the
followingseniorofficerswerepostedaccordingly:Assistant CommissionerKhali PareshramasHeadof theStrategicPlanning Unit(SPU);SeniorSuperintendentMichael
KingstonasCommanderofRegional PoliceDivision4‘C’; andWomanSuperintendentNicolaKendall asHeadofStrategic Implementationfor PoliceReform.
AssistantCommissioner KhaliPareshram
SeniorSuperintendent MichaelKingston
WomanSuperintendent NicolaKendall
Policedestroy$3.8MworthofcannabisinBerbiceRiver
THEpoliceinRegionalDivision#10recently conductedasuccessful “eradicationexercise” betweenWiruniandSt. LustintheBerbiceRiver, duringwhichacannabis farmwasfoundanddestroyed.
AccordingtotheGuyanaPoliceForce,thefarm wasapproximatelythree acresinsize,withplants rangingfromfourfeetto sixfeet.
Atotalof12,500plants
withanaverageweight of27,500kilogrammes andwithastreetvalueof $3,875,531werefoundand destroyed.
Therewasalsoanurserywithabout25,200 plantsandabout140 poundsofdriedcannabis.
Twomakeshiftcamps equippedwithfourhammocks,kitchenutensils andaquantityofgrocerdestroyed,alongwiththe cannabisplants.
NewLakeville HealthCentreto servecloseto1,200 Mahaicaresidents
THEMinisterofHealth, DrFrankAnthony,accompaniedbytheMinisterofLocalGovernment andRegionalDevelopment,SoniaParag,commissionedtheDistrict No.10LakevilleHealth CentreinRegionFive.
Thisfacilityisexpectedtobenefitpersonswithinthecommunityand surroundingareas.The newlyconstructedhealth centre,valuedat$46million,isfullyequippedto serveapproximately1,200 residentsinDeHoopand neighbouringvillagesin Mahaica-Berbice.
Duringhisremarks, MinisterAnthonysaidthat thegovernmentisworking toprovidebetterhealthcare,education,andother servicestoimprovelives ofallGuyanese.
Theministerrelated thattheHealthMinistryis trainingmedicalpersonnel withincommunitiesto
serveintheirrespective regions.
"Theseprogrammes arehereforpeopletoenroll.Wehavemanyprogrammesavailable,but weneedpeopletocome forwardandbetrained," hesaid.
TheMinisterofLocal GovernmentandRegionalDevelopmentsaidthat whiletheinfrastructure isnecessary,itisalsoimportanttohavequality servicefromthehuman resourcepersonnelinthe facilities.
"Whilethenecessary infrastructureishere,the servicedeliveryisequally important,"shenoted.
Alsoinattendance wereVickchandRamphal,RegionalChairmanRegionFive;Faisal Jaffarally,Memberof Parliament;DrTheresa Sarju,RegionalHealth Officer;LakeramMarianDoneroftheland
andresidentswithinthe community.
Capoeyisa tourismfrontrunner
ByIndrawattieNatram
CAPOEYhasbeenhighlightedbyMinisterOneidgeWalrond,theMinister ofTourism,Industry,and Commerce,asaleading tourismdestinationin RegionTwo.Thissuccess isattributedtoinnovative initiativessuchasthecage fishprojectandblackwaterresorts.
Thisintegrationofagricultureandtourismaligns seamlesslywiththeMinistry’svision,andtheGuyana
willshowcasethenatural beautyandculturalrichnessofCapoey,Tapakuma, andMainstaycommunities. KamrulBaksh,Directorof theGTA,praisedCapoey’s stunningnaturalattractions, suchasitsblackwaterand savannah.Heannounced upcomingtrainingsessions inmixology,housekeeping, andguestexperiencemanagement,alldesignedto elevatethelocaleco-lodge andensureexceptionalservice.RegionalChairperson, VilmaDeSilva,encouraged
TheCapoeymission
TourismAuthority(GTA) standsreadytosupport localentrepreneurs,communitieswithitsextensive expertise.
MinisterWalrond'svisitwasafollow-upvisit toVicePresidentBharrat Jagdeo’svisittotheregion. DuringVP’svisit,many peoplerequestedtourism training.MinisterWalrond emphasisedthattheGTA offersspecialisedtraining andguidancetoensurevisitorshaveamemorableand comfortableexperience.
Shehighlightedtheimportanceoftourismdiversification,notingthatagricultureandsportsarenow integralcomponentsofthe tourismstrategy.
