$100,000 for every newborn baby born in Guyana to a Guyanese mother
Personal Income Tax rate reduced by 3%
Educational toy kits distributed to hinterland, riverine nursery schools
Budget 2025 is
One-off $10B for NIS
$10,000 universal health voucher Income Tax Threshold increased to $130,000
Public assistance increased Tax on overtime pay reduced All bridge tolls to be abolished
$10,000 of nontaxable income for parents $9B for other costof-living measures
Because We Care cash grant increased to $50,000
Reduction of electricity cost
Persons with 2nd job pay no tax on 1st $50,000 earned 0% excise tax on petroleum products extended No VAT on agricultural machinery & backup generators
Reduction of freight charges extended by another year
$1.382 trillion Guyana’s economy grew by 43.6% in 2024
Mother fears for her life as ex-partner on bail for assault
Jagdeo dismisses Brutus’s diversity policy lawsuit as a “desperate” PR stunt
Dock worker dies in accident at JFL Wharf
…no new taxes, 13.8% non-oil growth expected in 2025 …as former MP takes up post of Guyana’s High Commissioner to India
Brazilian miner slapped with murder charge
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Saturday, January 18 – 04:00hrs - 05:30hrs and Sunday, January 19 – 20:30hrs - 22:00hrs.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Saturday, January 18 –07:10h-08:40h and Sunday, January 19 – 07:40h-09:10h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Sunshine is expected throughout the day, with clear skies at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.
Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 5.36 metres.
High Tide: 06:40h and 18:54h reaching a maximum height of 2.49 metres and 2.57 metres.
Low Tide: 12:28h reaching a minimum height of 0.71 metre.
Govt presents record-breaking
$1.382 trillion
…no new taxes
By Jarryl Bryan
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government on Friday presented a $1.382 trillion budget, marking the second budget in Guyana’s history to cross the trillion-dollar mark and containing a wave of measures aimed at not only moving the economy forward, but bringing direct benefits to Guyanese.
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance Dr Ashni Singh, presented the 2025 budget under the theme ‘A secure, prosperous and sustainable Guyana’, announcing measures that ranged from tax cuts, cash grants to put more disposable income in the hands of mothers and the fulfillment of the Government’s promises to increase old age pension and the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant.
In one of the most novel measures ever rolled out in Guyana, Dr Singh announced a one off $100,000 cash grant for every new born baby born in Guyana to a Guyanese mother. This puts Guyana in the company of other countries like Singapore, Finland and France, which have implemented what is known as a ‘baby bonus’ that sees varying forms of cash incentives being provided to parents of newborns.
“In the interest of providing support to our youngest citizens, our newborn babies, we will provide a one-off cash grant of $100,000 for every single new born baby born in Guyana, to a Guyanese mother. We expect that will cost approximately $1.3 billion annually,” Dr Singh said.
Meanwhile, Dr Singh announced that in order to put more disposable income in the hands of families, Government will continue its initiative where at least one parent will be allowed to claim $10,000 monthly of their income tax for each child, as non-taxable. The estimated annual cost of this measure, according to Dr Singh, is over $1 billion.
The ‘Because We Care’ cash grant, another measure aimed at benefitting underaged citizens of Guyana, was increased to $50,000, along with a $5000 uniform allowance. When the then PPP/C Government first implemented the measure in 2014, it started off with parents receiving $10,000 per child in the public school system.
However, when the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) assumed office in 2015, the party discontinued the grant. Since the PPP/C returned to the Government in 2020, they have progressively increased the grant and even extended it to private school children.
2025 Budget
Workers
There are meanwhile several measures aimed specifically at workers, with the Finance Minister announcing that the income tax threshold has been increased from $100,000 per month last year to $130,000 per month in 2025.
The income tax threshold has steadily increased over the past four years. In 2022, the threshold was raised from $65,000 to $75,000 and this was increased to $85,000 in 2023. With its latest increase to $130,000, Dr Singh indicated that this would result in $8.5 billion in disposable income for workers, while shielding 22,000 workers from having to pay income tax.
For those who do have to pay income tax, known as Pay As You Earn (PAYE), the rate has been lowered from 28 per cent of earnings to 25 per cent. There are further tax incentives for those who work overtime or have a second stream of income.
“Persons who earn overtime for work beyond their normal working hours, the first $50,000 monthly of their overtime would be non- taxable. This measure is designed to ensure workers are rewarded for their productivity and effort. The estimated annual cost of this intervention is over $600 million,” the Finance Minister explained.
This measure will increase the disposable income of more than 100,000 of taxpayers and is estimated to put $3.6 billion back into the hands of these taxpayers. And according to the Minister, if someone has two jobs, the first $50,000 earned from the second job will be non-taxable.
Pension & public assistance
Meanwhile, pensioners will also be beneficiaries of an increase in the budget, with pension going from $36,000 per month to $41,000 per month. According to the Finance Minister, this will place an additional $4.5 billion of disposable income in the hands of over 76,000 oldage pensioners.
This latest increase means that pension has doubled since 2020. In 2021, all old-age pensioners were given $25,000 monthly; in 2022 that sum was increased to $28,000 and in 2023 that sum increased to $33,000.
Also announced by the Finance Minister is that public assistance will go from $19,000 to $22,000 as of January 1, 2025. The Finance Minister pointed out that the previous APNU/AFC administration had made a promise to double public assistancesomething it never did.
“In 2025, (persons with disabilities) will continue to receive monthly public assistance to support their sustenance. Government has also
implemented a revolving fund for PWDs, offering interest-free loans to help them expand businesses, which saw 45 beneficiaries to date and 40 more expected in 2025,” Dr Singh said.
“In addition, more than 5,600 PWDs have received assistive aids, and over 900 have received skills training in areas like garment construction, computer skills, and social media marketing, with another 900 expected to be trained in 2025.”
Other measures
Last year, the PPP/C Government had set aside $5 billion for cost-of-living measures aimed at easing the burden of rising costs on citizens. This year, the Government will be setting aside $9 billion, which the Finance Minister said will be used to address price increases and ensure that the most vulnerable in society are provided with targeted relief. He also noted that stakeholders would be involved in deciding how this money is spent.
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh
Editor: Tusika Martin
News Hotline: 231-8063Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761
Marketing: 231-8064Accounts: 225-6707
Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown
Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com
Action & ensuring public funds deliver quality results
The catastrophic collapse of utility poles on the Aubrey Barker Road, Georgetown, which left approximately 2,000 households in South Ruimveldt without power for over 18 hours, underscores a broader issue that requires immediate and decisive action. The Government’s response — led by President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo —is a firm stance to enforce accountability among contractors and state officials. This approach is both timely and essential to safeguard taxpayers' money and restore public trust in national infrastructure projects.
The incident in question was more than a technical failure; it was a failure of responsibility. Nine concrete poles uprooted during ongoing road and drainage construction revealed glaring deficiencies in project execution. A joint investigation by the Public Works Ministry and the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) found that the poles were improperly installed, and did not meet required specifications. Such negligence not only disrupts lives, but also raises serious concerns about the standards of work being executed with public funds.
In line with the findings, the Government has written to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) to blacklist at least one contractor involved in the project. This sends a strong message: substandard work and breaches of contract would not be tolerated. The Vice President has also assured that disciplinary action would be extended to individuals at the engineering and procurement levels who failed in their oversight roles. These steps are necessary to foster a culture of accountability, wherein contractors and officials understand the gravity of their responsibilities.
The $1.45 billion Aubrey Barker Road expansion project — intended to bring transformative benefits to the area — has been plagued by delays and inefficiencies since its inception in 2022. Originally set for completion in July 2023, the project’s continued setbacks highlight the importance of rigorous monitoring and timely execution. While the Government has acted to identify new contractors and accelerate progress, the recent incident underscores the need for a holistic approach to project management and accountability.
Unethical practices among procurement officers and engineers exacerbate the challenges of infrastructure development. Vice President Jagdeo’s disclosure of ongoing investigations into alleged misconduct by procurement officers is a step in the right direction. Contractors and officials engaging in bribes, subpar work, or other unethical behaviours not only betray public trust, but also compromise the integrity of national projects.
The Vice President’s call for contractors to report incidents of solicitation for bribes or tolerance of shoddy work is commendable; it highlights the commitment to rooting out corruption at every level. This approach must be supported by clear channels for reporting, robust whistleblower protections, and swift and transparent investigations to ensure accountability and justice.
Engineers and procurement officials play crucial roles in the execution of public projects. Their responsibilities go beyond technical oversight; they are stewards of public resources. The incident on Aubrey Barker Road illustrates the consequences of lapses in these responsibilities. It is imperative that Government implements stricter oversight mechanisms to ensure compliance with project specifications and timelines.
Comprehensive audits and real-time monitoring should be integral to all major public projects. This can be achieved through deployment of independent inspectors, technological solutions such as geotagging for progress tracking, and regular reporting requirements. Furthermore, holding contractors accountable through penalties such as blacklisting sends a clear signal that cutting corners would not be tolerated.
The funds allocated for public infrastructure are derived from the hard-earned money of taxpayers. Mismanagement or misuse of these resources undermines public confidence and delays the delivery of critical services. The Government’s decision to enforce penalties against defaulting contractors is a crucial step towards protecting taxpayer interests and ensuring value for money. Additionally, transparency in the procurement process is key to rebuilding trust. By publishing project details, timelines, and contractor performance metrics, the Government can empower citizens to hold both contractors and public officials accountable. Such transparency fosters greater public participation and oversight, further deterring unethical practices.
The Aubrey Barker Road incident is a red flag. While the immediate focus is on rectifying the failures and ensuring accountability, this moment also presents an opportunity to strengthen systems and prevent future lapses.
Contractors and public officials must recognize that their work directly impacts the lives of citizens. Every project, whether it’s a road expansion or utility relocation, carries the weight of public expectations and trust. Public resources must be used responsibly, and those who fail to meet their obligations would face consequences.
Can a ceasefire end settler colonial genocide?
By Muhannad ayyash Professor of sociology at Mount
royal university in calgary, canada
The ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel is, first and foremost, a welcome relief for the Palestinians in Gaza, who are suffering from a most brutal and horrific genocide. For 15 months, they have endured daily bombings, killings, threats, imprisonment, starvation, disease, and other hardships that are difficult for most people to even imagine, let alone live through and survive.
