Qatari Hotel land Govt will not allow M&CC to “shake down” investors – VP to Mayor
The controversy surrounding the proposed US$300 million Qatari hotel project along Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown has intensified, with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo accusing the Georgetown Mayor and City Council of attempting to "shake down" investors, while Mayor Alfred Mentore insists on formally notifying the investors of the alleged land dispute before taking legal action.
During his weekly press conference, Jagdeo strongly criticised the City Council’s approach, calling it a "hustle" and a deliberate attempt to stall a transformative development project.
In fact, he emphasised that the project, which involves the construction of
five-star hotels, would be a game-changer for Guyana’s economy, creating thousands of jobs and reshaping the capital’s landscape.
“They know they don't own the land. It's been proven, et cetera. But this is consistent with APNU's anti-development agenda. Just imagine you would give a $350 million US investment, a massive revenue stream to the City Council. You're going to have, it would change the outlook of the whole city, because the hotels that would go up there would not be of the regular kind. These are major fivestar hotels that would be reserved for that area. It will transform Guyana. There will be almost nothing like those hotels anywhere in
the Caribbean. You should want to encourage the project taking place. Thousands of Guyanese will be working, providing services to those hotels. Change the whole landscape. They're trying to block it, the
tors. This is how countries get a bad reputation; they go around and you have hustlers trying to meet with the investors to collect money from them or something like that. I think this is precisely what's happening,” he assured.
The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) on several occasions reiterated the State’s ownership of lands located on Carifesta Avenue in Georgetown that are to be sold to the tune of $2 billion to the Qatari investors for the construction of the US$300 million Georgetown Seafront Resort and Convention Centre.
The Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has been claiming that it owns the land earmarked for this project – something Government has debunked and the GLSC had previously presented evidence to prove this.
Back in March 2024, the Lands and Surveys Commission submitted transport documents and
PNC [People’s National Congress], through the Mayor,” the Vice President said.
During a statutory meeting held on Tuesday, Mayor Mentore secured the APNU[A Partnership for National Unity]-led City Council’s approval to write to Assets Group, the Qatari investors behind the project. Mentore argued that the investors must be formally notified of the dispute before legal proceedings are pursued.
In response, the Vice President stated that the Government would take decisive action to block any attempts, emphasising that the Administration would not permit the City Council to 'hustle' the investor.
“I think this is a hustle, trying to shake down people, but it's not going to happen. We're not going to allow the City Council to shake down the inves-
detailed in length the distribution/ownership of the lands in the area to refute the M&CC’s claim.
In March 2024, City Engineer Colvern Venture had confirmed that the plot of land which was earmarked for the Qatari hotel belonged to the Guyana Government.
“My research also revealed that the plot of land to which the Mayor referred, at the Statutory Meeting, held on February 26, 2024, is owned by the Government of Guyana under Transport # 235 of 1863,” he had said in a statement.
His position was in response to a cease order notice which was inadvertently posted at the plot of land on Carifesta Avenue – where the $64.5 billion Georgetown Seafront Resort and Convention Centre is slated to be completed by March 2026.
File photo: Officials at the foundation-laying ceremony for the US$300 million Georgetown Seafront Resort and Convention Centre to be constructed on Carifesta Avenue
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Friday, February 28 –03:45h-05:15h and Saturday, March 1, 2025 – 04:45h-06:15h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Friday, February 28 – 16:55h-18:25h and Saturday, March 1, 2025 – 05:05h-06:35h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Light rain showers are expected in the morning followed by sunshine in the afternoon, with clear to partly-cloudy skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.
Winds: Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.68 metres and 5.81 metres.
High Tide: 17:13h reaching a maximum height of 2.89 metres.
Low Tide: 10:46h and 23:08h reaching minimum heights of 0.39 metre and 0.34 metre.
Ramadan should remind us of collective duty to others – Pres Ali
As Muslims prepare to embark on a monthlong fast, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali says that this holy month of Ramadan should serve as a reminder to people of their collective duty to others.
The Head of State made this remark on Thursday evening at the launch of the second annual National Ramadan Village, held on the lawns of the Muslim Youth Organisation of Guyana (MYO) on Woolford Avenue, Georgetown.
Ramadan, which commences on Saturday or Sunday, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon, is the holy month of fasting, whereby Muslims do not eat or drink anything from dawn to sunset. They believe this sacrifice allows them to be closer to Allah, or God.
During his address, the Head of State reminded his fellow Muslims of the importance of humanitarian duties towards each other.
“In this very complicated environment and very complex global environment, this Ramadan should remind us of our duties individually and collectively. Our individual duty to each other in the human family and our collective duty as a people towards other people, our collective duty towards every community, our collective duty as we live in the family of humanity.
“The holy month of Ramadan will be upon us once again… [and] we are reminded that the holy month of Ramadan brings with it the blessings of mercy, forgiveness and spiritual renewal. But how can we achieve spiritual renewal, how can we achieve forgiveness and mercy if we are not merciful to each other… You cannot inherit that if you are holding or harbouring illthoughts about each other, if you are harbouring ill-feelings about your fellow human beings,” he expressed.
Citing the Quran – Islam’s holy book, President Ali noted that Muslims should conduct their affairs in a manner that the peace, tolerance and compassion that the religion teaches could be understood. He noted that Islam’s “great instruction” to not forget neighbours is without any discrimination.
“The instruction, and all the [other religions’ texts] did not say love only your neighbour of a certain type, or do not forget your neigh-
bour only if they are of a certain type. No! If we are to love our neighbours, if we are to respect our neighbours, if we are to honour our neighbours – and neighbours in this context is countries besides each other, neighbours besides each other – oh, what a different world it would be.”
He further cited verses in the Holy Quran, including those that state that Islam not only respects other religions and acknowledges their right, but also prohibits any contempt towards them.
According to the Guyanese leader, maybe Guyana was given a “glorious opportunity” to show to the world how the teachings of the Holy Quran and other religious texts have shaped its people as part of the human family, and to be a great example of what humanity should be.
“We as a nation and a people, as different as we are, are placed here for a specific purpose, and just maybe that purpose is to demonstrate to a very conflicted world, to a very confrontational world, what harmony, peace and living together feels like and look like,” he added.
The National Ramadan
Village is a collaboration between the Guyana Government; Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG); the Guyana Islamic Trust (GIT) and the MYO. This initiative is a brainchild of President Ali, with the first edition successfully held in 2024.
Its establishment provides an opportunity for Guyanese to experience the spiritual ambience of Ramadan, and for families to gather and share with others for the breaking of the fast.
The Village would facilitate prayers, reflection and
During the evenings when the Village is open, presentations would be delivered by learned Islamic scholars in an effort to enlighten all on the virtues of Islam and Ramadan through various topics, including the important role of women, women empowerment, and youth.
This would allow for the teachings of Islam and Ramadan to reach beyond the mosques.
In addition, the Maghrib and Isha Salat (evening and night prayers), along with Taraweeh (prayers specific to
education on all weekends – Fridays-Sundays from 16:00h-22:00h (4:00pm to 10:00pm) – during Ramadan.
In order to facilitate the participation of brothers and sisters from the Diaspora, arrangements have been made, through the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), for a special Islamic Heritage Tour – Discovering Islamic Culture and Religion — of the National Ramadan Village.
Laylat-ul-Qadr, referred to as the Night of Power, which generally occurs on the 27th night of Ramadan, would also be observed at the National Ramadan Village.
the holy month of Ramadan), will be offered and led by learned Imams.
The National Ramadan Village, with its magnificent Islamic-themed design and the relevant components of its grand setting, would again present a glorious sight.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is observed by Muslims worldwide as a period of fasting, prayers, reflection, and community. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and lasts 29 to 30 days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali addressing the opening of the National Ramadan Village on Thursday
A section of the National Ramadan Village on Woolford Avenue
Editor: Tusika Martin
News Hotline: 231-8063Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761
Marketing: 231-8064Accounts: 225-6707
Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown
Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com
Timely & necessary call to “Do the Right Thing”
In a move towards enhancing public safety, the Home Affairs Ministry, in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force, launched the “Do the Right Thing” road safety initiative on November 1, 2024. Spearheaded by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, this campaign has already made significant strides in educating thousands of citizens about responsible road use and safe driving practices. President Dr Irfaan Ali has praised this initiative, acknowledging its success while calling for an even greater effort in reaching younger generations.
The President’s endorsement of the initiative comes at a crucial time when Guyana continues to grapple with road safety concerns. He commended Minister Benn for his dedication to public education, emphasising that the campaign extends its reach to every citizen. “Do the Right Thing” is more than just a slogan; it is a movement aimed at fostering a culture of responsibility on the nation’s roads. The initiative seeks to instil values of caution, respect, and adherence to traffic laws, ultimately reducing accidents and fatalities.
However, while recognising the campaign’s achievements, President Ali stressed the need for increased engagement with schoolchildren. He called on Police Officers and divisional commanders to take an active role in integrating road safety awareness into the school system. By focusing on students between the ages of 9 and 13 – an age group particularly receptive to learning and behavioural guidance – Guyana stands a better chance of shaping a generation of responsible road users.
Winning this battle for the minds of young citizens is about more than just road safety; it is about instilling broader societal values. As the President noted, raising children to understand and uphold the principles of safety, discipline, and respect will pay long-term dividends. These young minds, when properly guided, will grow into law-abiding citizens who contribute positively to their communities and the nation.
Proactive policing plays a vital role in this endeavour. The traditional model of law enforcement often focuses on reacting to incidents after they occur. However, the “Do the Right Thing” initiative embodies a more forward-thinking approach, one that prevents infractions before they happen by nurturing an informed and responsible populace. This proactive stance not only strengthens road safety but also contributes to broader crime prevention efforts.
In today’s world, where issues of accountability and the use of force in policing are being debated globally, Guyana has a unique opportunity to lead by example. The campaign’s emphasis on education over enforcement aligns with best practices in modern law enforcement, where community engagement and preventative measures yield more sustainable results than punitive actions alone. Ensuring that the next generation is wellversed in road safety will lead to fewer infractions, less strain on law enforcement resources, and a decline in road-related tragedies.
The President’s call is both timely and necessary. The statistics on road accidents underscore the urgent need for sustained intervention. Reckless driving, speeding, and disregard for traffic laws continue to claim lives and cause untold grief to families.
The “Do the Right Thing” initiative is a step in the right direction, but it must be supported at all levels of society. Schools, parents, community leaders, and law enforcement agencies must work together to reinforce the principles of safe road use. Additionally, leveraging digital platforms and social media can significantly enhance the reach and effectiveness of the campaign. Younger generations are highly engaged online, making digital outreach a powerful tool for spreading awareness. Interactive campaigns, virtual seminars, and engaging educational content can complement traditional methods of instruction, ensuring that road safety messages resonate with students.
The challenge now lies in sustaining and expanding these efforts. Public safety campaigns often face the risk of losing momentum after the initial launch. Continuous evaluation, innovative outreach strategies, and strong leadership will be crucial in ensuring that the “Do the Right Thing” initiative remains effective.