PasttrainingprogrammesinRegionTwo, includingthosefortour guidesandculinaryarts, havealreadyelevatedthe touristexperience.Capoeyissettobenefitfrom arangeofnewinitiatives incomingweeksaimed atenhancingvisitorexperiences.TheGTAwill conductathoroughassessmenttoidentifyspecific needsinthearea.Additionally,aconsultanthasbeen appointedtodevelopthe EssequiboCircuit,which
Capoeyresidentstounite intheireffortstoenhance localtourism,recognising itspotentialasasignificant economicdriverforthe region.
ToshaoWendyFrancis expresseddeepgratitude fortheMinistry’ssupport anddetailedongoinginfrastructureimprovements, fundedbytheGovernment ofGuyanaandthecommunity’sLCDfund.Residents, whohavealreadybenefittedfromprevioustraining programmes,areeagerto continuedevelopingtheir community’stourismofferings.Capoeyispoised tobecomeapremiertourist destination,withitsunique blendofnaturalbeauty, culturalheritage,andcommunity-driveninitiatives. Visitorscanlookforward toanenrichingexperience, steepedinthecharmand hospitalitythatCapoeyhas tooffer.
Residentsbenefitted fromtrainingsbefore andareverythankful totheMinistryforsuch trainings.Aresident,Avi White,saidthatshewill beworkingtoenhance cultureinhercommunity too.
NobelAbregosettoridein...
thenewlyimportedNova SolatRisingSunTurfClub onSundayAugust11inthe featurerace.
NovaSolisnowowned byGuyana’snewesthorse owner,JermaineSripal,a renownedbusinessman.
Abregoisnostrangerto GuyanaCup,ashefeatured inthiseventinrecentyears.
“Guyana’sracinghas improvedplenty(alot),” Abregosaid.
OwnerofNovaSol,SripalhadindicatedattheGuyanaCupdrawingandpress conferencethatheisexcited tofeatureinthisprestigious runningofthe16thGuyana Cup.
Whileheisinexperiencedasanowner,hishorse willbetrainedbytheinfluentialNasrudeenMohamed Jr.Sripalwhoisalsothe ownerofSpankhurst,Guyana’stophorseforlastyear, remainsconfidentofagood showingatGuyanaCupfor
hishorse,NovaSol.
Thefeatureraceforthis GuyanaCupwillhave12 horses,mostlynewlyimportedhorses.
Withthisyear’sGuyana Cuppursebeingthebiggest intheCaribbean,horses fromvariouscountrieswill becompelledtotravelto Guyanaandbattleforsupremacy.
RisingSunTurfClub willbetransformedintoan electrifyingatmospherefor theentirefamily,wherekids willbetreatedtoafunpark andfanswillbethrilledto greatvibeswhentheDJ competitiontakescentre
stageaftertherace. Racetimeis12:00hours localtimeatRisingSun. Horsesenteredandgate positionsforGuyanaCup featureeventareasfollow: 1.Stat 2.Bossalina 3.LoyalCompany 4.BeckhamJames 5.JohnBull 6.OlympicKremlin 7.NovaSol
IRISHRACINGTIPS SLIGO
12:00hrsJupiterRock 12:30hrsBeechwood 13:00hrsLastEncore 13:32hrsGloriously Glam 14:02hrsI'mSpartacus 14:32hrsSaxonLand
AMERICANRACING TIPS SARATOGA Race1ZarakThe Brave Race2WillNotBe Swayed Race3Rider'sSpecial Race4Itsallcomintogetha Race5SpeedyTraveler Race6BackstreetRose
SOUTHAFRICARACINGTIPS GREYVILLE 13:45hrsPetitVerdat
09:20hrsSpellingBee 10:00hrsWinter Games 10:35hrsLucrative
ENGLISHRACING TIPS BRIGHTON 09:25hrsNightOn Earth 09:55hrsNelsonRose 10:25hrsHawajes 10:55hrsDreamOf Mischief 11:25hrsClearJustice 11:55hrsAdace KEMPTON 12:23hrsEllomate 12:55hrsYaroogh 13:25hrsArabianLight 13:55hrsSword 14:25hrsSeaJustIn Time
14:55hrsAliAgleam 15:25hrsHeathcliff 15:55hrsWarmonger
(JamieSmith)effected?
