in
in C’bean – Min Anthony
Corentyne fire victims given emotional send-off
Bauxite being “right-sized” to ensure viability – Edghill
“Scissors Head” recaptured after escaping from West Demerara Hospital
Increased demand for products & services recorded in every economic sector – Finance Minister Teenage girl hospitalised after being struck down at Sophia Police on hunt for motorcycle bandits after Port Mourant Market robbery
A29-year-old mother of two, Thagewante Motie, also known as Kavita of Supply Squatting Area, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was brutally chopped to death by her reputed husband during an argument.
The chopping incident took place on Wednesday last but the sales representative died on Saturday while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
The perpetrator, 26-yearold Uram Doorbassa, also known as ‘Anil’ consumed a poisonous substance after committing the act and succumbed on Friday
The fatal incident
According to police, the violent altercation occurred
around 21:00h on Wednesday at the couple’s home during an argument during which the mother of two was attacked by the perpetrator who was armed with a cutlass.
She was chopped several times in her neck and back. He later fled the scene but reportedly consumed poison before he was apprehended.
Motie’s mother, Meena Paul recounted that her daughter lived at the couple’s Supply residence with their two children—a one-yearold and a four-year-old—as well as her sister’s family. The couple has been together for the past five years. Paul said she was driving home from the Linden-Soesdyke Highway when she received a call informing her of the attack.
“My big daughter called me and told me, to come now that Kavita’s husband chopped her up. I drove straight to Mahaicony Hospital. I called my son and the doctor on my way and gave them her name. When I reached, I did the paperwork, and they took her to Georgetown Public Hospital,” Paul recounted.
The woman told the Guyana Times that upon arriving at the Georgetown Public Hospital, doctors informed the family that Motie
was in a critical state, with injuries so severe that she would never have been able to walk again.
“She had two wounds— one on her right side where he chopped out her collarbone and one at the back of her neck that damaged her spinal cord. That’s the one that damaged her whole body,” her mother said tearfully.
Years of abuse
Paul revealed that Motie had endured an abusive five-year relationship with Doorbassa, during which she frequently went to her mother’s home in Linden after being beaten, only to reconcile with him later. Despite her family’s pleas to leave him for good, Motie continued to
return.
“She used to take the licks and stay with him. I told her that was dangerous because people who you leave and go back to, always hold that malice against you. However, last month, I begged her to leave him. I told her to come with me and start fresh. I told her to come and rare some chickens and sell them so that she would not have to work with anybody, but she said she’d move next year. But he killed her before she could,” Paul said.
The abuse, according to Paul, extended to the day of the attack. Doorbassa allegedly left their four-yearold child with his mother before arming himself with a cutlass which he used to attack Motie. At the time of the incident, their one-year-old was sleeping nearby.
Witness accounts
The dead woman’s moth-
er also revealed that Motie’s 16-year-old brother, who witnessed the attack, said he confronted Doorbassa when he saw him rushing into the yard with a cutlass.
“My son told me he asked him where he was going with the cutlass, hoping he wasn’t going to broadside his sister with it. But he fired a chop at him, and it hit the gate, and my son ran. He said he turned back and saw him chop his sister. She fell to the ground, and when he went back to check on her, he found her in a pool of blood.”
Paul described her daughter as a quiet and dependable individual, who was the backbone of their family.
“Anything I needed, I could call her. Now I don’t know who I will call. Before her surgery, she told me, ‘Mommy, I will not make it out of this surgery. Please take care of my children.’”
The aggrieved mother re-
lated that the pain of losing her daughter is compounded by the memory of losing her 17-year-old daughter to suicide just a few years ago.
“This is very painful to lose my child. I don’t want any mother to go through this. This is very painful. He didn’t show her any mercy. He didn’t think of her children. He didn’t even think that they would need their mother. He didn’t think that when killed her there would be nobody to take care of them. But when he finished, he decided to drink poison” As Paul mourns her daughter, she says that she is determined to provide a better future for her grandchildren.
“Her life is gone and can never be replaced, but I will take care of her children. I don’t want them to grow apart. They deserve a better life,” she said. (LaWanda McAllister)
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Monday, November 18 –No retraction and Tuesday, November 19 – 03:45h-05:15h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Monday, November 18 –06:05h-07:35h and Tuesday, November 19 – 06:45h-08:15h.
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
Sunny conditions are expected, interrupted by thundery showers from the mid-morning to afternoon hours, with mostly clear skies at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East North-Easterly to East South-Easterly between 1.79 metres and 4.02 metres.
High Tide: 17:55h reaching a maximum height of 2.70 metres.
Low Tide: 11:29h reaching a minimum height of 0.69 metre.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips has underscored the holistic and strategic vision of the Guyana Government during the commissioning ceremony for two additions to the GDF’s Air Corps Fleet.
The two Dornier HAL228-201 aircraft, which were purchased from India earlier this year, were officially commissioned on Sunday at Air Station London, Timehri, East Bank Demerara.
During his remarks, the Prime Minister described the commissioning as part of a broader vision of development.
"This commissioning isn't happening in isolation. It's part of a larger vision by the Government of Guyana to transform our Defence Force into a modern, versatile institution capable of addressing an evolving range of challenges.”
He noted that over the past years, this vision has taken shape through several key initiatives, including the acquisition of advanced rotary-wing aircraft, the Enhanced Domain Awareness Exercise with Southcom, and the upcoming construction of a new GDF headquarters.
According to the Prime Minister, the two Dornier HAL-228 aircraft bring advanced capabilities to the GDF, enhancing Guyana's ability to address pressing challenges such as border security, disaster response, and medical evacuations in remote regions.
"The modernisation of our GDF is a strategic necessity and a national imperative. With an expanded air fleet, the GDF is better positioned to address these challenges. This investment in our military infrastructure ensures that we are prepared to safeguard our sovereignty and the safety and well-being of every citizen. Moreover, a strong defence force is a vital partner in national development."
The commissioning also underscores the growing strategic partnership between Guyana and India. Reflecting on this collaboration, Prime Minister Phillips stated: "This moment is sig-
operation they represent,
stand as a tangible outcome of the dialogue and shared vision…"
The Prime Minister also thanked the Government of India for its continued support of Guyana. He said, “Your support has been instrumental in strengthening our GDF and, by extension, our nation. We look forward to building on this partnership and exploring new avenues for collaboration in the future."
Addressing citizens directly, Prime Minister Phillips reiterated that the aircraft acquisition lends to the Government’s commitment to national security and development.
"To the people of Guyana, let today be a reminder that your government is working
tirelessly to build a stronger, more secure country. Every step we take is aimed at creating a nation that is safe and full of opportunities."
The ceremony was attended by Finance and Public Service Minister, Dr Ashni Singh; Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill; National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia; High Commissioner of India to Guyana, HE Dr Amit Telang; Chief of Defence Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Omar Khan; Heads of the Joint Services; senior GDF officers; representatives of the civil aviation authority; and representatives of the aircrafts’ manufacturers, the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).
Editor: Tusika Martin
News Hotline: 231-8063Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761
Marketing: 231-8064Accounts: 225-6707
Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown
Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com
In early September, as part of a strategic plan to buttress our country’s overall security, President Dr Irfaan Ali launched the National Defence Institute (NDI). The mission of the NDI was announced as: “to educate Joint Services officers and their civilian counterparts using a defence, security, and developmentfocused curriculum delivered in a civil-military context, better equipping them to assume mid- to senior-level operational and strategic roles within their parent organisations. Its overarching vision is for the institute to be a leading academic institution in defence, security, and development studies in Guyana and the Americas.”
The Institute’s main strategic partners are the US National Defense University and The Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies which were crucial in conceptualising the curriculum for the NDI programmes that will be administered through the University of Guyana (UG). At the launch, President Ali highlighted that the NDI is part of a much larger plan aimed at protecting and safeguarding Guyana’s national interests against every threat, particularly its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
These sentiments were echoed by the Chairman of the NDI, Colonel Sheldon Howell, who emphasised, “The National Defence Institute will serve as a critical platform for developing the strategies and policies that will safeguard our nation’s interests. The leaders trained here will be instrumental in creating sustainable security programmes that not only protect our sovereignty but also contribute to the broader goals of national development.”
The NDI has evidently not just been training individuals but also actively engaging in the analysis of real-time threats to our security. This was revealed in its inaugural “CEO Cybersecurity Workshop” last Saturday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC). There, according to a report carried by this newspaper, Assistant Director Dr Seon Levius delivered a hard-hitting exposé on Venezuela’s orchestrated cyber operations targeting Guyana. He unveiled the faces, names, and organisations behind the malicious campaign to undermine Guyana’s sovereignty over the Essequibo Region.
“Using high-definition visuals and intelligence, Dr Levius detailed the tactics employed, from disinformation campaigns and ransomware attacks to phishing schemes aimed at destabilising institutions. “Let there be no doubt— Guyana knows exactly what is happening, and we are not defenceless.” It was heartening to be informed about our capacity to counter these cyberspace attacks, since – as was adumbrated by one of this newspaper’s columnists – these attacks are but one new offensive capability deployed in the “hybrid wars” fought in “grey zones”.
As was described in “Venezuela’s grey zone war”, “Rather than the old “absolute, kinetic wars”, today, (countries) discuss, prepare for, and engage in “hybrid wars” – the use of a range of different methods to attack an enemy. These include political, diplomatic, economic, and financial initiatives and the spreading of propaganda, criminality, infiltration by fifth columnists, or attacking important computer systems. Technology has opened up new ways to conduct hybrid warfare. Hybrid wars are conducted in what are called “grey zones” – where all instruments of national power are leveraged to achieve the aggressor’s aims. Venezuela’s use of PetroCaribe’s debt write-offs made some of our fellow Caricom members not only undermine our diplomatic strength, but give succour to Maduro in a very personalised manner, that subverted decades-long institution building.
“In a phrase, hybrid wars strive to avoid Clausewitz’s kinetic war as “politics by other means” and embrace Sun Tzu’s Art of War, where the enemy can be conquered without necessarily fighting. The strength of the adversary is gradually sapped in the grey zone, as much energy is wasted to keep the war from getting kinetic. The premises of the hybrid war aggressor also become normalised over time, as we saw with Russia’s moves against Ukraine and other neighbours, including Georgia and now the Baltics.”
In addition to the cyber warfare being waged by Venezuela as described by Dr Levius, we should note the country’s recent undermining of our “25 by 25” food security initiative by persuading Caricom member St Vincent that the latter is foundering and they should cultivate the 25,000 acres of land awarded them in Venezuela as part of its AgroAlba initiative.
Dear Editor, Linden experienced a transformative day last Friday as over 600 house lots were allocated to residents, and local contractors were pre-qualified for contracts collectively valued at more than $7 billion dollars for the construction and upgrading of some 165 roads across the town and region.
These investments are a testament to the ongoing advocacy I’ve been making as the Regional Member of Parliament, for the economic development of the municipality of Linden and the empowerment of its residents, and represent a significant step forward in responsiveness by the government in ensuring equitable development comes to Region Ten.
As a responsible elected official representing my constituency, I visited both locations where the Ministries of Housing and Public Works held events last Friday, engaging with hundreds of Lindeners who were present. My primary purpose there was to advocate on behalf of the people who had reached out to me regarding their concerns, particularly about housing and land allocation.
At the housing event, I ensured that every concern raised by residents about house lots was brought to the attention of Minister Susan Rodrigues. I am pleased to report that she addressed each issue I presented, both in previous discussions and on the ground during the event.
Concerning regularization of squatting Communities, which I spoke to President Ali about directly, highlighting the need for regularizing several squatting communities so residents could gain own-
ership of lands they have occupied for years, his words of commitment to getting it done were made to me. In reiterating this view, the Minister confirmed that this process is already underway with specific instructions from the President to get it done.
Further, in seizing to maximize the time in exploring new opportunities, having recognized the growing demand for housing and house lots in Linden, I proposed the development of a new site offering over 400 acres of land for house lots. This proposal, initially discussed with former Deputy Mayor and Councilor Waynewright Bethune, was well received. The Minister immediately requested we take her and the team to do a site visit of the location. Upon observation of the proposed area, Minister Rodrigues requested that her surveyor in the coming week come back and assess the viability of the site for housing. I am persuaded that once finalized, this initiative will provide more Lindeners with the opportunity to own a house lot and eventually their own homes promptly. I commend the Minister for your responsiveness.
