The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Saturday, October 19 –03:45h-05:15h and Saturday, October 19 – 04:30h-06:00h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Saturday, October 19 –16:35h-18:05h and Saturday, October 19 – 05:25h-06:55h.
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East North-Easterly to Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.
High Tide: 17:01h reaching a maximum height of 2.97 metres.
Low Tide: 10:37h and 23:00h reaching minimum heights of 0.38 metre and 0.22 metre.
resident Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday highlighted the efforts Guyana is making to transform its agricultural sector by embracing sustainable practices and modern technologies.
He was at the time delivering a virtual address at the closing ceremony of the fourth annual World Food Forum (WFF) 2024 that wrapped up in Rome. The week-long event was hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) under the theme “Good food for all, for today and tomorrow.”
President Ali, who has been championing food security in the region and is leading CARICOM’s 25 by 2025 initiative – a goal to reduce the region’s high food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025, underscored the need for global partnerships to achieving resilient food systems.
“[Guyana is] investing in climate-smart agriculture and inviting partners from across the world to join us in making our region a model for sustainable and resilient farming. Central to this effort is the energy and creativity of our young people. They are destined to be the champions of new approaches that can increase productivity while minimising environmental impacts,” he stated.
According to the Head of State, achieving ‘good food for all’ requires sustained action and partnerships that unite Governments, the private sector, civil society, young people and women.
Consequently, he noted that the 2024 WFF is a call to action to ensure that every individual has access to safe, nutritious, and sustainable food – now and in the future. He added that it must also address global food security challenges that are driven mainly by climate change, ongoing conflicts and deepening inequalities.
The unfolding global food crisis that sees over
each night is exacerbated by concerns for the millions of innocent people in conflict zones who face the consequential
stand the importance of investment in building a resilient food ecosystem – one that is resilient, one that is sustainable and one that could withstand the shocks
deprivation of basic access to food and water. This crisis, the Guyanese Leader posited, must be addressed collectively.
On this note, President Ali pledged Guyana’s commitment to stand with the global community in the quest to build more climate-resilient food ecosystems.
“We must boost food production, improve nutritional outcomes, and ensure that the benefits of a more productive food system reach those who are most vulnerable. This is the path from promise to productivity. Let us commit ourselves to building a food ecosystem that is not only productive but also inclusive and just: a system where every person, regardless of their circumstances, can access safe, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food. By prioritising smallholder farmers, women, and those in conflict zones, we can create a future where good food for all is not just a vision, but a reality.”
“As a nation that has faced the realities of rising sea levels and extreme weather events, we under-
of climate change. But we also know that no country can tackle these challenges alone. It requires global collaboration, significant investment, and need for the more rapid diffusion of innovative technologies,” the Guyanese Head of State posited.
Dedicated to transforming global agrifood systems, the WFF brought together thousands of participants from around the world who engaged in dynamic dis-
cussions and collaborative action across a range of critical issues, including investment, science and innovation, youth engagement, family farming, indigenous food systems, and water management.
The 8000 in-person participants included youths, farmers, policymakers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and indigenous communities who were all committed to addressing the urgent challenges of hunger, climate change and inequality, among others.
FAO Director-General, Qu Dongyu, said at Friday’s closing ceremony, “As we look to the future, this week has reaffirmed the vital role of youths, women, and diverse stakeholders in shaping the future of our agrifood systems… It has shown us the exponential power of intergenerational collaboration across policy, science, innovation, education, culture, and investment.”
Qu further emphasised the importance of the WFF as a platform for action, saying that “the WFF is where agrifood systems transformation can truly take shape through concrete actions, partnerships, alliances, and crucial financing. Let us continue to support our young leaders, who are already mobilising at the local level… Their commitment is a beacon of hope and progress.” (G8)
Editor: Tusika Martin
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“Do the right thing” campaign
The frequency of fatal road accidents in Guyana is alarming, and a press conference held by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn on Friday underscores the urgency of the situation. Despite a slight reduction in numbers, the high death toll — particularly among young men between 18 and 30 — demands immediate and stronger action; we cannot allow this deadly trend to continue unchecked. The rising rate of vehicular accidents, especially involving motorcycles, highlights the gravity of the issue. As Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh pointed out, many accidents occur from Thursday to Tuesday, and there is a concerning disregard for safety measures such as wearing helmets and seatbelts.
While we acknowledge that there are more vehicles on our roads than ever before, it is clear that our infrastructure, though expanding, has not kept pace with this growth. Even more troubling is the pervasive culture of reckless driving, impatience, and failure to plan ahead. These accidents are not just numbers in a report, they represent real lives lost; real families devastated.
Minister Benn’s proposed initiatives, including the “Do the Right Thing” campaign and stricter traffic legislation, are steps in the right direction. Calls for heftier fines, car clamping, and increased police presence are long overdue. However, these measures alone may not be enough; a culture of responsibility and respect for the rules of the road must be cultivated. This is a national issue, and every driver, passenger and pedestrian has a role to play.
National Road Safety Month, November, would provide a critical platform for raising awareness, but the conversation must be extended beyond a single month. Road safety needs to become a priority all year round.
Moreover, the focus should be expanded to encompass all aspects of public safety and security.
It must be remembered that Guyana is committed to the United Nations' Second Decade of Action for Road Safety, which aims for no more than 50 road deaths annually by 2030. This is an achievable goal, but only if actions are taken now. Public awareness campaigns are vital, but so is enforcement. Without consistent penalties for offenders and genuine efforts being taken to instill safer driving habits, these efforts would fall flat.
The time for tolerance is over. There need be stricter and better enforcement of the law and, most importantly, a shift in mindset. Speeding, reckless driving, and the refusal to use safety equipment are costing too many lives. There should be no waiting until another life is tragically cut short; the future of our roads and the lives of countless Guyanese depend on it.
To truly address this crisis, a multi-pronged approach is necessary. Stricter legislation, as outlined by Minister Benn, must be backed by consistent and visible enforcement. The introduction of heftier fines and penalties is a start, but laws are effective only when enforced without exception. Speeding, reckless driving, and the blatant disregard for safety measures have been normalized to a worrying degree. The increased presence of law enforcement officials on key roads, especially during high-risk periods from Thursday to Tuesday, could deter dangerous driving behaviours and save lives.
However, enforcement alone will not be enough; public education and awareness campaigns like the proposed "Do the Right Thing" initiative must be pervasive and persistent. It is crucial to change the mindset of road users, especially young men, who represent the largest group of accident victims. These campaigns need to go beyond warnings and fines; they must appeal to the sense of collective responsibility for the safety of all road users. Highlighting the real-life consequences of reckless driving — families left grieving and futures cut short -- can help personalize the issue.
As Guyana’s economy grows and the number of vehicles increases, so, too, are the roads evolving to accommodate this new reality. However, improving signage and ensuring better lighting could help reduce accidents significantly. It is time for a nationwide effort to stop this tragic loss of life.
Dear Editor, Government is praised for doling out a grant to adult nationals. The distribution of a cheque worth $100K to each adult is a better proposal than the $200K grant to households; albeit, both are fraught with problems.
The $100K to every adult may also cost the treasury more than the $200K, but the former would lessen risks of fraud and skullduggery.
Also, defining a household through a utility bill (electricity, water) is fraught with too many problems, and Government is right to abandon that idea.
The Vice President presented very good reasons for abrogating the proposal of the $200K grant to every household, and replacing it with the $100K grant for every adult.
It is extremely difficult in Guyana to identify, or even define, “a household”. Thousands of ‘households’ did not receive the $25K grant of 2021. Many individuals (heads of households) complain till this day about
not getting the grant, and have refused to go to court to force the Government to give them the essential grant.
Any household that did not receive the 2021 grant would win any action filed in court in this regard. Government would be instructed by the court to give that household their legitimate grant. Those who did not receive their grant should consider filing a class action lawsuit in this regard; there may be a statute of limitation.
Anyone who has studied Anthropology and/or Sociology, subjects under which families are studied, would know that a household is very loosely defined. Households are not specifically defined in a traditional society, and Guyana is classified as a traditional society, although there are many clearly defined ‘nuclear families’ (households), as in a ‘modern’, industrialized, western society as USA.
Most households in Guyana have extended or joint families, with multiple households in each family sharing the same house
or lot. Also, many dwellings have multiple families or rentals with single utilities. Indigenous population and tens of thousands of Africans, Indians, Mixed have extended and joint families with multiple households, and newly married couples may continue living with their families or in-laws. Are they not a household?
Many families share a home (roof) with in-laws, but do their own cooking and maintain their own finances. Are they not households?
There are many families who share utility bills, and not every name is on the bill. Are they not households?
There are families who rent with utilities included in the rent. Are they not households?
To give the grant to only one household in a joint or extended family, or in a dwelling with multiple families or households, is to deny others in the home or in a house lot or dwelling their legitimate deserving grant.
Giving the grant to adults (defined as 18 and
above) eliminates the abovementioned issues.
A better option for the grant would have been to distribute it (perhaps a larger amount) according to needs and/or some other criteria. The rich do not care much for the grant, and it would not impact their lives. Many poor families are hurting badly with the rising cost of living and utility and medical bills. They need a grant more than the wealthy.
Subsidizing utility bills of ‘households’, including funding electricity and potable water to those not currently recipients; increasing the grant to school children; and allocating a sum of money to each relatively poor family (to be defined by income) for medical (dental) purposes would have been better options. All options have advantages and disadvantages, and supporting or advocating one over the other would have its detractors or critics.
Yours faithfully, Vishnu
Bisram
What is the manufacturing focus of Guyana?
Dear Editor, After extensive conference and much fanfare, the question of what is the manufacturing focus of Guyana remains unanswered. Maybe it's the lack of experience at Go-Invest, or maybe it is reluctance to make substantial investments in a country where law and order remains substandard and the risk of
breaching the foreign Corrupt Practices Act is very high. Since the time of independence, in order to get things done in Guyana, one must know someone in high places. This may have led to the lack of actionable ideas during what was supposed to help accelerate the growth of the manufacturing sector.
