Thousands of persons to access more jobs, opportunities
…as $12.7 billion budgeted to expand Community Enhancement Workers Programme, the National Pathway Workers project
By Trina Williams
More job opportunities are set to be created, especially for women, as the government has budgeted $12.7 billion, this year, to continue both the Community Enhancement Workers Programme and the National Pathway Workers Project.
This was announced by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh, when he presented Budget 2025 in the National Assembly, on Friday.
Notably, earlier this month, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag announced that over 15,283 part-time workers are now employed under its National Pathway Workers Project, which was implemented by
the Office of the Vice President in 2022.
The initiative began with 10,750 workers and has seen a significant increase in participation. The Minister highlighted that the programme has grown by nearly 50 per cent in fewer than two years, reflecting its effectiveness and the central government’s robust support.
Notably, women make up the majority of the workforce in this initiative.
Of the 15,283 workers, 11,457 are women, accounting for an impressive 75 per cent of the workforce. “This achievement underscores the government’s commitment not only to bolstering local earning capacity, but also to empowering women to earn meaningfully and contribute to the nation’s development,” Minister Parag emphasised. Among those employed, she
said that 2,558 are from the hinterland regions, including Regions One, Seven, and Nine.
According to the Minister, this highlights the inclusivity of the programme.
These part-time workers assist government agencies in various roles, working 10 days per month and earning a monthly salary of $40,000.
She explained: “To put this into perspective, 15,283 individuals earning $40,000 monthly for 10 days of work translates to a staggering $611 million being channelled into 15,283 households across the country each month.”
The Minister hinted at new opportunities for training and upskilling workers, ensuring they are equipped for more advanced roles in the public sector in the future.
“When we commenced
the Pathway Programme, it was for several reasons. We were ensuring that we met our manifesto promise of job creation. Those persons who are employed under the Pathway Programme are persons who were previously unemployed. We wanted to ensure that most households can have another person employed and earn an income,” she noted.
Regarding the Community Enhancement Workers Programme, Minister Parag noted that approximately 2,465 individuals are cur-
rently employed, contributing to the nation’s beautification and transformation.
These workers also receive a monthly salary of $40,000, totalling $1.183 billion in 2024. The National Pathway Workers Project and the Community Enhancement Project aim to address unemployment and improve the standard of living in communities. Workers under the programme are involved in a range of activities, from maintaining community spaces to supporting local government initiatives.
The initiative has been well received by citizens, with many lauding the government’s proactive approach to job creation. Since the government assumed office in 2020, over 50,000 people have gained employment. Achieving this milestone ahead of schedule represents a significant accomplishment for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), fulfilling its 2020-2025 manifesto promise to create 50,000 new jobs by the end of its first term.
Gov’t invests over $301 million to develop agriculture infrastructure in Region 5
Guyana continues to make significant strides toward achieving national food security, with substantial investments in one of its key agricultural hubs, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice). The Government of Guyana has committed over $301 million to critical infrastructure projects in the region.
On Saturday, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha inaugurated two major initiatives: the $191 million Trafalgar Pump Station and the $110 million upgraded Three-Door Koker Landing Site. These projects are vital elements of the government's post-budget
2025 strategy, aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, improving livelihoods, and solidifying Guyana's role as the breadbasket of the Caribbean.
The newly constructed Trafalgar Pump Station is set to revolutionize agriculture in Region Five. With its stateof-the-art design, the station will provide vital drainage for approximately 13,000 acres of land, including rice fields and livestock pastures—cornerstones of the region’s vibrant agricultural economy.
Equipped with four electrically driven pumps—two 150-cusec and two 200-cusec— the station has a total drainage
capacity of 200 cusecs (cubic feet per second), equivalent to 89,766 gallons per minute. This capacity will offer significant relief to the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary (MMA) scheme and surrounding areas, mitigating the impacts of flooding and supporting sustained agricultural output.
Minister Mustapha emphasised the transformational impact of the project, stating, “This project symbolizes the PPP Civic Government's commitment to the farmers and communities who rely heavily on a well-functioning drainage and irrigation system for their livelihood.” He added, “We
are building a comprehensive drainage system to support our agriculture sector and ensure that Region No. 5 remains the livestock capital of the Caribbean.”
At the Three Door Koker Landing Site on the West Coast Berbice, the government invested $110,031,773 to upgrade facilities, including a wharf and shed. These enhancements are part of the Fisheries Landing Site Enhancement Project, a nationwide initiative to improve working conditions for fisherfolk.
Minister Mustapha noted that since 2023, over $300 million has been allocated to
upgrade more than 100 landing sites across the country. These upgrades include washroom facilities, sheds, wharves, solar lighting, ramps, and office buildings. In 2024, another $300 million was invested in similar projects across Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, benefiting more than 300 individuals.
“The government has recognized the importance of fisherfolk and actively prioritized providing improved working conditions,” Minister Mustapha said. For 2025, an additional $1.3 billion has been allocated to further expand and develop this subsector, underscoring the administration’s commit-
ment to supporting the fishing industry.
With $104.6 billion allocated to the agricultural sector in Budget 2025, including $73.2 billion for upgrades to the national drainage and irrigation network, the government continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to agriculture. These investments aim to secure the livelihoods of farmers and fisherfolk, ensuring that Guyana remains a leader in regional food security while improving the daily lives of those who contribute to the nation’s agricultural strength.
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha
The enhanced shed at the Three Door Koker Landing Site, designed to benefit fisherfolk in West Coast Berbice
Minister Mustapha meets with farmers and fisherfolk, discussing the positive impact of the new projects
Budget 2025: $18.9 billion set aside to strengthen constitutional bodies
By Feona Morrison
The PPP/C government has reaffirmed its commitment to good governance with specific emphasis on issues that relate to the inclusion, transparency, accountability of public officials and integrity.
During his presentation of the 2025 budget on Friday, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh stated: “Our government is committed to practising good governance on behalf of all
Guyanese People.”
He stated that this will be achieved through “inclusion, participation, transparency and accountability in accordance with the Constitution; protecting the separation of powers; ensuring the effective functioning of constitutional bodies; building
functioning of constitutional bodies, which are integral to oversight and transparency.”
Since the PPP/C returned to office in August 2020, Dr Singh pointed out that several key commissions, including the Guyana Elections Commission, the Ethnic Relations Commission, the Rights Commissions, the Public Procurement Commission, and the Judicial Service Commission, have been reconstituted and supported with substantial funding, to advance their mandates.
“In 2025, $18.9 billion is budgeted to further enhance their capacity for greater accountability. Mr. Speaker, the Integrity Commission continues to receive strong support to enforce the Integrity Commission Act, while work commenced on drafting revisions aimed at improving reporting mechanisms and penalties for non-compliance,” he told the House.
a responsive bureaucracy, and; providing resources to transform the daily lives of people and upholding the integrity of public officials.”
Moreover, he highlighted the government's dedication to ensuring the effective
In this regard, the sum of $112.5 million is allocated for the Integrity Commission in 2025.
The Minister further noted that the 21-member Constitutional Reform Commission, established in 2022,
is continuing its efforts to review and propose amendments to the Constitution to align with the nation’s evolving governance needs. To support this work, $218.9 million has been allocated for 2025. Dr. Singh also noted Guyana's proactive engagement in international anti-corruption and human rights initiatives. “In 2024, Guyana was reviewed in the 6th cycle of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption and by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council on the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights. Guyana also joined the Regional Platform to Fast-Track the Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption in the Caribbean and, by extension, globally.”
In 2024, he said Guyana gained regional attention for hosting the Annual Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Conference and introducing the International Human Rights Certificate Programme. Dr Singh said: “These initiatives, spearheaded by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, are the first of their kind in the Caribbean and underscore the government’s commitment to strengthening awareness and participation in human rights and anti-corruption efforts.” Building on these initiatives in 2025, Minister Singh affirmed, "we aim to build on these initiatives to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to fostering transparency, accountability, and good governance for the benefit of all Guyanese.” The 2025 Budget reflects the PPP/C government's strategic vision of strengthening institutions, empowering constitutional bodies, and enhancing mechanisms to uphold democratic values, benefiting the entire nation.
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh
40 three-bedroom houses in Region Seven almost completed
The construction of 40 three-bedroom flat houses at the Five Miles Housing Scheme in Bartica, Region Seven is on track for completion within the first quarter of the year.
Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, inspected the works at the housing scheme on Saturday. The homes, designed in two styles—bungalow and V-roof—are being built by four Region Seven-based contractors.
Minister Croal expressed satisfaction with the progress, stating, “I’m pleased with the rate of construction that is happening […] the majority of the houses passed 50% completion.”
He noted the ministry has a list of interested persons and will engage them within the next two weeks for pre-qualification and allocations. The V-roof houses are priced at $11 million each, while the bungalow-style homes cost $13 million. In total, the government is investing approximately $490 million in the construction of these homes.
Minister Croal explained that the higher cost of the homes in Bartica compared to similar projects on the coast is due to logistical challenges and tendered pricing from contractors. The ministry had to re-tender the project to ensure more competitive pricing after initial proposals were too high.
The area is an extension of the Bartica scheme and consists of 119 lots, with 57 allocated for the construction of homes and the remainder are land allocations. Additionally, $1.1 billion is being spent on infrastructure works for the housing scheme, including road construction, pipe installation and drainage networks. The drains are concrete, as it is more suitable for the sandy soil in the area to avoid siltation.
Minister Croal announced that the ministry is in discussions with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission to acquire additional lands to address the backlog of close to 1,000 applicants in Region Seven. He further revealed plans to host another ‘Dream Realised’ Housing Drive in the region this year to clear the backlog.
“This government’s interest is to ensure that we bring development and changes to the people as quickly as possi-
ble,” he emphasised.
Minister Croal further stated that the coalition administration did not make any attempts to develop the Five Miles scheme during their 2015-2020 tenure. He said that housing is crucial to improving the lives of Guyanese and that all PPP/C Administrations will
continue to keep their promises by ensuring more Guyanese attain homeownership.
One of the contractors, Mr. Oric Obermuller of Empire Mining Inc., shared his enthusiasm about the project. His company is currently employing approximately 45 individuals, including Barti -
cians, to carry out construction and infrastructure works. He highlighted the significant opportunities the project has created for young people in the area and expressed pride in contributing to the region’s development.
Minister Croal was accompanied by Regional officials
and a technical team from the Central Housing and Planning Authority and Guyana Water Inc. during the visit. The Five Miles Housing Scheme marks another step in the government’s commitment to providing quality, affordable housing and fostering economic growth in Region Seven.
Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, regional officials, and engineers inspected ongoing works in Region Seven
One of the contractors, Mr. Oric Obermuller of Empire Mining Inc (Ministry of Housing photos)
An Opposition Dilemma
The presentation of the 2025 Budget Estimates in the National Assembly by Senior Minister of Finance in the Office of the President Dr. Ashni Singh has placed the political opposition in a serious dilemma. It is clear that much thought was put into the budget at the preparatory stages involving a wide range of stakeholders which has left little, if any room for opposition criticism.
