PRESIDENT Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has made it clear that his government’s success is not rooted in financial wealth but in the fundamental principle of serving humanity.
The Department of Public Information (DPI) noted that the Guyanese leader stressed that a defining hallmark of the PPP/C Administration is to ensure its actions produce results that would significantly benefit every citizen countrywide.
“The teachings of this great faith which entails
serving humanity is the principle through which this government operates. Ensuring that people are the core of everything we do,” the Head of State emphasised while attending a service in observance of Navratri on Saturday, at the Better Hope Mandir, East Coast Demerara.
He said through strong faith, his government has been able to achieve various important goals for Guyanese.
“I am pleased to be able to lead a government that is working every single day for the upliftment
of humanity, so that your children can have a better future and the older folks in our society can have greater benefits,” the president stated.
As a result, Guyanese must seek to distill the negative thoughts that may come their way during these times, since they create a lot of challenges.
“Negativity is something that must be overcome not only by personal growth or personal strength but also by knowledge. That is why coming out during this period is important,” President Ali
said.
He noted that when persons become more knowledgeable about their environment and serious about their faith, this allows them to be better human beings.
To this end, the president encouraged the members present at the mandir to become more intertwined with their beliefs and live according to the scriptures of their “holy book.”
With a unified society, the Head of State believes that challenges become easier.
– says serving humanity is driving success
President Ali on Saturday attended a service in celebration of Navratri, at the Better Hope
GUYANESE Gospel musician, Samuel Medas has been named Caribbean Artiste of the Year at the Sterling Gospel Music Award held in Jamaica over the weekend.
“I’m humbled. Thank you so much to all who had a hand in this, and congratulations to my other brothers who were nominated in this category,” Medas wrote in
brief statement on his social media platforms.
‘For King and Country,” he added.
In a July interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Medas had shared some of his most recent successes, particularly about his growth on social media and the role it has played in pushing his music beyond the Caribbean.
“All of this music I have been doing over the years suddenly kicked off for some reason. I think social media has a lot to do with it. I just started chopping up my videos and making them as reels so I can upload them. I didn’t even like Tik Tok but it is really the breathing ground for artist discovery. That’s what shifted everything,” he explained.
A STATE of emergency has been declared in parts of Florida as a hurricane barrels towards the already-ravaged Gulf Coast.
The National Hurricane Centre confirmed that Milton -- currently off the coast of Mexico -- had intensified into a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday and could pose “life-threatening hazards” for parts of Florida’s west coast.
It comes just 10 days after Storm Helene -- the deadliest mainland storm since Katrina in 2005 -tore through the southeast, killing at least 225 people, with hundreds still missing.
In Florida, where Helene left at least 14 dead, Governor Ron DeSantis issued the emergency warning for 35 counties and said preparations were under way to restore power and clear roads ahead of Milton’s arrival.
On Sunday, Milton had maximum sustained winds of 80mph (130km/h).
“There is increasing confidence that a powerful hurricane with life-threatening hazards will be affecting portions of the Florida west coast around the middle of this week,” the Hurricane Centre said.
Heavy rain was expected in the region from Sunday into Monday,
Preparations are under way, with residents filling sandbags ahead of the storm
with more rain and strong winds on Tuesday and Wednesday night.
Rainfall could be between 5-8in (127-203mm) across the Florida Penin-
sula and the Keys, with some areas receiving up to 12in (304mm), which could bring a risk of flash flooding and minor-to-moderate river flooding for parts of the west coast, the centre said.
The new hurricane comes as the clean-up efforts from Helene could take years, according to the US government.
While a large proportion of the deaths occurred in North Carolina, others have been recorded in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Hundreds of roads remain closed, hampering efforts to send aid to hardhit communities.
Helene, which made landfall as a category-four hurricane, damaged structures, caused flash flooding and knocked out power to millions of homes. (BBC)
HAITIAN Prime Minister
Garry Conille embarked on a trip to the United Arab Emirates and Kenya on Saturday to seek security assistance in the aftermath of one of deadliest gang attacks in the Caribbean nation in recent years.
Haiti is reeling after members of the Gran Grif gang stormed through the town of Pont-Sonde in the western Artibonite region early on Thursday, killing at least 70 people, including infants, and forcing over 6,000 residents to flee.
The massacre caused widespread shock even in a country that has grown accustomed to outbreaks of violence, and where the national police force is outgunned and understaffed.
“As you can see, we are being attacked on several fronts,” Conille said in a press conference before the trip.
Last week, the U.N. Security Council authorised for another year an international security force that is intend-
ed to help local police fight gangs and provide law and order.
So far, the mission has made little progress helping Haiti restore order with only about 400 mostly Kenyan police officers on the ground.
“One of the aims of this trip is to go to Kenya to discuss with President Ruto how we can speed up the deployment of remnants of the Kenyan troops as quickly as possible to continue supporting the national police force,” Conille said.
Conille said he would discuss with his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates
“how we can find regular flows to help the Haitian national police to combat security.”
On Friday, Conille, flanked by heavily armed police, visited patients at a hospital who were being treated for injuries from Thursday’s attack. He promised reinforcements were en route from the capital, Portau-Prince.
A spokesperson for Haiti’s national police told
Reuters on Friday evening that the director of police in charge of the Artibonite department had been replaced.
Gran Grif is the largest gang in Haiti’s Artibonite department, according to security analysts. The region is home to many of Haiti’s rice fields.
The gang’s leader Luckson Elan said the attack was in retaliation for civilians remaining passive while police and vigilante groups killed his soldiers.
These recent killings were the latest sign of a worsening conflict in Haiti, where armed gangs control most of Port-au-Prince and are expanding to nearby regions, fueling hunger and making hundreds of thousands homeless. Promised international support still lags and nearby nations have deported migrants back to the country.
The number of people internally displaced by the conflict has meanwhile surged past 700,000, nearly doubling in six months.
(Reuters)
THE University of Guyana’s (UG) upcoming convocation ceremonies mark a significant milestone, as over 3,500 students will be graduating —the largest number in the institution’s 61-year history.
This record-breaking cohort is emerging at a critical time for the country, as Guyana’s economy undergoes a rapid and transformative expansion fuelled by its burgeoning oil and gas industry. Yet, while oil remains the headline story, the role of education, innovation and a skilled workforce should not be overlooked in sustaining long-term economic prosperity.
The diversity of the academic programmes from which these students are graduating is a testament to UG’s recognition of the country’s evolving needs. From Biodiversity and Environmental Health to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Occupational Health and Safety, the focus on disciplines that serve both traditional and emerging sectors is crucial.
These fields are poised to address the challenges and opportunities that come with rapid industrial growth. As Guyana’s economy, environmental stewardship and public-health considerations become even more important, by producing graduates trained in these areas, UG is equipping the
country with a workforce ready to tackle the complexities of modern development.