If we consider the baux-
ite industry, there is significant manufacturing potential that Government can pursue in support of the oil and gas sector. This area of opportunity was not formally addressed during the conference. Several break out groups should have been formed, and actionable proposals should have been presented. Did the diplomatic corps
provide opportunity to sign several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for the capture of market demand for our manufactured products? Did we sign new contracts for wood and furniture supplies? The fanfare is great, but we must have results which add to the Government's coffers.
Dear Editor, Melinda Janki, for whom I have some respect, and with whom I have worked together in the past on aviation matters in Guyana, has inexplicably taken me to task by describing a letter I wrote, which was published in the media on the subject of the confrontation taking place in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinians, as “bad on history and worse on international relations”.
However, nothing in her letter relates to, nor supports, this criticism. In fact, specifically regarding the Israeli and Palestinian confrontation, there is nothing in Ms. Janki’s letter on which I have any fundamental disagreement.
For instance, she writes that “Israel continues to defy international law and inflict carnage on Gaza”. In my letter, I have pointed out that “it is the apparent determination of the Israeli Government to destroy every building and murder every Gazan in the name of defending Israel”, and that “Israel is now invading Lebanon, where Hezbollah is headquartered, with the apparent intention of eliminating Hezbollah, regardless of the destruction and loss of life involved, similarly to its programme in the Gaza”. Aren’t we saying the same thing?
In my letter, I drew two conclusions, based on facts which are ignored by Ms. Janki. The first is that because both Hamas in the Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon “are financed, armed and directed by the militant Muslim leadership of Iran, who do not recognize the right of Israel to exist”, and because “Iran is on the verge of developing a nuclear capability which Israel would like to destroy”, it is reasonable to conclude that “a war between Israel and Iran would result in an international confrontation probably leading to a Third World War”.
The second conclusion I drew, and I repeat, is that all that is happening in the Middle East is “very relevant to the implications it has for Guyana in defence of
our own sovereignty against the threat of Maduro’s Venezuela”.
It is here that Ms. Janki and I differ. She prides herself publicly as an “International Lawyer”. Then she must know, but chooses to ignore, that the Iranians, who sponsor and support both Hamas and Hezbollah, exercise a military presence in Venezuela in support of Maduro, and are therefore not necessarily Guyana’s friends when it comes to, as I wrote, the “defence of our own sovereignty against the threat of Maduro’s Venezuela”.
In glaring contrast, the USA, the UK, Canada, the Commonwealth countries, the majority of OAS countries, and the CARICOM countries have firmly rejected Venezuela’s claims to Guyana’s Essequibo region. It is therefore pellucid where Guyana’s self-interest belongs, and that Guyana continues to recognize and maintain those friendships in its own national interest.
Melinda Janki is totally wrong when she seeks to blame both the government of former President David Granger and the government of Dr. Mohamed Ali for the threat posed by the Maduro government of Venezuela to the territorial integrity of Guyana’s Essequibo region. In doing so, she displays a surprising lack of comprehension on the matter which is before the International Cout of Justice (ICJ) with respect to the Essequibo region.
Let me remind her and our readers that we know the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela was settled as a “Full, Prefect and Final Settlement” by the Arbitral Tribunal Award of October 3rd, 1899. We also know that in 1962, on the eve of the then colony of British Guiana becoming the independent nation of Guyana, the Venezuelan Government abandoned the rule of law by abandoning its obligation to the 1899 Award and laying claim to the territory of Guyana’s Essequibo region. This led to the Geneva Agreement between Britain and Venezuela being joined by an independent Guyana
in 1966.
The Agreement identified the means of resolving the boundary “controversy” which, failing discussions between the two countries, is to be settled by the judicial process.
History recalls that the British Government, with the concurrence of the British Guiana Government at the time, agreed to have documentation relevant to Venezuela’s claims examined by experts from the UK, British Guiana and Venezuela at the UN Special Political Committee, but Forbes Burnham, addressing the National Assembly on 12th July, 1968, had the following to say:
“In making this offer, I must make it very clear that it is no sense an offer to engage in substantive talks about revision of the frontier. That we cannot do; for we consider that there is no justification for it”.
Burnham went on to report thus, “In the view of the governments of the United Kingdom and our British Guiana, the work of the experts disclosed that there was not a scintilla of evidence to support the Venezuelan contention”.
Guyana’s position has never changed in this regard, regardless of which political party is in office; and Ms. Janki must know that.
Melinda Janki should also know that, in 2014, all discussions between Venezuela and Guyana on the matter having failed, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in accordance with the Geneva
Agreement, on 3rd January, 2018, advised Guyana and Venezuela thus: “Having carefully analyzed the developments in the good offices process during the course of 2017”, and “significant progress not having been made toward arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy”, he had “chosen the International Court of Justice as the means now to be used for its solution”.
On 29th March, 2018, Guyana, as a consequence, filed its application to the Court for the Court to rule on the determination of the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award to be binding on both parties. The emphasis is mine.
Both the PPP/C, now in Government, and the APNU/ AFC, now in Opposition, have agreed to honour the ICJ ruling.
I have spent this time recalling the historical facts to illustrate that it is pure nonsense, therefore, for Ms. Janki to suggest that anything presented by Guyana’s lawyers at the ICJ have somehow opened the door to “ceding Essequibo to Venezuela if the ICJ set aside the award”.
Guyana’s position at the ICJ with respect to the validity of the 1899 Award is perfectly consistent with morality, ‘realpolitik’ and the rule of law; and, above all else, the national interest of Guyana and its people. We expect, of course, that the ICJ would rule in favour of Guyana’s position.
Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento
What should our manufacturing strategy and focus be? This fundamental question has yet to be answered.
A successful conference should have made it clear where Guyana plans to play in this space, and how the country plans to win in the space it has decided to focus on. For example, if the focus of the agricultural sector is coconut and sugar cane, then what are the adjacent products that we would focus on manufacturing? And more importantly, who would be buying those products from us?
Is sugar a means to focus on making rum which will be sold to the US and UK for their hospitality sector? If so, where are the signed agreements that guarantee the demand for our products?
The same goes for coconut production. Have we decided that we would focus on producing coconut oil? If so, where are the contracts with key ABC firms for us to supply them with this product.
We must avoid having conferences which primarily are an academic exercise. The end result must be income generation via sales agreements.
The manufacturing focus of Guyana is not an overly complex and complicated multipronged strate-
gy. It is quite simple, and should be viewed that way to ensure the appropriate focus is achieved. CRG suggests the following as a starting point for value added manufacturing that aligns well with our current asset base and longterm development strategy:
* Bauxite production can focus on manufacturing abrasive products in support of the oil and gas industry
* Sugar production can focus on manufacturing rum in support of the hospitality industry
* Coconut production can focus on manufacturing virgin coconut oil in support of the health and wellness industry
* Wood production can focus on manufacturing furniture in support of the hospitality industry
* Gold and diamond production can focus on manufacturing jewellery in support of the fashion industry
The diplomatic corps can help provide market access and partnerships with their market leaders in these key market segments.
It's time to get some tangible results from our efforts to stimulate the discussion on manufacturing.
Best regards, Jamil Changlee
In a fraction, the number on the bottom is the denominator. The denominator tells what units the whole is divided into. The number on the top is the numerator. It tells how many of those units there are. When the numerator is the same as the denominator, a fraction is equal to 1. When the numerator is greater than the denominator, a fraction is equal to more than 1. This is called an improper fraction. Sometimes, it is easier to perform a calculation when you change an improper fraction into a mixed number, part whole number and part fraction. These are mixed numbers:
To change an improper fraction to a mixed number, divide the numerator by the denominator. The quotient is the whole number part. If there is a remainder, that becomes the fraction part. Simply use the remainder as the numerator and keep the original denominator.
Change to mixed numbers
By Helen Hunt Jackson
Behold this compost! behold it well! Perhaps every mite was once form’d part of a sick person - yet behold! The grass of spring covers the prairies, The bean bursts noiselessly through the mould in the garden, The delicate spear of the onion pierces upward, The apple-buds cluster together on the apple-branches, The resurrection of the wheat appears with pale visage out of its graves. What chemistry!
That the winds are really infectious, That all is clean forever and forever, That the cool drink from the well tastes so good, That blackberries are so flavorous and juicy, That the fruits of the apple-orchard and the orange-orchard, that melons, grapes, peaches, plums, will none of them poison me, That when I recline on the grass I do not catch any disease
Now I am terrified at the Earth, it is that calm and patient, It grows such sweet things out of such corruptions, It turns harmless and stainless on its axis, with such endless succession of diseased corpses, It distils such exquisite winds out of such infused fetor, It gives such divine materials to men, and accepts such leavings from them at last.
Assistant Police
Commissioner Calvin Brutus is now at the centre of a major financial crime investigation, with 240 pending charges, including money laundering and fraud, set to be laid against him. These charges stem from the alleged discovery of over $800 million in assets under his control, both in properties and bank accounts shared with his wife, Adonika Aulder. This investigation, led by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), has drawn intense scrutiny, particularly as it involves a high-ranking police official.
The investigation began in July 2024, when Brutus was placed on administrative leave after suspicions arose regarding financial irregularities. Initially linked to the Police Force’s Credit Union, the investigation quickly expanded following information provided by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). Assistant Police Commissioner Brutus’ assets include $300 million in properties and $500 million across joint bank accounts with his wife. As a result, all of these accounts have been frozen, with the exception of his salary account.
As part of the case, it was revealed that Brutus received monetary gifts from two individuals. These gifts included US$10,000 as a wedding present and $1,000,000 as a Christmas gift in 2023. Brutus has cited these gifts as part of his defence against the money laundering accusations, arguing that these funds were legitimate rather than illicit.
