The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, December 21 –05:30h-06:30h and 20:30h- 21:30h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Saturday, December 21 – 08:45h-10:15h.
he Nicolás Maduro-led
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
TVenezuelan regime is expected to provide an explanation for its aggressive tactics at the border with Guyana, including the recently constructed bridge connecting Venezuela’s mainland to Ankoko Island in the Cuyuni River, where the Venezuelan army maintains a military base.
This was indicated by Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana, Carlos Amador Perez Silva, during a high-level meeting with Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd, on Thursday in Georgetown.
That engagement followed remarks made by President Dr Irfaan Ali
earlier on Thursday when he reminded officers of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) that diplomacy is a key aspect of Guyana’s defence strategy in the face of threats to the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. As a result, the Head of State said the Foreign Affairs Ministry was asked to write to international partners including the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and Venezuela, renewing Guyana’s condemnation of the bridge that was built on Ankoko Island.
During Thursday’s meeting, this issue was brought up by Minister Todd.
“Guyana also registered its formal protest of the completion of a bridge built by the Venezuelan armed forces to link the Venezuelan mainland to Ankoko Island, and specifically to the military base which is situated on the part of Ankoko Island that belongs to Guyana,” a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Friday detailed.
Under the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899, and the Boundary Agreement of 1905, the international boundary passes through Ankoko Island, dividing the island between Guyana and Venezuela with Guyana’s sovereignty extending over the territory east of the boundary line.
But while Ankoko Island is shared by the two South American neighbours,
Venezuela illegally took over the entire island and established a military base there in 1966 after Guyana gained independence. Then earlier this year, there were reports along with satellite images shared of Venezuela’s National Armed Forces
building a bridge to Ankoko Island in the Cuyuni River.
According to Thursday’s missive, “Venezuela’s activities, including its military activities east of the boundary line thus violate Guyana’s sovereignty, and international law requires
that they be halted and that all personnel, facilities or equipment built or brought there by Venezuela be removed.”
Nevertheless, after hearing the Guyanese Minister’s submission, Ambassador Perez Silva posited that Caracas is in receipt of Guyana’s protest note and an explanation from his Headquarters would be forthcoming.
Meanwhile, Minister Todd also used the opportunity to express Guyana’s commitment to the principles of the United Nations (UN) Charter, the rule of international law, and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. He reminded of the provisional measures issued by the ICJ on December 1, 2023.
Editor: Tusika Martin
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On Wednesday, the National Assembly passed amendments to the Wills Act in a progressive step that is poised to bring significant relief to families across the nation. These changes, which aim to simplify the process of verifying wills, have been described as transformative by their advocates.
By removing cumbersome legal hurdles and introducing modern efficiencies, the amendments promise to make it easier for people to ensure their wishes are honoured after their passing.
For over a century, the Wills Act has governed how the estates of deceased individuals are handled, yet it has remained largely unchanged since its enactment in 1910. The passage of these amendments signifies a commitment to modernizing outdated legal structures which often impose unnecessary burdens on grieving families.
Key Reforms in the Amendments
At the heart of the amendments is a clear intention to streamline the probate process, which is the legal procedure for validating a will and administering the deceased’s estate according to its provisions. Under the old legislation, the process was often slow and bureaucratic, causing delays that could add stress to an already difficult time for families.
One notable change is the reduction in witness requirements. Previously, multiple witnesses were needed to verify the signing of a will. It was a safeguard designed to prevent fraud, but was one that often became an obstacle when witnesses were unavailable or deceased. The new law allows for one witness to swear an affidavit confirming the proper signing of the will, thereby removing a significant barrier without compromising the integrity of the process.
Moreover, the streamlined probate process promises to expedite the execution of wills. By making probate more efficient, the amendments not only honour the intentions of the deceased, but also alleviate the financial and emotional burdens on surviving family members.
The amendments to the Wills Act are, above all, a win for ordinary citizens.
For families, these changes bring clarity and relief. Disputes over wills are a common source of familial tension, often exacerbated by lengthy probate procedures and unclear documentation. By removing legal ambiguities and reducing delays, the amendments have the potential to minimize conflicts and ensure a smoother transition of assets.
The reduced witness requirements are also a practical step forward. In many rural and underserved communities, finding multiple witnesses who could later testify may be difficult. By allowing a single affidavit to suffice, the new provisions make it easier for people in these areas to create legally binding wills, ensuring their wishes are respected regardless of geographic or social constraints.
This legislative overhaul reflects a broader trend of modernizing legal systems to have them better aligned with contemporary needs. As societies evolve, so, too, must their laws. The amendments to the Wills Act demonstrate a willingness to adapt, ensuring that legal frameworks remain relevant and responsive.
Importantly, these changes also highlight the Government’s recognition of the emotional and financial toll that outdated laws can impose on citizens. By addressing inefficiencies and embracing reform, the amendments signal a commitment to making justice more accessible and equitable for all.
While the amendments mark a significant step forward, they also raise important questions about how the public would be educated on these changes. Awareness campaigns would be crucial to ensuring that citizens understand the new requirements and take advantage of the simplified process. Legal aid services and community organizations would play a vital role in disseminating information and assisting those who may face challenges in drafting or executing wills.
Furthermore, as the legal landscape evolves, continuous monitoring would be essential to identify any unforeseen issues that may arise under the new system. Lawmakers and legal practitioners must remain vigilant and ready to make further adjustments, if necessary, to uphold the intended benefits of these reforms.
For many, the prospect of navigating the legalities of death and inheritance can be overwhelming. These reforms provide a measure of reassurance, ensuring that the wishes of the deceased are respected and their loved ones are spared unnecessary hardship. In modernizing the Wills Act, the Government has not only honoured the legacy of those who came before, but also laid the groundwork for a more compassionate and efficient future.
Dear Editor,
Road Safety Month 2024 was observed under the banner “Do The Right Thing.” Doing the right thing is something the Opposition dissociates itself from, and remains a virtual improbable and impossible task which they will never visualize as virtuous.
Finding everything offensive, they would oppose anything at the PPP/C government table in Parliament, and would even seek recourse with the courts.
Thankfully, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is not influenced by discrimination, and the PNC cannot succeed with their whims and fancies whenever their brilliant attorneys attempt to “try a ting” with the CCJ. Needless to say, the PNC has never been victorious in any of their unscrupulous claims when they petitioned their cases with the CCJ. The Ranger’s hat-trick of losses remains a colossal defeat and a shameful embarrassment.
Trust the PPP/C Government to “Do The Right Thing.” Under the leadership of a workaholic President, a vigilant Ministry of Home Affairs, in consultation with the
Guyana Police Force, is contemplating a name change for next year, to accommodate the “Guyana Police Service.” This reference would reflect the true image, identifying with the various responsibilities to house the many departments and assistance the police shoulder.
During their previous governance, it was the PNC who misled the police and instructed them to commit many misdemeanours, especially during the 2020 Election period. The police were subdued by the dictator, and had to entertain the figment of a bomb threat, executing unjustified exercises in favour of the PNC; bullying the public, officials and observers with high-handed force; removing then Assistant Commissioner of Police Edgar Thomas from his post; giving incorrect instructions, etc.
Guyanese can rest assured that the rambunctious PNC will not dare “Do The Right Thing” for Guyana. The PNC tied up Guyanese and the resources of Guyana in the most lopsided oil contract ever conceived globally. In so doing, the PNC has sold out the birthright of generations to come, and imprisoned them in accept-
ing less than their fair share of prosperity! That is only the top of the tip of the iceberg in the policing of our resources by the PNC.
The PPP/C did the right thing when they exposed the mystery of the hidden US$18M signing bonus by the greedy green-eyed PNC.
Never one to practise the right side of the law, but to preach the wrong side of justice, the PNC drank Burnham’s stirred “KoolAid.” Not shaken by its devilish ideology, the nefarious protegees of a dangerous dictator continue to blindly support wrong things and ignore right things. The prodigal students of damnation relentlessly unleashed an attack on civility, exploited the abuse in wasteful spending, and sabotaged the course of law and order. Now the PPP/C Government and the people of Guyana have to pay for all the damages and expenses the former PNC Government incurred as a result of their uncaring and unilateral attitude.
Think of all the lawyers’ fees charged for all the cases tried by the CCJ. Where are the millions removed from JONESTOWN?
The PNC would never stop trying to pull the wool
over Guyanese eyes. The wolf in sheep’s clothing still thinks that all Guyanese are naïve and gullible. Not knowing how to do the right thing, the PNC tried to block the substantive appointment of Mr. Hicken as Commissioner of Police. Chief Justice (ag.) Roxane George, SC, dismissed the legal challenge, paving the way for the ever-alert President Dr Irfaan Ali to do the right thing by confirming Mr Hicken in Thursday’s swearing-in ceremony.
Despite placing their hands on all the Holy Books, the PNC lacks the temerity to say or do the right thing. They will always lead Guyana in the wrong direction. In this festive season, the PNC spurn the audacity to represent anything which spells good, but boasts and brags about the inauspicious tidings of everything bad. Not knowing how to begin to do bad deeds, the PPP/C Government can only accomplish good deeds. Guyanese are enjoying a financially stable holiday, thanks to the generosity of a PPP/C Government who will always “do the right thing.”
Yours respectfully, Jai Lall
Dear Editor, I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing discussion on whether “Girmitiya” or “Hindustani” is the more appropriate term to describe the descendants of Indian indentured labourers. This letter responds to perspectives shared by Baytoram Ramharack, Ravi Dev, Harry Hergash, and Seeraj Matthai.
First, I commend my fellow Indian brothers and sisters in Guyana and the diaspora for striving to reshape how descendants of indentured labourers are perceived. The transition from the derogatory “coolie” to more dignified terms is a positive development. However, any chosen term must reflect the historical and cultural specificity of the group it describes.
Language evolves dy-
namically over time. For example, the British no longer use “coolie” in official language to describe Indians. In Guyana, however, the term is still used across ethnic groups, and has acquired nuanced meanings which are sometimes derogatory and sometimes celebratory. For instance, the “coolie bai” song remains a popular chatney anthem! [Editor: Please retain the spelling “chatney.”]
Incidentally, I proudly identify as a “coolie” man — perhaps as an extension of “coolie-tude”. While some embrace the term humorously or defiantly as part of cultural identity, others understandably reject it.
In his presentation, Dr. Ramharack did not substantiate how “Girmitiya” is a “strategically useful concept” encompassing the global indenture experi-
ence. Moreover, the claim that the term is “attributed” to Mahatma Gandhi is demonstrably inaccurate. Historical records show that “Girmitiya” was a linguistic adaptation by Bhojpurispeaking labourers in Fiji, who phonetically altered the English word “agreement” to “girmit.” Gandhi’s writings acknowledged the term, but did not prescribe it as a universal identifier; his reference was descriptive, not prescriptive.