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INabidtoensurethat playerscontinuetoreap therewardsofcompeting inthesecondseasonofthe KaresOneGuyanaT10 TapeballBlast,FLSport hasuppedthestakesfor thequarter-finalssetfor Sunday,August11,atthe EnmoreCommunityCentreGround,EastCoast Demerara.
Additionally,theorganisersindicatedthatdueto unforeseencircumstances andbasedondiscussions withsponsors,thefinalsand CricketForCharitymatchinvolvingPresident,DrIrfaan Alihasbeenbroughtforward
toSaturday,August24.
“In2023,westatedwe wanttoensurewegiveback moretoplayersandfans,and thisyear,wehaveincreased alloftheprizesandadded aheftyquarter-finalpayout. Eachoftheeightteamsat Enmorewillberewarded,” JohnRamsingh,Directorof FLSport,stated.
AccordingtoRamsingh, eachofthefourwinnerswill pocket$100,000whileeach loserwillget$30,000,for atotalpayoutof$520,000, sponsoredbytheMinistryof Culture,YouthandSport.
Heelaboratedthat,at minimum,eachoftheseeight
teamswillregainitsentrance feeof$25,000,whilethe winnerwillreceiveanearly bonus.
Eachofthelosing semi-finalistsonAugust24 willtakehome$250,000, complimentsofPremierInsurance.
Second-place–$500,000 fromSuperBetGuyana,and thewinnerpockets$1.5M fromStarRentals.
Moreso,playerswillvie forthetitlesofMostRuns, MostWickets,andPlayerof
theFinal.Eachwinnerwill receiveaSmartTVanda $75,000cashprize,complimentsofRegalStationery andComputerCentre.
AssuriaInsurancewill presentamotorbike,and $85,000willgototheMost ValuablePlayer.
THE22ndEditionof theAlbionCommunityCentreCricket Club’sCricketAcademyissettocommence onMonday,August 12,2024),attheAlbionCommunityCentre’sMainHallandat theJaiHindCricket Ground.
Over60young cricketersbetweenthe agesof8and17are expectedtoparticipateinthesix(6)days academy,sponsored byConnecticut,USA’s businessmanNizul HussainofNortheast ConnecticutRenovationandRetailersPropertyManagement.
Hussain,aswashbucklingopeningbatsmanwhorepresented theClubatalllevels overtheyears,priorto
THEcountdownison fortheinauguralPresidentGames,settoignitetheNationalGymnasiumthisweekend. ThebrainchildofPresident,DrIrfaanAli,the eventpromisesintense competitionasteams fromacrossthecountry vieforthecovetedOne Guyanatrophy.
ItwillbringoverG$3.4M beingdistributedincash prizes.
Thequarter-finalmatchesareTeamCorruptionvs MontraJaguarsat09:30hrs; TarmacTitansvsMahdiaat 11:30hrs;TitansAll-Stars vsTheGuardsat13:30hrs; andBrooklynYouthStrikersvsDiamondGunnersat 15:30hrs.
TheKaresOneGuyana T10Blastalsoenjoysthe supportofKaresEngineering,BanksDIHLimited, MontraRestaurantand Lounge,DemeraraMu-
Additionally,$100,000 willbesplitequallybetween theKawasakiSuperStriker ofthetournament(player withthehigheststrikerate— minimumof12balls)and theMostEconomicalbowler (lowesteconomyrate—minimumof24balls).
himmigratingtothe UnitedStatesofAmerica(USA),hassponsoredtheacademyfor thethirdstraightyear tothevalueofover $300,000.00.
Sessionswillbeheld dailyfrom08:30hours
to15:00hours.
Themorningsessions,whichwillbe heldattheAlbion CommunityCenter’s MainHall,willcompriselectures/discussionsontheimportance ofeducation,disci-
pline,publicspeaking, substanceabuse,health andsafety,motivation, andthelawsofcricket, amongothers.Inthe afternoon,becauseof theongoingworksbeingdoneattheAlbion Ground(resurfacingof
theoutfield),thesessionswillbeheldatthe JaiHindsCricketClub whereparticipantswill beexposedtothefundamentalsofthegame ofcricket.