The unfolding legal situation came to a head on
Friday when Brutus and his wife sought approval from the High Court to leave Guyana for medical reasons. They intended to travel to the United States (US) on October 19 and return on October 22 where Aulder is seeking pregnancy-related medical care. However, High Court Judge, Justice Gino Persaud denied the application, citing the gravity of the ongoing investigation and the couple’s failure to obtain the necessary clearance from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The State, represented by Deputy Solicitor General Shoshanna Lall, strongly opposed the request, arguing that Brutus and his wife posed a significant flight risk. The prosecution pointed to the seriousness of the impending charges, highlighting the large amount of money involved and the public interest surrounding the case.
During court proceedings, Lall disclosed that de-
spite Brutus residing in the same police compound as SOCU’s head, Fizal Karimbaksh, investigators had been unable to question him. Judge Persaud remarked that the failure to secure an interview “defies logic,” with Lall agreeing. In his defence, Brutus’ lawyer, Earl Daniels, argued that his client had not been questioned and emphasised the urgency of his wife’s medical condition. He noted that if she did not leave on Friday, her next available doctor’s appointment would be in May 2025, despite being due to give birth in March 2025.
He also argued that Brutus has been serving the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for over 25 years with distinction, and every time he traveled to several countries, he returned.
Justice Persaud ultimately rejected the application, stating that the court could not accept medical documents presented without proper evidence and underlined the lack of sufficient
justification for the trip. Further, the judge ruled that the application was premature, as Brutus had not yet requested permission from the Permanent Secretary of the Home Affairs Ministry, a mandatory step for public officials.
In addition to the denied travel request, SOCU has filed an affidavit detailing the extent of Brutus’ alleged crimes. The assistant commissioner is accused of acquiring over $800 million in assets through alleged financial impropriety, which falls under various Guyanese laws, including the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act.
SOCU has been alleged-
ly gathering evidence in this case, and it is expected that both Brutus and his wife will face charges. SOCU’s investigation uncovered that Brutus, his wife, and their minor son, held nine bank accounts across Republic Bank (Guyana), Demerara Bank Limited, and New Building Society (NBS). These accounts had an accumulating balance of approximately $500 million over one year.
Further, SOCU identified businesses linked to Brutus and his wife, including Kytus General Contracting & Holdings Inc; South Quata Contracting & General Supplies Inc, and Triple A Depot. These businesses were found to have signifi-
cant sums flowing through their accounts, raising additional suspicions about the source of these funds.
The case has also revealed that Brutus used a substantial withdrawal of GYD 63,752,000 from his salary account to purchase a property at Alberttown, Georgetown, shortly before the court issued the Freezing Order.
The case has captured public interest, given Brutus’ high status within the police force, with no officer of such standing in recent history having faced such serious allegations. The court, in dismissing the application, underscored the importance of the couple’s presence for the successful prosecution of these charges, while also ordering them to pay $250,000 in costs to each of the respondents.
Just recently, Brutus has filed motions to reverse certain decisions taken against him, claiming executive influence over the investigation. He is also seeking to challenge the legality of SOCU’s probe, asserting that the investigation has been unlawfully and prematurely conducted.
For now, Brutus and his wife have to remain in Guyana, awaiting the next steps in the case. (G9)
Looks like the PPP government has defined the talking point – cash grants – that’s gonna dominate the hustings till the 2025 elections are over and done with, and beyond!! And since the whole raison d’etre for political parties is to get people’s attention with attractive initiatives and proposals that’ll make them place their Xs next to their symbol at election time, it would seem they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing!! After all, money to the tune of $100,000 in every adult pocket beats Roosevelt’s “a chicken in every pot” by miles!! And Roosevelt was elected and re-elected so many times that they had to pass a law bringing in term limits!!
The Opposition’s suggestion for an annual sum of $1million to be paid to every household as a universal basic income (UBI) missed this basic aspect of politics. Once a voter’s gonna be given that “basic income” by law, it stops being a promise they’ll look forward to, and becomes an entitlement that is the law of the land!! Does anyone thank any government for their Old Age Pension?? No Siree Bob!! It’s an ENTITLEMENT earned by living to be sixty-five – and comes with new demands that it be increased to deal with inflation and such like!! And old voters get angry when their entitlement gets diminished!! With the cash grant, however, that’s done at the discretion of the Government – that is, the party in office – and it comes with an implicit quid pro quo!! If you vote for us, there might be even more coming down the pike!! There’s a direct connection to the party, especially if elections are in the offing, and votes become more likely!! Following this line of reasoning, we can now understand why VP Jagdeo took time to mention this ain’t gonna be the last cash grant. Not that it’ll be coming every year or at some stated time; just that, once the money’s available, there’s gonna be more cash grants!! And guess who decides whether “the money is there”?? The party in office, of course!!
Now, some may say that this is cynical. And, of course, the Opposition has already made the accusation that the PPP made the cash grant proposal with an eye on the elections. Well, so what?? Wasn’t it their founder leader Burnham who declared that any politician who says he’s not doing the running to get power is either a fool or a scoundrel?!! How else can a party do all the good things they’ve promised – like building infrastructure to set the stage for an economic take-off – if they don’t have power?? They’ll just be like the Opposition - spinning all sorts of fabulist ideas, but can never get them done!!
The other topic that just won’t go away concerns the shenanigans that’s bedevilling the police from all sides!! Used to be just about rotund traffic cops panhandling hapless motorists for more fried rice, but that pales into insignificance with the present contretemps. We have this Assistant Police Commissioner who doesn’t think that receiving $46 million in “wedding gifts” from various and sundry “businessmen” should be cause for the Government ordering an investigation!!
Now, your Eyewitness knows that some folks snicker at our “monopoly money”, but Gy$46 million amounts to some US$225,000!! That’s nothing to sneeze at, unless you’re inhaling cocaine by the ounces!! What makes matters worse is that depositing this money into a local bank triggered the reporting protocols to detect money laundering!! But the police chappie’s going to the courts - claiming his CONSTITUTIONAL rights are being violated!! Your Eyewitness guesses he’s thinking about his constitutional right to be befriended by businessmen who’re simply smitten by his charm and good looks!! Nothing to do with possibly looking the other way!!
…mobilization?
In the meantime, while the buzz over elections might’ve been somewhat muted by the above distractions, political mobilization is still going on apace. But while the PYO’s being resuscitated big time, your Eyewitness ain’t seeing the YSM. What gives?
With the aim of fostering trade and investment between the two countries, the Dominican Republic (DR) Chamber of Commerce in Guyana will soon be opening up its membership to businesses in Guyana.
This was announced by the Chamber’s Executive Director, Lilian Foo, on Thursday on the sidelines of the International Business Conference (IBC) which was held at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown from October 15 to 17.
According to Foo, “We recently concluded the process of recruiting our Board of Directors and we’re going
to be ready to finally start accepting members from Guyana… The Guyanese business people that want to be part of this Chamber are going to be welcomed to start registering.”
The DR Chamber Guyana, which has been operational since February 2024, plays a pivotal role in fostering trade and investment between the Dominican Republic and Guyana. This expansion into Guyana is a strategic move aimed at creating more opportunities for businesses in both countries to grow and connect.
The DR Chamber of Commerce in Guyana and
the Guyanese Chamber of Commerce in DR are two separate bodies operating under the same umbrella to create corporate synergies between the two countries.
In fact, the bilateral Chamber of Commerce representing Guyana and DR held its inaugural event in Guyana back in March of this year – the United Caribbean Forum.
According to Miguel Angel Gonzalez, who serves as President of both Chambers, the aim is to have one major event per year and have the Chambers support other planned events such as the IBC that resonates with the work they are doing.
The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) Essequibo Praant, in collaboration with the Dharmic Naujawaan (DNJ), recently hosted its Inter-Secondary Schools’ Rangoli Competition at the Anna Regina Secondary School in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).
The event, held in anticipation of the Hindu festival of Diwali, saw participation from seven secondary schools across the Essequibo Coast.
The competition showcased vibrant teamwork and creativity as students crafted intricate rangolis, each
depicting the central theme of Diwali.
TURN TO PAGE 17
Gonzalez explained that participating in events like the IBC provides opportunities to engage with both the local and international private sector.
“So, we have promoted events such as IBC in the Dominican Republic and there [was] a delegation here… We will continue to promote Guyana and promote the Dominican Republic,” he noted.
Prior to the setting up of the DR Chamber Guyana, Gonzalez was part of a 200-member private sector delegation from DR that had accompanied that country’s President, Luis Abinader, during a bilateral visit to Guyana in June 2023.
This was mirrored two months later when President Dr Irfaan Ali did a reciprocal visit to the DR with a delegation of nearly 100 private sector members.
Meanwhile, the DR Chamber Guyana is now looking to strengthen regional business ties and expanding collaborative efforts in neighbouring Suriname.
“All of the efforts that we’re doing for Guyana, we can replicate in Suriname… There are plenty of initiatives that we’ve started here that coincides with the trajectory that’s undergoing in Suriname,” Gonzalez said.
He pointed out that the same way they have been able to build connections
here through Guyanesemotivated conventions like the IBC, they are targeting similar events in Suriname.
“So, we got to meet a plethora of individuals that are in different areas which we have interest in, which are very similar to the initiatives that were doing here. So, I think the stage was set for us to all meet and congregate,” Gonzalez noted. The DR Chamber of Commerce was launched in February this year during the 2024 Energy Conference and Supply Chain in Georgetown with the aim of aggressively fostering business ties between the two countries and expand their products and services.
Itrucks and larger vehicles on the roadways which is as a direct result of the country’s rapidly expanding economy inclusive of the construction boom and the large number of developmental projects.
As such, persons have been complaining to officials about the reckless manner in which truck drivers utilise the roads. Benn explained that persons who operate trucks are required to have a certain level of experience and be of a certain age, based on existing regulations.
sons desirous of operating these vehicles.
n light of the reckless behavior being displayed by some truck drivers on the country’s roadways, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn recently revealed that the Home Affairs Ministry is considering specialised training for these category of road users.
