– says must take up role in fight against climate change, drive renewable energy revolution
Govt commissions $446M pump station at Adventure – to drain 126,000 gallons of water per minute
Guyanese icon Dave Martins passes on Police Division 3 records decline in fatal accidents, deaths – Traffic Officer Venezuelan opposition protests as election dispute drags on
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Monday, August 19 –04:00h-05:30h
Monday, August 19 –16:15h-17:15h
FERRY SCHEDULE
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Guyana will likely experience mainly fair and sunny skies, with the exception of isolated afternoon showers over inland areas. Rainfall is expected to be minimal, ranging from 0 to 10 mm over inland regions, with no significant rainfall elsewhere.
Pres Ali pushes “bold vision” for Global South to be architects of New World Order
President Dr. Irfaan Ali has called for the strengthening of South-South cooperation to build a future where the Global South is not just on the periphery of world affairs but rather in the centre.
These were the sentiments of the Guyanese leader during his virtual presentation at this year’s Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS) hosted by India on Saturday.
of global warming, reduce emissions and drive a renewable energy revolution. This vision will remain elusive unless multilateralism reflects the realities of the 21st century, where the voices of the Global South are amplified, and our concerns are given the attention they deserve,” he stated.
High Tide: 15:22h reaching a maximum height of 2.82 metres.
Low Tide: 09:00h reaching minimum heights of 0.45 metre .
This third edition of VOGSS was held under the theme “An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future.” It served as a platform to expand discussions held in the previous Summits on a range of complex challenges that continue to affect the world, such as conflicts, food and energy security crises, and climate change – all of which disproportionately severely affect developing countries.
At the summit, the countries of the Global South continue deliberations on challenges, priorities, and solutions for the Global South, particularly in the developmental domain.
During his presentation, President Ali pointed out that countries must articulate a “bold vision” for the Global South for 2030 and beyond.
“Our vision must be on where our nations are; not merely passive participants in global affairs but key architects of a new world order. We must demand a world where the Global South is fully integrated into global supply chains, where our economies are diversified and resilient, and where our people enjoy the benefits of technological advancements and innovation.”
“We must envision a future where the Global South leads in the fight against climate change, harnessing our abundant natural resources to mitigate the effects
According to the Head of State, the Voice of the South Summit must go beyond political declarations and focus on tangible outcomes, including creating a dedicated institutional framework for South-South cooperation.
To this end, he reiterated that the Voice of the South is institutionalised with India as its permanent home thus allowing for a permanent platform to strengthen collaboration, amplify collective influence, and work towards a peaceful global
lation, the Global South continues to grapple with a multitude of challenges including climate change, global economic disparities, and geo-political conflicts that have adverse effects on the lives of the people of the global south. These challenges, according to the Guyanese Leader, undermine countries’ ability to
outlined that global economic inequality remains a stark reality today.
Referencing an OXFAM report that states over two-thirds, about 69 per cent, of global wealth is concentrated in developed nations with less than one-third going to the developing world, he contended that the global wealth gap between
community.
Sustainable future
Highlighting the theme of this year’s summit, President Ali stated that the planning for that future must be intensified now and include a vision for the year 2030 and beyond. But even as focus is placed on 2030 and beyond, he noted there is a need to confront the pressing challenges that threaten not only the aspirations of the Global South but also the very foundation of a fair and equitable global order.
Despite being home to most of the world’s popu-
achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and thus imperil their vision for beyond 2030.
Moreover, he went on to state that while small states make the least contribution to global emissions, they are facing the most devastating impacts of climate change from rising sea levels to extreme weather events.
“Small states remain on the frontlines of this crisis, with inadequate resources and insufficient support from the international community,” he highlighted.
President Ali further
the countries of the North and those of the Global South reflects deep-rooted disparities in economic development, access to resources, and technological advancement.
“While the North enjoys significant economic prosperity, driven by centuries of industrialisation, capital accumulation, and global trade dominance, the Global South continues to grapple with the legacies of colonialism, unequal trade relations, and limited access to finance and technology.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit,
The demands for “power sharing” are once again rising to a crescendo in the Opposition camp; as they did after 2011, but had become a deafening silence after the PNC/APNU/AFC coalition government had been formed in 2015. The present PPP government is dubbed an “installed regime”, and there are strident calls to come out into the streets against it.
Post 2008, after the attacks on the state and perceived PPP IndianGuyanese supporters by armed bandits based in Buxton had waned, the then PPP was described by some opposition supporters as an “elected dictatorship”, and street protests by the Opposition PNC were demanded. But the PNC changed course and adopted a “kinder, gentler” image with a new name, through the fig-leaf coalition dubbed APNU. It performed credibly in the 2011 elections and, along with the AFC, confined the PPP to the presidency.
The 2012 census showed that the PPP’s Indian-Guyanese population had dropped precipitously to less than 40%, and Guyana is now a nation of minorities. The African/Mixed Guyanese populace has now surpassed the Indian Guyanese population, thereby resolving the African Security Dilemma. The Amerindian population and moderates from the major communities are now a potential floating voter pool which could be swayed by either side to agglomerate a majority.
From a mobilization standpoint, the changed demographics have serendipitously delivered a situation in which power could be effectively shared among the various ethnic groups in the society at the polls, under the present majoritarian system. In many other divided societies, this needed explicit constitutional and electoral innovations, such as a 65% supermajority, the Alternative Vote (AV), and the Single Transferable Vote (STV). The PNC, as APNU, abjured street protests, and, in 2015, its subsequent coalition with the AFC - led by Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo - deepened the coalition’s attraction to crossover Indian-Guyanese votes, and facilitated a win for the coalition. The coalition explicitly announced they were a “government of national unity”.
There will be objections to the claim that any government elected in Guyana by the present demographics will be a “power-sharing” one. This is primarily because our discourse on power sharing has been dominated by the notion of a “grand coalition” of all parties - part of what is called a “consociational” arrangement. Another power-sharing approach is “centripetalism”, connoting a force (here self-interest) that moves the parties towards a moderate centre. If our parties act rationally, as the PNC did from 2011 to 2015 and the PPP has been doing since 2020, either could win elections here. The APNU/AFC coalition lost the plot after 2015 when David Granger ignored the recommendations of his own CoI in regard to the sugar industry, shuttered four estates, and fired 7000 primarily Indian-Guyanese sugar workers.
Executive power-sharing proposals have been made since the 1960s –the latest being in the 2015 manifesto of the APNU/AFC coalition – but the reasons for them not being adopted are studiously ignored by the Opposition once again. The first is “adaptability”: whether the major political parties would adopt them. Consociational “Executive power sharing” has been a non-starter from the beginning by whichever party is in Government. It is also always threatened by the second challenge of “immobilism”, which is occurring presently in Northern Ireland, when the arrangement can be vetoed by one member of the grand coalition withholding their vote. We see this in our own arrangement to appoint the Chancellor and Chief Justice.
Centripetal power sharing, however, has been serendipitously delivered to us, allowing us to start from where we are, not where we ought to be. Unlike the Granger-led APNU/AFC coalition, governments would have to rationally address the needs of all sections of society - as the PPP is doing presently.
Lastly, the problem of “degradation” in coalitions - when the larger party breaks its agreement with its partner that attracted cross-over votes, as Granger’s PNC did to the AFC – becomes unnecessary. The post-2015 APNU/ AFC coalition was “mannersed” in 2020, and the PPP’s test of centripetal power sharing will come in 2025. We have been delivered into the democratic comity of possible alternating governments.
Tales of the 2020 General and Region Elections
Dear Editor,
I commend Vishnu Bisram for having reminded us of what he described as “the drama behind the 2020 election result” in a letter to SN on August 15.
In his letter, he makes the point that “there were several untold events and unsung heroes behind those happenings”, and he proceeds to name some of them, including the several court cases and the intervention in one way or another of the diplomatic community: US, UK, EU and Canada in particular, and most especially former US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah Ann Lynch, in the part they played in preventing former President David Granger from being sworn into office based on a totally fraudulent declaration orchestrated by Lowenfield, Mingo and Myers. We should also never forget, and specifically remember and recognize, the huge role the Private Sector Commission played in ultimately ensuring the David Granger government was not returned to Government on a rigged election result.
Before the elec-
tions, the Private Sector Commission under the Chairmanship of Captain Gerry Gouveia had established within its offices a Command Centre managed by Brigadier General (retired) Norman McLean, a former PSC Chairman, with the specific purpose of observing and monitoring the 2020 Elections.
The Private Sector Commission had also met with Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission, and had been accredited full observer status for the forthcoming General and Regional Elections.
On election day and the days that followed, the Commission had accredited observers strategically placed around the country and in polling places where the count was being compiled. I was one of those accredited observers. We know that in every district except District 4, at the end of election day, the count had been tabulated and posted, and Statements of Poll were in the possession of all of the contesting political parties.
I was the accredited observer for the PSC at the District 4 GECOM Building at Ashmin’s,
where Clairmont Mingo first attempted to present a tabulation of numbers that did not accord with the Statements of Poll from the District 4 polling places, which had already been published and were in the possession of the contesting political parties and the various election observer missions from the diplomatic community.
I witnessed Mingo’s blatant attempt to cheat the results, and I returned immediately to the Private Sector Commission, reported what I had witnessed to Captain Gouveia, and we decided to immediately call a press conference on the matter, wherein I reported what I had seen.
It was therefore the Private Sector Commission which, at that press conference, first disclosed to the public that an attempt was in process by the APNU/ AFC appointed members of GECOM to falsify the election results.
At the time I was astonished at what I had witnessed, and at the press conference I said, “I have to say this: in all my life and career in and out of politics in this country,
I have never seen such a barefaced, ugly, and deliberate attempt to rig an election.”
The next day, March 14 2020, Kaiteur News reported what I had said at the press conference as “a deliberate attempt to rig an election”.
I was convinced then, and events have proved me to be accurate, that the APNU/AFC Coalition had already in their possession the Statements of Poll of all ten election districts, and already knew the results of the election. They knew they had lost to the PPP/C, and were now attempting to reverse the results.
It is now history that, after a long and painful series of court cases; high-level foreign diplomatic intervention, including from Caricom; and the continuing persistence of the Private Sector Commission’s Observer Mission, a decision made to recount the election results established that the Peoples Progressive Party Civic had won the election, and Mohammed Irfaan Ali was sworn in as President on August 2, 2020.
