– as Mid-Year Report projects 228 million barrels by year-end
After being laid off, Sherilla Persaud finds purpose in entrepreneurship …aims to make company
See story on page 3 Guyana produced 113.5 million barrels of oil in 1st half of 2024 – records 10.3% contraction in 1st half of year Gold sector projected to grow by 2.1% for remainder of 2024 amid Govt’s clamp-down on illegal trade Mid-Year Progress Report
environment
Tribute to late Sir Shridath Ramphal He was one of Commonwealth’s
Reopening of 23 schools delayed to later dates in Sept
Girl, 5, drowns at Baramita, NWD
1 month later: 6-year-old hit by stray bullet still critical, undergoes third surgery
MoH, US partner to strengthen Guyana’s response to pandemics
Govt set to deliver 1000 house lots at Wales in coming weeks
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Guyana produced
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Sunday, September 1, 2024 at 08:20h Sunday, September 1, 2024 at 21:00h
WEATHER TODAY FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times –05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily
Coastal regions can expect mostly fair skies. No significant rainfall is expected. All the remaining regions can expect cloudy skies with brief showers and isolated thundershowers during the early evening becoming mostly fair afterward. Rainfall is expected between 0 and 15 mm.
Winds:
High Tide: will be at 19:14 hrs at a height of 2.98 meters
Low Tide: will be at 01:51 hrs at a height of 0.72 meters
– as Mid-Year Report projects 228 million barrels by year-end
For the first half of 2024, Guyana has produced 113.5 million barrels of oil, and with increased production from the Prosperity floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, it is expected that production would cross the 220-million-barrel threshold by year-end.
A mid-year report on Guyana’s progress, which has recently been released by the Finance Ministry, has shown how the various economic sectors performed. In a broadcast to the nation from the Kingston seawall bandstand on Saturday, President Dr Irfaan Ali revealed how much the oil sector has grown.
“The petroleum sector grew by 67.1 per cent, with 113.5 million barrels of oil produced in the first six months of this year. The industry is now expected to grow by 56.4 per cent for the entire year,” the President explained.
Further perusal of the report has shown that for the corresponding period in 2023, only 68.7 million barrels had been produced. According to the report, production averaged 624,000 in the first half of this year, almost double the 2023 rate.
“Following the Prosperity floating, production, storage, and offloading vessel (FPSO) startup in November 2023 – the third FPSO – daily production in the Stabroek Block averaged 624,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the first half of this year, compared with approximately 380,000 bpd in the first half of last year,” the report has said.
“Supported largely by higher-than-projected production rates on the Prosperity FPSO, crude oil production is now projected at approximately 228 million barrels this year. As such, the industry is now expected to grow by 56.4 per cent this year, up from 44.7 per cent projected at the time of preparing Budget 2024,” the report added.
The report explains that total export earnings from crude oil amounted to US$9.4 billion in the first half of the year…also an increase of US$4 billion compared to the same period for 2023.
“Together with increased crude oil production, further gains were experienced on account of more favourable oil prices,” the report stated, as it further revealed that global oil
prices averaged US$84 per barrel in the first half of this year.
Exxon, through its local subsidiary Esso Exploration Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is the operator of the Stabroek Block, and holds 45 per cent interest in the block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30 per cent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, holds the remaining 25 per cent interest.
The Liza Phases One and Two and Payara projects, all of which combined are producing over 600,000 barrels of oil per day, account for the three FPSO vessels operating in Guyana’s Stabroek Block in waters offshore.
Exxon is also undertaking the Yellowtail project (where ongoing installation activities are expected to be concluded in September) in the oil-rich Stabroek block. It is estimated that when the Yellowtail development project comes on stream, production will climb to 810,000 barrels per day (bpd). Exxon has already received approvals for, and is advancing preparatory works on, its fifth and sixth projects, Uaru and Whiptail.
The Whiptail project
would see Guyana producing just over 1.2 million barrels of oil per day by 2027. In addition to at least these six projects offshore Guyana, which Exxon anticipates would be online by 2027, Exxon is also eyeing the possibility of having 10 FPSOs being operational by 2030.
ExxonMobil’s seventh development in Guyana’s waters, dubbed the Hammerhead development, would feature up to 30 wells. It is targeting a 2029 start-up, according to documents submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where it awaits approval. A perusal of the project
summary reveals that the development would have between 14 and 30 production and water injection wells. It has been speculated that the project could be approved by next year, with production expected to begin in 2029.
When approval has been granted, it is anticipated that between 120,000 and 180,000 barrels of oil per day will be added to Guyana’s production capacity, while a floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel capable of storing between 1.4M and 2 million barrels of oil would be attached to the project. (G-3)
Sir Shridath Ramphal, Attorney General under Forbes Burnham and later Secretary General of the Commonwealth, passed away on Friday at the age of 96. The following is excerpted from his memoirs, “Glimpses of a Global Life”.
“On 1 January 1881, the sailing ship Ellora arrived in Georgetown from Calcutta after a voyage of nearly three months. Its human cargo was indentured labourers for the sugar plantations of British Guiana.
“Among them was a widowed mother, Doolnie, and her son of nine, Ramphul, bound for (Gladstone’s) estate of Vreed-en-Hoop. Her story was already remarkable, though not unique, for this journey across the kala pani was for her a third crossing.
In the early 1870s bubonic plague, which was to reach epidemic proportions at the turn of the century in India’s United Provinces, had left this woman widowed. She and her husband were high caste Brahmins, but poor. And as so often happened in their circumstances, all but one of their children had succumbed, leaving only one son alive. ‘Suttee’…was a sacrifice the widow was unwilling to make.
She took the only other option – return to her maternal home. But it was not a real option. She was treated as an outcast. To purify herself, she took her infant son to the sacred city of Benares for both to wash in the holy waters of the Ganges. Benares then, as Varanasi now, was a city to which the forlorn and despairing came, and there lurked the Arkathis – the touts employed by the agents recruiting labour for the sugar plantations.
“To the rejected widow, the promise of a new life must have seemed an answer to her prayers. But who knows with what stories she was lured, or how long she believed the journey or the labouring to be, or even where she was going? But to Calcutta with her son she duly went, and was recruited for the West Indies, arriving eventually in Suriname – Dutch Guiana. That traffic to Suriname in 1873 was disastrous; 18 per cent of the immigrants died in the first twelve months. But the widow and her son survived. Eventually, she worked out the five-year contract and, no longer bound, they took the long journey back to India.
“But the rules of caste were strict, and she found no welcome despite her absence of six years. In fact, in her penance, she had sinned still further by having crossed the ‘Black Waters’ and lived among unclean meat-eaters. “Once again, she went with her son to Benares to wash seven times in the Ganges in the hope of being favoured with better fortune. Her late husband’s family was of the priestly class – the Pandas – who it is thought administered the sacred Vishnupad Temple at Gaya in Bihar.
“For a while, as they lingered by the holy river, the boy was apprenticed to a priest, one of the Pandas of Benares, and began his training in the Hindu scriptures. But, once again, they encountered the silver-tongued Arkathis, perhaps this time with a tale of a better life than Suriname had offered. The British sugar planters were said to be less cruel than the Dutch.
“A second time they journeyed to Calcutta, and a second contract of indenture. This time, however, the widow had no thought of returning to the village and family that had cast her out so cruelly, not once, but twice. Harsh and uncertain as were the fortunes of indenture, she was leaving now for good: to give her young son, in particular, a better chance than he might ever have in a village and a family that did not want them.
“So it was that, in due season, on the ship Ellora, the widow and her son reached Georgetown, committed to labour on that same estate at Vreed-en-Hoop that the abolitionists had singled out for attack almost fifty years earlier, and with which, under the then ownership of Sir John Gladstone, the whole system of Indian indenture to the West Indies had begun. The widow fulfilled her contract of labour on the sugar plantations, her son…sharing her burden.”
(The son was Sridath Ramphal’s grandfather.”)
GHK Lall and his pomposity
Dear Editor,
Gabriel H K Lall has written an odious piece on His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and it was recently published in another newspaper as a feature item.
Gabriel Lall, who told us he is an American citizen and is possibly also a Guyanese, holds himself out as a man of many parts and a voice claiming to be one of high morality, decency, ethics, honesty, uprightness, and good standards in public life and public office. But note it so HE says.
However, serious doubt is cast on his claims after one has observed his conduct on a recent show with Dr Blinds - a preacher of rank racism, who seems determined to divide our people along racial lines, and who proudly proclaims that he is not bothered about being identified for his racism. Dr Blinds recently described Gabriel Lall as “more black” than the Honourable Prime Minister Mark Phillips.
So, Gabriel (brown outwardly, but perhaps black at heart) has expressed the view that His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali got a bit carried away in his remarks at the recent International Building Expo. In a vain effort to gain the attention of the ambassador of the United States of America to Guyana, and living up to his special skill as an exceptional empath, Gabriel asserted that President Ali’s presentation “had to have reminded” the ambassador of the New Orleans Mardi Gras.
Gabriel has taken issue with the tone of His Excellency’s pre-
sentation at the International Building Expo. Maybe Gabriel admires the suave and charm of Forbes Burnham, his cunning and deceit notwithstanding; or the tone and apparent composure of brigands like Mussolini of Italy, or Papa Doc Duvalier of Haiti, or the late Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe - a usually tranquil man, but one who conveyed his nasty racist sentiment in a moment of noticeable anger with the remark that he used “white toilet paper to wipe his black backside”.
In his ramble on President Ali in his featured piece, Gabriel was at his disrespectful worst towards His Excellency. Had he written thus about the dictator Forbes Burnham in Burnham’s heyday, if he had not fled to the United States, Gabriel might have found himself hanging from a helicopter over the Atlantic Ocean.
Gabriel Lall has seemingly failed to appreciate the precious value attached to the freedom he enjoys to make public his scurrilous, baseless criticism of President Ali’s speech under a government led by President Ali.
Gabriel’s pomposity and empty arrogance are noted in his own words, when he wrote in reference to President Ali that Gabriel “tried to give him a hand before.” What leads Gabriel Lall to the belief that he is worthy, capable, or qualified to give a hand to the President of Guyana?
I expect President Ali to be wary of graduates of fifth-rate universities, who end up as pave-
ment washers on Wall Street and call themselves financial analysts; and who, in grand moments of delusion, hold themselves out as capable of offering him advice. It may be that, by donning a red dashiki, Gabriel Lall has reinforced “his blackness” for Dr Blinds, and has impressed him with his knowledge of American history.
President Ali is, however, advised by competent and highly qualified people, and it is downright offensive and disrespectful for Gabriel to describe those persons as “squeamish and simply not up to the task.” Gabriel must be told, and directly so, that there exists, in the minds of discerning Guyanese, no doubt of his involvement “in dirty jobs”. This is evident, and is clearly conveyed in the tones of nastiness and downright disrespect in what he writes, and in his utterances on his appearance on internet shows with those with whom he now associates.
Gabriel Lall thinks much of himself. He strives mightily to show those who have gathered him that he can abuse and criticise the President of Guyana and members of his government; and though his comments are tasteless and dry, he seemingly harbours the vain hope that they are delighted with his efforts, when they are possibly chuckling and quietly thinking that they have on their side, as appropriate cosmetic ethnic dressing, quite the kind of buffoon they really need.
President Dr Irfaan Ali and Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr met with a group of young sportsmen on Saturday, during which they engaged in discussions on developing the various sporting disciplines
GM&CC’s actions represent a gross misalignment with needs of ordinary citizens
Dear Editor,
I write with a profound sense of disappointment and outrage over the Georgetown City Council's recent decision to pass a motion reducing rates and taxes for political parties, despite vehement objection and rejection from PPP/C councillors.
This self-serving decision represents a gross misalignment with the needs of ordinary citizens, who unfortunately continue to bear the brunt of the council's financial mismanagement.
The extent of the City's financial woes has been well documented in the public domain. The citizens of Georgetown have for years endured the consequences of inadequate garbage collection, substandard drainage, poor infrastructure, and other essential services enshrined in Chapter 28:01. It is essential, then, to examine the passage of this most reprehensible policy through these lenses.
As of September 2023
(the last period for which I have any information), the City's revenues amounted to $1.51 billion ($2.55 billion was budgeted) versus $1.55 billion in expenditures. This year, employment costs alone have been pegged at $1.2 billion. In comparison, $519.1 million has been allocated for city maintenance and $299.3 million for capital expenses.
Alarmingly, the City has not spent a dollar on capital expenses as at July, thus it is clear that,
once again, the City will face a significant shortfall of funds, severely hampering its ability to provide essential services to the citizens.
Editor, during his budget presentation, Finance Committee Chair Lelon Saul emphasised the urgent need to aggressively pursue defaulters and delinquent ratepayers, even suggesting parate executions. It is therefore deeply troubling that the PNC Councillors, led by Messrs Mentore and
A tribute to Sir Shridath Ramphal
Sir Shridath ‘Sonny’ Ramphal was Guyana's most prominent Statesman, barring none. Sir Shridath has distinguished himself as a Guyanese, both in Guyana and internationally. As one of Guyana's early Ministers of Foreign Affairs, in the years just after independence, it was his responsibility to fashion a Foreign Service that not only projected the dreams and aspirations of a young and ambitious state, but, equally as important, to defend it from territorial threats that raised their ugly heads just before and after independence.
'Sonny' Ramphal has to be counted alongside former Presidents Burnham and Jagan as one of the persons who were instrumental in shaping the independent Guyana into what it is today. He was part of the firmament of the Guyana we have inherited.
As Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat (1975-1990), Sir Shridath positioned the Commonwealth in the post-colonial era to be a truly global organisation, and gave a voice to African, Caribbean and Asian states in particular, which felt marginalized and ignored. In him they saw themselves and found a voice, and he made everyone proud. Most no-
table was his strident efforts to bring an end to the evil system of apartheid that was practised in the Southern African states, and to usher in the new beginnings of the Republic of South Africa, where every citizen's vote mattered and made a difference in the eventual election of Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress.
