‘Brand Guyana’ reaching new heights with attraction of worldrenowned franchises
- President Ali says as Aiden Hotel opens in Georgetown
‘Deep Jale’ illuminates Kitty roundabout, ushers in Diwali celebrations
President Ali hails Caribbean’s economic resilience amid global crises
Housing, Local Government Ministries warn against illegal land sales in Mocha/Arcadia
- amidst alarming reports of illicit transactions being facilitated allegedly by community’s NDC members, opposition figures
PPP/C’s house lot allocations in Region Six approximately four times that of APNU+AFC - after just four years, Minister Croal says; points to aggressive efforts to address outstanding applications, improve access to adequate housing
UG supports government’s move to take responsibility for world-class tuition-free education - highlights challenges such as highest imported inflation on food prices in the region’s history due to international disruptions
Women contractors among those to secure $2.7B in infrastructural works for Region Five
The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s Deep Jale illuminated the Kitty roundabout on Saturday night, captivating hundreds with vibrant lights, breath-taking dances, and soulful singing. The event, a prelude to Diwali, marked a significant cultural gathering, bringing together some of Guyana’s finest performers to usher in the Festival of Lights (Japheth Savory photos)
‘Brand Guyana’ reaching new heights with attraction of world-renowned franchises
- President Ali says as Aiden Hotel opens in Georgetown
By Feona Morrison
PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali emphasised the importance of aligning ‘Brand Guyana’ with the world’s leading global brands, as he delivered remarks at the grand opening of the Aiden Hotel.
The hotel, located at Oronoque and Robb Streets, Georgetown, was inaugurated on Saturday evening.
The Aiden Hotel in Guyana, part of Best Western’s global portfolio and the brand’s first property in South America, was developed by Arimu Investments Incorporated.
Arimu Investment is operated by the Alphonso family, a prominent business family from Pomeroon, in the County of Essequibo.
During the launch of the boutique luxury hotel, President Ali highlighted the role of high-quality investments like Aiden in boosting the country’s international image.
He stressed that such developments are essential for Guyana to compete on the global stage and attract both investors and tourists, ensuring that the nation is synonymous with excellence.
“We have welcomed to our shores the best in eco-tourism businesses [and] premier companies. What this allowed is for ‘Brand Guyana’ to be associated with the best brands in the world; the best markets in the world. It allows ‘Brand Guyana’ to be marketed in the top-tier tourism hub globally,” he emphasised.
According to Dr. Ali, the investment in the hotel is linked to the country's vision of building a world-class economy by 2030, aiming for three million people to pass through the country annually.
He related that the hotel's quality has led the brand owners to adjust their model upwards. The president stressed the importance of predictability in brand pricing, service, and value to build long-term clientele trust.
President Ali also spoke about Aiden’s testing stage, noting that during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the hotel welcomed real guests.
He urged the Aiden Hotel to actively promote Essequibo, particularly the Pomeroon region, highlighting its rich cultural heritage as key attractions for tourists.
COMMITTED GOVERNMENT
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneidge Walrond said that when the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) was elected to office, it identified a significant challenge in the tourism sector: The insufficient room capacity to support the dynamic tourism sector that was envisioned.
To address this gap, she
explained, the government published Expressions of Interest for the development of internationally-branded hotels, thereby signaling its readiness for a new era in tourism.
According to Minister Walrond, the Alfonso group was among the first to respond with a bold plan to establish the first Aiden franchise in South America.
In this regard, she pointed out that the opening of the Aiden by Best Western is proof of what can be achieved when the private sector and government work hand-in-hand to develop tourism.
“Your government is committed to fostering those partnerships. And we are confident that the investments we make today will pay dividends for generations to come,” the Tourism Minister said, adding: “This is more than just the opening of another hotel; this represents our country's continued growth and recognition as a key destination in the region.
ROOMS BY 2025
Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Office of Investment (GO-Invest), reminded of the government’s focus on delivering 2000 new hotel rooms by 2025.
He revealed that the Alfonso group has partnered with Best Western to build the first of many new hotels, marking a significant step in local-guided branded hospitality.
Dr. Ramsaroop noted that President Ali’s commitment extends beyond building rooms; that he aims to ensure that these rooms are filled, which will generate profit for investors.
He highlighted the significance of the new hotel being Guyanese-run, Guyanese-invested, and built on Guyanese land.
He further discussed the limitations faced due to the lack of adequate hotel rooms, citing recent high-level confer-
The upward trajectory of tourism in our country is clear.”
Walrond stated that the presence of internationally-branded hotels like Aiden reinforces Guyana's position as a country on the move, with more brands expected to establish themselves.
The aim, according to her, is to offer authentic and sustainable experiences that meet global standards, while showcasing the unique beauty of the country.
More importantly, she emphasised the importance of the growing interconnectedness of tourism components, calling for strong collaboration among hotels, tour operators, entertainment providers, and recreational facilities.
Walrond reasoned that hotels should go beyond offering accommodation, and become ambassadors for the destination, actively promoting its attractions and experiences to guests.
by Guyanese, scrutinised by Guyanese, and approved by Guyanese.”
Alphonso expressed pride in the local involvement, and the successful completion of the project, highlighting the importance of local resources and talent.
WORLD-CLASS AMENITIES
Aiden by Best Western boasts 138 ‘smart’ rooms, including six extended-stay suites, and an executive floor with premier suites. The hotel features local artwork, a restaurant, a luxurious coffee shop, and a private terrace with city views.
It employs over 72 locals and expatriates with experience at world-renowned hotels like Four Seasons, Hyatt, and Hilton, ensuring high-quality customer service. The Aiden hotel is known for its world-class amenities and services, showcasing the culture, flora, and fauna of Guyana. Each floor of the hotel features images of native animals, flowers, and sceneries, with suites named after rivers in Guyana.
The real gem of the Aiden Hotel is the ninth floor's Horizon Lounge and Terrace, offering a 180-degree view of the city, with unmatched surround sound, wine selection, and a cigar bar.
ences. According to him, Guyana’s inability to host larger events has led to missed opportunities, underscoring the need for more quality hotel rooms.
Dr. Ramsaroop explained that the new hotel projects are seen as the first step in a series of developments aimed at addressing these capacity issues.
GUYANESE
SKILLS
Director of Arimu Investments Inc., Lorenzo Alphonso stated that the hotel was completed after overcoming procurement and logistical challenges. Despite these obstacles, he said, the Aiden hotel is now a significant architectural structure in Guyana.
Alphonso highlighted that the construction involved significant local resources and contractors, showcasing Guyanese skill and expertise, with the developers being 100 per cent Guyanese from Essequibo. He said: “We should never doubt our Guyanese skillset; the proof is right behind me, 100 per cent supervised
The hotel includes a meeting room, two co-working areas, a sundry shop, and a restaurant called, Mosaic, offering culinary delicacies from around the world. A luxurious coffee shop on the eighth floor offers a unique selection of local coffees and teas, along with international grades of coffee. The Eighth floor features the Purple Heart Executive Lounge with comfortable seating, a cocktail bar, and a private terrace. The hotel’s parking space can accommodate over 100 vehicles.
The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) provided sole financing for the development of the Aiden Hotel. The cost of the hotel is, reportedly, US$25 million.
The hotel is strategically located near key attractions, including the historic St. George's Cathedral and the bustling Stabroek Market. Additionally, it is in close proximity to major business hubs.
The opening ceremony was attended by a mix of government officials, including Prime Minister Mark Phillips; Minster of Labour Joseph Hamilton; Minster of Housing and Water Collin Croal; Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Sonia Parag; business and religious leaders, members of the diplomatic community, and Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore, among others.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneidge Walrond; CEO of GO-Invest Dr. Peter Ramsaroop; Mayor of Georgetown Alfred Mentore, alongside members of the Alphonso family and hotel executives, cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the Aiden Hotel in Georgetown (Delano Williams photos)
The Aiden Hotel in Georgetown
Medical cooperation between China, Guyana fosters sustainable development, deepening relations
- Guyanese Ambassador says
By Trina Williams in Xuzhou, China
AS Guyana continues to work towards delivering world-class healthcare, one cannot ignore how China’s continuous support, through medical cooperation, is helping the country foster sustainable development, Guyana’s Ambassador to China, Anyin Choo highlighted.
During a recent visit and exchange at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, the Ambassador
reflected on China and Guyana’s long-standing friendship that has produced success in various sectors, not just in the medical field.
With over 30 years of cooperation in the health sector, the ambassador did not hesitate to express appreciation on behalf of the Guyanese government and its people.
“You have sent your best doctors to Guyana, who have worked side-by-side with our local doctors and nurses,” she said, adding that despite the challenges posed such as the language barriers, among
other obstacles, the Chinese medical professionals did not allow this to stagnate progress.
“You have made lots of miracles, and you have saved lots of lives during your tenure in Guyana,” she boldly said.
Notably, the ambassador shed light on Jiangsu’s medical team being instrumental in working with Guyana’s local medical professionals, while creating long-lasting friendships, and even acting as a bridge of cultural exchanges.
Additionally, although Guyana is geographically very far away from China, the ambassador said that the bilateral, friendly relations between the two nations have stood the test of time.
“And even though we are so far away, my presence
here today, and also the presence of three medical brigade teams from Xuzhou is a testimony that it is possible, even with distance,” she noted.
Additionally, owing to the remarkable achievements made by the Jiangsu Medical Team in Guyana, Vice-Principal of Xuzhou Medical University, Lv Ling underscored how medical services are being improved, how the development of bilateral relations are being promoted, and how the friendship between the two countries is being deepened.
He said: “The remarkable achievements made by our hospital in the medical field, cooperation with your country, the in-depth discussion on medical technology and public health policies, etc., all bear witness to the deep friendship and mutual trust between the
people of China and Guyana.
“We are well aware that medical assistance is not only a technical cooperation, but also a bridge between the hearts of the two peoples. The work of our medical team in Guyana not only provides high-quality medical services to the local people, but also promotes mutual understanding and respect between China and Guyana in the medical field.”
In July 1993, according to the Memorandum of Cooperation signed between the governments of China and Guyana, Jiangsu Province was designated to undertake the task of sending medical teams to Guyana.
So far, Jiangsu Province has sent 20 batches of medical teams, with 295 person-times to Guyana to carry out medi-
cal work.
The current medical team is the 20th medical team to Guyana organised by Nantong City, with a total of eleven members working at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), and five at the Linden Hospital Complex.
Notably, last year, it was published that because of Guyana and China’s relationship in the health sector, this resulted in bountiful success, with thousands of surgeries conducted locally in partnership with Chinese medical teams.
Further, it was said that Guyana was able to conduct its first-ever open-heart surgery, and its first-of-its-kind minimally invasive laparoscopic surgeries among other unique procedures.
Guyana’s Ambassador to China Anyin Choo (centre-left) and Vice-Principal of Xuzhou Medical University Lv Ling (centre-right) among other officials
President Ali hails Caribbean’s economic resilience amid global crises
- highlights challenges such as highest imported inflation on food prices in the region’s history due to international disruptions
PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has celebrated the Caribbean region’s remarkable economic resilience in the face of ongoing global crises.