By embracing road safety as a collective responsibility and instilling these values in the youngest members of society, the country can pave the way for a safer future.
Centring the voiceless: Pope Francis’s enduring global impact
By Stan Chu Ilo
According to Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, Pope Francis has been checking up on the long-suffering people of Gaza even from his hospital bed in Rome, where he has been receiving treatment for pneumonia since February 14.
In an interview with the Vatican’s official information platform, Vatican News, Romanelli said Francis has maintained nearly daily contact with his church throughout 15 months of massacres, violence, fear and hunger in Gaza and continued to make calls to the parish during his ongoing hospitalisation. “He asked us how we were doing, how the situation was, and he sent us his blessing,” Romanelli said.
As demonstrated by his attachment to the people of Gaza, Francis believes that those who suffer and who inhabit the existential peripheries of life reflect the true face of God. It is his conviction that the logic of love and life is understood better by fixing the gaze on the poor and the forgotten of society.
As such, many Catholics and countless men and women of goodwill around the world are praying for the Pope’s quick recovery and return to his mission. They are praying because they know our world can only overcome the polycrisis it is facing today under the guidance of leaders like him – leaders who are driven by a deep concern for those suffering from war, poverty and injustice; leaders who want to advance our common humanity to counter the dangerous rise of nativism, protectionism, and parochial nationalism.
Francis has demonstrat-
ed his unyielding commitment to promoting coexistence and confronting global injustice many times over in the past decade.
In February 2019, for example, he signed the Abu Dhabi Declaration on “human fraternity for world peace and living together” alongside Grand Imam of al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayyeb.
The widely-cherished document, in recognising all human beings as brothers and sisters, serves as a guide for future generations to advance a culture of mutual respect. It calls for a “culture of tolerance and of living together in peace” in the name of “all persons of goodwill present in every part of the world”, but especially “orphans; widows; refugees; those exiled from their homes and countries; victims of wars, persecution, and injustice; those who live in fear; prisoners of war and those being tortured.”
After the Abu Dhabi document came the COVID-19 pandemic, which demonstrated yet again how all humans are held together in a common destiny. Bringing people together in shared suffering, it served to strengthen further Francis’s commitment to spreading his message about our common humanity.
As Francis explained in his post-pandemic encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, the pandemic has proven that the global economy is not infallible and that the future of the world cannot be built on economic orthodoxies dictated by market freedom. On the contrary, he suggested, there is the need to recover “a sound political life that is not subject to the dictates of finance”. There is the need, he proposed, for the dismantling of structures of injustice and the irruption of a new moral urgency that “springs from including the
excluded in the building of a common destiny” and respecting the dignity and rights of all people everywhere in the world.
The world, however, failed to heed Francis’s warning and regrettably learned little from the catastrophe of COVID-19. In fact, the social, political and economic conditions of many worsened after the pandemic. Rather than a deeper understanding and greater appreciation of our common humanity and shared destiny, what came to define the post-pandemic world has been more violence, war, nationalism and intolerance. Since the pandemic, social hierarchies have become more rigid, identities more narrow and the already dysfunctional global system even more inclined to fuel division, injustice, poverty, and tensions among nations and peoples. Francis has repeatedly explained in the past few years how the post-pandemic world is living through a “third world war fought piecemeal” that is fuelled by a culture of indifference. He often invited people to cry in the face of the senseless killings of the innocent as he once did while making an appeal for an end to the war in Ukraine. He wept again on the shores of Lampedusa, Italy, where so many people fleeing wars and poverty have drowned. As the Head of the Catholic Church since 2013, Francis has tirelessly expressed his conviction that we are all children of God and every life should be prized rather than priced.
These days, he is sending out this message yet again through his daily phone calls to Gaza. These calls, which have continued even from the hospital, are an act of solidarity with Gaza’s hurt, fearful and hungry masses but also an attempt to remind the world of the plight of the peo-
ple at the existential peripheries.
This same desire to place people who are suffering the consequences of war at the centre of global attention had led Francis to make dangerous trips in 2023 to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the site of the longest war in Africa, and to South Sudan, where the people have not experienced any peace, progress, or prosperity in more than a decade.
Today, the world needs Francis’s leadership and message of peace, fraternity and solidarity more than ever before. The world is in a crisis that it can get out of only through a paradigm shift from violence to nonviolent ways to heal relations, build trust and address historical injustices. Francis has always been a guiding light to those pushing for this much-needed paradigm shift because he has always been consistent in his message that faith and violence are incompatible and that war is always a defeat of humanity.
In a world where too many lives, including those in Gaza, have been deemed “ungrievable” by so many in our societies, Francis is a beacon of light reminding us of our common humanity and shared destiny. No one knows how much longer he has left on this Earth, but it is clear that his legacy of centring the poor, the weak and the needy and yearning for peace, fraternity and coexistence in the face of deepening divisions and increasing violence will surely outlive him. (Excerpted from Al Jazeera)
(Stan Chu Ilo is a Research Professor of African Studies and World Christianity, Center for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology, DePaul University, Chicago, USA)
Residents of Lake Capoey on the Essequibo Coast in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) have harvested 2,364 pounds of Tambaqui on Thursday. Part of the harvest was sold locally, generating nearly $1.2 million in revenue. This information was taken from President
Dr Irfaan Ali’s social media page
(Photo credit: President Dr Irfaan Ali’s social media page)
Jagdeo shuts down G/town Mayor's talk of revaluation of city properties
…cites deliberate move to create unease, dissatisfaction ahead of 2025 elections
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has declared that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government will not support any moves by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to reevaluate properties in the city with the aim of collecting more rates and taxes.
At the M&CC statutory meeting on Tuesday, Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore had disclosed plans to request a meeting between Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and City Hall’s Valuation Division, to discuss the revaluation of properties in Georgetown, in a bid to earn more revenues for the cash-strapped City Council.
However, during his weekly press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo shut down this idea.
“Why would you want to do a revaluation of properties in Georgetown in this year? We have made it very clear that there will be no revaluation of any property which means higher taxes for people in Georgetown, or any other part of the country. So, I want the residents of Georgetown and across the country to know that there shall be no approval for any revaluation
exercise… So, I’m making it clear that we will not approve any revaluation exercise for properties in the city or in any other part of the country for that matter. So, if they have approached the Ministry of Finance to have that done, then the answer will be no,” he declared.
Jagdeo, who is also the General Secretary of the ruling PPP, reminded that the Party had promised at previous Local Government Elections, while it was in Opposition, to not increase taxes at any of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) or Town Councils – something which it intends to uphold.
He pointed out that if City Hall is bent on earning revenues, then it should go after the billions owed by some quarters, including the more than $6 billion in outstanding taxes for the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Congress Place headquarters. The leading Opposition party’s holding company, Maiwak, reportedly owes the city $6.7 billion in taxes.
“I’ve had some complaints from religious organisations in the city that they got demand notices that increased the payments significantly. I don’t
know whether this is based on past taxes or conjecture, but some massive increases to particularly religious entities in the city for rates and taxes? Now, it’s commendable to want to collect your taxes, but you cannot do so in a partisan way…”
“They could fund two years of City Council expenditure from just collecting taxes from Congress Place. Congress Place owes $6.8 billion, and they just brushed that under the carpet and now, they’re going after religious organisations, etc. The People’s Progressive Party will not support this,” Jagdeo stressed.
During Tuesday’s statutory meeting, Mayor Mentore had reported that some 45 per cent of rates and tax payers in the city were delinquent, and noted that the M&CC would be moving to publish the names of all those property owners and businesses who have fallen behind on their payments.
The Georgetown Mayor also read from a proposed notice that the city would be publishing in the newspaper, as a first step, inviting persons to write City Hall for possible solutions to settle their outstanding debts.
But the Vice President dismissed this approach and cautioned persons against engaging in any such nego-
tiations.
“That is a recipe for corruption, because if you can go in and negotiate a particular deal then based on previous experience, people walk away with different deals from the City Council on the basis of how much bribe they had to pay to some of the leaders there… So, I would urge the citizens of Georgetown not to go in there and negotiate any payment directly with the Mayor or his officers that he may assign to do so… And I urge people not to pay bribes to people in the City Council who may try to extort them,” Jagdeo noted.
According to the Vice President, while this move might seem like an innocent gesture by City Hall to earn more through increased taxes, he believes it is a deliberate move to create “dissatisfaction” especially in an election year – something which he said is right out of the PNC’s playbook.
During Tuesday’s meeting, after Mentore read out his proposal and called for a vote, the motion was carried by a majority decision.
However, an exchange of words subsequently broke out between Mentore and PPP/C Councillor Don Singh.
The PPP/C Councillor questioned whether the Mayor would also be naming and shaming the PNCR holding company that owes City Hall billions in rates and taxes.
According to Mentore, the naming and shaming will be done across the board. The Georgetown Mayor assured the Council that “all of them will be part of this”.” This is across the board!”
Only last month, the Georgetown municipality announced that it would be pursuing the debt from the political party, after VP Jagdeo called on the Council to take decisive action amid a strike by city workers, who demanded salary increases – adding to the Council’s financial constraints.
“I believe it’s a pernicious plot by APNU [A Partnership for National Unity] in collaboration with Mayor of Georgetown to create as much dissatisfaction among the people of Georgetown and to create unease in their minds. This is directly from the playbook of the PNC in the past… I believe this is part of a plot to create dissatisfaction in the city, because if you suddenly hear your taxes are gonna double, or people send you big demand notices, you may think it’s driven by the Government,” Jagdeo stated.
06:00 Cartoons
07:00 Evening News (RB) 08:00 HGTV 09:00 Stop Suffering 10:00 Food Network 12:00 News Break
12:05 Indian Movie - Dil To Pahal Hai (1997) 15:00 When Calls the Heart
16:00 Indian Soaps
17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 Aljazeera
19:00 The Evening News
20:00 Stop Suffering
20:30 Stand-up Comedy
21:00 Movie - Knight and Day (2010)
23:00 Yellowstone S5 E9
00:00 Sign off
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2025
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo
Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore
Page Foundation
1) An aeroplane was flying at 2 550 feet when a jet passed 760 feet above it. How high, in feet, was the jet flying at that time?
(A) 760
(B) 1 790
(C) 2 310
(D) 3 310
2) 1 450 rounded to the nearest thousand is (A) 1000 (B) 1 400 (C) 1 460 (D) 2.000
3) If the container has 840 millilitres of water, how many more millilitres of water will be needed to fill it?
(A) 160
(B) 180
(C) 190
(D) 200
4) Which pair of sets below is equal?
