17th January, 2025
Jagdeo: ‘Budget 2025 sticks with PPP’s promises to the people’
- Budget 2025 to further enhance lives of all citizens, transform Guyana, Dr. Singh says
Jagdeo says; condemns ‘vile’ attacks against
‘A continuation of progress’
- Budget 2025 to further enhance lives of all citizens, transform Guyana, Dr. Singh says
By Feona Morrison
IN a detailed and reflective interview, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh, underscored the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic’s (PPP/C) unwavering commitment to addressing the needs of Guyanese citizens.
Speaking ahead of the presentation of Budget 2025, which is scheduled for presentation today, Dr. Singh elaborated on the PPP/C's efforts at all times to guarantee people-centred governance, economic growth, and social equality.
Dr. Singh began by highlighting the party’s foundational philosophy of inclusive development, noting: “Budgets presented by successive PPP governments, post-1992 to 2015, and then from 2020, onwards, have all been budgets that have addressed, in a direct and frontal way, the needs of the people—addressing their concerns, delivering services to them, and improving those services; creating opportunities for people and enhancing those opportunities; laying the foundation for a more resilient and prosperous country; and generally doing so within a framework that has not been punitive to the Guyanese people,” the Finance Minister said.
In contrast, he noted that budgets presented by the People’s Nation-
al Congress Reform (PNC/R) prior to 1992 and those of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) were marked by punitive measures, including the introduction of new taxes, which instilled fear among citizens.
“During that period, people would await budget day with great fear, not knowing which new punitive measure would be introduced or which benefit would be taken away. Throughout that time, budgets were anticipated with great fear. We recall a number of budgets where the PNC either introduced new taxes, implemented new measures, or cut expenditure. During that period, commonly used words included terms like “devaluation” [of the currency] or “retrenchment”,” Dr. Singh said.
He stated that from 2015 to 2020, citizens, including young people, had another chance to witness the PNCR [in the form of the APNU+AFC] in more recent times, during which they implemented numerous punitive measures.
“APNU brought budgets year after year that imposed hardships on the Guyanese people and introduced punitive measures. We saw the imposition of over 200 taxes. We saw the removal of the cash grant [for schoolchildren]. We saw the taking away of the bonus for members of the Disciplined Services. We saw the slashing of the
only consuming for today but also investing in the things that matter and will generate growth in the future. These include public infrastructure, social infrastructure, and investments in drainage and irrigation, which, in turn, catalyse internal activity—agriculture and food production. This generates income for food-producing communities and improves the well-being of our population,”
Dr. Singh posited.
house lots. Dr. Singh further emphasised that a defining feature of the PPP/C’s governance is its strong connection to the grassroots, maintained through active community engagement.
LISTENING TO PEOPLE
mortgage interest relief ceiling by half—just to give a few examples,” Dr. Singh reminded.
Since being elected to office in 2020, the PPP/C, Dr. Singh emphasised, has prioritised policies that cater to the needs of the people, whether it is healthcare, education, or infrastructure.
ABILITY TO DELIVER
He further emphasised that the party’s record is evident in its ability to deliver on promises.
He said: “We reversed the punitive measures. We returned the benefits to the Guyanese people, and we have been increasing them progressively over the years. Every budget that has been presented by the PPP has served the people, and Budget 2025 is going to be no different in this regard. [Budget 2025] will continue the track record of previous PPP budgets.”
One of the hallmarks of the PPP’s
governance, according to Dr. Singh, is its ability to diversify Guyana’s economy.
“We have to be attentive to issues of resilience. For you to have a resilient economy, you have to have a diversified economy. And for you to have a diversified economy, you have to ensure that you are competitiveness across all sectors. That’s why we are investing in the gas-to-energy project, as it will reduce the cost of electricity, making manufacturing and other enterprises more viable and competitive,” the minister said.
He criticised the APNU+AFC for prioritising increases in the recurrent budget while suppressing the capital budget.
Upon returning to government, he noted, the PPP/C promptly boosted capital investments to drive development.
“For us in the government, we recognise the importance of not
He continued: “For us, as a government, we consider investment in the public capital stock as paramount because those are the things that matter for the longterm well-being of the country. If you don’t invest in roads, hospitals, and schools, there will come a time when your productive activity will grind to a halt. Then, your ability to be productive and competitive in the global economy will dissipate and disappear.”
Dr Singh emphasised that the PPP/C’s vision for Guyana’s, stating: “Budget 2025 will ensure that we deliver our commitments that we incorporated into our 2020 manifesto. That is our foremost objective. In most cases, we have already delivered on the commitments in the manifesto. You’ll see many cases where we’ve exceeded those commitments.”
He highlighted that the government has exceeded its targets for online scholarships through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) and the distribution of
“As a government, we have always emphasised how deeply and profoundly we appreciate listening to people and incorporating what we hear from the people into the policy decision that we make,” Dr. Singh said. The senior minister assured citizens that Budget 2025 will create opportunities for all Guyanese, noting: “Our overriding concern is to meet the needs of the people of Guyana. Budget 2025 will continue the effort to ensure that every Guyanese family and every single Guyanese individual is able to realise their potential, get a good quality education, get a good job, earn a good income, and be able to live comfortably and take care of their families.”
Further, he stressed that the budget will lay the foundation for a modern and prosperous Guyana.
Guyana’s 2024 budget, the largest in the country’s history, reflects the government's commitment to sustainable growth and development.
Valued at $1.146 trillion, the budget emphasised infrastructure, health, education, and security, aiming to enhance the quality of life for citizens.
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh
Almost 2,000 house lots to be developed along Soesdyke-Linden Highway
- gov’t to invest $800M to establish food hub at Yarrowkabra, President Ali says
PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali has said that his government will develop approximately 2,000 house lots in communities along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway through a collaboration between the Ministry of Housing and Water and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC).
The President made the disclosure on Wednesday afternoon, while addressing residents from Silver Hill, Adventure and Kairuni at a meeting in the Silver Hill Community Centre.
“We’re going to try to create about 1,500 to 2,000 lots… so that we can have persons living in a cluster, in a settlement format, rather than squatting, so you can have access to all the facilities and have excellent service within those com-
munities. We want to ensure that we build the conditions that will give your children a better future than you would have had,” the Head of State said.
The President said that the development will be complemented by continued investment in infrastructure, agriculture, water, electricity, services and other sectors on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.
He said that in Yarrowkabra alone, the government has plans to invest almost $800 million in a food hub, which would boost the community’s economy.
Dr. Ali said: “Today, I want to engage you, as we have been doing all across the country, in the continued investments we can make in your communities so that we can continue to make your life more pros-
perous, more productive and see ways in which we can partner with you so we can deliver better services to residents all across the country.”
Residents at the meeting were given the opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions on the development of their respective communities, including infrastructural works, energy needs, water needs and more job opportunities.
The President said that a shipment of solar ener-
gy systems is expected to arrive in Guyana soon to be distributed to residents, while more black tanks will be distributed in Adventure, and a ballfield in the community will be examined for rehabilitation.
He also said that his government will work with residents, especially single parents and women, to support projects such as beekeeping and poultry.
After the meeting in Silver Hill, the President conducted another community
meeting in Timehri, where he also addressed residents and engaged them on their priorities for development.
Stemming from this, the President said his government will work on rehabilitating the community centre and market, and immediately address the issues the health centre in the area is facing, as well as other health centres along the East Bank Demerara corridor.
He said that different government officials will
visit the area over the next three weeks to address the issues raised.
Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat; Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy; Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues; Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar; and other government officials were also part of the meetings. (Office of the President)
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Wednesday, engaged residents from Silver Hill, Adventure and Kairuni at a meeting in the Silver Hill Community Centre (Office of the President photo)
‘Budget 2025 sticks with PPP’s promises to the people’
- Jagdeo says, rejects WPA’s criticisms, grills party for being against progress
By Trina Williams
TODAY’S budget will focus on addressing the needs of the people, while continuing to forge a prosperous path for all, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo has said.
During a news conference at Freedom House on Thursday, the General Secretary addressed the criticisms by the opposition and government critics on Budget 2025, which has not even been presented as yet.
The General Secretary, who also serves as Guyana’s Vice-President, first rejected the claim made in a Stabroek News editorial that today’s budget will possess ‘vote sweeteners’.
In response, the Vice-President said: “The budget will be read, and you will see that the budget sticks with what we promised the people of this country.”
The continued works
by the government to improve the lives of all are not “vote sweeteners”, he firmly stated. Further, Jagdeo flayed the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) for being “anti-development”, following its criticism of the PPP/C for delivering on its Manifesto promises.
Earlier this week, the WPA claimed that this year’s budget will be driven by “election
gimmicks”.
“They’re always against progress,” the General Secretary said.
Although there has been a continuous, generic heckling by the Opposition, the Vice-President highlighted their lack of solutions.
It is in this regard that Dr. Jagdeo said: “Tell us whose road not to fix; tell us which congested highway not to widen. Tell us, if we
don’t spend the money on the power plant, where to get the power from. Or should we not spend money on all the water treatment plants for our people? They can’t come to the details.”
Further, responding to the criticisms, the Vice-President said that obviously, the budget will execute the promises to the people of better facilities.
“Money will be in
the budget to continue our housing programme, because we promised the people greater access to housing. We will do that during an election year, and we will do it in a year that is not election. From the first year we got into office, we’ve started doing that,” he said.
Whether it is an election year or not, the government has continuously worked on executing its promises, and this can be seen in the fact that all of its 2020 Manifesto promises are fulfilled and now they’re working on bonus, the Vice-President said.
“They have nothing to talk about,” he said, while rejecting the WPA’s criticisms.
With people as the main focus in all of the budgets, Jagdeo said: “Their [the people] de-
sires for a better life must guide our policies and the spending and that is what we are doing. Look at where we are putting the money.”
Last year, there was a $1.146 trillion budget that was geared towards ensuring national prosperity and more opportunities.