A group of young people performing a dance routine at conclusion of the Progressive Youth Organization’s (PYO) youth camp, held in the Moruca Sub-District of Region One over the weekend
Strengthening ties with India
Dear Editor, India observed the 77th anniversary of its independence on August 15. India has significant influence on former colonies of empires, including Guyana and several West Indian territories. India has doled out enormous sums as developmental aid to former colonies like Guyana, Suriname, etc., to build infrastructure and lift the standard of living of their peoples.
The man with all the solutions
Dear Editor,
I have read with absolute disdain the continued vicious attack on the PPP/C Government for implementing measures to ensure the survival and ultimate viability of the sugar industry.
There is no doubt that one particular individualwho probably feels he is the sugar czar, despite his lack of success in that area among other failed business ventures - continues to rehash and regurgitate the same verbiage ad nauseam in his quest for relevance and vengeance for not getting the position he wanted. He has now become an expert in home affairs, health, oil and gas, education, sugar, rice, NDIA, infrastructures, and can literally run this country while sipping a Diet Coke.
It would seem that, instead of becoming the CEO of GuySuCo, he now aspires to be the President of Guyana. It would seem that this man’s hunger for publicity and power would never be satiated.
When he was a member of the Board, he felt ethanol was the saviour of GuySuCo. At one point, he felt that tilapia was GuySuCo’s salvation, instead of sugar. At some point, he recommended that ‘bull plough’ should be used for tillage, and then he felt the estates should be closed. This man has a myriad of solutions and harebrained schemes, no wonder he failed in all his business ventures. His pretentious cries of corruption would reverberate only within the cavity of his cranium. No one takes these empty cries seriously, without hard facts and only assumptions forthcoming.
What the Opposition and some naysayers fail to realize is that the cost of resuscitating the Sugar Industry is, until now, just a miniscule portion of the cost of destruction that was inflicted in all areas of operation. The APNU/AFC should itemize the massive cost and make a comparison to what is now being spent, instead of vomiting out the same garbage repeatedly in Parliament. The Minister of
India has been increasing its economic, political, and cultural connections with every country, including those in Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
India is an increasingly important player on the world stage; a key driver of global growth, accounting for over 15% of the world’s total economic output.
Agriculture has already made light work of their baseless attacks.
It is barefaced absurdity to deliberately destroy the estates and then question the cost of rehabilitation. The Coalition also displaced the labour force when they closed the estates and caused thousands of workers to seek alternative employment or flee abroad with visitors’ visas. It was not only the closed estates, but the wage freeze in GuySuCo from 2015 to 2020 created a new wave of exodus from the industry. These workers reminisce on the dark days of Burnhamism.
Today GuySuCo is faced with a labour shortage due to the preceding factors. The Coalition destroyed the human factor, which they saw as pro-PPP, and in so doing annihilated tens of billions of dollars in fixed assets. But GuySuCo is overcoming these setbacks one day at a time.
I am of the firm and unyielding conviction that GuySuCo will again be viable. The new CEO and his team have their focus on increasing the tons cane per hectare, increasing the tillage and planting, continued mechanization of the field and harvesting, reduction of the tons cane per ton sugar, reduction of the interval between burning and grinding, and the trimming of wastage. These would reduce the cost per unit, and increase the production and productivity of the industry.
Achieving these objectives is not ‘rocket science’, and with the critical financial support of the Government to a certain point, the strong support of the workforce, and the unyielding will of the GuySuCo team, this will be achieved in no time.
Let the naysayers chew on their nails and wait. Arnold Schwarzenegger, six-time Mr Olympia, former Governor of California, and famous movie star, once said, “If I would have listened to the naysayers, I would still be in the Austrian Alps yodelling”.
Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf
events and economic development.
India is an increasingly important country, with a growing economy (economic powerhouse), population, and a vast array of human resources in every area imaginable. India is also an agricultural powerhouse, a leader in the production of several commodities.
India has very strong trading ties with many countries, and is also a major source of skilled immigrants, many of whom have invested money in startups and job creation.
India’s independence in 1947 paved the way for dozens of other colonies to achieve theirs: in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, including Guyana. Those colonies had belonged to France, Holland, Belgium, Portugal and Britain.
Former colonies have looked to India (since formation of the Non-Aligned Movement in the 1950s, BRICS, and international organizations) for global leadership on political
India has become the fastest-growing major economy over the last decade, and has the world’s largest middle class, which is the size of the middle class of all of Europe combined. Not surprisingly, every developed country and major economy has turned to India for trade treaties or economic cooperation.
India is the most populous country in the world, and its economy is growing rapidly. It has the fifth largest GDP, and is among the world’s top seven most industrialized nations. It also has the largest pool of ‘uncontrolled’ (free to migrate, unlike Chinese skilled personnel) technical labour,
Tales of the 2020...
I had, during this period, decided to write a series of letters and make several broadcast commentaries exposing the degree of the conspiracy that was taking place within GECOM by its officials. In those commentaries, I said the following:
*Granger has refused to recognize the fraud committed by Mingo, as the immediate beneficiary of that fraud.
*Granger has refused to recognize that the recount of the ballots currently taking place must deliver the results of the elections
* Granger has refused to recognize the credibility of the election process on election day, which was recognized by all of the observers and signed on to by all of the APNU/AFC party agents
*Granger has refused to recognize that the declaration by Lowenfield, based on the tabulation of Mingo, is fraudulent and must be rejected
*Granger has refused to recognize the evidence of the Statements of Poll in his party’s possession, which were publicly displayed on election day for the world to see as irrefutable evidence that the PPP/C has won the
including engineers, medical personnel, and ITech specialists, who are prized by foreign multinationals and wooed for settlement abroad.
Moreover, India is a nuclear power, and has a large military force. It has joined the club of space explorers that have been launching satellites, including for commercial purposes. India has launched European, Asian, and American satellites in space. Using its own satellites, India has shared with developing countries information on climate and agricultural challenges.
India is a major destination for students from developing countries like Guyana, and from Africa and Asia, to acquire skill sets. Developed countries are destinations for Indian professionals seeking education and/or work opportunities in technical industries. Even Guyana has recruited some skilled personnel from India in various sectors, including medical, engineering, agriculture, and computer.
elections by a substantial majority.
Ultimately, we all know it required the Chairperson of GECOM, Justice Claudette Singh, to make the casting vote for the majority in favour of the elections recount being accepted by GECOM with all of the APNU/AFC-appointed GECOM members voting against it.
To his credit, President David Granger at the time had said, “Whatever declaration is made by the Chairman of the Elections Commission would be regarded as legitimate by the Coalition Government”. But earlier, Basil Williams and Roysdale Forde had publicly pronounced that the Recount is illegal. Again, when asked about this, David Granger emphatically declared: “As President of Guyana and Leader of the Government, it is my policy that any declaration coming from the Chairman of GECOM will be accepted by the Government of Guyana”.
So said, so done.
Sincerely, Christopher Nascimento
India has rendered considerable developmental assistance to Guyana and Caribbean territories. In fact, on a per capita basis, Guyana is the largest recipient of India’s assistance in the West. Indian companies have also invested in Guyana.
As its economy and influence grow, India would play an increasingly important role in the global economy and in shaping global politics. Relations between Guyana and India should therefore be strengthened, especially in trade, energy, medicine, education, infrastructure development, and culture. Closer relations with India would boost Guyana’s GDP and standard of living. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Brazil for the G20 summit in October. Government should consider inviting Modi for a visit; it can serve to strengthen economic ties.
Yours truly, Vishnu
Bisram
FROM PAGE 4
Page Foundation
◄ Quadrilaterals
A quadrilateral is a 2-dimensional figure with four sides – and four angles. The following are the main types of quadrilaterals
Exercises:
Identify: Determine the type of quadrilateral
By Grace Nichols from Under the Moon
I like to stay up and listen when big people talking jumbie stories
I does feel so tingly and excited inside me
But when my mother say “Girl, time for bed”
Then is when I does feel a dread
Then is when I does jump into me bed
Then is when I does cover up from me feet to me head
Then is when I does wish I didn’t listen to no stupid jumbie story
Then is when I does wish I read me book instead
(Source: clpe.org.uk)
&
Work of Constitutional Reform Commission yet to begin
– as Secretary still not appointed
More than four months after it was established by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, the Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) is still to officially start its work.
The 21-member Commission is tasked with reviewing the Constitutional of Guyana and holding widespread stakeholder consultations on areas to be reformed. The 2022 Constitutional Reform Commission Act has outlined several areas for potential reform, including Indigenous peoples’ rights, fundamental rights, children’s rights, eradication of discrimination, enhancement of race relations, and electoral reform, among others.
The Justice Carl Singhled Commission held its first meeting on July 9 during which Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira was selected as the Vice Chairperson. It was subsequently announced that the work of the CRC would be on hold until a secretary is appointed. At which time, the remuneration package and other contract details had to be ironed out.
Efforts to contact both the Chairman and Vice Chair of the Commission on the progress of this appointment were futile. However,
This imbalance has resulted in a situation in which millions in the Global South struggle with poverty, lack of access to basic services, and economic instability.
Addressing this wealth gap is critical not only for achieving global equity but also for fostering sustainable development and long-term global stability,” the Guyanese Leader stated.
According to the Head of State, this marginalisation of the South is mirrored also in international governance. He added that despite the South’s collective strength, its voice is often drowned out in global decision-making forums, and its interests are sidelined in favour of those of more powerful nations.
One glaring example
the Guyana Times was told that a secretary is yet to be appointed.
While 18 of the 21 members were initially sworn in by President Ali on April 3, the remaining members did not take their Oaths before the Head of State until May 28. This was among the factors that prevented the Commission from holding its first meeting.
Another major issue was the state of readiness of the building, located on Middle Street in Georgetown, that would house the Commission.
In addition to Teixeira, the other People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) representatives on the Commission are: Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, S.C., along with Ministers Dr. Frank Anthony, Pauline Sukhai, and Kwame McCoy.
The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) parliamentary Opposition is represented by Vincent Alexander, Sherwood Lowe, Ganesh Mahipal, and Nigel Hughes. The other political appointee is Timothy Jonas, who is the representative of the joinder parties that hold an Opposition seat in the National Assembly.
Labour Movement Representative Aslim
Singh, National Toshaos Council Representative Derrick John, Private Sector Representative Ramesh Persaud, Women’s Representative Kim Kyte-Thomas, Youth Representative Dr. Josh Kanhai, Muslim Representative Imran Ally, Hindu Representative Radha Krishna Sharma, and Farmers’ Representative Adrian Anamayah are the other members sworn-in by the President.
The other CRC members are the Guyana Bar Association Representative, Kamal Ramkarran; and Christian Representative Keoma Griffith.