In his address as the guest speaker at the Barbados Labour Party’s (BLP) 85th Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony held in Christ Church on Friday, he expressed admiration for the approach taken by Barbados under the stewardship of Prime Minister Mia Mottley, the leader of BLP.
He highlighted her significant role in shaping global discussions aimed at establishing fairer and more resilient economies.
“Today, Barbados’ leadership in Prime Minister Mottley has contributed significantly to global discussions on creating fairer, more resilient economies. Her leadership has emerged as one that is persistent, whether it’s on climate change [and] crime…,” President Ali emphasised.
He emphasised how, despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, and climate change, Caribbean nations have demonstrated a strong capacity to adapt and recover.
In the past four years, he said, small economies
like Barbados and others in the Caribbean have faced "a perfect storm" of challenges related to climate, food, and energy security.
These countries, Dr. Ali noted, already vulnerable due to their size and dependency on external factors, had to navigate a series of crises that tested their resilience.
He pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic alone stripped two years of policy and financial space from these nations, as governments redirected efforts to managing public health emergencies.
Simultaneously, he said, the region endured two hurricanes. On top of this, Dr. Ali noted that the highest transportation and logistics costs in the history of the Caribbean dramatically increased the cost of imported goods. Global events outside the region only exacerbated these difficulties.
According to him, the highest imported inflation on food prices in the region's history stemmed from international disruptions, compounded by the effects of wars, which impacted the global supply of grains.
He noted that Barbados’ ability to maintain a steady Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, even amidst
economic downturns, is indicative of sound fiscal management and innovative policy-making.
“So, you navigated that as a country. But you did not only navigate this as a country, you navigated through an economy where your debt-to-Gross Domestic
Product ratio [in 2017] was 158.3 per cent. You navigated these challenges in 2017, when your import cover was 5.3 weeks. You navigated these challenges in Barbados when your fiscal deficit, expressed as a percentage of your GDP, was 7.6 per cent. The average employment
rate between 2009 and 2017 was 10 per cent,” Dr. Ali said. As a region, however, Dr. Ali emphasised the importance of developing a successful strategy for the future, highlighting that technology integration is crucial.
He said: “The future is a digital future. For too long, as a region, we have taken an individual approach to development. If, by policy, we haven’t done what we were supposed to do by now, trust me, the digital world will force us to do it digitally.”
UNITED IN LEADERSHIP: President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Mia Mottley stride together at the BLP event in Barbados on Friday
President Dr. Irfaan Ali as he delivered remarks at the 85th Annual BLP Conference and Awards Ceremony in Barbados on Friday
Attendees at the BLP’s Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony
Food for all
FOOD is important for our survival. Yet there are millions of people who die from a lack of adequate food and millions more who are unsure as to where their next meal will come from.
The sad thing about it all is that there is more than enough resources to ensure that no individual go to bed hungry. The problem has been, and continues to be, the inequitable distribution of food resources which remain highly skewed in favour of the developed world.
This is why the call by President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali at the recent World Food
Forum has found resonance with millions of people across the globe.
Under the theme 'Good Food for All Today and Tomorrow' President Ali in a virtual presentation highlighted the need to eradicate poverty and hunger by the end of this decade, which he correctly pointed out resulted not simply out of scarcity but one that is intrinsically linked to 'systemic' failures. Something must be fundamentally wrong when 700 million people go to bed hungry each night and over three billion people do not have access to healthy nutritious diet.
This fact has not escaped the attention of President Ali in his advocacy for collective action by world leaders to tackle this problem of hunger and malnutrition.
The problems are multi-dimensional and interconnected. Climate change is increasingly having a disruptive impact on global food production. Wars and conflicts are diverting resources from food production to weapons of mass destruction.
There continues to several barriers faced by developing countries which impacted adversely on their competitiveness on the
world market. Several commitments made by the industrialised nations in terms of financing for climate mitigating measures remain largely unmet. What is required is a collective and concerted approach by the international community to address the issues of hunger and malnutrition which continues to take a heavy toll on a significant segment of the world's population, including women and children.
Guyana's stance on a wide range of global challenges are exemplary. Its emphasis on a low carbon development trajectory has gained praise from the
international community especially on the issue of deforestation and carbon footprint reduction.
Priority on agriculture and food production is second to none in the Caribbean. It is soon to reduce dependence on fossil fuel through several initiatives at green and clean energy including the gas to shore project along with wind and solar energy sources. These initiatives will not only significantly reduce the cost of energy but will enhance the country's competitiveness on the global market.
Great things are in store for Guyanese
especially in terms of energy and food security but the reality is that Guyana's development is inextricably linked to international dynamics. President Ali is on record as saying that Guyana's economic surge will also benefit regional economies. This is indeed a commendable gesture. His call for action at the global level to eradicate hunger and malnutrition at the global level by the end of this current decade is profoundly forward-looking and good food for thought.
We thank you, Mr. Vice-President
Dear Editor,
ON Saturday, September 21, a letter penned by we the students of the E.R. Burrowes School of Art, was brought to the public’s attention
expressing our concerns regarding the resignation of the administrator, Mr. Ivor Thom.
Based on what we were told, Mr. Thom would have been racially abused, and the
situation subsequently was not properly handled by the ministry.
Good news. As of Monday September 23, 2024, thankfully, Mr. Thom has been back on the job following an intervention by the
Vice-President, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo.
On many occasions, the citizenry publicly accuses the government of being too slow, due to bureaucracy, or being tone deaf to the concerns of its people.
Yet, when concerns are addressed, we the people are often silent.
The Vice-President, we have learnt, on hearing about the situation, was swift to take action in addressing and rectifying what could have
been a tragedy, and we the students want to publicly thank him.
Thank you, Mr. Vice-President.
Sincerely, Students of the E.R. Burrowes School of Art
Friday was just another day in my burdened political mind
I AM not one that is impressed or ever will be impressed by the letters written in the newspaper by a Guyanese woman named Janet Bulkan who chose to work in one of the coldest parts of the world – British Columbia in Canada- rather than at her own local university.
I resent people like Bulkan who have time to appear before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to ask that body to intervene in Guyana to stop oil production, but did not see it important to request the intervention of the commission to stop the election rigging that went on for five months in 2020.
Last Friday, Ms. Bulkan published a letter in the Stabroek News (SN). She wants SN to fact-check the contents of correspondence released to the newspaper by the Department of Public
Information (DPI) which she asserts carries propaganda. In an acrobatic swing from her field of forestry, Ms. Bulkan lands in journalistic studies. She wrote: “Independent newspapers could employ an intern to fact-check the DPI.”
Ms. Bulkan speaks about independent newspapers in Guyana. I don’t know about forestry so I will not put my mouth in that direction. I would suggest Ms. Bulkan keep out of subject-matters she has no experience and training in. I don’t believe she can define in the Guyana context what an independent media outfit is.
Space would not allow for an elongated discussion of an independent media organisation. But from where I stand, to categorise the SN and the Kaieteur News (KN) as independent newspapers takes one into the realm of comicality and absurdity. If SN and KN are professional
media entities then Rupert Murdoch is a saint and Fox News is the best source of news in the US.
But SN embarrassed Ms. Bulkan in the very issue –Friday, October, 18 – that Ms. Bulkan extols the independent press in Guyana. In that particular issue, SN chopped off 500 words from a letter written by the project administrator in the Office of the First Lady, Mr. Ravin Singh.
In his 700-word missive carried in the Chronicle of the same date, Mr. Singh took objection to an insensitive article on Venezuelan refugees in one of the SN editorials.
In his Chronicle missive, titled, “Xenophobia has no place in Guyana”, Mr. Singh noted: “Such sentiments risk fostering resentment towards an already vulnerable population, which, ironically, comprises many Guyanese who fled economic hardships and political persecution in
the post-independence period. Rather than encouraging community solidarity, the editorial took an alternative route of reinforcing a dangerous narrative of us versus them”.
Is Mr. Singh right? Let’s quote the editorial of SN: “Guyana is too small a country population-wise and its bureaucratic structures are too limited and imperfect to be able to cope easily with a large influx of migrants. As things stand at present the public does not know how many Venezuelans are in the country.” This is an anti- migrant article that dangerously opens up these unhappy, poor souls to violent jingoistic attacks by Guyanese.
But in order to hide the point of Mr. Singh as to the damage the editorial can do to these hapless migrants, SN chopped the man’s 700 words to 80 words, stuck it near to the sport pages and published
The ‘Godmother’
I CALL her “The Godmother” and consider her my dear friend. Patricia Narine has been running the private washroom, a stone’s throw from John Fernandes Wharf, for over 10 years now.
Before that, she operated the facility on Orange Walk, close to Bourda Market with the same motherly “vibe” that has seen her earn the affection of all who visit the washrooms.
The young men who work at the wharf and are regular visitors, clearly love and respect Patricia, but more than this they treat her as a mother.
They laugh with her, talk with her, confide in her and are willing, helping hands when she needs it.
For not only is Patricia in charge of the washroom, she has transformed the area into a thriving business, installing two freezers nearby- one stocked with beers and then other with non-alcoholic beverages.
Patricia Narine
She also sells sweets and cigarettes, though as a smoker herself, she decries the habit and often talks about giving it up - easier said than done, as she laughingly admits.
When we met, more than a decade ago. I was at a “dark place” in my life
while she was doing well and looking good. I would often recall the first time I saw her getting out of her car near the Bourda facility, looking like a “million dollars”, and watching her open the washroom.
I was surprised. She looked like an elegant
the following barefaced paragraph: “The writer of this heavily edited letter has comprehension problems.”
First, the newspaper guillotined the gentleman’s argument then insulted him by claiming he is incapable of understanding things. This is the newspaper that Janet Bulkan refers to as independent.
This anti-Venezuelan phobia is a huge sign that the great biologist E. O. Wilson might have been on to something when he wrote that humans have a xenophobia gene.
It becomes tragic in the Guyanese context that a country with the largest export of people, per capita, can manifest resentment towards people running from instabilities in their country and seeking an existence in our land.
I go to the National Park and the Eve Leary seawall each day, and when I see these people, I think of the
hundreds of Guyanese I met in Canada when I was studying there and they were so desperate. My wife and I had Professor Bill Carr and his wife over for a lime. And when Bill was leaving, he asked for the coffee cups we served him with because he said when he returned to Guyana, those cups will be like gold nuggets.
The SN editorial carping about these Venezuelan refugees in Guyana reminds us of Shakespeare when he wrote: Oh judgement! Thou art fled to brutish beast
And men have lost their reason
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.
shopper, not someone you would associate with a sanitary premises. I learned the error of jumping to conclusions when I was later able to observe the easy efficiency with which she handled her job and the warmth she showed to all her customers.
At the Stabroek facility, her voice and catchy laughter often ring out as she directs her cleaner/ helper or shares a joke with one of the “regulars”.
This voluptuous woman, sporting locks below her waistline, earns many-a-compliment, often responding by saying, “I'm an [Indian] Rasta and proud of it!”