This graduation season is also notable for the introduction of several new academic programmes, which mirror the growing complexity and interconnectedness of the economy.
Degrees in Environmental Engineering and Pharmacy Technician Diplomas, among others, reflect the expanding demand for specialised skills that not only support oil and gas but also health, infrastructure, and environmental sectors. It’s an acknowledgment that the future of Guyana’s prosperity depends on building capacity across all industries, not just petroleum.
However, the size and significance of this graduating class also raise important questions about the country’s preparedness to absorb this influx of skilled labour.
Ensuring that graduates find opportunities across a range of industries is vital to diversifying the economy and avoiding over-reliance on oil.
The government’s push to develop sectors such as agriculture, technology, and education is a step in the right direction, but further incentives and private sector engagement are necessary to create meaningful employment opportunities for the country’s
brightest minds.
It is also worth considering the role of international partnerships in shaping Guyana’s economic future. With the increasing global attention on the country’s oil sector, there are opportunities to foster more collaborations between international corporations and local educational institutions such as UG.
Such collaborations can drive innovation, research, and development that align with global standards, making Guyana a competitive player not only in oil, but in technology, sustainability, and other high-value sectors. These partnerships would further enhance the employability of graduates and prepare them to compete on the international stage.
Another critical element to highlight is the regional importance of UG. The university has long been a cornerstone in producing leaders who have excelled not only in Guyana, but across the Caribbean and internationally. This leadership is crucial at a time when the country is experiencing rapid social and economic shifts.
The emphasis on sustainability and environmental safety within the new academic programmes can also position Guyana as a model for how developing nations can grow their economies responsibly in the face of
climate change and global environmental pressures.
Ultimately, this graduation season is not just about individual success stories—it represents the larger narrative of Guyana’s progress. As we celebrate the achievements of these graduates, we must also reflect on the broader economic transformation of the country. These newly minted professionals have the potential to drive growth, innovation, and sustainable development in the years to come. The challenge for both the government and the private sector is to harness this intellectual capital and ensure that it becomes a key component in shaping Guyana’s future.
While oil may have catalysed the current economic boom, the true measure of Guyana’s success will lie in its ability to diversify, innovate, and sustainably develop.
The University of Guyana, through its expansive and forward-thinking academic offerings, is playing a critical role in this process.
With the right investments in human capital and infrastructure, Guyana’s graduates will be the architects of a prosperous and sustainable future—one that benefits not just a select few, but the entire nation.
THERE is a notion being propagated by some commentators and aspirational political leaders alike, that despite Guyana’s high GDP growth rates, the long lines at the passport office daily are indicative of people migrating.
While it may be true that people are still migrating to other countries, this is not a phenomenon unique to Guyana. People migrate all the time, even from the developed countries to other countries in pursuit of their goals and ambitions or better opportunities.
Thus, what is important in our case, however, is to what extent are persons migrating; is it in the thousands as it were historically during the periods of political instability and when the country was bankrupt in the 1980s-1990s? And how can we determine how many Guyanese are migrating annually? It’s quite simple: we can extrapolate using arrivals and departures data for the two international airports, namely, Ogle International Airport and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
What are we looking for? We are looking for the net arrivals or departures for the various years available. What will that metric tell us or how do we interpret it? If the net arrivals is positive, it means that there are
Source: Bureau of Statistics Data
more persons coming/returning to Guyana than those leaving the country. On the other hand, if the net departures is positive (negative net arrivals), then this means that there are more persons who are leaving Guyana than those arriving or returning. Now, let’s look at the result.
The chart below shows the net arrivals and departures data published by the Guyana Bureau of Statistics for the period 20152023. According to this data, there was only
one year in which there was a positive net departure of 4,488 persons in the year 2015; whereas for the years 2016 through 2023, there were positive net arrivals amounting to, cumulatively for that period, 88,027 or an average of 9,781 annually.
One may question how many of those persons are Guyanese and how many are expatriates associated with the oil and gas sector.
In this regard, according to publicly
available data, the sector employs approximately 6,000-10,000 persons, 90 per cent of whom are Guyanese, which means that just about 10 per cent of the employees in that sector are expatriates. As such, the large number of net positive arrivals (88,027) for the period 2015-2023 are not expatriates, since they only account for a relatively small percentage of the petroleum industry’s workforce.
It is reasonable to conclude, therefore, that most of the persons returning to Guyana annually are either Guyanese from the diaspora returning home, visiting or travelling frequently to conduct business, and/or Guyanese residents visiting other countries, whether it’s for vacation/tourism purposes or for business purposes.
More importantly, this analysis of the immigration data for the period 20152023, has empirically disproven the implicit notion that a large number of Guyanese are migrating. The data evidently shows that the reality is the inverse of that notion, wherein thousands of persons are coming to and/or returning to Guyana annually, nearly 10,000 annually, more than those who are perhaps leaving the country permanently.
Yours sincerely, Joel Bhagwandin
Dear Editor,
DURING his address at the Opening Ceremony of the 22nd Biennial Delegates Congress of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) in late June, the party’s Leader and Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, mentioned that “the PNCR will place youth development high on its agenda and revisit our national youth policy with the aim of adapting it to the present situation.
“We believe that youths are not a problem; they are resources to develop. In this regard, there will be a significant focus on training and educating young people while opening opportunities for them to have employment and be involved in business. We intend, in government, to execute our 50/50 youth programme, in which we will give 50,000 youths $50,000 a month while training them to improve their skills and to make themselves marketable!.”
I vividly remembered these utterances from Mr. Norton, because they were coming from someone who a few years earlier was the Presidential Adviser
on Youth Empowerment in the David Granger-led administration.
While he held that designation, Mr. Norton told us that “Government sees young people as a human resource to be developed. Too regularly young people are dealt with as if they’re a problem. We do not believe that young people are a problem. We believe they are a human resource to be developed and once they are given the requisite training then they will achieve their objectives.”
And let us not forget about the National Youth Policy 2015, described then as a comprehensive policy document that stated the vision of the Government of Guyana for the youths of the country, and also how this vision will be realised by the government. Whatever did that achieve?
Editor, I was reminded of Mr Norton’s promises to the youth of this country, and his inability to make a perceptible impact, when I recently read of his rejection of the proposal for Mr Clifton Hicken to be confirmed as Commissioner of Police.
It is ironic that the judge in this case (Mr. Norton) who was given full powers
Dear Editor,
IT has come to my attention that there are many entities (some quite prominent) failing to make, and in some cases who have never made NIS contributions for their employees. The stories of the affected are heartrending. It is arguably the worst possible feeling to end decades of employment with a company, organisation or individual, only to learn upon application to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) that contributions have never been made for you, or have not met the required number because your employer was not dutifully fulfilling that obligation.
