The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Thursday, October 17 –03:45h-05:15h and Friday, October 18 – 03:45h-05:15h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Thursday, October 17 –15:55h-17:25h and Friday, October 18 – 16:35h-18:05h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Sunshine is expected during the day, with light rain showers in the late-morning and early-afternoon hours. Clear skies are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East North-Easterly to South-Easterly between 1.34 metre and 3.58 metres.
High Tide: 16:23h reaching a maximum height of 2.96 metres.
Low Tide: 09:59h and 22:21h reaching minimum heights of 0.37 metre and 0.22 metre.
Pres Ali announces one-off $100,000 cash grant to every Guyanese 18 years and older – courses at all
Govt institutions to now be tuition-free from Jan 2025
President Dr Irfaan Ali has announced that the $200,000 cash grant per household initiative, which he had announced last week, has been re-examined and will now be amended to provide a $100,000 cash grant to every citizen 18 years and older.
During a national broadcast, President Ali said this decision was made based on feedback following last week’s announcement, including complications within families and fears of being bypassed.
He noted that over the past week, thousands of Guyanese have engaged him and members of his Cabinet, providing extremely favourable feedback on the measures announced. He noted that while tens of thousands have publicly expressed their welcoming of these measures, others have noted the complexity of implementing the plan.
“It is the understanding of the complexity there is even within and among families and understanding the importance of feedback that we have received, including internal family conflict about access and distribution of the grant.
“We’ve seen recently a rush to transfer registration of utility meters and a rush to prepare tenancy agreements, all of which is aimed at establishing a distinct household as well as other complications that may arise in administering these benefits,” he explained.
In light of these real or perceived challenges, President Ali said that he ordered the re-examination of the measure last Friday. This was with the aim of expanding the benefits and also removing the challenges.
President Ali also noted that this reconsideration was guided by key principles that included reducing the burden of administering the benefit; simplifying the procedures for accessing the benefit; improving ease of verification; minimising any potential conflicts that might arise, whether within the family or community; ensuring an open, transparent, and verifiable system of delivery and expanding the benefit.
“Instead of the one-off cash grant of $200,000 to every household previously announced, my government will now expand this benefit by providing a oneoff cash grant of $100,000 to every citizen of Guyana who would have attained the age of 18 years, with the simple means of verification being possession of a valid national identification card and/or a valid Guyanese passport,” the President said.
“This measure is expected to substantially increase the $60 billion previously allocated for the one-off household grant. However, in the
interest of fairness and openness and in the interest of ensuring that the widest possible benefit is given to the Guyanese population, we believe that this is the best course of action.”
The Head of State pointed out his Government’s responsibility to ensuring the equitable distribution of the funds while establishing a system that ensures this. With that in mind, he noted that this new method will address the many concerns of young people, who may not yet have a family of their own.
“This also addresses the many concerns of young people who may not yet have a family, but who thought in their discourse with us that they would not benefit from the household allocation because they were not yet the head of the household. This new initiative will now take into consideration those persons, and expand the benefit to those young professionals also.”
President Ali also announced the removal of fees from all educational institutions including the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA);
Carnegie School of Home Economics; Government technical institutes and the Board of Industrial Training among others. This measure will take effect from January 1, 2025.
“It would be recalled that I also announced the abolition of tuition fees at the University of Guyana with effect from 1st January 2025. In response to feedback received, I now wish to announce that tuition fees will also be abolished at all Government technical and vocational training insti-
tutions, including all of the technical institutes.
“This measure will benefit more than 3000 persons. These announcements are made in keeping with my Government’s efforts to ensure greater and equitable access to benefits, empowering and helping as many people as possible,” President Ali said.
The Government’s announcement of free university education was in keeping with its 2020 manifesto promise. President Ali had revealed that this initiative would continue his administration’s advancement of the country’s human capital, especially the young generation and their families who will benefit from the tuition-free tertiary education. In keeping with the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government’s policy of making tertiary education free in the country, some $203.7 million in student loans have already been written off by the State. This debt write-off benefited approximately 346 students. (G3)
Guyana’s roads have become deadly. With an alarming rise in fatal accidents, it is clear that a culture of recklessness and disregard for the law has taken root. Public Works Minister Juan Edghill’s recent call for stricter enforcement and the revocation of drivers’ licences, particularly of errant public transport operators, is both timely and necessary. It is high time that the safety of people is prioritized over the convenience of irresponsible drivers.
Edghill highlighted a disturbing trend in which drivers blatantly ignore traffic laws and engage in reckless behaviour, endangering lives in the process. These drivers, many of whom operate minibuses and other forms of public transport, are tasked with ferrying citizens —schoolchildren, workers and families — yet they show a shocking disregard for the very lives they transport.
The minister’s own experience of witnessing a minibus with children on board recklessly mounting a concrete walkway in a bid to overtake other vehicles illustrates the perilous situation on Guyana’s roads. This irresponsible behaviour is not just a threat to lives, but also to public infrastructure. The billions of taxpayers’ dollars spent annually to maintain and rehabilitate roads, bridges, and other public structures are being wasted, as reckless drivers destroy them with impunity. For a country striving towards development, this is unacceptable.
The statistics are staggering. In August, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) revealed a 20 percent increase in fatal accidents involving motor trucks and lorries in 2024, a sign that the situation is spiralling out of control. This year alone, we have seen too many lives having been snuffed out in senseless accidents that could have been prevented. Over just three days, at least four lives were lost, families were torn apart and communities were left grieving, and yet the reckless behaviour continues.
Minister Edghill is right to assert that no amount of infrastructure, be it speed bumps, bike lanes, or walkways, would work if there is no corresponding cultural shift towards road safety. While physical deterrents like these can help, the core of the problem lies in the attitude of many drivers. Until drivers understand that the road is not their personal playground, where they can flout the rules without consequence, we would continue to see these tragic incidents.
This is where revoking licences becomes essential. Public transport drivers hold an immense responsibility. When they abuse that privilege and put lives at risk, they should no longer be entrusted with that responsibility. The threat of losing their licences should serve as a wake-up call, reminding them that their actions have real consequences.
Critics may argue that revoking licences is too harsh, or that it may disproportionately affect livelihoods. However, the cost of inaction is far greater. Lives are being lost, and families are suffering. Public transport operators, by virtue of their profession, should be held to higher standards. They are entrusted with the safety of multiple lives each day, and if they repeatedly fail to demonstrate responsible driving, they should be stripped of that trust.
Beyond revocation, there must also be better enforcement. It is heartening that Minister Edghill plans to engage the Home Affairs Ministry and the Guyana Police Force in tackling this issue. However, enforcement cannot be a one-off initiative; it must be consistent, widespread, and unforgiving. The GPF must crack down on errant drivers and ensure that penalties are swiftly applied. This is not about creating a culture of fear, but a culture of accountability.
Moreover, road safety education needs to be emphasized. While punitive measures are crucial, there must also be efforts to educate drivers, especially young and aspiring ones, on the importance of road safety and the grave responsibilities that come with driving. Schools, driving schools, and public awareness campaigns should all be part of a broader strategy to instill a safety-first mindset in our road users.
The rise in fatal accidents is a national issue that demands urgent and decisive action. Revoking licences is a strong and necessary step in curbing this dangerous trend. It sends a clear message that recklessness on the roads will not be tolerated, and that the lives of Guyanese citizens are too precious to be put at risk by irresponsible drivers. We support Minister Edghill’s call for accountability and working towards a safer, more responsible road culture in Guyana.
World Food Day 2024
Food is a right – Guyana is on track to achieving food security for all our people
By Dr LesLie ramsammy
As Guyana joins countries and citizens around the globe to observe World Food Day 2024, Guyana’s food production and overall agricultural production have been increased significantly. Since 2020, Guyana has led Caricom’s 25 X 25 Initiative to increase local food production.
Guyana can feel proud that we led effectively the drive to reduce food imports by Caricom. As of today, we can feel relatively confident that by World Food Day 2025, the goal of a 25% reduction in food imports into Caricom would be attained. Already, the reduction is approximately 18%.
But even as Guyana and Caricom have reasons to be optimistic, our countries are vulnerable to natural disasters. Guyana faces climate change challenges such as floods, droughts, changing patterns of precipitation, rising sea levels, sea acidifi-
cation, and intrusion of salt water into irrigation systems.
Caricom countries also face the same problems. In addition, Caricom countries face hurricane challenges. Beryl recently caused several of the countries to lose significant parts of their GDP.
Climate change is real. Our Caricom countries mostly have to pay for damage, destruction and lost lives that Caricom contributed little to nothing towards. Despite the many constraints, Guyana and Caricom can be proud that they continue to make gains in food security.
At the same time, FAO estimates reveal that a growing number of people, almost 750 million, faced hunger in 2023, and 2.8 billion people around the world could not afford a healthy diet in 2022. Our own Region – Latin America and the Caribbean – in 2022 had 183 million people who could not afford a healthy diet.
Even more worrying is that the average cost of a
healthy diet has risen to almost US$4 per day per person. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the average cost was US$4.60.
Analysis of food costs clearly shows that countries that import more food have a higher average of cost for a healthy diet. This is a concern for Caricom. Guyana and Belize are Caricom countries that produce more than 50% of their food needs.
Some of the Caricom countries import as much as 80% of their food needs. In addition, intra-regional imports between our countries are significantly less than imports from outside of the region. We must change this dispensation.
On World Food Day 2024, Guyana’s President, HE Irfaan Ali, is leading the drive to ensure that Guyana strengthens its status as a food-secure country. Consider this one example: since 2020, Guyana has increased its agriculture budget by more than 800%.
The result is that infra-
structure to mitigate the risks of floods and droughts is being dramatically transformed. In addition, research is improving paddy seed quality, leading to higher yields and greater resistance to pests and environmental factors, such as increased water salinity, introduction of new crops, and genetically more productive livestock. Guyana’s Permanent Mission in Geneva is proud of Guyana’s efforts in improving agriculture and food production. We are confident that, on World Food Day 2025, Guyana’s ledger would demonstrate impressive improvement in ensuring the right to food is met for all citizens.
