- President Ali highlights 2024 achievements, plans for 2025 & beyond
- Investments in infrastructure, human capital, digitisation, economic diversification to continue
By Trina Williams
AS Guyana’s landscape continues to reach unprecedented heights and the lives of citizens beam with opportunities, President Dr Irfaan Ali has additional plans to further reshape the country.
In a recent ‘In the Seat’ media engagement, the President reflected on his government’s achievements since assuming office in 2020 and discussed development plans for 2025 and beyond.
While noting that the government’s accomplishments are based on its 2020 manifesto promises, President Ali proudly reported that the administration has almost completed all of them.
“Every single commitment we made in the manifesto has been realised and we are now working on bonus achievements,” he said.
Reflecting on how Guyana has been steered in a transformative path since his government assumed office, Dr Ali then highlighted how Guyana has evolved in all spheres.
The President was not only speaking about the physical infrastructure, but also about how the surge of development has greatly impacted citizens’ lives.
“Whatever we invest in, from an infrastructure perspective must lead to the opening up of opportunities, the creation of new growth areas and growth poll, enhancing productivity, building productivity. That’s an important aspect of what development is and what investment in infrastructure is.”
As he further explained how Guyana’s physical landscape has
transformed, the President mentioned that even with the recent rainy weather, citizens are lauding how the drainage and irrigation systems have greatly improved under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration.
The President emphasised the significant advancements occurring across various sectors, highlighting the continuous development of the healthcare system. He specifically pointed out that thousands of nurses are being trained to meet the growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals. Additionally, efforts are underway to enhance welfare and healthcare management, ensuring that critical infrastructure and services are strengthened to improve the overall quality of life. These initiatives reflect a broader commitment to building a robust healthcare system and supporting the well-being of citizens.
Furthermore, President Ali’s vision for a better Guyana is not one-dimensional as he explained how the country’s competitiveness also needs to be taken into account.
“This is key. As we develop, as we open up new manufacturing and industrial opportunities, our competitiveness is key and critical.”
Dr Ali elaborated on the different facets of competitiveness, emphasising the importance of investing in human resources to ensure the workforce possesses the right skills. He stressed that fostering the necessary capacity and capability is key to maintaining a competitive edge.
The President then highlighted another critical area of competi -
tiveness -- energy costs. He pointed out that Guyana’s gas-to-energy project is poised to play a crucial role in achieving competitive energy prices, which will have a positive impact on the lives of all citizens. This initiative reflects the government's commitment to improving economic efficiency and promoting sustainable development.
“With the gas-to energy project coming close to an end, the cost of energy will come down by half. So, building up that infrastructure to support the reduction in the cost of energy is a key part of building our competitiveness,” he said.
Notably, the gas-to-energy project will see a 200km 12inch diameter pipeline channelling natural gas from the Liza Phase One and Liza Phase Two Floating, Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessels to a power plant Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility that will be built at Wales, WBD. That pipeline will be landing on the West
Coast of Demerara (WCD) shore and continue approximately 25 kilometres to the NGL and power plant facilities. The project has an estimated total cost of US$1.8 billion and is cost recoverable. The gas-to-energy project is expected to be up and running by the end of the first quarter of 2025 and has a 25-year lifespan.
The conversion of natural gas from ExxonMobil’s offshore operations to electricity is a key component of the government’s objective to lower energy costs by at least 50 per cent through an energy mix which incorporates gas, solar, wind, and hydropower.
Other aspects of boosting the country’s competitiveness include efficiency and effectiveness of the transport and logistics system, agriculture and technology investments, and the country’s port facilities, Dr Ali said.
The President highlighted the significant investments being made in infrastructure, which
are directly benefiting citizens. He pointed to various government initiatives, including the creation of numerous programmes and the establishment of specialised institutes aimed at skill development across different sectors. One such initiative is the National Skills-Training Centre at Port Mourant, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), which will serve both local and foreign trainees, equipping them with essential skills for the workforce.
Additionally, the President underscored the importance of the country’s first-ever world-class Hospitality and Tourism Training Institute (HTTI), also located at Port Mourant in Region Six. This institute is expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing the skills of citizens and improving employment opportunities in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
Dr Ali also mentioned a recent partnership between Canada and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations, aimed at addressing regional development challenges. This collaboration focuses on education and workforce training, further reinforcing the government's commitment to building a skilled and competitive workforce.
Last week, Canada’s Minister of International Development announced that the country will contribute up to CAD$3 million to establish the Caribbean Future Skills Fund.
This initiative aims to build a workforce capable of capitalising on technological innovation, ultimately contributing to sustainable and inclusive economic growth in the Caribbean.
President Ali noted that this offers tremendous opportunities, yet the greatest difficulty is finding people to sign up.
“The opportunities are there, building the human-resource capacity and capability, strengthening that human resource asset…All of this is aimed at creating a human capital that is highly trained, highly skilled and highly integrated in the economy that we’re building.”
As the world rapidly evolves, the President emphasised the government's focus on building a future-ready Guyana that aligns with the global 2030 vision. Dr Ali highlighted that bridging the digital gap between Guyana and the rest of the world is a key priority, requiring significant investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and other critical sectors.
He outlined that ongoing efforts to digitise the economy are aimed at improving systems, which in turn will contribute to the development of a more efficient and prosperous society. Furthermore, the President pointed to economic diversification as a crucial strategy for sustained growth, with the government actively working to expand and diversify key sectors
In addition, Dr Ali noted the importance of Guyana’s rich diversity, which is being leveraged to create opportunities that benefit all citizens. By harnessing this diversity, the government aims to foster inclusive growth and build a stronger, more resilient economy.
ALTHOUGH the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) had hit rock bottom because of the former APNU+AFC administration, the current government has revived it and “heads will roll” if certain targets are not met.
This was a stern warning from President, Dr Irfaan Ali in a recent ‘In the Seat’ media engagement.
Prior to its election to office, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government had promised to revive the sugar industry and re-energise local communities devastated by the unconscionable decision by the APNU+AFC to decommission and close several grinding estates.
And this promise was kept.
However, Dr Ali has said that the government is disappointed with GuySuCo’s current performance.
“I don’t shy away from issues as challenging as they may be. I've read the
riot act to the management of GuySuCo. I’ve let them understand that we are very dissatisfied with the performance and notwithstanding the difficulties, we know they have and that is the condition of the field, which is more or less fixed now cause [of] the downtime in the factory.”
Further, the President said because several estates were previously shut down, it impacted production.
“We sat down with them, they brought together an investment plan that is needed to keep the factories working, to keep the factories efficient. We’ve supported that investment plan. So, I made it very clear, that if the target for 2025, the first crop target and the second crop target is not achieved… then heads will roll.”
In 2017, the former APNU+AFC coalition government made the decision to shut down several sugar estates nationwide, resulting in thousands of workers
losing their jobs and sources of income. This move led to the closure of four sugar estates, leaving over 7,000 sugar workers unemployed.
The Rose Hall Estate, before its closure, employed approximately 2,500 workers, with 1,181 being retrenched. The remaining workers were reassigned to Blairmont Estate on the West Coast of Berbice and Albion Estate on the Corentyne.
Historically, Guyana relied heavily on sugar as a major source of revenue, making it one of the country’s largest income earners.
However, the industry eventually faced financial troubles, with mounting debts pushing it into insolvency. The primary issue was that the cost of sugar production exceeded the market price. GuySuCo, for instance, produced sugar at an average cost of US$0.35 per pound, while global market prices averaged just US$0.16 per pound.
Although the sugar industry has long been seen as a financial burden, the PPP administration is now determined to revive it and bring it back from the brink of collapse.
was like a forest. So, we had to build back from the field, then we had to build back from all the factories,” he explained.
The Head of State urged that the sugar industry should not just be viewed as a financial product, but also from an economic perspective, citing the industry’s spin-off benefits to communities.
However, President Ali acknowledged that a major challenge lies in the ageing equipment and lack of spare parts for the sugar factories, which have caused significant downtime.
In a previous ‘In the Seat’ media engagement, the President stated that the continued investments in the GuySuCo is aimed at making the industry economically viable, but Guyanese must be reminded of the deplorable state of the sugar industry prior to the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration.
“One must remember what we inherited when we came into office,” he said.
“The fields were left abandoned, even the canals—big trees were in all the canals, all the punts were rotted. There was no dam. It
To address these challenges, the government has enlisted international support. In addition to restoring the physical infrastructure, the President pointed out the need to create a new culture in the sugar industry—a culture focused on efficiency, productivity, and a sense of ownership among workers.
“We have to develop a new culture, a winning culture, within the industry,” Ali said. “This period of rebuilding will have its challenges, but we have to embrace it if we are going to make the industry successful.”
IN a bold and decisive statement, President, Dr Irfaan Ali has warned that “heads will roll” if the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) fails to improve its services in 2025. Speaking with a group of women journalists during the second episode of In the Seat, the
sumers. The public, including businesses and households, have been vocal in its dissatisfaction with the quality of service provided by the power company.
Dr Ali reiterated that the government’s focus was on modernisation, expansion, and improved efficiency of the
“I have made it very clear to the management of GPL that ‘heads will roll’ there, if we don’t see, with these investments, marked improvements by the end of the first quarter. At the end of January, we will start looking for the type of improvements that I expect out of GPL. Then
President emphasised the importance of reliable electricity service for the country’s economic growth, social development and overall quality of life.
President Ali's strong words followed mounting concerns over frequent power outages, system failures and the deteriorating performance of GPL, which have led to widespread frustration among con-
country’s energy sector. The President explained that the government has already been investing heavily in upgrading the infrastructure to address these issues. This includes the construction of new power plants; the expansion of the transmission and distribution networks; the rental of power ships and the integration of renewable energy sources.
heads will roll,” the Head of State asserted.
The phrase "heads will roll" is a warning that certain actions will lead to severe consequences. It can also be used by employers to signify that they will terminate an employee's employment.
President Ali also stressed the critical need to address human-resource gaps by recruiting more engineers,
technicians, and linesmen to strengthen the workforce. “We’re also working on securing the technical expertise that can help in the management of GPL… to have a management-support contract. So, we are examining that right now.”
He emphasised that the government is investing in the power company and that the company must be held accountable for the quality of service it provides.
Earlier this year, President Ali expressed deep concern over the state of Guyana’s power infrastructure, which is significantly impacted by aged generators--some over 30 years old--compounded by a five-year period of maintenance neglect between 2015 and 2020 under the Alliance For Change + A Partnership for National Unity (APNU+AFC) government.
According to the Head of State, these issues have resulted in inefficiencies in power generation, thereby exacerbating the shortfall in meeting the nation’s escalating electricity demands.
Disruptions in the electricity network are often caused by traffic accidents and construction activities,
while the country's increasing electricity demand is driven by new housing developments. The gas-to-energy project, set to be launched next year, is poised to transform Guyana's energy sector by delivering reliable power and cutting electricity costs by 50 percent.
WITH the festive season upon us, it is timely to acknowledge that Christmas in Guyana is not just a celebration of the birth of Christ, but also a vibrant expression of culture, community, and joy.
This year, the spirit of Christmas is particularly bright, thanks, in part, to the initiatives undertaken by the People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government. Through salary increases and various economic measures, the government has significantly enhanced the disposable income of Guyanese citizens, allowing families to celebrate this season with greater enthusiasm.
Christmas in Guyana is characterised by its unique blend of traditions, music,
and communal gatherings.
The annual Christmas Village along Main Street, in Georgetown, serves as a focal point for these celebrations. This year, it was further enlivened by the launch of the 'One Guyana Supermarket', an initiative aimed at promoting local businesses and agricultural products.
President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali emphasised the importance of supporting local produce, and celebrating the Guyanese identity during this festive period. The government’s commitment to fostering unity and cultural pride is evident in its efforts to create a festive atmosphere that brings together families and communities.
The Christmas Village not only showcases local talent through performances, but also encourages economic activity by providing a platform for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to thrive. This initiative reflects a broader strategy to stimulate economic growth, while enhancing the festive experience for all.
The PPP/C government's approach to improving disposable income has been multifaceted. Recently-announced salary increases for public servants are a significant part of this strategy. Public servants benefitted from a retroactive 10% pay increase, and will get an additional 8% in 2025.
Such measures are not merely financial adjust -
ments; they are vital steps towards ensuring that public servants can enjoy a more comfortable standard of living during the holiday season.
Moreover, the government has introduced various allowances aimed at addressing wage disparities, and incentivising professional development. For instance, qualification allowances will reward educational achievements with monthly stipends ranging from $15,000 for ACCA holders to $32,000 for those with doctoral degrees.
These initiatives serve to uplift not only public servants, but also contribute to the overall economic well-being of families across Guyana. In addition
to salary increases, the government has leveraged the country's oil wealth to boost disposable income by an estimated $70 billion in 2024.
This includes maintaining a zero per cent excise tax on petroleum products, and implementing measures to reduce food prices.
Such actions directly alleviated financial burdens on families at a time when expenses typically rise due to holiday preparations.
As we embrace this Christmas season, it is crucial to recognise how government initiatives have intertwined with cultural celebrations to foster hope and prosperity among Guyanese citizens. The PPP/C government's focus on enhancing disposable income
through salary increases and economic support measures has allowed families to engage more fully in the joys of Christmas.
This year’s celebrations are not just about personal joy; they reflect a collective resilience, and an optimistic outlook for the future. As President Ali aptly noted, this festive period is an opportunity for all Guyanese to celebrate their identity, while supporting local enterprises.
As we gather with loved ones around festive tables filled with local delicacies, and share in the joy of giving, let us also appreciate the role that supportive governance plays in enhancing our holiday experiences.
Dear Editor,
“CHESTNUTS roasting on an open fire. Jack Frost nipping at your nose. Yuletide carols being sung by a choir. And folks dressed up like Eskimos… Although it’s been said, many times, in many ways Merry Christmas to you.” So, another year has almost passed and Christmas is upon us once again. It is the time of year when Christians reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ whom they worship as their Lord and Saviour. While Christmas is a festive season that represents peace on earth and goodwill to all mankind, our sympathy goes out to all those who are bedridden in hospitals and who have lost loved ones during the year. This Yuletide season brings hope to many as it is a period of reflection on our lives and how we must redouble our efforts in 2025 to love one another and live in peace and harmony and make Guyana a prosperous nation.
If there is ever a time when politics should take a holiday, that time is at Christmas when families from all walks of life come together to celebrate the
occasion with various religious and non-religious festivities. It would be very easy to dwell on the negative, but in this blessed and joyous season, let us choose happiness over sadness, love instead of hatred, forgiveness rather than vengeance/retribution and peace as an alternative to war as we embrace the special joy of a Guyanese Christmas at home and abroad. Those who can enjoy the warmth of the sunshine in Guyana and its fine dishes: pepper pot, curry and roti/puri, cook-up, ham, roasted pork, black cake and ginger beer etc. should think of our fellow Guyanese in the Diaspora who are overwhelmed with nostalgia at this festive time of the year as they endured the cold climate.
Christmas is a time of healing and friendliness to all mankind. What more appropriate time can there be for us Guyanese to forget the hurt, the animosity, the persecution, the frustration and the bitterness of the past?
We call on each of you to renew your spirit in the Almighty and your love and affection towards one another; hold out the hand of friendship to neighbours, friends; to those from whom
you have been estranged and to the persons who have done you wrong. Let us recapture the spirit of the message that brought joy to the world 2000 years ago by the Babe of Bethlehem. Let us celebrate and be happy and pledge to work together to free Guyana from the monsters of poverty, homelessness, crime, corruption, prejudice and intolerance. We must spare no effort to rid our beloved country from the division of the races and return it to a true and meaningful, loving and a peaceful nation.
In this festive season, we are pleased to encourage our fellow Guyanese to pray for Guyana and the prosperity of all Guyanese and for commonsense and understanding to prevail in their actions at all times. We also pray for peace, happiness and goodwill towards peoples all around the world,; for love towards one another and hatred towards none. Perhaps the holidays will give our national leaders a chance to reflect on a plan that is inclusive of all in society, so that they can make better personal and political choices in 2025, and embrace the new year as one of healing, atonement and co-operation,
and provide genuine, honest and well-intentioned leadership to the nation.
There is no shortage of sharing and goodwill in Guyana, especially at this time of year. There are stories everywhere of people giving to the less fortunate, the elderly, the homeless and to children. There are many more acts of kindness being displayed throughout the holiday season, but which are not reported. To those who have and continue to extend a kind and helping hand to others, we thank you for a job well done. For if that display of human compassion helps to change the life of just one person for the better, it would have been worth the effort. However, the spirit of giving has not been made easy for many because of the high cost of living.
In fact, there are many others who wanted to give but are not in a position to do so, because they could hardly provide for their own families. This is the sad state the poor and the working class found themselves in, and efforts must be made to improve their lives. We call on the government to show compassion and
heed the wishes of the poor and the powerless. Needless to say, the true meaning of Christmas continues to elude many Guyanese because of their poverty and unbearable living conditions. Too often, it is the greedy, not the needy; the rich and powerful and not the poor and the powerless who get the most attention at Christmas.
We would be remiss if we did not express our deep concern and heartfelt love for the future of our beloved country that is plagued with problems—political, economic and social—too numerous to mention. We commend and admire those who are helping the poor, who through no fault of their own are struggling to make ends meet. Nothing much has changed in their lives during the past year and from all indications, this may be a very bleak Christmas for many of them who are becoming poorer by the day.
Our fervent wish in this season of goodwill is that our fellow Guyanese will put their shoulders to the wheel to help develop and build Guyana so that all, not only a selected few, can share in the bounties of
its prosperity. We love politics but more importantly, we love Guyana and the people who are struggling to survive and provide for their children. God bless our beautiful Guyana, its philanthropists and its resilient, loving and caring people. We remain proud of all Guyanese at home and in the diaspora and wish them a bright, successful and happy future and sincerely hope that they will live to see and enjoy many more Christmases. We also would like to wish our leaders in the government His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali, Honorable Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, Vice President Dr. Bharat Jagdeo, the leader of the opposition, Mr. Aubrey Norton and the executives and members of the Macedonia Joppa Voluntary Committee (MJVC) and all the people, rich or poor a safe, happy and enjoyable Christmas. Merry Christmas dear countrymen and women; we hope you will enjoy the festive season in peace, love and happiness. May God bless our beloved Guyana and all of you and keep you safe.
Sincerely, Dr. Asquith Rose.
THERE is no country in the world that does not have a crème de la crème (CDLC). It is a sociological formation in which moneyed people, people with high status (which takes in the arts, entertainment, academia, the professions) and the politically powerful form themselves into a social elite and are recognised in society as such.
The core of the CDLC is the moneyed folks because their wealth allows for easy penetration and acceptance of the society. In this column, I will not be employing the sociological definition of this stratum. Guyana’s CDLC was fashioned out of colonial society. The colonial administration, the Portuguese petit bourgeoisie (PPB) and the Mulatto/Creole class (MCC) were the quintessential CDLC of Guyanese society.
This elite formation has been diminished considerably since the rise of the Burnham Government and the exodus of the PPB. In the 1980s, Guyana hardly had a CDLC. With the rejection of
socialist economics by President Desmond Hoyte, two types of class changes emerged. First, the PPB and the MCC were resuscitated through Messrs. Miles Fitzpatrick and David De Caires. Both men effectively used the Stabroek News to preserve the society’s CDLC. The second type of class transformation was made possible by the 1990 Economic Recovery Programme of President Hoyte. A nouveau riche stratum was born that consisted mostly of young Indian businessmen who dabbled equally in underground economics as well as genuine small investments.
After 1990, these two class formations never had a direct or indirect relationship because the resuscitated CDLC used both social snobbery and skin colour to keep the nouveau riche at bay.
But there is one social sphere in Guyana where the traditional CDLC and the nouveau riche meet; it is motor-racing. The traditional CDLC love motor-racing; the nouveau riche has acquired the taste for the sport.
The traditional CDLC has kept away from politics since the withering away of the Portuguese party, the United Force, in the early 1970s. For the rest of this column, I am going to be referring to the political CDLC, meaning the entry into official politics of the MCC from the forties onwards.
Space would not allow for too many notes on the political CDLC from 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s before President Burnham demobilized them from 1978 onwards. This column from here on will briefly concentrate on the political CDLC in the WPA and the AFC.
Leonard Craig wrote these words about Nigel Hughes in his Chronicle column of December 16, 2024 and I quote. “Nigel Hughes saw himself as the crème de la crème of the middle class with a birth right to any elite formation.”
Craig’s portrayal of Hughes is nothing new for those who study Guyanese history using class analysis.
Hughes is the continuation of a long contemporary line that goes
back to the era of Lionel Luckhoo and John Carter, both of whom were active in trying to claim state power for the MCC. After the Jagan/Burnham combination threatened the MCC political activism in the 1950, the MCC made a brilliant move. It sent a coterie of MCC personalities to invade the PPP in the form of Martin Carter and Rory Westmaas and a few others whose role was to sound ultra-leftist so as to bring about colonial repression against the PPP. Carter achieved his purpose then went into service for the colonial office in British Guiana; first with the British consul office then Bookers. Released MI5 security documents revealed Carter to be a British plant.
After the dormancy of the MCC under
the totalitarian drift of Burnham, the remnants of the MCC found an outlet with the advent of Walter Rodney. The political CDLC in the form of the Working People’s Alliance failed to dislodge the Burnham regime because the WPA was an atavistic return to the National Democratic Party of John Carter that felt its inherent aristocracy gave it the right to succeed the colonial state.
Convinced that the society would accept its natural right to inherit the power of the departing colonials, the WPA frowned on mass mobilisation over the years that it was founded.
In its call to the working class in 1979 to rise up against Burnham, the WPA attached little importance to the role of the PPP. According to Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, when the
uprising was about to start and the PPP inquired about its shape, the WPA told the PPP that it cannot disclose details because they prefer it be a guessing game.
Just as the WPA resurrected the National Democratic Party, the Alliance For Change resurrected the spirit of the WPA. The AFC was the only success of the political CDLC but then it disintegrated after 2015 in its allegiance to its cultural superiority. Hughes is trying to resuscitate Guyana’s political CDLC. I doubt he will succeed.
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.
ON December 9, Guyana announced that it submitted a legal brief to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in its territorial controversy with Venezuela. This filing, which responded to Venezuela’s counter-memorial, reaffirmed Guyana’s stance: the 1899 Arbitral Award that established the boundary between the two nations is final, binding, and entirely valid. The ICJ has set a deadline of August 11, 2025, for Venezuela to present its written submission, bringing the matter closer to resolution through a legal process Guyana has consistently championed. The controversy stems from Venezuela’s unfounded claim, first raised in 1962, that the 1899 arbitral award is null and void. The award, resulting from an internation-
ally recognised arbitration process, was accepted by both Venezuela and Britain—then Guyana’s colonial administrator—for 63 years. Both parties collaborated on demarcating the boundary, with a joint report and map signed in 1905. Yet in 1962, as Guyana approached independence, Venezuela introduced a spurious claim based on a posthumous memorandum written by a junior American lawyer who alleged, without evidence, that the award resulted from political collusion. This claim has since morphed into Venezuela's aggressive campaign to seize the Essequibo region, which constitutes two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. Over the years, Venezuela has resorted to intimidation tactics, including military posturing, to force Guyana into
submission. Despite these provocations, Guyana has consistently sought peaceful resolution through diplomacy and international law.
The Argyle Declaration, signed by Presidents Irfaan Ali and Nicolás Maduro, marked a necessary step in de-escalating tensions. So too has been the ICJ’s order prohibiting Venezuela from taking control of the territory administered by Guyana also, showing how useful international law is for the protection of Guyana’s interests.
Guyana’s respect for the rule of law has been evident in its commitment to the Geneva Agreement of 1966, which provided a framework for resolving the controversy. After decades of failed efforts, the matter was referred to the ICJ in 2018 by UN Secretary-Gen-
AS we edge closer to the end of 2024, I’ve been staring at a map of the Middle East - Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, the Gulf States, Iran and Saudi Arabia - and feeling somewhat nostalgic. These were more than just lines on a map that defined the boundaries of nation-states, they also defined power, authority and the predictability of social and political action. The lines are still there, for now, but everything has changed and is changing so rapidly that it is hard to keep up.
The sand has shifted and the faintest whiff that was left of Arab Nationalism has now all but completely dissipated. Following the death of this particular unifying narrative which underscored the politics of the Middle East for over 50 years, I believe pan-Islamism is no longer the force it once was. The implications are massive for the global Muslim community and the ripple effects will be felt even in far-away Guyana, the Caribbean and Latin America, in unpredictable ways.
The demise of pan-Islamism means that political Islam is dead. Jihadism and the last semblance of armed Palestinian resistance is most certainly buried in the rubble of Gaza and the West Bank. Armed Palestinian resistance has been reduced to a proverb - “Sinwar’s stick” - which has come to mean ‘to never surrender.’
With Assad’s Alawite Syrian armed elite forces and Lebanon’s Hezbollah briskly dismantled, the last vestiges of organised resistance are over, cataclysmic events that have left the most ardent Middle East pundits fumbling for words.
The Israeli military machinery is making haste before January 20. It has bombed over 800 military sites in Syria in the last few days. It is on the ground in Syria ripping out harddrives and shipping reams of “secret” documents from Asad’s Ba’athist military intelligence archives to be sorted, studied and analysed. Recep Tayyib Erdoğan, the President of Turkey, whose military aided Ahmad AlSharaa’s HTS to take control of Damascus, has asked
eral António Guterres. While Venezuela has repeatedly rejected the ICJ’s jurisdiction, the court has affirmed its authority to adjudicate the case and settle the controversy definitively.
Guyana’s defense diplomacy remains a critical tool for safeguarding its sovereignty. By fostering strong international partnerships, Guyana has secured robust support from key global players who respect the rule of law. Countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom have affirmed the ICJ’s jurisdiction and condemned Venezuela’s aggression.
The presence of ExxonMobil, a major U.S. corporation, in Guyana’s oil sector has helped strengthen that nation’s interest in preserving Guyana’s territorial integrity. Venezuela’s
aggression, including the interception of an ExxonMobil-contracted seismic vessel in 2018, demonstrates how urgent it is for the controversy to be resolved to ensure the uninterrupted development of Guyana’s resources.
A promising development is the anticipated appointment of Florida Senator Marco Rubio as the United States’ Secretary of State under the upcoming Trump administration. Rubio has demonstrated a deep commitment to peace and stability in Latin America and has been a strong advocate for Guyana. From championing a fair electoral process in 2020 to calling for increased U.S. support for Guyana’s petroleum development, Rubio’s track record suggests that his leadership will further strengthen U.S.-Guyana
relations.
Guyana’s seat on the United Nations Security Council has also been instrumental in showcasing its commitment to international law and diplomacy. By highlighting its desire for peace and global stability, Guyana continues to earn the respect and support of the international community.
Guyana must remain steadfast in its defence diplomacy. Maintaining strong partnerships with allies like the United States and advocating for international law at every forum are essential to countering Venezuela’s baseless claims. The international community’s condemnation of Venezuela’s actions and its support for the ICJ process reaffirm that Guyana is on the right side of history.
Netanyahu to pull back his forces. When he refused, Erdoğan pleaded with Washington to no avail.
The consequence is that we can now add Syria and Lebanon to a growing list of failed states that will remain dependent on foreign nations for handouts in the decades to come. The loser in all of this is Iran. Whatever role it believed it was playing a year ago is now over. For the nation that invented the game of chess, Checkmate!
There are no remaining meta narratives that could serve to unite the hearts and minds of Arabs and Muslims. The Muslim world has never been here before and is now treading water in unchartered territory. If Libya’s Col. Mouamar Gaddafi could speak from the grave he would have said, I pronounced the death of Arab nationalism 20 years ago. Gaddafi was one of the champions of Arab nationalism, but in 2003 he didn’t like where things were headed.
Saddam Hussein’s war machine was being dismantled based purely on a heap
of lies that tied him to the terror attacks of 9/11. Prewar Iraq had achieved one of the highest rates of literacy in the entire Middle East and suddenly kids were no longer able to attend schools. Gaddafi could not have predicted the coming Arab Spring, but he may have figured out that a powerful military did not necessarily translate into a secure border. Gaddafi threatened to pull out of the Arab League and he wasn’t bluffing. He set his gaze on pan-Africanism as an alternative to Arab Nationalism. Even that turned out to be a dead-end street.
There was, however, one sentence from Gaddafi’s speech in Tripoli in 2003 that made headlines and it still echoes down to this day. Speaking to an assembly of his female supporters, he said, “These ideas which
mobilised the masses are only a worthless currency.”
Gaddafi was referring to the idea of Arab unity, a belief that while Arabs share a common identity, culture, language, and history, these things should never be allowed to stand in the way of political unity.
In the imagination of Sati’ al-Husri, the Syrian Michel Aflaq, Egypt’s Rashid Rida and Gamal Abdel Nasser, the Lebanese George Antonius and Iraq’s Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, Arabic and the religion of Islam were unifying factors, but pan-Arab solidarity meant resisting foreign occupation and most importantly, supporting the Palestinian cause. In other words, anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism were the cornerstones of Arab nationalism.
Today, the Arab streets
are seething with anger, rage, a desire for vengeance over more than a year of genocide in Gaza, but the Arab leadership knows there is nothing it can do without facing devastating consequences. And in the absence of a unifying ideology and a narrative to accompany it, Arabs and Muslims are struggling to locate a centre of political authority. There are no clear answers on the horizon. For the majority who are outraged over Gaza’s genocide, it’s akin to screaming for mercy in the middle of a raging sandstorm.
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.
GUYANA is growing and rapidly developing. Things are not the same as they were in 2020, 2015 or 2011. Change and modernity are engulfing the physical infrastructure, transforming bridges, roads, buildings and other essential public thoroughfares.
Additionally, the way of life is evolving rapidly for all Guyanese, improving their quality of life and standard of living, because of the constant investments in their social well-being.
Who could have known that Guyana would be able to establish 12 new state-of-the-art hospitals for instance in the health sector in five years or train hundreds of thousands of nurses, doctors, health professionals and other staff, especially in telemedicine and other forms of modern medicine?
Who could have imagined that the current government would put such emphasis on education, focusing on building new and modern schools in every single region that needs them, amounting to billions of dollars?
And, the PPP/C government is dramatically changing the game, balancing out the quality of
education offered in urban areas and the hinterland with heavy investments in students and teachers. The government has secured a pay deal with the Guyana Teachers Union.
A new school will be constructed at Tabatinga in Region Nine for $182M, Nismes in Region Three for $3.2B, and Jawalla in Region Seven for $231M, to name a few. And, a new and modern programme to tackle improving students' performance in Mathematics.
Who could have imagined the progress made in tourism and commerce, public services, public affairs, foreign affairs, labour, national security, law and order, social services, and Amerindian Affairs in these short four years?
Sure, there are things that Guyanese are not pleased about such as the power and electricity situation (GPL), or the slow progress made thus far on constitutional reform. Their concerns are understandable and valid.
The current government must look at them with a view to pushing progress forward in these areas too. The government must not become complacent now. It must continue to look at ways and means of tackling the
rising cost of living.
Apart from that, it must continue to tackle corruption and flaws in the public procurement system; move forward with its plans for Guyana and continue its transformation. This Christmas, a few changes must be made before we embark on the new year.
We must start to hold the opposition parties accountable in the very same way that we expect the current government to be accountable. The opposition gets away with murder in Guyana. They make allegations left, right and centre about people, the government and institutions in Guyana without providing an iota of evidence. Nothing. Zilch! The media does not grill them or haul them across the coals.
This Christmas, this must stop! The media must keep the same energy that they have with PPP GS with Norton who is the PNC/R Leader and real GS. It must ask hard questions of Norton and those ‘baby’ politicians that sit next to him every week.
So, they must not get away next year with twisting the facts or telling lies as Norton has done time and time again. If they have to fact-check him,
they must do it. Norton can become more honest when dealing with public business.
Maybe, it would be prudent to get some form of a lie-detector instrument for the combined opposition, especially Nigel Hughes and Norton, because they are prone to lie as much as they blink their eyes. Telling tales and conjuring up a story comes naturally to these ‘gyaff’ men.
Secondly, Nima FlueBess, Ganesh Mahipaul, Annette Ferguson, Maureen Philadelphia, Ronald Cox, Ronald Sinclair, Dineshwar N Jaiprashad and Amanza Walton-Desir are singled out for their seeming hard work and dedication in parliament to annoy, complicate, misrepresent the facts and gesticulation. If you are an ordinary person, you can never understand what they are saying in parliament and which motion or bill they are contributing to. They are speaking passionately in tongues that only they can understand while they believe they are making an intelligent and important point. It’s not cute or nice when one is the only clown in the show and thinks it is a palace. The oratorical skills are cer-
tainly not held by any one of these parliamentarians.
On a more serious note, the opposition must vet their speakers in parliament and at rallies. For the year 2024, they have been repetitive, uninspiring and underwhelming, to say the least.
Thirdly, the Political “Thief” Award of the year goes to both Norton and Hughes this Christmas for stealing a whole political party and allegedly twisting the outcome.
Not only have they stolen the objectivity and seriousness with which we have long viewed the opposition leaders of the past, but they have made the post they hold a comedy fest. This is unfortunate that no one takes them seriously.
Fourthly, PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo must be recognised for having one of, if not the longest, press conferences in the history of Guyana, the Caribbean and farther afield. The press conference, though dealing with the lies of the opposition, government policies and issues, can be a bit lengthy at times, but the public stays put and are engulfed in every political explanation that the PPP has to offer them. It’s a thrilling exercise and a
master class in politics. It seems as though the time flies once it starts and Jagdeo starts taking on the issues as only Jagdeo can. It hits the nerve centre of the current opposition, creating a frenzy and forcing all of the old and new opposition pundits to crawl out of their holes.
Finally, this Christmas, we must celebrate the fact that we have overcome so many different obstacles and challenges in our country’s journey to become developed. We must take pride in being Guyanese and in being treated as first-class citizens. We must continue to develop our patience and zeal for the things that are coming slowly but surely around. We must also be grateful for the promises, pledges and commitments made by the ruling party and wait for the other things to come.
We must be also thankful for our family and God. So, a happy and prosperous Christmas in advance.
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.
VICE-PRESIDENT, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has yet again reaffirmed the transformative potential of Guyana’s gas-to-energy project.
Speaking at a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) press conference at Freedom House last week, he emphasised the importance of the project and its long-term impact on the country.
Jagdeo, who is also the General Secretary of the PPP, described it as a major milestone in the country’s development. Addressing reporters at the press conference, Dr Jagdeo shared that the initiative would deliver enormous financial savings and energy benefits to citizens once completed.
“When that project is completed—and it will be completed—it will save us, the consumers in Guyana, 250 million U.S. dollars per year,” Dr. Jagdeo stated. In his statement, Jagdeo highlighted that the anticipated
savings would stem from a major reduction in electricity rates. The price of electricity is set to decrease from $0.22 per kilowatt hour to $0.11 per kilowatt hour, halving the cost. This substantial drop in rates is expected to alleviate financial pressures on both households and businesses. The reduction is expected to provide a direct economic benefit, boosting the financial well-being of Guyanese citizens by lowering their utility bills. This measure could have a ripple effect,
stimulating greater economic activity and improving overall living standards.
The $2 billion gas-to-energy project is designed to pay for itself within just eight years through the savings it generates. Dr Jagdeo pointed out that this level of self-sustainability makes the initiative not just impactful but also ensures a sound, long-term financial plan.
However, the benefits of the gas-to-energy project go beyond cheaper electricity. Dr. Jagdeo highlighted the
additional revenue potential from the gas liquids extracted during the process. These by-products, which include cooking gas, are expected to generate another $250 million annually if sold at the current market price.
“That comes to us for free, because when we clean the gas, that is the cooking gas and everything else,” he explained.
With the combined benefits from electricity sav -
ings and gas-liquid sales, the project could deliver between $250 million and $500 million annually in economic value. Dr. Jagdeo emphasised that these outcomes reflect the PPP government’s ability to negotiate greater returns for Guyana from the country’s oil and gas resources. “We have gotten more value for the people of Guyana,” Dr. Jagdeo said. He added that despite some delays in
the project, its completion is certain and will have far-reaching benefits.
The gas-to-energy project remains just one aspect of the government's strategy to leverage Guyana’s natural resources for sustainable development. Once operational, it is expected to transform the nation’s energy sector, lower costs, and generate substantial revenue for all Guyanese.
THE Guyana Court of Appeal on Thursday last reduced the prison sentence of Murphy Noorhan, convicted of raping a child, from 40 years to 20 years by ruling that the two 20-year sentences for his convictions will run concurrently instead of consecutively.
Noorhan was convicted on two counts of sexual activity involving the sexual penetration of a 10-year-old girl, committed between January 4 and 5, 2013.
In January 2016, he was sentenced to 20 years for each count, with the sentences set to run consecutively, resulting in a total of 40 years in prison.
The sentencing reflected the gravity of the crime, the breach of trust Noorhan committed, and the lasting psychological harm inflicted on the victim, now around 21 years old.
During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence showing Noorhan’s repeated abuse of the young girl. His then lawyer argued that Noorhan was innocent, questioning the medical report that showed no physical bruising.
The lawyer also contended that imprisonment would
only worsen his character.
Despite these arguments, Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry emphasised the seriousness of child sexual abuse and Noorhan’s betrayal of trust when delivering the original sentence.
In his appeal filed by attorneys Gwendolyn Bristol and Sarah Martin, Noorhan challenged the consecutive nature of his sentences, arguing that it was excessive and not aligned with modern sentencing practices. Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Natasha Backer, however, defended the original sentence, arguing that it was appropriate given the crime’s severity.
On Thursday last, the
Court of Appeal ruled that while the 20-year sentences for each conviction were appropriate, they should be served concurrently, in line with a precedent set by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which stipulates that concurrent sentences should be imposed when multiple offences arise from the same incident.
This decision reduced Noorhan’s total sentence from 40 years to 20 years. The court also ordered that Noorhan be credited for time served.
The ruling was made by Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory-Barnes.
By Trina Williams
GUYANA'S aviation sector is poised to take off as the country's development and attractive investment climate have positioned it to become a regional hub. This is according to Guo Lingwei, a scholar of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in a recent interview with this newspaper.
In just less than five years, Guyana’s development trajectory has reached unimaginable heights and because of this growth, the current government has placed much emphasis on improving the country’s infrastructural sector and its human resources.
Notably, the Guyana Government has continuously explained why it is crucial for the infrastructural sector to be expanded. Already, considerable progress has been made in the lives of Guyanese because of this recognition.
Further, without investments in the infrastructural sector, economic growth would remain stagnant. Guyana’s 2024 mid-year economic report, released by the Ministry of Finance, showed growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GPD) of 49.7 per cent.
Advancements in the infrastructural sector have blossomed into tangible benefits for Guyanese such as affordable housing, clean water and accessible healthcare.
Last month, Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo announced that 95 per cent of national infrastructural projects
are on track and the government will continue to hold contractors accountable in order for Guyana’s development not to be stalled.
As such, Guo explained how China, one of Guyana’s long-standing partners, has continued to support the country in several areas, including the infrastructural sector.
She reflected on the ties between China and Guyana and how they have evolved.
"As far as I can see, China’s involvement in Guyana’s infrastructure sector has had remarkable [contributions] in several key areas
“...In recent years, China has undertaken several [of] Guyana’s transformative infrastructural projects, which include roads, bridges and public buildings.”
She used the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion as an example.
“When the airport is completed, it [will] enhance the aviation infrastructure of Guyana. Also, enhancing the international travel and trade of Guyana with the first level four a standard international airport of the Caribbean and also the longest runway of this region.
“Guyana is well prepared to become an aviation hub of the region, especially in the context of rising oil and gas industry and also the growing international investments and foreign exchange.”
The CJIA is currently undergoing infrastructural works to
bring greater efficiency and management to its processes, Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill said earlier this year.
The public works minister said that the US$150 million rehabilitation works executed by the Chinese company, China Harbour Engineering Corporation (CHEC) have been completed. He also said that there are other im-
ar also referenced the gas-to-energy project’s national control centre, which is being built by Power China.
“When the project is completed and put into operation, it will greatly enhance the stability of the power provided in the region and also for the economic development and social development,” she said.
Earlier this year, the Guyana government
cility once it is finished.
The gas-to-energy project will see a 200km 12-inch diameter pipeline channelling natural gas from the Liza Phase One and Liza Phase Two Floating, Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessels to a power plant Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility that will be built iat Wales, WBD.
That pipeline will be landing on the West
government’s objective to lower energy costs by at least 50 per cent through an energy mix which incorporates gas, solar, wind, and hydropower.
provements underway to modernise the airport. These additional works include the installation of an in-line baggage-handling system, which is expected to cost approximately $512 million. A contract was also awarded for the design, construction, and supervision of a separate ‘admin’ building to the tune of some $935 million. The facility is expected to accommodate the airport’s staff and management.
DEVELOPMENT
The Chinese schol -
signed a US $8.6 million contract for the establishment of a national control centre, which is a key component of the project.
Power China Caribbean has been awarded the contract, and the completion of the Centre is anticipated within 384 days.
The equipment for the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition/ Energy Management Systems/Generation Management System (SCADA/EMS/GMS) will be housed in the fa-
Coast of Demerara (WCD) shore and continue approximately 25 kilometres to the NGL and power plant facilities.
The project has an estimated total cost of US$1.8 billion and is cost recoverable. The gas-to-energy project is expected to be up and running by the end of the first quarter of 2025 and has a 25-year lifespan. The conversion of natural gas from ExxonMobil’s offshore operations to electricity is a key component of the
China is also playing a major role in building major road networks and bridges such as the four-lane highway from Sheriff Street to Orange Nassau (Railway Embankment) and the new Demerara Harbour Bridge.
Key infrastructural projects such as these, according to Guo, will ease traffic woes and bring forth socioeconomic benefits.
Speaking more on how the collaboration between China and Guyana enhances the lives of locals, the Chinese scholar said, “The Chinese projects in Guyana have not only provided jobs but also provided comprehensive training programs for the local workers.”
President, Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday last distributed hampers to hundreds of senior citizens in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara)
LUXURY real estate companies Buddy’s Housing Development and Atlantic Builders Inc. have announced an innovative project that promises to elevate modern living standards in Guyana. Launching in January 2025, Shoreline Estates will introduce a state-of-the-art condominium project that is designed to redefine contem-
Ocean. Moreover, the project will strike a unique balance by seamlessly combining luxury and convenience, offering residents a range of highend amenities and services. These include a grand lobby, 24-hour concierge service, a state-of-the-art gym, an on-site café, and a stunning rooftop terrace with an event space and pool. Families will also
porary housing.
The project will be located in the community of Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara. According to a joint press release from the companies, Shoreline Estates will feature 89 meticulously designed units offering one, two, and three-bedroom configurations to suit a variety of modern and traditional lifestyles.
Additionally, the condominiums will boast modernistic appeal, nestled in a resort-like setting along the picturesque shores of the Atlantic
benefit from a children’s play area and an array of services such as housekeeping, laundry, and transportation options, making the development an ideal choice for a stress-free, streamlined living experience.
Ryan Shivraj, Managing Director of Buddy’s Housing Development, described the project as a groundbreaking advancement in Guyana's real estate and housing sector. “As the developers of Shoreline Estates, we are revolutionizing the way housing is approached in Guyana,” Shivraj stated.
He further emphasised that by leveraging Guyana’s newly updated Condominium Act, the developers aim to introduce a lifestyle centred on convenience, premium amenities, and exceptional service. “We understand that maintaining a house can often be a source of stress and frustration, so this project is designed to alleviate those concerns. Shoreline Estates offers residents a streamlined, hassle-free living experience, setting a new standard for modern living and making life easier and more enjoyable for our homeowners,” Shivraj added.
Shoreline Estates will be ready for occupancy in January 2025, with several pricing options available, starting with an impressive 25% down payment. Prospective buyers are encouraged to visit the website www.buddysguyana.com/ shorelineestates or follow @ buddysguyana on social media for updates and information on securing a unit.
The companies behind Shoreline Estates assure prospective homeowners that the project marks a bold step forward in Guyana’s real estate landscape, offering an unparalleled lifestyle with all the comforts of modern living. For more information, interested parties can contact info@buddysguyana.com or call 222-0196 / 222-7636.
PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali has assured public servants and pensioners that they will all receive the one-off $100,000 cash grant before the end of the year.
Speaking with a group of women journalists during the second episode of In the Seat, President Ali underscored the administration's commitment to ensuring that funds are distributed transparently.
President Ali emphasised the administration's effort to embed transparency across
all aspects of the process. He explained that achieving this requires coordination between the banking system, the Auditor General's Office, the Ministry of Finance, and regional authorities.
“We’re trying to ensure that transparency is built into every aspect of this, which requires the banking system, the Auditor General’s Office, the Ministry of Finance, the regions… everything to work in a coordinated manner. The public servants will definitely get their cheques. Many pensioners would
have [sic] already received [their cheques] in some of the regions. The pensioners and public servants… their cheques will be cut in the system before the end of the year,” he said.
Thousands of public servants and pensioners are set to benefit from the grant, which will supplement their incomes during the festive season. President Ali noted that the distribution of funds is nearly complete in Region Nine, while the process is actively underway in Regions One and Eight.
Additionally, President Ali said that the Bank of Guyana (BoG) and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) are both collaborating with the Ministry of Finance to encash the cheques. “Cheques ensure another layer of transparency, but cheques also bring bureaucracy with them, because when you go to Crowdar in Region Nine, the people don’t have any access to banking. So, you give them their cheques in Crowdar, but how [do] they get their cash? We [the government] had to go and work with the commercial banks and set up a security infrastructure so that they could encash their cheques in the village,” Dr Ali explained.
A Region One resident proudly showcases her $100k grant
signed to share the country’s wealth more inclusively.
Meanwhile, Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo disclosed last week that over 221,000 individuals in Region Four have registered for the grant. Further, approximately 156,000 of them have been verified, and cheques for those individuals are being printed.
Every Guyanese aged 18 and older are eligible for the $100,000 cash-grant, which was announced by President Ali on October 16, 2024.
President Ali highlighted that the cash grant is part of a series of initiatives de-
This one-time grant is part of a series of measures being taken by the government to improve the quality of life for every qualified Guyanese, placing over $60 billion into their pockets.
The announcement of the cash grant has been widely praised by stakeholders across various sectors. The announcement of payment methods—including cheques, direct bank account transfers and cash where applicable—provides flexibility for recipients.
The government is hoping to complete the distribution process by early 2025.
MORE than 500 children from Albouystown and surrounding communities joined Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and some of Guyana's best musicians to usher in the Christmas spirit with Independence Boulevard’s second annual Christmas tree light-up.
The festive event, held on Saturday evening, was more than just a tree-lighting ceremony. Hundreds of children received gifts and toys, adding to the holiday cheer. The night was filled with lively performances, including steelpan renditions and Christmas carols by talented artiste Carlvin Burnett and Omaiah Hall.
Prime Minister Phillips in his brief remarks, expressed his delight at the large turnout and his hopes for the event’s continuation. “This is the second time we're doing this. We did it last year, and we have it again this year; and frankly speaking, I would like to be here next year with you to light the
Prime Minister Phillips also conveyed a message from President Dr Mohamed Irfan Ali. “As a government, we will continue to do many things for you. And our President, Dr. Mohamed Irfan Ali, has asked me to extend Christmas greetings to all the boys and girls. And to ensure each one of you gets a toy. You leave here today with a toy to go home,” he assured those gathered.
to celebrate Christmas,” he said, adding, “When school reopens, we want you back in school. Because you are the future of Guyana. Okay? So, if you're the future of Guyana, you have to be in school.”
The Prime Minister also reminisced about his own childhood traditions during the festive season. “Now is the time when you're enjoying your Christmas holidays. And
tree again,” he stated.
The Prime Minister encouraged the children to embrace the true meaning of the holiday season.
“Remember you heard before, Christmas is a time of goodwill, a time for love, a time for giving. And you know what? Keep Christ in Christmas,” he emphasised.
In addition to sharing his personal sentiments,
Addressing the children directly, he commended their efforts during the school term and encouraged them to continue prioritising their education.
“You work hard during the school term. and we're happy that you did that. We want you to keep in school. Remain in school. Focus on your education. This is just a break
in the lead-up to the holiday, I can only remember when I was your age, I used to help in the house. My task was to clean the ceiling. Wipe the walls. I hope many of you are doing that.”
The event concluded with a resounding “Merry Christmas” as the Prime Minister invited everyone to spread the holiday cheer
THE Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, has shared an optimistic view on the performance of the agriculture sector, emphasising its exceptional growth and resilience. He pointed out the significant progress made in recent years, attributing much of the sector's success to strategic government initiatives and investments that have bolstered productivity and ensured long-term sustainability.
Mustapha stressed that the agriculture sector's ongoing success is crucial to the country's economic stability and future growth, as it remains a key source of employment and revenue
generation. In a notable achievement, Guyana's rice industry reached a historic milestone in October, with production surpassing 700,000 tonnes for the first time ever as the harvesting season concluded.
Mustapha this week said, “Well generally I think we are doing very well, as a matter of fact I have been making this point all over the country for the first time in the history of our country since the introduction of rice production, this year we have surpassed the 700,000 tonnes mark, as a matter of fact we have produced 725,400 tonnes of rice this year.”
The government has invested significantly in the rice industry, provid-
ing farmers with essential resources, training, and access to modern technology. These initiatives have empowered local producers, enabling them to maximise their yields and improve the overall quality of their crops.
This historic produc-
tion level not only underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening the agriculture sector, but also highlights the resilience and hard work of Guyanese farmers. By fostering a collaborative environment between the government and the farming community, the country is witnessing
unprecedented growth in rice production, the Agriculture Minister said.
Additionally, he pointed out that the other sectors under the agriculture ministry have also seen major transformation and growth.
“In Region Six alone we are now reaching the million kilogrammes in terms of brackish wa -
ter shrimp annually, we have started out with 10,000 kg monthly; we have now improved that to over 120,000 kg, so we are moving in the livestock sector.
“I think agriculture generally has done well, except sugar, and I am hoping that we can have a turn around with sugar. I am working with GuySuCo but all the other sectors, I don’t want to preempt the Minister of Finance, but again this year we’ve seen growth in the agriculture sector.”
Mustapha further emphasised that the growth of the agriculture sector is the result of targeted government policies, the adoption of modern farming practices, and ongoing investments in infrastructure and technology.
A 17-year-old bandit was shot dead on Friday at Aubrey Barker Road, Georgetown, after he and another person pounced on vendors who were waiting on transportation to go home.
Dead is Carl Rolland Reid called 'Carloo Reid', of Tucville Squatting Area. The incident took place around 21:10 hrs on the northern side of Aubrey Barker Road, where a 45-year-old female food vendor from Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, was robbed of a cellphone valued at $65,000 and a handbag worth $5,000 containing $12,000 in cash.
Additionally, a 15-yearold female student was also targeted, losing a cellphone valued at $200,000, a gold chain worth $35,000, and a handbag valued at $5,000, which contained $4,000 in cash.
According to the police, Reid and an identifiable male on a black motorcycle (CL 7753) were armed with
handguns. It is alleged that the victims were standing at the junction of Kaikan Street when the suspects rode up on them.
Both men dismounted the bike, approached the victims, and instructed them to hand over their belongings. The victims who were afraid then complied and handed over the items.
However, at the time, a 30-year-old armed Supernumerary Constable was on duty at a guard hut on the northern side of the road, in close proximity to where the victims were being robbed.
The police said, “As the Supernumerary Constable stepped out of the hut, one of the suspects discharged four rounds in his direction. The Constable returned fire, discharging all the rounds in his firearm in the direction of the two suspects.
The 17-year-old suspect (Reid) fell to the centre of the road, motionless in a pool of blood, with what appears to be multiple gunshot wounds.”
The other suspect rode away west on Aubrey Barker Road, and escaped. Detectives found seven 9mm spent shells at the scene.
“Also, the 15-year-old victim's cell phone was found in Reid's pants crutch, as well as one black toy gun was found on the road next to his body. The body was taken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, awaiting a PME.”
Meanwhile, the police anti-crime patrols were also immediately alerted and two cops on motorcycle patrol in Nutmeg Street, Festival City, saw the other suspect escaping on the motorcycle heading in a northern direction on Nutmeg Street. The police ranks gave chase and the suspect dropped the motorcycle, ran through an alleyway and made good his escape.
The motorcycle was removed and lodged at the East La Penitence Police Station.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concluded its significant participation in the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16).
Over the two-week event, FAO's central message resonated strongly: restoring agricultural land is essential for transforming agrifood systems and securing future food security and sustainability.
The conference agenda included critical discussions on land degradation, drought, and desertification, underscoring the need for collective global action to build resilience against these pressing challenges.
of agrifood systems across the three Rio Conventions," showcased how agrifood systems can address biodiversity, climate change, and land degradation in an integrated and coordinated manner. Discussions focused on making these systems more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, by restoring degraded agricultural lands to achieve co-benefits such as food security and nutrition, land degradation neutrality, carbon storage, water retention, and biodiversity.
In line with the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, FAO hosted a high-level breakfast bringing together ministers, investors, and experts to endorse the NENA Regional Investment Framework for Ecosystem
In collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), FAO launched a Food Systems Integrated Program (FSIP) aimed at transforming global agrifood systems to be sustainable, nature-positive, resilient, inclusive, and pollution-free. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the $282 million programme was announced on Agrifood System Day at UNCCD COP16.
Recognizing the crucial role of youth in the NENA region, FAO organized the “NENA Youth Talk” at COP16, with HRH Princess Basma Bint Ali of Jordan, FAO NENA Goodwill Ambassador, Abdulhakim Elwaer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional
FAO advocated to restore degraded agricultural land to ensure food security while supporting biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and other ecosystem services that benefit human well-being and livelihoods.
Led by Abdulhakim Elwaer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa (NENA), the FAO's delegation at UNCCD COP16 emphasized prioritizing agricultural land restoration in environmental agreements and national plans, highlighting the need for integrated solutions in policy, innovation, and technology to effectively prevent and combat land degradation.
FAO events, initiatives and publications at UNCCD COP16
FAO’s session, "Wrapping up a COP year: The role
Restoration and Development Solutions. This initiative, developed by FAO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UNCCD and League of Arab States, aims to deliver transformative solutions by promoting 'champion countries' that lead with scalable restoration projects.
FAO participated in a high-level panel discussion on advancing the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS), reiterating its commitment to supporting nations in implementing VACS, driving innovation, resilience, and sustainability in agrifood systems. During this event, FAO launched the Suitability Crop Platform, a unique framework designed to provide vital soil data and crop suitability insights, informing policy decisions for sustainable agricultural planning and implementation.
the Regional Action Plan for Sustainable Soil Management in the NENA region.
On the sidelines of COP16, FAO launched the Global Status of Salt-Affected Soils report, presented during the International Soil and Water Forum 2024 in Bangkok. It presents an action plan for halting and reversing soil degradation and water scarcity.
In addition, FAO launched two progress reports showing trends in water-use efficiency and trends in pressures on renewable freshwater resources. These reports highlight critical trends and challenges in water sustainability and stress levels, offering key insights and recommendations for accelerating efforts towards SDG indicators 6.4.1 and 6.4.2.
FAO’s work on land and
water
FAO is spearheading sustainable land and water resources management efforts by leveraging innovative programmes and projects, comprehensive studies, and strategic partnerships. These initiatives enhance scientific understanding of the complex relationships between land and water resources, providing countries with vital policy guidance for coherent management.
FAO's coordinated approach highlights the risks of resource degradation caused by poor agricultural practices while strengthening technical and institutional capacities to manage land and water resources amidst climate extremes, significantly contributing to poverty and hunger alleviation.
In the NENA region, FAO combats land degra -
dation and promotes sustainable land management through integrated, innovative approaches. Key initiatives include agroforestry to improve soil health, reduce erosion, and enhance climate resilience. FAO also supports sustainable grazing and conservation agriculture practices, such as zero tillage and crop rotation, ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience in the region’s agrifood systems.
FAO welcomes the decision by the parties at UNCCD COP16 to avoid, reduce, and reverse land and soil degradation of agricultural lands. FAO will assist in implementing these decisions, contributing to food security and nutrition for all while supporting the objectives of all three Rio conventions.
Representative, and Lifeng Li, FAO Director of Land and Water Division. This event encouraged youth leaders to tackle climate change, land degradation, and water scarcity.
FAO highlighted the importance of sustainable soil management during World Soil Day (WSD) celebrations at COP16. The celebration this year, under the theme, “Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage”, underscored the importance of accurate soil data and information in understanding soil characteristics and supporting informed decision-making on sustainable soil management for food security.
The official FAO WSD celebration in Pak Chong, Thailand, was connected via video link to a session at the COP16 Desertification Conference in Riyadh. The event also saw the launch of
(Sunday December 22, 2024)
CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD,
83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)
Answers to yesterday’s quiz:
(1) 10 fours; 7 sixes
(2) 9 fours; 8 sixes
Today’s Quiz:
(1) What was the WI opening stand in the first T20 Int’l in the recent series against BANG?
(2) What was the opening partnership for Bangladesh?
Answers in tomorrow’s issue
A FIVE-wicket haul by 18-year-old spinner AM Ghazanfar triggered another batting collapse from Zimbabwe in the third and final ODI, and helped seal the series for Afghanistan, 2-0, with an eight-wicket victory.
Put in to bat on a fresh pitch, Zimbabwe were skittled out for 127 inside 31 overs, which Afghanistan chased with 23.1 overs to spare at the Harare Sports Club.
It was a diffident start from the hosts, who were coming off a 54 all-out in the last match. So, it was
no surprise that Azmatullah Omarzai started proceedings from one of the ends with a maiden, and that Zimbabwe's first boundary came in the fifth over when Ben Curran drove an overcooked delivery to the long-off fence. Ghazanfar, who had three wickets in the last match, was brought on to bowl inside the first PowerPlay this time around, and he took all of five balls to strike. Joylord Gumbie became the first of his five wickets on the day when he top-edged a sweep, having had difficulties reading the spinner. Before Ghazanfar could come back for his
next over and pin Curran lbw in front, Omarzai had gotten the big wicket of Craig Ervine, with an unplayable seed that did just enough to take the outside edge.
There was a semblance of recovery when Sikandar Raza and Sean Williams, who top-scored with a runa-ball 60, added 36 runs for the fourth wicket. All that came undone when Rashid Khan came into the attack and struck twice in his first two overs, his victims being Raza and the batter who replaced him at the crease, Brian Bennett. With the doors opened
again, Ghazanfar went on a roll, picking two wickets in two balls en route to his second five-wicket haul in his 11th ODI, as Zimbabwe found themselves all at sea, once again, versus Afghanistan's spinners.
Richard Ngarava, playing his 50th ODI for Zimbabwe, was one of only four batters to reach double digits, and the last man out as the hosts faced the daunting challenge of defending a sub-par total. While the pitch offered some assistance, it was far from enough to make the target defendable.
Afghanistan didn't come
out all guns blazing, a sign that the pitch wasn't the easiest to bat on. But Abdul Malik held one end at a sub-40 strike-rate, as Sediqullah Atal added runs at the other, going on to score a run-a-ball fifty. What the stoic opening stand did was deny Zimbabwe early wickets, and by the time
both openers fell, albeit in quick succession, the chase had been set up. Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi got the remaining 35 runs without much fuss, and sealed another big win on the tour for Afghanistan. (Cricbuzz)
TOP-order batter Nathan McSweeney has opened up after being dropped from Australia's squad, following a challenging start to his Test career in the first three games against India.
Reflecting on the disappointment of being dropped, McSweeney said, "Yeah, I mean devastated; I get the dream come true and then didn’t quite work the way I wanted. But it's all part of it, and I'll get my head down and get back in the nets and work really hard, and, hopefully be ready to go for the next opportunity."
McSweeney, who made his Test debut for Australia in Perth last month, was assigned the opening role alongside Usman Khawaja
after impressing for Australia A in a warm-up match preceding the series. His maiden call-up to the Test side, however, was short-lived, managing just 72 runs across six innings, with five of his dismissals falling between 0 and 10.
McSweeney acknowledged that his position in the squad was never guaranteed, and he understood the importance of making the most of every opportunity.
“If you don’t take an opportunity, and you're not performing as well as you
want to, your position's never safe,” he said, adding:
“So, I missed out a few times with the bat, and, unfortunately wasn't able to take my opportunity. But, as I said, I'll work really hard to make sure that if the opportunity comes round again, I'm definitely ready.”
While the right-handed batter's performances against the Indian pace attack, including the formidable Jasprit Bumrah, were a key focus of the selectors' decision, he acknowledged the challenges of facing a world-class bowling attack in a five-Test series.
“I faced some balls, and spent a bit of time out there. So that helped my confidence, but I did not get the scores that I wanted.
As everyone was saying, it probably does not get much harder,” he said.
Australia's selection committee, led by Chair George Bailey, have subbed in 19-year-old Sam Konstas into the squad, with the team requiring more impetus from the top order. Bailey admitted that it was a hard call, particularly given the small sample size of just three Tests from McSweeney.
"It was a really hard decision for Nathan and one that we spent a lot of time deliberating over,” Bailey said.
“Particularly after a small sample size of three Tests. That’s never a great phone call, is it? Nathan was disappointed, and really the message to him was
much the same as at the start of the series, that we believe he has the ability and temperament to succeed at Test level,” he added.
For McSweeney, the disappointment of being dropped is a temporary setback, and he is determined to continue working hard and learning from his short experience in the Test arena.
“Learning on-the-go is a different challenge. In Sheffield Shield cricket, you face a good bowler, and you might see him again after Christmas. It's different and unique playing a five-Test series, and fronting up against him a week later. So you are thinking on the run a lot,” he said. (ICC Media)
INDIA will play their matches at next year's Champions Trophy at a neutral venue, the International Cricket Council has announced.
The eight-team tournament in February and March is being held in Pakistan, who said earlier this month that India had told the ICC the team would not travel to the country to play in the event.
Political tensions mean the two countries have not faced each other outside of men's major tournaments since 2013, while India have not played in Pakistan since 2008.
The 50-over Champions Trophy will be the first time Pakistan has hosted a global event since 1996.
An ICC statement said, “India and Pakistan matches hosted by either country
at ICC events during the 2024-27 rights cycle will be played at a neutral venue.”
This includes the upcoming men's Champions Trophy, as well as next year's women's World Cup in India, and the men's T20 World Cup in 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan will also host the women's T20 World Cup in 2028, when neutral
venue arrangements will also apply.
The countries taking part in the Champions Trophy in addition to hosts Pakistan are Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand and South Africa.
The ICC said the schedule for the tournament would be confirmed soon. (BBC Sport)
TOPP XX overwhelmed Fearless, 7-2, to record their second win in as many matches in Group C to advance to the quarterfinals.
Winners Connection, with their second draw in Group D, will also move through to the final eight, while Group A’s Botafago, with another crushing 9-4 win versus Net Rockers, are on course to reach the knockout round of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA)’s year-end Futsal Championship, which continued Friday night at the Retrieve Hard Court in Linden.
Play in the round-robin play will conclude tonight at the same venue.
Playing the first game Friday night, Topp XX ended their threeteam group play unbeaten, winning
for the second time against Fearless, 7-2, to grab six points.
Fearless and Capital FC, having lost to Topp XX, will clash to see which of the two will join Topp XX from their group in the knockout stages of the tournament.
Winners Connection also secured a place as they gained a draw, 3-3, against Rockstone to end with four points in their three-team group to advance. Rockstone, on one point, will face Coomacka, who are without a point, having lost to Winners Connection, and will now meet in a decider for the other quarterfinals’ berth coming from Group D. In Group ‘A’, Silver Shattas overcame Amelia’s Ward, 3-2, for their first win after two games
played, to have three points. Amelia’s Ward, after drawing their first game, are on one point, following this loss in their four-team group play.
Blueberry Hill United continued their fine play as they defeated their Christianburg counterparts, Eagles United, 3-2, in a Group ‘C’ play, to be on four points, after playing to a 2-2 draw previously against defending champions, Milerock. Eagles United, once a powerhouse in this format, have two losses, and are without any point.
Milerock continues to struggle as they once more failed to win as they were held to another 2-2 draw, this time against Hi Stars, to be on two points. Hi Stars have four points from their two games played, with one win and a draw.
In the final game of the evening in Group ‘D’, Botafago again went on the rampage, this time mauling Net Rockers, 9-4, to lead that fourteam group on six points from two wins.
Net Rockers have one point from drawing their first game, and now this loss.
The battle continues tonight with another six matches at the Retrieve Hard Court, starting at 19.00hrs.
In tonight’s matches, the first game is between Capital FC and Fearless. The other matches are Blueberry Hill versus Hi Stars, Coomacka and Rockstone, Milerock face Eagles, Amelia’s Ward take Botafago, and in the nightcap brings together Net Rockers and Silver Shattas. (Joe Chapman)
LEBRON James broke the record for the most minutes played in NBA history as he helped the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings.
The 39-year-old American surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when he completed his 57,447th minute on court in the 113-100 victory on Friday.
James, who eclipsed Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA alltime scoring record earlier
this year, scored 19 points, whil e team-mate Austin Reaves led with 25 points.
“It's just a commitment to the craft and to the passion and love I have for the game,” said James.
"I don't take much time in the off-season; a little bit more time now.”
Elsewhere, Brooklyn Nets centre Nic Claxton was ejected from the court for throwing a ball into the crowd during his side's
101-94 win over the Toronto Raptors.
Meanwhile, Zach LaVine scored a season-high 36 points as he guided the Chicago Bulls to a 117-108 win over defending champions, the Boston Celtics.
LaVine sunk six three-pointers, while adding six rebounds and four assists as the Bulls recorded their third straight victory.
French star Victor Wembanyama scored 42 points to help the San Antonio Spurs to a 133-126 overtime triumph over the Atlanta Hawks, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 35 points led Oklahoma City Thunder to a 105-99 win over Orlando Magic. There were also victories for the Memphis Grizzlies, the New York Knicks, and the Houston Rockets. (BBC Sport)
M, City's crisis intensified as they slipped to another damaging defeat at Aston Villa.
Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers goals meant Phil Foden's late reply for the visitors was little consolation.
Defending champions, City have dropped to sixth in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders, Liverpool, having played two games more, while Villa have moved above them into fifth.
It is now nine defeats in 12 games in all competitions for City, who are winless in their last eight away matches, as their season continues to spiral downwards.
Pep Guardiola made six changes from the Manchester derby defeat last week, but it made little difference during another laboured performance.
Villa, who had won just three of their previous 11 top-flight games, earned a much-needed victory, one which keeps their top-four
hopes firmly alive.
They were rarely troubled, although Emi Martinez saved well from Foden in the first half, and Villa continually found ways past City's frail backline.
The tone was set inside the first minute, as City needed Stefan Ortega, in for the injured Ederson, to twice bail them out.
He brilliantly turned Pau Torres' header on to the bar, the goalkeeper clawing the ball out from almost over the line, having already saved from Duran following Josko Gvardiol's mistake after just 15 seconds.
Worse was to come after 16 minutes, when City were sliced open by Youri Tielemans' brilliant through-ball. He found Rogers to advance and unselfishly square for Duran to beat Ortega.
City were unable to respond until it was too late, and Rogers, who spent two years at Etihad Stadium without making a senior City appear-
ance, sealed victory for Villa with a fine low finish after 65 minutes, making Foden's injury-time strike meaningless. Where do Manchester City go from here, and who do they turn to on the pitch?
Bereft of confidence, City's players continued their alarming slump, and there was never any sign it was going to end.
Just 15 seconds in, Guardiola's mistake let in Duran, who
should have scored, and City rarely improved from there.
Over the past 12 games, there have been few signs Guardiola's side are going to return to their all-conquering past selves, and their hopes of a fifth straight title look in tatters.
Never mind defending their Premier League crown, City's focus must be on finding a way out of a nosedive, which is now threatening their top-four spot.
Sixth and nine points behind leaders Liverpool, the fallen champions are in desperate need of an injection of confidence. That could come in the transfer window next month, and it is inconceivable they will not strengthen.
Jack Grealish failed to make an impression at his former club, having joined City for £100m in 2021, Erling Haaland barely got a kick, and only Rico Lewis and Stefan Ortega came out of the display in credit.
There appeared to be a lack of leadership on the pitch, perhaps down to confidence, and Guardiola is in unchartered territory during their struggles.
Rogers never made a senior appearance for Manchester City in the two years he spent at the Etihad.
He left for Middlesbrough in the summer of 2023, and 18 months later was given a standing ovation by the home fans at Villa Park, when the winger
was replaced late on against his former club.
The 22-year-old outshone the returning Grealish at Villa Park, setting up Duran before a strong run ended with him swapping passes with John McGinn to seal victory. It is a testament to Unai Emery's eye for a player, and his ability to develop one that Rogers has made such an impact after joining from Boro in February, when there were question marks about his potential even at Riverside Stadium. Rogers inspired a result which Villa desperately needed. While they have never dropped out of top-four contention, their lack of consistency this season has made it much harder to see them as challengers.
Only goal difference separates them from Nottingham Forest in fourth, and their position will undoubtedly strengthen Villa's hand in next month's transfer market.
GABRIEL Jesus scored twice as Arsenal put five past Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park to move to within three points of the top of the Premier League.
It took the Brazil striker's tally against the Eagles to five in a week, following his Carabao Cup quarter-final hat-trick on Wednesday.
But there was a setback for the Gunners as Bukayo Saka limped off in the first half.
Jesus scored two in the first half before Kai Havertz made it three, with Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice adding further goals after the break.
Arsenal struck first in the sixth minute, Saka's cross was deflected into the path of Jesus and he fired past Dean Henderson at the near post.
The Eagles were level
just five minutes later when Ismaila Sarr curled an excellent effort in the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Arsenal then went ahead again just three minutes later. A dangerous corner was not cleared and Thomas Partey teed up Jesus, who curled a shot into the top corner.
Jesus then almost registered his second hat-trick in a week when his header hit the post, but the ball bounced out and Havertz was on hand to tap in from close range for the Arsenal third.
Both sides had chances to score more in the first half, Jean-Philippe Mateta had a close range effort saved by Raya before Gabriel headed a Martin Odegaard corner against the bar.
Palace started the second half brightly but Arsenal
kept them out before Martinelli diverted in substitute Rice's shot.
Rice himself then got on the scoresheet as he curled in an excellent strike for the Arsenal fifth.
Arsenal are now three points behind leaders Liverpool, although they have played two games more.
Mikel Arteta said that he hoped that Jesus' hat-trick in midweek would give him the 'spark' he needed to find his scoring form in the Premier League.
And Arteta's hopes came true as Jesus looked revitalised - scoring his first Premier League goals in almost 11 months.
The forward has registered seven goals during 2024 - and five of them have come against Crystal Palace this week.
Before those five goals,
for Arsenal, making him the the youngest Englishman to do that for the club.
Crystal Palace came into this match in relatively good form after a tough start to the season.
They had only lost one of their previous eight Premier League games, but were well beaten here.
It's been a tough week for the Eagles, who used predominantly the same players as featured in Wednesday's EFL Cup defeat, where the Gunners were able to make eight changes.
he had struck five times in his previous 45 matches.
Arsenal have been criticised in recent weeks for their chance creation from open play but in the past two matches, and particularly this game, they have looked back to their best.
The biggest worry for Arteta will be the severity of
Saka's injury.
The 23-year-old, who has 52 goals and 44 assists since 2019, is key to this Arsenal side and they will need him if they are going to mount a serious title challenge for the third season in a row.
Before he limped off, he made his 250th appearance
Palace were without Eberechi Eze, who picked up an injury in that fixture, and did tire in the second period.
The result leaves the Eagles four points clear of the relegation zone before they go to Bournemouth on 26 December. (BBC Sport)
REGAL Stationery & Computer Centre has thrown its support behind the staging of the inaugural One Guyana Berbice Softball Cup, set for today at the Port Mourant Community Centre Ground, Berbice. The action is set to bowl off at 09:00hrs.
The entity, through its dynamic manager Mahendra “Anil” Hardyal, has provided flat- screen televisions for the Most Valuable Players (MVPs) in both the men’s and women’s categories for the one-day tournament. The tournament is being organised by the new-
Manager of Regal Sports Store, Ian John hands over one of the televisions to a representative of Roraima Developers
ly-formed R.S. Sports, in association with the City Star Softball Team of Port
Mourant and Roraima Developers.
According to officials, the tournament is being staged following the successful hosting of the inaugural Inter-Region Ten10 Softball Cricket Cup in April, which saw Hyde Park Outlaws of Region Three walk away with the championship and the RCD Region Three Softball Cup
Coordinator Abel Seetaram disclosed that softball cricket is the grassroots cricket which leads players to all other formats or stag-
LORD Botham is to become the new honorary president of Durham after ending his tenure as the club chair.
Former England captain Botham, who played for the club in their first two seasons in county cricket in the early nineties, had been chair since 2017.
During his time in that role, Durham have recovered from their financial prob -
lems, returned to Division One and secured Tier 1 status for their women's team for next season.
"I am delighted with what has been achieved at the club during my tenure both on and off the field," Botham told the club's website, external.
The 69-year-old will be replaced as club chair by businessman Phil Collins, who had been vice-chair under Botham.
The ex-all-rounder, who scored 5,200 runs and took 383 wickets in 102 Tests, has been a passionate advocate of the game in the north east.
Botham became club chair in the year after Durham had been relegated from Division One for financial issues, were placed under a salary cap and had their status as a Test match venue rescinded.
But he has presided over
an upturn in fortunes, which is recognised by ECB chair Richard Thompson.
"Lord Botham's period as chair has been marked by Durham's strong recovery, and the conveyer belt of English talent it has produced,” Thompson said: adding:
"The club has been put on a more secure footing, returned to the First Division of the men's County Championship, and it will
es of the game, hence the staging of this tournament.
The tournament is being played on a one-game knock-out format, with round-arm bowling being used. It will be a ten (10) overs per side affair, and is open to male and female Open teams.
At stake are lucrative cash incentives, trophies and other prizes. Prizes will be awarded to the winners, runners-up, Most Valuable Player (MVP), player with the best bowling figures in an innings, player with the highest score in an innings
and player of the finals. The player of the match in each game will also be recipient of a trophy in both the male and female categories
Other sponsors include Trophy Stall, ECS, DBL Group, PT Hatchery, Dr. Vanooten, Ashiek Motor Spares, BCCI, 4S Security, Money Tree Trading, Roraima Developers and Cardinal Enterprise.
The organisers are planning to have lots of side attractions, giveaways, and entertainment for fans.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Legendary West Indies fast bowler, Sir Andy Roberts does not believe the appointment of Daren Sammy as head coach of the Test team will result in any immediate success for the regional side.
On Monday last, during Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) quarterly press conference held in St. Vincent, Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe revealed that Sammy, the white-ball head coach, would take over from current head coach of the Test side Andre Coley, effective April 1, 2025.
Sammy’s promotion
came on the heels of impressive results, where he led the T20 team to victories in 20 of their 35 matches, while the ODI side won 15 of its 28 matches during his 18 months in charge.
However, speaking on Trinidadian radio station i95.5FM on Thursday, the 73-year-old, who took 202 Test wickets in just 42 matches, said there first needed to be a change in mindset by the players if the West Indies was to return to its glory days.
“Daren Sammy is one that is loved by Cricket West Indies, and especially in this administration.
“I don’t see any coach;
any coach making a difference until the players can buy into the concept of what made West Indies cricket great in the past,”
Sir Andy said, adding: “Hard work, commitment, the love for the game, rethink your game because you cannot allow
coaches to be thinking for you because that seems to be the norm in West Indies cricket.
“Everything that a coach tells them, they seem to think that it is gospel. You have to work things out for yourself, because what is good for me may not be good for you, so you have to know what is good for yourself and you have to be able to analyse your game on the day, because every day you wake up you won’t feel the same.”
Sir Andy lamented the fact that despite being rooted to the bottom of the Test rankings for decades, West Indies cricket was
still being run the same way.
“If you check West Indies cricket, during the years that we have been in the doldrums and today, we’re still in the doldrums, but our methods stay the same as it was 15, 20 years ago, and it is not a method that is associated with West Indies’ greatness,” Sir Andy maintained.
“We are living in the past as far as Australia, England, India and all of them. They are teaching us how to play cricket now and we were the ones that they were following. Now we’re the followers.”
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent—Cricket West Indies (CWI) and Caribbean CAGE have signed a historic long-term strategic alliance and contract to generate significant recurring revenue for cricket and cricket development in the Caribbean.
The long-term agreement, signed by the President of Cricket West Indies, Dr. Kishore Shallow, and the Co-Founder and Chairman of the CAGE Companies, Robert B. Washington, has been endorsed by eight CARICOM governments, and will also ensure increased tax revenues for these participating governments.
Commenting on the unprecedented deal, President Shallow said, “This partnership is the culmination of extensive dialogue and strategic planning to secure the future of West Indies Cricket. We have been deliberate in our approach, engaging stakeholders at various levels, including with the CARICOM Prime Ministerial Subcommittee on Cricket, to ensure
the broadest consultation on such a pivotal agreement.”
He further said, “The resources generated through this collaboration will not only empower the development of our men’s and women’s teams, but also strength-
en the cricketing ecosystem across the region. It reflects our shared commitment to rebuilding West Indies Cricket as a global powerhouse, and a unifying force for the Caribbean.”
Caribbean CAGE is the
largest route operator of video lottery and video gaming terminals and licensed sports betting in the Caribbean, and recently launched sports betting operations in Puerto Rico.
Co-Founder and Majority
Shareholder of Caribbean CAGE, LLC, Mr. Robert L. Johnson, stated, “CAGE is elated to be a part of an arrangement that goes way beyond the development of a game. This agreement will go a long way to positively alter the lives of the people of the region, creating greater socio-economic opportunities for all citizens through the game of cricket, which has long been recognised as the region’s metaphor for development.
Cricket has brought great glory and recognition to the people of the region, but by so doing, it has also created a platform for positive development that this pact fortifies. But, more importantly, the CARICOM countries in which we operate will also benefit financially from legalised gaming revenue that will increase their ability to support additional educational, sporting, and cultural activities for their citizens.”
The Caribbean CAGE Chief Executive Officer Bob Washington, who has worked in the region for the past
forty (40) years with various Caribbean governments, sporting organisations and private sector commercial entities in the region, also expressed his “satisfaction with the agreement”, and spoke of the confidence he has in the groundbreaking deal.
CEO Washington also stated, “West Indies Cricket, through this tripartite agreement and understanding, would go a long way to once again ruling the cricketing world.”
He concluded by stating, “This novel deal and technological first in Sports Betting and iGaming for the region will aid and assist the region in eliminating the large grey market and unlicensed operators who take bets and pay prizes in the Caribbean Community without paying taxes or gaming licence fees to the governments of the Caribbean Community.”
The agreement takes effect from April 1, 2025, and, based on projections, could be the single largest commercial agreement signed by Cricket West Indies.
CHASE Academy, who this year captured the Milo Schools Football Title and the Republic Bank Schools League Cup, will have a chance to take the treble today at the Ministry of Education ground, when they face off against Trinidad’s St. Benedict’s College in the KFC international goodwill secondary schools football championship.
were stopped by the imperious Chase Academy in a high-scoring thriller, 5-4.
Clarendon College opened the scoring six minutes into the contest, but goals followed from Chase’s Neeiaz Baksh in the 23rd minute, and Bryan Wharton’s in the 25th minute helped them mount a successful comeback to lead, 2-1.
Clarendon College’s top
who is the tournament’s leading scorer, then came to the fore in the 49th to level the scores, 2-2.
Chase’s prolific striker Omar Sam then registered a hat-trick of goals in the 47th, 61st and 67th minutes, as Chase started to find their rhythm and confidence after indifferent play in the first half.
St. Benedict’s skipper and Chase Academy’s captain Bryan Wharton holding the 2024 winner’s trophy
The two captains faced off on Saturday at KFC’s Vlissingen Road branch to share their expectations for the highly-anticipated match-up.
Captain of St. Benedict’s Darrel Garcia says they will give Chase their respect, but will play hard to take home the title, while his opponent, Bryan Wharton, after thanking the organiser for putting together the tournament, said they came out to play their style of football, and their focus is on their game, and they are prepared to play their game and do what they do best; win.
In the semi-final on Friday evening, St. Benedict’s tackled Annai Secondary whom they defeated, 3-1.
St. Benedict’s had early goals from Jelani Scott in the 8th and 20th minutes before Annai’s Guy Moses gave the ‘Interior’ side their first goal in the encounter in the 44th minute.
However, St Benedict’s Derrel Garcia would score late in the second half to seal the contest, 3-1, and secure their place in the finals later today.
Defending champions Clarendon College, who were unbeaten since their 2023 campaign on Guyana’s soil,
perate to reclaim their title, saw goals off the boots of Chevon Richardson in the 71st and Joshua Thom in the 90th minute, but the home side tightened their defence and secured their birth to the final on Sunday at the Carifesta Avenue ground.
The tournament featured eight teams from four Caribbean nations, namely four from Guyana, two from Trinidad, with one each from Jamaica and Suriname competing in a round-robin format.
The teams were divided into two groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-final stage for the coveted trophy.
The winning school will earn 1 million dollars for the first place, with $600,000 for second place and $400,000 for third place, along with trophies and medals
By Sean Devers
THE largest turnout of the One Guyana President’s Cup Squash Championship watched as Nicollette Fernandes and Jason- Ray Khalil emerged winners of Men’s and Women’s singles titles, when the action-packed tournament climaxed in the finals yesterday.
In the women’s final, the scores did not truly reflect the magnitude of competition between Number Two
seed Mary Fung-aFat and World Masters Women’s Singles Champion, the evergreen Nicolette Fernandes.
Fung-a-Fat displayed wonderful manoeuvres and tenacity, but Fernandes made phenomenal use of the Court, and produced precise shot selection and exquisite backhand drives as the 41-yearold Caribbean Squash sensation looked supremely fit and in total control.
Mary, on the other hand, tested Nicollette
with well-placed drop shots, but Nicolette, aging like good wine, countered them like a 21-year-old, showing she has not lost much of the speed from the days when she dominated Caribbean Squash while winning the only gold medal for Guyana at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games in Colombia.
The once 19th ranked female player in World, Fernandes made her 30-year-old opponent, who won Silver in Women’s Plate compe-
tition Commonwealth, look like an ordinary player despite her excellent determination and guile.
Nicollette won 11-5, 11-7, 11-1 in yesterday’s Women’s final at the National Racquet Centre.
In a riveting Men’s Final, the game highlighted several very long rallies Jason-Raj Khalil defeated the experienced and skillful Shomari Wiltshire in match that went to four games.
Wiltshire raced away to a convincing
Singles winners (from left) Nicolette Fernandes (Women), Jason-Ray Khalil (Men’s), Zion Hickerson (Boys’ U-15), Emily Fung-a-Fat (Girls’ U15/ U19) and Demetri Lowe
11-8 in the opening game, before Khalil powered to 11-6, 11-7 and 13-11 in a pulsating final game, which could have gone the other way for fifth and deciding game.
But that was not to be, as Khalil captured his second Men’s title, winning the National Singles when his sister Ashley Khalil won the Women’s Singles.
The pint-sized multi-talented Zion Hickerson, just back from Maimi, where he participated in Tennis, won the Boy’s U15 fi-
nal, while fast-improving Emily Fung-a-Fat won the Girls U-15 and U-19 Titles, and Demetri Lowe took the Boys’ U19 title.
National Sport Commission’s Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle and Cristy Campbell were among those who presented the Medals. Ashley Khalil and Ashley DeGroot had won the Women’s Doubles, while Alex Arjoon and Jason-Ray Khalil won the Men’s Doubles.