The highly-anticipated Constitutional Reform Commission Bill 2022 was first tabled in the House back in August 2022, and was subsequently passed in November of that year. The Act sought to establish a 20-member Commission to review the country’s supreme laws.
These 20 members have to be drawn from political parties (five from the ruling party, four from the main Opposition, and one from the joinder parties), while the 10 remaining persons would be drawn from the three main religious groups, the Private Sector, the Guyana Bar Association, the National Toshaos Council, the Labour
“bold vision”...
of this that President Ali highlighted is the voice of the Global South being ignored in their calls for a ceasefire in the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. He argued that those who condemn terrorism must also condemn these acts of genocide.
“It is necessary that this crime against humanity, perpetrated against the Palestinian people, ceases immediately. The Global South must unite in unequivocal condemnation of these actions, standing together to demand justice, accountability, and an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people,” he stated.
The president further posited that respect for the rule of international law must also become a centrepiece of the Global South's advoca -
Movement, women’s organisations, as well as nominees representing farmers and youths.
The Act has also contained provisions for the President to “act in accordance with his/her own deliberate judgement and appoint a chairperson…” The Head of State had appointed Justice Singh to chair the CRC.
But with this provision, the complement of appointed members of the Constitutional Reform Commission has been taken to 21, hence the law had to be amended. As a result, in May, the government returned to the National Assembly to change the law and correct the numerical composition of the Commission.
Nevertheless, the 2022 law outlines the key areas that should be considered
for potential reforms by the Commission. These include the fundamental rights of citizens, Indigenous peoples’ rights, rights of children, the eradication of discrimination, enhancement of race relations, promotion of ethnic security and equal opportunity, safeguarding minority rights, electoral reforms; economic, political, and cultural rights; fiduciary responsibility, bolstering integrity in public office, as well as the functioning of the National Assembly and local government.
During the April 3 swearing-in ceremony, President Ali told the Commission members that while these areas are wide-ranging, they are not exhaustive in their scope of work. He further noted that the Constitutional must be drafted in clear and acces-
sible language that is comprehensible to the average individual. This, according to the Head of State, would ensure that all citizens understand their rights and obligations, thereby facilitating active participation in the democratic process, and reinforcing the mutual understanding between the government and the governed.
The PPP/C Government has already assured that the public would play an integral role in deciding what reforms would be undertaken.
Constitutional reform was promised in the PPP/C 2020 Manifesto, where it was further outlined that consultation with the populace and important stakeholders and a broad-based Constitutional Reform Commission would drive the process.
cy. This, he added, is essential for safeguarding the rights and security of all nations, especially small states. The Head of State said too that the Global South must raise its voice in unison against any threats to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of these vulnerable nations.
Guyana was among 123 countries from around the world that attended Saturday’s virtual summit hosted by Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. President Ali joined 20 other Heads of State who attended the summit including Suriname, Grenada, Chile, El Salvador, Uruguay and Vietnam.
The Guyanese Leader also participated in the first Voice of Global South Summit held in January 2023. (G-8)
President Dr Irfaan Ali with the members of the Constitutional Reform Commission
National Toshaos Conference gets underway today at ACCC
Toshaos and oth-
er Indigenous leaders from 210 villages across the country will congregate at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown for the National Toshaos Council’s (NTC) Conference which gets underway today.
This year approximately $100 million from the national budget has been set aside for the NTC Conference which provides a forum for village leaders from all across the country to engage the President and government ministers and expand development acute to Amerindians.
The conference also gives Indigenous leaders a platform to raise concerns and challenges affecting them.
However, the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) welcomes the leader to the conference while highlighting that it is critical for Indigenous Peoples as their communities are witnessing rapid
changes that require them to be truly part of the decision-making process.
“The APA is aware that the National Toshaos Conference is a critical national platform for our leaders to collectively reflect on the progress and the challenges facing their communities as we continue to advocate for the advancement of Indigenous rights and wellbeing.”
The APA further stated that Toshaos are entrusted with the responsibility of speaking on behalf of their people, and this conference must provide a conducive space for that purpose.
“The APA underscores the importance of ensuring that Indigenous leaders can freely express their views, concerns, and solutions regarding the complex issues of their communities – whether related to land rights, environmental threats, or the provision of essential services such as education, healthcare and have the ability to do so in the language that they are
Some Indigenous Leaders during one of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) conferences
most comfortable with.”
“We are at a pivotal time in Guyana's ongoing struggle for Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Therefore, we must ensure that this Conference is led by Indigenous Peoples, guided by our priorities and concerns, and not restricted by anyone's agendas but the communities. While collaboration is vital, it is equally important that this conference remains a space where Indigenous leaders can advocate for their people and their communities without undue influence,” the APA stated.
Meanwhile, the body also encourages respect for the autonomy and self-determination of Indigenous leadership and supports meaningful dialogue rooted in Indigenous peoples' voices and lived experiences.
“Let this conference be a true reflection of the unity, resilience, and strength of our communities. We look forward to fruitful discussions, collaborative efforts, and, most importantly, the amplification of the voices of our Toshaos and Indigenous Peoples.”
GCCI launches ‘Teenternship’ 2024 programme
– 10 students from Camille’s Academy undergo 1-week training
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (GCCI) Annual ‘Teenternship’ Programme
2024 was launched on Friday and will see 10 students from Camille’s Academy being provided with practical experiences in the working environment about leadership, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and management.
The fourth-form students underwent their orientation to the programme at the GCCI, where they were assigned to work with several businesses including Guyana Payroll Solutions Incorporated, Rafeek and Moore Customs Brokerage Firm and Logistics Incorporated, Raj Singh Insurance Brokers and Risk Management Consultants Incorporated, Guyana Electric Incorporated, Java Coffee Bar and Bistro, ActionInvest Caribbean Incorporated, Cerulean Incorporated, Technip FMC, and Beharry Automotive Limited.
Senior Vice President of the GCCI, Kathy Smith
welcomed the interns and related the importance of the foundational experience that the initiative will provide.
“I am so proud to be part of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry to see that this is something we are doing for young people.”
Reflecting on the core principles of the Teenternship, she explained, “Leadership is important…becoming a leader is about understanding your area and undertaking it confidently.”
Smith further emphasised the role of teamwork in a professional environment and the value of persistence, telling the interns, “There is no door that you are going to that will open by itself—you have to knock.”
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of Camille’s Academy, Camille Deokie-Gorakh in her charge to the interns underscored the privilege that they have benefited from in being part of the programme.
“Today as you embark on a journey that holds the
potential to shape your future in a profound way through the Teenternship Programme held by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, just know that it is not just a programme, it is an opportunity to learn, grown, and become the professionals you want to be.”
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the GCCI Entrepreneurship and Small Business Committee, Evie Kanhai- Gurchuran, who is spearheading the Teenternship, encouraged the businesses to tap into the fresh perspective that is available through the interns.
Playing…
…the old (rigging) record
To a hammer, everything it encounters is a nail; that’s what its “lived” experience of hitting everything in sight has taught it!! And to the PNC, every election is about rigging; that’s what its lived experience taught it over the 28 years it rigged its way into power!! So, who was surprised that in the very first election after Hoyte was forced to stand down in 1992 - following a call from the White House – he insisted the 1997 elections were rigged by the PPP!! It was evidently inconceivable to the PNC that elections could be decided solely by counting the votes!! Even after a “forensic audit” of the votes by the TT Jurist Cross had showed that the PPP had won fair and square, Hoyte called out his forces into the streets and forced the PPP to cut their term by two years!!
It’s becoming increasingly clear that this tactic of accusing the PPP of rigging elections is now part of the PNC’s Standard Operating Procedure for every election!! Even when the PPP LOST the 2015 elections - when they were in office and presumably in charge of the apparatus!! – they were accused of rigging!!
So, by now we should know the drill, after so many times going to the (rigging) well!! First will come the accusations that the GECOM Chair is PPP - never mind that, according to the rules, she was selected by the PNC!!
Then will come accusations that the GECOM Secretariat is filled with PPP loyalists…and that the list is “bloated”!!
The first accusation was never short of irony, since, from the inception, the hiring practices ensured that recruits came from the PNC base!! That the second was due primarily to the law stipulating that citizens who were on the voters’ list but had migrated couldn’t be stricken off didn’t matter. If they were serious, they could’ve passed the necessary legislation when in office between 2015 and 2020, but they never did. That would’ve removed one of their major mobilization planks for post-electoral rumbles!!
After the 2020 elections, they came up with some new ploys. They insisted the PPP had scads of persons, using the IDs of the “dead and migrated”, show up at polling stations and voting for the cup!! So, what about the PNC party agents sitting at every one of the said polling stations to prevent just such an eventuality?? The PPP either conducted mass hypnosis, for them to fall asleep when those dirty deeds were being committed, or all PPP (Indian) supporters looked alike, so ID cards were useless!!
So, now we have the new demand for “biometrics” – or else!! One thing we know for sure is that the Opposition’s laying the groundwork for claiming PPP-rigging – and causing trouble in the streets!!
…our divisions
“I challenge you to think about their perspectives, I challenge you to not just think of them as students that are now around your offices but take their opinion to get a fresh perspective in your workplaces,” she stated.
The one-week internship programme is part of the lead-up activities to National Small Business Week, which is slated for September. It provides students with hands-on work experience, with an opportunity to understand the foundational aspects of business and office administration in a wide range of industries.
In every society on planet Earth, there are divisions. Heck…in every FAMILY on planet Earth there are divisions!! And by now we know that, even though politics was invented to deal with those divisions – you think there ain’t politics in families?! – there are two approaches. There are “healers”, who try to bridge the divisions by looking out for everyone, and then there are the “dealers”, who work on widening the divide.
In Guyana, the PNC has traditionally followed the path of “dealers”, and every time it sees an opportunity, instead of shaping its own narrative to bring our people together, it copies what the British used to do — divide our people for the sake of politics and power. Take the PPP’s announced strategy of courting votes from the traditional PNC African-Guyanese base. Doesn’t this mean they’re decreasing the old divide?? Shouldn’t the PNC be doing the same??
Thank goodness the new AFC leader ain’t buying the PNC’s divisiveness; he’s campaigning for votes across the divides.
…for keeps
As your Eyewitness has been warning for years, Mad Maduro isn’t letting go of power. Like his predecessor and mentor, he’s only gonna let go when he croaks – or is removed. The Opposition’s doing its part through protests!!
The interns, along with representatives from GCCI and Camille’s Institute
GGDMA hopeful miners can close production gap by year-end
– welcomes Govt’s commitment to sector
The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) on Sunday stated that it welcomes the continued commitment to the sector by the Government of Guyana and hopes that miners will accelerate production and make significant strides for the remainder of 2024.
