Dr Irfaan Ali at the Mahatma Gandhi monument in the Promenade Gardens on Wednesday morning during the celebration of Gandhi’s 155th birth anniversary. The event was organised by the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Thursday, October 3 –03:45h-05:15h and Friday, October 4 – 03:45h-05:15h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Thursday, October 3 –16:45h-18:15h and Friday, October 4 – 17:00h-18:30h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
metres.
Low Tide: 10:29h and 22:45h reaching minimum heights of 0.58 metre and 0.48 metre.
High tide blows out koker door at Canal Number One
middle door of
ter and the situation had caused little to no impact on nearby residents.
Officials from the Region
was ripped off on Wednesday afternoon during the high tide.
Based on reports, the force of the water rushing inland blew the wooden door off the koker, resulting in a high level of water. Fortunately, there was no major overtopping of wa-
Three Democratic Council (RDC) and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) collaborated to mobilise equipment and materials to initially install stop logs and eventually install a new door.
President Dr Irfaan Ali had visited the area to in-
spect the damage. He was told by engineers that they had to await the tide receding before they could start remedial works which would be around 23:00h as the water level would be low enough. In the meantime, he urged that they mobilise all the equipment to the site and be on standby to start
General Services Inc, which was expected to deliver the structure Wednesday night for installation.
According to President Ali, “The new kokers will all be the stainless steel that will avoid this [kind of incident].”
Currently, there are about 10 wooden-door
the works as soon as possible.
“So, let [us] mobilise all the resources… get the power light out here and everything. So, when [the water] start turning back and you don’t even need to wait for the [water to fully retreat]. If the steel door comes, you can put it in,” the Head of State told the officials.
Guyana Times understands that there was an emergency fabrication of a new stainless-steel door by Gaico Construction and
kokers across Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and according to one regional official, these structures are “taking a beating” during spring tides and high water. Consequently, the Head of State has instructed that at least two extra steel doors be fabricated and kept as back-up in case of similar incidents in the future as work continues to permanently replace the kokers with steel and concrete structures. (G8)
Water rushing inland after ripping off the koker door at Canal Number One Koker, West Bank Demerara on Wednesday afternoon
President Dr Irfaan Ali speaking with a resident in the area
As the world celebrates the 155th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, his teachings remain profoundly relevant, especially in light of today's global challenges. Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence, self-reliance, and ethical living has inspired generations. However, as we grapple with a burgeoning global food crisis, one aspect of his teachings — food security — demands renewed attention.
In a recent reflection on Gandhi’s enduring wisdom, President Dr Irfaan Ali emphasised the urgent need to revisit the Mahatma's teachings on self-sufficiency in food production. He pointed out that the world is facing an alarming food crisis, exacerbated by a heavy reliance on fragile international supply chains, the devastating impacts of climate change, and economic profiteering. According to President Ali, countries have neglected a basic but vital lesson: the importance of feeding themselves locally.
Indeed, Gandhi’s vision of self-reliance was at the core of his philosophy, particularly when it came to food security. He championed local production, simple living, and community resilience. For Gandhi, being able to sustain one's community through agriculture was not only a practical necessity, but an ethical obligation. His famous words, “To forget how to dig the earth and tend the soil is to forget ourselves,” speak to this deep connection between self-reliance and dignity.
Today this message is more critical than ever. The modern food system is dominated by international trade, monoculture farming, and corporate interests. While these systems have brought some efficiency, they’ve also created vulnerability. Natural disasters, political unrest, or economic sanctions can disrupt supply chains, leaving countries and communities exposed to food shortages. The ongoing global food crisis, triggered by a combination of these factors, is a stark reminder of how dependent we have become on a system that is far from resilient.
President Ali’s call to action echoes Gandhi’s timeless teachings: the world must turn its focus back to local food production. He warns that the loss of self-reliance is not just an economic failure, but a profound ethical one. By becoming overly reliant on external forces for sustenance, nations risk losing their autonomy and, more importantly, their ability to protect the most vulnerable in society.
Guyana's efforts to transform its agriculture into a “food ecosystem” by encouraging young people to engage in farming and sustainable practices is a model worth emulating. As climate change threatens to make global food systems more precarious, initiatives like this can help build resilience at the local level.
Gandhi’s approach to food security was deeply intertwined with his broader philosophy of simplicity and self-sufficiency. He advocated for small-scale, communitybased farming, where each household could contribute to its own sustenance. In contrast to the industrial agriculture systems that dominate today, Gandhi’s vision offered a more sustainable and human-centred approach. His teachings remind us that food security is not merely about production; it is about empowering individuals and communities to take control of their food supply, fostering a sense of dignity and responsibility.
In celebrating Gandhi's 155th birth anniversary, we must recognize the enduring wisdom of his teachings.
As President Ali rightly highlighted, Gandhi’s answer to the food crisis was simple but profound: self-reliance. As the world faces unprecedented challenges, from climate change to food insecurity, Gandhi’s vision provides a blueprint for a more sustainable and equitable future. His teachings urge us to rethink how we feed ourselves, not just for economic survival, but as a moral imperative.
In the spirit of Gandhi, it is time to rekindle the global movement for food sovereignty, where communities can once again take pride in their ability to nurture and sustain themselves.
Attack on Guyana by Gary Griffith
Dear Editor, An attack has been launched on Guyana on October 2 Gary Griffith, the former Police Commissioner of Trinidad & Tobago, who is now the purported leader of something called the National Transformation Alliance. He wrote to the CPL organizers and demanded that the finals of that cricket competition be returned to the twin island republic.
Griffith’s letter contains numerous inaccuracies, innuendos and outright nonsensical claims, and given that this letter is being surreptitiously circulated by members of his organization, it is incumbent that a comprehensive reply be delivered.
Griffith first implies
that the power outage that occurred was not coincidental -- a claim that is obviously balderdash, and even one seeking political relevance should know better than to stake credibility on such nonsense. It is Griffith’s second assertion, about security measures, that warrants the most careful examination. A fight on a grass mound among spectators is indeed unfortunate, but thankfully rare. I fail to see how this constitutes grounds for moving the finals from Guyana.
I attended the finals of CPL in Trinidad, and my vehicle was broken into despite it being parked in an official car park. My car was trashed inside, and the deck ripped out. I didn’t see this as a cause to call for T&T to be
removed as a possible CPL finals venue.
Crime skyrocketed during Gary Griffith’s brief tenure as COP, and he was fired ignominiously from that position. His outlandish statements and behaviour brought the office of the commissioner into the realm of ‘pappyshow’ and comedy; enough to say Trinidad is the serious crime capital of the English-speaking Caribbean and then some.
Thirdly, Griffith speaks of logistical difficulties in Guyana, as opposed to mystical excellence in Trinidad.
I am unsure of what exactly he references, as I can recall a team bus taking four hours to make its way from the hotel to the stadium, despite police escort.
Finally, even a clueless politician should know that the CPL finals are awarded via an open bidding process. it is not a ‘right’ of any territory, but is awarded based on competition and competency. Guyana and Guyanese have done themselves proud with their enthusiastic support of both the home team and other franchises from the inception of CPL, and easily win the award for biggest fans of cricket in the region.
Gary Griffith’s letter is much like Gary Griffith the COP: bluff and bluster disguised as patriotism and intellect. It fools no one, and certainly does his ‘transformation’ party no favours.
Sincerely, Robin
Singh
Let us not deprive ourselves of good feelings about the oil found off our shores
Dear Editor,
I write about various headlines about oil and where the earnings from oil go. For ease of reference, I refer to two headlines in today’s (October 1st, 2024), Kaieteur News.
Let’s start on the cover - “Guyana should have received U.S. $ 10 billion from oil to date but only received U.S. $ 4.4 billion.”
I am sure that the amount of U.S. $10 billion is arguable; whether so or not, perhaps we should rejoice that we received directly U.S. 4.4 billion, when without oil we would have received nothing, zero. Let’s feel good about the U.S. $ 4.4 billion. If we have trou -
bles absorbing the US $4.4 billion according to some reports, what more troubles we would have had in absorbing U.S. $10 billion! Sometimes there could be too much of a good thing. The question about what is fair in different situations, in different countries around the world, is very often politically vexatious. There is the second article reappearing in today’s KN entitled, “Big US Oil Companies reveal massive payments to foreign governments.” I first saw that headline a day or two ago. I wondered whether it was another article on massive corruptions, but reading it today, it is
something quite different. The article is essentially complaining that the US Companies are paying proportionately more to foreign governments for oil recovered in foreign countries, than they pay to their own US Government for oil recovered in the US. If we were in the place of the US Government, we might have been getting less than the US $ 4.4 billion!
Reflect on the two paragraphs below from that article:
(i) “the truth is here in the US we get one of the worst deals for the extraction of our natural resources” said Michelle Harrison Deputy General
Consul for Earth Rights International an environmental advocacy group.
(ii) About 90% of Exxon’s nearly US $ 25 billion in global payments went to foreign governments in 2023, even though a quarter of Exxon’s global exploration and production earnings comes from the United States.
There seems to be media, civil society, and NGO groups in the US who are in essence arguing that Foreign Governments are getting much and the US Government should be getting more.
Aerial view of a sandbank on the bed of the Negro River in the Anavilhanas Archipelago in Novo Airao, Amazonas state, northern Brazil, October 1, 2024 (AFP)
President Ali's visit to Oxford University
Dear Editor,
It was Kofi Anan, former UN Secretary-General, who said some time ago, “The only barrier to human development is ignorance, and this is not insurmountable”.
