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Pres Ali lobbies Royal support for LCDS 2030 at meeting with King Charles III
– Guyana-King’s Foundation partnership to be bolstered
resident Dr. Irfaan
PAli, on a tour of Scotland where he met with King Charles III, has successfully lobbied for support for Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 and is confident that the King’s Foundation will support the next phase of the LCDS.
The next phase of LCDS 2030 focuses on sustainable urban development, biodiversity and water management. President Ali visited Scotland last week, where he toured several sustainable development projects that are receiving support from the United Kingdom (UK) based King’s Foundation and had a oneon-one meeting with the King himself.
According to a statement from the President, his visit to Scotland was to advance Guyana’s LCDS 2030, an initiative that the monarch has supported since before becoming King.
The President revealed that during his meeting with the King on Friday at Dumfries House, they discussed their shared commitment to climate resilience, sustainable development, agriculture, and community-driven initiatives supporting vulnerable populations.
“We spoke at length about our shared view of the world on the importance of cutting-edge sustainable development solutions. The King has been a longterm supporter of Guyana’s LCDS, which he has highlighted as a global example since it was launched in 2009.”
“I am optimistic that we will work together as partners in the years ahead, especially with the new LCDS priorities—including sustainable urban development, biodiversity, and water management,” President Ali said following the meeting.
Ali subsequently attended a private dinner with King Charles, where they had further discussions on deepening their collaboration. It is expected that Guyana’s LCDS 2030 and the King’s Foundation work, will be further highlighted during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) being held in Samoa, from October 21 to 26, 2024.
“I told His Majesty that I look forward to highlighting Guyana and the King’s
Foundation’s work across the Commonwealth, including when we meet next at CHOGM in a few weeks,” the President noted.
“Before I came, I was aware of the admirable work of the King’s Foundation — but seeing it first-hand here in Scotland has been inspiring. I believe that there is a lot we can learn from each other, and that Guyana can be an example for the Commonwealth on our new priorities, just as we have been an example on forests for the past 15 years.”
Visits
Among the projects President Ali toured, were facilities that provide critical support to local and vulnerable populations across Scotland. These include programmes for unemployed youth, students, and individuals facing health challenges.
In particular, President Ali visited projects that focused on Green Space Urban Planning including urban regeneration and the creation of green spaces. According to the statement, President Ali expressed a keen interest in replicating such projects in Guyana, as part of his government’s focus on urban renewal and eco-friendly urban design and to contribute to improved well-being for local communities.
Indeed, earlier this month during a high-level discussion that focused on Guyana’s LCDS at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC), President Ali had said that the King’s Foundation would be providing support to Guyana in this very area.
For instance, he had noted that Georgetown will, with support from the British-based King’s
Foundation, be transformed under the rollout of the next phase of the strategy.
President Ali, whose doctorate is in Urban and Regional Planning, noted that the King’s Foundation will be providing support to Guyana in the area of sustainable urban development.
President Ali also visited Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Programmes in Scotland, as well as a regenerative agriculture centre. This centre was equipped with facilities for regenerative agricultural practices, such as topsoil regeneration. This visit was of particular significance since Guyana is leading the Caribbean region when it comes to sustainable agriculture.
Meanwhile, President Ali’s visits also included touring high-quality, sustainable housing projects. This comes even as the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government is well on track to fulfilling its manifesto promise of delivering 50,000 house lots by 2025.
“These projects focus on building the skills needed for modern homes, reduc-
ing energy consumption, and promoting green building practices, aligning with Guyana’s goals of creating environmentally friendly, inclusive housing developments,” the statement from the President said.
“His Excellency engaged with artisans at textile workshops supporting local economic development, observing how traditional skills are being preserved while incorporating sustainable practices. The workshops highlight the importance of community-driven enterprises that empower marginalised groups, including women and youth.”
Following seven months of consultations, the Dr. Irfaan Ali-led Administration launched the updated LCDS 2030 in 2022 and laid the document in the National Assembly. Under the first LCDS, Guyana and Norway had signed a US$250 million agreement enabling Guyana to earn payments for forest climate services.
Under the second LCDS, Guyana inked the historic US$750 million multi-year agreement for the sale of high-quality carbon credits to the Hess Corporation.
President Dr Irfaan Ali and King Charles III during their meeting at Dumfries House on Friday
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New financial architecture?
The rippling effects across the world’s stock markets and banking systems occasioned by the US Fed’s lowering 500 basis points (.5%) off its Federal Funds rate is a strong signal of the continued centrality of the dollar in the international financial system. The federal funds rate is the target interest rate, set by the Fed, at which commercial banks borrow and lend their extra reserves to one another overnight, and the lending rate to personal and commercial borrowers is tied to this rate.
In the meantime, although the US still has the world’s largest economy, with its GDP of US$28 trillion, with the relative decline of its exports, it is now second in world trade, at 8%, compared to China’s 14% and GDP of US$18 trillion. World trade demands a common payment system, and after WWII, the US dollar emerged as the dominant currency when it became the world’s main creditor and factory; dominating new technologies, international transportation corridors, and access to vital resources. It established the Breton Woods institutions of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), among others, to intermediate dollar circulation.
But its hegemonic role has now been considerably eroded, and is now being challenged not only by China, but by the BRICS+ grouping that is actively working to create an alternative financial infrastructure anchored by new institutions outside of US control. The five founding member countries of the BRICS, created in 2011, are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. They account for 27% of global GDP, 20% of global exports, 20% of global oil production, and 41% of the world’s population.
With the recent addition of Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates, BRICS+ account for 29% of world GDP, 25% of world exports, and 45% of the world’s population and, as importantly, 42% of oil production.
In theory, this offers them a platform to change the status quo in the global financial architecture; and from this perspective, it is in our interest to follow these developments now that oil production has been added to our traditional gold exports, which are denominated in US dollars, and we have a greater need to protect our transactional flexibility reserve viability. Even countries also friendly to the US, like us, and such as India, had to obtain permission from Washington to trade with other countries, and had to strenuously defend their purchase of Russian oil, cheapened after the US embargo.
The BRICS+ are meeting in Russia in October, and apart from considering the application of a large number of countries jostling to become members – including Turkey and Venezuela - a key topic would be the need to de-dollarise; decouple from US banks by, among other initiatives, the creation of a new BRICS+ currency. After the 2023 Summit, Brazil President Lula announced that the group had spoken in favour of a “working group to study a reference currency for BRICS.” He also declared, “The creation of a currency for trade and investment transactions between BRICS members increases our payment options and reduces our vulnerabilities.”
But as one commentator has noted, “A BRICS currency will also require a BRICS central bank, commonality in monetary policy, alignment of fiscal policies, and synergy between political regimes across the trade bloc. Yet, as things stand, the BRICS currencies have mismatched central banking regimes, and are not easily convertible — unlike the EU when the euro was established. China and Russia’s central banks are also statecontrolled, whereas SA, India and Brazil have independent central banks. A big question is whether China or Russia would surrender sovereignty over their national currencies, which would be crucial to the success of a common currency. ”
A good precursor is the fate of the BRICS “New Development Bank” (NDB), officially launched in July 2014 at the 6th BRICS Summit held in Brazil, and capitalized with US$50B. The NDB granted its first loans at the end of 2016, but has since not made much of an impact.
We should not expect any game-changing announcements from the October BRICS+ meeting.
A place called Guyana (Part 2)
Dear Editor, I stood at the corner of the main street in New Amsterdam for about 2 minutes before I finally got a chance to cross to the other side. This is the common experience one would face on that main thoroughfare on any given workday.
The fact is that, from being a sleepy old town, New Amsterdam has been transformed into a bustling throughway. Our streets have become crowded because more individuals are clearly owners of vehicles. This, in my view, means that more and more persons have disposable incomes to be spent as they wish. The Opposition would strongly disagree; however, the glaring proof is there for all to see.
Now, in a related discussion, this is the proposal that APNU had dogmatically put
forward to the Government: that the Berbice Bridge be built across the river at Kortberaadt, the logic behind this proposal being that Kortberaadt is a stronghold of theirs, and Government owes them the right to have the bridge built there. APNU never gave careful thought to the fact that it would have been a more costly venture if the bridge had been built at that East Bank crossing instead of at the Palmyra juncture where it is currently situated. Their concern was the political advantage it would have given them, and nothing else. In addition, there would have been a huge bottleneck when the traffic got into New Amsterdam.
Here is where the myopic economic values of the PNC stand in direct contrast to those of the PPP/C.
Speeding and the attitude of drivers is my next
topic. The “no vehicle should be in front of me syndrome” is another matter of grave concern to all Guyanese. In this regard, I make mention of hire car HB 5891 on which I made a speeding trip from New Amsterdam to Georgetown. I called on the driver to reduce his speed, but he paid me no mind and kept on speeding throughout the journey. This is the kind of foolishness passengers have to put up with daily.
The unofficial fare being charged for a trip between New Amsterdam and Georgetown is now $2,500, and this amount is dependent on the vagaries of the driver, who often adjusts the fare upwards as his economic vista widens. Prices for gas and vehicle parts remain stable, yet we see constant hikes in the fare structure. Maybe drivers believe Berbicians are wealthy and
can pay whatever is demanded.
Then there is the doubling of fares for commuters travelling in public transportation from as early as 9.00pm - the time when touts run rampant. Raising prices at will becomes burdensome for passengers, especially so for late-night nurses and security workers; hence there is an appeal for Government-owned public transport to return to serve the public.
I am of the firm view that were we to return to the days of the TATA bus -- the sooner the better -- the negative effects of price-gouging would be reduced, and death would be kept off our roads.
Yes, it’s all happening right here in a beautiful place called Guyana.
Respectfully,
Neil Adams
Lowe’s position is narrow
Dear Editor, I write in response to Mr. Sherwood Lowe’s letter published on September 20, 2024, in which he critiques the Government’s approach to community development and alleges that it undermines the regional and local government system.
While I respect Mr. Lowe’s right to express his opinions, I find his arguments myopic and misleading. First, Mr. Lowe’s position is incredibly narrow and fails to consider the broader implications of a government that actively engages its citizens. The notion that President Irfaan Ali’s visits to communities are somehow a bad thing is flawed. A government that listens to the voices of the people it serves — whether through regional authorities or direct engagement —enhances, rather than diminishes, governance.
This is in stark contrast to the top-down, disconnected approach we saw under previous administrations, where promises were made without any follow-through.