This came in light of recent statements by Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo and Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat regarding the critical importance of the mining sector to Guyana’s current and future development.
The GGDMA in a release stated that the sector feels buoyed by the support and understanding demonstrated by the contributions and struggles facing the sector.
“The GGDMA has always maintained that mining is a major contributor to Guyana. The Guyana gold and diamond mining industry employs tens of thousands of Guyanese and is also the generator of billions of dollars in disposable and discretionary income that energises businesses in all other sectors of the country.”
It added that over the years, the organisation has advocated for improvements in environmental stewardship and the sector has made several significant strides in this area as a consequence of partnering with recognised environmental organisations such as Conservation International and the World Wildlife Fund on
various projects in the past.
“The GGDMA remains a non-political organisation that will continue to lobby for the interests and benefits of miners and the industry, we are ready to work with any credible agency to advance the interest of mining and miners in Guyana.”
Further, the GGDMA stated that it does not recognise “one-man” organisations or lobbyists with questionable motives and sources of funding from biased international interests that seek to take “bread” out of the mouths of Guyanese thereby depriving the nation of socio-economic advancement.
“These ideologues seek to vilify Guyanese miners as they do the bidding of certain forces who would much prefer to see our nation stay “green” and poor rather than maximise the benefits of our natural mineral wealth. The GGDMA is a pro-mining Guyanese organisation
and our membership embodies the independent entrepreneurial spirit of Guyana. Over the years miners have moved from battel to excavators to crusher plants and we will continue to fight for the advancement of the mining industry despite certain anti-mining detractors whose relevance is inextricably linked to continually maligning Guyana’s extractive sector.”
However, the GGDMA related that it will continue to encourage its membership to declare their production accurately, to only sell their production to the Guyana Gold Board or licensed buyers, collect their receipts, and regularly request statements from the Guyana Gold Board of all royalties and taxes paid to ensure that your declarations are accurately reflected.
The Association also wishes to reiterate the recent advisory to mine operators to desist from paying staff and suppliers in gold as this prac-
tice is not in line with the law.
“This year has been a slow one thus far for the sector, however, the GGDMA remains hopeful that miners will accelerate production and make
significant strides for the remainder of 2024 to close the production gap and achieve the nationally set targets.”
Only last week, Head of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Newell Dennison reported that gold declaration has seen a steady decline from 2016 to 2023 due to several factors but believes there is still hope with several measures in the pipeline to curb smuggling and increase production.
He noted that the sector is confronted with unprecedented climate-related and other phenomena over the recent years including flooding, COVID-19 which led to the pause of all activities, and drought.
However, he said measures including investment in technology, deployment of more resources, hosting of lotteries, processing of land applications, and more, are being implemented to help the sector improve.
ECD teen dies after crashing unregistered XR motorcycle
Leon Benjamin, a 19-year-old vendor of Bare Root, ECD, lost his life on Saturday evening after he reportedly lost control of an unregistered XR motorcycle he was driving and it crashed into a utility pole at Strathspey, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
Based on information received, Benjamin and his 19-year-old friend Cadeem Cort -- also of Bachelor’s Adventure, ECD -- were riding a white Honda XR motorcycle when it came into contact with a vehicle and became uncontrollable, resulting
in the teens crashing into a utility pole and sustaining injuries about their bodies. The vehicle that was involved in the accident reportedly drove away. Benjamin was reportedly pronounced
dead on scene, while pillion rider Cort was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he has been admitted. Investigations into this fatal incident are ongoing.
Private Sector must change mindset amid Guyana’s economic development – Int’l sales specialist
– urges investing in staff to improve business reputation
As Guyana’s economy rapidly transforms due to the extraction of oil among other resources, the private sector is urged to reassess its strategies to ensure that it can maximise its full potential to benefit from this phenomenon. ` This call was made by developmental strategist of Sandler Mississauga, a global leader in corporate sales training, Robin Singh during his appearance on the Energy Perspectives podcast hosted by the Guyana Energy Conference.
Singh reaffirmed President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s call for businesses to reevaluate their mindsets to fully capitalise on the opportunities in Guyana's new economic era. He explained that for business to thrive amid Guyana’s economic development, stakeholders must invest in the development of their staff, noting that these individu-
als are the pillars of the organisation and play a major role in developing business reputation which is a key factor to potential new clients.
“I think that mindset must change. I've got to change the mindset of my people, the mindset of my employees, the mindset of associates. Because when you think about it, that's who represents your company. They're the face of your company. And they can dictate whether the reputation of a company is high standard or low standard. And in this growth economy where maybe they're not accustomed to it so we've got to upskill our people,” Singh stated.
Moreover, the sales expert further highlighted that business owners are under the impression that if they invest in the development of their employees, they might leave the company and utilise the knowledge and ex-
pertise gained at other companies.
However, Singh is adamant that if businesses invest in their employees, it will foster a positive working environment in which workers will continue to contribute towards the development of the organisation, as such he encouraged business owners to not let this misconception stymie their development trajectory.
Singh highlighted that if these simple but
necessary strategies are not rolled out, the Head of State’s plans of grasping every opportunity will not come to fruition.
“Those are all components of it. And if you don't do that, I'm not sure the president's wishes and desires will take place but he's got to lead Indeed” Singh stated.
Additionally, he also spoke about the importance of members of the public service to be able
to provide a high standard of service to citizens. As such, he called on the high-ranking officials at the various government agencies to be reexamined.
“If you think about the public service group, and if you think about us walking into, you know, a public service department or division, looking for help or looking for information or looking to buy something, I may be wrong, but the mind-
set is, why are you bothering me? We have to change the mindset from the perspective, of what starts at the top, the top of that ministry, right? How well is that minister trained? How well is he coaching his supply, his management, and his different management levels? And how well is that different management levels training those employees to understand, giving them customer service training, but also to understand that when I walk in, I am paying your salary, not whoever it is” he stated.
Sandler Training which is a global leader in corporate sales training who trains some 30,000 sales associates per year. The organisation also offers professional development programmes in sales training, customer success, and personal and professional development among others.
Police Division 3 records decline in fatal accidents, deaths – Traffic Officer
– says speeding & driving under the influence is very dangerous combination
Through various initiatives implemented by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), there has been a reduction in fatal accidents and deaths in Regional Division Three: Essequibo Islands/West Demerara.
Assistant Superintendent Maniram Jagnanan made this disclosure during a recent televised programme wherein he delved into traffic updates for the respective areas within this division.
While conceding that even one death is too many, he said there has been a decline in fatal accidents from January to August, compared to the same period in the previ-
ous year. “I can safely say that during last year, from January 4 to August 15, 2023, we had an amount of 19 fatal accidents, which resulted in 24 deaths…For the same period in 2024, we have had
11 fatal accidents, resulting in 11 deaths…this showed that we have a great reduction,” he stated.
Jagnanan is encouraging drivers to always prioritize safety when using the roadways. “Do
not consume alcohol and drive; do not speed; always pay attention to the roadway; and ensure that your vehicles are in fit and service-level condition, so that if you have to apply your brakes to avoid an accident, so be it.”
He has also advised police officers to have more conversation with drivers who are speeding, while at the same time cautioning drivers to not verbally insult police officers.
“Look, you are speeding, and this is one of the things that (are) contributing to the road carnage…Speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol together is a very dangerous combi-
nation. Nothing is wrong if the officer gives you a ticket or a warning, but do not try to insult or belittle them,” he has admonished drivers.
Additionally, he noted that the GPF is keen on documentation of vehicles in regard to fitness, insurance, and revenue.
“Officers must be able to talk with persons as it relates to documentation for their vehicles.
Insurance, fitness, and revenue licence along with driver's licence must be intact. Our aim and objective is to educate and enforce at the same time…We are consistently and persistently going out to communities and teaching them about road safety because we
want our lives, especially young lives, to be preserved. Because our country is rapidly developing, and we want our young folks to enjoy what this country has in store for you,” Jagnanan has said. Earlier this month, acting Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken revealed that there has been a reduction in the total amount of fatal accidents when compared to the same period last year.
He said the GPF had recorded 74 fatal accidents in 2023 and 56 in 2024. In addition, 84 deaths were recorded in 2023 and 67 in 2024, while 187 serious accidents were recorded in 2023 and 178 in 2024.
Professional development strategist of Sandler Mississauga, Robin Singh
A team at the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo during a Sandler training session
Region Three Traffic Officer, Assistant Superintendent Maniram Jagnanan
Robbery suspects nabbed at Wismar Bridge with firearms, loot
Moments after committing a robbery in West Watooka, Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) on Saturday evening, the two suspects were intercepted at the Wismar Mackenzie Bridge.
The two men were identified as Eon Ward also called 'Killa' and Faisal Moore. At the time of their arrest two unlicensed 9mm pistols, several matching rounds of ammunition, a quan-
tity of jewellery and several mobile phones were found in the motorcar they were driving.
Based on reports received, Claus Pearce, 38, a farmer from West Watooka was relieved of one gold chain valued at $636,000 and one Samsung Galaxy cellphone valued at $20,000 on Saturday evening at Middle Street, Silvertown in Wismar.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was liming at a shop when he heard the sound of a gun crank in front of him. As he looked up, he saw Moore pointing a handgun at him while Ward pushed what felt like a handgun to his abdomen and be-
gan to search him. Moore allegedly grabbed the gold chain from his neck and relieved him of his cell phone after which they fled the scene.
However, less than five minutes later, acting on information received,
Police ranks on mobile patrol proceeded to the Wismar Mackenzie Bridge, where they intercepted one burgundy Axio car bearing registration number PAH 2346. Ward and Moore were the only occupants of the car.
As such, they were ordered to exit the vehicle, and a search was conducted on the vehicle during which two 9mm pistols – one had a magazine and four rounds of ammunition, and the other was carrying three rounds.
Further checks unearthed an extra clip - a magazine with another 26 live rounds of 9MM ammunition.
The suspects were taken to the Wismar Police Station where further checks were made on their person which led to the discovery of the gold chain and Samsung cell phone belonging to the victim were recovered.
The motorcar that was intercepted
The guns and ammunition found in the car
The two suspects Eon Ward also called 'Killa' and Faisal Moore
Guyanese icon Dave Martins passes on
Guyanese icon
Dave Martins who was part of the Tradewinds band that captured the essence of the Caribbean spirit and its identity has passed at the age of 90. This was confirmed by his wife, Annette Arjoon-Martin late Sunday evening.