(A) {1, 3, 5, 7} and {7, 5, 3, 1}
(B) {7, 5, 3, 1} and {2, 3, 4, 5} (C) {1, 3, 5, 7} and {2, 4, 6, 8} (D) {2, 4, 6, 8} and {2, 3, 4, 5}
5) Which of the diagrams below represents the product of the prime factors of 36? (A) (B)
6) (10 x 2) x 4 is the same as (A) 2 + (10 x 4) (B) (10 x 2) + 4 (C) 10 (4+2) (D) 2(10 x 4)
7) The sum of 0.91, 27.1 and 1.907 is (A) 2.9917 (B) 29.917 (C) 299.17 (D) 2 991.7
8) 9/12 x 4/18 in its simplest form is (A) 1/6 (B) 36/216 (C) 13/30 (D) 5/6
9) Figure ABCD shown below is made up of a semicircle and a rectangle. O is the centre of the line DC. (Use π = 22 /7).
a) Calculate the area of triangle AOB.
b) Calculate the area of the semicircle.
c) What is the area of the shaded region of the figure?
Jack and Jill
Went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water, Jack fell down And broke his crown And Jill came tumbling after. Up Jack got And home did trot As fast as he could caper, Went to bed To mend his head With vinegar and brown paper.
By Mother Goose
(C)
(D)
Construction materials' suppliers providing substandard products will be blacklisted – Jagdeo
In a decisive move to ensure the quality of public infrastructure, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has vowed to blacklist construction suppliers who provide substandard materials for Government projects.
This follows troubling reports that several suppliers have been supplying concrete with insufficient strength, leading to the deterioration of key infrastructure, such as roads.
The move also comes at a time when the Government is clamping down on delinquent contractors executing public projects.
VP Jagdeo, during his weekly press conference on Thursday, revealed that some small contractors on the East Bank of Demerara, had been receiving concrete that did not meet the required strength specifications.
“We found that the PSI of the concrete being sup-
plied was far below the required 4000 PSI. Some suppliers were providing concrete with only 2000 PSI, which is clearly inadequate for road construction,” Jagdeo said.
The consequences of this have been dire, with roads deteriorating prematurely, creating a blame-shifting scenario where contractors
are held accountable for the subpar quality of the materials they received.
In response, the Public Works Ministry is set to issue a statement and take action against the suppliers who are found to be at fault.
Jagdeo made it clear that any supplier found guilty of providing sub-
standard materials would be effectively blacklisted, losing their right to participate in future Government contracts.
"We will no longer tolerate suppliers who cheat the system and undermine the quality of public infrastructure," he declared.
The Government’s stance is clear: it will not tolerate any compromise on the quality of public works, and it encourages citizens to take an active role in ensuring transparency.
The Vice President urged the public to report any instances of poor construction they observe in their communities, reassuring citizens that exposing such issues would not be viewed as a political attack but rather as part of the Government's efforts to improve public works.
"This is not a failure of the Government. In fact, it’s the Government working to make sure that we
do things properly and that we get value for money," Jagdeo emphasised.
He also expressed confidence that the issues identified in road construction projects would be rectified, calling on the public and contractors to continue their efforts in raising standards across the country.
Clampdown
With the aim of addressing several issues affecting the transformation of Guyana’s infrastructural landscape and combat corruption in the public procurement processes, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government has taken action against company owners being awarded multiple contracts, and contractors doing substandard work.
In June 2024, it was disclosed that approximately $3 billion in charges for liquidated damages have been
instituted over delays in public projects across the country.
Liquidated damages refer to a provision allowing for the payment of a specified sum in the case of a breach of contract. Based on the value of the contracts, the percentage of the liquidated damages is calculated. This can range from 0.1 per cent up to 10 per cent of the contract sum.
Guyana Times was told that while most state agencies have embarked on recovering liquidated damages, the Ministries of Public Works, Housing and Water, and Agriculture are the main entities with defaulting contractors.
In fact, the Public Works Ministry has issued letters to contractors on a whopping 365 projects that have been experiencing unjustified delays, seeking liquidated damages to the tune of $934.65 million.
Caricom to take unified stand to address US sanctions on countries with Cuban medical brigades
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has revealed that Guyana, along with other members of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), plans to engage the United States Administration on a range of pressing issues affecting the Region.
The focus of their concerns includes US sanctions aimed at countries collaborating with Cuba, specifical-
ly the island nation's medical brigades deployed across the Caribbean.
Jagdeo underscored the historical and positive role that Cuban medical professionals have played in improving healthcare delivery across the Caribbean, noting that the presence of these medical teams has spanned multiple US administrations. He also stressed that the issue was not confined
to Guyana alone, but was a matter of regional significance.
“Now you know that the Cuban presence, medical presence, in the Caribbean has been there for a very, very long time and has transcended several US administrations. The Cuban medical presence in the Region has had some positive impact on healthcare delivery across
the Region. This issue is not just about Guyana.”
“This is about the entire Caribbean. Now I know that at the last meeting of Caricom leaders there was an agreement to engage the Trump Administration on a number of issues, because we felt that President Trump should see the Region not through the eyes of third parties, but to directly get views from the leaders of the Region,” the Vice President said.
Potential sanctions
The Vice President's remarks come in response to the recent US statement concerning potential sanctions on nations working with Cuba in the field of medical cooperation. Jagdeo emphasised that the Caribbean nations, united through Caricom, are pre-
pared to engage the US on this issue at the leadership level – directly with the US State Department or the White House.
Jagdeo highlighted that Caricom's efforts would not be limited to the Cuban medical brigades.
With the potential implications for health, trade, and diplomatic relations across the Caribbean, Caricom's united approach is poised to have a profound impact on the Region's future relationship with the United States.
“We hope that we’ll be able to do so,” Jagdeo concluded. “But not just on the Cuban medical brigade. On trade matters, on aid matters, on deportees—this is an issue we’re tackling together.”
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Guyana’s primary
healthcare facility continues to grapple with a severe shortage of nursing staff, with an alarming deficit of over 700 nurses.
The Hospital is working tirelessly to meet the healthcare demands of a growing population, and while this shortage has not raised concerns about the Hospital’s capability to provide care, the positions must be filled if the GPHC is to function effectively.
Earlier this year, the GPHC disclosed that it was in the final stages of preparing accommodations for 300 Cuban nurses who were set to join the healthcare workforce in Guyana.
Preparations for the 300 Cuban nurses’ arrival include ensuring that the necessary accommodations are in place to support their stay.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo
Cuban nurses in Guyana
Berbice house goes up in flames following domestic dispute
Afamily is now homeless after their house went up in flames on Thursday afternoon, following a dispute between a man and his reputed wife.
Flames were initially seen coming from the building situated at Errol’s Ville, Vryman’s Ervin, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), during mid-afternoon on
Thursday.
At the time Debra Timmers was not at home.
The 33-year-old woman said she was on her way to the police station to file a report against her husband. She wanted her reputed husband to remove from the home the couple shared for the past two years.
“Today we went to court... me and the man that lives
together, he does always molesting me and every time he getting off… When we went to the court, he force us to say we don’t want any story because he kept threatening me and my brother. After he get off, while I was going home, I feel hurt because every time he doing stuff and he getting off and he keep hurting me,” Timmers alleged.
“So when I reached home, I told him to pack his stuff and leave… Within the argument I said I was going to the police station, and when I reached a little way going, somebody asked me if it is not my place smoking and I said ‘No I left the boy home’, and I continued proceeding to go where I going,” she added.
TO PAGE 17
Stayin’ woke… …with Trump
And suddenly “being woke” or “stayin’ woke” has crept out from Black American usage since the 1920s to now become mainstream. Not that it ain’t contested, but the disagreement itself - as to whether folks should be woke or not - contributes to the term’s ubiquity. There are some who’re pushing “wokeness” in Guyana now, as is probably inevitable with America still dominating with its “soft power” globally!!
For the baby boomer generation – now passing onbeing “hip” was the Black zeitgeist of their era. It persists in the “hipsters” who try to dominate what’s “cool”; those who are called “Influencers” nowadays!!
So, back to being “woke”. It started with ole Marcus Garvey exhorting Blacks everywhere to be “awake” to the systemic conditions keeping them in bondage. Being woke in America now means that the state should play a part in rectifying the damage done, not just to Black people – but analogously to women, gays (LGBTQ…), the old, ethnics, other races, and so on and so forth.
The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in the USA in the last decade gave the term a new impetus - and created its inevitable backlash. Action creates reaction, and – we’re told in school - they’re equal and opposite.
And who’s at the base of the oppression?? Well, duh!! – “Whitey”, “the Man”, the white male who held all the levers of power when the mask’s pulled off, of course!! The politics of difference defined “wokeness”, and since oppression could simultaneously affect a person along more than one characteristic – say, being a black, gay handicapped woman – we now had another woke expression: “intersectionality”!! So, we now had in America – and being demanded in Guyana, of course - the notion of pushing “DEI” (diversity, equity and inclusion) as new norms in all spheres of our activity.
Now, to the oppressed by whatever name, they were merely seeking rectification of past exclusions through programmes like affirmative action. But after a few decades, the kickback has arrived, with Trump and his chainsaw-wielding billionaire cohorts who’re gonna wipe out woke programmes and their beneficiaries from every branch of government. And the private sector has jumped right it – since cutting workers has always been their goto option to make more profits!!
So, what about us in Guyana?? While back in colonial days it was “the white man” keeping us down – as Garvey reminded us during his 1937 visit - we should note that we’ve been independent for 59 years and are a Republic for 55!! So, shouldn’t we have straightened out things by now?? Well, yes…save that we discovered that our own –like Burnham – could oppress us even worse!!
Be woke to his successors who’d ban again!!
…on Village Rams
The story of the fella with 14 children - inside and outside - reminded your Eyewitness of Sparrow’s classic on Caribbean machismo – the Village Ram. “Not a woman ever complain yet with me.
I ent boasting but I got durability. And if a woman ever say that I/ Ever left her dissatisfied, She lie, she lie, she lie!! Is me the Village Ram / I don’t give a damn, / Ah cutting down black and white Man Ah wucking day and night.
If you have a job to be done see me - I ent making fun. Beware when Ah drinking rum. I ent like to done/ And Ah bad like a cobra snake / doh try to escape/ When Ah put you in the clinch/ Doh care how you bite and pinch/ And Ah got meh hand on yuh mouth/ The way Ah does lock yuh neck yuh cyar shout. All meh bouts is fifteen rounds/ If you ent in shape doh come/ Anytime this champion connect.”
The power of the punch always get respect” Still?
…on Trump’s madness as method
Trump had promised: “An eye for an eye, a tariff for a tariff - the same exact amount.” When blind man seh ‘e gon pelt – he done gat brick in ‘e haan!!
A distraught Debra Timmers after her home was completely destroyed by the fire Timmers' house was situated in front of the concrete structure TURN
2 die after speeding car flips, is submerged in trench
Shane Tyndall, a 39-year-old, and Shabeca Gordon, a 35-year -old, who both reside at Lot 609, East Ruimveldt in Georgetown, lost their lives on Thursday at about 08:00h, after the car in which they were travelling became uncontrollable and flipped multiple times before plunging into a canal that runs parallel to the Haags Bosch main access road, also known as Dump Site Road, in Eccles, East Bank Demerara.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the car, PAJ 375, was being driven by Tyndall at a high rate of speed in an easterly direction along the northern driving lane of Dump Site Road when he lost control of the vehicle and it collided with a concrete rail at the edge of the roadway.
