“I knew that my
was gone” – mother of 3-month-old who died at
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Sunday, June 30 – no retraction and Monday, July 1 – 00:30h-02:00h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Sunday, June 30 – 11:30h-13:00h and Monday, July 1 – 12:45h-14:15h.
Parika and Supenaam departure times –05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily
despite criticisms, measures have been pivotal in mitigating economic challenges
In a comprehensive review of the budgets spanning from 2020 to 2024, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has underscored its steadfast dedication to bolstering the nation's economic vitality and enhancing the standard of living for all Guyanese.
On Saturday, in denouncing what it described as the malicious and unfounded claims continuously being propagated that the Administration has failed to implement critical measures to increase the disposable income of the Guyanese people, the Government said that over $200 billion has been injected into the economy through a series of strategic measures aimed at providing relief and fostering growth, marking a significant milestone in the Government's commitment to citizens.
According to the Government, since assuming office in 2020, the PPP/C Administration has implemented a comprehensive array of fiscal policies and relief initiatives tailored to address immediate needs while laying a robust foundation for sustainable economic development. Each annual budget, it said, has been meticulously crafted to navigate challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic fluctuations, while prioritising the well-being of households and fostering resilience across sectors.
To demonstrate this, the Government said that Budget 2020 responded swiftly to the challenges posed by COVID-19, allocating over $40 billion towards relief measures. These included the reversal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on essential services like electricity and water, a $25,000 COVID-19 relief voucher per household, and VAT exemptions on critical sectors such as housing and healthcare. These initiatives provided immediate financial relief and stimulated economic activity during a period of global uncertainty.
Further, the Government said that in Budget 2021, it allocated an additional $10 billion towards measures aimed at reducing the cost of living. This, it stated, included restoring zero-rated status to essential food items, reducing water tariffs, and introducing tax concessions to spur local production and investment. These measures aimed to bolster disposable income and economic resilience.
In 2022, it stated that recognising continued economic challenges, the Administration then introduced measures totalling over $25 billion. These included significant costof-living adjustments, reductions in import duties and excise taxes, and targeted support for vulnerable communities. Notably, it pointed, the reduction of the excise tax on fuel to zero provided substantial savings for consumers and businesses alike.
Meanwhile, the 2023 budget allocated over $50 billion towards initiatives aimed at easing financial burdens and driving economic growth, the Government said, adding that measures included further reductions in freight charges, increases in the income tax threshold, and enhancements to social support programmes benefiting various sectors of the population.
The Government said in 2024, in the latest budget, it
has committed over $70 billion to sustain and expand its efforts. These includes
A breakdown of this year’s Budget shows that maintaining the zero per cent excise tax on petroleum products since March 2022 alone has cost the State some $40 billion annually. Another $10 billion went to the part-time job programme and $7 billion towards cost-of-living measures.
With regard to the Old Age Pension, this was moved from $20,500 in 2020 to $36,000 per month this year – reflecting a 75 per cent increase under the PPP/C Administration.
maintaining zero per cent excise tax on petroleum products, enhancing social grants such as the “Because We Care” cash grant, and increasing investments in critical sectors like education and public assistance.
The budget also raises the income tax threshold to $100,000, benefiting thousands of workers across the country.
Some 76,000 persons are benefiting from this measure, placing an additional $2.7 billion of disposable income in their hands. Moreover, Pubic Assistance moves from $9000 in 2020 to $19,000 in 2024, giving over 35,000 citizens another $1.2 billion in additional disposable income.
Editor: Tusika Martin
News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761
Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707
Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com
While the PNC might have assumed its name in 1958, it was actually formed in February 1955, at the PPP Conference held at the Metropole Cinema. Then PPP Chairman Forbes Burnham packed the pit with his Georgetown supporters, and arranged for one of his partisans on the Exec Committee to call for the suspension of the Standing Orders and pass a resolution on a vote for leadership. Jagan and most of the Executives immediately grasped that this move was a repeat performance of Burnham’s 1953 “leader or nothing” demand, and walked out. Burnham named his rump faction PPP (Burnham), then changed the name to the Peoples National Congress after his faction was trounced in the 1957 General Elections.
The PNC leadership, then, was born out of plotting and fraud against unsuspecting erstwhile comrades, and we see this history repeating itself as farce almost seventy years later, in this latest 22nd Congress. We shall skip over, at this point, the very serious allegations of sexual harassment and threat allegedly made by incumbent PNC Leader Aubrey Norton against a senior PNC member, since it is reportedly under investigation by a Committee of PNC “Elders”, and focus on the accusations of plotting and fraud.
Against a background of a computer CPU with the names of PNC members going “missing”, and the resignation of the General Secretary, who was berated for inquiring about the status of the said names, as well as for letters inviting party groups to the Congress being sent out by the leader without even her perusal, though it was her responsibility, the two CEC members contesting against Norton for the leadership “suspended” their candidacy.
First was Amanza Walton-Desir, who identified “recent developments, which I am not at liberty to ignore, (that) have raised serious concerns regarding the (party’s electoral) process.” Specifically, she declared: “As of the morning of June 27th, 2024, one day before the commencement of our Congress, a preliminary list of delegates has not been made available to me, as a candidate, to allow for claims or objections; and further, there is a lack of agreement among all candidates contesting on the procedures for conducting the elections.” Ironically, the PNC is the party that has been screaming that the National List of Electors was “bloated”, and must be “sanitized” before holding General and Regional Elections in 2025.
The second contestant, Roysdale Forde, who is a PNC Executive, in bowing out of the race, also expressed deep concerns about the integrity of the list of delegates. “There have been noticeable irregularities concerning the list of delegates, which raise serious concerns about the transparency of the election process.” He elaborated: “Unreasonable timelines have been imposed to meet certain requirements for holding the Congress, which have placed undue pressure and constraints on the democratic process.”
Against this background, the “re-election” of Aubrey Norton as the PNC Leader rings very hollow, and casts severe doubts on his credentials to practise democratic politics in the national sphere. Burnham, who was willing to sell out his comrades to become leader, subsequently rigged elections for decades to remain in power. He once told a Caribbean leader who had lost an election that he could not understand how he could allow this to happen. The premise, of course, is that once a leader controls the mechanism of elections, they not only can, but SHOULD, finagle with that mechanism to ensure they do not lose power.
We should note also that all those who are now crying “foul” against Norton’s alleged electoral manipulations stood mute –and benefitted - when the then PNC Leader David Granger used the same rationale to attempt to massively rig the 2020 elections. One lesson out of this sordid series of unfortunate events is to verify the folk wisdom which asserts that “whatever goes around comes around”. Those who acquiesced in the traducing of democratic norms when it benefitted them must understand that one day they might be at the receiving end of the same ploy. The people must heed this lesson in 2025.
Ranks of the Guyana National Reserve and Special Forces Squadron participated in the second quarter Fitness Competition which concluded on Friday. Ranks were challenged in military disciplines such as field craft, operational readiness, skill-at-arms, physical fitness, and navigation. (GDF photos)
By Emma Brockes
Who could have foreseen that the scariest thing about the Presidential Debate on Thursday night wouldn’t be the lies, the bombast, or the threats to democracy, but the spectacle of Trump’s slightly wolfish restraint. Heading into the encounter, Democrats felt the kind of anxiety more usually endured before watching a child perform, with that same crushing sense of raw emotion. That Trump barely mocked Biden, or went after his age or his son, seemed less rehearsed than a shrewd response to what all of us were seeing: a president so compromised that all Trump had to do was grin, lean back, and let the optics work for him.
And still, despite the evidence, it feels wanton to say this: Biden, whose voice was hoarse from a cold, rushed his delivery, fought to find words, and stumbled in a style not entirely new to him. The difference on Thursday night was one of degree. “Oh my God!” was the general consensus texted around the country when the debate opened in Atlanta.
While Trump’s remarks were predictably ludicrous, full of lies and inflated claims, nothing he said could distract from the image of Biden saying sensible things in a manner so crepuscular that the entire
event jumped from politics to tragedy. It made me think of a line from Rilke: “It had almost hurt to see.”
This was the near-universal response among Democrats on Friday morning. Spoken with slightly too much relish, and accompanied by a lot of “we’re doomed” hand-waving, it drew attention once again to everything that’s wrong with political discourse. There was Trump, claiming crazily that, in Democratic states, something he called “abortion after birth” was endorsed, while Biden soberly listed his achievements in job creation, managing inflation, and proposals to better tax those paid more than $400,000.
The President pushed back against Trump’s lies as best he could, unaided by the two CNN moderators, who scandalously were far more corpse-like in their effect than the President. It didn’t matter. The gut response of everyone watching was not “here are two men, one vastly superior to the other”. It was simple shock at how Biden has aged.
There was anger here, too. A point widely made on social media on Thursday night was that this is what a race for the most powerful job in the world looks like when people won’t vote for a woman. Two elderly men, in various states of impairment, addressing each
other as “this guy”, squabbling over who has the better golf handicap, and accusing each other of being a sore loser. It was like one of those bad 90s satires involving Warren Beatty, in which the joke is too broad to land. Trump thinned his lips, repeated the phrase “kill the baby”, and accused Biden of running the worst administration in history; to which Biden correctly but uselessly in effect responded, “No, you are”. And still there was worse to come. For me, the hardest parts of the 90 minutes were the brief flashes of Biden as he once was, full of easy charm and conviction. It was clear that the President was operating in a mode less professional than personal; that his unfiltered state was, on occasion, less strategic than the result of some other inhibition-suppressing dynamic.