I was fortunate to have been invited by Oxford University to listen to a public statement by His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali at the Blavatnik School of Government on Friday, September 27, 2024, on the topic “Guyana in Transformation – The Theory of Change and Priorities”.
His Excellency also launched a book on food security strategy captioned “Achieving Global Food Security – The Caribbean Experience and Beyond”.
I listen to a conversation in a room full of more than 160 Oxford University Graduate Studies aspirants from more than 60 countries (including a Guyanese student who lives in the USA). What I experienced was a very interactive session between the students, the former President of Colombia, Mr. Ivan Duque (“distinguished fellow" at the influential US Based Woodrow Wilson Center), Professor Karthik Ramanna (formerly from Harvard University, but now at the Oxford University with-
in the Blavatnik School of Government), and finally our own President Ali, who needs no introduction.
I witnessed some intense outpouring of thoughts from, in my opinion, some extremely talented students. The real discussion started when former President Duque drew the “Resource vs Capability Strategy Matrix” on the board. This information was useful in triggering the more than 20 "bunker-busting" piercing questions from the students. Any normal intellectual/politician would have struggled in that room, but His Excellency rose to the challenge quite competently and admirably.
I have not seen or heard anyone in current-day Guyana speak as fluently and on point as Dr. Ali on the subject matter of Guyana and its human developmental trajectory as I witnessed in that Oxford University classroom. This debate should be shown to every secondary and tertiary school student as essential training, since it is a clear outline of the national developmental policy framework for the new Guyana, and it is exciting. It would therefore be remiss of me not to share some of what I heard at Oxford University, and hopefully, the local press will pick up
on this recording and ask His Excellency some more questions on this intellectual outpouring from him, since it can clarify for many where we are going strategically as a nation.
Most of the piercing questions from the students were directed at the oil that was discovered in Guyana, the terms of the contract, the associated revenue, the climate change implication of this new oil discovery, the geopolitical concerns that are associated with this oil, the need to economically diversify away from the oil industry, etc.
His Excellency started his statement by highlighting that what was heard was information about the oil in Guyana and its implication, but that is not Guyana. He then started the discussion on Guyana and its human development story that includes the oil.
That was the trigger that kicked off one of the best policy statements I have ever heard on Guyana, if not the best. This extremely excellent presentation started by defining Guyana globally for what it is – a biodiversity mecca, which is 1 of only 7 “carbon sink” countries that have already met the net zero emissions.
In Guyana’s case, it has 86% of its land mass under
forest (similar to the size of England), contributing positively to the world. This resource can store some 19.5 gigatons of carbon and sequester 153 million tons of carbon annually.
He then made a compelling case for our development profile, which is being driven by the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which he outlined in detail quite proficiently to the listeners, and not skipping a beat.
He then spoke about Guyana’s ambition (which is important to the EU agenda) of developing the nation’s desire to start trading our carbon credits on the global market, while informing the audience of the two carbon credit projects that provided some US$1 billion to Guyana, which is being used to uplift the lives of the people with a guarantee to the hinterland people of 15% of all earned carbon credit resources.
I sat there and watched these brilliant minds all very quiet and listening intently for two hours as he continued on the question of why Guyana can and must continue to harvest the oil resources. But the idea that made the most sense to me, as explained by His Excellency, was why it is morally and economically sound to pump the
Let us not deprive ourselves of good...
It puts me in memory of our negotiations with SaskPower about 1997, for a Partnering agreement with SaskPower for their investment in and development of our electricity corporation. Some members of the Saskatchewan media and the Guyana media seemed to have developed close friendly relations during the months of negotiations, however I was dumbfounded when the outline of the prospective, delicately balanced agreement was released to what appeared to be a constructive, all-together media group. The Canadian media wrote articles which seem to say, “look what our SaskPower people have allowed that third world country to extract from them;” and the Guyanese media wrote – “look what our government people are giving away to those exploitative first world people.” I was dumb founded, and more so, when from time to time, later, I heard some of our media commenting, saying that the SaskPower Agreement was probably the best we could have had.
One fact that tempered my feelings at the time, was that few if any of us, our media, commentators and civil society had any
nearly sufficient, holistic knowledge and experience in what is required for the provision of a good electricity service. It is natural that we would want to protect ourselves and our country – to do so however we need to know what is prevailing, what is the best deal there can be. It seems that we have been in much the same situation with oil. I would have preferred that instead of the many articles “bad mouthing” oil, we had articles on the history of the oil industry: how it got going in Pennsylvania in the USA in about the 1850’s with people beating pipes into the ground where oil was oozing up. This is what we should have been focusing on, from that start to where we are now about 170 years later; where Exxon has had to look about a mile and a half through the water to the bottom of the sea, and a further mile and a half into the rocks to the oil-bearing strata; and had the knowledge to now recover the oil from such a depth in such a location; and was able to accumulate, and riskily venture that money, the capital, to do it. I would prefer to have my people feeling challenged, learning and knowing how these things are accomplished – it is in becoming knowl-
edgeable and capable and accomplishing that we become empowered. Also, when we know, it is easier for us to reach agreement and have satisfactory partnerships with others, and with less than a million people we Guyanese need to become good at making partnerships with others in this world of eight billion souls.
Allow me to point to one other matter for us to keep under observation. I have thanked Professor Hunt before for many of the tables on the oil industry which he has presented. The trouble is that we see different lessons in the same tables. In one table, comparing costs of oil production in various oil fields around the world Professor Hunte shows that in Saudi Arabia, and Iran, from where all the oil the world needs could be recovered, production costs are about US $10 per barrel, while production off-shore Guyana is put at about US 30 per barrel. I wondered why the cost offshore Guyana is not more like that of the North Sea, approaching US $40 per barrel (no doubt compensation and services costs figure therein). With the alarm about Climate Change, suggesting that the use of fossil fuels may be ended around 2050, one can imag-
oil and sell carbon credit to anyone, including Hess. His Excellency highlighted that the world today has lost, over the last 50 years, more than 50% of its biodiversity. He clarified for the students, that while His Government is committed to keeping the Guyanese forest generally intact with a harvest rate that complies with all the global regulations, such a commitment comes at a heavy price to our national development if not monetized and paid for by those who destroyed 50% of the biodiversity system over the last 50 years.
As he stated in this equation, what was earned from these forests for the Guyanese people to date was just US$1 billion, which is not enough to realize the economic ambition of the Guyanese people. So, he asked the question: “Where do we find the resources to fulfill the dream and ambition of the Guyanese people, if our carbon sink capabilities are not being monetized and rewarded by those who have destroyed the biodiversity system over the last 50 years?”
The case was made that Guyana must assess its national need, decide what is best for its people, and find the resources to fund the mitigation and adaptation programme to combat the climate change challenge. His Excellency made it clear that no one is coming with a multi-billion-dollar grant to say, “Thank you, Guyana, for keeping your forest intact”. Everything that Guyana buys from the world has to be paid for at market rates, and this requires hard cash.
His Excellency stated that with the approved oil production operations functioning at their maximum rate, the oil and gas industry would be utilizing less than 20% of the carbon being stored in the forest, which still makes Guyana a carbon sink post facto country.
I rest my case. My work in the European Union has just become even more interesting.
Sincerely, Sasenarine Singh Guyana’s Ambassador to Belgium
ine that there might well be a shake-out in oil prices at some time. Energy prices may stay high, limited by the cost of alternatives, but payments to the wellhead will fall as money has to be put to capture and store the CO2 released, and/or to pay for Carbon credits. I can tell you that I have noticed some articles recently which hint at (i) a coming shake-out and fall in oil prices, (at the wellhead), and (ii) oil from offshore Guyana now contributing to dampening oil price increases. A policy of “pump baby pump,” “make hay whilst the sun shines,” may well be the correct policy for us Guyanese, and Guyana, at this time.
May we enjoy the receipts from Exxon’s recovery of oil off our shores, whilst we may, and hurry to transform our country and ourselves with our investments in infrastructure, education and health; in our country and in ourselves, so that when our world parts with oil, we, Guyanese in Guyana, will be able to earn and provide ourselves a better life, and extend a helping hand to others.
Sincerely,
Samuel AA Hinds Former President and Prime Minister
Maths as art Page Foundation
Thread art projects
You may remember string art from your elementary school days. If so, it probably makes you think of the 2D geometrical designs that took every ounce of patience you had as a kid. Or those laborious curve stitch drawings, which string art was actually birthed from. But thanks to some innovative modern artists, string art has gotten a lot more interesting. Here are some of the most creative applications so far.
The Bat Signal
Artist Stephen Ball made this awesome string art Bat Signal out of thread, nails and wood. Instead of a searchlight, the distress signal is sprayed out of a spray paint can.
You can see more of his 3D thread work on his blog.
Sculptures
Some pretty impressive sculptures have been made with string art, as well.
Chairs
They may not be string, but they’re close enough! These chairs by Jessica Carnevale were made using latex, bungee and rope. Visit her website to see more of her work.
Neural Patterns
Neural Patterns Deco is an impressive project that combines 2D and 3D string art with blacklight and LEDs. Artist Chris “Lizard” Griffin says that the “inspiration comes from Sacred Geometry, an ancient science that explores and explains the energy patterns that create and unify all things”. (Adapted from mathcraft.wonderhowto.com)
China part of transformation taking place in Guyana – Pres Ali
As the Guyana Government continues along the trajectory of economic growth and sustainability, President Dr Irfaan Ali has assured that all avenues would be explored, including its partnership with China.