FormerWestIndiesopeningbatsman
tual,ETS,MetroOffice andComputerSupplies, Jacobs’Jewellery,Digital Technology,FirstChange BuildersInc,KFCGuyana, Hoosein’sSecurityServices, NEWGPCInc.,Building Expo2024,GiftlandOfficeMax,Sankar’sAutoWorks, ENet,AvinashContracting andScrapMetalInc.,TrophyStall,ANSAMcALDistribution,Camille’sAcademy,R.KissonContracting Service,MinistryofHuman ServicesandSocialSecurity,RS53RestoBarand Lounge,SamarooInvestments,andCoel’sBoutique.
SewnarineChattergoon,theClub’sHead Coachandoneofsix (6)testcricketersproducedbyAlbionlead theacademy’scoachingstaff,whichalso includestwootherAlbionandWestIndies cricketersDevendra BishooandVeerasammyPermaulalong withZameerKhanand theexperienceFabian Naiken,whowillbe travellingfromCanada tojointhecoaching team.
Severalprominent nationalcoachesare alsoexpectedtoconductspecialisedsessions.
TheClub’sAdministrativeOffice –SimonNaiduisthe ChiefCoordinatorof theAcademy.
SixsportstobattleitoutatinauguralPresidentGames
Thetwo-dayshowdown,bankrolledby thegovernmentandorganisedbytheMinistry ofCulture,Youthand Sport,willfeatureaction insixdisciplines:tennis, volleyball,badminton, futsal,tabletennis,and squash.Whilesquashenthusiastswillhavetowait untilSeptember,owingto
theupcomingSeniorCaribbeanChampionships, theothersportsaresetto delivernon-stopexcitement.
Formanyoftheparticipatingassociations, thePresidentGames serveadualpurpose: talentidentificationand tournamentpreparation.
TheGuyanaBadmin-
tonAssociation,forinstance,isgearingupfor theCAREBACOJunior tournamentinArubalater thismonthandwillfield ateamintheteamformat atthePresidentGames. Similarly,theVolleyballAssociationisusing theeventasaspringboardfortheirUnder-19 andseniorteams,with
formidablecontingents fromBerbiceandDemerara.
DavidFernandes, headoftheGuyana SquashAssociation, emphasisedthecharacter-buildingbenefits ofcompetitionandhow eventssuchasthese contributetodeveloping well-roundedathletes.
Giventhetightscheduleandsharedvenue,the sportsgoverningbodies haveoptedforshortened formatswherenecessary. Astheopeningwhistleapproaches,anticipationisbuildingfor whatpromisestobea thrillingshowcaseof Guyanesesportingtalent.
InsyncTherapeuticstohosthighperformancesummitnextmonth
LOCALcompanyInsyncTherapeuticsis settohostahigh-performancesummitnext monthwhichwillfeature someofthebestprofessionalsintheworldof physiotherapyandelite performance.
Someofthespeakersincludeformerlead academyphysiotherapist atManchesterCityFC ScotMcallister,DrRene Best,ChiefMedicalOfficeratCaribbeanPremier League,andJohnGloster, headphysiotherapistat theIndianPremierLeague (IPL)sideRajasthanRoyals.
Alsolineduptogive insightareGrantDownie consultantinmedicaland performancesolutions, DrPraimanandSingh consultantinemergency medicineandlecturerin sportsmedicineandMartinGallyerstrengthand conditioningcoach.
InsyncTherapeutics co-founderNeilBarryJr saystheeventwillbea
multidisciplinaryconversationonoptimalhuman performancethroughadvancedphilosophyand techniques.
“Thisisgoingtobe groundbreaking,notjust forathletesbutideally thisismeanttostarta conversationaroundthe elementsofhighperfor-
manceandyouwillgeta chancetolistentosome premierprofessionalin theworldthatworkin highperformance,”Barry said.
Theeventscheduled forSeptember29this gearedtowardspersons workingwithhighlevel athletesaswellasbusi-
nesspartners,doctorsand therapistsamongothers.
BarrywhohasaMaster’sDegreeinsportsand exerciseandhasworked withmanynationaland internationalsporting teams,saidthatwhile thesummitiscateredto athletes,anyoneinterested inhighperformancecan
registerfortheevent.
“Thisisnotjustfor athletesbuthighperformingindividuals;people needtobehighperformersinalltheirspheres.We haveareallygoodsegmentfordoctorsaround thingslikediagnosticimagingandthatcanreally helptochangethewaywe
lookathowtoassesspain andthenstarttomove thingsforward,”Barry added.