But, in those moments of pure visceral response to Trump’s awfulness, Biden seemed like a stand-in for all of us. Several times one saw Biden look across at Trump with pure unmoderated hatred. “He didn’t do a damn thing,” he said in reference to Trump and 6 January.
“Such a whiner he is,” said Biden, the odd syntax removing the remarks from the context of a Presidential Debate to what felt like an honest and off-camera response.
“Something snapped in you when you lost!” he said, and it was an extraordinary moment watching a man present Trump with a flat truth about himself. When Biden cracked a huge smile in response to the audaciousness of yet another Trump lie, the pathos was almost unbearable. There he was, fully himself for a moment, the man we recognise as a capable and charismatic leader.
Trump, in these moments of confrontation, pursed his lips and smiled thinly. You could almost see the machinery of his personality working, the split-second flare of his wounded narcissism, followed immediately by denial and attack. By the end of the debate, while Democrats started talking pointlessly about replacing Biden on the ticket, the only consolation was in the broken political system itself. These debates don’t move the needle; they exist in the absence of any better ideas on how to engage the electorate. Americans are so polarised that no one is changing their minds. If Biden’s performance was terrible, one could self-soothe with the observation that it hardly matters at this stage -which is, of course, the most terrifying conclusion of all. (The Guardian)
(Emma Brockes is a Guardian columnist)
Dear Editor, Nigel Hughes reportedly disclosed that ExxonMobil Guyana (EMGL) and several of the oil companies are clients of his law firm.
This disclosure was made when he was asked about renegotiation of the 2016 Petroleum Agreement if he were elected as the AFC Leader, which he is now contesting. He had promptly responded that he cannot comment on that for the reason stated herein.
It would appear that Mr. Nigel Hughes believes that merely disclosing the above conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest is sufficient; but it’s not. There are instances in which some conflicts of interest can be managed, and there are instances wherein some conflicts of interest would have
to be totally avoided. In this instance, the conflict of interest that Mr Hughes is or will be embroiled in would have to be totally avoided.
More interestingly, it would appear that Mr Hughes has presidential ambitions, as per his concoction and/or endorsement of the term “a consensus presidential candidate”, suggesting that he would, at the opportune time, offer himself to be the presidential candidate either as part of the coalition of opposition political parties APNU+AFC, or would do so if the AFC opts to contest the next General and Regional Elections solo.
For the reasons stated above, it would be absolutely and dangerously unethical for the law firm with which Mr Hughes is affiliated to continue its provision of le-
gal services to EMGL and all other oil and gas companies. It would be outrageously unacceptable if he continues to do so.
Also, it doesn’t matter if he is principal owner of the firm or part-owner thereof. Think about this for a moment: if the current Vice President or any of the current cabinet members of the incumbent Government were involved in any type of business dealings with EMGL and the other oil and gas companies, the criticisms and protestations against that relationship would have been immensely intensified with the view to creating havoc in the political environment.
It is worth highlighting that should Mr Hughes be elected as the AFC Leader, EMGL would be forced to
terminate its contractual arrangement with his firm. To this end, EMGL is bound by its internal anti-corruption policy to act in accordance with the US “Foreign Corrupt Practices Act” under which EMGL is prohibited from conducting business with Government officials, as this is equally applied to candidates of political parties.
Against this background, it is not sufficient for Mr Hughes to merely disclose that his law firm provides legal services to the oil and gas companies, particularly EMGL. Mr Hughes would have to state, further to that, that once he is elected, his firm would have to terminate all contractual arrangements with EMGL and other oil and gas companies.
If he doesn’t, EMGL
Dear Editor,
Two fires in two days at Government facilities.
First, the Children and Family Centre in Sophia was damaged, it is alleged, by faulty electrical wiring installation on Thursday.
Then, on Friday morning, the Starter’s Nursery School on Camp Street, Georgetown saw a blaze erupting. The cause, it is suggested, was a ‘break -
down in the electrical distribution panel’.
It is worthy to note that both buildings housed children of varying ages.
The Mahdia fire disaster is still fresh and alive in our minds for us to have these incidents occurring at locations occupied by children.
Aren’t there supposed to be regular inspections of Government buildings and
facilities in order to detect faults, electrical and otherwise? Thankfully, there were no casualties or fatalities, but there must be lots of trauma for the young occupants of these buildings.
The Fire Service must be commended for its response and valiant efforts in bringing these situations under control.
The authorities cannot point fingers, and must be
would be forced to do so in order to be in compliance with its anti-corruption policies and the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. In the unlikely event that he loses the election, his contestation for the candidacy of leadership of a political party would nonetheless make him a “Politically Exposed Person” (PEP), pursuant to the Anti-Corruption Laws.
Sincerely, Joel Bhagwandin
06:00 (Sign on) Jewanram Gospel Hour 07:00 Cartoons
08:00 Shekinah Ministry
08:30 Evening News (RB) 09:30 Fast n Loud 10:30 Cartoons 11:30 Blippi Education 12:00 Movie - Raise Your Voice (2004) 14:00 Movie - Richie Rich (1994) 15:30 Movie - The Secret of Moonacre (2008)
held accountable. The alleged causes of these fires, it is perceived and posited, were allowed to remain undetected due to poor inspection regime of buildings and facilities. This is unacceptable, and it seems that lessons from the Mahdia disaster were not heeded.
Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed
17:30 The Healing Touch 18:00 Wheel of Fortune 18:30 Week-in-Review
19:00 Supergirl S1 E13
20:00 Arrow S6 E14
21:00 Riverdale S6 E13
22:00 Movie - Boy Kills World (2023) 00:00 Sign off
Last week I promised to expand on my dissatisfaction with (even considering) giving specific medications (vaccines, sedatives, anesthetics) to pet clinic clients/pet caregivers for them to administer (or have administered) to their pets.
Last week we dealt with reasons for vets’ unwillingness to give pet owners/dog breeders vaccines to administer to their animals. I also constantly advise my colleagues against giving/selling vaccines even to para-professionals (e.g. Animal Health Assistants) who practise without veterinary supervision.
Today we will continue this theme, focusing on my absolute opposition to providing sedatives/ anesthetic to clients/persons to administer to their pets just prior to embarking on an international or local flight, purportedly because of the view that the pet does not
to animals. If a pet is already ailing, then the owner/caregiver/agent should never attempt to sedate such an animal. Any mistake in the dosage rate or choice of drug can have disastrous consequences. I should add that the sedating/anesthetizing of wildlife (non-domesticated ani-
travel well.
Sedatives/anesthetics are not just any drugs. Only qualified and experienced veterinarians are allowed, by law, to administer such chemicals
mals) prior to travelling over long distances should be done only by veterinarians who are experienced in this particular area of veterinary practice.
I have experienced a par-
ticularly concerning episode involving the translocation of an adult tapir from Georgetown to Annai. For whatever reason, and against better judgment, instead of making a nonstop trip, and unbeknownst to the vet, the owners decided to go off course to Rockstone, to spend what turned out to be too long a stopover. The tapir began to emerge from the anesthesia, and the owners could not provide any meaningful assistance to placate the awakening animal. Luckily, some burly carpenters carrying out a nearby construction exercise were able to lend a helping hand to stabilize the cage and give the animal a correctly calculated amount of extra sedative/anesthesia.
I mention this episode because it could have been a situation wherein the accompanying personnel may be non-knowledgeable about the animal (wildlife) species and administer an incorrect dos-
age.
We call the tapir a “bush cow”. A member of the bovine family it is not. Some people think the tapir belongs to the pig family. A pig it is not. Most scientists agree that the tapir belongs to the family of horses. Further, the Malaysian (black and white) tapir is not the same as its cousin in South America. The wool tapir, whose habitat was in the highlands of Mexico, seems to have become extinct.
The point I am making is that one cannot administer swine/bovine medication dosage to an equid (horse) type animal. In addition, we still do not know (from specific research) which sedative/anesthetic would yield the optimal effect in the various species of wildlife, even if they are closely related. Some experience and a commonsensical approach are crucial to yielding
the
the best results.
The tapir did arrive safely in the caring hands of Mr.
was a star attraction for the many happy years of its existence.
I deviated on the topic at caption primarily to reinforce
going with this?
A human doctor (yes, right here in Guyana) begged a vet for some anesthetic tablets we use comfortably on cats prior to surgery, but also use on humans. The medication was then in short supply. The vet had no qualms sharing the drug with a colleague in need. During a conversation with another vet, the story was told. It turned out that the doctor was using the anesthetic tablets for nefarious purposes. The matter was reported to the Medical Board, and to their praiseworthy action, the medical doctor was removed from the Practitioners Register.
I think the point is well made.
Next week we will offer some workable proposals relative to this matter of travelling
...admits Exxon is a client while dodging questions on renegotiating oil contract
Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes has been elected as the new Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and while he has hinted at the possibility of him running as a potential presidential candidate at the 2025 elections, he has dodged questions about his position on renegotiating the controversial 2016 oil contract. In fact, he went on to admit that United States oil giant ExxonMobil, along with several other oil companies operating in Guyana, is a client of his; hence, he could not comment on this issue.