According to the Head of
“We understand that the pace of development and the pace of growth requires us solidifying existing partnership and of course, China and Guyana’s relationship has grown from strength to strength. But whilst we solidify the existing relationship, we believe that we
State, China is a major contributor to the transformation taking place in Guyana and the partnership between the two nations will position the country as one of the most innovative and diversified economies that are built on knowledge and technology.
The Guyanese leader made these remarks at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China’s 75th Anniversary on Tuesday evening which was hosted at the Marriott Hotel.
During his remarks, President Ali underscored Guyana’s commitment to working with China to tackle shared challenges, seek cooperation and promote development together so as to build a closer ChinaGuyana community with a shared future.
He said this would play a crucial role in ensuring the local economy was carefully created and crafted to be competitive, resilient and sustainable in the future.
must work harder to win and bring new friends with us,” Ali said.
Mutual trust
President Ali stressed that relations between Guyana and China have maintained sound development with strong political mutual trust.
Guyana firmly adheres to the one-China policy, Ali
noted, adding China was regarded as a highly reliable partner, and he welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest in Guyana.
Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan shared similar sentiments, stressing that China has encouraged Chinese enterprises to invest in Guyana as the two sides continue to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of energy,
“China fully understands Guyana’s desire to seize opportunities to develop itself and always stands ready to be a steadfast partner in Guyana’s development. China will never forget that Guyana is the first Englishspeaking Caribbean country to forge diplomatic ties
Ambassador shared. China has played an important role in the economic and social development of Guyana and the Caribbean Region, not only sharing China’s experience, but also providing valuable assistance to Guyana and regional countries in the de-
“Our relationship and partnership are not only diplomatic or economic, at the governance level or social services. We also have military partnership, defence partnership, security partnership and intellectual partnership. Many times, we don’t focus on the intellectual partnership but the transfer of technology, the training of our human resource potential are important parts of economic transformation and we want to recognise China is playing in this transformation also,” he added.
mining, finance, agriculture and fisheries, and infrastructure construction, and cultivate new growth areas such as new energy and green development.
with China. Over the past 52 years, China-Guyana relations have stood the test and time and the two countries continue to build mutual trust,” the Chinese
velopment of infrastructure, connectivity, medicine, and health.
Guyana and China celebrated 51 years of bilateral relations last year. (G1)
President Dr Irfaan Ali and Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan and Chargé d'Affaires & Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Guyana, Huang Rui share a toast during the People’s Republic of China’s 75th Anniversary
Woman dies 1 day after LBI accident
A60-year-old wom-
an has died from injuries sustained in a two-car collision on the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The accident occurred around 06:00h on Sunday and claimed the life of Salima Heeralal of Good Hope, ECD, a day later.
According to Police reports, the accident involved motor car PAE 672, driven by a 21-year-old of Earls Court, LBI, and another motor car PAH 5148, driven by the woman’s 58-yearold husband while she was a passenger.
ported to the Georgetown Public Hospital's Accident and Emergency Unit, where they were admitted for treatment. The 21-yearold driver of the other car was taken by a relative to a private city hospital, where he was also admitted for observation.
What’s with...
…Agri Month?
WHeeralal succumbed to her injuries early Monday morning around 02:40h while undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit.
Bystanders rushed to the scene and managed to pull the occupants of Heeralal’s vehicle from the wreckage. Both the husband and wife were trans-
Investigations reveal that the 21-year-old, who was travelling south along the LBI access road, failed to stop at the intersection with the embankment. His car collided with the right side of the vehicle in which Heeralal was a passenger that was heading west along the southern driving lane. The impact sent the car crashing into a bridge on the southern side of the road.
Meanwhile, her husband was discharged from the hospital later that day. The driver of the other vehicle is said to be hospitalised in the private city hospital as Police continue their investigation.
ell, if it’s October, and this being Guyana, it must be “Agriculture Month” -- which your Eyewitness believes has been commemorated for at least a quarter of a century! And if you think about it, it is rather ironic – since agriculture’s the raison d’etre for the existence of our country. As such, Agriculture Month should’ve been commemorated since 1621 or thereabouts!! But better late than never, and as is customary with all this commemoration of “Days” and “Weeks” and “Months”, there’s gotta be a theme. Last year it was “Accelerating Vision 25 by 2025: Investing in Agri-business and Food Security”, and the year before it was: “Championing food security through innovation, investment and resilience”; and this year, it’s “Transforming Tomorrow: Championing Food Security through Innovation and Technology”. You get the idea?? The idea is that agriculture’s now being placed on a whole new plateau.
Now, this might seem a bit strange with our new designation as a “Petro state” - where money’s literally gushing out from under the Atlantic!! However, we know that unlike the Mid East, where there’s an ocean of oil swirling around under their desert sands, ours is a mere puddle in comparison – which will run out in a few decades!! And your Eyewitness won’t even discuss the move out of fossil fuels to mitigate climate change - since that’s just a mamaguy by the “developed countries” that became developed due to burning fossil fuels!!
So, the Govt’s clear about hedging our bets by exploiting what the economists call our “comparative advantage” in agriculture. What with the vast acreage of land we have available, not only on the coastland, but in our interior savannahs. And as a land of many waters, the challenge of irrigation that’s a hurdle to most countries is merely an engineering challenge to divert waters from our rivers and creeks. From what we can glean by the Agriculture Month “themes”, the new focus is to bring our agriculture into the 21st century - away from the backbreaking, unremitting labour it was during and after slavery and indentureship.
The focus on addressing “food security” signals the existing and growing global markets for a world where climate change and depleted groundwater reservoirs are reducing food production, even in countries that were once self-sufficient. Immediately, there’s the goal of reducing Caricom’s US$6 billion annual food import bill by 25% by next year – 25 by 25!! - so markets aren’t a problem. The challenge will be manpower, and we can see this is being addressed by increased mechanization and logistics.
Producing and supplying food to the world demands an intricate supply chain involving flash freezing, storage, processing, phytosanitary measures etc.
It’s a brave new world for agriculture for our post-oil future!!
…placating Venezuela
The accusation by the Opposition: that Jagdeo, when President, offered the Venezuelans a “passage to the Atlantic” in our North West in lieu of their claim to Essequibo has now been proven false. But how about the interview Burnham gave to Alfredo Peña, from the Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional, on March 1 1985 – from the transcript released by our Foreign Service.
“PEÑA: But right now, the question is being raisedthat same kind of proposals that were raised under the Perez government - of a solution; that is, Venezuela’s exit to the Atlantic. Foreign Minister Morales Paul has said that Venezuela would have to have a portion of land and sea for itself.
BURNHAM: We can DISCUSS it. But having an entry into the Caribbean is quite different from owning the land bordering the Caribbean.”
What this shows is Burnham also CONSIDERED the “passage into the Caribbean” – but that doesn’t mean he would’ve gone along.
In diplomacy, one allows all sorts of options on the table. It doesn’t mean you accept them all, Opposition wankers!!
…a change
Last Monday night, the US VP candidates had their debate. Compared to the Trump-Harris debate, this one was almost a “love in”!! These fellas gotta get with the (dog eat dog) programme!!
The accident that claimed the life of Salima Heeralal
Cocaine, ganja seized in Region 8 drug bust
Police in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) have made two drug busts wherein they seized a total of 1,675 grams of marijuana and 30 grams of cocaine in separate operations on Tuesday. In the first raid, police ranks acting on intelligence searched an apartment building at Konawaruk Junction. In Room Four, police discovered 1,255 grams of marijuana stashed in a plastic bag hidden under a mattress, and 30 grams of cocaine in a white paper-wrapped parcel containing small, rock-like substances that were suspected to be cocaine.
The officers also observed various items scattered in the room, includ-
Cop under close arrest for assaulting teen son
Apolice constable has been placed under close arrest at the La Grange Police Station, West Bank Demerara, following a domestic incident in which he allegedly assaulted his 17-year-old son in an altercation that occurred on Monday at about 19:00h and was reportedly captured on video.
Investigations revealed that the teenager was at home when his father accused him of neglecting household chores, and this sparked a heated argument which escalated. The cop allegedly struck his son multiple times, leaving
the teenager with injuries to his face and body. The teen managed to escape, and sought refuge at the home of his uncle, who is an Inspector of Police.
Following the incident, the uncle accompanied his nephew to La Parfaite
Harmonie Police Station, where an official report was made, and the teen was sent for medical treatment. The cop was subsequently arrested and placed under close arrest while investigation into the incident continues. (G9)
'cordon and search' exercise at the Mahdia Arcade, where they uncovered 420 grams of marijuana in vari-
ing a Topco orange juice box and a damaged SIM card. Statements were obtained from individuals present as investigations continue. In a separate operation, police conducted a
ous hiding spots. The marijuana was stashed in plastic bags hidden under a water tank, a pot, a mat, and inside an Ensure milk bottle. Detective Inspector Seetaram led the search, finding most of the drugs.
The confiscated marijuana was weighed and found to be in amounts of 175 grams, 185 grams, 40 grams, and 20 grams, totalling 420 grams.
Investigations are ongoing as law enforcement officers intensify efforts to crack down on illegal drug activities in the region.