At the Ministry of Public Works event at Watooka Club, Minister Juan Edgehill spoke of what the government is doing and that the local leaders should not make representation for what is already being done by the government.
This was specifically meant for me who several weeks ago made the call on the government to make similar infrastructure investment in Linden and Region Ten, as is being done in other regions, for the people and the econo-
my of my constituency to benefit equally.
It would be remiss of me not to remind the honourable Minister that since becoming a member of Parliament, I have always been consistent and relentless in advocating and making representation for the people of my township and region to benefit from every opportunity the government of the day is providing.
Since Minster Edgehill was in Linden engaging existing and potential local contractors for the upcoming $7 billion road construction rollout, I was able to engage with numerous Lindeners present at the event, guiding the processes required to become eligible for contract bidding. This is part of my broader effort to empower local people/ contractors to ensure that regional projects can be executed by those within the community.
I do not take credit, nor will I venture to do so for what the government is doing. I am simply happy it is being done for our people and I acknowledge and underscore the significant impact this $7 billion injection into the local economy will have among residents. This will undoubtedly provide a major socio-economic boost for Lindeners and others across the region and their respective communities, creating jobs and fostering collective regional development.
This welcomed development underscores my unwavering commitment to ensuring that Lindeners receive their fair share of resources and opportunities. While I am pleased with the construction and upgrading of the aforementioned roads, I look forward to seeing broader and
more sustained infrastructure investments such as the creation of industrial estates and port facilities that can catalyze the economic growth of our town and region.
Further, in this regard, I take this opportunity once more to call on the Minister with responsibilities for youth sports and culture, whose focus is on ‘grounds enhancement’, but who seems to be under the ground when it comes to the completion of the long-awaited Linden synthetic tract at Bayrock that was under construction since 2018, which seems to be the longest never-ending project. His ministry has gotten more than enough monies in annual budgetary allocations since 2020, for both the synthetic track and the MSC multipurpose stadium to reach completion, however, both facilities continue to lag.
Lindeners and especially our athletes are eagerly awaiting access to these facilities to optimize their full potential.
I will continue to advocate for sustainable development, equitable land distribution, and the empowerment of our local contractors and people to ensure the prosperity of Linden and the residents of Region Ten become part of our ‘One Guyana’ and experience the realities of the fastest growing economy in a more personal and tangible way.
Linden/ Region Ten, the heart of Guyana must begin to beat faster on the path to growth and development. I will never be weary of making representation and advocating for this for our people.
Yours sincerely, Jermaine Figueira, MP
Dear Editor,
Spending time in London, Trinidad, Guyana, and Suriname over the last several days found eagerness and excitement among the diaspora (Indian or People of Indian Origin, in particular) on PM’s Modi visit to the Caribbean. Guyanese and PIOs in the region are exhilarated that Modi ji is visiting the region. The PM comes to Guyana for a two-day visit during which he will chair a joint India-CARICOM summit, the second during his tenure as PM. The PM will also address the diaspora and visit several historic places or monuments tied to the diaspora experience in Guyana.
This is Modi’s second visit to Guyana, the first being in August 2000 when he
was General Secretary of the ruling BJP. He came to Trinidad to attend a Hindu conference and extended his trip to Guyana to engage the diaspora. The following year, Modi was elevated to the Chief Ministership of his home state of Gujarat. And in 2014, he became the PM candidate of the opposition BJP and after becoming the PM the de facto leader of the ruling party. Modi led the BJP to three successive victories, the last one being last June when he was sworn in for the third consecutive time as PM, becoming only the second person to do so after Nehru.
In travelling around India a couple of weeks ago, upon learning that I was from Guyana, people referred to PM Modi going (coning) to Guyana. During
a stopover in London, the Guyanese who I engaged expressed pride and excitement that the Indian PM was going to their (former) homeland. They offered various recommendations, suggestions, ideas, and advice for India-Guyana relations; some of which I won’t want to mention for fear of politicians coming after me. Guyanese are very pleased and proud of the developmental infrastructure) progress of their homeland but are very concerned about allegations of corruption. The same sentiment was echoed in encounters with Guyanese in New York, Trinidad and Suriname.
In Trinidad and Suriname, Guyanese wished they could be home when the PM visits but for varied reasons are unable to
do so. “Say hello to Modi-ji for me, please”, they pleaded. Many among the Indian diaspora from the USA and Canada (Guyanese as well as Indian nationals or NRIs or South Asian Indians) are coming to Guyana to see the PM and hope to meet and engage him.
Excitement is in the air throughout the Indian Guyanese diaspora and in Guyana. This is only the second visit of an Indian PM to Guyana with the last being PM Indira Gandhi in 1968. They are confident that the PM will announce a package of goodies for Guyana and the region on top of the large amount of financial assistance India is already providing.
Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hereby provides the following statement in response to an article published in the Kaieteur News on November 17, 2024, under the headline, “EPA among seven bodies flagged for continuously breaching Accountability Act”.
The EPA takes this opportunity to set the record straight with respect to the status of its Audited Financial Statements.
1) For the years 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, Audited Financial Statements were laid in the National Assembly on May 10, 2023.
2) For the year 2019, the Audited Financial Statement was ratified by the Executive Director & Board Chairman of the EPA, on September 12, 2024. A Financial Statement was submitted to be laid in the National Assembly.
3) For the year 2020, the Financial Statement was submitted to the Audit Office of Guyana on April 26, 2021. The Agency is awaiting the Audit of the Financial Records. Notably, this audit was outsourced by the Audit Office to Maurice Solomon and Company.
4) For the years 2021, 2022 and 2023, Financial Statements were submitted to the Audit Office of Guyana. The Agency is currently awaiting the Audit of those Financial Records.
Dear Editor,
The previous CEO of GuySuCo has shared his view on the recent past and his opinion on what is important going forward. The President has also done the same. According to these two gentlemen, it can be summarised that weather has been a major issue, recapitalisation continues to be important (only a minor percentage of what was needed has been provided for what is considered "vital"), and cost containment remains a top priority.
In the company's last annual report (2022), the Report of Directors stated, "The principal activity of the Corporation is the growing of sugar cane and the manufacture and sale of sugar and molasses from that cane". This is where CRG differs in perspective. To be successful in the sugar industry you must be able to capitalise on economies of scale. Hence the extensive discussions on the size of the crop. CRG recommends
shifting the vision and strategy of the company to support the following:
The principal activities of the Corporation are the growing of sugar cane and the manufacture and sale of value-added sugar-based products, molasses and sugar from the cane.
The addition of value-added and the reordering of the principal activities in this statement may seem minor to some, but it shifts the fundamental purpose of GuySuCo to one of improved margin
exposure. This fundamental shift will have a significant impact on the overall strategy of the Corporation. It impacts capital investment, the human resource development required and the overall future organisational capabilities necessary for GuySuCo to be successful. This will easily take the Corporation out of the cost-cutting game and set it firmly in profitable markets. Therefore, I submit to you that your perspectives require adjusting if we are to gain the success desired for the sug-
ar industry. In addition, the Government needs to provide the funds and the credit to the Corporation that gives it the flexibility to make the neces-
sary changes over the next 3 to 5 years. This must be supported by a clear vision of where the company will focus its efforts over that investment pe-
riod. Thus, a new strategy for
will also be needed.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2024
06:00 (Sign on) Inspiration Time
Divorce Court 12:00 Indian Movie - Khel Khel Mein (2024)
Spongebob Squarepants 15:00 Indian Soaps 16:00 Young Sheldon S5 E19
16:30 When Calls the Heart
17:00 The Young & The Restless
18:00 Aljazeera
19:00 The Evening News
20:00 Unsolved Mysteries
21:00 9-1-1 S2 E10
22:00 Ozark S3 E7
23:00 Queen of the South S4 E10
00:00 Sign off
An exponent tells how many times a number should be multiplied by itself. An exponent is usually written as a small number next to, and slightly above a number that is larger in size. The larger number is called the base of an exponent. Each exponent represents a “power”. You have already learnt about the powers of 10. 102 is 10 to the 2nd power. Any number can be a base. 23 is 2 to the 3th power. 34 is 3 to the 4th power.
102 23 34 45
102 = 10 x 10
23 = 2 x 2 x 2
34 = 3 x 3 x 3 x 3
45 = 4 x 4 x 4 x 4 x 4
By RoBeRt FRost
Often when the exponent is 2, people say squared instead of to the 2nd power. 52 = 5 to the 2nd power = 5 squared.
Remember that squared means “to the 2nd power” You can add and subtract numbers with exponents.
picado is a traditional Mexican folk art in which images or patterns are cut out of tissue paper. These banners adorn celebrations all over Mexico, including weddings, birthdays, holidays, and parties of all kinds.
In Mexico, papel picado is often hand-crafted using chisels and hammers. Artisans might use a template to punch out a design on a stack of up to a hundred sheets of tissue paper at a time. You can make papel picado at home using just a few materials. Folding and cutting squares of tissue paper will reveal beautiful and unique patterns — and the possibilities are endless!
Materials
Tissue paper squares in at least 2 colours (10” x 10”, or smaller)
Pen
Scissors
Glue
String Directions
1) Start with a square of tissue paper. Create a bottom border by folding the square in half, then in half again in the same direction. Make small cutouts along the bottom of the long rectangle in any shape you like, trying not to cut deeper than 1 inch. Open your tissue paper and notice the pattern created on the bottom edge.
2) Fold the tissue paper in half from side-to-side, then fold it in half from top to bottom, just to the top of the bottom border you’ve created.
3) Cut out shapes from the sides of your folded paper. Try making triangles, semi-circles, snip off corners, or cut out half-heart shapes. There’s almost no wrong way to experiment with your cuts! Use a pen to draw shape guides if you need them.
4) Open the tissue paper to reveal the pattern. As you look it
over, try to figure out which snips resulted in each shape! Next, grab another square of tissue paper and do it all again. For one banner, you’ll need about six pieces of papel picado, but can have more if you like! Experiment with different ways to fold the square — corner to corner, side to side, or top to bottom — and different shaped cutouts. Make as many unique pieces of papel picado as you’d like!
5) Once you’ve cut about six sheets of papel picado, you’re ready to assemble the banner. Lay out a length of string or yarn long enough to fit all of your sheets. Working with one sheet at a time, spread glue across the very top half inch of the papel picado. Lay the string on top of the glue, then carefully fold the tissue paper just over the string. Repeat with each sheet of papel picado, spacing them about an inch or two apart.
6) Hang your papel picado banner wherever you need a pop of colour, or at your next family get-together! (Adapted from Jessica Martinez, pbs.org)
The line-storm clouds fly tattered and swift, The road is forlorn all day, Where a myriad snowy quartz stones lift, And the hoof-prints vanish away. The roadside flowers, too wet for the bee, Expend their bloom in vain. Come over the hills and far with me, And be my love in the rain.
The birds have less to say for themselves In the wood-world’s torn despair Than now these numberless years the elves, Although they are no less there: All song of the woods is crushed like some Wild, easily shattered rose. Come, be my love in the wet woods; come, Where the boughs rain when it blows.
There is the gale to urge behind And bruit our singing down, And the shallow waters aflutter with wind From which to gather your gown. What matter if we go clear to the west, And come not through dry-shod? For wilding brooch shall wet your breast The rain-fresh goldenrod.
Oh, never this whelming east wind swells But it seems like the sea’s return To the ancient lands where it left the shells Before the age of the fern; And it seems like the time when after doubt Our love came back amain. Oh, come forth into the storm and rout And be my love in the rain.
Following a drop in production last year, efforts are being made to ensure Guyana’s bauxite industry, which employs hundreds of workers, remains viable.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill noted that the bauxite industry is being “right-sized” to ensure its continued viability.
“Bauxite is not going to disappear. It has been rightsized. Foreign investors are here plugging [funds into] it and we’re investing more so bauxite out of Linden [in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraUpper Berbice) will not disappear,” Edghill stated.
The Public Works Minister made these remarks at the Guyana Port Inc.’s commissioning of a new US$4 million cutter suction dredger (CSD) vessel on Saturday at Support, East Bank Demerara. Speaking about the importance of dredging in Guyana’s waterways, the minister highlighted how the bauxite industry plays a major role in this activity.