Contrary to Mr. Lowe’s claims, the regional and local government systems are not undermined by President Ali’s community visits. These visits ensure that the needs of the people are addressed in a timely and effective manner, while still working within the framework of national and regional development plans.
It’s worth noting that many of these projects arise from demands voiced by citizens through their regional representatives, a process that Government respects and values.
Further, Mr. Low’s assertion that such engagements are politicized misses the larger point: a government that consults with its citizens is not to be criticized, but applauded. There is nothing inherently “crude” or “ridiculous” about a government being responsive and visible. It is a vital part of ensuring that developmental initiatives are closely aligned with the needs and priorities of the people. Direct engagement builds trust, transparency
and accountability — qualities any government should strive for.
Finally, Mr. Lowe seems intent on distracting from a critical point. He takes issue with the Department of Public Information’s report because it highlights the delivery of a promise made by President Ali — a promise kept. This is in stark contrast to the APNU+AFC government, which failed to deliver on its promises during its tenure from 2015 to 2020.
The current administration’s efforts to fulfil commitments made to commu-
nities is an indication of its determination to rectify the neglect of the previous government. Mr. Lowe’s critique does little more than attempt to divert attention from this fact.
President Irfaan Ali’s visits, along with his government’s proactive approach to community development, should be seen as steps toward inclusive and responsive governance. Criticisms that ignore this reality risk distorting the truth and misleading the public.
Sincerely,
Alvin Hamilton
SN has it right, with a slight adjustment
Dear Editor, A Stabroek News editorial dated September 20, 2024 is basically correct in its well-crafted response to Prime Minister Gonsalves’s statements and perspectives on the contested re-election of Nicholas Maduro to Miraflores. SN reported that Gonsalves has articulated three positions, viz: (1) that Maduro was freely and fairly re-elected to the presidency (2) that Maduro is better for Guyana than the far-right in Venezuela is for Guyana; and (3) that he, (Gonsalves) would condemn any attempt by Maduro to encroach on the Essequibo.
Although the SN critique of Gonsalves’s diplomacy is apt, the ‘grand rationale’ for this critique needs tweaking. The edi -
torial claims that “…while Prime Minister Gonsalves was insistent that he would speak out against any military action on the part of Venezuela, he did not say that he recognised Guyana’s right to Essequibo. Friendship is one thing, justice another.” In my view, this is not a question of justice. The international system is not based on justice, even if the UN Charter and other instruments of international law conduce to such. The real question is one of interest, not justice. Accordingly, it would be more accurate to say to Gonsalves: “Friendship is one thing, interest is another.”
Sincerely, Dr Randy
Persaud
Office of the President
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2024
EMERGENCIES –
BURNS
Over the last few weeks, the “PET CARE” columns have been dealing with BURNS. From the responses, mostly questions from caregivers, it has become clear and convincing that our texts needed even more explanations, not lastly because of the frequency and magnitude of these ailments.
So, we will expand some more on causes, lesions and treatments associated with burns.
I have always been convinced that Veterinary Practitioners could harvest immense knowledge from doctors in human medi-
those confronted by veterinarians with animals.
There is a Burns Unit at the Georgetown Public
cines who also deal with a myriad of human health emergencies similar to
Hospital Corporation (GPHC). I turned to the Head of this facility, Dr.
Vickita Nandan. This physician, obviously a compassionate practitioner, a professional and immensely knowledgeable of the “Burns” subject matter, immediately agreed to accommodate my request for sharing her knowledge on the treatment of “Burns”. This type of collaboration is needed and should be compulsory not lastly because of zoonoses (diseases transmissible from animals to humans and vice versa) but because of the promoted concept of “ONE HEALTH”.
She reviewed and provided inputs for this week’s article on the disfiguring and even potentially and actually lethal traumas which companion animals often experience.
With great gratitude, we are today incorporating Dr. Nandan’s guidance on burns:
The majority of burn cases in veterinary medicine would be localized burns with injuries varying between 5-20% of the body surface being affected. However, the severity of these ailments will depend on the animal’s age, weight, body size, thickness of the coat and skin. Burns are classified based on the amount of skin layer affected, in other words, how deep the burns are.
First-degree burns (Superficial)
- The outermost layer of skin (epidermis) is affected.
- Area is red, dry and painful to the touch. (e.g. sunburns).
- Usually heals without scarring within one week.
Second-degree burns
- Blisters and vesicles emerge as a result of scalds, short exposure to flames.
- Healing can take place within 21 days, with scarring.
Third-degree burns
- All the layers of the skin are affected.
- The skin becomes leathery and charredlacks sensation, not painful.
- Requires surgical intervention.
BURNS can be grouped based on the agent that causes them:
Thermal burns which include Scald – heat from steam
Dr. Nandan is herself a companion animal caregiver.
Govt repossesses Canje Block – VP Jagdeo
– to decide way forward with Kaieteur Block
While the Stabroek Block has been a shining success story of oil exploration and production, the Canje and Kaieteur Blocks tell a different story. According to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, the former is back in the hands of the State and the way forward on the latter is yet to be determined.
During his recent press conference, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo addressed both the Canje and Kaieteur blocks. The Canje Block was at one point held by ExxonMobil, Total Energies, JHI Associates and Mid Atlantic.
ExxonMobil was previously the operator with 35 per cent shares, while Total also held 35 per cent, JHI Associates held 17.5 per cent and Mid-Atlantic Oil & Gas, Inc. 12.5 per cent. Meanwhile, the Kaieteur block was held by ExxonMobil and Hess, before their withdrawal last
year, leaving behind Ratio and Cataleya as the remaining partners.
Like Canje, Exxon was also previously the operator of the Kaieteur Block with a 35 per cent working interest while Hess held 20 per cent, Cataleya held 20 per cent and Ratio, 25 per cent. According to Jagdeo, the Canje block has since returned to the state, while a decision will be taken on Kaieteur sometime in the future.
“Since then, the Canje block has reverted to the government. Because they didn’t meet their obligations. And the Kaieteur block, there has been some exploration on it. We expect some determination in the future,” Jagdeo said.
Jagdeo also addressed allegations by Alliance For Change (AFC) leader Nigel Hughes, that he was dodging questions regarding the blocks. He made it clear that the process used is the same
one followed by the coalition government itself, such as when they provided Ratio with an exploration license.
“Nigel Hughes wants to know quite a bit now. He wants me to answer for that. I looked into it. I wasn’t in government. And I found out it followed the same principle we always had, that Trotman employed in 2016, when he gave, I think it was an exploration license to Ratio.”
“The same terms he gave in the exploration license to Ratio. Nothing changed from the last agreement Ramotar gave out,” the Vice President said.
Jagdeo pointed out that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is the first one in Guyana’s history to go to public auction for the sale of oil blocks. This ensures that everyone gets a fair opportunity to bid for the oil blocks.
The government is planning a second such auction, after the success of last year’s auction. Among those awarded oil blocks during that bid round was a Guyanese female-led company, Sispro Inc., which received a shallow block (S3) and a deep-water block (D2).
Other shallow blocks were awarded to Total Energies EP Guyana BV in consortium with Qatar Energy International E&P LLC and Petronas E&P Overseas Ventures SDN BHD (Malaysia), which got Block S4; Liberty Petroleum Corporation of the US and Ghana-based Cybele Energy Limited, which got Block S7, and International Group Investment Inc. of Nigeria, which got two blocks – S5
and S10.
Another shallow block, S8, was awarded to the Stabroek Block partners – ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Hess New Ventures Exploration Limited, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited. The second deep-water block – D1 – was awarded to Delcorp Inc. Guyana, which comprises Watad Energy and Communications Limited and Arabian Drilling Company of Saudi Arabia.
The auction was launched back in December 2022 and closed off in September 2023. In total, there were 14 offers made on those blocks –including two for deep-sea blocks and six for shallow-area blocks.
Last month, it was announced that the Government of Guyana had concluded negotiations on the new Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with six companies looking to commence oil exploration soon.
The companies will occupy a total of eight oil blocks. Unlike the 2016 oil contract signed between the ExxonMobil-led co-venturers and the then A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition, the new agreement outlines an increase in royalty from two per cent to 10 per cent, a 65 per cent cost recovery as opposed to the previous 75 per cent, and the retention of the 50-50 profit-sharing.
The Canje Block
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo
US-based singer Jackie Jaxx files US$1.3M lawsuit against One Communications
for copyright infringement
Jackie Hanover, popularly known as Jackie Jaxx, and Ivan Harry who performs as D’Ivan, have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in the United States (US), against One Communications (Guyana) Inc. and Tennicia De Freitas, known by her stage name NEKEITA, for the unauthorised use of their musical compositions “Guyana” and “Oh Guyana” during a rebranding of the telecommunications giant.
The lawsuit alleges that One Communications and NEKEITA infringed the plaintiffs’ copyrights by performing, broadcasting, and
commercially exploiting the songs without obtaining the necessary permissions.
Hanover and Harry are contending that One Communications, in particular, gained significant economic benefits by infringing their copyright protection.
“My hope is that this lawsuit will force corporate entities to show respect for songwriters and content creators by implementing proper copyright clearance policies for all works used at their events”, Jackie Jaxx stated in a release to the media.
The lawsuit was filed after efforts to resolve the dispute with One Communications failed.
Hanover and Harry allege upon information and belief, in their lawsuit that One Communications, formerly GTT, habitually infringes, conspires with others to infringe or facilitates the infringement of copyright protected works.
They contend that the complaint of conduct is intentionally malicious, fraudulent, oppressive, or committed recklessly or with a wanton disregard for their rights and stifles the music industry. Hanover is also contending that One Communications interfered with business relations and
opportunities she has with one of its rivals.
In pre-action letters sent to One Communications, Hanover and Harry warned that the unauthorised use of their copyright protected works gives rise to claims in Guyana and the US, and they intend to seek relief in both jurisdictions.
Hanover is a citizen of Guyana while D’Ivan is a dual citizen of the US and Guyana. Defendant, One Communications (Guyana) Inc. is a leading telecommunications company in Guyana, and Tennicia De Freitas (NEKEITA), is a singer who performed at the rebranding event.
Hanover and Harry are requesting actual damages to be determined at trial but no less than US$300,000 for the unauthorised use of the musical compositions; to prevent further unauthorised use of the plaintiffs’ works; recovery of profits earned, and the value of economic advantage gained by One Communications’ unauthorised use of the works in its rebranding campaign.