(G9)
Pensioner dies after bee attack in Mahaicony
Imran Alli, also known as ‘Buddy’, a 70-yearold pensioner, died at Novar, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara on Sunday after sustaining injuries during a bee attack while clearing bushes on a plot of land opposite his home. The incident occurred at approximately 11:00h when Alli, a resident of Lot 24 Novar, was clearing the land. He was accompanied at the time by a 43-year-old worker named Dale Husher.
Reports indicate that the two men inadvertently disturbed a hive of bees and were attacked by a swarm of them.
According to Zeana Alli, Imran Alli’s 63-year-old wife, she was alerted to the situation when she heard Husher shouting for help. She said she rushed to the verandah and saw Husher running, and her husband lying on the ground covered in bees. Nearby residents attempted to rescue Imran Alli, but the swarm of bees proved overwhelming. Husher recounted that while he and Imran were clearing the bushes, a swarm of bees flew towards
them and began stinging them both. He said he panicked and ran for safety, leaving his employer on the ground, as he was unable to assist him.
Emergency services were contacted, and Alli was transported to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The medical staff reported that he had sustained multiple bee stings. Alli’s body has been transferred to the mortuary of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) to await a post-mortem examination. Following the incident, Novar residents took to social media to express their shock and sadness at the loss of their community member, and have described Alli as a kind and hardworking man. (G9)
Dead: Imran Alli
The cocaine that was found during the operations
The marijuana that was found during the operations
Gandhi’s 155th birth anniversary “Let Gandhi’s teachings help us address global food insecurity” – Pres Ali
President Dr Irfaan Ali believes countries must examine the teachings of the late Indian political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi on food security in order to tackle the current food crisis that is plaguing the world.
The Head of State pointed out that countries around the world are contributing to their own food insecurity by forgetting how to feed themselves locally. To this end, he noted that the world should turn to Gandhi and examine his teachings on food security to help address the global food crisis.
“To forget how to feed ourselves locally is just not an economic failure, it is an ethical one… And it’s precisely where we find ourselves today, entan-
gled in a global food crisis that has left us far too dependent on fragile international supply chains, devastated by climate change, and at the mercies of profiteers. And that is why here in Guyana, we are working on transforming our agriculture into a food ecosystem, encouraging young people to be part of it and to be part of the global solution. Gandhi’s answer to food crisis was simple and yet powerful – self-reliance… He believed that the strength of a nation or a community lies in its ability to feed itself,” the President stated.
According to Ali, the relevance of Gandhi’s self-reliance goal is evident today and is being adopted in the Caribbean Community’s food security ini-
tiative to reduce the Region’s high food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025, which Guyana is leading under his stewardship.
Quoting Gandhi, “To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves”, the Guyanese leader spoke about the disconnect between people and the earth especially the younger generation and the concerning disregard for agriculture.
“How did we become a world where some still feel that farming, kitchen gardens or simply growing our own food is beneath them… That mindset is misguided and dangerous. When we lose touch with the land, when we forget the connection with the soil and food and on our plates, we forget the
very source of life itself,” he asserted.
According to President Ali, Gandhi had warned about overconsumption when he said, “The earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs but not every man’s greed.”
Currently, some 800 million people go to bed hungry each night and according to the United Nations, an estimated 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted or spoilt, with 60 per cent of all food wastage occurring at the household level.
Reform of global food system
The Head of State noted that in order to fix these issues, there must be reform of the global food system.
“We need to emphasise access to nutritious foods as a basic right of every human being. We must also ensure that we balance the need to produce more food with protection of the environment. Gandhi’s philosophy of moderation and simplicity should challenge us also to rethink how we eat. Reducing food wastage is necessary. We cannot continue to keep eating as if the food barrel has no bottom. We cannot continue to waste food while so many go to bed hungry. Gandhi urged us to be more responsible with our choices [when] he said, “Live simple so that others may simply live”,” the President stated.
The Guyanese Leader made these remarks at the Gandhi Jayanti Celebration 2024 hosted by the Indian High
Commission in Georgetown and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) to commemorate the 155th birth anniversary of Gandhi.
During Wednesday’s event held at the site of the Gandhi statue in the Promenade Gardens, President Ali also underlined the Indian leader’s work towards the promotion of peace and non-violence. He said Gandhi taught the example of how one small man can made a difference in the world with no backing – something the Head of State noted that Guyana was trying to emulate in its push for global peace and respect for sovereignty.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Indian High Commissioner, Dr Amit Telang, who lauded Guyana’s diversity which fosters a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society where everyone brings together their own values and
principles, striving for a better society and country.
The Indian diplomat also reflected on Gandhi's principles of peace and non-violence and the need to uphold these values for conflict prevention and betterment of the world.
“Today is the day to remember Mahatma Ghandhi and more importantly, his contributions to global peace, global understanding and universal brotherhood… So on this day, as we commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s 155th birth anniversary, let us not forget his life, let us not forget the lessons and the values and principles that he gave us, because that is the only way we can create a better world for future generations,” Dr Telang stated.
Wednesday’s event also commemorated the 120th birth anniversary of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri – India’s second Prime Minister.
(G8)
President Dr Irfaan Ali paying his respects at the Gandhi statue in the Promenade Gardens on Wednesday during the commemoration of the late Indian leader’s 155th birth anniversary
President Ali with Indian High Commissioner Dr Amit Telang and other officials at the commemoration of the 155th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
CJIA upgrades Admin Building delayed, Commercial Centre for December completion
As works continue to upgrade the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Public Works Minister Juan Edghill has revealed that construction of the Administration Building has been delayed, but works on the Commercial Centre are significantly advanced, and the Centre is due to be completed by this year-end.
The new Administration Building, being constructed by Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal Incorporated to the tune of $890 million, will house over 300 staff members of the airport when completed.
In a telephone interview with this publication on Wednesday, Edghill disclosed that the contractor has been served with two performance letters, and has been engaged by the relevant personnel overseeing the project’s completion about being significantly behind schedule.
He explained that while Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal Inc has not sur-
passed the stipulated deadline for works to be completed, the Ministry did implore that systems be put in place to address the delay, so as to ensure the building is de-
get the work done within a particular timeframe. And it's the methodology that is being used. It's a four-storey building, and the methodology, I think, was not optimal and the amount of persons there. But we are moving now,” Edghill disclosed.
In regard to the $874 million Commercial Centre being built by PD Contracting, Edghill has expressed satisfaction with the works completed thus far.
He noted that the facility would play a crucial role in enhancing visitors’ experiences from the level of air travel, among other things.
“By December 31st, sections of that Commercial Building should be habitable and usable for the
livered in a timely manner.
“The Admin Building is behind (schedule) because the contractor has not put enough resources to get the work done in an expeditious manner. We have met with him and said, ‘Look, you said that you have these facilities available to you to
public. In that Commercial Center, it's where we're building out new concessions for both airside and landside. We've had a number of challenges, but a lot is being done. There'll be a new VIP Lounge, a Business Lounge, an Executive Lounge. It is outfitted with
escalators and elevators to allow passengers to access easily, as well as those who are differently-abled. And that, you will recall, was one of the things that the Government of Guyana, or I should say the PPPC government, was able to get
from the Chinese to put up this superstructure,” the Public Works Minister shared.
Meanwhile, work on the complex for airline offices has been halted, given that Trinidadian company Kalco Guyana Incorporated has requested that its contract be terminated.
This is the second project that company has stalled due to its inability to fast-track works and adhere to deadlines.
Administration building under construction at CJIA
E-Litigation Portal
High Court’s move from paper to online filings welcomed by legal fraternity
…hailed as timely initiative that will make court cases more efficient
Moving from paper to electronic filings, the Supreme Court of Guyana will be fully implementing an E-Litigation Portal as of Friday, October 4, a move that is being welcomed by members of Guyana’s legal fraternity who have called the project a timely one.
Back in January 2024,
the Court of Appeal had implemented a system for filing cases online, moving away from the paper-based system in keeping up with modernisation. It is now the Supreme Court’s turn, with the court recently announcing that its E-Litigation Portal would be launched on Friday.
Already, members of
the legal fraternity have been invited to pre-register. The move is being welcomed by members of the legal fraternity. Guyana Times spoke with Attorney-at-Law Manoj Narayan, a partner at Nandlall and Associates. Narayan, who also serves as a Commissioner on the Guyana Elections
Commission (GECOM), lauded the move by the court, noting that such has already been implemented in other jurisdictions.
“All over the world, the legal systems have been utilising more and more technology in order to provide a more efficient service to members of the public, as well as to create an environment that is more efficient for persons operating in the system, such as lawyers, Magistrates, Judges. Some various parts of the developed world, the Judiciary in those countries have already moved towards the electronic filing of documents,” he noted.
According to Narayan, the move is a welcome one that lawyers, of course, will need to adjust to, in terms of how they run their offices. The Attorney further noted that the court has already been implementing other initiatives, such as virtual hearings in the Magistrate and High Courts, which make use of technology. Additionally, he pointed out that some electronic filing has been ongoing with the Deeds and Commercial Registry.
“Since COVID-19, in Guyana, we have seen a
significant impact with the use of technology, on our Judiciary. So, for example, in the Magistrate Court, cases are being heard virtually. Where those that are being charged do not necessarily have to be in the same room as the presiding Magistrate and the lawyers.
“But they’re allowed to follow the proceedings through the use of the Internet and virtual platforms. The same has been happening in the High Court, where matters can be heard virtually and lawyers can operate from their offices. All things being said, this move is to bring the Judiciary in keeping with modern times, maximum and efficient use of technology. So, I welcome the move,” the Attorney declared.