Given, however, that this is an election year, the political opposition will no doubt seek to find ways to attack the budget even if it has to scrape deep down in the barrel of lies, half-truths and misinformation. PNC/R Leader Aubrey
Norton in a post-presentation speech, while acknowledging that the budget envelope is big, already sought to pour 'cold water' on it by asserting that there is 'little for the people'.
This assertion rings hollow in the face of the pro-people character of the budget and the huge sums of money allocated to enhance the standard of living of ordinary people, in particular low-income families and the more vulnerable groups including pensioners.
What the Finance Minister took pains to highlight is the litany of unfulfilled promises made by the previous APNU+AFC administration during its tenure in government, which it
has to be said, was illegally and unconstitutionally extended by nearly two years. The Granger administration, as is popular knowledge, was removed from office by way of a successful no-confidence motion but it stubbornly refused to demit office by way of constitutional and legal subterfuge
Comparing the performances of the APNU+AFC regime to that of the PPP/C is like comparing 'chalk to cheese.' Unlike the previous administration, the PPP/C administration has fulfilled all of its manifesto promises to the electorate and has, in fact, surpassed several of the targets it set during its tenure so far. This is especially evident in
such areas as employment creation, house lot allocations and salary increase for public sector employees. For the first time in over a decade, multi-year agreements were signed by unions representing workers in the public sector and also in the sugar industry.
The 2025 Budget presentation has unmasked, wittingly or unwittingly, the utter bankruptcy of the APNU+AFC in terms of its credibility as a political entity and its capacity to govern in the best interest of the Guyanese people. Its plethora of new taxes and the elimination of subsidies on electricity and water for pensioners will no doubt leave a lasting stain on its legacy as a party
which purportedly claims to have the people's interest at heart.
What it boils down to in the final analysis is the question of trust between citizens and their elected leaders. This is especially so as the country heads into another General and Regional elections due later in the year. If the performance of the APNU+AFC during its previous term in office is anything to go by, it has an uphill task to convince the Guyanese people that it can be taken seriously regarding new promises. As our experience has demonstrated, it is easy to make promises but fulfilling those promises remains the acid test of effective governance.
The PPP/C administration has demonstrated that it has the capacity to deliver on its promises as the recent budget presentation so eloquently demonstrated. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the political opposition which continues to make promises that it knows it will be unable to fulfill. The proof of the pudding, it is said, is in the eating. Both the APNU and the AFC have failed miserably to deliver the social and economic goods they promised to the people of Guyana.
Meanwhile, Guyanese are looking forward to a good debate in Parliament on the budget presentation which will commence shortly.
Gov’t pushing for review of outdated parliamentary rules
In order to ensure there are fair and factual discussions in the National Assembly, the government has called for a review and update to address outdated language within the House.
On the sidelines of the 2025 budget presentation on Friday, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira explained the origin of unparliamentary words, which were taken from the British House of Commons.
She said that these words were taken before Guyana became independent.
She explained, “Many of those words we don't use…some of us, espe -
cially the younger generation haven't got a clue what those words are.”
The Minister’s response came at a time when Opposition Parliamentarian Amanza Walton-Desir questioned the ban on using certain words in the National Assembly, specifically “corruption.”
The Minister said while she understands you cannot accuse one of being “corrupt,” the concept, itself, should not be banned.
Using her portfolio to explain why, Teixeira said that many times when she is addressing anti-corruption measures, she is told she is “out of order,” despite these discussions
being crucial.
This is why the government is calling for a review of the rules. The Minister’s call to reassess the parliamentary language rules parallels the recent 2024 update to the parliamentary dress code, which she said was also outdated.
“We will have to go back and bring it back more formally onto the agenda of the parliamentary management committee. It's not just the word corruption, it's all the other words. You know, some of them are kind of strange for us now.”
With Guyana undergoing a rapid transformation in all spheres, the Minister said that a review of the
rules is important.
Also, on Friday, before the budget was read, Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir issued a strong warning to Parliamentarians regarding the use of prohibited words and phrases during parliamentary sessions.
“I have again circulated to everyone words and phrases which have not been allowed in our Parliament,” he said.
The Speaker then stated: “I can safely say, I came in 1992, first elected to this House and met these words,” while firmly stating that he would enforce it for both the government’s side and the opposition’s own.
Grand Opposition Coalition
THE main opposition party, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) is gearing up to announce another ‘grand’ coalition party to contest the polls slated for this year.
The PNCR, operating clandestinely, has managed so far to keep most of its operations quiet and out of the public limelight, only giving the media bits and crumbs of information in the form of press releases and photo ‘ops’. It has been hosting its media conferences and social media programmes weekly to keep the so-called ‘pressure’ up on the alleged governance blunders of the ruling party, while continuing to hide its hand of political cards that have to do with the grand coalition it is seeking to form.
The PNCR is also trying to hide the internal rifts and problems that it is facing daily. It knows that if these problems get into the mainstream media, they would affect the party’s chances of forming a broad opposition coalition. Apart from that, it can shatter its supporters’ confidence levels in the party and its ability to win the upcoming elections.
The truth is that the PNCR is not fooling anyone who understands its history in politics, and who understands elections in Guyana. The party is neither smart nor politically intelligent as to the way it is going about this idea of forming a grand coalition. It is panicking, desperate, and showing all of its political cards with all of this secrecy, forced meetings, PR stunts, and photo ‘ops’. The public could see behind the façade of opposition unity that the PNCR is holding up. The public already knows that the PNCR is having serious problems with getting the opposition stakeholders to trust it with power again.
Its behaviour during the APNU+AFC coalition was shameful on many levels because it disrespected, undermined, and sidelined its partners. Its history with the formation of alliances in Guyana from the United Force Party (TUF) in the 1960s to the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance
For Change (AFC) is replete with truthful stories and tales of deception and highhandedness that ultimately led to its dissolution, or partners walking away.
Firstly, the PNCR is a major party showing worrying signs of decline. Nobody wants to play with it; nobody wants to lose with it because nobody will trust it. Unless the party changes its ways and modus operandi, it will always struggle with coalition politics in Guyana. Its experiment with the TUF, APNU, and AFC was close but failed. It will keep trying and fail to broker a healthy relationship with other opposition parties in Guyana because of its lack of conflict resolution skills and desire to always dominate the leadership of this grand coalition.
This is why the party is having problems with the AFC. Its current leader, Aubrey Norton will not allow the AFC or any other political or non-political personality to lead. While there is a wealth of reasons to support Norton’s position, the PNCR will never learn the art of contentment, trust, leadership, coalitions and negotiation. The PNCR does not care about the people and their needs; it cares about itself. It puts self-preservation and ego above the people that support the party and coalition.
That is why nobody will play at this point, and so it seems determined that opposition parties must play by the PNCR rules or not play at all.
Secondly, this show of unity and strength by the PNCR is really showing the extent to which the opposition parties are isolating and hurting it. The fact that PNCR has to be engaged with these smaller parties is pathetic and unfortunate.
The leader has allowed a serious party that has a strong constituent to meet and lock hands with these fly-by-night and one-man paper parties publicly under the guise of the PNCR searching and forming a grand coalition. It is disgraceful. These parties do not have a base or constituent. Most Guyanese have never heard of their activism on either the political or so-
cial front. And, they do not have any idea about politics and policies but Norton feels comfortable to brandish them in public, boosting their oneoff claim to fame while the PNCR name slides into the gutter. Not attacking the size of the political parties, but where did they come from, represent, or stand for?
This is not real. A responsible PNCR would keep its meetings with these smaller and weaker political entities away from the media and public, if not hidden. This is not a broad and grand coalition; this is a coalition of nothingness. They offer nothing but making up numbers.
Despite this, the PNCR wants to trick and distract the public from its avoidance of dealing with the tougher problem of facing the AFC. A meeting is planned for later this month to review its partnership and alliance, according to sources.
The meeting will occur closer to the Valentine’s Day accord signed originally in 2015 and renegotiated in March 2020. If all goes as the PNCR plans, there will be a new accord with the AFC in time for the 2025 elections. This will be the real icing on its cake, and the grand coalition will be formed, but who will lead?
Thirdly, Norton insists that the PNCR which he leads is unified and strong. Never
mind he had to rig an entire party congress and wash; no, dashed all of his adversaries from the PNCR Executive and Central Committee. He has been busy fixing this badly fractured party, which knows who it wants to lead it.
It keeps throwing Norton out, because Norton’s wild and dangerous ideas, and obsession with the presidency but he, like PNCR keeps reinventing himself and has capitalised on a period of weakness to get back into the party’s leadership. And this time, he has his knees on the throat of the PNCR and will not lose it.
That aside before the PNCR thinks about forming a grand coalition, it should seek to resolve the issues internally first. There are too many cracks, factions and disunity that cause the opposition party to appear on the decline. Forbes Burnham’s party is not itself. The wind of change is engulfing the party but it is being suppressed and held down by Norton and his minions.
Where is this dynamic political party that used to be the PNCR? Where is the unity, comradery, and love that could see it mount a formidable challenge to the ruling party for governance? Norton must not be satisfied with just saying that the PNCR is unified. He must know that it is. He must have a conviction
that, for example, Roysdale Forde, Amanza Desir, David Granger, Volda Lawrence and other factions are unified not just for elections but in the party.
They must be ostracized from the leadership of the party because of their differing opinions about the way the PNCR is handling matters both internally and externally. They must be included and given their seat at the table before the PNCR looks at joining the grand coalition. Handle matters at home before handling matters outside and in the country.
Finally, if the PNCR wants to be taken seriously, it must act like a major party in politics. It must be mature and handle the business of coalition politics with honesty, integrity, accountability and transparency. It must also have respect if it wants to be respected. Trust, good faith and understanding are the cornerstone of coalition politics.
These politicians must have good conflict resolution skills or they would die a hard death. The PNCR must change its crookish, devilish and power-hungry ways for this grand coalition to really matter in the political scene. It managed to achieve power once but had no tools to maintain the power. Accountability means accepting that PNCR failed badly in handling the coalition and failed the coun-
try as a result. Transparency means, in this case, accepting the many blunders in government that cheated Guyanese out of millions and five years of what could have been the beginning of “the golden years” of the country.
Both mean accepting that the PNCR rigged elections in past and attempted to rig elections in 2020, offering Guyanese and all would-be coalition partners an apology. Then, the AFC must apologize for its role in the process before any serious attempt again at forming this grand coalition.
But that will not happen. It’s anyone’s guess why. Ego and pride. Desperation will turn men into mice, and Saints into devils. Silly season? This season will turn men into something that they are not. They will sell the souls to the highest bidder for a chance at power and wealth. Trust and believe it when the PNCR, APNU and AFC form their grand coalition or PNCR, WPA and other small non-entities. Knowing that history is cyclical, Guyanese cannot afford to be duped three times.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.