In the last episode of his life, he assumed the role of Eminent Statesman - working to keep alive the dream of the Caribbean Community as it entered the 21st Century. Likewise, he acted as a quiet and skilled mediator and diplomat in resolving many thorny and difficult political issues that arose in member states.
For Guyana in particular, Sir Shridath was the lead Counsel in the state's defence of its sovereignty in 2000, when Guyana approached the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to settle the maritime boundary dispute between Guyana and Suriname, which was successfully adjudicated in Guyana's favour.
Sir Shridath reprised that important role when he worked assiduously from 2015 to build a team of experts, and to prepare Guyana's case to be presented to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that
is intended to settle, once and for all, Venezuela's false and persistent claims to ownership of Guyana's territory.
It can be said that Sir Shridath died "with his boots on" - fighting for justice and for his people until his last breath. He has been awarded the nation's highest honour, the “Order of Excellence", and it is only fitting that there be a lasting monument erected in his name and
memory. The AFC extends heartfelt condolences to the relatives of the late great Sir Shridath Ramphal, and believe that it is fitting to ascribe the biblical accolade to him as we say, "Well done, good and faithful servant"; for he has served humanity well. May his soul rest in peace.
Alliance for Change (AFC)
GHK Lall and...
I wince when I think that President Ali would give GHK Lall a passing thought, even with Lall’s pretensions at intellectuality.
President Ali, by his style of speaking, conveys his hopes and expectations for Guyana.
This is captured in his emphasis and vehemence as he espouses his concept of “One Guyana”, which, as His Excellency has explained, is a multi-faceted concept with deep philosophical underpinnings.
The President’s tone and his forcefulness when he speaks convey the dedication, dreams, aspirations and purposiveness of a leader bent on doing good for his country. It is sad that Gabriel Lall is focused only on the President’s tone, and in so doing has missed His
Saul, have chosen to bully this most reprehensible policy through.
The question that arises is: why? Perhaps I can answer using Mayor Mentore's own words: "All political parties do have to go and beg for money at the end of the year to campaign for this and campaign for that. They don't have the money as a corporate or any institutional entity to be able to do this."
In other words, both the Mayor and the Finance Committee Chair seek to prioritise the needs of their party above the needs of the citizens they were chosen to represent - a stark example of the kind of irresponsible, self-interested governance that the PNC is intent on pursuing.
Editor, I am also concerned about this issue's apparent lack of media coverage. If the PPP/C were the ones seeking special treatment at the expense of residents of Georgetown, major newspapers like Stabroek News and Kaieteur News would undoubtedly have published several scathing editorials by now. Their obvi-
Excellency’s message. Maybe this should not be held against Gabriel; it is the way of those with whom he associates, and whom he undoubtedly seeks to please in order to earn his keep: to focus on trivia while Guyana, led by President Ali, advances rapidly in a march to prosperity for all.
It is important, therefore, for people like Gabriel Lall to be careful with the focus, nature, and quality of their criticism, particularly of the Head of State. Criticism can be a healthy pursuit, but when the occasion warrants, it must be constructive, fair and circumspect, lest the criticism reveals the critic to be just a gross, horrible, knavish lout.
Sincerely,
Selwyn Persaud
ous bias notwithstanding, I urge these newspapers to investigate and report on this issue, ensuring the public is informed and empowered to engage in meaningful discourse.
Finally, I want to assure the citizens of Georgetown that my fellow PPP/C councillors and I will do everything in our power to ensure that this odious policy is never implemented.
We recognise our responsibility to every one of you, and we will not stand by while decisions are made that serve only the interests of a select few at the expense of the many. We urge you to stand with us; our commitment is to you — the people of Georgetown.
We will continue to fight for policies that prioritise your well-being, enhance the quality of life in our city, and restore Georgetown to the garden city it once was — a place of pride, beauty and prosperity.
Sincerely,
Alfonso De Armas PPP/C councillor
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2024
FROM PAGE 4
Iadvised previously that the pet caregiver can pretty much differentiate between what is a genuine life-threatening emergency and an occasion where you are allowing anxiety to get the better of you.
Since vets have been trained to establish comprehensive descriptions for specific abnormal conditions, it is appropriate to try to formulate adequate and focused definitions for emerging situations.
EMERGENCIES (continued)
In veterinary medical practice, a true emergency would be accompanied by a sudden bodily alteration, such as is likely to require immediate medical attention. This pressing need and distressing event is usually an unforeseen circumstance (or combination of circumstances) which would re-
quire immediate professional action.
Having gotten the prerequisite definition of what an emergency really is, let us now look, in no order of importance, at the different types of conditions which can precipitate conditions that can actually jeopardise the animal’s life.
BURNS
Burns can be caused by different agents, e.g. chemicals, electric shocks, and the sun’s radiation (especially here in Guyana, just above the equator).
Radiation Burns
At the equator, the sun’s radiation is quite intense, and white-haired dogs, whose skins have no protective melanin (the pigment which protects dark-skinned animals from the sun’s ultra-violet rays in particular), suffer from all sorts of skin ailments as a result
sunburn. The damage to the skin would, of course, depend on the length of time the animal has been exposed to the sun’s rays, and the intensity of the exposure. So often have vets seen pet caregivers choose as a companion animal the cutest, fluffiest, white-haired pup-
of the melanin-unprotected skin layers becoming more vulnerable to radiation.
Any animal that is exposed (for indefinite periods of time) to the sun’s radiation can (like humans) acquire severe
py – and then call him or her “Snowflake” or Snowy”, although the owner might never have seen snow in his/her life. It doesn’t matter. After all, don’t we sing “Jingle Bells” at Christmas with great gusto? In any case, the dog/cat does not care what its name is. If the owner is unimaginative enough, he/she will just call the puppy “Whitey”.
Levity aside, though, we often see dogs with terrible skin conditions, as a consequence of solar radiation. Sometimes the burns are not serious, even though the skin might show signs of redness. In such cases, the skin is tender to the touch, and there might even be a slight swelling. I would suggest that you place on the affected parts of the skin a damp, cold towel (kept in the freezer for 5 – 10 minutes) for about 10 minutes. This gives you some time to contact your veterinarian, who would advise you accordingly in relation to any special medications (e.g. anti-inflammatory tablets in the first instance; or even soothing zinc oxide creams or aloe/cocoa butter lotions) sold com-
mercially in pharmacies/ drug stores. If the skin burn involves the deep/lower layers of skin, then such a condition must be considered as serious. If, for example, 15-20% of the animal’s skin is experiencing a “deep burn”, the animal could die. You will know if the radiation burn is affecting the deeper layers of skin by just pulling a clump of hair. If the animal’s reaction to the pain is severe and the hair comes out of the skin easily, then that animal must be taken to the vet clinic’s intensive care unit as soon as possible. This is an emergency.
During my many decades of practice, I have come to realize that animals coming into clinics with severe solar radiation burns are victims of caregivers’ negligence. The owner might tie the dog in the shade initially, but when the sun “turns”, poor “Rover” is totally exposed to the solar rays, and unfortunately, the dog may succumb to a heat stroke. We will discuss this matter further in due course.
I recall a monkey being left in his verandah cage in the shade on the western side of a house in Lamaha Gardens. By midday, the full brunt of the sun was blistering “Jacko”, who had nowhere to go and no one to help him - notwithstanding his plaintive howling for help. The owner returned after work only to find the beautiful Capuchin barbecued to death. No emergency treatment could help. Such laxity, inattention and carelessness are unconscionable and unacceptable. By the way, tying a dog in one place for hours on end is against the law. Owners can be prosecuted.
As an aside, I might mention a solar radiation burn that affects the nose bridge of the Collie breed; it is called “Collie Nose”.
Mid-Year Progress Report
Gold sector projected to grow by 2.1% for remainder of 2024 amid Govt's clamp-down on illegal trade
– records 10.3% contraction in 1st half of year
The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government’s efforts to clamp down on gold smuggling and non-declaration of gold have started to bear fruit, with President Dr. Irfaan Ali revealing that there are already signs of improvement, and that the gold sector would end the year with a projected 2.1 per cent growth.
In a broadcast to the nation on Saturday, President Ali spoke of the gold mining sector in the context of the recently released 2024 MidYear Report.
The gold sector had previously been making headlines for the wrong reasons…reasons that included gold smuggling and sanctions against prominent members of society.
But there is good news, as the President revealed that despite all the challenges, the gold mining sector is in the midst of a turnaround, thanks to Government policies that include tightening up loopholes that allowed the illegal trade of the precious metal.
“The gold industry had a contraction of 10.3 per cent in the first half of 2024. Given the challenges faced in the first half of the year, which included drought, lack of water, many of the miners could not have worked, (posing) challenges in the mining area,” the president has said.
“And, of course also, as you know, we launched a specific initiative targeting the illegal sale of gold and non-declaration. And as a result of a combination of measures, we have seen improvements in the last six weeks. So, given the performance of the first half of the year, the sector is now projected to grow by 2.1 per cent this
year,” the Head of State detailed.
Distribution of an additional 200 mining blocks to miners in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), is among the steps that have been taken. This followed a similar exercise done in Region Seven, (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), where small miners received 150 blocks.
“Additionally, Government has allocated property holdings to about 100 Guyanese miners in the Troy Resources area. Recall that, earlier this year also, the Government signed an agreement with Reunion gold, with production expected to be over 200,000 ounces annually, once they start producing in 2027,” the Head of State has said.
Mention has also been made of the US$1.8 million mineral mapping contract that was signed with American
company Global Venture Consulting in August. The project, which Government hopes would be a multi-year one, would see the firm producing maps to show, among other things, where gold and other mineral deposits are located around the country.
“This study, which focuses both on gold and non-traditional minerals, will give us a better understanding of our natural assets as we plan a comprehensive strategy in how we sustainably develop and target our natural assets in the diversification and expansion of our economy,” President Ali has said.
Overall, the President noted that the mining and quarrying sector is estimated to have grown by 64.3 per cent in the first half of the year. And he described the next couple of years in particular as im-
portant years for advancing the quarrying sector.
“…driven by growth in the petroleum and other mining industries. But when you look at quarrying, in the second half of this year, we anticipate several new quarries to commence operation. So, we see the remainder of this year and 2025 as important years in the quarrying sector,” he declared.
“Out of COVID the last two to three years, the project conceptualization stage, the studies and pre-production work for several quarries have been completed, and
those quarries are now going to come into operation,” President Ali further explained. Since 2016, gold production and declaration have seen a steady decline. For 2022, the declaration was 486,415 ounces. For 2021, it was 499,054 ounces; for 2020, it was 584,291 ounces; and for 2019, it was 634,905 ounces.
Natural Resources
Minister Vickram Bharrat, in a recent press conference, attributed these low figures to a variety of factors. For instance, he said, for the years 2020-2021, signif-
icant flooding had occurred in mining districts, severely impacting operations. In 2023 there was a prolonged drought, and this year mining districts are again being affected by flooding. In 2020, the issue was the Covid-19 pandemic.
Minister Bharrat said Government is hoping to improve production and declaration by helping small miners get better access to land. And with the signing of the mineral mapping contract with the global venture, some 700 miners are set to benefit from these initiatives. (G-3)
President Dr Irfaan Ali
Scene from the August 21st signing of the mineral mapping contract with US firm Global Venture
1 month later: 6-year-old hit by stray bullet still critical, undergoes third surgery
Amonth has passed since six-year-old
Jeremiah Gustave was struck by a stray bullet, but his condition remains critical despite undergoing a third surgery on Thursday.
Guyana Times has been informed that while the child has been moved from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to the Paediatric Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital, the condition of his health continues to be precarious, and he still occasionally requires the use of a ventilator to assist with his breathing.
This child’s mother, Keisha Gustave, has informed that Jeremiah has not
regained his ability to recognise her, but has, since the incident, shown very small improvements.
"He is still critical, and he had to do surgery. He is hanging in there. He is pushing out his foot and so on, and if you hold his hand he would squeeze back. He is getting there slowly…thank God for his life, because without God, Jeremiah would have been a dead boy," she said. In his current state, Jeremiah is able only to consume strained liquids through a tube inserted into his stomach. The young boy of Charlestown, Georgetown, a pupil of Smith Memorial
Primary School, has been facing an uphill battle since being hit by a bullet on July 9.
It has been reported that the child was standing next to his mother, a food vendor, outside their home on Charles Street, Charlestown when a gunman appeared on a black motorcycle and opened fire at a man known as "Crab", who was nearby. Although the intended target managed to escape, one of the bullets had struck Jeremiah in the head.
Keisha recalled the terrifying moment she heard the gunfire, initially mistaking it for fireworks. It was only when Jeremiah called out to
her that she realized her son had been shot. She found him lying in a pool of blood with the bullet lodged at the back of his head.
Since the incident, Jeremiah has undergone multiple surgeries as doctors work tirelessly to stabilize his condition. The Guyana Police Force has since arrested and charged Marlon Marcus, also known as "Miceman," and Odelle Garnette, alias "Crab," with attempted murder in connection with the shooting.
As Jeremiah continues to fight for his life, family members have said they remain hopeful for his recovery, despite the long road ahead.
Feeding…
…the old party enforcer
Your Eyewitness couldn’t help but notice that the old PNC enforcer, Hamilton “Bilal” Green, is constantly in the newspapers’ letter pages, doling out fatuous opinions on everything under the sun – and then some. He focuses, of course, on getting his digs in at his ole bete noir, the PPP!!