Meanwhile, Dexter Smartt, an Attorney-atLaw attached to the Dexter Todd and Associates Law Firm, also described the move as a good one that would aid in efficiency.
Smartt recalled that not only has he undergone training on how to use the e-filing system, but he has already had a taste of the system at the level of the Court of Appeal.
“At the Court of Appeal, if you go through that process, you realise how useful it would be. To be able to do these things online, check your timelines, the judgement, whatever notice of judgement made on your appeal. And this now going to the High Court makes things more efficient. You can do your filings online, pay online, check your notes, check your timelines.
“It will also help with efficiency. Not having to run to the Registry every time we need something or depend on a clerk to find information for us. We’ll have everything at our fingertips. So, I believe it is quite beneficial to the entire Judiciary and the entire legal fraternity,” Smartt further said.
The software for the e-litigation system was developed by Singapore-based company Crimson Logic, which has developed similar systems in Singapore, Mauritius, Qatar and for the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. The portal will allow for electronic filings and case management, which Attorneys with a certificate of good standing will be able to register for and access. (G3)
Admin building delayed, commercial...
Edghill explained that works will recommence soon with a new contractor, who will be reviewed thoroughly by his ministry’s Engineering department.
“But basically, if a contractor is on a site and they are unable to perform, we have to do two things. Work with them to get nominated subcontractors who could assist. You could have several people doing things simultaneously which would expedite the time. In this case, Calco has to be excused from the project because they were not able to do it. We wound our en-
gagement up with them. And now we are putting together a list of contractors with capacity who is known to have done work of a similar nature in a restricted tendering process to be able to get them swiftly engaged,” he added.
The contract for the airport expansion project was initially signed in 2011, during Dr Bharrat Jagdeo’s tenure as president, with China Harbour and Engineering Corporation (CHEC).
The then People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration ac-
quired a US$138 million loan from the China Exim Bank and used US$12 million from the Consolidated Fund (taxpayers’ money) for the total project cost of US$150 million. However, upon assuming office in 2015, the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government altered the proposed expansion project. Upon resumption of office in 2020, the PPP/C Government reverted to the old proposal and included some new amenities.
The High Court
Attorney-at-Law Dexter Smartt
Attorney-at-Law Manoj Narayan
Over 1000 youths now shareholders in Govt-backed agri company
More than two years after Government had launched a company, the Agriculture Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme (AIEP), more than 1000 young people have been attracted to the initiative, and they are all shareholders of this company, whose portfolio of climate smart agricultural projects continues to grow.
Designed to ensure retention of the skills of past and present agriculture students as well as those with experience in the sector, the AIEP was first launched in 2022, and Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha revealed on Tuesday that the initiative has since grown to attract more than 1000 participants.
Addressing youths in Region Five, where the programme is looking to make inroads with the cultivation of five acres of land under various agricultural projects, Minister Mustapha said,
“Young people today, many young people today, don’t want to get involved in agri food systems. They think agriculture is a menial physical job for people who never went to school. And we have many young people that went to the University of Guyana, got a degree, come out with an agronomy degree, with a diploma from the Guyana School of Agriculture, and they’re doing clerical work. The President said we have to harness all this expertise; we have to bring them into the system.”
According to Mustapha, this is where the idea for the Agriculture Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme came into being, as the idea was to form a company. The fact that the programme has grown to include 1000 youths is a testament to its success, the minister said.
In fact, reports are that some $30 million in revenue has already been generated through the programme.
“We said, ‘Let us form a company. Form a company and make these people shareholders of this company’. And we formed a company called the Agriculture Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme. And from that time to now, we have more than 1000 young people; young, bright people like you in this programme.”
He continued, “We started out with the climate smart agriculture, where we have a number of shade houses, and we’re doing this now in a more scientific, modern way; less labour intensive. And today, many young people who never wanted to get involved in the food system, they are today now earning their livelihood from agriculture.”
Innovative
As at December 2023, the entrepreneurship programme had earned $25.4 million from the production and sale of high-value crops. Minister Mustapha had said at his year-end press confer-
Miner remanded on illegal gun, ammo charge
The gun and ammunition that were found in Phillips’s possession
David Phillips, a 53-year-old gold miner of Fitzburg, Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini), has been remanded to prison following his arraignment before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh on charges of being in unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
He appeared via Zoom from the Port Kaituma Police Station on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the
charges. The case has been adjourned to November 6. Phillips was arrested last Friday in an operation conducted by the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) of the Guyana Police Force at Five-Stage Backdam in the North West District. He was stopped by police while driving a Hilux pick-up which had two other miners. Acting on intelligence, officers searched the vehicle and discovered a 9mm pis-
Charged: David Phillips
tol, a magazine, and six live rounds of ammunition inside a pink and grey haversack that Phillips identified as his. When questioned, Phillips allegedly admitted that he did not have a firearm licence, and said he carried the gun for personal protection due to the remote and dangerous nature of the backdam. Police also noted that the firearm’s serial number and manufacturer’s mark had been filed off. (G9)
ence that earnings generated by the project would be paid to the youths as dividends.
“We know for a fact that this was a very innovative project, where we formed a company and we have made these young people shareholders. To date, we have seen earnings of over $25 million from this project. These young people will receive the dividends from this project as shareholders. So, these are encouragement for young people to get involved in the agriculture sector,” Minister Mustapha had said.
In addition to shade houses, some of the other ventures being pursued by the entrepreneurship programme across the country are prawn production and tunnel houses.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali has previously said that one tunnel house, a struc-
ture designed to shield poultry from the elements and to maximize production, can produce more than 35,000 chickens.
During a meeting with youths from Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) on Tuesday, the President explained that, as part of the AIEP, Government would develop five acres of land, whereon youths in the region can then develop their own agriculture businesses. This includes the option of being included in the Onverwagt Prawns Project or another agriculture project.
Further, he said, Government would be collaborating with the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) and with Demerara Bank to offer low interest loans to participants. The intention, according to the Head of State, is to have a group of youths be assigned to a project such as one of the
ponds that are home to the prawns. This would reduce the individual overhead and input costs of the youngsters while allowing them to reap the rewards of entrepreneurship.
The President is encouraging persons to come together and pool their resources in order to invest in these businesses. These and other projects form part of Government’s “Vision 25 by 2025”, which was first conceptualized by President Ali and aims for the Caribbean to achieve a 25 per cent reduction in the Region’s food import bill by the year 2025. Owing to the Region’s dependency on imported foods, it faces hardships when disruptions occur. And in light of this, the intention is to formulate a sense of food stability and security. As of February this year, 70 per cent of the ’25 by 2025’ target had been met. (G3)
A group photo showing young people from Region 5 who were briefed on Tuesday on the opportunities available in the programme
The shade houses that were built by the AIEP
GECOM discussing feasibility of biometrics for 2025 elections
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is currently engaged in critical discussions regarding the use of biometrics for the upcoming General and Regional Elections scheduled for 2025.
Speaking with Guyana Times, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Commissioner Clement Rohee shared that the Commission is currently examining a feasibility study on digital fingerprint capture, but emphasized the importance of ensuring that any proposed measures align with the Constitution of Guyana.
“There’s a study that has been done. We have to examine that in order to determine the practicality. A feasibility study was done for the producing of digital fingerprint capture, so we are now going to be discussing that as a major issue in order to determine if we can, and to what extent we could, have this matter considered as something within the meaning of the constitution,” Rohee noted.
In Guyana, there remains significant concern about the introduction and implementation of any voter stipulation that could possibly disenfranchise voters and potentially lead to legal challenges reminiscent of the 1998 Elections Petition case brought by Esther Pereira.
That case had resulted in nullification of the 1997 elections due to constitutional violations.
Rohee stressed the need for GECOM to operate within constitutional boundar-
ies, ensuring that any necessary amendments and laws would need to be enacted to facilitate any biometric implementation is done
“Anything we do can only do so in keeping with what the constitution says and the Representation of the People Act provides for. If these things are not there, then we have to ensure that the necessary amendments and laws are passed in order for it to happen. That’s only if there’s an agreement at GECOM for that to happen,” Rohee said.
GECOM spokeswoman Yolanda Ward had said in August that, in preparing for the 2025 General and Regional Elections, GECOM is considering proposals for installing cameras in polling stations and for conducting a feasibility study of biometrics in order to enhance safeguards against misconduct.
Ward was at the time responding to the matter raised by the Alliance For Change (AFC) regarding election safeguards. AFC, which was previously part
of APNU that had attempted to rig the 2020 National and Regional Elections, has been calling for biometrics such as fingerprints to be implemented by GECOM for the next elections.
However, GECOM has warned that such a significant change cannot be made to electoral procedures without legislation being in place to back it up. Indeed, the addition of ID Cards in the 1997 elections was one of the grounds on which the validity of the entire election was overturned in court, and even that electoral change had come from an act of Parliament.
“Whereas this call from the AFC is nothing new, it is necessary for the Commission to remind all political stakeholders, and by extension the general public, that (GECOM Chairperson) Justice of Appeal (Ret’d) Claudette Singh has repeatedly emphasised that the Commission’s operations are guided by the laws of Guyana,” GECOM had explained.
20 block-makers empowered through SBB & CHPA partnership
Anew initiative undertaken by the Small Business Bureau (SBB) in collaboration with the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) will see approximately twenty (20) block-makers being equipped with business and financial management skills.