Baytoram’s acknowledgement of the term “Hindustani” as effective in Suriname is valid, but it is essential to recognize that the term’s historical use extends beyond the Surinamese context. Oral histories from Guyana confirm that “Hindustani” was widely used to describe both language and identity among sugar estate work-
Dear Editor,
The new land acquisition amendment being proposed in the current sitting of the Honourable House should bring to mind and encourage the effective utilization of the Integrity Commission Act.
This act ensures that the financial assets of key officials are scrutinized to verify that no foul play has occurred. Had this Act been used as intended, the current problem in the Guyana Police Force would not have been allowed to reach its current magnitude.
The Chambers of the Attorney General have also recently raised concerns over the ruling of a lower court that appears to be at odds with that of a higher court. The issue should be one related only to a question of the interpretation of the law. The Integrity Commission Act helps ensure that no other questions beyond legal interpretation are raised.
The amendment on land acquisition would allow for the expedient payment and use of the land needed for the implementation of the development plans of our country. As explained by the Attorney General, the courts would be involved in the settlement of the acquisition. The effective use of the Integrity Commission Act would also help prevent the perception of any wrongdoing, and would help ensure that expediency is not achieved at the expense of integrity.
We must avoid the perception of decisions being taken in preference for the Family, Friends and Favourites of the deci-
sion-makers. We must build trust and transparency as we build our nation.
The issue raised by the Opposition over the acquisition of land that was later not needed should be thoroughly investigated by the Chambers of the Attorney General, and recommendations should be brought to the Honourable House in regard to what steps should be taken to prevent the issue from arising in the future.
This should be a joint request from both sides of the aisle. If not done now, in the future, additional concerns would arise similar to the ones raised in the past (e.g.
Pradoville, the land of the Co-operative Land Society, and the land under NICIL’s control).
The Integrity Commission Act must be the guiding framework under which the transparency and the integrity of our Government, the Judiciary, and the Disciplined Forces are held to account, in order to maintain the high moral standards of our society. It is imperative that the Honourable Members of Parliament effectively implement the Act as intended.
Best regards, Jamil Changlee
ers, particularly before the 1960s. Ravi Dev has noted that “Hindustani” in Suriname carried similar connotations to “Indian Indentureds,” a term occasionally employed in British Guiana’s colonial records. Academic literature further supports that “Hindustani” reflects cultural and linguistic identity, distinguishing it from labels derived from colonial labour contracts.
Dr. Ramharack’s citation of scholars Brij Lal and Ashutosh Kumar warrants careful examination. Lal’s work confines “Girmitiya” to the Fijian context, reflecting the specificity of its origins. Similarly, in discussions, Professor Kumar has acknowledged the lack of academic justification for extending the term to regions beyond Fiji, such as the Caribbean or South Africa.
The indiscriminate application of “Girmitiya” risks both historical and cultural inaccuracy.
Dr. Matthai’s assertion that “Girmitiya” is a Hindi word meaning “contracted native labour” is particularly problematic. This statement is both linguistically and historically un-
founded. The term is absent from Hindi lexicons, and emerged solely as a phonetic derivation in Fiji, reflecting the colonial experience rather than indigenous linguistic roots.
Misrepresentation undermines the term’s credibility, and highlights the necessity for precise academic discourse.
A blogger aptly summarized this debate, writing, “…the term “Girmitiyas” (used and accepted by contemporary academics on the Indian indentured experiences to describe descendants of indentured Indians) clearly is, in my view, a “contemptuously” coined word to describe descendants of indentured labourers, simply because the word “girmitiyas” is derived from “girmit” a mispronunciation by Fiji indentured labourers of the word “agreement” — in effect, retaining the description “indentured” — probably to the delight and psychological comfort of the caste and “kala pani” mentality higher castes of India. Could you imagine Afro-Guyanese descendants of slaves still being referred today as “slaves?” So, it’s just as contemptuous, in my opinion,
to refer to all descendants of indentured labourers as “Girmitiyas.”
The primary objection I have encountered regarding the use of the term “Hindustani” stems from concerns that Muslims and Christians might feel excluded or uncomfortable being associated with it. However, when individuals understand that “Hindustani” is not rooted in any specific religion, but reflects a shared geography and cultural heritage, they are more likely to embrace it wholeheartedly, as they have done in Suriname. (Would the Surinamese spelling “Hindostani” make a difference?)
Unlike “Girmitiya,” which confines individuals to their colonial past, “Hindustani” situates people within the broader narrative of Indian civilization and cultural pride. Derived from “Hindustan” (India), this term resonates deeply. I am, without hesitation, a proud Hindustani!
Wishing all Guyanese a safe and joyous holiday season.
Sincerely, Dr Devanand Bhagwan
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2024
06:00 (Sign on) Inspiration Time
06:30 Cartoons
07:00 Evening News (RB)
08:00 Stop Suffering
09:00 Movie - Thomas & Friends: The Christmas Letter Express (2024)
10:00 Indian Movie - Kyaa Kool Hai Hum (2005)
13:00 Movie - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)
15:30 Movie - Confessions of a Christmas Letter (2024)
17:00 Payless Power Hour
18:00 Evangelistic Hour
18:30 Pastor Alvin Teaching
19:00 The Evening News
20:00 Movie - A Christmas Story Christmas (2022)
21:40 Stand-up Comedy
22:00 Movie - Violent Night (2022)
00:00 Sign off
Sometimes, two angles can be defined by their relationship to each other. Supplementary angles are two angles that form a line. Their sum will be 180o, so if you know the measure of one, you can figure out the other. Note that angles can sometimes be called by one letter, placed near the vertex.
If angle a = 120o, what is the measure of angle b?
Step 1: Think: A straight line = 180o
Step 2: Subtract: 180 – 120 = 60
So angle b = 60o
Identify whether the following angles are supplementary
With wooden beads and craft dowels, you can create starburst ornaments for the tree. Start with a full length 3mm dowel and string on beads. Glue the second to last and last pieces to hold it all in place and cut off any extra wood off each end. Then, cut four pieces of dowel that are half the size of the piece you just created and string on beads in the same pattern on each, securing with hot glue on the ends. Attach the ends of the four pieces to the centre bead on your first dowel to create a starburst shape. Add wire or ribbon and hang on the tree! (goodhousekeeping.com)
By Benjamin Zephaniah
Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas
Cos’ turkeys just wanna hav fun Turkeys are cool, turkeys are wicked
An every turkey has a Mum.
Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas, Don’t eat it, keep it alive, It could be yu mate, an not on yu plate Say, Yo! Turkey I’m on your side.
I got lots of friends who are turkeys
An all of dem fear christmas time, Dey wanna enjoy it, dey say humans destroyed it
An humans are out of dere mind, Yeah, I got lots of friends who are turkeys Dey all hav a right to a life, Not to be caged up an genetically made up By any farmer an his wife.
Turkeys just wanna play reggae Turkeys just wanna hip-hop
Can yu imagine a nice young turkey saying, ‘I cannot wait for de chop’, Turkeys like getting presents, dey wanna watch christmas TV, Turkeys hav brains an turkeys feel pain In many ways like yu an me.
I once knew a turkey called Turkey
He said ‘Benji explain to me please, Who put de turkey in christmas
An what happens to christmas trees?’, I said ‘I am not too sure turkey
But it’s nothing to do wid Christ Mass Humans get greedy an waste more dan need be
An business men mek loadsa cash’.
Be nice to yu turkey dis christmas
Invite dem indoors fe sum greens
Let dem eat cake an let dem partake
In a plate of organic grown beans, Be nice to yu turkey dis christmas
An spare dem de cut of de knife, Join Turkeys United an dey’ll be delighted
An yu will mek new friends ‘FOR LIFE’.
ublic Works Minister
PJuan Edghill has once again upbraided Avinash Contracting & Scrap Metal Inc for delays in the construction of the Commercial Centre at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD) during a recent visit.
According to Edghill, the contractor must present a detailed plan on how it intends to complete the work within the specified time frame for each section of the project by January/Early February.
“We were supposed to hand over the Commercial Centre by December 31, 2024, I need to see a revised work plan that includes an increase in personnel, de-
tailing who is responsible for doors, windows, ceilings, plastering, and painting—how many people, how many hours, and how much time. I want it right down to the bottom. I must know that a square foot will take you three hours, and you need two men,” a visibly upset Edghill stated.
Revealing his strict approach to ensuring realistic timelines, the Minister emphasised that he does not want to go back and forth with plans that are not realistic.
“I’m not going to accept a timeline, and then when we come back, it’s not realistic. Because with that work programme, I might be able to get the work done before June… I want to be able to
go through the work programme, and if it’s realistic,” he added.
If the revised methods are not feasible by Januaryearly February, he warned that the contracts will be terminated.
“We’ve got to tell the people that we will do everything that we say we will do, I’m not going to agree to anything else. If not, I’m going to start nominating contractors to finish the work and pay them from your contract, I cannot allow the current state of play to continue anymore,” Minister Edghill said.
Speaking to the consultant from Avinash Construction & Scrap Metal Inc, Minister Edghill stated that no further extensions would be granted beyond six months.
“There will be no further extension beyond six months. So if we can see progress on a critical path within a particular time frame, which we will agree on here and now, we’re going to have to start. This cannot go beyond six months. Next year is 2025,” he stressed.
Another point raised by the Minister was that staff will soon be occupying the building, making it urgent for the contractors to finish the work.
“This building must be opened, and airport staff must occupy the building by June 30th. I’m not going beyond that, I don’t care what—it cannot go beyond that. That must be very,
The World Court had ordered: “(1) Unanimously, Pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby the Co-operative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area; [and] (2) Unanimously, Both Parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.”
Minister Todd further iterated Guyana’s commitment to the Joint Declaration of Argyle of December 14, 2023, during which both Presidents Ali and Maduro agreed not to threaten or use force against each other in any circumstances and committed to the pursuance of good
neighbourliness, peaceful coexistence, and the unity of Latin America and the Caribbean.
On the other hand, the two officials also discussed the ongoing border controversy case before the ICJ, where Guyana is seeking a final and binding ruling of the 1899 Arbitral Award that determined the boundary between the two South American neighbours.
The Spanish-speaking nation is claiming more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass in the Essequibo region and a portion of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) where more than 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels have been discovered over the past nine years.
Only earlier this month, Guyana submitted its final written reply to Venezuela’s counter-memorial, pointing out that the Spanishspeaking nation’s case is without merit and that ul-
very clear.”