On Saturday, the AFC held its eighth National Conference – the highest decision-making forum of the party – during which Hughes defeated fellow party member Sherod Duncan, to emerge as the new AFC Leader.
In a social media post immediately after the results were announced on Saturday, Hughes said: “To the ancestors, sisters, brothers, friends, fellow citizens and even frenemies, I am truly humbled by the tremendous support and awesome responsibility you have placed on my shoulders.”
According to Hughes, who has been campaigning with the slogan – Better Must Come (BMC), the party has one agenda now and that is Guyana. Hughes had previously served as Chairman of the AFC, but resigned back in April 2016 over “internal difficulties on a point of principle”.
Initially, Hughes, along with Duncan and David Patterson, were all nominated for the AFC leadership post.
But an agreement saw Patterson renouncing his nomination in favour of Hughes, who won with some 149 votes against Duncan’s 62.
Patterson, on the other hand, was also successful
in his bid for the AFC chairmanship, which he won with 150 votes after defeating fellow parliamentarian Juretha Fernandes, who gained 69.
The AFC also elected a new Vice Chairman in the person of Michael Carrington while the party co-founder, Raphael Trotman, who had been missing from public view for some time now, has returned as the party’s General Secretary. The party also elected 12 members for its National Executive Committee (NEC) to manage the AFC.
Notably, immediate past AFC Leader and co-founder, Khemraj Ramjattan, was not nominated for any of these positions.
Exxon is a client
However, Hughes’ election to the helm of the AFC has already raised some eyebrows given his recent admission to having links to ExxonMobil.
Prior to Saturday’s election, however, Hughes appeared on a talk show programme –hosted by Opposition Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive Member, David Hinds.
The host had asked Hughes about his position on re-negotiating the controversial 2016 Production
Sharing Agreement (PSA) that was signed by AFC co-founder Trotman –the Natural Resources Minister under the then A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government.
There have been mounting criticisms over the oil contract that saw Guyana being short-changed and sweeping benefits going to the US oil major and its partners. This has led to a push by some quarters for the lopsided PSA to be re-negotiated.
However, Hughes said during the programme that he could not comment on this matter since Exxon was a client at his law firm – Hughes, Fields & Stoby.
“Exxon is a client of our firm. I’m making it public now, so that nobody can’t say that I have never made it [known]. Several of the oil companies are clients of our firm. I can’t comment on that,” he had stated last week.
It was previously reported that Hughes’ law firm had represented ExxonMobil during its negotiations with the then Guyana Government on the oil contract. Those negotiations, which started in early 2016, were led by Trotman, who was also the AFC Leader.
There were claims of conflict of interests between Trotman and Hughes, who was the AFC’s Chairman at the time although he subsequently resigned in April 2016.
While he dodged questions about re-negotiating the oil contract, Hughes, nevertheless, outlined his plans for the local oil and gas sector.
“I will set up committees, and if we get into government, commissions that are specifically dedicated to dealing with oil generally. I will insist that they hire the best professional advice internationally – both in terms of law, in terms of economics and in terms of the business of oil, because the business of oil is the most sophisticated business on the planet, because it runs the planet,” he posited.
During the programme that was livestreamed last Thursday, Hughes was also asked whether he was open to a presidential candidacy if he was successful in his leadership bid at the helm of the AFC. In response, he said “I am open to doing whatever the people of
Guyana think is in their best interest to advance this country.”
The controversial 2016 oil contract for the Stabroek Block signed between the ExxonMobil-led co-venturers and the then APNU/ AFC Coalition Government had been heavily criticised for low royalties, lack of ring-fencing provisions and cost oil claims that will see Guyana losing billions, among other issues.
The current People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has ruled out renegotiating that PSA, pointing out that the country cannot risk losing Exxon’s investments especially since the global petroleum market is volatile when it comes to funds being injected into the sector.
Instead, the PPP/C Administration has crafted a new PSA for future oil deals. Under new conditions, Guyana stands to benefit from as high as US$20 million signature bonus for the deep-water blocks and US$10 million for the shallow-water blocks. Additionally, while it includes the retention of
the 50-50 profit-sharing after cost recovery, there is an increase of the royalty from a mere two per cent now to a 10 per cent fixed rate; the imposition of a 10 per cent corporate tax, and the lowering of the cost recovery ceiling to 65 per cent from the previous 75 per cent, among other provisions.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has argued that Government’s priority is ensuring the country and its people reap as much benefits from any new oil deals.
While the AFC has separated from the APNU following the 2020 elections, the two political entities are still a joint parliamentary Opposition and are yet to determine whether they will be contesting the 2025 polls together.
Hughes had indicated that he would not mind leading the AFC into “a broad coalition” to contest next year’s polls, but noted that this would have to be a decision taken by the party after an assessment is done of what went wrong with the partnership with the APNU during the coalition’s term in office and post the 2020 elections. (G8)
The “Because We Care” cash grant of $40,000 per child this year – a substantial increase from $15,000 in 2021 when it was reinstated by the PPP – coupled with the $5000 uniform allowance will see a disbursement of a whopping $9.2 billion in 2024. Over the past four years, a total of $26.9 billion in the cash grants have been disbursed to schoolchildren under the programme.
As a result of the threshold increase, some 13,000 persons were removed from paying income taxes and this will result in a $4.8 billion increase in disposable income of workers. Meanwhile, another $4 billion was set aside for the Guyana Online Academy
of Learning (GOAL) scholarships. In previous years, the allocations for this initiative were: $1 billion in 2021, $1.3 billion in 2022, and $1.8 billion in 2023.
Moreover, Government rolled out the first phase of the University of Guyana student loan write-off exercise to the tune of $11 billion, benefiting some 13,000 individuals.
Collectively, these budgets have injected over $195 billion directly into the pockets of Guyanese citizens, significantly enhancing disposable incomes and overall quality of life, the Government said on Saturday.
According to the state-
ment, despite criticisms from certain quarters, the Government's measures have been pivotal in mitigating economic challenges and fostering a resilient economic environment poised for future growth.
The Administration remains committed to inclusive economic development and continues to implement policies aimed at fortifying the nation's economic foundation.
The ongoing support for households, businesses, and key sectors, it pointed out, underscores a proactive approach to addressing the evolving needs of the population while laying the groundwork for sustained prosperity.
Donald Trump – then president of the USA – once downgraded all of us in the global south -- then semi-officially lumped as the “Third World” -- as “sh**hole countries”!!
He, of course, knows a lot about being a sh**hole!!
A man who disgraced his country by becoming its first president to be criminally convicted for hiding payments made to have a prostitute not reveal he once solicited –and consummated – sex with her while being married ain’t no slouch in the sh**thole department!! Then, again, he actually boasted about grabbing women in their crotches – he used the “p” word! – certain they wouldn’t protest, cause they’ll be too shocked!!
Anyhow, this man was once the president of “the free world”, and as such – whether we like it or not – has a lot of power in determining our particular sh**hole’s fate!!
Don’t forget that when Granger was trying to do a Burnham by Mingoing our elections, it was he who sent “Big Mike” Pompeo to read the Riot Act and pull some visas. Your Eyewitness knows that it wasn’t because they were defending “democracy” and all that; it was because they wanted to keep the climate cool for Exxon to rake in their profits, and to keep an eye on Mad Maduro who’s been coveting our Essequibo!!
Anyhow, Trump lost their 2020 elections; Biden won, and started waffling towards Mad Maduro - started enacting the whole scene from Hamlet, and couldn’t seem to make up his mind “to sanction or not to sanction” Mad Maduro and Venezuela!! Well, Trump is the Republican to take on Democrat Biden in elections this November. Yes, in the First World, convicts can run for the presidency!! And as is their custom, they had their first Presidential Debate of the season!! Biden in the blue corner and Trump in the red!! So, how’d it go? And what does it mean for us? In a nutshell, Biden fell apart, and exposed to the world he was just a doddering old man who loses his train of thought in the middle of a sentence!! Could you imagine what would happen if Russia launched some ICBMs towards America and Biden forgot how to insert the key to fire off America’s response?? That’s the question Democrats are asking right now, as they see defeat staring them in the face!! While Trump lied his pants off(!), at least his lies were delivered quickly and were on point!!
Problem is, Biden already has the majority of votes in their coming Convention – and only he can release them to vote for someone else. Can his handlers make him remember the greater cause to make him do so?? Nah…and he’ll be trounced by Trump – which is good for us!!
In the meantime, we in old Mudland had our own leadership action, as the PNC and AFC tried to get their act together and elect their leaders. Your Eyewitness has been going over matters in the PNC camp blow by blow literally!! So, we don’t need to reprise the ghastly details now that all challengers have pulled out. Save to enquire whether the “Elders” would still be conducting the alleged sexual allegation made against Comrade Norton. That reaffirmation by the sister at the Congress who rolled at the latter’s feet makes that a bit moot now, innit??
But the action over in the Dead Meat AFC has grabbed some attention - even though on paper Sherod Duncan should’ve locked up the contest for leader with nominations from 14 groups versus his challenger Nigel Hughes’s 2. But it’s been emphasized that Duncan’s support is from the “grassroots”, while Hughes’s is from the “elite”.
Like the latter should prevail as if grassroots’ votes are counted differently from the elite’s!!
…Cricket power
In case you were wondering why yesterday’s championship match between India and South Africa started at 10:30am, which was 7:20pm – prime time in India!! And we used to have to wait up for cricket at 4am!! Money talks!!