She told me she has been doing this job in various capacities at locations around the city, earning the fond title of “Indian Chief”.
When the owner of the operation died she took over and turned the Bourda washroom into a meeting place, where vendors
and others would gather to share a brief chat, laugh over the events of the day or even sponsor a social drink.
In fact, when I got to know her, the two of us would often “sub up” and buy a drink, chaser and even “cutters.” I would then sit in with her, lending a hand and even taking her place briefly while she stepped out to make a quick purchase or run an errand.
Our friendship, which began at Bourda, has blossomed at Stabroek, as has her business, catering for
the thirsty multitude who pass through there.
Patricia Narine has turned her humble washroom into a place of joy, where laughter is regularly heard, in a clean and fresh environment.
“I like down-to-earth people...I'm not ashamed of my job. I enjoy it,” she said, adding: “I meet different people, learn a lot and it has made me who I am today.”
And that is a caring and successful, independent female entrepreneur.
Appointing a new Police Commissioner
Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton has threatened legal action over the process to appoint Clifton Hicken as a new Police Commissioner after President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali's consultation.
Norton said the President was breaching the Constitution. He claimed the Opposition Leader was not properly consulted. He even said there was no “meaningful consultation” with the President. He argued that Hicken could not be appointed now because he was beyond the age.
Additionally, Norton had his opposition political minions retired: Assistant Police Commissioners Paul Slowe and Clinton Conway, expressing concern over the President’s decision to appoint Hicken and how the process was developing.
They were joined by the former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran who argued that Hicken could not hold the office as the substantive Commissioner.
Any Guyanese with the slightest integrity and ob-
jectivity could see that these arguments are frivolous and wrong. They could read between the lines and see what the group of politicians, senior ex-policemen and one-sided public commentators who support this line of thinking are trying to do. They are trying to confuse the public and create disinformation and misinformation surrounding Hicken’s intended appointment. By creating confusion and a lack of confidence in the President’s decision, Norton hopes to create the impression that the PPP/C is practising illegality, breaching the Constitution, and wants to clear the way to make another ethnic appointment.
Norton, Slowe, Conway, and Goolsarran also hope that through their public comments in the traditional media and social media, they will stir up some emotions in the Guyana Police Force between those on the extreme right-wing, liberals, and left-wing policing. They hope to cause drama and add to the public’s lack
of confidence in the government’s oversight of the entire police force.
The opposition, through its usual conduits, hopes that there would be widespread condemnation and an outright public rejection of Hicken, bolstered by its plan to move to the Court. It would cause the situation regarding the constitutional appointments, management of the GPF, and law and order to crumble before yearend, marking the launch of public chaos and civil unrest against the police and government.
Firstly, Norton is acting like a political novice. He is behaving as if the PPP/C or the President does not have experience with the appointment of police commissioners or other constitutional office holders. Maybe that is why he has had “zero” success in baiting the PPP/C into doing something that they are not ready to do.
Surely, he does not believe the PPP/C, with all its years of experience, would not know the process of ap-
pointing Hicken now that he is past retirement age. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall has already told the public that he diligently and carefully followed through with the letter and spirit of the Constitution. Nandlall and his colleague Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira, penned certain meticulous letters about the appointment of Hicken and five others to Norton for his reply.
The letters, one would conclude, fulfils all of the requirements that constitute “meaningful consultation” as defined by the Constitution. Even the follow-up letters were crafted in a detailed manner responding to every protestation or objection of Norton in his reply according to the laws.
The fact that Norton responded is enough to state there was meaningful consultation which did not have to amount to a face-to-face meeting. So, there was and will be no unconstitutionality or illegality when or if the government moves ahead with Hicken’s appointment.
Secondly, Hicken’s age could not be the problem because he was legally appointed to act and granted an extension on July 21, 2022, before he attained the legal retirement age. For reference, the news articles in the Stabroek News, Guyana Times and Kaieteur News are still fresh in the public’s mind. Norton ran to the courts and they rejected him then.
Does he want to risk a repeat, talking and threatening the government? How many times must the government defend itself in the court for simple matters like these? Is he willing to waste the court’s time and the public’s patience? Why does he assume he is more learned when it comes to the law than the PPP/C government? Didn’t his PNC-APNU party lose every case which was chal-
lenged except one?
It seems the opposition leader is badly misguided, or deliberately wants to embarrass the opposition and the opposition’s legal team. It was news to the public of how and what was the process to appoint Nigel Hoppie to the post and who appointed him.
If it was a case where the PPP/C instructed its Home Affairs PS to appoint Hicken, it would be a different ball game altogether and Norton could not be faulted for wanting to run for relief from the courts. This, however, is not the case, so the government could go ahead with its appointment.
Thirdly, Conway and Slowe are like pessimists. The critique of the police, policing and law and order by the duo must cause the public pause. They are not to be trusted and believed. There are “all types” of plots, personal scores, malice, envy and bitterness shielded as “concern and care” for the policemen in Guyana. They are on the political campaign of disinformation and misinformation aided and abetted by Norton and the opposition. They are not right though they sound right.
Slowe hates the PPP/C and its progressive policing tactics. And, as for Goolsarran, his comments could not be described as anything more than vacuous, asinine, and unmeritorious. The public must excuse him because, for a bright man, he had a very dull moment when he criticised the government. He should stick to writing from the outside about the work of the Auditor General and nothing else.
After all, Minister Nandlall said the government is prepared to defend its decision and the legality of its actions if it comes to that.
Finally, all the allegations against Hicken were unsubstantiated. And now,
the Opposition Leader wants to stir up confusion and drama surrounding the President’s decision, management and supervision of the force.
He knew that Hicken would be appointed and instead of dedicating time and intelligence to making a strong case backed up by facts or empirical evidence to the president, he resorts to race, discrimination and all sorts of political buffoonery and foolery.
No upheaval and civil unrest will take place as Norton seemingly hopes. Nobody is concerned and the public is satisfied, despite his best efforts at manufacturing a controversy. Using race or the issue of the Police Commissioner appointment to try and stir up division is useless because the police and the public see right through the machinations of Norton, Slowe and Conway.
Nothing will interrupt Guyanese who are busy enjoying the good life, promised by the Coalition Government of 2015 and now delivered by the current government with prosperity and stability added for flavour.
Come to the light Norton. If you will ever be President, you must police your thoughts and actions before you seek to police others. You must have a dossier on Hicken backed up with objections from the Guyanese people and not phantoms. Stop touring and electioneering. Take stock of yourself.
One wouldn’t be surprised if Hicken and his five deputies are appointed already.
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.
AccelerateHer programme continues to propel Guyanese women-owned businesses
THE third cohort of AccelerateHer saw 18 women-owned and led businesses graduating from the recently concluded programme.
The business model, a brainchild of the Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD), funded by the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI), continues to push the needle. It is actively promoting gender equality in Guyana’s oil-and-gas industry.
In Guyana, women-owned enterprises were mostly operating in sectors unrelated to oil and gas, such as agriculture and tourism. This observation gave way to the creation of the programme, which aims to build the leadership and business skills of women entrepreneurs.
Launched in 2021, AccelerateHer was designed to enable the growth of small businesses through tailored workshops, access to one-on-one business advisory services, mentoring, pitch development and supportive peer-learning environment. Additionally, it seeks out motivated women entrepreneurs, who recognise the value and
importance of an interactive and collaborative approach to grow their business acumen and entrepreneurial skills.
AccelerateHer has attracted women from a wide variety of sectors. Outside of refining their businesses, participants have learnt the importance of building better systems and mapping out future developments, taking advantage of opportunities offered, and understanding their market – all practices implemented to propel their businesses forward.
“We can now pitch our business in any room because of the
powerful business model that we’ve learnt. The concept here at the Centre was impactful and it’s now for us to go out there and make the world a better place,” said Sophia Dolphin, founder of Glo-See Marketing and Public Relations and 2024 AccelerateHer graduate.
The serial entrepreneur described her four-month journey with the programme as an impactful one. Elated, she expressed that being a part of the mentee/mentor programme has helped her company better position itself to attract clients.
Echoing similar sentiments was Collina Johnson, founder of CollieBlack Hair Designs who said that while it took a lot physically, mentally and financially to complete the AccelerateHer programme, it was a great accomplishment. Johnson said one of her main take-aways was being better able to scale her business. “There are a lot of things I really did not know, like the business canvas. I had no particular structure to which my business was executed. After the programme everything is much more structured, I understand
my market and I know how to do market research. The capacity building as well as the networking, those were my key takeaways from this AccelerateHer training,” Johnson said.
Since its inception, the programme has expanded, seeing a total of 67 graduates to date. Its existence has impacted the success stories of many women-owned businesses.
How does the Centre achieve this success with the AccelerateHer participants? This is done by approaching the programme in two phases. In phase one, the ‘Weekend Bootcamp’, participants engage in group sessions and take-home activities, subsequently leading to the selection process. In phase two, the programme combines oneon-one and in-person classroom mentorship, where participants are then matched to a mentor and specific programmes based on their business’ needs to build capacity in those areas. A part of phase two is called the ‘Demo Day,’ when participants conduct a presentation of their refined business pitches to members of
the business community.
The Centre continues to serve as a hub for both local and international companies looking to seize expanding opportunities within Guyana’s diverse energy and non-energy sectors. During his recent address at the National Assembly, President Dr. Irfaan Ali disclosed that small- and medium-sized local enterprises have raked in more than US$2 billion since the passage of the Local Content Act.
The Centre, through the AccelerateHer programme, continues to play a critical role in achieving the goals of the Local Content Act by helping Guyanese entrepreneurs benefit from the country’s growing economic opportunities. Through the Centre’s trainings and skills-building sessions, an increasing number of women are being upskilled to foster greater economic growth. This is evident in the testimonies of the beneficiaries, reiterating the positive impact the programme has had on their businesses.
Collina Johnson (left)
Sophia Dolphin
The merits of a mixed economy
President Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s recent announcement that his administration will disburse, effective immediately, GY$100,000 one-off prosperity cash grants to every adult Guyanese, was greeted with much praise by almost everyone and for good reasons.
The President also expanded the policy of a free education at the University of Guyana to include all government technical and vocational training institutions, a decision that will benefit another 3,000 individuals.
APNU+AFC supporters applauded the grant and claimed credit for it. The opposition’s former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, made it appear that he was a personal advisor to President Ali until an August 2018 Kaieteur News story by Kiana Wilburg showed up with a headline that screamed: “Jordan opposed to direct cash transfers of oil money to every household.”
To buy back some relevance with their diminish-
ing audience, APNU+AFC claimed the prosperity grant was hardly enough, a mere drop from the millions of barrels of Guyana’s oil. There is no science to back up the amount a one-off government cash grant should be. Too low a number would render the gesture financially meaningless, while a higher number might signal that Guyana has become a “nanny state,” something APNU+AFC’s leadership would apparently relish.
It is important to recognise that the cash grant and free post-secondary education are mere appetizers on the menu of dishes this administration has been serving up for Guyanese for the last four years.