The Minister made this highlight on Friday During a press conference to address issues concerning road safety. During the press conference Benn discussed the influx of
“Well, the reality is, in fact, that most persons are supposed to be passed through in acceptance on the way they handle a truck. We’ve noticed that a number
of people are asking to move from car to van and then to truck. And based on age and experience, at the level of the police, a determination would be made.”
However, in light of repeated concerns from the population, the Minister revealed that specialised training may become a necessity for per-
“But yes, it’s a valid issue that you’re raising, that for all of these ways in the transportation sector, it means that we’ll have to up the level of quality of training and awareness and attitude in relation to how we do things.”
Moreover, the increase of motor lorries on the country’s roadways has resulted in several challenges. The situation has even led the Government to establishing special parking facilities for these categories of vehicles. Meanwhile, Minister Benn has revealed that the Ministry is currently looking to implement systems that will reduce the number of trucks on the roadways.
“Particularly, I would have wished that we had the capacity and the means to barge much of the materials which they’re moving on the rivers onto the coast, and that is still something we have to have in discussion with Public Works, that you barge
down the river, the sand or the stone, and you don’t necessarily drop it here, but you drop it closer to your site. But infrastructure would have to go into place, but we’ll have to look at it.”
Additionally, as the Ministry gears up to observe road safety month, the Minister made a call for greater collaboration between the public and other entities.
“Doing the right thing is the responsibility of every Guyanese and of every person in our territory, and does, of course, extend to persons requiring all types of public services, respect, and care. The Ministry of Home Affairs is initiating this campaign, with initial emphasis on the launching of the approaching National Road Safety Month, November 2024. We are hereby asking the public and all institutional businesses and corporate entities who have vested interest in this matter relating to these concerns to take note and to support this endeavor.”
Caribbean Airlines (CAL) has announced the introduction of a new twice-weekly service connecting Suriname and Guyana, set to begin on November 3, 2024. Responding to high customer demand, the airline will operate flights every Friday and Sunday, linking the Eugene F. Correia International Airport (Ogle) in Guyana and the Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport in Suriname.
The new route will be served by CAL’s ATR 72600 aircraft, offering convenient travel options for passengers between the two South American nations. The flight schedule is on Sundays: Flight BW 383: Ogle, Guyana to Suriname, departs at 9:55h, arrives at 12:05h; Flight BW 384: Suriname to Ogle, Guyana, departs at 12:50h (Suriname Time), arrives at 13:00h while on Fridays, Flight BW 383: Ogle, Guyana to Suriname, departs at
10:45h, arrives at 12:55h; Flight BW 384: Suriname to Ogle, Guyana, departs at 13:50h (Suriname time), arrives at 14:00h. CEO of CAL, Garvin Medera expressed his excitement about the launch of the new service: “We are happy to introduce this route, which further strengthens our commitment to enhancing regional connectivity. By linking Suriname and Guyana directly, we are responding to the needs of our customers and promoting greater ease of travel within the Caribbean. This new service is an important step in our continued growth and dedication to serving the region.”
The addition of the Suriname-Guyana route aligns with CAL’s strategic focus on expanding its presence within the region, offering travelers more choices and reliable service across key Caribbean destinations.
Ranks from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) recently arrested a Surinamese national identified only as Ludwig also known as «Tuna,» who had been evading capture in Suriname for two years.
Wanted for a series of serious crimes, including the murder of artist, Kajo Man, in September 2022, Ludwig was apprehended after entering Guyana with false travel documents.
The arrest ends a two-year manhunt that began after Kajo Man was shot multiple times at close range following an argument.
Authorities in Suriname also linked Ludwig to charges of manslaughter,
aggravated assault, and firearms violations.
The shooting of Kajo Man, a well-known artist in Suriname, occurred after an altercation with Ludwig, who allegedly attacked the artist and shot him several times at close range. The suspect then fled the scene, triggering a massive search led by the Surinamese authorities.
In addition to murder, Ludwig was wanted for other violent crimes, including manslaughter and premeditated aggravated assault. His involvement in firearm-related offenses added urgency to his capture, as he was considered a threat to public safety.
Authorities believe that
Wanted: Donna Gittens
One year later police are searching for Donna Gittens, 43, of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD) who allegedly set her lover, 55-year-old James Moore, and his property on fire after he ended their brief relationship. The incident occurred on May 9, 2023, at Moore’s home in Grove, EBD. Moore survived but sustained severe burns to his upper body.
Moore, a former soldier, recounted the harrowing night when Gittens reportedly doused him with gasoline while he slept and set him ablaze. He managed to escape by rolling against a wall to extinguish the flames engulfing his body. However, Gittens, undeterred, attempted to set him on fire a second time. Moore narrowly escaped the second attack, fleeing from his home after kicking open the
during his time on the run, Ludwig spent extended periods in Guyana, evading law enforcement through the use of fake identification and travel documents.
Investigators in Guyana eventually uncovered his location, leading to his arrest. (G9)
Omeca Primo, the proprietress of Primo’s Imports and Taxi Service, has been remanded to prison after appearing before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Friday. She faces 13 fraud-related charges for allegedly collecting over $11.3 million from customers, promising to deliver vehicles but failing to do so or provide refunds. Primo, who pleaded not guilty, is accused of deceiving more than 50 victims.
The charges stem from complaints made against Primo’s company, where customers paid for vehicles that were never delivered. The fraud involved reselling cars she purchased on credit from larger local auto sales dealerships. According to reports, Primo reportedly failed to honour her financial obligations to these dealerships, leading to repossession of vehicles, in-
cluding from a young man whose car was seized despite him making monthly payments to Primo.
The investigation revealed that the 36-yearold was allegedly involved in these fraudulent practices for months, prompting the Anti-Fraud Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to take over the case. In total, more than 18 complaints have been lodged, with victims
hailing from various regions including Three, Four, Five, six, and 10.
Primo’s next court appearance is scheduled for November 8, where more charges are anticipated. Her lawyer represented her in court on Friday, but she was denied bail due to the gravity of the allegations and the ongoing investigation.
The Anti-Fraud Unit is urging anyone who may have done business with Primo and has not yet received their vehicle or a refund to come forward and report their cases to the nearest police station. Police sources have indicated that additional charges may be brought against Primo as the investigation widens.
Persons with information or unresolved transactions involving Primo’s company are encouraged to contact the police immediately, as authorities aim to bring justice to the victims of the alleged fraud. (G8)
door and scaling a fence.
The attack didn’t stop there. Gittens also reportedly set fire to Moore’s shop, which was attached to his home. Luckily, a passing police patrol spotted Moore and rescued him, rushing him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was treated for his injuries. Gittens was arrested the same day but was released on $20,000 bail 72 hours later. Since then, she has evaded authorities and remains at large.
Moore told police that he believed the motive behind the attack stemmed from his decision to end their relationship after only a few months. He had entrusted Gittens with managing his snackette, grocery shop, and bar, but she failed to manage it properly, leading to losses. After discussing the issue with her and suggesting that she leave the business, Moore said tensions rose. On the night of the attack, she allegedly demanded sex from him, and when he declined, the situation escalated.
Now, one year later, the police are looking for the woman. Anyone with information about Donna Gittens’ whereabouts is urged to contact the police at 227-1149, 225-8196, 227-1611, 2682328, or the nearest police station. (G9)
Senior Minister Dr Ashni Singh and Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill attended a job fair hosted by Prochant, a US-based Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company, in partnership with the Government of Guyana in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) on Friday. The event took place at the Watooka Guest House offering residents of the mining town and surrounding communities, access to valuable training and employment opportunities.
Prochant, which specialises in medical billing and revenue cycle services for the
US healthcare industry, has been in operation for over 25 years and employs more than 2,500 people globally. In collaboration with the Guyanese Government, the company plans to hire 100 employees by mid-2025, with a long-term goal of expanding further.
Participants of the job fair will receive training through Prochant Guyana, allowing them to pursue careers in areas such as patient interactive services, referral services, and accounts receivable management. This initiative marks a step forward in creating sustainable employment in Region Ten, offering the local
workforce a gateway into the global healthcare industry.
Speaking to the over 600 persons in attendance, including Lindeners and officials of Prochant at the job-fair on Friday, Dr Singh officially welcomed Prochant to Guyana, urged them to ramp up their operations and expressed the hope that the US business will expand further and employ thousands of Guyanese in Region Ten and elsewhere in the country.
“This is not a one-off or isolated occurrence. When we (PPP/C Government) came back into Government, one of the first visits I made was to
the Call Centre location and said at that time this building must be renovated and brought into operation. We did and completed renovation of operations,” Dr Singh is quoted in a release issued by the Ministry as saying. He further added that the Guyanese business, Midas BPO was brought in and commenced operations. He also further recognised the efforts of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Malcolm Sobers, of the former Midas Call Centre, who played an integral role in resuscitating the call-centre in Linden in 2021.
The Senior Minister pointed out that over the course of time, Government, recognising the constant changes in the information communications technology sector, also recognised the need to evolve the model of the call-centre from an entry level one providing telemarketing services to a contact centre provid-
ed that Government would continue to support the BPO sector. It has been doing so through the liberalisation and creation of a competitive telecommunications sector soon after taking office in 2020 resulting in a significant reduction in the cost of bandwidth and allowing for the expansion of the Call-Centre industry. In addition, Government has constructed four new
ing more value-added jobs. Thus, through involvement and leadership provided by Government and the Guyana Office for Investment (GOInvest), an international partner was sought to create those value-added jobs.
In his 2024 Budget Speech, Dr Singh indicat-
Call Centre shells, two each in Essequibo and Berbice as well as a resuscitated the Call Centre in Linden, first established when Government was in office pre-2015.
Singh further outlined the history of job-creation in the mining town through the efforts of the PPP/C to resusci-
tate and expand the bauxite industry as he alluded to the commissioning of BOSAI’s new kiln 15 in Linden and the MAZ project by President Irfaan Ali aimed at the mass production of metallurgical bauxite, with the investment estimated at over USD 100 million creating approximately 500 job opportunities for Region Ten.