The other side of Guyana’s civilisation
BY now most Guyanese would know that I am no spring chicken. I have been active in social activism and media commentary for decades and decades now. I started in politics as a PPP polling agent in 1968 and I have chalked up 36 consecutive years in the newspaper business and 26 consecutive years as a UG lecturer.
Against that backdrop, I know Guyana and its contents. I am a lucky man. When you grow up in poverty in a low-income area, you acquire street sense. When you combine street sense with intellectual capacity it equips you to detect, in very astute and subtle ways, the nuances of the substance of Homo sapiens.
I know the players of this country and I will write the words to follow this line over and over. A large number of people in politics, civil society, the media and in academia who have been criticis-
ing the Government of Guyana since Dr. Ali presidency was born in August 2020 are morally unacceptable people who are far more deficient in moral character than the governmental actors they criticise.
These people are far more narrow-minded, snobbish, vindictive, racially driven, selfish, uncaring and inhuman than all of the major political players in the PPP leadership. I am getting on in life but once I have a finger (I type with one finger), and a keyboard I will write about them.
And how do I know about these people? Because of 26 consecutive years teaching at UG, 57 years in active politics and 36 years in journalism. This experience has shown me the true colours of people, (using colour in both senses of the word).
We hear the incessant criticism of government ministers being vindictive, narrow-minded, unaccountable, incestuous, self-opinionated
and narcissistic. We never hear about those traits in many figures in many leading organisations. Vindictiveness, narrow-mindedness and self-opinionated traits, incestuousness are children’s playthings when compared to the deeply embedded instincts of psychological autocracy in many civil society persons, the media and among status-laden players.
If I go the route of this column that I would like to, trust me the libel writs will be in the dozens. It is the reason why I cannot do an exposé of these people in my memoir. Guyana will acquire a mountain of knowledge if I should write my memoir. Do you know the vast information someone has that has been around for over 57 years?
I find it both amusing and agonising when I pick up the newspapers or read on social media that government must consult the people, government lacks accountability, govern-
ment is discriminatory. I know these people; they have no moral authority to judge any member of the Government of Guyana.
I am the first to admit that ministers and PPP party officials are not without their faults. But don’t tell me about those people when you are worse humans than they are. There are dark dimensions to the people and organisations that have been on a rampage against this government since the inauguration of President Ali in August 2020.
I am unambiguous about the societal compartments I am dealing with here; I am not writing about the opposition parties only. I am referring to wellknown personalities in the middle class, civil society and the media. There are innocent souls out there who can be fooled by these constant sermons of these people.
These flawed humans have absolutely no right to criticise governance in Guyana today when they do not know what moral and legal obligations are. You enumerate the degenerate minds of these people and you analyse each flaw in their make-up and immediately you would run to the ballot box and put your X in favour of the PPP.
What are some of the psychological contortions of these people? The list includes middle-class racism and middle-class snobbery; multi-dimensional exploitation of other humans; barefaced lack of accountability in their public and personal lives; and moral double standards; I could go on but I think I have made my point.
The thrust of this column here is about sections of this society that are opposed to the government but are far more flawed humans
than the people with power that they criticise and I guess curious readers would like me to elaborate. I cannot because of the accusations of their moral turpitude.
It is simple to understand. If I cite an organisation or a newspaper, then those persons that belong to the entities can say that by extension I have accused them of immoral makeup. So, I cannot go into names. But this I will ask readers. Just ignore these huge hypocrites and their pretentious vocabulary about poor governance in Guyana. They should be the last to judge others.
D ISCLAIM -
ER: 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.
Why does Guyana honour the Stabroek Block petroleum agreement?
EXXONMOBIL’S 2016
Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with the Guyana government has been the recent subject of intense public discourse. Critics argue that the government should renegotiate the contract to secure better fiscal terms for the country. However, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government has consistently maintained that the PSA is not up for renegotiation, primarily due to the agreement’s stability clause and the importance of honouring contract sanctity. They have, however, acknowledged that the government of the day in 2016 could have achieved more favourable terms for the country.
At the heart of the current administration’s stance is Article 32 of the Stabroek Block PSA, known as the stability clause. It explicitly prevents the government from unilaterally changing the contract’s terms. It stipulates that any alteration of the agreement or imposition of new petroleum-related fiscal obligations requires the consent of the oil companies involved, namely ExxonMobil, Hess, and CNOOC. Should Guyana’s tax laws change in a way that materially harms the companies’ economic benefits, the government must compensate them or exempt them from the change. This ensures investors are protected and it is a crucial factor in high-risk, high-capital ventures as are common in this industry.
The consequences of disregarding this clause would be profound. First, unilateral action would jeopardise investments worth more than US$50 billion. That is the amount the Stabroek Block group has committed to spend on development projects off-
shore that will deliver billions of dollars to Guyana’s Natural Resource Fund (NRF). There is no precedent for this level of investment in Guyana’s history. Second, unilateral action would erode the trust of prospective investors who might be deterred by the possibility that contracts could be revised at the government’s whim. Guyana’s growing energy sector depends on external financing and expertise, so preserving confidence is essential to keep the economic momentum of the oil sector and the country.
Despite the dissatisfaction some feel regarding the 2016 terms, the government has wisely chosen to improve contract administration rather than risk undermining investor confidence. It has introduced a new model PSA for future contracts and existing contracts for blocks outside of Stabroek. These updated terms significantly increase government take by raising the royalty rate from 2% to 10%, reducing the cost recovery ceiling from 75% to 65%, and instituting a 10% corporate tax. While these terms do not apply to the Stabroek Block, they will be implemented in future offshore blocks, ensuring that those agreements reflect Guyana’s maturation as an oil and gas jurisdiction.
It is vital to recognise that direct revenue is not the only channel through which Guyana benefits from the oil industry. One prominent example is the Gas-to-Energy project, a partnership involving ExxonMobil, Hess, CNOOC, and the Government of Guyana. This project aims to bring natural gas to shore for power generation, and is expected to cut electricity costs by 50% and reduce emissions. The resulting cheaper energy will incentivise manufacturing, technology, and
other industrial sectors, when the project is commissioned this year.
Another major benefit stems from the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI), a US$100 million capacity-building programme launched by ExxonMobil and its partners. This effort supports entrepreneurship while investing in sports, training, and sustainable development projects. A centerpiece of the Stabroek Block group’s capacity-building efforts is the Guyana Technical Training College Incorporated in Berbice, where a US$13 million facility simulator (FacTor) was commissioned in 2024 to train local workers for well-paying jobs on floating production, storage, and offloading vessels. Further, a multi-purpose facility in Berbice, backed by a US$17.7 million contribution from the Stabroek Block co-venturers, is set to host thousands of spectators for sporting events and concerts.
Local content development is another advantage, ensuring that Guyanese businesses and workers actively participate in the sector. More than 6,000 Guyanese have found employment in the industry, and local companies are earning hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars annually by providing goods and services to oil operators.
By respecting the sanctity
of the Stabroek Block PSA, Guyana maintains investor confidence while reaping social and economic benefit.
Honouring the 2016 PSA sends a message that the nation is a reliable partner. Meanwhile, new contracts will incorporate improved terms to secure even greater benefits, in hopes of more discoveries.
I vote yes to ‘A secure, prosperous and sustainable Guyana’
EPIC. Stunning, sweeping in scope and depth, something in it for everyone. I am not talking about Mufasa, the new Lion King movie. I am referring to Dr. Ashni Singh’s remarkable five-hour budget speech in the National Assembly two days ago. It was refreshingly brilliant on so many levels and for a mountain of reasons.
When the next generation of Guyanese comes along, perhaps, they can use Dr. Singh’s speech to critically analyse the nature of a dynamic social contract, the kind that the founding fathers of western political philosophy spent most of their academic lives theorising about. Social contracts, whether they’re called a campaign manifesto or an election platform, are the bedrock of vibrant democracies.
The theme of Budget 2025 is bang on - “A Se -
cure, Prosperous and Sustainable Guyana.” We need to see these themes as moving points on a scale that measures social, economic and political impact rather than fixed line items in a budget. Those who discredit themselves by choosing to see only the latter are deliberately and consciously distorting a compelling political narrative.
To these naysayersthe false contenders and pretenders to power - the brilliant political theorist and Harvard professor, John Rawls, author of the influential “A Theory of Justice,” might be inclined to ask the following question: has the PPP/C expanded the scope of civil liberties for all Guyanese? Liberties such as the right to vote and stand for public office; freedom of speech and assembly, liberty of conscience and freedom of thought; freedom to hold personal property?
The only right answer has to be a resounding yes.
Rawls might also have asked: in the distribution of Guyana’s sovereign wealth has the PPP/C been equitable without favouring a race, religion, gender or place of residence? The only empirically correct answer would have to be yes.
Recognising that some people are born with greater natural advantages or into more favourable social circumstances than others, Rawls argued that these inequalities can be justified and even permitted so long as they contribute to improving the prosperity of a nation. For example, the expenses allocated to train a doctor far outweigh that of training a farmer and yet both are vital to the health and economic well-being of a society. In fulfilling its fundamental obligation to manage and distribute public wealth, the PPP/C did
everything it possibly could in the last years to present every Guyanese with an equal menu of opportunities. That is an indisputable fact.
When compared to political alternatives, whether it's APNU+AFC or the flimsy string of lies that Big Oil’s lawyer, Nigel Hughes and the PNCR’s top boss, Aubrey Norton, are peddling, the least advantaged in our society have no other choice but to admit that they are much better off under the PPP/C administration. In Dr Singh’s reading of Budget 2025, he was compelled to remind his audience repeatedly of the stark differences in vision and purposeful action between his administration and the ineptitude of the Opposition.
Whenever Dr. Singh reminded the people of Guyana about an Opposition that continues to use political chicanery and barefaced lies to score cheap points with the electorate, he was heckled and shouted down in the National Assembly when he should have been applauded.
Dr. Singh began his presentation by stating a now obvious fact that no right-minded Guyanese can afford to forget. He did it on purpose. Five years ago, APNU+AFC orchestrated a brazen heist in broad day-
light to deny the will of the people of Guyana in fair and free elections. Instead of admitting that it was a mistake and apologising to the nation, the lawyer who dreams of being president one day insists on defending those who stand accused of committing fraud.
APNU+AFC has given us a number of budgets between 2015 and 2020 that were cruel and inhumane and based solely on pleasing the interests of the wealthy and powerful in its coalition. Over 200 taxes and fees were imposed on farmers, miners, retailers and consumers that served only to strangle the private sector, draining it of $40 billion annually. Grants and subsidies that would otherwise help the least advantaged cope with a high cost of living were slashed. APNU+AFC took away $1.7 billion of cash grants annually from the parents of school children. They cancelled out $1 billion annually of year-end bonuses from members of the disciplined services.
In every sector, from jobs to health, housing to human welfare, APNU+AFC sent our society and our economy into a tailspin. APNU+AFC complain incessantly about GECOM, hoping that Guyanese would forget that in 2017
they defied the Constitution and discarded 18 nominees put forward by the PPP/C Opposition and unilaterally appointed a chairman of their own choosing.