To take a society from widespread poverty, illiteracy and poor healthcare access to one of mass prosperity, the PPP/C recognises the urgent need for it to co-exist with private capital. It doesn’t take a political science degree to figure out this is exactly what Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has been driving at in his
weekly press conferences.
Yale political economist Charles Lindblom described this as a “mixed economy” and likened it to a human hand where the four fingers of private markets work with the thumb of the government to effectively address negative externalities - pollution, climate change, natural disasters or a prolonged period of inflation, which has been devastating economies just about everywhere in the world.
The prosperity bonus is not diverting state funds away from education, health, infrastructure, science and research.
Those sectors have been served well and still there is a surplus of money in the till to help ease the financial stress in the lives of ordinary Guyanese. My point is that the PPP/C is engineering a social innovation like we have never seen before and they are doing it by finding the right balance between state authority and private enterprises.
History has many examples of free market actors
failing to honour the division between private capital and political authority. Powerful economic elites will always try to shape public policy to their advantage. It is in their DNA. However, only the thumb of the government can reduce the undesired influence of economic actors.
Empirical historical evidence suggests that to have a truly prosperous society, you need a strong, effective and responsive government and this in no way translates into bigger or more government.
The absence of a thriving civil society in a country like Guyana is another compelling argument for government’s intervention to protect and defend the interests of its citizens. That’s what a well-functioning government does. There are a lot of examples of governments messing things up, but there are also enormous examples of governments that get it right. That being said, there are no magic
switches and there certainly is no fixed blueprint.
Sound public policy means shifting the needle when it comes to economic output, but that’s not the end of the story. The 23 highest-output cities in the United States account for roughly half the value of its economy.
Cities like San Francisco, New York, Boston, Seattle and Austin account for the bulk of research, development, patenting, hubs of innovation and advanced manufacturing in America. It’s an incredible feat, but it is causing alarm bells to go off over an increasing level of inequality between rural communities and the handful of urban centers that is driving the economy.
What about Guyana? Should the government allow Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam and centers in between to attract the bulk of private and public capital and thrive, while the rest of the country’s population lags behind?
The merits of a mixed economy dictates otherwise. The PPP/C’s direct interventions in education, research and innovation, agricultural technology, health, jobs, homes, roads, delivering access to potable water and improving sanitation, etc... is aimed at preventing inequality and bridging the social gap that divides hinterland communities from those on the coast.
The goal, again, for those who haven't been paying attention, is and has always been, ‘prosperity for all.’ All means everyone, even the folks in APNU+AFC and those who stubbornly cling to their false promises.
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.
Women contractors among those to secure $2.7B in infrastructural works for Region Five
AS part of its ongoing community road improvement initiative, the government has awarded contracts worth approximately $2.7 billion for the rehabilitation of 191 roads in Region Five.
Speaking at the contract signing event at Fort Wellington NDC, Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill highlighted the government’s commitment to accelerating national development.
He noted that the extensive infrastructural upgrades would span 33 villages within the region.
“This scale of work has never been done in your region before, and it’s being executed now under the PPP/C Administration,” Minister Edghill stated last Friday.
As part of its ongoing community road improvement initiative, the government has awarded contracts worth approximately $2.7 billion for the rehabilitation of 191 roads in Region Five
The government recently upgraded 135 community roads and has 78 more roads currently out for public tender in Region Five. This forms part of a broader national agenda aimed at enhanc-
ing infrastructure to improve the quality of life for citizens.
Minister Edghill also acknowledged the increasing participation of women in the construction sector, which has traditional-
ly been male-dominated.
“We are not just talking about women’s empowerment by sending you to a conference or giving you a sewing machine. We have opened the gates for women to enter the contractor class and compete alongside the men,” he remarked.
Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, who also spoke at the event, emphasised the government’s dedication to ensuring inclusivity in development efforts.
The agriculture Minister noted that 35 per
cent of the workforce in agricultural projects must be women and youths, in line with the government’s commitment to empowering these groups.
“All our projects within the Ministry of Agriculture involve women and youths, ensuring that resources and opportunities are available to every section of our population,”
Minister Mustapha said.
He also added that the construction of farm-tomarket roads is crucial to boosting productivity in the agricultural sector, enabling farmers to ef -
ficiently transport their goods.
Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar urged contractors to maintain high standards in their work, stressing the importance of delivering quality infrastructure that benefits citizens.
The next contract signing for similar road development works will be conducted in Region Ten, in line with the government’s policy of equitable infrastructure development across the country. (DPI)
Strathspey family of three gets home from Men on Mission
A FAMILY of three has become the latest beneficiaries of the Men on Mission initiative, embarking on a new chapter in their lives.
The keys to their new residence in Strathspey, East Coast Demerara, were officially handed over during a ceremony on Friday.
The Head of the household, Rasheed Mohamed, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that his family previously rented a home in Enterprise.
Mohamed suffers from a congenital branchial fistula that prevents him from maintaining stable employment.
As a result, he and his family get by with assistance from their extended family members, and Mohamed earns income from doing various odd jobs.
“I have two sisters who used to send money for us to pay the rent. Most of the time, I would catch fish and that kind of thing and sell to support my family. I can’t really work too hard, due to my sickness,” he said.
This support from their extended family enabled the small family to pay for their plot of land in Strathspey. Mohamed said that the family had applied some 12 years ago.
“Two years after we got the land, I realised I
couldn’t afford to build the house, so I wrote a letter to the President, to see if I could get a little help, and this is what he did for us. I want to thank the President for what he has done for us,” the 40-year-old said.
This intervention has empowered Mohamed, his wife, Seurattie, and their nine-year-old daughter, Areafia, with a stable home, allowing them to focus on building a life together without the stress of a monthly rent.
“I feel so happy that I have my own home; we don’t have to rent anybody’s house,” a relieved Mohamed added.
Mohamed’s story mirrors that of countless others whose lives have been uplifted with the support of the Men on Mission programme.
Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony said that the initiative is aligned with the government’s people-centred approach to development, a concept that drives President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s ‘One Guyana’ platform.
“It doesn’t matter where you’re living; it doesn’t matter what you look like. We want people in this country to have the benefits of the prosperity that this country is undergoing. And we see that as bringing people together,” Dr. Anthony
said.
The health minister acknowledged that there are some persons, who, because of particularly challenging circumstances, are unable to adequately benefit from the ongoing transformation of the country.
This is where programmes like the Men on Mission would prove instrumental in filling those gaps, ensuring that these persons get the necessary support to enhance their lives.
“This government and many of the persons in the government, what we want is to help people. That’s our core mission; to help people. And that help can come in various ways,” Minister Anthony added.
The minister commended the Men on Mission for their arduous efforts since the programme’s launch in 2022.
The Men on Mission was conceptualised by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan
Ali. It aims to reintegrate men into society by equipping them with essential skills for the labour market, and promoting positive change within communities.
Beyond building homes, this group has impacted vulnerable communities through a range of vital humanitarian initiatives.
The Men on Mission recently launched their Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Programme in Georgetown
and Lethem. It provides a comprehensive support system that includes exciting after-school activities. These exercises encompass academic assistance, counselling, and motivation sessions. MoM committee members and several representatives from the Buxton/Foulis Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) were among those present at the event. (DPI)
Mahaicony villages to benefit from small ‘in-line’ water treatment plant
THE Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) has embarked on the Coastal Water Treatment Infrastructure Programme (CWTIP) to increase the treated water coverage to 90 per cent by 2025. This programme seeks to construct seven new large water treatment plants, 15 small plants, upgrading 12 existing plants and installing 200 kilometers of transmission mains to improve water quality, continuity of service and level of service in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six. Recently, GWI Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shaik Baksh inspected
The
works at the Farm Pump Station, Mahaicony.
This pump station has been upgraded to include
a small in-line water treatment plant that is expected to be commissioned soon. Once commissioned, the
upgraded facility will be able to remove the iron content from the water supplied to residents in the area.
This will ensure continued access to potable water and enhance the service delivery with the ground water being treated at the facility and making its way to residents without the iron content.
GWI CEO said that the commitment by the company to residents to ensure that no community/ village will be left out from access to potable water stands and is expanding significantly
with work happening across the country.
Small treatment plants will be installed in Agricola, La Bonne Intention (LBI) and Lusignan in Region Four; Perseverance, Calcutta, Weldaad, Strath Campbell and Ithica in Region Five and Edinburg, Chesney, Mibicuri, Johanna, No. 69 Village and Crabwook Creek in Region Six.
GWI remains committed to ensuring that residents across Guyana benefit from clean, safe and potable water.
A family of three has become the latest beneficiaries of the Men on Mission initiative as they embark on a new chapter in their lives
Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) has embarked on the Coastal Water Treatment Infrastructure Programme (CWTIP) to increase the treated water coverage to 90 per cent by 2025
PPP/C’s house lot allocations in Region Six approximately four times that of APNU+AFC
- after just four years, Minister Croal says; points to aggressive efforts to address outstanding applications, improve access to adequate housing
THE contrast in housing development between the incumbent PPP/C and the former APNU+AFC administration is striking, as the coalition had allocated only 383 house lots in Region Six over five years, while the current administration has already distributed over 1,354 lots.
Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal highlighted this significant progress on Friday, noting that there are currently 7,534 pending applications in the region.
Since returning to office, the government has prioritised housing development, demonstrating a clear commitment to addressing the needs of residents in Region Six and throughout the country.
This sharp increase in allocations underscores the government's focus on expanding access to housing compared to the previous administration’s
limited efforts.
Emphasising the stark difference between the PPP/C’s and the APNU+AFC’s housing efforts in the region, Minister Croal said: “Only 383 lots were allocated in Region Six between the period 2015 and March 2020.”
On the contrary, the PPP/C Government, according to him, has so far expended about $3.2 billion on infrastructural works in Number 75 Village and Number 76 Village, Corentyne, where housing schemes have been developed.
“For those who have not been able to see the land, the infrastructural work for those lots is going to be completed within a two- month duration. So, it means that by December, all persons within 75/76 will see their land,” he told residents.
He asked for house lot owners to be patient, and stressed that the ministry is working assiduously to ensure that they are delivering the requisite infrastructural works and complete ownership agreements.
Additionally, Croal said that to date, they would have regularised 25 areas in Region Six, with two other areas, Belvidere and Clifton, Corentyne, expected to be done before the end of the year.
It was reported on Friday that the Ministry of Housing and Water has announced that total allocations have surpassed 36,693 house lots nationwide, with an addition of 1,000 new lots now made available at Moleson Creek, Region Six.
In terms of ownership agreements, Croal said they are expecting that the process will also be completed within two months, and the agreements will be signed.
Innovation, technology central to Guyana’s push to enhance ‘agri’ output
- reduce
By Cindy Parkinson-Chowbay
FOCUSED on overcoming the barriers that limit intraregional trade within CARICOM, the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, has said that the government is ensuring that the country's agricultural products can flow freely across the region, reducing the country's collective reliance on imports.
Minister Mustapha said that the government is committed to modernising and expanding agricultural production through innovation and technology.
It is to this end that he added that the developments in hydroponics and shade house cultivation are intended to increase the production of high-value crops in a controlled environment.