Also speaking at the event was, Minister Edghill who encouraged persons to seize the opportunities of the training provided through Government in partnership with Prochant and when employed, to work diligently in terms of the way they approach the job as the success of the initiative would depend on the quality of work put in.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GO-Invest, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, along with Global Patient Contact Centre Manager of Prochant, Timothy Beasley, thanked Government for the support in aiding the establishment of the company’s presence in Guyana, its support towards training while also pledging to ensure that 100 persons are employed by the first half of 2025.
In keeping with President Dr Irfaan Ali’s recent commitment to ensure the Meadow Bank Wharf and its environs are in the best possible state, some $190 million has been set aside to execute a series of rehabilitative works in the area.
On Friday, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha visited the area to inspect the works where he expressed satisfaction with the progress so far, stating that certain areas of the project are already completed.
“Well, we have completed the entire washroom area there we have finished the concrete drill, the shed is being constructed now on the wharf here and very shortly the tarmac, the resurfacing of the tarmac will commence…. now the work is in progress and I’m hoping that in another month or two we should get all these works. This is at a cost of almost $190 million we’re expending here.”
He added that, the Government is also staying committed to its promise which was for the commissioning of a police outpost within the area.
During his visit, Minister Mustapha emphasised the importance of this commercial space to the country’s economy.
“This here, this wharf is one of the main fishing areas in the
“So generally, those are the work that we are doing now and the first phase is when we came also, we made a commitment that a police outpost will be placed here and since that time a police outpost is out there and we put in a number of lights so the places are brighter and people are now getting better security in this entire compound.”
Georgetown area, here a number of boats have been moved here and a lot of activity is taking place in terms of people coming to sell and buy and things like that around here so this wharf operates as an almost 24-hour system, so that is why when the president and I came here, he made a commitment that we’ll do a lot of, rehabilitative work to the wharf,” the Minister disclosed.
After taking office in 2020, Government has been working to modernise the fishing industry and improve safety and standards for fisherfolk and other stakeholders. (G2)
This year Guyana’s Agriculture sector has seen significant growth in several key areas. Most recently it was revealed that this year the country has seen an increase in fruit and vegetable production when compared to previous years.
This increase of Fruits and Vegetable production was highlighted by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha in the 2024 edition of the Caribbean Business & Travel (CBT) Magazine. Minister Mustapha who is also The Chairman of the CARICOM Ministerial Task
Force on the 25 per cent by 2025 food security initiative, Zulfikar Mustapha, says there is remarkable progress as several countries, especially Guyana, has been ramping up agricultural production and exports.
In this regard the Minister noted that there has been a significant increase in fruit and vegetable production in the country. According to the Minister, there has been a sizeable increase in vegetables produced. In 2022, production totalled 330,449 tonnes compared to 340,643 in 2023 and from January to
June 2024 182,238 tonnes were produced.
Fruit production has increased from 197,877 tonnes in 2022 to 205,658 last year and for the first half of 2024, 104,899 tonnes were grown.
Moreover, the Agriculture Minister reveled that discussions were held with the private sector in Barbados, which wants to import from Guyana, a lot more of their fruits and vegetables which they are currently sourcing from Latin America, especially pineapples and oranges. Minister Mustapha further highlighted that at Canal on the West Bank where there used to be cane lands, farmers are now doing largescale pineapple production and there are good prospects for investment for this fruit as well as for broccoli, cauliflower and lettuce.
Meanwhile, also featured in this years’ CBT Magazine was Chief Investment Officer, Office of the President and Agency Head of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) Dr Peter Ramsaroop.
According to the Chief Investment Officer, GOInvest is currently playing a pivotal role in the 25 per cent by 2025 initiative to
reduce the region’s food import bill. He revealed that the agency not only facilitates investment but also drives change, by working closely with both domestic and international partners to identify opportunities, streamline processes, and ensure that projects align with national development goals.
Ramsaroop added that Guyana’s leadership in producing food locally and sustainably serves as a model for the region.
“The country’s ability to attract significant investments in agriculture is no
accident. It is the result of a deliberate strategy to create a welcoming and supportive investment climate, backed by generous incentives and a clear commitment to sustainable growth.”
The Agency Head pointed to significant incentives for investors, including waivers on import duties and VAT on machinery and equipment, tax concessions on facilities like processing plants, cold storage, largescale farming, as well as tax-deductible allowances for expenditures on development and cultivation. This initiative creates a
more enabling climate for investors.
Additionally, Ramsaroop noted that as the Government continues to invest in the country’s agriculture sector Guyana will soon become a key exporter in high demand areas such as fruits and vegetables.
“Guyana is already a net exporter of rice and sugar, and with continued investment, the country is poised to expand its export footprint even further, particularly in high-demand areas such as vegetables, roots, and livestock feed,”
Some 96 per cent of the population in Quarrie Village Region 9 now have access to potable water following the commissioning of a $24 million well at Buru.
This well was launched by Minister within Housing and Water Ministry Susan Rodrigues as she was accompanied by Regional Chairman Brian Allicock, Guyana Water Inc (GWI) Hinterland Service Director Ramchand Jailal, and other technical and support staff.
Prior to the commissioning, Minister Rodrigues engaged with residents to discuss the Government's ongoing development agenda for the community.
"We are pleased to be pro-
gressing toward our target of delivering 100 per cent potable water to the people of this country," she stated. "We are well on our way to meet that target five years earlier."
The Minister also emphasised the importance of ensuring that citizens are comfortable and have access to essential services that improve their quality of life. "We want our people to be comfortable and happy—to work where you live, provide your children with a brighter future, and leave a legacy for them," she urged the gathering.
Rodrigues added that the Government's mandate is to bring prosperity to every home. As such, focus is
placed on early childhood healthcare, care for the elderly, equal educational opportunities, building village economies, and agriculture. She also called on citizens to hold their leaders accountable for delivering on promises made.
According to Rodrigues, in 2020, only 45 per cent of the hinterland had access to potable water. Today, that figure has increased to 83 per cent with the addition of 100 new wells. By the end of 2024, another 40 wells are expected to be completed, further increasing coverage in hinterland communities to 90 per cent.
Meanwhile, Jailal, shared, "We are happy to be
here for another commissioning. A few years ago, we assessed the system and identified areas for improvement. We drilled the BORU well to a depth of 250 feet and it is a 6-inch well. A contractor drilled the well, and the council worked with GWI on the distribution system."
Sharing the same perspective as the other officials, Regional Chairman Mr Brian Allicock remarked, "We are focused on creating a sustainable village economy, which is why we decided to collaborate with the Village Council on these projects."
Before this upgrade to the water supply system, residents relied on a single drilled well that only served 63 per cent of the central
area of the community.
The remaining population lived about 1 kilometre away from this system. In response, GWI intervened by establishing a second water supply system that includes a new drilled well, a 4.7-kilometre pipeline network, and a solar-powered (PV) pumping system. This improvement has provided firsttime access to safe drinking water for approximately 80 residents. Together, these systems now supply water to most of the village, with overall coverage reaching 96 per cent.
Participating schools
included Charity
Secondary, 8th of May
Secondary, Anna Regina
Secondary, Cotton Field
Secondary, Abram Zuil
Secondary, Johanna Cecelia Secondary, and Aurora Secondary. Aurora Secondary emerged as the winner with their outstanding
display of talent and artistry, while Cotton Field Secondary secured second place, and Anna Regina Secondary claimed third. The rangolis were judged on their thematic relevance, colour usage, aesthetic appeal, and originality.
Speaking at the event, Regional Chairperson Vilma De Silva commended the students for their unity and collaboration, noting that such events highlight the multicultural fabric of Guyana. She
Quarrie village is located in the Central Sub-district of Region 9 and has a population of 263. The newly established infrastructure significantly enhances the village’s resilience, ensuring a reliable water supply even during dry seasons, addressing a long-standing need in the community. However, a small number of households, representing the remaining 4 per cent of the population, are situated far from the existing water infrastructure and remain unconnected. Efforts are ongoing to address these gaps as GWI continues to work toward achieving full water coverage in the village, enhancing both public health and quality of life in Quarrie.
A total of 23,567,000 was spent on the successful implementation of the water supply improvement project in Quarrie village.
praised the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha for fostering togetherness through this competition.
Pandit Kaydar Persaud, President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, also lauded the students for embodying the spirit of Diwali, emphasizing the camaraderie that prevailed during the event. He thanked the teachers for their guidance and expressed appreciation to the Education Ministry for its support in making the competition a success.
Cuba experienced a nationwide blackout after its main energy plant failed, officials said. Its power grid collapsed at around 11:00 (15:00 GMT), the energy ministry wrote on X. Grid officials said they did not know how long it would take to restore power.
This follows months of lengthy blackouts on the island - prompting the prime minister to declare an “energy emergency” on Thursday. Friday’s total blackout came after the Antonio Guiteras power plant in Matanzas - the largest on the island - went offline.
President Miguel DíazCanel Bermúdez said the situation was his “absolute priority”.
“There will be no rest until power is restored,” he wrote on X.
Earlier on Friday, officials announced that all schools and nonessential activities, including nightclubs, were to close until Monday.
Non-essential workers were urged to stay home to safeguard electricity supply, and non-vital government services were suspended.
Cubans have also been urged to switch off high-consumption appliances during
peak hours, such as fridges and ovens, according to local media.
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero addressed the public in a televised message on Thursday, blaming deteriorating infrastructure, fuel shortages and rising demand for the electricity failures.
“The fuel shortage is the biggest factor,” he said.
The head of the National Electric Union (UNE) Alfredo López Valdés also acknowledged the island had been facing a challenging energy situation, with shortages chiefly to blame. (BBC)
be officially signed on Oct. 25, four sources told Reuters on Friday. Local newspaper O Globo had earlier in the day reported the date.