He added that this means the contractor must double the workforce to get the job done.
“It means that the workforce has to double—day and night work. The arrival on site of critical materials must not be delayed, including electrical systems, and air conditioning, all of that. So, in the procure-
ment plan, samples must be submitted by December 24, 2024. Approvals, whether on January 3 or 4, or whatever the case may be, everything must be in place. If I can’t see that, we’ll terminate the contract,” he concluded.
The commercial centre at the CJIA in Guyana is being built to improve the passenger experience. The centre will include restaurants,
bars, duty-free shops, and a play area for children.
This is not the first time that the contract was reprimanded for unfinished work. Only recently several contractors had to be called in to complete the Cemetery Road Project after years of delay by Avinash Contracting & Scrap Metal Inc.
FROM PAGE 3
timately, the court will confirm the 1899 award as valid and legally binding.
In the merits phase of the case, Guyana’s Memorial was submitted on April 8, 2023, and Venezuela’s CounterMemorial was made one year later on April 8, 2024. Now with Guyana’s Reply filed on December 9 as set out by the ICJ, Venezuela will have the opportunity to respond with its Rejoinder, due on August 8, 2025.
The Venezuelan diplomat acknowledged these recent developments in the case during Thursday’s engagement, where Minister Todd reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to the ICJ process and ultimately, the court’s decision.
It was previously reported that the ICJ will in due time set a date for the oral hearings between Guyana and Venezuela to commence. (G-8)
Twenty-four-year-old
Remanded: Noah Beaton
with the crime when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Beaton was not required to plead to the indictment and was remanded to prison until January 31, 2025.
Beaton who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Bernard Da Silva had con-
As your Eyewitness has been commenting, it’s now five years since we’ve been pumping oil from under our Atlantic; 500 million barrels have already been brought up, and we’ve received US$5.5 billion for our (comparatively small) share.The deal – such as it is - was “negotiated” by Raphael Trotman under instructions from the PNC coalition cabinet, according to him. So, it’s mighty strange that those who’re kvetching about our share and demanding “renegotiation” have studiously ignored that factoid, innit?!! Hadn’t Global Witness suggested that Trotman be prosecuted??
Another weakness of the contract – aside from the measly bonus and royalties – is that our 50% profit is calculated - like all profits - after expenses to the company have been deducted from revenues. But the expenses aren’t confined to the particular field, like say, Lisa 1 – but from the entire Stabroek block. So, the 75% allowable expenses that leave just 25% overall to be split half-and-half won’t allow our share to rise until the exploration of the Stabroek block is completed!! This is due to the missing “ringfencing” clause we hear about!! But we will get that real 50% profit eventually!!
fessed to fatally stabbing Joseph, 37, at the Signature Inn Hotel in Queenstown, Georgetown, on Monday, December 16, 2024.
Joseph, an Indigenous leader from Tasserene Village, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) was stabbed 19 times to his face, neck, and chest.
“I was informed that the accused and deceased are known to each other and he was allegedly sexually abused from age six to 10… the now deceased was asked to confess and on the refusal of that request the deceased chose to again make sexual advances on the very night, that triggered the accused of what the psychologist would describe as internalised anger and he reacts rather than responding,” Da Silva stated.
According to police reports, Beaton turned himself in at the Brickdam Police Station one day after committing the crime and confessed to killing Joseph. In his confession, Beaton alleged that the attack stemmed from years of unresolved anger over sexual abuse he claimed Joseph inflicted on him as a child, starting when he was a primary school student.
Hotel staff discovered Joseph’s lifeless body in room 135 after noticing bloodstains on the walkway and a hole in the door. Investigators later revealed that Joseph had checked into the hotel on Sunday evening and was last seen with an unidentified male entering the room in the early hours of Monday.
Anyhow, we now come to the crux of the matter –improving the living standards of “us, the people,” after five years of pumping oil. Now, right off the bat, we should know this improvement ain’t gonna hit everyone instantaneously. Oil doesn’t come with a Fairy Godmother waving a wand!! In this modern world, the dignified and ultimately sustainable way to improve peoples’ lives is to create jobs for them. They can then spend their wages and salaries and improve their lives the way THEY want it.
Well, jobs HAVE been created – some 5000 directly from oil, and several times from the multiplier effects of the Government’s oil-fuelled developmental projects.
Has anyone tried getting handymen to do odd jobs around their yards and homes?? That’s right…you can’t get them for love or money! And that’s because they’re otherwise employed!!
Then there are the other aspects of the good life – like education and medical care. The Government’s building modern schools and hospitals all over the place, and training personnel to staff them; so, while we may still face the old bottlenecks right now…there’s light at the end of that tunnel!!
Then there’s transportation. While, back in the day, Roosevelt had promised Americans “a chicken in every pot”, this Government seems to’ve ensured “a car in every driveway”!! Remember just yesterday when a bicycle was the best we could aspire to?? More cars need more roads and bridges, so that backups – which used to be a First World problem – don’t get outta hand?
And housing? Look at the house lots given out and homes built!! Yes…our lives have been improved!!
…of policing
Imagine the shamelessness of Hamilton Green: not just to keep on insisting on abusing the honorific “Elder”, but to criticize the Government for “politicizing” the Police Force by appointing Acting COP Hicken to the substantive position because he’s past 55. Now, your Eyewitness can point – as our AG did - to Section 2(b) of the Constitution (Prescribed Matters) Act. This provision allows the President to authorise the Commissioner to continue serving beyond the retirement age of 55, but not beyond 60!!
But what gets your Eyewitness’s goat is Green mentioning he’s been around since the sixties - yet speaks about “politicizing” the GPF!! Green was there with Burnham used the latter’s politicising the police to harass and hound anyone they suspected of opposing the PNC. If we need an official expose of this horrendous practice, we need to look no further than the CoI into the assassination of Rodney.
What’s more “politicising” the GPF than forcing its officer corps to swear allegiance to the Kabaka at PNC Congresses!! …of corrupt cops
That Brutus attempted to flee the jurisdiction via the Takutu Bridge into Brazil should alert officialdom they gotta tighten up that route. Yes, Brutus was snagged; but your Eyewitness thinks that’s due to his notoriety!!
Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Bishop Patrick Findlay commended members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for their sacrifices and outstanding performance throughout 2024.
He made these remarks at the luncheon and award ceremony for ranks of the
Tactical Services Unit (TSU) on Thursday at the Police Officers’ Mess Annexe, Eve Leary, Georgetown. According to Findlay, the sacrifices made by the ranks and their families are significant, as they often put their lives at risk, being the first to respond in times of crisis. He also took the opportu-
nity to congratulate the new Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioners. He expressed his appreciation for their ongoing work, noting the personal sacrifices made by the ranks and their families.
In addition, during his brief remarks, Officer in Charge of the TSU, Superintendent Brian Lowenfield, congratulated the ranks on their sterling performance in 2024 and emphasised that the unit is one of the GPF’s major departments.
He reassured that it would continue to train its ranks to serve the public with professionalism.
Newly appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police Ravindranath Budhram encouraging the ranks to remain steadfast in their duties and urged them to be agents of change and not to complain about the job.
He emphasised, “Be agents of change… stay humble, promotion will come, and continue to work hard.”
Meanwhile, each department of the unit was awarded with cash incentives. The ‘A’ Section and the ‘B’ Section each received $200,000, while the Training Section was awarded $180,000.
The Environmental Section, Arms Store and Armoury, Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), and Admin Registry each received $150,000. The Parliament Building section received $100,000.
Ranks who had re-
cently graduated from the University of Guyana (UG) were also presented with plaques for their outstanding academic performances.
Additionally, families of deceased ranks received hampers.
On behalf of the top cop, Budhram presented the ranks who performed at the event with $15,000 each. He also gifted the TSU $400,000.
Among those present at the luncheon were the Chairman of the Police
Jermaine Johnson; Head of Police Transport, Senior Superintendent Himnauth Sawh; Director of Guyana Learning Foundation’s (GLF) Training Academy, Woman Superintendent Sonia Herbert; Head of the Police Credit Union, Donna Todd; and other junior officers and ranks.
Fifty-three-year-old Oscar King, a miner of Kumung Kumung Backdam, Puruni River met his demise on Thursday after he was trapped in a mining pit due to a fallen tree.
Police stated that King was employed by a 53-yearold gold miner who operates a five-inch land dredging operation at Kumung Kumung Backdam, along with four
other workers.
On the day in question, King and his coworkers were working in a mining pit measuring 40 feet in width by 60 feet in length by 8 feet in depth.
However, while working the ‘jet’, the southern side of the pit collapsed and a tree fell and trapped King in the pit. King was reportedly covered in mud and unable to move.
Reports are that, his coworkers dug him out but at the time he was already motionless. The police were contacted and the body was
later
Twenty-three-year-old Venezuelan national Ulise Mijanes was in the wee hours of Friday nabbed with three grams of cocaine during a police roadblock at One Mile Bartica Potaro Road, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)
Police stated that on the day in question at about 1:30h, ranks intercepted a motor car bearing registration number PWW 1175 which at the time had two occupants – the driver and the Venezuelan national.
At the time of the interception, the suspect was act-
ing suspiciously. As such, a search was conducted on both the driver and Mijanes during which several pieces of whitish rock-like substance suspected to be cocaine were found in his left side pants waist.
He was told of the offence committed but he remained silent. He was escorted to the Bartica Police Station where the narcotic was weighed and amounted to 3 grams.
Mijanes remains in custody and is expected to be charged in the new week.
The Guyana Prize third place winner ‘Requiem for the Living’ was staged at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) on Sunday last and wowed a packed audience.
The play was a serious yet humorous thriller which delved into the lives of two sisters, Beverly and Elizabeth, bitter enemies haunted by a harsh and unforgiving childhood. It explored themes of abuse, anger, love, lust, fear, and pain. In the play, Bev (Beverly) returns to her childhood home with her new boy-
friend to confront her past and to find healing. Residing at the home are her sister Liz (Elizabeth) and her family. The two sisters clash over the legacy of their parents, and the misconceptions of the source of their pain. The clashes are both verbal and physical and end in tragedy as both sisters lose their lives in a murder-suicide. The play concluded with an emotional dance, artistically displayed by the Wright’s Temple Dancers. This fascinating tale was written by Jamal La Rose and directed by Godfrey Naughton. The case com-
prised Feliz Roberston as Beverley Bowen; Jude Holder as her paramour; up-and-coming actress Latiefa Agard as Elizabeth; Frederick Minty as her husband Paul; Sheron Cadogan Taylor as Jay-jay the spicy neighbour; Akeila David as Liz’s son Joel and Kelly Asgill as the Police officer.