The training programme in small business management, financial management, and record-keeping was rolled out to equip approximately twenty potential and current block- makers with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully start and manage their businesses.
Housing and Water Minister Collin Coal has reaffirmed Government’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for small businesses, and has emphasised that it is now up to entrepreneurs to fully utilize the range of services available to them completely free of charge and work towards growing their businesses.
Also present at the engagement was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Small Business Bureau (SBB), Mohamed Ibrahim, who also took the opportunity to educate current and potential business owners about the numerous business grants among other resources that small business owners can access through the Bureau.
The seasoned business official further encouraged attendees to register with the SBB and take advantage of programs such as free business training, sponsorships, and the Loan Guarantee Programme, among others.
Through this initiative, participants would undergo training is several key areas, such as marketing strategies, boosting sales,
and effectively managing expenses to maximize profitability.
Meanwhile, participants of the training programme also took the time to highlight how this initiative has had a positive impact on their lives. One such person was Keisha Peters, a Sophia resident, who revealed how the initiative has helped her move one step closer to her goal of becoming a business owner.
“I have never owned a business of my own, but I always wanted to have my own business because I don’t like working with people. But because of certain circumstances, you still have to work with others to provide. But today I feel as though I can expand and grow once I start block-making. It’s not something I wanted to do, but today Miss James made me want to get into the business,” she said.
Peters is urging women to enroll themselves into the programme. She said, “Men aren’t the only ones that can do block-making. I’m telling you women can be onboard and we can do it as well.”
Another participant commended the bureau for providing citizens with crucial knowledge that would allow them to properly manage their small enterprises.
“I think education is
freedom, and going into a business, these are programmes that you need to stand out. As much as it is a small business, businesses start from somewhere, and this programme enhances the development of your business.”
The participant further lauded the programme administrator for her excellent teaching skills, and further encouraged persons to upskill themselves through programmes like this one.
“With this programme, it’s a plus. I think the lecturer did a fantastic job. She blew the curtains off, and it gives me the encouragement to expand more. And this is what me need; programmes like these young people need to be a part of”.
The Small Business Bureau is a semi-autonomous agency established under the Ministry of Business, and is based on the Small Business Act of 2004. The mission of this organization is to enable sustained growth and uniform diversification of MSEs within local sectors with a view to creating positive, measurable impacts through expert guidance, effectively channelled resources, comprehensive networking, and provision of a supporting environment for maximized performance.
Housing and Water Minister Collin Coal, Small Business Bureau (SBB) CEO, Mohamed Ibrahim, and participants of the programme
Sophia resident Keisha Peters
ICF to construct library at David Rose Special Needs School
The Indo-Caribbean Federation (ICF) has announced plans to establish a library at the David Rose Special Needs School. This was revealed by President of ICF, Ralph Tamesh, on Wednesday during an interview with Guyana Times He highlighted some of the activities that the orga-
nization has been engaging in annually since establishing its presence in Guyana.
“While we were here this year, it's customary that, you know, we have the Blind Institute, where we go there every year, we give them lunch, we give them cash; and also, the same thing we did in Berbice because we try to do things in each coun-
ty. We go to the orphanage but because there's no orphanage now, we selected about 40 less fortunate kids, we give them food, gifts and cash. And the same thing we did also in Essequibo, where we focused on the seniors,” he detailed.
Apart from the traditional activities, Tamesha revealed, the ICF is constantly
Banking services disrupted in Lethem after vehicles hit utility poles – Chairman
Residents of the township of Lethem in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) were on Tuesday unable to access banking services because a disruption of this crucial service had resulted from heavy-duty equipment colliding with two of the utility poles in the region.
This was revealed by Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock on Wednesday during a telephone interview with Guyana Times He detailed that power and internet services had been disrupted after an excavator and a truck had collided with utility poles in the community.
“The power went out because we lost two poles due to an excavator and truck coming into contact with the poles and the wires, including the GT&T (One Communications) wires also that feeds the internet connection to the bank,” he stated.
In this regard, Chairman Allicock revealed that while the power had already been restored to the community, banking services were still at a standstill because the wires had not been fixed.
“The Lethem Power Company Inc. (LCP) would have restored the power, but not the GT&T (One Communications) connections as yet,” Allicock stated.
Meanwhile, the chairman revealed that in an effort to ensure that senior citizens have access to their monthly financial obligations on time, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) had sourced money to pay pensioners.
“The bank was good enough to give us money to pay pensioners, so the postmistress got money to
scoping out and identifying areas in which it could lend a helping hand. In this regard, Tamesh revealed that the organization would soon construct a library at the David Rose Special Needs School, and that library would help over 100 children.
“And we also look at the same time about new projects that we want to embark on. One of the things we're looking at is the David Rose School. I went there, met the headmistress, and something we'd like to do is put in a library, because I think there's a need for that there. There are 180-something kids there. I think that
would provide good service for them, for the kids. So, we're going to look into that. When I go back to New York, discuss it with my executives, we will proceed from there,” he said.
He added that the organisation has already begun engaging with the relevant authorities for approval to undertake the project. Moreover, he highlighted some of the challenges that often delay the completion of projects in the country.
“The challenges here in Guyana, when we were doing the Leguan Hospital project, the project was sup-
posed to last three months. It wound up being eight months because of the shortage of labour and people not going to work, and we've got to keep on top of them all the time. It's difficult when you live in New York and trying to come here, trying to get things done,” he highlighted. Additionally, he said that in an effort to ensure projects are completed on time, the organisation has acquired a local contractor. The ICF is a charitable organization which was founded in 1984 by several community leaders of Trinidad, Guyana, Jamaica, and Suriname.
Councillor Carol TrimBagot, who represents the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) on the New Amsterdam Town Council (M&TC), has been suspended for three months after it was recommended and voted on when the Council held its statutory meeting on Monday. Mayor Wainwright McIntosh, addressing the media on the issue at a press conference on Tuesday, has said, “The Mayor and Town Council of New Amsterdam took decisive action yesterday (Monday) by passing a motion to suspend Councillor Carol Trim-Bagot from her duties on the Council, effective immediately.”
The mayor said the decision was made in accordance with the Standing Orders and rules of the Council, “specifically Cap. 28:01 Standing Order 9(h), which provides the framework for maintaining decorum and respect within our governing body.”
able by her fellow Council members. Over recent months, there have been numerous instances where Councillor Trim-Bagot has displayed a lack of respect towards both the Mayor and her fellow Councillors. Such conduct not only undermines the collaborative spirit essential for effective governance, but also threatens to bring the esteemed work of the Council into public disrepute.”
and dangerous precedent.
pay the pensioners…,” the chairman said.
Additionally, he revealed that while One Communications has not given a specific timeframe as to when services would be returned to normal, the regional administration is hoping that the cables would be fixed and installed by today.
“We are hoping that by tomorrow [today] they should be finished connecting back the wires. The bank manager also said he is hoping that everything will be rectified by tomorrow [today],” the chairman explained.
Councillor Carol TrimBagot meanwhile held a press conference after she and other PPP councillors walked out of the Council’s statutory meeting after the motion for her suspension had been passed. Declaring it a sad day for the town of New Amsterdam, she said, “The modus operandi of APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) is always to silence people. The 'bullyism' that transpired was uncalled for. The mayor has acted outside of his capacity as the mayor,” she told reporters.
When he spoke at the press conference held by the Council on Tuesday afternoon, the mayor said the motion for this councillor’s suspension was not being taken lightly.
“It follows a pattern of behaviour exhibited by Councillor Trim-Bagot that has been deemed unaccept-
The mayor said the decision to suspend Councillor Trim-Bagot is intended to serve as a reminder of the responsibilities that come with public office.
“Elected officials are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the values of our community and the trust placed in them by the citizens of New Amsterdam,” he detailed.
He said the Council has also noted this Councillor's posture to use the Council’s Chambers to make veiled, lude, derogatory, slanderous and defamatory comments against other Councillors utilising her immunity for things said within the hallowed walls of the Council Chambers to avoid being sued for comments made within the Council’s Chambers.
According to the mayor, such abuse of the Council should never be tolerated, as it sets a bad
“It is noteworthy that suspending a member is not new. The Guyana Parliament has suspended members for what it deemed to be misconduct. It is in a similar vein that this decision was taken. It must be underscored that the Council observed all the tenets of democracy when the motion was moved, and the chairman allowed for robust debate before putting the question to the Council, who ultimately decided that the councillor (has) consistently misconducted herself,” he continued.
At the M&TC meeting on Monday, only 13 councillors on the 14-person Council were present, and when the motion was put to the floor, the six PPP councillors voted against it while the six APNU councillors voted for it. The mayor, who has the casting vote, ensured that the motion was passed. In another press conference held by the PPP on Wednesday, Councillor Trim-Bagot said she would get the Local Government Commission involved in the matter, and noted that the section used to try to suspend her from the Council was incorrect. She also said she would be moving to the court to have her issue resolved. (G4)
Region Nine Chairman Bryan Allicock
The play area at the David Rose Special Needs School
Suspended PPP Councillor Carol Trim-Bagot
Regional
Haiti anti-graft investigators accuse top-ranking officials of corruption
The Haitian Government's anti-corruption agency charged five high-profile individuals with corruption on Wednesday, including three members of an interim governing council, over a scandal involving bribing the Chairman of a State-owned bank.
The three are voting members of a nine-member council appointed in April to act as the country's executive branch until new elections can be held in the crisis-racked Caribbean island nation.