The force of impact caused the car to flip multiple times over a distance of approximately 130 feet further east before plunging into a trench on the northern side of the road, where it became fully submerged.
Public-spirited citizens who rushed to assist the duo managed to extract them from the submerged vehicle in an unconscious state, but when Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) from the Ambulance Service arrived on the scene, they pronounced both Tyndall and Gordon dead.
Their bodies are currently at the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where they await post-mortem examinations.
Police have since launched an investigation of this tragic incident.
Dead: Shane Tyndall and Shabeca Gordon
The car that was involved in the accident
‘Bloated’ voters list claim
“Come forward and show the public” – AG challenges Opposition
The Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) have repeatedly claimed that the voters’ list is bloated with the names of deceased and migrated persons. However, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall on Tuesday evening again challenged the parties to prove that claim.
He pointed to the Claims and Objections period conducted by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) for such cases, noting that the Opposition failed to use that opportunity.
“The claims and objections mechanism provided a platform for them, not to prove the tens of thousands,
to prove one. How about prove five or prove ten? [they] cannot prove one, and you expect any self-respecting organization or sensible person to take you seriously?” he challenged during his weekly programme of ‘Issues in the News.’
The Claims and Objections period is used by GECOM to facilitate the addition or removal of names from the Official voters list. Notably, names are only removed once a person is deceased, which must be proven with a death certificate in accordance with rulings of the court.
“Come forward and
show the public that the voters list has bloat, or is bloated, or there are persons on that list who should
not be on that list,” Nandlall said to the Opposition.
GECOM recently reported that during its first Claims and Objections ex-
ercise for the year, only nine objections were received during the period January 2 – 22. Of the nine, none was filed by any of the Opposition parties. Asked about failure to utilise this mechanism, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton said any use of the exercise would “help the PPP.”
As such, the Attorney General has said, “Their claim is a fanciful one; one that is without merit, and one that they cannot prove.”
The next General and Regional Elections are set for later this year.
Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton
AFC Leader Nigel Hughes
Attorney General Anil Nandlall
Pres Ali lauds GPF’s ‘Do the Right Thing’ campaign
…commends stern
approach in promoting community education
With heightened awareness of safety measures being promoted through the ‘Do the Right Thing’ road safety initiative spearheaded by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, President Dr Irfaan Ali has lauded the efforts behind this impactful initiative while calling for more work from officers to sensitize students.
Guyana's road safety campaign, ‘Do the Right Thing’, aimed at promoting safer driving and responsible road use, was launched
on November 1, 2024 by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Police Force; and thousands have already been sensitized about this groundbreaking initiative.
President Ali has praised the campaign, highlighting its significant impact and the positive results it has achieved so far.
“I want to commend Minister Benn for his stern approach in promoting community education. ‘Do the Right Thing’ is a campaign that reaches every citizen, so there is a huge public ed-
ucation and public campaign around this theme, which he is championing and leading with the Commissioner and the Guyana Police Force,” the President has said.
In an attempt to increase the benefits of the campaign, the President emphasized that the initiative needs the support of officer ranks in sensitizing school pupils.
“I know that there is a strong focus in the school system and education system now, and I would like to see greater energy from all our officers, the command-
ers for the different divisions, in taking this initiative into the school system. If you are able to win the battle to hold our next generation of children close to us; understanding their values, understanding what is expected of them, and bringing them out of all the influences that can destroy them now and in the future…,” he detailed.
From the Head of State's view, if this battle succeeds, it would produce citizens who would also serve as key citizens of the country, upholding its laws, and by extension its assets, which would ultimately lead to not having to deal with fighting, and dealing with societal issues in the future.
The Head of State has also highlighted that it is im-
portant to capitalize on this, because students have an ability to grasp information quickly at this point in their lives.
The Head of State also declared this is strong policing, where the next generation of Guyanese is being brought up as persons who are willing to collectively fight against every evil in Guyana’s society. He mentioned, too, that this is proactive policing that would give Guyana long-term victory and long-term rewards.
This, he added, must be something conceptualized and understood, as it is a matter that every society is grappling with today.
“These are the points from looking at the most recent headlines about, you
know, accountability in the Police Force, the level of force that is used in enforcement. It’s here, it's there, it's regional, and this is a big debate on the level of force.
So, it's important that we win at this stage of their development. It is important that we win when they are in this phase of influence, when they are going through this phase of influence; from 9 to 13 years old, when they are absorbing everything. That is the time we have to get into their system, get into their heads, get into their thought process, so that they understand the society, the world that they are growing up in; and they understand the values, attributes and life skills that are necessary to make them successful,” he detailed.
The Home Affairs Ministry band at the Republic Day celebrations on Sunday
Better-paying jobs, investment opportunities featured in PPP/C's 2025 manifesto
The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), under the leadership of General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, has unveiled, in its proposed manifesto for 2025 and beyond, a few plans aimed at improving the livelihoods of Guyanese citizens.
The party’s manifesto promises that, if re-elected in 2025, a strong focus would be placed on creating better-paying jobs, providing investment opportunities, and further alleviating the rising cost of living.
In his weekly press conference on Thursday, Dr. Jagdeo, who also serves as Vice President of Guyana, outlined key priorities that would shape the nation’s future under the PPP/C’s continued leadership.
He emphasized that the party’s manifesto would soon be made public, but ahead of the release, he shared some of the party’s strategic goals for the upcoming term.
“We will focus heavily on better-paying jobs for people, and improving the quality of our labour force through better education and higher-paying employment,” Dr. Jagdeo stated. “This is part of our vision to ensure that every Guyanese can benefit from the growth and opportunities in our country.”
A significant aspect of the party’s plan is to create new “investment vehicles” aimed at allowing more Guyanese, particular-
ly youths, to have a stake in national projects.
The PPP/C believes these vehicles would offer better returns on investments than traditional banking options, because they would provide citizens with guaranteed returns while also fuelling national growth.
“We want to create more investment vehicles that can give guaranteed returns,” Dr. Jagdeo explained. “We can easily borrow at cheaper rates, but we believe we can provide a better return for our people than just parking their money in the bank.”
Aside from economic growth and employment, the PPP/C’s manifesto would also address critical social issues. Dr. Jagdeo highlighted domestic violence as one of the party’s main areas of concern. Despite significant
progress in passing laws and ratifying conventions, the country continues to face high rates of domestic violence. Government, Dr. Jagdeo said, would intensify efforts to tackle this issue head-on.
“This issue of domestic violence is a major one. We’ve signed on to all the conventions; we passed all the laws, but we have to get hold of that. That and traffic…while serious crime has come down, domestic violence, and extreme ones, have not grown but are still very, very prevalent. We have to think about that,” Jagdeo said.
<<<Looking Back: The PPP/C’s 2020 Manifesto>>>
When the party took office in 2020, it focused on several key pillars aimed at national development, including infrastructure ex-
pansion, job creation, and social welfare improvements. Notably, the party prioritized enhancing the country’s energy sector, improving health and education systems, and promoting environmental sustainability. Since taking office, the PPP/C has made significant
strides in infrastructure development, with the largest-ever expansion of roads, bridges, and other key facilities. Additionally, initiatives in the oil and gas sector have led to the creation of new economic opportunities, while efforts to strengthen the education and healthcare systems continue to bear fruit. As the PPP/C moves into 2025, the party aims to build on these successes, pushing forward with more ambitious projects to improve the lives of Guyanese citizens and secure the country’s future in an increasingly globalised economy.
Finance Minister assures everyone will collect cash grant – says citizens can register, uplift
cash
grants from NDC after centres are closed
Temporary centres have been established countrywide to facilitate the registration and distribution of Government’s $100,000 cash grant.
Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for finance, Dr Ashni Singh, has explained that even after these centres are closed, persons who are yet to register or receive their cheques can do so at their respective Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), or at other similar offices.
Speaking with the media on the sideline of the flag raising ceremony on Saturday in New Amsterdam, Berbice, Minister Singh assured that every citizen aged 18 and older would benefit from the Government’s $100,000 cash grant initiative.
He said that persons can
uplift their cheques, or register at centres that are currently established countrywide. However, these centres are only available for specific days, with some areas being given extensions due to the volume of persons showing up to collect their cheques.
In urging persons who did not get a chance to uplift their cheques or register during the period when the centres were operational not to panic, Dr Singh has said,
“We will make arrangements. So, if you are living in these villages, you would know. So, in many of these villages, we have extended the dates in some cases. We have announced the extension in some cases. it's just been a local decision that was taken to stay on. So, in some cases, we will extend it, but in other cases, even be-
yond the extension of this, we are going to make sure that whenever you turn up, we will put in place an arrangement for you to get the cash grant. Whether in your village, eventually we will establish maybe 1 or 2 central places where you can go to. If for some reason you missed the opportunity to pick up your cash grant, we will establish a few locations, central locations, that you can get it. So, even if you are out of town or you are visiting a relative in Georgetown or in Linden or somewhere else, you don't need to panic: that you need to jump on a boat or jump in a bus and come back home, because your cash grant will be taken away from you. That's not going to happen,” he assured.
General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Bharrat Jagdeo
Low rice prices amid oversupply sowing disquiet
– New markets, more domestic use among options to address issues – VP
In light of the recent uproar over the low price being offered by millers for paddy, at a time when there is an oversupply of rice in the local market, the Guyana Government is currently working out possible interventions to support farmers.
Among the options being considered to address this situation are having additional markets absorb the increasing yields, and pushing domestic use of locally-produced rice.
“We have to find more markets, because our production is expanding. We have to find more markets that are better remunerated [paid], you know, higher prices. The world market prices came down for rice, and we have to promote more domestic use of the rice. Also, for industrialization, because you can use the rice to do a number of things for more value-added activities,” Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo declared
at his weekly press conference on Thursday.
Earlier this week, rice farmers in Black Bush Polder (BBP), Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), blocked sections of the main access road at Lesbeholden in protest over the low price being offered by millers for paddy amid an oversupply of rice in the local market.
Jagdeo has assured that Government is working on a solution for farmers.
“We’re working now, this year again like we did last year, to see what additional assistance we [can offer], because the prices came down slightly. We’re working now directly, and we’ve already started crunching numbers to see what could be done for this crop. So, soon the rice farmers and the rice millers are gonna hear from us on that matter,” he told Guyana Times at his press conference.
The local rice industry is projected to grow by 12.4 percent in 2025 with a produc-
tion target of 804,000 metric tonnes. However, rice prices have been falling on the world market, and are predicted to fall even lower this year. With increased yields and low market prices, the Vice President believes that one way to ensure rice farmers make a profit is through Government’s continued assistance with some of the input costs, like fertilizers and pesticides, along with drainage and irrigation support.
For the first crop in 2025, more than 72,000 acres are currently under rice cultivation in Region Six, and this is expected to produce in excess of three million bags of paddy.
Millers have indicated they would be offering $5,000 per ton of paddy when harvesting commences. In 2023, millers in Black Bush Polder and on the Corentyne were offering $4,500 per bag of paddy. That price was offered in 2024 after Government removed the sales commission
paid by millers.