In addition, the due is requesting at least US$1 million to penalise the defendants for their willful and malicious conduct and compensation for legal expenses incurred.
Of development…
…and pit latrines
Ever since the end of WWII, when the term “underdevelopment” became a buzzword, the distinction has been made between “development” and “growth”. The latter was a mechanistic number derived from statistics like GDP, and per capita income, and such like, while the former looked more specifically at the lived experience of people. It became a cliché to point out that, ultimately, “development” is what our activities ought to be about!!
But a while after independence, when we could “do our own thing”, we discovered the harsh reality that while you could have growth without development, you can’t have development without growth!! At the time of our independence, most of us saw “development” as trying to live like the departed Brits as far as food clothes and housing were concerned. So, we on the coast kept on importing scads of imported canned food, even though we could’ve cultivated local foods with more nutrients. Even Burnham, who preached the buy local mantra, died craving imported condensed milk!! Our Amerindians, however, ate more local foods than coastlanders did.
On clothes, we coastlanders also imitated the Brits, with our most “sophisticated” middle and upper classes donning the oppressively hot “suit and tie” to signal their status. Our Amerindians kept it more traditionally simple. On housing, we insisted on “high house”, “polish floor”; and, to signal high status, “inside flush toilet”!! Your Eyewitness remembers that, in the rural areas, it was all pit latrines –after letting it all hang out over open canals in the logies!!
For our Amerindians, one researcher wrote in 1966 that villages were increasing being transformed with enclosed houses becoming more popular than the predominant open huts. On defecation, they noted, “In the past, defecation would seem to have been anywhere in the vicinity of the settlement - an ideal situation for the spread of intestinal parasites. In recent years, however, some attempts have been made by the missions and school teachers to establish nearby dry latrines (where soil conditions permitted). So far, this has not been altogether successful, and perhaps, as in so many other ways, this reflects the Amerindian's reluctance to acquiesce in anything which is rather thrust upon him -albeit for his benefit.”
The point is that development for years was constrained by our meagre resources, and it continued painfully slow. Only recently did most coastal communities acquire running water and flush toilets. So, when a newly-elected AFC leader reported a hinterland school having a pit toilet, and an MoE report showed there were 70 other such schools there, most coastlanders sympathised about the continued historical lag in Amerindian development even as our economy was growing rapidly the last five year.
But your Eyewitness wonders whether the Toshaos, who meet annually to compile their development needs to Govt, had identified changing pit latrines to flush toilets.
…and Haiti
It’s very painful to your Eyewitness that the situation in Haiti continues spiralling downwards, even after the first contingent of 400 Kenyan police had landed – along with 24 Jamaican police. These are less than a quarter promised, but the funds disbursed have been even more meagreUS$63 million paid into the UN's dedicated trust fund, that needs ten times that amount.
Most of all, your Eyewitness is disappointed with the reaction of Caricom, and expected much more, since Haiti is a member state. What is there about our Caribbean “Community” that we cannot be our brother’s helper??
There were some in Guyana a while back who were virtually signalling from the top of the Stabroek Market Clock how much they cared for Haitians. Where are they now?
While it’s the Haitian people who’ll eventually have to save themselves, they at least need a respite from the gangs who’re holding Port au Prince and its environs hostage in order to elect a new government of their own.
Let’s help, shall we?
…and cricket
With all the talk about oil revenues bringing growth and development, the capture of the CPL Trophy last year by our Warriors did more than anything else to bring us together as a people!!
Go, Warriors! All the way again!!
Jackie Jaxx Hanover
Those who were kept in bondage
In the commentary following the passing of Shridath Ramphal, no one commented that he had been chosen in the 1988 “Genesis of a Nation” commemorations to deliver the lecture on the Indian Guyanese experience. Insisting that he was a “West Indian”, a quarter century later, he took excerpts from that speech to make the connection between African slavery and Indian Indentureship in his memoirs, “Glimpses of a Global Life”. He emphasized that the slave was private property, and that slavery implied that permanence was basic, however much they (slavery and indentureship) tended to be overshadowed by similarities. It was one experience with differing shades of brutality and differing methods of coercion, but there was a common experience of human bondage. It is a point worth remembering as we continue on our fraught journey of nationhood.
In his “Theses on the Philosophy of History”, Walter Benjamin famously remarked, “There is no document of civilisation that is not at the same time a document of barbarism.” A document, he might have added, framed and authorised by the language of “the law” to mystify its nature. It is for this reason that slavery and indentureship – and the subjugation of the Amerindians - can also be seen as Europeans waging “lawfare” against the peoples of Guyana; which suggests a tool for unravelling the lingering effects.
“Indentured labour” was but one of the various guises under which individuals were conscripted to provide labour in the development of the “capitalist” mode of production, which developed as exploited the worlds it had “discovered” - and more germanely conquered - after 1492. The Spanish made a turn from enslaving Amerindians in the New World to Africans via laws already encoded in their medieval Las Siete Partidas. The ideology of racism - that Africans were inalienably less than human - was invented to justify their claim and African exploitation as chattel.
While it is usual to posit that the development of the exploitation of bodies for their labour occurred in a unilinear teleological fashion from “unfree” to “free labour”, in reality, the process was quite discontinuous, with frequent regressions. The British adapted their Statute of Labourers laws to initially introduce indentured workers in the farms they established in America (Virginia) and Barbados in the early 17th century. The workers were made available by the Enclosure Acts and Game Laws of England etc. which drove them off the “common land”. These white servants would work in the New World farms for four or five years after their passages had been paid by their employers, after which they were free to cultivate the plot of land they were given on their own.
But with the introduction of plantations in the late 17th century - that demanded greater numbers and rigour than Europe could supply to cultivate sugar cane and cottonthe British turned to African slaves. They had to invent in Barbados slave laws that used the Spanish racist ideology to also justify the practice. But even before, they had followed up their “accumulation by dispossession” by developing the modern international law that moved away from the natural law-based “jus gentium”, which accepted equal sovereignty for all countries, to a positivistic law that specified a system of differential sovereignty. The people of the New World were thus dubbed “uncivilised savages”, and their land “terra nullius”, or “nobody’s land”.
In India, which the British East India Company conquered between 1657 and 1818, the British passed laws that changed the rules on land taxes, crops that should be cultivated etc. This resulted in millions dying in famine or being pushed off the land to become the excess labour that could be exported to other parts of India, such as Assam tea plantations or its global empire as needed. Under the new racism, Indians were also lower intrinsically than whites.
After the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1834, rather than moving to “free labour” as was promised, they introduced unfree Indentured labour by law. Slaves were made de facto unfree, as laws were passed to discourage them from moving off the plantations - such that land must be purchased in 100-acre plots. Similarly, the contracts of the indentured were structured to keep them bound to their employer, so that if they were not in the fields, they had to be either in jail or hospital. Infractions of their contract were subject to criminal penalties, and these were applied liberally. It was lawfare against all locals.
GtE components delayed, but completion still on track for 2nd half of 2025 – Project Head
Some key components of the highly anticipated Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD) are behind schedule but it is being assured that the initiative will be completed in the second half of next year.
This is according to Project Lead, Winston Brassington, during a recent presentation at the American Chamber of Commerce Guyana (AmCham Guyana) Energy Mixer held on Thursday evening at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown.
According to Brassington, there were some delays with the civil works at the project site.
“Now, we were supposed to be finished by the end of this year but then the site and all of the interfaces and handover took a few months longer. The soil stabilisation of the site has taken a lot longer. It’s been a very technical process. So, the civil schedule is what is driving critical parts. The long lead items are a little behind but not as much as the civil schedule,” he stated.
Initially, the project was scheduled to be completed by 2024 year-end but following setbacks in handing over some components including site preparation works, the contractor – United States (US)-based consortium –Lindsayca CH4 Guyana Inc. (LNDCH4), which was awarded the US$759 million contract in November 2022 to build the Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility and the 300-megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant at Wales – was given an extension to next year. LNDCH4 and the Guyana Government are currently in a dispute over the deadline and associated costs but officials have assured that this issue is not affecting the project as works still continue on the ground.
Nevertheless, the Project Lead assured that “The parties have all agreed that sometime in the second half of next year [the project will be completed] and I don’t want to be too precise right now because of the number of moving parts. But we feel confident that this will be achieved.”
The GtE project consists of five key components: laying the pipeline to bring the gas onshore, construction of the power plant and NGL facility, installing transmission lines, building a new control centre and upgrading the aged power distribution system.
With regards to the integrated project, that is, the power plant and NGL facility, this has three subcomponents including the simple cycle aspect of the power plant, which is purely gas generation. This will see the project running on gas turbines without the benefit of the heat-recovery systems – the steam boilers –that will allow the plant to go from 225MW to 310MW.
But with the combined cycle, the power plant will recover the waste heat and use it to generate additional power. The third component, the NGL facility, will use the “rich gas” that will be piped onshore and produce byproducts.
According to Brassington, “For the simple cycle, including the NGL facility, we are
behind schedule. At this point in time, we expect to be sometime in the latter half of next year.”
However, in order for the integrated project to commence operation it needs to have the gas. ExxonMobil, along with its co-ventures are operating the oil rich Stabroek Block offshore, are responsible for laying 250 kilometres of 12-inch pipelines that will bring the gas onshore.
Brassington indicated that Exxon is right on schedule, noting “We expect that they will be ready to commission the pipeline and fill it with nitrogen until we are ready to put the gas in. This is going to be completed in the fourth quarter and cost is on budget at US$1 billion.”
Included in that US$1 billion are ancillary works such as the construction of a Materials Offloading Facility (MOF) at Wales, a heavy-haul access road to the project site and site preparation works.
As it relates to the other
transmission lines and substation aspects of the project, these too are also behind schedule.
With the power that will come from the GtE Project, new transmission lines are being installed from the Wales project site to the Garden of Eden on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) and then to Goedverwagting on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD). These will be 24 kilometres of 230 kilovolts (kV) lines –the first of this magnitude to be installed in the country. Additionally, there will be another 54 kilometres of new 69 kV lines installed from the project site to Vreed-en-Hoop, from Goedverwagting to Sophia, and also on the EBD corridor.