The production was staged under the Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry’s ‘Write to Stage’ support programme which started in 2023 and has already seen the successful production of six prize-winning plays from the archives of the Guyana
Prize for Literature.
The prestigious Guyana Prize for Literature, at the coming to power of this Government in 2020, was dormant since it had been discontinued by the previous Government. It was revived in 2022 after a six-year hiatus. The ‘Write to Stage’ Support Programme gives life to the winning plays of the Prize and has revived local theatre and its appreciation. Only a few of the plays that won the Guyana Prize competition before this initiative had been staged.
Since the inception of the programme, the fol-
The Court of Appeal (CoA) has altered the life sentence of Stafrei Alexander who was convicted of attempted murder by granting him the chance of parole after serving 15 years.
This ruling marks a significant shift from his original sentence, which offered no possibility of parole.
Alexander, 41, was convicted in June 2018 after a mixed jury at the Demerara High Court returned an 11-1 guilty verdict.
The case stemmed from a violent attack on March 23, 2015, when Alexander ambushed Curtis Thom at his Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown residence. Thom, who had been feeding his dog at the time, was shot multiple times thus suffering critical injuries to his back and side.
The severity of his wounds required emergency surgery and a prolonged hospital stay, during which Thom battled complications, including hemothorax—a
dangerous buildup of blood in the pleural cavity.
At sentencing, Justice Sandil Kissoon handed down a life term without parole, emphasising the seriousness of Alexander’s actions. However, through his attorney, Dexter Smartt of Dexter Todd and Associates, Alexander appealed the ruling, claiming it was overly harsh and legally flawed.
Smartt argued that the trial judge failed to conduct a separate sentencing hearing, did not establish a structured starting point for sentencing, and neglected to address parole eligibility.
Additionally, he highlighted that the crime, while grievous, did not result in Thom’s death, making the life sentence disproportionate.
Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Diana Kaulesar-O’Brien, representing the state, defended the life sentence, asserting that it appropriately reflected the crime’s severity. She maintained that
Justice Kissoon had considered both mitigating and aggravating factors, as well as Alexander’s criminal history, in his decision.
The appellate panel, led by Chancellor of the Judiciary (acting) Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards and includes Justices Dawn GregoryBarnes and Rishi Persaud,
ultimately agreed with Smartt’s submission.
Justice CummingsEdwards, delivering the court’s decision, noted that modern sentencing principles emphasise rehabilitation and societal reintegration.
“The consideration of such a factor accords with modern principles of sen-
lowing Guyana Prize plays have been performed: Sauda by Mosa Telford, directed by Ayanna Waddell for the National Drama Company; Makantali by Harold Bascom, directed by Godfrey Naughton; The Last of the Red Men by Michael Gilkes, directed by Henry Muttoo and Gem Madhoo-Nascimento for GEMS Theatre Productions; Father of the Man by Paloma Mohamed, directed by Simone Dowding; Children of Baby (2nd Place winner) by Mosa Telford, directed by Nickose Layne for the National Drama Company; and Requiem for the Living (3rd Place winner) by Jamal La Rose, directed by Godfrey Naughton.
The ‘Write to Stage’ Support Programme offers an authentic display of the creative art form which can be consumed by an audience that is interested in more than slapstick comedy. In light of the successes gained, subject Minister Charles Ramson Jr at the end of the production, committed to the continued staging of the programme and indicated that patrons can look forward to a new menu of plays in 2025.
tencing and addresses the penological objective of rehabilitation and reintegration into society,” she explained.
The panel ruled that Alexander should be eligible for parole after 15 years, finding that the failure to specify a parole eligibility period during sentencing was an error.
“We [the court] believe that a minimum period of incarceration should have been specified. Having regard to all the cases before us, we believe that, in this regard, an appropriate period for parole should be 15 years,” Justice CummingsEdwards added.
While Alexander continues serving time for this crime, his criminal record includes other notable convictions. He and his co-accused, Owen Belfield, were sentenced in April 2022 for the murder of businessman Richard Remington, whose body was found in February 2015 with gunshot wounds to the head.
Both men are serving sentences handed down by Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Demerara High Court.
Alexander also remains implicated in the 2015 murder of Linden businesswoman Shevon Gordon. During an alleged robbery outside her Wismar home, Gordon was fatally shot after resisting her attackers. Alexander, alongside co-accused Asdino Bowen— currently out on $750,000 bail—is awaiting trial in that case.
In 2017, Alexander was sentenced to two years in prison for escaping custody during a fire at the Camp Street Prison in Georgetown. The blaze led to a mass escape involving several high-profile inmates. This recent appellate decision not only reshapes Alexander’s sentence but also signals the judiciary’s evolving stance on balancing punishment with opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration.
The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) has welcomed the recent passage of new legislation that paves the way for small and medium-scale enterprises (SME) to easily access loans by using movable assets.
On Wednesday, the National Assembly approved the new Security Interests in Moveable Property Bill 2024 – a critical piece of legislation that seeks to foster financial inclusion and empower SMEs.
During her presentation, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond, explained that the bill will resolve the hesitancy of small business owners being able to access loans due to the insufficiency of immovable properties.
“The bill simplifies the process of using moveable assets as collateral for secured credit, making it more accessible to a wider range of businesses…These include tangible assets like equipment, inventory, crops, livestock and vehicles, as well as intangible assets like receivables, intellectual properties and negotiable instruments,” the Minister stated.
In a statement on Friday, GBTI applauded the new legislation, which it said
will facilitate easier access to loans for SMEs.
“This development is a significant step forward in empowering entrepreneurs and fostering sustainable economic growth in Guyana. As a longstanding supporter of SMEs, GBTI recognises the vital role these businesses play in creating jobs, driving innovation, and contributing to local communities,” the bank stated.
According to the bank, this new legislation aligns with the bank’s own mission to provide accessible and flexible financial solutions that help businesses grow and thrive.
The cornerstone of
its SME support is GBTI GROW – a dedicated branch and suite of products/loans catering to the unique needs of SMEs. Established last month at the bank’s Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) location, GBTI GROW bridges the gap between entrepreneurs and accessible financing, offering specialised services designed to empower local businesses to scale and succeed.
“We are excited about this new measure to make financing more accessible to SMEs, which will undoubtedly enhance their capacity to contribute to Guyana’s economic diversifi-
cation,” GBTI‘s CEO, Shawn Gurcharran, stated.
He added, “With GBTI GROW, we have reaffirmed our commitment to the SME sector, offering tailored financial solutions, expert guidance, and a range of resources to help entrepreneurs achieve their goals.”
Through GBTI GROW and broader SME banking services, the local bank offers loan products for SMEs, including working capital loans, equipment financing, and project financing, tailored to meet specific business needs. It also has business advisory services that help entrepreneurs with business planning, fi-
nancial management, and growth strategies.
Additionally, GBTI also offers flexible collateral requirements, making it easier for SMEs to access financing as well as a dedicated Relationship Manager who provides personalised support to business owners to navigate the financial landscape. At the bank, there are also networking opportunities, connecting SMEs with key stakeholders and industry professionals to foster growth and collaboration.
“We understand the challenges faced by SMEs in securing financing and are eager to work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure that this initiative translates into meaningful support for entrepreneurs across Guyana.”
“GBTI stands ready to partner with business owners, Government agencies, and other financial institutions to deliver solutions that will enable our SMEs to prosper and drive Guyana’s economic transformation,” Friday’s missive from the bank stated.
The Security Interests in Moveable Property Bill, which was passed with the support of the parliamentary opposition, creates more opportunities for financing
and ensures consistency, transparency and legal certainty in credit markets by streamlining a secure transaction system.
It consolidates previous mechanisms for securing credit such as bills of sale, finance leases and pledges of goods. All these mechanisms are contained in a single legal device called “security agreements.”
A security agreement is a consensual agreement that secures payment or performance of obligations. It eliminates redundancies, reduces administrative burdens and ensures a coherent legal framework for secure transactions in the country.
The registration of the moveable property is managed through an electronic track register maintained by the registrar. According to the Minister, the Security Interest in Moveable Property 2024 will bring a safe change in the commercial industry.
“It will remove key constraints that have confronted thousands of Guyanese citizens and small businesses. It opens up avenues of credit previously unavailable to them,” Minister Walrond had informed the National Assembly.
Residents of Region 1 (Barima-Waini) can now expect improved health services, following the recent installation of 80 healthcare professionals.
These new healthcare professionals received their certificates during a graduation ceremony at the North West Secondary School on Thursday. Of the 80 graduates, 50 are now certified Community Health Workers (CHW) while 23 were trained as Nursing Assistants (NA) and 11 Operating Room Technicians (ORT).
Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley during his
address to the gathering highlighted that for the first time, several areas in Region One will now have first-time access to their own healthcare professionals.
“Today out of this batch graduating for the first time in history villages such as Five Star, Tasawini and Eyelash will have their community health workers.”
He added that through Government investments, the number of persons being trained under the various health programmes has increased significantly.
“We moved from training four to training 50 right at
home; we have moved from where we train two and three nursing assistants a year to training 25 of them at one go.”
Also present at the event was the region’s parliamentary representative, Collin Croal who stressed the importance of workers displaying positive attitudes when dealing with patients.
“Health workers, nursing assistants, professionals from the medical field. You are the heart of our healthcare system, you provide care, you provide comfort and hope to patients during their most vulnerable mo-
ments. Your work is therefore essential, not only to individuals’ lives but to the collective strength of our communities. A healthy population is a foundation of national development and you will be on the front lines, ensuring that the foundation remains strong.”
Additionally, the Minister highlighted some of the investments the Government has made over the years, which have since transformed healthcare delivery within the region.
“We have constructed five new level one facilities at Barabina, Imbotero, Khan Hill... We have upgraded several health centres and for example, the Baramita Health Centre is now upgraded to a cottage hospital.”
Minister added, “The health post has been upgraded to a health centre. There are now three hospitals with X-ray services. And the laboratory services are available for the very first time here, at Kumaka and Port Kaituma hospitals.”
Meanwhile, Director General of the Health Ministry, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo highlighted how the healthcare sector has seen significant transformation over the years.
“The Ministry of Health and with the regional budget, we would have had, in
capital investments alone, about one and a half billion dollars being spent. In 2022, a hundred million came on the instructions of the president. A hundred million came out of your budget, out of the regional budget, to fix
facilities because the facilities were not up to scratch. In 2023, over two hundred million came. And in 2024, another five hundred million plus came to the region so that all the facilities are fixed.”