Vale, Samarco and BHP did not say when they expect to sign the agreements. Brazil’s solicitor general office, which is part of the negotiations, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the date. (Reuters)
Miners Vale (VALE3. SA), opens new tab, BHP (BHP.AX), opens new tab and Samarco are discussing a near $30 billion compensation deal with Brazilian authorities related to the 2015 Mariana dam collapse, they said on Friday, with an agreement set to be signed on Oct. 25, sources said. The collapse of the dam at an iron ore mine owned by Samarco, a joint venture between Vale and BHP, near the city of Mariana nine years ago unleashed a wave of toxic tailings in a disaster that killed 19 people, left hundreds homeless, flooded forests and polluted the length of the Doce River.
The three mining firms have for years been negotiating
a compensation agreement with the country’s public attorney and with state and federal authorities, hoping a deal would end several court actions on the matter.
In separate statements and securities filings, Vale, BHP and Samarco said the version of the agreement currently being discussed would include a total compensation of 170 billion reais ($29.9 billion), with 100 billion reais of that to be paid through 20 years directly to public authorities. The total amount also includes 32 billion reais to be spent by the firms in remediation and compensation measures, and a further 38 billion reais that they have already disbursed, according to the companies. The agreement is set to
U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to visit the Amazon rainforest and meet Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva before they attend the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro in November, sources familiar with the negotiations told Reuters.
Biden would stop in Manaus, the Amazon’s largest city, or in Belem, at the mouth of the Amazon River, on Nov. 16 or 17, after the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, Peru, which Lula will also attend, the sources said.
Their meeting in the Amazon would replace an official visit to Brasilia that Biden had promised Lula when the Brazilian leader visited the White House in 2023.
The day after the G20 summit in Rio, Lula will receive Chinese President Xi Jinping on a state visit in Brasilia.
The U.S. government has started preparing for a Biden visit to the Amazon, even though the stopover has not been confirmed, and officials have visited the two Brazilian cities to study conditions.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The annual summit of leaders of the world’s largest economies is scheduled to be held on Nov. 18-19 in Rio (Reuters)
The United Nations (UN) Security Council voted unanimously on Friday to expand an arms embargo on Haiti, as the impoverished Caribbean nation struggles to wrest back control from powerful gangs.
All 15 members voted for the resolution, which calls for UN member states to block shipments of “arms and related materiel of all types” from entering Haiti.
A previous embargo targeted only small arms and ammunition.
The resolution, drafted by Ecuador and the United States, also includes a oneyear renewal of a committee for monitoring sanctions against certain Haitians.
The security council first approved the sanctions regime in October 2022, but at the time the measures only targeted one gang leader, Jimmy Cherizier, who uses the alias “Barbecue”.
In late February, Cherizier launched a coordinated gang revolt in the capital Port-au-Prince, which eventually precipitated in the country’s unelected prime minister stepping down and handing power to a transitional council. Since
then, an interim prime minister has taken office and a Kenyan-led multinational force has arrived in the country to prop up Haiti’s struggling police force, though gangs continue to wield wide control.
In early October, an attack by the Gran Grif gang in the town of Pont Sonde left at least 109 people dead and dozens wounded, in one of the worst massacres in the nation’s recent history.
The leader of the gang, Luckson Elan, had been added days earlier to the UN sanctions list, which now includes seven individuals.
US representative Dorothy Shea told the Council on Friday that the situation in Haiti “remains dire”.
“The United States remains deeply concerned by the security and humanitarian crises in Haiti. Too many people continue to suffer from ongoing violence,” she said.
Kenya is set to send 600 additional police officers in November for the support mission, which was approved by the UN Security Council last year but is not a UN peacekeeping mission. (AFP)
Caribbean airlines (CAL) pilots have been left wondering how long they will continue to be ignored, as three days have passed since they delivered a letter to the Minister of Finance through the TT Airline Pilots Association (TTALPA) concerning a proposal on a nine-year-old collective agreement, but still have not got a response.
Industrial relations consultant Timothy Bailey said on October 17, “At this point, they want to know what really going on. It is such an important job, and they are not even taken being seriously.”
Bailey said on October 14 TTALPA hand-delivered a letter to the minister at his office at the Twin Towers on Independence Square in Port of Spain.
TTALPA is currently operating under the terms and conditions of a collective labour agreement for the period 2010-2015. The agreement period expired in 2015.
It provided proposals for the following negotiation period, the 2015-2020 term, on October 24, 2019. It is still awaiting a response for that proposal.
The airline claims it is awaiting instructions from the Minister of Finance. It has also claimed that pilots were
entitled to annual three per cent increases, but TTALPA has since denied this, saying the incremental increases had nothing to do with the collective labour agreement.
On October 17, a four-page advertisement was published in local newspapers listing pilots’ associations from various countries expressing their support for TTALPA. The advertisement included responses from 12 different organisations.
On October 3, 30 pilots represented by TTALPA marched through the Piarco International Airport with placards in hand.
Bailey said while the membership does not have any plans for further action at the moment, he hopes pilots will not have to resort to expressing their displeasure at the state of negotiations.
“There are limited actions that pilots can take, but notwithstanding that, they don’t think that it should have to come to that.”
(T&T Newsday)
US President Joe Biden has said there is a "possibility of working towards a ceasefire" in Lebanon, where Israel is fighting the armed group Hezbollah, but added that "it's going to be harder in Gaza" despite the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar earlier this week.
densely-populated urban area north of Gaza City which Israeli forces have besieged for two weeks, sending another army unit to support troops already operating there.
il futures fell on Friday, declining more than 7% on the week after data showed China's economic growth slowed and investors digested a mixed Middle East outlook.
Brent crude futures fell $1.39, or 1.87%, to $73.06 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled at$69.22 a barrel, down $1.45 or 2.05%.
Brent settled more than 7% lower this week, while WTI lost around 8%, marking their biggest weekly declines since Sept. 2, when OPEC and the International Energy Agency cut their forecasts for global oil demand in 2024 and 2025.
In China, the world's top oil importer, the economy grew at the slowest pace since early 2023 in the third quarter, though September consumption and industrial output beat forecasts.
"China is key to the demand side of the equation so that is very much weighing on prices here today," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital in New York.
China's refinery output declined for the sixth straight month as thin refining margins and weak fuel consumption curbed processing. "We cannot ignore the impact of electric vehicles in China," said Neil Atkinson, Paris-based independent energy analyst and former head of the oil division at the IEA.
"There are various factors at play here, economic weakness in China but also the move towards the electrification of transport."
Electric vehicle sales in China jumped 42% in August and reached a record high of over one million vehicles. (Reuters)
Canada’s foreign minister has warned India’s remaining diplomats in the country that they are “clearly on notice” not to endanger Canadian lives after New Delhi’s top envoy in Canada was named a person of interest in the assassination of a Sikh activist.
India’s high commissioner was expelled on Monday along with five other diplomats, prompting the Canadian foreign minister, Mélanie Joly, to compare India to Russia, saying Canada’s national police force has linked Indian diplomats to homicides, death threats and intimidation in Canada.
Joly said on Friday that Canada will not tolerate foreign diplomats putting the lives of Canadians at risk.
“We’ve never seen that in our history. That level of transnational repression cannot happen on Canadian soil. We’ve seen it elsewhere in Europe. Russia has done that in Germany and the
UK and we needed to stand firm on this issue,” she said in Montreal. Asked if other Indian diplomats will be expelled, Joly said: “They are clearly on notice. Six of them have been expelled including the high commissioner in Ottawa. Others were mainly from Toronto and Vancouver and clearly we won’t tolerate any diplomats that are in contravention of the Vienna convention.”
Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police went public this week with allegations that Indian diplomats were targeting Sikh separatists in Canada by sharing information about them with their government back home. They said top Indian officials were then passing that information along to Indian organized crime groups who were targeting the activists, who are Canadian citizens, with drive-by shootings, extortions and even murder.
(The Guardian)
He was speaking as he left Berlin, where he met the German, French and British leaders.
Sinwar's death had raised hopes in some quarters of an end to the war in Gaza.
But on Friday the deputy leader of Hamas, Khalil al-Hayya, insisted it would only strengthen the group. He said Israeli hostages would not be returned until Israel ended the war and withdrew from Gaza.
Meanwhile Israel escalated its assault on the Jabalia refugee camp, a
Sinwar was responsible for the deadly Hamas attack on Israeli communities near Gaza on 7 October last year, which killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken to Gaza as hostages.
Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 42,500 people, the Hamas run health ministry there says.
The Israeli military said earlier that Sinwar was killed when the building he was hiding in in the southern Gaza city of Rafah was struck with "tank fire". It also noted its troops traded gunfire with a group of "terrorists" before the building was targeted.
On Friday the patholo-
gist in Israel who conducted his autopsy told US media the cause of death had been a "severe traumatic brain injury" from being shot in the head.
Dr Chen Kugel, from the National Center of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv, says he found wounds "from other sources" on the former
Hamas leader - including injuries to his right forearm from "missile fire", a damaged left leg from "fallen masonry" and shrapnel injuries to his body.
"They caused the severe damage, but the cause of death is the gunshot wound in the head," he told CNN. (BBC)
There are no more oral cholera vaccines left in the global stockpile, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday, with the shortage jeopardising work to stop the disease’s spread.
Global vaccine production is operating at full capacity, but demand is outpacing supply, the United Nations (UN) health agency said in its monthly situation report.
“As of October 14, the global stockpile of oral cholera vaccine is depleted, with no remaining doses available,” the WHO said.
“Although more doses are expected in the coming
weeks, this shortage poses significant challenges to outbreak response efforts and hampers efforts to control the spread of the disease.”
The WHO said that between September 1 and October 14, the International Coordinating Group on vaccine provision received requests for oral cholera vaccines from Bangladesh, Sudan, Niger, Ethiopia and Myanmar.
The requests amounted to a total of 8.4 million doses, but due to limited availability, only 7.6 million doses could be shipped.
The WHO said there had been 439,724 cholera cases
and 3,432 deaths reported this year up to September 29.
“Although the number of cases in 2024 is 16 per cent lower than last year, the 126 per cent spike in deaths is deeply concerning,” it said.
The WHO said the mortality increase might be partially down to where the outbreaks are located.