“Now, this is running behind schedule but it’s not on the critical path. The transmission lines will be finished by the end of the year and the substations by the first quarter of next year. We have new substations be-
ing built; the main one being at Goedverwagting. We also have the Wales Industrial Substation immediately adjacent to the site – just north of it. And we have what is called the Wales residential about 7 km north of that. In addition to that, we’re upgrading the Vreed-en-Hoop Substation,” the Project Lead stated.
With all of this power and all of these lines, the government is establishing a new national control centre to manage the distribution of the power from the GtE Project. Back in July, the Government signed a US$8.6 million contract with Chinese company, Power China, to construct the building to house this control centre at Eccles, EBD. The equipment for the national control centre is being supplied by US-based OSI, an AspenTech unit.
Brassington indicated that “…both of these projects are expected to be completed next year. The equipment will be in place by the first half of the year and pending the completion of the building, which we’re trying to fast track, we will use the existing control centre at Sophia to move the power around.”
However, despite the key components of the project being behind schedule, Brassington declared that the US$759 million GtE initiative is on budget.
“All of [these works] added up a little under US$2 billion. One billion from Exxon, the rest funded by the Government of Guyana and of that, we hope very soon that we will hopefully get the approval of the [US ExportImport] EXIM Bank,” the Project Lead noted. (G-8)
Ravi Dev
Gas-to-Energy Project Lead, Winston Brassington
At age 14, Roxanne
Beck began her teaching career at the St Peter Catholic School, now known as the Awaruwaunau Primary School, located in the Deep South Rupununi, and she eventually became known as “Miss Roxanne”.
Roxanne has said, “I see my job (as) being very important: to lay a concrete foundation at the nursery level, (in order) to prepare pupils for primary education.”
In an interview with Guyana Times, the seasoned educator recalled that, at the age of 13, she had stud-
the oldest surviving teaching association in the United Kingdom. Its founding principle has been to certify teachers.
Beck was a student of the St Peter Catholic School, where, confident in her brilliance and abilities, her teachers paid for her exam-
Forty-eight years later, Miss Roxanne remains an active member of the profession, still passionately moulding the minds of the next generation.
Recently rehired to teach at the Awaruwaunau Nursery School, Miss
ied for two examinations. “One was the Preliminary Certificate Examination and the other was College of Preceptors, which was an examination set in England.”
The College of Preceptors dates back to 1846, and is
inations. Lester Beck, who later became her husband, had also contributed to the fees. Her parents were farmers, and were not in a position to financially support her education. In those days, no proper lights were avail-
able at night to help her study, and she had to depend on the flickering light from the fireside. The situation had presented major challenges, but the young girl was determined to excel in her exams.
“I made up my mind to study because I need ed a job to support my par ents,” she affirmed. According to the educa tor, in those days, the only employ ment opportu nity available in the hinter land was teach ing. She wrote seven subjects - Mathematics, English Language, English Literature, Algebra & Geometry, Biology, History, and Art.
all the years and dates of events since Columbus discovered the New World up to the end of slavery. I had to learn it all because, if I didn’t
September 1977, I was appointed as pupil teacher with a salary of $221 that I really appreciated,” Miss Roxanne expressed.
“During my studies, Geometry and History were very challenging. In Geometry, I had to learn and know all the statements from Theorem 1 to Theorem 30. In History, I had to learn
and give me lashes on my hand. Sadly, I got some of it,” Beck reminisced.
In January 1977, at the age of 14, she joined the teaching profession as a teacher aide at that very Catholic school. “In
until she was transferred to fill a vacancy at the nursery school in the village, which back then was a benab with a thatched roof.
Roxanne Beck in her younger years
Roxanne Beck in her teenage years
Teacher Roxanne Beck with some pupils
Miss Roxanne said it wasn’t until 1999 that a proper building was erected for the school.
In 1996, she seized the opportunity to become a trained teacher at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE). Being a teacher in those days, especially in remote areas, was incredibly challenging, Ms Roxanne noted. However, her mother was determined to have her children obtain a solid education.
“My dad would normally go hunting and fishing for the family. My mother was a hard-working mother. She ensured that I go to school early and every day. She taught me how to spin the cotton to weave the hammocks. When she had cassava work to be done, she would normally wake me up at midnight to grate the cassava…and then go to school on time,” Ms Roxanne disclosed.
She says she has witnessed the remarkable transformation of the education sector, especially in the hinterland; where, apart from there being an increase in schools, which is improving access to education for children, the availability of learning materials for students and the yearly cash grants from the Government are remarkable improvements. She is also pleased that these schools now have sweeper/cleaners.
the school,” she noted. What is important to her is that there are now more trained teachers available, and it is now
tors. Moreover, opportunities now abound for student graduates.
A mother of three, Ms Roxanne has been able to send at least one
“So, I no longer have to sweep
much easier for them to study, since CPCE has launched its online classes for hinterland educa-
in Georgetown, where she was successful in CSEC and CAPE…and was awarded a scholarship to study in Cuba for seven years; hence, she
University,” Roxanne proudly revealed.
Teacher Roxanne has said she owes her life’s successes and her career to the many educators who have made inputs into her life over the years. These include Peter Charles of Victoria Village, ECD; Kissoon Lall, and Cecil Kowlessar of Mahaica. “Thank you so much!” she has expressed to those teachers who have helped her to see her way through to today.
Ms Roxanne has explained that in her days as a pupil, the teaching staff comprised primarily of “coastlanders” who had made many sacrifices in leaving their homes to offer the hinterland children an education. “Those teachers came to impart their knowledge, and taught me good values of life that are instilled in me today,” she noted. Now, she says, it is her turn to do the same for the next generation of leaders.
“I would tell them (pupils), ‘Take education seriously! Don’t think about marrying right now; complete your education first,’.”
of her children to advance her education. “I managed to assist the third child in sending her to school
continued to climb the ladder… getting a Master’s Degree where she went to study at Barningham
Located in the Deep South Rupununi, Awaruwaunau is a community with a population of some 700 persons mainly of the Wapichan nation. Primary school graduates would have to travel some 25 miles to the nearest secondary school in Aishalton Village.
Roxanne Beck, a colleague and some pupils at the nursery school back in those days
Maintaining Indigenous traditions, expressing struggles through art
While it’s often said that “a pic
James, in speaking with Guyana Times about the pow
wide are using their canvases to express far more than “a mere thousand words” in bringing to light the issues and experiences of their people through art.
Some of these issues relate to pollution and other events that Indigenous people experience daily, thus the Heritage Month Art Exhibition ongoing at Castellani House in Georgetown is being used
the various paintings and sculptures, related that the main reason behind the exhibition is to afford the artists op portunity to showcase their works with a view to initiate change through out their hinterland commu nities.
ing for those topics to fit into our themes, but (these are) important (topics) that should be addressed, and the Indigenous artists wanted to…address that, and so we included that,” James explained.
James pointed out that other artists have embraced
for these Indigenous artists to freely express themselves with passion and panache.
Curator of the event, 29-year-old Ms Pekahiah
and those types of things are key issues that affect Indigenous communities. However, it is not necessarily that we went out look-
Indigenous culture by highlighting riveting experiences within hinterland communities.
Some art pieces depict how Indigenous people used to hunt in earlier days, and how they would prepare famous cuisines, among other things.
“The idea, overall, is to present work created by Indigenous artists or those of Indigenous descent, as well as work that would speak to the culture of our Indigenous people. So, when we were looking for the works, we looked for works that fit that idea, and we realized that most of the artists are maintaining their traditions,” James explained.
Art pieces showcased at the event
Maintaining Indigenous traditions...
Being curator of an Indigenous art exhibition is no easy task, and James highlighted that pulling off this event has been quite strenuous, especially since most artists are from the hinterland. Thus, it is hoped that patrons would appreciate the artworks being displayed.
“Most of the artists were from the hinterland regions… and we had to go into the Heritage Village to identify the other craft persons and sort of pick out works from their pieces; and then we would’ve asked them to ‘Show us your best pieces,’ show us the ones that represented their craftmanship the best,” Ms James detailed.
All the sectors in Guyana have been showing
signs of explosive growth, Ms James declared, and the art-and-culture sector is also showing such signs. She also said this exhibition underscores that Indigenous people are seeking to cultivate their culture.
“I would say (that), considering the economic growth of Guyana, art will always play a role in the preservation of our culture. So, for those nations and those people, the art that is presented here is a representation of their values and their tradi-
tions; and, in a way, it is our effort in preserving and passing it on
for future generations,” She added.
“In building and selling the works, and in coming to an exhibition like this, you are exposed to a lot of the tradition that you might not be aware of,” Ms James has explained.
Ms Pekahiah James, Curator of the Heritage Month Art Exhibition
This publication has witnessed firsthand that most of the materials used by the artists comprise items naturally occurring within their communities. Among the items on display are baskets, makeshift rain simulator sound items, and indigenous blocks. Included in this year’s exhibition
are Amerindian rain sticks which make noises when turned in different directions. Patrons were invited to interact with it, and it was very interactive.
Ms James mentioned what prompted the use of these hands-on materials, and she also said these materials are at times very hard to source.
“In terms of getting the materials for the crafts, I would say that a lot of the artists tend to work with what can be found. So, in some of the craft arts, you can see a lot of natural fibres and woodworking, and that’s how you end up with an artist that is very sculptural, because their works include a lot of natural materials. and so I do not necessarily think that their…
most people have a preference for the art that comes out of these areas, because they tend to be very unique, as an artist (is) working with what can be found,” she detailed.
Some of these artists have received formal training at the Burrowes School of Art, or at the University of Guyana, where they learned to create their canvases. Many of the pieces showcased are crafted by the artists themselves, reflecting their dedication and skill in producing original works. This unique collection not only showcases artistic talent, but also serves as a tribute to the enduring traditions of Guyana’s first peoples.
The exhibition ends on September 30.
hallmarks of rich Amerindian culture
Many people often think the cost of indigenous clothing isn’t high, but few would realise the strenuous process involved in making these traditional pieces.
During the Amerindian Heritage Month service at Austin House in Kingston, Georgetown on Friday, the intricate details of creating indigenous garments were explained by Sabanto Onyi, a professional
of straw after a labor-intensive process which is at times very strenuous for the persons who take time out of their day to make them.
“You have to strip it, boil it, and dry it before it can be used to create any kind of traditional attire or craft,” she related while addressing the misconception that making indigenous clothing is easy.
“Sometimes, when people ask about
in Amerindian clothing, cuisine, and languages.