The measures within the budget were aimed at increasing disposable income; putting more money in the pockets of peo-
PPP General Secretary and Guyana’s Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo
Budget 2025: A continuation of progress
BUDGET 2025 will be presented on Friday, January 17 by Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance in the Office of the President, Dr. Ashni Singh.
According to Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, the Budget will be characterised by an enhanced focus on community issues as well as concerns raised by Guyanese during the numerous engagements by the PPP/C administration at the grassroot level. This 'grassroots' engagement has now become a hallmark of the
PPP/C's administration which, in the words of Dr. Jagdeo, 'the PPP will never give up on in its approach to governance.'
This approach to governance stands in stark contrast to that of the previous APNU+AFC administration which was, for the most part, bureaucratic and lacking in transparency.
On the fiscal side, Dr. Jagdeo disclosed that greater incentives can be expected in the 2025 budget. The new budget, he said, will incentivize people to work harder because the taxation system
will evolve in a manner that rewards those who make greater efforts and who work harder. This will ensure that the Guyanese people, both in the public and in the private sector, keep more money that they earn and a lesser amount into paying taxes.
This is indeed a recipe for sustained development. With the private sector now the engine of growth, such incentives will undoubtedly stimulate further economic growth which in turn will create greater wealth and job opportunities.
The fact is that the
more wealth we create, the more wealth will be available for distribution to the population. This is why any incentive aimed at boosting the capacity of the private sector to create wealth must be welcomed. Of no less importance is to put in place the necessary legislative framework to ensure that those who contribute to wealth creation, namely the workers, get a fair share from the fruits of their labour.
This year's national budget will likely build on the developmental momentum that is currently taking place. Expectations
are high among Guyanese that the budget will result in higher levels of disposable income especially for the more vulnerable segments of the population. Increased social sector spending will allow for enhanced delivery of social services such as education, health, housing and water.
This year's budget is taking place in an election year and President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has given full assurances that this year's budget will include necessary funding for the Guyana Elections Commission to conduct
General and Regional elections. According to President Ali, government's strategy in terms of development would not change as a result of elections. Government's strategy, he said, 'is about people, never driven by elections, never driven by power. We have already delivered completely on all the promises we make in our manifesto.'
President Ali has captured the true essence of the 2025 budget which he said 'are not driven by elections but by the needs and aspirations of the people.
Stabroek News wickedly and falsely headlined Ram’s letter
Dear Editor,
I EXPECTED that the Editor-in-Chief of the Stabroek News would staunchly defend his newspapers’ Editorial arguing that our government should force ExxonMobil into agreeing to renegotiate the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA).
In his response to me, the Editor-in-Chief offers
as grounds for our government forcing ExxonMobil into renegotiations that “ExxonMobil literally forced Guyana in 2016 to renegotiate the Extant Agreement”.
The Editor-in-Chief chooses to ignore the point I made in my letter “that 2025 is not 2016” and that, since 2016, our country has palpably advanced its development and has
tremendously benefitted from the resources flowing from that very agreement.
Any government acting so foolishly would drag the country into a legal battle lasting years, wholly compromising the benefits so far gained and with an entirely unpredictable result.
What I did not expect was for Christopher Ram
to deliberately misinterpret the final paragraph of my letter in which I state that any attempt to renegotiate the contract “would be a prescription for losing the election”.
Ram, dishonestly, attempts to claim that this somehow represents the government’s position, when, in fact, it was obvious that I was responding directly to the Stabroek
News Editorial’s proposal that “it is not inconceivable that some party could contest the 2025 election on this single issue - renegotiation of the contract”.
Indeed, I expressed the view that I found this suggestion amusing and went on to ask “are the owners of the Stabroek News contemplating entering into politics?”
Needless to say, the Stabroek News wickedly and falsely headlines Ram’s letter “Nascimento clarifies that the President’s position on renegotiation was not about contract sanctity but rather electoral calculations”. Words that not even Ram used in his letter.
Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento
Did I hear Kit Nascimento say, ‘Eureka’?
You are surely an unintelligent person if you do not know that the words people use indicate what their beliefs, conceptualisations and ideological orientations are. This is basic as kissing the palm of your hand. You do not need to go to university to know that people manifest who they are by the words they use.
Since the Ali presidency came into existence in August 2020, the Stabroek News (SN) has launched the inexorability of anti-governmental sermons. It has been a relentless expenditure of energy by SN since August 2020 on bad-mouthing the Ali presidency.
Since August 2020, I have done more than a dozen columns content-analysing the editorials of SN. I just did not use analysis only but cited facts. In those dozens of columns, I actually reproduced the words SN uses to describe the PPP government.
My conclusion is four fold.
One- SN is aggrieved at the loss of power by the WPA, AFC and by the man, Granger himself because SN sees that loss as the political defeat of the Mulatto/Creole class.
Two - SN’s descent into an anti-government frenzy involves the use of a vocabulary that makes it impossible to distinguish the paper from an opposition political party
Three – the paper’s abuse of the sacred tenets of journalism makes it a threat (along with Kaieteur News) to democratic stability, but such a danger is substantially reduced by the fact that social media is the preference for young people who do not read those SN editorials. Four –SN researches the anti-Jagan newspapers of the 1960s and copies their styles.
Kit Nascimento wrote a letter in last Wednesday edition of the Guyana Chronicle with the title, “Are the
owners of Stabroek News contemplating entering politics.” When I read that title, I asked myself if while using his keyboard, Kit shouted out, Eureka! Eureka! I have argued since 2020 that SN has become intricately entangled with politics.
I am afraid Kit does not utilise class analysis because the topics he writes on do not call for class analysis. But he should have employed class analysis when he wrote his Wednesday letter. You have to use class analysis if you want to understand the relentless condemnations of the government by SN that border on insane hostility.
Class analysis would reveal that SN was founded and funded by the Mulatto/Creole class (MCC). David DeCaires and Miles Fitzpatrick were key pillars of the crème de la crème of the MCC in the forties and fifties. These were very elitist Portuguese men who went to private boarding
schools in the UK. When they returned to Guyana, they became the faces of the MCC.
DeCaires and Fitzpatrick approached almost every conceivable MCC businessman for assistance to launch SN. Businessman Stanley Ming told David Hinds in an interview that he was one of the persons whose investment was sought and he agreed.
For an in-depth description of the saturation of MCC personalities in the formation of SN see the book by Anna Benjamin, “The Birth of Stabroek News.”
SN’s ownership was always intimate with MCC personalities who had fervent political inclinations. When David Granger’s monthly magazine, “Georgetown Review” could no longer survive, DeCaires bought the magazine for an enormous sum, a small fraction of which no one in Guyana would have paid. SN owners have always been close to MCC personal-
ities like David Granger and those in the WPA and AFC. And I am talking about an enduring closeness.
It is not any accident that the paper’s legal advisor is MCC personality, Timothy Jonas who is also on its Board of Directors. Mr. Jonas as the entire country knows is the leading light in ANUG.
Nascimento would write another letter, this time, accusing the SN of formally entering politics if he knows the irrational anti-government personalities that are on SN’s board including a man that literally hates the PPP as a political party. If Nascimento knows the MCC personalities that do editorials for SN, he will certainly accuse SN of being an opposition party.
When the current co-owner, (the other co-owner is rumoured to be its editor-in-chief, Mr. Anand Persaud and also a strong anti-government figure has large shares in the paper), Isabelle
DeCaires, throws tantrums at the government it is no accident. She grew up knowing that her father’s paper was owned by MCC people and she continues that tradition.
Kit is a very experienced man, one of the longest serving public figures in the Caribbean, so he must know that words betray how people feel and what they keep in their Freudian minds. The SN is a shameless, partisan, politicised newspaper. It is both a comical and silly mind to even attempt to say that SN is independent. Its support for Israel, as opposed to other newspapers in Guyana, should be forcefully condemned.
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.
Creating a skilled Guyanese workforce
Dear Editor,
PRESIDENT Irfaan Ali’s government is actively implementing programmes and strategies to enhance human resources and development in response to Guyana's evolving economic landscape.
Recognising the skills gap as a barrier to economic growth, the government is addressing both shortterm labour demands and long-term human resource development to support the Guyanese economy.
Evidence of the skills gap is highlighted in a recent article from Stabroek News (1/14/2025), which reported that Guyana’s Ministry of Home Affairs issued approximately 13,713 work permits in 2024, a significant increase from 4,795 permits in 2023—an 185 per cent rise.
This surge reflects the country’s economic growth and the increasing demand
for skilled labour. These permits were granted to around 25 companies, showcasing the diversity of investors in the labour market.
This increase also demonstrates the government's commitment to streamlining processes to enhance productivity and swiftly respond to labour market shortages, ensuring industries have the workforce they require.
The interconnection between economic development and human resources is evident in Guyana’s rapidly changing economic environment.
President Ali has reiterated that the long-term vision includes enhancing human capital through education and training to support economic diversification beyond the oil sector. He emphasises: “Human development is not just about economic growth; it’s
about improving the quality of life for our people, ensuring that every Guyanese has access to opportunities, education, and the ability to realise their potential.”
This quote encapsulates his administration's commitment to prioritising human capital development as integral to national progress, particularly amid economic changes and the goal of expanding into industries beyond oil and gas.
To bridge the skills gap and meet labour market demands, the government is enhancing vocational training programmes to equip Guyanese citizens with essential skills in key sectors such as construction, oil and gas, agriculture, and mining.
Initiatives like the GOAL programme facilitate collaborations with private sector companies and educational institutions, providing tailored training focused on
industry-specific needs.
Additionally, the government offers scholarships for students pursuing degrees in fields aligned with national development goals, particularly in STEM disciplines.
As of 2023, the Ministry of Education announced that over 22,000 scholarships under the GOAL programme had been awarded since its inception, targeting diverse disciplines including education, health sciences, information technology, business management, and engineering.
President Ali's administration is also pursuing economic diversification strategies to foster growth in agriculture, tourism, and information technology, aiming to create a broader range of job opportunities while reducing reliance on the oil sector.