Your Eyewitness wonders whether he got that fat pension from Granger for him to be writing these missives (missiles?) Imagine, at a time when the coalition Government had arrested practically the entire outgoing PPP Cabinet for purchasing house lots in an exclusive development, they railroaded that bill in Parliament to make an exception of Bilal - define anew how to calculate a past PM’s pension! And Bilal ended up 100 times richer!! So, if the first was “unjust enrichment”, why not the second?
But it wasn’t just “a” pension, was it? It’s Hamilton Green’s pension - so much that the Bill actually named him! The pension up to then was calculated at 7/8ths of their last salary. Simple, no? Well, the APNU/AFC government decided it was TOO simple. When Bilal and the PNC were voted out in 1992, the PM’s salary was peanuts at today’s standards. But he didn’t storm the Elections HQ while President Carter was in the building for the salary!
Back then, salaries weren’t the thing - power was!! With that, he was catapulted into the public’s notice back in the sixties. Whatever money could buy and he wanted, he just commandeered it! Even Burnham bypassed him for the PM’s office in favour of Desmond Hoyte back in 1990, because he’d grown too big for his britches - and even took on the Kabaka! So, we fast forward to the present, with Green’s pension now swollen to 7/8 of that of TODAY’s Prime Minister, Honourable Mark Phillips. But what do Phillips’s salary and perks have to do with Green, you ask, dear reader? Well, calculating from this base multiplies Green’s take home by the aforementioned 100 times!! While violating the rule on pensions just to reward one man! Why??
Well, now we know - the answer’s simple when you think of it, innit?? Green’s now a “PNC Elder”, chock full of institutional memory of the PNC’s dictatorial rule under Burnham and onwards. He’s most qualified to defend the party, thank you!! Hence the sanctimonious letters are ironically written from a supposedly “moral upliftment” perspective!! And as we see, there’s now evidently the additional benefit of him being qualified to pronounce on allegations of moral turpitude in the party!! They do say the best crooks make the best policemen!! But, not so incidentally, between periods of resting from his labours of sending out all those letters, hasn’t he decided on l’affaire Kissoon??
…resentments
You live and learn. Your Eyewitness has just heard about a concept in Psychology called “transferred frustration”. The frustration from one situation is quickly transferred onto the first thing that it can find – even when the latter is completely innocuous!! Remember snapping at your better half?? The illeffects of such frustration transfers are intense. Frustration (or anger) is the dead fish in your tank. It’s like the leech that’s gonna suck every idea or thought that you get and render it useless. In extreme cases, you might resort to violence!!
Right now, your Eyewitness thinks the Opposition parties –especially a minor that has an inflated opinion of itself - are quite frustrated at themselves with their inability to deal with the PPP, who’re giving their erstwhile supporters a Le Bron-like full court press. And getting results!! So, they’ve transferred their frustrations to the PPP by calling the latter “slave catchers”!! And those who cross over, “house slaves”!!
Do they realise that both Cuffy and Toussaint L’Overture were house slaves??
…the hired gun
Shridath Ramphal was reviled by the PPP for supporting Burnham in and out of Guyana – especially at the Commonwealth Secretariat. Ramphal insisted he was just a Guyanese patriot. He was evidently forgiven after the Suriname border case.
Govt set to deliver 1000 house lots at Wales in coming weeks
In about a week’s time, some 1000 house lots would be distributed to residents of Wales, in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), according to Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal.
He made this revelation during the commissioning of the $15.1 billion Schoonordto-Crane four-lane highway on Thursday evening. This, he stated, is part of a diverse move toward infrastructural growth, as no other government has ever recorded this level of productivity in Guyana’s history.
“The expansion for Wales will see, in another week and a half, another one thousand lots being allocated. No other government has done so much for this region, and in such a small space of time. Everywhere you look, you can see the wheels of development turning,” Croal has said.
He added that additional house lots would become available after the 1000 lots have been distributed to residents.
“We will complete infra-
structure works at the Wales Phase 2, and of course continue to allocate more lots,” Croal has said.
Over 5,600 house lots have been allocated in Region Three from 2020 to 2023, and $42.2 billion has been spent on infrastructural works in the region.
The Ministry is putting a dent in the existing backlog it met upon assuming office in 2020, although it continues to receive applications for house lots. An evaluation of the pending applications for Region Three in 2022 stood at about 14,000, but as at last year, that number had been reduced to just over 13,000.
Residents have also been encouraged to take hold of all the opportunities that present themselves thus far before their eyes, before someone else grabs them.
“I want to encourage residents, especially from Region 3, to take advantage of these opportunities. Do not wait for others to invest, you can step up and bet on your region, you have a friend in your government led by President Irfan Ali, and we
will stand by you, we will continue to work on upgrading infrastructure in a number of new areas in Region 3, including existing housing,” Croal has stated.
He assured that the same top-tier quality seen in housing and infrastructure in Leonora would be done in Wales. Upon travelling along the Region 3 corridor, residents can also see housing areas in various stages of development.
The opening of these new access areas would lead to more agricultural activity as well as provide opportunities for industrial development.
Lending his perspective to the newly commissioned Schoonord-to-Crane four-lane highway, Minister Croal revealed a significant point that many persons did not know about - local persons were responsible for the commissioning of the road, which saved the country millions of dollars.
“I want to thank our in-house team of engineers and project staff who worked above and beyond the call of duty to deliver this project. It not only saved us hundreds of millions of dollars, but it also demonstrates that we are building the capacity of
our local professionals,” he said.
In addition, Minister within the Housing and Water Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, zoomed in on most of the behind-thescenes work taken on the highway, and highlighted how the Government has committed to not only having a dream for Guyana, but fulfilling it for its people.
“It is easy to take a microphone or go on social media, make speeches, and promise dreams. But we are not a party of dreamers. This is a party that has restored hope in this country. However, what is more important is the capacity, the capability, the experience, and the commitment to getting every project to its successful completion,” she said.
In her view, the new highway serves as a clear figurative pathway to prosperity for the people.
“This road is a metaphor, this road can be seen as a road to prosperity, and the road to prosperity runs through every single region and every single community all across our country, de-
spite tremendous challenges, and I think just in witnessing the commitment that you've seen from our government.”
She added that a person's skin colour should not be a barrier to receiving this infrastructural growth, while adding that she has heard the pleas on social media from persons calling for the swift commissioning of the road.
“Regardless of your economic circumstances, regardless of the colour of your skin, we will be, and we have been, and will continue to be, a government and a party for every single Guyanese,” she declared.
She added, “I know how long it takes for you to travel between this region, Region 4, and other places, and this brings tremendous relief to you. You can spend more time with your family. And so, while we try as hard as possible to deliver on our projects and our policies, it is all aimed at ensuring that our people are happier and more comfortable at the end of the day, and that is paramount,” she declared.
Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal
Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues
Integrating “One Guyana”
Locked in conflict for six decades, Guyana is a country that can be compared to a bear caught in a trap, which can only eat away its trapped foot in a desperate attempt to free itself. Even though, at last, our leaders concede possible incommensurable clashing values in our culturally plural society, they refuse to consider forms of governance such as federalism, to head off conflict while yet integrating our society. “Federalism” seems to invoke partitioning Guyana, while it is simply another way of integrating a country with “deep divisions” - first explored by the US.
All forms of human organisation are undergirded by ideology or philosophy about how human societies can and ought to be organized. Federalism is not just any form of government. “In its most general and commonly conceived form, federalism can be considered as an ideology which holds that the ideal organisation of human affairs is best reflected in the celebration of diversity through unity.” Our liberal democratic governance structure assumes a more homogenous society than we are, while “executive shared governance” leads to immobilism in decision making.
Federalism, then, has its particular perspective on governance, to achieve stability with justice in pursuit of the good life - the objectives of most human communities. Federalists are sensitive to the Kantian caution that “ought” to imply “can”, so that an understanding of the empirical conditions of the society under consideration is an absolute prerequisite, since each society would have its own idiosyncratic enabling or retarding institutions and structures.
Substantively, Federalism is centred on the values of liberty and freedom, and seeks to give life to those democratic values by integrating diverse groups within societies through accommodation, and not obliteration, of their differences. In the post-modern, post-colonial world, there is not only an acceptance, but a celebration of diversities. As far back as the middle of the last century, the staid British expert KC Where pronounced: “One of the most urgent problems in the world today is to preserve diversities…and at the same time, to introduce such a measure of uniformity as will prevent clashes and facilitate cooperation. Federalism is one way of reconciling these two ends.”
Federalism thus seeks to achieve and maintain unity and diversity. It addresses the innate need of people (and politics) to unite for common goals, and yet to remain separate and preserve their respective integrities.
Federalism means organizing our society around the principle of freedom and autonomy, rather than through the calculus of bureaucratic efficiency. To those who may complain that federalism may introduce unnecessary levels of bureaucracy, studies in cybernetics show that a certain amount of redundancy is necessary for optimum transmission of information etc. From this perspective, federalism demands quantum changes in our conceptions about means and ends in politics. Federalism keeps in focus at all times this concern about means and ends, and insists that we cannot intend to have people live in democracy and freedom while utilizing institutions that stifle and restrict the liberty of the people. In general, there is an inevitable lag between the institutions honed during times of more restrictive conceptions of human freedom and the more expansive ones prevalent today. In Guyana, federalist principles would have to infuse the new political culture to give life to the values of democracy, while institutional changes would have to nurture and inculcate these new values at the personal, social, and ideological levels. Federalism deals directly with the fact of pluralism in the postmodern world.
While there will be many expressions of diversity, from a political perspective, we have seen that, in the postmodern world, ethnicity has become the most widespread one, leading to severe strains and this seemingly inevitable and intractable conflict between nationalism/ ethnicity and democracy. It combines kinship (the basis of ethnicity) and consent (the basis of democratic government) into politically viable entities through constitutionally protected arrangements involving territorial and non-territorial politics.
This is the central need of politics in Guyana. In the modern world, where groups, especially ethnic groups, have not disappeared into some sort of mélange, and there are far more groups in the world than countries, federalism performs a sociological function by simultaneously facilitating the integrity of various groups and their input into the political system.
Thus, federalism combines the seemingly contradictory impulses present in all societies, but accentuates in plural societies such as Guyana the need to be united (the principle of solidarity – and shared rule) and the need for groups to live authentically – (the principle of autonomy –self-rule).
Enabling environment lauded as Citizens Bank opens new $1.8B branch – banking sector urged to be innovative, proactive in Guyana’s growing economy
Citizens Bank Guyana Inc. has opened up a new billion-dollar branch – an expansion that was made possible through the Government’s efforts to create an enabling environment coupled with the modernization of the architecture and infrastructure to support the local banking sector.
Located on the intersection of Aubrey Backer Road and Mandela Avenue, Greater Georgetown, the new $1.8 billion Citizens Bank branch is a relocation of its Thirst Park operations. The new three-storey building is fully equipped and staffed with 27 employees ready to commence servicing the public from Monday, September 2.
turning the bank into one of Guyana’s premier financial services providers. Additionally, it certainly fulfills our sincere need and desire to provide our services in an environment that reflects the value the bank places on its staff, customers and other stakeholders,” Chester noted.
According to him, this latest expansion of its operations was fostered by the enabled environment created by the Guyana Government.
“I believe that it would be remiss of me if I were not to underscore the fact that banking in Guyana is sustainable and operates in an enabling environment, and it is my firm belief that the growth of the banking sector is often indicative of growth
Managing Director of Citizens Bank, Eton Chester, said the new branch contains many modern features and services –all designed to cater to efficiency, safety and security as well as the comfort of the bank’s growing customer base.
“Our new Mandela office is the quintessence of modernity, and as we continue to raise the bar where corporate infrastructure is concerned, all Guyanese can be proud of this modern and impressive structure. And this investment is ample testimony to our long-standing and dedicated commitment to contribute to the overall development of Guyana.”
“The new Mandela branch office comes at an appropriate time and is an achievement that ensued from the strategic plan of
tecture and infrastructure to support banking,” the Head of State noted. He outlined the transformation of both the banking and financial sectors under successive People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) governments since 1992, identifying significant increases in deposits, assets and credit to the private sector.
In fact, the president noted that a series of reforms in the financial sector by his administration alone has led to a 44 per cent increase in credit to the private sector from 2020 to 2023, which has triggered a ripple effect across various sectors.
– have played in the development, transformation and integration of the economy.
“We saw the establishment of a stock exchange, the expansion of bank branches throughout the country, and notable improvements, as I said, in the payment system. We saw tremendous improvement in access to credit for the regular man, and this is demonstrated by the number of homes we see being constructed, small businesses, [and] commercial activity,” the president stated.
in the economy,” he added.
Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali, who commissioned the new facility on Friday evening, stated that this significant expansion of the commercial bank demonstrates the commitment of the staff and management to grow the institution. It also highlights, he noted, the soundness of the local banking and financial systems.
“This is a bank that has exercised sound leadership and management, that has been able to grow and expand its operation and today is celebrating the opening of a new branch. It also tells us that our banking system is sound, our financial system is sound… This soundness is as a result of sound planning, is a result of creating the enabling environment and a constant modernisation of the archi-
“The first wave of reforms included the implementation of policies to improve the efficiency and competition of the financial services sector, policies to strengthen the prudential framework and bank supervision, policies to develop and deepen financial markets and the modernisation of the payment system,” he noted.
According to Ali, non-performing loans were at an all-time high in 2019 but have since reduced in 2023, reflecting a 145 per cent drop and a drastically improved capacity of borrowers to repay their debts. He further highlighted several initiatives such as low interest and increased mortgage ceilings, demonstrating his government’s dedication to improving access to financing.
Moreover, the president lauded the instrumental role that the country’s two indigenous banks – Citizens Bank and Demerara Bank
As Guyana’s economy continues to expand at an unprecedented rate, President Ali charged that the banking sector needs to establish more innovative products and services to operate in an evolving financial environment.