Onyi shared that crafting a single skirt can take up to 10 trees, a fact that is often overlooked. “This is well-known as tibisiri straw, and in the Lokono language, we call it chishiri, but it’s known across other indigenous nations as tibisiri straw,” she explained.
The tibisiri straw is obtained from the tree shoots, which produce a small yield
the price of a skirt or a top, and you tell them the cost, they might say it’s expensive. But, like I said, for a child’s skirt, it takes about 10 shoots to get enough straw for just one.”
Though she only highlighted a child’s shirt, she alludes to the fact that adult skirts are also time-consuming to make, thus more money as well.
The tibisiri straw isn’t only used for clothing but for various crafts such as
hammocks, bags, furniture and other traditional items.
“It’s a long process, but it’s what we’ve been doing for as long as we can remember. This is how we create not just clothing but hammocks, craft, and a wide range of items,” Onyi emphasised.
Tibisiri straw is a traditional material used by Amerindian communities in Guyana. It is derived from the
young shoots of the ité palm tree (Mauritia flexuosa), which grows in the savannas and wetlands across the country.
Creating Tibisiri straw is no simple task. The process begins with the careful stripping of the ité palm shoots, followed by boiling and drying the fibers.
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
The result is a durable, flexible straw that can be used for a wide range of traditional crafts and clothing. Due to the small yield from each shoot, each clothing requires lots of time to make.
It is woven into traditional skirts and garments, often worn during cultural celebrations and ceremonies.
The straw is also utilised in the creation of baskets, mats, hammocks, and bags, which are renowned for their durability and intricate designs.
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Tibisiri straw is more than just a crafting material. It carries cultural significance, representing centuries of tradition and craftsmanship within Guyana’s indigenous communities. The careful and labour-intensive process of creating tibisiri items is a testament to the skill and artistry passed down through generations.
In addition to the clothing on display, several traditional foods were showcased for those in attendance. Among them
were paiwari and kassiri –two traditional beverages made from cassava.
Other Indigenous makers of the cuisine who were at the event spoke to this newscast and shared the process of making these drinks.
“First, you must grate the cassava and prepare the matapi, then, you bake the cassava until it’s brown, not too dark. Once done, you soak it in warm water and
let it cure,” she explained. The curing process can range from three days to even two weeks or longer, depending on personal preference. The Amerindian Heritage Month service provided a vibrant showcase of the rich traditions and skills of Guyana’s indigenous peoples, reminding attendees of the time, effort, and artistry involved in keeping these cultural practices alive.
The traditional drinks
Education Minister, Priya Manickchand joined teachers and students at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence East Bank Demerara (EBD) to witness the clash between the Barbados Royals and St. Lucia Kings
Republic Bank awards top RightStart account holders for academic excellence
Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited on Thursday honoured 16 RightStart account holders for their outstanding achievements at the recently concluded National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC), and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).
At an event hosted at
Cara Lodge Georgetown, Managing Director of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, Stephen Grell congratulated the awardees for their exceptional performance and commended their parents for the invaluable support provided.
He encouraged them to embrace every opportunity to learn and explore new ideas, as this is essential for their development as well-
rounded individuals.
This annual event highlights Republic Bank’s commitment to fostering academic excellence among Guyana’s youth by recognising and rewarding the milestones of its RightStart account holders. Each awardee received a RightStart Gift Certificate along with a special gift in recognition of their accomplishments.
Torginol Paints, Cyril’s Transportation partner to treat Sophia Care Centre with tickets to CPL match
Torginol Paints has once again teamed up with Cyril’s Transportation to provide an unforgettable experience for the children of the Sophia Care Centre on Saturday.
The children along with their caretakers, attended the CPL match between the St. Lucia Kings and Barbados Royals at the Guyana National Stadium.
Transportation was generously provided by Cyril’s Transportation, ensuring a seamless and comfortable journey. This marked the second consecutive year that the two Guyanese companies have collaborated, highlighting their ongoing commitment to community engagement and support.
Corporate Social Responsibility continues to be a key focus for both Torginol Paints and Cyril’s Transportation. By giving back to the community and creating memorable experiences for the children. Both companies reinforced their dedication to the well-being of the next generation.
Torginol’s Brand Manager, Annalisa Jagmohan said, “We were thrilled to have the op-
portunity to do something special for these children again this year.”
For both Torginol Paints and Cyril’s Transportation, the initiative went beyond just offering a fun outing; it was a testament to their belief in giving back. The collaboration served as a reminder of the positive changes local businesses can create when they unite for a common cause.
The 2024 awardees with senior management of Republic Bank (Guyana) Ltd
Construction of delayed US$75.8M Good Successto-Timehri Road to commence in mid-October
– Phases 1& 2 of Aubrey Barker Road completed
Infrastructure works on US$75.8 million
East Bank Demerara (EBD) Road improvement project, spanning from Good Success to Timehri is scheduled to commence in mid-October.
Works were slated to commence on August 1 but the Guyana Times understands that it was delayed because the contractor, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), did not complete the design for the project on time.
Nevertheless, CRBC has since submitted the design and it is being finalised by the Public Works Ministry and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The contractor has lost approximately seven weeks of work time, however, has committed to deliver by the stipulated deadline of 36-months.
The Ministry of Public Works has also indicated to this publication via written reply that a management plan will be developed before the first week of October to ensure the project is completed on time.
The EBD Road improvement project spans 24 kilometres of and the reconstruction and widening of over 58 bridges and culverts. The full design for the road was recently completed and citizens in the area can expect works to commence shortly.
The project is aimed at supporting climate-resilient infrastructure development and marks the first of its kind to be funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Guyana.
According to the Public Works Ministry, the project
has been divided into three sections to ensure it remains on schedule with minimal disruption to commuters.
B extends from Supply to the Soesdyke Junction.
Section C continues from the Soesdyke Junction to
tion with the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway through the construction of a roundabout, designed to facilitate
Section A covers the stretch from Good Success, beginning at the Ganga Temple, to Supply, while Section
the Timehri Junction, near the Timehri Police Station.
A notable feature of the project is the integra-
smoother traffic transitions.
The roadway will be upgraded to a two-lane highway, complete with en-
hanced safety features such as sidewalks and cycle lanes to cater to vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.
Additionally, thermoplastic road markings, LED street lighting, and traffic signs will be installed to enhance safety and navigation along the carriageway.
To manage the flow of traffic during the construction period, a comprehensive traffic management plan has been developed.
Construction will begin in Section B, where there is sufficient space to accommodate ongoing work without severe traffic disruption.
During that time, at least one lane of traffic will remain open at all times, with efforts to maintain two lanes wherever possible. Construction activities will be confined to one side of the roadway at a time to further mitigate traffic issues.
Stakeholders and road users will remain informed through the RESOLV 75 app, which will provide real-time updates on the project activities.
Additionally, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will also be mobilised to maintain order and ensure a steady flow of traffic throughout the construction period.
When completed the road will alleviate traffic congestion and facilitate vital routes for efficient transportation.
Aubrey Barker road
Meanwhile, Phases 1 and 2 of the Aubrey Baker Road Expansion Project are completed with minor
works remaining.
Phase 1 of Aubrey Barker Road spans 500 metres from the Mandela/ Eccles Roundabout to 40m before High Palm Road while Phase 2 spans 493 metres from High Palm Road to 100 metres before Blue Mountain Road.
The contractor, Surrey Paving Aggregate Company Caribbean Limited, has committed to completing drainage works at Phase 1 in two weeks.
The Public Works Ministry stated that fittings were not readily available in Guyana and the contractor was also waiting for Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to relocate a main crossing in the area.
The Ministry is currently working on Phases 3 and 4 which span 650 metres each, and is currently in its procurement phase for another three phases from Well Road all the way to the Ogle/Eccles Four-Lane bypass road.
Construction on the $1.45 billion Aubrey Barker Road four-lane expansion project started in August 2022 and was expected to be completed and delivered since July 2023. The works include the build out of drains to address the issue of flooding which severely affects the community when it rains.
While the road expansion project started at Aubrey Barker, plans are afoot to rehabilitate and widen the Main Access Road throughout South Ruimveldt.
This undertaking will cater for the buildup of traffic from Mandela Avenue that needs to access South Ruimveldt and Roxanne Burnham Gardens.
14 school fires recorded in 2024, 7 were electrical – GFS
Some 14 school-related fires were recorded between January 1 and September 18, 2024. Of this total, 13 are public schools.
Seven of the 14 fires were of electrical origin while three were due to fire alarm malfunctions, two were the result of baking incidents and one was caused by malicious intent and negligence.
According to data provided by the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), the fires of electrical origin were caused by electrical breakdowns in distribution panels, overloading of electrical circuits, and slack connection of live overhead electrical wires, among others.
Chief Fire Officer (ag) Gregory Wickham
Among the affected schools are Berbice Institutional Secondary School, Zeeburg Secondary School, Central Mahdia Secondary School, Starters Primary School, Mahdia Primary School, Berbice High School, Anna Regina Multilateral School Dormitory, CV Nunes Primary School, Bartica Secondary School Dormitory, No. 56 Primary School, Lodge Secondary School and Mae’s School.
In an interview with the Guyana Times, Chief
Fire Officer (ag) Gregory Wickham disclosed that a large number of educational facilities and dorms across
the country were inspected this year. He explained that recommendations for fire pre-
“Well, generally all inspections, not only schools, we look for fire safety processes, whether they have been followed, we look to see that evacuation sites are in place, exits are in place, that they are not blocked. And so those are general things we do inspections for whether we go to any property, whether it be a government property, whether it be a private property. Yes, like any other building, we go to inspect, we would recommend, based on our inspection, whatever we find to be lacking any of the environment,” the Chief Fire Officer said.
In addition to school inspections, Wickham noted that thousands of students were engaged in sensitisation campaigns throughout the year.
vention and safety have since been handed over to the Education Ministry which is responsible for putting mitigation systems in place.
Artistic design of the East Bank Demerara Road
Section of Phase 1 of the Aubrey Barker Road
Father of 1 succumbs 1 week after Lamaha St collision
One week after he was injured in a 2-vehicle collision along Lamaha Street, Georgetown, 29-yearold Omar Andrew Ally of ‘B’ Field Sophia Greater Georgetown, succumbed to his injuries.
Ally took his last breath in the wee hours of Saturday while receiving medical attention in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC). Guyana Times understands that prior to his demise, he suffered at least three cardiac arrests. In addition, relatives were told that both of his lungs were damaged due to the collision.