Theformernational athletesaysthisishis team’swayoflending supporttohighperformancesportsinGuyana, noting,“Wewanttoreally helpGuyanamoveforward.Inmyownexperience,havingbeenaround worldandworkingatthe highestlevelofmultiple sportsandtheothermembersofourteamaswell, wefeelit’sveryimportant tosharesomeofourexpertisewiththelocalpopulationandbeableshare someofournetwork.”
TheinauguralSummitissettobehosteda NewProvidenceGardens withregistrationcosting US$100.
Insynctherapeuticsis alocalpainmanagement andperformancesolutioncompanyco-foundedbyAngelicaHolder andBarryJnr.
GFFupscalesrefereepoolthroughFIFAMemberAssociationCourse
TheGuyanaFootballFederation(GFF)hasannouncedthesuccessful completionoftheFIFA MemberAssociation trainingcourseformatch officials,heldfromAugust1to5attheGFF NationalTrainingCentre inProvidence,EastBank Demerara.
Thismilestonenotonly enhancestheGFF’spoolof skilledrefereesbutalsosignifiesamajorstepforward inthedevelopmentoffootballofficiatingstandards acrossthenation.
Therigoroustraining program,fundedbyFIFA andintegraltotheglobal
MemberAssociation(MA) course,aimstoelevatethe refereeingskillstothehighestlevels.
Overthepastfive days,twenty(20)participantsfromvariousregions throughoutGuyana—spanningfromremoteareasto urbancentres—immersed themselvesinanintensive curriculumdesignedtorefinetheirexpertiseandapplicationofthelatestFIFA LawsoftheGamefor20242025.
Duringtheclosingceremony,LenvalPeart,Head RefereeoftheGFFnoted, “Guyanahascapitalisedon thisFIFA-fundedinitiative,
whichbringselitetraining toourshores.Givenour geographicallandscape, we’vehadparticipantsfrom variousregionsofGuyana, includingthosewhomay notbeconsideredelitebut weregiventheopportunitytoexperienceahigherstandardofrefereeing. Thisexposureiscrucialfor ourdevelopment,especiallyconsideringthelimited numberofeliterefereeswe currentlyhave.”Henoted thatbygraduating20new referees,theGFFissignificantlyexpandingitspool ofofficiatingtalent.This programhasprovidedthe refereeswithinvaluablein-
sightsandadvancedknowledge,enhancingtheirability tomanagefootballmatches withgreaterprecisionand authority.
Theelitetrainingcourse featuredinstructionfrom renownedinternationalrefereeingexperts,whoshared theirextensiveexperience andin-depthunderstanding ofthelatestmodifications totheFIFALawsofthe Game(LoG).Theseexperts workedcloselywithlocal instructors,whothenpassed onthisadvancedknowledge totheparticipants.Thiscollaborativeapproachensures thatthenewestupdates infootballregulationsare
thoroughlycommunicated andintegratedintolocal officiatingpractices.
Althoughthisprogram istailoredforrefereesat anadvancedlevel,italso servesadualpurposeoftalentidentification.“Thisis notanintroductorycourse fornewrefereesbutistailoredforthosewhoarealreadyatanadvancedlevel. Eachyear,ithelpsusspot talentthatcanbeconsidered forfuturenominations,” Peartexplained.
TheGFF’sdedication torefereedevelopmentis apartofourbroadercommitmenttoenhancingthe overallqualityoffootball
inGuyana.Byinvestingin theprofessionalgrowthof referees,theGFFnotonly improvesthestandardsof officiatingbutalsocontributestotheintegrityand fairnessoffootballmatches acrossthecountry.This programisacriticalcomponentoftheFederation’s ongoingeffortstosupport andadvancethesportat everylevel.
TheFederationlooks forwardtoseeingthese newlytrainedofficialsapplytheirskillsonthefield andcontributetothecontinuedgrowthandsuccess offootballinthenation.
AngelicaHolder,InsyncTherapeutics co-founder
Neil-Barry,InsyncCo-founder
NobelAbregosettoridein GuyanaCupfeature
PANAMANIANjockey
NobelAbregoisallsetto rideinthefeatureevent ofthe16thrunningofthe
GuyanaCup. Thishistoricalfeature event,whichhasapurseof G$11,625,000,willseethe
tophorseclaimingthechampionshiptagasGuyana’s tophorseandawhooping sumofapproximatelyG$6
million. Theexperiencedjockey, Abregoisexpectedtopilot
JockeyNobelAbregowithNovaSolduringanexercising session