In the Laws of Guyana, Chapter 36:01 (National Insurance and Social Security Act) at the beginning of PART III – Insured Persons and Contributions – Under 11. (1), the following is stated:
Subject to this Act, every person who on or after the appointed day is –
(a) sixteen years of age or over and under sixty years of age; and
(b) gainfully occupied in insurable employment, shall be insured under this Act and shall remain so insured for life.
There aren’t any complexities here. You don’t have to be a lawyer or someone with legal knowledge to understand what is required of you.
I am not sure of how efficient or effective the system is for thoroughly checking all and sundry for compliance, but I can say that many hard-working people are being mercilessly shortchanged by unprincipled employers.
The authorities need to expose these heartless defaulters and fraudsters. Yes, name and shame them.
Yours faithfully,
Sherwin Crandon
to empower young people, does not have anything to proudly hang his hat on. He flubbed his lines at the highest level.
Though his rejection of Mr Hicken has nothing to do with their public stances on youth empowerment, it is apt to note that the commissioner has been much more visible and effective in that regard, despite it not being his primary role. I’m certain the communities across
the country would endorse that assertion.
You’ve been exposed, Mr Norton. The youth certainly haven’t forgotten that you left them hanging. The bottom line is that incompetence can’t be masked when the essence of the country’s future is at stake.
Yours faithfully, Alicia
Barrow
TODAY marks one year in which a nation’s Jewish army committed genocide against another country with a different type of racial grouping. On this day last year, the armed forces of Israel began a genocidal campaign against the Palestinian nation in Gaza.
Please consult an article written by Julia Frankel for the Associated Press (January 11, 2024). In that commentary, Frankel wrote that what Israel did in Gaza from October 7 last year is one of the most de-
structive acts in the history of war. Today on the anniversary of the genocide, almost 80 per cent of the territory is destroyed.
As I write, the genocide continues and it will continue because the West that colonised the Third World centuries ago is backing what Israel’s colonisation of Gaza.
In such support for Israel, I think the West’s relation with the Global South has been permanently damaged.
Contextually, we have to go back to the immediate post-colonial era. The West left
a democratic template for the post-colonial societies after Independence. The template had three sides – liberal, democratic governance, an independent judiciary and the independence of the Fourth Estate (the media).
As the independent countries settled down to pursue developmental goals, this blueprint became the subliminal instinct among Third World peoples. The countries of the Global South used this blueprint as their standard bearer. The peoples and governments of the post-colonial world at a deep Freudian level believed that the West was the part of the world to emulate in the complete role of government.
It is my contention that in no other part of the world the template is so deeply embraced as in the CARICOM region. There are governmental leaders in CARICOM today that believe that the Privy Council in London is a more professional and independent body that the Caribbean Court of Justice. Many of these CARICOM leaders still believe this, even after the Julian Assange miscarriage of justice took place in the UK right in front of the eyes of the world.
It is the contention of this columnist that the template handed down by the former colonial countries is now in tatters, destroyed by what the genocide in Gaza revealed. I now will briefly discuss the eventual awakening of the minds of Third World peoples brought about by the unspeakable hypocrisy of the West that for so long thought us that the West was the embodiment of democratic government.
The first casualty of the genocidal atrocities was the media in the Western world. Today, no reporter, no journalist in any Western media house, I repeat, all the media organisations in the West, refused to print any submission by journalists or columnists who use the words – genocide in Gaza. The unprofessional reporting of the Gaza genocide by the Western media is incredibly shameless.
I was surprised and almost got a heart attack when the Saturday edition of the Guardian (UK) carried an item that points
to destruction caused by the missile attacks by Iran on Israel last week. After the attack was over, all Western media houses reported that the missile salvos were ineffective.
Secondly, the double standards the West has used in judging how democratic are governments have graphic. All Western countries that colonised the Third World, including the United States after it became the uni-polar force in the world after the Second World War, drilled into the heads of people of the developing world that the foundation of democracy is respect for free speech and the right to be heard.
Since Israel began its genocidal campaign, all Western countries have demonstrated that its practice of democracy is billions of miles from what they thought us during colonial rule. There has been only one Western country that has not arrested or jailed or victimised or harassed students, academics, artists, entertainers and media practitioners for protesting genocide in Gaza or speaking out against Israeli bestialities and that is Ireland. The saddest part of this rejection of the right to protest has been the expulsion of students in the US whose graduation were affected by their expulsion either from the universities or from the countries they lived in.
Thirdly, the genocide in Gaza has resulted in the de-recognition by the Third World that the West does not have the moral conscience anymore to continue to set the guidelines on what international behaviour should be like. If Russia is wrong to invade the Ukraine, then the West cannot tell the Global South that it is right for Israel to destroy Gaza.
The fourth causality is the demise of international law and the UN. Unfortunately, space has run out to discuss how Gaza has brought about the demise of international law, the UN and has changed we way we now see Hitler and Nazi Germany.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.
THIS past week we learned that former Telecoms Minister Catharine Hughes’ High Court case against the Vice President for employing the “lowlife” moniker in reference to her, was dismissed in the High Court.
There were other adjoining reliefs and declarative judgements sought by Mrs Hughes that were all dismissed.
I cannot competently comment on the legal strength of the list of ancillary matters for which reliefs were sought; however, I am able and will present a political perspective on the aspect of the particular moniker employed by the Vice President.
When the incident occurred, I commented on it in this column, see “False names, funny names and derogatory characterization,” December 4, 2023.
I am of the firm view that, at most, the label dished could be flagged and reprimanded as inappropriate from either one or both of the following standpoints: one, the use of the term “low-life” should not have come from the holder of such high office as Vice President of Guyana acting in his official capacity; the comment may have lowered the esteem of the office or office holder; two, directing such a comment to national lawmaker and parliamentary colleague erodes respect for our law assembly generally and there are more euphemistic or “appropriate” language that could’ve been employed to maintain parliamentary courtesies. Beyond that, I never believed that the comment should seek relief from or provoke recourse to a juridical institution. The Chief Justice said as much in her oral ruling.
I believe Hughes was personally hurt by the label because, in local parlance, its association is intended for people in lower social and economic strata. Who dare have the gall to reclassify Hughes’s polished, lifelong social standing? In her mind, it is an outrage, a most politically vexatious expedition pursued by the Vice President. It was a personal outrage or bruised ego that pushed Hughes to the courts, rather than a comprehensive, sensible, well-conceived or meritorious legal case.
I will forever argue that once you decide to live the life of a politician, ascent to party leadership and run for and attain public office, there will be bouts of namecalling, labels and characterisations attached to your name. The higher you
ascend in public office or the more popular you become, the higher your exposure to name-calling. Some will inevitably be personally distasteful or even offensive, but this is the life you have chosen; you know the game, you know the practicum.