The council members –diplomat Smith Augustin, politician Louis Gerald Gilles and former Judge Emmanuel Vertilaire – are accused of abuse of office, bribery and corruption. They have all rejected the charges.
Haiti's national palace had no immediate comment.
The Prime Minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The anti-corruption body, known as the ULCC, also accused local official Lonick Leandre, the alleged orchestrator of the bribery scandal, and Raoul Pascal PierreLouis, the then Chairman of the Banque Nationale de Credit, of involvement in the corruption case.
ULCC investigators have
requested the extradition of Pierre-Louis from the United States.
Leandre denies the charges, while Pierre-Louis, who has been accused with obstructing justice in the case, has not spoken out on the charge. Reuters was not able to reach him for comment.
In late July, Pierre-Louis published a letter accusing the council members of demanding a bribe equivalent to nearly US$770,000 in exchange for retaining him in his post, adding that he feared for his safety.
"At first I thought it was a joke," Pierre-Louis is quoted as saying in the ULCC report, describing how Leandre and a council member collected phones in a hotel room before demanding the bribe.
According to the agency's report, Pierre-Louis did not have the funds and instead offered credit cards with a US$20,000 limit to the three council members. The bank later approved the cards, alongside a US$12,500-limit card for Leandre.
The unit added it was unable to corroborate a monthly "intelligence fee" declared by Augustin of around US$190,000.
The interim council was seen as an improvement after the previous Government was widely considered corrupt.
Last week, the United Nations backed strengthening the ULCC, which out of 87 investigations submitted to Haiti's Judiciary, has obtained just one conviction.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
6 migrants die after Mexican soldiers fire on pick-up truck
Sixmigrants died after Mexican soldiers fired on a group of 33 migrants travelling in a pickup truck that had tried to evade a military patrol, the Defence ministry said on Wednesday, underlining tensions on Mexico's southern border as it faces US pressure to contain migration.
Holness asks Supreme Court to review IC reports; wants them struck down
Attorneys for Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in petitioning the Supreme Court to review the legality of the actions of the Integrity Commission IC) during its probe of his statutory declarations, argued in an affidavit filed on Monday that the reports of the entity, which have been made public, “are tainted and ought to be struck down”.
It said, too, that the Commission and its director of investigation overstepped their powers and acted “illegally and unfairly” in recommending that Holness be investigated for “illicit enrichment”.
The legal team of Henlin
Gibson Henlin, in seeking the court’s intervention to scrutinise the actions of director of information and complaints for the IC, Craig Beresford; Kevon Stephenson, the director of investigation; and the Commission for, among other things, refusing or failing “to certify Holness’s 2021 and 2022 statutory declarations and/or provide reasons for being unable to certify them”, given that “there is no statement of reasonable suspicion of corruption or an offence” under the Integrity Commission Act. They have also sought the court’s opinion on the decision by Stephenson and the Commission to refer
Holness’s private companies to the Tax Administration and the Financial Investigations Division to keep the investigation for illicit enrichment open in relation to Holness’s 2021 declarations despite findings indicating that there was “no unexplained growth”. Furthermore, the Attorneys have asked the court to pronounce on Beresford and Stephenson’s “failure to recommend and/ or issue a public exoneration of culpability” in relation to Holness’s 2021 declarations, given that no reasonable suspicion of corruption or offence had been formed.
(Excerpt from Jamaican Observer)
Extreme drought isolates Amazon communities in Brazil
The Ministry said the incident took place just before 21:00h local time on Tuesday while the patrol travelled on a highway near the town of Huixtla, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Tapachula, by the Guatemalan border.
The pick-up truck was followed by two vehicles similar to those used by criminal groups in the area, it said, and soldiers reported hearing explosions after which two officers opened fire.
Four migrants were
Another 10 migrants were injured in the incident on Tuesday evening, the Ministry said in a statement. The group included people of Egyptian, Nepalese, Cuban, Indian and Pakistani nationality, though the statement did not specify the nationalities of the deceased.
killed at the scene while two others died later in hospital.
The deaths shine a renewed spotlight on Mexico's policy towards migrants as well as the growing role of the military in the country's security.
"These events are neither accidental nor isolated, they are a consequence of the restrictive immigration policies that the Mexican State continues to implement," the Collective for the Monitoring of the Southern Border, a grouping of advocacy and civil society organisations, said in a statement.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Francisco Mateus da Silva, 67, spent an hour walking across sandbanks and dry riverbeds where he lives in the Amazon to fetch food and water amid the worst
Dominican Republic to deport up to 10,000 a week as Haiti
The Dominican Republic's presidential office on Wednesday announced an "immediate" plan to deport up to 10,000 migrants per week, as the Caribbean island nation ramps up border enforcement with its conflict-hit neighbour Haiti. The announcement did not specify that the plan will target Haitians, but nationals from its neighbour have made up the vast
majority of its deportees.
If implemented, the plan would mark a significant ramp up to deportations after over 200,000 Haitian migrants were forcibly returned last year, according to UN data.
In its statement, the president's office pointed to the slow progress and "limited" results of a UNbacked security mission sent to help Haitian Police retake control of the capital from the growing presence
conflict worsens
of armed gangs.
"Faced with this reality, we're forced to act decisively and responsibly to guarantee the security and stability of our country," presidential spokesperson Homero Figueroa said in the statement.
The UN has repeatedly called on countries in the region, including the Dominican Republic and United States, to halt deportations to Haiti where severe hunger has soared,
now affecting nearly half the population of around 11 million.
The number of Haitians internally displaced has close to doubled in six months, surpassing 700,000, as gangs expand to areas around the capital.
The Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, accounted for 96 per cent of deported Haitians last year.
(Reuters)
drought on record in the region, which has paralysed river transportation.
"It's very difficult for us because we are used to travelling here on the river. The river is our street, and without water we can't even leave. We are practically isolated," Silva told Reuters.
The state of Amazonas has 62 municipalities in a state of emergency because of the drought, and the smaller, neighbouring state of Acre, another 21. Around 70 per cent of all cities in the region are affected by the drought, almost 300 under severe or extreme conditions, according to Cemaden, the federal government's national centre for monitoring natural disasters.
Silva said the drought this year and last year "were very severe and left a lot of damage."
Elineide Rodrigues also
lives in the same community, Sao Francisco do Maina, between the Amazon River and the Puraquequara lagoon, not far from Manaus, the state capital.
Normally, she would cross the lagoon by boat to go shopping in the capital but now that the lagoon has been reduced to mere centimetres of water, she must walk the path.
"Our biggest problem is getting around so we can do our shopping, so the students can get to school. We have to walk kilometres these days," she said.
The Negro River, main access to Manaus, is already 20 centimetres (8 inches) from the record low it reached last year, which is already affecting the access to supplies in the city and the communities around it.
(Reuters)
The Office of Prime Minister Garry Conille (pictured) has not yet responded to the claims against three members of the Interim Governing Council
People carrying food and water delivered by the Civil Defence to the isolated villages at the dry Lake Puraquequara during the most intense and widespread drought Brazil has experienced since records began in 1950 in San Francisco do Maina in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil October 1, 2024 (Reuters/Bruno Kelly photo)
Around the World
OOil rises as Middle East conflict deepens, gains capped by global supply outlook
OIL NEWS
Israel strikes heart of Beirut, killing 6
Israel bombed central Beirut in the early hours of today, killing at least six persons, after its forces suffered their deadliest day on the Lebanese front in a year of clashes against Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.
il prices ticked higher in early trade today as investors weighed the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the potential for disruption to crude flows, against an amply-supplied global market.
Brent crude futures increased 64 cents, or 0.87 per cent, to US$74.54 a barrel as of 0006 GMT. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained 72 cents, or 1.03 per cent, to US$70.82 a barrel.
An Israeli strike on central Beirut's Bachoura neighbourhood early today left two killed and 11 wounded, the Lebanese health ministry said in a statement.
Iran was drawn into the conflict on Tuesday after it fired more than 180 ballistic missiles at Israel in an escalation of hostilities, which have seeped out of Israel and Palestine into Lebanon and further east.
But an unexpected build in US crude inventories on Wednesday helped ease some supply concerns and curbed oil price gains.
US crude inventories rose by 3.9 million barrels to 417 million barrels in the week ended September 27, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.3 million-barrel draw.
"Swelling US inventories added evidence that the market is well supplied and can withstand any disruptions," ANZ analysts said in a note.
Some investors remained unfazed as global crude supplies have yet to be disrupted by unrest in the key producing region, and spare Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) capacity tempered worries.
"After Iran's attack, prices may stay elevated or remain more volatile for a little longer, but there's enough production, there's enough supply in the world," East Daley Analytics Chief Executive Officer Jim Simpson told Reuters.
OPEC has enough spare oil capacity to compensate for a full loss of Iranian supply if Israel knocks out that country's facilities.
However, traders worry that the producer group would struggle if Iran retaliates by hitting installations of its Gulf neighbours.
"The effectively available spare capacity might be much lower if renewed attacks on energy infrastructure on countries in the region happen," said Giovanni Staunovo, analyst at UBS. (Reuters)
Doctor pleads guilty in Matthew Perry overdose death
Adoctor charged in the drug-related death of actor Matthew Perry has pleaded guilty in the case.
Dr Mark Chavez changed his plea to guilty in a Los Angeles court to a charge of conspiring to distribute the surgical anaesthetic ketamine.