Following his passing, President Dr. Irfaan Ali stated “I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of a true Caribbean icon, Dave Martins, whose music was the heartbeat of our region. As the lead-
er of the Tradewinds band, Dave captured the essence of the Caribbean spirit and its identity, blending upbeat rhythms with bit-
ing satire that spoke to our hearts and minds.”
His music, the president stated has not only invited us to laugh at ourselves but also encouraged us to stand tall and be proud of our Guyanese and Caribbean heritage.
"Not a Blade of Grass," his timeless anthem, stands as a powerful statement to our nation’s collective resistance against threats to our sovereignty and territorial integrity. In our moments of challenges, it was Dave's music that lifted our spir-
its, reminding us of the strength and resilience we hold as a people and our duty never to surrender an inch of our territory,” the Guyanese Head of State added.
Further, he stated that Martins was more than just a musician - he was a true Caribbean person whose influence extended beyond borders, touching the lives of countless individuals across the region.
“His loss is deeply felt, not only in Guyana but throughout the entire Caribbean and in our di-
aspora. Whenever his music plays, no matter where you are, it stirs a deep sense of pride in being a Caribbean national.”
“The rhythms and melodies carry the essence of our shared heritage, reminding us of who we are and where we come from.
Dave Martins' music connects us to our roots and fills us with a profound love for our Caribbean identity.”
Ali added that he is confident that while he has passed on, his music will live on.
“Guyana and the Caribbean are indeed poorer for his passing, but we are infinitely richer for having had the privilege of experiencing his art, his passion, and his deep love for our country and the culture of the Caribbean. Dave Martins will be dearly missed, but his spirit will forever resonate in the rhythms of our Caribbean identity.”
Meanwhile, the President expressed his heartfelt condolences to his wife, Annette, his family, friends and fans.
“Contractor has disappointed us” – Edghill on upgrade of CJIA baggage handling system
Public Works Minister
Juan Edghill has expressed his disappointment with the contractor installing an in-line baggage system at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). These works will streamline baggage handling and reduce wait times for travelers. It will also eliminate the need for passengers to take their bags to the scanner.
An $81 million contract was awarded to K&S
General Contractors Inc. and the works were set to be completed in July. However, Edghill told the Guyana Times on Saturday that the contractor has failed to meet that deadline.
“The contractor has disappointed us in terms of the delivery. It is late and it should have been completed but the contractor has disappointed us… And that baggage make-up area is important for the efficiency of the airport but the airport has written me as a
minister, informing me of the failure of the contractor and we’re addressing it,” he stated.
Nevertheless, the Public Works Minister noted that other works at the CJIA are progressing “very nicely.”
“You’re gonna love it when it is completed. [At] the Commercial Centre… we’ll have about 20 spaces for duty-free and concession areas… So, it’s going to be a major expansion there. It’s coming along very, very well,” Edghill stated.
Labour Ministry launches probe into fatal mining pit accident at Mahdia
The Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department has launched an investigation into the fatal mining pit incident that took place on Thursday on an unregistered land dredge at St. Elizabeth, Mahdia, Potaro Mining District # 2, Region Eight (Potaro Siparuni).
The incident reportedly claimed the lives of 19-year-old Imran Blake of Kuru Kuru College, Linden- Soesdyke Highway, and 26-year-old Sherwayne Joseph.
Based on reports received, at about 06:00h on the day in question, Joseph and Blake along with six other miners left the camp to commence work.
However, at approximately 23:15h while car-
rying out their work activity, co-workers heard rumbling sounds and observed the pit walls began collapsing. An alarm was raised and the others escaped. Joseph and Blake could not escape and were buried under the falling debris.
Following these reports, Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)
Officer, Ray Hosannah and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Safety Officer
Irvie London visited the site to commence the preliminary investigation to ascertain the causes of the accident and make recommendations to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Investigations are ongoing.
These additional works on the commercial centre will see new spaces for food concession areas, 15 duty-free shops, lounges, play parks, and restaurants along with a new administration building to house the airport's more than 300 airport staff.
Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal Inc. is working on the administrative building with a budget of $890 million and on the rigid pavement with a budget of $703 million, while PD Contracting is working on the $874 million commercial centre.
During an inspection of the site back in June, engineers and technical teams from the various contracting companies spearheading the project revealed that the construction of the VIP lounge and commercial centre is approximately 58 per cent complete.
At the time of the visit, Minister Edghill had explained that the new amenities are part of the government’s broader vision to transform CJIA into a
world-class facility that caters to the needs of modern travellers and supports the growth of Guyana’s tourism sector.
“If we are building out Guyana to be a point connecting the Caribbean and South America, in transit passengers must have an experience…So, we are catering to all of that in this”.
“We want more than a million users (travelers) in 2024 and next year we must be able to climb that up to another 300,000. The more people come through this airport is better for Guyana’s economy,” Edghill said.
The Public Works Minister had added that the design changes to the commercial centre will cater to the influx of travelers Guyana is anticipating in coming years, by ensuring passengers are properly accommodated.
On this point, he also revealed that a section will be constructed specifically for local small businesses to ply their trade so that visitors who are just passing
through can have a taste of Guyanese culture.
“If you want to have fine dining because you have a four-hour layover or you come early to the airport because you don’t like to be in the crowd, you must be able to sit and have a hot meal so we want to be able to put those facilities in… Some of the contractors are doing exceptionally well, others are behind time, we have had those engagements with them. We want this wrapped up very soon. In another two-three months because this is June by the end of August or early September when you come to the airport you will be seeing something you really love,” he added.
The contract for the airport expansion project was initially signed in 2011, during Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo’s tenure as president, with China Harbour and Engineering Corporation (CHEC).
The then People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration acquired a US$138 million loan from the China Exim Bank and used US$12 million from the Consolidated Fund (taxpayers’ money) for the total project cost of US$150 million.
However, upon assuming office in 2015, the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government altered the proposed expansion project.
Upon resumption of office in 2020, the PPP/C Government reverted to the old proposal and included some new amenities.
Dead: Imran Blake
Upgrade works ongoing at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport
Dead: Sherwayne Joseph
Dave Martins
Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and other cabinet members meeting with residents of the Moruca Sub-District of Region One (Barima-Waini) on Saturday
Govt commissions $446M pump station at Adventure
– to drain 126,000 gallons of water per minute
Anew pump sta-
tion which was constructed to the tune
of a whopping $446.8 million was commissioned on Saturday at Adventure Village, Corentyne Berbice.
The project was undertaken by D. Sawh Mechanical Workshop but was supervised by SRKN Engineering as the consul-
tancy firm which was paid $26.4 million.
The new station will facilitate the draining of over 6,000 acres of residential and farmlands. In addition, it will support all the major outfalls in areas such as Eversham and Number 43 Villages.
The new facility features two 150 cusec pumps de-
signed to drain 126,000 gallons per minute, bringing significant relief to farmers and residents from Black Bush Polder and other areas.
The contract for the construction of the pumping facility was awarded in October 2021.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha reiter-
ated that the government is injecting the relevant investments to build climate-resilient D&I infrastructure nationwide.
“This is an investment
Kenny and another one will be awarded shortly at Chesney in the Albion area. In this catchment area, you have five pump stations. The investments we are making in these projects are tremendous.”
for the future of our country. By the end of next year, we will be building approximately 19 of these projects across the country. Right here, in Region Six, we have one at Anchorville, Letter
A national programme is currently ongoing countrywide to improve Guyana’s D&I infrastructure, which includes the construction and rehabilitation of pump stations and sluices and the
clearing of canals and outfalls.
The minister remains optimistic that the region will have 24-hour drainage to the Atlantic Ocean rather than the farming area when construction is completed on the embankments from No. 67 village to Canje and the two high-level, Hope-like canals.
Further, 10 sluices will be rehabilitated in the region.
“That is why we are putting all these pumps and other mechanisms in place. By the end of this year or early next year, we will be procuring another 40 pumps which we will put in different parts of the country to complement the system that we have now… In order for our farmers to benefit more effectively, we have to make those investments,” the minister stated.
This, he emphasised, will boost Guyana’s and by extension the region’s food production drive.
The interior of the new pump station
Agriculture Minster Zulfikar Mustapha testing the facility
A section of the residents at the commissioning ceremony
Lower back pain is common during pregnancy. Changing hormones, extra weight, and a shifting centre of gravity can all contribute. Stretching, wearing a support belt, or using hot packs may help.
Pregnancy can include many joyous moments, like hearing your baby’s heartbeat for the first time, or seeing it on an ultrasound screen. A fair number of aches and pains can also be involved. Experts estimate that 50% of people experience lower back pain during pregnancy or postpartum.
Many individuals experience lower back pain starting in the second trimester. This lower back pain isn’t usually a major source of concern during pregnancy, but it’s important to notify a doctor or healthcare professional if people believe that they’re going into early labour, or if it becomes severe.
Standing for a long period can increase lower back pain for 27.2% of pregnant women, one study has found; and over 40% of pregnant women in the study were able to reduce back pain by resting. While resting throughout the day can help lower back pain, nearly two-thirds of the pregnant women reported that back pain had worsened during the night.
CAUSES:
Lower back pain during pregnancy is usu-
HEALTH TIPS
LOWER BACK PAIN IN PREGNANCY
ally associated with: Hormone changes
• Shifted centre of gravity
• Extra weight 1
During pregnancy, abdominal muscles stretch and weaken, which can change a woman’s posture and put a strain on her back. Pregnancy hormones also relax the ligaments in the joints of the pelvis, and this may lead to lower back pain.
Diagnosis
Lower back pain during pregnancy is extremely common, and may not require any further diagnosis. If the doctor is concerned about the lower back pain, or thinks it might not be pregnancy-related, the doctor may consider diagnostic imaging.
Ultrasound and MRI testing are typically safe during pregnancy, but doctors recommend them only if they believe these could answer a medical question or provide a health benefit.
TREATMENT
If a person is experiencing lower back pain during pregnancy, try things like:
• Applying hot and cold packs to the lower back
• Wearing a supportive pregnancy belt
• Stretching frequently
• Sleeping on your left side while using supportive pillows
• Talking with a chiropractor or acupuncturist
In some cases, back pain may be due to an infection. If persons experience signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI), like a fever or bloody discharge, it’s important to let a doctor know, so that the appropriate medications can be provided.
PREVENTION
While one may not be able to fully prevent lower back pain during pregnancy, some things people can do to minimize it and increase their comfort include:
• Tucking a small pillow behind your lower back when sitting in a chair
• avoid lifting heavy objects
• choosing shoes with good arch support that aren’t heels
• balancing weight by carrying shopping bags and other items in both hands
• focusing on good posture
• exercising regularly
Many women experience relief in lower back pain shortly after they deliver the baby, or within a few months of being postpartum.