It is not a vocation for the thinskinned. When names are hurled in your direction you have to absorb and clap back when it is politically strategic to do so. You don’t curl up and shed crocodile tears and/ or throw all sorts of political tantrums. If that’s your resort, pack up and go quietly into the night of a private life.
Too many thin-skinned people are cloaked in political robes roaming the landscape pretending to be politicians. I now intertwine a quote from my earlier article referred to above. “In politics, the landscape is tougher to navigate. Politics involves more loosely defined freedomof-speech issues, democratic accountabilities that cannot be articulated in quite the same manner as the other professions. There are boundaries that can be pushed, requiring greater elasticity of tolerance.
Certain utterances from politicians are protected in ways no other profession enjoys. In hotly contested political fields such as Guyana’s, the vitriol of namecalling can be sulfuric, with valence intensity that will make even the unknown cosmological observer puke with astonishment. My own conviction is, that once by virtue of choices you have made, put yourself up as a public spectacle, especially if you live off the public purse, you need to grow one layer of rhino skin covered by the pelt of an elephant and then some. Politics is not for the faint of heart. If you live in the public limelight, you will be tagged.
Politicians who lead parties and who have been elected to public office should not be wasting the courts’ time simply because they feel “a way” by what false name they are called.
This is not to say that libellous tags should be excused, if someone calls you a thief then certainly, they would need to prove that in court.
No way should a socially awkward appellation make the court’s docket.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.
By Leonard Craig
MINISTER of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, S.C., has said that with all of the ‘checks and balances’ in Guyana’s constitution functional and functioning, Guyana has itself an accountable, transparent and democratic government.
He made these remarks during an airing of his programme, ‘Issues in the News,’ during which he took the time to speak on the fundamental pillars of democracy.
He said: “Democracy is not only free and fair elections, but also involves governing in a particular manner, governing with true accountability, true transparency and in a responsible manner and that includes the enactment of laws that would ensure transparent governance and accountable governance.”
Nandlall posited that from August 2020 to now, one would see all the elements of accountable, responsible and transparent governance with all the
checks and balances in the constitution functioning.
Against this backdrop, he added that the various service commissions are there, the Auditor General’s office is functioning and operating independently, the parliament is functioning and the judicial branch is functioning independently of the executive.
Giving that overview, the Attorney General expressed, “What we have in Guyana is an accountable, transparent, democratic government.”
He went on to note that several protocols have been established by the government to ensure that there is transparency at every level.
Giving one such example, he noted that the cabinet which is chaired by the President himself brings together permanent secretaries and places them before Cabinet to have discussions in respect of an accountable, transparent and democratic government.
As such, every minister is required as per the instruction of the President to meet with the senior management team of their respective ministries and ensure that project time frames are met and laws which govern procurement and the execution of contracts, are scrupulously followed.
He said: “We have established a unit
within each ministry and the unit at the Attorney General Chambers to address the issue of breach of contracts… the government’s infrastructural development programme. On a regular basis, the President himself would meet management teams from the various ministries and public corporations such as GWI, GuySuCo and, of course, the various ministries, top managers, and speak to them directly about their conduct, about accountable governance and the behaviour and to ensure that the laws of the country are complied with, and to speak obviously about corruption, about allegations of corruption, etcetera.”
This, AG Nandlall said is not a oneoff activity but a continuous part of governance in which the government is engaged.
Additionally, he indicated that the President, Vice President and government ministers have been travelling to all regions, as well meeting with officials who deal with contracts and having similar conversations with them.
With this, he said that they understand that problems exist but the government is being proactive and doing as much as possible to ensure that as far as possible they have a responsible and transparent government in Guyana.
WITH significant transformation taking place across Guyana, the government is ensuring that investments are being made in all regions across the country and thus far, substantial investments have been made in Region Six.
This is according to Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag, who noted that all of this is being done in service to the people of the country.
During an interview where she discussed matters relating to Region Six and its growth, Minister Parag said that the region has benefitted from the government’s initiative to modernise and transform the country from 2020 to now.
“That will continue because we believe in service to the people,” the minister expressed.
With this, she explained that invest-
–– Minister Parag says, notes significant investments being made in Region Six
ments have been made in various areas including infrastructure, education and the health sector.
Giving an example of some of those projects, Minister Parag detailed that there is a new stadium under construction, new smart hospitals and several other initiatives along with investments being made in the agriculture sector.
Added to this, the local government minister said that the government has also fulfilled its obligation in providing the subventions to the New Amsterdam Town Council for their development projects.
President Dr Irfaan Ali in May of this year, had told residents of Region Six that the government’s aim for the region is to pursue its comprehensive growth with the building out of infrastructure to be used to support this.
At that time, he had indicated that the government is building out an eco-
system in the region with several transformational projects that would set the region on a massive development path.
Meanwhile, earlier this year, it was noted that projects like the construction of the hospitality and tourism institute at Port Mourant, the Palmyra Stadium and the expansion of the Corentyne Highway are just examples of the transformation underway in the region.
These projects are set to drive Region Six to become a major hub for economic activity.
The Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh had previously said: “We are doing the big transformative things that will modernise the region, but we’re also making the local village-level investments that matter to people’s day to day lives because that is of equal importance.”
TO eliminate the existing bottlenecks in the construction sector, the Government of Guyana intends to further collaborate with local municipalities to ensure that the country’s single window framework runs efficiently.
This is according to People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who at a news conference last Thursday acknowledged
the need for more capacity building and public awareness of the country’s single window framework, especially at the level of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).
“For too long people have bypassed the planning framework, they have had people who sometimes draw their plans and then approve the same plans. The engineers or the other officials in an NDC or the municipality… they pay the same people to draw their plans for their buildings and those are the same people approving it.”
This according to Dr. Jagdeo should not occur, however, there have also been instances where approval was granted when it should not have been.
“On the other hand, you have legitimate people who have done their plan properly and they are waiting forever to have those plans approved. So, their houses can’t be built, their houses can’t be expanded, their factories can’t be built or any other business venture, because somewhere, some official is not doing his or her work or they’re soliciting a bribe.”
Back in June of this year, the government through the Ministry of Housing and Water and the
Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) launched their Electronic Planning and Development Single-Window System.
“The idea is that this single window framework will seek to eliminate those bottlenecks and to improve planning in the country. That was the idea and that is why we passed the law,” Dr Jagdeo said.
The system intends to centralise and simplify the approval process, by providing a one-stop shop for all development-related permission and clearance.
Simply explained, persons looking to conduct business in Guyana can access the relevant information and agencies at a single point of entry. There, applicants can submit, monitor, and track the progress of their applications.
In an effort to enhance efficiency and transparency, the process will be subject to specific deadlines to ensure the timely processing of applications.
The Single-Window System Act was introduced and approved in the National Assembly prior to June’s launch. Furthermore, a number of consultation exercises were carried out with stakeholders.