The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance
Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com
“I
…facility operating without approval, certification – Ministry of Human
uthorities are inves-
Atigating the death of three-month-old Kyrie Anthony Nelson of Lot 753 Fourth Drive, Kaneville, EBD, which occurred on Friday afternoon while he was in a cradle at Mya’s Daycare, a facility in that community.
On Saturday, Rebekha Anthony, a 23-year-old single mother of two, recalled dropping off her son at that daycare at approximately 8:00h, before heading to work. The daycare is owned by a 56-year-old woman who is currently on vacation, and the facility is currently being managed by two staff members in her absence.
According to Anthony, she received an urgent call from one of the employees, informing her that her child was unresponsive.
“The girl from the daycare called me and was saying, ‘Rebekha! Rebekha! It’s Kyrie’s teacher. Can you please come to the daycare now! And when you’re coming, please bring an ambulance’.”
“I asked her what happened, and she said they fed Kyrie, and when (they) went to check on him, they saw blood coming out of his nose, and he was not responding,” Anthony shared.
“I ran from where I was, and I came home and was crying for help…my nephew ended up going to the school, and he came back and said that they had Kyrie in their hands and they were not taking him to the hospital. He said he had to holler on them and tell them to take his cousin to the hospital.”
Rebekha said she and her family rushed to the daycare, and it was only upon their arrival that the staff decided to take the baby to the hospital by taxi.
Police on Saturday said that one staff member at the facility reported that she had received the infant alive from his mother, and had fed him porridge at around 09:00h. She had then placed him in a cradle at about 11:00h and had gone to care for another child. At about 12:00h, while preparing other children to
leave, she found this baby lying face-down on his pillow in the cradle. An alarm was raised, and upon checking the baby, what appeared to be blood was seen oozing from his nostrils.
Police have said that this daycare staff member further reported that she and the other woman on duty took the infant to the kitchen area and washed his face, but he was not responding.
Anthony recounted the scene at the hospital, where doctors were attempting to revive her son.
“When my son arrived at the hospital, he was already blue. My baby had an oxygen mask on him, and they were pumping his chest. All I kept seeing was my baby’s belly going up and down, and he was not responding. I got down on my knees and started to pray, asking God to give my baby one more chance,” the tearful woman said. “The doctors said he didn’t have a heartbeat, but they found a pulse. They kept trying for an hour…I went outside, and then I saw my sisters come back outside crying, and I knew that my baby was gone.”
Anthony mentioned that following the birth of her son, she had stayed at home, and had only recently started to work, and, as such, had enrolled the child at the nearby daycare.
“I need justice for my son! Yesterday (Friday) my son left home fine; he was play-
ing and smiling with everybody. He was healthy and jovial. My child had no health issues, and if he was ever sick with a fever or anything, I would stay home and make
sure I took care of him until he was better. I need justice for my son, because you cannot take people’s children… and when something goes wrong, not try to take them to the hospital,” she contended. “I was told that the teacher was trying to call an ambulance for over half an hour and didn’t get one, and she couldn’t leave the other children unattended. I work hard to take care of my son and my daughter. I need justice for my son!” the woman has said.
A postmortem examination is scheduled for Wednesday to determine the cause of the child’s death. Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether the daycare in question is certified.
Illegal daycare
In a statement issued on Saturday afternoon, the Human Services and Social
Security Ministry has said that, based on investigations, it was discovered that 24 children currently attend the facility, which includes three three-month-old babies.
According to the Ministry, the last time documents had been issued to Mya’s Daycare for renewing the Child Care Licence was on February 7, 2020.
“Checks with this childcare facility during and postCOVID-19 always revealed that this facility was closed. Ms [name withheld], the agency’s registered caregiver, has always reported that the facility has been closed since 2020. However, investigations revealed that the granddaughter opened a child care facility illegally on the 2nd of January 2024 unknown to the Child Care and Protection Agency. No documentation or
assessment was ever made for this illegal facility by the Child Care and Protection Agency’s Early Childhood Development Services Unit,” the Ministry has said in its statement.
The Early Childhood Development Services Unit, the statement read, “is saddened by the loss of the life of an innocent child due to the breaking of the laws of Guyana, which states that all caregivers offering services must be registered, and any facilities operational in Guyana must be licensed by the Child Care and Protection Agency. CPA appeals to parents to ensure that the facilities you utilise for your children are registered and licensed, as they will meet the standards required for the safety and security of your children.” (G9)
In order to truly and successfully address the scourge of gold-smuggling, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has posited, the Guyana Government must move to eliminate illicit activities that precede the act of smuggling.
The GGDMA expressed on Saturday that decisive action taken by the Government with the aim of stamping out gold-smuggling must start with the curbing of illegal activities that precede smuggling. It said illegal mining, illegal shops, and the unregulated trading of gold within the interior are the pillars upon which the illicit gold smuggling enterprise survives.
The GGDMA is also contending that by its lax
enforcement in the sector, Government’s regulatory agency, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), has allowed illegalities to flourish. The GGDMA has noted that, in the past, there were a number of gazetted areas in the interior where trade could take place, but now it is common practice for persons to set up itinerant trading posts, also known as landings, at wherever they please. According to the GGDMA, this has resulted in a multitude of landings being set up throughout the interior, and illegal gold buyers buy directly from unethical miners -- those who are willing to sell their production for higher prices, free of any paper trail and without paying any royalties or taxes. Those landings, the
GGDMA has further alleged, are now “hubs for human trafficking (and) the sale of illegal drugs and weapons”.
“We have repeatedly called for the reduction of the vast number of these hubs, and for the ones that remain to be properly regularized. To date, no meaningful action has been taken. If the avenues through which illegal miners and illegal buyers are connecting is significantly reduced, then there would undoubtedly be an increase in gold declarations”, the GGDMA is contending.
“It is time the Government also engages its financial agencies, such as the FIU (Financial Intelligence Unit) and SOCU (Special Organised Crime Unit), to investigate these many shop owners and mining operators who, despite having massive operations, do not declare any significant amounts of gold,” the GGDMA has related in a statement.
Further, the GGDMA is calling for a more serious approach to tackling illegal mining. Its argument is that illegal mining is taking place on closed area lands in Mining Districts Three,
Four and Five. In fact, the GGDMA has said, as of 2020, there were approximately more than 6,000,000 acres of closed area mining lands, and many miners had
made repeated appeals to the GGMC about illegal activities, but very little gets done.
In these regards, the GGDMA is calling on
Government to demonstrate that it is serious about finally addressing the precursors to smuggling and other activities that currently taint Guyana’s gold and would make it undesirable internationally.
“For the future survival of the mining industry, the GGDMA continues to stand with the Government of Guyana to tackle these problems. This is not the first time the GGDMA has made this appeal,” the GGDMA has said. “We remain ready to support practical solutions to this rising threat”. (G1)
…slammed car crashes into utility pole, topples into trench
An accident that occurred on the Railway Embankment Road at Enmore, East Coast Demerara at about 21:45h on Friday has claimed the life of Inderpaul Pramenauth, known as 'Babai', a 43-year-old businessman of Non-Pareil, ECD.
According to the police, Pramenauth's motorcar, PKK 2473, and vehicle PAC 5742, driven by a 31-year-old woman who resides at Paradise Housing Scheme, ECD, were involved in a smash-up.
Police have reported that the female driver, who was travelling east along the northern side of the Enmore Railway Embankment Road, told ranks that she observed Pramenauth’s vehicle speeding in a southerly direction along the Enmore Estate Access Road; and as Pramenauth attempted a right turn to head west onto the Railway Embankment Road, his vehicle collided with hers.
The impact caused Pramenauth’s car to crash into a utility pole and plunge into a trench on the northern side of the road.
Police officers on patrol duty arrived on the scene shortly after, extracted the unconscious Pramenauth from his vehicle, and transported him to the Georgetown Public Hospital's Accident and Emergency Unit, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
His body is currently at the GPH mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination, while the driver of motorcar PAC 5742 is currently in police custody assisting with the ongoing investigation. (G9)
Since Aubrey Norton was the last candidate for leader left standing, he will be the Leader of the PNC to take the party into the 2025 General Elections. I would like to offer my congratulations to him. It has been a long and winding road for him, but he will finally have the opportunity to vie for leadership of the country; which then would give him the power that he candidly accepts is the goal of all politicians. Without power, a political may at best have influence that he can exert on the power holders, but that is a far cry from having the authority to implement one’s vision for the country.
Norton graduated from the YSM – the youth arm of the PNC – to become one of the latter’s youngest General Secretaries in 1997, at the age of forty, under Desmond Hoyte. He played a key role in the PNC protests following the General Elections of that year, but was removed from his position after only one year.
I once asked Mr Hoyte the reason, and he replied that he “saw Norton drinking at a street corner with his shirt out of his pants.” He was not joking, and, on reflection, I surmised that the incident was simply a trope for what Hoyte concluded was Norton’s refusal to inculcate the “habitus” - the socialised norms or tendencies that guide behaviour and thinking - of the middle-class coloured elite that set the tone for the PNC’s leadership.
Hoyte had told me his father was a joiner, but I concluded that in his orientation, demeanour and actions, he had inculcated middle-class “respectability” while Norton stubbornly refused to do so.