If back pain is accompanied by a fever, pain during urination, or vaginal bleeding, it’s important to let your doctor know, since these can be signs of a UTI. It’s also important to let your doctor know if back pain feels like contractions and is accompanied by other signs of preterm labour.
Use a heating pad on your back while pregnant to help relieve some aches and pains, but avoid plac-
the heating pad on your abdomen. Lower back pain may get worse at night because the expanding
uterus can put pressure on the vena cava. It may help to bring relief if you sleep on your left side with one or both knees
bent. Place pillows between the knees and below the belly for comfort, too.
Lower back pain is a common pregnancy symptom. It’s typically due to hormonal changes, additional weight, and a changing centre of gravity. Stretching, wearing a support belt, and using a heating pad can all help relieve your pain.
Although lower back pain is usually a typical pregnancy symptom, it’s important to let your doctor or midwife know if you believe the pain you’re experiencing is contractions, or if you’re showing other signs of labour.
Let your doctor know if your pain is severe.
ing
Venezuelan opposition protests as election dispute drags on
Venezuela’s political opposition and its supporters gathered in cities around the country on Saturday to demand recognition of what they say is their candidate’s resounding victory in a presidential vote nearly three weeks ago.
The country’s electoral authority, considered by the opposition to be an arm of the ruling party, has said President Nicolás Maduro won his third term in the July 28 contest, with just under 52% of the vote.
But the opposition, led by former lawmaker Maria Corina Machado, has published online what it says are 83% of voting machine tallies, which give its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez a hearty 67% support.
The disputed vote has thrown the economically beleaguered nation into a political crisis, and a government crackdown on protests
X suspends business in Brazil over censorship row
people and the people
In the cities of Valencia, San Cristobal and Barquisimeto,strated, many waving -
ing tallies. In Maracay, about 110 km (70 miles) west of Caracas, about a
X, formerly known as Twitter, has closed its office in Brazil over a censorship row.
The social media platform said a Brazilian Supreme Court judge, Alexandre de Moraes, threatened its legal representative in Brazil with arrest if it did not comply with his "censorship orders".
under investigation.
After X owner Musk criticised Mr. Moraes, the judge ordered 100,000 reais ($19,774; £15,670) fines a day for any account that X reactivated, and stressed the possible liability of the company's legal representatives in Brazil if this were to happen.
to close our operation in Brazil, effective immediately," X said.
"The responsibility lies solely with Alexandre de Moraes. “His actions are incompatible with democratic government." Musk posted on X that there was "no question that Moraes needs to leave".
been rejected outright by both the ruling party and opposition.
In the capital Caracas, thousands gathered in the eastern part of the city along its main thoroughfare.
Standing on a truck in the center of the crowd, Machado called for independent, international verification of the election and for her supporters to stay in the streets.
“There is nothing above the voice of the
hundred protesters were dispersed with tear gas.
From Bogota to Madrid, the Venezuelan diaspora turned out in droves. In downtown Mexico City, nearly 1,000 people gathered at the central Plaza de la revolución.
Many Western countries have urged full publication of results, while Russia, China and others have congratulated Maduro on his victory. (CNBC)
Prince Harry, wife to visit Colombia for 1st time
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will arrive in Colombia on Thursday at the invitation of Vice President Francia Márquez, where they will take part in several events, including a forum against cyberbullying, the office of the Colombian vice president said Wednesday. The couple, in the South American country for the first time, will participate in several events Thursday and Friday in the capital, Bogotá, before leaving for Cartagena and Cali, in the Caribbean and in the Colombian Pacific, where they are expected
to be during the weekend.
The events surrounding the couple’s visit will kick off Thursday with a press conference by Márquez, Colombia’s first Black vice president, in which she is expected to offer more details on the purpose of Harry and Meghan’s visit. The statement did not clarify whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will make statements.
Harry and Meghan will also be visiting a school in Bogotá where they will “interact directly with students who are exploring the digital landscape and its effects on society,” the state-
ment added.
They will also attend a forum on how to promote safe digital environments organised by Colombia's vice presidency in partnership with Harry and Meghan's Archewell Foundation, a nonprofit organisation.
“The forum will address the urgent need for responsible technological practices, particularly in the Global South, where the negative impact of technology is disproportionately felt,” the statement added.
Details of the agenda for Saturday and Sunday will be announced later, the office of the vice president said. (Independent)
Brazil's Supreme Court has not commented. People in Brazil are still able to use X, billionaire Elon Musk's platform said on Saturday.
Mr. Moraes had ordered X accounts he has accused of spreading disinformation - many supporters of the former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro - must be blocked while they are
He also put Mr. Musk under investigation for charges including the obstruction of justice.
X said in a statement that Brazilian staff had no responsibility or control over whether content is blocked but Mr. Moraes has chosen to threaten staff in Brazil rather than respect the law.
"As a result, to protect the safety of our staff, we have made the decision
He added that the decision to close the office in Brazil was "difficult", but if the company agreed to Mr. Moraes' "demands, there was no way we could explain our actions without being ashamed".
Mr. Moraes is disliked by fans of the former president Mr. Bolsonaro. During his presidency, he ordered investigations into some of the president’s allies. (BBC)
Cocaine found in fruit shipment bound for Canada
Law enforcement agencies in the Dominican Republic have intercepted a large quantity of cocaine concealed in a container of mangoes and pumpkins destined for Canada.
The operation, conducted at a terminal in Boca Chica, Santo Domingo province, resulted in the seizure of 84 packages of cocaine weighing a total of 86.31 kilograms.
The discovery was made during routine port interdiction operations, where agents and military personnel were inspecting export containers.
Suspicious images detected by an X-ray machine prompted a thorough search of one particular container.
"In the presence of the acting prosecutor, the container, loaded with
mangoes and pumpkins, was opened," stated an official report. "A double bottom with three compartments was found on the floor, inside which 84 packages of cocaine were confiscated."
The National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) conducted an analysis to confirm the nature and weight of the seized substance.
According to shipping documents, the container was scheduled to be sent from the port of Caucedo to Canada.
The National Directorate for Drug Control (DNCD) and the Public Prosecutor's Office have launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those involved in this smuggling attempt. (Loop News)
Hundreds of Venezuelans, following the worldwide call of the “Great World Protest”, gathered at Manco Capac square in Lima, Peru to protest recent re-election of Nicolás Maduro (Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images)
Packages of cocaine were found hidden in fruit shipment bound for Canada (Photo: National Drug Control Directorate)
3 exhumed 1921 Tulsa massacre victims found to have gunshot wounds
Three of the 11 victims of the 1921 race massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who were exhumed on Friday, were found with gunshot wounds, the city said.
Two of those three victims were found to have wounds from two different firearms and one had "evidence of possible burns," the city said in an update of its investigation into the massacre.
“The people we are searching for are not just names in history, they are someone’s family who deserve a proper burial,” Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum said.
More than 40 remains have been exhumed since Bynum launched the 1921 Graves Investigation in 2018. The project aims to reexamine the potential graves from the massacre.
State archaeologist Dr. Kary Stackelbeck
Smoke rises from buildings during the race massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma, US in 1921. Alvin C Krupnick Co/ National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) (Records/Library of Congress/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo)
said data has confirmed that the experts involved in the project are finding individuals who fit the profile of massacre victims.
Last month, a World War One veteran became the first massacre victim identified as a part of the project.
Twenty-six death certificates were is-
sued for Black victims of the massacre in 1921. However, it is estimated that as many as 300 people, most of them Black, died on May 31, 1921, when a large white mob overwhelmed Tulsa's Greenwood neighborhood, a prosperous community nicknamed "Black Wall Street." (Reuters)
Blinken arrives in Middle East to renew push for Gaza ceasefire
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday on a Middle East tour aimed at intensifying diplomatic pressure to achieve a ceasefire deal in Gaza this week to end the bloodshed between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.
On his 10th trip to the region since the war began in October, Blinken will meet on Monday with senior Israeli leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a senior State Department official said.
After Israel, Blinken will continue onto Egypt.
The talks to strike a deal for a truce and return of hostages held in Gaza are now at an “inflection point”, a senior Biden administration official told reporters en route to Tel Aviv, adding Blinken was going to stress to all parties the importance of getting this deal over the finish line.
“We think this is a critical time," the official said.
The mediating coun-
tries - Qatar, the United States and Egypt - have so far failed to reach a deal in months of on-off negotiations, and bloodshed continued unabated in Gaza on Sunday.
A strike killed at least 21 people including six children in Gaza on Sunday, Palestinian health authorities said.
The children and their mother were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a house in the central town of Deir Al-Balah, health officials said. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.
The military said it destroyed rocket launchers used to hit Israel from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, the scene of intense fighting in re-
cent weeks, and killed 20 Palestinian militants.
The talks towards a ceasefire are set to continue this week in Cairo, following a two-day meeting in Doha last week. Blinken will try to reach a breakthrough after the U.S. put forward bridging proposals that the mediating countries believe would close gaps between the warring parties.
There has been increased urgency to reach a ceasefire deal amid fears of escalation across the wider region. Iran has threatened to retaliate against Israel after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. (Reuters)
More than 150 Russians captured on some days of incursion, Ukraine official says French film star
Ukraine has captured more than 150 Russian prisoners of war on some days in the cross-border military operation that a key civilian official said was the first of “several stages” in taking the fight to Moscow.
Oleksii Drozdenko, the head of the military administration in the Ukrainian city of Sumy, said the attack had fared better than expected and there had been only 15 casualties needing hospital treatment on the first day.
“Sometimes there are more than 100 or 150 prisoners of war a day,” Drozdenko said. Many of the Russian troops who
have been guarding the border are young conscripts. “They do not want to fight us,” he added.
Several videos have circulated of Ukrainians capturing prisoners of war, including at the border in the first hours of the incursion on Tuesday 6 August. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has said Kyiv is increasing its “exchange fund” to swap for PoWs held by Russia. Sumy is the Ukrainian city closest to the incursion and Drozdenko said he had been closely involved in the operation’s planning but had been sworn to secrecy, zipping his lips in a gesture to describe the importance
of operational security before the surprise attack.
Other local civilian leaders, notably the Sumy region’s governor, Volodymyr Artyukh, have said they were not warned in advance, suggesting Drozdenko was in a trusted circle.