APNU+AFC refused to respect the results of the No Confidence Motion passed in December 2018. They unlawfully enacted the flawed Natural Resource Fund Act in 2019 without involving the PPP/C. Guyana’s economy did not grow under APNU+AFC, it did poorly even as it was ramping up for first oil. Seven thousand sugar workers were laid off. The bauxite industry crumbled and 600 workers were out of a job. That’s not even the whole story.
Tomorrow, President-elect Donald Trump will return to the most powerful office in the world and the people of Canada, Panama, Mexico and Denmark brace themselves for what is to come. Whatever will unfold, I am relieved that the PPP/C is in office. I vote yes to “A Secure, Prosperous and Sustainable Guyana.”
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.
Street Talk 4Market Rhythm
'MORNIN mummy, wuh ya gettin?' 'Buy two bill shellotte hay mummy', 'Come mummy, buy a shopping bag - two hunnerd dollas', ' De barrel come, get ya leggins, mummy'.
These were the cries of the market vendors as I passed by Water Street one day last week. Laughing inwardly, I thought, 'Well, I made nine children, but it seems I have a lot of adopted offspring.'
It may be a new year, but the market cadence remains the same. Whether humorous or not, vendors continue to call and cajole passers-by to make a purchase.
The walkway under the Stabroek market clock, reduced to single-file foot traffic over the holidays, is now once wider enough to allow cars to pass. Vendors have retreated to their usual positions, a sure sign that life has returned to normal after the business and busyness of the Christmas season.
Still, calls could be heard of 'Happy new year' as sellers and customers greeted each other in this first month of the year. Some would say that it is also part of the market 'vibe' to hear a 'busing out' - a quarrel that seems to have no 'rhyme or reason' - especially if you were not around when it began, which is invariably the case.
And so it was that I suddenly heard voices raised, one overpowering the other, yelling, "You's a crass, I ain know wuh you tellin' me, you's a crass!' Passing by at the same time was a young man humorously saying softly, " We all goin thru it!".
Earlier on the minibus travelling from Golden Grove to town, a young man seated next to me opened his wallet, pulled out a hundred dollar note and asked me in halting English if this was the correct fare to town. I told him 'yes', while the young man on his left asked where he boarded the bus, a question he clearly did not understand, turning to me to explain.
I confirmed that the fare was right as he got on the bus after me and so did not have to pay the $120 charged to Grove passengers.
When I heard a woman speaking in rapid-fire Spanish as I disembarked the bus, it occurred to me that, like my travelling companion, she was also a foreigner, though I could not identify whether she was from Cuba or Venezuela.
Later in the day, my attention was caught by a young man parking his motorcycle by the market square, with his pants slung so low that his underwear was exposed.
Once more I wondered how many, of the multitude affecting
this style locally, know that in the US it is called 'jailing'. Federal prisoners are not allowed to wear belts, considered a potential weapon, so their pants are constantly dropping off their hips.
It struck me that those who were forced into this 'style' would probably be happy when their freedom allowed them to wear
belts and keep their pants up. Such is the irony of life.
Then as I was boarding a mini bus to return home that evening, I heard two men conversing animatedly in what I thought might be Hindi and said to myself, 'Guyana is fast becoming multi-lingual.
Just then a young man offered to help me saying, " Mum-
my leh me hold ya bags fuh ya". After I was seated he then handed me my bags, asking if I was okay - another of my 'sons,' - making me think that chivalry and courtesy are still alive among some of our young men. I smiled and thanked him as I sat back to enjoy my evening journey home.
‘Desperation growing in Opposition camp’
- Dr Jagdeo shuts down race-baiting, divisive tactics, calls out PNC/R for sudden shift to endorse Norton despite internal mudslinging
While branding the Opposition as “desperate,” General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo highlighted their efforts to derail the country’s progress by focusing on peripheral issues and pushing inflammatory politics.
During a press conference on Thursday at Freedom House, the General Secretary discussed the aforementioned issue and the internal divisions within the Opposition that are spilling into public view despite their efforts to project an image of cohesion.
Dr. Jagdeo initially highlighted how the Opposition is resorting to divisive and race-baiting tactics, distracting the public with minor issues to divert attention from more pressing matters.
In response, the General Secretary emphasized that his weekly press conferences
serve not only to reject such tactics but also to refocus the public’s attention on key issues. These include housing, education, healthcare, and more. According to the General Secretary, who also serves as Guyana's Vice President, these sectors, along with others, have seen positive advancements.
While the government remains open to constructive criticism, Dr. Jagdeo, who is also the country’s Vice President, pointed out that some individuals are positioning themselves as above reproach, despite their actions or statements being subject to scrutiny.
“So, we have in this country a lot of nuisance parties without any consequences. They don't lose any money. They just can come up one day and incorporate as a party,” the Vice President said as he criticized the Opposition
for attempting to carry out an ethnic count through their call for a census.
He recalled that from the beginning of his political career, this has always been the Opposition's approach.
Offering insight into their mindset, he explained that the Opposition has consistently believed that, with the alleged
decline in the Indo-Guyanese population, they would secure electoral victory.
“For them, it's just about race. But we have shown over the years that we have won the elections. We won the elections in spite of a declining Indo-Guyanese population. And that’s because of our national politics,” Dr
Jagdeo stated.
The Vice President stated that the governing PPP/C has won elections because of their genuine care for the people of Guyana, despite ongoing efforts to undermine their mission of uniting the country for a better future. He firmly asserted that while the Opposition is once again resorting to race-baiting and divisive tactics to sway the public, these efforts will ultimately fail.
He said, “They're going to be very, very disappointed because in our ranks we have Indo-Guyanese, Afro-Guyanese, Amerindian, Guyanese people of mixed descent, everyone, Portuguese, Chinese. That's how we operate versus the ethnic enclaves that the other parties have become and that's not sustainable.”
The Vice President then said, “Our party won the elections when all the odds were stacked against us in 2020, and it has grown immeasurably since, and we have delivered on our promises.”
While the previous A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration had taken away the “Because We Care” grant and did not make major investments in areas such as infrastructure, Dr Jagdeo said that the PPP/C returned these initiatives and even increased them while going beyond their manifesto promises.
DISJOINTED
Despite their efforts to project a united front, the opposition's attempts to present cohesion are unravelling, given the internal mudslinging, the Vice President noted. He explained that the fractured structure and previous rivalry for control, have left many questions regarding their credibility unanswered as the next election looms.
A recent example of this is Roysdale Forde, a member of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), who told a media outlet that he expects a "united" party heading into the elections.
This statement has raised eyebrows, especially since Forde has previously spoken out about significant electoral ir-
regularities during the party’s internal congress, which led to his decision to withdraw.
As the Vice President pointed out, this sudden shift from conflict to calm serves to downplay the real issues within the party and reduces accountability for the underlying problems.
“So, I mean, this is not like somebody who was critical of them. He was an insider. It's not like somebody who was on the other side and came to a party…This was an insider,” Dr Jagdeo said.
While highlighting other discrepancies, Dr Jagdeo said, “So, when it talked about this so-called unity and there is no major problem, there is a major problem now because this is on record.”
Last year, following weeks of infighting, both Amanza Walton-Desir and Forde, who were in the race to become the next leader of the PNC/R suspended their campaigns, after citing irregularities in the electoral process.
During the congress, several members did not support the leader, Aubrey Norton alleging that he has a mountain of infractions. One of the allegations involved former PNC-R Treasurer Faaiz Mursaline, who claimed that upon assuming the role of elected treasurer, he was instructed to sign blank cheques without any supporting documentation. In November 2022, he signed as many as 20 blank cheques.
When Mursaline requested an audit of the party's finances, he suggested that it be conducted by current party executive member and Member of Parliament, Volda Lawrence. However, this request was rejected by Norton. Additionally, there was the case of Geeta Chandan-Edmond, who was reportedly forced to resign as PNC-R General Secretary. Sources familiar with the situation told the Guyana Chronicle that Chandan-Edmond stepped down after growing frustrations over being unable to fully perform her duties in the role. It was noted that she had "endured" a great deal before ultimately resigning.
PPP General Secretary and Guyana’s Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo
Man wanted for armed robbery arrested in Berbice
THE police on Saturday said that a man who was wanted in connection with an armed robbery was arrested in Berbice.
According to the police, the wanted man, Gregory Rodrigues Best, also known as 'Lil Zip',
a 30-year-old male Labourer from Gibraltar Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was arrested on Friday for robbery under arms.
The arrest was carried out by a team of police officers and ranks during a cordon and search ex-
ercise.
The police said, “It is pertinent to note that Gregory Rodrigues Best was sentenced in absentia to four years imprisonment on 24th November 2024 at the Wales Magistrate Court for causing death
by dangerous driving, an offence committed against Herbert Caesar on 2019/01/28 at Nismes Public Road, West Bank Demerara.”
As such, Best is in custody at Central Police Station, in New Amsterdam, Berbice.
Sophia resident confesses to supermarket robbery
A Sophiam Georgetown resident on Saturday has reportedly confessed on video to robbing a supermarket.
According to the police, the alleged armed robbery occurred on December 18, 2024, at C&H Supermarket. Those robbed are Yuan Qiao Lin, Ren Quan Zhang, Seeta Singh, and Jason Chetram.
The police said that
on January 18, 2025, between 12:28 hrs and 12:47 hrs, a video and audio interview was conducted with suspect Orlando Scott, 27, a construction worker of 'E' Cummings Park, Sophia during which
he was informed of the allegations against him, cautioned in “accordance with the Judge's Rule, and subsequently confessed to committing the crime.”
According to the police, Scott also men-
tioned an accomplice, a male known to him as Jason, who resides in the Soesdyke Linden Highway area. The police are continuing their investigation.
Gregory Best in now in police custody
Orlando Scott has reportedly confessed to armed robbery
Guyana’s drainage and Irrigation system being modernised - Minister Mustapha
By Bebi Oosman
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha has reiterated that the PPP/C government is committed to modernising the country's drainage and irrigation systems, aiming to deliver enhanced drainage services and significant improvements that will benefit people across the nation.
During an interview with members of the state media on Saturday, Minister Mustapha stated, “We are trying to modernise the entire drainage and irrigation system in this country, over the years I think we have made tremendous improvement, we have put in a number of equipment and
he stated that he is also very much aware that the Number 51/Good Hope, Corentyne Area needs some assistance while stressing that they are working closely with the Na-
pump stations across the country, we have rehabilitated and clear hundreds if not thousands of kilometre, rods of canals, drains.”
He added that farmers are now getting easier access to irrigation water despite a prolonged dry spell. However,
tional Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to assist farmers there.
“I know for a fact there is an issue at the 51/Good Hope area and we are trying to address that issue, I have instructed that a pump be taken
there so that we can increase the flow of irrigation water to the farming community in that area,” he said.