The Mission congratulates HE Irfaan Ali; the Minister of Agriculture, Honorable Zulfikar Mustapha, and the Government.
(Dr Leslie Ramsammy is Guyana's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Geneva)
Thai oarsmen participating in a rehearsal of Thailand King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s Royal Barge Procession to mark his 72nd birthday. This procession took place along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand (Reuters)
The dilemma of the Opposition
Dear Editor,
The APNU, the AFC, and their supportive columnists now have two hundred thousand reasons to criticize and condemn the cash grant announced by President Ali on 10 October. They have now become the ‘cash grant’ specialists, since -- like the spectators in a cricket match -- they know more than the players. Their dilemma has increased manifold.
On October 8th, Mr Lincoln Lewis penned a letter to the Editor in the Kaieteur News, captioned ‘Discriminatory approach to cash grant distribution must stop’. He is of the misguided opinion that whatever initiative the President is rolling out was the brainchild of the Opposition, namely the ‘One Guyana’ from Corbin and the cash grant from Dr Clive Thomas.
However, just two days later, President Irfaan Ali announced a one-off cash grant of $200,000 to every household. Since then, the APNU and the AFC have appeared shell-shocked, and have been toiling ceaselessly helter-skelter to find trivial and irrelevant matters to criticize and condemn the measure; which is not only the biggest of its kind so far, but has been most welcome by Guyanese of all walks of life.
Cash grants are nothing new, but we have now heard that the idea of a cash grant was the brainchild of Dr Clive Thomas, who coined it ‘the Buxton Proposal’ and proposed the sum of ‘US$5000 per year or whatever it works out at, we can put the figure together’. This was on Emancipation Day 2018. The ‘Buxton Proposal’ died a natural death, and no mechanism, regulatory or otherwise, came into being.
Dr Thomas had called on the Coalition to put mechanisms in place to ensure that the masses benefit, but nothing was done. I wonder why the Coalition Government at the time did not embrace this proposal. They seemed to lack the will to do so, since they felt that such an annual cash transfer to every household or citizen would greatly affect their ‘pocket money’.
They knew that it was not sustainable, given the amount and the frequency, and did not want to make such a commitment. The APNU and the AFC were in Government until 2020, yet nothing further was entertained on the matter.
At that same meeting at Buxton, the new leader of the AFC, Mr Nigel Hughes, made a remarkable observation. He said, ‘My fear is that if we start to talk about giving people cash, we open-
ing the doors to politicians to say I can give you more cash than the next one, and we end up with a ridiculous campaign of people being irresponsible about development, because it becomes a competition on who can give more.’
It is significant to note that the PPP/C did not campaign on doling out cash, but rather robust socio-economic policies to propel such development. This cash grant comes at a time when a multitude of other measures are already implemented to buffer the high cost of living. The Coalition did nothing to alleviate the cost of living while in Government. In fact, they taxed and burdened Guyanese to the hilt. Then the APNU/AFC, having depleted the various reserves and the Consolidated Fund, waited until December 2022, when the PPP/C came to office, to vociferously demand a oneoff payment of $300,000 to every home. This is quite convenient
for the Coalition. They were out of Government, and, as usual, they have all the solutions to each and every problem. They had called this proposal ‘a people-centred proposal’, but now that the PPP/C Government has proposed a $200,000 cash grant to every household, we are now hearing that the former Finance Minister criticized the initiative as being temporary, and that once it is disbursed, people will be relegated to their former position. Is this not true of the $300,000 proposed by Mr Norton in 2022? Is this not true of the $100,000 Mr Jordan is proposing to be given to every Guyanese adult? It all depends of what use is made of the grant.
What would have happened if the Buxton proposal was implemented? Dr Thomas himself had reservations, but preferred to be optimistic. ‘They are not going to just take it and sit back and consume and wait for a cheque…So it is a gamble that I am taking, but
13:35 Wheel of Fortune 14:00 The Loud House S6 E22
14:30 Spongebob Squarepants
15:00 From the Pavilion
16:00 Young Sheldon S4 E15
16:30 When Calls the Heart
17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 Aljazeera
19:00 The Evening News
19:50 Access Exxon Mobil Guyana Ep 34
20:00 Stop Suffering
20:30 Stand-up Comedy
21:00 Grey's Anatomy S6 E4
22:00 Peaky Blinders S3 E2
23:00 Emily in Paris S4 E2
23:30 Arrested Development S1 E8 00:00 Sign off
historical experience has been on my side.’ There are people who will ‘just take it (money) and sit back’.
One columnist now sees the $200,000 as fuelling increased prices and inflation, a position he was blind to prior.
Mr Hughes’s observations at Buxton in 2018 needs to be reiterated, given the promises now being made by both the APNU and the AFC: ‘…we opening the doors to politicians to say I can give you more cash than the next one, and we end up with a ridiculous campaign of people being irresponsible about development, because it becomes a competition on who can give more.’
Socio-economic development of the country is not important to these pretenders. They believe they can lie and deceive just like they
did in 2015, promising the moon and the stars.
In conclusion, we must not analyze any cash grant in isolation, and fall prey to empty promises of the illusory ‘good life’, which never materialized under the Coalition. The PPP/C Government has been im-
plementing policies and measures to buffer the high cost of living, and those measures are sustainable and would have long lasting benefits to every Guyanese.
Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf
Page Foundation
Estimating Quotients
When you estimate the quotient of a division problem, you do not round the numbers. Instead you try to find compatible numbers. These are numbers that you can work with easily in your head.
Example
Estimate 4922 ÷ 6.
Step 1: Look at the first two digits in the dividend – 49. Can you divide that evenly by the divisor 6? No.
Step 2: Think about multiplying by 6. 6 x 6 = 36, 6 x 7 = 42, 6 x 8 = 48. Select the one that is closest to 49. That is 48.
Step 3: Add zeros to the dividend as placeholders. In this example, the dividend has four place values, so you need to add 2 zeros: 4800.
Step 4: Divide by 6. 4800 ÷ 6 = 800
Exercises
By Helen Hunt Jackson
Maths as art
Islamic Geometry
The starting point of all Islamic Geometric designs is the circle: the symbol of unity, and the centre from which all else emerges. The starting circle is then subdivided into sectors – usually multiples of four, five or six – the number of which influence how the pattern tiles.
One way of categorising Islamic Geometric designs (Broug, 2008) is to label them according to how the pattern tiles: ‘fourfold’ patterns tessellate in squares, ‘fivefold’ patterns tessellate in pentagons (with extra bits) and ‘sixfold’ patterns tessellate in hexagons. You can tell whether a pattern exhibits fourfold, fivefold or sixfold tiling by counting the points on the stars or the ‘petals’ on the rosettes: multiples of 4 – fourfold, multiples of 5 – fivefold, multiples of 6 – sixfold. Common multiples of 4 and 6 (e.g. 12) can be found tiling as either fourfold or sixfold patterns.
To reckon thee. I ask what cause Set free so much of red from heats At core of earth, and mixed such sweets With sour and spice: what was that strength Which out of darkness, length by length, Spun all thy shining thread of vine, Netting the fields in bond as thine. I see thy tendrils drink by sips From grass and clover’s smiling lips; I hear thy roots dig down for wells, Tapping the meadow’s hidden cells. Whole generations of green things, Descended from long lines of springs, I see make room for thee to bide
A quiet comrade by their side; I see the creeping peoples go Mysterious journeys to and fro, Treading to right and left of thee, Doing thee homage wonderingly.
WORD SEARCH:
US, UK envoys urge investors to tap into opportunities in logistics, business franchising
The United States is Guyana’s largest partner in energy, specifically in the area of oil and gas, and US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, is urging local businesses to pool their resources and invest in the sectors of logistics and franchising.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Business Conference, held at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown, Ambassador Theriot told the gathering that companies in the United States of America have signalled an interest in expanding their businesses in Guyana; and among those businesses are huge hotel and restaurant chains, hospitality agencies, and logistics service providers.
“The Government of Guyana, and President Ali himself has said this on many occasions: he wants to see more US investment in Guyana’s non-oil sectors; and we definitely want to see that too! In fact, we have another US trade delegation coming in next week. I’m really glad to hear that these sessions also focus on Guyana’s role in the Caribbean economy. Guyana, of course, is now a significant leader in the
region, both…in Caricom and as an exporter,” the US Ambassador has said.
The US is the largest source of foreign direct investment in Guyana, and according to Ambassador Theriot, its commercial engagement here has transformed the business sector and played a pivotal role in ensuring the private sector is connected and partnering in key bilateral econom-
ic relations.
She noted that the US is eager to tap into other industries here, one being logistics through partnerships and increased business-to-business relations.
“Over the last few years, Guyana has focused on improving its physical infrastructure, and as we are talking about collaboration and opportunities, focusing on interconnected in-
frastructure projects is absolutely essential. Goods must reach the market efficiently, and people must be able to go where the opportunities exist…,” she has said.
“Unlike my colleagues, I do not serve as US Ambassador to Suriname, but I do serve as the US Government Representative of Caricom, and I can’t tell you how often I hear from Caricom member states how incredibly important improving logistics, transportation and connectivity in this region is.And so that is something that the US Government is focusing heavily on, not just here in Guyana,” Theriot added
Her colleague, British High Commissioner Jane Miller, had a similar message as she noted that the UK is working to build a robust logistics sector between Guyana and Suriname.
“When the UK comes to (any) country, we don’t just come as a fly-by-night, we like to invest long term relationships in those countries. We put a huge amount of emphasis on the quality of the services that we provide, on standards, and in terms of providing that long-term care to those relationships,” she explained.
“Similar to (what) the
EU has just mentioned, the UK and DBT work in all sectors, except for oil and gas. We will work in agriculture infrastructure; we see massive opportunities in a diversified set of businesses; we’ve also set several trade missions, and we’ll be having another trade mission beginning the week of the 11th of November,” the British High Commissioner shared.