Those include conflict-affected areas where healthcare access has been severely compromised and areas hit by flooding.
Since last month’s report, new cholera outbreaks have been reported in Niger (705 cases and 17 deaths) and Thailand (five cases
with no deaths), pushing the total number of affected countries in 2024 to 30, said the WHO.
In September, 47,234 new cholera cases were reported from 14 countries. And this month, a cholera case was detected in conflict-hit Lebanon, where the WHO warned the risk of it spreading was “very high” due to the deteriorating sanitation conditions for the large numbers of displaced people.
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection that spreads through food and water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae, often from faeces. (AFP)
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged east China's Anhui Province to apply the new development philosophy on all fronts and leverage its role in multiple national development strategies to write an Anhui chapter in Chinese modernization.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection tour in the province from Thursday to Friday.
On Thursday afternoon, Xi inspected Tongcheng
City, where he visited the Liuchi Alley, a historical cultural site known for a story from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The story -- of an official and his neighbor both moving back their walls by a meter to resolve their disputes over property boundaries -is an example of neighborhood comity and harmony.
At the site, Xi urged efforts to strengthen the protection of history and culture, develop advanced socialist culture, promote revolutionary culture and carry forward fine traditional Chinese culture.
He told local residents and tourists that the alley
demonstrates the wisdom of ancient Chinese in resolving disputes. He called for efforts to leverage its educational function to carry forward the traditional Chinese virtues of comity and peace.
At his next stop, Xi visited the Hefei Binhu Science City, where he examined an array of major sci-tech innovations attained by the province and exchanged views with researchers and corporate executives.
Xi took a close look at high-tech products in the fields of intelligent connected vehicles, new-generation information technology, new energy, artificial
intelligence, and health and life science.
Noting that sci-tech innovation is an essential path to Chinese modernization, Xi called for accelerated efforts to achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and encouraged sci-tech researchers to be more innovative in helping build the country's strength in science and technology.
On Friday morning, Xi was briefed on the work of the CPC Anhui provincial committee and the provincial government, and made instructions for the province's future work.
(Xinhua)
Use your imagination to turn an idea into a lucrative endeavor. Projects you launch as a side business can help you afford some of the little extras you’ve been eyeing.
Change begins with you. Take the plunge and try something new and exciting. Put your energy into adapting your surroundings to meet your demands
Let your instincts lead the way and motivate you to change how you use your skills to thrive physically. It’s OK to dream if you implement a strategy that brings optimal results.
Sort through your differences with others before engaging in something that leads to distress, setbacks or loss. Use your imagination to discover a path that results in an agreement.
Take a moment to scour the details before you do or say anything. A premature move will put you in a vulnerable position. Now is not the time to gambl
Take the time to listen, gather information and restructure what you hear to fit your needs. Wait to present your plans until everything is in place. Travel, reunions and conferences will be insightful.
Consider what you’ve been doing lately as regards your finances and how you earn a living. Consider reinventing how you handle business affairs, money management and life goals.
Finish what you start, and you’ll feel better about your options and making a move toward your personal goals. A partnership or change of heart will play in your favor.
A new look will be uplifting and help you gain confidence. The attention you receive will lead to exciting and lucrative information. Invest more time in yourself and how you earn your living.
Whatever you decide to do, plan to have fun. If something doesn’t encourage happiness or make you feel good about yourself and the prospects ahead, give it a pass.
Refuse to let what others do interfere with your plans. Time spent developing or creating something unique will be satisfying. Combine talent with motivation, and success will follow.
Uncertainty will derail your plans. Adhere to the rules and regulations and proceed with caution. Take one step at a time.
New Zealand have stormed into the final of the Women's T20I World Cup after 14 years of waiting, having beaten 2016 champions West Indies by eight runs in a low-scoring thriller in Sharjah.
They will oppose South Africa, runners-up in the 2023 tournament, and the result is set to produce a first-time champion.
Opting to bat first, Sophie Devine's side huffed and puffed their way to 128 for 9 on a pitch where the ball was not coming on to the bat, and Deandra Dottin starred for the West Indies by taking 4 for 22.
However, West Indies' chase did not take off as expected, Eden Carson et al kept them to 25 for 2 in the powerplay. Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor toiled hard, but could manage only a combined 28 off 41 balls. That left West Indies at 51 for 4, and needing 78 from 55.
Dottin again kept the West Indies in the game. Her fiery innings, a 22-ball 33 in which she hit Lea Tahuhu for three sixes in an over, brought the equation down to 34 from 24; but Amelia Kerr, the highest wicket-taker at this World
Cup, ended Dottin's innings in the 17th over when she had her top-edge a sweep to short fine leg.
New Zealand were not without flaws, having dropped five catches in the field, but their bowlers found a way to stop West Indies at 120 for 8.
Carson makes early inroads
Carson has been New Zealand's go-to powerplay bowler, having taken four of her five wickets prior to the semi-final in this phase. On
West Indies Women (T: 129 runs from 20 ovs) Hayley Matthews (c) c Kerr b Tahuhu 15 Qiana Joseph b Carson 12 Shemaine Campbelle † c Bates b Carson 3 Stafanie Taylor b Carson 13
Deandra Dottin c Jonas b Kerr 33
b
Aaliyah Alleyne c Green b Kerr 4 Afy Fletcher not out 17 Chedean Nation b Jonas 0 Zaida James b Bates 14
Ashmini Munisar not out 1
Extras (lb
O-M-R-W Chinelle Henry 4-0-24-0
Zaida James 2-0-8-0 Hayley Matthews 1-0-9-0 Afy Fletcher 3-0-23-2
Karishma Ramharack 2-0-11-1
Aaliyah Alleyne 4-0-31-1
Deandra Dottin 4-0-22-4
(Chedean Nation, 17.3 ov), 8-118 (Zaida James, 19.3 ov) •
Friday, the offspinner again set the tone after conceding two fours to Qiana Joseph, by bowling a length ball on middle that spun past Joseph’s swipe to knock her stumps.
spin and pace were equally featured, West Indies kept New Zealand quiet, and leaked just 32 runs.
Fast bowler Chinelle Henry bowled three of her four overs inside the pow-
Soon 16 for no loss became 20 for 2 when Carson darted one full and wide of off and Shemaine Campbelle stepped out and miscued one towards extra cover, where Suzie Bates took a diving catch. West Indies were now slowed down, with Matthews and Taylor moving at a snail's pace. Carson came back for the ninth over, when Matthews and Taylor each smashed a four to pick up pace, and the offspinner had the last laugh by bowling Taylor for a 20ball 13, as she mistimed a slog sweep. Carson ended with figures of 3 for 29, and was awarded Player-of-theMatch.
West Indies dominate the powerplay
Matthews was happy to bowl first, as was evident in the way the West Indies started with the ball. In the first six overs, in which
erplay. She hit the hard lengths and extracted movement in the air and off the surface to let neither Bates nor Georgia Plimmer off the hook. Two of New Zealand's
three fours in this phase were freebies - a full toss off Zaida James and an overpitched delivery from Henry. Plimmer struggled to find her timing early on, and Bates tried to move across and come down the track to find quick runs, but to little effect.
Deandra Dottin became the first woman with three hauls of four-plus wickets at the T20 World Cup. It didn't matter that she was bowling only for the second
ond over, the 15th of the innings, the momentum was again swung towards West Indies.
There was a short break in play after Halliday was hit on her left foot by a throw from deep midwicket. Dottin fired in a yorker the next ball, and Halliday missed in jamming her bat down at it and saw her off stump pegged back. She made 18 off nine balls.
In the following over, Afy Fletcher dismissed
time in this T20 World Cup. She put her decade-long experience to use on a pitch that was not easy to bat on, and bowled mostly full and straight, mixing it cleverly with slower deliveries which were enough to trouble New Zealand.
With her second ball, Dottin removed Kerr for 7, but Brooke Halliday and Devine's quick starts revived the innings. The duo added 27 off the next 14 balls, but in Dottin's sec-
Devine for a run-a-ball 12; and New Zealand, at 98 for 5, needed Maddy Green and Isabella Gaze to step up. Dottin denied them both that opportunity. She first sent back Green, then trapped Rosemary Mair lbw with the help of DRS. At 104 for 7, New Zealand seemed to have lost the plot. But they managed to eke out 24 from the last three overs, which proved to be decisive in the end.
(ESPNCricInfo)
Only one side has ever won a Test after scoring fewer than the 46 they did in the first innings of the match, but India were entertaining thoughts of so doing. They are onto something special in Bengaluru, and that through a sensational attacking approach with the bat.
Don't get it wrong, New Zealand were still ahead on cold numbers, but India have been pulling off unbelievable wins of late, and a fourth-innings chase of even 100 or so would not be easy.
A day after being bowled out for 46 and falling behind by 136 runs, which then ballooned up to a total deficit of 356, India batted at well over five an over until the last few overs to finish 125 behind with seven of their wickets still intact.
New Zealand got themselves a late fillip through Glenn Phillips, who sneaked in an outside edge from Virat Kohli to the last ball of the day.
When you get bowled out for 46 in the first innings, you pretty much need everything to go your way, but India kept marching on even
way. Their testing bowling early in the day was interrupted by the quickest hundred-run stand against India in India, but their batters came out positive, putting New Zealand under immense pressure on what was now a flat pitch.
Bowlers erred regularly, spread-out fields allowed easy runs, and a catch went down. Even the falling wickets failed to slow India down. When Yashasvi Jaiswal got out stumped, Rohit Sharma scored 16 off the next eight balls he played. Rohit's freakish dismissal, played on off a dead defensive, brought out Sarfaraz Khan, who raced away to 23 off 16. Like Joe Root among the hectic England batters, Virat Kohli remained serene, but also skipped down the track to hit a six off Ajaz Patel almost as a nod to acknowledge the positive approach. However, this approach will be tested, as a new batter will join Sarfaraz, unbeaten on 70, on the fourth morning.