Edghill disclosed that back when Russian-owned bauxite company, Rusal, was operating in the Upper Berbice River, there was a constant movement of vessels along that waterway that would transport the mineral out into the Atlantic Ocean to
be offloaded for shipment.
However, since the closure of Rusal’s operation four years ago, the Berbice River has become prone to floods due to the high siltation.
“In just the years that Rusal is not operating, the entire Berbice River was flooded at every heavy rainfall… because the siltation in those rivers is so high. You’re seeing water but when you check the depth, it’s all silt because the lack of movement in the river has caused that silt to now become hard mud,” the minister pointed out.
RUSAL’s Bauxite Company of Guyana Incorporated (BCGI) subsidiary left Guyana in February 2020 under the previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) regime, termi-
nating 326 employees – some 600 jobs in the bauxite industry between 2015 and 2020 alone.
However, the current People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Government has been continuing efforts to restart bauxite activities in the Berbice River as part of wider efforts to revitalize the industry.
In fact, the country’s MidYear Report for 2024 which was released by the Finance Minister in August, projects a 41.3 per cent growth in bauxite production by the end of this year.
Total bauxite production in the first half of 2024 was pegged at 196,650 tonnes while overall production for this year is estimated at more than 1,620,000 tonnes.
This is consistent with projections made by Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat, prior to the release of the report. The minister had stated that bauxite production is expected to ramp up significantly by 2024-year end.
“I’m happy to say Bauxite is turning around. And it is an important sector for us, especially in the creation of employment in Region 10,” Bharrat noted.
Currently, Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Inc. (BMGG) is the dominant presence in the local bauxite mining sec-
tor. Operating out of Linden, the company is, according to Bharrat, poised for a dramatic increase in production.
“The major company in Linden [is] investing significantly in their production line. And they’re poised to increase their production by the end of this year, creating another 200 employment opportunities for people in Region 10.”
“So, Bauxite has always been important for us because it created employment in the Berbice area, which was formally Burmine. And it created employment in the Region 10 area, what was formerly Linmine,” he explained.
Bharrat had noted that the benefits from the bauxite
sector transcend production statistics and go to the heart of the economic well-being of the region. As such, the increase is likely to be recorded in late 2024-early 2025.
“So, the additional benefits and spin-offs that come with that sector, are very critical for Region 10 and the economic activities in Region 10. And I’m happy that bauxite is taking a turn around and we will see an increase in production in 2024, going in 2025,” the minister had said.
Bosai has been operating in Guyana since 2007.
Local bauxite production had been on an upward trajectory over the last three years, moving from 608,000 tonnes in 2020 to 705,000 tonnes in 2022 with an av-
erage of more than 600,000 tonnes in the last three years. In 2022, Guyanese earned some US$98.9 million in bauxite exports – an increase of 23.6 per cent over the previous year.
But in 2023, Guyana experienced a drop in bauxite production with 525,000 tonnes being declared. A significant contributor to the decline was drop in production from the large-scale producers, by 317,919 tonnes, but there was also an estimated drop in output from smaller operators, of 207,321 tonnes.
Bharrat had previously explained that the bauxite industry dwindled by over 40 per cent under the former APNU/AFC Government. (G8)
...says multiple int'l companies
One of the developments in Guyana’s economy, brought on by the oil and gas sector, is that there is an increased demand for goods and/or services in practically every economic sector in the countrya demand that investors can very well take advantage of.
During a recent event that featured investors from a United Kingdom (UK) trade mission, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh spoke about the impact that Guyana’s status as an oil and gas producer has had on other economic sectors.
“What that has done is it has triggered a wave of… increased demand in every single sector of the economy. Every single sector. Whether it is supporting services for the oil and gas sector and all the big international companies that provide support services to oil and gas are here,” Singh explained.
“I say to people it doesn’t matter what you’re supplying, whether it hospital beds or hotel rooms or hot dogs or hamburgers. There is demand for more than we currently have for supply… there is room for more goods and services, in every single sector of the economy.”
According to Singh, the companies making Guyana their regional base include SLB Schlumberger, which provides technical support to ExxonMobil Guyana for its
operations in the Stabroek Block; SBM Offshore, which provides front-end engineering and design services for most of the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels being used by ExxonMobil; Baker Hughes, which has an oil field service facility in Guyana to support upstream oil operations and Saipem, which does subsea installations for Exxon.
“All of the big service providers around the globe are associated with major oil developments and provide critical inputs into the oil and gas effort, are here. And they’ve established operations and they’re looking to ramp up their operations to serve.”
“Not only Guyana, but ultimately, potentially Trinidad and ultimately Suriname. And further afield. So many of them are setting up what will ultimately be their regional and sub regional headquarters in Guyana,” Singh said.
According to Dr Singh, this effect can be seen not only in oil and gas but other sectors like the construction sector. He cited the massive construction activities currently ongoing, including both the government and the private sector side. And what these projects have in common, is that they rely heavily on prefabricated steel.
“To put things into perspective, there are eight internationally branded hotels that are under construction right now, across the wide spectrum of brands. Marriot, Hilton, we just opened an Aiden by Best Western. Hyatts. So, across the entire spectrum, there are about eight internationally branded hotels. We’ll probably by next year add 3000 hotel rooms in Guyana.”
“There are 12 regional hospitals under construction. ExxonMobil is building their local headquarters. We are building two major new government office complexes; we’re building a new major police installation… I can easily list about 20 major construction projects, the bulk of which are in the private sector, but a few of which are in the public sector. all of which are using prefabricated steel structures.”
The increased demand for local goods and services has manifested itself in various ways. For instance, in the forestry sector, there has been a reduction in the export of raw materials such as logs, despite growing production.
This, according to the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) back in
August, was due to the increase in local demands and more value-added products being produced here.
When it comes to the demand for goods and services in the oil and gas sector, there are currently 1032 companies registered with the Local Content Secretariat, meaning they are in possession of a Local
Content Certificate to confirm they are a Guyanese company and are eligible to supply oil and gas operations.
The Local Content Secretariat has also recorded a 15 per cent increase in the number of youth-owned businesses registered to supply goods and services to the oil and gas industry. (G-3)
Ateacher has admitted in the Supreme Court to sexual offences against a young girl
Ronald Forde, 38, pleaded guilty last week to charges that he sexually exploited a young person while in a position of trust, lured a young person while in a position of trust and accessed child pornography. The offences are understood to have taken place this year.
According to the Royal Gazette in Bermuda, Forde, a Guyanese who lived in Southampton, was scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday last, but Puisne Judge Juan Wolffe granted an application by Elizabeth Christopher, defence counsel, to adjourn the sentencing. “The prosecutors are asking for quite a substantial
sentence,” Mr Justice Wolffe said, stating he would grant the adjournment in light of the gravity of the offence.
He added: “I want to get this matter dealt with as soon as possible, not just for the defendant but for the victim in this case.”
Cindy Clarke, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said it would mark the first sentencing of a defendant for luring while in a position of trust, which meant that it would establish a precedent for the sentencing range.
Under amendments to the Criminal Code introduced in 2020, the offence carries a maximum of a 15year sentence on indictment and a five-year sentence on
summary conviction. Forde was remanded in custody until December 11, when he will return to the court for sentencing.
The teacher made headlines in 2011 after he was accused of raping his underage student in Berbice. In 2014 he was wanted for a similar offence and had told the media he was being framed.
It was reported that the in 2012, Justice James Bovell-Drakes discharged the matter in which Forde formerly of Bel Air, West Coast Berbice (WCB), was on trial before a jury.
He was charged with four counts, including sexual activity with a child and abusing his position of privilege.
Recognizing the benefits of forming alliances Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, recently emphasized the importance of stakeholders within the healthcare sector joining forces, as part of efforts to tackle several health issues within the Caribbean region. He was at the time addressing a Multisectoral and Stakeholder Consultation hosted at the Caribbean Community Secretariat in Georgetown.
In his feature address to the forum, Minister Anthony stressed the need for partnership to tackle priority areas, including noncommunicable diseases and mental health, pandemic preparedness and health security, human resources for health, health equity and accessibility and environmental health.
“The collaboration between PAHO and CARICOM represents a union of expertise, resources, and shared commitment. PAHO, with its extensive technical knowledge, global health connections, and experience in regional health initiatives, supports CARICOM’s vision of a healthy and resilient Caribbean. In work-
are collaborating to develop a new Subregional Cooperation Strategy (SCS), which will tackle health issues and challenges in the Caribbean.
In this regard Assistant Secretary General, Directorate of Human and Social Development, Elizabeth Solomon commended the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) for its role as a development partner across Member States and its alignment with CARICOM’s Caribbean Cooperation in Health (CCH) Framework,
Juan Manuel Sotelo pointed out that once this medium-term planning tool is completed and approved, it will guide PAHO activities, outputs, budget and efforts.
This was echoed by the Head of Country and Subregional Coordination, Piedad Huerta, PAHO/ WHO who outlined that the SCS will allow for assessing internal technical, managerial and administrative capabilities to ensure that the organization delivers impactful health initiatives across the Caribbean.
The Pan American
ing together, PAHO and CARICOM can design health strategies deeply rooted in the Caribbean context - strategies that consider our unique cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental realities,” Minster Anthony noted.
He suggested that the pathways to sustainable partnership were data-driven decision-making, capacity building and workforce development, community engagement and public awareness and innovation and technology integration.
Currently, Caricom and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)
the regional architecture for improving health outcomes and strengthening health systems across CARICOM Member States.
“In this context, CARICOM anticipates the value that this new iteration of the PAHO Subregional Cooperation Strategy will add to pertinent and impactful public health initiatives to advance the well-being of the Region,” ASG Solomon underlined.
Moreover, Acting Director of the Caribbean Subregional Program Coordination office, Dr
Health Organization (PAHO) has been challenged by its stakeholders and Caribbean member states representatives to ensure that its new Caribbean Subregional Cooperation Strategy (SCS) 2025-2029 is responsive and practical and, when implemented, impactful. The previous SCS expired in 2019. Considering the evolving health landscape and emerging challenges, the PAHO Director has requested that a new SCS is developed to guide PAHO’s technical cooperation in the Caribbean.
Because of the British colonial “divide and rule” tactic to rule us with a minimum of troops, we “natives” left in the detritus of the Empire remain at each other’s throats – Africans vs Indians here or Igbo vs Yoruba in Nigeria, etc!! But those fissures weren’t encouraged BETWEEN the territories of the Empire –we were all supposed to be loyally donating our blood, sweat and tears for the “Mother Country”!! So in the post-independence era, it wasn’t surprising that various countries retained very fraternal relations with each other – even without the ministrations of the Commonwealth! We should remember India’s efforts to eliminate apartheid in South Africa!!
Indian PM Narendra Modi exemplified this postcolonial bonhomie when he decided to visit Nigeria in Africa and Guyana in South America as bookends to his G20 Summit in Brazil. He was the second Indian PM to visit Nigeria – the first being Manmohan Singh in 2007. Yesterday, Modi stopped off in Nigeria where he was bestowed with their second-highest national award - the ‘Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger’ (GCON). He was only the second foreign dignitary to receive the distinction – Queen Elizabeth II received it in 1966. Modi reminded that it was under India’s G20 chairmanship, that Nigeria became a guest country and the African Union became a permanent member of the grouping, after meeting Modi, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu tweeted that they were “focusing on boosting the India-Nigeria partnership in a range of areas, including trade, investment and digital public infrastructure”. India has emerged as a development partner of Nigeria on two fronts — by offering concessional loans (USD 100 million) and by offering capacity-building training programmes.
There are also more than 200 Indian companies in Nigeria that have invested some US$27 billion in all important manufacturing sectors. These companies are the second largest employers after the federal government, according to Indian officials. Pres Tinubu also noted that his country and India were two of the largest democracies in the world – with populations of 224 and 1500 million respectively – that are very diverse!! We in Guyana should look at – and learn from –the experiences of these two countries from which so many of our own population originated. As the old archcolonialist Winston Churchill pointed out “Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…”!!
As Modi meanders down our way, our leaders can do worse than recommit themselves to affirm the rules of democracy when they meet him in Parliament on Thursday.