The legislation was ‘specially crafted’ to capture policies, and bring together hundreds of different laws, bylaws, and regulations under one umbrella.
This legislation includes provisions for the establishment of a Planning Oversight Committee, which will centralise functions related to landuse preparation and development. It is also intended to define the Committee’s responsibilities and associated matters.
Several agencies will become part of the single window.
This includes the Central Board of Health, the Ministry of Public Works, River and Defence Board, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Guyana Fire Service, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, the National Trust of Guyana, the Guyana Office for Investment, Land and Deeds Registry, Guyana Water Incorporated, all Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and the local authorities, inclusive of the municipalities, among other agencies.
GUYANA renewed its commitment to maintaining and preserving peace within the region as it honoured the victims of the Cubana Air Disaster on Sunday at a wreath-laying ceremony.
The event, which was held at the Cubana Air Disaster Monument on the Turkeyen campus of the University of Guyana, commemorated the 48th anniversary of the tragic incident.
In brief remarks, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hugh Todd asserted that the last 48 years have strengthened the country’s determination to maintain the region’s peace.
He added that the monument erected in honour of those innocent lives stands as a sobering reminder that the world must intensify its drive to fight against all threats to humanity.
“On this CARICOM –Cuba Day Against Terrorism, the 48th anniversary of this heinous act, we pledge as a nation that we shall never forget the price they paid. In their honour, we shall spare no effort, working with the international community in the fight against terror and in the enduring struggle for peace, justice, progress, and freedom for all,” the foreign affairs minister vowed.
Given the prevailing global conflicts, the minister stressed the importance of upholding the principles of the United Nations Charter.
“As members of the international community, we cannot waver in our commitment to universal peace even as we continue to encourage the peaceful settlement of disputes and peaceful coexistence among states,” Minister Todd added.
On Wednesday, October 6, 1976, Cubana Airways Flight CU-455 was en route from Guyana to Havana, Cuba, with stops in Trinidad, Barbados, and Jamaica.
Tragically, nine minutes after taking off from Barbados’ Seawell International Airport, two bombs exploded on board, causing the plane to crash into the Atlantic Ocean.
All 73 people – 57 Cubans, 11 Guyanese, and five North Koreans – perished in the disaster.
The 11 Guyanese were: Raymond Persaud, Rawle Thomas, Jacqueline Williams, Rita Thomas, Harold Norton, Gordon Sobha, Ann Nelson, Margaret Bradshaw, Violet Thomas, Sabrina Harrypaul, and Seshnarine Kumar – all of whom were heading to Cuba to study medicine, engineering and other disciplines.
In 2022, during the Eighth CARICOM-Cuba Summit in Bridgetown, Barbados, the CARICOM-Cuba Day Against Terrorism was established in memory of the 73 people who lost their lives in the tragedy.
This observance also provides a powerful opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of both regions to combating
terrorism in all its forms.
The ceremony also saw the attendance of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Guyana Jorge Francisco Soberon Luis, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Guo Haiyan, other members of the diplomatic corps, members of parliament, and other officials. (DPI)
GUYANA’S rice production has expanded by 19.8 per cent to a total of 362,029.5 tonnes, compared to 302, 295 tonnes one year ago, the Bank of Guyana has said in its 2024 half-year report.
According to the report, in the first half of the year, 84,973 hectares were sown, an increase of 9,553 hectares or 12.7 per cent when compared to one year ago.
Hectares harvested amounted to 84,590 hectares, an increase of 12.7 per cent when compared to end-June 2023.
Additionally, compared to 6.2 tonnes per hectare a year ago, the yield of rice has improved to about 6.6 tonnes per hectare.
Earlier this month the Ministry of Finance had revealed that of the $97.6 billion allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture in 2024, some $28.9 billion was spent on developing Guyana’s expanding agricultural sector during the first half of 2024.
Notable initiatives undertaken by the government to enhance the agricultural sector, included the building of 75 new shade houses for high-value crops.
These crops are cultivated using hydroponics farming.
Some high-value crops include bell peppers, celery, broccoli, cilantro, carrots, lettuce, mint, cauliflower, chili peppers, and tomato. This investment benefitted 43 farmers.
Additionally, in the sugar industry, over 2,000 hectares of land were converted to cultivate and harvest sugar cane at the Rose Hall, Albion, Blairmont, and Uitvlugt Estates.
A sugar dryer budgeted at $60 million will be installed by the end of the year. This will enhance the quality of the sugar and
guarantee increased production within the industry.
Additionally, by the end of the year, the number of employees within the sugar industry is expected to increase to 8,300 persons.
Favourable results were also noted in the rice industry for the first half of the year.
Technical services and training were provided to rice farmers along with the introduction of advanced technological mechanisms which yielded benefits of higher productivity at lower operational costs.
A total of $526.5 million was spent by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to support the industry.
Meanwhile, $60.7 million was spent to accelerate the expansion of the coconut industry within the past six months. About 13,000 seed nuts of the hybrid variety were imported from Brazil.
With the expansion of large-scale farming and the increased export of agricultural products, alongside the training of farmers in various agriculture disciplines, Guyana continues to solidify its position as the food basket of the Caribbean.
The government remains steadfast in its commitment to bolstering the agriculture sector by investing towards its advancement, and efficiency.
The Guyanese economy remained buoyant, with a real oil GDP growth of 49.7 per cent and non-oil GDP growth of 12.6 per cent .
Accelerated crude oil production contributed to real oil growth, while robust performance in construction, agriculture, and the services sectors influenced real nonoil growth.
RESIDENTS of Wakenaam Island can expect relief from their water- supply issues as efforts are underway to swiftly resolve the ongoing challenges.
This is according to a statement from the Ministry of Housing and Water, which noted that the Subject Minister Collin Croal visited the island on Saturday to oversee maintenance works at the Noitgedacht well station, assuring locals of imminent improvements.
The well, which has been crucial in supplying water to over 700 households for more than two years, faced a decline in water levels starting
this August, affecting service quality. To mitigate this, an older well at the same site has been reactivated, with maintenance scheduled for completion within three days.
Meanwhile, residents will receive water on a rotational basis until full service is restored.
Minister Croal addressed concerned residents during community meetings, outlining plans to enhance water-supply reliability. Updates on the upcoming Water Treatment Plant project were also shared, with contractors now preparing to submit performance bonds and designs following the project’s award letter issuance.
Once operational, the new plant promises water with significantly reduced iron content, expected to benefit the island within the next two years.
Guyana Water Inc. remains committed to supporting these efforts, ensuring continued service delivery improvements.
Minister Croal also highlighted updates on government housing initiatives and upcoming road-rehabilitation projects for the island, underscoring ongoing efforts to enhance community infrastructure.
The minister’s visit signals a proactive approach by the government to address critical infrastructural needs on Wakenaam Island, reassuring residents of sustained support and tangible progress in the days ahead.