“We rely more on the banking sector to innovate and to develop more products at less cost to help us to have the population access the government services and government products in a more efficient, reliable and safe manner. As the economy grow, we’ll be developing more products, more benefits to go to the population, and the financial system and the banking sector must be innovative. It must not be reactive but must be proactive in planning a system to meet this eventuality in our economy,” the Guyanese Leader stressed.
The new $1.8 billion state-of-the-art Citizens Bank branch features a customer services department, telling facilities, a drivethrough ATM and a social zone to help customers learn how to use the bank’s digital features. (G-8)
Ravi Dev
President Dr Irfaan Ali unveiling the plaque at the new Citizens Bank as the bank’s Managing Director Eton Chester (first from left) and Chairman Clifford Reis (second left) and Bank of Guyana Governor Dr Gobind Ganga (right) look on
The new $1.8B Citizens Bank branch on Mandela Avenue and Aubrey Barker Road
Gov’t distributes $970M in school cash grants ahead of new term
In keeping with its commitment to supporting teachers and advancing the provision of high-quality education across the country, Government has distributed some $970 million in school cash grants.
The grant provides $4,500 per student in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-
Mahaica), Five (MahaicaBerbice), Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice), and Georgetown; while grants in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Esequibo) provide for $5,500 per student.
For the Christmas term, slated to commence on
September 2, a total sum of $79,909,500 has been provided to 73 schools in Region One. $65,478,500 has been provided to 87 schools in Region Two.
$118,167,500 has been provided to 126 schools in Region Three. $174,733,000 has been provided to 139 schools in Region Four. $59,690,500 has been provided to 75 schools in Region Five.
$109,194,500 has been
provided to 129 schools in Region Six. $49,444,000 has been provided to 50 schools in Region Seven. $27,599,000 has been provided to 32 schools in Region Eight.
$71,362,000 has been provided to 97 schools in Region Nine. $62,270,000 has been provided to 62 schools in Region Ten; and $152,305,000 has been provided to 97 schools in Georgetown.
In a brief interview with this publication on Saturday, Education Minister Priya Manickchand explained that these grants allow teachers to prepare and maintain their classrooms as they see fit by purchasing the janitorial, office and field supplies that they need; such as chalk, Play-Doh, markers, cardboards, crayons, and cleaning supplies.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand
After being laid off, Sherilla Persaud finds purpose in entrepreneurship
…aims to make company – CalyxGY – a recognised name in health & wellness
After being laid off from her job of eight years in 2018, Sherilla Persaud found herself at a crossroads of what to do in life. While it was a moment of much uncertainty, it was the push she needed to embark on the fulfilling journey of entrepreneurship.
After several years of trials and triumphs, she is now a thriving entrepreneur, and her business, CalyxGY, is flourishing and is poised for even more major success-
“But honestly, that was the universe giving me a nudge, because it pushed me into the entrepreneurial world, which has been the wildest and most rewarding adventure yet!” she disclosed.
pear tomatoes to ginger and hot peppers. I even got creative and made my own ginger and pepper powder, bottling it up to sell. Then I turned my attention to sorrel — also known as Florida cranberry or Roselle — and started whipping up everything, from achar to jam and curd,” she explained.
“But honestly, that was the universe giving me a nudge, because it pushed me into the entrepreneurial world, which has been the wildest and most rewarding adventure yet!” – Sherilla Persaud
es in the years to come.
Laid-off Persaud grew up in the charming village of Aurora on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two, where she spent most of her childhood. She attended the Aurora Primary School and
After being laid off, she considered looking for another job, and even did some additional courses in cyber security to further upskill herself.
“But something inside me just said, ‘Why not shake things up a bit?’ So, I started reflecting on my
then the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary, after which she studied computer science at the University of Guyana.
“I started working at age 20, and collected job titles like they were going out of style: Audit Clerk, AS 400 Operator, Systems Technician, Systems Supervisor, Systems Engineer, Network Engineer…I worked my way up to Systems Manager, a role I held for eight years before being laid off in 2018,” the 44-year-old mother of one recalled during an interview with Guyana Times.
right balance of temperature, humidity, and water to get a good crop. But once I got the hang of it, I knew I was onto something special,” Persaud expressed.
However, during her research, Persaud stumbled upon the term ‘calyx’, which is the red part of the sorrel, and had a lightbulb moment upon learning what it meant. “I loved how the calyx protects the seeds, just like a mother nurturing and protecting her child. That idea really hit home and became the foundation for what I wanted to create — a line of products that nurture both the body and mind,” she said in reflecting on how her business got its name.
“So, CalyxGY is all about nurturing the body and mind, just like the calyx nurtures the seed,” she explained.
life as a busy, stressedout mom and corporate worker. I knew I wasn’t alone in the struggle to find products that were nutritious, easy to toss into a meal, and friendly for the whole family.
“That’s when I decided to get my hands dirty, literally. I started experimenting in my little garden, growing everything from organic cherry and
Microgreens
The business officially got started in December 2018, but some two years later, the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
“I had to reinvent myself and my approach. That’s when I grew more microgreens for personal use: these tiny, nutrient-packed greens that can be grown in small spaces, which was perfect for my situation. Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing; I had my fair share of trials and failures. Growing microgreens is a bit like raising kids — you need the
Sherilla Persaud tending to her produce
Nutrient-rich microgreens add a touch of elegance to meals
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After being laid off...
Currently, she cultivates a wide variety of microgreens and wheatgrass. Microgreens are essentially the young seedlings of edible greens like radish, turnip, sunflower, kale, parsley, cilantro, cabbage, and so much more. They are ready to harvest in just 7 to 21 days, and are packed with concentrated flavours and nutrients, making them a powerhouse addition to any meal.
These tiny greens come with big health benefits: they can boost your immune system, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, aid in weight loss, lower inflammation, and improve gut health. Plus, they are incredibly versatile. Whether you’re adding a pop of colour to a salad, topping off a sandwich, or just enjoying them as a crunchy, fresh snack, microgreens bring a touch of sophistication to any dish.
Some varieties are spicy, others are mild or nutty, but all have
that fresh, crisp crunch. Persaud has said she grows “Everything: from radish with vibrant purple leaves and stems to a spicy mix that includes broccoli, kale, arugula, and more.”
“My farming practices are all about keeping things natural and sustainable. I grow in a modified greenhouse, using trays filled with soil that’s only used once to prevent soil-borne diseases. No pesticides, fertilisers or chemicals here. Our soil is composted and reused in garden beds, and we only use non-GMO seeds and certified growing materials. This method is perfect for small urban spaces and is less labour-intensive,” the businesswoman explained.
She noted that everything is done from her home. While some of her products are sold through DATYOGASHOP in Georgetown, a lot of her sales are to restaurants, cafes and home caterers.
Persaud is hopeful
that, as her business expands, her products can hit the shelves of major supermarkets in the country.
Highlights
According to this businesswoman, her journey so far has nevertheless been rewarding.
“Knowing that my products are making a difference in people’s diets and health is exactly why I started this business. So, every bit of praise feels like a win. One of the most heartwarming moments was seeing children enjoy my microgreens. Knowing that kids are not only willing, but excited to eat something so healthy brings me so much joy,” she related.
The opportunity to collaborate with some local chefs and caterers is another highlight of her entrepreneurship career.
“Seeing my microgreens used in creative dishes at restaurants and events has been exciting
and a bit surreal. It’s one thing to grow these greens in my greenhouse, but it’s another to see them on a beauti fully plated dish, adding that extra touch of colour and flavour,” she re marked.
Challenges
But like most budding entrepreneurs, she faced her fair share of challenges.
“One of the biggest hurdles was the steep learning curve when I first started growing my own food, especially microgreens. It wasn’t as simple as just planting seeds and watching them grow. I had to experiment with different growing techniques, figure out the right balance of temperature, humidity, and water, and deal with more than a few crop failures along the way. But each failure was a learning opportunity, and with persistence, I eventually found a system that worked.”
Navigating the various aspects of entrepreneurship, such as managing and marketing, also presented some challeng-
but, with time, Persaud developed a system that worked for her.
Notwithstanding, there are still challenges the entrepreneur is still facing, including access to land/house lot, despite an application being in the system for several years. Moreover, competition from larger businesses with greater resources is a current battle for Sherilla, but she is determined to continue to nurture and grow her small business.
Future
Sherilla in fact currently runs the entire operation on her own, but as her company grows, she plans to bring on additional hands.
“I’m also looking into automating certain parts of the business, to make things more efficient,” she said.
There are also plans to widen her product offerings by introducing other sustainable, nutrient-dense crops or health-focused services.
“With this growth, I hope to create more job opportunities within the community, contributing to local economic development,” she disclosed.
In addition to the business side of things, she wants to continue building strong relationships with her customers, chefs, and other partners.
“I see us hosting workshops or events that educate people about the benefits of microgreens and how to incorporate them into their daily lives. Overall, I see CalyxGY becoming a recognised name in the health and wellness space, known for our commitment to quality, sustainability and community,” Persaud has expressed with much optimism.
Microgreens being cultivated
ECCI hosts 7th Annual Agro & Trade Expo – over 90 exhibitors were on display
The Essequibo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECCI) opened its highly-anticipated 2024 Agro and Trade Expo, popularly known as “Essequibo Night”, on Friday evening.
The 2-day event, held under the theme “Moving Business Forward”, fea-
tured over 90 booths displaying a wide range of fresh local produce, arts and crafts, livestock, small beauty businesses, and agricultural products and services.
The expo, held at the Anna Regina Ballfield, drew a massive crowd, and was officially opened by Finance and Public
Service Minister Dr. Ashni Singh. In his opening remarks, Dr. Singh commended the ECCI members for their dedication to organizing the region’s seventh annual expo, and reflected on the historic reference to Essequibo as the “Cinderella County”, drawing an analogy to the popular fairy tale.
“Essequibo has finally arrived,” Dr Singh declared as he highlighted the region’s transformation from relative obscurity to being a key player in Guyana’s economic growth.
He emphasized that the region’s vast potential and contributions to the country’s economy are now being recognized on a national and international scale, and highlighted several examples of the region’s burgeoning success, noting that
Essequibo’s coconut production has expanded beyond local markets to international ones, with products now being sold in Barbados, Trinidad, Toronto, and other parts of the world.
“Essequibo coconut water, served in high-class restaurants and known for its quality packaging, is a testament to how a once modest farming operation has grown into a world-class enterprise,” Dr Singh said.
The minister also referred to the transformation in agricultural practices, such as the
production of pepper sauce, which has become a high-demand export product. He attributed these advancements to increased Government support, particularly in areas such as drainage and irrigation.
Finance and Public Service Minister Dr Ashni Singh examining the local products at the expo
Some of the products displayed during the expo
ECCI hosts 7th Annual...
Further underscoring the region’s growth, Dr Singh spoke of the positive developments in tourism.
“With three new hotels currently under construction, Region Two will soon have over 200 rooms available for tourists,” he said, indicating that these improvements would enhance the region’s capacity to host visitors and contribute to economic prosperity.
He praised collaborative efforts between the ECCI and the pri-
vate sector in driving these advancements, and assured that the Government is committed to fostering economic growth in Essequibo.
Region Two
Chairperson Vilma De Silva emphasised the vibrant spirit of local businesses and Government’s support for their growth.
“The creativity and determination of our businessmen and women show the dynamic growth of the business sector in Region Two,” she said in expressing her gratitude
to the ECCI for organizing the event.
De Silva encouraged attendees to engage and support local enterprises, and to recognise their vital role in the region’s continued development.
Also attending the event were Regional Executive Officer Susan Saywack, ECCI President Ganesh Jaigobin, and other regional officials, all of whom contributed to the success of Essequibo Night 2024. (Raywattie Deonarine)
In today’s modern and digitized era, people can reap tremendous benefits from posting to their social media accounts and generating mass viewership. Such persons are often called content creators and influencers.
reer paths are heavily reliant on social media.
In Guyana, there is a niche community of both content creators and influencers.
Recognizing this, 27-year-old Jamicia McCalman has organised an event aimed at honing the skills of persons involved in, and desirous of pursuing, careers in these areas.
The difference between a content creator and an influencer is that a content creator’s job is to write, design, and make content to build an audience, while an influencer’s job is to showcase their lifestyle and other passions to build an audience. Both ca-
She relayed her profound vision to Guyana Times during an exclusive interview.
“Our very first objective of the summit is to re-
duce unemployment within the Caribbean. I noticed that there was a lack in the industry. While social media platforms are immensely populated with Caribbean voices and faces, many of us do not know how to utilize it to our benefit to generate income,” she said.
She revealed a statistical amount of money that the social media industry is set to gain in the upcoming years.
“The content creators and influencers industry is expected to be a $43 billion industry by 2032. That might seem like
a long time, but that is just 8 years (away). So, when we are having that conver sation about a billion-dol lar industry, we must ask ourselves where is the Caribbean in all of this? For a long time, we have been excluded from that con versation,” she reasoned.
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Curator of Caribbean Content Creator’s Summit – Jamicia McCalman
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C’bean content creators...
McCalman assured that the summit would impart a wide variety of knowledge to attendees. She said social media is not just for comedic entertainment.
“Social media is more than just jokes, more than laughter, more than a platform for drama. It is really an industry, a digital industry, where it can become your nine-to-five; it can become your bread and butter, but you have to know how to make it into that,” she disclosed.
Parents have for years recommended that their children pursue traditional 9-5 jobs, but McCalman has dispelled that stigma by revealing the vast difference in jobs and careers in this day and age.
“When it comes to the older folks, the older generation, digital literacy is important for them to understand the scope of this industry. Not even
just the older generation, but even our leaders. And I think that when our leaders understand that as well, the infrastructure that is lacking will begin to be invested in much more to build that infrastructure,” She predicted. She added, “I believe that awareness is important, because you cannot throw something onto someone if they are not aware of what it is. And that would take more than the summit to achieve; that would require a bottom-up approach from the community, to the
Government, to NGOs.”