…Chinese linkages
We’re so Eurocentric that we can't get it out of our minds that it’s not just the Atlantic that separates continents – the Pacific does the same for Asia and the Americas!! The map of the world that’s centred on the Atlantic – not by coincidence, thank you!! – doesn’t help in rejigging our thoughts. Well, China’s on the west of the Pacific and Peru’s on the east, so with Chinese Pres XI just declaring the mega port of Chancay in Peru – a $1.3 billion China-funded project, majority-owned by Chinese shipping giant Cosco – open, the world map’s gonna soon be redrawn!! What the port does is connect South America directly to Shanghai as part of China’s Belt & Road initiative!!
As China tries staving off Trump’s US tariff increases, expect a tsunami of Chinese products heading to our neck of the woods. But it can be a two-way street – with South American exports heading to China.
Another incentive for our Highway to Lethem to be completed!??!
…Mad Maduro
Ralphie Boy is at it again – undermining us and boosting his Venezuela pal Mad Maduro!! The St Vincent PM claims our “25 by 25” food initiative is collapsing –and he’s signed an agreement to grow food in Venezuela. Did he ask us??
– as vegetable production surges to 380,000 tonnes despite dry
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is eyeing the production of 50 million tonnes of cassava by yearend, even as vegetable production enjoys a resurgence despite the long period of drought and dry weather.
This is according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali, during the opening of GuyExpo, which was held this year under the theme “Guyana on Show: The Fastest Growing Economy.”
The President explained that a key element of this fastest-growing economy will be boosting value-added production.
“It is not simply production. It is transformation. It is about adding value to what we produce. Elevating every productive activity. And building a future where our resources work for us. For our people. For our communities. In ways that go beyond what is extracted or what is counted up in the GDP. Take for example the diversification of the agriculture sector. And how the ramping up of production (happens) so we can move into value-added,” the President said.
According to the Head of State, several agriculture sectors are on positive growth trajectories. They include rice production and cassava production, where the government is eyeing exports to international markets. Then there is the corn and soya bean industry, which the government is working to ensure Guyana is self-sufficient in its production by next year.
“In just the last two years, our rice production last year was about 653,000 tonnes. We expect to close this year at 720,000 tonnes. Our cassava production… and the Minister outlined our core strategy, based on international markets. Our cassava production last year was 20
million tonnes. We will close this year producing more than 50 million tonnes of cassava. From 20 million tonnes to 50 million tonnes,” the President said.
“Our corn and soya bean production will move from 9000 tonnes, to close to 20,000 tonnes. Our vegetable production will move from 340,000 tonnes last year, to 380,000 tonnes at the end of this year. Even after the prolonged drought and dry season. Brackish water shrimp production will move from 6000 kg to 98,000 kg per month. Our honey production will move from 3000 gallons to 18,000 gallons. Those are the numbers that will help us to build the value-added industry that will support the expansion of primary products.”
Only last month, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha revealed in the 2024 edition of the Caribbean Business & Travel (CBT) Magazine that has seen a massive increase in fruit and vegetable production when compared to previous years.
Mustapha, who is also The Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministerial Task Force on the 25 per cent by 2025 food security initiative, Zulfikar Mustapha, had described this as remarkable progress since several countries, especially Guyana, have been ramping up agricultural production
According to the Minister, there has been a sizeable increase in vegetables produced. In 2022, production totalled 330,449 tonnes compared to 340,643 in 2023 and from January to June 2024 182,238 tonnes were produced.
Fruit production has increased from 197,877 tonnes in 2022 to 205,658 last year and for the first half of 2024, 104,899 tonnes were grown. Moreover, Mustapha revealed that discussions were held with the private sector in Barbados, which wants to import from Guyana, a lot more of their fruits and vegetables which they are currently sourcing from Latin America, especially pineapples and oranges.
In the rice sector, the government has been exploring new rice varieties and export markets, in a move that aligns with its commitment to advancing the agricultural sector and ensuring sustainable development. And the recent resolution of the longstanding Panama rice deal that saw millers finally receiving $1.5 Billion that they were owed by the Panama government, is likely to boost production and morale alike in the industry.
The government has spoken of its plans to use science and technology to advance initiatives such as developing an industrial cassava flour mill. This can churn out cassava flour and can be marketed to niche international markets.
Meanwhile, in the 2024 Mid-Year report, it was reported that the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors were estimated to have expanded by 7.6 per cent in the first half of last year. This was driven by growth in all subsectors – namely other crops, rice growing, livestock, fishing, forestry, and sugar. (G-8)
The rate at which persons are leaving the mining sector, as well as other sectors for the oil and gas industry has been described as a source of worry by Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, particularly since he himself is the subject Minister responsible for both sectors.
During the recent steel strike ceremony for the ‘Jaguar’ Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, the Minister spoke of the expanding fleet of FPSOs in Guyana’s waters and the opportunities this will bring to locals, particularly when construction starts on more such vessels for production outside of the Stabroek Block.
“What is a bit worrying, though, for me especially and for our government, I heard one of the contractors mentioning the welders in the mining and agriculture sector coming and working in the oil and gas sector. That is good. That is good for the oil and gas sector, but it poses a problem for me because I overlook the mining sector too,” the Minister said.
“And we’re seeing that as being an issue indeed, where many people are now leaving other sectors to join the oil and gas sector, which we don’t have a problem with. Because as Guyanese that is your right. If you want to work in the oil and gas sector, we encourage it. We’re actually training people now, in collaboration with Exxon and SBM,” Bharrat added.
Training, he pointed out, is being done at the Guyana Technical College at Port Mourant, where 24 young Guyanese had graduated in the first batch in July of this year. Almost 6500 Guyanese currently work in the oil and gas sector, which Bharrat described
as an achievement. He noted that this translates to 6500 trained Guyanese being gainfully employed in oil and gas.
“While we have the other issue we have to deal with, in terms of people moving from other sectors into the oil and gas sector, we’re going to deal with that. At the same time, we want our people to be gainfully employed. And there’s a perception and a certain amount of prestige, with working in the oil and gas sector.”
“So those Guyanese who are engaged and employed in the oil and gas sector, we congratulate them. We commend them. And those who are aspiring to work in the oil and gas sector, we trust that they’ll be afforded the opportunity at training and employment, in whichever field they may be endeavouring to go in.”
Guyana recorded a whopping 49.7 per cent increase in its gross domestic product (GDP) in the first six months of 2024, with the gold mining and quarrying sector expanding by 89.9 per cent in the first half of the year. Previously, Bharrat has said that when oil and gas reach peak production, there will still be more persons employed in mining.
The petroleum sector is currently led by
United States US Oil major ExxonMobil, through its local subsidiary Esso Exploration Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), which is the operator of the Stabroek Block where the oil is being produced and holds 45 per cent interest in the block.
Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.
Three FPSO vessels- the Liza Destiny, Unity and Prosperity- are currently producing oil in Guyana’s waters, with a fourth one, the One Guyana FPSO, expected to start production in the second half of next year. The increase in FPSOs has also come with a heightened demand for support services and increasing employment opportunities.
As of April 2024, approximately 6000 locals were actively contributing to the oil and gas sector’s growth, which represented almost 70 per cent of the total workforce and a 24 per cent increase in Guyanese hired. Of the 6000 locals, over 900 Guyanese were employed as plant and machine operators; 1,203 as professionals, including accountants, lawyers, and engineers; and another 485 as technicians.
Scenes from the commissioning of the Dornier HAL-228 aircraft on Sunday at Air Station London, Timehri, EBD
The five victims of last week’s deadly Corentyne fire were laid to rest at the No. 63 Cemetery, Corentyne Berbice on Sunday.
and taught him.
utes were offered, including a written one from Kevin Ramjatan, the son of the deceased woman.
Those who gathered to bid their final farewell broke down in tears as the five coffins bearing the victims’ bodies were being taken out of the yard and placed into two hearses. Several touching trib-
Hundreds of mourners turned out to pay their respects to the grieving family of a mother and her four children who perished after their Corentyne home went up in flames. Notably, there were no Government or regional officials in attendance.
The tribute was read by a family friend of Hemwattie Singh, the children’s mother.
In the poem, ‘Alex’ expresses love and appreciation for everything his mother has done for him
The motionless body of a chainsaw operator was in the wee hours of Sunday found moments after a brawl at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD) drinking bar.
The dead man has been identified as 40-year-old Davanan Hosea of First Hill Squatting Area, SoesdykeLinden Highway.
Following the discovery, four persons including a 16-year-old boy were arrested and are assisting with the investigations.
Based on reports received, Hosea had been consuming alcohol on Saturday evening with his reputed wife and brother, Levon Hosea at a Chinese Restaurant at Coverden, EBD.
The brother told investigators that he left the couple and went home. He then received a telephone call from his now-dead brother at around 21:00 to meet him at the Raghoo Sports Bar, Soesdyke Junction, EBD.
While at the bar, the
brothers started to consume alcoholic beverages. Later that evening, Davanan informed his brother that he was being looked at by a group of men.
Soon after, the men approached Davanan, grabbed hold of him in the presence of his brother and relieved him of his valuables.
As a result, the brother confronted the suspects and a brawl ensued at the drinking spot. The brothers managed to escape by running through Shawnee Service Station and into a track behind the establishment.
The brothers were pursued by the perpetrators, who managed to catch up with Davanan and a scuffle ensued.
Levon intervened and told his brother to run but the two men continued to pursue them. Levon stated that he ran in a different direction from Davanan.
He further told investigators that when he saw his brother again, he observed blood on the chest
area of his t-shirt. Davanan had collapsed in the vicinity of Hillfoot Soesdyke/Linden highway.
According to police, Davanan’s body was examined and stab wounds were seen on the right side of his face, on the left side of his abdomen, at the centre of his chest, and on the right side of his chest.
Meanwhile, police were able to review CCTV footage collected from Raghoo’s Sports Bar which showed that several persons were seen fighting with the now-deceased man.
Due to an intelligence-led operation, the police arrested Kevin Grandstuart, 24, of Victory Valley Road, Timehri, who was armed with a black ‘Rambo’ knife along with Rodwell Fraser, 21, also of Victory Valley Road; Dwayne Bascom, 25, of Kara Kara, Linden, and a 16-year-old from Victory Valley Road, who was found with the dead man’s cell phone. Investigations are continuing.
The 17-year-old was the only survivor of the fire which took the life of his mother and his siblings Kelvin Ramjatan, called “Rovin”, 14; Brandon Ramjatan, called “Ravin”, a 10-year-old living with a disability; Cindy Ramjatan, called “Emily”, 11, a student of New Market Primary School; and Tomesh Ramjatan, called “Arvin,” a two-year-old.
Chairman of the 52-63 Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Hemraj Gansham took the opportunity to call on the community to live in harmony and with love.
“Rather than building walls, we need to build bridges. We need to open our hearts to one another, we need to develop empathy, we need to encourage
resilience, and we need to develop community-mindedness. These are the things that we have to build and when we do this it will help us to change our society and the community where we are living. All of us, have a responsibility not only for ourselves but for our community, and if we can turn around a new page from today onwards and say that we would open our hearts to assist our neighbours.”
The NDC Chairman said it hurts him to see so many persons grieving but requested them to ask God for the strength to overcome the current challenges.
“We need to beg God for that peace and that comfort and for the deceased so that they can have a resting place,” he added.
Last Tuesday, two houses were destroyed by fire.
It was reported that the 17-year-old survivor was asleep on the verandah of the upper flat when he was awakened by the sound of an explosion and the crackling of a fire.
The teen ran downstairs to where his mother and siblings were located and noticed that they were already awake and trying to escape from the burning building.
The family tried to run out of the house, but the intense heat generated by the flames forced them to turn back and head upstairs, where they were left trapped.
Autopsies conducted on the bodies of the five victims by Government Pathologist Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan gave the cause of death as inhalation of fire fumes.
A13-year-old Sophia, Greater Georgetown resident is now receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) after she was struck down by a motorcar on Saturday evening.
The accident reportedly took place along Dennis Street, Sophia, Greater Georgetown while the teenager was attempting to cross the road,
she reportedly crashed into the car’s windshield and later fell onto the roadway where she sustained injuries.
Based on reports received, on the day in question at about 20:00h, a motor car bearing registration number PXX 8265, driven by a 21-year-old of 'B' Field South Sophia was travelling along Dennis Street when it came into the path of the girl who emerged from behind a stationary vehicle.