The city official, a Zelenskiy appointee who is the city’s de facto mayor after the previous incumbent was arrested and charged for allegedly receiving a bribe last autumn, said he could not say too much about the preparations for the incursion a fortnight ago because there was more to come. (The Guardian)
Alain Delon
Alain Delon, the celebrated actor who starred in a string of classic films such as Plein Soleil, Le Samouraï and Rocco and His Brothers, has died aged 88, his children have told French media.
“Alain Fabien, Anouchka, Anthony, as well as [his dog] Loubo, are deeply saddened to announce the passing of their father. He passed away peacefully in his home in Douchy, surrounded by his three children and his family,” they said in a statement,
dead at 88
adding that the family asked for privacy.
Identified with French cinema’s resurgence in the 1960s, Delon played a string of cops, hitmen and beautifully chiselled chancers for some of the country’s greatest directors, including Jean-Pierre Melville, René Clément and Jacques Deray. He also made films with auteurs including Luchino Visconti, Louis Malle, Michelangelo Antonioni and Jean-Luc Godard –though he never quite succeeded in his attempts
to make it in Hollywood.
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, wrote on X that Delon had through his acting roles “made the world dream … he offered his unforgettable face to shake our lives”.
“He was more than a star. He was a French monument,” Macron added. Brigitte Bardot, who starred with Delon in the 1961 film Amours Célèbres, was “devastated” by his death, according to the animal protection foundation she now runs.
Nuseirat, Gaza Strip, August 17, 2024 (Reuters TV)
SUDOKU
DAILY HOROSCOPES
When dealing with colleagues, read between the lines. Some people will reveal what they think, but others won’t. Ask questions and be supportive, and you’ll make connections. Keep spending to a minimum.
An emotional response will require backup from an expert. Make sure you have your facts straight. An unnecessary change will waste time and money. Focus on saving money and being disciplined in the face of temptation.
Choose what you want to achieve before you take on projects that help others more than they help you. Don’t spread yourself too thin. Have faith in your ability to lead.
Explore options, but don’t share your thoughts. Set a budget and stick to it. Hidden expenses and unexpected interferences are apparent if your privacy is unprotected. Discipline and commitment are necessary.
Rely on your instincts to lead you. Apply yourself, and don’t be afraid to be unique. Aim to stabilize meaningful relationships using kindness and consideration.
Simplify your life, ease stress and don’t let anyone talk you into something. Pay attention to your health and emotional well-being, and spend time with people you find uplifting and motivating. Pay attention to detail.
Socialize, travel and make new acquaintances. Reach out and accumulate information. Knowledge will encourage realistic expectations and help you deal with anyone leading you astray. Enthusiasm will be crucial. Concentrate on using your creativity to distance yourself from controversy and emotional situations. Give yourself the chance to relax. Take care of your physical and financial well-being.
Share your thoughts and make a difference. Don’t limit yourself because someone is holding you back or being demanding. Address relationship issues, and deal with others treating you poorly.
Look at money matters, joint ventures and stressful situations. Adjust your schedule to improve your well-being. Don’t hold back; change is necessary. Put yourself first, and avoid something you don’t want or need.
Avoid making changes under emotional stress. Take a moment to think, talk to someone who grounds you or allow situations to play out. Get involved in something you enjoy.
Be observant. Make your life better, and let others fend for themselves. Do what’s best for you before making things better for your inner circle. Trust your instincts.
CALVIN AND HOBBES PICKLES
Junior Badminton team to jet off for CAREBACO tournament
The Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) will be taking a 20-member team to Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation’s (CAREBACO) Junior Tournament to be held in Oranjestad, Aruba from August 22-25, 2024.
The promising and upcoming racquet wielders will compete in the Under 11 to 19 categories across singles, doubles and mixed doubles events as follows:
Under-11
Joel Rambiriche - Boys Singles, Boys Doubles, Mixed Doubles
Liam Brummell - Boys Singles, Boys Doubles, Mixed Doubles
Frank Waddell - Boys Singles, Boys Doubles, Mixed Doubles
Joanathan Debidin - Boys Singles, Boys Doubles, Mixed Doubles
Jonathan RobinsonBoys Singles, Boys Doubles
Vishal Gopaul - Boys Singles, Boys Doubles
Yonneil BenjaminBoys Singles, Boys Doubles
Leshaunte Berkley - Girls Singles, Mixed Doubles
The national badminton team comprises talented junior and senior
Drepaul emerges as champion jockey at Guyana Cup 2024
Experienced jockey Yap Drepaul has emerged as the champion jockey at the 2024 Guyana Cup. He secured two wins in the 10race card, where he piloted Amazing Grace and Emotional Damage to big wins at Rising Sun Turf Club.
Drepaul, who is well known as ‘Old Boy’ among his fellow horsemen, won in the J Class & H3 Maidens running at seven furlongs, and he won in the H Class race which ran at one mile. It was also back-to-back wins, where Drepaul stood on the winners’ podium after races four and five respectively.
Speaking after the Guyana Cup, Drepaul was grateful for his good showing, and was relieved to return to his winning ways.
“The race was nice. I missed the gate, but I held the horse. I know the trip is a long trip, so I took my time. I want to thank the trainers and grooms for giving me the opportunity to work on the horses overtime, to get
the horses in good shape. After hard work, there is success,” Drepaul said.
Age is just a number they say, but for Drepaul, he is keeping his chances real.
“I cannot say what my plans are for the future. I am growing up, and I have been riding horses for 28 years,” the veteran jockey said.
The 2024 Guyana Cup, which was organized by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred
Committee and
athletes who have demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication to the sport. With rigorous training and countless hours of practice, the GBA noted, they have achieved significant milestones in regional and international competitions, including the CAREBACO (Junior & Senior Tournaments), South American Games, Central & Caribbean Games (CAC), Pan American Games, and the Commonwealth Games.
Now they are eager to again showcase their talent at the international level. The Guyanese team was coached by senior players Priyanna
Ramdhani, Akili Haynes and Nkosi Beaton.
The CAREBACO tournament in Aruba will attract top junior badminton players from around the Caribbean, offering us a unique opportunity to compete against elite athletes and gain invaluable experience. Participating in such a prestigious event not only enhances our skills, but also promotes camaraderie and sportsmanship among players from different backgrounds.
Attending this tournament would not have been possible without assistance of the dedicated parents and friends of the Guyana Badminton Association.
The GBA would like to thank Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, Ming’s Products & Services Ltd, Vikab (Guyana) Limited, Pritipaul Singh Investments, Lodge Alpha #1594 S.C, MVP Sports, GUYOIL, Hand-in Hand, Mr. Joe Jagmohan of Innovative Mining Inc, Mr. Deen Hassan and staff of Tesouro Resources and Gray Wolf Resources, Mr. Ernesto Cho of Total Solutions, Mr. & Mrs. Bhagwandin of Veero’s Enterprises, Abdulaah Wazidali, Andrew Pollard, Jason Stepney, Christina Kumar, and the National Sports Commission.
Beharry commends Ramdeholl
for impressive performance
Recipients of the “Cricket Gear for Young and Promising Cricketers in Guyana”, a collaborative initiative between Anil Beharry and Kishan Das, have sung the praises of Romario Ramdeholl, who made significant strides in the Opening game of the West Indies Rising Stars Men's Under-17 2-Day and 50-Overs Championship on Tuesday last.
Ramdeholl with his persistence of line and length as managed to take 12 wickets against Trinidad and Tobago as he struck two six-wicket hauls forcing the game to be drawn and leading Guyana’s bowling attack with his ability to obstruct the batting attack of Trinidad and Tobago.
Co-Partner of “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana” initiative Anil Beharry in an exclusive comment to the Guyana Times Sport expressed his admiration for the impressive work produced by Ramdeholl.
project, clubs have also benefited from this project.”
Beharry reiterated the target area of the program towards development.
“That's the target area. We try to target cricketers who are very talented, who are very disciplined, who attend school or attended school and it's a package.
Young cricketers, 19 years or below and it's a free distribution because the gears are also collected and the monies are collected free to purchase gears that we don't have in stock.”
had in excess of 8000 fans, has been hailed a success. Olympic Kremlin won the feature race, sparking a major upset. More than G$40 million was won by horsemen in the 10-race card, and fans were also winners.
After a heated Guyana Cup, rivalry between horses, owners and jockeys will heat up again on Sunday, September 22, when the President’s Cup takes centre stage at Rising Sun Turf Club.
Beharry said, “First of all, as a project or as an initiative or a part in it, I'm very pleased, I'm very thankful, I'm very happy that one of the recipients has done so well in the first game for Guyana under 17. As I told you before, this project was a very casual initiative to start with and then it grew and grew and grew over the years. It started close to 10 years ago and many players have represented Guyana, the West Indies, the counties in Guyana benefited from this
To date, eighty-four young players, male and female, from all three counties of Guyana have benefited directly from seven gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, thirty three bats, three boxes, six helmets, thirty one pairs of cricket shoes, twenty pairs of batting pads, twenty four thigh pads, one bat grip, thirty four pairs of batting gloves, one pair of wicketkeeping pads and three pairs of wicketkeeping gloves. Many others benefited indirectly. In addition, two
clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited from two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each, Cold Fusion Cricket Club thirteen color uniforms while RHCCCC received six boxes of balls, fifteen white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket keeping gloves, a set of stumps and bails. Other beneficiaries are The Essequibo Cricket Board, the Town of Lethem, youth coach Travis Persaud (one box of red cricket balls), male and female teams playing the traditional hardball and softball in the Upper Corentyne area, No.65 Young Titans with 30 T-Shirts, youths of Just Try Cricket Club, Wakenaam Cricket Academy (one box of white balls), Shamar Joseph, Nehemiah Hohenkirk, Shamar Apple, Leguan Cricket Committee, Tucber Park Cricket Club and Malteenoes Sports Club (nine cricket balls each). (Omar McKenzie)
Racing
Jockey Yap Drepaul piloted Emotional Damage and Amazing Grace to wins at Guyana Cup 2024
Romario Ramdeholl (far left) as he received the cricket gear from Anil Beharry(centre at the back)
The Guyanese Badminton Team
Guyanese cyclists perform well in Stage 1 of Tour Cycliste de Guiana
Talented cyclists from Guyana are currently competing as a team in the 33rd Tour Cycliste de Guiana being held in French Guiana.
When Stage One was held on August 17, the Guyanese cyclists were made to take on a challenging 90.4-mile route with 112 starters, which tested the endurance and strategy of all participants.
Demonstrating strong pacing and tactical awareness, Briton John currently holds the 37th top-pack position, 1:14 minutes behind the leader.