In agriculture, the government focuses on cultivat-
ing high-value crops such as rice, sugarcane, mangoes, coconuts, and vegetables to meet local and international demands. These initiatives will require new skills and training for Guyanese workers.
To address immediate labour market shortages, the government is engaging regional partners to enhance knowledge exchange and skill development, as evidenced by recent job fairs held in Miami, New York, Toronto, and Suriname.
Reports indicate that these fairs attracted hundreds of individuals, with employers from Guyana traveling to recruit talent. The job fairs in Miami, New York, and Toronto drew thousands of Guyanese expatriates seeking employment, with over 2,000 attendees in New York alone.
The Suriname job fair also attracted a substantial
crowd, with participation from over 75 companies from Guyana. These numbers clearly illustrate the supply and demand inequities of skilled labour in Guyana.
The government’s holistic strategy ensures that economic development translates into tangible benefits for the Guyanese people, allowing them to share in expanding economic opportunities through training, retraining, and retooling.
By preparing the workforce for future challenges and opportunities, President Ali’s government is creating a skilled labour force that not only meets current demands but is also ready for the evolving economic landscape beyond the oil and gas industries.
Sincerely, Dr. Tilokie Arnold Depoo Economist
Maruranau Village to see developments in education, training opportunities in 2025
THE Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Nine, Karl
Singh, during a recent meeting with residents of Maruranau Village, emphasised the government’s prioritisation
of education and its importance as a key driver of development in hinterland communities.
According to the office of the REO, during the outreach, REO
Singh reminded residents about the ongoing construction of the Maruranau Secondary school, which is set for completion by September 2025.
It was stated that the compound of the school will include separate buildings such as a dormitory for students and multiple teachers' quarters.
In addition to education, REO Singh expressed pride in seeing individuals from the Rupununi area assuming prominent roles, especially within the health sector.
During the meeting, he encouraged villagers to take advantage of the various training opportunities in the health sector and urged those already employed in the field to utilise these programmes for skill enhancement.
that the team will follow up to ensure that these requests are addressed in a timely manner.
He emphasised that health facilities will be continuously upgraded to better serve communities and he highlighted the need for additional human resources with specialised skills to support these improvements.
Furthermore, the REO’s office stated that the residents raised their concerns regarding upgrading and enhancing existing facilities as well as other minor issues which were addressed. It was mentioned
Additionally, REO Singh informed residents that several health outreaches to each sub-district are on this year’s agenda.
The REO also the opportunity to urge residents to ensure there is accountability and transparency when utilising grants that are allocated to the village, making a clear distinction between needs and wants, and urged residents to actively participate in village meetings to ensure they are aware of the projects that the council will be executing.
REO Singh (standing) as he addresses residents including students (Office of the REO photo)
CCWU signs collective labour agreements with Unicomer Guyana, Hand-in-Hand Group
THE Clerical & Commercial Workers’ Union (CCWU) has signed Collective Labour Agreements for wages/ salaries increases with the Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies and Unicomer (Guyana) Inc.
This covers the period 2022 which will see a 15 per cent increase along with a 10 per cent for 2023.
A press release issued by the union stated that the increase of wages and salaries for the years 2024 and 2025 for employees of the Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies ranges from eight per cent to 19 per cent.
According to a breakdown provided, meal tea allowance has been increased from $1,200 to $1,500; overtime allowance was raised from $650 to $700; bicycle allowance from $2,200 to $3,500; motorcycle allowance from $11,000 to $12,000; cashier risk allowance from $7,000 to $8,000; branch office relief cashier risk allowance from $5,000 to $5,500; relief cashier risk allowance from $4,000 to $8,000; and branch office risk allowance from $3,000
to $5,500; while temporary relief cashier relief allowance remain $500 per day. Additionally, with the multi-year agreement signed with Unicomer (Guyana) Inc, showed that in the first year, from July 01, 2024 to June 30, 2025 employees will received a five per cent increase across the board, while in the second year which covers July 01, 2025 to June 30, 2026 a five per cent
increase on the salary will be given.
In the third year, from July 01, 2026 to June 30, 2027 employees will see an eight per cent increase on their salary.
The press release indicated that for meal allowances, those employees working before the normal starting hours, (Breakfast) will now receive $800; those working one hour after the normal closing
time will receive $400; and those working an additional hour and further are to
receive $400. Meanwhile, for employees working beyond 20:00
hours or the normal working hours, the company shall provide meals and refreshments or $1,100 will be paid. Persons working through lunch will receive $1,500.
Additionally, the press release says that employees from a Georgetown base who are required to work through lunch while on assignment out of town, will be paid a total of $1,800.
The union underscored that when there are “Special Customer Events”, the company shall provide meals and refreshments or $1,500 where the employees are required to work more than eight hours.
The out-of-town allowance has been increased from $3,000 to $4000, while paternity leave is for ten working days.
Staff of Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies with a representative of CCWU following the signing of the agreement (CCWU photo)
Residency not a requirement for voting
- AttorneyGeneral
Nandlall maintains
ATT ORNEY-GENERAL (AG) Anil Nandlall, SC, has reiterated that residency is not a constitutional requirement for voting in Guyana, ahead of a March 17, 2025, hearing set by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC, to address an opposition challenge filed by Carol Smith-Joseph
Smith-Joseph is a longstanding member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) as well as the party’s Chief scrutineer. She is asking the High Court to compel the Guyana Elections Commission
(GECOM) to conduct a house-to-house verification of the addresses of registrants. This challenge questions the legal framework governing voter registration and residency requirements, reigniting debates on the qualifications for
participating in national elections.
During an interview outside the High Court in Demerara on Wednesday, AG Nandlall emphasised that the issue of residency had been definitively resolved by the courts, citing the landmark case of Christopher Ram v. Attorney General.
He noted that the ruling, delivered by the acting Chief Justice, was conclusive and remained unchallenged, as it was not appealed.
In the referenced case, the issue arose during discussions surrounding the scrapping of the voter database and the introduction of a house-to-house registration system.
Proponents of the database overhaul argued that it was necessary to remove individuals who were residing overseas and, therefore, allegedly ineligible to vote. However, Nandlall noted that this view was fundamentally flawed and contrary to constitutional law.
“Residency used to be a requirement under the 1966 Constitution and the 1970 Constitution,” Nandlall explained. However, he pointed out that it was removed in the 1980 Constitution.
The Attorney-General elaborated that under Guyana’s supreme law, the qualifications for voter registration and participation in elections do not include residency as a criterion.
Nandlall reasoned that this allows individuals residing in other countries—such as the United States or the United Kingdom—to retain their eligibility to vote in Guyanese elections, as long as they meet the other qualifications outlined in the Constitution.
Expanding on his legal submissions in the Christopher Ram case, Nandlall emphasised the Constitution’s clarity on the matter.
“You can have a fixed address in Queens, New York, or in London, and you are still qualified to vote in Guyana by virtue of the Constitution,” he said.
This, Nandlall argued, invalidates any claims or policies that seek to impose such requirements.
“On what basis is there a requirement that you must live at a particular address in Guyana in order to vote?” he questioned rhetorically.
Nandlall remains confident that the Constitution’s provisions will prevail.
“This issue has already been dealt with by the courts and sufficiently settled by the Chief Justice,” he asserted, adding that any
attempt to reintroduce residency as a requirement would contradict the foundational principles enshrined in the 1980 Constitution.
“Any time any person is refused registration or would be refused the right to vote because of some deficiency in their address, that would be an abrogation and a violation of not only the Constitution, but that person’s constitutional right to vote,” the Attorney-General emphasised.
He went on to say: “I don’t know why they [the opposition] are filing this case, but they have the right to do so, and we will have to go through this whole ordeal of these arguments.
“These arguments are not new. I believe that everyone has accepted the Chief Justice’s ruling [in Christopher Ram v. Attorney General] as an exposition of the law. We have not changed the law in that regard. What we did was to make amendments to the National Registration Act to bring it in line with the Constitution.”
Smith-Joseph’s lawyer is Dexter Todd.
Guyana’s Attorney-General Anil Nandlall, SC
Carol Smith-Joseph Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC
Brutus’ ‘diversity policy’ lawsuit a ‘PR stunt’ - Jagdeo says
PEOPLE’S Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo has shot down several claims made by Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus, who is on administrative leave and facing more than 200 charges for alleged financial crimes.
During a press conference at Freedom House on Thursday, the General Secretary addressed the alleged G$1.6 billion lawsuit by Brutus, who claims that he was racially discriminated
Brutus as Head of Admin,” the General Secretary said, while vehemently denying the claim of racial discrimination.
However, what Jagdeo revealed is that a large number of persons have complained about inefficiency while Brutus was running the department.
“Large numbers of people kept coming to me and saying we can’t get paid,” the General Secretary said, while stating that he wished persons had come earlier to
against under the diversity policy of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Jagdeo said that up to Thursday at midday, the Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., said that no court document had been served.
With Brutus facing more than 200 charges, and the document not reaching the AG, the General Secretary concluded: “So, it’s for PR purposes, I think”.
As reported in different sections of the media, Brutus alleged that he was removed from the acting position of Deputy Police Commissioner for Administration and sent to head Special Branch, the intelligence gathering arm of the law enforcement agency.
There have been claims that the Police Commissioner informed him that Jagdeo directed that Brutus be transferred to Special Branch to allow Assistant Commissioner Ravindradat Budhram to gain experience in Administration.
“There have been no such directives; I never met with the Commissioner of Police. I never asked him to replace
After reading some of the charges, Jagdeo said that Brutus will get a chance to answer to his charges in court and the General Secretary maintained: “This had nothing to do with race.”
The sudden change of stance by the Opposition, which once criticised the Brutus investigation was
pinpointed to by the General Secretary, who deemed it as “shameful”.
Jagdeo then highlighted the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition's period of governance from 2015 to 2020, when several significant issues emerged within the GPF,
raising concerns about its conduct, accountability and corruption allegations.
However, Jagdeo said that this would not occur under the PPP/C administration.