As it relates to the improvements within the drainage and irrigation system, the Agriculture Minister proudly highlighted that under the visionary leadership of the PPP/C government, significant strides have been made in the construction and ongoing development of pump stations across the country. These pump stations, he said are a key component of the government’s comprehensive efforts to modernize the drainage and irrigation infrastructure, ensuring more effective management of water resources. This ambitious initiative is designed to not only improve flood control but also enhance agricultural productivity, directly benefiting communities and strengthening the nation’s resilience to climate challenges.
According to the Minister, the PPP/C government remains dedicated to creating lasting improvements that will have a positive impact on residents throughout Guyana. “We are modernising the drainage sys-
tem in our country and whilst we are doing that, we are also rehabilitating a number of sluices to make them more efficient so that we can complement the drainage time in these communities so that we can ease flooding.
“Because there are a number of problems sometimes farmers are experiencing and flooding is one of the more serious problems. Over the years the government had to get funds to get farmers to go back to the fields when we have these floods, so we are trying to modernise these areas, put in all these investments.”
According to Minister Mustapha, under his leadership, the government purchased “hundreds of machinery” to further enhance drainage and irrigation works countrywide. “Various regions now we have fleets of machinery doing jobs with the D&I system.”
Meanwhile, Minister Mustapha also pointed out that last year works commenced on the high-level Hope-like canals in Region Six, two of which are being built and expected to drain thousands of acres of land bringing major relief to farmers, cattle owners and residents in the region.
According to him, similar canals will also be built in Region Five and Three as almost $26B is expected to be expended on the high-level canals. “Also, what this will help us to do is to open up new lands, thousands of acres of new lands will be opened up so that farmers will have more opportunity to go into production.”
He added, “So all these things we are doing and I think this year again we have seen the investment that we will be making in the D&I sector,
Drainage works carried out in various parts of Region Six
$73.2 billion have been allocated for the D&I sector.”
Focusing further on the 2025 budget presented in Parliament on Friday, Minister Mustapha said, “I am very happy to see that this budget has tremendous benefit for every section of Guyana’s society and the Guyanese community.”
Adding that the agriculture sector has grown tremendously over the last four years, he stated, “The agriculture sector we are moving rapidly and we are making Guyana more food secure and you know where we took the sector from when we took the sector, the sector was run down, people had lost confidence in the sector.”
Pointing that Guyana is the “shining light” in Caricom, Mustapha said that every single country is looking towards Guyana “for that leadership,
that expertise that we have and we are working with them.”
He explained that a food hub is being constructed as the government wants Guyana to be the primary area in the Caribbean, “a food-producing country where Guyana will be the food hub to produce all the food going to the Caribbean because we are going to be successful in reducing the food import bill by 25% by the end of this year, then Guyana has to be successful and we have a success story in Guyana to tell the Caribbean, to share with the Caribbean, to help them that is why they have so much confidence, the Caribbean community have so much in Guyana’s ability to help them to set up their agriculture sector or to resuscitate their agriculture sector.”
Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha
Unlicensed firearm, ‘ammo’ found at Crabwood Creek
THE police on Saturday said that an intelligence-led operation resulted in the arrest of two persons after the discovery of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition at Crabwood Creek, Upper Corentyne. According to the police, ranks from Regional Police Division 6 carried out the intelligence-led operation in Crabwood Creek, Berbice resulting in their placing two males, aged 25 and
37, under arrest.
The police in their statement on Saturday disclosed that they also seized “an unlicensed 9mm pistol, along with seven .32 calibre rounds of ammunition, and a quantity of local and foreign currency from a motorcar.”
Based on the information gathered, the police have launched an investigation into the matter, and have since questioned several persons.
The unlicensed gun, ‘ammo’ and other items discovered by the police
The car in which the items were found
166 entries received for Guyana Energy Conference inaugural Essay Competition
The inaugural Essay Competition for the Guyana Energy Conference & Supply Chain Expo (GECSCE), launched in October 2024, attracted commendable support from the nation’s secondary school students. With the extended deadline closing on January 15, an impressive total of 166 entries meeting all guidelines were received from 49 schools.
Chairman of the Guyana Energy Conference, Mr Anthony Whyte noted his satisfaction with the representation of Guyana’s youths in this contest that will see one student from the CAPE or Form 5 level being awarded a US$10,000 scholarship to advance their academic success.
The Chairman said, “With this being our first
essay competition, I am truly heartened by the overwhelming support we have received from our students. They tackled important subjects that require innovative solutions on building their communities and leveraging our natural resources for sustainable development.”
He added, “Our partners at the Ministry of Education will now begin the task of judging the submissions and selecting our winners for each category. As we await those results, I want every student to know that we value your efforts. You all did your best, and for that, I extend my heartfelt congratulations for your perspectives. I can assure you; we will continue to work with our partners in creating more opportunities that celebrate your voices.”
As for One Communications, the exclusive private sector partner on this initiative, it was keen to note that it remains committed to fostering innovation and awareness in the energy sector.
“We are excited to see the ideas and creativity brought forward by participants and look forward to the judging process as we celebrate the bright minds that will shape Guyana’s sustainable future,” said Diangelly Singh, Marketing Manager, One Communications.
Overall, the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo extends its appreciation to the teachers and the Education Ministry for their efforts in this process. We look forward to presenting the awards to our young leaders on February 18th, 2025.
Duo busted with 79lbs of cannabis at Grove
A DRIVER and porter are now in custody after they were arrested with 35,650 grams (79 lbs) of cannabis during a search of their vehicle on Thursday last at Grove, East Bank Demerara.
The police on Saturday said, “A team of ranks from Grove Police Station, led by a Deputy Superintendent, stopped a motor vehicle #GAG 9363, which is owned by Fabra Enterprise Inc. from Lethem, on the Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara, at around 19:00 hrs on January 16, 2025.”
According to them, the vehicle was at the time being driven by 30-year-old Hakeen Anfeenee, a resident of Linden, and assisted by the porter identified as Rivas Laya Jose Angel, a 28-yearold male Venezuelan national from Lethem.
“The police team informed the driver (Anfeenee) that they were in receipt of information that he had arms, ammunition and drugs in his possession. As such, the Police carried out a search on his person as well as his porter and the lorry.”
However, during the search, the police found two bulky bags at the back of the truck. The bags contained four parcels of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.
As such, the driver and
the porter were both told separately of the allegation of Possession of Narcotics for the Purpose of Trafficking, cautioned and arrested.
“The suspected narcotics and two suspects were escorted to the Regional Division 4B Headquarters, where the truck was lodged at Regional Division '4B' Headquarters. The suspected nar-
cotics was then weighed in their presence and amounted to 35,650 grams.
“The suspected cannabis was sealed, marked and lodged with the officer in charge of Grove Police Station. The two suspects were placed in custody assisting with the investigation,” the police noted in their statement on Saturday.
Hakeen Anfeenee (L) and Rivas Laya Jose Angel
CEO of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, Kiana Wilburg, distributes flyers to students of the St. John’s College
Over 1,200 re-migrant applications approved in four years
By Shaniya Harding
COMING off the heels of Guyana’s largest-ever national budget, the Government of Guyana is turning its focus outward, seeking to harness the untapped potential of its diaspora and strengthening major international ties.
Guyana has received and approved more than 1,200 re-migrant applications in the past four years, and has built stronger ties with nations like France, the UAE, Qatar, the Dominican Republic, and Belize, bringing valuable human resources back home while strengthening the Guyanese passport internationally.
During his presentation of the national budget on Friday, Senior Minister in the Office of the President
with responsibilities for Finance and the Public Service Dr. Ashni Singh shared that not only rare record numbers of Guyanese seeking to return home, but Guyana has also enhanced its standing on the international stage.
“At the beginning of this term, we indicated our intent to involve the diaspora community in national development, and reverse the adverse changes to the re-migrant scheme, as their involvement is key to ensuring we maximize the full potential of our human resources,” he stated.
Since taking office in 2020, the current administration has taken robust steps to reconnect Guyana with its diaspora through various programmes. Recently, in September 2023, President Irfaan Ali engaged with the Guyanese Diaspora in America, particularly in Brooklyn and Queens. He outlined his vision for Guyana's development, emphasizing national unity and the importance of the diaspora’s contributions to the country's growth. Since then, the PPP administration has made significant strides in developing and reigniting international interest in Guyana.
As Minister Singh stated, “The government resuscitated the Diaspora Unit, and re-established stakeholder engagement to improve the services provided to the diaspora.” He further added that “There have been several engagements with the diaspora, including the hosting of a virtual diaspora conference in 2021, webinars on remigration and investment in 2023, and job fairs in New York, Trinidad, and Suriname in 2024 to harness the skills of members of the diaspora.” These engagements have increased interest in remigrating, and resulted in the approval of over 1,200 remigrant appli-
cations since 2021.
Guyanese across the diaspora are not the only ones with whom the government has been strengthening ties. In recent years, the government has taken steps to build relationships with larger, growing nations through new policies and greater involvement.
“Our government has been unwavering in our commitment to preserving Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Guyana’s security, economic, and trade interests have shaped our foreign policy efforts, as well as our regional and global leadership positions across a range of key policy issues. Guyana remains committed to good neighbourliness, peaceful coexistence, and the unity of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace and Cooperation.”
Minister Singh said.
Guyana has also made significant strides in international diplomacy. Minister Singh highlighted the opening of a new embassy in Qatar in 2023, and the establishment of diplomatic missions from the UAE, Qatar, the Dominican Republic, and Belize in Guyana. Looking ahead, Guyana is set to open a French embassy in 2025,
making France the first EU country to establish a diplomatic presence in the country. These efforts have significantly strengthened the Guyanese passport, resulting in visa waivers for the UK, Singapore, Maldives, and the UAE, and allowing Guyanese to apply for a Schengen visa in-country for the first time, with France as the main destination.
According to Minister Singh, Guyana now has better international standing than ever before. All these steps have significantly improved Guyana's visibility and voice on the world stage; particularly at forums such as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). As Minister Singh explained, “Ours has been a clear and cogent voice on matters before the Security Council and on the wider multilateral agenda. Guyana’s work on the Council must therefore be seen not only as beneficial to the countries that are on the Council’s agenda but to the people of Guyana, who depend on the upholding of international rule to stave off threats to their own peace and security, and thus their sustainable development.”
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibilities for Finance and Public Service Dr. Ashni Singh
The Guyanese passport now offers more travel opportunities through new visa waivers and better international agreements
‘Taliban’ re-sentenced to time served for attempted murder
By Feona Morrison
THE Court of Appeal of Guyana has re-sentenced Samuill Intiaz Shaw, known by the aliases “Taliban” and “Arno,” to time served, bringing an end to a protracted legal battle surrounding his 2016 conviction for the attempted murder of Bajai Ramdass, also called “Bruck Back.”
Shaw was convicted alongside Ramsammy Angeshallam, called “Babs,” for a violent attack on Ramdass that took place on January 16, 2012, in Crabwood Creek.