The deal will not come into effect until at least Sunday, January 19, 2025, not coincidentally a day before Donald Trump’s inauguration as President of the United States. While some are attributing the success of the agreement to the Trump Administration’s unique ability to pressure Israel, it is critical to underscore that Trump is a master of political theatre, and undoubtedly wanted Israel to agree to a ceasefire just before his inauguration so that he can use it to boost his political capital.
In other words, Trump did not pressure Netanyahu to accept the agreement because he genuinely wants peace and order, or even because he is genuinely committed to all three phases of the agreement. Rather, he likely acted out of personal political calculations, to enhance his reputation and push forward his administration’s agenda. We do not know what was said and agreed behind closed doors between the Trump team and Israeli officials, but what we can be assured of is that the Trump Administration is not interested in the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, and is not against Israel’s
plans to annex large swaths of the West Bank.
In fact, some reports suggest that the Trump Administration may have promised Netanyahu US support for the annexation of certain areas of the West Bank in exchange for his acceptance of the ceasefire deal, which Israel may not even follow through past phase 1. In such a scenario, if it indeed transpires, Trump gets what he wants, which is a political victory, and Netanyahu gets what he wants, which is the continued settler colonisation of Palestine.
The main reason for pessimism about this agreement is that the deal does not guarantee phases 2 and 3, where Israeli forces would fully withdraw from the Strip, displaced Palestinians would be allowed to return to all areas of the Strip, and full reconstruction of the Gaza Strip would be undertaken.
It is important to emphasise that, over 15 months of genocide, Gaza has been reduced to rubble. Large parts of the Strip are uninhabitable. People cannot simply return to neighbourhoods that have been razed to the ground: buildings that have no running water, a functioning sewage system, or access to electricity and fuel; there are no schools, universities, clinics, or hospitals to use, businesses to run, and so on.
The economic system has collapsed, and people are entirely dependent on foreign aid for basic survival. Disease is widespread, and many silent killers, such as toxins from Israel’s bombs, are circulating in the atmosphere, soil, and water of Gaza. Families have been entirely eliminated, others have been torn apart by Israel’s indiscriminate onslaught, and many children have become orphans, while large numbers of people have become debilitated and un-
able to provide for their families. How a “normal” life will be possible for Palestinians after all of this destruction is not clear.
Questions about governance of the Strip are also still murky at best, and there certainly is nothing in the deal that addresses the core problem or would lead to a longterm solution. The question of the long-term solution is very critical. The deal, in the bestcase scenario, may end this specific genocidal operation, but it certainly does not say anything about the core of the problem: Israel’s structural genocide of the Palestinians.
Structural genocide of the Palestinians - what Palestinians call the ongoing Nakba - refers to not just one or two specific events of genocide, such as the 1948 Nakba or this genocidal assault on Gaza, but rather a settled colonial structure of genocide that seeks to eliminate Palestinian sovereignty, end the Palestinian right of return to their lands, expel Palestinians from more of their lands, and claim exclusive Israeli-Jewish sovereignty from the river to the sea.
This structure of genocide operates through a variety of methods of elimination and expulsion. A genocidal operation such as the one the world witnessed and continues to witness in Gaza - which involves physical mass slaughter, mass displacement and mass destruction that makes the land uninhabitable - is obviously one of those instruments, but it is not the only one. There is also incremental displacement and expulsion; prevention of economic development, and creation of economic dependency; erasure of Palestinian history and culture; fragmentation of the Palestinian population; denial of rights, freedoms and dignity to those living under occupation, so that they feel
pressured to leave; political obstruction of Palestinian sovereignty; and so on. So, the real question becomes: Can a ceasefire, even if it goes through all three phases, end this structural genocide? The answer is clearly no, because none of these other instruments of Israel’s structural genocide is addressed in the ceasefire deal. This structural genocide must be continuously named, exposed, and opposed. As long as Israel’s settler colonial project remains concealed or downplayed in diplomatic and public discourse, the core problem would continue unabated, and we will be back to this moment of absolute horror and unspeakable suffering, assuming we even get a significant reprieve from it through this ceasefire deal. Without serious and sustained pressure on the Israeli state, without the economic and political isolation of the Israeli state by states and institutions around the world until Israeli settler colonialism is dismantled, we will find ourselves ensnared in a perpetual structure of genocide, pressure in a cooker that would eventually find release in an even greater war of total annihilation. For the international community, now is not the time to celebrate or self-congratulate, but is rather the time to take serious political and economic action against Israel in order to stop the continuing genocide of the Palestinian people in all of its different forms. (Al Jazeera) (Muhannad Ayyash is the author of A Hermeneutics of Violence (UTP, 2019), and a policy analyst at Al-Shabaka, the Palestinian Policy Network. He was born and raised in Silwan, Al-Quds, before immigrating to Canada, where he is now a Professor of Sociology at Mount Royal University. He is currently writing a book on settler colonial sovereignty)
Education Minister Priya Manickchand is chatting with students of the recently-commissioned Providence Nursery School, which will serve 120 children with 12 teachers
(Education Minister Priya Manickchand photo)
Guyana’s economy grew by 43.6% in 2024
The local economy enjoyed a growth in the overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 43.6 per cent in 2024, with the nonoil economy recording an increase of 13.1 per cent as a result of growth in the rice sectors, other crops, bauxite and other mining, quarrying and others.
This was revealed by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh during his presentation of the 2025 Budget in the National Assembly on Friday.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s fiscal plan –its fifth since taking office in August 2020 – is themed:
“A Secure, Prosperous and Sustainable Guyana.”
Despite mixed trends in commodity prices globally, Dr Singh noted that Guyana navigated these challenges adeptly. On this point, he noted that the price of gold surged by 22.9 per cent, reaching US$2,387.7 per ounce.
Conversely, the sugar sector faced a 13 per cent price drop, compounded by a 21.8 per cent contraction in production due to El Niño and labour shortages, while rice prices rose by 6.3 per cent, with production achieving a record 725,282 tonnes.
Additionally, agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors grew by 11 per cent, buoyed by increases in rice,
livestock, and aquaculture production.
“This highlights Guyana’s emergence as a key player in the global energy market, but also underscores the stellar successes being achieved in building a diversified economic base,” he said.
Beyond the non-oil sector, Guyana’s thriving oil and gas industry surged ahead, achieving a production milestone of 225.4 million barrels. This remarkable growth was underpinned by the strategic deployment of Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units, which played a pivotal role in accelerating operational capacity, according to Singh’s address to the National Assembly.
“With an estimated production of 225.4 million barrels of crude oil in 2024, the oil and gas sector expanded by 57.7 per cent last year. Growth in the sector was driven primarily by the ramp-up in production on the Prosperity FPSO, Guyana’s third FPSO, which started producing oil in November 2023. In 2024, the Stabroek block on average produced crude oil at a rate of 616,000 barrels of oil per day. With Liza Destiny producing an average of 149,000 barrels of oil per day, Liza Unity producing 231,000, and Prosperity producing 236,000 barrels of oil per day,” the Minister disclosed.
Further, crude oil exports grew by 55.4 per cent, while non-oil exports, including gold, rice, and bauxite, increased by 16 per cent.
Meanwhile, the mining and quarrying sector surged by 55.9 per cent, fueled by oil and gas expansion alongside strong performances in bauxite and gold production. Bauxite mining grew by an astounding 48.4 per cent, while gold declarations reached 434,067 ounces.
Singh explained that investments in sand and stone mining also drove growth, with production rising by 80.4 per cent and 48.5 per cent, respectively, to meet the demands of Guyana’s booming construction industry.
“The Guyana Gold Board’s purchases grew by 53.7 per cent to 134,230 ounces, offsetting the increase in declarations from licensed dealerships. Mr. Speaker, reflective of this people’s Progressive Party
civic Government’s supportive policies and increased investment in the sector, the bauxite mining sector grew by 48.4 per cent in 2024. The latest data reflects 1.7 million metric tons of bauxite production, up from 523,742 metric tons produced in 2023… These increases more than offset the declines of 17 per cent and 7.2 per cent observed for diamond declarations and manganese production respectively,” he added.
Inflation
Meanwhile, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and global price pressures, inflationary trends have significantly stabilised in 2024.
According to Singh, the global inflation rate for the 12-month period has decelerated to a modest 2.9 per cent, a result of decisive measures by Governments to curb domestic market vol-
atility.
Particularly, food prices, which had surged by 5.6 per cent, were effectively offset by strategic stabilisation efforts, Singh emphasised.
“Mr Speaker, the disruptions of the past four years have caused notable fluctuations in commodity prices, but the tightening of monetary policy is helping to contain inflation somewhat”.
“The pace of this inflation is expected to be faster in advanced economies, where inflation is estimated to have dropped by two percentage points in 2024 from 2023, and is projected to stabilise around 2 per cent by 2025. In comparison, inflation in emerging markets and developing economies is estimated to have decreased more slowly, to 7.9 per cent in 2024 from 8.1 per cent in 2023, and is projected to slow further in 2025 to 5.9 per cent,” he added.
Suresh Singh replaces Dharamkumar Seeraj in National Assembly …as former MP takes up post of Guyana’s High Commissioner to India
In a significant political development, Suresh Singh was on Friday sworn in as a Member of Parliament, succeeding Dharamkumar Seeraj, who has been appointed as the High Commissioner to India.
Singh took the oath of office during the 91st sitting of the twelfth Parliament and fifth budget presenta-
tion by the current People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government since assuming office in August 2020.
The transition follows the provisions outlined in Section 99(A) of the Representation of the People’s Act, Chapter 103, which mandates that vacant parliamentary positions be filled by an individ-
ual whose name is drawn from the party’s candidate list.
Singh, who currently serves as the Director of Youth in the Ministry of Culture Youth & Sport, is a seasoned campaigner in the agriculture sector, is expected to bring his expertise to Parliament. His appointment is seen as a continuation of PPP/C’s commitment to supporting the agriculture industry, particularly the rice sector, which remains vital to the nation’s economy.
Meanwhile, Mr Seeraj’s appointment marks a new chapter in his illustrious career. A prominent figure in Guyana’s agriculture sector, Seeraj has been a Member of Parliament since 2006. He also holds several key positions within the PPP/C, including membership in the Executive Committee and the Central Committee, as well as leadership of the Rice Producers Association (RPA), a role he has held for over a decade. Seeraj is widely regard-
ed as one of the most qualified and experienced agriculture experts in both Parliament and the PPP/C.