“One thing about us, even if you perceive yourself to be close to the PPP, regardless of your race, if you’re Indo-Guyanese,
Afro-Guyanese or anyone else; if don’t do what you're supposed to do, whether you're paid to do it; if you deprive the people of this country, as done in this case, then you will bear responsibility for it. That’s the way we will manage this country,” the General Secretary said.
vent their complaints.
With other allegations mounting against Brutus, Jagdeo said: “I have no apology, and we have no apology for his removal from head of the admin. This was not discrimination.”
Additionally, the General Secretary said that Brutus’ attempt to refashion his image as a “clean, upstanding” officer is contrary to the particulars of the charges being levied against him and these efforts are to get himself out of hot water.
Brutus is currently facing over 200 criminal charges in relation to financial misconduct involving more than $800 million.
Brutus and his co-accused, including his wife, Adonika Aulder, face serious allegations of money laundering, which, if proven, could see them facing lengthy jail time and hefty fines.
Prosecutors allege that Brutus used his position as acting Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration) to divert public funds into questionable projects, with a significant portion allegedly redirected for personal gain.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus, who is facing more than 200 charges
‘People don’t want to sink in APNU/AFC’s racist ship’
- Jagdeo says; condemns ‘vile’ attacks against James Bond for endorsing President Ali for second term - emphasises it is a logical choice for people to want to gravitate to the inclusive, dynamic PPP/C
ALTHOUGH Afro-Guyanese are given equal chances to elevate themselves within the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the same cannot be said about the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) which is attacking its own member, James Bond for endorsing President, Dr. Irfaan Ali for a second term.
This was highlighted by PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo during a press conference at Freedom House, on Thursday.
Addressing the hostility that was meted out to Bond by the PNC/R and those aligned to it, the PPP General Secretary said: “I think it’s again the desperation that is creeping into their camp. People are jumping ship in large numbers because they don’t want to go down in a sinking racist ship that the AFC and APNU are now sailing.”
Jagdeo said that no right thinking Guyanese would want to be a part of that as it unsustainable for Guyana’s future.
The General Secretary said people want to be a
part of unity and progress, and the PPP/C is the party that represents this.
“So it’s a logical choice for people to want to come or to gravitate to the PPP,” he said while highlighting that the PPP/C has kept its manifesto promises and has even gone beyond.
He then stated that what happened to Bond is not unusual as there are other activists who “threw their belly” out for the PNC/R in 2015 and were neglected but now, have recognised that there is a future under the PPP/C as opposed to the PNC/R.
Jagdeo said: “James Bond is in the news now, but there have been droves of others over the years making the journey over to us,” adding: “They’ve been warmly embraced by the PPP and have been part of implementing our broader vision. Before 2020, some of them made that choice and are now contributing to our work. It’s about equality and access to the country’s wealth, regardless of background.”
Even with Bond being known as one of the most
ardent critics of the government, Jagdeo asked, based on the happenings within the country, why would it not be natural for Bond to gravitate to the PPP/C.
“Nothing was promised to James Bond. He voluntarily decided to support Irfaan Ali and the PPP’s agenda. This is something we welcome,” the General Secretary firmly stated.
To prove his point that the PPP/C offers opportunities, the General Secretary drew comparisons of
the growth between Bond and the Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy.
Jagdeo said: “James and Kwame were contemporaries. While James went to the PNC, Kwame chose the PPP, and look at his growth within the party. Kwame was recognised by the people, whereas James worked hard but received little recognition in the PNC.”
The General Secretary then condemned the “vile” attacks being meted out to Bond, including
accusations of him being a “house slave,” and a “slave catcher,” just because he aligned himself with the PPP.
Jagdeo rejected the vilifications by those “racist lunatics”, stating that such criticisms only strengthen the party’s base.
Bond has thrown his support behind President Ali, signalling his backing for a second term for the current Head of State.
He praised President Ali for his consistent friendship and support, tracing their relationship
back to Dr. Ali’s time as a minister.
Blending personal gratitude with political endorsement, Bond told a gathering at Melanie, East Coast Demerara, that he would be publicly backing the President for re-election in the 2025 national polls.
“President Ali is one person who has always remembered me, from since he was a minister, he has always remembered me. He has always been a friend to me, and I am giving you a second term,” Bond said, addressing President Ali directly, as the audience applauded in response.
“I say this publicly, sir,” Bond further asserted.
Notably, there have been a number of former and current PNC/R members that have thrown their support behind the governing PPP/C.
This constant occurrence is a telling manifestation of continuing trouble in the camp of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which is led by the PNC/R, critics have said.
PNC-R’s James Bond engaging with President, Dr. Irfaan Ali
GNBS seeks stakeholders input in project geared at enhancing standardisation across industries
THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) with support from the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) and the
United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) programme, has embarked on a project to execute a National Standardisation Strategy (NSS) over the
next three years.
According to a press release from GNBS, the National Standardisation Strategy (NSS) aims to determine the standards needs of Guyana, encompassing
all industries or sectors of the economy.
It is a policy roadmap to ensure that Guyana’s national strategic priorities are supported by relevant national and international standards.
The strategy will align national objectives with applicable standards, addressing key economic, social, and environmental priorities to strengthen the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI).
This strategy which will be available before the end of the first quarter of 2025, requires the input of all stakeholders to make meaningful suggestions and contributions to guarantee a comprehensive document.
To garner stakeholders’ inputs, the GNBS has disseminated a questionnaire designed to gather insights on the need for new standards, and to identify specific standards that should be developed and/or adopted to benefit each sector.
The questionnaire can be accessed via the ‘home page’ of the GNBS’ website - https://gnbsgy.org/ where participants are asked to answer simple questions relating to the sector they represent and their proposals for the development of standard(s). Feedback is critical towards developing a structured and strategic NSS that sets Guyana on a pathway to guaranteeing safety and quality.
In addition, the GNBS will be hosting an in-person awareness session on Thursday, January 23, 2025 to answer questions and facilitate interactions with the facilita-
tors of the project from CROSQ and UNIDO.
The awareness session will be hosted at the GNBS Head Office, National Exhibition Complex, Sophia, Georgetown. For more information, persons could contact the Standardisation Department via email standards@ gnbsgy.org | +592-2190062/64/66/67 – EXT 2012/13/14.
“Standardisation remains a key pillar in national development. Whether national, regional or international, standards play an important role in our daily lives, providing requirements and guidelines to ensure that products are durable, services are reliable, and there is increased confidence in the products and services marketed,” GNBS said.
Over its 40 years of existence, the GNBS facilitated the development, adoption and adoption with modification of more than 600 national standards.
These standards fall within various categories including Agriculture, Tourism, Manufacturing, Energy, Construction and Oil and Gas among others.
“As the Bureau works towards fulfilling its mandate and to create a culture of quality through standards, we appreciate the support of experts, consumers and other stakeholders who help us to meet our goal,” GNBS related.
City Council cracks under pressure
- agrees to pay salary increase to workers
- Dr. Jagdeo flays PNCR-led body for not collecting PNC’s $6.4B debt
By Trina Williams
CRACKING under immense pressure, the PNCR-led Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has agreed to give its workers, who were on strike, a 10 per cent restrictive salary increase for 2024.
City Hall has recently faced severe backlash for its continued cry of being “cash-strapped”, even as it fails to recover $6.4 billion in debt owed to the council by the PNCR.
People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, during a press conference at Freedom House on Thurs-
day called out the M&CC for refusing to go after the PNCR’s huge debt.
This potential income, according to the General Secretary, could aid the Council in various ways, such as to develop Georgetown.
“But they refuse to go after that huge source of revenue; they keep diverting the issue every time,” Dr. Jagdeo said.
Although the M&CC claims that it cares for the residents, Central Government has been taking the lead on Georgetown’s development, and investing billions of dollars, Dr. Jagdeo said.
The government has
included the city in its national development agenda, with key investments in infrastructural advancement, drainage works, creating and fixing recreational facilities, and beautifying the city, among other things.
“The government’s support in Georgetown has
been enormous. Everyone looking at this issue, impartially, would see that almost every bit of development work being done in the city, that is the responsibility of the City Council, is being done by the government,” the PPP General Secretary said.
Even with the PNCR being a huge contributor to the financial woes at the M&CC, Dr. Jagdeo pointed out: “… The City Council will not go after them. Yet, they will say to the workers there that they don’t have a source of revenue to pay them. If they were serious about discharging their responsibilities impartially, they would send out that demand letter.”
Dr. Jagdeo also urged the PPP/C City Hall councillors to fight for the M&CC to collect the debt owed.
The decision to give those workers the salary increase, followed conciliation efforts led by the
Ministry of Labour, culminating in the signing of a resumption agreement between the M&CC and the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), under the guidance of Chief Labour Officer Dhaneshwar Deonarine on Thursday at the ministry’s Boardroom.
As per the agreement, the staff will receive a 10 per cent retroactive wage and salary increase for 2024, to be paid on or before March 31, 2025. Additionally, they will receive an eight per cent retroactive wage and salary increase for 2025, effective from January 2025, to be paid on or before July 31, 2025.
Report recommends blacklisting contractor involved in Aubrey Barker Road incident
A report has been submitted to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), with a recommendation to blacklist
one contractor involved in the construction of the Aubrey Barker Road project. This report stemmed from an investigation con-
ducted jointly by the Ministry of Public Works, and the Guyana Power Light (GPL) into an incident where several concrete poles collapsed due to ongoing drainage roadworks, leaving residents and businesses in complete darkness.
Immediately after the incident, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo informed journalists that based on preliminary findings, the poles were not installed according to the contractual specifications.
During a press conference on Thursday (January 16, 2025) at Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown, Jagdeo informed journalists that the report has been completed and has recommended the contractor responsible, to be blacklisted.
“The investigation is continuing, so there will be further disciplinary action taken against other individuals,” the general secretary added.
As part of its commitment to transparency and accountability in the procurement system, the government has made it clear that defaulting contractors or engineers will not be tolerated within state agencies.
Jagdeo reiterated this position, encouraging individuals and companies to report any instances of misconduct, assuring confidentiality and thorough investigations.