The driver, with the assistance of bystanders, immediately transported the injured teen to GPHC where she was treated and admitted for observation.
The driver has since been detained as investigations continue.
As the Government continues to aggressively implement its Student Loan WriteOff Programme, additional measures have been rolled out to improve the ease of access to the initiative by prospective beneficiaries.
These new measures were announced on Sunday by Finance and Public Service Minister, Dr Ashni Singh.
Among the additional accessibility measures is full online submission of applications through the Ministry of Finance website at https://studentloanwriteoff.gov.gy/apply/new.
In addition, drop boxes for hard copy submission of application forms will be placed at all 10 Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Offices countrywide with immediate effect, as well as at the Ministry of Education office at 26 Brickdam, Georgetown, and the University of Guyana Tain Campus in Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).
Moreover, applicants may also mail in their application via any post office
to the Student Loan Agency. Persons using this method are advised to address their envelope to: Student Loan Agency, PO Box 101544, Georgetown, and state their name and address back of the envelope.
Application forms will also be available at all RDC and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) offices countrywide.
Eligible applicants are reminded that they can still download the application form via the Ministry of Finance’s website on this link: https://finance.gov.gy/wp-content/ uploads/2024/05/StudentLoan-Application-Form2024-Final.pdf. The hard copy of this form can also be submitted to the Student Loan Agency at the University of Guyana Turkeyen Campus, Greater Georgetown.
In a statement on Sunday, Minister Singh urged persons to submit their applications as soon as possible, so as to facilitate timely processing of the applications in the interest of ensuring that all eligible persons benefit from the
write-off of their outstanding student loans.
Back in May of this year, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government announced its Student Loan Write-Off Programme – an initiative that will see student loans to the tune of $18 billion being written off.
Further, in keeping with the PPP/C Government’s 2020 Manifesto commitment to deliver free education by 2025, President Dr Irfaan Ali also announced in October that by January 2025, tuition fees at the University of Guyana will be abolished.
Further, tuition fees at all Government technical and vocational training institutes will be abolished, including the Guyana Industrial Training Centre, the Guyana School of Agriculture and the Carnegie School of Home Economics. This expanded measure is slated to benefit over 3000 additional persons. It also forms part of the Government’s broader initiative to enhance human capital development to reduce inequality and improve
Vendors and customers at the Port Mourant Market in Regional Division #6 (East BerbiceCorentyne) were thrown into chaos early Saturday morning when two armed men on a motorcycle stormed the area, firing shots and robbing a food vendor.
Police are now searching for the suspects in connection with the incident.
The ordeal unfolded around 3:00h when a 32-yearold food vendor, whose stall is located in the northwestern section of the market, was warned by a customer about two suspicious-looking men
loitering outside the market on a black XR motorcycle. Minutes later, the vendor and others heard two loud explosions, believed to be gunfire, coming from the market area.
Witnesses saw the two men on the motorcycle entering the market near the stalls, prompting vendors and patrons to flee for safety. When the food vendor returned to her stall after the suspects left, she discovered her grey haversack missing. The stolen items included $50,000 in cash, a gold chain valued at $120,000, two bank cards, her National Identification
Card, and a Samsung cellphone worth $31,000.
Police responded to the scene and recovered two 9mm spent shells, confirming that shots had been fired during the robbery.
The attack has reignited anger among vendors, many of whom feel unprotected after a string of similar incidents. Just weeks ago, a vendor known as “Chicken Man” was charged after defending himself with a cutlass against armed robbers. Vendors are now calling for better security measures, fearing that their lives and livelihoods are at constant risk.
access to education for every Guyanese citizen.
In its 2024 Mid-Year Report that was released in August, the Ministry of Finance had reported that some 346 students had already had their loans — amounting to $203.7 million — written off. Beneficiaries of this phase are former students who were able to prove they had completed their course of study and had graduated; and after graduation, have been employed or self-employed in Guyana for a minimum of three years, as evidenced by a minimum of 156 contributions made to the National Insurance Scheme.
In September, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo had disclosed that the government is aiming to write off the loans of some 2,900 students, totalling approximately $5 billion, by the end of this year. As such, Jagdeo, who is also the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, had urged former University of Guyana students with outstanding loans to apply for the write-off programme.
“If more people come in, we would write all of it off in a single year; the full $18 billion, once they are eligible. I want to urge the students who have outstanding debts to just apply for the
write-off so that we can proceed with doing so. It will be a pretty large number of students — thousands of them,” he had noted.
Moreover, Jagdeo had stated that a mechanism would be implemented to assist students who have already paid their dues to the University of Guyana but are repaying loans at commercial banks.
The government had announced this student loan write-off programme in its 2024 budget, presented earlier this year. Phase one of this programme is expected to benefit around 13,000 individuals and forgive a staggering $11 billion in loans.
Meanwhile, the Finance Minister further encouraged persons in Sunday’s missive to utilise all the training opportunities the Government has made available to upgrade and uplift their skills to enable them to fully take
up the wide range of available job opportunities across the country, and further contribute and benefit from the unprecedented growth and transformation of the economy. In addition to the student loan write-off initiative, the PPP/C Government has been actively promoting the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme, which offers free university education opportunities in 187 programmes offered by 15 academic institutions around the world. To date, Government has invested $1.6 billion in scholarships through this programme; and as at May 2024, over 4,000 individuals have graduated with degrees, diplomas and certificates while an impressive 8,023 GOAL scholarships have been awarded for studies that commenced in September 2024.
In observance of International Men's Day, a global awareness day for men's health and well-being will be celebrated on Tuesday. The Sonia Noel Inc., in collaboration with the Sonia Noel Foundation, will host four events - three online and one onsite at Theatre Guild, catering to young men, primarily.
Men often face significant societal pressures that can have a profound impact on their mental and emotional well-being. These pressures can include the expectation to be stoic, independent, and emotionally reserved, which can make it difficult for them to express their feelings or seek help when needed. Young men and boys need to have positive role models who can inspire them and show them alternative paths to success. These events can help boys develop healthy concepts of masculinity, emphasising qualities like kindness, empathy, and respect.
As such these four events will highlight and seek solutions for the social issues faced by men, both mentally
and physically. While some may argue that men's issues are already well-represented, it's important to recognize that these issues often go unaddressed or are stigmatized. By dedicating a specific day to men's health and well-being, we can foster a more inclusive and supportive society for all.
This year, three virtual events are scheduled commencing at 7 pm Guyana time. The Men Across Borders series will feature speakers from various countries from the 18th to the 20th. The esteemed panel includes. Dr. Clinton Urling from Guyana. He is a seasoned entrepreneur with over twenty-five years of experience across various sectors. His professional endeavors span significant roles in hospitality, oil and gas, real estate, and supply chains for both restaurant and construction materials. Oliver Chikodzore is from Zimbabwe and lives in South Africa. He is a mentor, Entrepreneur, author and investor, who stands as a beacon of hope and innovation within the global com-
munity, dedicated to reshaping the narrative of Africa's future.
Dr Anthony Bowen was born in Guyana and has been residing in New York for over 30 years. He is a dynamic technology and digital marketing leader with a proven track record of driving innovation and delivering transformative solutions. Dr Akanimo Odon is a Nigerian living in London He is Head of Africa Strategic Partnerships,
Lancaster University UK. Dr Odon is a dynamic speaker who is continuously invited around the world to present at many events.
Saurel Quettan is a Haitian American. Saurel has helped entrepreneurs, CEOs, founders, and owners of small to medium-sized businesses enhance their emotional intelligence, master effective communication, and build high-performing teams. Wilson Heaton is an American who got into an accident while under the influence of alcohol and was incarcerated. It was during those years that Wilson learned the capacity of the mind, the power of love, and how to live in gratitude.
Pastor Joe Persaud is a Guyanese, living in New York for decades. He is the Founder of Hope is Rising Global and the CEO of Insurance Co. in NYC. Pastor Persaud is the senior pastor at Liberty Bible Church and travels around the world providing hope for many people
Romario Hastings is a proud Indigenous Guyanese young man who is a very active Toshao in his village and also an Indigenous Relations Consultant. Peter Ivey is a Social Entrepreneur, Chef, Writer & Food Security Advocate. Peter Ivey is a dynamic social entrepreneur, chef, writer, and food security advocate who merges food, culture, and community empowerment. He has transformed Jamaican cuisine into cultural storytelling. His innovative approaches have gained recognition from platforms like Forbes.
Shaun Rampersaud CEO, of Ramps Logistics, is a huge advocate for the advancement of the Caribbean Region's economy, evident under his leadership at Ramps Logistics focused on research and development, process efficiency and digitization. Wasim Khan is
the founder and Executive Director of The Imperial House (TIH), a pioneering non-profit social enterprise in Guyana dedicated to gender equality, youth, and community development.
Eldon Marks is a serial tech entrepreneur from Guyana. He founded V75 Inc. and built it to become Guyana's first AI company, building AI solutions for global clients since 2018. Recently, he co-founded TrueSelph Inc., an AI product company based in the US.
The event panel will also feature several dynamic women who are raising sons. They will share their advice and insights on this journey.
Ilaine Inês Henz Dias is a dynamic Brazilian Entrepreneur and President of the Brazil-Guyana Chamber of Commerce. Her mission is to impact people's lives through her work Whether as a Public Manager developing policies that bring services and benefits to the population or, simultaneously, as a Business Manager creating jobs, income, and development.
Marisca Fiedtkou is the Stakeholder Relations Director of Ramps Logistics. She is a very determined and focused young lady who is making her mark in the Oil and gas sector. Nicole Dyer-Griffith is an executive marketing consultant and an international business etiquette and protocol specialist whose passion for creative entrepreneurship, proactive philanthropy and social transformation is mobilized through her chairmanship of the O2N Foundation and the G III Foundation in Trinidad and Tobago
Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin is a renowned academic, researcher, and educational leader. She is the Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, the first woman to hold that post in the University’s 59-
year history. This phenomenal leader is passionate about adding value to others’ lives which she does effortlessly.
By acknowledging men's contributions and challenges, stakeholders can work towards a more equitable society where both men and women have equal opportunities and rights. These events celebrate positive male role models and encourage healthy masculinity. They remind men of the importance of taking care of their physical and mental health. Men often face significant societal pressures that can have a profound impact on their mental and emotional well-being. These pressures can include the expectation to be stoic, independent, and emotionally reserved, which can make it difficult for them to express their feelings or seek help when needed.
Young men and boys need to have positive role models who can inspire them and show them alternative paths to success. These events can help boys develop healthy concepts of masculinity, emphasising qualities like kindness, empathy, and respect.
Positive events can foster a sense of community and belonging among boys, reducing feelings of isolation or alienation. These events encourage boys to look for opportunities amidst daily challenges, to build their confidence, and not to be afraid of failure. After all, failure is feedback, feedback is knowledge, and knowledge is power.
Societal pressures can contribute to a range of mental health issues in men, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and even suicide. It's important to recognise and address these societal pressures to promote men's well-being and create a more supportive environment for all.
“Scissors Head” recaptured after escaping from West Demerara Hospital
Aprisoner, who escaped while being hospitalised under police guard at the West Demerara Region Hospitalised (WDRH), has been recaptured.
Based on reports received, a rank attached to the Parfaite Harmonie Police Station was tasked with guarding the prisoner, Neil Miggins called 'Scissors Head', of Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara (WBD) after he was reportedly shot by a police rank while attempting to relieve him of his service pistol on Friday.
Miggins was at the time a patient in the Male Surgical Ward at the West Demerara Regional Hospital in Best Village, West Coast Demerara (WCD).
He was arrested for questioning in relation to several armed robberies, rape and several other offences.
At approximately 09:30h on Saturday, Miggins asked the Police rank to use the restroom. The rank obliged and allowed Miggins to use the restroom. In the process, Miggins managed to remove one side of the handcuff and
attacked the Police rank with a sharp metal object. Despite the rank's resistance, Miggins overpowered him and escaped down the stairs of the hospital.
Other police ranks were immediately notified, and a search party was formed.
Miggins was recaptured a short distance from the hospital near the Shore Base facility at Best Village, West Coast Demerara. He was escorted to the Parfaite Harmonie Police Station and placed in custody pending further investigation. He is slated to be charged this week.
Dr Tariq Jagnarine, Family meDicine, enDocrinology/DiabeTes
In a world where health is paramount, the observance of World Diabetes Day on November 14th stands as a crucial reminder of the global battle against diabetes, a chronic medical condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels. This year, the focus is on raising awareness, promoting prevention, and fostering a supportive environment for those living with diabetes.
People with risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes can take steps to prevent the onset of the condition. These risk factors include prediabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diabetes diagnosis.
Type 2 diabetes prevention primarily involves eating a nutritious diet, maintaining a moderate weight, and exercising regularly. As diabetes is a disease that can cause serious health problems, all preventive measures are worth the effort. Type 2 diabetes can lead to a range of health conditions, such as stroke, heart disease, blindness, and kidney failure, so preventing the disease may also reduce the risk of these serious complications.
Prevention involves adopting various lifestyle practices that boost health and offer other benefits, such as more energy and better sleep.
1. EAT A NUTRITIOUS DIET
Eating well involves including nutritious foods in the diet while avoiding foods that can harm health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend a diet rich in the following:
Fruits
• No starchy vegetables, such as spinach, asparagus, mushrooms, and broccoli
Lean proteins, which include turkey, chicken, fish, tofu, plain Greek yogurt, pulses, and eggs.
• Whole grains, such as steel-cut oatmeal, quinoa, and brown rice
Water and unsweetened beverages
The CDC advises avoiding:
• Sugary drinks, such as soda, sports drinks, and fruit juice
Processed foods, including chips, granola bars, sweets, fast foods, preserved meat, and packaged snacks.
• Alcohol Trans fats, which are in margarine, packaged baked goods, snack foods, and many fried foods.
2. REACH AND MAINTAIN A MODERATE WEIGHT
If a person with prediabetes has excess body weight, they can help reverse their prediabetes by losing 5%Trusted Source of their weight. Choosing healthy foods most of the time can go a long way in weight management because most of these options are naturally low in calories. It also helps to learn about portion control. One way of doing this is to use the Plate Method, which shows the approximate portions of foods to put on a dinner plate. It recommends:
• One-half of the plate should have no starchy vegetables.
One-quarter of the plate should be carbohydrates.
One-quarter of the plate is for protein-rich foods.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) advises
30–40%Trusted Source higher risk of type 2 diabetes than nonsmokers. In addition, the more a person smokes, the higher their likelihood of developing the condition. Conversely, the sooner someone quits, the earlier they will experience the benefits. Studies show that insulin becomes more effective 8 weeks after an individual quits. Insulin is the hormone that lowers blood sugar levels.
The ADA suggests that people trying to quit smok-
doing the following to lose weight:
• Reducing the intake of calories and fat
• Eating breakfast daily
Staying physically active
Watching less than 10 hours of television per week
• Monitoring progress by checking body weight once per week at the same time of the day
3. GET REGULAR EXERCISE
Exercise promotes all aspects of health, including diabetes prevention. A person should aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise on 5 days of the week. If a person is unaccustomed to exercise, they should speak with a doctor to determine which activities are likely best for them. People may find it beneficial to set a fitness goal and then begin a workout routine slowly, increasing the time and intensity gradually until they reach their target.
4. STOP SMOKING
Smokers have a
ing make it as easy for themselves as possible by:
• Setting a quit date soon
Deciding whether to “go cold turkey” or taper off and then sticking to that strategy.
Asking others for support
• Cutting at the same time as a friend or family member, if possible
Throwing away all cigarettes, lighters, and ashtrays
Talking with a doctor about using a nicotine patch or spray
• Considering counseling, acupuncture, or hypnosis
5. CONTROL HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
High blood pressure is another risk factor for diabetes. A 2015 meta-analysis reviewed the medical records of more than 4 million healthy adults. It compared these data with those from studies reporting new-onset diabetes and high blood pressure. The analysis indicated that people with elevated blood pressure have a
higher risk of diabetes. The ADA explains that people can help control high blood pressure by:
• Choosing foods that contain less than 400 milligrams of sodium per serving.
Using spices and herbs rather than salt to flavour food
• Eating whole grain breads and cereals
Speaking with a doctor about medications that reduce blood pressure.
• Limiting alcohol consumption and asking a
doctor whether it is best to avoid alcohol entirely.
6. FIND WAYS TO RELAX
When a person experiences stress, the hormones that the body releases can make blood sugar levels fall or rise unpredictably.
This mind-body connection means that if mental health improves, physical health may also improve, including bodily processes that can lead to type 2 diabetes. Consequently, it is beneficial to find ways to relax.
A 2018 study notes that
stress increases the risk of diabetes, and that yoga effectively reduces stress. The authors reviewed the body of research on the topic and found that various yoga techniques produce diabetes-related benefits. These benefits included lower blood glucose levels due to increased insulin production or reduced insulin resistance. Insulin resistance refers to body cells not easily taking up blood sugar.
Another relaxation technique is meditation. Research in 2018 explored the effects of 6 months of meditation on people with coronary artery disease. The authors used meditation techniques of focusing attention on breathing and various parts of the body. Participants who engaged in the meditation showed a significant reduction in blood sugar levels.
As World Diabetes Day unfolds, let us all play our part in spreading awareness, fostering understanding, and working towards a world where diabetes is not a barrier to a healthy and fulfilling life. By joining hands, we can create a future where diabetes is preventable, manageable, and is one day curable.
Diplomatic tensions over global warming spilled over into the G20 summit negotiations in Brazil this week, with sources saying the 20 major economies reached a fragile consensus on climate finance that had eluded United Nations talks in Azerbaijan.
Heads of State arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday for the G20 summit and will spend today and Tuesday addressing issues from poverty and hunger to the reform of global institutions. The talks must now also grapple with how to address escalating violence in Ukraine after a deadly Russian airstrike on Sunday.
Still, the ongoing UN climate talks have thrown a spotlight on their efforts to tackle global warming.
While the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, is tasked with agreeing a goal to mobilise hundreds of billions of dollars for climate, leaders of the Group of 20 major economies half a world away in Rio are holding the purse strings.
G20 countries account for 85 per cent of the world's economy and are the largest contributors to multilateral development banks helping to steer climate finance.
"The spotlight is naturally on the G20. They account for 80 percent of global emissions," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told reporters in Rio de Janeiro. He expressed concern about the state of the COP29 talks in Baku and called on G20 leaders to do more to fight climate change.
"Now is the time for leadership by example from the
world's largest economies and emitters," Guterres said.
UN climate chief Simon Stiell wrote a letter to G20 leaders on Saturday imploring them to act on climate finance, including boosting grants for developing nations and advancing reforms of multilateral development banks.
However, the same fights that have plagued COP29 since it began last week became central to G20 negotiations, according to diplomats close to the Rio talks.
COP29 must set a new goal for how much financing should be directed from developed countries, multilateral banks and the Private Sector to developing nations. Economists told the summit it should be at least US$1 trillion.
Wealthy countries, especially in Europe, have been saying that an ambitious goal can only be agreed if they expand the base of contributors to include some of the richer developing nations, such as China and major Middle Eastern oil producers.
On Saturday, discussions of a G20 joint statement in Rio snagged on the same issue, with European nations pushing for more countries to contribute and developing countries such as Brazil pushing back, diplomats close to the talks told Reuters.
But early Sunday morning, negotiators agreed to a text mentioning developing nations' voluntary contributions to climate finance, stopping short of calling them obligations, according to two diplomats.
The breakthrough remains overshadowed by the return to power of US President-elect Donald Trump, who is reportedly preparing to again pull the United States out of the Paris climate agreement. His election throws into doubt how much money the world can muster to address climate change, possibly without the support of the world's largest economy.
Trump is planning to roll back landmark climate legislation passed by outgoing President Joe Biden, who visited the Amazon rainforest when he made a stop there on Sunday on his way to Rio.
The success of not only COP29 but also the next UN climate summit, COP30 hosted in Brazil next year, hinges on an ambitious deal on climate finance.
A centrepiece of Brazil's COP30 strategy is "Mission 1.5," a drive to keep alive the Paris Agreement target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The UN estimates that current national targets would cause temperatures to rise by at least 2.6 degrees C.
Developing countries argue they can only raise their targets for emissions reductions if rich nations, who are the main culprits for climate change, foot the bill.
"It is technically possible to meet the goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius, but only if a G20-led, massive mobilisation to cut all greenhouse gas emissions ... is achieved," said Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis at COP29 last week. (Reuters)
Slow-moving Tropical Depression Sara unleashed major rainfall over Honduras this weekend, causing at least one death while forcing thousands to flee their homes and destroying bridges and a highway due to flooding, officials said on Sunday.
Airports in the capital Tegucigalpa and industrial hub San Pedro Sula were shuttered, according to civil aviation officials.
Sara churned to the northwest where it made landfall on neighbouring Belize on Sunday, home to ancient ruins, beach resorts and coral reefs popular with tourists. It also threatened major flooding and swollen rivers.
The Government urged locals to hold Sunday religious services remotely while announcing that all schools would be suspended on today as a precaution.
The NHC on Sunday downgraded the storm to a Tropical Depression from a Tropical Storm, and said it expects it to weaken as it moves further inland over Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.
The Miami-based forecaster estimates Sara's maximum sustained winds at 55 kilometres per hour (35 miles per hour), and its northwesterly movement at only 8 mph (13 kph).
(Excerpt from Reuters)
National ParentTeacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ)
President Stewart Jacobs wants school principals to cease bombarding PTA meetings in an effort to silence and intimidate members.
According to Jacobs, far too often he has seen school administrators seek to control the body’s operations and, in doing so, hamper its effectiveness.
“They come to PTA
meetings and they hog the microphone, they hog the show and the PTA Presidents are a bit intimidated, and so they simply just walk away because they can’t be bothered,” Jacobs told the Jamaica Observer.
“There are some principals who are so stubborn. Even at the election [for PTA executives], I have to kind of put them in their place and say, ‘No, Madam Principal, or no, Mr Principal, this is not
your meeting. This is the meeting of the PTA, and it is the president of the PTA that has called this meeting and has the jurisdiction over this meeting, not you’,” he said. Jacobs said he has also seen instances of principals selecting their own PTA executive members, describing it as wrong, because the PTA executive must be chosen by the parents and teachers of the school. (Excerpt from Jamacia Observer)
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday to attend the G20 summit and is set to have in-depth talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Chinese State media reported on today.
In a statement, Xi said he looks forward to having an exchange of views with the Brazilian President on further enhancing relations between the two countries, Xinhua news reported.
Xi said the two leaders will talk about promoting development strategies between China and Brazil, as well as discuss international and regional issues, the statement said.
Noting that he has visited Brazil four times and witnessed the development and changes in the country over the past 30 years, Xi said he feels very close to Brazil.
Brazil and China, which are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations this year, are both members of the BRICS group of major emerging economies.
China is Brazil's largest export market, and China's trade with Brazil rose 9.9 per cent in the first 10 months of 2024 from the same period last year, ac-
cording to Xinhua. This is Xi's second visit to Brazil in five years, China's Foreign Ministry
had previously said, as the countries forge stronger economic ties in various key sectors. (Reuters)
President Joe Biden's Administration has allowed Ukraine to use US-made weapons to strike deep into Russia, two US officials and a source familiar with the decision said on Sunday, in a significant reversal of Washington's policy in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
military targets far from its border.
The change comes largely in response to Russia's deployment of North Korean ground troops to supplement its own forces, a development that has caused alarm in Washington and Kyiv, a U. official and a source familiar with the decision said.
he United States is the world’s single largest gasoline market, however, due to regional discrepancies, it continues to import gasoline from other regions, mostly Europe.
This trend now seems to be ebbing as gasoline imports to the US averaged only 320,000 barrel per day (b/d) in October, the lowest monthly reading in at least a decade, according to Kpler data.
This comes as US refiners cranked up gasoline production after maintenance, tallying up only 333 unplanned outages across the country in Q3, the lowest number in three years.
US gasoline demand has held up quite nicely against a creeping hybrid/EV market penetration, with demand metrics showing consumption around 9 million b/d, unchanged from a year ago. (Oilprice.com)
Pope Francis has suggested the global community should study whether Israel's military campaign in Gaza constitutes a genocide of the Palestinian people, in some of his most explicit criticism yet of Israel's conduct in its year-long war.
In excerpts published on Sunday from a forthcoming book, the pontiff said some international experts say that "what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide".
"We should investigate carefully to assess whether this fits into the technical definition (of genocide) formulated by international jurists and organisations," the Pope said in the excerpts, published by Italian daily La Stampa.
Last December South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice for allegedly violating the Genocide Convention. In January, the Judges at the court or -
dered Israel to ensure its troops commit no genocidal acts. The court has not yet ruled on the core of the case – whether genocide has occurred in Gaza.
Israel says accusations of genocide in its Gaza campaign are baseless and that it is solely hunting down Hamas and other armed groups.
"Following today’s report in Vatican News: There was a genocidal massacre on 7 October 2023 of Israeli citizens, and since then, Israel has exercised its right of self-defence against attempts from seven different fronts to kill its citizens," said Yaron Sideman, Israeli Ambassador to the Holy See.
The Vatican did not offer comment about Francis' most recent remarks, but its news website reported on Sunday about the book excerpts, including the genocide comment. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Ukraine plans to conduct its first long-range attacks in the coming days, the sources said, without revealing details due to operational security concerns.
The move comes two months before Presidentelect Donald Trump takes office on January 20 and follows months of pleas by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to allow Ukraine's military to use US weapons to hit Russian
Zelenskiy said in his evening address that the missiles would "speak for themselves".
"Today, many in the media are saying that we have received permission to take appropriate actions," he said. "But strikes are not made with words. Such things are not announced."
newed Russian
ter blackouts and mounting psychological pressure almost 1000 days after
Lebanese armed group Hezbollah confirmed its media relations chief Mohammad Afif was killed by an Israeli strike on a building in central Beirut on Sunday.
Israel has rarely hit senior Hezbollah personnel who do not have clear military roles, and its air strikes have mostly targeted Beirut's southern suburbs where the group has its heaviest presence.
Israel's military, which earlier declined to comment, issued a statement late on Sunday reporting it had "eliminated" Afif. The Lebanese Health Ministry said the strike had killed
On Sunday, Russia unleashed its largest air strike on Ukraine in almost three months, launching 120 missiles and 90 drones that killed at least 10 persons while injuring 52 others and causing severe damage to the power system, officials said.
Ukrainians had been bracing for weeks for a re-
one and injured three. A second, separate strike later on Sunday hit Mar Elias street, another central area rarely targeted by Israeli bombs, Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV reported. The Lebanese Health Ministry said that strike killed at least two and wounded 22. Hezbollah and Israel have been trading fire for more than a year, since the group began launching rockets at Israeli military targets on October 8, 2023. That was a day after its Palestinian ally Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing some 1200 persons, Israeli authorities say.
Australia's Resolute Mining said today that it would pay US$160 million to Mali's Government to help resolve a tax dispute after the West African country detained its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Terence Holohan and two other employees this month.
Resolute has made an initial payment of US$80 million as part of the settlement from existing cash reserves and will make future payments of about US$80 million in the coming months from existing liquidity sources, it said in a statement.
Resolute shares were down as much as 14.3 per cent in early trading today to A$0.345, the lowest since March 1.
The detained employees were in Mali's capital Bamako to hold discussions with mining and tax authorities regarding general activities related to the company's business practices, the company said last week.
Resolute is currently working with the Mali Government to release the detained employees, who remain "safe and well" and are receiving support from the United Kingdom and international embassies and consulates, the miner said today.
"The company notes that operations on site continue as normal and have not been impacted," Resolute said in its statement. (Excerpted from Reuters)
Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinians were killed or injured in an Israeli strike on a multi-storey residential building housing at least six families in northern Gaza's Beit Lahiya town on Sunday, medics and residents said.
The Palestinian Civil Emergency said around 70 persons were living in the property but the Gaza Government media office put the number of those killed at 72. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Super Typhoon Manyi has uprooted trees, bringing down power lines and triggering tidal surges as it made its second landfall on the northeastern Philippine coast – the sixth major storm to hit the country in less than a month. Ahead of the landfall, it had maximum sustained winds of up to 185km/h (115mph), according to the national weather agency PAGASA.
Images posted on social media by various Philippine TV outlets on Sunday showed large waves lashing the coast of Aurora amid howling winds and heavy rain. PAGASA also continued to warn of a “potentially dangerous and life-threatening” situation as Man-yi moved closer to land. Man-yi is the 16th typhoon to hit the Philippines in 2024. (Excerpt from Reuters)
A snapshot of your spending habits will bring you back to reality. Cut corners, roll over your bank statements and relinquish redundant expenses. Put a budget together.
There is a price to pay for everything. Anger will never be worth the damage it causes, but acting on your behalf to ensure everything unfolds according to plan will pay off.
Put your energy to good use and do something that makes you feel good about yourself and your contributions. Your time is the commodity you can offer to other people.
An emotional moment will produce an extraordinary outcome. Follow your heart and be creative; respond with warmth and compassion. Bare your soul and let the journey begin.
There is much to accomplish; set your mind on your goal, and the result will be spectacular. Ignore the choices others make; stay on course. The sky is the limit if you listen to your heart and stay true to yourself.
Keep your life simple, your plans doable and your costs within budget. A change will improve your life if executed within your guidelines and standards. Make fitness and diet priorities.
Live, learn, reboot and carry on. Communication, revamping your perspective and considering how far you can push to reach your goal will help determine the outcome.
Keep pressing forward regardless of what others do or say. Make it your mission to surround yourself with convenience. The more time you free up, the easier it will be to follow your heart.
Concentrate on self-improvement. Don’t trust secondhand information; go directly to the source. Pay attention to the advice and analysis of someone close to you.
Keep secrets to yourself. Don’t share medical or relationship concerns. Be a good listener, gather information and formulate a plan to protect your reputation, health and emotional well-being.
Change things up to ensure you meet demands. As long as you keep moving, it will help you reach your destination on time and in good spirits. Trust your instincts, voice your opinion and help those in need.
Get out, participate and spend time with people who uplift you. Distance yourself from negativity and decline offers that diminish your attributes or put you in a position that doesn’t suit you.
Kusal Mendis' unbeaten 74 trumped Mark Chapman's 76, as Sri Lanka secured a narrow three-wicket win in the second One-Day International (ODI) in Pallekele, and with it seal the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead. It was their first ODI series win against New Zealand since 2012.
Having been set a subpar target of 210 in a rain-truncated 47-over game, Sri Lanka were made to work hard on a sluggish surface as New Zealand's array of spin options kept chipping away. But a string of mini-partnerships was enough to see the hosts through, culminating in an unbeaten eighth-wicket stand of 47 off 59 – the best of the innings – between Kusal and Maheesh Theekshana.
Michael Bracewell was the pick of the bowlers for the vis-
itors, picking up figures of 4 for 36 in 10 overs. He was one of two bowlers allocated for 10 overs in the innings, alongside Mitchell Santner, who ended with miserly figures of 1 for 33, but Sri Lanka smartly recognised their threat and targeted the rest of the attack to sneak home.
Earlier, a brilliant exhibition of catching had seen New Zealand bowled out for 209, a total that was heavily supplemented by Chapman's 76 off 81 and Mitchell Hay's 49 off 62 – they were two of just four New Zealand batters to make it to double digits.
Before his heroics with the bat, Theekshana had done his part with the ball grabbing 3 for 31. Jeffrey Vandersay also picked up three, while the tireless Asitha Fernando finished with two scalps.
But on a surface where
New Zealand (47 ovs maximum)
Will Young st †BKG Mendis
b Vandersay 26
Tim Robinson
b Wellalage 4 Henry Nicholls
b Theekshana 8 Mark Chapman c WIA Fernando
b AM Fernando 76
Glenn Phillips c WIA Fernando
b Asalanka 15
Mitchell Hay †c †BKG Mendis
b Theekshana 49 Michael Bracewell c WIA Fernando
b AM Fernando 0 Mitchell Santner (c) c Nissanka
b Vandersay 6 Nathan Smith lbw
b Vandersay 0 Ish Sodhi st †BKG Mendis
b Theekshana 9 Jacob Duffy not out 4
Extras (lb 2, w 10) 12
Total 45.1 Ov (RR: 4.62) 209
Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Tim Robinson, 1.4 ov), 2-31 (Henry Nicholls, 7.6 ov), 3-69 (Will Young, 16.5 ov), 4-98 (Glenn Phillips, 23.1 ov), 5-173 (Mark Chapman, 36.1 ov), 6-173 (Michael Bracewell, 36.5 ov), 7-185 (Mitchell Santner, 40.1 ov), 8-185 (Nathan Smith, 40.2 ov), 9-199 (Ish Sodhi, 43.2 ov), 10209 (Mitchell Hay, 45.1 ov) • DRS Bowling
O-M-R-W
Asitha Fernando 7-0-37-2
Dunith Wellalage 8-0-46-1
Maheesh Theekshana 9.1-0-31-3
Janith Liyanage 3-0-18-0
Jeffrey Vandersay 10-0-46-3
Charith Asalanka 8-0-29-1
Sri Lanka (T: 210 runs from 47 ovs)
Pathum Nissanka c Chapman b Bracewell 28
Avishka Fernando c Nicholls b Santner 5 Kusal Mendis † not out 74
Kamindu Mendis c †Hay b Bracewell 0
Charith Asalanka (c) c Sodhi
b Bracewell 13
Sadeera Samarawickrama c †Hay
b Phillips 8
Janith Liyanage c †Hay b Smith 22
Dunith Wellalage c Sodhi
b Bracewell 18
Maheesh Theekshana not out 27
Extras (b 6, w 9) 15
Total 46 Ov (RR: 4.56) 210/7
Did not bat: Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Avishka Fernando, 4.3 ov), 2-41 (Pathum Nissanka, 9.5 ov), 3-46 (Kamindu Mendis, 11.2 ov), 4-65 (Charith Asalanka, 15.3 ov), 5-93 (Sadeera Samarawickrama, 21.2 ov), 6-132 (Janith Liyanage, 31.6 ov), 7-163 (Dunith Wellalage, 36.1 ov) • DRS Bowling O-M-R-W Mitchell Santner 10-1-33-1 Jacob Duffy 5-0-36-0 Michael Bracewell 10-0-36-4 Ish Sodhi 9-0-37-0
Glenn Phillips 9-0-41-1
Nathan Smith 3-0-21-1
nearly every spinner proved threatening to some degree, it was always going to take a special batting effort to separate the two sides. And Kusal provided that in spades.
Having come into bat at the fall of the first wicket inside the fifth over, it wasn't long before Kusal decided on a more conservative approach. The first ball he faced spun sharply past his forward defence, and then an attempt at his escape shot – the slog sweep – saw a top edge that looped safely over the keeper.
A couple of overs later, Kusal was under the microscope once more, after a tight lbw shout went in his favour – a decision that was only upheld on review courtesy of an umpire's call on impact. These nervy moments meant that Kusal wouldn't get his first boundary until the 26th delivery he faced. In fact, in total across his innings he would score just the six boundar-
impacted by cramps. With New Zealand seeking further breakthroughs, and the pair of Glenn Phillips and Ish Sodhi bowling well in tandem, Liyanage proved the ideal partner to keep rotating the strike and keeping the spin threat at bay.
This helped stabilise the innings, but when Liyanage fell, gloving a bouncer from Nathan Smith through to the keeper, Sri Lanka were still 78 off their target.
Dunith Wellalage then played his part to perfection, crashing three consecutive boundaries off Smith to shift the momentum decisively. But even so, New Zealand knew they were just one wicket away from entering the Sri Lankan tail. So when Wellalage miscued one to mid-on with still 47 left to get, Sri Lankan minds might have wandered to that second T20 International defeat.
But Theekshana, who had
taking another stellar catch on the run and slide to remove Bracewell. Pathum Nissanka too threw his name in the hat for catch of the match, with a stunning sprint from long-off
ies; instead, this was an innings marked more by his grit, with 46 singles and two doubles – 67% of his runs –an abnormally high percentage of non-boundary runs for a Kusal Mendis innings.
That he did so while struggling with cramps, or quite possibly a groin strain, for most of his innings speaks volumes towards his effort on the night.
But this was not a match Mendis could have won on his own. Aside from a five-run stand with Kamindu Mendis, Kusal put together meaningful contributions with each of his other partners – 18, 19, 28, 39, 31 and 47 - -with each pushing Sri Lanka a little further towards the finish line.