Based on reports received, Ally had left a barber shop at Robb Street two Saturdays ago and while on his way home, a motorcar
reportedly crossed a narrow bridge along Lamaha Street and into the path of Ally’s vehicle.
As a result of the collision, Ally who was reportedly speeding at the time, lost control and crashed into the nearby trench. The vehicle was submerged for at least an hour with Ally trapped inside.
He was eventually pulled from the vehicle and taken to GPHC where he was admitted in a critical state. Due to his condition, he was also placed on life support.
A friend who wished to remain anonymous told the Guyana Times that after the accident, the driver of the other vehicle fled the scene. To date, he was not arrested but according to the friend, it might have been a police rank who was driving the vehicle at the time.
Ally, a father of one was described as an intelligent and caring person. Relatives and friends are calling for justice. The police have not issued any information about the accident.
14 school fires recorded...
He said that through outreach events, public education, and collaboration with local organi -
sations, the GFS aims to educate the young population about fire safety measures, evacuation procedures, and the importance of early detection.
“We have, as a result of wanting to inform our students about fire safety and fire prevention. We have had several kids’ camps around the country and these were particularly directed to having children come in a particular environment or space and they are taught fire prevention, and fire safety. They are taught how to use a fire extinguisher to extinguish a small fire. They were taught the general principle of reporting a fire if they see one and what they should do in event of them being trapped in a building that is smoke-logged or even on fire. So, there is a series of things that we would have done recently to inform our students,” Wickham added.
GFS plans to amplify these efforts in the new month as part of its obser -
143 roads to be constructed, upgraded across Reg 10 – Min Edghill
Residents from Region 10 (Upper DemeraraUpper Berbice) will now have more modern and improved throughfares as the Public Works Ministry gears up to begin construc-
ter revealed that to eliminate biased contract negotiations, moving forward the ministry will be paying contractors the same rate per square metre of road constructed.
efit from these projects, the ministry will be selecting skilled individuals to execute construction works for their respective communities.
FROM PAGE 25
vance of Fire Prevention Week, which is slated for October 6–12 under the theme “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!”.
“In the new month, the Guyana Fire Service would again extensively go out in outreach to reach our children because we will be celebrating our 50th fire prevention month of activities in the country. And so again, we will be going to schools, we will be holding seminars, we will be holding outreaches, we will be holding kids camp for our particular, to deal with our children and sensitising them in the way of fire safety and fire prevention. So those are some of the initiatives that we are currently engaged with and certainly, we will have expansion with more activities to sensitise our students about fire safety and fire prevention because we found out that students or children are very good capitalists to spread any information,” he added.
tion of over 140 roads across the region.
This was revealed by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill who recently conducted several community outreaches throughout the region. Whilst engaging with residents the minister shut down claims that the ministry is neglecting Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Upper Berbice).
“The more we do to benefit the people in Linden, we have a small few who are seeking to say that Linden is neglected. Region 10 is getting its fair share of attention like every other region not only from me but from central government through the many other ministers”
In this regard, the minister highlighted that the ministry will be rolling out several infrastructural projects within Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Upper Berbice), one of which will see over 100 roads across the region being constructed and upgraded.
Moreover, the minis-
“We have taken out the unevenness and the unfair practices because we have agreed on a rate per square metre so everybody who gets the job will get paid the
same thing per square metre, so all of these smaller contracts we will engage the contractors but everybody is being paid the same rate.”
Additionally, the minister explained that as part of efforts towards ensuring residents from linden ben-
“We will be engaging the contractors from the communities which means from region 10, they have to be people who could do the work not just because you live in the area. We have a list, we asked the region last year or the year before to submit a list. The Mayor and Town Council submitted a list of other interested people who came and as a result of. We did 75 lots, and we have more roads to do in region 10 so we will have to find contractors to do similarly” he stated Meanwhile, the government has allocated $221.4 billion to the Ministry of Public Works in the 2024 budget with $204.1billion being allocated to roads and bridges, $2.3billion to air transport, $8.1billion for river transport, and $6.9billion for sea and river defense. Notably for linden, the sum of $4.2 billion has been allocated for the construction of the new Wismar Bridge which commenced this year.
Dead: Omar Andrew Ally
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill in discussion with a resident
One of the roads earmarked to be constructed
One of the roads to be constructed
2 friends stabbed to death during brawl outside WCD night spot – 1
arrested, another on the run
By LaWanda McaLLister
Two men were in the wee hours of Saturday stabbed to death during a brawl outside of a popular nightclub at Leonora, West Coast of Demerara (WCD). In addition, one of the two suspects also sustained injuries and is presently receiving medical attention under guard.
The two dead men have been identified as 30-year-old Mohamed Kalameeden Nasir, a carpenter of Lot 1 Stewartville, WCD, and 25-year-old Arvinda Roopram, a construction worker of Lot 52 Stewartville, WCD.
Based on reports, Nasir, Roopram, and the two suspects were engaged in a heated argument which subsequently erupted into a scuffle during which they were stabbed about their bodies.
The two suspects, Alex Amsterdam called ‘Mario’, a 28-year-old security guard, received one stab wound to his upper abdomen, while the second suspect, Terry (only name given), made good his escape from the scene in an unknown direction.
Nasir and Roopram were rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital by ranks of the Anti-Crime Patrol where they were pronounced dead. In addition, Amsterdam was treated and referred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) where he was admitted in a critical state.
On Saturday the Guyana Times visited the homes of the two dead men, where their grief-stricken family members recounted their last moments with their loved ones. At the home of Mohamed Nasir, his reput-
he [Nasir] said that he was ok and that he was ready to go. We tell Roopram, and
ed wife, Marissa Stephens, shared that she witnessed the entire ordeal and was with her husband in his final moments.
The woman said the incident occurred when she, Nasir, Roopram, and some other friends went to a popular night spot near their home to have a drink.
“We went to drink beers and after the third round,
Roopram walked away from us and he walked over to the hotdog stand. We stood by the step of the bar and we were waiting on him. All of a sudden Roopram started to trouble a girl and a man turned and asked him why he troubling the girl, Roopram turn and asked the man if he wanted to do something about it. At the same time, my boy turned and asked the
next man what he gonna do, if he want do Roopram something”, she explained.
“The big scrambling started from down there. I then heard that a boy [that was the other crew] got stabbed, but the boy they were talking about, it the boy that stabbed my boy. I don’t know how that happened and how he got stabbed. After my boy got stabbed, he ran and I ran behind him and he fell down. Right away, I called 911 and they came for he. By the time they reached he didn’t have all the energy to talk to me. All he kept saying was, ‘babe, I going home, I going home”.
Stephens said witnessing her husband’s death has left her in shock and wondering how she will take care of their five children. She said Nasir was the sole breadwinner of the family, and she is left having to wonder about her next move.
“My boy didn’t do anybody anything. He was picking up for his friend and this is what happened. The other boy [Roopram] tried to escape and like four of them run behind him and stabbed
him. They ended up finding him at the koker mouth”, Stephens recalled.
“We were planning on repairing our house by buying some zinc since our house is leaking, and putting light in the house since we don’t have light in the house. Now, none of this will come through”.
Meanwhile, Nasir’s father, Mohamed Nasir Sr., calls for justice to be served.
“I saw my son lying dead on that bed with a big hole in his stomach. This is first-degree murder because he stabbed him in his heart. The same place the other guy was stabbed too. That is premeditated murder. My children grew up without a mother now it hurts me that my grandchildren will have to grow up feeling how their father felt as a child, without one of their parents. I need justice for my son”.
On the other hand, at the home of Roopram, his wife, Kesha Richmond, recounted her devastation after learning of her husband’s death. Richmond said she was asleep when she was informed of the stabbing incident and rushed to the hospital, only to hear that her
husband was left in a nearby trench.
“I heard that he was at the club with his friend and his friend got into an altercation with some guys and he tried to de-escalate the situation and he became a victim. While his friend was also stabbed, he got the hand of everything. I was told that he tried to run away when everything started escalating and they ran behind him. He tried running to his car and they ran behind him and
because he is not. They took his life and it was not easy, they were merciless. They shouldn’t have taken his life. He was just there to squash everything…If you see what they did to him, it was premeditated, and evil. What could cause you to do another human like that?”
“He asked for help, he probably tried to talk them out of it because that is what he is known for…I always warn him to stop trying to make peace because
kept stabbing him”, she said.
“We have a two-year-old daughter and I ran out of the house and I went to the hospital and we saw the police coming in the compound. We thought it was him but it was the other guy, and one of the police officers told us that there was another man in the trench and that we could go and see if that one was of our relative. We went, and his brother had to go search in the water for him and bring him out. They [ the police] knew they were two persons but they just took the one person they saw…”.
Richmond related that her husband’s sudden death has left her clueless about how to move on.
“We have a daughter and all I am thinking is what am I going to tell her because that was her favourite person, she is a daddy’s girl more than anything. I can’t tell her that her daddy went out and he is coming back
bad things can happen. Now look, that is exactly what happened”.
The woman said she has been with her husband for about five years and now the men who killed him erased everything they had hoped to build in the future. As such, she is also calling for justice.
“They need to be caught and justice needs to be served. They all need to be held accountable for what they did. I am not the only one who is grieving, another man was killed…they didn’t have to go that far. It was their final blow that killed him. The stab wounds were bad… he had on his hands, fingers and they opened his chest”.
Both grieving families are now left to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. Police are continuing their hunt for the second suspect.
Dead: Mohamed Kalameeden Nasir
Dead: Arvinda Roopram
The bar where the incident occurred
Mohamed Nasir’s wife Marissa Stephens and his father Mohamed Nasir Sr.
Kesha Richmond with her husband Arvinda Roopram in happier times
Mahdia to get new generator to end electricity woes – PM Phillips
The government has announced that by the end of September, the frequent blackouts occurring in Mahdia will end as a new generator will be installed to better serve the township.
This is according to the Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips who is performing the duties as President. He noted that the information about the power outages was received on Friday evening from the Mahdia Power and Light Company Inc.
According to Phillips, he acted immediately and began sourcing a new generator to offset the power shortage.
“I want to assure you that we’re looking for a generator now to send into Mahdia be-
fore the end of this month, a new generator. Once I find a new generator, it might be this weekend or next week, it will be on its way to Mahdia to deal with this power situation once and for all. That’s my promise to you.”