In July 2024, Guyana had written to the Indian Government, seeking accreditation for Dharamkumar Seeraj to be appointed as the new High Commissioner of Guyana to India – a position that has
been vacant for nearly three years.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, confidently lauded Seeraj
on his new appointment, expressing unwavering belief in his exceptional ability to excel in fulfilling his duties.
Guyana’s new High Commissioner to India, Dharamkumar Seeraj
New Member of Parliament, Suresh Singh, taking his oath of office in the presence of Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs
Similarly,
Profit and Loss ◄
of the article = $100 and its selling price = $90
Since, the selling price of the article is less than the cost price;
To perform the experiment related to lactose intolerance, you will need:
100 mL graduated cylinder 30g glucose powder)
Urinalysis test strips that measure glucose
Small plastic or glass cups
Measuring cup (metric) or beaker
Spoon
Permanent marker
Regular milk
Lactose-free milk
Lactase drops; if you cannot find these locally, you can purchase them online from Amazon.com
Scale, must be able to accurately measure 2 g.
Stopwatch
Room-temperature tap water
Lab notebook
Experimental procedure
The first step is to make positive and negative control solutions. The positive control solution is 2% glucose in water. You will use the positive control to make sure the
1. A man bought an article for $50 and sold it for $72. Did he make a profit or a loss? In what amount?
2. A boy
Understanding lactose intolerance
glucose test strips are able to detect glucose. The negative control is just water. You will use the negative control to make sure the glucose test strips do not react to plain water.
Make the positive control solution of 2% glucose in water:
Label a small plastic cup with Positive Control. Use a scale to weigh 2 g of glucose powder into the plastic cup. Add 100 mL of water and stir until the glucose has dissolved.
Fill another small cup with plain water and label it Negative Control.
Test the positive and negative control solutions with the glucose test strips.
Dip separate test strips into the glucose solution (positive control), and water (negative control).
After 1–2 seconds, remove the test strips from the solution and wait for the length of time specified by the strip directions (30 seconds).
Record any colour changes of the strip and compare them to the key on the bottle to determine the glucose concentration of the tested
In the heart of a seed, Buried deep so deep, A tiny plant lay fast asleep. "Wake," said the sunshine, "And creep to the light." "Wake," said the voice Of the raindrops bright. The little plant heard And it rose to see, What the wonderful, Outside world might be.
water in between uses.
fluid. Record your observations in your lab notebook. You should see a clear positive reaction for the 2% glucose control and a clear negative reaction for the water control. Note: If you do not have a clear colour change for the positive control solution try steps 1–3 again. If it is still problematic the second time, you might have to buy new test strips. It is okay to have a slightly lower reading for the pure glucose solution. Remember, these test strips were designed for measuring low concentrations of glucose in a urine sample, so the results might be slightly
different for pure glucose solutions. The next step is to determine the level of glucose in both, regular milk and lactose-free milk. Can you predict which one will have a higher glucose level?
Prepare your lactose-free and regular milk samples in two small cups. The percent fat should not matter, but you should use the same percent fat for the regular and lactosefree milk.
Determine the glucose concentration in the milk samples. Record your result in your lab notebook.
Note: Rinse the measuring cylinder with
What will happen when you add the enzyme lactase to the regular milk and to the lactose-free milk? Add one drop of the lactase solution to the milk samples. Warm the milk by rolling the cups back and forth in your hands for 2 minutes. Determine the glucose concentration in the milk samples. Record your result in your lab notebook.
Ensure that you have three trials for each milk sample, both before and after adding lactase. Use fresh cups or be sure to clean out your cups carefully before you begin new trials. Always use fresh glucose test strips.
Explain your results: Is there a difference in glucose concentration between regular milk and lactosefree milk before addition of the lactase? Why? Do the glucose concentrations of regular milk and lactose-free milk change after the addition of the lactase? Why?
(Adapted from David Whyte, PhD, Science Buddies)
Guyana’s non-oil economy poised to record 13.8% growth
…10.6% overall economic growth also projected in 2025
While the economic contribution of Guyana’s oil and gas sector looms large, the growth of its non-oil economy continues to be a success story, with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government revealing that the non-oil economic sector is expected to grow by 13.8 per cent this year.
This revelation was made by senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Dr Ashni Singh, while presenting the 2025 Budget in the National Assembly. During his presentation, he also announced that overall economic growth this year will be 10.6 per cent.
“Mr Speaker, as Guyana marks five years as an oil producer, the pace of economic growth is expected to moderate this year due to the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel achieving peak production
in 2024 as well as the timing of the One Guyana FPSO’s startup in the second half of 2025.”
“Overall growth is therefore projected at 10.6 per cent for 2025, at which rate we are still expected to be the third fastest growing economy in the world. Significantly, reflecting the success of our efforts at economic diversification, growth in the nonoil economy is projected at 13.8 per cent for 2025,” the Finance Minister said.
He gave a further breakdown, sector by sector, of how the economy is expected to perform. For instance, in Agriculture, Fishing and Forestry, these sectors are expected to grow by 11.4 per cent, as increased production is targeted for all subsectors. And true to its word last year, the Government has set a production target of around 101,000 tonnes for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) in 2025.
“The sugar growing sub-
sector is projected to turn around and record growth of 115.4 per cent in 2025. A production target of approximately 101,000 metric tonnes is set for the year, as GuySuCo continues its mechanisation and conversion efforts and promotes value-added production.”
“The rice growing subsector, building on the strong performance last year, is expected to continue its momentum and grow by a further 12.4 per cent this year. Rice production for 2025 is targeted at 804,000 tonnes, supported by a ramp up in acreage cultivated, and continued focus on deploying new and more productive varieties, and enhancing research and development.”
Meanwhile, the other crops subsector has been projected to grow by 11.7 per cent this year. This will include an expansion of the acreage being cultivated. Further, the Government indicated that it will remain fo-
Govt presents record...
A $10,000 universal healthcare voucher was also announced by Dr Singh, which will be distributed to every person to finance basic health tests. According to him, this will cost the Government an estimated $5 billion and target potentially 500,000 persons.
The Government will also extend the reduced freight cost for a further 12- month period from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, a measure aimed at keeping shipping costs down and helping to mitigate the cost of living. It was explained that this will cost the treasury over $6 billion.
The Government will also continue to maintain the zero per cent excise tax on fuel, at an estimated annual cost of $90 billion. Further, bridge tolls will be abolished for all vehicle classes, once the new Demerara River Bridge is completed. According to Dr Singh, this will also apply to the Berbice River Bridge in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and the Wismar Bridge in Region 10 (Upper
Demerara-Berbice).
Additionally, poultry farmers will now be able to depreciate capital assets, such as machinery and equipment used in the production process, over a shorter period with an increase in the writing down allowance applicable to these machinery and equipment.
“By allowing poultry farmers to recover the costs of these investments more quickly, this initiative will reduce the financial burden associated with modernising production facilities, further incentivising investment, growth, and innovation while also boosting Guyana’s food security,” Dr Singh announced.
He also stated that Value Added Tax (VAT) has been removed from agriculture machinery.
“In an effort to further support expansion of the agriculture sector, we are proposing to remove import VAT on the importation of machinery used in the agriculture sector, where VAT has not already been removed,
PAGE 3
thereby reducing cost of inputs. This is expected to cost the Government in excess of $1 billion annually. In addition, to further support the agriculture sector, VAT will be removed on automated poultry pens and veterinary supplies,” Singh said in his presentation.
He also announced the removal of VAT on back-up generators.
Opposition reaction
Opposition Member of Parliament Juretha Fernandes told media operatives that while the Government tout projections of economic growth, fueled largely by the oil sector, the budget fall short of the transformative change needed for the average citizen.
Moreover, the Government announced a reduction in PAYE taxes from 28 per cent to 25 per cent while raising the tax threshold to $130,000. However, the Opposition MP believes that these adjustments are not enough to offset the high cost of living.
cused on helping the region to achieve the 25 by 2025 food security target… namely a reduction of food imports by 25 per cent by this year.
“In addition, the livestock subsector is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent, with production expected to expand across all subcategories. This year, growth in the fishing subsector is expected to strengthen to 5.8 per cent, driven largely by increased aquaculture production. Finally, growth in the forestry sector is expected to moderate to 1.3 per cent, with a production target of 490,000 cubic metres in 2025. This is anticipated to be supported by increased production across all timber products,” Dr Singh announced.
Extractive sectors
In the area of mining, the Finance Minister also projected that mining and quarrying would grow by 10 per cent this year. This is on the back of the “modest growth” expected from the oil and gas and support services sector. Nevertheless, he noted that the gold, bauxite, and other mining subsectors are expected to record strong growth.
“Mr Speaker, the gold and bauxite mining subsectors are expected to expand further, to grow this year by 17.2 per cent and 70.1 per cent, respectively. Regarding gold mining, this stronger position is expected to be driven by higher projected declarations from the Aurora gold mine and the small and medium-scale miners, alongside an increase in Gold Board purchases, aggregating to a target of approximately 501,000 ounces.”
“Additionally, growth in bauxite mining this year is expected to be supported by
higher expected production from both operators in the industry, with output from the Linden mine expected to increase by 167.3 per cent.
Total bauxite production for 2025 is projected at just over 4.4 million metric tonnes,” the Finance Minister said.
Moving on to oil and gas, Dr Singh announced that the three existing FPSOs… Liza Destiny, Unity and Prosperity, together with the One Guyana FPSO that will come on stream this year in the Stabroek Block, are projected to achieve production of crude oil of 674,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) this year, with an expected ramp up to an average of 786,000 bpd in the fourth quarter of 2025.
“This supports the subsector expanding by an estimated 9.5 per cent this year.
Additionally, the other mining and quarrying subsector is anticipated to continue its strong performance this year, with projected growth of 29.8 per cent. This reflects robust growth continuing in infrastructure investment through the PSIP (the Public Sector Investment Programme), combined with intensified activity in private sector construction,” Dr Singh explained.
Manufacturing
With the transforma-
tive Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project coming on stream this year, the manufacturing sector will be one to watch. According to Dr Singh, the sector is expected to grow by 13 per cent this year.
“This reflects an expansion across all subsectors, with expected growth of 115.4 per cent, 9.5 per cent, and 9.8 per cent in sugar manufacturing, rice manufacturing, and other manufacturing, respectively,” he said.