WITH the government’s strategic foreign policy initiatives enhancing the country’s global standing, Guyana must solidify its international visibility and engagement.
This was asserted by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-oper-
ation, Hugh Todd during a recent airing of the ‘Energy Perspectives’ podcast.
The country’s recent success in securing visa-free
travel to the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Anguilla, and the United Arab Emirates is a testament to this growing international standing.
This achievement opens doors for tourism and trade, as well as signals that Guyana is a reliable and attractive partner for foreign investment.
According to the foreign affairs minister, these agreements are a direct result of Guyana’s comprehensive foreign policy, which focuses on protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, strengthening regional integration, and achieving energy, food, and climate security.
“[President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali] has been very strong on democracy and democratic values, the rule of law, transparency, [and] accountability. When you look at all that he’s been doing, we have improved our visibility, we have improved our standing, we have improved the predictability that we have as a democratic nation-state, and countries want to embrace that,” the minister said.
Since assuming office, the PPP/C Administration has intensified its engagement with its traditional partners, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union.
Through initiatives like the US-funded Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), and advanced trade relations, Guyana is cementing its position as a key player in the international arena, forging partnerships that ensure mutual development.
The government’s vision
extends beyond traditional partnerships. Guyana is actively expanding its global footprint in sectors like energy, tourism, and infrastructure.
“And there you see us engaging with countries in the Middle East, in Asia, and also in Africa. Because if you really want to be a global player, your economic diplomacy has to be global. You have to be able to figure out globally how you need to position yourself. And I think the president has done that very effectively,” Minister Todd emphasised.
Recently, President Ali expounded on the government’s plans to boost local production within the agriculture sector, through partnerships with the Middle East and Indonesia.
This strategic approach aims to meet domestic needs and position Guyana as a significant global supplier.
“If you think about what we do now, we sell primary products and then we buy it back in finished products. We need to be able to get to the point where we can also manufacture for the world. And that is why the president talked about our agricultural sector and moving it into an ecosystem where we are able to achieve food security not only here in Guyana but in the region,” Minister Todd said.
He added that the country’s rising global stature is a testament to its government’s commitment to economic development, regional co-operation, and a strong democratic foundation. (DPI)
ACKNOWLEDGING the concerns of residents with regard to the discomfort caused by errant truck drivers, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has disclosed that the government will engage several contractors and other stakeholders to find solutions to the recurring complaints of excessive speeding near major construction sites.
“We have to find solutions. Speed humps, traffic lights, more police presence in these areas, cameras to watch them. We’re rolling out some more cameras so you can observe this,” Dr. Jagdeo said at a news conference last week.
He noted that the public works ministry has been advised to engage with contractors and residents.
The need for roads to be properly asphalted and maintained to reduce dust and discomfort for residents during the construction phase was also discussed, highlighting the balance between infrastructural development and community well-being.
It was reported in sections of the local media that residents along the East Bank corridor and some communities in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) have complained bitterly about the discomfort caused by speeding truck drivers.
In some communities, residents had temporarily blocked roads.
It was also reported that there were many errant drivers who have been using smaller community streets to traverse, instead of the main access roads that were constructed to facilitate traversing to and from some major construction sites.
Only recently, Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill had laid out several guidelines to manage the movement of trucks on the nation’s roadways. He did so during a meeting with truck drivers and members of the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department.
Among the changes going forward, the minister said, is that persons will not be allowed to operate a motorised vehicle for excessive hours.
He told both owners and drivers that they need to ensure a mechanism is in place for drivers to get adequate rest in between long periods on the road. Besides noting that vi-
olations will not be tolerated, Minister Edghill said that all loam, sand pit, and quarry owners will be engaged through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) which licenses these operators, with regard to the weight of trucks leaving their mines.
Among the other
areas the police will be clamping down on are uncovered trucks responsible for sand and stone spillage on the roadways; trucks transporting mud and slush dirtying the roadways and endangering other road users and drivers parking or driving on the road shoulders and causing damage.
By Sean Devers
THE St Lucia Kings in their third appearance in a CPL final were rewarded with their first title when they achieved a six-wicket victory over the Guyana Amazon Warriors last night at the Providence Stadium.
Just over two months ago St Lucian sprinter Julian Alfred won Olympic Gold in the 100 meters and Silver in the 200 meters and last night the St Lucia Kings won its first title in the 12-history of the CPL, beating the home side.
Despite a 37-run stand between Dwaine Pretorius (25 from 12 balls with 2 fours & two sixes) and Romario Shepherd (19 from 9 balls with two fours and six), the Warriors were restricted to 1388 as Shai Hope contributed 22.
Left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad had 3-19 to as the leading wicket-taker with 22 scalps for the Kings who reached 139-4 from 18.1 overs.
Roston Chase and Bajan-born USA batter Aaron Jones joined forces with Kings looking like paupers, precariously placed on 51-4 in the 10th over.
The pair added 88 in an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership from 52 balls.
Chase made 39 from 22 balls with two fours and two sixes while Jones scored 48 from 31 balls with two fours and four sixes.
When Kings began their run-chase, Johnson Charles with 445 runs this season, was bowled by Shepherd for seven 23-1 and when the ‘big fish‘, Skipper Faf du Plessis (21 with 2 fours & a six) was removed by Moeen Ali at 45-2, the Sea of Red in the stands erupted in ‘One Guyana’ precision.
Auguste (13) was bowled by Sinclair at 49-3 while Tim Seifert (3) was LBW to Dwaine Pretorius two runs later and the expectancy level of the Warriors lifting their second after reaching the final on six previous occasions was getting stronger.
But Chase and Jones (48) took 27 off Ali in the 16th,Pretorius’ 17th over cost 20 and Shepherd’s 18th over leaked 18 as both batters played positive cricket to take their team to victory with 12 balls to spare
Earlier, Rahmanullah Gurbaz used
his feet to left-arm spinner Khary Pierre’s third ball of the innings; only to drill a catch to mid-on after failing to score, at 1-1.
The Warriors were off to an inauspicious start to the disappointment of the largest crowd for the Guyana leg of this year’s CPL.
Moeen Ali and Hope both struggled to get the ball away on a lightning-fast outfield against frugal bowling from Pierre and pacer Matthew Forde.
Hope released the pressure with a boundary off Pierre before edging Alzarri Joseph for four. He caressed Ahmad for consecutive boundaries to wake the capacity crowd from their early slumber.
Despite a glorious cover-driven boundary by Ali off Joseph, the Kings were in charge. After the six-over power play the Warriors had limped to 27-1
When Hope (22) missed a big swing off of off-spinner Roston Chase and Ali (14) hit Ahmad to short mid-wicket the Warriors were wobbling on the ropes at
45-3 in the ninth over.
Hetymer, on the back of four fifties in this year’s CPL, got going with a humongous six off Chase and the roar of the fans in the stands reached a crescendo.