“We’ve made it clear to people … that if any engineer, any procurement officer of the state, in any agency, were to solicit a bribe from you, or to say they can give you a contract if you give them any money, or to accept shoddy work if you pay them, then just let us know. You can send in, even anonymously, the letter to us, and trust me, it will be investigated,” he reassured.
Journalists were also informed that the government is investigating two cases involving procurement officers for alleged corruption, underscoring its no-stance approach to this issue.
Previously, he expressed frustrations with engineers and their disruptive construction practices that are inconveniencing communities in a major way. The GS had said that state-employed engineers are now receiving competitive salaries, removing any excuse for poor performance. (DPI)
US$604M Corentyne Highway expansion project critical to Berbice – Minister Edghill
- says area’s significant transformation will turn it into an economic powerhouse
By Bebi Shafeah Oosman
AS consultations continue for the US$604 million expansion project for the Corentyne Highway in Region Six, Minister of Public Works Bishop
held at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Six boardroom on Wednesday, stated that he is extremely pleased to be present for such “a very important engagement”.
In attendance
Juan Edghill has said that with modernisation and development, the area will be transformed into an economic powerhouse.
The much-anticipated project is expected to play a major role in enhancing the region's infrastructure, contribute to better transportation, and open new opportunities for trade, tourism, and local businesses, further solidifying Berbice's economic importance.
The consultations, which took place in Region Six earlier this week, are part of the process to bring this major infrastructure project, one of the largest projects in the country’s history, to fruition.
Minister Edghill, at the first consultation
ernisation and transformational agenda, this project, US$604 million is one of the biggest that you will see in modern Guyana at this time.”
He told the elected
officials gathered, “So, one of the reasons why we have called you here is that you must be able to get the information elected officials, heads of agencies or representatives of agencies,
were the Regional Vice-Chairman of Region Six Zamal Hussain representing the RDC, along with the region’s NDC chairpersons and vice-chairpersons and other elected officials and stakeholders.
At the location, the minister pointed out that the directing of information to these officials aims to ensure that they are empowered and can speak definitively and address community concerns when they arise during the project.
“So, us having information on this project is key,” he stressed to those gathered, before adding, “Here in Region Six, in terms of the execution, as part of Government of Guyana, the PPP/C’s mod-
He then urged that at
so that when people discuss this, you will be able to give correct answers, provide information, and even if you can’t provide all the information, you will be knowledgeable enough to know who are the persons or agencies involved, so that you can get them to address the concerns at the community level.”
TURN TO PAGE 18
This is what the Corentyne Highway is expected to look like when the expansion project is completed
US$604M Corentyne Highway...
FROM PAGE 17
each of their statutory meetings, a report “bringing information” to the councilors must be on the agenda.
He stressed that the project is likely to cause temporary inconveniences which will pave the way for long term benefits and economic advancement. He used the opportunity to remind those gathered that the contractors cannot be reckless in the execution of the project.
The minister also
assured that nobody’s fence or bridge will be broken without notice as residents and communities will be engaged as it related to any dislocation.
Minister Edghill also took the opportunity to highlight that the conduct of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) which is to be done, is not to “find out if we should continue with the project or stop the project.”
He stressed that the project will be proceed-
ing as they have been talking about Palmyra - Moleson Creek development for the last two years.
“What we have come today to tell you is that we have now completed the process of procuring the contractors for engagement for the building out of this project. It is going forward and one of the conditionality to ensure effective execution is getting the ESIA in place.”
NECESSARY PROJECT
Turning his attention to the necessity of the project, the minister stressed that it is “key and critical” for not just the development of Region Six but for Guyana’s development.
“There are two major developments that are taking place in Berbice, Palmyra as well as the Moleson Creek area. Both ends of the corridor will have a major housing development, and they are also some new housing developments that are taking place between Palmyra
and Moleson Creek.”
He continued, “It means that there will be more homeowners and once you have more homeowners, more vehicles, more businesses, more entertainment centres and that is just as a result of housing development at both Palmyra and Moleson Creek.”
He then pointed to the constant congestion of the Corentyne Highway, adding that the deep-water habour that will be constructed at Palmyra, is directly linked to Guyana’s positioning of itself as a country of connectivity.
“Guyana and the wider South America with the road heading to Brazil, the deep-water harbour at Palmyra Berbice is intended to be the major, main shipping hub for containerise commercial traffic to answer the difficulties of land lock Brazil.”
According to Minister Edghill, this project is also linked to the Guyana – Suriname agreement to bridge the Corentyne River as he revealed that by this weekend, there might be an additional announcement on the way forward on the Corentyne River Bridge project.
He divulged, “Because I can tell you that we already have the evaluated contractor in place having completed
the procurement process and the conversation about the financing model is being concluded and you can see very soon that bridge being connected.”
The Corentyne River Bridge he said will serve as a key infrastructure for the new energy corridor of South America. “Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Brazil, so you are getting Brazil from two ends… And the bridge over the Corentyne River is an important one.”
He stated: “Supplementing this main expansion of your highway we have already gone out and have received proposals and we are now inviting the financial proposals from companies that have been prequalified for a high span bridge across the Berbice River similar to the bridge that we are building across the Demerara River.”
Adding to this, Minister Edghill noted that they are also looking at the execution of the contract for the dredging of the Berbice channel. “So, it is not a road to look nice and it will look nice, but it is a road that is critical to the overall modernisation and development that is taking place.”
Meanwhile, the technical team also held consultations in
CARICOM, ILO launch labour market analysis to shape regional migration policy
THE International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, launched the consultancy: Free Movement of persons in the CARICOM Region: Undertaking labour market analysis to inform the development of a comprehensive labour migration policy for the region.
Designed as part of an ongoing collaboration between ILO and CARICOM to strengthen the free movement of persons in the region, the study will evaluate the interplay of economic, employment, and migration patterns in the region.
Findings are expected to guide Member States in optimising labour mobility, protecting workers' rights, and enhancing job creation through innovative economic strategies.
During the virtual launch on Tuesday, 14 January 2025, Mr. Leo Preville, Director of the CARICOM Single Market (CSM), joined ILO officials Mr. Abdelmalik Muhummed, Employment and Labour Market Specialist, and Mr. Francesco Carella, Regional Labour Migration Specialist, to highlight the importance of the analysis in shaping sustainable migration policies that reflect the region's complex socio-economic realities.
The employers and workers’ organisations, represented by the Caribbean Congress of Labour and Caribbean Employers’ Confederation, the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation, along with The University of West Indies, have equally supported the initiative, confirming their readiness to oversee this work as
members of the Project Steering Committee.
Key participants included Permanent Secretaries, Ambassadors to CARICOM, labour commissioners and senior labour officers, CSME focal points, statistical officers, data managers, technical liaison officers and other relevant stakeholders.
CSM Director, Mr. Leo Preville indicated “the development of policies to enhance the smooth movement of people is central to the success of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. An evidence-based approach to the development of policy is therefore critical.”
He also remarked “The development of the labour migration policy component of the regional migration policy must be centred on a sound analysis.
The study will provide the opportunity for a close and detailed assessment of both the demand and supply sides of labour in the Community as well as provide an understanding of the migration dynamics taking place in the Community. This understanding is especially important in the context of the standing decision of the Heads of Government to work towards the free movement of all CARICOM nationals.”
ILO Employment and Labour Market Specialist, Mr. Abdelmalik Muhummed, emphasised that, “Migration presents challenges and opportunities for long-term socio-economic development in this region. The ILO is pleased to partner with CARICOM on this landmark study that will provide critical insights into how migration can enhance workforce dynamics for inclusive sustainable growth that prioritises decent work and social justice in Caribbean Member States.”
Spanning January to April 2025, the analysis will employ a robust methodology, incorporating primary and secondary data collection, stakeholder consultations, and sectoral analysis. Key deliverables include an inception report, two draft reports, and a final report, culminating in a validation workshop to ensure alignment with national and regional goals.
The results are expected to provide a comprehensive understanding of the economic, employment, labour and migration dynamics as much of the region currently faces unprecedentedly low levels of growth and an increase in vulnerabilities.
The cross-cutting study will further explore the effects of climate change on jobs and labour mobility, consider casual chains, identify opportunities and challenges, and recommend possible strategies for improving productive employment in the CARICOM Region.
(CARICOM)
Gregory Isaacs ‘returns’ to the London stage
FIFTEEN years after his death, Gregory Isaacs will ‘return’ to the London stage.
‘Cool Ruler: A Musical Tribute to Gregory Isaacs’, a stage production based on his career, opens on May 25 at Hackney Empire in the British capital.
The project, which celebrates the singer’s 75th birthday on July 15, is a joint effort between his wife, June, and British promoter John “Bagga John” Farquarson.
Terence Wallen, a British artiste of Jamaican heritage, will play Isaacs, who died in London in October 2010 at age 60.
Wallen is known in music circles for his portrayal of Isaacs, whose easy-listening songs earned him the nickname The Cool Ruler. In ‘A Musical Tribute to Gregory Isaa-
cs’, he will be backed by the five-piece Delroy Murray Band. Farquarson told the
Jamaica Observer that rehearsals for the production are scheduled to start this month.
June Isaacs and Copeland Forbes, Isaacs’s former manager, will select songs for the the-
atre-style shows, which also take place at Fairfield Halls in Croydon on May 31, and on June
1 at O2 Academy in Birmingham.
He disclosed that more dates will be announced soon.
Isaacs had a massive following in the United Kingdom as a result of songs like All I Have Is Love, Soon Forward, Tune In, Night Nurse, and Love Me With Feeling. He toured the country frequently in the 1980s and 1990s, packing venues such as Brixton Academy and Hammersmith Palais.
Like Wallen, Farquarson was born in London to Jamaican parents, but spent some of his youth in Jamaica.
He has promoted shows in the UK featuring Isaacs and other major acts such as Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor, Beres Hammond, Buju Banton, Marcia Griffiths, and Frankie Paul. (Jamaica Observer)
Gregory “Cool Ruler” Isaacs
Record label hits back at ‘illogical’ Drake lawsuit
UNIVERSAL Music
Group has fired back at Drake's attempt to sue it over the release of Kendrick Lamar's diss track, Not Like Us, last year.
claims untrue, but the notion that we would seek to harm the reputation of any artist, let alone Drake, is illogical."
said.