“Mr Speaker, the construction sector is expected to continue its growth trajectory this year to expand by an estimated 24.8 per cent. This remains consistent with the sustained accelerated activities in the PSIP expected this year, intensified by the continued investment in the private sector, especially in hospitality and housing.” When it comes to the services sector, this too is expected to grow. Dr Singh explained that growth of 8 per cent is expected this year, including in the wholesale and retail trade, as well as repairs, administrative and support services, information and communication, and transport and storage. According to him, these are expected to increase by 8.7 per cent, 9.8 per cent, 5.8 per cent and 9.3 per cent, respectively. (G3)
Dock worker dies in accident at JFL Wharf
Dallas Sharples, a 63-year-old dock worker, tragically lost his life in a workplace accident at the John Fernandes Limited (JFL) Wharf, Water Street, Georgetown, on Thursday.
According to reports, Sharples was reportedly assisting with the offloading of containers from the vessel MV JPO Aquila, when the incident occurred.
Following the incident, the Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department has since launched an investigation.
According to the report, Senior OSH Officer Garrway Bourne and OSH Officer Ray Hosannah visited the site to examine the circumstances of the accident and to develop recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies.
Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton extended condo-
lences to Sharples’ family, colleagues, and friends while urging employers and workers to prioritise safety to prevent further loss of life. The investigation is ongoing.
In 2024, Guyana experienced a significant increase in workplace fatalities, with 32 deaths reported compared to 20 in 2023, marking a 60 per cent rise. These
incidents occurred mainly in the mining and construction sectors, despite the Labour Ministry’s ongoing efforts to improve workplace safety.
Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton, acknowledged the concerning trend during a press conference, highlighting the Ministry’s commitment to reducing such tragedies.
The OSH Department, created to address workplace accidents, conducted over 1,300 inspections in 2024, with 673 targeting high-risk workplaces. This represents a 68 per cent increase in high-risk inspections compared to previous years.
Offshore inspections of drill ships and Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) units were also introduced, with nearly a dozen officers trained for these specialised tasks. In 2024, the Ministry conducted nine offshore inspections, marking signifi-
cant progress in addressing safety concerns within the oil and gas sector.
Non-fatal workplace accidents decreased by 5 per cent, with 144 cases investigated, primarily in agriculture. While this decline is promising, the rise in fatalities remains a pressing issue.
To address compliance, the Ministry conducted a two-day inspection outreach in June 2024, targeting construction sites. Inspectors ensured adherence to the OSH Act, focusing on safety mechanisms, hygienic facilities, and proper protocols.
Construction site managers received detailed recommendations and a one-month period to rectify safety breaches. Through these initiatives, the Ministry aims to strengthen safety standards and reduce workplace risks.
Despite challenges, the Labour Ministry continues to prioritise the well-being of workers across all sectors.
Brazilian miner slapped with murder charge
Raimundo Dos Santos Coimbra, also known as ‘Nigi,’ a Brazilian national and miner, has been charged with the murder of Ovid James, a 37-year-old miner of Princeville, Mahdia, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni).
The fatal stabbing occurred on November 26, 2024, at around 7:00h at Nine Miles Backdam, Honey Camp, Middle Mazaruni River.
Police reported that James and Coimbra were both employed by Alister Culpepper, a 41-year-old gold miner.
On the evening of November 25, Culpepper and his workers, including the two men, went to Honey Camp Landing after washing
down a dredge operation.
The group spent the night drinking heavily and became intoxicated.
According to Rebecca Anton, a 45-year-old cook and James’ reputed wife, she noticed early Tuesday morning that James was still intoxicated.
She managed to take him back to their camp, where they encountered Coimbra, who was sitting at a table drinking High Wine.
James reportedly joined Coimbra, and an argument quickly broke out between the two men over who was their employer.
During the heated ex-
change, Coimbra armed himself with a knife and stabbed James in the lower abdomen. James collapsed and died on the spot.
Police arrived at the scene and transported James’ body to the Issano Health Post, where he was pronounced dead.
Following a manhunt, Coimbra was arrested on January 14.
He appeared before Magistrate Teriq Mohammed at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Coimbra was not required to plead to the indictable charge of murder and was remanded to prison.
Suresh Singh replaces Dharamkumar...
“Mr Seeraj and I paths first crossed in 1992 in Lethem. So, I have had a long association with him and I can attest to the human service he has provided to this country as a farmer, as a representative rice farmer, as a member of parliament and now he continues that service at another very high and important level,” the Speaker said. As a parliamentarian, Seeraj had represent -
ed Guyana at the African, Caribbean and Pacific and European Union (ACPEU) Joint Parliamentary Assembly back in 2013.
His appointment would see Guyana seeking to further strengthen already strong bilateral collaborations in multiple areas, especially agriculture.
His appointment will see him filling the diplomatic post that became vacant in October 2022 af -
ter Guyana’s then High Commissioner to India, Charrandas Persaud, was recalled following the circulation of a video which showed him verbally abusing a female Indian citizen outside his official residence in New Delhi.
While an investigation by Indian authorities found no evidence of misconduct during the August 2021 incident, which only came to light more than a year lat -
er, President Dr Irfaan Ali, emphasising the importance of representatives of Guyana conducting themselves in the highest regard, had said it was in the “best interest” that Persaud return home.
The Guyana Government has been placing much emphasis on strengthening its foreign policy, which includes filling the various diplomatic posts at overseas missions.
Budgeting…
…for a hot world
Your Eyewitness is writing this piece early on Friday morning – looong before the Finance Minister actually reads out his Budget Speech in its entirety. He knows this is tradition and all that, but the said tradition started out in 1733, when PM Walpole for the first time opened his BUDGE (briefcase, hence “Budget!”) in Parliament to suggest imposing excise taxes. Didn’t take more than a few minutes, but the uproar made him withdraw his suggestion while leaving us with a new word: Budget - suggesting revealing something hidden - and a new Parliamentary tradition!!
Well, after years of Budgets during the Burnham years - when folks waited anxiously to hear about new taxes and new bans – nowadays, the Govt’s expected to deliver goodies to the people by putting and leaving more money in their pockets!! Excepting, of course, when the PNC returned between 2016 and 2020 under Granger - and plunged into an orgy of taxing businesses and ordinary folks!! Returning to roots and all that, one suspects!!
Now, your Eyewitness won’t dare predict how much the Govt would propose to spend in an election year -- especially when we’re now talking about TRILLIONS of dollars!! -- so, he’s gonna take the road not (heavily) travelled and take a stab at what we might be doing after the world experienced the highest temperature in recorded history!! It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Climate Change is kicking in – and kicking a55es in the process!! Your Eyewitness worries we ain’t taking things seriously enough. Look at all the hotels going up; are their owners being warned that, in a couple of decades, they could all literally become not just Atlantic “beachfront properties”, but BEACHES!??! Maybe a “climate change” tax ought to be imposed to help defray the cost of keeping out the Atlantic?? Those sea walls, riprap structures and boulders don’t come cheap!! Did you see recent request for bids??
But most of all, we’re happy that Pressie kicked off Silica City. Your Eyewitness has said this before, and he’ll keep on saying it till someone listens: LET’S GET IT ON!!! Cause the old people say, “Who na lissen guh feel!!”, and he has no intention of feeling the Atlantic battering his deteriorating body!! We should start by moving all the Government Ministries and a new Parliament Building to Silica City – like Brazil did with Brasilia back in the sixties.
Leaders are supposed to be leading by example – like Hoyte’s Iwokrama - and what’s better than our present leaders showing the way to our future capital? Yes… we should go the whole hog and make Silica City our administrative capital. It’ll be like the US, where New York’s the economic capital and Washington’s the political capital.
Gotta hedge our bets!!
…for Reparations
In virtue-signalling moves, several British institutions and families that had links to the African Slave Trade to the Caribbean announced they were raising funds to go towards reparations in the “spirit of reparative justice”!! Back in 2018, Glasgow University announced they’ll raise £20M to spend over the next 20 years -setting up and running the Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research in Glasgow and UWI. Have we gotten any studies from this programme to assist in our development efforts?? At a minimum, we in Guyana can check off our plans against theirs.
Then there’s the Church of England, which marched in lockstep with the slave traders and plantation owners to exploit the free labour extracted through whips and chains. In 2023, they proposed a £100 billion reparations fund, but, a year later, a committee they established proposed that they would actually need £1 billion!! Then, of course, there were the Gladstones, who not only dealt in slaves, but indentureds, and said “sorry” along with £100K!!
Who’s keeping tabs??
…for cash grants
While your Eyewitness hasn’t collected his $100,000 cash grant as yet, he’s already budgeted for it; but hasn’t revealed the (spiritous) expenditure to his better half!! Figure he gotta dust off his old briefcase – to block blows!!
Dead: Dallas Sharples
Charged: Raimundo Dos Santos Coimbra
New CJIA Terminal; Berbice, Corentyne, Wismar bridges; Parika hub to transform connectivity
…as $88B allocated for energy projects
Ahall mark of suc-
cessive People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Governments has been its large-scale projects. Several of those projects- the Gas to Energy (GtE) Project, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), a number of bridges across the country and the Parika Stelling, were allocated billions of dollars in the $1.382 trillion Budget 2025.
In his budget presentation, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Dr Ashni Singh announced that that they will be investing in a world class, 150,000 square foot terminal building for the international airpor, one that will not only showcase Guyana’s natural beauty, but also allow for additional duty-free zones, retail opportunities, rental offices and lounges.
“The CJIA will then be able to dedicate separate buildings for arrivals and departures, increasing capacity and efficiency. A sum of $7 billion has been budgeted to commence these works in 2025,” he explained.
Dr Singh also recalled the work that has been
in various stages of construction or planning. One such bridge is the New Corentyne River Bridge – a partnership with the Government of Suriname that will see the construction of a 1,100-metre bridge across the Corentyne River, connecting Guyana to Suriname.
“An indicative sum of $5 billion is allocated to commence works once discussions with our Surinamese counterparts are concluded favourably,” the Finance
done, at the domestic infrastructure level, to improve Guyana’s air transport network. This has included rehabilitating the Baramita, Paruima, Port Kaituma, and Phillipai airstrips and the Lethem Aerodrome.