Many times, people find themselves torn between their
regular jobs and being a content creator, but this should not be the case, as both could be done simultaneously, she said.
“It’s important to note that
you don’t even have to choose one or the other. If your career is as a lawyer or a doctor, you just need to find a balance, because your content can be around your daily life in any profession,” she explained. She also addressed people who are afraid to make content, stating she had once been in that position.
“You are not alone. I would say to you, ‘Don’t create content with the intent to go viral’. I would urge you to be
authentic, do not try to be like anyone else. Don’t! Don’t do it! Be comfortable enough to try the trends that are happening. Don’t be afraid to try them, but don’t lose yourself in the trends. There isn’t any perfect moment. Don’t try to wait until you have all of the equipment — the right phone, microphone, tripod,” she offered.
Some persons lined up to share insights, including Talk Show Host Danielle Loveless; Director of Chambers and Media Solutions, Tenille Clarke; and TedX speaker Dr. Terri-Karelle Johnson.
The summit, scheduled for October 3-5, 2024 at the Princess Ramada Hotel, is set to welcome more than 300 influencers and content creators from across the Caribbean. Tickets are available right now at a cost of G$10,000 or US$50 each. Interested persons can contact: +1 (592) 6648171 for more information.
Reopening of 23 schools delayed to later dates in Sept
The Education Ministry (MoE) on Friday announced that a small number of public schools across seven of the 11 school districts would see delayed reopening for the Christmas term, in order to facilitate completion of rehabilitation works on some of the buildings.
Public schools across the country are scheduled to reopen for the Christmas Term on
Monday, September 2, 2024, but the MoE has listed 23 of the 1196 public schools and dormitories that would be affected and would instead be opening at various other dates in September.
“Parents, guardians, teachers and learners: be reassured that all measures are being implemented to ensure each school is reopened at the earliest date,” the MoE has adverted in a
release to the press. These rehabilitation works are part of the MoE’s efforts to create comfortable and conducive learning environments in schools all across the country.
“We apologise for this, but we prefer to have the schools rehabilitated and the children comfortable than not,” the MoE has said.
In Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West
Man busted with highprofile rifles, ammunition remanded to prison
Charged: Anthony Singh
Anthony Singh, a 34-year-old miner of Back Road, Byderabo, Essequibo River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), who was busted with several high-powered rifles, a shotgun and a large quantity of ammunition, was charged days after the seizure, and has been remanded to prison.
Singh appeared before Bartica Magistrate Tariq Mohammed and pleaded not guilty as charged, but has been remanded to prison until September 02, 2024.
The police have said that the seizure was made on Wednesday, during an intelligence-led operation which targeted various locations within a mining camp. During the operation, police ranks uncovered a 12-gauge shotgun; two rifles — an AR-15 and an AM-15; and a total of 399 rounds of ammunition, including
150 rounds of .223 ammunition, 130 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 30 rounds of .38 special ammunition, and 69 12-gauge cartridges.
Singh and another man were taken into custody pending further investigation, and Singh was subsequently charged.
Demerara), the affected schools are La Grange Nursery, Tuschen #2 Nursery, Tuschen Primary, Patentia Secondary, Uitvlugt Secondary, Parika Salem Secondary, and Vreeden-Hoop Secondary for Grades 7-9.
La Grange Nursery will instead reopen on Wednesday, September 4, while all of the remaining schools in Region Three would open on September 9.
In Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), only two schools are affected: Diamond Special Needs and Yarrowkabra Primary. Both of these schools are now slated to open on September 4.
In Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Bush
Lot Secondary is the only affected school, and it will open on September 9.
In Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), the Campbelltown Primary will open on September 16, and Kamana Primary will open on September 9.
In Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), the St. Ignatius Nursery and Rupunau Nursery schools will open on September 9.
There are five affected schools in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice): Coomacka Primary, West Watooka Nursery and Watooka Day Primary (Grade 3 block) will open on September 9, while the
Amelia’s Ward Student Dormitory and St. Lust Primary will open on September 23.
In Georgetown, Headstart Nursery will open on September 4, while Comenius Primary, Happy Hearts Nursery, and Precious Jewels Nursery will open on September 9. Rehabilitation of schools is part of the $28.7 billion that Government set aside in 2024 for the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of school buildings and educational facilities.
In other infrastructural developments, there are currently 26 new secondary schools under construction across the country.
The guns and ammunition found at Singh’s mining camp
GFS issues fire advisory as heatwave looms
The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has issued an advisory as the country faces a period of above-normal temperatures predicted by the Hydrometeorological Service for September to November 2024.
With extreme heat and heatwave days expected, particularly in September and October, the GFS is urging citizens to take preventive measures to reduce the risk of fires and ensure public safety.
According to the Hydrometeorological
Service, the coming months are forecasted to be among the hottest of the year, with temperatures likely to be higher than average. This increase in heat could have significant impacts on public health, agriculture, livestock, and fire risks.
The GFS is committed to protecting lives and property from fires and is providing special services and humanitarian aid to address these challenges.
To prevent fires, the GFS advises all residents to refrain from activities
that could spark a fire, such as the open burning of debris and agricultural waste. If burning is necessary, it should be closely monitored to prevent fires from spreading.
The GFS also stresses the importance of keeping water sources accessible for fire control and ensuring that fire hydrants are not blocked. "Ensure fire hydrants are not obstructed and are easily accessible in case of an emergency," the GFS advises. This measure is crucial for enabling quick action
to contain fires before they spread.
In addition, the GFS recommends equipping homes and businesses with fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and smoke alarms. These tools are vital for early fire detection and can help prevent small fires from becoming large, uncontrollable blazes. The service also emphasizes the importance of having evacuation plans in place. Developing and practising these plans can ensure a swift and organized response in the event of a fire.
The GFS encourages community leaders and members to promote fire safety practices and ensure everyone is aware of the dangers associated with the forecasted heat wave.
The GFS urges anyone
who sees a fire to report it immediately. Early intervention is crucial to prevent the spread of fires.
"If you see a fire, report it immediately to the Guyana Fire Service," the GFS states. Citizens are reminded to contact the GFS via emergency lines 912 and 226-2411-3 in case of an emergency.
In March of this year, Guyana experienced a severe wildfire crisis, with over 1,000 grass fires reported nationwide. The majority of these fires were concentrated in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). The wildfires caused significant damage and disruption.
One notable incident was the wildfire in Parakies Village, Region One (Barima-Waini), where a fire that originat-
ed in open farmland led to the death of 93-year-old Alexander Josephine. The fire caused severe burns and significant damage to the surrounding vegetation. Despite immediate efforts by emergency responders, Josephine was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
Another major wildfire occurred in the Santa Aratak/Santa Mission area along the Demerara River in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).
This blaze led to the evacuation of over 250 people, with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) assisting in relocating residents and providing shelter at Timehri Primary School. The shelter was later closed, with residents having returned to their homes.
Girl, 5, drowns at Baramita, NWD
Five-year-old Juliana Gounga of Orange Walk, Matthews Ridge, North West District (NWD) is now dead after reportedly drowning in a mining pit.
Based on police reports, the child’s mother is employed as a cook at ‘Jawbone’ Backdam, Baramita, NWD, where she took the girl to spend the August holiday.
However, at about 16:30h on August 28, the mother alleged that she left her daughter at the shop for about 10 minutes.
Upon her return, she noticed the child was not where she left her, and she began making checks around the premises. The
woman further related that she then observed her daughter in a pool of water in an old gold mining pit face down, motionless. The mother immediately went into the pit and pulled the child out.
After recognizing Juliana was unresponsive, the mother rushed
her to the Baramita Cottage Hospital, where she was pronounced dead by a doctor on duty.
A post-mortem examination, which was conducted at the Port Kaituma Hospital Mortuary by Dr Nehaul Singh on Friday, revealed that five-year-old Juliana died by drowning.
Thick smoke from the brush fire that forced the evacuation of resident of Santa Aratak Mission in March
UG records increase in international student application for 2024-2025 academic year – Registrar
– says applications received from 37 countries
The University of Guyana (UG) has seen a spike in applications from students in 37 countries for the 2024-2024 academic year, according to the institution’s registrar, Nigel Gravesande.
He noted that over 230 students from across the globe have applied to be a part of the institution which represents a 27 per cent increase when compared to 2023 which saw 170 applications.
“For this new academic year, we have received a total of 232 applications from international students… in this regard, we are having an unprecedented greater visibility within our region… our applications from international students moved from 170 last year to 232 in just one short year.”
On this point, he explained that student applications were received from some 37 counties and, as such noted that CARICOM countries are
leading the demographic with students enrolling from 10 countries within the alliance.
He noted that Belize recorded the highest number of students being enrolled followed by Jamaica and respectfully.
“These applications were received from 37 countries including 10 countries from within CARICOM, the largest number of CARICOM applicants had been received from the Central American territories of Belize with 19, Jamacia 15, Trinidad and Tobago 12 and St. Lucia 11.”
Additionally, Gravesande explained that there was also an increase in applications for affiliated programmes.
“We have seen significant growth in our affiliate programmes enrollment which now stands at 12 affiliate programmes with an enrollment of 48 students drawn from seven CARICOM member states.”
Meanwhile, he highlighted that over 3700 students have applied for the academic year 2024/2025this number he noted will increase as students are still applying to be a part of the institution.
“Congratulations are extended to all of our new students who have satisfied the prescribed matriculation entry requirements to pursue programmes of study. Today we are welcoming 3776 new students and counting and we’re do-
ing this here at our campus at Turkeyen and the University of Guyana Berbice campus.”
He further noted that the new batch of students will be joining approximately 8000 students who have already been enrolled previously. This new batch of students the largest in the University’s history ramps up the total student population at the university to over 11,000 students in total.
“These new students will be joined by approximately 8000 continuing students at the University of Guyana which currently we deliver a total of 165 undergraduate programmes in 11 academic units and 44 graduate programmes in nine academic units”
New applications and registrations
Though many programmes are at capacity, students who have applied and have not yet heard from the University or who wish to register for
programmes that are not yet at capacity, are encouraged to complete pending applications or registrations at the earliest or risk losing their places.
Those who still wish to attend the University for the new academic year can still apply during the next week. New applications close on August 31, 2024.
Registration is ongoing for those students who have already applied and have still to accept the offer placement as well as for students who are continuing.
The University will continue to offer its students three attendance options – face-to-face, online
or blended learning formats. The mode of delivery will depend on the discipline being pursued by students, their geographical location and other special conditions such as work commitments or disabilities.
Faculties and other academic departments will continue to advise their respective students directly about the options available to them.
Continuing students, who have not yet registered for the new academic year 2024/25, are urged to do so as soon as possible by checking into their SRMS accounts.
Republic Bank takes ‘Make Everything Happen’ campaign to Reg. 5 & 6
As schools and other learning institutions are about to commence another year of instructional programs, the Republic Bank Berbice branches have stepped up to assist persons financially with its ‘Make Everything Happen’ promotion.
Sales Manager at the bank’s New Amsterdam branch Imran Saccoor explained that the financial institution is offering loans with no equity and at a very low interest rate for educational purposes under the ‘Make Everything Happen’ promotion.
On Friday the four branches in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) took the campaign to the streets.
The campaign which started on July 2, 2024 and runs until September 27, caters to personal business financing needs.
These include loans for vehicles and the acquisition of new homes.
In a release, the bank said the promotion is available across the bank’s network. It is designed to ‘Make Everything Happen’ for all your personal or business financing needs - specifically, ‘Deal on Wheels’, ‘Back to School’, mortgages and business-
es. There is low no down payment for first-time borrowers,” the release said in part.
The banking institution further added that the promotion offers full financing for repeat borrowers at competitive interest rates. During the promotion, customers will also have the opportunity to win what the bank says are spectacu-
lar prizes.
“Financing options include acquiring your first car or upgrading your old car, acquisition or final payment for land; renovation or construction of your dream home. You can even start that educational course or even start that small and medium-sized business you have been thinking of.”
The promotion is open
Some insurance companies at the event on Friday
to all categories of workers including salaried employees in the public sector and private sectors, professionals/ high net worth individuals, and self-employed individuals of business persons within the various sectors.
During this campaign, customers have the opportunity to win several prizes including VIP tickets for the Caribbean Premiere League (CPL) finals. Additionally, customers will have the opportunity to win a dash camera kits, a comprehensive car cleaning voucher, gift cards redeemable at Rubis, Guyoil, or SOL, an Education bundle (Laptop, Laptop sleeve, MS Office Suite, Virus Protection & Printer). Meanwhile, during Friday’s promotion insurance companies took full advantage thus allowing applicants easy access to needed insurance.
Registrar of the University of Guyana, Nigel Gravesande
Some of the new students for the 2024-2025 academic year
Vehicles on display during the promotion
Tribute to late Sir Shridath Ramphal
He was one of Commonwealth’s brightest lights
– says his legacy is one of unity, hope
As tributes continue to pour in for the late Sir Shridath “Sonny” Ramphal, who died on August 30, 2024, surrounded by his children in Barbados, the Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral, Patricia Scotland described him as “the giant of the Caribbean and one of Commonwealth’s brightest lights.”
Sir Shridath Ramphal was the second Commonwealth Secretary-General, who served from 1975 -1990. During his tenure, Shridath was instrumental in the fight against institutional racism in Southern Africa, playing a key role in the termination of apartheid in South Africa.
Nelson Mandela once said of him: “He is one of those men who have become famous because, in their fight for human justice, they have chosen the whole world as their theatre.”