The Canadian musician filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, accusing the company of defamation by allowing the song to be published, claiming it had spread the "false and malicious narrative" that he is a paedophile.
It also accused the star of trying to "silence" Lamar by taking their rap battle to the courts.
"He now seeks to weaponise the legal process to silence an artist's creative expression, and to seek damages from [Universal] for distributing that artist's music."
In response to claims that Univer -
amation - against any individual," the statement concluded.
Drake's lawsuit was filed at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on Wednesday, and marks the latest chapter in his long-running
In response, Universal, which has been Drake's label for more than a decade, said: "Not only are these
"Throughout his career, Drake has intentionally and successfully used UMG to distribute his music and poetry to engage in conventionally outrageous back-and-forth 'rap battles' to express his feelings about other artists," the label
sal had deliberately harmed Drake's career, the label noted it had "invested massively" in his music, helping him "achieve historic commercial and personal financial success".
"We have not and do not engage in def-
fied paedophiles" who should "be registered and placed on neighbourhood watch".
In court documents, Drake claimed that Universal knew that Lamar's lyrics were false, but "continued to fan the flames" of the controversy for profit.
over the safety and well-being of its artists".
However, the legal case did not take aim at Lamar himself.
"This lawsuit is not about the artist who created Not Like Us," the court documents said.
feud with Lamar.
The pair butted heads on a series of rap tracks last year. In one, Drake accused Lamar of domestic abuse. Lamar responded with Not Like Us, in which he characterised Drake and his entourage as "certi -
He claimed the label launched "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of the song, and suggested that a shooting at his Toronto mansion last May was directly linked to those actions.
Universal, he said, "chose corporate greed
"It is, instead, entirely about UMG, the music company that decided to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize allegations that it understood were not only false, but dangerous." (BBC)
Drake has sold more than 200 million records over the course of his career
Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us is nominated for five awards at next month’s Grammys
Ramsammy’s 75 highlights the second day of practice match
By Sean Devers
Resuming at their overnight 19-0 in reply to Nail Smith’s X1 472, Kemol Savory’s X1 were dismissed for 319 as the Captain led from the front with an unbeaten 76 from 103 balls, 178 minutes with seven fours and three sixes.
Savory got support from Zynul Ramsammy who faced 148 balls and batted for 231 in his 75, including eight fours and two sixes.
But only Brandon Jaikarran, who made 33 with five boundaries and Anthony Adams who scored 25 were the only other batters to reach 20.
Leg-spinner Reyad Latiff (3-53), off- spinner Junior Sinclair (2- 38) and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul (2-42) bowled well for Smith’s X1 who ended the day enjoying a lead of 153 runs with Sachin Singh and Rampersaud Ramnauth both yet to score.
Savory’s X1 started the day and lost Raymond Perez (19) who fell to Bruce Vincent at 38-1.
Jaikarran joined Ramsammy and carried the score to 50 before Sinclair got rid of Jaikarran for 21 at 66-2.
Shamar Yearwood (1) hit a return catch to Permaul three runs later before Permaul removed Ramnauth (102-4).
Richie Looknauth (15) added 41 with Ramsammy who continued to bat well on a good batting track and fast outfield on another day blessed with brilliant sunshine.
But with the score on 143 Looknauth was trapped in front as Permaul collected another scalp.
Ramsammy and Savory joined forces and featured in a 47-run sixth-wicket partnership before Ramsammy became the second wicket by Latiff at 190-6.
Thaddeus Lovell (12) and Ashmead Nedd (16) were both removed by Latiff, as Savory’s X1 slipped to 2358 as the left- handed Savory continued to hold the innings together.
Savory found a useful ally in Adams and the pair added 52 for the ninth wicket as Adams hit five fours before he was LBW to burly pacer Joshua Jones.
Isiah Throne clobbered three fours in 13 before he fell to left arm-spinner Askaya Persaud as Savory ran out of partners.
Today is the third day and play is scheduled to commence at 09:30hrs.
‘The ICC did nothing for us’ - Afghan cricketer Amiri
Afghanistan cricketer Firooza
Amiri has criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for what she says is a lack of support after members of the women’s national team had to flee to Australia.
Female participation in sport in Afghanistan has effectively been outlawed since 2021 when the Taliban returned to power.
Shortly after, more than 20 members of the country’s national women’s team fled the country.
“Cricket Australia have done more for us than the ICC have,” Amiri told BBC Test Match Special during the second one-day international of the Women’s Ashes in Melbourne.
“They have always pushed to keep hope alive for us. We’ve sent many messages asking for help because we’ve sacrificed so much to be here.
“We came to a new country as young people and we expected the ICC to do much more for us but they did nothing and we haven’t heard from them since we have been here.”
In a statement last week, the ICC said “it remains closely engaged with the situation in Afghanistan”.
Amiri had to leave many of her friends in Afghanistan but her parents were able to join her, and she had to learn English in order to get herself a job.
The team asked the ICC if they would be allowed to play
as a refugee side when they first fled, which has not been approved.
“Cricket can break boundaries, so we want to keep hopes alive - we want to play and edu-
Pakistan,
act, as chief executive
Amiri said she and her teammates are “proud” of the Afghanistan’s men’s side, who
They are playing in an exhibition match against a Cricket Without Borders XI before the Women’s Ashes Test match in Melbourne on 30 January and Amiri hopes it can send a message to women who have lost their rights in her home country and around the world.
cate,” she added.
The Afghanistan women’s team has gained more attention in recent weeks with UK politicians writing to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) calling for England’s men to refuse to play against Afghanistan in a Champions Trophy match in La-
Richard Gould wrote to the global governing body to take action after what he called “gender apartheid”.
He also called for Afghanistan’s funding to be withheld until women’s cricket is reinstated and support given to Afghan women’s players.
have retained their full Testmatch status from the ICC, and that she simply wants her own team to be able to play alongside them.
“There is one cricket ground in Afghanistan. The men’s team came from nothing, they fought hard to be where they are today,”
said Amiri, who wants to continue playing cricket alongside a dream of becoming the first Afghan commentator on the game.
“ I’m proud, but for us it is heartbreaking. It all comes down to the ICC, they have to recognise us as a team because we have a right to play too.”
What is the ICC’s position?
An ICC working group, set up after the Taliban takeover in 2021, has met with representatives of the Afghanistan government and is keen to use its position and the sport of cricket to influence change in the country.
“The ICC remains closely engaged with the situation in Afghanistan and continues to collaborate with our members,” it said in a statement.
The governing body added it was their intention to “support the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) in fostering cricket development and ensuring playing opportunities for both men and women in Afghanistan”.
Its stance is that the ACB is not in control of government policy and therefore players should not be punished for it
In his letter to the ICC, Gould called for the ICC’s working group to be reformed, given it is entirely made up of men. (BBC Sport)
Teenager Tien stuns Medvedev in late five-set thriller
FIFTH seed Daniil Medvedev is out of the Australian Open after losing a five-set thriller to teenager Learner Tien in the biggest upset of the tournament so far.
Medvedev, a three-time finalist in Melbourne, saved match point in the third set and forced a decider, but ultimately fell to a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (8-10) 1-6 7-6 (107) defeat by the 19-year-old qualifier.
American Tien, ranked 121st in the world, celebrated in front of a largely empty Margaret Court Arena after wrapping up the win at 02:54 local time in Melbourne.
“I was definitely hoping it wasn’t going to a fifth-set breaker but either way I’m just really happy to get the win,” Tien said after four hours and 49 minutes on court. “I know I made it a lot harder than what it could have been but, you know, whatever.”
Before this week’s tournament Tien had never won a Grand Slam match, losing in the first round in all three of his US Open appearances. Medvedev, who lost to Jannik Sinner in last year’s final, seemed like the clear favourite to win the match
after steamrolling his way through the fourth set in 27 minutes, with Tien looking fatigued.
But, after a brief rain delay, the left-handed Californian dug deep to break back in the decider and force a 10-point tie-break.
“Losing the third [set] was tough after playing for that long. I had a match point so that was a little disappointing to see a fourth [set],” Tien said.
“In the fourth set I just had to pee so bad, so I was trying to finish it up fairly quick.
“I also wanted to start the fifth [set] serving first so I scrapped out that game at 0-5 and it all worked out.”
He is the third teenager this week, after Joao Fonseca and Jakub Mensik, to have beaten a top-10 player.
Fonseca stole the headlines with his first-round win over ninth seed Andrey Rublev, but it is Tien, who finished runner- up to the Brazilian in December’s Next Gen ATP Finals, that has gone further of the two in Melbourne.
Tien will face France’s Corentin Moutet, ranked 69th, in the third round.
hore,
on 26 February. The ECB has also called on the ICC to
The Taliban have effectively banned women’s sport in Afghanistan since returning to power in 2021.
Tien is the youngest American man to reach the third round at the Australian Open since 18-year-old Pete Sampras in 1990.
CWI launches high performance programmes aimed at improving standard of cricket
ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Cricket West Indies (CWI) has begun the year with three groundbreaking high-performance initiatives aimed at elevating the standard of cricket in the region.
The initiatives brought together international expertise and regional talent in an unprecedented effort to strengthen both playing and coaching capabilities.
The first two initiatives focus on advanced batting techniques against spin bowling and enhancing spin bowling capabilities with a focus on wrist spin.
The specialized High-Performance Batting Spin and Spin Bowling Camp features 30 of the region’s most promising players and will run from January 11 until January 17.
Under the guidance of Chennai Super Kings Academy head coach, Sriram Krishnamurthi and spin bowling coach Amar Rashid, the sixday intensive programs aim to refine participants’ skills.
For players like Matthew
Nandu (Guyana), Kirk McKenzie (Jamaica), and Kevin Wickham (Barbados), this camp builds on their experience at the Chennai Super Kings Academy in India last December, where they trained alongside four other West Indies players.
Some of the participants of the High-Performance Batting Spin and Spin Bowling Camp. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)
The third initiative is a Coaching Symposium, which was held at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua from January 13 to 15.
The symposium’s key objectives included bringing clarity to coaches on the requirements for developing and managing players at the franchise level to meet the West Indies brand. It also aimed at empowering and enabling a collaborative learning community among coaches to achieve world-class outcomes.
Eleven coaches from the six franchises attended the symposium, along with two coaches from the Combined
Campuses and Colleges team, which featured West Indies head coach Daren Sammy as one of six presenters over the three days.
Davidson in delivering sessions.
In attendance were eleven franchise coaches and two from the Combined Cam -
ating a pathway for coaching excellence in the region.
CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe praised the three initiatives.
Coaches from the Chennai Super Kings Academy joined CWI Coaching Development Consultant James
Rutherford’s Vipers edge Pooran’s Emirates in thrilling ILT20 clash
puses and Colleges team. The symposium provided a platform for knowledge exchange and emphasized cre-
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates,(CMC) – Fakhar Zaman’s brilliant 67 off 52 balls led the Desert Vipers to a five-wicket victory over MI Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium, as action continued in the ILT20 here Thursday.
“These parallel programmes represent a strategic investment in West Indies
ing 51 in the powerplay. Despite losing quick wickets, Zaman’s calculated knock and a 65-run partnership with Curran shifted momentum.
Guyanese Sherfane Rutherford sealed the chase with 21 off eight balls, including a match-winning six. Za -
cricket’s future.
“By bringing together international expertise with our regional talent, we are developing skills and building a sustainable cricket ecosystem. The combination of specialized player development through our High-Performance Camp and the elevation of coaching standards through the symposium creates a powerful framework for success,” Bascombe said.
“Particularly exciting for us is the way we have connected our recent initiatives, like the Chennai Super Kings Academy experience, with these new programs to create continuous development pathways.
“This comprehensive approach ensures we’re developing both our current and next generation of cricket professionals in alignment with modern cricket demands,” he added.
made 15 as the team struggled to build on a promising start, with Wanindu Hasaranga and Lockie Ferguson delivering key breakthroughs. Ferguson finished with two wickets for 25 runs while Hasaranga took one for 21.
Player of the Match Fakhar Zaman credited a strategic approach by countering the spinners, while MI Emirates captain Pooran praised the Vipers’ middle-order resilience.
“I felt we were in the game. We were happy with 160, the way the pitch was playing, it seemed to be very tricky. It’s still young in the tournament, Mousley got us two wickets, and we went searching for another, but we didn’t get it. Credit to Fakhar Zaman and Sam Curran, they played well.”
SCORES: MI Emirates 159-6 in 20 overs (Kieron Pollard 36, Kusal Perera 33, Muhammad Waseem 18, Lockie Ferguson 2 for 23, Wanindu Hasaranga 1 for 21, Dan Lawrence 1 for 21).
Chasing 160, the Vipers reached their target in 19.1 overs to secure their third straight win, thanks to key contributions from Alex Hales (34) and Sam Curran (28). The Vipers started strong, with Hales and Zaman post-
hoor Khan and Dan Mousley picked up two wickets each. Earlier, MI Emirates posted 159-6, driven by late fireworks from Trinidadian Kieron Pollard (36) and Guyanese Romario Shepherd (16 not out). Captain Nicholas Pooran
Desert Vipers 161-5 in 20 overs (Fakhar Zaman 67, Alex Hales 34, Sam Curran 28, Sherfane Rutherford 21 not out, Zahoor Khan 2 for 24, Dan Mousley 2 for 27, Waqar Salamkheil 1 for 29).
Some of the participants of the High-Performance Batting Spin and Spin Bowling Camp. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)
Sherfane Rutherford of Desert Vipers shakes hands with Zahoor Khan of MI Emirates after match 7 of the DP World International League T20 between the Desert Vipers and the MI Emirates held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on the 16th January 202 (Photo: ILT20)
BCCI makes participation in domestic fixtures mandatory among new guidelines
THE Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has formulated a new policy on travel, spouses, luggage and individual staff for India players warning them that non-adherence could lead to disciplinary action.
“All players are expected to adhere strictly to the above guidelines. Any exceptions or deviations must be pre-approved by the Chairman of the Selection Committee and Head Coach. Non-compliance may lead to disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by the BCCI,” says a document that is being circulated among media personnel.
Among the new regulations, the BCCI says participation in domestic fixtures is mandatory. “This policy ensures that players remain connected to the domestic cricket ecosystem, fostering talent development, maintaining match fitness, and strengthening the overall domestic structure,” the policy document mentions.
There are new directives for players to travel with the team. In the recent tour of Australia, it was found that some players were seen travelling separately from the team. These players were accompanying their families and were travelling by individually-booked special flights. In one such incident, Virat Kohli was found involved in a fracas with a local reporter at the Melbourne Airport. The new BCCI policy aims to stop that.
“All players are expected to travel with the team to and from matches and practice sessions. Separate travel arrangements with families are discouraged to maintain discipline and team cohesion Exceptions, if any, must be pre-approved by the Head Coach and Chairman of the Selection Committee,” the document states
The BCCI has taken a strong stance against players carrying personal staff on tours. There have been instances when players have brought personal hairdressers, makeup artists, cooks, and nannies, with the number of such staff reaching as high as 12 on some occasions. The BCCI plans to impose restrictions on the practice. “Personal staff (e.g., personal managers, chefs, assistants and security) are to be restricted on tours or series unless explicitly approved by the BCCI. This ensures that the focus remains on team operations and minimizes logistical challenges. - this has to be done away with,” the new guideline states. The BCCI has also said that the players will not be allowed to fly home early once the series ends, like it did in Sydney where the Test ended on the
third day. Immediately after the SCG Test, some senior players flew home three days ahead of the scheduled official departure from Australia. “Players are required to stay with the team until the scheduled end of the match series or tour, regardless of whether matches conclude earlier than planned. This ensures unity, fosters team bonding, and avoids disruption to team dynamics,” the policy document states.
The BCCI says the new policy is aimed at upholding “the highest standards of professionalism and discipline within Team India. By fostering unity and ensuring operational efficiency, we can create an environment where players thrive and perform to their fullest potential.”
Policy Document for Team India (Senior Men)
Objective: To establish guidelines that promote discipline, unity, and a positive team environment while ensuring professional standards and operational efficiency during tours and series.
Separately with Families
All players are expected to travel with the team to and from matches and practice sessions. Separate travel arrangements with families are discouraged to maintain discipline and team cohesion. Exceptions, if any, must be preapproved by the Head Coach and Chairman of the Selection Committee
3. Excess Baggage Limit Players are required to adhere to the specified baggage limits shared with the team. Any excess baggage costs will need to be borne by the individual player. This policy helps streamline logistics and avoid unnecessary expenses
4. Restriction on Individual Staff on Tour/Series Personal staff (e.g., personal managers, chefs, assistants and security) are to be restricted on tours or series unless explicitly approved by the BCCI. This ensures that the focus remains on team operations and minimizes logistical challenges. - this has to be done away with.
5. Sending Bags Sepa -
1. Participation in Domestic Matches is mandatory for players to remain eligible for selection in the national team and for central contracts, as per BCCI guidelines. This policy ensures that players remain connected to the domestic cricket ecosystem, fostering talent development, maintaining match fitness, and strengthening the overall domestic structure. It also inspires emerging players by providing them opportunities to compete alongside top cricketers, ensuring continuity in talent progression. Any exceptions to this mandate will be considered only under extraordinary circumstances and will require formal notification and approval from the Chairman of the Selection Committee, ensuring fairness and transparency in the process.
2 . Players Traveling
cy The family travel policy ensures a balance between players’ personal well-being and team commitments:
Eligibility: Players absent from India for more than 45 days during overseas tours can be joined by their partners and children (under 18) for one visit per series (format wise) of up to a twoweek period.
Provisions: The BCCI will cover shared accommodation with the player for the Visitors’ Period. All other expenses are to be borne by the player.
Coordination: Visits must be scheduled at a single time during dates agreed upon by the Coach, Captain, and GM Operations.
Exceptions: Any deviation from this policy must be pre-approved by the Coach, Captain and GM Operations. Additional expenses outside the visitors’ period will not be covered by the BCCI.
9. Participation in BCCI’s
Official Shoots and Functions: Players are required to be available for BCCI’s official shoots, promotional activities, and functions. These engagements are essential for maintaining the BCCI’s commitments to stakeholders and promoting the game effectively.
10. Players Returning Home if Matches End Early Players are required to stay with the team until the scheduled end of the match series or tour, regardless of whether matches conclude earlier than planned. This ensures unity, fosters team bonding, and avoids disruption to team dynamics.
Implementation and Compliance: All players are expected to adhere strictly to the above guidelines. Any exceptions or deviations must be pre-approved by the Chairman of the Selection Committee and Head Coach.
Non-compliance may lead to disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by the BCCI. Additionally, the BCCI reserves the right to take disciplinary action against a player which may include (i) sanction against the concerned player from participating in all BCCI conducted tournaments including the Indian Premier League; and (ii ) deduction from retainer amount / match fees under BCCI Player contract. This measure ensures accountability and reinforces the importance of adhering to established policies and prioritising Indian cricket. This policy aims to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and discipline within Team India. By fostering unity and ensuring operational efficiency, we can create an environment where players thrive and perform to their fullest potential.
(Cricbuzz)
rately to the Centre of Excellence Players must coordinate with team management regarding equipment and personal items being sent to the Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru . Any additional costs incurred due to separate arrangements will be the player’s responsibility.
6. Leaving Practice Sessions Early All players are required to stay for the entire duration of scheduled practice sessions and travel together to and from the venue. This rule ensures commitment and fosters a strong work ethic within the team.
7. Personal Shoots During Series/Tour Players are not permitted to engage in personal shoots or endorsements during an ongoing series or tour. This avoids distractions and ensures that the players’ focus remains on cricket and team responsibilities.