“In 2024, $2 billion was expended to rehabilitate airstrips in several areas including at Eteringbang and Paruima and advance works on Ekereku Bottom, Kaieteur, Kaikan, Karisparu and Matthew’s Ridge airstrips, to be completed in 2025. In 2025, a sum of $2.5 billion has been budgeted to complete and rehabilitate hinterland airstrips, including Apoteri, Aishalton, Chenapou, Jawalla and Sand Creek,” Dr Singh said.
Bridges
There are meanwhile a number of bridges that are
Minister explained.
Similarly, $5 billion has been budgeted to start building a new four lane fixed bridge across the Berbice River. The pre-qualification process for the New Berbice River Bridge was completed in 2024. As such, procurement is expected to be completed this year, with works subsequently commencing. Taking the lion’s share of the allocations for bridges is the New Demerara River Bridge – $20.2 billion that is budgeted to be completed this very year. Dr Singh also assured that works will advance to construct the bridge approach.
Meanwhile the Wismar Bridge is another bridge project in the works. Dr Singh noted that with works already progressed in 2024, a sum of $2.1 billion has been budgeted to further ad-
vance works in 2025.
GTE
Meanwhile, a total of $88
billion has been set aside for expanding energy related projects. One such project is the GtE Project, which when it comes onstream will deliver 300 megawatts (MW) of power.
“Mr Speaker, I have previously indicated that Budget 2025 makes provision for the completion of the much-anticipated 300 MW combined cycle power plant. Our Government is committed to reducing the cost of electricity for every consumer in Guyana by 50 per cent, once the GtE Project is completed.”
“This will not only lower household expenses but also significantly reduce operational costs of businesses, unlock the potential of the manufacturing sector, stimulate investment, and foster a more competitive and productive economy,” Dr Singh
said. According to the Finance Minister, this project is just the “first pillar” of the overall strategy for using gas. He also explained that the GtE Project is well advanced, with Phase I’s components;
the gas-to-shore pipeline, the combined cycle power plant, the natural gas liquids plant, transmission lines and the new control centre, on course to be completed this year.
Sergeant Bascom found guilty of cybercrime offences
Sergeant Dion Bascom was found guilty on Friday of two offences under the Cybercrime Act No. 16 of 2018, following a trial at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).
The charges stemmed from an incident on August 11, 2022, when Bascom used a computer system to transmit electronic data with the intent to humiliate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to Superintendent Mitchell Ceasar and Sergeant Kester Cosbert.
Bascom, who was stationed in the ECD area, was charged with the offences at Dazzel Housing Scheme, ECD. He pleaded not guilty to both charges during his initial appearance in court on November 14, 2022. The court granted Bascom bail in the amount of $50,000 for each charge.
The charges had alleged that Bascom’s actions caused significant emotional distress to Ceasar and Cosbert, both of whom were serving as senior officers at the time. After a thorough trial, Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore delivered the verdict, find-
Sergeant Dion Bascom
ing Bascom guilty on both charges.
Police seize suspected cannabis in Plaisance
Police in Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD), uncovered a quantity of suspected cannabis after two men abandoned their motorcycle and fled from officers on Thursday afternoon.
At around 17:00h, while on mobile patrol, police officers noticed the pair riding a black motorcycle with regis-
tration number CK 2155 on Victoria Road.
Upon the police signalling the rider to stop, both men dismounted but then ran into a nearby yard.
A brief foot chase followed, but the suspects managed to escape.
However, during the pursuit, they left behind a green haversack containing the suspected cannabis.
The bag was taken to the Sparendaam Police Station, where it was weighed and found to contain 401 grams of the suspected substance.
The motorcycle, along with the suspected drugs, has been seized as part of the ongoing investigation. Authorities are working to identify the suspects.
Following the ruling, Bascom’s defence attorney, Nigel Hughes, requested that a probation report be conducted before sentencing. The court granted the request, and the matter was adjourned to February 17, when the probation report will be presented and sentencing will occur.
The prosecution was represented by Senior Police Legal Advisor, Attorney-at-Law Mandel Moore, while Bascom was represented by Attorneyat-Law Nigel Hughes.
New CJIA Terminal...
“All GtE Phase 1 components are scheduled to be completed in 2025, bringing online the simple cycle for this project, significantly increasing availability and improving the affordability and reliability of electricity.
“Looking ahead, GtE Phase II builds on the successes and objectives of Phase I and will improve the reliability and scalability of the national grid. Phase II will entail the development of a standalone power generation facility.”
Phase II of the GtE, for which the government put out Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) last year, will feature a 250 MW combined cycle power plant, and according to Dr. Singh, the government is leaning towards this project following a power purchase model which will see electricity being sold to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL).
“A request for proposal was launched in 2024, and a contract is expected to be
awarded in 2025, and slated to be completed within two years from signing.
This Phase II of the Gasto-Energy project is expected to compensate for the delayed timeline for the AFHP (Amaila Falls Hydropower Project), which is now slated for 2029.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have previously indicated that Budget 2025 makes provision for the completion of the much-anticipated 300 MW combined cycle power plant. Our government is committed to reducing the cost of electricity for every consumer in Guyana by 50 percent, once the GtE project is completed.”
According to the finance minister, this will not only lower household expenses but also significantly reduce operational costs of businesses, unlock the potential of the manufacturing sector, stimulate investment, and foster a more competitive and productive economy.
PAGE 9
Stelling
Monies have also been set aside for work on various water front infrastructure. For instance, a sum of $9.9 billion is budgeted to construct a new Parika Ferry Stelling and Waterfront Development Project.
This will effectively transform the Parika stelling into a major regional hub for transportation and socio-economic activities and enhance operational efficiency, prioritize safety and guarantee commuters’ comfort.
“In 2024, a sum of $9.3 billion was expended on our river transport facilities. Key investments include the completion of rehabilitation works on the MV Barima and MV Kimba, the Leguan, Supenaam, and Wakenaam stellings and the construction of navigational aids within the Demerara River and Mora Passage,” the finance minister explained. (G3)
Police shoot man after alleged attack in Bourda
Aman believed to be of unsound mind was shot by police on Thursday night, after allegedly damaging a Ministry of Education vehicle and attempting to attack officers with a pair of scissors.
The incident occurred at around 23:45h at North Road and Oronoque Street, Bourda, Georgetown, and involved a white Toyota Land Cruiser (PWW 1578) driven by 32-year-old Ansaar Hussein, a driver attached to the Ministry of Education.
Hussein told police that while he was driving west along North Road, he stopped at the intersection to allow another vehicle to pass when he heard a shattering sound.
Upon inspection, he discovered the front windscreen of the vehicle was broken and saw a man armed with a piece of wood and a pair of scissors approaching.
Hussein immediately drove off and alerted a nearby police patrol.
Police ranks responded and located the suspect, identified only as “Delroy,” on Church Street.
According to the police, the man jumped into a trench in an attempt to evade capture. When instructed to come out, he complied, but allegedly charged at an officer with a pair of scissors.
Despite warnings to desist, the suspect continued advancing in a threatening manner.
The officer, fearing for his life, discharged a single round from his service weapon, striking the man in his upper right thigh.
The injured suspect was subdued and the scissors was recovered.
He was escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he is under police guard and receiving medical treat-
ment. His condition is listed as stable.
Police have since launched an investigation into the incident, including the damage to the Government vehicle.
This is the second incident of this nature that has occurred in a matter of days.
On Wednesday, a fatal incident occurred in Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD), when Roger Erwin Pierre, a 43-year-old labourer with a history of drug abuse and mental instability, fatally attacked two individuals with a knife.
He was subsequently shot and killed by police.
The ganja found in Plaisance
FROM
Housing Ministry targeting squatting areas for regularisation
The Ministry of Housing and Water has identified at least 24 informal areas across Guyana for regularisation in 2025 in an effort to provide citizens with legal ownership of their land.
During a Guyana Dialogue programme, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal made this disclosure as he outlined plans to regularise those squatting communities this year.
“We have a number of areas we have targeted for
Educational
this year. So, we have targeted about, close to about, I would say 24 areas at a minimum. For Region Two, we have areas like the Lima Sands Housing Scheme which is up for regularisation,” he said.
Among settlements targeted for regularisation are Vigilance South and North; Coldingen North; De Endragt, south of the Railway Embankment; Enmore Newtown, Enmore Beezie and Enmore Hope West; Enterprise Block 8, and Enterprise Market
Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal
toy kits distributed to hinterland, riverine nursery schools
The Education Ministry is distributing 500 educational toy kits to nursery schools in the Hinterland and Riverain regions for the new academic term.
These kits, designed to stimulate creativity and support cognitive and motor skills development, are already arriving at schools, with some institutions receiving multiple sets. Distribution began last week, and additional kits are currently in transit, expected to arrive in the coming days.
In a release on Friday, the Ministry said that this initiative is part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to improve the quality of early childhood education, ensuring that young learners across the country have access to hands-on, engaging materials that promote play-based learning.
The Ministry said that the kits, which align with the recently updated Nursery
Curriculum, aim to provide students with a fun, interactive way to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and social interaction skills.
The nursery kits were
sources are an integral part of the broader educational reform, which emphasises play-based learning and the overall growth of young children.
In addition to the toy kits, the National Centre for Educational Resources Development (NCERD) has developed a similar set of educational tools, reinforcing the importance of play as a central element of early education.
Both teachers and students will benefit from these innovative resources, which encourage an engaging and dynamic learning environment.
Between October and December 2024, all nurs-
procured with support from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), further underscoring the Government’s commitment to improving educational access and quality in every corner of the country, including the remote Hinterland and Riverain regions. These re-
ery teachers in Government schools nationwide were trained in the Renewed Nursery Curriculum, marking a significant step towards creating a more effective and engaging educational experience for children across the country.
Street; some settlements located on the Essequibo Coast; areas in Region Six such as Belvedere North and Hampshire; and settlements in Region Ten such as Coomacka, Silver Hill, West Watooka and Wismar, among other places.
Minister Croal has said these squatter settlements have been occupied for years without residents having legal ownership of the lands they have occupied. He explained that there is a maximum target
for beneficial occupancy of house lots in each of these settlements, and relocation may be necessary in some of these areas.
“We’re catering for ...about 1,000 to be regularised. Additionally, there are areas that require relocation,” he declared.
He explained that because of various constraints, some informal settlements cannot be regularised, making relocation necessary. However, for the areas where regularisation is possible,
Government plans to provide the necessary infrastructure and grant legal ownership to residents.