One of the most important came with Janith Liyanage, as the pair came together in the 22nd over with Sri Lanka precariously poised on 93 for 5, and Kusal already being
been unable to see it through in that game, showed far more mettle the second time, striking three boundaries in total, including a critical six over deep backward point, to help see the game through.
Such a nerve-wracking finish was hard to imagine at the halfway point; however, after Sri Lanka had done extremely well on either side of two first-innings rain stoppages to strangle the New Zealand innings.
The catching was undoubtedly the highlight, where despite dropping some tough chances, Sri Lanka held on to even tougher ones. Avishka Fernando was at the forefront of this excellence, completing two nearly identical grabs, diving forward in the deep to scoop the ball centimetres off the ground, to dismiss both Phillips and Chapman.
And he was not done yet,
towards mid-off, culminating in a full-length dive to hold on to a skier from Santner.
Sri Lanka's ground field-
ery run. This was highlighted by an astonishing 157 dot balls being played out across the course of the innings – one that had already been shortened to 47 overs due to rain.
New Zealand's best period of the innings came after they had stumbled to 98 for 4 in the 24th over. Here Chapman and Hay put in the time to rebuild the innings, but such was the strangle being exerted by the spinners during the early part of this stand, they scored just 13 runs in the first 41 deliveries faced. But by the end of it, though, the partnership had soared to 75 off 78, as both batters eventually began to take some risks.
Sixty-two runs were scored between the 30th and 36th over, as New Zealand might have been eyeing up a total in the region of 250. However on a spinner's deck, it was Asitha who had the most decisive say, returning for a double-wicket strike to see the backs of Chapman and Bracewell.
From that point on, it
ing too was on point – even with the caveat of a few sloppy boundary giveaways –with the infielders in particular smothering the visiting batters, and competing for ev-
was a trudge for the visitors as Hay sought to battle it out with the tail. He was the last batter to fall, one short of a maiden ODI fifty. (ESPNcricinfo)
The inaugural edition of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC)
Harmony T10 Tapeball League commenced on Sunday, delighting the fans in the stands with some thrilling matches at the Transport Sports Club, Georgetown.
Success Strike Force, I.B.S, Kings, and The Other Guys were in the winners’ row after four matches in the straight knockout tournament.
Among the notable standout performances of the day was Brian Sookram of The Other Guys, who smashed six sixes and eight fours in his unbeaten 83 from 28 balls, which sealed an emphatic chase, while Ryan Latiff of Kings made a cameo 26* and took two wickets.
Ryan Bhagwandin of I.B.S. scored the first
half-century of the tournament, making 60 (6x4s; 5x6s) from 24 balls.
Mohammed 2-21) v MoA Hydromet 66-8 from 10 overs (Haresh Pertab 23,
Below are the summarised scores of the matches on Sunday:
Success Strike Force v Ministry of Agriculture (Hydromet)
SUMMARY: 116-8 from 10 overs (Davindra Deosarran 38, Ryan Fung 15; Noel Smith 3-23, Sahid
Daniel Harte 11; Brian Sarran 3-9, Ryan Fung 2-22)
I.B.S v KFC Guyana
SUMMARY: I.B.S
139 from 10 overs (Ryan Bhagwandin 60, Troy Smith 27, Xavier Henry 19*, Quintin Crandon
18; Raphael Narine 1-19, Mario Hacket 1-24) v KFC Guyana 66 all out from 9.5 overs (Raphael Narine 27; Quinton Crandon 2-10, Ryan Bhagwandin 2-12, Xavier Henry 2-16)
Kings v Queenstown
SUMMARY: Kings 1365 from 10 overs (Jermaine Dewsbury 42, Kennard Moonsammy 38, Ryan Latiff 26*; Arshad Khan 1-9) v Queenstown 100-7 from 10 overs (Faadil Hakh 32, Imraan Khan 12; Shiloh Adams 2-12, Ryan Latiff 2-12) Ministry of Human Services and Social Security AllStars v The Other Guys
SUMMARY: MHSS AllStars 113-6 from 10 overs (Ricardo Holder 36*, Rawle Bourne 26, Simeon Marc
17; Charles Bhaichandeen 1-9, Steve Williams 1-12,
penultimate match day be fore finals on December 8, 2024.
The event is designed to be accessible and engaging for the entire community, with free entry for both teams and spectators. The tournament offers enticing rewards, including $500,000 for the winning team, $250,000 for the runners-up, and $100,000 each for the two semi-finalists. Individual accolades, including $60,000 each for the Man of the Final, Most Runs, and Most Wickets, will be awarded, and Trophy Stall has sponsored the trophies.
By facilitating this tournament, the ERC hopes to create lasting connections among participants, promote mutual respect, and strengthen community bonds across Guyana.
Gold is Money and GT Kanaimas secured championship status in Chung’s Global Champion of Champions Tournament after an exciting display of skills in the finals at the National Gymnasium on Saturday. Gold is Money, led by Shamar Koulen, secured a 4-1 victory and champion-
ship status against a passionate and electric North Ruimveldt.
The game started with shots firing at both sides of the court, but it was a strike from Gold is Money’s Jamal Pedro that resulted in the first goal of the evening in the fifth minute, which added flames to the fiery nature of North Ruimveldt as
Antonio Allen again stepped up – levelling the game in the 16th minute to send the teams off at halftime level.
The second half saw keepers showing their athletic ability as they managed to keep the ball out of their nets. However, Gold is Money, with a miraculous strike, managed to put the ball into the back of the goal coming off the feet of William Europe in the 29th minute and minutes later, Shomar Koulen and Andrew Murray sealed the title, scoring in the 36th and 35th minutes respectively.
In the female final, with an all-round performance, GT Kanaimas managed to pull off the upset of the night when they defeated Police, 1-nil. With the help of their keeper in the early minutes of the first half to keep a clean sheet, the team took advantage in the fifth minute to score the first goal, which saw Police looking to equalise, but the Kanaimas showed their class to get the win.
Kanaimas Head Coach Lenin Thomas, in an exclusive interview, indicated that cohesiveness led the
team to victory. Thomas said: “Well, they work together, play together, they know one another, they know where to be at the right time. That cohesiveness led to their victory. Man, we feel great. The girls have been working and putting in all their energy and effort; today, we've got a pretty good game.”
For the men, Gold is Money pocketed $1,000,000 and the championship trophy, while North Ruimveldt secured $500,000 and North East La Penitence bagged $300,000.
West Indies
all-rounder Roston
Chase has opened up about the move to join the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the inaugural ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSLT20).
"Joining the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the inaugural Global Super League is an incredible opportunity for me," said Chase as he prepares to don the Warriors' jersey. "This team has a proud history, and I’m honoured to contribute to their journey in this landmark tournament. Playing in Guyana, in front of some of the most passionate fans in cricket, is something I’m truly looking forward to. I’m ready to give it my all and help bring the title home."
The GSLT20 runs from November 26 to December 7, 2024, at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, and promises to be a thrilling showdown of international cricket talent.
The GSLT20 will bring together five elite teams from across the world to compete for a whopping US$1 million prize pool. In addition to the Guyana Amazon Warriors, fans will witness powerhouses like Hampshire Hawks (England); Lahore Qalandars (Pakistan); Rangpur Riders (Bangladesh) and Victoria
The Guyana Basketball Federation Elite
16 KO Basketball Tournament saw the Stabroek Eagles and North Ruimveldt Ravens become the first two teams to secure semi-final positions, making the National Gymnasium appear to be a sanctuary of amazing basketball prowess on Saturday.
In the opening game of the evening, Zian Gray's energetic play helped the Stabroek Eagles thrash the Bounty Colts. They controlled the tempo, demonstrated their counterattacking skills, and led 19-14 at the end of the first quarter.
The Eagles had their advantage cut to two points in the second quarter, scoring 24 points to reach 38 points overall.
As they held the Colts to 11 points, the Eagles continued to show that they could penetrate defensive lines. They scored 17 points in response, bringing the score to 51-55.
A scoreline of 7974 saw the Colts making their way to the exit as the Eagles ended their campaign.
Zian stood out in his debut season for the Stabroek Eagles, as he was able
(Australia).
The tournament promises to deliver high-intensity cricket, featuring 10 electrifying matches and culminating in a grand finale on December 7.
Fans can secure their seats to watch Roston Chase and the Warriors in action. Tickets range from $1000 to $7000 and are available at multiple convenient locations:
Georgetown:
o Local Box Office, 233234 Camp Street (Week days: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Saturdays: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Berbice:
o A. Ally and Sons, 15-9
Main and New Streets, New Amsterdam
o Sensation Variety and Gift Shop, 10 Number 78 Public Road, Corriverton
Essequibo:
o ICAN Technologies, 1 Apartment 47 WD’s Mall, Charity
o ICAN Technologies, 53 Cottonfield, Essequibo Coast
o S&N Creole Snackette, Cottonfield Old Road, Essequibo Coast
The defending champions Marian Academy and Potaro Primary won two out of two games on Saturday to start their MVP Sports Girls’ Under-11 Pee-Wee tournament campaign on a perfect note, when the action went down at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, Carifesta Avenue.
Potaro Primary bagged the first victory of the 2024 tournament, edging Smith’s Memorial Primary 2-2. Reniese Joseph found the
to conquer defences and swished the ball in for 33 points, receiving support from Travis Belgrave with 17 points and Michael Richmond with 14 points.
The North Ruimveldt Ravens advanced further in the tournament after defeating McDoom/Prospect Kobras by 35 points in the night's last game. The Ravens dominated the whole contest and countered Kobras' careless defence.
<<<Guyana Times Sport>>> caught up with
winning Captain Dominic Vincente after the win as he divulged that the game plan worked for the team with all-round contributions throughout the game.
Vincente said: “Was a good team effort. We started from the tip ball, we came up with a game plan and we executed well. Everybody was in sync, even though we didn’t practise as much, we got contributions from our bench and our starters that made the difference.
“We can't be overconfi-
dent. I mean, we're confident, yes, but we still have a lot of work to do. And because of that, we got to come out as a team to execute.”
The team emerging victorious in the battle of the elites would earn a winner’s purse of $300,000. The team finishing in second place would earn $100,000, while the thirdplaced team would earn $50,000, and the tournament’s MVP would be awarded $25,000 for his standout performance.
back of the net in the 8th and 25th minutes for Potaro while Elian Lawrence found the back of the net for Smith’s in the 2nd minute.
West Ruimveldt followed with a 5-0 drubbing of Genesis Academy in the next match. Ariel Farley netted a helmet- trick in the 9th, 12th, 15th and 17th minutes while Jada McRae added their fifth in the 18th.
A solitary goal off the boots of Keshana Thomas in the 30th minute handed Waramuri Primary a 1-0 win against St John the Baptist Primary.
Then, One Mile and North Georgetown Primary played to a 1-all draw. Astrid Simon found the back of the net for North Georgetown first in the 15th minute while Kezaria Layne equalised for One Mile in the 31st.
In their first game of the day, Marian Academy pulled off a massive victory, defeating Georgetown International Academy 7-0. Chrissyanne Persaud was the star amongst Marian’s strikers, netting four times in the 6th, 13th, 16th and 23rd minutes while Haley Haberkorn, Sariah Samaroo, and Ella Fernandes added to the score in the 10th, 25th and 40th minutes.
Potaro Primary returned later to pull off another 2-1 win, this time against North Georgetown Primary. Reniese Joseph was once again the star for Potaro, scoring in the 5th and 10th minutes. Astrid Simon netted North Georgetown’s consolation in the 18th. Genesis Academy later turned their fortunes around with a 3-0 win against FE Pollard Primary. Tyra Clement contributed a brace in the 7th and 9th minutes while Arias Lewis netted the third in the 16th. Smith’s Memorial also had a change in fortunes, pulling off a nail-biting 1-0 win over One Mile Primary. Akeila Pile was the goal-scorer in the 15th minute.
The tournament’s defending champions closed off the day with a 4-0 victory, this time defeating Stella Maris, with a brace scored in the 18th and 23rd minutes and one each in the 12th and 30th minutes.
Meanwhile, Waramuri Primary, West Ruimveldt Primary and Batavia Primary all benefited from walkovers.
The MVP Sports Under-11 tournament will continue at the same venue on Saturday, November 24 with group stage action continuing in Round 3.