The Government on Friday awarded 52 contracts to the tune of $112 million for drainage and irrigation works in the mining town of Linden.
Overseeing the contract signing on Friday, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha highlighted that over the years, the Government has been investing heavily in drainage and irrigation infrastructure in the region.
While addressing the gathering, Mustapha explained the contracts will
be executed in two phases representing a total investment of over $224 million for 2024.
Amelia’s Ward Phase 3 Community Development Council (CDC), 1st Ville (Buckville) CDC, Burnham Drive CDC, Dalawalla CDC, Retrieve CDC, and 58 Miles CDC were among the groups that were awarded contracts for drainage and irrigation works in their respective areas.
Moreover, Minister Mustapha disclosed that over the last four years,
approximately $1.5 billion was expended to execute several other critical projects in the region. Some of the projects include the rehabilitation of 34 kilometres of access road at Ebini/ Kimbia to support the corn and soya bean project, the construction of agro-processing facilities, cleaning and desilting of drains in Silvertown, Wismar, and Retrive in Linden.
Several scheduled and emergency works were also done to clear critical drainage and irrigation channels
A24-year-old man appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer to robbery with violence and malicious damage to property charges.
Kacy Marshall, a resident of Buxton Company Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was accused of robbing Devon Charles of a gold chain while at the same time inflicting severe injuries, including fractures to the victim’s skull and chest.
Marshall is also alleged to have unlawfully and maliciously damaged an iPhone 11 Pro Max belonging to the victim during the incident which took place on July 24, 2024, at Regent and Camp Streets, Georgetown.
Marshall, however, pleaded not guilty to both charges. He was represented by attorney-at-law Jevon Cox who applied for bail on the grounds that his client had been cooperating with the police since his arrest on August 9, 2024.
Cox noted that Marshall was placed on $100,000 station bail and had been reporting regularly to the Alberttown Police Station.
He further questioned the reason his client was only now summoned to court nearly four months after the alleged crime.
Kacy Marshall
Cox also highlighted Marshall’s recent unemployment, his role as a father to two young children, and his voluntary appearance in court as reasons for granting reasonable bail.
The prosecution, however, objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the offences and the penalties they carry. They detailed the extent of the victim’s injuries, which included multiple fractures, and noted
in West Watooka, Cacatara Creek, Silvertown and Wismar. Additionally, the Minister handed over a mini excavator to the region valued at $13 million to assist with cleaning and desilting drainage channels within the region.
Addressing the aftermath of heavy rainfall that caused flooding in multiple areas, the Minister related that critical drainage and irrigation works were executed to address the situation and bring relief to the residents.
The Ministry, in collaboration with other agencies including the Ministry of Public Works, has mobilised machinery to desilt canals and engaged in manual cleaning with residents in areas such as West Watooka and Fairs Rust.
Over the past four years, significant D&I works in Region 10 have seen an investment of $1.5 billion, enhancing farmer access to farmlands and reducing flooding. Some $320.1 million was spent in 2020, $297.7 million in 2021, $198.2 million in 2022, $226.5 million in 2023 and $552.7 million this year.
Notable projects encompass erosion control, excavation works, and the construction of a $38.5 million,
250-foot dam at Coomaka, alongside the ongoing assessment of the $40 million rehabilitation of the Coomacka Mines Flood Control Dam this year.
Additionally, $41.3 million was allocated for the construction of conservancy dams and the rehabilitation of D&I channels in
West Watooka and Linden, while an investment of $116.2 million has been made for the construction of D&I structures in these areas. Furthermore, an annual expenditure of over $200 million was budgeted for the manual maintenance of drains creeks within the region.
Tthat video evidence reportedly showed Marshall fleeing the scene. Additionally, the stolen jewellery has not been recovered.
After considering the arguments, Magistrate McGusty granted Marshall $120,000 bail - $70,000 for the robbery with violence charge and $50,000 for the malicious damage to property charge. He is expected to return to court on January 17, 2025.
he Court of Appeal (CoA) has reduced the total prison sentence for Murphy Noorhan, who was convicted of raping a 10-year-old girl, by ruling that his 20-year sentence should run concurrently rather than consecutively.
This adjustment cuts Noorhan’s prison time from 40 to 20 years. Noorhan was found guilty on two counts of sexual activity involving sexual penetration of a minor which occurred between January 4 and 5, 2013.
During his sentencing on January 8, 2016, Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry imposed 20 years for each count, to be served consecutively. The judge cited the
seriousness of the offences, Noorhan’s abuse of trust, and the lasting impact on the victim, who is now approximately 21 years old.
At the trial, prosecutors described Noorhan’s repeated abuse of the child and emphasised the betrayal of his position of trust. Noorhan’s defence attorney argued his innocence, claiming the charges were unsubstantiated. The defence also pointed to a medical report showing no evidence of physical bruising to the victim’s vagina.
Justice SewnarineBeharry, however, underscored the prevalence of child sexual abuse and Noorhan’s violation of his
role as a protector in justifying her original decision.
At the appeal, Noorhan was represented by attorneys Gwendolyn Bristol and Sarah Martin, who argued that the consecutive nature of the sentences was excessive. They contended that modern sentencing principles call for proportionality and fairness, especially since the offences arose from the same incident.
Prosecutor Natasha Backer opposed the appeal, stating that the original sentences appropriately reflected the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on the victim.
The appellate panel, which included Chancellor of the Judiciary (acting) Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards, Justice of Appeal Dawn Gregory-Barnes, and Justice of Appeal Rishi Persaud, found that while the 20-year sentences were appropriate, they should run concurrently given the circumstances.
This decision effectively halved Noorhan’s prison term, citing that the offences stemmed from the same incident.
As such, Noorhan’s appeal was allowed. The court also ordered that Noorhan be credited for time served.
The Guyana Government anticipates that its model Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project could earn the country as much as US$500 million from savings when electricity prices are slashed by half and from the sale of the rich excess gas.
This is according to Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, during a press conference on Thursday.
Located at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD), the GtE Project includes the construction of an Integrated Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant and a 300-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant utilising the rich natural gas from the offshore operations in the prolific Stabroek Block.
When the power plant becomes operational, which is slated for early 2025, it is
expected that the addition of 300MW into the national grid will not only bring stable power but also cut the current high cost of electricity by half.
According to VP Jagdeo, this reduction would see savings to the tune of US$250 million per year.
“That is simply because we’ll reduce electricity prices from 22 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 11 cents per kWh. So, US$250 million per year in savings to the people of Guyana,” he stated.
The Vice President further explained that with this saving, it would take Guyana approximately eight years to repay for the entire GtE Project, which is pegged at almost US$2 billion including the cost of the US$1 billion pipelines installed by US oil major and Stabroek
Block operator, ExxonMobil, that will be used to bring the gas onshore.
However, Jagdeo pointed out that the liquids that will come when Guyana cleans the excess gas for products such as cooking gas or Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) can be sold and this will further bolster the country’s earnings from the GtE Project.
“The liquids alone that we will get from the project, if we sell it at current market price in Guyana, the same amount of liquid will raise another US$250 million per year…. So, it’s a massive [earning]. We will see about US$250 to US$500 million per year in benefits from that because we now have free electricity [and liquids to sell]. That’s a huge sum of money,” the VP stressed.
At least 50 million standard cubic feet of gas (mmscf) are expected to be piped from the Liza Field in the Stabroek Block to the GtE Project site at Wales.
In the Stabroek Block, some 17 trillion cubic feet of gas has already been found with the Pluma and Haimara wells being proven gas fields.
But the 250 kilometres of 12-inch pipelines that were laid by Exxon to bring the gas onshore will only use 40 per cent of the pipeline’s capacity to gas up the Wales project, bringing 50 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of dry gas onshore.
But with the pipelines having the capacity to push as much as 120 mmscfd of gas, the Government is now moving ahead with Phase Two of the GtE Project that will utilise the remaining 60 per cent capacity of the pipeline and will see an additional 75 mmcfd of rich gas brought onshore. Invitations are currently out for proposals to design, construct, and operation of a 250 MW combined-cycle power plant, to deliver 2,100 gigawatt/hours (GWh) of electricity per annum, and sell to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc. It also caters for the design, construction and operation of another NGL facility to produce approximately 6,000 barrels per day of NGL products such as propane, butane, and C5+gasolene.
Additionally, Phase Two also includes the transfer, at no cost, of excess “lean gas” estimated at 30 mmcfd, for utilisation in downstream industries, e.g. fertiliser production, to be located at Wales.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has been adamant about utilising the country’s gas resources to advance national development. United States (US) energy firm, Fulcrum LNG Inc, has been selected to work in a tripartite arrangement with the Guyana Government and ExxonMobil to develop a potential gas project.
Meanwhile, when it comes to the 300MW power plant and NGL facility, construction is currently ongoing by the US-based consortium of Lindsayca CH4
Guyana Inc. (LNDCH4). This project is pegged at US$761 million and the Guyana Government had approached the US ExportImport (EXIM) Bank for financing. The EXIM Bank Board, last month, granted initial approval of approximately US$500 million for the GtE Project. The loan was sent to the US Congress for feedback before final approval was given by the bank.
In the meantime, the Guyana Government has already injected some US$400 million to commence work on the highly anticipated GtE initiative and VP Jagdeo had previously stated Guyana could potentially fund the entire initiative had the loan request not been approved by the US financial institution. (G-8)
– Division records 8.2% decline in serious crimes; 51% reduction in road accidents
About 600 Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras are expected to be installed along the main highway in Region Six (East Berbice Corentyne).
This was revealed by the Regional Police Commander Shivpersaud Bacchus during the division’s annual award ceremony on Thursday at St Francis Community Developer at Rose Hall, Berbice.
“Coming soon when the 4-lane highway is completed, we will have an additional 600 cameras placed in strategic locations to identify the threats... and just to take a look at how we did in our crime fighting, as of this morning compared to the last quarter where we were at a plus in collective crime; meaning that we had an increase. This morning, I am proud to report that Regional Division Six is on a minus compared to the last reporting period,” Bacchus stated.
This he noted will assist greatly in tackling criminal activities in the region. In presenting statistics for the year, Bacchus related that the division has recorded an 8.2 per cent decrease in se-
rious crime
Some 10 murders were recorded for 2024 while 18 firearms were removed from the streets compared to 15 last year. “Domestic-related matters saw 135 reports with 81 cases made out and 51 convictions. There were 284 cases for noise nuisance which resulted in 24 arrests, 17 cases were made
out with seven convictions.”
As it relates to traffic, the Commander was happy to report that there was a 51 per cent decrease in accidents. For the year, there were 17 fatalities, 11 of which were motorcyclists.