The ongoing International Business Conference serves as a platform to unlock new opportunities geared at boosting business-to-business partnerships between Guyana and Suriname. Organised by the Guyana-Suriname Chamber of Commerce with
support from the Suriname Investment and Trade Agency (SITA), the Guyana Office for Investment (GOInvest), and the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), this conference offers a platform for locals to pool their resources, strengthen collective capabilities, and elevate the Caribbean’s standing in the global market.
More than 500 delegates and 100 speakers are attending the conference, which is set to play a crucial role in advancing regional development and fostering new business partnerships in real estate, infrastructure, mining, industrial services and tourism.
British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller
United States Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot
Aircraft found at illegal airstrip in Reg 9 Brazilian among 3 charged, remanded for illegal entry, narcotics possession
Three individuals, including a Brazilian national, were remanded to prison on Wednesday after their arraignment before Georgetown Magistrate Faith McGusty on charges in connection with the illegal landing of an aircraft and suspected narcotics trafficking in Bashaizon Village, Deep South Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo).
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on October 6, when authorities discovered an aircraft on an unauthorized airstrip in the region. The aircraft, an Islander with registration number PU-MBN, was found at the illegal airstrip following a tip-off given to police.
Officers from the division, supported by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), arrived at the scene to find the black, gold, and white aircraft alongside a dark-coloured, fully tinted pickup truck. As the po-
lice approached, two men exited the plane and boarded the pickup, which attempted to flee the scene. During its hasty escape, the vehicle collided with the aircraft, causing damage to its right wing and front propeller. Despite officers firing two .38 rounds in an attempt to stop the pickup, the vehicle managed to cross the Takutu River into Brazil.
Brazilian national Robintaine Peixoto Saraiva, a 48-year-old miner from Boa Vista, Brazil, fell from the pickup during the collision and was promptly apprehended by the police. Upon his arrest, Saraiva disclosed that the other man who fled was the pilot, known to him as ‘Wallefi Kayck.’ Saraiva further admitted that he had chartered the aircraft from Santa Len De Para Company in Brazil, and that they had previously travelled from Brazil to Venezuela to deliver mercury, a substance commonly used in gold mining opera-
tions.
Upon searching the aircraft, authorities discovered several electronic devices, including an iPhone 13 Pro Max, a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and two Garmin GPS units, along with personal items like clothing and backpacks. A black-and-white motorcycle was also found hidden nearby.
Saraiva claimed that the purpose of their visit to Guyana was to purchase additional mercury for his mining operations, though no illegal items were found directly on his person during the search.
During their investigation, law enforcement officials gathered useful information from several individuals in the area, leading to the arrest of two other suspects, Hamlet Da Silva, a 53-year-old self-em-
ployed man, and 27-year-old Evander
both
dents of Achiwib Village in
South Rupununi.
In court on Wednesday, the three men faced charges related to narcotics trafficking under the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substance (Control) Act, with Saraiva additionally being charged with illegal entry into Guyana under the Immigration Act. They all pleaded not guilty.
Attorney Bernard Da Silva represented the accused during their court appearance. He argued that the aircraft piloted by Saraiva developed a mechanical problem, leading to a crash landing in the Rupununi area.
He claimed that investigative officers could verify this, but that charges were still laid against the accused. Da Silva also emphasized that no narcotics were found at the scene, and stated that Saraiva, who suffered a stroke, complied with the police investigation and made no attempt to evade the authorities.
The attorney further argued that Hamlet and Phonix were contracted solely to repair the crashed plane, and were later arrested for narcotics-related charges.
However, the prosecution countered these claims by asserting that Saraiva’s injuries were a result of his attempt to escape from the police, not a stroke. They also presented evidence suggesting that the defendants intended to traffic narcotics, and planned to land in Guyana.
Additionally, the prosecution objected to bail for all defendants, including Saraiva, citing his lack of a fixed address in Guyana.
Magistrate McGusty ruled in favour of the prosecution, and the men were remanded. The next hearing is scheduled for October 29, 2024.
Global...
…WARming
Every day, we’re being bombarded – and rightfully so –by warnings of “Global Warming”, caused by the use of fossil fuels for over two hundred years by countries now defined as “developed”. Global Warming’s gonna increasingly change weather patterns and weather phenomena like hurricanes and rising sea levels, to eventually make our planet uninhabitable!! But most folks are quite blasé and – led by the same developed countries – are insisting that under-developed countries lead the shift to new sources of energy. While they blithely explore to find new petroleum reserves to continue burning fossil fuels – and (of course) money gaffa mek!! -- probably because Global Warming’s destructive results have taken time to be manifested, folks are lulled into a false sense of complacency.
But there’s an even greater danger to our planet’s existence, and this one will do the dirty in a matter of days, but yet we see the same complacency!! And what is your Eyewitness – who ain’t no alarmist – talking about?? Global WARming!! Get it?? The danger of a new Global War breaking out any day now, that’ll make WWI and WWI and all the other wars between look like playing tiddlywinks!! And the evidence?? Let your Eyewitness count the waysand means.
There’s the war in Ukraine, launched in Feb 2022 with the invasion of Russian troops as a “Special Military Operation”SMO. The name implied it would be a quick dash across the border to knock some sense into the Ukies - who seemed to have forgotten they were called “Little Russia” for the longest while. More to the point, they were clamouring to join NATO, which was formed after WWII to contain the USSR’s ungodly communism. But NATO - with the addition of a dozen other countries since - was encircling the rump state of Russia -- which insisted it was minding its own business, and not threatening any of its neighbours!!
Now, even though Ukraine had a formidable armed force, it was no match for Russia’s, but the danger arose from Ukraine being supported by the US and its NATO allies!! These are therefore NUCLEAR powers facing off against each other – and Russia had already warned that it would use its nuclear weapons if push comes to shove!!
Then, of course, there’s the genocidal war in Gaza, where a nuclear-armed Israel is ultimately a proxy the US supports against the Iranians whom they figure also have the BOMB –or can put together one in a jiffy!! Even though the Iranians have been surprisingly circumspect, Israel appears willing to push the envelope!!
Then, over in the Far East, nuclear China’s pushing its own envelope to seize Taiwan and integrate it into its maws!! The Yanks are committed to defending Taiwan.
WWIII in the offing??
…foolery
Alexander Pope pithily observed hundreds of years ago: “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread”!! While the observation still holds, unfortunately, it would appear that the number of fools has since increased exponentially– and made the world a much more dangerous place. The problem is that fools don’t have any plans, tactics, or strategy, but are still convinced of their own greatness and infallibility!!
We see this operating in the political realm here in Guyana - from both sides of the political divide. Right now, it’s exemplified by the Opposition’s reaction to Pressie’s speech to Parliament, in which he announced a plethora of initiatives with a veritable cornucopia of goodies aimed at the populace. The Opposition complains that - with the election a year away - the Government’s “politicking”!!
Well, duh!! When the Government focused for four years on strategically building infrastructure, the Opposition complained they weren’t helping folks in the here and now. And now they’ve done this, it’s politicking??
Gwan da side!!
…polarisation
As your Eyewitness witnesses demagogues jumping on soapboxes offering solutions to our problems, he’s reminded of another observation of Alexander Pope’s: “A little learning’s a dang’rous thing”!! If they have the answers, why not get the votes to implement them??
Phonix,
resi-
Robintaine Peixoto Saraiva
Hamlet Da Silva
Evander Phonix
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Bygeval victorious at GNBS public speaking competition
After a fierce battle, the Bygeval Secondary School emerged winners of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) Public Speaking Competition, and have been awarded a trophy and a gift voucher valued at $30,000.
This competition, hosted in collaboration with the Education Ministry, was in observance of World Standards Day (WSD) 2024; and during the competition, the Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) Department of Education was represented by the Head Teacher of Bygeval Secondary School, Lorrie Lee Farley.
“Public speaking is a skill. It is one of the most important tools you will
take with you into the future; and whether you’re leading a team, you’re advocating for change, or you’re simply sharing your personal story, you are practising a skill that will serve you in countless ways in your life,” Farley said.
Head of Corporate Communications at the GNBS, Lloyd David, extended gratitude to the Education Ministry for its support, and lauded the students for taking this step to improve their all-round performance.
He also reminded those present that “preparation is key” ahead of every activity.
The best performing student was Lashon Samuels of Bygeval Secondary, who received a laptop from the
Samuels was asked to explain what it means to con-
cial use.
In her response, she provided thorough examples of energy-efficient buildings across the world, and how they have contributed to efficiency, a better environment, and improved quality of life.
In a comment invited by this publication, Samuels lauded the initiative and noted that the competition helps to develop much needed public speaking skills among adolescents.
“I feel very excited to win this competition. I was nervous, and public speaking is not easy; but we went up and did our best,” she said.
Two students from each
struct energy-efficient buildings, and how standards can help to build such structures for residential and commer-
phy. Bush Lot Secondary and Mahaicony Secondary were also invited to participate in the competition, but did not show up.
The judging criteria included relevance to the assigned topic, use of examples, pronunciation/ enunciation, delivery, grammar, and adherence to the time limit.
dation for the inclusion of standards in their choices throughout adolescence and adulthood.
The competition was hosted in Region Five (Mahaica–Berbice) for participating schools Rosignol Secondary, Fort Wellington Secondary, and the host school Bygeval Secondary.
school were given questions in advance to research ahead of the competition, and had five minutes to speak on the assigned topic. Rosignol Secondary came in second and was awarded a trophy and a $20,000 gift voucher. Third place went to Fort Wellington Secondary School, which received a tro-
The theme for World Standards Day (WSD) 2024 is “Shared Vision for a Better World: Spotlight on SDG 9”, which addresses resilient infrastructure, inclusive and sustainable industrialization and innovation. Surrounding WSD, the GNBS observes National Quality Week (NQW) to recognize and promote awareness on standards.
The competition sought to promote awareness on the use and importance of standards to school-aged children, building a foun-
The GNBS has a list of activities planned for the remainder of National Quality Week, including a ‘Made in Guyana’ video campaign aimed at promoting locally manufactured products certified by the GNBS, and a ‘Like and Share’ social media campaign to create awareness on standards and quality. Further, the GNBS Corporate Communications and Marketing Departments would be sharing information via newspapers, radio, television and social media, to promote inclusion in the activities. (G2)
GNBS.
Head Mistress of Bygeval Secondary School, Lorrie Lee Farley
Participants of the WSD Public Speaking Competition posing with GNBS staff
Best performing student Lashon Samuels received a laptop from GNBS Technical Officer Asha Sookoo
Legal Affairs and Education Ministries partner to revolutionise conflict management in schools
Schools across Guyana are on the cusp of a significant transformation, as the Legal Affairs Ministry, in collaboration with the Education Ministry, launches a nationwide initiative to implement restorative justice practices within the education system.
Organized by the Restorative Justice Centre
(RJC), this training aims to reshape how schools manage conflict and discipline by promoting dialogue and accountability over punishment.
The initiative, which is being held at the Guyana Police Force Training Centre at Eve Leary, Georgetown for two days, focuses on integrating restorative justice principles into classrooms as a constructive alternative to traditional disciplinary
methods like corporal punishment.
Several counsellors and welfare officers are being trained. This marks a shift towards addressing conflicts through empathy, community involvement, and constructive dialogue, and away from punitive responses that often fail to address the root causes of behavioural issues.
Restorative justice has been gaining traction globally as a tool not only for criminal justice reform, but also for transforming educational environments.
In Guyana, the RJC was established last year as a collaborative effort between the Government of Guyana, the Ministry of Legal Affairs and the InterAmerican Development Bank. It saw the passing of the Restorative Justice Act 2022, and the focus on educational institutions underscores the recognition that schools play a crucial role in shaping how young people understand accountability and community values.
Educators undergoing the training are learning to facilitate restorative sessions where students confront the impact of their actions, engage in meaningful conversations, and actively participate in finding solutions. This approach aims to build a sense of community and mutual respect within the school environment, reducing the reliance on outdated disciplinary measures.
Introduction of this programme is expected to impact the dynamics of student/teacher interaction, turning moments of conflict into opportunities for understanding and personal development. By fostering a framework that emphasizes dialogue and healing, the Ministry of Education hopes to create a more supportive atmosphere, wherein students are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions, leading to a more harmonious school community.
At the event, Permanent Secretary (Administration)
of the Legal Affairs Ministry, Adele Clarke, explained that the overall objective is to address two problems that are on the project facing the criminal justice system -to reduce the criminal justice system’s overreliance on custodial sentencing, and to reduce the overuse of pretrial detention.
“The foundation was laid for restorative practices to become an alternative to custodial sentencing for minor offences in our criminal justice system”, she said, adding that restorative justice officers would be deployed in all ten administrative regions.
“You will discover that a system for restorative justice not only seeks reconciliation between the victim and the offender, but it also holds the offender accountable, which can be a catalyst for behaviour change,” she detailed.
Senior Welfare Officer at the Education Ministry, Cornella Leitch, emphasized the importance of
the training in broadening the perspectives of officers and enhancing their ability to address challenging behaviours. She expressed that the initiative aims to deepen participants’ understanding of how to manage conflicts more effectively in educational settings.
“The goal of restorative practice is to help people un-
derstand their actions and how their actions impacted others, and what they can do in correcting their actions,” Leitch has said.
Highlighting the MoE’s shift away from traditional disciplinary methods, she said, “We no longer want corporal punishment – the cane, the bamboo, the ruler – to beat the children. Let us learn new techniques… Let us improve what is being done at the Ministry of Education.”
Agriculture Minister
Zulfikar Mustapha has put systems in place to ensure that every Local Government community in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) has an excavator working continuously therein.
He gave this assurance on Saturday as five excavators were handed over to the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Six. Residents had complained that after Mustapha had promised assistance to their communities and had arranged to have excavators working to clear clogged canals, those machines were on many occasions removed before completing the job.
Mustapha, who handed four mini-excavators and one large excavator to the Regional Democratic Council of Region Six on Saturday last -- a total value of $100M -- also met with farmers at Tarlogie on the Corentyne, who spoke of some of the issues affecting their community.
Fitzroy Thom, a farm-
He contrasted these modern methods with outdated disciplinary measures which, according to him, of-
ten fail to yield the desired results.
By the end of the training, participants are expected to have a comprehensive understanding of restorative justice principles. They would be equipped to distinguish between restorative practice and justice, appreciate the value of social discipline, and apply these techniques to facilitate meaningful resolutions between those involved in conflicts as they aim for greater understanding and positive change.
William Orrin Boston, Director of the Restorative Justice Centre, emphasized the effectiveness of restorative practices in fostering positive outcomes, noting that they offer more constructive approaches for conflict resolution, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
(G9)
NDC officials have no authority to remove excavators working in communities – Mustapha
er from neighbouring Cromarty Village, said promises made by Minister Mustapha were fulfilled, but Cromarty has not received the assistance promised.
“Last year they sent an excavator to fix a dam to provide drainage and irrigation at Cromarty. The excavator came and did a piece of work, and left halfway of the dam that really need to fix for farmers’ use to get access to their farms. A councillor from the NDC (Neighbourhood Democratic Council) – I don’t know if he owns the excavator -- he take the excavator to do his own job. I went to the NDC and spoke to the Overseer, (but) up to now, the dam is undone,” Thom detailed to Minister Mustapha.
Addressing that issue, Mustapha said the decision-making by some needs to stop. He pointed out that while the Government is trying to provide relief to farmers in need, many of those farmers end up being dissatisfied.
“It seems the a few persons are making decisions
behind our backs, and it is affecting not them, but the Government. We have to stop that immediately,” the Minister said.
The excavators which were handed over to the region will join the fleet already under the control of the RDC.
However, some farmers say that when machines go into communities to carry out work, officials on the ground redirect those machines elsewhere, and many
farmers suffer as a result.
“I want to make it clear that we will do public work first, before any private farmer’s work. The farmers said they need to do the trench, they need irrigation and the dams to be fixed, so I will hand over this big machine to the Region, and the first set of work will be (done in the) Cromarty-Philippi area, and nobody or any NDC will have the authority to move it out,” Mustapha told the farmers.
He said that with Region Six having 19 NDCs and 3 towns, the fleet of excavators would be deployed in all the local authority areas, and remain there so that every community would be serviced adequately.
Two of the mini-excavators have been handed over to the Black Bush Polder NDC, and Mustapha said the new equipment would be permanently stationed in the polders to carry out drainage works in residential areas.
He also said that machines are oftentimes sent to do work following commitments made by officials, but those works are sometimes not completed before the machines are sent to other areas to carry out other works. He also told those in attendance that each excavator would service two polders.
Region Six has 10 mini-excavators, four of which are out of service. According to the Minister, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) would return them to a
workable state, and those and the large excavators under the Region Six administration’s control would bring to twelve the total fleet in that region.
Each of the region’s twelve machines would be assigned to two local authority areas, and remain there, Minister Mustapha has ordered.
“For example, we have Johns/Port Mourant NDC and Whim/Bloomfield NDC. One machine will be assigned to those communities, and in that way, we will have more work done and we will have better supervision, and no one will have to move a machine from the community. So, we know that number 1 machine will be assigned to Johns/ Port Mourant and Whim/ Bloomfield,” Mustapha explained.
He also cautioned that soil removed from drains should not be left on road shoulders, and has charged the Regional Executive Officer with the responsibility of seeing that soil excavated is removed. (G4)
The training held for counsellors and welfare officers
Director of the Restorative Justice Centre, William Orrin Boston
Senior Welfare Officer at the Education Ministry, Cornella Leitch
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha
Suspect in shooting of 6-year-old Charlestown boy further remanded
Gun, ammo found in abandoned car belonging to Norton Street resident
Police are searching for the owner of a motorcar and another man after they unearthed a .40 pistol and one magazine containing 11 rounds of matching ammunition in a vehicle at Norton Street and Mandela Avenue, Georgetown within the wee hours of Wednesday.
Police have said that ranks on patrol duty were in the vicinity of Norton Street and Mandela Avenue in Georgetown at about 02:30h on Wednesday when they observed a group of men at a known ‘drugs block’ acting suspiciously. As the police vehicle came to a stop, the men walked off in different directions.
However, grey motor wagon PAG 3160 was parked and locked along the roadway, and the police asked several persons
Odelle Garnette, one of the suspects in the shooting of 6-year-old Jeremiah Gustave, has been further remanded to prison after appearing before Magistrate Faith McGusty on Wednesday.
Garnette, a resident of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, will remain in custody until his next court appearance, scheduled for October 30.
Garnette is facing an attempted murder charge which stemmed from a shootout in Charlestown that left the child in a critical condition. Garnette surrendered
to police last month, more than two weeks after a wanted bulletin had been issued for his arrest.
Garnette is the second person charged in connection with the incident, following the arrest of Marlon Marcus, another East Ruimveldt resident, who has also been remanded on attempted murder charges.
According to reports, the two men, who were involved in a dispute over an unpaid debt, began firing at each other. During the exchange, a stray bullet struck 6-year-old Jeremiah Gustave, who was
at his mother’s food stand at the time.
The child remains hospitalized in critical condition, although his mother has expressed hope as he has started to show small signs of improvement, such as squeezing her hand when called by name.
Garnette and Marcus have both been identified by witnesses from the Charlestown community, as they are well-known in the area. As the case develops, the families of the accused and the victim await further court proceedings.
Mason found guilty of killing Sophia handyman in 2021
Ajury in the Demerara High Court of Justice
Jo-Ann Barlow on Tuesday convicted 29-yearold mason Randy Willings of manslaughter in the 2021 stabbing death of Kevin Smith, a handyman of Sophia, Greater Georgetown.
Willings has been acquitted of the original charge of murder, but has been found guilty of the lesser count of manslaughter.
The prosecution was represented by State Counsel Mikel Puran, while Attorney Kiswana Jefford represented Willings.
Justice Barlow has scheduled a sentencing hearing for November 6. Willings remains on remand until the sentencing.
Recap
On February 8, 2021, Randy Willings and Kevin Smith became embroiled in an altercation on the ‘C’ Field Reserve Dam at Sophia. The 36-year-old Smith was reportedly at home when the dispute broke out between him and Willings, who was armed with a knife; and during the altercation, Willings dealt Smith three stabs to his body -- one to the chest, another to the lower abdomen, and a third above the left knee -- before fleeing
Randy Willings
the scene. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene, but the suspect was later apprehended by police and was formally charged with murder.
The preliminary inquiry of this murder case was heard by Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s
Court; and having found that sufficient evidence existed to proceed with the case, she had committed Willings to stand trial in the High Court.
The trial, which took place over several days, ultimately concluded with the jury’s decision to convict Willings of manslaughter.
who the owner of the motorcar was, but no one claimed ownership.
Ranks later found the keys to the locked motorcar on the ground, and the vehicle was opened and searched to ascertain ownership. Ranks instead found the gun and ammunition in its glove compartment.
Further search of the vehicle unearthed a vehicle registration in favour of Melissa Cox of Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown and a driver’s licence in favour of Patrick Kireem Sanmoogan. Checks were made for both persons, but without any success. Investigations are continuing.
Fisherman on attempted murder charge gets bail
Kevin Allicock, a 30-year-old fisherman of Albouystown, Georgetown, has been placed on $300,000 bail on an attempted murder charge after his arraignment on Wednesday before Georgetown Magistrate Faith McGusty.
The charge Allicock faces alleges that on August 10, 2024, at the Meadow Bank Wharf in Greater Georgetown, Allicock attacked and severely injured Nazam Beni with intent to murder him.
Beni remains hospitalized with critical injuries, including a fractured skull and damage to the right side of his brain.
During Allicock’s initial court appearance, the prosecution objected to bail,
Charged: Kevin Allicock
citing the severity of Beni’s injuries and Allicock’s criminal history. The court heard that Allicock had been previously charged with armed robbery, was arrested in 2013 for a similar offence, and had served
a 12-month prison sentence in 2021 for discharging a loaded firearm at a police constable.
In his defense, Allicock claimed that on the day of the incident, he was threatened at gunpoint by a family member of Beni in front of police officers, who allegedly did nothing.
Further, he expressed concerns for his sister’s safety, stating she had received threats from the same family member. Despite these claims, Allicock was initially denied bail, with the magistrate requesting security footage from the scene to be presented in court. After a subsequent hearing, Magistrate McGusty granted him bail. He will return to court on November 6.
"Buck Boy" acquitted of Sandy Babb Street fatal stabbing
The defendant Mark D’Oliveira, also known as ‘Buck Boy,’ has been found not guilty of murder committed on 23-year-old Kwal Dindon in 2021.
The 12-member jury was directed to return this verdict by Justice Peter Hugh on Tuesday in the Demerara High Court, after he ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish the unlawfulness of the offence during the trial.
Mark D’Oliveira
Defence attorney Kiswana Jefford successfully argued that her client had acted in self-defence during the fatal altercation, and D’Oliveira’s caution statement claimed he was defending himself from an attack by Dindon and his friends. Moreover, D’Oliveira’s oral utterance made to the investigating officer corroborated his account of what had transpired. After cross-examination of the prosecution’s witnesses, Justice Hugh concluded that the evidence did not support the charge of murder, and the jury was direct-
ed to return a formal not guilty verdict.
Recap
It was reported that Dindon, also known as ‘Coolie Boy,’ had attended a birthday party with two friends on June 19, 2021 at Sandy Babb Street in Kitty when a heated argument erupted between him and D’Oliveira.
A physical confrontation ensued, during which D’Oliveira was pushed to the ground and attacked by Dindon and his friends with a piece of wood. During that attack, D’Oliveira reportedly whipped out a knife and, in self-defence, fatally injured Dindon.
The state’s case, prosecuted by Abiola Lowe, failed to convince the jury of D’Oliveira’s guilt, leading to his acquittal.
The gun and ammunition found in the car
Jeremiah Gustave
Odelle Garnette
Local, US companies partnering to establish STEM school in Guyana
– partnership formed after successful 2023 US trade mission
Following a successful United States (US) trade mission last year, local company ActionINVEST is partnering with Americanbased EduLink to launch a school that would focus on producing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduates.
Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was done on day two of the International Business Conference (IBC) being held at the Marriott Hotel.
ActionINVEST Caribbean, which for some time has provided business courses, will be expanding, with its own school geared at STEM education.
On hand for the signing of the MoU was United States Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot, who lauded the initiative and expressed her country’s support. She also revealed that the partnership was birthed from a US trade mission that visited Guyana last year in November. She said that another trade mission would be arriving next week.
“Action Invest of course is well recognized for its work in education, training and coaching here in Guyana. Harmony
Education Solutions is renowned for its work in STEMbased education in the United States and abroad, coupled with their vital support services that schools need to ensure they can deliver the best quality education to their students.
This partnership, as you heard, began from a US trade mission coming to Guyana last November. I actually had the privilege of addressing the group. Very large trade mission. And it’s so important to me that when we do things like trade missions, they result in something. We can all go and visit each other, but if nothing comes out, what have we achieved? This here today is a tangible result,” she said.
Meanwhile, Chairman of ActionINVEST, Dr Vishnu Doerga, revealed that they have managed to secure land in the vicinity of Aubrey Barker Road for the school’s location. According to him, they are seeking funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Republic Bank to make the project a reality.
“Back in 2020, Action Invest would have applied for land to expand on our educa-
tion offerings that we have. And very recently, we were awarded a location that is on the extended Aubrey Barker Road which connects to the Ogle highway. A very strategic location, it’s in Cummings Lodge, and that will now allow us to develop a full-fledged education institution that we don’t have to retrofit,” he explained.
“Some of the current facilities that we are utilizing
World Food Day
had to be retrofitted, but with where the country is going, I think the time is right and ripe for such an investment: that we actually set up a facility from the ground, fully focused on developing the level of STEM education that Guyana will need,” Doerga explained.
Additionally, Executive Director of EduLink, David Akdemir, explained the scope of his company and what it
Hunger remains a significant threat to Governments due to climate change – Min Mustapha
The Government of Guyana, through the Agriculture Ministry, on Wednesday joined in the observance of World Food Day as part of the Ministry’s Agriculture Month celebrations.
Scores of individuals gathered at the Bourda Cricket Ground in Georgetown for the annual World Food Day exhibition, and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha highlighted that the scourge of hunger remains a significant threat to governments, due to several issues, such as climate change.
“Despite the progress that has been made in recent years, hunger and food insecurity remain persistent challenges through climate change, conflict, poverty and inequality, (and) continue to threaten food security, particularly in vulnerable re-
gions around the world,” he declared.
In this regard, amid these challenges, the minister noted, Guyana has significantly bolstered its food security through several policies and interventions.
can offer. For instance, he explained, EduLink has a very strong track record of producing STEM graduates, and have been looking for overseas partners to share its education model with.
“We are a non-profit company of Harmony Schools, which runs about 65 schools in Texas, one school in
Washington DC, partners in several states and one partner school in Cairo, Egypt currently. There are 45,000 students in Texas, and 60 per cent of our graduates choose STEM fields when they graduate. That is because we can integrate STEM education starting at kindergarten.”
The IBC, which was organized by the GuyanaSuriname Chamber of Commerce with support from the Suriname Investment and Trade Agency (SITA), the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), and the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), offers a platform for locals to pool their resources, strengthen collective capabilities, and elevate the Caribbean’s standing in the global market. With high-level discussions, targeted networking opportunities, and avenues for foreign investment, the IBC is set to play a crucial role in advancing regional development and fostering new business partnerships in real estate, infrastructure, mining, industrial services and tourism. (G3)
US citizen among 2 charged with killing pet dog …each released on $120,000 bail
to environmental shocks. This year’s theme also aligns seamlessly with the objectives of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture which we held last week in St. Vincent and the Grenadines under the banner of climate-smart agriculture for a sustainable future.”
Matus reaffirmed Caricom’s commitment to ensuring all Caricom member states achieve food security through increased collaboration, among other initiatives.
Agro-Industries, Caricom Secretariat, Milagro Matus, who highlighted the importance of developing resilient food systems.
“As we face increasing im-
“Guyana is making significant strides to ensure that every citizen has access to nutritious food, while contributing to food security across the Caribbean,” he posited. “Undernourishment in Guyana has fallen below 2.5 per cent, a figure well below the regional average of 6.6 per cent, and the global average of 9.1 per cent. In the area of food insecurity, we have also made tremendous progress, the prevalence of moderate or severe insecurity stands at 25.5 per cent lower than the regional average of 31 per cent.”
Also present at the event was Deputy Programme Manager, Agriculture and
pacts of climate change, it is imperative that we develop food systems that are not only productive, but also resilient
“The world today provides us with a unique opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every person in the Caribbean region has the right food. By embracing sustainable agriculture practices and fostering regional cooperation, we can create a better life and a brighter future for all,” Matus has said.
Additionally, Matus lauded Government for its commendable contributions when she said: “I would like to take this moment to commend the Government of Guyana for its outstanding leadership in advancing food and nutrition security across the region through its chairmanship, Minister Mustapha, of the Caricom Ministerial Task Force on Food Production and Food Nutrition Security.”
This year, the theme for World Food Day is “Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future.” It’s a timely reminder that all people have the right to adequate food.
Khemraj Ramdass, a 71-year-old US citizen who resides at Number 63 Village, Corentyne Berbice; and Farad Jarawan, a 25-year-old carpenter of Number 64 Village, Corentyne Berbice, have each been placed on bail in the sum of $120,000 after appearing on Wednesday before Magistrate Tuanna Hardy at the Number 51 Village Magistrate’s Court to answer a joint charge alleging that they killed a pet dog.
It is alleged that they killed a dog belonging to Gomatie Kooardeo of Number 63 Village, Corentyne on October 11 at Number 63 Village. The charge is animal cruelty committed against Gomatie Kooardeo.
When the case was called before the magistrate, the owner of the animal told the court that the animal had been her pet, and had not been a stray dog. She related that a post-mortem report by a veterinary officer had also been handed over to the police.
The magistrate asked for the case to be adjourned and
the prosecution made the necessary amendments, but on resumption of the case, the duo pleaded not guilty. The court was told that Ramdass had cut the animal’s neck andthrown its body into a nearby canal.
The Prosecutor, Corporal Fiona Simson, told the court that Ramdass had admitted to killing the animal, and there is an eyewitness. As such, she objected to the defendants being granted bail, stating that Ramdass is a flight risk.
However, Attorney-at-law Rodwell Jagmohan, representing the duo, argued that they had both been granted station bail and had attended court. He said Ramdass has been in the country since July, and would leave only to upkeep his citizenship or for medical reasons.
Before setting bail, the magistrate said the charges carry a 6-month jail term and a $15,000 fine. Bail was set at $120,000 each, and the duo will have to return to court on October 23, 2024 for the start of their trial.
From left: US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot; ActionINVEST Chairman, Dr Vishnu Doerga and EduLink+ Executive Director David Akdemir
Participants during the opening ceremony of the exhibition
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha
Caricom Secretariat Deputy Programme Manager (Agriculture and AgroIndustries), Milagro Matus
Khemraj Ramdass and Farad Jarawan
2023 oil blocks' auction
4 of 6 bidders already accepted PSA – Govt ...says
awaiting response from Sispro, Exxon & partners
The Natural Resources Ministry (MNRE) has revealed that most of the bidders from the 2023 oil bid round have accepted the new model Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), and are either processing the agreement or conducting final reviews.
According to a list released by the MNRE, Total Energies EP Guyana BV, in consortium with Qatar Energy International E&P LLC and Petronas E&P Overseas Ventures SDN BHD (Malaysia) - which bid for block S4 - have already ac-
cepted the PSA. Currently, their agreement is in the final stages of review.
Delcorp Inc Guyana, comprising Watad Energy and Communications Limited and Arabian Drilling Company of Saudi Arabia, which bid for block D1; and Ghana-based Cybele Energy Limited, which bid for block S7, have also accepted their PSA, which is in the final stages of review.
International Group Investment Inc. of Nigeria, which bid for blocks S5 and S10, have accepted the PSAs for both blocks, which are being processed.
Cotton Tree pensioner dies in 2-vehicle WCB collision
Truck driver Gokaran Lackram was killed on Tuesday after crashing his lorry into a tractor and trailer that allegedly failed to stop at a major road intersection at Litchfield, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).
Police have said that the 65-year-old late resident of Cotton Tree Village, WCB was driving motor lorry GAE 4037 along the Litchfield Public Road, and was negotiating a right bend when the
However, the MNRE explained, Stabroek Block partners ExxonMobil Guyana Ltd, Hess Guyana Lt & CNOOC, which bid for block S8, are reviewing the PSA.
The MNRE has also said it is awaiting a response from local women-led company Sispro Incorporated, which bid for blocks D2 and S3.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration last year introduced a series of stringent terms and conditions for new oil deals that the country would sign. These include increase of the royalty from a mere two per cent to now a 10 per cent fixed rate; the imposition of a 10 per cent corporate tax, and the lowering of the cost recovery ceiling to 65 per cent from the previous 75 per cent, while maintaining the retention of the 50-50 profit-sharing after cost recovery.
The 2016 oil contract for the Stabroek Block, signed
between the ExxonMobil-led co-venturers and the then A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition Government for production in the oil-rich Stabroek Block, had been heavily criticised for low royalty, lack of ring-fencing provisions, and cost oil claims that saw Guyana losing billions, among other issues.
Back in February, VP Jagdeo noted that the Government is willing to consider reviewing the non-fiscal terms in the new PSA. Based on feedback received, it was said that Guyana’s new PSA is one of the toughest oil contracts in the market.
According to the Vice President at a press conference earlier this year, “We got a lot of feedback that the increased fiscal terms might be acceptable, but there were some several other areas where the conditions were too tough. We had too tough
a condition globally…If they become too onerous, that is where we may have to make adjustments… [But] we made it clear there will be no changes on the fiscal terms. We’re not changing the fiscal at all.”
The bidding round, which was launched in December 2022, closed off in September 2023 with six companies bidding on eight of the 14 blocks offshore that were up for grabs. In total, there were 14 offers made on those blocks –two deep-sea blocks and six shallow-area blocks.
Review of the non-fiscal terms would be a key factor
as the Guyana Government prepares for its second auction, possibly at the end of this year. Government is awaiting Exxon’s relinquishment of 20 per cent of oil-rich Stabroek Block this month to determine the schedule of the next bidding round. Jagdeo had noted previously that the Stabroek Block relinquishment would generate excitement for the next auction, and Government would not want to kill interest if potential investors find the current terms and conditions in the new PSA onerous. (G-3)
Govt identifies land at Golden Grove for new truck stop, parking facility
tractor, T 35473, and trailer allegedly failed to stop at an intersection and ended up in the path of this lorry.
the other hand, succumbed while receiving medical attention. Police are continuing their investigations.
The tractor was being driven by a 52-year-old resident of Litchfield Village, while two porters were seated in the tray of the lorry. The collision resulted in the tractor driver and the lorry’s two porters sustaining injuries. They were all taken in a conscious condition to the Fort Wellington Hospital, where their injuries were treated and they were kept for observation. Lackram, on
Sand trucks and other large vehicles associated with the construction sector have been parking along the East Bank Public Road corridor, but construction would soon begin on a truck parking facility at Block 18, Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
Housing and Water
Minister Collin Croal, along with Deputy Director of Projects, Intakab Indarjeet, and surveyors from the agency, on Wednesday visited the site designated for the new facility.
Croal noted that due to a boom in the construction sector, the number of trucks traversing the county’s roadways has significantly increased. As such, he highlighted that to tackle the issue of truck parking along the East Bank corridor, the Ministry has allocated
over 10 acres of land to be developed as a designated parking facility for trucks.
“In light of this boom, we needed to find a solution for these trucks. We have identified 15 acres of land on the East Bank of Demerara that will be developed,” he disclosed.
Croal added that the Ministry is looking to construct a similar facility on the East Coast. “We plan to implement a similar project on the East Coast of Demerara, resulting in a total of 30 acres for Region 4…,” he said.
Additionally, Minister Croal highlighted that similar facilities will also be constructed at several locations across the country: in Region Three (3) and Region Six (6), as well as one along the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway.
“For the facility on the highway, we are considering
a location near the junction, which will allow trucks to temporarily stop while waiting to load, or serve as a rest area for overnight stays,” Minister Croal highlighted.
Only last month, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill met with truck driver and revealed that Government is in the process of developing a plot of land for owners to rent a space to park their trucks and articulated vehicles.
Meanwhile, Government has implemented a ban on trucks parking in Ruimveldt reserves, following the removal of 11 sand trucks parked illegally at the Industrial Estate in the vicinity of DSL Cash and Carry.
Explaining the issue to the media following his engagement, Minister Edghill said, “The sand is finding its way into the factory, and it is contaminating the paint. This
matter has reached the courts. We have come and have removed these truck drivers before. Just under two weeks, the police have come and have removed them. They have returned.”
The Minister noted that the truckers have attempted to negotiate with the Government for alternative locations to conduct their business. The situation has been further exacerbated by the truckers’ practice of dumping leftover sand on the reserves.
A sign and barricades would be erected at the site, and any truck found violating this instruction would be impounded. Additionally, traffic ranks of the Guyana Police Force would continue to monitor the area. In the interim, truck drivers would be relocated to an area in the vicinity of the National Hardware at Industrial Site, Ruimveldt.
The tractor that was pulling the trailer
The mangled lorry being removed
The trailer and lorry
An aerial view of the new site allocated for the trucking facility
Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal at the site
The blocks that were put up during the auction
Chart showing the bidders in the bid round
Dead: Gokaran Lackram
Make a point to step outside your comfort zone and try something new. Participating in an event or activity that requires courage will build confidence. Expand your vision, awareness and possibilities.
Use your emotions to your benefit. Follow your heart and let your intuition lead the way. Talk to individuals who offer insight and support and who value your opinion.
Address any restrictions you encounter and go about your business. Clearing the path before you start your journey will encourage others to trust and believe in you.
How you treat others will determine what’s to come. A positive attitude will help you cut to the chase and incorporate your dreams with the support you require to be successful.
Look for opportunities and then chase them. There is no time to waste or reason to dawdle. Actions speak louder than words and will have a more significant impact on your day.
Implement a plan. A change will give you a new lease on life and encourage you to rethink your dreams. It’s time to direct your time and energy into what matters to you most.
You know the drill, so stop procrastinating and implement something. Embrace a challenge instead of running away. Use intelligence, experience and facts, not force, to win.
Distance yourself from anyone applying pressure or trying to dictate what you do next. Use your intelligence, rely on your memory and exercise your rights. Financial gain looks promising.
Sorrow will prevail if you give someone the benefit of the doubt. Don’t misread intentions or let someone exploit you. It would help if you put yourself first.
Keep your emotions in check and be willing to listen to and observe what’s happening around you. Knowledge is the best way forward. A change of scenery will be enlightening.
You may relish something new and exciting, but, for now, living with what you have will save you time, money and stress. The best change will come from within, not from outside influences.
Simplify your plans, lifestyle and habits to fit your budget and emotional well-being. Direct your energy into something meaningful and use your time deliberately to ensure that you reduce stress.
Slowly, slowly… and then with the snap of resolve that vindicated every one of their seemingly half-baked plans, Pakistan roared into command in the second Test at Multan, transforming another day of dominant England batting with a trademark surge of wickets, the likes of which had eluded them throughout their dismal run of six Test losses in a row.
By the close, England were on the ropes at 239 for 6, still trailing by a substantial 127 despite battling hard to bowl their opponents out for 366 shortly after lunch. This was in spite of a brilliant fourth Test hundred from Ben Duckett that had, at one stage, been almost contemptuous in its dominance.
After 12 overs, England had been hurtling along to 73 for 0. Midway through the 42nd, they were still bubbling nicely at 211 for 2, even after Sajid Khan's ripper through the gate to Ollie Pope had hinted that this re-used surface was just beginning to heat up after seven days of action.
But 18 balls later still, their castle had crumbled to the tune of four wickets for 14 runs, with Sajid's extraction of Joe Root – currently riding at a career-best high in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings – being the moment that belief surged back into Pakistan's cricket. If there was an element of good fortune in the ricocheting sweep shot that cannoned into Root's off stump for 34, what followed might as well have been transcribed directly from the fever dream that had doubled as Pakistan's pre-Test selection meeting Runs on the board: check.
Seam irrelevant: check. Spinners finding turn from the straight with men parked round the bat: check.
With the first ball of his next over, Sajid found another ripper that fizzed off
2nd Test, England tour of Pakistan
Sajid Khan turns the Test Pakistan's way after Ben Duckett sweeps to century
Matthew Potts enjoyed Salman Agha's wicket
Duckett's outside edge to nestle in Salman Agha's midriff at slip. Before the over was finished, he had the dangerous Harry Brook too, who had thumped the legspinner Zahid Mahmood for two ominously emphatic fours in his brief stay, but had no answer to a fizzing offbreak that ripped into his stumps from a full length.
Then, with Zahid put out to pasture once more, back came Sajid's fellow fingerspinner, Noman Ali, whose second ball bit into Ben Stokes' inside edge and ballooned to short leg, to extract the England Captain for 1 from five balls in his first competitive innings since August. Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse endured to the close, but with the surface only heading in one direction now, parity is surely a pre-requisite if this match is not to slide further out of England's control.
It was a stunning turnaround to cap an engrossing day of Test cricket, but even by Pakistan's chaotic standards, the manner of their revival took the biscuit. Right up until the moment that everything clicked into place, their challenge had been falling apart.
Their troubles had seemingly begun before a ball was bowled,
with Aamer Jamal – their lone seamer – sustaining a hip niggle during his doughty innings of 37 in the morning session. He contributed just six expensive overs across three spells, and with Shan Masood showing little faith in his legspinner, Zahid, Duckett toyed with the fingerspinners, utilising his vast array of sweep options to drag their leg-side fielders in every conceivable direction.
He duly reached a brilliant century (with a sweep, of course) from a brisk 120 balls, but it was still, remarkably, the slowest of his four to date in Test cricket. In the process, he became the fastest man to reach 2000 Test runs, from 2293 balls – a niche stat maybe, but one which reflected the extent to which he has not only bought into but personified England's Bazball mantra since his recall for their last tour of Pakistan in December 2022.
Throughout his innings, however, there had been just the glimmer of the contest that could yet exist beneath the veneer of Duckett's aggression. Zak Crawley's innings was a case in point. With his preference for pace on the ball, he was far less assured against the spinners, and had two huge letoffs before finally snick - ing off to a loose drive
outside off for 27, a decision Noman successfully reviewed. Crawley should have been run out on 20 after being sent back on a quick single to backward square, but Sajid broke the stumps before the ball had arrived, and five runs later, he was ready to walk after being struck on the pads while sweeping, again off Sajid. But Duckett persuaded him to review with the ball shown to be missing leg.
Duckett himself had a massive moment on 83 when Noman, by now bowling round the wicket to close off that full range of sweeps, beat his leg stump by a slenderest coat of varnish as Duckett instead wound into a reverse. He was twice clanged on the visor too as the ball bit and bounced out of the rough, and though he was disappointed to form part of the late collapse, the wonder in hindsight was how easy he had made it seem while the going was good.
elling chance. It was due reward for an exemplary display from Carse, whose key wicket of Saud Shakeel on the first evening had also
required him to extract some unlikely life from the surface. Agha then found some impetus with four fours through deep third, but Stokes, to his credit, refused to plug the gap in conventional style, instead choosing to add a gully to ramp up the risk-reward element to the stroke. Matthew Potts duly extracted some extra bounce, and Smith – for the third time in the innings – made a very sharp chance look simple.
When Sajid punched a drive on the up to short cover, Pakistan were in danger of another damaging subsidence at 309 for 8, but Jamal and Noman's key stand of 49 for the ninth wicket helped pump the innings past 350. England were nevertheless deeply satisfied with their day-and-abit's work when Jack Leach wrapped things up with his fourth of the innings. But, as had been ordained when Masood won the toss, runs on the board will be critical in this contest. Right now, notwithstanding Duckett's brilliant response, England don't have enough of them. (ESPNcricinfo)
Pakistan 1st Innings
Batting R Abdullah Shafique b Leach 7
Saim Ayub c Stokes b Potts 77
Shan Masood (c) c Crawley b Leach 3
Kamran Ghulam b Shoaib Bashir 118
Saud Shakeel c †Smith b Carse 4 Mohammad Rizwan † c †Smith b Carse 41
The chaos of the closing overs was all a far cry from the more leisurely pace of the morning, in which Pakistan had resumed on a promising 259 for 5, on a surface that –while offering some turn and reverse swing – still had more in common with the road that had dished up 1599 runs in last week's first Test.
In cooler, hazier conditions, the pitch seemed to have acquired an extra yard of pace for the day's opening exchanges, which Carse utilised to superb effect. Mohammad Rizwan had added just four to his overnight 37 when he was beaten by extra lift, angled into his splice, and Smith behind the stumps reacted superbly to cling onto a fast-trav-
Salman Agha c †Smith b Potts 31 Aamer Jamal b Carse 37
Sajid Khan is pumped up after dismissing Ollie Pope
Ben Duckett was dominant playing the sweep shot
Suriname send Guyana back to League B with 5-1 thrashing
Guyana’s senior men’s national football team will return to League B in the next CONCACAF Nations League (CNL) Cycle in 2025, while their neighbours will enjoy the success of ascending to compete against the likes of USA, Canada, and Mexico following a night of contrasting fortunes for the South American neighbours.
Thousands of Surinamese fans flocked the Dr IR Franklin Essed Stadium on Tuesday night to witness the final CNL League A group stage clash, featuring the neighbours.
Not only were the boisterous fans rewarded with a thumping 5-1 victory, but the Dutch side also sealed their progression to the CNL Quarter-finals for the first time in the country’s history.
Guyana’s Head Coach, Jamaal Shabazz opt- ed for a starting XI that
CONCACAF President to visit Guyana for football development initiatives
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is preparing to welcome CONCACAF President and FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani to Guyana for an official visit from October 17-19, 2024.
The visit, part of a broader initiative to strengthen football development across the Caribbean, will feature a series of high-profile engagements that underline the importance of sport in social and economic growth.
Montagliani’s visit will include a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Bluewater Shipping Stadium, a critical development in Guyana’s football infrastructure. The new facility is expected to significantly boost local and regional football activities, providing enhanced opportunities for the sport’s growth. As part of his visit, Montagliani will also meet with Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr in a formal engagement aimed at discuss-
ing football’s role in national development, particularly its potential to foster youth engagement and community building.
A key event during the visit will be the official launch of Guyana’s first nationwide girls’ U13 Secondary School Championship. This initiative is designed to encourage greater female participation in sports, with a focus on nurturing young talent and promoting gender equality in football. Montagliani’s presence at this launch highlights CONCACAF’s commitment to supporting inclusive football programmes throughout the region.
The two-day visit will conclude with a reception dinner bringing together Government officials, GFF representatives, and corporate partners. This gathering will serve as an opportunity to further discuss the future of football development in Guyana and the potential for deep collaboration between CONCACAF and local stake holders.
featured Captain Liam Gordon, Goalkeeper Quillian Roberts, Leo Lovell, Jalen Jones, Nathan MoriahWelsh, Curtez Kellman, Stephen Duke-McKenna, Nathan Ferguson, Reiss Greenidge, Isaiah Jones, and Omari Glasgow.
The excitement began al-
Team Cruel, California Square, North East La Penitence, Gold is Money, Back Circle A and B and Bent Street A secured wins on the opening night of the inaugural Bent Street “Champion of Champions” futsal tournament on Tuesday at the National Gymnasium.
The opening game of the night saw Stabroek Ballers and Mocha All-Stars sharing points with a goal coming from Stabroek’s Mark John and Mocha’s Devon Padmore as the respective keepers managed to perform.
Team Cruel secured the inaugural win of the night against North Ruimveldt. A strike from Kanye Peters was just enough to carry his team over the line, thanks to their passive style of play throughout the game. The scoreline read 1-0.
Antwone Vanscellos’ two goals and an own goal from Linden AllStars Mickel Jeffers were enough to carry California Square over the line, as they animated the defence of Linden All-Stars with the scoreline reading 3-2. Jeffers and Kevin Gentle netted one goal apiece for Linden All-Stars.
North East La Penitence asserted their
Suriname their second goal.
There was still a glimmer of hope for Guyana when Jalen Jones tapped in a set piece to pull one back for the visitors three minutes later.
However, Guyana were sunk further into trouble when Misidjan added his name to the score sheet for a 3-1 score by the half.
While Guyana strug gled with their defence and finishing in the second seg ment, their opponents remained dominant, with Denzel Jubitana and Ridgeciano Haps finding the back of the net in the 51st and 69th minutes.
most instantaneously from the sound of the first whistle as Sheraldo Becker found the back of the net in just the third minute.
An almost identical strike was repeated by Becker in the 10th minute when Virgil Misidjan’s initial shot was saved by Roberts, to hand
Following the clash, Guyana’s lone goalscorer Jones lamented the team’s in ability to net their chanc es.
“First game, we should have taken our chances and we didn’t, you know, it cost us in the second half and ob
viously today, we needed a lot more goals and a clean sheet as well. It just wasn’t enough for us today,” Jones shared.
He added, regarding their hopes of turning the tides after his 13th-minute strike, “yeah, I mean we had to stay together, communicate and you know, just didn’t work out for us”.
Addressing the team’s relegation back to League B, Jones expressed the hope that the Golden Jags would learn from their mistakes.
“We got to learn from it, you know. We got relegated, so now we want to come back up. Just got go again,” Jones
When the CNL returns in 2025, the Golden Jaguars will compete in League B, where a perfect run in 2023 secured their just-concluded League A campaign.
Gold is Money, Back Circle A and B, Bent Street A among opening-day winners
each from Lennox Cush and Samuel Hunte as they penetrated the Street Vybz defence, to secure a 4-nil win.
Filled with a mixture of youth and experience, Gold is Money managed to walk away with a win, clinching a 2-1 victory over LA Ballers. Stephen Jupiter and Andrew Murray scored one goal each for Gold is Money while Kehance Scott scored the lone goal for Ballers.
Back Circle B and Sparta Boss battled it out
ly sharing points. Sparta Boss’s Ome Harriss netted the opening goal which resulted in many attempts on goal and Back Circle’s Kellon Gordon equalised the score.
Back Circle continued their streak as the A side secured a phenomenal 4-1 win over Bent Street B despite an early goal from Bent Street’s Dany Ross. Back Circle made their comeback with Simeon Moore adding a double followed by one goal
each from Amos Ramsey and Beveney Marks. Bent Street A, although missing some of their key players still managed to conclude the night with a 1-0 win against z-TEKK Family, with Denzil Shultz scoring the lone goal. The exhilarating action will continue in the group stage on Saturday, October 19 at the same venue.
CONCACAF President and FIFA Vice
President Victor Montagliani
Jalen Jones netted Guyana’s consolation goal against Suriname
The Golden Jaguars have been relegated to League B
A glimpse of the action
GOA facilitates Joel Alleyne’s participation in 2024 International Sports Conditioning Course in Budapest
The Executive Committee of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) has selected Joel Alleyne to participate in the Sports Conditioning Programme as part of the 2024 International Coaching Course (ICC) Hungarian University of Sports Science (HUSS) in Budapest, Hungary.
This intensive programme, which commenced on September 29 and concludes on November 29, 2024, is supported by Olympic Solidarity.
Alleyne’s selection is
part of the GOA’s strategic plan of ensuring that the Association maximises and optimises the opportunities for accessing available Olympic Solidarity grants, with the key aim of supporting the development of coaching expertise and capacities within the sport ecosystem in Guyana, The GOA nominated Alleyne for the Sports Conditioning Programme to serve as a key resource for local athletes and coaches across various sport disciplines in Guyana. With a background in table ten-
nis, Alleyne has since expanded his focus to fitness, strength, and endurance training, working with athletes to improve their performance using modern scientific and applied methods.
His participation in this programme will further enhance his expertise, allowing him to contribute to the development of athletes’ fitness, strength and conditioning levels and the introduction of advanced training methodologies in Guyana. Through this initiative, the GOA seeks to strengthen Guyana’s ca-
pacity to support our ath letes in their journey to compete at higher levels of international competition.
GOA President Godfrey Munroe indicated, “We are excited to see Joel Alleyne represent Guyana at this world-class coaching course. His involvement in the Sports Conditioning Programme at HUSS will provide invaluable knowl edge and techniques that can be applied to a wide range of sports disciplines in Guyana. His growth as a conditioning expert will also play a pivotal role in the fitness and perfor-
mance of our athletes.”
The Executive Committee of the GOA is grateful for the continued support of Olympic Solidarity and the Hungarian University of Sports Science and looks forward to leveraging Alleyne’s participa-
Lower Corentyne Secondary School benefits from cricket project
Lower Corentyne
Secondary School (LCSS) out of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice is the latest entity to benefit from the joint initiative of Kishan Das of the USA and Anil Beharry of Guyana, “Cricket Gear for Young and Promising Cricketers in Guyana”,. They were the recipients of two boxes of red cricket balls, compliments of former Guyana and West Indies B legspinning all-rounder Derek Kallicharran and his friends Vishnu Dudnauth, Bob Harrischan, Johnno Persaud and Ramjit Singh, all USbased Guyanese.
At a simple handing-over ceremony held recently, Mahendradass Nandlal, acting Head of Department, Allied Arts Department, LCSS, was thankful for the support and promised to get his school more actively involved in cricket. Amanda Downer Kampta, the niece of Kallicharran, said that she was pleased to present the balls on behalf of her uncle and his team. This initiative is also thankful for the continued support provided by our friends from the USA and really commend their interest and commitment to cricket development in Guyana, particularly Berbice.
Total cricket-related items received/purchased so far: $460,000 in cash, thirteen coloured cricket uniforms, one set of stumps and bails, two trophies, twenty-seven pairs of cricket shoes, thirty-three pairs of batting pads, thirty-five cricket bats, one flop - py hat, thirty-two pairs of batting gloves, twenty-five thigh pads, three pairs of
wicketkeeping pads, six arm guards, two chest pads, two boxes, twelve cricket bags, six bat rubbers, six helmets, one fibreglass bat, thirteen boxes of white cricket balls, five boxes of red balls and twenty-eight footballs. In addition to the above, gear worth more than $600,000 was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former national wicketkeeper-batsman. All cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and not available at the time.
To date, eighty-six young players, male and female, from all three counties of Guyana have benefited directly from cash, seven gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, thirty-three bats, three boxes, six helmets, thirty-one pairs of cricket shoes, twenty pairs of batting pads, twenty-four thigh pads, one bat grip, thirty-four pairs of batting gloves, one pair of wicketkeeping pads and three pairs of wicketkeeping gloves. Many others benefited indirectly. In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited from two used bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenaam Cricket Committees and Cotton Tree Die Hard also received one
Progressive and well- managed cricket clubs with a youth programme, will also benefit.
tion in the course to boost the level of coaching and athlete preparation in Guyana.
Alleyne has been progressing well in the programme, based on reports.
Republic Bank One
Guyana National B Division Volleyball Tournament successfully served off
box of red cricket balls each, Cold Fusion Cricket Club thirteen coloured uniforms while Rose Hall Community Centre Cricket Club (RHCCCC) received six boxes of balls, fifteen white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicketkeeping gloves, two sets of stumps and bails. Other beneficiaries include the Essequibo Cricket Board; the town of Lethem; youth coach Travis Persaud (one box of red cricket balls); male and female teams playing the traditional hardball and softball in the Upper Corentyne area; No 65 Young Titans (30 T-Shirts); youths of Just Try Cricket Club; Wakenaam Cricket Academy (one box of white balls); Shamar Joseph; Nehemiah Hohenkirk; Shamar Apple; Leguan Cricket Committee; Tucber Park Cricket Club; Malteenoes Sports Club and Kendall’s Union Cricket Club (two boxes of red balls). Cricket related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline, and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting is being done across the country and club leaders also assist to identify same.
The success of this initiative would never have been possible without the support of the following: Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group of USA, Hilbert Foster, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Trevis Simon, Årïêl J Tïlkú, Aaron Beharry, Leanna Bachan and Imran Saccoor, Devon Ramnauth, Teddy Singh, Romash Munna, Ravi Etwaroo, Kelvin Brijlall, Ravin Harkishun, Surendra Harkishun, Allan Mangru and Dennis Mangru, Vishal Mahabir, Sherman Austin, Huburn Evans, Rajendra Sadeo and Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Sheik Mohamed of Star Sports Awards and Trophies, Ajay Gainda of Cricket Equipment Guyana, Gajanand Singh, Peter Ramkissoon, Rabindranath Saywack, Roshan Gaffoor, Ameer Rahaman, Chin Singh, Denesh Chandrapaul, Davo Naraine of UK, Dr Cecil Beharry, Raj Mathura, Raj Bharrat, Latch Mohabir and family, Suresh Dhanai, Vishal Nagamootoo, Moses Nagamootoo Jr, Regal Sports Store, Omkar Singh, Parmanand Dhaniram, Reshma Mathura, Booman Singh, Krishna Rengensamy, Ishwar Singh, Ricky Deonarain of 4R Bearings, Terry Mathura of TDMJ Inc, Kennard Verapen and NY Pioneer CC, Anita and Derek Kallicharran, Subhas Powan Persaud of DX Sports, Ramjit Singh, Vishnu Dudnauth, Johnno Persaud, Bob Harrischan, Kumar Dindial, Shazam Hussain, Ravi Lutchman of JIS&L NY and Muhammad Afzal of Cyber Trading, Georgetown. The organisers also said the role of the media could not be underestimated and expressed thanks for its support from the inception.
Over the weekend, the Guyana Volleyball Federation saw 14 volleyball teams participate in the play-offs of the Republic Bank One Guyana National B Division Volleyball Tournament.
In Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini), the Spartans Volleyball Club claimed the title from Thomas Hills Club 25-21 and 25-16. In Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), seven male teams participated and Alpha defeated Castrol Strikers to claim the
title 25-19, 25-14, 17-25, 18-25, 1510. In the female category, Classic Ball Blasters defeated Castrol Strikers 25-17, 2523. In Siparuta, the Mighty Force team were the winners of a three-team battle 25-18, 25-23. This weekend, October 19-20, will see Moruca; Regions Five and Six; Region Two (Mainstay and Capoey); Region Seven (Bartica and Upper Mazaruni) all having their play-offs in their respective zones.
Joel Alleyne
The Mabaruma-winning team in action
The winning Classic Ball Blasters
Amanda Kampta handing over the red cricket balls to Mahendradass Nandlal