“This programme is part of a massive relocation and regularisation effort to address the needs of landless citizens and improve their living conditions,” Croal disclosed, even as he revealed that Government had regularised some 17 squatter settlements in 2024, causing some 1,571 housing lots to be legally owned.
Mother fears for her life as ex-partner on bail for assault
Ronelsa Raghuandan, a 30-year-old mother of one, has voiced her fears for her life, after an alleged terrifying encounter with her ex-partner, Travis Farley.
Farley, the father of her one-year-old daughter, allegedly entered her home uninvited on January 8 and assaulted her both verbally and physically, reportedly brandishing an object described in court as “resembling a gun”, during the altercation.
He was in court Friday, charged with verbal assault and physical assault, where bail was set at $10,000 for each charge.
The incident, which unfolded at Ronelsa’s residence at 6th Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, has left her shaken and seeking justice.
She revealed to Guyana Times that her relationship with Farley ended over a year ago.
She said while in the hospital giving birth to their daughter, she discovered that Farley was already in a relationship with another woman.
She described the betrayal as devastating, prompting her to tell Farley to leave her home and her life for good.
He complied, moving in with his other girlfriend almost immediately.
But Ronelsa claims the breakup did not put an end to their contact. Instead, she alleged, Farley has harassed her, trying to reconcile.
“I have moved on. This started after he called me to wish me a happy birthday and the person that I am with answered my phone…”, she said.
The situation escalated on January 8, when Farley allegedly showed up at Ronelsa’s home uninvited. According to her, he appeared angry and aggressive, demanding to speak with her.
When she refused, Farley reportedly became violent, grabbing her, slapping her, and verbally abusing her.
During the altercation, Ronelsa claims he pulled an object resembling a firearm and threatened her life.
“I was at the back washing clothes and I heard his voice… he came into my house and when my daughter saw him she started running, so I ran and picked her up and I asked him to leave right away…I picked up my daughter and started backing back, and I and my daughter ended up in the kitchen. He hit me on my hand and I asked why he hit me on my hand. I told him he is not my father and we started arguing, and he slapped me. He pulled out the gun and I had my baby in my hand. He told me he would shoot me and he said he would hit me in my head with the gun”, she disclosed.
In a desperate bid to protect herself, the woman reportedly fled into a room and locked herself inside, while her neighbours, alerted by the commotion, began demanding that Farley leave the premises.
The neighbours’ presence eventually forced Farley to leave and Ronelsa immediately filed a report at the Alberttown Police Station.
According to Ronelsa, Farley’s recent behaviour has now made her fear for her life.
Court Proceedings Farley appeared at the Georgetown’s Magistrate’s Courts on Friday before Chief Magistrate (ag) Faith Mc Gusty, to answer charges of verbal assault and physical assault.
During the hearing, Ronelsa informed the court that Farley had pulled a gun on her during the January 8 incident.
When asked about this by Magistrate McGusty, the prosecution stated that investigations revealed Farley had brandished “a black object resembling a gun” during the confrontation.
Despite the allegations, Magistrate McGusty set bail at $10,000 for each charge.
Farley pleaded guilty to the verbal assault charge but not guilty to the physical assault. He was also placed under a bond to keep the peace until the next court hearing, which is scheduled for February 7, 2025.
Travis Farley is no stranger to the courts, however. He is currently facing separate charges for a shooting incident in November 2024 in Riverview, Ruimveldt.
In that case, Farley and his current girlfriend, Bhurta Motilall, were accused of shooting their neighbour, 37-year-old Zahir Hussein, following an argument at a bar. Farley, allegedly intoxicated, fired multiple rounds, hitting Hussein twice in the legs.
The incident left the father of a newborn hospitalised and in severe pain.
Farley and Motilall were placed on $200,000 bail each and are set to return to court for that case, in February 2025.
Charged: Travis Farley
Jagdeo dismisses Brutus’s diversity policy lawsuit as a “desperate” PR stunt
General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, has strongly rejected the claims made by Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus, calling his lawsuit against the Government regarding the “Diversity Policy” a desperate attempt to grab media attention and distract from the serious allegations of misconduct leveled against him.
Brutus, in a $1.6 bil-
lion lawsuit, accused the Government of racial discrimination within the Guyana Police Force (GPF), alleging that Afro-Guyanese officers, including himself, were sidelined in favor of Indo-Guyanese personnel to meet a Governmentimposed diversity quota.
Brutus further claimed that his removal from the position of acting Deputy Police Commissioner for Administration was orchestrated by Dr Jagdeo to make way for Assistant
Commissioner Ravindradat Budhram, an IndoGuyanese officer.
No such directive
However, Dr Jagdeo vehemently denied these accusations, asserting that no such directive was given and that Brutus’ removal was more likely linked to the numerous allegations of financial misconduct that surfaced during his tenure.
There has been no such directive. I never met with the Commissioner of Police and I never asked him to replace Brutus as head of administration… There is no truth to Brutus’ claims of racial discrimination,” Dr Jagdeo emphasised during a recent press briefing. “This lawsuit is merely a public relations stunt designed to deflect from the real issues—his mismanagement and the corruption within the police force. We have been very clear about our commitment to diversity, but this has nothing to do with the unfulfilled contracts and financial irregularities that occurred under Brutus’ watch.”
Dr Jagdeo listed several troubling financial discrep-
ancies, including a GY$14.8 million payment for supplies—such as 3,150 metal buttons, 560 lanyards, and 943 male peaked caps—that were never delivered. He pointed out that these failures directly affected the well-being of police officers, who were deprived of necessary uniforms and equipment due to Brutus’ negligence.
“It’s not the PPP that was harmed by these financial failures; it was the police officers, who come from all walks of life,” Dr Jagdeo continued. “Brutus, however, continues to deflect by playing the race card. His failure to deliver on his responsibilities has harmed the very officers he claims to represent.”
The lawsuit and Brutus’ claims of racial discrimination have also sparked political tensions, with opposition parties accusing the PPP of unfairly targeting Afro-Guyanese officers. Dr Jagdeo responded to these allegations by turning the focus back on Brutus’ alleged corruption, dismissing the opposition’s narrative as a political tactic.
“While the opposition
uses these claims to push their own racial agenda, they are turning a blind eye to the real issue: corruption in the police force,” Dr Jagdeo said. “We stand firm in our commitment to fairness and justice. Anyone, regardless of race, who engages in misconduct and fails in their duties will be held accountable.”
Brutus is currently on administrative leave while facing over 200 charges related to alleged corruption. As his legal battle with the Government unfolds, Dr Jagdeo made it clear that the PPP’s stance on corruption remains unwavering— no one, regardless of their race or position, will be ex-
empt from accountability.
“We will continue to manage this country with integrity,” Dr Jagdeo concluded. “If you fail in your duties, you will face the consequences, regardless of who you are or who you think you are close to.”
Brutus was initially granted bail of $6.2 million in October for 31 charges related to alleged financial crimes. That sum was increased to $10.05 million in November after 201 additional charges were filed, bringing the total number of accusations against him to 231.
As the case engages the court, Brutus remains on bail.
CARICOM regional migration policy moving apace ...ILO labour
market analysis gets underway
The International Labour Organisation (ILO), in collaboration with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, launched the consultancy: ‘Free Movement of Persons in the CARICOM Region: Undertaking labour market analysis in the Region’, to inform the development of a comprehensive labour migration policy for the region.
Designed as part of an ongoing collaboration between ILO and CARICOM to strengthen the free movement of persons in the region, the study will evaluate
the interplay of economic, employment, and migration patterns in the region.
Findings are expected to guide member states in optimising labour mobility, protecting workers’ rights, and enhancing job creation through innovative economic strategies.
During the virtual launch held on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, Leo Preville, Director of the CARICOM Single Market (CSM), joined ILO officials Mr Abdelmalik Muhummed, Employment and Labour Market Specialist, and Mr Francesco Carella,
Regional Labour Migration Specialist, to highlight the importance of the analysis in shaping sustainable migration policies that reflect the region’s complex socio-economic realities.
The employers and workers’ organisations, represented by the Caribbean Congress of Labour and Caribbean Employers’ Confederation, the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation, along with The University of West Indies, have equally supported the initiative, confirming their readiness to oversee this work as mem-
bers of the Project Steering Committee.
CSM Director, Leo Preville highlighted that the free movement of individuals within the Caribbean region will play a critical role in ensuring the success of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
“The development of policies to enhance the smooth movement of people is central to the success of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. An evidence-based approach to the development of policy is therefore critical,” Preville stated.
“The development of the labour migration policy component of the regional migration policy must be centred on a sound analysis. The study will provide the opportunity for a close and detailed assessment of both the demand and supply sides of labour in the Community as well as provide an understanding of the migration dynamics taking place in the Community. This understanding is especially important in the context of the standing decision of the Heads of Government to work towards the free movement of all CARICOM
nationals,” he added.
Speaking at the occasion, ILO Employment and Labour Market Specialist, Mr Abdelmalik Muhummed, emphasised that migration presents challenges and opportunities for long-term socio-economic development in the region.
“The ILO is pleased to partner with CARICOM on this landmark study that will provide critical insights into how migration can enhance workforce dynamics for inclusive sustainable growth that prioritises decent work and social justice in Caribbean Member States,” he added.
Spanning January to April 2025, the analysis will employ a robust methodology, incorporating primary and secondary data collection, stakeholder consultations, and sectoral analysis.
Key deliverables include an inception report, two draft reports, and a final report, culminating in a vali-
dation workshop to ensure alignment with national and regional goals.
The results are expected to provide a comprehensive understanding of the economic, employment, labour and migration dynamics as much of the region currently faces unprecedentedly low levels of growth and an increase in vulnerabilities. The study will further explore the effects of climate change on jobs and labour mobility, consider casual chains, identify opportunities and challenges, and recommend possible strategies for improving productive employment in the CARICOM Region. Key participants included Permanent Secretaries, Ambassadors to CARICOM, labour commissioners and senior labour officers, CSME focal points, statistical officers, data managers, technical liaison officers, and other relevant stakeholders.
CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters
Assistant Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus
General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo
EU-Guyana Chamber elects new Board of Directors
The European Chamber of Commerce Guyana has elected its new Board of Directors for 2025.
According to the European Chamber of Commerce (Guyana) press release, Dr. Alista Bishop, a recognized leader in finance, entrepreneurship, and international trade, has been elected as Chair of the Chamber.