In demonstrating resilience and tactical riding, Cortis Dey finished closely
behind his teammates, in 65th position and with an identical time of 1:14 minutes behind the leader. Christopher Griffith displayed consistent ef-
fort to cross the line with a solid time that keeps him in the race, while the veteran Paul Chooweenam finished in the latter half of the peloton and Alex
CWI announces Windies U19 Women’s squad for UK tour
…As preparations for 2025 Women’s U19 World Cup continue
A15-member team has been unveiled by Cricket West Indies (CWI) for the West Indies U19 Women’s Squad, ahead of the upcoming tour of the United Kingdom. This tour is a crucial part of the team’s preparation for the ICC Women’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup, set to take place in January 2025 in Malaysia.
The tour will see the team participating in a series of highly competitive matches, including an England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) development tournament which would feature teams from Scotland and Ireland, with the West Indies U19 Women’s team being guaranteed three T20 matches.
In addition, three fixtures have been scheduled against an ECB Southern Under-19 Women’s Regional Team, comprising two days of T20 doubleheaders and a 30-over match on the third day.
The squad, led by co-captains Asabi Callender and Erin Deane, represents the best emerging talent in West Indies women’s cricket. The players have shown great promise, and are expected to gain invaluable experience on this tour as they
prepare for the world stage.
The WI U19 Women’s Squad: Asabi Callender (Co-Captain), Erin Deane (Co-Captain), Elecia Bowman, Abigail Bryce, Kenika Cassar, Dicoreya Collymore, Trisha Hardat, Theanny Herbert-Mayers, Brianna Harricharan, Danellie Manns, Jessica O'Rosco, Amrita Ramtahal, Selena Ross, Kristen Sutherland and Aaliyah Weekes.
Supporting the players is a seasoned team management unit committed to guiding their development and success:
Team Management Unit:
Head Coach: Steve Liburd
Mendes managed a commendable finish despite challenging conditions on the bike.
Overall, Team Guyana have positioned themselves competitively after the first stage, with all riders successfully completing the stage and remaining in contention as
the race progresses. The team performance has set a strong foundation for the upcoming stages, and the cyclists are determined to build on this momentum.
As the Tour Cycliste de Guiana continues, Team Guyana remains focused on improving their standings and showcasing
the talent and determination that have brought them to this prestigious event.
The Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) has extended its gratitude to all supporters and well-wishers, and looks forward to continued success in the upcoming stages.
GFF donates equipment to Buxton United FC
…Commends club for successful summer grassroots programme
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has furthered its commitment to grassroots football development with a donation of essential equipment to Buxton United Football Club (BUFC). The donation coincided with the conclusion of Buxton United FC's successful five-day inaugural “Summer Grassroots Football Camp, which aimed to nurture budding football talent in the community.
Assistant Coach: Shane Brooks
Physiotherapist: Ashley Stephens
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Yvonne Arthur
Team Manager: Merissa Aguilleira
Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, has expressed his confidence in the squad by stating, “This tour is a critical stepping stone in our preparation for the ICC Women’s U19 Cricket World Cup. The matches against strong international teams will test our players and help us fine-tune our strategies ahead of the global tournament.”
The squad would arrive in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2024.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, GFF President Wayne Forde recognized the significance of Buxton United's efforts, highlighting the importance of grassroots development to the sustainability of football clubs. He shared his personal experience, stating: "Before I became the President of the Guyana Football Federation, I served as the President of Fruta Conquerors Football Club, and almost 20 years ago, I started the first summer program at the club. I sponsored it, and I did that for a few years. The club eventually attracted other sponsors, and they’ve been running that program every year for 20 years."
Forde commended Buxton United’s leadership and urged the club to continue growing the program, with a focus on increasing participation from both boys and girls in the community.
He challenged the club to develop a strategic plan for grassroots football, saying, "The Guyana Football Federation is happy to participate in these events, but more importantly, we are eager to support them. I am challenging President Victorine and his team to
present to the GFF, in a few weeks, a strategic plan for grassroots football development at this club level... We can all agree that the future of football within this community and our country at large is heavily dependent on sustained grassroots development programs primarily at the level of football clubs – football clubs are the corner stone in the foundation that any meaningful player developemnt program is built on and grassroots football is fundamentally, the first layer of that foundation. Grassroots is where the dream begins."
Buxton United FC’s President, Curbette Victorine expressed his gratitude for the support received from the community and sponsors. “To everyone who heeded our call and helped to make it the
success it has been, thank you Guyana Shore Base Inc., James Blair Mining Company, Ansa McAl, Guyana Beverages Inc., and all others for your support. We look forward to developing sound partnerships with you all as we roll out our youth football agenda,” he said.
The equipment provided by the GFF will be used exclusively for Buxton United's grassroots program, ensuring that young players in the community have the tools they need to continue their football journey.
Buxton United FC plans to expand the program in the coming months, with efforts to increase participation and enhance family involvement in supporting the growth of youth football.
GFF President Wayne Forde making a presentation to Buxton United FC
The West Indies Under-19 Women’s Team are in preparation mode for the 2025 World Cup
Briton John is pictured at the head of the pack during the Tour Cycliste de Guiana
South Africa tour of West Indies 2024: T20I series, match 1 of 3…
Five Guyanese in squad to face South Africa
Cricket West Indies (CWI) on Sunday announced the names of those selected to participate in the upcoming T20I series against South Africa, scheduled to take place from August 23-27 in Trinidad and Tobago.
They are as follows: Rovman Powell (Captain), Roston Chase (Vice-Captain), Alick Athanaze, Johnson Charles, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Fabian Allen, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd.
Miles Bascombe, Director of Cricket, has said, “Andre Russell requested a period of rest and recovery; as well as Jason Holder, who played five back-to-back Tests against England and
West Indies will face South Africa in a three-match T20I series from August 23-27
South Africa. During this period, they will work closely with the CWI science and medicine team.”
Noting that South Africa had ended the West Indies' World Cup campaign with a defeat in the Super 8, by which the 3-0 result from the pre-World
Cup series in Jamaica had been overturned, Head Coach Daren Sammy remarked, “Facing a strong South Africa side is an excellent opportunity for our team to reset and refocus with our game plan. We have played them recently and had mixed results,
so this should be an exciting and important series. I’m confident in the squad we’ve selected, and with eyes already on the next T20 World Cup in 2026, I know the guys will be keen to show their hunger for success.”
Team management unit for the series
Head Coach: Daren Sammy
Assistant Coaches: Rayon Griffith, Floyd Reifer
Ramesh Subasinghe Physiotherapist: Denis Byam
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Ronald Rogers
Team Masseuse: Fitzbert Alleyne Team Manager: Rawl Lewis
Team Analyst: Avenesh Seetaram
Team Media & Content Officer: John
KFC Elite League…
Phillips West Indies Men’s T20I team have won four of their last five series, and just missed out on a final place in the semi-final of the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup that was hosted in the Caribbean. In the ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings, West Indies are number 4 and South Africa are number 5.
MATCH SCHEDULE
West Indies vs South Africa T20I Series 2024
August 23: 1st T20I.
Play is at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy
August 25: 2nd T20I.
Play is at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy
August 27: 3rd T20I. Play is at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy
All matches would start at 3:00pm local time and will be part of double-
headers with the Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL). This will be the first time that WI Men’s Internationals will be part of a doubleheader with a Women’s franchise competition, with cricket fans being able to see the best male and female players taking part in matches on the same ticket.
The WCPL takes place at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad between August 21 and 29.
Fans in the Caribbean can Watch Live on RUSH SPORTS, or via the new Flow Sports App or the SportsMax App.
Fans around the world can listen live to ball-by-ball radio commentary on the Windies Cricket YouTube page, and can follow live ballby-ball scores on the windiescricket.com Match Centre.
GDF seal title defence with one game in hand …Slingerz
thump Police 4-2
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Football Club completed their title defence in the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) KFC Elite League after a decisive 4-1 victory over Santos FC on Saturday night.
And although their contest against GDF FC would likely be a dead rubber next Saturday, Slingerz FC were equally impressive in a game played at the GFF’s National Training Center (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Saturday, when they fended off the Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC to secure the second-place position in Season Six of the League.
The double-header began with GDF and Santos engaged in battle, with high stakes involved for both teams. GDF needed an outright win in order to seal the league early, with a draw resulting in their
title defence coming down to their final game against Slingerz FC this Saturday. Santos FC needed a win to surpass Western Tigers FC and secure fourth place in the League.
The defending champions were up to the task required of them on the night, as Ian Dooker opened the scoring in just the 6th minute. However, the soldiers experienced a bit of scare when Stefan
Reynolds quickly pulled one back for Santos in the 21st minute. Kelsey Benjamin then again put GDF in the lead ten minutes later, for a 2-1 score at the half.
While Santos were unable to find another equalizer, Threvon Pluck added to GDF’s tally in the 58th minute, while Sherwyn Caesar put an equalizer far out of reach for Santos with GDF’s fourth strike,
which came in the 75th minute.
Despite knowing they were now unable to still challenge for this year’s Elite League title, Slingerz FC did not slack off on the Guyana Police Force (GPF) FC, and ended up pulling off a 4-2 win to secure their second-place spot, having just returned to the league this year.
The first half between these two powerhouses was a brutal contest, as either side kept the other at bay. The first half having ended in a
stalemate, the smattering of fans gathered at the Providence venue had to wait until the 59th minute, when a soft buildup in the Slingerz midfield resulted in their first goal, which came off the boots of Kemar Beckford in the 59th minute. Not long after, a penalty opportunity went the Slingerz way, and Beckford successfully converted in the 63rd.
Then Dorwin George sent some panic coursing through the Slingerz camp, as he got past their defence to tuck the ball
into the corner of the nets for the GPF’s first goal, which came in the 73rd. Almost instantly, Slingerz again extended their tally, as Beckford capitalized on a missed header from Curtez Kellman to sink their third goal in the 75th. Beckford eventually completed his helmet trick in the 78th minute, while the lawmen’s Neron Barrow pulled one back in the 83rd minute for the 4-2 result.
The sixth season of the GFF/KFC Elite League will come to a close on Saturday, August 24, at the same venue with another double header. At 18:30hrs, Den Amsel FC will challenge Police FC, while GDF FC takes on Slingerz FC in the final game, at 21:00hrs. Neither result would be of any consequence to the top four standing of the league, which sees GDF, Slingerz, GPF and Western Tigers
Action between GDF (green) and Santos FC (Jemima Holmes Photo)
Kemar Beckford (on ball) netted a helmet trick as Slingerz won 4-2 (Jemima Holmes Photo)