This is, in addition, to the $362 million solar farm being established in Mahdia. The contract for this project was signed in October 2022 between the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) and the Standby Power Engineering Company (SPECOM).
The solar farm will provide 0.69 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the existing mini-grid at Mahdia, benefitting approximately 3,000 persons.
During the time of signing, the Head of the GEA,
Dr. Mahender Sharma underscored that in addition to offsetting at least 30 per cent of the annual electricity to the Mahdia mini-grid, the solar farm would be able to supply at least two hours of electricity to the community daily, without the operation of diesel generators.
Meanwhile, to further address the energy disparity in the hinterland, residents of Mahdia and surrounding communities in Region Eight have already received solar photovoltaic (PV) home systems from the government.
This is part of the administration’s Solar Home Systems Project, which promises to deliver to 30,000 households in the hinterland and riverine communi-
Welder allegedly falls to death at worksite
Twenty-eight-year-old Jermaine Hercules, a welder from Airy Hall, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD) lost his life on Friday after falling off a 30-foot building at Cane Grove, ECD.
Details surrounding the incident remain unclear, but it was reported that Hercules left for work on Friday morning, as usual, but his relatives later received a telephone call informing them of the unfortunate accident.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances of the fall.
The incident comes amid increasing concerns over workplace safety in Guyana, especially in light of several recent fatalities. In July, the Labour Ministry’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department launched a nationwide safety sensitisation programme aimed at preventing workplace accidents. This initiative, devel-
oped in collaboration with Guyana Power and Light (GPL), seeks to reinforce the need for conducting risk assessments on job sites before operations begin.
Gweneth King, a consultant with the OSH Department, emphasised the importance of these assessments, particularly in high-risk industries like construction. The initiative also focuses on educating workers about the importance of wearing proper protective gear and adhering to safety protocols to prevent accidents. The ongoing effort addresses widespread concerns about workplace safety, including the risk of electrocution, which has been the cause of multiple deaths this year.
ties,150-watts solar system that will supply electricity.
The prime minister noted that his government will continue to ensure residents
of Mahdia and other hinterland areas, feel their presence.
“When they come and tell you better must come,
tell them, better is already here because you have a government that is committed to your development,” he stated.
Yakusari Health Centre extended to address needs of community
In line with its commitment to expanding healthcare access, the Yakusari Health Centre in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) has been expanded to accommodate the growing needs of the community.
This project was facilitated by the government through the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).
The RDC’s social media page highlighted that this expansion is part of a broader initiative to enhance healthcare delivery in the Black Bush Polder community.
The project involved constructing a new section adjacent to the existing building, significantly increasing the centre’s capacity and range of services.
With the expansion complete, the health department is now able to broaden its outreach efforts. In addition to existing healthcare services, residents will now have access to dental care provided by a visiting dentist.
This extension will enable health professionals to better address the growing healthcare needs of the community. It will also ensure more comprehensive and
mitment extends beyond infrastructure; it is also dedicated to ensuring that these facilities are adequately equipped and staffed. In the 2024 national
accessible care for all residents.
Since 2020, health posts and centres across the country have undergone significant upgrades to cater to the increasing population. Furthermore, communities that previously lacked health facilities are now equipped with them.
The government’s com-
budget, a substantial allocation of $129.8 billion was designated to the health sector, representing the largest budgetary allocation in its history. This funding will ensure that additional health facilities receive the necessary equipment, staffing, and modern facilities to effectively serve their communities.
Acting President Mark Phillips being greeted upon his arrival in Mahdia on Saturday
Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai, Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Omar Khan, and regional officials
The interior of the extended section
The Yakusari Health Centre
Dead: Jermaine Hercules
Cricket West Indies announces re-election of Bassarath as BoD Vice-President
Cricket West Indies (CWI) on Friday announced the re-election of Azim Bassarath to the role of Vice-President of its Board of Directors.
It has been informed that pursuant to the CWI Articles of Association, a Special Meeting of Members was convened today, September 20, 2024, for the sole purpose of electing a new Vice President. At the close of nominations, Mr. Bassarath was the sole candidate, having been nominated by the Jamaica Cricket Association and Leeward Islands Cricket Board. The nominations were circulated, as customary, and every territorial board, which constitutes the shareholders, was adequately notified.
Of his re-election Azim Bassarath has said, “I’m excited to return to my duties for the good of West Indies cricket, working alongside my dedicated colleagues at Cricket West Indies. Since March of 2023, when myself and Dr Shallow took over, we made great strides in the most popular format of the game – T20 - and we are determined to continue making these strides in the other two international formats. I have commit-
ted, and remain committed, to serving with integrity and respect for the process, while upholding the best governance practices.
“This vote of confidence signals that we can move forward with the business of cricket, and deliver the results shareholders and fans across the region and around the world are eager to see under the leadership of Dr. Kishore Shallow.”
All Territorial Boards except the Guyana Cricket Board were in attendance at the Special Members
Meeting. Guided by its Articles of Association, CWI reaffirms its unwavering commitment to democratic principles and transparency.
At close of that meeting, CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow thanked members for their participation, and reiterated calls for unity among West Indies Cricket stakeholders.
CWI will host its next quarterly board meeting on September 28, 2024. That meeting would be held in Trinidad and Tobago.
The ISKF Team
Guyana, accompanied by a delegation of 99 participants, parents, and supporters, has safely arrived in London. The team is preparing for the ISKF 4th ShotoCup World Tournament, which will take place this weekend at the UEL SportsDock, University Way, Beckton, London.
Our athletes are acclimating to the local environment and undergoing intensive training sessions to ensure they are in peak condition for the competition. The tournament promises to be an exciting event, with territories from the USA, Pan America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa in attendance.
CWI launches online ticket sales for WI vs England series
On the heels of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup held in the Caribbean in June, the Men in Maroon would be welcoming decades-long rivals England back to the region’s shores.
The series in which these two teams would be involved, dubbed ‘The Rivalry’, is set to be kicked off from Thursday October 31, and would last until Sunday November 17. Both T20I and ODI formats would be contested, and Antigua, Barbados and St. Lucia are the three islands chosen to host the highly anticipated match-up.
The action would com-
mence at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua when the home team takes on England in two ODIs sponsored by CG United on October 31 and November 2 at 2pm and 9:30am respectively.
The teams then travel to Barbados to contest the 3rd ODI at the Kensington Oval on Wednesday November 6 from 2pm. The first T20I game is at that venue on Saturday November 9 and the second is on Sunday November 10, both games begin at 4pm.
The tour is wrapped up at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St. Lucia with three T20I matches on
4th Shotocup World Karate Tournament…
Thursday 14, Saturday 16, and Sunday 17 November. All matches begin at 4pm.
Fans can purchase tickets securely in advance from https://tickets.windiescricket.com to save tickets directly to their mobile devices, or a ticket can be printed at home for presentation at the venue, avoiding the need to travel to, or queue, at the box offices.
Fans can also take advantage of other benefits, such as exclusive advance ticket windows and discounts.
Box offices would be opened several days in advance of the first match in each series. (Sportsmax)
ISKF Team Guyana arrives in London
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for our team to represent Guyana on this prestigious global stage and to engage in cultural exchanges with participants from across the world,” the ISKF has said. “The strong presence of our 99-member delegation underscores the communal spirit and enthusiasm that surrounds our athletes, showcasing the solidarity and pride of our nation. We are confident that our team will demonstrate the skill and discipline that karate demands, bringing honour to Guyana.
“We invite you to join us in following their journey and cheering them on
as they strive for excellence. We will keep you updated on their progress and achieve-
ments throughout the tournament.
“Thank you for your
Newly re-elected CWI Vice-President Azim Bassarath
West Indies and England will meet again in a limited-over series
A look at the Guyanese Team in London
Republic Bank CPL…
Kings secure playoff spot
Table-toppers
Barbados Royals have played a match to forget at Guyana’s National Stadium at Providence, having scored 96/9 in a match that resulted in their being well beaten by 7 wickets.
In that match, St Lucia Kings put in a staggering display of focused cricket to secure a spot in the 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) playoffs.
Upon winning the toss, the Royals elected to bat first, but Alzarri Joseph soon had them ruing that decision as he sent Quinton de Kock’s bails flying skywards with a delicious in-ducker that started the struggles from which the Royals never recovered.
Wickets fell steadily as Joseph and Roston Chase put in impressive performances for the Kings, taking seven wickets between them as the Royals just managed to bat out their
overs - largely thanks to some lower order resistance from Keshav Maharaj and Maheesh Theekshana. Johnson Charles was caught and bowled by Jason Holder as the Kings set
about hauling in the total and securing the win that would see them book a place in the latter stages of the tournament. Faf du
CPL launches ground staff incentive scheme
The Republic Bank
Caribbean Premier League (RBL CPL) has launched an incentive scheme for ground staff at host venues across the region. The scheme would provide a cash payment of US$5,000 for each location, to be shared among the ground staff there as a reward for their hard work in providing pitches and outfields that produce entertaining cricket.
The criteria by which
this incentive would be awarded is based on the presentation, look and feel of the pitch square and the outfield, and the performance of the pitches used during that leg of the tournament. Performance would be measured by consistency of pace and bounce of pitches, quality of the outfield, and achievement of average first innings scores of more than 160.
Michael Hall, CPL’s
Tournament Operations Director, has said: “One of the many ways that cricket is so unique is the reliance on ground conditions for how the match unfolds. The ground staff teams across CPL venues work tirelessly to produce the best possible facilities for the cricketers who take part in our league. I am very pleased that we can find a way to reward this hard work with this incentive scheme.”
(CPLT20)
19 balls before attempting to open the shoulders to Maharaj and being stumped by de Kock, but in truth, the
maining. Alzarri Joseph was duly adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ for laying the groundwork with his
Kings never looked to be in any sort of trouble.
Roston Chase and Tim Seifert made 39 and 21 respectively to knock off the runs with 37 balls re-
four wickets earlier in the match.