However, rice farmers in Berbice are now demanding a higher price this year. They have staged a protest on Tuesday outside of a mill at Lesbeholden, and calling for Government’s intervention.
According to Jagdeo, Government is currently engaging millers on this matter.
“Right now, we’re working in the Government on some arrangement, [and] hopefully we’d be able to get the prices back up. We’ve been talking to the millers, and we will come with some initiative, which we will unveil shortly,” the Vice President stated.
Leakha Rambrich, president of the Rice Producers Association (RPA), has said there are not enough mills in Region Six to take off all the rice that would be produced this crop. He has said that, countrywide, Guyana is expected to produce in excess of eight million bags of
paddy this crop.
“There is no way that the mills in the country will be able to handle all of that. They do not have the capacity to take off all that paddy,” Rambrich has said.
Moreover, the RPA president noted that 90,000 tonnes of rice are still in the system from the last crop, and markets have not been secured for that.
Guyana currently exports to Europe more than 65 percent of the rice produced locally, but exporters are finding it increasingly difficult to penetrate that market because of a certain chemical used by some local farmers. Although the chemical is banned locally, some farmers still acquire and use it illegally, resulting in rice so produced being rejected by the European market.
During Thursday’s press conference, VP Jagdeo dismissed criticisms from the Opposition camp about the issue with the rice farmers,
reminding that it was the APNU+AFC (A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change) regime that had sidelined the industry while in office by saying rice is private business.
He recalled that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) administration had to undo all of the Coalition’s acts that stifled the rice sector, including spending billions of dollars on drainage and irrigation; investing in farm-to-market access roads; reversing taxes for land rentals; removing taxes on pesticides, fertilizers and on machinery and equipment; giving out seed paddy to farmers; and offering them support during incidents of flooding, among other interventions. Jagdeo said “It’s downright laughable” now that persons from the opposition would sympathize with rice farmers and say that they’re being neglected by the PPP/C government.
Govt working to improve hazmat transport in health sector …lab
upgrades also planned
Recognizing that the current methods of transporting hazardous materials (hazmat)
within the health sector are not ideal, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony has revealed that investments are
being made to improve this process. He made this announcement on Thursday as the
Health Ministry launched its Multi-Hazard Emergency Management Plan for stakeholders.
Government hopes to build its capacity to efficiently and effectively respond to challenges in the health sector, including the possibility of another pandemic.
“We also recognize that our way of transporting pathogens or materials that we think might be infectious might not be the ideal way, and certainly, within the country, we can improve that. And so we have set aside resources, over the next year or two, to be able to improve that transport system so that it can be done in the safest possible way,” he said.
He also noted that investments are being made to upgrade the National Public Health Reference Lab. When this lab is enhanced,
it would allow medical practitioners to check pathogenic tests for themselves.
“We are also going to upgrade the National Public Health Reference Lab to a level three lab. For those of you who are in laboratory sciences, you would know that this is a significant jump, because we will then be able to handle certain types of pathogens, test for them, and so forth — things that we cannot do right now.
But by upgrading the lab to this level, we'll now be able to perform these tests on our own. Right now, if we have to do some of these things, we probably would have to send them abroad. But we want to develop the capacity so that we can do that right here,” the Health Minister stated.
With the lab accredited by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr.
Anthony noted that the facility is now recognized as a national influenza centre.
“Apart from that, we have also had some successes; because, with PAHO last year, we received accreditation, so we are now an influenza centre. For the first time, the National Public Health Lab in Guyana has been recognized as a National Influenza Center, and we have several sites across the country that can actually collect samples and send them to us,” he disclosed.
He added that this means steps are now being taken in the right direction to make progress and ensure that everything is put together to enable work being done on improving preparedness in the area of laboratories.
It has been underscored that, just last year, with the assistance of PAHO, the Health Ministry was also able to put together a laboratory strategy. Based on that strategy, the Ministry outlined how the different regions should work, the types of labs they should have, and the other partners they should bring in to collaborate with them.
The Health Minister also mentioned that all of these are mapped out in the Ministry’s strategy, and work is actively ongoing to ensure it can be implemented.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony
Corentyne man remanded for murder of Michael Jackson
Terrence Simon Adams, a fisherman who resides in the Number 76 Housing Scheme on the Corentyne (Region Six: East Berbice-Corentyne), has been remanded to prison after his arraignment on Thursday before Springlands Magistrate Tuana Hardy on a charge of murder committed on Michael Jackson on October 10, 2024.
Adams was not required to plead to the indictable charge he faces: which stated that he killed Michael Jackson on October 10, 2024 at Number 76 Housing Scheme.
The matter has been adjourned to March 27, when the prosecution is expected to provide a report on its readi-
ness to proceed with the trial.
RECAP
It has been reported that Corentyne fisherman Michael Jackson was allegedly stabbed by his 27-yearold brother-in-law Terrence Simon Adams last October. Jackson succumbed to his injuries at the Skeldon Hospital a short while after the incident.
Jackson’s sister Selina Gobin has said she was at the bridge of a wake house when her brother Michael Jackson informed her that he had been stabbed by his brother-in-law Terrence Simon Adams.
“He go in inside and raise up his shirt and show me his back where he get bore. When I check, I didn’t
see nothing, and he say is at the side. When I check at the side, there was a bore, and he
say that he feeling dizzy, like he get inside bleeding,” Gobin had told this publication last October.
“The street was full with people, and there was loud music, so I didn’t hear nothing,” she added.
Jackson’s mother, Radica Rajkumar, who had not been at home at the time of the incident, said Terrence Adams and her son Michael Jackson had had an ongoing feud that dating back to February 2024.
She explained that while Adams lived at her house, her son Jackson had not been living there.
“A couple days ago, they had an argument and they had a fight. The fight start at Number 77 and they end up here. I try to part
them. Terrence had a cutlass and ‘Junior’ had a wood. I take away the cutlass from Terrence, and they cuss up
one another; both of them cuss one another. ‘Junior’ left and he went home. Now he come to the wake house for two days, and I didn’t see he tell Terrence nothing, but what happen last night I don’t know,” she detailed. Rajkumar explained that during the argument between the two men, her son had been abusive to her and she had asked him to leave the home.
Nevertheless, although she was not on speaking terms with her son, she is not taking his death lightly.
“I want justice. It is two of my children gone under that one family, and want justice. If the brother-in-law has to go to jail, I am not concerned,” she had said.
Theatrical production of Edgar Mittelholzer’s life and legacy to debut at NCC
Guyanese theatre lovers will have the rare chance to dive deep into the life and complexities of Edgar Mittelholzer, the Caribbean’s first published author, through the play “A Pleasant Career”, at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) on Saturday, March 1, and Sunday, March 2.
Written by Dr. Michael Gilkes, with dramaturge Dr. Henry Muttoo, this production takes the audience on a mesmerizing journey into Mittelholzer's brilliant yet troubled world.
The production is being staged by Gems Theatre Productions, and is the journey into the luminous
and turbulent life of Edgar Mittelholzer, whose brilliance lit up the literary world of Guyana, and whose inner demons led him into tragic self-destruction. Edgar Austin Mittelholzer (December 16, 1909 – May 6, 1965) was a Guyanese novelist. He is the earliest professional novelist from the English-speaking Caribbean, and was able to develop a readership in Europe and North America, as well as in the Caribbean. He established himself in London, where he lived almost exclusively, by writing fiction. He is considered the most prolific novelist to be produced by the Caribbean.
According to a press release from Gems Theatre Productions, the presentation is also supported by the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport under the ‘One Guyana’ theme.
Directed by Ron Robinson and assisted by Russell Lancaster, the play brings together a veteran team of actors: Michael Ignatius, Rovindra Persaud, Mark Luke-Edwards, Derek Gomes, Russell Lancaster, Dwayne Hackett, Nathaniel Powers, Sonia Yarde, Latiefa Agard, Abigail Brower, Amrita Khoshall, Jude Holder and Kevin Smith.
Dr. Michael Gilkes’s script is both a celebration of
Finance Minister assures...
Persons who for varying reasons have not been able to register would still have an opportunity to collect their cash grants, Minister Singh assured, provided that they get themselves registered.
“We have also said that you can continue to register. (We have) set up permanent registration sites at every NDC.
In Georgetown, we have set up permanent registration sites at the Umana Yana and at the National Gymnasium, and we are allowing people to come in to register. There may be people who were not well, or they were busy at work, or they were again out of town, or whatever. Even if you didn't have an opportunity, come and register,
FROM PAGE 15
and you will be processed,” he explained.
Dr Singh reiterated that the cheques are valid for six months from the date written, and there is no need for persons to rush to the commercial banks.
The Ministry of Finance has been posting the distribution schedules on its social media pages.
artistic genius and a raw exploration of the human psyche under pressure — a narrative that resonates deeply within our cultural landscape.
“In staging this play, our vision was to evoke the vibrant yet conflicted spirit of the Caribbean. The set and lighting have been designed to mirror the dual nature of Mittelholzer’s existence: moments of incandescent creativity interspersed with shadows of isolation and despair,” Director Ron Robinson stated in a recent press release.
He also mentioned that a minimalist route has been chosen because it would allow the speech-driven aspects of the show to convey its message.
“We’ve chosen a minimalist aesthetic to keep the audience’s focus on
the emotional cadence of the performance, allowing the language and the layered symbolism to speak for themselves. Our actors are called upon to traverse the spectrum of human emotion —from the fervour of creative passion to the depths of existential crisis. Each gesture, pause and intonation is crafted to capture the delicate balance between genius and madness,” Robinson has said.
Nevertheless, it has been highlighted that this play is not simply a biographical account, but is a meditation on the burdens and ecstasies of creative life, reflecting broader themes of identity, legacy, and the sometimes-cruel demands of artistic excellence.
GEMS Theatre Productions invites persons to experience the story of Edgar Mittelholzer as a liv-
ing, breathing testament to the triumphs and tragedies that shape us all. Welcome to an evening where every shadow tells a story and every light reveals a hidden truth, the release has noted. Students of the Department of Language and Cultural Studies at the Faculty of Education and Humanities of the University of Guyana, along with Grades 10 & 11 students of secondary schools, are invited to attend the Sunday performance. It is planned to have an interactive Zoom discussion at the end of this performance with Dr. Juanita Cox, a specialist on Edgar Mittelholzer. Tickets each cost $2,000 and are available at the National Cultural Centre box office. The Saturday production begins at 20:00h, and the Sunday at 13:00h.
Berbice house goes up in flames...
However, when Timmers did return home, the small structure was burnt to the ground. The woman operated a small retail business from the house.
“I didn’t have much… it was a gas stove, a freezer, a chair set, my bed, a glass table and other stuff. Only two days ago I restocked my freezer; I bought drinks, water, juice and I bought grocery stuff to make egg ballseggs, channa, plantain… a new pressure pot…,” she related.
Timmers said too that she used her cash grant to invest in her business, noting that the business had taken a downward turn, and she had reinvested, and was hoping to start operating from the public road. She alleged that her husband has been abusive towards her since the inception of their relationship, and that they had been before the court on numerous occasions but because of threats by her husband, she was forced to drop the matter on each occasion.