But it was precisely Norton’s street reputation that earned him the overwhelming votes at the December 2021 PNC Congress, to make him leader over Joseph Harmon (David Granger’s protégé) and Van West-Charles (Burnham’s son-in-law). The middle-class elites who dominate the PNC upper rank wanted someone who would “manners” the PPP, which had stared down Granger in the Mingo-Lowenfield rigging attempt and regained office. This was the phrase used by Sheila Holder, who sat next to me for five years in the Opposition benches between 2001-2006, about why Robert Corbin was made Leader of the PNC after the passing of Hoyte in 2002.
Corbin also had a street image which he just could not shake, even though he tried to inculcate the middle-class habitus by becoming a lawyer in his fifties and dressing in a “suit and tie”. But he disappointed many of the PNC mandarins when he refused to go into the streets in his later years. As the Opposition Leader, I attended many Opposition meetings where he insisted that only coalition politics was appropriate for Guyana, and the PPP had to be a member of such a coalition. He was accused of being “bought” by the PPP.
Aubrey Norton is also presently being accused of “going soft”, as he studiously refuses to be baited by some fringe opposition extremists to adopt street protests against the PPP Government. He clearly understands that with Guyana now being a nation of minorities, he cannot alienate Indian Guyanese by holding street protests, which invariably descend into violence against Indian Guyanese, as occurred at Mon Repos Market in 2022. It is not surprising, then, that we witness the same middle-class rejection of Norton in his campaign for the PNC leadership that Robert Corbin had experienced, and their touting of more “suitable” alternatives. Corbin himself eventually gave in to this bias and voluntarily stepped aside in favour of David Granger, who better fit the “middle class” bill. Norton, however, had firmly refused to do the same, and declared, when prodded by the extremist opposition figure on whether he would step aside for a “consensus candidate”: “I don’t believe that we should just take the hard work we do and give it to anybody who just fly off of a tree top, land on the ground, and say you must be the presidential candidate.”
It will be a test on whether the PNC has outgrown its historic West Indian fixation on the habitus Lloyd Best called “doctor politics” by sticking with Aubrey Norton, who ironically is quite educated formally – but retains the street habitus that typifies most PNC supporters.
I had written before of the scorn expressed at the latter’s “low-class behaviour”, according to some middle-class opposition types, in my hearing at Mr Hoyte’s funeral outside Parliament Buildings.
The practise of yoga is one means by which Guyana, despite its differences and cultural diversities, can be untied. This is according to Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Dr Amit Shivkumar Telang.
To promote yoga, the Indian High Commission is trying to show how the art form can bring communities together. Together with the Swami Vivekananda Culture Centre, and in collaboration with the Sri Krishna Mandir of New Amsterdam, the High Commission held a yoga session on Saturday to commemorate the 10th International Day of Yoga.
This event took the form of training and imparting knowledge.
High Commissioner Telang explained that International Day of Yoga is more than promoting physical and mental health.
“It is important (to note) that when we bring something together, we are also bringing the society together. So, it is about unity, it is about brotherhood, and it is about bring-
ing everyone together,” he explained. This year, marking the 10th International Day of Yoga was done under the theme “Yoga for Self and Society.”
Yoga, a transformative practice, represents the harmony of mind and body, the balance between thought and action, and the unity of restraint and fulfillment. It integrates the body, mind, spirit and soul, offering a holistic approach to health and well-being that brings peace to our hectic lives. Its power to transform is what is celebrated on this special day.
Yoga originated in India as an ancient physical, men-
tal, and spiritual practice. The word ‘yoga’ is derived from Sanskrit, and means “to join or to unite”, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness. Today it is practised in various forms worldwide, and continues to grow in popularity.
Recognising its universal appeal, the United Nations, on 11 December 2014, proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga. The appeal was a collaborative effort between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of India to help people stay active and healthy.
High Commissioner Telang pointed out that,
like Guyana, India is also a multi-religious, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual society, but despite the differences, its people are all united.
“It is also the same case here in Guyana, where everyone has to come together with the spirit of brotherhood, the spirit of togetherness and unity, which makes the country strong,” he explained. “This is also a small way in which we contribute to the welfare of the society, and therefore this day is very special,” the High Commissioner added.
Kevon Lorrimer of Linden embodies the Fred R. Barnard phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words”. His snap-and -share photo, which hides the proximity of two fearsome creatures in the waters, has earned him the winner’s accolade in Guyana’s 58th
Independence “Snap and Share” photography competition hosted by the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry.
Lorrimer’s winning photograph captures his beloved daughter in a canoe with her pet monkey surrounded by water. During an interview with Guyana
Times, Lorrimer shared the fascinating journey that led him to triumph in the competition, which commenced with a series of coincidental events on Mother’s Day.
“On the evening of May 12th, my wife Shavy Lorrimer and I were in the hall of our home, chatting as usual when I came across
the Ministry of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Snap and Share 58th Independence Photography Competition on Facebook,” he disclosed.
He added, “I turned to Shavanne and said, ‘Let’s go take a quick photo and post it’, and she was like, ‘Man, me ain’t able. Plus, last year
you post one and you ain’t even get to the finals, much less win. Plus, it got nuff professional photographers with top cameras gon be in that competition, so duh go tight’.”
Although he nodded in agreement, his resilient spirit refused to accept defeat.
“No Kevon, try yuh luck,” he encouraged himself. “I said to myself, ‘Self,’ and self said, “Hmm,” so I said, ‘Me going and tek a pitcha and post it’.”
Inspired, Lorrimer went outside, and saw his daughter in pampers and their pet monkey Ceasar playing together, and an idea struck him.
“I went outside thinking of an idea, while I saw little Princess Kimberly running in the yard with her bare pampers as usual, while our pet monkey Ceasar was playing in the yard too,” he disclosed. He
recounted that he looked at them thinking of something ecotourism-like, and he went on to clothe his daughter with a little yellow flowered dress.
“I grabbed little Kim, Ceasar, the yellow dress and called my big son Kevin and said, ‘Let’s go at the lake located in our backyard to take a picture’, and we all went,” he said. What proceeded was a series of events straight out of a suspense novel. As they prepared for the photograph, Lorrimer said, he placed his daughter Kimberly in the boat with Ceasar perched on her shoulders.
“While Kevin was steadying the boat so I could get a proper snap, the biggest labaria snake I’ve seen in my life decided to cross between me in the lake and the land. Snakey just pass by and ain’t got no time with we,” he disclosed.
However, this was just chapter one in their wildlife encounters.
“After taking the pic and coming out the lake, when I look back, a nice little 30-pound alligator deh watching yuh bai all de time in de lake and ain’t seh nunt. When I was on my way up, one big fat agouti ran past right in front of us, and I was like, ‘What is really happening here? Is where all dem wildlife coming out from now?’.”
Despite these harrowing experiences, Lorrimer posted his photo for the competition without imagining it would win.
“I posted the picture for the competition without a slight imagination that this photo will emerge as the winning photo after competing with over 1,000 beautiful photographs around Guyana from amongst professional photographers, and walking away with over $1M in cash and prizes,” he disclosed.
Reflecting on his journey, Lorrimer drew a parallel to the perseverance of Jesus. “My message is that Jesus fell 12 times before He reached His destination, which was to die for our sins. Although He fell so many times, He didn’t give up because He knew His intentions were to save us,” Lorrimer humbly stated.
On this point, he added that when you desire something, never give up, despite the circumstances.
“Believe in yourself. And
most of all, realize that only God’s time is the right time,” he advised.
Amidst Lorrimer’s passion which manifests itself within the lenses of his Android device, he has expressed his commitment to eco-tourism by saying, “Videography and photography are always my passions, but I am now more focused on the eco-tourism sector of my beautiful country Guyana, which I will now pursue.”
Organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, the competition aimed to celebrate Guyana’s natural beauty and promote eco-tourism through photography. This year’s contest saw over 1,000 entries from professional and amateur photographers alike, showcasing breathtaking landscapes, vibrant wildlife, and the rich cultural tapestry of Guyana.
Participants competed for over $1M in prizes, with the top 20 photos receiving special recognition. The competition highlighted the diverse talents of Guyanese photographers and underscored the importance of preserving the country’s natural heritage for future generations.
Lorrimer’s winning photo, capturing the essence of eco-tourism and the unexpected adventures in his own backyard, stood out among the entries, earning him the top prize and the admiration of many. (G2)
Roberta Nicolls and Ackeem Thomas
Imagine walking through a gallery where the paintings are not just static images on canvases, but living creations that evolve before your eyes
has always been her passion and hobby, it was in Guyana that she decided to launch her career.
Ackeem," Nicolls has guaranteed.
At last year's Blank Canvases: "Inspired Creativity", she sold all 30 pieces of her art on display,
"I have always been rooted in the arts in many different forms; however, it was the coming to Guyana for the first time, and falling in love again in different ways in 2018, that started me back (into) painting regularly," Nicolls related.
"I think God was preparing me for many pains to come, and showing me that even that can be turned into beauty if looked at from a
-- the merging of technology and art having produced an enchanting and immersive experience that blends the boundaries between the physical and virtual realms.
Roberta Nicolls and Ackeem Thomas have again teamed up to host the second augmented art edition of Blank Canvases. Using augmented reality technology, these artworks spring to life, enhancing their storytelling potential. At Blank Canvases, the augmented reality feature can be unlocked via the mobile app Artivive.