Shaw had originally received a 17-year sentence, while Angeshallam was sentenced to 12 years by Justice Franklyn Holder during the Berbice Criminal Assizes. Both men denied the charges, arguing that the shooting was committed by Ramdass’ brother, Jagdeo, known as “Spraga.”
Shaw’s legal team, led by attorneys Nigel Hughes and Narissa Leander, challenged the conviction and sentence on several grounds. They argued that procedural errors during the trial compromised its fairness and that Shaw’s primary defence—that he was
not the shooter—was not adequately presented to the jury. The attorneys further contended that the trial judge’s summation was biased toward the prosecution and that legal principles regarding omissions, inconsistencies, and contradictions were misapplied. Moreover, the lawyers contended that the sentence was excessive and not in keeping with modern sentencing guidelines.
COURT OF APPEAL RULING
The appellate panel, comprising Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory-Barnes and Rishi Persaud, unanimously dismissed Shaw’s appeal against his conviction.
In delivering the court’s ruling on Wednesday last, Justice Cummings-Edwards stated that Shaw’s defence had been sufficiently presented to the jury, and there was no merit to claims of bias in the summation.
“Looking at the total directions of the trial judge and the evidence that was before the court, it is our [the court’s] view that the trial judge did adequately deal with the
Samuill Intiaz Shaw
Bajai Ramdass
Court of Appeal panel: Justices Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Rishi Persaud and Dawn Gregory-Barnes
Mining, quarrying sector expected to grow by 10% this year
This year, the mining and quarrying sector is projected to expand by 10 per cent, opening the door for more opportunities for both local workers and investors.
This was announced by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Re -
sponsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh, when he presented Budget 2025 in the National Assembly, on Friday.
Specifically, bauxite, an industry that was previously neglected under the previous A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change
(APNU+AFC) administration, is expected to grow by 70.1 per cent.
Despite the bauxite industry being the cornerstone of Guyana’s economy for decades, there were missteps under the APNU+AFC that affected its growth, efficiency, and contribution to
national development.
As was widely reported, production had fallen by more than 40 per cent, and employment reduced by half. However, the bauxite industry has seen continued growth since the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) assumed office in
2020.
For instance, throughout 2024, there were high levels of production, and more employment opportunities, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat said during his ministry’s 2024 year-in-review press conference.
The consistent advancement of the bauxite industry is as a result of the prudent and strategic interventions
about 300 persons in 2024. We will continue to see significant investment by the company,” Minister Bharrat said. He also credited the surge in production and employment to the increased investment by BOSAI Mineral Group.
GROWTH IN QUARRYING
Minister Singh also noted that the other mining and quarrying sub-sector is
of the PPP/C Government, the minister said.
Minister Bharrat detailed the various challenges that the sector had faced owing to the sub-par management of the previous administration.
“When we took over in 2020,” he said, “we were still suffering and trying to recover from the withdrawal of Rusal due to the mismanagement by the previous administration.”
This move had placed over 500 persons on the breadline, the minister said, adding that this unexpected development had mostly affected communities like Ituni, Kwakwani, and New Amsterdam.
In 2023, the production in bauxite was 523,732 tonnes, but in 2024, production jumped to 1.7 million tonnes; this is an increase of 225 per cent in comparison to 2023, Minister Bharrat said, adding: “So, this has been a real success story for us, especially in generating employment and economic opportunities in Region 10.”
In Linden, Kwakwani and Ituni areas, an increase in jobs has been witnessed, the minister said, while confidently boasting that there are now over 1,000 persons working in the bauxite industry.
“That is an increase of
projected to grow by 29.8 per cent. Quarrying is another area that has witnessed significant achievements, especially with Guyana’s rapid pace of development has translated to growth across all sectors.
The increased demand for building materials has pushed quarrying to a next level. While in 2020, production was just over 730,000 tonnes, the quarrying sector, now, is undergoing immense growth.
Providing some figures during his ministry’s 2024 year-in-review press conference, Minister Bharrat said that 1.8 million tonnes of stone was produced in 2023. But in 2024, this moved to 3.33 million tonnes. Additionally, because of investor confidence, there has also been the opening of new quarries.
Today, there are 17 operational quarries and a few of the existing quarries are expanding their operations and investments, thereby increasing production.
With more quarries expected to come on stream, Bharrat said: “We are poised to see maybe another five new quarries from new operation in 2025 nearby carrying up our production way about four-million mark.”
‘Taliban’ re-sentenced to...
issue of the defence and the fact that the appellant himself categorically said that it was someone else who might have done the shooting, and that at no time did he own a gun…. The jury, in that regard, was not misled on the defence that was put forward,” she stated. The Chancellor also addressed the defence’s argument that there was evidence of animosity between Shaw and Ramdass, which should have been addressed by the trial judge. She explained that Shaw’s lawyers argued this animosity gave Ramdass and his brother a motive to be untruthful in their testimony. While the trial judge did not specifically highlight the issue of animosity, she noted that evidence re -
garding it was presented.
“And while it might go to a question of motive, the prosecution is not required to prove motive. Rather, they are required to prove the fact of the offence and the resulting consequence or injury,” the judge reasoned
However, the Court of Appeal agreed that the original 17-year sentence was excessively harsh, rejecting the prosecution's arguments that the imposed sentence was overly lenient compared to the statutory maximum, which provides for life imprisonment.
Justice Cummings-Edwards noted that the trial judge had started with a 22-year baseline sentence before reducing it to 17 years based on a favourable probation report. She continued: “We
[the court] believe, that a starting point that was less than 22 years, would have been appropriate or should have been preferred in the circumstances of this case. The trial judge did give a deduction for favourable probation report. But the trial judge did not consider any upward or downward adjustment in relation to the offence as well as the offender in the circumstances, any aggravating or mitigating factors in the circumstances of this case.”
Applying regional sentencing guidelines and precedents set by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the appellate court revised the sentence to a starting point of 12 years. A six-year deduction for Shaw’s favourable probation report brought the sentence to six years. Con-
sidering the time Shaw had already served on remand and in custody since his 2016 conviction, the court resentenced him to time served, effectively granting his immediate release.
"In the circumstances, we allow the appeal against the sentence. The conviction of the appellant stands, but the appeal against sentence is allowed, and the sentence of the appellant is reduced to time served,” Justice Cummings-Edwards said. Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, attorney Natasha Backer represented the state during the appeal.
BACKGROUND
The convictions followed a trial presided over by Justice Franklyn Holder, who heard evidence of a January 16, 2012 altercation at Crabwood Creek that left Ramdass paralysed from the waist down and blind in one eye. According to court records, Ramdass had gone to a disputed plantain farm at Crabwood Creek, when he was ambushed by Shaw and Angeshallam.
Witness testimony revealed that Shaw fired a gun at Ramdass, causing severe injuries. Angeshallam, armed with a bicycle tube, attempted to drag Ramdass’s boat toward Shaw, who allegedly threatened to mutilate the victim.
Despite his injuries, Ramdass defended himself with a cutlass, wounding Angeshallam before pretending to be dead to escape further harm. Shaw then fired another shot at Ramdass’s face. Both Shaw and Angeshallam denied the charges, claiming in unsworn statements that the victim’s brother, Jagdeo, known as ‘Spraga,’ was responsible for the shooting.
Witnesses corroborated these events, and the jury rejected the defendants’ claims that the victim’s brother, Jagdeo, was responsible for the shooting.
Tributes pour in for ‘true gentleman’ Denis Law after death aged 84
WAYNE Rooney has paid tribute to Denis Law after the former Scotland and Manchester United striker died aged 84.
Law won two league titles with United and was a member of their European Cup-winning side under Sir Matt Busby in 1968 when they became the first English club to lift the trophy.
A short family statement read: “It is with a heavy heart that we tell you our father Denis Law has sadly passed away. He fought a tough battle but finally he is now at peace.
“We would like to thank everyone who contributed to his wellbeing and care, past and much more recently. We know how much people supported and loved him and that love was always appreciated and made the difference. Thank you.”
Law scored a total of 237 goals in 404 appearances during an 11-year spell at Old Trafford until 1973,
which places him third behind Rooney and Sir Bobby Charlton on United’s all-time list.
“Legend,” Rooney replied to Manchester United’s tweet announcing the news. “ Thoughts with all Denis’ family and friends.”
Manchester United legend Denis Law dies aged 84
Former United and England captain Bryan Robson, who worked with Law as an ambassador for the club,
described Law as a giant of the sport.
“We have lost one of football’s giants both as a player and a gentleman. It’s incredibly sad,” Robson said in a column in the Daily Mail
“Denis was more than just a fantastic footballer, he was a fantastic man. So generous with his time and everything delivered with that great sense of humour of his.
“He would always be in my greatest ever Manchester United XI. He was a player so many of his peers idolised and with good reason, that iconic image of him with his sleeves pulled down and the one-arm salute after scoring.
“No one could represent what Manchester United stood for better than him. Full of flair on the pitch and a gentleman off it.”
That sentiment was also echoed by David Beckham: “Tonight we lost a true gentleman of the game... Our
love goes out to Denis’s family,” Beckham posted in a story on Instagram.
“Our hearts are heavy tonight. A legend on the field but the perfect gentleman off...”
Known as ‘The King’, Law defied his small physique to terrorise defenders with his fearless approach and electric pace during an 18-year playing career, which also included spells at first club Huddersfield, Manchester City (twice) and Torino Law’s transfers from Huddersfield to City in 1960 and later moves to Italian club Torino (1961) and to Manchester United in 1962 were all British records at the time City posted on X under United’s announcement: “The whole of Manchester, including everyone at City, is mourning with you. Rest in peace, Denis. Our thoughts are with Denis’ family and friends at this difficult time.
Late Nunez double snatches Liverpool win at Brentford
SUBSTITUTE Darwin
Nunez scored a late double to guide Liverpool to victory at Brentford and extend their lead at the top of the Premier League.
It looked as though Liverpool’s wait for a league win in 2025 was going to stretch to three games until Nunez stepped up in stoppage time.
The Uruguay forward grabbed the opener in the 91st minute with a simple finish from close range after meeting a low cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
And Nunez scored again two minutes later, showing patience in a crowded area to round off a counter-attack as Brentford were caught short in defence.
Despite taking so long to break the deadlock, Liverpool had dominated possession and territory for large periods and were fully deserving of all three points.
Dominik Szoboszlai saw an effort crash off the top of the crossbar in the first half and Luis Diaz should have made more of an attempt with his head after emerging unmarked at the far post.
Brentford were happy to sit deep and soak up pressure but struggled to pose any serious threat on the counter, with striker Bryan Mbeumo left isolated.
The Merseyside outfit maintained complete control of the tempo in the latter stages as Brentford dropped ever deeper, but lacked the
potency in front of goal which they oozed in the first half of the season until Nunez delivered the decisive blows.
Liverpool sit six points clear of second -placed Arsenal, who drew 2-2 against Aston Villa later on Saturday, and they also have a game in hand.