But after 10 overs the defending Champions were on a tight leash at 49-3.
The situation worsened when Hetmyer, one of four senior players to opt out of the West Indies tour to Sri Lanka, fell to Ahamad to leave the score on 54-4.
Hetmyer, who ended with 403 runs, made 11 and his demise was greeted with joyous celebrations from the handful of Kings fans.
Kevin Sinclair (11) was stupendously taken at point by Ackeem Auguste off Forde as the Warriors slipped to 69-5.
An angry Sinclair threw his bat and gloves to the ground in disgust after he had departed the field.
Raymon Reifer with 35 runs from five matches and Keemo Paul, tried to
revive the position before Paul (12) was removed by Joseph at 88-6. Reifer, lucky to be in the team, was soon trapped LBW for 13 by Ahmad to leave the score on 97-7.
Pretorius took 15 from the penultimate over bowled by Joseph before David Wiese was blasted for successive fours off the blade of Shepherd before being hit for a six by Pretorius.
The pair put up a spirited rear guard fight-back before Pretorius fell to Wiese as the last two overs produced 36 runs which in the end proved crucial.
Not even an energised Carnival-like half-time performance from local singers Calvin Burnette, Tamika Marshall, Vicadi Singh and Raymon Ramnarine could galvanise the fans to show off their dancing skills.
But when the dust had settled the Warriors’ fans mostly from North America, trailed out of Providence with great sadness on their faces while nursing a broken heart.
THE Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) held the annual Trophy Stall Golf Tournament on Saturday, showcasing an impressive level of competition across both low and high handicap flights. With over two decades of support from Trophy Stall, the tournament continued to highlight the importance of corporate sponsorship in the development of sports in Guyana.
Trophy Stall Proprietor Ramesh Sunich expressed his commitment to the sport, remarking, “Trophy Stall is a proud supporter of sports in Guyana. As for golf, we host two tournaments per year, and I am very happy that we are able to make an impact.
We have had a long-standing relationship of more than two decades with the Lusignan Golf Club, and I would like to thank the club for allowing Trophy Stall to be a part of their calendar.
Congratulations to the participants who gave their all on the course.”
In the 0-17 Flight, veteran golfer Mohanlall Dindanauth delivered an exceptional performance, securing first place with a gross score of 73 and a net score of 67, boasting a handicap of 6. Joann Deo followed in second place with a net score of 71, finishing with a gross of 85 and a handicap of 14. Patrick Prashad, who demonstrated consistent skill, claimed third place with a gross of 83 and a net score of 72, playing off an 11 handicap.
The 15-28 Flight saw Anasha Ally emerge victorious with a gross of 99 and a net score of 75 (handicap 24), demonstrating her steady improvement and competitive spirit. Carlos Adams took second place with a gross of 101 and a net score of 77, while Hardeo Ghanpat finished third with a gross of 107 and a net score of 82.
Patrick Prashad was honored with the ‘Closest to the Pin’ award, while Kassim Khan achieved the ‘Longest Drive.’ Mohanlall Dindanauth rounded off his achievements with the ‘Best Gross’ prize for his standout score of 73.
The collaboration between Trophy Stall and LGC exemplifies how consistent sponsorship can drive the growth of golf in Guyana. The partnership allows for the organisation of competitive and engaging tournaments, fostering a healthy environment for both new and seasoned golfers.
As LGC prepares for future events, this tournament further solidifies the club’s role in promoting golf and elevating the sport in the country.
CMC – DESPITE a sloppy performance in the field, West Indies Women registered a comfortable six-wicket win over minnows Scotland Women to pick up their first win in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup here Sunday.
After winning the toss and opting to bat at the Dubai International Stadium, Scotland was undermined by spinner Afy Fletcher and pacer Chinelle Henry and could only get up to 99 for eight at the end of 20 overs.
West Indies then survived some nervous moments in the early part of their chase before settling down to easily overhaul their target, finishing on 101 for four in 11.4 overs.
While the Caribbean side produced a sterling bowling effort, their fielding left much to be desired as they put down no less than three regulation catches.
Unfortunately for captain Hayley Matthews, three of those catches were dropped off her bowling.
Matthews spurned a difficult chance at first slip when she failed to hold on to an outside edge offered by Sarah Bryce off the bowling of Henry from the third ball of the innings.
It didn’t prove costly, though, as Matthews had Saskia Horley caught at mid-on for 11 to capture her 100th T20 wicket, and soon after Henry bowled Bryce for two to leave Scotland 13 for two in the third over.
Ailsa Lister should have been dismissed without scoring, but Chedean Nation spilled the simplest of catches at point off the bowling of Matthews.
The very next ball Matthews could only cover her face in disbelief as Lister was dropped by Fletcher at square leg. Luckily for the West Indies, both Lister and captain Kathryn Bryce struggled to get the ball off the square during their 46-run partnership for the third wicket, which spanned 10 overs.
Henry was especially impressive during that spell, bowling two maidens while allowing just 10 runs from her four overs.
The pacer was, however, guilty of dropping an easy catch running in from long on after Listen skied a delivery from Matthews.
her four overs while taking one wicket
Fletcher’s introduction broke the partnership, as she had Lister caught at the deep midwicket boundary by Karishma Ramharack for 26 from 33 deliveries.
With her next ball she trapped Priyanaz Chatterji lbw as Scotland slid to 59 for four in the 13th over.
Fletcher also accounted for Bryce, who made 25 from 31 balls, when her miscued pull only made it as far as mid-on where Ramharack took the catch.
Lorna Jack-Brown was run out without a run added to make it 76 for six in the 15th over and Scotland only scored 23 runs from the last five overs.
Facing a straightforward chase, West Indies were setback early when a hobbling Stafanie Taylor was bowled by Rachel Slater for four in the first over.
Qiana Joseph was lucky not to be back in the pavilion without scoring when she was dropped at mid-off.
Matthews’ lean scoring run in the World Cup continued, with Chatterji having her caught at mid-on for just eight, as the Windies fell to 32 for two in the sixth over.
When Olivia Bell removed Shemaine Campbelle for two and Joseph for 31 in quick succession, West Indies had slipped to 59 for four.
However, Deandra Dottin and Player-of-the-Match Henry came together in an unbroken 42-run partnership for the fifth wicket to guide West Indies to victory.
Dottin finished the contest in style by clobbering spinner Abtaha Maqsood for two sixes and a four in the 12th over. She ended unbeaten on 28 from 15 balls, while Henry scored 18 not out from 10 balls.
CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83
Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)
Answers to yesterday’s quiz:
(1) Nicholas Pooran-504 runs (11 matches)
(2) Nicholas Pooran-101 vs GAW, Providence
Today’s Quiz:
(1) Who took most wickets for TKR in the recent CPL?
(2) What were the best bowling figures by a TKR bowler in CPL 2024?
Answers in tomorrow’s issue
IN less than two weeks, the nation’s best bodybuilders will line the National Cultural Centre Stage against 250 athletes from 20 countries when Guyana hosts the 51st CAC fitness and body building championship.
Set for October 19 and 20, those athletes will be seeking hardware and the coveted 14 professional cards up for grabs.
Leading a strong list of local athletes are seasoned CAC medalist Emmerson Campbell, Rawle Green, Hannah Rampersaud, Julio Sinclair and Sylvon Garner.
The team also includes the likes of Aliya Wong, Vanisha Munroe, Joel Caldeira, Sabita Stephenson, Christine Ramsammy, Melitha Fernandes-Anderson, Renaldo Caldeira, Jamal Pollydore, Sachin Sharma, Antowyn Bayley, Yusuf Khan, Roger Callender, Kewsie Anderson, Marley Vyphuis, Seon Budhan, Chrisopher Anthony, Delrae Mclean, Daniel Lutchman, Orlando Valenzuela and Selwyn Grogan.
The Guyanese will see competition from Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, Curaçao, Dominica Republic, El Salvador, St Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Colombia, Jamaica, St. Martin
CAC bodybuilding winner Hannah Rampersaud
(Dutch), Haiti, Nicaragua, Mexico, Costa Rica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Central America and Caribbean Bodybuilding classic is sponsored Ministry
of Culture Youth and Sport, the National Sports Commission and the Guyana Olympic Association.
Head of the GBBFF Keavon Bess told Guyana Chronicle that, “The ongoing finan-
cial and non-financial support of the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport and the National Sports Commission must be highly applauded and commended.”
He also expressed gratitude to the GOA, adding, “The Support of the GOA is critical to the expected success of CAC 2024. CAC 2024 is made more possible with the GOA’s direct financial injection and other tangible support.”
Twins Manufacturing is also a Platinum Sponsor of the event, along with gold sponsor Fitness Express.
Bess says Fitness Express team ‘led by Jamie McDonald has been supporting Fitness and Bodybuilding in Guyana in excess of 15 years and we are proud to have them as a gold sponsor for CAC 2024.’
Republic Bank Guyana Limited and Camille’s Academy are bronze sponsors.
The GBBFF president says they need more corporate support for this International Championship which was last hosted in Guyana in 2004.
At the 50th edition of the competition in Aruba last year, Guyana secured four gold, two silver, and one bronze medal.
OVER the weekend, when the Petra Organisation staged round 3 of their premier school football tournament, ‘The Courts Optical U11 Football Championship,’ Berbice’s Rosignol Primary were among several big winners.
St. John the Baptist, Enterprise Primary and Belladrum proved most clinical to capture the largest margins of victory at the Ministry of Education ground.
One of the day’s top strikers was Rosignol Primary’s Abdul Kadir who registered a fiver to lead his school to 12-nil defeat of F.E Pollard Primary. Kadir opened his school’s account in the first minute of play before following up in the second to quickly have a double as they took the lead.
He returned in the 10th, 21st and 25th minutes to complete the five-goal haul.
He had support from Jeremiah McDonald with four goals with Jeremiah Seecharran and Jaime Bourne also getting in on the action with a goal each. F.E Pollard Primary’s own goal in the dying minutes of the contest completed the rout.
Next, Timerhi Primary clashed with St. John the Baptist, it was the latter that shone brightest as they achieved an 8-nil victory.
Kriston Chandler with a double and Kareme Welcome with four goals dominated from the onset for their team; St John also had single strikes from Marcel-
lus Elvis and Orlando Deeges.
Smith Memorial Primary also went down to former champions Enterprise Primary 6-nil.
Enterprise prolific goal scorer Dontay Kowlessar continued his fine form into another pee wee season with impressive play.
Dontay Kowlessar would hit the back
of the net for enterprise in the 7th and 11th minute before his teammate Shane Arthur make it 3-nil in the 13th
Kowlessar came back with more assault on Smith Memorial upright to score again in the 27th, Kymari Young added to their advantage in the 40th before talisman Kowlessar scored his fourth in the 70th minute to complete the win.
Redeemer and Stella Marris Primary played out a stalemate without a goal, while interior side Batavia Primary and Den Amstel encounter ended 1-1
Belladrum Primary dominated Potaro Primary 5-nil complements of a hat-trick from Jadon Sampson and a brace from Kenroy Gordon.
North Georgetown also stopped Tapakuma Lake Primary 5-3 after a see-saw affair.
North Georgetown Primary’s Jahiem Bourne led the charge with a triple for the win.
Winfer Gardens Primary also beat St. Mary Primary 4-2 after an Omari St. Hill hat-trick coming in the 5th, 7th and 29th with Nathaniel Bishop scoring the other goal. Other round three winners were Georgetown International Academy over Colaaco Primary 7-1, as well as West Ruimveldt Primary which defeated Golden Grove Primary 5-0.
Genesis Primary also lost to St. Gabriels Primary 8-nil, Marian Academy Primary whipped School of Nation 3-nil, defending champion St. Pius Primary also overcame Tucville Primary 4-nil with Aleem Younge recording a triple.
Santa Rosa Primary capped off the day with a needle victory over Anns Grove Primary.
The action continues on Saturday at the Ministry of Education ground.
Aaron Jones hit an unbeaten 48 last night as KINGS won the CPL crown
see story on page 25
A new cricket tournament will launch in Guyana from the 26th November to 7th December 2024 with five teams from five different countries set to compete for a significant prize fund of US$1 million.
The event will feature the Guyana Amazon Warriors and four other established T20 teams from around the world.
This will be South America’s first standalone cricket event and is sanctioned by Cricket West Indies and is fully supported by the government of Guyana who will be a key
stakeholder in the tournament.
The event will feature a mini league of 11 matches with each team playing four matches with the top two teams progressing to the final. All matches will take place at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence, with the event set to take place annually featuring different teams from around the world being invited to take part each season.
His Excellency Mohammed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, said: «The Global Super League has
the full support of the Government of Guyana as we build a world class sports tourism product. Cricket is part of our cultural history, it is that unifying force, part of our heritage and an integral part of our strategic objective in economic diversification with a strong emphasis on Tourism. As Guyana positions itself as a global shaper in the energy, food and climate landscape, we will use this platform to bring a world class tournament to our shores.»
Sir Clive Lloyd, Chairman of Global Su-
per League, said: “I’d like to welcome cricket fans from around the world to this exciting new event.
The passion for cricket in Guyana rivals that of fans anywhere, and we look forward to celebrating our love of the game and our rich and vibrant country with both those visiting in person and watching from around the world.
I would like to thank His Excellency Dr Mohammed Irfaan Ali for his vision of a new cricket event for Guyana, one that will captivate the world.”