In a release issued on Saturday, the Commonwealth Secretary-General highlighted that the late extraordinaire served the Commonwealth with extraordinary vision, compassion, wisdom, and a steadfast commitment to the values which bind our family of nations.
It was noted that he will be remembered, for his legacy is one of unity, hope, and a relentless pursuit of a more just and equitable world, with an influence which extends far
beyond the Commonwealth as he leaves an indelible mark on international relations and his work will continue to inspire future generations of leaders.
“His statesmanship was rooted in his humanity. His leadership was characterised by his belief in the power of dialogue, diplomacy, and cooperation, and his unwavering dedication to justice. His committed advocacy for the rights of small states, and his tireless work to bridge the divides which too often separate nations and peoples, was remarkable and visionary… He guided the Commonwealth through some of its most challenging and transformative moments and steered us into the modern era. His life reminds us of the transcendent impact that one individual can have on the global stage,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell shared similar sentiments, noting that the body is immensely grateful for Ramphal’s pivotal contributions to regional integration and development, as an eminent jurist, Minister of Government and AttorneyGeneral in his native Guyana.
“His influence extended beyond our shores to the international arena, where his decisive leadership as Commonwealth Secretary-
General impacted outcomes on global matters including the ending of apartheid in southern Africa. Further, his deep intellectual interest in regional development issues led to significant publications, which are an invaluable legacy for the young people of our Region,” the CARICOM Chair related.
Moreover, on behalf of the CARICOM Secretariat, Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett joined the region and the international community in mourning his loss and lauded his life marked by committed service and excellence.
“He was a leading advocate of regionalism, and contributed practically to its advancement, notably in high-level service to the legal fraternity, institutions of higher learning, and as Chairman of the West
–
Secretary
Indian Commission which produced the 1992 seminal report, “Time for Action”. An astute negotiator, he was appointed by Heads of Government to lead the CARICOM Regional Negotiating Machinery in negotiations in the external trade arena”.
Sir Shridath, born on October 3, 1928, in New Amsterdam, British Guiana (now Guyana), was a towering figure in international diplomacy and a cherished elder statesman of the Commonwealth and the Caribbean.
Educated at King’s College London and Gray’s Inn, London, Sir Shridath was predeceased by his beloved wife of 67 years, Lady Lois Ramphal, on September 20, 2019.
His distinguished career spanned numerous pivotal roles: Assistant AttorneyGeneral of the West Indies Federation, Minister of Justice and Foreign Affairs of Guyana, and Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. He also held concurrent positions as Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG), the University of the West Indies (UWI), and Warwick University.
He was the only individual to have served on all the Global Commissions that produced landmark reports on the environment, development, and disarmament between 1980 and 1995. As Chairman of the
General
West Indian Commission, his 1992 report, “Time for Action,” remains a seminal blueprint for Caribbean development.
Globally respected, Sir Shridath served in various capacities, including President of the World Conservation Union, Special Adviser to the UN Conference on Environment and Development, and Chief Negotiator for the Caribbean on External Economic Relations. He was also a mediator and facilitator in elections and constitutional crises.
In his later years, Sir Shridath continued to serve with distinction. At 92, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, he was the first lawyer to appear virtually before the International Court of Justice, representing Guyana in a significant border dispute with Venezuela.
Sir Shridath was the recipient of numerous prestigious honours, including the Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC), the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (GCMG), the Order of Excellence of Guyana (OE), the Order of Merit of Jamaica (OM), the Order of the Companions of Oliver Tambo from South Africa, Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), and an appointment to the Order of New Zealand, New Zealand's highest civil honour.
MoH, US partner to strengthen Guyana’s response to pandemics
The Government through the Health Ministry has forged a new partnership with the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) that will see more healthcare workers benefiting from specialized training.
This initiative aims to bolster Guyana’s clinical capability to manage life-threatening events and to develop its capacity to properly examine disease outbreaks as well as to better respond to epidemics and pandemics.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony during an interview with the Guyana Times explained that the training will be conducted in Guyana and overseas.
“This is a new partnership… so maybe in the next couple of months, we'll have people going out for training.
They'll be doing, there are different types of fellowships that the CDC would offer. I think in the first instance, we're doing maybe like a three year and then after that you know maybe look at renewing it. This is also building on work that we would have done independently,” Dr Anthony stated. Further, through Guyana’s partnership with the CDC, the Health Ministry will develop
a Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) Action plan.
PHEM is a comprehensive discipline focused on anticipating, mitigating, planning for, responding to, and recovering from all types of public health emergencies (PHE).
About two weeks ago, the Deputy Director for Strategy and Science and the CDC Division of Emergency
Operations (DEO) visited Guyana to conduct an external evaluation of the plan.
Whilst here, the team also conducted a workshop with technical stakeholders to discuss PHEM, evaluate Guyana's current PHEM programme, and lay the foundation for the Action plan.
According to Dr Anthony, the plan will outline a roadmap for training and technical assistance to develop, improve, or sustain Guyana’s PHEM programme.
“The public health emergency plan is really to assess our capacity to respond to emergencies such as if you have an outbreak of a particular disease, what you need to do, what capacity you need to have, the types of people that you should have in a response team. They should have the
technical capability of going out there assessing and then helping us to respond most appropriately so, we have started with this workshop,” the Minister explained.
Dr Anthony added that the action plan will beef up security and decrease the spread of infections.
“So, all of this now has fed into a plan for the country to deal with health security. So, we know where we have some challenges and we're working to strengthen those. Every year in the budget we add monies into the budget so that we can respond to these things, build better labs, have more people trained, put them not just to the central level but to the regional level, build stronger surveillance systems for diseases,” he added.
The late Sir Shridath “Sonny” Ramphal
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony with representatives of the United States Center for Disease Control during a recent workshop
17 young artists benefit from visual arts mentorship programme
Following a collaborative effort between the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Unit of the Education Ministry and the Creative Arts Department at the University of Guyana, a program designed to bolster students' artistic abilities in both painting and sculpture officially concluded, wrapping up a highly enriching two-week journey for 17 promising young artists.
This information was revealed following a press release from the Education Ministry.
During the two weeks, participants had the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in intensive, hands-on sessions led by some of the most esteemed figures in the visual arts community. The mentorship provided a platform for these young artists to explore new artistic methods, refine their skills, and gain
valuable insights from experienced professionals.
Renowned painting instructor Elodie Cage-Smith and accomplished sculptor Winslow Craig who both served as mentors guided the students through various techniques and creative processes. Craig who designed and sculpted the totem poles for the Schoonord-
to-Crane four-lane highway praised the students for their dedication and creativity.
“Watching the students manipulate unfamiliar materials and produce such aesthetically pleasing results has been truly inspiring. Their commitment to the craft and their ability to innovate with physical me-
Former cop granted bail for assault, threatening wife
Forty-three-year-old
Carl Methuram, a former member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and current employee at Sublime Security, was granted bail for seriously assaulting his wife, threatening to kill her and burn their home.
The incident took place on Tuesday at their residence at 77 Cc Eccles, East
Charged: Carl Methuram
Bank Demerara (EBD).
Following the incident, Methuram was charged with unlawful wounding when he appeared before Principal Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate's Court.
He was not required to plead to the indictements but was granted $100,000 bail. The case was adjourned until September 27.
Gov’t distributes $970M in...
“Schools have already received their grants. This is just a grant for the Christmas Term, which is from September to December. And as you can see, it is about close to a billion dollars…,” she declared.
“Where there are small schools, there's a limited number. If a school has 10 children, it doesn't mean they'll get $45,000, because that $45,000 can’t match. So, there's a cutoff, or lower limit…but smaller schools would have more than $4,500 per child,” Minister Manickchand explained.
Over the years, the regional administrations provided grants to the schools and the goods were bought in bulk, but teachers have said that items which they
already had were being stockpiled, and actual needs were not being met, while they had to wait for long periods before the items were delivered.
Minister Manickchand has said that teachers and parents have, over the years, complained about having to provide the materials for classrooms from their pockets. However, because of this intervention, educators are no longer required to provide materials at their expense.
“So, the Government decided on central ministry to make schools autonomous by giving them school grants that would allow them to purchase what they wanted in the quantity and at the quality they wanted
diums demonstrate the high calibre of talent we have nurtured through this programme,” Craig added.
The Education Officer for Visual Arts Lori Ann Jacobs who also oversee the programme, reflected on the program’s profound impact.
“The quality of work produced by these students has been nothing short of extraordinary. This year’s programme has significantly improved our pass rates in Visual Arts, and we are optimistic about extending its reach in the future.”
She noted that the programme has not only enhanced students’ practical skills but also instilled a deeper appreciation for the arts, aligning perfectly with the educational goals of preparing students for their ex-
aminations.
Meanwhile, in sharing similar remarks, Deputy Dean Bonita Hunter from the University of Guyana Faculty of Education and Humanities expressed her enthusiasm for the programme’s success.
“The support provided through this initiative has been invaluable. Art plays a crucial role in helping us understand the world around us, and we must nurture and support young artists. I hope that the experiences and memories gained here will inspire students to continue pursuing their artistic passions and contribute meaningfully to society.”
The conclusion of this mentorship programme not only marks the end of a significant educational experi-
ence for these young artists but also highlights the continued commitment of both the Education Ministry and the University of Guyana to fostering artistic talent.
With improved pass rates and a heightened sense of artistic confidence among the students, the programme stands as a testament to the power of targeted, hands-on mentorship in the visual arts.
As the students return to their respective schools, they carry with them not just enhanced skills but also a renewed passion for the arts.
This initiative has successfully paved the way for their future success and reinforced the importance of art in both personal and societal contexts.
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for every term. But that has limits, what you want has to be school-related. I can say for sure that schools have never received supplies this early before we started this programme, which was two terms ago,” she added.
The sum of $898.2 million was invested in the school grant in 2023, and it benefitted 182,672 students. This year, another $3.1 billion has been allocated to continue this programme.
The school supplies cash grant complements a range of initiatives supporting both teachers and students. These include the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant, the national school feeding programme, and textbook and exercise book distribution.
One of the students who received her certificate of completion
Police to boost patrols for CPL cricket tournament in Guyana
As Guyana prepares to co-host the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) cricket tournament, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is intensifying its efforts to ensure the safety and security of citizens and visitors throughout the event.
During a meeting held on Friday, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Simon McBean addressed the ranks of the Regional Division 4A Impact Base, highlighting the importance of heightened police visibility and patrols.
McBean, who leads Regional Division 4A, praised the frontline officers for their continuous dedication to maintain-
ing public safety and reducing crime in the area. With the influx of international visitors expected for the CPL tournament, he stressed the need for increased police presence in key locations, including hotspots, markets, parks, and other areas with high foot traffic. This enhanced visibility aims to deter criminal activities and ensure a secure environment for everyone attending the tournament.
"Maintaining professionalism and proper conduct is essential, especially during an international event of this scale," McBean stated. He emphasised that any form of indiscipline would not be tolerated, as
the police force must uphold a standard of excellence in serving both residents and international guests.
McBean also underscored the importance of being prepared for any emergencies that may arise. He advised all officers to ensure they have
the necessary permits to operate police vehicles and highlighted the critical role of effective communication and networking in facilitating rapid response and risk assessment during their duties. In his address, McBean provided an opportunity for officers to
voice any concerns they might have, ensuring that all issues were addressed promptly. He expressed gratitude for their hard work and dedication throughout the year, which has contributed to a noticeable decrease in crime within the division.
Beyond policing efforts, McBean showed a commitment to community support by donating school supplies to officers' families, reinforcing the Guyana Police Force’s commitment to youth development and education.
With the CPL T20 tournament set to bring numerous games to the Guyana National Stadium in Providence,
East Bank Demerara over the coming weeks, the Guyana Police Force said it is focused on creating a safe and welcoming environment for all participants and spectators.
The tournament is expected to draw large crowds, making the increased police presence and strategic patrols crucial in ensuring that the event proceeds smoothly and safely.
By enhancing security measures and maintaining a strong, visible police presence, the Guyana Police Force aims to ensure that the CPL T20 cricket tournament is a thrilling sporting event and a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
Duo jailed over $26M theft from Essequibo businessman
Two men were on Friday sent to prison for stealing items to the tune of $26 million while another man was granted bail for stealing cattle.
In the first instance, Safraz Oullah, known as Antsman,27, a bus driver from Para Street, Anna Regina, Region Two (Pomeroon Supernaam), and Joel Christopher Li, a 30-year-old vendor from Belle Alliance, Essequibo were jointly slapped with a break and enter and larceny charge.
The charge stemmed
from an incident which occurred between August 24 and August 25, during which the men allegedly broke into the home of Keran Chowtie, a 30-year-old businessman of Three Friends, Essequibo Coast and stole a quantity of jewellery, US currency, watches, and Guyanese currency totalling over $26 million.
They appeared before Magistrate Tamieka Clarke at the Suddie Magistrate's Court and were not required to plead to the indictment. However, follow-
ing the institution of the Administrative of Justice Act (AJA), the due pleaded not guilty after the court found them guilty as charged.
They were each sen-
Essequibo motorist fined for multiple traffic violations
Rajendra Deonoraine, from Richmond Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast was fined $80,600 on Thursday, for a series of traffic violations. The fines were imposed by Magistrate Tamika Clarke at the Suddie Magistrate's Court.
Charged: Rajendra Deonoraine
The charges against Deonoraine resulted from an incident which took place on August 18 along the Reliance Public Road, Essequibo Coast.
The accused was found guilty of driving an unlicensed and uninsured motor vehicle, using an uncertified motor vehicle, and operating a motorcycle without a safety helmet. Additionally, he was charged for carrying a pillion rider without a safety helmet. Deonoraine pleaded guilty to all the charges when they were read to him in court.