The Agriculture Minister said: “In Guyana today, we have the largest hydroponics farm in the Caribbean, located at Mon Repos.”
Minister Mustapha related that while the government is diligently working to dispel the myth that only mature people, school dropouts, or the less fortunate get involved in agriculture, he is also delighted to share that that concept is changing drastically in Guyana and
reliance on imports, boost regional trade, Minister Mustapha says
around the Caribbean.
To encourage the influx of young people into this sector, the Minister mentioned that since the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) gained office in 2020, hundreds of shade houses had been created throughout the country.
According to him, they have also engaged graduates from the University of Guyana (UG) and the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) who are employed in fields other than agriculture.
Mustapha said: “His Excellency President Ali has engaged these graduates, and today we have hundreds, if not thousands, of young people who are making a livelihood from agriculture. And that tells a story that with [young people in] agriculture, with food security, and with food production, the future looks very bright.”
Additionally, Minister Mustapha said that this is a critical component of a strategy to reduce Guyana’s food-import bill and achieve self-sufficiency in key areas such as corn and soya.
The Agriculture Minister also said that while he is pleased that they are producing corn and soya, he is optimistic that by 2025, Guyana will be self-sufficient as well as a net exporter in the region for corn and soya beans.
The innovative method, according to him, allows crops to grow efficiently in challenging weather conditions and contributes to food security, not only in Guyana but across the Caribbean.
During his remarks on World Food Day 2024, under the theme “Rights to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future,” Minister Mustapha also highlighted the government’s efforts under
President Ali’s leadership, to make Guyana a food-secure nation and a driving force in regional food production.
These two key initiatives, according to Minister Mustapha, are interconnected in their focus on building a sustainable future.
The government has made significant strides, working with both private and public sectors to elevate Guyana’s agricultural prow-
ess and position it as the “food hub of the Caribbean.”
“On this World Food Day, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the right to food for all,” Minister Mustapha said, adding: “With strategic investments and partnerships, we can build a future where hunger becomes a thing of the past and food security becomes the foundation of sustainable development.”
He called on stakeholders
to continue their support, emphasising the need for collaboration to reduce hunger not only in Guyana but across the Caribbean.
President Ali’s leadership has garnered recognition from CARICOM and international bodies for his dedication to tackling food insecurity.
Vision 25 by 2025 initiative, which seeks to reduce CARICOM’s food-import bill by 25 per cent, is an area in which Guyana has been playing a crucial role.
As other Caribbean nations, traditionally dependent on tourism and oil and gas, turn their focus to agriculture, Guyana is leading the charge in reshaping regional food systems.
Minister Mustapha emphasised that Guyana’s progress in reducing severe food insecurity—currently 25.5 per cent lower than the regional average—was not accidental but the result of deliberate policy measures. These include enhancing food production and improving access to nutritious food across the country.
He also noted the renewed regional interest in agriculture as part of a broader strategy to address food insecurity and reduce dependency on food imports.
UG supports government’s move to take responsibility for world-class tuition-free education
The following is the full text of a statement from the University of Guyana:
“THE University of Guyana is obliged to clarify the current situation in response to the plethora of calls in regard to the recent and ongoing public high-level pronouncements in Guyana on the question of free tuition at the University of Guyana.
1) The University of Guyana welcomes and supports quality free tuition at the University and wherever it can be sustainably offered in our country.
2) The University has made no other determinations subsequent to those already made in regard to this year’s graduation planned for November 7 to 9 and November 16, 2024.
- says appropriate offices swiftly addressing modalities, payment of fees owed by prospective, existing students
However,
tion modalities and the paying over of fees owed by prospective graduates and continuing students to the University are being assiduously addressed by the appropriate offices of the University and the Government of Guyana.
5) This is so that all eligible students can graduate on time and the operations of the university for which fees have always been needed can continue uninterrupted until January 2025 when this first semester officially ends.
6) In support of the Government of Guyana’s generous promises of free tuition, the University has extended itself for the past four years, by allowing thousands of students to attend and successfully complete their studies without fully paying fees.
Therefore, there could be no routine reason why the graduations of students already planned would be withheld by the same University which has nurtured them for all this time.
7) However, revenue from fees cover more than 50 per cent of the University of Guyana’s operating expenses and are always desperately needed towards the end of the year.
8) The University of Guyana, therefore, wishes to assure its stakeholders that all possible avenues are being pursued to ensure the operations and best interests of everyone, most importantly those of our 3,500 prospective graduates are satisfied in the coming week.”
developing conditions surrounding interpretations by students
others about free tuition has produced some conditions which must be addressed ur-
Some of these matters concerning implementa-
Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha
Housing, Local Government Ministries warn against illegal land sales in Mocha/Arcadia
- amidst alarming reports of illicit transactions being facilitated allegedly by community’s NDC members, opposition figures
THE Ministry of Housing and Water (MoHW) and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (MLGRD) have issued a stern warning regarding unauthorised land sales and leases occurring within the Mocha/Arcadia community, located on the East Bank of Demerara.
In separate statements released on Saturday morning, both ministries responded to alarming reports of illegal land transactions allegedly facilitated by members of the Mocha/Arcadia Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and local opposition figures.
The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) emphasised that any unauthorised sale or transfer of land in this area is illegal and will not be recognised.
The MoHW also reiterated its zero-tolerance policy, urging both sellers and potential buyers to cease these
transactions immediately, as they will be deemed null and void.
“We wish to make it unequivocally clear that such actions are illegal,” the MoHW said in its statement, highlighting the urgency of the situation as it works towards regularising land ownership in the area.
In November 2022, the
CH&PA conducted an extensive inventory exercise that revealed over 300 occupied and unoccupied structures in Mocha/Arcadia, and discussions in 2023 with Housing Minister Collin Croal and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Sonia Parag have accelerated the regularisation efforts.
However, the land remains under the jurisdiction of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), complicating the regularisation process. Significant progress has been made, with block plans for three land parcels being prepared to facilitate legal ownership for residents.
The MLGRD further
highlighted the legal framework surrounding state land.
On September 9, 2024, a Cease Order was issued prohibiting all NDCs and RDCs from the rental, sale, or lease of state land without explicit permission from the minister, as outlined in the Local Government Act. It was clarified that no authorisation has been grant-
ed to the Mocha/Arcadia NDC for these activities, and any transactions carried out are illegal.
The Ministry urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities concerning the sale of state lands, reinforcing its commitment to lawful land management and protection of residents from fraudulent practices.
Channels for reporting these activities include telephone numbers (592) 2258619, (592) 223-0781, or (592) 652-3554, and emails ps@mlgrd.gov.gy or ministersecretariat@mlgrd.gov.gy.
Both ministries said they are dedicated to ensuring that the integrity of government records is maintained and that residents of Mocha/Arcadia can obtain legal ownership of their lands through the established regularisation process.
Increase production, tap into readily available markets
By Indrawattie Natram
MINISTER of Natural Resources Vickram
Bharrat has urged loggers and miners from Region Two to ramp up production, assuring them that markets for both lumber and gold are readily available.
During an engagement with stakeholders, he drew attention to the decline in lumber export levels, because most of the production is going towards local consumption. However, he reminded loggers that exports provide a valuable source of foreign currency.
Despite the high environmental standards in the area of forestry, Bharrat said that logging activities have not yet met the allowable production targets. He assured stakeholders that there is room for logging to proceed without violating any production agreements.
The minister related
- Minister Bharrat urges Region Two miners and loggers
Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat has urged loggers and miners from Region Two to ramp up production, assuring them that markets for both lumber and gold are readily available
that while some loggers are actively working their concessions, others are not utilising their allocated resources.
He encouraged stakeholders to invest in their operations, and make full use of the available resources to sustain their livelihoods. Bharrat stressed that there are numerous opportunities for the Essequibo community, particularly in the forestry and oil-and-gas sectors.
He reminded stakeholders that the ministry grants licences for resource utilisation, which do not equate to ownership. The lands remain State property, and the Forestry Commission will review concessions that are not being utilised for production. Edward Goberdhan, Commissioner of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), supported the minister’s remarks, stating that discussions focused on
the challenges faced by stakeholders, particularly the necessity to enhance production within forestry concessions.
Goberdhan emphasised the importance of the forestry industry, which supports 25,000 direct jobs, and the need for collaboration between the Forestry Commission and the Guyana Manufacturing Corporation (GMC) to address national challenges effectively.
He called for greater focus on downstream activities and value-added production, which have seen growth over the past decade.
Currently, log exports are limited, but there is a trend towards promoting local suppliers, including those who specialise in ‘prefab’ furniture and other high-quality products.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining high standards in sawmill
production, focusing on quality, reliability, and adherence to industry codes of practice, ensuring that both domestic and international markets receive top-quality lumber and wood products.
Businessman and a miner, Roopan Ramotar contributed to the discussion by suggesting that there could be improvements, once the road from Essequibo to Buck Hall is upgraded.
Professor Prem Misir’s book proposal unanimously accepted by world-renowned ‘Routledge’
THE editorial committee of Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group, has unanimously approved Professor Prem Misir’s book proposal titled Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare.
Routledge, according to its website, is a global publisher of academic books, journals and online resources in the humanities and social sciences.
Founded in 1836, we have published many of the greatest thinkers and scholars of the last hundred years, including Adorno, Einstein, Russell, Popper, Wittgenstein, Jung, Bohm,
Hayek, McLuhan, Marcuse and Sartre.
Today, Routledge is the world's leading academic publisher in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
According to information from Professor Misir, without question, society today is being fundamentally transformed through AI, machine learning, and automation.
The book, among other things, intends to deliver illustrations of AI-driven health interventions on health inequality and inequity; how AI inputs health inequality and inequity, privilege, and vulnerability for individuals; addressing
the status of ethics and governance for health in defining health inequality and inequity; illustrating the concerns and risks linked to the use of AI for health inequality and inequity; and using social perspectives to strengthen the existing AI ethical and governance framework for impacting health inequality and inequity.
“As per my contract with Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group, this book is scheduled for completion in 2025,” Professor Misir said.
Providing background on his book proposal, he said: “Notwithstanding
that social questions are now being attended to by developers of new algorithmic technologies, these AI designers still present an inadequate understanding of the social impact of their technologies (Joyce et al., 2021); and seem wedded to technological determinism (Vicsek, 2020). Apparently, increased AI activity also has been responsible for the demise of human agency (Anderson & Rainie, 2018).”
However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) advances the view that AI is enamored with huge possibilities to consolidate health care delivery and medicine, which could facilitate the birth of universal health coverage globally.
The WHO explained that AI could also aid low-and middle-income countries to alleviate their burden of substantial gaps in health care delivery. But the WHO also noted that these AI inputs in public health and medicine will not have a beneficial impact, unless ethical concerns and human rights center the design, growth, and deployment of AI technologies for health, according Professor Misir.
He added: “So ethical and governance concerns and human rights issues are social questions waiting to be addressed.
“As we come to grips
with the substantial growth in interest and investment in AI in healthcare, it is useful to mull what Schwalbe and Wahl (2020) concluded: that a great deal of the AI-driven intervention research in global health is devoid of ethical, regulatory, or practical considerations, essential for common use or deployment.”