After a successful inaugural augmented art exhibition last year, Nicolls and Thomas have again collaborated to offer a truly mesmerising event, billed for July 7 at the Black Magenta on Camp Street in Georgetown.
"This year's Blank Canvases: "The Art of Collaboration", finds me marrying my love and passion for art with my last year’s worth of studies; which had a heavy lean towards businesses collaborating to create bigger, better, and more sustainable businesses," Nicolls told Guyana Times."So I have invited growing businesses who are at different stages of their development, who also have a passion for collaboration, to share my stage."
Nicolls has spent roughly six months carefully curating the perfect pieces to be displayed, and has decided on twelve captivating creations.
"Persons attending will find hours being lost while they are sucked in by the augmented layer being done by my genius friend
and that was a major feat, considering it was only her second-ever art show.
Born in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Nicolls has always had a deep connection with her creative side, and had even worked in creative spaces in the past. Having fallen in love with Guyana during her first visit in 2018, Nicolls now resides and works here, in the Land of Many Waters, and opportunities. The 49-year-old artist explained to this publication that although art
different perspective."
After the passing of her mother in May 2021, Nicolls was inspired to host her first exhibition in May of the following year in honour of her mother. It was that first event, Genesis of Blank Canvases, that drew Thomas towards working with Nicolls, adding a virtual element to her pieces.
“Her pieces were unique and personal, and I was captivated by her originality and ability to vividly paint her emotions,” Thomas had previously ex-
pressed to this publication. “Over time, I began to envision how much better it could be if we added a modern spin with technology."
Thomas is himself a creative in the areas of photography, graphic design and digital art. Founder of Virtual Estate 360 and 3D Lee, the 29-year-old is always looking for innovative ways to introduce fun, modern, and technologically-driven concepts to Guyana.
Nicolls shares similar aspirations, and strives to continue bringing something fresh to the local art scene. She also dreams of opening an art school targeting underprivileged children.
“…a safe place to express themselves and understanding that you don’t have to be destructive when you experience pains in life, but you can turn it into a thing of beauty that can also generate cash flow,” she explained.
But like most creatives
globally, Nicolls’s journey is not without challenges; these range from access to quality supplies to getting due value for her work. In this regard, she is advocating for more forums and institutions that support artists.
“…where artists can display their art at minimal cost until people know who they are; and then, when recognised for their talents, they can give back or pay it forward,” she suggested.
“I just want to show the world something that makes them smile,” Nicolls has said of her upcoming show.
Tickets for Blank Canvases: “The Art of Collaboration” are available for sale now at potsalt. events for the price of $5000. Alternatively, persons can pay at the door.
Until such a time, Nicolls has said, she will continue to use her artistic gift to inspire, evoke joy, and bring a much-needed layer of positivity into the world.
Human Services and Social Security
Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud has revealed that plans are underway for hundreds of women to receive skills training in a number of unconventional areas.
She made this disclosure on Friday during the launch of the Weekend Bootcamp’ of the AccelerateHer 3.0 programme.
According to Dr Persaud, she foresees that this major plan of hers would significantly enhance the lives of women countywide.
“…a big plan of mine; and knowing me, I want to see it happen…is that we put women in an unconventional sphere where we are partnering with City and Guilds Nations University to have 100 plumbers, 100 electri-
that they are not exempted from this training.
She said she doesn’t see any possible halt in the progression of growth for women throughout the nation.
“So that offer is wide open to you too, if you choose; but the main thing that we need to do is break down any notion that is on our heads that there might be walls or ceilings that can prevent us from achieving this, because in my mind there is none.”
cians, 100 masons and 100 carpenters,” Dr Persaud revealed. Her initiative was greeted with a round of applause. She then told women who were present at the AccelerateHer programme
Referring to Government’s unwavering belief that women can pursue income-generating opportunities in nontraditional sectors, Minister Persaud encouraged women to do feasibility studies before starting any prospective business venture. Moreover, she emphasised the need for persons to seek out opportunities beyond
oil and gas.
“As we know, globally, there are lots of shocks that can happen because of the global crisis, but Guyana still continues to move in an upward trajectory, because
we are looking at so many different avenues or people to elevate themselves to look beyond oil and gas,” she highlighted. Then she added, “Don’t only look at one thing for yourself. And the
other thing I would like to tell you is: always invest in learning more. Go out there, even beyond your classroom environment; see what best practices are out there; see what people are doing in other countries.”
The Centre for Local Business Development launched its AccelerateHer programme with a weekend boot camp welcoming a new cohort of female entrepreneurs.
AccelerateHer aims to empower female business owners, operators and managers across diverse industries by providing one-on-one mentoring and a supportive peer-learning environment.
The programme received over 80 applications this year, with 25 candidates successfully shortlisted. (G2)
Infrastructural works on the Onderneeming Water Treatment Plant in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are advancing steadily, and as a result, over 20,000 residents from Taymouth Manor to Supenaam would soon be able to access treated water. The plant, which costs $1.18 billion, is between 70 and 80 per cent complete, and completion deadline has been set in December.
Currently, the Essequibo Coast lacks access to treated water, and this plant is the first of two major investments planned to enhance water infrastructure in Region Two. This crucial intervention
would specifically focus on removing iron content from the water, ensuring cleaner and safer drinking water for residents.
During an inspection exercise conducted on Friday, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project, and noted that its construction coincides with Government’s commitment to bringing relief to the people of Guyana. He also disclosed that a significant portion of the workforce employed in the project is from the region, providing additional economic benefits locally.
Looking ahead, Croal
mentioned ongoing evaluations for five additional treatment plants. One of these is earmarked to serve areas on the Essequibo Coast such as Charity, and is expected to be undertaken next year.
Since assuming office in August 2020, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Administration has been working to increase access to treated water along the coast from about 52 percent to 90 percent by the year 2025. Among the many strategic actions being taken to advance the coverage of treated water is the construction of thirteen water treatment
plants throughout Guyana. Among the areas to benefit from this development are the Region Three com-
munities of Wales, Parika, Vergenoegen and La Parfaite Harmonie.
Communities in Region
Four that would likewise benefit include
As the Guyana Government forges ahead with plans to expand food production and agro-processing, President Dr Irfaan Ali has disclosed that Guyanese products packaged for sell will soon be available at international airports and supermarkets.
According to the Head of State, this initiative is “actively” being pursued with support from various Government entities, including the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry.
to products. We are doing a very poor job at telling the story of our products,” President Ali said.
President Ali made the announcement during a recent event held by the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC).
“We want to see a Guyana Shop in the busiest airport in the world. I have already asked the Minister of Tourism to examine the possibility of us… having a Guyana Shop at JFK, a Guyana Shop in Toronto, Miami where you can pass through and pick up products of Guyana. Whether it’s agro-progressing products, whether it’s hammocks ,because every product carries a story. It’s the story that attracts persons
He told the gathering that Government was ready to invest in the initiative, noting that the project’s primary goal was to make local products more accessible and visible to investors within the regional and international markets.
On this point, the Head of State explained that work was ongoing to do same in local supermarkets here.
“We have to find a way in which local supermarkets must not in the back shelf, must in the most prominent shelves carry our local products, but we also as a Government, we have to embark on buying shelf space and branding space on the international shelves and regional shelves to take our products,” the Head of State added.
Agro-processing
Since 2020, the number
of agro-processors has increased dramatically from 116 to 283 and due to the construction of some 13 agro-processing facilities, 90 Guyana Shop corners were created.
Further, in the past four years, the GMC has invested over $468 million in agro-processing facilities, solar dryers, and other equipment to further boost the industry.
Currently, the GMC
houses 3599 products of varying sizes and brands including sauces, jams, and spices.
Food production
Moreover, Government’s investments in the agricultural sector, particularly in non-traditional crops, has resulted in the country earning as much as $919 million from exports to regional and international markets.
This represents a 12.7 per cent increase in food export sales when compared with the same period in 2023.
According to statistics, the sales amounted to 4156 metric tonnes of produce for export this year, and this is the result of increases in legume production which increased by 106 per cent, peanuts which saw an increase of 286 per cent, and ground provisions and vegetables which increased by an average of 218 per cent.
According to President Ali, the increase in agricultural exports is the result of strategic investments made by his Government. He explained that at this rate Guyana was expected to save over US$60 million on the importation of three key commodities: corn, soya beans and shrimp by 2027. (G1)
TAURUS (April 20May 20)
GEMINI (MAY 21June 20)
VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) (March 21April 19)
Take care of your responsibilities. Once you free up your schedule, you will have time to branch out. Something good will unfold if you tweak what isn’t working correctly.
Turn up the volume, get moving and resolve issues. Do your best. Bring sensitive issues to the forefront and encourage better relationships. Be receptive to what’s happening around you.
Listen to and learn from experts. Your strength lies in your ability to accept change. Head in a direction that encourages growth and new beginnings, and don’t look back.
(June 21July 22)
Indulge in something that brings you joy. Use your imagination, surround yourself with creative people or chat with someone who can offer valuable suggestions. Make romance a priority.
LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)
SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)
SAGITTARIUS
(Nov. 23Dec. 21)
(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19) LEO (July 23Aug. 22)
PISCES
(Feb. 20Mar. 20)
Keep an open mind, but don’t share personal information. If you are too open, you’ll run into a roadblock. Let your persuasive charm lead the way. Be smart, take your time and play to win.