Others on the newly elected board include Joerg Niebelschultz, Vice Chair, and Vasudeo Singh Secretary/Treasurer; along with additional new members: Gregory Dean, Martin Cheong, Matthew Kendall, Martin Anez, Kerensa Gravesande-Bart, and Richard DeNobrega.
The release noted that this distinguished group of professionals brings a
wealth of experience and is dedicated to enhancing economic collaboration between Europe and Guyana.
Dr Bishop brings a stra-
tegic vision to the role, focusing on fostering cross-border collaboration, advocating for sustainable economic practices, and creating valu-
able opportunities for both European and Guyanese businesses, it stated.
“It is an honor to lead the European Chamber of
Commerce as Chair. Guyana is an essential player in the global economic landscape, and I look forward to collaborating closely with our members and partners to unlock new opportunities for growth and collaboration,” Dr Bishop remarked on her appointment.
The release noted that the European Chamber of Commerce is committed to supporting European businesses operating in Guyana, and encouraging European investors to explore opportunities within this dynamic market.
More than 15 students from Region Four, on Friday received certificates for successfully completing the St John Association Guyana/St John Ambulance Brigade’s First Aid/CPR/AED Courses.
The students were all trained within a 10-week period. They now have skills which will be used to assist persons through volunteerism.
Speaking at the simple graduation ceremony held Friday, St John’s Association Guyana Chairman, Vibert Parvatan, highlighted some of the objectives of the organisations training programmes.
“All forms of training have three common goals, one is to enhance knowledge; to give you knowledge, and that applies to you who are getting your certificates; two: to improve your skills knowledge and skills,” he advised.
The Chairman revealed that these programmes also aim to improve citizens’ attitudes. This he noted, is crucial in the patient care sector.
“And thirdly, no less important: to change your attitude, the knowledge you
It encourages all stakeholders, including business leaders and media representatives, to engage with the new board as they work together to achieve ambitious goals for 2025.
Through collaboration, the Chamber aims to drive economic advancement and create a robust environment for European enterprises in Guyana.
By joining the Chamber, members gain access to numerous benefits, including resources and initiatives focused on trade and investment, health and education, and the promotion of inclusive and sustainable practices. The Chamber remains dedicated to fostering innovation and facilitating partnerships that enhance the business environment for both local and international stakeholders. The new board aims to build upon past successes while introducing new initiatives designed to meet the evolving needs of its members.
Over 15 students complete St John Association Guyana courses
Chairman noted that the
St John Association also assists members of the public, among other activities.
“But besides training in first aid, and training in home nursing, we have a brigade, which is the parliamentary arm of the organisation and what do they do? They attend all large gatherings, standing by to offer help, if someone needs help
and they visit homes for the elderly kindness, they go to the homes of the elderly, say prayers with them, fix their hair, fix their nails, general check on their blood pressure, everything they should do, and lift their spirit,” the Chairman stated.
The St John Association Guyana was established in 1933. Its para-military arm, the St John Ambulance
Brigade started in 1952. The St John Association is a non-profit, non-governmental, humanitarian organisation supporting healthcare in Guyana.
The St John Association is administered by a Council which comprises a number of experienced persons who serve as volunteers and do not receive any payment for their services.
have today will have no value, it will have no meaning whatsoever, if you are selfish. If you’re walking with your fancy clothing along the way and there’s someone bleeding on the road, your attitude could be, ‘I don’t want to spoil my clothes today, I’m going to go around the corner and call the ambulance’. You have to have the right attitude, the attitude of right, the right attitude to others,” he noted. Moreover, as part of efforts to give back to the community the Chairman noted
that his organisation will offer CPR training free of cost to persons.
“To conduct CPR train-
ing here, free to persons who can organise 15, 20 people; they come here, we arrange it, we offer that service to you, in your organisations, your cooking club, your volleyball club, your church group organise persons put them together, have a venue, and we will come there and train them on CPR,” he disclosed.
Additionally, apart from training persons, the
Several members of the new Chamber Board pose with European Union Ambassador René Van Nes (third from right) (ECCG photo)
St John’s Association Guyana Chairman, Vibert Parvatan
Graduates at the ceremony on Friday
Evaluate your current source of income and do what’s necessary to adjust your lifestyle to match or find additional sources of employment. Refrain from getting angry when positive action is required.
Use your intelligence and make a change at home that offers peace of mind and lowers your overhead. Going further into debt to maintain something you don’t need is not the way to go.
Distance yourself from temptation and those who want to take advantage of you. If you want to be excessive, try putting your energy into something that will benefit your health or improve your earning potential.
Attend social functions. Use your charm, and you’ll attract attention, not to mention newfound friends and potential partners. A networking event will allow you to show off and reach people.
Do your homework before initiating a change. Don’t count on getting valid information; take your time and assess your needs first to avoid being misled or giving someone the wrong impression.
Stretch your imagination, and you’ll find other ways to use your talents, skills and experience to bring in additional cash. Reach out to people who can offer insight into what’s trending.
Change begins with you and how you live. Evaluate your health and emotional well-being, and if it doesn’t meet your expectations, consider the transformation necessary to satisfy your soul.
Spend time reflecting, initiating changes at home that add to your comfort and tapping into your creative ideas. A commitment that affects your livelihood or relationships will positively impact you.
Caution is necessary when dealing with people looking out for their interests, not for yours. Question everything you hear and see before you respond. You’ll be led astray by hype and empty promises.
Pay attention to investments, joint ventures and who you share information with, and you’ll avoid criticism and interference. A partnership will be worth considering.
Get ready to act on instinct and counter any attempts made by outside parties to limit your actions. A change at home will be costly. When in doubt, take a pass.
Socialize, network, participate and expand your interests. The people you encounter will enrich your life by sparking your imagination. Consider the possibilities, review the costs and follow through with an affordable plan.
ARCHIE
Lights ordered, plans for CCTV camera in budgeted upgrades for Gymnasium – Sport Minister Ramson
With the deterioration of lights and lack of security cameras at the National Gymnasium having become an issue, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, announced that acquisition of security cameras has been catered for in the national budget, and lights have been ordered for the facility.
This announcement was made at the year-of-end presser of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Homestretch Avenue in Georgetown, where the Sport Minister was quizzed by journalists in regard to the dimming lights and the facility's lack of security cameras.
Minister Ramson’s response was, “Yeah! So, we just ordered! We just ordered some more, some better-quality lights. The scale, the intensity of the lights, the lumens, etcetera, dictate the price, right? That dictates the price. So, we've been trying our best. I'm very stingy with money in terms of how we spend and because we have to stretch. There's a lot for us to do, so we have to stretch.
“And, you know, when you have a lot to do and you don't have a, you know, you don't have all of the money…
But I like that, you know. I actually like being able to think carefully about how we're going to spend money and what's the best possible way to spend money, because you want to get value too. So, we've just ordered some for the Gymnasium,” the minister explained.
“I'm hoping that'll address it too! I'm close with the basketball players there too, so they've reached out to me for their games. In their situation, because they have league games there, it's an important, I would say, investment for us to make there,” Sport Minister Ramson explained.
Deterioration of the lights has caused some games in the One Guyana League to be postponed, and the Guyana Basketball Federation has been forced to bring in portable lights; while the lack of camera facilities has resulted in vehicles in the parking lot specifically being subjected to acts of burglary.
International League T20
Fernando’s 81 trumps Hope’s 83 for win for Sharjah Warriorz
Asecond consecutive big score from Shai
Hope has proved insufficient to prevent the Dubai Capitals from going down by five wickets to the Sharjah Warriorz in International League T20 (ILT20) action at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Hope, West Indies ODI captain, followed up his 101 from the last game with 83* on Friday as the Capitals posted 201-5 from their 20
SCOREBOARD
Dubai Capitals (20 ovs maximum)
Ben Dunk † c Paul
b Milne 21
Shai Hope not out 83
Brandon McMullen
b Rashid 22
Sikandar Raza (c) c Milne
b Karim Janat 27
Rovman Powell c Karim Janat
b Southee 28
Dasun Shanaka c Rashid
b Southee 4
Gulbadin Naib not out 6
Extras (b 2, lb 2, nb 3, w 3) 10
Total 20 Ov (RR: 10.05) 201/5
Did not bat: Olly Stone, Haider Ali, Akif Raja, Dushmantha Chameera, Obed McCoy
Fall of wickets: 1-41 (Ben Dunk, 4.4 ov), 2-76 (Brandon McMullen, 8.6 ov), 3-137 (Sikandar Raza, 14.6 ov), 4-191 (Rovman Powell, 19.1 ov), 5-195 (Dasun Shanaka, 19.3 ov)
Bowling O-M-R-W
Tim Southee
Adam Milne
Traveen Mathew
Junaid Siddique
Adil Rashid
4-0-35-2
4-0-46-1
3-0-28-0
2-0-16-0
4-0-36-1
Rohan Mustafa 1-0-12-0
Karim Janat 2-0-24-1
Sharjah Warriorz (T: 202 runs from 20 ovs)
Jason Roy c Stone b Chameera 26
Johnson Charles † c Gulbadin Naib b Stone 37
Avishka Fernando c †Dunk b McCoy 81 Rohan Mustafa c Shanaka b Chameera 17
Luke Wells not out 31
Karim Janat c McCoy b Chameera 1 Keemo Paul not out 1
Extras (lb 2, nb 2, w 4) 8
Total 18.1 Ov (RR: 11.11) 202/5
Did not bat: Adil Rashid, Adam Milne, Tim Southee (c), Junaid Siddique Fall of wickets: 1-56 (Johnson Charles, 5.2 ov), 2-75 (Jason Roy, 7.4 ov), 3-132 (Rohan Mustafa, 12.1 ov), 4-182 (Avishka Fernando, 15.3 ov), 5-183 (Karim Janat, 16.3 ov) Bowling O-M-R-W
Haider Ali 2-0-14-0
Obed McCoy 4-0-30-1
Olly Stone 4-0-50-1
Dushmantha Chameera 4-0-30-3
Gulbadin Naib 2.1-0-47-0
Sikandar Raza 1-0-11-0
Akif Raja 1-0-18-0
overs, after losing the toss.
Hope’s knock, which came off 52 balls, included three fours and six sixes, and was well supported by West Indies T20I skipper Rovman Powell, whose 28 off 15
balls included three sixes, while captain Sikandar Raza made 27.