This situation, he said, has given rise to concerns about the need for an ethical and governance framework that addresses the values, institutional practices, and inequalities embedded in the AI system, even as some ethical guidelines for the employment of AI and data in health, albeit derisory, have appeared.
However, while there is some literature on ethics and governance guidelines with a robust emphasis on assessing the impact of AI on the individual (Smallman, 2022), that literature does not substantively consider the controlling, social and ethical shaping effects of AI on the social worlds.
The intent of this book, therefore, is to develop an ethical and governance framework on AI for health rooted in social and behavioral sciences conceptual
frameworks and theories, Professor Misir said.
He added: “And so, with AI increasing its leverage in health care, it now becomes essential to develop a full knowledge of how AI impacts health inequality and health inequity vis-a-vis the process of delivering healthcare as well as the impacts from various health systems.”
Misir successfully completed the WHO modules on Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence for Health, 2023. And he presented a paper on AI in healthcare at a symposium on artificial intelligence at Trinity Washington University, on October 27, 2023.
He also has a Certificate on Improving Global Health: Focusing on Quality and Safety, Harvard University, 2020. His most recent book, COVID-19 and Health System Segregation in the US: Racial Health Disparities and Systemic Racism, was published by Springer— a German multinational publishing company of books, e-books and peer-reviewed journals in science, humanities, technical and medical publishing.
Professor Prem Misir
TOTALTEC launches multi-sector e-learning platform to empower Guyanese workforce
TOTALTEC Inc., a 100 per cent Guyanese-owned company committed to national development, on Saturday, announced the launch of a groundbreaking multi-sector e-learning platform.
According to a press release from the company, this initiative provides access to internationally accredited training programmes, equipping Guyanese workers with in-demand skills across key industries.
The platform offers a comprehensive suite of courses designed to meet the evolving needs of Guyana's dynamic economy, including: hospitality, construction, oil and gas, industrial, and operations and maintenance,
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TOTALTEC, Lars Mangal said: “TOTALTEC is dedicated to the ‘One Guyana’ vision,” noting: “Our e-learning platform is a powerful tool for upskilling all Guyanese, regardless of their location, and creating pathways to enhanced employment opportunities.”
Developed in partnership with renowned international training institutions, the platform features: flexible learning, interactive context, industry-relevant skills and affordable access.
“Complementing
the e-learning platform, TOTALTEC Training also offers hands-on vocational training at its 80,000 sq. ft. facility in Georgetown, adjacent to the Guyana Shore Base (GYSBI), the company said.
This purpose-built facility has already trained over 4,000 Guyanese to international standards.
Programmes include: foundation safety, specialised lifting operations, and plant inspections and operations.
The company said: “TOTALTEC is the only accredited centre in Guyana for both NPORS (UK National Plant Operators Registration Scheme) and LEEA (UK Lifting Equipment Engineers Association). Its Banksman & Slinger programme is also accredited by LEEA, demonstrating its commitment to delivering high-quality training.
“TOTALTEC e-learning packages are available to government institutions, general public, and private sector, both domestic and international.”
This multi-faceted approach to workforce development, according to the company, is a significant investment in Guyana's future, empowering individuals and driving economic growth.
Ten South-Central Rupununi families benefit from Lethem Housing Support Programme
TEN families in Shriri, located in South-Central Rupununi, Region Nine, are now enjoying improved living conditions after receiving keys to their new homes.
The keys, symbolising new beginnings for these families, were presented by Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues.
According to information from the Ministry of Housing and Water, the beneficiaries are Rayman Griffith, Winston Campbell, Kathleen Saba, Basil Marco, Radisson Johnson, Christopher Duncan, Clarice Simon, D. Saba, Angela Saba, and Paul Moses. Also present at the ceremony were Regional Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Nine, Brian Allicock; Cy Rodrigues from the Hinterland Housing Engi -
neering, and Ramchand Jailall, the Guyana Water Incorporated’s (GWI’s) Hinterland Service Director, along with other technical and support staff.
The two-bedroom units come equipped
with rainwater harvesting facilities and were made possible through President, Dr. Irfaan Ali Lethem's Housing Support Programme.
Each beneficiary received a $1 million startup fund and sought an additional $2 million from a commercial bank, along with support from the Cement and Steel initiative.
During her engagement with village leaders and residents, Minister Rodrigues expressed her satisfaction in fulfilling the promises made.
She said: “I'm so proud to be a minister in this government, commissioning wells and handing over homes. It fills me with great pride,” Rodrigues acknowledged that serving during this pivotal time in the country’s history under President Ali is an honour.
She said: “We respect people and keep our promises, regardless of race, location, or political affiliation. We ensure that we deliver goods and services to everyone.”
The minister reaffirmed that integrity is a hallmark of the administration and assured residents they can always rely on the government.
In the coming weeks, the village will also benefit from an upgraded water supply system. This system, once completed, will provide potable water to a community of approximately 125 residents.
The current water supply infrastructure, which includes a hand-dug well and a solar-powered system, only serves 25 per cent of the population, including essential public facilities like the village school and health post.
The ongoing project, currently 95 per cent complete, aims to enhance access to clean water for more residents and ensure long-term sustainability. The estimated completion date for this project is October 25, 2024.
Ten families in Shriri, located in South-Central Rupununi, Region Nine, are now enjoying improved living conditions after receiving keys to their new homes
Sarfaraz-Pant show followed by collapse leave NZ a target of 107
THREE wickets apiece by William O'Rourke and Matt Henry bundled out India for 462 on Day 4, and enabled New Zealand a target of 107 to win the first Test in Bengaluru. It was a day when the pendulum of momentum swung both ends.
Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant ensured India wiped away the lead without much fuss in the rain-marred first half of the day, and then it was O'Rourke and Henry who triggered the fall of India's last six wickets for only 54 runs. Bad light, and eventually heavy showers, ensured that New Zealand could manage to bat only four balls in a small tricky period before stumps were called on Saturday.
India lost 54/7 against the second new ball
signalled mid-pitch to draw his attention. It took a combination of misjudgement from Devon Conway and keeper Tom Blundell for Pant to make it back into the crease.
The duo went on to stitch a 177-run stand which helped India wipe out the first innings deficit and place themselves comfortably for a significant lead.
one back onto his stumps allowing New Zealand to run through the rest of the line-up.
He was tempted outside the offstump, and he took the bait. With his wide array of shots - cuts, lofts, dabs and punches, he scored briskly through the point and third
The proceedings on the fourth morning began in India's favour. Much like how the hosts had dominated on the previous evening, courtesy of a century stand between Sarfaraz and Virat Kohli, they continued in the same vein on a track that offered little support to pacers and seamers alike. Sarfaraz got going with a flurry of boundaries, starting from the second over.
man region. Pant joined in the act soon after, taking down Ajaz Patel for two sixes and a four in one over. With the field largely spread out, singles were easily on offer. However, the duo didn't stop looking for boundaries as Sarfaraz notched up his maiden Test
ton. Pant also marched along largely seamlessly, even as he missed a few attempted hooks. He was even trapped on the pads a couple of times, but stayed on thanks to inside edges. He also narrowly escaped a run-out, completing the single while watching the ball as his partner animatedly
However, the introduction of the second new-ball changed the complexion of the contest. Sarfaraz went chasing the first delivery by Tim Southee and even as he missed the outswinger, he didn't hold back in looking for runs thereafter. One of those shots, a drive on the up to covers brought about his downfall. Even Pant was continuing in his aggressive spree, including going on his knees and slogsweeping Southee for a 107-metre six.
However, his innings was brought to an end by O'Rourke who operated with much more threatening lines and lengths and put his extra pace and bounce to better use. Pant, batting on 99, played
K L Rahul edged one to the 'keeper at the stroke of Tea and Ravindra Jadeja departed early in the third session, chipping a pull shot off the toe end of his bat to Will Young. Henry then ran through the tail, trapping R Ashwin legbefore, inducing an outside edge to the 'keeper to dismiss Bumrah and having Siraj caught at mid-on. The lowest target defended successfully by India in Tests is 107 against Australia at Wankhede in 2004. However, the Chinnaswamy pitch is unlikely to be as friendly to the spinners. Rain has played its part throughout the Test, and scattered thunderstorms are predicted for Sunday. With a low total to defend and weather likely to play a part, the Bengaluru Test is heading towards an intriguing climax. (Cricbuzz)
Campbell to lead Jamaica Scorpions in Regional Super 50 Cup
KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – John Campbell has been named to lead the Jamaica Scorpions franchise in the upcoming Regional Super50 Cup scheduled to be played in Trinidad and Tobago, from October 29 to November 23.
Campbell, who has played 20 Test matches for the West Indies, had been banned for four years by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) in late 2022 for failing to provide a testing sample to doping control officers in April 2022. The ban was later
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER
(Sunday October 20, 2024)
CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)
Answers to yesterday’s quiz:
(1) Brandon King-91 runs
(2) Kusal Mendis-113 runs
Today’s Quiz:
(1) Which WI made the highest individual score in the recent T20 Int’l series versus SL?
(2) Which SL made the highest individual
reduced by two years and two months.
Discarded West Indies
batsman Kirk McKenzie has been named vice-captain in the 14-man Scorpions squad which includes West Indies and Jamaica youth leg-spin-
Hubbard (2-19) got one to turn away from the left-handed Akshaya Persaud (1), who edged it to slip two runs later.
Persaud had been Demerara’s most fluent batter, and will be a big loss for Guyana in Regional Super50, which starts on October 29, since he will be representing CCC. Imlach reached his 50
ner, Tamarie Redwood. Also included in the squad are former captain, Jermaine Blackwood and West Indies T20 player, Odean Smith.
SQUAD
John Campbell (cap -
from 64 balls on arguably the best pitch in Guyana, and spongy outfield, and along with Raymond Perez (not out 6) saw the host to a victory that took longer than it should have to be completed.
Openers Kevin Boodie (1) and Kemo Paul (1) were removed with just five runs on board, and although Ramkarran held up the Demerara bowlers for 128 balls in his 49 with just a single bound-
tain), Kirk McKenzie (vice-captain), Odane McCatty, Carlos Brown, Jermaine Blackwood, Javelle Glenn, Romaine Morris (wicketkeeper), Brad Barnes, Odean Smith, Jeavor Royal, Tamarie Red -
ary, only Harry, Savory and Sampson (19) off the other batters.
All-rounder Ali-Mohamed troubled the batters with his lateral movement and short balls, while leftarm spinner Ashmead Nedd had 2-25 before last man Ronsford Beaton (5) fell to left-arm spinner Devon Lord, who ended with 11 scalps, the most in the tournament. Imlach had
RESERVES Jordan Johnson, Peat Salmon, Daniel Beckford (wicketkeeper) and Andre A McCarthy.
the most catches (9) by a wicket-keeper. Demerara collected the Winner’s trophy, while Essequibo took home the runners-up trophy. Trophies were awarded to Chanderpaul, Lord, and Ali-Mohamed, while President of ECB and Acting President of GCB Delip Singh confirmed that there was no prize money in the tournament.
wood, Ojay Shields, Gordon Bryan, Marquino Mindley.