It was an off-day for the Royals, who have looked imperious for most of the tournament so far. They’ll have to dust themselves down with the 2024 competition heading towards the final stages and a handful of teams seemingly hitting peak form at just the right time. (CPLT20)
Noor Ahmad 4-0-21-1 Khary Pierre 3-1-7-0 Mikkel Govia 4-0-18-1
David Wiese 1-0-8-0
St Lucia Kings (T: 97 runs from 20 ovs)
Faf du Plessis (c) st †de Kock b Maharaj 26
The St Lucia Kings have booked a playoff spot
Alzarri Joseph bowled superbly to claim a four-fer
David Miller’s 21 spared the Royals an even more embarrassing total
Roston Chase produced an all-round effort
Scores of schoolchildren had the opportunity to take in the Royals vs Kings clash on Saturday
More than 56 horses set to battle at President’s Cup
Guyana Cup winner Olympic Kremlin, Easy Time, defending President’s Cup champion John Bull, newcomers Mapa Do Brasil, Stat, Nova Sol and Stolen Money are among the top horses confirmed for the 2024 President’s Cup horse racing which is set for Sunday September 22.
The Rising Sun Turf Club on the West Coast of Berbice is expected to come alive as more than 56 horses were confirmed for the exciting event. More than G$15 million will be up for grabs, and it will be a revenge plot for most of the horses who were crushed by Slingerz Racing Stables’ Olympic Kremlin at the Guyana Cup.
Sunday’s feature will be open to three-year-old and older horses with a total purse of G$5,812,500 being divided among the top finishers.
Additionally, the feature
race will have Stat at gate number one, while Nova Sol, John Bull, Easy Time, Mapa Do Brasil, Stolen Money, and Oympic Kremlin will follow gate positions in that order.
Mapa Do Brasil, the hottest newcomer from Js Racing Stables, have a history with the Guyana Cup winner, Olympic Kremlin. That will be a thrilling match-up, but fans will not write off the experienced Easy Time, who has built a winning reputation in Guyana’s horse racing.
Other races on the provisional programme include the three-year-old Guyana and West Indian-bred, Sprint ‘E’ Class for horses three years old and over; two-year-old maiden; H1 and Lower Open to ‘G’ Class Non-Earners on Guyana Cup. Also open to ‘G’ class Non-Winners in Guyana, ‘J’ Class Open to H3 NonEarners in last two starts, K Class/J3 Non-Earner Last Start, and the L Class/J Class and K Class and Non-
Courts Optical Pee-Wee Tournament kicked off
The 11th installment of the Courts Optical Under-11 Pee- Wee Football Tournament got underway on Saturday morning with hundreds of prospective ballers gathering to showcase their skills on the football field.
The teams were outfitted in their respective eye-catching colours for the customary march past exercise, which was later won by F.E. Pollard Primary; and during the opening ceremony, Deputy Chief Education Officer (CEO) Marti DeSouza highlighted the widespread reach of the tournament as he shared encouraging words with the players.
“…and I’m looking at all the faces and I recognize
young boys, to come together to showcase your skills, to form friendships that will last a very long time. You are the future of football in
“Echoing the words of the speakers before, this is an opportunity for us, for you
that we have schools from all across not the entirety of Guyana, but I’m seeing some city schools, country schools, and hinterland, and I know once again in 2024 we are about to have a very intriguing competition,” he said.
Guyana,” DeSouza shared. Also sharing encouraging words with the young
ballers was Courts Optical Brand Manager Ricardo Semple, who reaffirmed the company’s commitment
to the tournament when he said, “A little earlier during the week, (as) I was passing, I saw one of the teams
(in) training and I was like, ‘Wow! they’re taking it real serious this year.’ But to the young players, I just want to remind you guys (that) this tournament is about teamwork. Every opportunity and every game that you play, you get a chance to improve on your skills, (and) Courts Optical is happy to be the lead sponsor of this tournament,” Semple affirmed.
In the on-field action that was kicked off, Potaro Primary secured the first win of the tournament by defeating Redeemer Primary 2-0, with goals coming from Kendrick LaRose and Colton Telemaque.
Then goals coming off the boots of Christian LaRose and Alexander Vasconcellos led Marian Academy to a 2-1 victory over Georgetown International Academy.
Earner Last Start. The sponsors of this year’s President’s Cup are Jumbo Jet Events, Js Supermarket, XCMG, SinoTruk and Banks DIH.
Race time is 12:00h local time at Rising Sun Turf Club, West Coast Berbice.
All eyes will be on the Guyana Cup winner Olympic Kremlin at the President’s Cup
Pee-Wee march past in action with uniformed teams
F. E. Pollard Primary won the march past
Action in the first game between Potaro Primary and Redeemer Primary
Courts Optical Brand Manager Ricardo Semple
This has been the second consecutive night that the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) have remarkably been able to defend 130 runs as they extend their winning streak at home in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (RBLCPL).
Despite their Saturday night tally being two runs less than that of the previous night, the 2023 defending champions produced another stellar bowling performance to defeat the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons by 27 runs.
For the umpteenth time this season, the Guyana Amazon Warriors have experimented with their opening pair, shockingly swapping Friday night’s combination of Tim Robinson and Kevin Sinclair for Azam Khan and Raymon Reifer.
In a slow start for the Warriors, just two runs were scored from the first three overs, the first of which was a maiden. However, the fourth rotation looked promising, as Azam Khan appeared to finally be able to free his arms and get some runs. Shockingly, the experiment failed not long after, as Reifer skied a Mohamed Amir delivery, only to see it being gobbled up by Hayden Walsh Jr on the edge of the circle.
Another twist in the tale of the Warriors saw Gudakesh Motie approaching the middle as the number 3 batsman. The
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons (T: 136 runs from 20 ovs) Brandon King c Shepherd b Pretorius 3 Justin Greaves st †Azam Khan b Motie 5 Kofi James lbw
b Imran Tahir 27 Hassan Khan c Motie
b Imran Tahir 10 Imad Wasim
b Ali 7 Jahmar Hamilton †c †Azam Khan
b Ali 12 Chris Green (c)c Hetmyer
b Pretorius 17 Fabian Allen lbw
not out 0 Extras (lb 2, w 2) 4 TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 6.75) 135/7
Did not bat: Shamar Joseph, Imran Tahir (c) Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Raymon Reifer, 4.3 ov), 2-33 (Gudakesh
17.5 ov), 7-134 (Moeen Ali, 19.5 ov) • DRS Bowling O-M-R-W Mohammad Amir 4-1-15-2
Chris Green 4-0-22-0
Imad Wasim 4-0-39-2
Hayden Walsh 4-1-15-1
Fabian Allen 1-0-14-0 Hassan Khan 1-0-15-1 Joshua James 2-0-13-0
b Ali 0 Joshua James
b Joseph 15 Hayden Walsh not out 2 Mohammad Amir c Ali
b Pretorius 0 Extras (b 6, lb 1, w 3) 10
TOTAL 18.5 Ov (RR: 5.73) 108 Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Justin Greaves, 2.2 ov), 2-16 (Brandon King, 3.4 ov), 3-41 (Hassan Khan, 7.1 ov), 4-54 (Kofi James, 9.3 ov), 5-71 (Jahmar Hamilton, 12.4 ov), 6-76 (Imad Wasim, 14.2 ov), 7-76 (Fabian Allen, 14.5 ov), 8-101 (Joshua James, 17.2 ov), 9-107 (Chris Green, 18.2 ov), 10-108 (Mohammad Amir, 18.5 ov) • DRS
Bowling O-M-R-W
Gudakesh Motie 4-0-24-1
Dwaine Pretorius 2.5-0-9-3
Imran Tahir 4-0-40-2
Romario Shepherd 1-0-5-0
Moeen Ali 4-1-9-3
Shamar Joseph 3-0-14-1
shuffle failed terribly, resulting in 3 wickets being lost for 48 runs, and Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer finding themselves at the crease.
The Berbician again showed signs of good form as he smashed Hassan Khan for a pair of sixes in the 10th over, but Hayden Walsh Jr proved to be his undoing in the very next over.
What Hetmyer’s departure for 13 runs scored off four balls managed to accomplish was an indication to the Warriors that they needed to up the ante, as, with a steadily rising runrate and the big shots still difficult to come by, an undercurrent of frustration was beginning to develop.
To add to their woes, the wickets continued to fall at regular intervals in their quest to reverse the situation; and Romario
Shepherd making his way to the crease brought hopeful anticipation to the thousands of Guyanese fans occupying the stands, as they recalled his late blitz of the previous night. His heroics were not to be on Saturday night though, as he powered the ball into the stand only once, for a lone maximum in his 10 runs from 6 balls.
Moeen Ali was the power-hitter the Warriors needed but didn’t expect. He had the Guyanese fans on their feet for almost the entire 19th over as he blasted 26 runs off Imad Wasim’s bowling to rearrange the equation to 42 runs needed from 33 deliveries.
The 20th over was quieter, but Keemo Paul acquired 11 runs that got the Warriors to 135-7 in their quota.
Hope persisted to excite the Guyanese crowd because, after all, the Warriors were able to defend 137 on the previous night to win by a whopping 30 runs. But the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons were also fighting tooth and nail to reserve a berth in the playoff qualification, and an interesting second innings awaited.
In sticking to their experiment with interesting changes, the Amazon Warriors handed Gudakesh Motie the ball for the first over. As expected, it was a quiet one with just three runs conceded, but when the Berbician returned for his second over, the breakthrough finally came. First it was Justin Greaves departing for 5 runs, then in the following over, it was Brandon King walking back to the dugout for 3, having been caught off the bowling of Dwaine Pretorius; and although the Falcons’ scorecard kept ticking, the Warriors were also gradually chipping away at the wickets.
Ali was superb in the middle overs, beginning his spell in the 9th over and bowling 4 on the trot. By the time the 15th over had ended, Ali had stellar figures of 3 for 9 from 4 overs. By then the defending champions needed only three more scalps to seal the deal, while a big over was just what the Falcons needed. And their wish came true in the 17th over when Joshua James smashed Tahir for 2 fours and a six to eventually accumulate 17 runs. However, his attempts at power-hitting did not translate well against Shamar Joseph’s bowling, and his stumps were shattered with the second ball of the 18th over.
Pretorius eventually finished off the contest by claiming the remaining two wickets in the 19th to rout the Falcons for 108 in
18.5 overs.
While the Falcons’ campaign has come to an end, the defending champions will be back in action on Wednesday, September 25th, when they take on the Barbados Royals in what promises to be an entertaining clash.
Gudakesh Motie took the catch that dismissed Hassan Khan
Imad Wasim was bowled by Moeen Ali
Imran Tahir celebrating the dismissal of Hassan Khan
Moeen Ali hitting a boundary