Captain Tim Southee was the Warriorz best bowl er on the day, with 35-2 from his four overs.
Sharjah needed only 18.1 overs to reach 202-5, thanks to some brutal hit ting from Sri Lankan pow erhouse Avishka Fernando, who batted at #3 and hit 81 off just 27 balls as he smashed the Capitals bowl ing to all parts of the ground. Fernando brought up his fif ty off just 16 balls, the fast est in ILT20 history, and hit six fours and eight sixes in total.
Johnson Charles pro vided good support with a 19-ball 37, while Luke Wells
Shai Hope hitting down the ground
Johnson Charles gave Sharjah Warriorz a rapid start
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr
Half-centuries from Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan have allowed Pakistan to regain momentum in this first Test of the West Indies tour after Jayden Seales's triple-strike had put West Indies in the driver’s seat in Multan.
On a surface tailor-made for spin, fast bowler Seales proved to be the pick of the bowlers by exploiting pace and slight seam movement to send debutant Mohammad Hurraira, Kamran Ghulam and Babar Azam back for single figures. Pakistan had, at that point, been reduced to 46 for 4, with West Indies looming ominously over the tail. However, a gritty unbeaten 97-run rearguard for the fifth wicket, from Rizwan and Shakeel, thwarted the visitors for the rest of the day, and ensured Pakistan end the day with a semblance of control.
The start of the game was delayed by four hours owing to heavy fog that enveloped the ground, Pakistan won the toss, and batted first in hazy conditions, with the floodlights
West Indies tour of Pakistan
Pakistan recover through fifties from Shakeel, Rizwan
on throughout the course of the day.
Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie bowled the first ball, an indication of how both sides perceived the pitch, upon which each played three specialist spinners. Motie got rid of Pakistan captain Shan
Hurraira hung his bat out and edged to the keeper. The beauty that followed removed Kamran Ghulam, who had just dispatched an outswinger to the boundary. The next ball, he attempted to shoulder arms, but it seamed back into him wickedly and rapped the
Gudakesh Motie strangled Shan Masood down the leg side away just enough to kiss the outside edge and fly through to Imlach. Babar reviewed but, like Ghulam, was not reprieved.
Pakistan’s innings threatened to fall apart at that point, but Saud
Masood early, squeezing him down to the debutant wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach on the on-side, but for the rest of the hour, it was Seales's show.
Seales had been sniffing right from the outset, and got his reward when
thigh. Hawk-Eye showed it would have clipped the top of off.
The big fish came soon after through another glorious use of the seam. Seales hit a hard length, and Babar looked to parry into the off-side, but it shaped
GBF announce final...
“It’s always an honour to guide this team into action. I’m looking forward to more international basketball opportunities in the future,” Hooper has said.
Offering words of encouragement to the players who have not been selected, Hooper has said, “Keep working hard and showing improvement through your participation in the ongoing One Guyana Premier League tournament. Your time will come.”
GBF President Michael Singh, in expressing excitement at this team’s participation in the tournament in Suriname, has said, “We’re looking forward to seeing the team compete and showcase their skills. This tournament is an excellent opportunity for us to measure the depth of talent available locally as we gear up for a busy 2025 on the regional and international basketball scenes.”
He also commended Coach Hooper and Assistant Coach Rodrigues for their dedication in preparing and selecting the team.
The tournament in Suriname promises to be pivotal for Guyana’s basketball programme, according to Singh, who believes that a strong showing is inevitable from a team that combines skill, experience and youthful energy.
Travis Belgrave
was lbw shouldering arms to
Shakeel, seasoned on surfaces like these, restored some order to proceedings. The sting having been taken out of the quicks, the spinners negotiated deftly, while Mohammad Rizwan, at the other end, kept his concentration levels up as the Windies continued to prowl.
boundaries, with Rizwan, the chief aggressor, being brave enough to use his feet against spin, and ensuring the strike kept ticking over.
There remained plenty for the visitors to get excited about. Many balls beat the outside edge by a whisker, and Shakeel popped one up dangerously close to short midwicket when he was just shy of a half-century. But when he got there,
There was a notable acceleration from the pair after tea, right from when Shakeel got to his knees and swept Kevin Sinclair for four. It was a shot that brought the pair bounty through the session, giving them a release shot as the ball began to rip. The next six overs produced seven
and Rizwan followed up soon after, the milestones were both well-deserved. By then the light had been deteriorating consistently, and midway through Kraigg Brathwaite's first over, the light-metre came out, and the players went off. By then Pakistan were arguably the happier side, having been dragged by Rizwan and Shakeel towards a rather less perilous position than they had found themselves in after the first hour.
(ESPNcricinfo)
Mohammad Rizwan played a key part in rescuing Pakistan after their shaky start
Kamran Ghulam
Jayden Seales
Saud Shakeel turning one away
With a number of international-standard stadiums and multipurpose sports halls to be completed, hundreds of community grounds to be rehabilitated, and several other projects being on the cards for completion in the year ahead, Guyana’s Sport sector had received its larg est Budget allocation yet -a whopping $8B for the fiscal year 2025.
in the Office of the President with re sponsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, in unveiling the 2025 National Budget during a sit ting of the National Assembly at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC) on Friday afternoon, revealed the Government’s gener osity towards Sport, and took the time to detail some of the projects that can be expected from the Sport sector, which falls under young Minister Charles Ramson
Jr, who has responsibility for the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS).
Dr Singh revealed that the International Stadium at
ment. In addition, work will continue on several multipurpose grounds around the country, while multipurpose Sports Halls would be constructed at Leonora,
Berbice is on track for comple- tion this year, while another stadium at Crane, West Coast Demerara is earmarked for commence-
grounds, including $1B for the procurement and installation of lights, so that these grounds can be used after the sun has set; because, in
GHE practice match…
TRamnauth, Balgobin
hit half-centuries on Day 3
he youngsters shone in coming to the fore in the Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) practice match played at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Thursday.
Nial Smith’s XI resumed the day with a second-innings’ lead of 153, after dismissing Kemol Savory’s XI for 319 late on the previous day.
Although opener Sachin Singh got out early, the batsman alongside him, Rampertab Ramnauth, made the most of the opportunity by slamming 11 boundaries on his way to a 98-ball score of 72 runs.
Akshaya Persaud pitched in with 34 runs from 93 balls, but the youngster Ushardeva Balgobin exceeded the half- century mark by crafting a patient 72 off 140 balls, and remained unbeaten at close of play alongside Jonathan Van
Lange, who made 34 runs off 56 balls thus far.
Adrian Hetmyer and Afraz Ali Budhu also spent some time at the crease in getting to 20 and 11 respectively. As such, Smith’s XI got to 302 for 6 by close of play on Day 3, resulting in a lead of 455 runs.
Although playing solid cricket, Smith’s XI were somewhat undone by the wily bowl ing of Romario Ramdeholl, who returned figures of 4-64 from 23 overs; while Ashmead Nedd (1-31 from 19 overs) and Isai Thorne (1-51 from 11 overs) each both claimed a solitary wick et. Red-ball action is ex pected to continue to day at the same venue.
Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) are preparing to de fend their title in the West Indies Championships
many of these communities, there’s tremendous demand for night cricket, night football, and night sport,” Dr Singh divulged.
Improving on an initiative in 2024 that had seen international track and field coaches travelling to Guyana to assess the talents of over 200 athletes in related disciplines, Dr Singh disclosed plans for athletics in 2025 that are directly geared at participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Dr Singh revealed, “23 athletes (of the 200 athletes assessed) were identified for specialised training, and we
planned in 2025 to develop an elite training programme for athletes and coaches, to improve the prospects for them and to create a world class team to participate in the Olympics in 2028.”
Dr Singh also took the time to share plans for the sport of basketball, which would see increase in the number of its facilities in 2025.
“In basketball, for example, we will be building tarmacs and we’ll be working with coaches to rollout broad-based involvement in the sport at the community level, at the school lev-
el, so that young people are playing every day and they become accustomed to playing with a basketball every day. And then working, of course, working with administrators to organise formal coaching and tournaments, etc. so that our young people can really get to international quality proficiency,” he declared in the National Assembly.
Sport’s 2025 Budget sees a $3B improvement over what had obtained in 2024, where $5B was expended on the sector. It is thus far the largest budgetary allocation in Sport’s history.
GBF announces final 12 for Suriname ‘Nations Cup’ tournament
of 2025, which bowl off on Wednesday January 29 at several venues around the Caribbean. Barbados Pride are their first challenge in Round One, but they will come up against Combined Campuses and Colleges in Round 2, which bowls off on February 5. Both games will be played at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.
Following four days of gruelling trials conducted at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Guyana’s senior national men’s basketball team has finally been selected.
Head coach Adrian Hooper and assistant coach Marlon Rodrigues had assembled some of the country’s top basketball talents to contend in a highly competitive environment; and now that particular players have been selected for their outstanding performances, the team is set to depart for Paramaribo on Thursday, January 23, to participate in back-to-back matches against Grenada and Suriname on January 24, 25 and 26. The team is scheduled to return to Guyana on Monday, January 27. The players select-
ed are: Stanton Rose, Domair Gladstone and Kimol Grimmond of the Kwakwani Untouchables; Travis Belgrave, Denzil Ross and Zian Gray of the Eagles; Orlan Glasgow and Harold Adams of the Royals; Shane Webster and Oquacey Shortt of the Colts; Nikkoloi Smith of the Ravens, and Jermaine Slater of the Kobras.
Describing the selection process as exceptionally challenging due to the sheer level of talent displayed during the trials, Coach Hooper has said, “It was a difficult task to narrow the team down, as many players proved they were worthy of consideration.” He nevertheless emphasized that this team is a perfect blend of seasoned veterans and promising youngsters, and has said
that young player Kimol Grimmond has started making strides in adjusting to the rigours of international basketball.
“The team we’ve selected is more than capable of representing Guyana with distinction,” Hooper confidently expressed. “We have the talent, chemistry and determination to win this tournament.”
This well-rounded team, which features players from some of Guyana’s top clubs, has demonstrated its readiness to compete on the international stage, according to Coach Hooper, who has extended gratitude to the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) for entrusting him with the opportunity to lead the team.
After rigorous trials, the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) has finally selected a team
Romario Ramdeholl had a 4-wicket haul
Ushardeva Balgobin hit a half-century
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh
