–– President Ali says gov’t focused on key priorities, not unproductive spending Gov’tworkingwithGTT,GPLtorelocateutilitiesforadvancementofproject
‘Non-oil’ growth being driven by deliberate gov’t planning, policies
––Dr.SinghtellsstakeholdersinWashingtonD.C.during discussiononGuyana’sunprecedentedeconomicsuccess
Former Jamaican Information Minister slams Stabroek News for wrong, malicious use of his comments to contextualise its deceptive narrative on press freedom
GUYANA’S unprecedented economic growth and development were discussed over the weekend at a Guyanese diaspora meeting in Washington D.C., United States of America (USA).
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh and ExxonMobil
Guyana’s President, Alistair Routledge, engaged a number of persons from the Guyanese diaspora for a question-and-answer segment.
During a brief address, Dr. Singh said what persons are witnessing in Guyana today is an unprecedented period of extraordinary real economic growth that is without parallel in history.
He related that while much of this economic expansion is happening as a result of the discovery and introduction of oil and gas, there is also extremely strong growth in the non-oil sector, some of which is driven by positive spinoffs from the oil and gas sector.
Importantly, Dr. Singh highlighted that most of this
growth “is driven by deliberate government policies to promote a strong and increasingly competitive non-oil economy.”
Further, he noted that the extraordinary growth is allowing the government to face a very real opportunity to improve the lives of every single Guyanese national and families.
The minister told the gathering that it is the deliberate intention of the President, Dr. Irfaan Ali-led Government to translate national prosperity into community, household and individual prosperity.
Minister Singh also assured the Guyanese diaspora and friends of Guyana that the government is under no illusion about the complexities
of managing rapid economic growth, and is earnestly approaching this task in a very serious and responsible way, while still striking the appropriate balance between addressing immediate needs and long-term sustainability.
The delegation attending the meeting also included Guyana’s Ambassador to the US, Samuel Hinds.
gov’t focused on key priorities, not unproductive
PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has made it clear that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government is carefully spending on national priorities meant to promote equity, generate employment, and enhance the country’s competitiveness, as opposed to any wasteful expenditures.
The President clearly outlined the government’s expenditure profile and plans in a Sunday evening address that was broadcast live from his official residence, State House. He did so juxtaposing the current administration’s plans with those of the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government, which was in office from 2015 to 2020.
Dr. Ali pointed out that the former administration had a comparatively smaller capital expenditures bill, which means that less money went towards the construction of critical infrastructure, improving social services, and creating a more
business-friendly environment.
He posited that his administration has, however, focused on more productive spending. And the productive expenditures, he said, align with the Party’s 2020 Manifesto.
“The spending on capital projects by this PPP/C government is aligned with the 2020 Manifesto, through which the People of Guyana elected us, and is aimed at delivering first-class social services, improved access to healthcare, quality education, improved water, (and) an expansion of the healthcare system,” President Ali highlighted.
Some of the key projects undertaken, he highlighted, include the construction of new regional and community hospitals. He also noted that the PPP/C government is helping citizens to generate wealth, whether by creating an enabling environment for them to work and prosper, or by increasing salaries and returning bonuses that were
revoked by the APNU+AFC coalition.
The President contended, too, that the massive spending on infrastructure, from highways to bridges, is all part of a masterplan to foster development for citizens all across the country. He also said that better infrastructure means improved access to more local communities, and, overall, enhances the communities’ and country’s competitiveness.
“This is where the investment is going; to reduce the infrastructure gap, this is what helps to bring equity to regions,” he said.
President Ali added, “Without the investment in physical infrastructure,
it would not be possible to improve the country’s international competitiveness. If we don’t do this, how are we going to improve our international competitiveness?”
Focusing on the government’s serious investments in physical infrastructure, the President noted that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is one body that stressed the need for Guyana to improve its transportation network.
Without a robust network, the IDB believes that Guyana’s competitiveness would be hamstrung and economic expansion, diminished.
According to President Ali, the IDB also estimated
that between US$9.4 billion to US$23.8 billion would be needed by 2030 to improve the local transportation network, expand the energy grid, improve water and sanitation facilities, and expand the telecommunication sector.
He said his government is cognisant of the investments required, and has already invested in all of these areas.
“(This is) exactly what we are doing; exactly where the PPP/C expenditure profile is, and what we are targetting,” the Head of State emphasised.
And Dr. Ali contended that major investments countrywide have spurred economic activity, and, resul-
tantly, job creation.
As a matter of fact, he said skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled citizens are capitalising on the booming economy, finding “high-paying” employment opportunities in many fields, such as the construction sector. The President said this was yet another way the government’s prioritised spending was impacting local development.
Though he chastised the APNU+AFC administration for their wasteful spending during their five-year term in office, the President assured Guyanese that his government is doing all it can to guarantee that the country’s prospects are better.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali made it clear that PPP/C government is carefully spending on national priorities meant to promote equity, generate employment and enhance the country’s competitiveness as opposed to any wasteful expenditures
AMERICAN actor James Earl Jones, an imposing stage and screen presence who overcame a childhood stutter to develop a stentorian voice recognised the world over as intergalactic villain, Darth Vader, died on Monday at the age of 93.
Jones, a longtime sufferer of diabetes, died at his home surrounded by family members, his agent, Barry McPherson, said. No cause of death was provided.
Jones had a great physical presence on stage and television, as well as in movies, but he would have been a star even if his face was never seen because his voice had a career of its own. The resonating bass could instantly command respect - as with the sage father Mufasa in “The Lion King,” and many Shakespeare roles - or instill fear as the rasping Vader in the “Star Wars” films.
Jones laughed when a BBC interviewer asked if he resented being so closely
tied to Darth Vader, a role that required only his voice for a few lines while another actor did the on-screen work in costume.
“I love being part of that whole myth, of that whole cult,” he said, adding that he was glad to oblige fans who asked for a command recital of his “I am your father” line to Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill.
“#RIP dad,” Hamill wrote on X on Monday with a broken heart emoji above a story about the death of Jones.
Jones said he never made much money off the Darth Vader part - only $9,000 for the first film - and that he considered it merely a special effects job. He did not even ask to be in the credits of the first two “Star Wars” movies.
His long list of awards included Tonys for “The Great White Hope” in 1969 and “Fences” in 1987 on Broadway and Emmys in 1991 for “Gabriel’s Fire” and “Heat
Wave” on television. He also won a Grammy for best spoken word album, “Great American Documents” in 1977.
Although he never won a competitive Academy award, he was nominated for best actor for the film version of “The Great White Hope” and was given an honorary Oscar in 2011.
He began his movie career playing Lieutenant Luther Zogg in Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 classic “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying
and Love the Bomb.”
Later acclaimed movie roles included novelist Terence Mann in 1989’s “Field of Dreams” and South African Reverend, Stephen Kumalo, in 1995’s “Cry, the Beloved Country.” He also starred in “Conan the Barbarian,” “Coming to America,” “The Sandlot,” “Matewan,” “The Hunt for Red October” and “Field of Dreams,” among others.
Jones also was heard in dozens of television commercials and for several years CNN used his au -
thoritative “This is CNN” to introduce its newscasts.
ESTRANGED FROM FATHER
James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931, in the tiny community of Arkabutla, Mississippi, to a family with a mixed ethnic background of Irish, African and Cherokee.
His father, prizefighter-turned-actor Robert Earl Jones, left the family shortly afterward. James was raised by his maternal grandparents, who forbade him to see his father, and the two did not get together until James moved to New York in the 1950s. Eventually they appeared in several plays together.
Jones was about 5 years old when his grandparents moved the family from Mississippi to a farm in Michigan and it was around that time that he quit speaking because of his stutter.
He was mostly silent for a decade until a ploy by his high school English teacher got him to speak up. The teacher made Jones recite to the class a poem that he said he had written to prove he was familiar enough with it to be the author.
Although after that he said he still had to choose his words carefully, Jones learned to control his stutter
and became interested in acting.
After studying drama at the University of Michigan, he moved to New York, where his theater performances increasingly attracted critical attention and acclaim.
His breakthrough role on Broadway was “The Great White Hope,” playing a character based on Black heavyweight champion Jack Johnson. The play examined racism through the lens of the boxing world and critics raved about Jones’ performance.
A popular theater draw for decades, his Shakespeare leading roles included Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear and Othello. He also had a notable portrayal of singer-actor-activist, Paul Robeson, on Broadway in 1977 and of author Alex Haley in the television mini-series “Roots: The Next Generation.”
He was “capable of moving in seconds from boyish ingenuousness to near-biblical rage and somehow suggesting all the gradations in between,” the Washington Post wrote in a 1987 review of “Fences.”
Jones’ first wife was Julienne Marie Hendricks, one of his “Othello” costars. Earl and his second wife, actress Cecilia Hart, who died in 2016, had one child, Flynn Earl Jones. (Reuters)
THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) has apprehended two of four suspects, who, purportedly, broke into the “Rude Boy” Supermarket at Fourth Bridge, Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), on Monday.
According to information from the GPF, “upon arrival at the scene ranks encountered four armed males inside the establishment. The suspects then discharged several rounds in the direction of the policemen, who returned fire.”
Suspect: 22-year-old
Dequan Small
Suspect: 25-year-old
Junior Persaud
Three of the suspects managed to escape at the scene; however, one person identified as Junior Persaud, a 25-year-old of Lot 6 Riverview, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was apprehended.
Persaud was questioned and based on information gathered, the police proceeded to the residence of one of the alleged perpetrators identified as Dequan Small, a 22-year-old male of 732 Diamond, East Bank Demerara, who was arrested at his home.
A search of the residence where he was arrested uncovered the following, “breaking devices”, a makeshift firearm, and several car rims and a small generator suspected to have been stolen from ‘Rude Boy’ Supermarket.
The two other suspects remain at large, as police continue investigations into the incident.
DISCUSSIONS are ongoing regarding the removal of utilities obstructing the pathway of the US$260 million New Demerara River Bridge, as part of a critical step towards advancing the transformational project, which is now 69 per cent complete.
The update was provided by Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill following an inspection of the site on Monday. He emphasised the urgency of expediting the project and outlined strategies for initiating works in the Peter’s Hall area.
“We are working with GTT and GPL to relocate the
utilities so that we can continue the work and how we can start executing work within the Peters Hall area where we have acquired the properties,” the minister pointed out.
The project is being executed by China Railway Construction (International) Limited (CRCCL).
The hybrid cable-stayed, beam-girder concrete bridge is designed to meet the United States American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standards, ensuring it stands as a modern and resilient structure.
The crossing will consist of four lanes and will span
2.6 kilometres, connecting Nandy Park on the East Bank of Demerara to La Grange on the West Bank. Its total width, including the four lanes, shoulders, and median, will be 23.6 metres, providing ample space for safe and efficient traffic flow.
With a height of 50 metres, the bridge is specifically designed to accommodate Handymax vessels passing underneath. The minimum horizontal width of the navigation span is 210 metres, but the final design is anticipated to have a more extensive horizontal span.
Also, motorists and residents of the East Bank, West
Bank, and West Coast of the Demerara River will enjoy no bridge interruptions, as there will be no bridge retraction. The first-of-its-kind bridge in South America will service Guyanese for at least 100 years.
When completed, the bridge will significantly enhance connectivity and support the economic growth of the region.
Meanwhile, an Italian company, Politecnica was appointed to oversee construction works and assess the project design to ensure works were being executed according to the project specifications. (DPI)
FOUR persons have been arrested following the discovery of a 9mm subma -
chine gun at Lot 73 Stewartville, West Coast Demerara (WCD).
The gun that was found
Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) officers, acting on information, on Monday swooped down on the resi-
dence where they found the gun during a search. Investigations are ongoing.
AGRICULTURE is much more than the growing of food. It is also an integral part of our culture.
This combination of agriculture and culture is now becoming a major enterprise globally linking people with farming communities and in the process contributing to sustainable livelihoods of farmers.
Guyana’s tourism sector is growing rapidly. This is especially so within recent years as can be seen from the record number of tourist arrivals and the construction of several new international hotels.
And while it is true that we do not have the benefit of the three S’- Sun, Sea and Sand - to the extent available in other Caribbean countries, we do have other tourism products that are unique to Guyana. One such package are the elements associated with agriculture, namely agri-tourism.
Guyana has a rich and diverse agricultural history dating back to the early days of Euro-
pean colonisation. Much of that history has been lost over the decades. The same is true of the tools and other aspects of our early agricultural pursuits with particular reference to cotton, coffee and tobacco production, which over time, became subordinated to large scale sugar and rice cultivation.
Yet there are several elements of our agriculture that still remain and can be of value to those who have an interest in the evolution of agriculture in Guyana, especially in rice and sugar production.
There are many Guyanese both at home and abroad who never went into our agricultural backlands and experienced first-hand how sugar or rice is manufactured and the different processes involved in their production.
This is why the decision by the government to explore the feasibility of agri-tourism is commendable especially in the context of the lead role Guyana is playing in agriculture on the regional stage.
Once the breadbasket of the Caribbean, the agricultural sector was allowed to deteriorate due to the vindictive policies of the previous PNC regime. A significant number of farmers, especially in the rice sector were forced to abandon their lands and seek employment elsewhere.
Yet that culture of growing food remains strong and was given new and fresh impetus by the PPP/C administration. The agricultural sector is doing exceedingly well and is a major contributory factor to the non-oil growth trajectory.
Agri-tourism is defined as a type of tourism that involves visits to farms, agricultural-themed festivals and old plantations. Luckily, many of these still can be found on the sugar estates and in rice cultivation areas. It combines agriculture with tourism to promote sustainable tourism, support local agriculture and provide economic benefits to rural communities.
The potential of agri-tourism for sustainable livelihoods of farmers are enormous. With the expansion of the hospitality sector, it is now possible to link local farmers with hotels and restaurants. Additionally, it entails the use of tourist routes that combines the natural landscapes with the way of life of rural and hinterland communities.
The PPP/C administration must be commended for bringing back agriculture as the backbone of the economy and for integrating the sector within the larger national framework.
The feasibility studies done in several regions to assess the potential benefits of agriculture tourism to enhance the well-being of farmers is a step in the right direction and speaks to the ingenuity and creativity of the current administration in its quest to improve the cultural and economic well-being of our farmers and by extension the society as a whole.
Dear Editor,
THERE is deep concern over the outbreak of the dengue disease in Guyana.
The reported cases for January and February, 2024 of over one million in neighboring Brazil (with which Guyana shares the south -western border) and where there exists cross border travel and trade, heightens the people’s anxiety.
Guyana has gone through the trauma of COVID-19 and did exceptionally well to control that disease, but she does not want to walk again on a similar track. Naturally, Guyanese are also worried about the outbreak of the dengue disease for which there is no specific treatment in Guyana, other than infected persons taking tablets for pain and fever.
Dengue is spread by the aedes aegypti and the aedes albopictus mosquitoes. The aedes mosquito also spreads malaria and Zika. Symptoms of dengue are usually high fever, headache, vomiting, and rash. It is estimated by World Health Organisation (WHO) that between 100 million to 400 million people are infected per year.
Guyana as of August 24, 2024 had 17,042 cases (8,389 new cases and 8,653 old cases in 2024). The Ministry conducted RDT tests on 31,669 persons and a positive rate of 26 per cent was recorded.
The number of infected persons hospitalised as of August 24, 2024 was 909 (or 5.3 per cent of reported infected cases), while five persons died.
I need to give context to this health challenge. The PPP/C government recognises that physical infrastructural growth (roads, bridges, hotels, etc) must be accompanied by significant changes in the social sector like education, health, legal and social welfare.
The way how people view these sectors is how they would embrace the changes taking place. It is vital, therefore, that they are prepared to change old attitudes that would not be compatible with the new ones emerging out of modernisation.
Changes in attitudes are fundamental. With respect to the legal system, for example, I paraphrase Marx’s famous
dictum: “You cannot make old laws [and attitudes] the foundation of a new social development any more than these old laws [and attitudes] created the old social conditions.”
The weekly grassroots mobilisation, combined with modernising of the education sector, and the thrust to make Guyana a world class provider of healthcare services (producing healthier workers and families) are part of the process to get people to accept attitudinal changes.
It is for this reason that the government is creating a modern healthcare system and has allocated in 2024 the second biggest budget amount (G$129.8 billion). Given that there is no specific medication to treat dengue, the question is: “How would the government control the spread of dengue and allay the public’s concern?”
Health minister, Dr. Frank Anthony says that much work, therefore, has to focus on prevention. The ministry has distributed 50,000 medicine-laced mosquito nettings that last for three years to
people who live in the high-risk areas of Regions One, Two, Four, Six, Nine, and 10. They also would spray and disinfect the surrounding neighborhoods (a process called fogging) where pools of water or open receptacles exist that favour the breeding of mosquitoes. One mosquito could lay as much as 200 eggs per day.
At the institutional level, Dr Anthony says that responsibility for mosquito control is being devolved unto the NDCs, which are better positioned to monitor and to implement preventive measures.
The ministry is providing the tools and supplies (fogging machines, mosquito nettings, insecticides, etc) and training. The ministry will continue to monitor the overall situation and offer technical assistance.
To control any infectious disease also requires citizens’ behavioural change. In this way, Guyana will control dengue as it did with COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
Yours sincerely, Dr. Tara Singh
Dear Editor,
THE APNU/AFC should be proud of the new dimension to socio-economic development which they ‘delivered’. They were successful in delivering a developmental formula made up of feasibility studies, white papers, Commission of Inquiries, and ‘consultations’ via conferences.
They wanted this nation to believe that these alone are sufficient to propel socio-economic growth in an upward trajectory, having spent hundreds of millions from the Treasury. Once again, these parties want the Guyanese to swallow this rubbish. As the saying goes, ‘Words without action are meaningless’.
The APNU/AFC is a specialist in feasibility studies, they even were contemplating doing a ‘feasibility study’ before doing a feasibility study, hiring a feasibility expert and pay him hefty fee to determine the need for such study. These studies were aimed at convincing the public that the ‘good life’ is being delivered.
The question is, who was this ‘feasible’ for? It is especially important to consider this given that these feasibility studies consumed hundreds of millions of dollars.
It is not difficult to know who benefitted. In case of any doubt then just ask the previous Public Infrastructure Minister. It would seem that the first five years was just to do the feasibility studies. The next five years would have been the ‘action term’.
Now that the AFC has a “brand new” leader, suit and all, the nation is once again made to endure the cacophonic reverberation of feasibility studies, conferences, consultations, “knocking on doors” and presenting empty haversacks.
The reality is that at first the studies appeared to be intellectually correct, being garlanded with a plethora of illuminating benefits which the Guyanese people will enjoy such improving their standards of living, lowering the cost of living and injecting millions into their pockets. Guyanese will not fall for this again. The lead actor has changed but the script remains unchanged.
The ‘white paper’ the Coalition presented on sugar not only guillotined the sugar industry but the lives of 7,000 workers and their families. Yet the AFC and the APNU still brags and boasts that
they were correct in ‘right sizing’ the sugar industry.
The objective of the Coalition was clear-after freezing wages in the sugar industry, freezing capital investments and aborting meaningful rehabilitation of plant and equipment in the field and factory, the stage was set not only to close the Wales, Enmore, Skeldon and Rose Hall estates which they did, but to shutter the entire industry.
They were uncaring about the dire socio-economic consequences. Seven thousand sugar workers were given the ‘white paper’ and kicked out with no recourse to any alternative means of livelihood.
They became mendicants overnight, some committed suicide, some migrated and thousands of their children faced a life of poverty, for the first time, some barely making it to school on empty stomachs, dressed in rags, whilst the Coalition Ministers enjoyed their humongous salaries and benefit increases and their children became the Richie Riches of Guyana.
The Commission of Inquiry into the sugar industry preceded the closing of the four sugar estates and it recommended the non-closure of the Industry among others which actually saw the industry being made viable by 2025. Why a ‘caring’ government would set up such an inquiry, spent millions and then threw it in the garbage bin? The COI was just more money for the boys and ‘proof’ that the Coalitions ‘cares’ about sugar.
Then there were the conferences-rice farmers’ conference, rice millers’ conference, cane workers conference, cane farmers conference, the women conference, the youth conference and list goes on.
The Coalition loves an audience to sell dreams. In the end, rice was deemed to be private business and the sugar industry a ‘black hole’ and sugar workers were deemed ‘raiders’ of the Treasury. Youths were told to manufacture and sell cook-up rice and plantain chips and stop drinking Guinness at street corners.
Any competent government will be cognisant of what needs to be done even before taking office since it keeps track of what is happening in the country and come up with concrete plans to govern in order to guarantee progress.
The APNU/AFC always sounds vacuous and hollow. This can be contrasted with the PPP/C whose micro and macro
policies are always realistic and achievable, and on assuming Office they hit the ground running and began delivering on their manifesto with great alacrity.
The APNU/AFC delivered more to friends, families and themselves than
to this nation, and feasibility studies, COIs and conferences were mere sham meant to fool and deceive the nation.
Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf
Dear Editor,
A MINORITY political party, ANUG, is championing the need for a minority government, although in hindsight, a minority government in the context of the Guyanese political environment would never work.
The one time there was such a dispensation in the 2011-2015 period, it failed miserably, which almost caused Guyana to be blacklisted, thereby driving the economy into the ground.
Notwithstanding, ANUG has positioned itself, hopeful, as a party that would hold the balance of power and ensure the best policies and decision making at the national level, through the National Assembly, should they win some five-seats at the upcoming general and regional elections in 2025.
Yet, week after week, and every time one of ANUG’s key spokesperson speaks, save and except for its founding member, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, who is a legal luminary, the party exposes its lack of depth, comprehension, grasp and rigor altogether, in respect of public policy matters.
It begs the question, therefore, how would the party hold the balance of power given its apparent deficit dilemma, specifically as it relates to economic policies. The quality of such policy debate contributions by and from ANUG has so far been proven to be less than amateur and mediocre.
ANUG does not seem to have even a basic understanding of economic and policy issues, much less the more complex issues in an increasingly sophisticated, regionally, and globally integrated economy.
Do they have the wherewithal and the capacity to deliver the best quality decisions and policies to the Guyanese people? Evidently, the answer, so far, is a resounding no. Political parties, especially the new -
comers like ANUG have got to do better in this regard.
Sincerely, Joel Bhagwandin
Dear Editor,
THE Lethem Township and surrounding communities have long faced the challenge of flooding during the rainy season, which has had significant impacts on farmers and residents alike.
In response, the Ministry of Agriculture, through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), has stepped up with timely and crucial interventions to address this pressing issue.
By partnering with the Regional Democratic Council of Region Nine and the Lethem Town Council, the Ministry of Agriculture initiated the dredging of the Tabatinga Creek. This project is essential to improving the drainage system in Lethem, helping to prevent the severe flooding that disrupts lives and livelihoods.
The ongoing project will bring significant relief to crop and livestock farmers, who often face devastating losses due to waterlogged fields and pastures. Moreover, residents of the township stand to benefit from this intervention, as it will reduce the risk of damage to homes and property caused by flooding. This collaborative effort demonstrates the Ministry’s dedication to supporting the region’s agricultural sector and improving the overall well-being of Lethem’s communities. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Ministry of Agriculture, the NDIA, and all stakeholders involved for their prompt action and commitment to making Lethem more resilient in the face of natural challenges.
Your regards, Andrew Lashley
YOU can’t help thinking how funny life is in this country. I mean, without this funny side, Guyana would be seriously boring. Mr. Anand Persaud, the editor-in-chief of the Stabroek News (SN) and the paper’s co-owner (along with Ms. Isabelle DeCaires, the daughter of the paper’s founder, David DeCaires), described me as a PPP lapdog.
This is an intriguing appellation, the reason being that I have absolutely no presence in any shape or form whatsoever in the ruling party and have no presence in any shape or form whatsoever in the entire state structure of Guyana. I don’t even sit on the board of most peripheral state institution. I don’t know a large percentage of the new PPP central committee and have never spoken to a number of Cabinet members.
So why am I a PPP lapdog and the same label is not applied to Mr. Persaud himself for being an opposition lapdog who runs a paper that is appallingly anti-government? SN has not even a monthly independent columnist. All of its columnists are anti-government. Mr. Ralph Ramkarran’s weekly piece is a reproduction of his blog.
I monitor the comments attached to the letters in the online edition of SN and the term “insanely hostile” is strikingly appropriate to describe those who give their opinions. I seldom see pro-government opinions carried. For every 100 comments published, 99 are anti-government.
For the past ten years, SN has carried a weekly column titled In The Diaspora (ITD) edited by dye-in-the wool WPA stalwart, Dr. Alissa Trotz. Here is what the strap line of ITD says: “This is a series of weekly columns from Guyanese in the diaspora with an interest in
issues related to Guyana.”
Now let’s go inside the diaspora and inside the politics of Alissa Trotz. First, there has never been a column from ITD that has looked favourably at any aspect of the work of the Government of Guyana since the Ali presidency came into existence in August 2020. And I literally mean, not one such column.
Secondly, something is not right here. According to the strap line, the pieces are written by people in the diaspora. But who is inside the Guyanese diaspora? It is said that roughly one million Guyanese live outside of Guyana. Since there has never been a pro-government commentary from ITD, then is Ms. Trotz telling us that the Guyanese diaspora consists of almost 100 percent of people who are inclined to criticise the administration in this land?
This is an atrocity simply because any person that is familiar with Guyana knows that in the Guyanese diaspora, there is an unlimited number of educated people who have admiration for the Ali presidency. Some of these scholars are brilliant people. Is Ms. Trotz telling us she cannot find even one pro-government academic in Canada where she lives or in the vast land of the United States?
Some of these scholars are known to Ms. Trotz because they write letters frequently in the newspapers and they have published well-written books. They say truth is different from facts because your truth may not be my truth. So I am going to stay away, accusing Ms. Trotz of ignoring the truth about who exists inside the diaspora. The fact is that there are accomplished scholars out there in the diaspora who will write in support of the Ali presidency if asked by Ms. Trotz, but Ms. Trotz has no intention of
contacting them.
Thirdly, the atrocity gets uglier when you read what the strap line says.: “This is a series of weekly columns from Guyanese in the diaspora with an interest in issues related to Guyana.”
So what is “this interest in issues related to Guyana? Surely the five-month election disaster must have been one such issue. But ITD never paid any attention to the electoral disaster even though it went on for five months.
Fourthly, where is the role of the editor? After 10 years of ITD where is his professional journalism? He has to step in and tell Ms. Trotz that ITD needs to have political balance and carry different perspectives. Yet against this barefaced hypocrisy, Mr. Persaud has the
temerity to refer to me as a PPP lapdog. Why is Ms. Trotz not described in the same fashion? ITD is openly anti-government. So I am going to close off by going in a direction I have never gone before.
I prefer to use the methodology of factual outlay rather than truthful presentation. In this case, the truth is Mr. Persaud is anti-government, Ms. Trotz is anti-government, and independent journalism is a casualty of such hypocrisy.
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.
THE National Literacy Department of the Ministry of Education (MoE) has successfully launched its new Primary School Libraries initiative, ensuring that every primary school across Guyana is stocked with a selection of classic and contemporary literature for children.
This initiative is part of a larger effort to eliminate illiteracy in schools and communities, as directed by the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand.
The initiative, which started in 2023 and came to fruition in 2024, marks the first time that storybooks have been purchased specifically for primary school
libraries, expanding beyond the provision of recommended textbooks for core subjects. Minister Manickchand, speaking at the launch, highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to supporting students with the resources they need to excel.
“We have bought textbooks for every single child from grades one to grade 13, individually for your own book bag,” Minister Manickchand said. “It is the first time the country has ever had that.” She emphasised that while the Ministry prioritises textbooks, it also values the importance of childhood enrichment through storybooks.
“We want to see children reading stories that transport
them, expand their imagination, and make them think of different things happening in the world.”
As part of this literacy drive, students will be rewarded with prizes for every hundred books they read and report on, encouraging a love for reading and critical thinking. A diverse selection of 28 titles, including popular series such as The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Harry Potter, and The Magic Treehouse, were procured for the libraries, with some series offering as many as six to nine books.
Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) for Literacy, Stembiso Grant, revealed that each primary school library
Preview of the Library at the St. Gabriel’s Primary School in Georgetown
would start with 460 books, with over 200,000 books already purchased. Grant noted that while many schools have spaces designated as libraries, these spaces are often underutilised or disorganised. The new initiative aims to transform these areas into vibrant learning hubs, complete
with structured systems for borrowing books and trained librarians.
“We believe that school libraries are the heart of our educational institutions,” Grant said. “They are vibrant learning hubs where the seeds of knowledge are planted, nurtured, and grown.”
The launch of the Primary School Libraries initiative not only celebrates the joy of reading but also represents a renewed commitment to tackling illiteracy in Guyana, ensuring that every child has access to books and the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.
By Feona Morrison
IN a major stride towards aligning higher education with the country’s burgeoning oil and gas industry, the University of Guyana (UG) has added 30 new programmes over the last four to five years, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin, has revealed.
She emphasised that this expansion, which includes the establishment of two specialised institutes, underscores the university’s commitment to providing relevant and cutting-edge education tailored to the needs of the country’s evolving economic landscape.
During her recent appearance on the Energy
UG’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin
Perspectives Podcast, Mohamed-Martin highlighted the pivotal role these new programmes and institutes play in preparing the next generation of professionals for the oil and gas sector, which has become a cornerstone of Guyana’s economy.
“In the last four to five years, we’ve added about 30 new programmes at the university and two institutes which are very specific to oil and gas,” she stated, emphasising the university’s strategic approach to meet the demands of an industry experiencing rapid growth.
Among the key additions are the Institute for Energy Diplomacy and the Institute for Marine and Riverine Ecologies and Economy (IMAREE). These institutes are not only intended to enhance the skill sets of students but also to contribute to broader industry-specific research, policy development, and strategic initiatives.
Providing insight on the IMAREE, the professor said: “This is the institute that will look at questions of port security, and how you manage ports, et cetera. Because, you know, a lot of our work in oil and gas is in the ultra-deep water. And that side of our
marine studies at the university and on the maritime front of things, have been basically very, very small. So, we have scaled that up now.”
Mohamed-Martin had previously explained that the IMAREE will play a major role in efforts to address the labour crisis in the maritime and marine industries. Referencing recent surveys, she had said there is a need for between 2,000 and 6,000 workers.
She had also revealed UG’s ambitious goal of graduating 500 to 700 students in the next four years, aiming to address the existing disparity in the marine and maritime industries in an effort to support both environmental sustainability and economic growth.
The IMAREE began offering a range of programmes in the 2024-2025 academic year, including a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology, Port Management, Port Security, Marine Transportation, Marine Engineering, and Coastal, Riverine, and Ocean Management.
Additionally, the institution will provide a Post-Graduate Diploma and a Master Degree in Maritime Law, as well as both Bachelor and Master degrees in
Marine Bio Pharma.
Meanwhile, the Institute for Energy Diplomacy aims to equip students with a deep understanding of the geopolitical, economic, and regulatory aspects of the energy sector.
Launched in 2021, this institute offers courses in the fields of Energy Markets, Oil and Gas Value Chain, Energy Transport and Shipping and Crude Oil Trading.
The courses cover not only a range of upstream, midstream, and downstream oil and gas activities but equip participants with wider energy training. “We have graduated hundreds of lawyers, hundreds of accountants, hundreds of people working in different fields but they did not have a specialisation in oil and gas,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
Furthermore, she men -
tioned that new programmes specifically designed for the oil and gas industry have been offered by existing faculties like the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI), the Faculty of Natural Sciences, and the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences. These include the Oil and Gas Monitoring Master degree and the Bachelor’s and Master’s in Supply Chain
Management. Mohamed-Martin shared that the majority of the work to expand the university’s curriculum began during the COVID-19 time and that the university moved quickly to respond to the country’s expanding oil and gas sector by developing specialised programmes to produce graduates who will steer Guyana’s energy future.
NINE members from five communities in Region One participated in an experiential exchange programme in Region Nine, organised by the Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS), from September 1 until September 10, 2024.
According to a press release, the initiative was funded by the European Union (EU) under the project titled “Developing the Capacity of the Barima-Mora Passage Communities in Natural Resources Governance”.
The participants included Desmond James, Toshao of Red Hill; Monique Henry, Treasurer of Three Brothers; Orin Sam and Yoland Sam of Imbotero; Jerry Bumbury, Smith Creek CDC Vice Chair; Greg Thomas, Smith Creek Councilor; Alexander Mendonca of Aruka; and Zaheer Khan and Sylvia Williams of Morawhanna.
The project works with Warrau Indigenous communities, who have had little formal exposure or training in natural resource management, monitoring, and tourism.
Due to challenging literacy capacity among the communities, learning by seeing and doing (experiential) is an important means to build capacity through engagement with various partner organisations and Indigenous communities in Regions Eight and Nine.
The experiential exchange participants from these Barima-Waini and Barima Mora Passage Communities in Region One, visited the Caiman House, Shulinab village, and Wichabai Ranch to experience first-hand and learn about governance, leadership, natural resources management, and tourism from a Region Nine community context.
They also engaged with the South Rupununi Conservation Society and received hands-on training in wildlife conservation activities.
These Indigenous-to-Indigenous community peer exchange of information and experiences provide valuable insights and learning opportunities that will benefit
and strengthen Region One communities and their own practices.
It is part of GMCS’ commitment to support culturally appropriate learning for Indigenous peoples.
During their overnight stay in Georgetown on the way to Lethem, on September 2, the participants also benefitted from a workshop on village mangrove action planning and leadership lead by Governance Consultant, Sara Bharrat and supported by Annette Arjoon-Martins and Chelbie Gilkes of GMCS.
During the EU-funded project, GMCS will continue to engage the BMP communities in building their natural resource management capacity, including establishing and strengthening the governance of Village Mangrove Action Committees (VMACs) while amplifying the voices of women and girls. This initiative complements Guyana’s national framework setout in the National Mangrove Management Action Plan.
“GMCS extends sincerest
thanks to the EU for funding this project initiative and its continued support in the important work of protecting
and managing mangrove forests and other natural resources in Guyana.
The latter is a signifi -
cant part of the country’s response to mitigating the impacts of climate change,” the society said.
THE Public Procurement Commission (PPC) recently concluded a two-day training session designed to improve the understanding and execution of public procurement processes. Held from September 3rd to 5th, 2024, at the Ministry of Public Service (MOPS) Training Centre, the workshop saw 22 participants from 18 public entities in attendance. The training, aimed at public officers and procurement professionals, was conducted by a team of experts from the PPC, including Dwight Dodson (Head of Operations), Esther Osborne (Attorney-at-Law), Antonio Yhan (Training Officer), Prakash Sookdeo (Procurement Specialist), Savion Paddy (Civil Engi-
neer), and Davindra Singh (Procurement Specialist).
Participants of the PPC’s two-day training session
The programme covered essential areas of the public procurement framework, including an introduction to public procurement legislation, best practices, procurement cycles, contract management, and tender evaluation processes. In line with the PPC’s
constitutional mandate under Article 212AA (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, the workshop sought to promote aware-
ness of the rules, procedures, and special requirements of public procurement among public bodies, suppliers, and contractors. Additionally, the initiative
fulfills Section 17(2)(c) of the Procurement Act, Cap. 73:05, which mandates the PPC to organise procurement training seminars.
The PPC emphasised its commitment to transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public procurement. These training sessions are part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen procurement practices across government agencies, ensuring that participants are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to execute their duties in accordance with best practices.
For more information or to schedule a future training session, interested parties can contact the PPC at (592) 226-3729, (592) 231-7306, or (592) 226-2364, or via email at operations@ppc.org.gy.
The following is the full text of a statement from Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs and Information, Kwame McCoy:
“WHILE the Government of Guyana continues to make strident efforts to expand and strengthen the policy framework for a conducive environment within which the Fourth Estate can function unabated, unhindered and without fear in keeping with constructional provisions and international conventions, it’s becoming apparent all over again as the country approaches another election cycle, that some media houses would rather straddle an adversarial continuum with the people’s government, and would continually stoke imaginary peeves and non-existent duels to underpin their unethical agenda.
Our government has been at pains to expand its accessibility for the media, strengthen the framework for access to information, and build capacity across the board to enable individual and collective growth in the sector.
Our Access to Information Act has been in existence for over a decade; our government consistently facilitates access to the media through a multiplicity of channels including weekly high-level press conferences from the Vice President and General Secretary of the ruling party, periodic press conferences and regular ad hoc facilitation of access to the
Head of State, and unfettered access to ministers within their offices and in the fields.
A plethora of policy documents, agreements, contracts and other public information are widely available across multiple digital platforms and more are provided on request almost weekly.
Our Department of Public Affairs has established an academy for up-skilling and certification of the entire media fraternity in international industry practices which was recently bolstered further by open access to the Coursera for Government platforms which provide expanded nonfees access to courses across the board.
We’ve been placing the matter of Press Freedom and its attendant issues front and centre in the public domain, with full involvement of the media fraternity each year during international observances.
Digital media enjoys unrestricted freedoms save and except for actions that infringe on existing laws, and we continue to guard against any attempts to undermine these provisions or subvert constitutional protections and guarantees, universally.
Yet, at every juncture, without necessity and cause, some sections of our national media fraternity seem bent on keeping a jaundiced narrative alive, that which paints an entirely opposite picture to the facts as outlined above and the general environment within
which they operate in Guyana, for whatever particular localized reason and seemingly to keep an apparent campaign to impact Guyana’s international credentials negatively in the algorithms and selected sources feeding the annual ranking mechanism done by the custodians of the Media Freedom Index.
In the latest exercise of its unfettered freedom, four months after Guyana’s observance of World Press Freedom day 2024 which saw the in-person participation of then Minister of Information of Jamaica Honorable Robert Nesta Morgan, the Stabroek News has found it strangely convenient to pull up limited and selected parts of the ministers comments during the activities in Guyana to somehow contextualise another of its missives designed to continue framing the Guyana Government as antithetical to the international conventions
on press freedom.
In these newest efforts, the article published on September 9, captioned, “Press Freedom Rankings can be improved with more Government Transparency”, Morgan’s generalised comments, “The most powerful antidote to dishonesty is transparency”, which he made while in Guyana in May of this year, were used as context for Stabroek News’s revisiting of the 2024 global media rankings released back in May, which had Guyana dropping several places on the index.
In preparation for this article, Stabroek News contacted the Jamaican minister on the question of press freedom rankings and he again reiterated in a generalized sense as he intimated back in May, that in his view, “Transparency is the oxygen of democracy. The governments have nothing to fear [if they] are open and clear”.
But having used those comments along with anecdotal references and views Minister Morgan expressed while in Guyana, to contextualize its article, it appears that there is a deliberate angling by the paper which creates the impression that the Jamaican minister was chiding his Guyanese counterpart for the country’s drop on the index.
In response to this glaring ethical breach, Minister Morgan, on Monday, released a statement in reference to the Stabroek News article, stating emphatically “At no point did I make a specific statement regarding Guyana… I find the story lacking context and wrong and it should be withdrawn. It essentially uses my speech to create a narrative I never said”.
The article highlights among other things, Minister Morgan’s reference to the existence of an Access to Information Law in his country, without drawing any parallel to a similar legislation which has been in place in Guyana for over a decade, as if to imply, as was done with several other references to Morgan’s comments; that Guyana’s situation vis a vis media freedom, is found wanting.
Guyana and several other countries have argued that the assessment of press freedom at national levels to inform the global ranking is fundamentally flawed.
Given that democracy in itself is a multidimensional and multifaceted feature that
underpins open societies, the analysis of the democratic interplay between governments and the media cannot be viewed only through the perspective of the government’s relations and treatment of the media, as reported by the media, the analysis must be conducted both ways on the spectrum.
It cannot be that media practice in a national context remains devoid of scrutiny, with its ethics and professional conduct being entirely immune from criticism, while government’s actions alone vis a vis the media are constantly placed under the microscope. We insist, that on a democratic continuum, all actors that serve the public’s interest must face equal scrutiny.
In this extant situation, Stabroek has not only pursued its unfair criticism of the government, but has sought to impugn the good name of a minister of another government. In all instances of unfair and unethical journalism directed towards our government from any section of the local media, we will retain our right to respond and defend our credentials and record.
Meanwhile, in the interest of the preservation of all aspects of our democratic ecosystem, the private media in Guyana must return and stick to unjaundiced professional practice as required by the conventions that underpin its global ethos, and leave politics exclusively to political parties.”
ELSON Low, an economist aligned with the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR), has pushed back against recent warnings from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) that significant salary increases in the Caribbean could fuel inflation, and spiral the already high cost of living.
“We reiterate that as our country grows, our people must benefit, and so we will increase teacher and other public servant salaries by an initial 35% (graduated) in the first year in office, followed by negotiations for further increases,” he said at a press conference on Monday.
During the media briefing, Low described the CDB's warning as “almost absurd", and called for it to be “put aside”.
He said that while the CDB's concerns may hold
true in economies with slow economic growth, Guyana's situation is evidently different. He said that Guyana is witnessing unprecedented growth, driven largely by the oil-and-gas sector.
Contesting the advice of the prestigious regional institution, Low said: “There are very few countries in the history of the world that have grown quickly; it is not reasonable to compare
Guyana to Caribbean peers in that way. I think that is another comparison that has to be put aside, because it is almost absurd.
“There is no comparison whatsoever between the growth rate of Guyana and the growth rate of the other Caribbean countries. In fact, Guyana’s budget has also increased at a rapid rate, which is pretty much unforeseen; pretty much something you
haven’t seen in the Caribbean.”
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has repeatedly criticised the PNCR-led A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition government for its tenure from 2015 to 2020, accusing it of failed economic policies and widespread corruption.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali emphasised, among other things, in a live address on Sunday that the APNU+AFC failed to deliver on its Manifesto promises from the 2015 elections, and relished power while secretly giving its ministers and other officials a 50 per cent pay raise.
The coalition’s tenure was marked by the imposition of over 200 new and increased taxes, fees, and fines, as well as Valued Added Tax
(VAT) on essential services like electricity, water, and educational and medical supplies.
The PPP/C took power when Guyana had no petroleum money, but continued to give thousands of schoolchildren cash grants under the ‘Because We Care’ programme.
The previous APNU+AFC government, which had insisted it had no budgetary room for this cash grant, but managed to find money for other purposes, had dis-
continued the initiative.
Among the government’s transformative plans are the construction of hospitals, schools, the removal of taxes and fees, and the creation of over 60,000 jobs.
The government has increased public assistance, reinstated the Joint Services’ one-month bonus, gave pay hikes to public employees, increased old-age pension, provided vouchers for eye care, HPV testing and spectacles, and the rehiring of sugar workers sacked by the APNU+AFC.
The government has also adopted a holistic approach to enhancing the quality of life for Guyanese citizens, focusing on a range of key areas. Through these measures, the government aims to create a more equitable and prosperous society for all citizens.
IN recent years, more Amerindian women have increasingly stepped into leadership roles and spearheaded discussions on de-
velopment within their traditionally male-dominated communities.
Out of the 254 leaders elected at the May-June Vil-
lage Council (VC) Elections, 35 females emerged as toshaos and senior councillors in Regions One, Two, Seven, Eight, Nine, and 10, repre-
senting 14 per cent of the total leaders elected.
Amerindian women assumed leadership roles within their villages and secured executive positions on the National Toshao Council (NTC), which plans and represents the sustainable development of Guyana’s indigenous peoples.
A teacher by profession and the re-elected toshao of Bethany Village in Region Two, Sonia Latchman, is the NTC’s vice-chairperson.
She is also the newly declared lead expert for the Caribbean on the implementation of the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
During an interaction with the Department of Public Information (DPI), She emphasised the significant role women play in leadership. She highlighted the fresh perspective and resilience they bring to the table.
Latchman believes that the inclusion of women in
leadership is crucial for holistic village development and inspiring future generations to pursue leadership roles.
“Leadership is not confined to gender…It is open to all who are capable and passionate about the progress of their people and this will drive societal growth. I strongly believe that women’s leadership leads to more inclusive changes,” she further underscored.
The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs reported that 11 females were elected as toshaos and senior councillors in Region One; three in Region Two, and five in Region Seven, with additional leaders in Regions Eight, Nine, and Ten.
Importantly, some villages elected female leaders for the first time, while others re-elected accomplished women based on their outstanding performance during their previous terms.
For instance, Sandra Brazao made history as the
first female toshao of Kato Village in Region Eight while Amrita Thomas was elected as the first female toshao of Waramadong Village in Region Seven.
The election of female leaders, including Roxanne Beck in Awarewaunau, Deep South Rupununi in Region Nine, demonstrates the increasing recognition of women’s leadership capabilities across various communities.
Villages such as Baramita in Region One also elected Sharmain Rambajue, who previously served as toshao of the Carib village.
In Region Two, Mainstay/Whyaka elected Marsha Williams as its leader, succeeding government Member of Parliament (MP) Yvonne Fredericks-Pearson.
These positive developments signify a shift towards greater gender diversity and empowerment in Guyana’s indigenous peoples’ representation and development. (DPI)
IN a ceremony held on Monday at the Ministry of Health’s boardroom, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, accepted a donation of communi -
cation materials from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
This donation, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to enhance health education in Region Nine by equipping Community Health Committees with the tools necessary to promote
better nutrition and address other health-related issues.
The Community Health Committees, which have been established in 15 communities across Region Nine, will benefit from these materials as they work to improve health outcomes through community engagement. Community health workers will use the donated items, which include booklets and other informative materials, to spread accurate health information at health centres
and schools.
The donation comprises 145 branded vests, 215 posters on nutrition, 130 posters on hand hygiene, 12 banners, 25 handbooks, 10 manuals, and 34 flash drives containing educational videos. These materials will be distributed across the 15 communities, contributing to the ongoing efforts to strengthen public health awareness and education.
Attending the handover were Director of Primary
Healthcare Services, Dr. Ertensia Hamilton; Youth and Adolescent Development Officer, Ms. Jewell Crosse; and Deputy Representative (ag), Mr. Gabriel Vockel, from UNICEF Guyana and Suriname.
Dr. Frank Anthony expressed gratitude for the partnership with UNICEF and USAID, emphasising the importance of community-based health education in promoting healthier lifestyles in the hinterland regions.
RESIDENTS of De Kinderen and Den Amstel, Region Three, were engaged, on Sunday afternoon, on the Community-based Employment Stimulation Project (CESP), an initiative conceptualised by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali to provide employment opportunities for vulnerable populations.
This project offers beneficiaries the opportunity to produce blocks for contractors building homes under the national housing drive.
Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, led the consultation, alongside Mrs.
Donell Bess-Bascom, Deputy Director of Community Development at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).
According to information from the Ministry of Housing and Water, Minister Croal emphasised that the project provides valuable training opportunities, allowing participants to enhance their skillsets. These are the first two communities from the region engaged on the initiative.
With over 8,000 house lot allocations in Region Three over the past four years, Minister Croal noted the in-
creasing demand for home construction. He encouraged those present to seize these opportunities also.
The two groups are expected to begin training provided by the ministry before the end of the month.
Minister Croal indicated that the initial production target is at least 1,800 blocks per group, the average amount needed to construct a low-income home.
He also encouraged the groups to maintain discipline and consistency throughout the project.
Residents of De Kinderen and Den Amstel, Region Three, were engaged, on Sunday afternoon, on the Community-based Employment Stimulation Project (CESP), an initiative conceptualised by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali to provide employment opportunities for vulnerable populations
CESP is focused on several vulnerable groups and communities, including Tiger Bay, Albouystown, East and West Ruimveldt, Agricola, Mocha, Lusignan, Buxton, Victoria, Leopold Street, North Ruimveldt, and Sophia (Region Four); as well as Canje (Region Six) and Linden (Region 10).
To date, CESP has employed over 100 individuals. Start-up packages have been distributed to the Guyana
Society for the Blind, North Ruimveldt Parent Support Group, S.B Building Supplies and Construction in Victoria, ECD, and Leopold Inc. on Leopold Street. Additionally, a range of training programmes in areas such as life skills, financial management, record keeping, entrepreneurial awareness, leadership skills, and block-making have been extended to various persons.
A recent Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Guyana Prison Service for the production of 500,000 concrete blocks.
The CH&PA has established partnerships with the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, contractors, the Guyana Council of Organizations for Persons with Disabilities, and the Small Business Bureau to further the project’s goals.
(Tuesday September 10, 2024)
CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD -83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)
Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) Dwayne Bravo-28 wickets (Red Steel) (2) Dwayne Bravo – 5/23 (Red Steel vs Tallawahs, POS)
Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the highest partnership for any wicket recorded in CPL 2015? (2) Which wicketkeeper effected most
Answers in tomorrow’s issue
SOUTH AFRICA
RACING TIPS
DURBANVILLE
08:25 hrs Tuscan Romance
09:03 hrs Spirits Unite
09:37 hrs Holding Thumbs
10:10 hrs In The Green Zone
10:48 hrs Hang Out The Stars
AMERICAN RACING TIPS
FINGER LAKES
Race 1 Jayla
Race 2 Our Rewatd
Race 3 Dorothy's Happiness
Race 4 Joe's Had Enough
Race 5 Smokin Alone
Race 6 Assp Restoration
Race 7 Try It Again
IRISH RACING TIPS
GALWAY
10:35 hrs Trinity College
11:05 hrs Clear Quartz 11:35 hrs Victory Choice
12:10 hrs Medici Venus
12:45 hrs Lord Raven
13:15 hrs Rouge Selliet
13:45 hrs Avondale
14:15 hrs Rubies Are Red
ENGLISH RACING TIPS
LINGFIELD
09:00 hrs Candyman Stan
09:30:hrs Eight Mile
10:00 hrs Sayidah Dariyan
10:30 hrs Due Date
11:00 hrs Nordic Glory
11:30 hrs Sugarloaf Lenny
12:05 hrs Forever Proud 12:35 hrs Kalamunda
LEICESTER
09:10 hrs Fougere 09:40 hrs Lircist
10:10 hrs Formal 10:44 hrs Spirit Of Summet
11:14 hrs Ehtiram
11:44 hrs Yazaman
12:17 hrs Gundogan
NEWCASTLE
11:30 hrs Caledonian Dream
12:23 hrs Philanthropist
13:00 hrs Solar Bentley
13:30 hrs The Real Mckay
14:00 hrs Strange
14:30 hrs Eminent Jewel
15:00 hrs Bicep 15:30 hrs Triple Force
time
RISHABH Pant returns to the Test squad for the first time since December 2022 as India named a strong 16-member team for the Chennai Test against Bangladesh.
Uncapped left-arm quick, Yash Dayal, is another addi-
tion to the squad that will be led by Rohit Sharma. Aside from Pant, incumbent wicketkeeper, Dhruv Jurel, retains his place in the squad as does KL Rahul, who has also donned the gloves before.
THE 2024/25 CONCACAF Nations League C saw exciting action on Saturday, with Belize, Barbados, and Saint Kitts and Nevis emerging victorious in their respective group encounters. All three teams secured first place in their groups with strong performances that marked winning starts to their campaigns.
Belize delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over Turks and Caicos Islands at the TCIFA National Stadium in Providenciales, securing the top spot in Group B. The visitors opened the scoring early, with Orlando Velasquez netting a header in the 12th minute off a free kick from Nahjib Guerra. Jordy Polanco doubled the lead in the 43rd minute, converting a free kick from midfield, and Michael Palacio added a third in the 66th minute from the penalty spot.
Polanco completed his brace in the 73rd minute, slotting home a left-footed shot after receiving a cross from Gabriel Ramos. Belize goalkeeper Charles Tillett preserved his clean sheet by denying Billy Forbes from the penalty spot in the 76th minute, sealing an emphatic victory for the visitors.
With the win, Belize took first place in Group B, holding the edge on goal difference.
Barbados earned a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Bahamas in a tightly contested Group A match at the Bethlehem Soccer Complex in Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands. Zachary Applewhite gave Barbados the early lead in the 10th minute with a strike from outside the box, but the Bahamas levelled the match in the 42nd minute through Brandon Adderley, who headed home a corner from Jordan Cheetham.
Adderley then put the Bahamas in front with a left-footed finish in the 66th minute, but Barbados rallied late. Ethan Taylor equalised in the 80th minute with a header from a corner, and two minutes later, Andre Applewhaite scored the match-winner with a strike from the left side of the box.
Barbados now sits atop Group A with three points, while the Bahamas remain on one point following their earlier draw with the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Saint Kitts and Nevis secured a dominant 4-1 win over the Cayman Islands at the Truman Bodden Complex in George Town, moving to the top of Group C. Kimaree Rogers opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a left-footed finish after connecting with a long cross from Malique Roberts. Tiquanny Williams doubled the lead in the 19th minute with a well-placed shot from the right side of the box and earned his second goal of the match in the 37th minute, capitalising on a through ball from Gvaune Amory.
The Cayman Islands pulled one back in the 51st minute through Mason Duval who headed home a cross from Joshwa Campbell, but Dionis Stephen restored Saint Kitts and Nevis' three-goal lead in the 72nd minute with a left-footed strike inside the box.
Saint Kitts and Nevis took first place in Group C, edging out the Cayman Islands on goal difference, with both teams sitting on three points.
These wins mark strong starts for Belize, Barbados, and Saint Kitts and Nevis, who now lead their respective groups as the 2024/25 CONCACAF Nations League C continues
The spin attack comprises of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. Sarfaraz Khan, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are the middle-order batters with Shreyas Iyer missing out. Shubman Gill also joins a strong top-order
and could likely continue at No.3.
Jasprit Bumrah leads the pace attack that also has Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, who impressed in the home series against England. Dayal adds a left-arm variation to the pace department.
The first Test of the ICC World Test Championship series will be played in Chennai before action shifts to Kanpur.
India’s squad for the 1st Test of the Bangladesh Test series: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman
Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal. (ICC Media)
THERE were clear skies overhead but the damp conditions underfoot at Test cricket's 124th venue created a player safety issue, serious enough to force the abandonment of the first day between Afghanistan and New Zealand in Greater Noida.
The umpires conducted six inspections of the ground over the course of the day before play was called off around 4pm local time.
"When you compare it with 10am till now, there's an improvement but we're worried about five to six patches inside the 30-yard circle," Kumar Dharmasena, one of the two on-field umpires, told the host broadcaster at the end of the day. "One area of the run-up does not look
JOE Root admitted England did not play their best cricket against Sri Lanka, but "Coldplay can’t be number one every week".
The home side put in their worst performance since coach Brendon McCullum took charge to be beaten by eight wickets in the third Test at The Kia Oval. In doing so, England missed the chance to record a 100% home summer for the first time in 20 years.
"We are not always going to get it right all of the time," batter Root told Test Match Special. "For 90% of the summer we have. We have shown what a good team we can be."
England have still won five of their six Tests this summer, beating West Indies 3-0 and Sri Lanka 2-1.
OPENER Ravid Fredricks and all-rounder Usain Fredericks, two unrelated outstanding young Under-13 batsmen from the Cinderella County of Essequibo, were the latest to benefit from “Project Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana, the joint initiative between Kishan Das of the USA and Anil Beharry of Guyana. Project partner Beharry was fortunate to witness their innings in the final match of the Guyana Cricket Board Inter County Under-13 tournament played at LBI facility where both batsmen scored half centuries to lead their team to victory and championship
comfortable. It's a player-safety issue. We even saw one player get injured yesterday as well; we know how hard it is. Both of us are concerned."
The player Dharmasena is referring to is Afghanistan's opening batter, Ibrahim Zadran, who hurt his left heel when he slipped while fielding on Sunday. The injury ruled him out of this Test and Afghanistan's ODI series against South Africa starting September 18. Playing in sub-standard conditions is a risk international cricketers cannot afford to take.
The futility of Monday was not surprising, considering the state of the venue on the eve of the match. Even though there was not much rain overnight, and none at all during the day,
the sub-par drainage system at the venue meant the damage to the outfield couldn't be swiftly repaired.
The ground-staff tried, but they didn't have much to work with. They used the roller on the
Still, their performance at The Oval was incredibly wasteful and allowed the impressive Sri Lankans to earn their first win in 11 Tests against England.
In the first innings, England collapsed from 261-3 to 325 all out, then were hustled out for a dismal 156 in 34 overs in the
honours. At a simple presentation just after the game, the young stars thanked the project for the token and promised to continue to work hard on their game. The initiative is happy to be part of their development and will continue to assist young people and develop cricket. To date, 86 young players, male and female, from all three counties of Guyana have benefitted directly from seven gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, 33 bats, three boxes, six helmets, 31 pairs of cricket shoes, 20 pairs of batting pads, 24 thigh pads, one bat grip, 34 pairs of batting gloves, one pair of wicket-keeping
second innings.
That left Sri Lanka a victory target of 219, which they were taken to on the fourth morning by Pathum Nissanka's outstanding 127 not out. It is only Sri Lanka's fourth win in a Test in this country.
"I don't think we played our
bowlers' run-ups and attempted to dry wet patches on the square with sawdust. These efforts were repeated frequently with little impact.
An Afghanistan team official told ESPNcricinfo the players
best cricket this week and that is going to happen from time to time," added Root. "Coldplay can't be number one every week."
Pope happy to hand back to Stokes
England's performance led to an accusation of complacency from former captain Sir Alastair Cook, while another ex-skipper, Michael Vaughan, warned them not to "take the mickey out of Test cricket".
But Ollie Pope, who deputised for the injured Ben Stokes as England captain for the Sri Lanka series, rejected suggestions his team were lacking "hunger".
"I wouldn't say it's a lack of an edge or not really having that desire to go and put together a massive score," said Pope.
were unhappy with the facilities at the venue and it's possible that they may not want to play in Greater Noida in the future.
He also said Afghanistan had wanted this Test to be played in Lucknow, Dehradun or Kanpur.
But that was not possible because Lucknow and Dehradun are hosting T20 leagues, and the stadium in Kanpur is being readied for the second Test between India and Bangladesh later this month.
Afghanistan has played 11 ODIs and T20Is in Greater Noida before but the facilities here are not up to international standard. On the eve of the game, their captain Hashmatullah Shahidi wished his team could have "one good home venue" in India instead of going from place to
"It can just happen in cricket, and it's been a good gap since we last did that."
Pope, leading England for the first time, said he loved "every bit" of the job, but is ready to hand the reins back to Stokes when he returns to fitness.
Stokes injured his hamstring playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred last month. He is expected to be fit for England's tour of Pakistan in October.
That series was due to be played in Karachi, Multan and Rawalpindi, but renovation work is likely to render Karachi unavailable.
Despite some suggestion that part of the series could take place outside of Pakistan, that is now not thought to be the case, with new venues expected to be
pads and three pairs of wicket-keeping gloves.
In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefitted from two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each, Cold Fusion Cricket Club 13 coloured uniforms while RHCCCC received six boxes of balls, 15 white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket-keeping gloves, two sets of stumps and bails.
Other beneficiaries are the Essequibo Cricket Board, the Town of Lethem, youth coach
place. Afghanistan do not play their home games in Afghanistan and have played their ten Tests at nine different venues.
The facilities for the public weren't good in Greater Noida either: entry was free but there was no proper seating in the scorching heat. The media covering the Test had no access to water or food initially.
The toss has been advanced by 30 minutes to 9am on Tuesday, with a minimum of 98 overs to be bowled on the remaining four days of the Test. The forecast, however, is for thunderstorms on Tuesday morning, which could create more heat for the organisers despite the gloomy weather in Greater Noida. (ESPN cricinfo)
confirmed this week.
Following that, England will name their squad. Zak Crawley is also hopeful he will join Stokes in returning after the opener missed the Sri Lanka series because of a broken finger.
England also has a slight concern over the fitness of pace bowler Gus Atkinson, who struggled during the third Test because of a thigh problem.
As a result he has been withdrawn from the upcoming oneday series against Australia and replaced by Olly Stone.
"I think he's OK," said Pope. "He's got a couple of weeks off now to refresh. I've chatted to him and he said it feels better today than when he first felt it. Fingers crossed he's all good.(BBC Sport)
and
By Sean Devers
AT the Georgetown Cricket Club, (GCC) Bourda, in a one-sided match in a tournament where standards are rapidly falling, GCC made 265 runs in its first innings on a good cricket pitch.
Joshua Wade blasted 106 with 11 sixes and four fours and shared in a 104- run opening stand with Ryan Hemraj who made 35.
Dhanish Persaud and Joshua Charles both got starts with 35 each but could not convert them into substantial scores as Seon Walcott (464) and Andre Foster (4-26) orchestrated a fightback after Wade’s demise.
Diplomats were dismantled for 66 with only Ezekiel Mondesir (25) and Quaney Cummings (11) reaching double figures in a sub-standard batting display on a fast outfield.
Fast bowler Thaddius Lovell had a 5 for. Batting
a second time on Sunday, GCC, looking to maximise their batting points, made 153-3 on an outfield a bit slower than on the first day due to a mid-morning shower that interrupted the action for just over an hour.
Wade again ‘waded’ into the Diplomats bowlers who are from South Georgetown and don’t have a ground to practise on.
The powerfully built right-handed Wade hit a quick-fire 61 while Navindra
Persaud (29) and Hemraj (17) hunted fast runs to allow themselves to dismiss the visitors a second time.
Set 352 for an improbable victory, Diplomats feared even worse in their second innings, collapsing for 33.
Left-arm spinner and GCC Captain, Devon Lord, took 6-8 while Wade returned with his innocuous off-spin to claim 3-11.
Lord is no stranger to dismissing teams for low scores and has been doing this since
he was 14.
In 2009, Lord snatched a record 8-0 from 4.4 overs as Third Class were bundled out for 23 in the opening round of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) 40-overs Under-15 competition.
Only one scorer (a GCC player) recorded the scores in the scorebook in contravention of the Laws of Cricket
The other match at the Transport Sports Club (TSC) ground between Transport
and GNIC ended in a draw.
GNIC made 219 with Stephen Campbell 62, Ranole Bourne 49 and Lemuel Ross 39 contributing with the bat.
Reyaz Latif had 4-38, Rafael Singh 3-54 and Myhiem Khan 2- 45 for Transport who were bowled out in their first innings for 286.
Shemar Apple top scored with 96, Khan made 40, Jadon Campbell made 36 and Emmanuel Lewis hit 34 as Sheldon Chapman captured 6-42.
GNIC made 99 in their second innings with only Ranole Bourne (23) and Lemuel Ross (15) reaching double figures.
Myhiem Khan had 6-31 and got support from Reyaz Latif who took 2-10 Transport set 32 to win, reached 33-1 batting a second time with Jeremiah Hohenkirk unbeaten on 18 and Shemar Apple undefeated on 10 to win the game.
A BRILLIANT 115-run second wicket partnership between opener, Anand Balwant (57), and Sheik Khan (34 not out) spurred Caribbean Sensation to an eight-wicket victory over defending champion, Mercenary, in the final of the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) 2024 Kenny Girdharry 20-over regular season
A Division final, played on Saturday at St Bede’s ground, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.
Set 122 for victory, after Mercenary were restricted to 121 for seven in their
allotted 20 overs, Caribbean Sensation achieved the required target in 17.3 overs with the flamboyant Balwant hitting an attractive 57, decorated with two fours and five towering sixes.
Unflustered by the loss of his opening partner Anil Ramotar (0), brilliantly caught by wicket-keeper Zaheer Allard off the fifth ball of the reply, off Richard Latiff, Balwant and Khan mixed aggression with the defence as they withstood the Mercenary varied attack.
When Balwant, departed, caught at long-off by Amit Rukhram off the bowl-
ing of Rabindra Diaram in the 17th over, the match was good as over, as his team needed a mere six runs to complete the formalities. Khan was left unbeaten on 34 off 47 balls, which included one four and two sixes. Diaram ended with one for 24 and Latiff one for 25.
Earlier, after opting to bat first, Mercenary found the going tough on a somewhat wintry morning, losing wickets at regular intervals. Apart from opener Azam Haniff (23 with one four and a six) and Richard Dias (20 with two fours), the only
other player to reach double figures was Avinash Sookdeo with 14.
Skipper Faheer Juman grabbed two for 12 from his four overs and Kelvin Shivrattan two for 17, also from four. There was also one wicket each for Jagdesh Narayan and Andy Persaud for 16 and 17 runs respectively.
Balwant copped the player of the final award for Caribbean Sensation while Bobby Parasnauth, who bowled four frugal overs for just 10 runs, was the recipient for Mercenary despite not taking a wicket.
Both teams were rewarded with the respective winner and runner-up trophies and medallions.
Mercenary topped the regular season standings with 60 points in the fiveteam A Division tournament while Caribbean Sensation placed second on 42, the same with Better Hope but with a superior net run rate. Enmore registered 18 points while Leguan Warriors, who found the going tough in their inaugural year in the A Division, after dominating the B Division, ended on 12 points.
OSCL President, Shiv
Persaud, congratulated both teams for reaching the final and for putting up a good show. He also showered praises on sponsors Norman Sue Bakery and Trophy Stall of Toronto for their contributions to the Vish Jadunauth 10/10 and Albert Ramcharran 15-over tournaments respectively.
Both Girdharry and Ramcharran were former long-standing Presidents of the OSCL while the late Jadunauth served as the Chief Financial Officer of
"TOO SOON!" That was the mood as autumnal conditions enveloped an Oval ground which, it felt like only yesterday, had hosted a packed-out Men's Hundred eliminator tie in stunning summer twilight, T-shirts, shorts and sunglasses everywhere in the stands.
But as a crowd of 9,860 raided the back of their wardrobes for more suitable attire and turned up on a chilly Monday morning to see Sri Lanka overhaul a target of 219 and claim a consolation victory over England, the mood among those clad all in white was more like: "Finally!
(Scores:Sri Lanka 263 (Dhananjaya 69, Kamindu 64, Nissanka 64) and 219 for 2 (Nissanka 127*) beat England 325 (Pope 154, Duckett 86) and 156 (Smith 67, Kumara 4-21, Vishwa 3-40) by eight wickets
It had all come together at last for the tourists, albeit too late when they were 2-0 down. The eventual 3-1 series scoreline didn't matter though to Pathum Nissanka, whose calm century delivered victory inside four days and could well have cemented his place in Sri Lanka's top order after two years in the wilderness.
It took Sri Lanka 25.3 overs on the fourth day to complete their first Test win in England since 2014, their
speed entitling spectators to a 50% refund on their tickets. The visitors resumed on 94 for 1 and needing 125 more. Nissanka's unbeaten 127 off 124 balls built on his first-innings 64 and saw his side home by eight wickets. There was also a hint of relief that this match was over and done with for an England side that had dropped their bundle in the second innings and proved far from potent on the final morning when they managed to extract just one of the nine wickets they still needed after Chris Woakes' return catch had removed Dimuth Karunaratne cheaply the previous evening. Bear in mind that no matter what the weather says, "summer" is far from over for England's white-ball players who have a series looming against Australia from Wednesday, only the magnitude of Sri Lanka's victory ensuring a gap of
more than 48 hours in between.
Gus Atkinson, who is nursing a thigh problem which kept him out of the attack for the second half of Sri Lanka's first innings on Sunday, took the only other wicket to fall.
He gingerly jogged halfway to Shoaib Bashir, who made up the rest of the ground from fine leg where he had taken an excellent catch running in and diving full-stretch to his left to remove Kusal Mendis for a brisk 39 in the fifth over of the day.
But Nissanka, supported by Angelo Mathews, kept at Sri Lanka's task in impressive time. He moved to 95 by threading a Woakes delivery that was too short and too wide behind point and raised his century running three with a neat cut off Atkinson to deep point.
Nissanka soaked up the applause with arms spread
wide and a warm bear-hug from Mathews, marking his second ton from 10 Tests, although this was only his second match in the format since mid-2022
After bringing up the milestone, Nissanka clobbered an Olly Stone short ball over the fence at deep backward square and, two balls later, he saw Bashir spill his ramp to deep third.
A facsimile six from Nissanka off Stone's next over took Sri Lanka past the 200 mark and, fittingly, he hit the winning runs cutting Bashir to the boundary at deep backward point.
The win was emphatic but followed a see-sawing contest which Sri Lanka's bowlers seized control of on the third day.
After missing a trick in favourable conditions on Friday, their seamers bundled England out for 156 in their second innings, Lahiru Kumara and Vishwa Fernando particularly effective against a home side kept afloat only by Jamie Smith's thunderous half-century.
They may want to forget it, but England will also have to examine their first-innings collapse from 261 for 3 to 325 all out.
Meanwhile, this is a victory Sri Lanka will remember long after the boys of summer have - finally –gone. (ESPN cricinfo)
The following is the full text of a joint statement from the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) on the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA):
“IN the last two years, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) met with the President of the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA), Mr. Dwayne Scott, and other executives, both jointly and severally, on numerous occasions. The meetings were premised on matters related to innumerable complaints from swimmers, parents, coaches, and swim-club executives.
The complaints include biased selection processes, exclusion from competitive swimming, nepotism in swimming, refusal to accept clubs as members of GASA which meet the requirements, unresponsiveness from the executive of GASA, heavy-handed and unfair treatment by GASA, unconstitutional actions, and financial misconduct by the executive of GASA.
In July 2023, a meeting was convened by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, the Honourable Charles S. Ramson, MP, with members of the NSC, executives of the GOA, Mr. Delroy Tyrell and executives of GASA to deal specifically with the complaint that GASA was ignoring, neglecting, and/or refusing to advance an application made by Delroy Tyrell.
Mr. Tyrell is a talented Guyanese-born swimmer, who is currently attending college in the United States and previously represented Trinidad while residing there.
Mr. Tyrell is inclined to change his nationality status to represent Guyana. At the meeting, Mr. Scott sought to justify why Tyrell did not qualify for change of nationality, which was refuted conclusively with careful examination of the Constitution of World Aquatics. Thereafter, Mr. Scott accepted that Tyrell’s application satisfied the criteria for a change of nationality, and committed to submit Mr. Tyrell’s documentation in two weeks immediately following that meeting.
Mr. Scott subsequently went on record in the media stating that Mr. Tyrell’s documentation was submitted to World Aquatics. On Sunday, September 1, 2024, it was reported in the media that Jan Exner, who serves as the World Aquatics Legal Counsel, issued a response indicating that no documentation was submitted to World Aquatics on behalf of Mr. Tyrell by GASA.
Minister Ramson convened a meeting on September 6, 2024,
with members of the NSC and GOA for a response by the executive of GASA. At this meeting, it was confirmed that Mr. Scott and GASA had never submitted Mr. Tyrell’s documentation to World Aquatics. Additionally, it was established that Mr. Scott and executives of GASA have maliciously and vindictively withheld Mr. Tyrell’s documentation from World Aquatics to exclude him from representing Guyana at International meets.
The NSC and the GOA remain firm in their stance that there is no room for bias, inequality, exclusion, and unethical practices in sport.
It must be noted that this is not the first instance where Mr. Scott and the executives of GASA sought to mislead the NSC and GOA and were not forthcoming with the truth. On another occasion, GASA sought to institute bans on two swim clubs based on the actions of a few members for two years. This action was represented by GASA at another joint meeting.
Mr. Scott and executives of GASA claimed that the ban on the two clubs holistically was based on a recommendation from World Aquatics. When asked to return in 48 hours with evidence of the recommendation, Mr. Scott and the executives of GASA stated that they did not have any such recommendation and were unconstitutionally implementing sanctions without a fair hearing.
The NSC and the GOA have exhausted all avenues to mediate with GASA and the disgruntled swimming fraternity to bring normalcy to the sport. On every occasion, Mr. Scott acknowledged the above-mentioned indiscretions and shortcomings on the part of GASA while promising to rectify the lingering issues for GASA to function in the best interest of swimmers.
As a result of consistent inaction by GASA, the NSC, and the GOA are convinced that the current executives of GASA do not have the best interest of swimmers and swimming in Guyana as their primary objective.
Therefore, the NSC and the GOA no longer recognise GASA as a sports association in good standing, and will no longer engage with the current executive of GASA. The NSC suspends swimming as a core sport, along with its attendant support.
Further, the NSC and the GOA will forthwith formally engage with World Aquatics to highlight the maladministration and the unethical acts being perpetuated by the current executives of GASA to the detriment of the swimmers in Guyana.”