Put your energy into tracking the truth and passionately displaying what you know. Your attention to detail will capture the interest of someone who can help you get what you want.
Focus on what you can achieve and put everything else on hold. Be aware of how loved ones feel. A suggestion that encourages a contractual change looks promising.
Socialize, interact and learn from conversations. New information will spark your imagination. Your input will win you a seat at the table. Love and romance are on the rise.
Opportunity knocks; be ready to take advantage of whatever comes your way. Verify information and adjust anything that doesn’t feel right. Be wary of an unnecessary expense.
Follow the path that grabs your attention. Interacting with someone who intrigues you will lead to interesting conversations and a chance to explore possibilities. Love is in the stars.
Stop, listen and contemplate your next move. Don’t feel you have to follow in someone else’s footsteps. Think for yourself and expand your interests. Do your own thing.
Get out and socialize. The people you encounter will offer suggestions that pique your imagination and point you in an exciting direction. Creative pursuits will lead to financial possibilities.
Virat Kohli has ended his T20 international career with a World Cup trophy, making the announcement shortly after India clinched their second International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup title in Barbados.
"This was my last T20 World Cup and this is exactly what we wanted to achieve," Kohli said after winning the Player-of-the-Match Award for his 59-ball 76 in India's seven-run victory against South Africa in a thrilling finish. "This is an amazing game, I was telling Rohit today when we went out to bat that one day you feel like you can't get a run, and then you come out and things happen. God is great. I bow my head in gratitude. I'm really grateful was able to get the job done for the team when it mattered the most.
"This is my last T20 game playing for India, my last World Cup I was going to play," Kohli added. "I wanted to make the most of it. And this was our aim. We wanted to win an ICC tournament, we wanted to lift the cup. As I said, it was the occasion that helped me put my head down and respect the situation rather than trying to force things out there, and play the game my team wanted me to play.
"Yes, I have. This was an open secret, it was not something that I was not going to announce if we'd lost," Kohli said when asked to confirm he was retiring. "This was going to be my last T20 World Cup playing for India, it's time for the next generation to take over. Two-year cycle, there are some amazing players playing in India, they're going to take the team forward in the T20 format, and do won-
ders as we've seen them do in the IPL. I've no doubts they'll keep the flag waving high, and really take this team further from here now."
India had just won their first World Cup since the OneDay International (ODI) edition in 2011, which incidentally was Kohli's first World Cup. He said it would take a while for the feeling to sink in.
"Look, it's been a long wait for us, waiting to win an ICC tournament," he said. "It's not just me alone, you look at someone like Rohit [Sharma, the Captain] as well. He's played nine T20 World Cups, this is my sixth. So, he deserves it as much as anyone else in the squad, we're just happy we were able to get the job done, and really
blesses you in ways you can't imagine. That's why I'm very grateful and humbled right now and I bow my head.
"It's really difficult to hold things back, it's going to sink in a little later, and the emo-
and a strike rate of 137.04. He had endured a difficult T20 World Cup up until the semi-final – scoring only 75 runs in seven innings before he made 76 off 59 balls in the
it's hard to explain the emotions I felt after the game, I knew what kind of mindset I was in. I wasn't really confident in the last few games, I wasn't feeling really good out there, but when God has to bless you with something, he
tions are going to come to the surface a little later more, but it's just an amazing day, I couldn't be more thankful.
Kohli ended his 125-match T20I career as India's second-highest run-scorer [behind Rohit] in the format –4188 at an average of 48.69
final.
"To be honest, I couldn't have imagined this in my wildest dreams, also considering how my tournament had gone so far," Kohli said while speaking to Star Sports. "Great lesson for me, really humbled by the game big
time. Put my head down and ego on the side. If you think you are everything and can do wonders, you are nothing. You really have to put your head down, and respect the situation. And God showed me that if you get too ahead of yourself, then I will pull you back and I will keep you in your spot.
"Today I just felt different. I was more anchored, more in-sync with the situation. And I was given the composure to just put aside everything that had gone on till now. You are a senior player and people look at you to contribute and to win a World Cup. Rohit and I have spoken many times previously that before we go, we need to win in this format. You can't imagine these things in your wildest dreams."
Rohit Sharma joins Kohli in retiring from T20Is Rohit Sharma has joined t Kohli in retiring from T20Is
after India won the World Cup by beating South Africa in a thrilling final in Barbados. He confirmed that he would continue to play ODIs and Tests.
"This was my last [T20I] game as well," Rohit said at the press conference after the final. "No better time to say goodbye to this format. I've loved every moment of this. I started my India career playing this format. This is what I wanted, I wanted to win the cup.
"I wanted this badly. Very hard to put in words. It was a very emotional moment for me. I was very desperate for this title in my life. Happy that we eventually crossed the line."
Rohit leaves the format as its highest scorer – 4231 runs in 159 matches – and also holds the record for the most centuries (five) in T20Is. He's won two T20 World Cup titles: the inaugural one as a player in 2007 and now as captain in 2024. (ESPNcricinfo)
First ball of the 15th over, he bullied down the ground off the back foot for four. Axar bowled two wides in fear. Then later, two massive hits down the ground – one of which pounded the roof of the stadium, then a four through wide long-off for good measure.
He completed his fifty off 23 balls, the fastest ever in a T20 World Cup final. After he was dismissed, South Africa could not manage a single intentional boundary, the only four coming off Kagiso Rabada's outside edge.
Kohli drops anchor
The headlines will say Virat Kohli top scored with 76 off 59, but there were times when this knock was laboured.
Between the fourth and 18th over, Kohli faced 35 balls in which he scored 29 and hit no boundaries. When he got to fifty, he had used up 48 deliveries, and didn't raise his bat, having batted for most of that time in OneDay International (ODI)
middle-overs mode. There was an obvious critique to make here: was this an innings so unambitious, it was actually doing India harm?
His stands with those batters reaped 72 off 54 (Axar hit 47 off 31) and 57 off 33 (Shivam Dube hit 22 off 13), and formed the heft
India's
Their 176 for 7 was the most any team has scored in a World Cup fi-
nal. Did South Africa choke? For 35 overs of
you could not have possibly arrived at that conclusion. They were pumped up in the early overs, when Maharaj struck twice, and Rabada removed Suryakumar – India's most-dangerous batter. They held their catches and were excellent in the outfield.
They overcame losing early wickets nicely too. But at one point, they needed 26 off 24 balls, had six wickets in hand, and only one over of Bumrah left to face. They tried to target Hardik, which was the smart play in that situation, but lost both their key batters to him.
There are simpler explanations too: India were battle-hardened and skilful; South Africa's batting lineup was short. But the counter-argument is strong. Kohli had been 22 off 16 when the third wicket (Suryakumar’s) went down, in the fifth over. And the security he gave at one end, allowed Axar (pushed up the order to number five) and Dube to prosper with their big-hitting. (ESPNcricinfo)
Suryakumar Yadav snatched a boundary catch for the ages, Jasprit Bumrah snuck in two electric final overs, and Hardik Pandya pilfered the two big wickets as India pulled off one of their great heists to win a World Cup, finally.
With five overs to go, South Africa were rampant. Heinrich Klaasen, one of the great hitters in the game, threatening to throw off decades of painful big-match history for his team with a hail of sixes. He and David Miller had clubbed 38 runs off the two previous overs, and with six wickets in hand South Africa needed only a run-a-ball off the last 30 balls.
Rohit Sharma was forced to go to the best bowler in the world, when he would have otherwise saved Bumrah for later overs. Bumrah didn't quite break the partnership, the batters never daring to take him on. But he did break Klaasen and Miller's stride. They scrambled only four runs off that over.
But the most telling blow, came at the start of the 17th over. After the flow of the game was further slowed due to an apparent knee complaint for Rishabh Pant, Hardik bowled a wide line outside off and took the edge of Klaasen, Pant snaffling the chance gleefully.
Still, Miller was there, though he couldn't get a boundary away off the rest of that over.
Then Bumrah came back, bowled several ripsnorters in the last over of yet another tournament he has dominated. With one of those mag-
of the last recognised South Africa batter, Marco Jansen, and grazed leg stump.
With Keshav Maharaj now in the middle, their batting line-up notably short, and 20 needed off 12 balls, South Africa were for the first time since the early overs of the chase in trouble. Arshdeep Singh delivered a nerveless 19th over, off which South Africa could muster only four.
The dream-killing blow came next. With 16 needed off the final over, bowled by Hardik. Miller tried to lift the first ball, a wide full toss, over the straight boundary. But he didn't connect perfectly, and Suryakumar, running full tilt along the rope, his feet only centimetres inside, caught the ball, popped it up as he briefly stepped over the boundary, then completed the running catch as he hopped back into the field, sparking wild jubila-
9, and 10, did not manage to get Hardik away, aside from a single outside edge that flew for four.
When Hardik completed the seven-run win, the bowl-
third).
But those last two overs went some distance to defining this match. Four runs off the 16th over, after the 15th had been clubbed for 24 runs.
Two runs off the 17th. His figures were 2 for 18.
Arshdeep plays his role
Arshdeep Singh was almost as outstanding, returning 2 for 20. His two powerplay overs cost only eight, and brought the important wicket of Aiden Markram, who edged him behind. In the middle overs, he dismissed Quinton de Kock, who was looking to raise the tempo after he had overseen the recovery after two early blows.