FROM BACK PAGE
Azad Khan appointed Honorary Secretary of WICUA
CANADA-based Guyanese, Azad Khan, is the new Honorary Secretary of the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association (WICUA).
According to a release from the WICUA, Khan is one of two new executive members who were recently appointed by the body, the other being
Rohan Chambers of the USA as Assistant Secretary/Treasurer.
The two appointments followed the resignations of Terrence Richards, who previously served as Honorary Secretary and Athol Hamilton as Assistant Secretary/Treasurer.
The WICUA thanked Messrs. Richards and
Hamilton for their service to the organisation and wished them the best in their personal and professional life and also took the opportunity to wish Khan and Chambers all the best in their new positions of service to the organisation.
Khan was elevated to presidency of the Canada
Cricket Umpires Association (CCUA) earlier this year after serving as Secretary since the CCUA was established in 2003.
A qualified WICUA umpire, Khan was also Secretary of the Scarborough Cricket Umpires Association (SCUA) which preceded the CCUA.
CWI to launch domestic T20 competition next May for 2028 Olympics Selection
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – CRICKET West Indies (CWI) President, Dr Kishore Shallow, has revealed plans for a new domestic T20 competition in 2025, aimed at determining which team will represent the West Indies at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics (LA28).
Speaking on the WESN
TV sports show hosted by Andre Baptiste, Shallow outlined that plans were far advanced to host the regional tournament.
“We are putting things in place to have our own T20 league which is a domestic T20 league,” said Shallow. It is really for emerging players, but you will have senior guys as well. This is a tournament
that we are going to use to find new talent and it is scheduled for May next year.”
The CWI president outlined that discussions were already underway with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) to sponsor the tournament next year and that much more details will be finalised following meetings that took place in Paraguay and further
meetings to be held in the Turks and Caicos.
Shallow explained that the domestic T20 competition will feature territorial teams, providing a clear path for the winning side to be selected for the Olympics.
“There will not be every Island in the Caribbean sending a cricket team to participate. We still have to finalise
how many teams will take part and the format. All that will be decided at the upcoming ICC meeting.”
Cricket was one of six sports, joining baseball, softball, flag football, squash and lacrosse, that were recently added to the Olympic programme specifically for LA28. It has been in the Games once before, in 1900.
Lights green for Mainstay drag race meet
THE excitement for today’s Mainstay drag race event has reached a boiling point and will overflow today in the Cinderella county. With more than 50 competitors taking the near six-hour voyage to the day’s event, there is expected to also be some heartbreak when the sun sets.
Second
The overwhelming support for the sport in the county has definitely grown from the first encounter last year with the competition numbers almost doubling.
Enthusiastic fans could be seen flocking the Anna Regina Tarmac last evening for the meet and
greet which lends more hype to today's event.
Set for an 11:00 hours start time, fans can look forward to competition in the 1500cc, 1600cc, 1800cc, 2000cc, 2500cc, 3000cc, Unlimited and female classes.
There is also expected to be a drift exhibition.
The Guyana Motor
Racing and Sports Club (GMRSC) Vice President, Shairaz Roshandin, confirmed that all systems are in place for the event today, with the final preparation work done on several sections of the track early yesterday morning.
"We had to apply some special quick drying ce-
ment to some spots on the track early this [yesterday] morning for some small corrective measures. It is nothing thag competitors or fans should be worried about because it dries in a few hours so it's definitely set for tomorrow [today].
"We also have a few surprises for those fans in Essequibo. We expect to
feature at least one of the newest high powered cars in the sport there. I won't say who or what the team is or what they are bringing, but fans will have to be there to see it."
And while there will be winners and losers after the day, the ancient county will have had a show put on for them.
Vice-President softball tournament
FRESH from the successful staging of the eighth edition of the Prime Minister’s T20 softball tournament, the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc. will end the 2024 season in grand style with the second edition of Vice-president three-day softball extravaganza, set for November 8-10.
According to GSCL president, Ian John,
Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, has, once again, consented to the staging of the tournament in his honour and a significant addition this year is the inclusion of a women’s category.
John pointed out that several teams have already registered to participate and is urging others to do so since registration process will be closed shortly, following which a launch will
take place.
The tournament will be contested in the usual three men’s categories – Open All Stars, Masters Over-40 and Legends Over-50 over 20 overs while the women will compete in 15-over affairs at several venues in and around Georgetown.
Winners in all three men’s categories are guaranteed a first prize of $500, 000 while the runners-up
will take home $200,000.
The winners of the women’s division will cart off $300, 000 and the runners-up $100,000.
John pointed out that softball cricket has always been part of the Guyanese culture and the GSCL Inc. is determined to keep the grassroot sport alive.
The GSCL president disclosed that as an organisation, the GSCL’s vision
is not only about the promotion and playing of softball cricket. The GSCL, through one of its main sponsors, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, has been providing charitable donations to entities and individuals in need throughout the length and breadth of Guyana.
“We are also endeavouring to achieve the goal of encouraging and fostering a sense of community
among all cricket enthusiasts, hence the staging of the annual Prime Minister’s T20 tournament, which saw the participation of women’s teams the last three years. We also anticipate that the second Vice-President T20 tournament will follow suit,” John asserted. (Frederick Halley)
New Honorary Secretary of WICUA, Azad Khan
CWI president, Kishore Shallow
Alfred says 100m semi-final performance gave her confidence to produce her best in the final
AT any major championship, a strong performance in the semi-finals usually makes an athlete’s confidence skyrocket heading into the round where the medals will be decided.
According to reigning Olympic 100m champion, Julien Alfred, that was exactly the case for her in Paris in August.
After getting through her heat comfortably in 10.95, Alfred, 23, was drawn in a brutal second semi-final that also included 2023 World Champion Sha’Carri Richardson and was supposed to have 10-time World and
three-time Olympic Champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Fraser-Pryce failed to turn up for the race meaning Alfred still had Richardson to contend with.
“When I saw the lineup, I was like man, I have to run! I really have to run tomorrow. I kept thinking about how I’m going to execute,” she said on a recent episode of Out D' Blocks on the SportsMax TV YouTube Channel.
“I had to psych myself up mentally,” she added.
The execution couldn’t have gone more perfectly for the St. Lucian as she blasted
out of the blocks, getting a big lead on Richardson before shutting down towards the line to win in 10.84.
She then repeated in the final, speeding to a personal best and national record 10.72 to win her country’s first ever Olympic medal.
Alfred says her semi-final performance gave her the confidence she needed to produce her best in the final.
“After that semi-final, I gained so much confidence,” she said.
Crossing that line and executing such a good race and even slowing down in the last five metres of the race,
I knew I had it in the bag as long as I go out there and do it in the final,” Alfred added.
The World Indoor 60m champion said the performance in the semi-final helped her to be calmer in the final.
“I was as relaxed as possible. The way that semi-final turned out was the best thing that happened to me because I gained all the confidence,” she said.
“Just going back to the warm-up area, my coach kept telling me we’re not done yet, we have one more round,” she added. (Sportsmax)
Yorke, King shortlisted for T&T head coach job
PORT
OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) –
and Sunderland.
FORMER
Manchester United and Trinidad forward, Dwight Yorke and interim head coach, Derek King, are among five coaches who have been shortlisted for the Soca Warriors’ head coach job.
The 52-year-old Yorke, who was most recently in charge of Australian A-League club Macarthur FC, played 74 games for T&T between 1989 and 2009.
Yorke, the frontrunner for the job, also had stints with Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City
Meanwhile, King, who was appointed interim head coach in August, following the sacking of Angus Eve, is also in the running for the post.
However, under King’s guidance the Soca Warriors endured a miserable CONCACAF Nations League campaign where they managed just one win, a 3-1 victory over Cuba.
President of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), Kieron Edwards, recently revealed that the five-person shortlist was narrowed down from over 400 candidates ranging
from North, Central, and South America, and Europe.
The successful candidate is expected to be named at the end of the month.
“I want to assure you that both Dwight Yorke and Derek King are two of the five that we’re looking at. I think with the work that Derek has done for the last two FIFA windows, especially this last window [has been noted],” Edwards told Guardian Media Sports.
“We know that the first window was tough for him to instill his idea in the guys, but we saw a glimpse of it in the Honduras game, during the first 30 minutes or even
Former Manchester United and Trinidad forward, Dwight Yorke
the first half.
“I think Derek has proven himself worthy for the position, and of course, Dwight is there and thereabout, and there are a few others who I would not name at this time.
“I think those two are names that the country is expecting to be there, so I am allowing that to happen, plus we’re working with agents and managers of other coaches right now to have some discussions, and hopefully by the end of the weekend we can conclude those discussions,” he added.
Djokovic beats Nadal as ‘amazing rivalry’ ends
RAFAEL Nadal reflected on an "amazing rivalry" with Novak Djokovic and said he "would not be the player he is today" after losing their final meeting as professionals.
Nadal, 38, announced earlier this month that he will retire from tennis at the end of the season.
Serbia's Djokovic beat the Spaniard 6-2 7-6 (7-5) in their third-place match at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia. The pair shared a warm embrace at the net at the end,
while Nadal was presented with a golden tennis racquet as part of a post-match presentation in Riyadh.
"Thank you very much for all of the moments we shared on court during all of our careers - we have had an amazing rivalry," said Nadal in an interview conducted on court.
"You helped me to go over my limits so thank you for that, because without that, I would probably not be the player that I am today."
Nadal will represent Spain in his final appearance
at next month's Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
"What I will miss is almost everything," added Nadal, who won a record 14 French Open titles and 22 Grand Slams in total.
"It has been a dream come true to have been able to play for almost 20 years, being competitive and having the chance to play at the best places in the world.
"I realised my dream to become a professional tennis player and be a successful one. I can't thank people enough for the support and
the love I've received all around."
'You have left an incredible legacy'
Djokovic, with 24 Grand Slam titles, is the only male player to have won more than Nadal's tally of 22.
The reigning Olympic champion had won 31 of their 60 ATP Tour and Grand Slam meetings before Saturday's contest.
Speaking after the match, he told Nadal: "I have the utmost respect for you - an incredible athlete and an incredible person.
"The rivalry has been incredible, it has been very intense, so I hope we will have a chance to sit on the beach somewhere and have a drink reflecting on life and talking about something else.
"It's been an incredible honour and pleasure to share the court with you. It's an emotional moment and an emotional day, we've been playing so many matches over so many years.
"I will finish with one big thank you from not just me, but all of the tennis world, for what you have done.
You have left an incredible legacy."
Italy's Jannik Sinner is facing Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in Saturday's final for a first prize of $6m (about £4.5m).
Between them, world number one Sinner and world number two Alcaraz have won all four men's Grand Slam titles in 2024. Sinner won the Australian Open and US Open, while Alcaraz was victorious at the French Open and Wimbledon.