A lot would also depend on whether Rishabh Pant's movements will be hampered after he missed one-and-ahalf day's play because of a blow on the knee he had injured in a road accident.
The good news for India is that he was padded up along with KL Rahul, and also that he removed the pads even without having to
bat on
That was not the case in the morning. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj got India off to a relentless start, taking a wicket each in their five-over spells. The way Glenn Phillips and Matt Henry kept swinging at the ball didn't inspire much confidence, nor did it bring many runs. The first four wickets fell for 53, and India were now looking at a long
Rachin Ravindra, back to the city where his father was born, had other ideas. He and Tim Southee added 137 runs in a little over
20 overs, the second-quickest stand of 100 or more against India.
Ravindra trusted Southee to an extent that he faced only the first three balls of the first 19 in the stand, which seemed to coax responsibility
en down ruthlessly, as he provided overpitched balls, his 16 overs going for 94 and one wicket off a reverse-sweep.
Post lunch, the new ball kept going past the bat, but New Zealand managed to go past 400. India doubled
out of the seam bowler who is known for his six-hitting.
Having started the day on 22, and having taken a boundary off the first ball he faced, a loosener from Siraj, Ravindra batted with urgency, but also with respect. He scored 101 of his runs against spin because Bumrah and Siraj hardly gave him a loose ball.
The first signs of any manufacturing of shots came 11 overs before the new ball became available, when Ravindra charged Kuldeep Yadav and lofted him back over his head to get to his fifty. He then went over midwicket to take the lead past 200. In the same over, Southee got a half-volley, which he lofted for his first boundary. Just like that, the flood gates had opened. From waiting for the new ball, India went to delaying the new ball because it only became available close to lunch, and they needed a breather to regroup.
In the 12 overs leading up to the break, New Zealand scored 102 runs, and Ravindra went from 48 off 86 to 104 off 125, and Southee hit three sixes to go past Virender Sehwag's tally of 91. R Ashwin was tak-
down on their aggressive approach when they came out to bat, which did make sense on a flatter pitch. Jaiswal still needed some luck when the ball was new, but he also charged down the wicket to drill Matt Henry through mid-off for four.
With the ball not seaming, Henry went too full in looking for swing, giving Rohit early momentum in the innings. The run-rate kept growing progressively, but the attacking approach also comes with risk, which it appeared India were happy to live with. There were gasps when Jaiswal ran at Ajaz and was stumped off a ball that didn't turn, but this team was not going to give any mixed
messages.
This is the approach that had brought India a quick 72 runs and had spread the field, and they were happy to live with a dismissal doing this. Rohit's immediate assault on Henry, even as Kohli took 15 balls to get off the pair, summed up India's mindset.
A drive for a four, a pull for a six, then a pull for a four brought up his fifty in just 59 balls.
And then a wicket conjured itself. Rohit defended Ajaz with a dead bat, the ball hit the inner half of the bat, and top spun onto the wicket after bouncing behind the crease. Rohit was not aware of where the ball was, which might suggest lack of awareness, but it is doubtful he had had enough time to kick it away.
A delightful partnership of 136 followed. Sarfaraz was cheeky, playing the ball impossibly late or audaciously early. Spin was tackled with sweeps, and pace was almost exclusively shown direction behind the wicket. At one point he was ducking William O'Rourke, but the ball nipped back at him, and he ramped it over the keeper just because he could.
Kohli was more orthodox in skipping down and lofting Ajaz over long-off. Runs flowed, bowlers erred, a Henry spell of reverse swing was negotiated, Ajaz dropped Kohli at slip off Phillips, an odd choice for a slip fielder.
Phillips is a wicketkeeper who has forced himself to become a utility offspinner in order to survive in international cricket. It seems he puts a lot more body into the ball than fingers, but he keeps using the angles and keeps trying. With the last
the Petitioner/Applicant was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Guyana Times, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around the Republic of Guyana and on the worldwide web. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorised agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirty-five) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the Divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Tuesday the 14th day of January, 2025 at 10:00 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Damone Younge via Zoom Meeting ID: 845 1426 6584 and Password: 786 445. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.
With the final match of the Senior Inter-County Tournament being scheduled for play today at the Georgetown Cricket Club, teams representing Demerara and Essequibo would be opposing each other, and both captains would be hoping for victory. The crowd, meanwhile, is certain to be both partisan and vociferous.
In the previous matchup, last Thursday at the same venue, Demerara inflicted a 37-run defeat on Berbice, with Akshaya Persaud proving to be a force to be reckoned with in securing two wickets for just eight runs to be declared Player of the Match.
Speaking to the media, Demerara Captain Tevin Imlach said the team is hoping to tighten up on mistakes going into the finals, and batting would be impactful towards success.
“We are going to take the momentum from the last, you know, last couple of games, you know, we've been doing well. We've been playing good cricket, you know, (and) we look to play a…better game in this final (match) against them. I mean, we've made some mistakes in the last game and we lost. (We’re) looking (to) tight up on those, and hopefully come out victorious,” he detailed.
“Of course, I mean, batting has been a problem for us the previous years, so it's important that we use, you know, it's just time as practice, you know, going into the course the fifth over competition. It's important our buddies put up their hands and get runs, you know, going into Super 50 this year,” he continued.
would have lost the last match against them, but looking at how the match is positioned, and probably it was yours to lose, I guess you take confidence (in) knowing that you could have defeated them, and probably (you want) to do it on Saturday,” he said.
Essequibo Captain Anthony Adams divulged the key things the team needs to improve ahead of the game, and the overwhelming feeling this win would bring.
“Well, obviously, our bowling has been our strength. It's important our buddies put a bar high, you know. We had some good partnerships, with (that) has been a good form, as well as Akshaya was important at all the other battles, you know. (He) turn up in this game, and I feel like once you put a very good score on the board, our bowlers will be more than capable of defending.”
“Okay, so I thought we missed out two years ago (when) we played the finals against Berbice. Tomorrow we have another opportunity to make good, so we look forward for a good game and just go (on to) being the victors at the end. I know you
“Yeah, I thought you played a good game yesterday. I know there are a few things that we could have done better with our strike rotation and so on, but those are things that we can improve on. Okay, so I've been playing school for 15 years, since 2009; so, for us to win these finals, (it would) mean everything for me and for Essequibo,” Adams said. With the CWI Regional Super50 Men’s tournament just around the corner, Guyana would use this tournament to get its players prepped for their pursuit of a title that has eluded them for more than a decade.
With the aim to provide international facilities to players, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), in partnership with Blue Water Shipping, has initiated steps to create an innovative, new, multi-purpose sports, educational and entertainment venue at Durban Park.
Currently, Guyana boasts just two venues for the sport of football: at Providence on the East Bank of Demerara, and at Leonora on the West Coast of Demerara This new facility would add variety at another end of the Region.
Speaking at the sod-turning ceremony on Friday, Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde divulged the overwhelming feeling it evokes to witness these efforts being made by the Government and international agencies in regard to football infrastructure.
He said, “We have seen the tremendous effort being undertaken by the President of Guyana, president Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, in improving infrastructure and in particular sporting infrastructure, and we commend the President and the Minister of Sport, Honorable Minister Mr. Charles Ramson, for the efforts that they've been making in particular in the area of football infrastructure. As we are aware, we do have an acute shortage of football infrastructure across Guyana, and we are happy to see the efforts being made by President Irfaan Ali's government; but apart from that, the GFF has also been
making some efforts with the support of FIFA and the support of CONCACAF.
“FIFA has been supporting us through the FIFA forward program.”
Forde divulge the significant support being received from Blue Water Shipping as investment in sports. He said, “I would, and I'm speaking for all disciplines that they have been such a monumental collaboration for such a significant undertaking, and I believe it speaks volumes to the confidence that Blue Water Shipping has in Guyana as a destination for their investment, but also the good relationships that we have developed over the past months and years, I would say. We've undertaken many projects. Only recently we concluded the Blue Water Shipping Under-15 Girls’ national championship.
Central American and Caribbean Association
Football President Victor Montagliani spoke about the tremendous work that the GFF President has done over the years towards improvement over the years and the importance of the facility. He said, “I think Wayne has done a tremendous job over the last, well, since I've been president of CONCACAF the last eight years, bringing Guyana football in the trajectory where it needs to go, from a youth standpoint, from a senior team standpoint. I know you want to score more goals and all that, but that's football. But he's done a tremendous job in bringing this federation to the point where it's respected within the confederation and respected in FIFA. And that's a tall order, trust me. And light up where also this federation
came from and the challenges. And so my hat's off to you, Wayne, as our partner and my partner as a president for the work you've done.
Specifically with this beautiful piece of land, I know it just looks like sand and dirt, but I can already visualize, as you see by the drawings, what this is going to look like. And I think it's a great initiative. And for me, it's important because bricks and mortar are important. I mean, even at CONCACAF, we're building a home of football in the Dominican Republic. And I know how important that is. And it's important because, in the end, it's really about our players and our young players.”
Vice President of Blue Water Shipping Jennifer Falconer divulged on
their investment towards Football providing an opportunity to nurture young talent, it is building character
She said “For Blue Water this is of course a very historic moment for us too and we're happy to be (0:25) part of it but for us it's more than just building a stadium, having a stadium with our name on it.
It is nurturing young talent, it is building character, creating opportunities and building (0:39) dreams for our young athletes and we believe that a facility like this there will be many opportunities created through GFF for our young athletes and so Wayne and today I would like to to extend congratulations again for all the work you and the team does in pushing forward this initiative, keep it moving and of course you know Blue Water
support is not just here, we support the GFF and many other initiatives with all the work you're doing with the various teams, particularly girls football and we will continue to do so.”
The key features of the design include: exterior terraces and stands with panoramic views of Georgetown that will serve as critical space during event days; open design; good sight lines for all spectators through diverse viewing experiences and high-tech and sustainable materials throughout the building.
Other features of the stadium complex include a dedicated community space which could be utilized yearround for educational opportunities, youth sport, non-profit events and other community-minded purposes.