8. Family Travel Poli -
Virat Kohli was found involved in a fracas with a local reporter at the Melbourne Airport.
Deitz targets Bangladesh series as critical chapter for Windies women’s cricket
WEST Indies Women’s head coach Shane Deitz is brimming with cautious optimism as he views the inaugural bilateral white-ball series against Bangladesh as an opportunity to reset after a challenging tour of India and build momentum for the months ahead.
The series, scheduled from January 19 to 31 at Warner Park in St. Kitts, includes three CG United One-Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals.
For Deitz, this series represents the beginning of a critical chapter for West Indies women’s cricket, with a focus on rebuilding confidence, refining combinations, and fostering a winning mentality.
“Well, obviously we had a tough tour to India, so we’ve got to bounce back, particularly in ODI cricket. First
up, we want to make sure our batters get off to a good start, get some good runs on the board, and our bowlers work better with the new ball. In both power plays—batting and bowling—we struggled in India, so that’s a big area we want to focus on,” Deitz said.
“So, we’re starting a phase of about eight or nine months that ’s going to be pretty full-on. It’s an exciting time for the girls, and we’re looking forward to a successful 2025,” he declared.
According to Deitz, the fixtures will also serve as a testing ground for player combinations and strategies as the West Indies zone in on the ODI World Cup qualifiers later this year with hopes of progressing to the next global showpiece.
“It’s a crucial series to get some combinations going. A
few players are playing for positions too, so we need them to put their hand up. We want to see players perform in pressure situations. That’s what’s going to be required when we go to the qualifiers, which will be a tough tournament,” he explained.
Deitz highlighted the potential of rising talents like Cherry-Ann Fraser, who has honed her skills in Tasmania over the past few months.
“I’m looking forward to seeing her with the ball, getting some wickets and penetration early. Other players like Zaida James, Jannillea Glasgow, and Shabika Gajnabi also have opportunities to step up and put their names forward,” he noted.
It is often said that you sometimes have to look back in order to move forward, and that is exactly the approach Deitz is taking. He pointed
out that the recent tour of India exposed significant gaps in the West Indies’ ODI game, particularly in the power plays.
In fact, while T20 cricket remains a relative strength for the West Indies, Deitz acknowledged the need for a more consistent approach in the 50-over format.
“We lost nine for 80 in the three power plays over three matches. The Indian fast bowlers really had an edge on our opening batters, and our opening bowlers didn’t penetrate their opening batters. That’s probably the telling part of the series,” the Australian stated.
“We’ve only played six ODI matches in about 14 months, and that really showed in India. Our T20 game is pretty good, but we played pretty poorly in ODI cricket. Hayley Matthews
Spotlight on Kohli, Jadeja and Rahul ahead of next Ranji Fixtures
ALL eyes are on Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul ahead of the next round of the Ranji fixtures, which start on January 23 across cities. Saurashtra Cricket Association, Delhi District Cricket Association and Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) have said they are waiting to hear from their respective internationals.
Jadeja had delayed his departure from Australia after the recent BGT series. He had stayed back in Australia after the series to spend time with family. However, he is understood to have returned home and there is a hope that he would play the next Ranji match. “There are chances but at this stage we have not heard from him yet,” said an SCA official. Saurashtra play Delhi in Rajkot. Almost similar was the response from DDCA and KSCA officials. “We will announce the squad tomorrow (Friday) and as of now we have not heard from Virat,” Ashok Sharma, the DDCA secretary, said. It is likely that Kohli, who has not played a Ranji game in 12 years, will join the Delhi team in Rajkot and train with the team even if he were not to play in the
match. With Pant having confirmed participation in the next round fixture against Saurashtra, he is a strong candidate to be anointed captain of the Delhi side. And should Kohli and Jadeja eventually feature in the game, the Saurashtra-Delhi fixture in Rajkot could be one of the most high-profile domestic fixtures in recent times.
Raghuram Bhat, the president of KSCA, said the association has no knowledge of Rahul’s participation. Karnataka play Punjab at home in Bengaluru. As has already been reported, Shubman Gill has agreed to play for Punjab versus Karnataka. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma is yet to confirm his availability for Mum-
bai’s next game, against Jammu and Kashmir, which is scheduled to be played at the Wankhede. He has practised with the Mumbai team though. He is expected to inform his availability to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) in a day or two. Yashasvi Jaiswal, as is known, has made himself available for the January 23-26 fixture.
Though there is no official word, it is understood that the BCCI has asked all the internationals to play domestic fixtures, something the new head coach Gautam Gambhir has been fervently advocating. A new BCCI policy document states this unequivocally. “Participation in Do -
made 100, but there weren’t too many positives, and ODI is what the next World Cup is about, so we’re switching our focus to that now,” he added.
Looking ahead, Deitz underscored the importance of balancing immediate improvements with broader developmental goals as he reiterated the need for consistency across formats.
When asked about the possibility of incorporating more Test cricket into the women’s programme, Deitz acknowledged the challenges
mestic Matches is mandatory for players to remain eligible for selection in the national team and for central contracts, as per BCCI guidelines. This policy ensures that players remain connected to the domestic cricket ecosystem, fostering talent development, maintaining match fitness, and strengthening the overall domestic structure. It also inspires emerging players by providing them opportunities to compete alongside top cricketers, ensuring continuity in talent progression,” the newly-formulated policy says, adding that exceptions to this mandate will be considered only under extraordinary circumstances and only with the approval of the Chairman of the Selection Committee. However, it looks bizarre that international stars like Pant and Jaiswal are having to play in domestic matches after being rested for the Twenty20 Internationals against England. The five-match series starts on January 22, a day before the start of the Ranji fixtures. (Cricbuzz)
of resource allocation in a format that remains sporadic at the international level.
“ It’s quite difficult in the women’s game, and we only have maybe one Test a year or one every two years, so I think women’s cricket, the white ball cricket’s always going to dominate the planning, the long-term planning and strategy, and you just sort of got to have a good programme leading up to each Test match,” Deitz reasoned.
DCB name strong Demerara squad to compete in GCB Inter-County 50-Over tournament
Following a highly competitive Inter-Association Under-15 competition last November, the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) has named a strong Demerara squad to compete in the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board’s Inter-County 50-Over tournament.
The squad will be led by left-arm spinner Brandon Henry, who was at the helm of Georgetown who played unbeaten to win the Inter-Association title.
SQUAD: Brandon Henry (Captain), Patrice Fraser (Vice-Captain), Khush Seegobin, Lomar Seecharran, Nathan Bishop, Reyaz Latif, Makai Dowlin, Shahid Ramzan, Vinesh Kalpoo, Akeem Persaud, Afraz Khan, Joshua Bollers, Joshua Collette and Thierry Davis.
The DCB selectors have also named five stand-by players: Jermaine Grovesnor, Somesh Boyer, Sourav Persaud, Joshua Williams and Mickel Johnson.
Additionally, the DCB has put forward five players to be considered for the Select XI squad for the Inter-County tournament.
They are Satindra Shiwdarsan, Jasani Craig, Junia Dindyal, Jagdesh Kalpoo and Iaish Anderson.
In preparation for the Inter-County competition, the Demerara team will face an East Coast Under-17 squad on Sunday (January 19) at the LBI ground, East Coast Demerara, starting at 09:30h. The East Coast XI will come
The DCB said in a release:
“This match will serve as an excellent platform for these young players to showcase their talent and sharpen their skills ahead of a very tough assignment.”
“This encounter is poised to deliver an exciting game as the East Coast U-17 team brings experience and talent, while the Demerara U-15 squad aims to rise to the challenge. Cricket fans are invited to witness this display of skill that will be on show by these young men.”
West Indies Women’s Head Coach Shane Deitz
from: Arun Gainda (Captain), Marcel Nandu (Vice-captain), Munesh Outar, Nicholas Simon, Johnathan Vieira, Yannick Newton, Ruel Dindyal, Nicholas Boyer, Satindra Shiwdarsan, Nicholas Rukhdeo, Tyrell King, Antonio Chan, Navindra Isurdeen, Kyle Gibson, Akeem Persaud and Devendra Ramkarran.
Brandon Henry
India batter KL Rahul India batter Virat Kohli
Ramsammy’s 75 highlights the second day of practice match
CPL 2024 viewership breaks records, exceeds one billion
GROS ISLET, St Lucia, (CMC) – For the first time in its history, the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has surpassed the billion-viewership mark, combining digital and broadcast platforms. The total audience for the 2024 tournament reached an astounding 1.13 billion, a remarkable 32% increase from 2023.
This surge in viewership was fueled by growth across key markets such as India, the Caribbean, and the United States, as well as a significant uptick in CPL’s social media engagement These numbers have solidi-
fied the CPL’s status as one of the most-watched cricket tournaments globally.
The CPL reached audiences worldwide through premier broadcast partnerships in regions including the Caribbean, India, the Middle East, the UK, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Additionally, the tournament was streamed live on CPL’s YouTube and Facebook channels, providing access to fans in all other territories.
The 2024 edition featured 34 matches played across six host nations. Antigua, Barbados, Guyana , St. Kitts, Saint Lucia, and
Trinidad. The Saint Lucia Kings triumphed in the final, clinching their first-ever CPL title at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence.
Pete Russell, CEO of CPL, expressed his excitement about the growth.
“This milestone is a monumental achievement for the CPL. Crossing the one-billion-viewership mark has been a long-standing goal, and reaching 1.13 billion demonstrates the immense appeal of the league across the Caribbean and worldwide. We’re thrilled with this growth and are eager to build on this momentum for even greater success in 2025 and beyond.”
Zynul Ramsammy scored 75 at Providence yesterday
Kemol Savory celebrates his fifty before running out of partners to an unbeaten 76 yesterday
Guyana Amazon Warriors celebrate victory during the Men’s 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League match between Antigua & Barbuda Falcons and Guyana Amazon Warriors at Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground on August 30, 2024 in Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda. (Photo by Ashley Allen – CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images)