“We are addressing this and had several campaigns and of course, there are complaints when the police
are doing their work. As it relates to the prevalent cases in traffic, we are at 4510 compared to 1027 in 2023.”
Giving statistics on drug eradication exercises carried out in the region this year, the Commander noted that there were 46 such exercises were conducted in communities along the Canje and Berbice Rivers which saw a total of 146 acres of cannabis being destroyed.
“One hundred and forty-six acres is not an easy thing to do. The biggest find in one of those operations would have been when the police destroyed over $5 million worth of cannabis and discovered over 500 live cartilages for a 12-gauge shotgun round of ammunition and one 12-gauge shotgun,” the Commander disclosed.
Meanwhile, Assistant Superintendent of Police Rawl Nedd was named the region’s top cop. He spearheaded several drug eradication exercises which led to the discovery and destruction of millions of dollars’ worth of narcotics.
It is the second time in four years that the Divisional Crime Officer
copped the ‘best cop’ award. The runner-up best cop is Police Sergeant Rodlyn Benjamin who functions as the administrative secretary.
The awards ceremony saw the most outstanding officers from every department also being awarded.
Acknowledging the contributions of the officers
in the Region, Bacchus explained that there are certain values that police officers must uphold including integrity and professionalism. He pointed out that over the past year, the force placed much emphasis on training, both locally and internationally. (Andrew Carmicheal)
The redundancy of the parliamentary opposition has been exposed once again by the General Secretary (GS) of the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo.
Speaking at his weekly party press conference, held at Freedom House, Robb Street, the GS berated the racist rhetoric of members of the opposition.
He claimed that the Alliance For Change party, though present in Guyana’s political landscape for some time, lacks a track record of having a positive impact on the nation.
The GS highlighted this after the opposition continued to display their rancour at the recent sitting of the National Assembly. The most recent display of irrelevant redundancy was during the debates of the
proposed amendment to the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act, which the opposition claims possess clauses that would disenfranchise some Guyanese.
Dr Jagdeo highlighted the fact that it is not completely uncommon, especially in the Caribbean, for there to be clauses present in the process of land acquisition. Furthermore, he cited that the law was already in place, just that it was deficient in certain regards.
The GS decried the absurd notion that there are racial ill-intentions behind the new amendment, pointing out the frayed rhetoric of the opposition elements.
“[They are making it] seem; (because we were updating the law to bring it consistent with what is in the rest of the Caribbean), that it’s a racist thing and we will target Afro Guyanese and
(It has absolutely nothing to do with Amerindian lands or targeting Afro Guyanese).
But they can’t help themselves being racist, making everything about race,” the GS lamented.
The GS further substan-
tiated the Government’s generalised approach to land acquisition by highlighting some of the recent projects that required the acquisition of some privately owned land. He pointed out that those deals were made with majorly Indo-Guyanese
when the opposition would suggest that only AfroGuyanese are being disproportioned.
“How does this become racist when we acquire land? Even in the Heroes Highway, we had to acquire land from a large number of people there, and it’s maybe 50 per cent IndoGuyanese and several people in Mocha…We gave them some money and we gave them land elsewhere, etc and worked with them,” Dr Jagdeo expressed.
GS Jagdeo reminded that no private land that would be acquired by the Government would be converted for the personal use of any Government official. He highlighted that land acquisition is done for public infrastructure upgrades.
“The Government cannot take your land to build a house for a Minister. But it
could [be done] like what we have done, [which is] to put in roads, bridges and that sort of stuff so that all of our people benefit,” he stated. This transparent process of land acquisition was contrasted by the actions of the opposition during their final days in Government during the 2020 period. Dr Jagdeo pointed out the many instances of corrupt practices in the distribution of land.
However, Jagdeo noted that the current PPP/C Government has always maintained transparency in its dealings with private citizens.
“Every time we tried to acquire, we’ve dealt fairly with people. We’ve had tons of people in all communities get a plot of land now, 40,000 Guyanese of all walks of life, every race. Since the PPP got into office, they have secured a piece of land.”
In a major boost to Region Two’s health sector, over 100 students graduated from the Public Hospital Suddie Training Centre on Friday.
This achievement aligns with the Government of Guyana’s commitment to strengthening the health sector through the Ministry of Health, ensuring that the region is equipped with trained professionals to deliver quality medical care.
The graduating class comprised of 15 Theatre Technicians, 20 Medical Laboratory Technicians, 47 Nursing Assistants, and 19 Post-Basic Midwifery students. They are now equipped to enhance patient
care and healthcare delivery throughout Region Two.
Delivering the feature address at the ceremony which was held at the Abram Zuil Secondary School, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony lauded the graduates for their dedication and commitment to their studies in order to give back to their communities.
He emphasised that the ceremony marked the beginning of a lifelong journey of learning and growth in the healthcare profession.
Moreover, he encouraged the graduates to further their education, aiming to become doctors, surgeons, and other specialised professionals. He highlighted the
importance of their contributions, stating that they will play an integral role in saving lives as they begin their service at various Government health facilities.
Addressing the region’s growing healthcare needs, the Minister disclosed that the Lima Regional Hospital is set to be completed by mid-next year. He noted that the state-of-the-art facility will require additional nurses, doctors, midwives, and technicians, making the graduates’ success a critical part of the region’s future healthcare infrastructure.
The Minister also spoke on plans for new specialised training programmes in areas such as intensive care, radiology, and cardiac nursing, ensuring Region Two’s workforce is prepared for advanced healthcare services.
“If we don’t train people, where will we get these specialists?... we are building the hospital and training people in Region Two to work right here. After which the hospital in Suddie and Charity will go on major upgrades and again, we will need more people to work.”
Meanwhile, Regional Health Officer (RHO) Dr Ranjeev Singh echoed similar sentiments, emphasising that the graduates’ achieve-
ments extend beyond personal success.
“This is about elevating not just yourselves and your families but your communities, your region, and ultimately your country,” he remarked.
Dr Singh also highlighted the significant progress in healthcare training, with the number of graduates steadily increasing to meet the sector’s growing demands.
Also attending the grad-
AUS government shutdown is fast approaching after the House of Representatives voted against a Donald Trump-backed spending bill.
Dozens of Republicans defied the president-elect by joining Democrats to reject a revised funding measure.
If no deal is agreed by midnight local time on Friday, some federal services will begin shutting down from the early hours.
The Republican Party's leadership in the House vowed to find a solution to the impasse over government funding ahead of the deadline.
Unlike in much of the rest of the world, government shutdowns in the US happen relatively often due to a 1980 act which basically ruled that without a budget there can be no spending.
This means that if the US Congress - made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate - does not approve a budget, there is no money for the federal government and nonessential services soon begin shutting down and many public employees stop getting paid.
Services classed as
essential - mostly related to public safety - continue to operate, and those workers are required to show up without pay.
That usually includes border protection, hospital care, air traffic control, law enforcement, and power grid maintenance.
Services deemed to be non-essential, such as the food assistance programme, federally funded pre-school, the issuing of student loans and food inspections, and the opening of national parks, will all be hit.
The latest spending plan was the second in as many days which failed to reach the two-thirds majority
needed to pass the lower chamber of Congress, with 38 Republicans voting against the bill on Thursday night.
This was in defiance of Trump who the day before had thwarted a previous cross-party funding deal that the Republican House leadership had struck with Democrats, after heavy criticism of the measure by tech billionaire Elon Musk.
The Tesla founder, who Trump has tasked with identifying spending cuts by co-leading the Department of Government Efficiency (which is not an official government department), lobbied heavily against the
Two people have been killed, including a child, and dozens injured after a car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in the eastern German city of Magdeburg, officials say.
In a statement, authorities said 68 people had been injured, 15 of whom seriously.
Reiner Haseloff, the premier of the state of Saxony-Anhalt, told reporters at the scene that the suspect - who has been arrested - was a
50-year-old Saudi citizen who arrived in Germany in 2006 and had worked as a doctor.
He said a preliminary investigation suggested the alleged attack was acting as a lone wolf and that he could not rule out further deaths due to the number of injured.
The suspected attacker's motive is unclear, and he has no known links to Islamist extremism.
Footage from the scene shows numerous
emergency services vehicles attending while people lay on the ground. Unverified video on social media purports to show a car ploughing into the crowd at the market.
A spokesperson for the city of Magdeburg said all hospitals in the area were preparing for a "mass casualty event", according to the Reuters news agency.
City officials said around 100 firefighters and 50 rescue service personnel are at the scene. (BBC)
existing deal with dozens of posts on X - the social media platform he owns.
He called it "criminal" and often referenced false statements about the bill in his posts. Musk wrote on X that any lawmaker "who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years".
After Musk drummed up opposition for the spending bill, Trump and the incoming vice-president JD Vance dealt the final blow to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson's deal on Wednesday evening.
They said in a joint statement they wanted streamlined legislation without the Democraticbacked provisions that Johnson had included.
They also called for Congress to raise or eliminate the debt ceiling, which determines how much the government can borrow to pay its bills, and
limit the funding legislation to temporary spending and disaster relief. They called anything else
"a betrayal of our country".
(BBC)
Prosecutors in Peru are investigating a sex-for-votes scandal in the country’s Congress after uncovering an alleged prostitution ring inside the widely-loathed chamber.
The investigation began after hired killers fired more than 40 rounds into a taxi carrying Andrea Vidal, a 27-year-old lawyer who worked in Congress, earlier this month in Lima. She died of her injuries in an intensive care ward on Tuesday. The taxi driver was also killed in the attack.
The public prosecutor’s office subsequently opened an investigation into Vidal’s former boss, Congress’s former lead legal and constitutional adviser, Jorge Torres Saravia, who is accused of sexual exploitation for allegedly running a prostitution ring that hired young women to have sex with lawmakers in exchange for votes.
Torres has denied any wrongdoing.
This latest scandal comes as trust and approval for the country’s Congress and its president, Dina Boluarte, have plummeted to levels never before reached, and a crime wave of racketeering and hired killing sweeps the Andean nation.
Prosecutors allege that on Torres’s behalf, Vidal hired young women to work as secretaries and in administrative jobs with different political blocs inside the chamber.
“She would have operated to get votes from parliamentarians,” said Juan Burgos, lawmaker and president of the Congress’s oversight commission.
“This clearly marks the end of any shame in the administrative exercise of power,” said Susel Paredes, an independent lawmaker. “It shows the rot inside the political
parties that today have the power to hire staff in Congress.”
She said the main parties had gained “absolute power and part of the power-sharing also involves the sharing of jobs in this institution”.