Reigning Olympic 100m champion, Julien Alfred
Simmons hopes to bring focus back to cricket for Bangladesh
PHIL Simmons, Bangladesh's newly-appointed head coach, on Saturday said that he is eyeing to make his charges focus on cricket, leaving behind all the noise as they prepare to take on South Africa in the two-match Test series, scheduled at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium from October 21.
He has come into the team at a controversial time, following the axing of Chandika Hathurasinghe as the head coach and the unavailability of Shakib Al Hasan for home games, taking the attention from cricket to all the off-field controversies.
"That's the big part of our job over the next few days, to make sure the focus is on the cricket, and not on the outside of cricket. We can control how we prepare for Monday, that's how we are trying to get the team to focus," Simmons told reporters at his first
official press conference at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.
"The good thing is we have a very important Test match to prepare for. We win the next few Tests, and we are in contention for the (WTC) final. My first port of call is cricket, and about getting the squad ready for Monday. The last two days (of training) have been brilliant. We have to try to leave out the confusion that's around the cricket, and concentrate on preparing for Monday," he said.
Simmons, who will be the second West Indian to act as head coach of Bangladesh after Gordon Greenidge, said that his stint with different countries like Ireland and Afghanistan will help him guide the team forward.
"All these experiences will help me in the next few days to get me ready for Monday. Afghanistan helped me with the language barrier sometimes. Ireland helped
me with developing young players. It all comes in at the end of the day. I have to use all those experiences in this assignment.
"My philosophy is to work hard in your preparation and results will come in the match. What I have seen in the last couple of days, these guys work really hard on their game, skills and fitness. I am pretty happy
over the last couple of days," he said.
Simmons, who was interviewed earlier by BCB in 2018 but could not get the job, added that it was not a very difficult decision for him to take up the role when offered by the board.
"The interest comes from seeing the quality of the young players. They handled themselves well against Pa-
kistan. They didn't do well in the T20Is against India but they played against the best T20 team in the world, so you have things to take out of there. It all added up to an assignment, which I enjoyed. One, young players to develop. Two, there are Tests and ODIs involved. It wasn't a hard decision.
"All international coaching jobs are hot seats. Bangladesh is different. Pakistan is different. For me, it is a case of getting the players to play and enjoy everything and win matches. The seat is not hot. The last two days have been really good," he said.
Simmons added that they are eyeing to give a tough time to South Africans, who could not win a Test series in the subcontinent in the last 10 years.
"It is definitely a good opportunity. Bangladesh are usually very strong at home. So it is a very good oppor-
tunity for us to win the Test series. South Africa has that (record of not winning in the sub-continent in the last ten years) hanging over their head but they are a resilient team. They will work hard to change that," he said adding that he had some good chat with skipper Najmul Hossain during the last two days.
"It has been about his thoughts on players and the direction he wants to take the team. It was also about what we do before Monday. It is generally about how we go into the first Test match. As we get to know each other, there will be more discussion about ODIs, etc. Now it is about Test cricket, and what we are going to do in these two matches.
The second Test of the series, which is part of the ICC Test Championship, will be played at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium at Chattogram from October 29. (Cricbuzz)
Verstappen wins US sprint to extend title lead
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took his first Formula 1 victory for nearly four months with a controlled drive in the sprint race at the United States Grand Prix.
Verstappen’s win extends his championship lead over McLaren’s Lando Norris to 54 points.
Norris was running second going into the final lap but a lock-up at the first corner allowed Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz to slip by in Austin, Texas.
The Briton then had to fend off the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, which he managed to do to the flag, helped by a mistake by Leclerc into Turn 15.
Verstappen’s victory
was his first in F1 since the sprint event at the Austrian Grand Prix in June, and could be a decisive development in the title race on a weekend where Red Bull have introduced a major upgrade to their car.
Qualifying for today’s main grand prix at the Circuit of the Americas is at23:00 BST.
Dutchman Verstappen converted his pole position into a lead at the first corner and was able to keep Norris at bay for the
full 19 laps.
"It was not too bad," Verstappen said. "It feels a bit like old times. The whole race, Ferrari was always very quick, but for us we were finally racing again. We had good pace."
Norris jumped up from fourth on the grid to second on the first lap with a superb first four corners, sweeping past Mercedes’ George Russell into the fast Esses after passing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at Turn One.
Sainz and Leclerc staged a race-long battle in the Ferraris in a sprint that was engrossing throughout.
The Ferraris staged a frantic scrap over the first five laps in which they seemed to spend almost as much time side by side as in line astern. Sainz time and again attemped moves only to be rebuffed, often as he ran into corners too deep.
Once ahead on lap five, with a dive down the inside at Turn 15, the Spaniard attacked Russell as the Mercedes driver started struggling with front tyre wear, and moved ahead at Turn 15 on lap nine, Leclerc following him through at the same place next time around.
Leclerc came back at Sainz in the closing laps as the Spaniard himself tried to attack Norris for second.
And Norris’ error into Turn One, locking his inside front wheel, allowed Sainz to slip by and reduced the pressure from Leclerc, who had been lining up for a move on his team-mate.
Phil Simmons has become the newly appointed head coach of Bangladesh
Max Verstappen has now won all four sprint races so far in 2024
CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani concludes visit
THE Guyana Football Federation (GFF), at the Pegasus Suites, on Friday evening, honoured and celebrated with its partners and stakeholders at a farewell reception for the FIFA VicePresident and CONCACAF head, Victor Montagliani who visited Guyana.
Victor Montagliani said he was pleased with the work being done in Guyana by the GFF and promised the support from CONCACAF in raising the bar for the sport.
He commended the sponsors and supporters of the football brand in the country.
“You can build facilities, which is obviously important, you can run programmes which is important; you have to have partnerships which are important and kudos go to your corporate community………it is obvious to me over the course of today (Friday) that it’s not a transactional relationship. Too often partners or sponsors are transactional relationship but
here it’s obvious they have been brought in”.
He encouraged the GFF to keep a ‘football first’ philosophy and to continue building the game.
“For those of you that have played the game or been around the game, or seen your children play, when teams are successful is because there is a sense of family in the locker
room and they will bleed for each other because family is not just blood family is people you will bleed for and that is how I was raised in football.
Football has to be family and every decision you make as a leader in this game has to be a football first philosophy because the game takes care of itself; if you take care of the game, it will take care of
the stakeholders”.
Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Football Federation, Wayne Forde, said that discussions with the CONCACAF head and his Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali earlier on Friday inspired them to soar higher.
“We had an inspiring conversation with President Ali, where he once again recommitted his government and personal support to the development of football and we explored the possibilities of future collaborations between the GFF, the Government of Guyana and CONCACAF. I believe we will take concrete steps over the next couple of weeks and months to deliver on some of FIFA VP and CONCACAF President Montagliani’s suggested projects.
The GFF used the occasion to honour sponsors BACIF, Guyana beverage Inc., as well as a host of football officials locally for their unwavering support during the year.
Hope to bank on consistency for ODI series
PALLEKELLE,
Sri Lanka (CMC) – West Indies captain Shai Hope is calling on his side to play good consistent cricket when the much-anticipated first of three ODI’s between host Sri Lanka and regional side bowl off at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium today.
With crucial ICC ranking points and World Cup qualification implications at stake, Hope said his team will have to be on their ‘A’ game if they are to topple the host.
“We are looking ahead and have to ensure that we are playing good cricket and get back up the rankings, so we don’t have to qualify this time. We have to take it one
step at a time, as much as we are looking ahead, we have to stay in the present.”
The West Indies, ranked 10th are eager to bounce back after losing the T20I series. They will be led by the experienced Hope, with fast bowler Alzarri Joseph as his deputy.
The Caribbean side has a rich blend of youthful exuberance and seasoned campaigners. A key inclusion is 17-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Jewel Andrew, who will be eager to make his mark in international cricket.
In addition to Hope and Joseph, players like Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rutherford, and Roston Chase bring firepower to the West In-
dian line-up, while Romario Shepherd and Hayden Walsh Jr offer plenty of depth in the all-rounder and spin departments.
“We have some new members and returning guys and we need to get consistent performances together and find ways to win key moments in games and do the best we can,” added Hope.
Once again, the regional side is expected to face a steady diet of spin in Pallekelle and Hope is keen to take on the challenge.
“Whenever you come to Sri Lanka you have to expect the ball to do a bit, especially from a spin bowling standpoint. We can’t have too much of a pre-determined mindset. We have to wait and see
what the pitch offers.”
“We have to play what we see and understand that it can look like a dust bowl and play straight on. We have to be adaptable
Lanka, currently ranked seventh in the ICC men’s ODI rankings will be led by Charith Asalanka. Their side features a blend of experience
in that respect and ensure we are ready to play what they through at us.”
In the meantime, Sri
and youth, with exciting prospects like Chamindu Wickramasinghe, who has received his maiden
ODI call-up.
The team will be bolstered by the return of left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka, who has recovered from a hamstring injury. Furthermore, star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga returns to the side after missing two matches against India earlier this year.
Head-to-head, the two teams are almost evenly matched. West Indies hold a slender advantage, having won 31 of their 64 ODIs against Sri Lanka, while the hosts have claimed 30 victories. Their most recent meeting saw Sri Lanka dominate with an eight-wicket win during the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Super Six in July 2023.
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West Indies ODI captain Shai Hope
Demerara retains GCB Inter-County super50 title
- Imlach, Nandu and Ali-Mohamed star in 7-wicket win over Essequibo
By Sean Devers
HALF-centuries from skipper Tevin Imlach and Matthew Nandu, along with a Man-of-the-Match (447) from Renaldo Ali-Mohamed led defending champions Demerara to an em-
phatic seven-wicket win over Essequibo in the final of the GCB Inter-County Super50 at GCC Ground, Bourda yesterday.
Scores: (E’bo 164 in 46.5 overs, Dem 167-3 in 33.4 overs)
The win was the second
in two days for Demerara over Essequibo, who settled for the runners-up spot despite 49 from Kanhaiya Ramkarran, who shared in a couple of 40-run partnerships, with Kemol Savary (21) for the third wicket, and with Keanu Harry (26) for
the sixth wicket.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul, the tournament’s MVP and batter with the most runs (239), followed up his unbeaten 103 with two fifties scored 33 yesterday.
He added 56 with Nandu for the first wicket before he
was hit on his elbow, and had to retire hurt.
Sachin Singh (1) fell to Quinton Sampson at 57-1, before Nandu, whose 59 from 89 balls with four fours and a six, and Imlach, who scored an unbeaten 56 from 73 balls with three boundaries, shared in a 90-run stand. Nandu, who reached his fifty from 77 balls with fours, celebrated the landmark with a six off young pacer Thaddeus Lovell, was removed by off-spinner Malcolm Hubbard at 147-2.
Flashback: Vice-president, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, poses with the victorious Regal Legends players after last year’s tournament
The Championship-winning Demerara team with GCB officials celebrate at Bourda yesterday
Tagenarine Chanderpaul is presented with the MVP Trophy for making the most runs in the tournament by GCB Vice-president Delip Singh Devon Lord collects his trophy for taking the most wickets (Sean Devers photos)