Brentford stay 11th after a third loss in four home fixtures
Brentford , who remain the only club yet to keep a clean sheet at home in the Premier League this season, folded Thomas Frank’s side have picked up all but five of their 28 points at home this campaign but that bubble looks to have burst.
They have won just one of their past seven Premier League games and it is just one win in nine across all
The Gtech Community Stadium has been the place to go for goals this season.
A combined 52 have been scored in the 12 fixtures - 29 for Brentford and 23 by visiting teams.
But Brentford never looked like adding to that tally as they invited pressure from the first whistle and spent the majority of the afternoon trying to keep Liverpool at bay.
It felt inevitable that Liverpool would find a way through as they attempted 37 shots and eventually
competitions.
Mbeumo lacked support throughout and was easily marshalled by Liverpool’s centre-back pairing of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, while top scorer Yoane Wissa struggled to make his mark on the game.
Brentford’s campaign will not be defined on performances against the league leaders, but Frank will be hoping for an improvement in the weeks to come as their next five games come against teams currently below them in the table.
FIFA wants changes from Jamaica Football Federation
WORLD football governing body, FIFA, and The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) have combined forces to come up with amended Statutes as part of a bid to improve the governance of the sport at all levels.
A release from the JFF said earlier this month, Sarah Solemale, Senior Manager Governance, led discussions with the JFF hierarchy about its statutes.
Also at that meeting were Director of Caribbean Member Associations Af -
fairs, Horace Reid, and One CONCACAF and Caribbean Projects Senior Manager, Howard McIntosh
Nunez shows his worth Liverpool looked unstoppable in the first half of the season but have shown signs of slowing in the past few weeks.
Draws against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest in the league came either side of defeat at Tottenham in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
There was no lack of conviction at Brentford as Liverpool tried everything to get their noses in front, though hitting the target with just eight of their 37 shots was disappointing.
Mohamed Salah is usually a reliable figure for the Reds but had an off day, hitting the target just once, with the likes of Szoboszlai and Diaz offering their best outlet until Nunez was introduced
Nunez had scored just two league goals coming into the game but has clearly taken on board the wishes of manager Arne Slot, who stressed the need to “make a late-goal winner” more regularly in the second half of the season.
His first goal was taken instinctively, with more care required as he held off a defender and picked his spot for the second.
With Diogo Jota unavailable because of injury, Slot will need players like Nunez to chip in and help them over the finish line. (BBC Sport)
must be legal entities. The role and composition of the Board of Directors. On this FIFA recommended for discussion that three important areas of expertise must be represented on the Board: legal, finance and commercial.
The recommendation is also that Board members cannot be delegates at Congress as this represents a major conflict of interest and also that there be a special focus on the competencies and efficiencies at the Board level. The composition must be guided by the question, how can the Board of Directors be made efficient to serve the development of the sport. In this regard, the Board also needed to operate on the principle of separation of powers. FIFA is also being insistent on gender inclusion on the Board and this should be clearly stated in the revised Statutes. Term limits for the President and members of the Board are also to be decided.
According to Solemale, FIFA, has since 2016, been targeting improved governance structures throughout the organisation, first within FIFA itself, and then throughout its member associations.
FIFA wants legislative, strategic, operational , and separation of powers among its member states and wants these changes to be made within the JFF before December 2020.
According to the release, the following was discussed: Who constitutes a member of the Federation and by so should be represented at the Congress. In this regard, the representation of regional bodies (parishes); interest groups (schools, referees etc) and the professional league was the recommendation from FIFA. By extension, the percentage representation of these groups would have to be determined. All members
The role of the General Se cretariat: Emphasis was placed on the critical need for separation of powers between the Board of Directors and the General Secretariat and the need for staff expertise in the areas of Finance, Legal, Commercial and Technical. National leadership based on a clear job description and agreed to competencies, in carrying out the policies decided on by the Board of Directors. Expertise in audit and compliance was also highlighted as mandatory. Standing Committees : The role and composition of Standing Committees and in particular the independent committees (Judicial; Disciplinary; Appeals; Audit and Compliance and Electoral) was also discussed.
FIFA will send revised statutes to the JFF in time for the organisation to do a review and to dispense information on the changes to its parish associations ahead of the JFF’s Congress at the end of the year where the new statutes will be ratified. (Sportsmax)
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER
SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2025
Darwin Nunez has scored four Premier League goals for Liverpool this season
JFF president Michael Riketts
Stona, Ricketts named Jamaica’s Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year
THERE were no surprises on Friday night as Paris 2024 Olympic Games medalists Roje Stona and Shanieka Ricketts were crowned National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year at the prestigious RJRGLEANER awards ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel.
Stona and Ricketts , who delivered historic performances in Paris , were the clear favourites for the awards, as their wins continued track and field’s dominance of Jamaica’s premier sporting accolades
Stona made history in the French capital when he launched a record-breaking 70.00m throw to secure gold in the discus The achievement marked Jamaica’s first Olympic medal and gold in a field event, a feat that etched his name in the annals of the nation’s sporting history.
Ricketts, a consistent per-
former on the global stage, claimed her first Olympic medal with a silver in the Women’s Triple Jump Her 14.87m effort placed her second behind Dominica ’ s Thea LaFond (15.02m), with the USA ’ s Jasmine Moore ( 14.67m ) taking bronze Ricketts was Jamaica’s only female medalist in Paris and entered the awards as the overwhelming favourite
The awards recognised a stellar year for Jamaica’s track and field athletes, who have claimed every Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year award since 2019
Other male nominees included Kishane Thompson, who won 100m silver in Paris and ended 2024 as the fastest man in the world with a blistering 9.77 seconds at the National Senior Championships
Wayne Pinnock , the Men ’ s Long Jump silver medalist with an 8.36m leap, along with bronze medalists Rasheed Broadbell ( 110m Hurdles) and Rajindra Campbell (Shot Put), also featured among the nominees
The women’s nominees included national 400m Hurdles champion and Paris Olympic finalist Rushell Clayton, national 100m Hurdles record holder Ackera Nugent , national 400m record holder Nickisha Pryce, and Llori Sharpe, who struck gold in the Women’s Road Race at the Elite Caribbean Cycling Championships in Guyana
Track and field athletes have historically dominated the RJRGLEANER awards since its inception in 1961
They have accounted for 55 of the women’s awards and 34 of the men’s awards
Stona and Ricketts now join a celebrated list of honourees , following An -
Bumrah, Shami picked in India’s Champions Trophy squad
JASPRIT Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya have all made it to India’s squad for the forthcoming Champions Trophy 2025. The trio last featured in the ODI format at the 2023 World Cup. The 15man squad announced on Saturday afternoon (January 18) will be led by Rohit Sharma with Shubman Gill serving as his deputy and has a notable inclusion in Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is yet to make his ODI debut.
Bumrah’s selection is conditional to him recovering fully from the back spasms he suffered at the fag end of India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a campaign in which he sent down a staggering 151.2 overs for his 32 wickets at 13.06. He will not be fit for the start of the England series which precedes the Champions Trophy with Harshit Rana replacing him for the three-match series. But for the marquee tournament, Bumrah will be expected to spearhead a fast-bowling attack that also comprises the returning Shami, who was the leading wicket-taker at the 2023 ODI
World Cup but has since been out of international action after undergoing a surgery on his left Achilles tendon. Arshdeep Singh completes the three-man pace attack with Mohammed Siraj left out.
India are well stocked in the all-rounder department following the return of Pandya, who missed the second half of the World Cup after suffering an ankle injury in that campaign. Ravindra Jadeja is another player who last played ODIs 14 months ago but offers versatility with his left-arm skill. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, who were picked in India’s
most recent ODI assignment in Sri Lanka, are the other all-rounders in the squad.
India’s spin attack received another boost after Kuldeep Yadav returned to the squad following his spell on the sidelines after undergoing a hernia surgery. The 30-year-old played just the first Test of the home series against New Zealand before being ruled out of the remainder of the season with his groin injury.
Meanwhile, vice-captain Gill, who averages an excellent 58.20 in the format, may have to jostle for his spot at the top of the order after the selectors decided to pick Yashasvi Jaiswal as the squad’s other opening option. While Jaiswal has enjoyed a prolific start to his international career and brings left-handedness to what’s an otherwise right-heavy top-order, he has yet to make his international debut in the format. He does average 54 in List A cricket with a best of 203 against Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Among the ‘keepers, In-
Pakistan dominate West Indies in spin battle in Multan
MULTAN, Pakistan, (CMC) – Spin maestros Noman Ali and Sajid Khan left the West Indies reeling on the second day of the first Test in Multan, propelling Pakistan to a commanding position here on Saturday.
The duo shared nine wickets to bundle out the regional side for a mere 137 in response to Pakistan ’s 230 all-out earlier in the day. By stumps, Pakistan had extended their lead to 202, reaching 109-3 in their second innings.
Kamran Ghulam and Saud Shakeel were unbeaten on 9 and 2, respectively, when bad light halted play 25 minutes early.
Jomel Warrican provided a rare bright spot for the West Indies, claiming 2-17, as the Bajan left-armer dismissed opener Muhammad Hurraira for 29 and then trapped Pakistan captain Babar Azam lbw for just 5.
Warrican also effected a sharp run-out to end Shan Masood’s composed innings of 52, which featured two sixes and two fours.
The Multan pitch, dry and grassless, has been a spinner’s paradise, yielding 22 wickets in just six sessions despite weather interruptions totalling over three hours across two days Noman Ali (5-39) claimed his seventh five-wicket haul in Tests, while Sajid Khan (4-65) was equally lethal. The West Indies innings lasted just 25.2
overs, with both spinners proving unplayable.
Sajid struck early, dismissing Mikyle Louis (1), Keacy Carty (0), Kraigg Brathwaite (11), and Kavem Hodge (4) in a fiery opening spell. Noman continued the demolition, reducing the visitors to a dismal 66-8.
The tailenders resisted briefly, with Jomel Warrican (31 not out), Gudakesh Motie (19), and Jayden Seales (22) adding crucial runs. Seales entertained with three sixes before falling to Abrar Ahmed.
Earlier, Pakistan resumed at 143-4 but lost their last six wickets for 43 runs. Saud Shakeel top-scored with a resilient 84 off 157 balls, supported by Mohammad Rizwan’s 71. The pair added a vital 141 runs for the fifth wicket, rescuing Pakistan from 46-4
Guyanese off-spinner Kevin Sinclair sparked the collapse, dismissing Shakeel and Rizwan quickly. Rizwan, who struck nine boundaries in his 133-ball knock, was trapped leg-before on review while attempting a reverse sweep.
Warrican wrapped up Pakistan’s innings just before lunch, dismissing Sajid Khan for 18 after a brisk cameo. Warrican finished with 3-69 with Sinclair bagging two wickets for 61 runs. Jayden Seales managed to pick up three wickets for 27 runs.
dia will continue to have the services of KL Rahul, who was stellar in the last World Cup. Left-hander Rishabh Pant is the other keeper-bat in the squad.