Alvaro Henzler, who leads Transparencia, a Peruvian pro-democracy NGO, said recent years has seen “an accelerated loss of the minimum ethical and moral standards that any public official in authority should have”.
“Our politicians, both Congress and president, have reached their lowest approval ratings in history,” he said.
He accused lawmakers of passing laws that erode democratic standards and encourage organized crime to protect themselves and their peers from corruption investigations.
“That reflects the sorry state of our democracy,” Henzler said. (TheGuardian)
Pay attention to the sidelines. A social event or fundraiser will bring you in contact with someone who piques your interest. Connect the dots and consider the potential outcomes before you make a move.
Force your way forward and finish what you start. Time is of the essence, and wasting it on petty disagreements won't calm your nerves. Choose compromise over stubbornness.
pruce up your surroundings and update your look. A new look will attract attention and give you the confidence to impress someone you'd like to get to know better.
Consider what you want to do next. A look at what's trending professionally will offer insight into how to redirect your energy. Use intelligence and experience to pursue your goal
You'll need an outlet for pent-up energy. Whether you are still playing catch up and trying to take care of business or enjoying all the festive events, doing so with gusto will satisfy your soul.
A unique conversation with an elder will help you gain insight into possibilities you need to be aware of; however, verify information first to avoid overspending. A commitment will change how or where you live.
Get into the spirit of the season and take advantage of any downtime. Communication and travel will encourage you to consider new possibilities or potential moves.
Take a step back and observe. Discipline, focusing on something or someone you feel passionate about, or closing one door while opening another is in your best interest.
Don't step into an emotional trap. Be a good listener, keep your cards close to your chest, and don't assume anything. Leave yourself open to take advantage of an opportunity.
Take the path that promises the most memorable journey. Your experiences will change your perspective on earning, spending and saving money. Nurturing is the way to win affection.
A little charm mixed with living up to your promises will pay off. Completing your tasks will give you more downtime with someone you love. Get out there and get things done.
Put a budget in place before leaving home. Indecisiveness will lead to costly emotional mistakes. Overreacting and expecting too much from others will isolate you.
The Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the evening of Thursday, December 19, and election to executive positions in the club were conducted.
In that regard, Mahendra Boodhoo has again been elected President of the GMR&SC, having his mandate renewed by a margin of 33 votes in his favour as against 10 for his challenger, former club president Rameez Mohamed.
Boodhoo had been elected to the post in both 2022 and 2023.
Mohamed Shiraz
Roshandin has also been returned as GMR&SC VicePresident, and a number of previous committee members have likewise been re-elected.
The Executive body of
the GMRSC is now comprised as follows:
Mahendra Boodhoo: President
Mohamed Shiraz
Roshandin: Vice-President Azaad Hassan: Treasurer
Azim Jaffar: Secretary Retesh Singh: Assistant Secretary/Treasurer
Joel Evans: Technical Advisor
John Chin: Club Captain Alain Hopkinson: Committee Member
Malicia Lawrence: Committee Member
Mark Vieira: Committee Member Luis Kumar: Committee Member
In regard to the plans of his team for the next year in office, Boodhoo had previously said, “We have a clear and achievable plan for the new drag strip, and the above vi-
sual is a representation of what we can accomplish. The design includes sloped areas at the end for spectator seating, ensuring a better fan experience.
“It’s important to note that this drag strip will not interfere with the circuit in any way, eliminating issues like drag strip rubber affecting the performance of circuit cars.
“We’ve been in consultation with a professional team from the USA to ensure the best possible construction for the drag strip. Our priority is to avoid the problems seen with the current strip, where the launch pad has been dropping over time.
“Just as we successfully delivered the circuit extension, we are confident this project will become a reality with the right planning and execution.”
The Frenchman Isack
Hadjar has been promoted to Red Bull's second team, and will race alongside Japanese Yuki Tsunoda during the 2025 Formula 1 season.
The announcement fills the final seat on the 20-car F1 grid.
Hadjar is a replacement for Liam Lawson at the team that will now be known as Racing Bulls. He has been switched to Red Bull after Sergio Perez had been dropped. In Formula 2 last season, the 20-year-old Hadjar finished second to Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, who will be racing for Audiowned Sauber in F1 next year.
Team Principal of Racing Bulls, Laurent Mekies, has said: "Isack's journey to F1 has been nothing short of outstanding. He has shown remarkable growth, with a series of impressive results in the junior single-seater ranks.
He has the talent and drive necessary to compete at the highest level, and we have every confidence that he will adapt quickly and make a significant impact. I believe Isack and Yuki will make a great team."
Hadjar has said: "The journey from karting through the ranks in single-seaters to now being in F1 is the moment I've been working to-
wards my whole life. It is the dream. I feel like I'm stepping into a whole new universe, driving a much faster car and racing with the best drivers in the world. It'll be a huge learning curve, but I'm ready to work hard and do the best I can for the team."
The announcement also effectively confirms a sort of change in referring to the team for next year. Red Bull's
As they gear up for the three-match ODI series which starts on Sunday, December 22, West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews believes her team can draw valuable lessons from their 2-1 T20I series loss to India.
Despite suffering a 60-run defeat in the decisive third T20I, played on Thursday at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai, Matthews sees opportunities for growth in the challenges her team faced.
India’s dominant batting performance in the final T20I, again spearheaded by captain Smriti Mandhana (77) and Richa Ghosh (54), saw the hosts amass 217-4, while their disciplined bowling attack restricted the West Indies to 157-9. Though it was a tough loss to take, Matthews acknowledged
second team raced as RB in 2024, but the Lawson and Hadjar announcements this week have both referred to them as Racing Bulls.
The initials RB were short for Racing Bulls, and were used because the company felt that the full team name, including its title sponsor, a credit card company, was too wordy.
But the team's email addresses all used the name Racing Bulls this year, and now Red Bull has decided the original name will be used after all.
Chief Executive Officer of Racing Bulls, Peter Bayer, said last month: "The only question throughout the year was: 'What does RB mean?’ ‘What does RB mean?’ Now we're making it official: RB means Racing Bulls."
The new name has been reflected on the official FIA F1 2025 entry list external, which was published last week. (BBC Sport)
that her side fell short in execution, particularly with the ball.
“Yeah, I think it just probably came down to execution again today. We had really strong plans, but India also went back and obviously did some homework as well. Kudos to the way their players came out and batted. Smriti obviously had a great series, but her knock today was probably the best one,”
“With the bat, there’s still a lot of positives we can take out of it. We’ve been able to score runs, which is crucial in any format. In the last match, getting to 160-for-one shows that we’ve got the capability within the dressing room to put big totals on the board. Hopefully, we can carry that into the ODIs as well,” she noted.
Captain Matthews also stressed the importance of discipline with the ball, especially in curbing India’s aggressive batting.
“When we were really disciplined with the ball, we were able to get the Indian batters to try different things. That’s going to be key in the ODIs as well. We know they’re going to want to score, and we have to find a way to make that as difficult as possible,” she declared.
Matthews said in a postmatch press conference.
“Having to bowl at Richa at the end was quite difficult; you felt almost as if you didn’t land it on a penny. It was going to be pretty hard to stop her from scoring, but yeah, at the same time, we probably feel like we do need to be a bit more disciplined with the ball. But look, a series like this is going to help us to learn a lot, and hopefully that's what we take from this,” she detailed.
Despite losing the T20I series, Matthews pointed to the positives her team could take forward, particularly their ability to post competitive scores.
Although the upcoming ODI series presents new challenges, including adapting to unfamiliar conditions and managing a demanding schedule, Matthews remains optimistic that quick turnaround between matches is an opportunity to improve swiftly.
“It can be tiring, but that’s the nature of it these days. I kind of see it like the back-to-back games within a few days, because it gives you an opportunity to get back and right your wrongs a lot quicker. So, we’re definitely going to pay a lot of attention to the resting and recovery process,” she said.
“Hopefully, we get our travel over with pretty early tomorrow, recover really well, and get our minds and bodies ready for that first ODI match; because we’ll need to assess conditions quickly and accurately,” Matthews ended. (Sportsmax)
Bangladesh have completed their demolition of the West Indies with an 80run win in the third T20I, played at the Arnos Vale Ground in St Vincent and the Grenadines. It resulted in their first 3-0 win in a T20I series in nearly two years, and they cap off
ries with the bat. Parvez Hossain Emon, who replaced the injured Soumya Sarkar, went after debutant Jayden Seales and Romario Shepherd in the first three overs. Parvez then launched Alzarri Joseph over wide longon for his first six, before Litton Das fell for 14, his
a tough West Indies tour with a trophy.
After Bangladesh had posted 189 for 7, the West Indies were able only to post 109, their lowest total against Bangladesh; and the margin of victory for Bangladesh is the second-biggest in terms of runs. Continuing to be the MVP of Bangladesh tour, Jaker Ali signed off with a dramatic, match-winning performance. His unbeaten 72 powered the visitors to 189 for 7, their highest score in the West Indies, then Rishad Hossain helped to bowl out the West Indies cheaply.
Jaker had walked off the ground when he was on 18, after a mixup with Shamim Hossain, but the TV umpire Zahid Bassarath had instead adjudged Shamim to be the one dismissed, as he had placed his bat inside the crease after Jaker had so done. It sparked a dramatic turnaround, as Jaker struck six sixes and three fours in his 41-ball knock.
Parvez sparks rapid start Bangladesh had their best start of the se-
first double-digit score in six innings across formats.
Parvez continued to go after the fast bowlers, blasting Joseph for his second six over long-on.
ue his innings.
The distance between Jaker and Shamim, not looking at each other as they crossed near the boundary, was immense. But as if one dramatic runout was not enough, Mahedi Hasan was also run-out in the same over. Jaker, however, regrouped quickly in the following over, and hit Joseph straight down the ground for his second six.
McCoy conceded 20 runs in the 18th over, when Jaker and Tanzim Hasan Sakib each struck a six; Jaker blasted him with a slog sweep, and Tanzim swung him over long-on.
102 for 4 at start of the 14th over when Jaker struck Gudakesh Motie towards deep midwicket. Spotting Obed McCoy getting injured in trying to take the catch, Jaker signalled to Shamim not to take the third run, as the ball had spilled away from McCoy. But in the next over, Jaker and Shamim had a communication breakdown, and both ended up at the striker's end, while Roston Chase broke the stumps at the bowler's end.
Next ball, though, Justin Greaves caught Parvez at the square-leg boundary, after juggling a couple of times.
Parvez made 39 runs off 21 deliveries, giving Bangladesh their best powerplay (54 runs) of the series.