Mohamed Ayube two Sundays ago. He appeared before Magistrate Tamieka Clarke at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court and was not required to plead to the charge when it was read to him. Although the prosecutor objected to bail, it was granted in the amount of $100,000.
tenced to three years and four months imprisonment.
In a separate case, Andre Bhagwandass, a 25-year-old labourer from Richmond, Essequibo Coast, was charged with larceny of cattle.
Bhagwandass is accused of stealing two ram goats valued at $360,000, belonging to
Bhagwandass is required to report to the Anna Regina Police Station on the last Friday of every month until the determination of the matter. The case was adjourned to September 7.
‘One hand’ remanded on
attempted murder charge
Mohan Lall, a 42-year-old labourer called ‘One Hand’ from Lot 66 Windsor Castle, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) was remanded to prison on an attempted murder charge.
Lall is accused of attacking Derrick Ramsaroop, a 40-yearold part-time worker, also from Windsor
Castle on August 26, 2024.
Lall appeared before Magistrate Tamieka Clarke at the Suddie Magistrate's Court on Friday and was charged under Section 103(c) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01.
He was not required to enter a plea at the preliminary hearing. The prosecutor objected to bail, leading to Lall's remand to prison. The case has been adjourned to September 24.
Assistant Commissioner Simon McBean addressing the ranks of the Regional Division 4A
Remanded: Mohan Lall
Charged: Safraz Oullah, Joel Christopher Li and Andre Bhagwandass
300 families at Leeds Village to benefit as land regularisation begins 3
00 families of Leeds Village in Region Six (East Berbice –Corentyne) will soon begin the process of getting Certificates of Title for lands they have occupied for decades dating back to the abolition of slavery.
The Ministry of Legal Affairs and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) on Saturday held a land regularisation exercise at Leeds, No.51 Village, in Region Six.
Land surveyors will begin conducting occupational surveys within the next week. This process, which involves verifying land boundaries and resolving any disputes, is expected to take approximately 90 days.
Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall explained that this is President, Dr Irfaan Ali’s initiative, and is being conducted along the West Coast of Berbice.
“We started with Cotton Tree, and we are going to do numbers One,
Two, Three, Four and Five. That is thousands of titles we will be issuing to people who have been in occupation of those lands,” he said.
“We are doing a similar process at 49 Village, right here on the Corentyne coast. And we are going to conclude that shortly, and that will give that entire village titles for the land that they are occupying. And we are working on one along the East Bank of the Berbice River.”
Outlining the historical process of land registration in Guyana, AG Nandlall said that the Dutch presence introduced a “transport” sys-
tem for land ownership.
However, this system was seen as burdensome and time-consuming, requiring lengthy legal processes to transfer ownership.
The land registration system was introduced in the early 1960s to eventually take over the transport system and bring the entire country under a more streamlined land titling process.
But the full imple-
mentation of the land registration system was delayed and now, over 50 years later, the government is actively working to complete this process in areas like Leeds.
According to the AG, this process is intended to make land ownership and transfers more straightforward, bringing greater security to residents.
He underlined that a Certificate of Title is a
stronger and more secure form of legal ownership. It can only be set aside on the grounds of fraud, whereas a transport can be extinguished if someone occupies the land for 12-14 years.
A title is a more accepted form of collateral for loans compared to a transport.
“The greatest form of empowerment, other than education, is land title. That is empower-
ment. So, anybody can talk all kinds of rhetoric about empowering people. This process is what real empowerment is. Because all of you who have been living on lands for decades, and your ancestors have been living on the land for some time, over 100 years, without a title; at the end of this process, you will get a title, a paper to say that you own this land,” AG Nandlall underscored.
The government is funding this entire process through the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Attorney General Chambers, and the Ministry of Legal Affairs.
Residents were urged to lend their full cooperation to ensure the surveys and titling process can be completed efficiently.
AG Nandlall was accompanied by Regional Chairman, David Armogan, and Manager of Surveys at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Rene Duesbury.
31 De Endragt residents sign agreements of sale for land title
Some 31 residents of De Endragt, East Coast Demerara (ECD), are one step closer to achieving their long-awaited dreams of owning house lots as they signed their Agreement of Sale for their land titles on Saturday.
The initiative was spearheaded by Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Sherwyn Greaves.
According to the Housing and Water Ministry, all of these works are part of one centralized plan undertaken by the agency’s Community Development Department.
“This activity is part
of a regularization exercise for Plantation De Endragt (Mon Repos North), which is being facilitated by the agency’s Community Development Department. This exercise is also reflective of the agency’s fulfilment of President Ali’s mandate to issue ownership doc-
uments to unregularized areas.”
Historically, the Mon Repos North area was identified as swamp land unsuitable for housing.
In the early 1970s, it was reported that persons started to make shacks to facilitate their businesses since the area was used as a main "port" for contraband.
In 1992, this trade became uneconomical since the PPP Government removed the ban on basic/essential food items. People continued to occupy the area and improve their structures to make it livable.
Regularization of the area commenced in 2010 when CH&PA conducted a Block and Occupation survey.
In addition, staff of the Community Development Department and the Surveys Unit conducted verification exercises in the area. Which showed that
there are 67 lots on plan, another 67 lots that are presently occupied, 44 lots verified for allocation and processing of titles, four lots to be transferred from the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), three abandoned structures, 10 lots where owners are deceased and five lots belonged to persons living overseas.
Then there are the 31 persons who signed the Agreement of Sale, and 1 non-residential use (Church).
Titles were not processed for the area since the transfer of ownership of land was incomplete. CH&PA is now in a position to process Titles with the ownership being finalized.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall
Some of the residents at the meeting on Saturday
Officials of the Housing and Water Ministry doing additional land analysis
DAILY HOROSCOPES
Do your homework, calculate your goals and prepare for your next challenge. If you approach your tasks with a confident attitude, the future looks bright. Preparation is the path to success.
You can dream, but start only what you can finish. Gather information, discuss prospects and weed out the challenges of following your heart. The right decision will spare you emotional or financial setbacks.
Do something that makes you look, feel and perform better. Do what makes you happy, puts your mind at rest and gives you the confidence needed to reach your goals.
Look over your options and what it will take to reach your objective. Consider how best to handle red tape that can stand in your way. Contact someone you trust to give you sound advice.
Participate in something that will help you connect with people heading in a similar direction. Revamp how you use your experience and knowledge to suit your objective, and you’ll achieve success.
Don’t give in to pressure tactics or emotional manipulation. Settle into what feels comfortable and brings you peace of mind. It’s OK to observe, take a pass and set your goals aside while you rejuvenate.
Assess your feelings, apply what you know and reach common ground with someone who can contribute to your goals. Don’t sit idle when you can make a difference. Seek out and charm those you want on your team.
Assemble your thoughts, double-check everything you do and verify all information. A diligent process of elimination will help you avoid a scam. Change your mindset to fit what’s happening around you.
Participation will lead to valuable information and people who can enrich your life. Be open to suggestions and embark on challenges that spark your interest. Explore the possibilities.
Take an interest in what’s healthy. Refuse to let temptation set in and indulgence take THE lead. Choose your friends, associates and partners carefully.
Refuse to let others stand in your way. Consider your needs and the timeline you set for yourself, and put your plans in motion. Don’t wait for slowpokes to join in; follow your heart and make your dreams come true. Take the high road, regardless of what others choose to do. Be true to yourself and disciplined at all times. Say no to indulgent behavior and unreliable people. Don’t let your guard down.
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Pickles
Root notches record 34th Test hundred as England close in
For the second time in three days at Lord’s, it was all about Joe Root. England’s batting bellwether continued a bumper Test match by producing twin tons for the first time in his storied career, his 34th century in the format setting new records for his country - and setting his team on their way towards what would be a series-sealing win.
England began the day in a position of comfort, 256 runs ahead with nine wickets standing, and Root allowed an expectant crowd to drink in the experience of a Lord’s Saturday. If there was data on champagne corks popped, Root would probably set have another benchmark. As it was, his innings of 103 was garlanded by several entries in the record books: his seventh Test hundred the most by an individual at Lord’s, as he surpassed Graham Gooch as the leading run-scorer on the ground. Cook’s overall England run-scoring records is now less than 100 runs away.
This effort, coming from 111 balls, was also his fastest in the format. He reached the mark, in the company of the No. 10, Olly Stone, by swatting Lahiru Kumara’s bouncer in front of deep point, amid a rising crescendo of “Roooooooot!” rolling around the ground. The next-highest score by one of his team-mates was Harry Brook’s 37 off 36 balls.
With Sri Lanka asked to chase a target of 483, Root was at it again in the field - his two catches at first slip to remove Nishan Madushka and Pathum Nissanka making him the fourth man to take 200 in Tests. Rahul Dravid, the record-holder with 210, is very much in his sights.
That Sri Lanka finished the day only two down was in part due to an early finish brought about by bad light. A world-record target looked a long way off for a team short on batting confidence, though Dimuth Karunaratne survived being given out
stand-in captain, who made his highest score while deputising for Ben Stokes but again fell in perplexing fashion, slashing an Asitha bouncer straight to deep backward point for 17, shortly after Sri Lanka had put four men back for the ploy.
he did not last much longer, as Asitha targeted him from round the wicket.
The first of Root’s four boundaries was a thick outside edge between slip and gully, but he was otherwise serene in progressing towards a third consecutive 50-plus score. Jayasuriya was picked off on the sweep and twice down the ground, though Root was initially happy to tick along at a strike rate in the 70s, allowing Brook and then Smith to play the aggressor.
slip off Shoaib Bashir went undetected, only to be dismissed by a snorter in Olly Stone’s first over as the light briefly improved enough to allow a return to pace.
England left the field at just after 5pm, content that there is plenty of time left for them to take the eight wickets required for a 2-0 lead in the series. Kamindu Mendis had
lbw to his third ball - a poor decision from Paul Reiffel overturned - to negotiate 90 minutes in the gloom after tea. He walked off in the company of “lightwatcher” Prabath Jayasuriya after England had been instructed to bowl their spinners for a second time, with Ollie Pope preferring to preserve the condition of the ball for Sunday. Madushka was the first wicket to fall, edging Gus Atkinson to slip to continue a difficult first tour of England - having been replaced behind the stumps by Dinesh Chandimal on the third morning, he also dropped two catches in the field (although one still resulted in the dismissal of Ben Duckett, as Angelo Mathews snaffled the rebound). Nissanka survived on 2 when the faintest of under-edges to leg
held out the hope on the second evening that Sri Lanka could find a way back into the game if they could get England out for “under 150-175” - they gamely chipped out five wickets by that stage but couldn’t prevent a Root march carrying the hosts to 251 and a seemingly impregnable position.
Root’s reliability had allowed England to negotiate the morning session with few alarms, and the game continued to revolve around
him after the interval. A nudge down the ground off Jayasuriya took him to fifty from 65 balls, and he began to push the tempo with three fourstwo hauled through wide long-on, one delicately reverse-swept - in four balls.
Sri Lanka kept at it, Jayasuriya removing Jamie Smith lbw despite a review from the batter, before Chris Woakes flat-batted Milan Rathnayake to cover. Atkinson’s dismissal, meanwhile, came in complete contrast to the elegant simplicity that characterised his maiden hundred in the first innings: caught behind the keeper at long-stop when top-edging a reverse-pull at Asitha Fernando. Potts then gloved the same bowler behind but Stone hung in to get Root to his milestone.
Stone was caught at fine leg in the same over, and although England’s approach had seemed to have a declaration in mind, they batted on. Root eventually gave Kumara a third wicket, top-edging a tired heave to deep-backward square leg, with tea taken early at the close of the innings.
England’s batting effort was uneven, Root aside, reflective of their strong grip on the game. Three wickets went down during the morning session, including that of Pope, England’s
The hosts resumed on 25 for 1, after Dan Lawrence’s dismissal on the second evening, and Ben Duckett was the first to depart, thanks to accidental piece of choreography between slip and gully. Rathnayake pitched the ball up from round the wicket, tempting the drive - and while Madushka could not hold on diving to his right, he managed to scoop the chance back towards Mathews for a regulation catch.
At the other end, Pope was looking to quell some of the noise around his batting. He moved into double-figures for the first time in the series with a clip off his legs, then survived a review for lbw against Rathnayake, with ball-tracking showing the ball would have cleared the stumps. But
Brook’s intent during a half-century stand seemed to suggest that England were already thinking about the declaration. Brook was badly dropped on 9, Madushka making a mess of a skied slog-sweep at midwicket, then launched Jayasuriya’s next delivery into the Tavern Stand to rub in the pain. Sri Lanka’s spinner bore the brunt of the attack, but he had the satisfaction of removing Brook when another attempt to haul him leg side was safely held by Madushka in front of the rope. (ESPNCricinfo)
SCOREBOARD
England 2nd Innings
BATTING R
Ben Duckett c Mathews
b Rathnayake 24
Dan Lawrence c †KNM
Fernando b Kumara 7
Ollie Pope (c) c Jayasuriya
b AM Fernando 17
Joe Root c Mendis b Kumara 103
Harry Brook c †KNM
Fernando b Jayasuriya 37
Jamie Smith † lbw b Jayasuriya 26
Chris Woakes c Nissanka b Rathnayake 5
Gus Atkinson c Kumara
b AM Fernando 14
Matthew Potts c Chandimal
b AM Fernando 2
Olly Stone c Nissanka b Kumara 7
Shoaib Bashir not out 1
Extras (lb 5, nb 1, w 2) 8
TOTAL 54.3 Ov (RR: 4.60) 251
Fall of wickets: 1-22
(Dan Lawrence, 5.1 ov), 2-36
(Ben Duckett, 10.3 ov), 3-69
(Ollie Pope, 18.1 ov), 4-127
(Harry Brook, 27.4 ov), 5-171
(Jamie Smith, 37.1 ov), 6-196
(Chris Woakes, 40.5 ov), 7-221
(Gus Atkinson, 44.4 ov), 8-227
(Matthew Potts, 46.6 ov), 9-250
(Olly Stone, 52.6 ov), 10-251
(Joe Root, 54.3 ov)
BOWLING
O-M-R-W
Asitha Fernando 13-0-52-3
Lahiru Kumara 12.3-0-53-3
Milan Rathnayake 9-1-36-2
Prabath Jayasuriya 20-2-105-2
Sri Lanka 2nd Innings (T: 483 runs)
BATTING R
Nishan Madushka † c Root b Atkinson 13
Dimuth Karunaratne not out 23
Pathum Nissanka c Root b Stone 14
Prabath Jayasuriya not out 3
Extras 0
TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 2.65) 53/2
Yet to bat: Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Kamindu Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Milan Rathnayake Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Nishan Madushka, 7.1 ov), 2-43 (Pathum Nissanka, 13.6 ov)
BOWLING
Joe Root became the first English player to score 34 Test hundreds
Milan Rathnayake celebrating Ben Duckett’s wicket
Dwayne Bravo to retire from CPL after 2024 season
Dwayne Bravo, the highest wicket-taker in T20 cricket, has announced that he will retire from the CPL after the ongoing season. Bravo, who will turn 41 in October, made the announcement public hours before Trinbago Knight Riders' opening game of CPL 2024, against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in Basseterre.