“Cause of the problem, my brother don’t be here any more, because every time my brother would pick up for me and that is why we does get a problem. So Mummy just tell my brother to go by her and live,” she disclosed.
“I will have to go by my mom and probably get a job, and from that see what to do,” she said. Nevertheless, she is still hoping she can return to her business but does not have the needed capital investment.
Meanwhile, the fire service is probing the cause of the fire, while the police are also investigating and are seeking to locate the husband.
Persons who may wish to make contact with the woman can do so on telephone number 626-3184.
“So when he taking advantage of me, it does be me alone. I does have to run out, sometimes all hours in the night,” Timmers alleged, adding that she is forced to endure the abuse because the only family she has is a brother, who has a physical disability; her mother, and ageing father. Looking ahead, Timmers said she is uncertain about the future.
Michael Ignatius and Latiefa Agard are actors in the stage production
Remanded: Terrence Simon Adams
Dead: Michael Jackson
Regional Justice Winston Anderson selected as incoming CCJ President
Justice Winston Anderson, Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has been selected as the next President of the CCJ to replace outgoing president, Justice Adrian Saunders, who will officially retire from office on 3 July 2025.
The decision to appoint Justice Anderson
was made at the 48th regular meeting of the conference of heads of government of CARICOM held in Barbados from 19-21 February 2025 with the heads accepting the recommendation submitted by the Regional and Judicial Legal Services Commission (RJLSC).
The RJLSC is an inde -
pendent body responsible for the hiring, disciplining, and setting of employment terms and conditions for Court staff and Judges.
In terms of the president of the court, it submits a recommendation to the Heads of Government who then vote to select the president. A successful candidate must receive three-quarters majority vote.
Justice Anderson was selected after a competitive process in which applications were received from six males and one female candidate from various Commonwealth states including Barbados, Botswana, Jamaica/ Barbados, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka.
It is anticipated that Justice Anderson will be sworn in as CCJ president on 6 July 2025 in Jamaica. (Excerpted from Caribbean News Global)
Resignations trigger shake up of Barbados cabinet
Two sudden resignations from Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s government on Tuesday has prompted a major reshuffling of the cabinet, with one of those departing hinting at political differences with the leadership.
Marsha Caddle said she was quitting as industry and technology minister almost immediately because “when principles do not align, a minister has a duty to resign, so the will and work of the government can be done.”
Just hours after Caddle’s announcement, Crime Prevention Minister Corey Lane said he was leaving to spend more time with his family, prompting Mottley to arrange a
news conference to announce a reshuffle of the pack of ministers available to serve.
The governing Barbados Labor Party (BLP) has won all 30 seats in the past two general elections and dominates the local political scene.
Announcing the adjustments, PM Mottley identified Kay McConney as the minister of economic affairs and investment while senator Chad Blackman will now serve as minister of education, technological and vocational training, succeeding Kay McConney.
Sandra Husbands will become the minister of training and tertiary education.
And given the request by Caddle to also be re -
lieved of her duties (on Tuesday), Mr. Jonathan Reid, formerly chief of staff in the prime minister’s office, has been appointed minister of Innovation, industry, science and technology,” the PM stated.
Prime Minister Mottley expressed confidence in the new appointees, highlighting the critical role these ministries play in Barbados’ development.
On behalf of the Government, she extended gratitude to Corey Layne, Marsha Caddle, and Dr Crystal Haynes for their service and contributions, and looks forward to their continued support in the nation’s progress.
(Excerpted from Caribbean Life, Business Barbados)
SVG: German national, 58 drowns while swimming with friends
SVG authorities are investigating the tragic drowning of Petra Ortlepp, a 58-yearold German national, at Mt. Wynne, St Vincent & the Grenadines, on Wednesday.
According to reports, Ortlepp was swimming with friends in the area
around midday when she was later discovered floating face down in the water. Despite efforts by those present to resuscitate her, the attempts were unsuccessful.
Emergency medical personnel were dispatched to the scene, where Ortlepp was pronounced dead.
Following the confirmation of her passing, permission was granted for the removal of her body from the water.
A postmortem examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. (Caribbean Loop News)
SKN: Former police chief one of two arrested for money laundering
Vaughan Henderson, a former Assistant Commissioner of Police and now an attorney, and Andre Williams, also known as Andre Mills, from Newton Ground, St Kitts Nevis, were arrested and charged for serious criminal offenses related to financial misconduct and obstruction of justice.
The two men face multi-
ple charges of money laundering and perverting the course of justice.
Henderson was charged with six counts of money laundering and two counts of perverting the course of justice.
Williams, a resident of Newton Ground, faces four counts of money laundering and two charges for perverting the course of justice.
Both men were arrested and charged at the White Collar Crime Unit’s office on February 21 following an extensive investigation by law enforcement officials. As of now, both Henderson and Williams are set to face legal proceedings in the near future, with authorities promising a thorough investigation.
(Caribbean Loop News)
Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rebuts statement published by the Trump Administration , says the US distorts Supreme Court orders
Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Itamaraty, stated this Wednesday (26) that Donald Trump’s administration distorts the meaning of Justice Alexandre de Moraes' orders from the Supreme Federal Court and rejects any attempt to politicize judicial decisions.
The statement says that the Brazilian government was caught off guard by the U.S. State Department’s note, its equivalent body in that country, "regarding a lawsuit filed by private companies from that country to exempt themselves from complying with rulings from Brazil’s Supreme Court."
The declaration comes in response to a note published on X by the Western Hemisphere office, which makes an implicit reference to the Rumble case against Moraes.
Itamaraty also states that freedom of expression
must be exercised in Brazil "in accordance" with "other existing legal provisions, especially those of a criminal nature."
Supreme Court justices have downplayed the actions taken in the U.S. since Trump’s media company, Truth Social, and the video platform Rumble filed a lawsuit in Florida seeking to have the justice’s orders declared illegal.
Speaking off the record,
judges and advisors close to them say there is no significant impact on the Supreme Court’s routine.
As the main target of the offensive, Moraes has told interlocutors that he does not usually travel to the U.S., does not own any assets in the country, and therefore is not paying much attention to the measures since they do not affect him. (Source: Folha de S. Paulo English Version)
Mexico to extradite Caro Quintero, other suspected cartel members, to US
Mexico will extradite to the United States drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, convicted of murdering a U.S. anti-narcotics agent in 1985, and more than two dozen other suspected cartel members, sources told Reuters on Thursday.
Mexico's attorney general's office said in a statement that it had handed over 29 cartel members to the U.S., without confirming that Caro Quintero was among them.
The move comes as diplomatic tensions simmer
between the United States and Mexico over security, migration and tariffs.
Caro Quintero, a co-founder of the Guadalajara Cartel, one of Latin America's most powerful drug trafficking organizations during the 1980s, spent 28 years in prison for the brutal murder and torture of former Drug Enforcement Administration agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, one of the most notorious killings in Mexico's bloody narco wars.
Mexico on Thursday also
extradited Miguel Angel Trevino Morales, known as Z-40, and Oscar Omar Trevino Morales, known as Z-42, two suspected former leaders of the violent Los Zetas drug cartel, to the United States, the Webb County Sheriff's Office in Texas said. They were detained by Mexico's military in 2013 and 2015, respectively.
The Trevinos' lawyer, Juan Manuel Delgado, told Reuters he had not been officially notified of the extraditions. (Excerpted from Reuters)
Justice Alexandre de Moraes
Justice Winston Anderson, Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)
Around the World
OIL NEWS
Oil climbs more than 2% after Trump cancels Chevron's Venezuela licence
Trump dodges plea from Britain's Starmer for Ukraine security guarantee
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a minerals deal with Ukraine is the security guarantee Kyiv needs against Russia, brushing aside a plea from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for a commitment of US military support.
Oil prices rose more than 2% on Thursday as supply concerns resurfaced after U.S. President Donald Trump revoked a licence granted to U.S. oil major Chevron to operate in Venezuela.
However, investors were still keeping an eye on signs of a potential peace deal in Ukraine, which could result in higher Russian oil flows.
Brent crude oil futures were up $1.53, or 2.1%, at $74.06 a barrel by 1:28 p.m. EST (1828 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures rose $1.64, or 2.4%, to $70.26.
The contracts had settled in the previous session at their lowest levels since December 10.
"Markets like clarity as opposed to uncertainty. Unless a clear path is presented on tariffs and Eastern European peace, oil prices will remain on the defensive with sporadic and spontaneous headline-based rallies," said Tamas Varga, an analyst at PVM.
The Chevron licence revocation means the company will no longer be able to export Venezuelan crude. And if Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA exports oil previously exported by Chevron, U.S. refineries will be unable to buy it because of U.S. sanctions.
The move also could lead to the negotiation of a fresh agreement between the U.S. producer and state company PDVSA, to export crude to destinations other than the U.S., sources close to the talks told Reuters
Chevron exports about 240,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude from its Venezuela operations, more than a quarter of the country's entire oil output.
"Chevron's exit could reduce Venezuela (oil) production, giving OPEC+ capacity to increase output. If this occurs, coastal U.S. refiners could incur higher procurement costs," TD Cowen analysts said in a note.
If OPEC+ does not increase supply, it could increase heavy sour prices, which would hit U.S. refiners, the analysts said.
Oil prices rose during intra-day trading, after Reuters reported that OPEC+ is debating whether to raise oil output in April as planned, or freeze it as its members struggle to read the global supply picture because of fresh U.S. sanctions on Venezuela, Iran and Russia, eight OPEC+ sources said. (Reuters)
Congo mystery disease "investigation deepens" as deadly unidentified illness spreads, WHO says
The World Health Organization said Thursday that its "investigation deepens" into a mystery illness suspected of killing more than 60 people in the northern Democratic Republic of Congo over the past five weeks, warning it was continuing to spread.
The WHO said in a statement Thursday that, along with Congo health officials, it was "carrying out further investigations to determine the cause of another cluster of illness and community deaths" in the Equateur province, marking the third time this year disease sur-
veillance teams have identified an increase in illness and deaths in the region.
The WHO's Africa office said earlier this week that the first outbreak was among several children who ate a bat and then died within 48 hours after experiencing haemorrhagic fever symptoms, similar to those caused by the Ebola or Marburg viruses.
The deaths occurred in one village, Boloko, and affected people of all ages, however, teenagers and young adults seemed the most susceptible. (Excerpted from CBS News)
Starmer, who was meeting Trump at the White House for the first time since the US leader took office, turned on the charm, saying peace in Ukraine had only become possible because of Trump.
Starmer also delivered an invitation from King Charles for a future State visit, which Trump accepted.
But underlying differences between the allies remained, including transatlantic frictions over US.Russia talks aimed at
ending the Ukraine war and Trump's tariff threats.
Before the meeting, Starmer had said there could be no long-term peace in Ukraine without firm US security guarantees – an argument Trump all but dismissed.
"We are a backstop because we'll be over there, we'll be working," as a result of the economic partnership, Trump said. "We're going to have a lot of people over there."
Asked whether he could trust Russian President
Vladimir Putin, Trump said, "trust and verify", echoing former US President Ronald Reagan's views on negotiations with the Soviet Union. He said he did not think Putin, who organised invasions of Ukraine in 2014 and 2022, would do so again after a deal. Talks toward such a compact were moving briskly, he said.
"It will either be fairly soon, or it won't be at all," Trump said.
Starmer said not just any deal would do, underscoring the concern among European nations that a rushed peace deal with Russia might lead to further instability in Europe.
"We have to get it right," he said at a joint press conference with Trump. "It can't be peace that rewards the aggressor." (Excerpt from Reuters)
G20 finance meeting ends without consensus or communique
South Africa voiced dismay on Thursday that Group of 20 talks it hosted on global economic issues ended without consensus, after top officials from several countries skipped it, and delegates remained far apart on issues such as climate finance.
The two-day G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bankers in Cape Town, failed to come up with a joint communique. However a "chair's summary" issued by the host said participants "reiterated the commitment to resisting protectionism."
The summary added they had "supported a rules-based,
non-discriminatory, fair, open, inclusive, equitable, sustainable and transparent multilateral trading system," using several words the Trump administration has already strongly objected to.
South Africa had hoped to make the G20 a platform for putting pressure on rich countries to do more to tackle climate change, to give more towards poorer countries' transitions to green energy,
Trump says US will impose additional 10% tariff on China
Donald Trump said he planned to hit goods from China with a new 10% tariff, the latest salvo in the US president's steadily escalating trade fights.
Imports from China already face taxes at the border of at least 10%, after a Trump tariff order that went into effect earlier this month.
Trump also said on Thursday he intended to move forward with a threatened 25% tax on imports from Canada and Mexico, which are set to come into effect on 4 March.
Trump had announced the plans for 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada for 4 February, unless the two nations increased border security.
He paused the measures for a month at the last minute, after the two countries agreed to increase border funding and talk more about how to combat drug trafficking.
On social media on
Thursday, Trump wrote that he did not think enough action had been taken to address the flow of fentanyl to the US.
"Drugs are still pouring into our country from Mexico and Canada at very high and unacceptable levels," he wrote, adding that "a large percentage" of the drugs were made in China.
Trump's initial round of tariffs on China was eclipsed by his threats against Canada and Mexico. But the potential for further duties raises questions about how businesses will respond.
China has already responded to the first round of tariffs from the US with its own tariffs on US products, including coal and agricultural machinery.
Trump has dismissed fears about damage to the American economy.
"We are the pot of gold. We are the one that everybody wants," he told reporters on Wednesday.
(Excerpted from BBC News)
and to reform a financial system that favours investment banks at the expense of poor sovereign debtors.
But the talks were overshadowed by the absence of several key finance chiefs – such as from the United States, China, India and Japan – and foreign aid cuts by major economies like the
United States and Britain, against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions.
G20 countries account for 85% of global gross domestic product and 75% of international trade. The grouping was formed in response to the 1999 Asian financial crisis, to improve cooperation in addressing shocks across national borders.
The chair's summary has become a feature of multilateral meetings in which participants do not reach a formal consensus. (Excerpted from Reuters)
US Judge halts Trump Administration's calls for mass firings by agencies
ACalifornia Federal Judge on Thursday temporarily blocked the Trump Administration from ordering the US Department of Defence and other agencies to carry out the mass firings of thousands of recently-hired employees.
US District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco said during a hearing that the US Office of Personnel Management lacked the power to order federal agencies to fire any workers, including probationary employees who typically have less than a year of experience.
Alsup ordered OPM, the human resources department for federal agencies, to rescind a January 20 memo and a February 14 email directing agencies to identify probationary employees who should be fired.
Alsup said he could not order the Defence Department itself, which is expected to fire 5400 pro-
bationary employees on Friday, and other agencies not to terminate workers because they are not defendants in the lawsuit brought by several unions and nonprofit groups.
But he suggested that the mass firings of federal workers that began two weeks ago would cause widespread harm, including cuts to national parks, scientific research, and services for veterans.
"Probationary employees are the lifeblood of our government. They come in at a low level and work their way up. That’s how we renew ourselves," said Alsup, an appointee of Democratic former President Bill Clinton.
The Trump administration has maintained that the memo and email from OPM merely asked agencies to review their probationary workforces and decide who could potentially be terminated, and did not require them to do anything. (Excerpt from Reuters)
US President Donald Trump meeting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US, February 27, 2025 (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque photo)
Refuse to give up, give in or let anger come to the surface. Your best response is success. Personal growth is yours to make. Where there is purpose, there is meaning.
Discover the pleasure of positive change and concentrate on making your surroundings comfortable. Stick to the people and pastimes that put your mind at ease.
Take one step at a time. Minimize your plans to ensure you do your best and achieve your goal. Personal growth comes at a cost, but ultimately, it will help set the stage for a better tomorrow.
You’ll have the drive, imagination and skills to outperform any rival. Put your energy to good use, do your best and promote who you are and what you can do.
Pay attention to how you look at and respond to others. Be the one to make positive suggestions, lend a helping hand and use your skills and knowledge to make situations easier.
Put your plans in motion. Build momentum, put a smile on your face and engage in talks that change how people perceive you and what you are trying to achieve.
Get out and about. Participate, engage in exciting events and broaden your sense of what’s possible. Use your home base as a springboard, and you’ll evolve in a direction that surprises everyone.
Relax, enjoy and let the chips fall where they may. Put your heart and soul into exploring what brings you joy. Look into new possibilities, and forge ahead with stamina, ingenuity and a smile.
Be aware; leave nothing to chance. Say less, listen more, read between the lines and be prepared to do whatever it takes to surpass even your own expectations.
You are in a better position than you realize, so don’t slow down or give anyone a chance to step in and take charge. Rise above conflict and let your precision and actions speak for you.
The best improvements you can make are the ones you do yourself. Put a cap on spending and use your skills and creative imagination. Keep your eye on the goal and on any competition you encounter.
Take the initiative and implement your agenda. Plan every detail, and you will enjoy turning something you desire into a reality. Be true to yourself, and you’ll find the happiness you seek.
ARCHIE
Women’s International Premier League 2025…
Royal Challengers Bengaluru suffer third defeat at Chinnaswamy
sides - RCB, Giants and UP Warriorz - are now tied on four points. This introduces the prospect of a tight finish to the group stages next week in Lucknow and Mumbai.
Perry’s rare failure She came into the tournament under the cloud of a hip injury, but her batting form didn’t seem to suggest any problem. Coming in on the back of 90*, 81, 7 and 57, Ellyse Perry was out for her first duck in her WPL career when she mistimed Gardner to Tanuja Kanwar at square leg off her fourth ball. That wicket coming on the back of Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s lbw in the first over to Deandra Dottin left RCB at 16 for
It was an uneasy stay at the crease for Smriti Mandhana, she being repeatedly squared up and beaten on the outside 21-year-old
Kashvee Gautam, one of the bright -
est Indian fast-bowling prospects in WPL 2025. Mandhana struggled against late movement as Gautam’s first two overs went for just four. All that pressure led to a wicket at the other end, when Mandhana was predictably out to spin yet again, after she had slogswept Kanwar to Harleen Deol at deep midwicket for 10 off 20 balls.
Ahuja injects momentum
During the season spent away at rehabilitation from a back injury last year, Kanika Ahuja set herself clear goals. Not wanting to be known any longer as a “five-ball batter” in the WPL, she worked hard on her power game, and shades of it were on display on Thursday as she laid into Priya Mishra, the legspinner.
She read the googly off the hand, and her manner of step ping out to impe riously loft her twice in the over, including the first six of the innings, spoke volumes of her growth as a batter. Ahuja repeated that
stroke two overs later, when she stepped out to launch Gardner. Her 33 off 27 before falling to Kanwar led to another RCB slip-up.
Georgia Wareham’s cameo of 20 then helped them to 125 for 7, their joint-lowest total in the WPL.
Renuka gives RCB hope Giants went with a third opening combination in five games. Dayalan Hemalatha, the latest to join the roulette, did little to repay the faith despite the backing following scores of 9, 0 and 4 in her previous three innings.
Having been reprieved early, when Wyatt-Hodge misjudged a catch at midoff, she was out stumped for 11 as she looked to heave Renuka Singh.
Mandhana’s decision to bowl Renuka out up top paid dividends when Beth Mooney holed out to deep midwicket as Giants were reduced to 32 for 2
Rawat turned the tide for the Giants, as Gardner, feeding off Rawat’s inexperience, expertly used the depth of the crease to pull, while also showing her imperious driving abilities when the ball was tossed up.
The surge in momentum was such that even Deol’s brain fade in trying to hit out against Wareham didn’t lead to any panic.
Litchfield reverse-sweeps her way to victory
Playing in only her second game of the competition, Phoebe Litchfield exhibited tremendous game awareness and played a succession of reverse sweeps to negate Sneh Rana’s threat to quickly off-
set any pressure, while ensuring the required rate was swiftly reduced. She was also aided by some luck, when Richa Ghosh put her down on 11 off Rana, with Giants needing 39 off 42. That didn’t affect her tempo or her propensity to be adventurous; which also greatly helped Gardner, who hit Wareham for backto-back sixes en route to her third half-century of the season, this time off 28 balls. Gardner and Litchfield’s 51-run stand off just 36 ensured the match was won with 21 balls to spare; greatly helping Giants to boost their net run rate even though they would stay fifth. (Adapted from ESPNCricinfo)
run ninth over off
Dottin 4-0-31-2
Ashleigh Gardner 4-0-22-1
Kashvee Gautam 4-0-17-1
Tanuja Kanwar 4-0-16-2
Dayalan Hemalatha 1-0-4-0
Gujarat Giants getting on the field after opting to bowl
Ash Gardner blazed away in modest chase Kanika Ahuja made 33 off 28 balls
Renuka Singh broke the opening partnership
GCB congratulates President Ali on appointment as Chair of Caricom Sub-Committee on Cricket
The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has, in a recent statement, extended hearty congratulations to President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali on his appointment as Chairman of the Caricom Sub-Committee on Cricket.
The felicitations of the governing body for cricket in Guyana, shared in a statement on Wednesday, declared as follows:
“The President, Executive and Members of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) are extremely pleased with the recent announcement that Guyana’s President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, has been appointed the new Chairman of the Caricom Sub-Committee on Cricket. This announcement was made by outgoing Chairman Dr. Keith Rowley during the final day of the 48th Regional Heads of Government Meeting held in Barbados last Friday.
“Dr. Ali has, over time, demonstrated his considerable love for the game with his regular investment of both time and funds into the organization and development of cricket throughout Guyana. Indeed, he is most deserving of this appointment, and, in the opinion of the GCB, will greatly enhance the prospects for improvement in
West Indies cricket both on the field of play as well as at the administrative level.
“Sir Clive Lloyd, our famed cricketing icon, had publicly supported the call for Dr Ali’s appointment by referring to the inherent special skills of our esteemed President Dr. Ali’s interest in sports, particularly cricket, (which) cannot be overemphasized since the magnitude of the funds he has invested in equipment, academies, stadiums, grounds and generally the overall development of cricket across the counties of
Guyana is truly exemplary and impressive.
“Congratulations are therefore in order for Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali on this well-deserved appointment.
The GCB is proud of Dr. Ali’s achievements, and looks forward to similar results during his tenure, especially given the poor state of our regional game as we watch the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy Tournament being played without the West Indies.
“Previously, concerns were raised with CWI and Caricom in a joint letter from
Champions Trophy 2025… Pakistan, Bangladesh share points after game washed out
Pakistan and Bangladesh have each ended their disappointing Champions Trophy campaign with a point, their match in Rawalpindi having been the second successive one to be washed out.
As had happened on Tuesday, when the same fate befell the AustraliaSouth Africa game from Group B, the match was called off without even the toss taking place. Rain fell steadily all afternoon, and there was no opportunity
for the covers to come off at any point at the stadium. The match was called off at 3.27pm local time, just under an hour-and-a-half after the scheduled start time. This no-result was Rawalpindi’s last match of the tournament. Apart from the two washouts, it also hosted New Zealand’s five-wicket win over Bangladesh on February 24. Only one match now remains in Group A, with India taking on New Zealand in Dubai on March 2 in a clash
that determines who finishes atop of the group. Both teams are already through to the semi-finals. For the record, Bangladesh (-0.443) finished the tournament above Pakistan (-1.087) on net run rate. Pakistan’s next assignment is a white-ball tour of New Zealand later this month. It comprises five T20Is and three ODIs. Bangladesh, meanwhile, are set to host Zimbabwe for three ODIs and three T20Is. (ESPNCricinfo)
the GCB and the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), highlighting some of the is sues as follows:
1. The manipula tion of international and regional tournaments/fixtures that seek to show favour and gain political mileage
2. A recommendation for the rota tion of the President and Vice-President of CWI instead of the threeyear term, with the possi bility to be elected for three terms, which was recently approved by stakeholders of CWI but with objections from the GCB and BCA.
3. The appointment of
some officials who do not measure up to the requisite requirements while other more qualified persons are overlooked.
4. The importance for CWI to pursue recommendations for a long-term development plan and program to improve our on-field cricket.
“We are confident that with Dr. Ali’s astute leadership, cricket knowledge, penchant for commitment and fair play, he will strongly influence the upliftment and general improvement of our beloved cricket.”
Couchman victorious at Mashramani Masters Rapid Chess tournament
Kyle Couchman, the 15-year-old prodigy, has again exhibited his skill on the chess board when he emerged victorious in the Mashramani Masters Rapid Chess tournament sponsored by the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) by gaining a maximum of 7 points to win the first-place cash prize.
In the seven-round Swiss competition which was held at the David Rose Special School in Thomas Lands on Saturday, February 22nd, 2025, Keron Sandiford placed second with 5.5 points, after losing the battle against Couchman and drawing with Women’s Champion WCM Jessica Callender.
In an unexpected twist, young Rafael Park, who has been on the chess scene for over a year, won the third-place prize with 4.5 points. His losses came in games with Couchman and Sandiford, but he secured a draw with Prince Dunn.
Callender secured fourth place and took home the best female prizes, while WCM Aditi Joshi placed fifth. Both these players finished on 4.5 points.
Notable performances came from Prince Dunn with 4.5 points, while Kishan Puran, Omar Shariff, Matthew Persaud, Cosmos Ikpefuran, and Abel Fernandez finished on
4 points each. Cash prizes in excess of seventy thousand dollars were distributed to the first to fifth-place winners and the best female.
President of the GCF, Anand Raghunauth, who was on hand to award the prizes, has encouraged the players to keep playing and learning the game of chess, as this would only improve their game and increase their level of play.
FIDE Arbiter John Lee officiated in the 25-player tournament, which featured a 15-minute time control and a 5-second increment per move.
The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) hereby thanks the David Rose Special School and all participants for contributing to the event’s success; and encourages young and old persons alike to discov-
er the world of chess. An invitation is extended to everyone to follow the GCF on Facebook and Instagram for news and events. All are invited to become a member of the GCF by visiting guyanachess.gy and unlock their chess potential.
Rain aborted the start of the match in Rawalpindi
The chess players were engrossed in competition last Saturday
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali
Kyle Couchman receiving his prize
11th edition of Milo Football U18 Tournament tentatively set for March 8
The 11th edition of the Milo Schools’ Under-18 Football Tournament has been launched on Thursday, February 27, in a simple ceremony hosted at the Head Office of Massy Distribution at Montrose, East Coast Demerara.
In this year’s competition, tentatively set to get underway on March 8, twenty-four teams drawn from Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 would be competing for top honours after an initial playoff stage.
Speaking about lingering anticipation for this tournament during the launch, Petra Organisation Co-Director Troy Mendonca had this to say: “For me, it’s a household name within the communities, within the schools. Actually, I dwell within close proximity to schools every day, and ever since this tournament started, it has been a household name. These
Guyanese
boys look forward for this competition, and so we at Petra we are very happy to be standing here again today to deliver the 11th version of the tournament.”
Sharing details about the tournament’s format and the overwhelming response oragnisers have seen, Mendonca explained,
“We already have overwhelming indication from schools throughout the country, and so it is definite that we will be doing some elimination games to construct the final 24 that will make up the competing teams. It will be run on a round-robin, knockout basis, and so the 24 teams
will be divided into six groups of four, where each team in the group will play each other.”
He then disclosed that this competition is expected to conclude on Saturday, April 19th.
Chief Executive Officer of Massy Distribution, Troy Beharry, in sharing why the company continues to support the Nestle Milopowered tournament, noted that the company is happy to provide youths with such opportunities.
Beharry elucidated, “So, as part of Massy Guyana’s ongoing global forces for good initiative, and honouring its corporate social responsibility, Massy Guyana and Nestle Milo are proud to partner with Petra Organisation and Ministry of Education in hosting the 11th annual Milo Secondary Schools Under-18 Football Tournament.
“Massy Guyana’s ‘Force
team jets off for Caribbean
Boxing Championships in St
Lucia
Ateam of pugilists donning the colours of the Golden Arrowhead have left the shores of Guyana on Thursday evening for Castries, St. Lucia, where they would trade leather with their Caribbean counterparts in the highly anticipated 2025 Caribbean Boxing Championships which would run until March 3.
After a four-year hiatus, this prestigious regional event has returned, and the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) is fielding a squad of 16 elite and emerging pugilists -- its largest-ever contingent to participate in this tournament -- in high hopes of reclaiming regional dominance.
Before their departure, the team gathered at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis Gym in Albuoystown, where GBA President Steve Ninvalle fortified their resolve with words of encouragement.
“I want you to go out there and do your best. Leave everything in the ring,” Ninvalle told the boxers. “We want to win, but remember, whatever the judges decide, that’s what we have to accept. But I believe in each of you, and I know you will go out there and make us all proud,” he declared.
At the helm of Guyana’s squad is Olympian Keevin Allicock (57kg), a three-time gold medalist in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Caribbean Championships. Allicock remains undefeated in this regional showdown, and is determined to extend his dominance in St. Lucia.
Backing him is a star-studded line-up that
includes seasoned warriors Colin Lewis (67kg), Travis Inverary (71kg), Emanuel Pompey (92kg), and Aluko Bess (86kg).
The Jackman sisters, Alesha and Abiola, along with Zidnan Wray (91+kg), add firepower to the squad, ensuring Guyana registers a formidable presence across multiple weight classes.
Middleweight standout Desmond Amsterdam (75kg), a silver medalist at the 2023 Elite Championships, is another key puncher in Guyana’s pursuit of regional glory. He will be joined by Ronalo Sutton (51kg), Joel Williamson (63.5kg), and Leon Albert (60kg), who each aim to showcase their high level of skills honed on home soil.
The Junior division features rising stars Ken Harvey (57-60kg), Keyon Britton (48-50kg), and Lennox Lawrence (54-57kg), all of whom are looking to gain invaluable experience in their young careers.
Meanwhile, the Youth
division is stacked with emerging talents Tofina Barker (54kg), Simeon Haymer (63-66kg), Joshua Tambaran (52kg), and Terroz Wintz (66-70kg).
A seasoned coaching unit featuring National Coach Lennox Daniels, esteemed Cuban trainer Francisco Roldan, Clifton Moore and Jeff Roberts will guide the team from the corner.
The Caribbean Boxing Championships have long been the proving ground for the region’s top ama-
for Good’ campaign drives us to actively support a wide range of cultural, social, and economic initiatives. Our communities are the heart of our business, and, as such, we recognize the need for sports in our schools today and are committed to supporting events such as these, that target schools across all regions.
“Over the past 10 years, this tournament has become a staple in the football calendar in Guyana. The youths look forward to this tournament; this tournament actually serves as a stepping stone to highlight the talent and promote the youths for bigger things in
CG
teur fighters, and Guyana has consistently been a force to be reckoned with at this tournament.
“The only reason we didn’t win in 2019 is because we didn’t have a large contingent,” Ninvalle told the boxers. “But this time around, we know that you will bring back the title to Guyana.”
The nation last won the overall championship title on home soil in 2018, and delivered a strong performance in 2019 in Trinidad and Tobago.
football; and I know (that) many of our national talents would’ve come out of this tournament. Hence, this is the opportunity that youths look forward to, and we are happy to bring that to them again this year,” Beharry detailed. This tournament has a grand prize of $300,000; second-, third- and fourthplace finishers would respectively be rewarded with $200,000, $100,000 and $75,000. All prizes are to go towards a project of the school’s choice.
Chase’s Academic Foundation are the tournament’s defending champions.
United Women’s
Super50 Cup… Barbados hold two-point lead after second round
Barbados Women have a two-point lead over the Windward Islands Women after Wednesday’s second round of the CG United Women’s Super50 Cup for 2025, being contested in St. Kitts.
Victories over Guyana in round one and the Windward Islands in round two have placed Barbados atop the standings on 15 points. Two points adrift are the Windward Islands, who secured a dominant eight-wicket win over the Leeward Islands in round one, before losing to Barbados by 56 runs on Wednesday.
Defending champions Jamaica are third with 10 points after a 51-run win over Trinidad & Tobago in
round one and an eight-wicket defeat to Guyana in round two.
Trinidad & Tobago are fourth, one point behind Jamaica, after rebounding from their round one loss with a four-wicket win over the Leeward Islands in round two.
Guyana, who also have a win and a loss, are fifth with seven points, while the Leeward Islands are sixth with two points and have yet to record a win.
Today’s (Friday’s) third round would see Jamaica taking on Barbados at Conaree, the Leewards facing Guyana at Warner Park, and Trinidad & Tobago facing the Windwards at St. Paul’s Sports Complex. (Sportsmax)
Barbados Women are currently leading the charts at the CG United Super50 Cup
GBA President Steve Ninvalle has had the opportunity to meet with the travelling team prior to their departure
Troy Beharry, CEO of Massy Distribution Petra Co-Director Troy Mendonca