Jaker's dramatic re-entry Bangladesh were on
Jaker, who had run through the striker's end, was irate with Shamim. He walked off fuming while the third umpire spotted that he had actually reached the crease before Shamim. Thus, the fourth umpire, Gregory Brathwaite, hauled Jaker, who had taken off his gear inside the dressing room, out to the middle to contin-
West Indies in a tailspin
For the third consecutive game, West Indies lost half their side before reaching 50. After Taskin Ahmed removed Brandon King early, as he had done in the previous two matches, Greaves was caught at long-on off Mahedi. Johnson Charles and Nicholas Pooran then struck a cluster of boundaries before Pooran fell to Mahedi for the third time in the series, bowled off an inside edge for 15. West Indies then finished the powerplay on 45 for 3.
Joseph then went for 25 in the last over, with Jaker hitting him for three sixes in the last four balls of the innings. It turned out to be Bangladesh's best-ever 20th over in a T20I.
Rishad sends 'em packing
As if Pooran's fall was not enough, Charles then seemed slow in reaching the crease while completing the single, and Rishad's throw caught him
Bangladesh (20 ovs maximum)
Litton Das (c)† c King
b Shepherd 14
Parvez Hossain Emon c Greaves
b Joseph 39
Tanzid Hasan c Pooran
b Motie 9
Mehidy Hasan Miraz c Greaves
b Chase 29
Jaker Ali not out 72
Shamim Hossain run out (†Pooran/Chase) 2
Mahedi Hasan run out (Powell/†Pooran) 0
Tanzim Hasan Sakib c Seales
b Shepherd 17
Rishad Hossain not out 0
Extras (lb 2, nb 3, w 2) 7
Total 20 Ov(RR: 9.45) 189/7
Did not bat: Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud
Fall of wickets: 1-44 (Litton Das, 4.4 ov), 2-54 (Parvez Hossain
Emon, 5.6 ov), 3-65 (Tanzid Hasan, 7.4 ov), 4-102 (Mehidy
Hasan Miraz, 12.5 ov), 5-114 (Shamim Hossain, 14.3 ov), 6-114 (Mahedi Hasan, 14.5 ov), 7-164 (Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 18.6 ov) •
DRS
Bowling
Jayden Seales
O-M-R-W
2-0-18-0
Romario Shepherd 4-0-30-2
Alzarri Joseph 4-0-59-1
Roston Chase 4-0-15-1
Gudakesh Motie
Obed McCoy
short. This was two balls after Hasan Mahmud had dismissed Roston Chase for a duck, and Rishad further got into the act with three wickets. The legspinner had Rovman Powell caught behind in the tenth over with a dipping delivery, leaving West Indies on 60 for 6; and in his last over, the 15th of the innings, he had Motie caught straight down the ground while Joseph gave a simple catch to Hasan at extra cover. Tanzim and Taskin then removed the last two wickets to spark celebration in the Bangladesh camp. (ESPNCricinfo)
West Indies
(T: 190 runs from 20 ovs)
Brandon King lbw
b Taskin Ahmed 0
Johnson Charles run out (Rishad Hossain) 23
Justin Greaves c sub (Afif Hossain)
b Mahedi Hasan 6
Nicholas Pooran †
b Mahedi Hasan 15
Roston Chase c Mahedi Hasan
b Hasan Mahmud 0
Rovman Powell (c) c †Litton Das
b Rishad Hossain 2
Romario Shepherd c Hasan Mahmud b Tanzim Hasan Sakib 33
Gudakesh Motie c Tanzim Hasan
Sakib b Rishad Hossain 12
Alzarri Joseph c Hasan Mahmud
b Rishad Hossain 1
Obed McCoy
b Taskin Ahmed 4
Jayden Seales not out 4
Extras (b 4, lb 1, w 4) 9
Total 16.4 Ov (RR: 6.54) 109
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Brandon King, 0.2 ov), 2-7 (Justin Greaves, 1.3 ov), 3-45 (Nicholas Pooran, 5.3 ov), 4-46 (Roston Chase, 6.3 ov), 5-46 (Johnson Charles, 6.5 ov), 6-60 (Rovman Powell, 9.5 ov), 7-95 (Gudakesh Motie, 14.1 ov), 8-97 (Alzarri Joseph, 14.4 ov), 9-101 (Romario Shepherd, 15.4 ov), 10109 (Obed McCoy, 16.4 ov) • DRS
3-0-30-1
3-0-35-0
Bowling O-M-R-W
Agolden opportuni-
ty to be recipient of a three-month stint at the Academia de Futebol Real Brasil next year would befall one lucky player presently competing in the KFC Goodwill International Schools Football Tournament in Guyana.
That lucky player is likely to be the individual adjudged the “most valuable player” (MVP) of the tournament; and the youngster would train and play with the Real Brasil Club while being immersed in an all-inclusive professional set-up.
This dream opportunity is being fully funded by the Brasilian Organisation.
In order to scrutinise the tournament’s crop of players, Sport Consultant/Talent Scout Narada Wilson, who is at tached to the Real Brasil Club, will observe the tal ent on offer during the remaining games of this KFC Goodwill International Tournament.
Wilson was also present at Friday night’s semifinals;
it be a month, two months, three months. And the data will prove that once you’re around that environment of some level of professionalism, that it lends well to the player.”
While reiterating the KFC Goodwill Tournament’s goals, Co-Director of the Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca, expressed pride at being able to facilitate such an opportunity.
Mendonca detailed, “Over the years, as you know, we’ve been doing this tournament; and we honestly think that we’ve been cre-
ating a platform for these youngsters to showcase their talent. And this (opportunity) comes at a really good time for them, and we’re very proud to be able to have such an in dividual that will allow one player to be selected.”
Already looking at the future of the collaboration, Wilson expressed an intention to expand the number
of players receiving this opportunity in future.
“I can confirm that we would be increasing it over the next few years if this partnership continues, so more kids can have these opportunities,” Wilson disclosed.
The KFC Goodwill final will be hosted on Sunday, December 22, at the Ministry of Education Ground (MoE) on Carifesta Avenue in Georgetown.
and, during a brief press conference, announced the scouting opportunity, ditries, especially with Brazil. So, extending the courtesy that we’ve done to Jamaica,
Trinidad and Tobago, and now to Guyana -- where there’s a large group of young, talented players in this large event that Petra has been organizing for the last few years -- we want to see the opportunities that we could present to some of the young Guyanese players, and hopefully see them on the national team level through our programme,” Wilson shared.
The Talent Scout added, “We look at top players and immerse them into the environment in Brazil at our facility, an Academy where players between the ages of 6-20 usually get a lot of preparatory training; whether
– As the Christmas Table Tennis Tournament gets underway
The Guyana Table Tennis Association will culminate its 2024 season with thrilling action at the National Gymnasium as the Christmas Table Tennis Tournament is hosted on December 21st and 22nd.
This tournament will see participation of over 40 players in the three categories being contested: Novice Open; “C” Class Open, which is Under-13 and U15 play ers; “B” Open, National Open Singles.
The GTTA hopes to have the tournament return to being staged monthly, he revealed.
“After a long time, the association we planted is to have a monthly tournament. Because of the pandemic, we have to restrict selves to having a tournament every month. But this tournament is a ChristmasChristmas tournament,” he ex-
<<Guyana Times Sport>> caught up with National Table Tennis Coach Linden Johnson, who, in an exclusive interview, revealed that the aim of the tournament is to get young players and scouting players to prepare for international tournaments.
“We want the tournament to be used by most of the young players. If you look at the categories, it's obvious. C-class, we can plant something like Senior, Open. We try to get all the young players to see, and see exactly, who are the players that can be preparing for international engagements,” he added, as he said, “We are using this tournament to see the level, and how
the players are progressing so far. Whenever we name a squad, we know exactly who it is. But next year, hopefully, we will start back the programme that we had. Maybe it will get to exist like an every-month tournament. We are planning to leave one in the school.”
Johnson has indicated that trophies and medals would be given to younger players, while the GTTA is hoping to gather sponsorships to aid in monetary prizes and trophies for players in the Seniors category.
…8 matches slated for tonight
At 22:00hrs on the dot, a power outage put a stop to any further action at the start of the fourth of five games in the roundof-32 on Thursday night, when the One Guyana/ Kashif and Shanghai Organisation year-end football championship, powered by the Government of Guyana, continued.
Back Circle were large and in charge of the action in the match against Vryheid’s Lust, as they were 2-0 up and looking very ominous in their play against the East Coast side. Early goals from Cecil Jackman (1st) and Darren Benjamin one minute later were setting the foundation for a solid win.
The organisers took the decision to call it a night, since there was no certainty of when the power would have been restored. Tonight, at 18:30hrs, this game will continue from the point it was stopped, 2 minutes into the first half.
The other game scheduled for Thursday night between Spainard and Bent Street will then follow before the scheduled match-
es for Saturday, and they are California Square vs Back Circle ‘B’, Gold Is Money vs Touches, Team Cruel vs Paradise Invaders, North Ruimveldt vs Ballers United, Albouystown Ballers vs Agricola Ballers, and Victoria Eagles vs Road Warriors. Three round-of-32 matches were completed on Thursday night, with Stabroek ‘B’ trouncing Show Stoppers 7-0 on account of goals from Jamal Cozier (2nd, 6th, 11th, 20th), Nikolai Andrews (7th, 24th and Lionel Holder (26th).
In a nail-biting showdown, Espanyol edged Laing Avenue 3-2. Laing Avenue drew first blood in the 5th minute when Prince Nero found the back of the net. Espanyol drew level in the 9th minute on account of Darwuin’s effort, and then jumped to a 3-1 advantage by the 22nd minute through ripping goals from Esteben Hernandez (15th) and Feliz Nunez (22nd).
Laing Avenue fought valiantly to chip away at the Spanish team’s advantage, but only succeeded in re-
ducing it by one when, with three minutes to the final whistle, Isiah Scott found the back of the net.
Thursday night’s action opened with a solid 4-1 triumph for Timehri Warriors against Kitty Hustlers. Goals took some time to come by, with the first half seeing a total drought. The deadlock was finally broken in the 18th minute when Warriors’ Doniel Moshette scored. Kitty Hustlers levelled the score in the 22nd minute with a Darren Osborne strike, but three unanswered goals from Timehri Warriors, through Shamar Samuels (22nd), Own Goal (29th) and Deric Bethune (30th), sealed their passage into the roundof-16, along with Espanyol and Stabroek ‘B’ These three teams have also qualified to participate in the Guyana Energy Conference and Chain Supply Futsal Championship which would be contested in February of 2025, and would all receive a complete set of uniforms, compliments of the One Guyana /Kashif & Shanghai National Futsal Championship.