"It's been a great journey and I'm looking forward to playing my final professional tournament in front of my Caribbean people," Bravo posted on Instagram. "TKR is the place where everything started for me and will end with my team."
Bravo is also the highest wicket-taker in the CPL currently, with 128 strikes in 103 games at an average of 22.40 and economy rate of 8.69.
Bravo's CPL retirement comes almost three years after he ended his T20I career following West Indies' early exit at the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE. Then in 2023, Bravo retired from the IPL, and has served as Chennai Super Kings' bowling coach since in the league.
At the CPL, Bravo is
the most decorated player, having won five titles in all, including three with TKR alone. Bravo is hoping to end his CPL career with his fourth title with them.
He had led TKR to back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018 before captaining Patriots to their first title in 2021.
In 2020, Bravo was part of the TKR title-winning side as a player.
During that season, he became the first player to 500 T20 wickets as TKR enjoyed an unbeaten run to the title amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ahead of CPL 2021, Bravo moved to Patriots for a new challenge and ended up winning his first - and only - CPL title for a non-Trinidad franchise. It was a comprehensive turnaround from 2020, when Patriots had finished at the bottom.
In a number of T20 leagues around the world, especially at the CPL, Bravo has been harnessing his experience to nurture youngsters, settling into a role like MS Dhoni has been fulfilling for Chennai Super Kings for a while. During CPL 2021, for example, he took allround-
er Dominic Drakes under his wing and helped transform him into a match-winner. Drakes came away with the Player-of-theMatch award in the CPL 2021 final and continued to work with Bravo in other leagues, including IPL (Chennai Super Kings) and T10 (Delhi Bulls). Bravo has also worked closely with Ali Khan, the USA fast bowler, who also often fronts up to bowl at the death for TKR. Bravo
had first spotted Khan in the US Open T20 tournament and signed him on for the Winnipeg Hawks in the Global T20 Canada, before recommending him to TKR.
Alfred,
Coach Simon Helmot, who was earlier part of the leadership group at both Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel and Patriots, delivered a glowing appraisal of Bravo's captaincy during an interview with ESPNcricinfo in 2021.
"In 2021 [at St Kitts & Nevis Patriots], I saw a difference again from 201416. He wasn't just the captain, he was the ultimate leader," Helmot had said at the time. "He's invested in our staff and players, he's invested in our ownership and the entire organisation. Maybe that's with him being involved with CSK and their strong organisation. But I've seen this guy grow around 15 years now from being a quality captain, player, and now the whole gamut.
"Game intelligence and game starts in T20 cricket is crucial. Yes, T20 can be known as a young person's game, but it's also for the person of experience - one
who can problem-solve and work out situations, not just for themselves but also for team-mates around."
Then, ahead of CPL 2023, Bravo returned to TKR and formed a fearsome core along with his good friend Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran. They progressed to the final where they lost to Imran Tahir's Guyana Amazon Warriors.
While CPL 2024 will be his last tournament on home soil, Bravo will be in action in other franchise competitions around the world. He is currently contracted to MI Emirates, who have retained him ahead of the third season of ILT20 in the UAE. He is set to reunite with Pollard and Pooran in the Emirates. Last month, Bravo had also turned out for Texas Super Kings in the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA. (ESPNCricinfo)
domestic T20 competition in 2025
Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Dr. Kishore Shallow says plans are already afoot to host a domestic T20 competition next year to determine the Caribbean representative(s) for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Shallow, once again welcoming cricket’s return to the Olympic Games, pointed out that his administration is already in dialogue with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) hierarchy to stage the domestic competition in 2025.
Cricket, which last featured at an Olympic Games in 1900, was always set for a long-awaited return to the global multi-sport showpiece, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last year confirmed it and four other sports—baseball/ softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash—for the LA Games.
“To add cricket to the agenda in the next Olympics is certainly going to be something tremendous, as we did in the Commonwealth
Games a couple years ago when we had one of our teams representing the females. We at the time chose our original women’s tournament, and the winner at the time was Barbados, so they represented the region,” Shallow said.
“We anticipate something similar will be done unless they tell us all the teams can come and participate, which would be ideal, but it is unlikely for that to happen,” he added.
Shallow also explained that the CPL champions cannot represent the region at the Olympic Games given that the tournament is franchise-based and involves players from other parts of the world.
As such, he revealed that he has engaged CARICOM leaders regarding plans for a domestic T20 competition from which the winner or top finishers would secure the coveted Olympic Games spot(s).
“We have been in discussion with CPL for them to fund a domestic T20 tournament starting next year.
I think Miles Bascombe and his team have already scheduled a window for that next year in 2025. Once we are able to have that tournament, then we can use that to determine which team or teams will participate in the Olympics on behalf of CWI,” Shallow shared.
“We can’t use the CPL as it is now because it’s franchises. But in the domestic tournament that we’re having, which will still have a commercial model to it but not to the extent of CPL, but that will more than likely be territories instead of franchises, so we will be able to identify teams,” he noted. (Sportsmax)
Richardson to renew rivalry from Paris at Zurich Diamond League CWI
St Lucia’s 100m Olympic champion Julien Alfred and American silver medallists Sha’Carri Richardson are set to renew their rivalry at next week’s Zurich Diamond League, which will mark their first meeting since the Paris Olympic Games.
The September 5 meet to be held at the Weltklasse will be an opportunity for Alfred to solidify her class and status against some of the best in the world, while for Richardson, it will be a shot at redemption where possibly lowering the St Lucian’s colours is concerned.
That cool and wet August 3 night at the Stade de France will be fresh in the minds of both athletes, as Alfred became her country’s first Olympic champion when she exploded from the blocks and maintained her speed and composure to hold off a charging Richardson, who had to overcome a slow reaction out of the blocks to make up ground.
Alfred, 23, later added more accolades and history to her name with a silver medal win in the 200m, becoming her island’s Saint
Lucia’s first-ever double Olympic medallist.
For Richardson, 24, making up ground after a slow start—which is somewhat of a bad habit, as she stumbled at US Olympic Trials and came back to win—underscored her blistering turn of foot.
Though her quality was always on display, many didn’t view her as a title contender until she swept past both Jamaican stalwarts Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson to win last year’s World Championships title.
In this rematch between Alfred and Richardson, Great Britain’s European champion Dina Asher-Smith will also be added to the mix to get her shot at both, as she surprisingly missed out on the Paris Olympic final after she placed fifth in her semi-final.
It is indeed set to be an intriguing showdown between four of the world’s best female sprinters, as Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji, who placed sixth in Paris, will also be aiming to make an impression on home soil. (Sportsmax)
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Dwayne Bravo is calling it a day on his CPL career after the 2024 season
Julien Alfred defeated Sha’Carri Richardson at the 2024 Olympics
CWI President Dr Kishore Shallow
No record of submission on Tyrrell’s nationality
switch – World Aquatics
…Governing bodies likely to pull support from ‘rogue’ GASA
The Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) has found themselves the subject of controversy once again, stemming from the eligibility fiasco of US based- swimmer Delroy Tyrell, who previously competed for the twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
As pressure mounts against GASA President Dwaine Scott abandon his current posture of impeding the development of the sport’s participants, the powers that be in the World of sport are likely to take drastic action, in hopes of quelling the worries many swimmers, parents, affiliates and Sport Governance bodies.
The most lambasting issue out of the GASA recently has been the plight of Tyrrell to compete for Guyana and the ‘run- around’ not only the swimmer and his parents have had to endure to see the Nationality process through.
The last update on the matter was that World Aquatics were reviewing the issue, since it was now out of GASA’s hands.
However, in leaked e-mails seen by this daily publication, Tyrell, a Guyanese by birth and whose parents are Guyanese also, had written to GASA on his behalf outlining his desire to represent the Land of Many Waters in competitions overseas; submitting all the relevant information to satisfy his eligibility status, but later found out that GASA failed to submit the required information to World Aquatics that would have enhanced his chances of representing this country.
Contrary to several recent articles in other sections of the media, the trail of emails between Tyrell’s father, Fitzroy Tyrell, and Jan Exner, legal counsel for World Aquatics, upon repeated inquiries from the swimmer’s parent revealed
that the GASA President when asked whether the association had submitted the information disclosed that he had done so; was later found to be inaccurate, judging from the responses obtained from the world governing body.
As such, it brings into question the President’s inability to be transparent since his admission of forwarding the relevant information was proven to be inaccurate, infringing on the practices of good governance.
It must be not-
solve several issues, but those engagements failed to garner positive outcomes.
The result was that the above entities decided to withdraw all support from GASA pending the expression of willingness from the Body to resolve the issues highlighted.
cilities, athletes’ development and the facilitators of coaches and requisite personnel for all aspects of sports development so for GASA to be non-co-operative with these bodies can only stymie the sport’s development and its participants.
ed also that the GASA President had been asked to meet with the relevant stakeholders of sport in the country such as the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS), National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and even the disciplines clubs on several occasions to re-
Some of the issues that were deemed contentious were the non-submission of audited financial reports, the allegations of unfair treatment to certain clubs and swimmers, the non-acceptance of new clubs, and the non-submission of Mr. Tyrell’s request to represent his country of birth.
The MCYS, NSC, and the GOA are recognised as the surest financiers of sport in Guyana, assisting in the provision of funding for the procurement of fa-
Time will tell whether the course taken by GASA was the right one or one that they will have to admit was wrong and shoulder the blame.
In the said email, World Aquatics has given GASA a September 15 deadline to submit Tyrrell’s documents and it would be interesting to see whether or not GASA remains steadfast on its reluctance to submit the athlete’s details or do the right thing and let the world body make its ruling on his eligibility.
GASA President Dwayne Scott
guyanatimesgy.com
President Ali rolls out plans to benefit athletes’ livelihoods
President Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Saturday morning, opened the door for a number of National sportsmen to develop their personal lives following a breakfast meeting with the lively group.
Amongst the moves the President has implemented to benefit the sportsmen was a Chicken Tunnel project that would see the athletes collaborating with the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) and Agriculture Ministry, as well as specific connections with the Bank, geared at facilitating business and house loans.
During the meeting at Demico’s Main Street outlet, the Head- of- State detailed his vision and what he wants the athletes to achieve through the initiatives.
“That is why immediately after meeting ya’ll, less
than an hour ago, I asked the Minister of Agriculture and I asked the CEO of GBTI to come and join us in this meeting because I want o break any barrier and I want to reduce the bureaucracy with what we want to achieve,” President Ali told the group.
He went on to state, “What I want you guys to
achieve is greatness for yourself and your families. Once you achieve greatness for yourself and families, you will achieve greatness for the country. So, I want to be of help to create that opportunity, open that door.”
By Tuesday, the President intends to have the agricultural business plans drawn up that could
see the athletes reaping some $20- $25M in revenue after pooling their resources.
Expressing an intention to replicate the project around the Country, President Ali explained why the investment is a beneficial one.
The Head of State explained to the athletes, “And
the investment you’re looking at, I just want to show you, each of you might put $300,000. Immediately ya’ll will own a business, one tunnel house that is $50M but none of you could’ve invested in that alone. So, you wait your entire life, trying to find $50M on a tunnel house. The tunnel house is the most modern way of do-
ing chicken.”
“The Ministry of Agriculture will provide the training for all 27 of you, how to manage the tunnel house. If each one of you sacrifice 5 hours one day in the month, you manage the tunnel house. Not taking away from your existing job, not taking away from whatever you’re doing and adding to the productivity of the country,” President Ali added.
On the other hand, GBTI CEO Shawn Gurcharran was on hand to immediately kick- start the President’s plan revealing that the initiative fits right in with an upcoming GBTI project.
Gurcharran enlightened the group, “This bodes well for a key project that we’re about to launch. This is a real good kickstart; we’re calling it GBTI Grow, where we target small, micro sized businesses and we work with them. One of the things that we’re hoping to do is establish a framework with the Ministry of Agriculture and I’m so excited to hear that the President is also initiating somebody else to help mentor you.”
“The objective is to really work with small, micro, medium- sized businesses on a couple of key areas in the country and number one is actually food security. So, this is really a well- timed initiative by the President and we look forward to working with you,” Gurcharran further stated.
Representatives from the Ministry of Housing and Water were also on hand on Saturday morning to assist a group of the sportsmen with their housing applications and allocation issues.
A majority of the athletes present on Saturday spanned the Football, Cricket and Rugby disciplines. (G6)
President Dr Irfaan Ali met with a number of sports personalities on Saturday