India are placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand. They’ll open their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 at the Dubai International Stadium. They’ll play three ODIs against England next month, in Nagpur (February 6), Cuttack (February 9) and Ahmedabad (February 12), as tune-up to the marquee ICC event.
India squad for the Champions Trophy: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant(wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel , Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah*, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh , Yashasvi Jaiswal. Harshit Rana will play in the threematch series against England. (Cricbuzz)
Ahmed Extras (b11, nb 1) 12 TOTAL (three wickets;31 overs) 109 Fall of wickets: 1-67, 2-89, 3-106 Bowling: Gudakesh Motie 9-0-39-0, Jayden Seales 5-0-
Faisal Afridi.
Madugalle.
Roje Stona and Shanieka Ricketts
India pacer Jasprit Bumrah
Richard Kettleborough, Rod Tucker. TV Umpire: Paul Reiffel. Reserve Umpire:
Top football referees recognised for excellence in 2024; FIFA badges issued
THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Referee Department celebrated a year of stellar performances and achievements in football officiating during its annual Referee Awards Ceremony, recently held at the Marriott Hotel.
The event was held as an opportunity to honour the achievements of referees who have contributed significantly to the development of football across the nation.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Special Awards.
Shavin Greene was honoured with the Dianne Ferreira-James Award as Referee of the Year 2024.
Brandon Cyrus received the Dianne Ferreira-James Award for Assistant Referee of the Year 2024, while Micah Erskine and Safiya Goulding were named Most Improved Referee
of 2024 and Most Improved Assistant Referee of 2024, respectively.
A special recognition was given to Kleon Lindey for his decade of service as a FIFA Assistant Referee, underscoring his immense contributions to the sport.
Adding to the night’s significance was the presentation of FIFA Badges to several distinguished referees.
Shavin Greene was officially recognised as a FIFA Referee, while Kleon Lindey, Denisha Isaacs, Clenton Daniel and Brandon Cyrus were awarded FIFA Assistant Referee badges.
Meanwhile, Colin Abel received his FIFA FUTSAL Referee badge, marking another milestone in Guyana’s growing presence in global football officiating.
Natasha Lewis was also presented with an award for
The event was held as an opportunity to honour the achievements of referees who have contributed significantly to the development of football across the nation
being the Referee Instructor of the Year.
During the ceremony, the GFF Head of Referees, Lenval Peart, reflected on the progress made in 2024 and the dedication of the awardees.
Permaul takes 4-48 as final GHE practice ends in a draw
By Sean Devers
SET an improbable 455 runs to win on the final day of their fourday practice match yesterday at Providence, Kemol Savory’s X1 reached 127-7 against Nail Smith’s X1 on a truncated day as the rain had the final say.
This was the final practice match in preparation for the CWI’s Regional First-Class Championships scheduled to commence on January 29.
Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) are set to face off with Barbados Pride at Providence in the opening round.
The Guyana team for the first round should be announced on Monday and will miss several key players due to Test duties in Pakistan and T20 commitments in Dubai.
On Saturday, in overcast conditions, 35-yearold left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul put Smith’s X1 in a commanding position for a victory at Tea with Savory’s X1 who began the rain-hit day on 0-0, on 127-7.
The experienced Permaul, who holds the Regional First-Class for most
Veersammy Permaul who could be named Captain for the first round, took 4-48 (Sean Devers photos)
wickets from 144 matches including 31 scalps in nine Tests, bagged 4-48 and got support from versatile off-spinning all-rounder
Junior Sinclair who took 2-26 to follow up his century with the bat.
When play began, Brandon Jaikarran and his DCC club-mate Raymond Perez added 42 before the impressive Sinclair removed the left-handed Jaikarran for 16 with three fours from 33 balls before Zynul Ramsammy (5) fell to Permaul at 57-2. But with the score on 62 and Perez looking set for a fifty, the elegant
Raymond Perez looked good during his 37 yesterday at Providence
right-hander hit Permaul to Askaya Persaud after reaching the ropes six times in his top score of 37 from 68 balls after spending an hour and 17 minutes at the crease.
Perez’s demise triggered a collapse as only Sharmar Yearwood who reached the boundary thrice in his 19 and Richie Looknauth who made 20 with three fours, offered token resistance before Tea.
But the rain had the final say with Thaddeus Lovell (12) and Ashmead Nedd (5) at the crease at the break
“Our referees are the backbone of football, ensuring fair play and maintaining the integrity of the game. This we’re going to be focusing on expanding our referee recruitment drive to all regions in Guyana. In addition, we will be placing more emphasis on referee recruitment for futsal.”
He added,” Last year was definitely a year to be proud of. From expanding our referee pool to introducing Guyana’s first female referee course, we are proud to be setting new standards in the region. Tonight, we celebrate their contributions, and we look forward to even greater accomplishments in 2025.”
One of the most notable achievements he said, was the expansion of the referee pool through a recruitment drive that brought in 12 new officials, including four women, from Region Four.
This effort demonstrated the department’s commitment to diversifying football officiating and ensuring greater representation across Guyana.
Another key accomplishment was Natasha Lewis’ participation in the FIFA MA Instructor Course held in Mon-
tego Bay, Jamaica.
She joined an elite group of instructors from across the region, gaining invaluable experience and showcasing Guyana’s growing prominence in football officiating.
This opportunity was a testament to both her personal dedication and the Federation’s efforts to create pathways for local referees to excel at an international level.
The introduction of Guyana’s first-ever female referee course was a groundbreaking milestone for the Referee Department in 2024.
The initiative, which was only the second of its kind in the Caribbean, was recognised by CONCACAF as a model for what referee development programmes should strive to achieve.
The course underscored the department’s focus on increasing gender diversity within football officiating and empowering women to take on leadership roles in the sport.
In August, the FIFA MA Referee Course brought further recognition to the Federation’s efforts.
From this programme, two individuals - a referee and an
instructor- were selected to attend the FIFA Referee Academy in 2025.
This achievement highlighted the quality of training offered by the federation and the growing reputation of Guyanese referees on the global stage.
Additionally, Brandon Cyrus and Safia Golding represented Guyana at the CFU U-14 Boys’ Challenge Series, officiating key matches, including the semi-finals and the final.
Their performances were lauded as exemplary and a reflection of the federation’s commitment to developing world-class referees.
During his address, the GFF Third Vice-President Dion Inniss commended the referees for their dedication to upholding fairness and integrity on the field.
Reflecting on the history of the awards ceremony, he acknowledged its importance as a longstanding tradition and expressed his pride in its revival.
“Referees are the unsung heroes of football,” he remarked.
“Your commitment to ensuring that the game is played fairly and with integrity is invaluable.”
Looking ahead to 2025, the Referee Department outlined ambitious plans to expand recruitment efforts into underserved regions and to enhance training opportunities for both referees and instructors.
These initiatives are expected to address gaps in referee availability across the country and strengthen the overall quality of officiating.
Plans also include hosting additional FIFA courses to provide local referees with opportunities to further their skills and gain international
Raducanu crushed by Swiatek in Melbourne
Emma Raducanu suffered the joint-heaviest defeat of her career as second seed Iga Swiatek demonstrated her superiority in a one-sided Australian Open third-round match.
Britain's Raducanu was thrashed 6-1 6-0 in a chastening afternoon on Rod Laver Arena.
The world number 61 lost serve five times as Swiatek took just 70 minutes to
secure victory. It is the second time Raducanu has won just one game in a match, having lost 6-0 6-1 to Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina in Sydney three years ago.
"She played very well, but I also think I didn't play very well. It's just not a great combination," Raducanu, 22, said.
Five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek has never gone past the Melbourne
semi-finals but her level against Raducanu sent another warning to her title rivals.
The 23-year-old Pole has not dropped a set or even a service game in her first three rounds in Melbourne.
"If a top player is playing perfect, it's already going to be a difficult match," Raducanu added. (BBC Sport)
Noman Ali picked up his seventh five-for in Test cricket • Jan 18, 2025 • PCB
Pakistan dominate West Indies in spin battle in Multan
NSC lauds historic allocation $8 billion for sports in 2025 budget
THE National Sports Commission (NSC) has lauded the Government’s historic allocation of $8B for the sports sector in this year’s budgetary allocation, noting that the ecosystem will continue its developmental metamorphosis under the guidance of the Honourable Minister of Sports Charles Ramson Jr.
On Friday, in the 2025 National Budget presentation at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Liliendaal, Senior Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Honourable Dr Ashni Singh, announced the largest ever allotment for the sector to the tune of $8B, which is an increase of $4.6B, or approximately 42.5 per cent, from last year’s allocation
The completion of the stadium in Palmyra, located in Region Six, as well as the commencement of a new arena in Crane in Region Three, are some of the major projects that will be undertaken during this budgetary cycle
Similarly, multipurpose facilities at Anna Regina, Bayroc, Mackenzie, and New Amsterdam will also be completed, and the construction of sports halls of a similar nature in Leonora, Lethem, Mabaruma, Mahdia, and Mongrippa Hill will also begin Director of Sports Steve Ninvalle said, “Even though we recognise that development is a difficult process,
obtaining the necessary resources is a significant part of that process, and we can declare with confidence that our country is making great strides toward achieving this goal.
A historic turning point has been marked by the government’s recently announced budget, which includes an unprecedented allocation towards sports development and demonstrates a deep commitment to promoting sports at all levels.” According to Ninvalle, “This budget is more than just a financial figure; it is a strong declaration of purpose and an unmistakable recognition of the transformational potential of sports by the government.
The substantial increase in funding will be distributed among numerous projects. From modern training facilities for top athletes to refurbished community fields and easily accessible recreational areas for all residents, we can expect a significant improvement in sports facilities across the country. Regardless of their location or background, aspiring athletes will have the necessary platform to refine their skills thanks to this investment.”
Ninvalle expounded, “In addition to the purely physical component, the budget highlights how vital it is to identify
and develop talent. To guarantee that no potential champion is left behind, committed programmes that emphasise developing young talent, offering specialised coaching, and providing extensive support systems will be implemented. The development of a steady stream of athletes capable of representing our country with pride on the international scene will be greatly aided by these programmes. Investing in our country’s future is the goal. Youth empowerment, national pride, and leaving a legacy of sporting greatness that will motivate future generations are the main goals.”
He further said, “Ultimately, this budget demonstrates a vision that transcends words and embraces concrete action. For coaches, aspiring athletes, and anyone who believes that sports can change lives, it is a ray of hope.
The government’s investment shows a deep understanding of how important a robust sports sector is to the country’s well-being, social cohesiveness, and economic development in addition to boosting national pride.
This is more than just a budget; it is a game-changer for our country’s sports future, and it appears to be a more promising one than it has ever been.”
West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican (3rd left) celebrates a wicket with teammates on the 2nd day of the first Test in Multan (Photo: PCB Media)