And then that fantastic 19th over, in which he bowled
er sank to his knees in relief, his teammates exulted, and the crowd, largely supporting India, flew into euphoria. Their team had become World Champions again, af-
spectacular finals showing
On a flat track in Barbados, Bumrah bowled two unplayable deliveries that brought him two wickets –both bowled. The first of these was the better one. It was one of the best in the tournament, and very arguably one of the best ever in finals. Angled in to Reeza Hendricks, it pitched and seamed away to hit the top of off, beating the batter's
He conceded five runs in that first over, eight runs in the next (one of only two boundaries off his bowling came here – a not-fully-controlled steer through deep
South Africa (T: 177 runs from 20 ovs)
Reeza Hendricks
b Bumrah 4
Quinton de Kock † c Kuldeep Yadav
b Arshdeep Singh 39
Aiden Markram (c) c †Pant
b Arshdeep Singh 4
Tristan Stubbs
b Rabada 3
Axar Patel run out (†de Kock) 47 Shivam Dube c Miller
b Nortje 27
Hardik Pandya not out 5
Ravindra Jadeja c Maharaj
b Nortje 2
Extras (nb 1, w 6) 7
TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 8.80) 176/7
Did not bat: Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Rohit Sharma, 1.4 ov), 2-23 (Rishabh Pant, 1.6 ov), 3-34 (Suryakumar Yadav, 4.3 ov), 4-106 (Axar Patel, 13.3 ov), 5-163 (Virat Kohli, 18.5 ov), 6-174 (Shivam Dube, 19.4 ov), 7-176 (Ravindra Jadeja, 19.6 ov) •
BOWLING O-M-R-W
Marco Jansen 4-0-49-1
Keshav Maharaj 3-0-23-2
Kagiso Rabada 4-0-36-1
Aiden Markram 2-0-16-0
Anrich Nortje 4-0-26-2
Tabraiz Shamsi 3-0-26-0
b Patel 31
Heinrich Klaasen c †Pant
b Pandya 52
David Miller c Yadav
b Pandya 21
Marco Jansen
b Bumrah 2
Keshav Maharaj not out 2
Kagiso Rabada c Yadav
b Pandya 4
Anrich Nortje not out 1
Extras (b 1, lb 4, nb 1, w 3) 9
TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 8.45) 169/8
Did not bat: Tabraiz Shamsi
Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Reeza Hendricks, 1.3 ov), 2-12 (Aiden Markram, 2.3 ov), 3-70 (Tristan Stubbs, 8.5 ov), 4-106 (Quinton de Kock, 12.3 ov), 5-151 (Heinrich Klaasen, 16.1 ov), 6-156 (Marco Jansen, 17.4 ov), 7-161 (David Miller, 19.1 ov), 8-168 (Kagiso Rabada, 19.5 ov) BOWLING O-M-R-W
two balls to Miller, but conceded only three off them, otherwise keeping Maharaj on strike.
This, after India's spinners had leaked 106 off their nine collective overs.
Klaasen makes a six-filled charge
One of the best hits of the tournament was Klaasen crashing a wide Kuldeep Yadav googly way over the cover boundary for six, with minimal foot movement. That was his third six (he'd banged Hardik and Ravindra Jadeja over the rope earlier).
But it was against Axar Patel that he really thumped South Africa into the ascendancy.
The Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) this week hosted and concluded its National Junior Singles Badminton Tournament, sponsored by the National Sports Commission (NSC).
The competition saw Under-19 players competing for prizes across five categories; Under-11, Under-13, Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19.
When the dust settled at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue on Thursday evening, the likes of Misha Beharry, Xavio Alexander, Frank Wadell, Malia Haley, Anjaneysa Godette, Joel and Ruel
Rambiriche were among the most consistent performers.
However, the Junior Singles tournament was more than just an opportunity for the youngsters to
flex their muscles and skills, since it ticks an important box in the GBA’s development trajectory.
According to GBA President Emilia Ramdhani,
Guyana Defence Force
FC are determined to maintain their lead at the top of the table with a win over Monedderlust FC Thursday evening, while Slingerz FC are closely pursuing them after securing victory against Fruta Conquerors FC, solidifying their second-place position.
The defending champions asserted their dominance with a commanding 5-0 win over Monedderlust on June 27. The ninthplaced Berbice team made a notable return to top-level football in Season Six of the KFC Elite League.
Meanwhile, Slingerz defeated Fruta Conquerors 3-0, also at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National Training Centre (NTC) in Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
Ryan Hackett of the Guyana Defence Force broke
36th minute.
An own goal by Osafo Jackson in the 26th minute added to their advantage, followed by Curtez Kellman's goal in the 73rd minute to secure the win.
Just two points separate
the deadlock in the eighth minute, followed swiftly by Stephan McDonald netting two more goals in the 10th and 28th minutes.
A surprise own goal from Ntini Bobb occurred in the 17th minute, with Runnel Gordon sealing the victory with the final goal in the 65th minute.
In the final fixture of the night, Slingerz took the lead with an impressive goal from Simeon Moore in the
the top two teams in the league.
The Guyana Defence Force are the team to beat, maintaining their lead at the top of the standings with 34 points. They have achieved 11 wins and one draw, showcasing an impressive goal tally of 52.
Slingerz FC from West Demerara hold onto second place with 32 points, bolstered by ten wins, two draws and forty-seven goals
scored.
The Guyana Police Force FC follow closely in third position with 28 points, having secured nine wins, one draw and two losses in 11 matches.
Santos FC retain fourth place with 24 points, having garnered eight wins and five losses. Fruta Conquerors FC occupy fifth place with 16 points, comprising five wins, one draw, and seven losses.
Western Tigers FC maintain sixth place with 15 points from five wins and six losses, while Den Amstel FC hold onto seventh place with 12 points, from three wins, three draws, and seven losses.
Ann's Grove United FC sit in eighth place with 11 points, having won three matches, drawn two and lost seven. Monedderlust FC follow in ninth position with nine points from two wins, three draws, and eight losses.
At the bottom of the table, Buxton United FC remain in 10th place, securing one point from a draw and suffering 11 losses.
The League was scheduled to continue on Saturday evening (June 29) with Buxton United FC taking on Den Amstel FC, followed by Ann’s Grove FC battling Western Tigers FC both at the NTC.
the Junior tournament marked the Association’s progression in the National Sports Academy Programme.
“The Academy, as you would know, would’ve launched on January 4, 2022 as a visionary project by our Honourable Charles Ramson. Mr Ramson’s vision for the Academy included three stages: 1) the nursery academy, then it goes into tournaments, then the elite stage,” the GBA President explained to Guyana Times Sport Ramdhani went on to disclose, “We at the GBA, we’re proud to say that we’re at the second stage. Most of the kids, they’re playing in tournaments now, we’ve even ventured out and we’re
going to the Caribbean. This April, we went to Suriname and we got six medals, that’s in the Under-11 category, but the kids are coming up and they’re doing very well.”
In addition, the Academy, and other GBA programmes running alongside it, has allowed the Association to continue growing the sport.
Ramdhani divulged, “Currently, we have three coaches who are doing the Academy – Priyanna Ramdhani, Akili Haynes and Nkosi Beaton. The schools that we’re at right now are Queen’s College, Bishops’, North Georgetown Secondary and North Ruimveldt Multilateral. We also have players in Berbice who are competing as well and recently, even in this
tournament, we have players from Linden and we’re very happy about that, because we went to Linden a couple of years ago and we introduced the shuttle time programme.”
“Hopefully, they will take it further and we’ll have more participation across the country,” she added. The GBA boss is also looking for some longevity out of the Junior tournament, as she envisioned a positive future.
“This tournament is also a significant part of the Badminton Academy and it will be a staple for the Guyana Badminton Association calendar of events. It will be an annual event for years to come,” Ramdhani assured.
Emerging Ireland completed a 2-0 sweep of their four-day games against the West Indies Academy with a 10-wicket win at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on Friday.
The Academy entered day four 148-3 off 28 overs, needing a further 93 runs to make their Irish counterparts have to chase a target.
The tourists were eventually bowled out for 268 in 73.3 overs, leaving Emerging Ireland needing just 28 to win.
Ackeem Auguste, who started the day 70*, was eventually dismissed for a 154-ball 93, including 14 fours, while Carlon BowenTuckett made 41 against 5-44 off 17 overs from Matthew Humphreys.
The hosts then needed only 3.5 overs to reach 30-0 with James McCollum and Andrew Balbirnie finishing 14* and 13*, respectively.
Full Scores:
West Indies Academy 200 off 56 overs (Teddy Bishop 69, Nyeem Young 29,
Jewel Andrew 27, Ackeem Auguste 26, Matthew Humphreys 5-57, Curtis Campher 3-12) & 268 all out off 73.3 overs (Ackeem Auguste 93, Carlon BowenTuckett 41, Kadeem Alleyne 38, Matthew Humphreys 5-44)
Emerging Ireland 441 all out off 112.5 overs (Andrew Balbirnie 88, Fionn Hand 79, Andy McBrine 64, Paul Stirling 32, Teddy Bishop 2-35, Nyeem Young 2-55, Kelvin Pittman 2-65, Joshua Bishop 2-72) & 30-0 off 3.5 overs (Sportsmax)