Chavez, 54, operated a ketamine clinic and sold ketamine lozenges to Dr Salvador Plasencia, who supplied them to Perry, the star of NBC sitcom Friends .Chavez is one of five persons charged in Perry's death. The 54-year-old actor was found dead in his backyard jacuzzi in southern California in October 2023.
A post-mortem examination found a high concentration of the drug ketamine in his blood and determined "acute effects" of the sub-
stance had killed him.
Used as a treatment for depression, anxiety and pain, ketamine is 50 times more potent than heroin.
In his plea agreement, Chavez admitted he obtained ketamine from both his former clinic and a wholesale distributor through a fraudulent prescription.
Prosecutors said Perry's assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, worked with the two doctors to provide the actor with more than US$50,000 of ketamine in the weeks before his death.
According to the indictment, the two medical doctors exchanged texts discussing how much they could charge Perry for vials of the drug, with one message reading: "I wonder how much this moron will pay."
(Excerpt from BBC News)
Israel said it conducted a precise air strike on Beirut. Reuters witnesses reported hearing a massive blast, and a security source said it targeted a building in central Beirut's Bachoura neighbourhood close to parliament, the nearest Israeli strikes have come to Lebanon's seat of government.
At least six were killed and seven wounded, Lebanese health officials said. A photo being circulated on Lebanese WhatsApp groups, which Reuters could not immediately verify, showed a heavily damaged building with its first floor on fire.
Three missiles also hit the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, where Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed last week, and loud explosions were heard, Lebanese security officials said. The southern sub-
urbs came under more than a dozen Israeli strikes on Wednesday.
A day after Iran fired more than 180 missiles into Israel, Israel said on Wednesday eight soldiers were killed in ground combat in south Lebanon as its forces thrust into its northern neighbour.
The Israeli military said regular infantry and armoured units joined its ground operations in
Russia captures Vuhledar after 2 years of Ukrainian resistance
Russian troops on Wednesday took charge of the eastern Ukrainian town of Vuhledar, a bastion that had resisted intense attacks since Russia launched its full-scale assault in 2022.
The advance of Moscow's forces, which control just under a fifth of Ukraine, has underlined Russia's vast superiority in men and materiel as Ukraine pleads for more weapons from the Western allies that have been supporting it.
Ukraine's eastern military command said it had ordered a pullback from the hilltop coal mining town to avoid encirclement by Russian troops and "preserve personnel and military equipment".
The Russian Defence Ministry did not mention Vuhledar in its daily battlefield report.
Russian Telegram channels, however, published video of troops waving the Russian tricolour flag over shattered buildings.
The town, which had a population of over 14,000 before the war, has been devastated, with Soviet-era apartment buildings smashed apart and scarred.
The Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper
said the last Ukrainian forces from the 72nd Mechanised Brigade, a unit famous for its resistance, had abandoned the town late on Tuesday.
President Vladimir Putin has said Russia's primary tactical goal is to take the whole of the Donbas region the provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk in southeastern Ukraine.
Russia controls about 80 per cent of the Donbas, a heavy industry hub where the conflict began in 2014 when Moscow supported pro-Russian separatist forces after a pro-Russian President was toppled in Kyiv and Moscow seized Crimea from Ukraine.
Since Russia sent its army into Ukraine in February 2022, the war has largely been a story of grinding artillery and drone strikes along a heavily fortified 1000-kilometres (620-mile) front involving hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
But in August the battlefield became much more dynamic: Ukraine smashed through the border in Russia's Kursk region in a bid to divert Russian forces, and Russian troops began advancing faster than before in eastern Ukraine. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Lebanon on Wednesday as Iran's missile attack and Israel's promise of retaliation raised concerns that the oil-producing Middle East could be caught up in a wider conflict.
Hezbollah said its fighters engaged Israeli forces inside Lebanon. The movement reported ground clashes for the first time since Israeli forces pushed over the border on Monday. Hezbollah said it had destroyed three
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a condolence
said: "We are at the height of a difficult war against Iran's Axis of Evil, which wants to destroy us.
"This will not happen, because we will stand together and with God's help, we will win together, he said.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Vance and Walz stick to policy in polite VP debate
Tuesday night s vice-presidential debate between Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz felt like a civil and relatively restrained conversation about the issues at the top of American voters' minds going into the November election 5.
In that, it was unlike the two presidential debates earlier this year.
The two men spent much more time attacking the other's running mate than each other during 90-plus minutes on the CBS News stage in New York.
Walz had a shaky start, but hit his stride when talking about abortion and the Capitol riot.
But the even-tempered,
policy-focused debate, with few political body blows, probably served Vance a polished public speaker best in the end.
If Vance was picked because he puts ideological meat on the bones of Trump s conservative populism, on Tuesday night he put a polite, humble face on them, as well. There were moments when the Republican candidate bristled at what he thought was unfair fact-checking from the two CBS moderators, and at one point microphones of both candidates were temporarily muted. But for the most part, the exchanges on stage were even-tempered.
(Excerpt from BBC News)
Israeli Merkava tanks with rockets near the border town of Maroun El Ras.
video,
Fire and smoke rise over Beirut's southern suburbs after a strike amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Sin El Fil, Lebanon, October 3, 2024 (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh photo)
Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz
View what's unfolding before forging ahead with your plans. Refrain from getting sucked into someone's pie-in-the-sky ideas when you have aspirations of your own.
You may crave change, but be realistic if it might involve a financial loss. Be ready to raise your profile and put your energy into marketing who you are.
Embrace every chance to expand your interests, friendships and skills. Participation is the name of the game. Get out there and mingle, and you may make a valuable connection.
Think twice before you do or say something you may regret. Avoid emotional turmoil manipulative people. Own the spotlight, and don't let yourself be overshadowed or taken advantage of.
Physical activity will help you turn frustration into achievement. Use your intelligence to sort through information and find experts who offer insight into what's possible.
Take care of money matters. Set the stage for success and refuse to be pushed onto an unfamiliar path. You can make progress if you move with care and thought. Don't let anything fluster you.
Put your heart and soul into what makes you happy, and share your plans with someone who can help you achieve your goal. Make the most of every situation.
Start thinking about what makes you happy, and allocate more time and energy to making it part of your daily routine. Use your imagination to devise a unique plan.
Stand your ground and trust your instincts, not someone else's judgment. Finish what you start and leave no room for outside interference or criticism.
Learn from past mistakes and educational pursuits. Dissect information carefully before implementing it into your plans. A partnership requires equality to work.
Consider options, agreements and how to overcome something standing in your way. Attend seminars or lectures that offer insight into what's trending. Seek out new ways of doing things.
Look inward and consider how to better care for your well-being. Adopting a new fitness regimen or dedicating more time to raising your awareness regarding money will ease your mind.
10 Teams, one trophy: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 promises fireworks
The time for talking is nearly over; the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 is almost upon us. Some 150 of the globe’s most exciting players have gathered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the ninth edition of a tournament that continues to grow in reach and impact.
Ten participating teams will play 23 matches to decide which team would be crowned world champions, with Bangladesh and debutants Scotland contesting the opening game on 3 October.
The players will do battle across two of the world’s leading cricket venues: Sharjah Cricket Stadium and Dubai International Stadium, which will test the array of talent in contrasting and intriguing ways.
“The two venues can be quite different,” shares England all-rounder Freya Kemp. “They are relatively similar, but there are some subtle differences. It will be a case of who assesses the conditions quickest and adapts the best.”
Australia have refined the art of adapting over the years, and come to the Middle East with designs on winning a landmark fourth successive ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
They have won three in a row, and fell short of making it four in 2016, when West Indies pulled off an eight-wicket win at Eden Gardens to capture their first title.
Australia have a new captain in Alyssa Healy, but the same ruthless mentality persists, with Annabel Sutherland and Phoebe Litchfield adding pep to
their established core of big names. The world-beating squad know that they will have to work harder than ever before to make history.
“There are no real expectations on our group this time around,” says Healy. “But I expect it to be a really tough tournament. All 10 teams have a shot to win it.”
Australia’s Group A clash with India in Sharjah on 13 October is one date to have circled in your diary.
The two teams that contested the 2020 final at the MCG meet again, and India may subject the defending champions to a trial by spin, with tweakers Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav both being particularly effective in the shortest form of the game.
The opening game in Group A is also a cracker, with Sri Lanka facing Pakistan in a rerun of the recent Asia Cup semifinal won by the former. World #3 side New Zealand complete a fearsome pool.
In Group B, South
Two weeks of celebrating 54 years of Rose Hall village attaining the status of township have ended, and activities in this regard have been described as highly successful by the organizers, Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour first division team and the Rose Hall Town Council.
Buttler returns as skipper for England tour to the West Indies
J
os Buttler will return to captain England for the white-ball tour of West Indies, while Yorkshire leg-spinner Jafer Chohan has earned his first international call-up.
Buttler missed England’s recent One-Day International and T20 series against Australia due to a calf injury, and Harry Brook and Phil Salt led the respective sides in his absence.
The squad will remain the same for both series, and Jafer Chohan is one of three uncapped players; the other two are Hampshire fast bowler John Turner and Warwickshire all-rounder Dan Mousley.
Africa would hope to be one of the closest challengers. They have global-event momentum on their side, having reached a maiden final on home soil two years ago, and captaincy appears to have brought the best out of Laura Wolvaardt.
“Reaching our first-ever World Cup final in 2023 was a big landmark moment for us,” said Wolvaardt. “It was a big ‘breaking the barriers and pushing the boundaries’ moment for the team. Now we’d like to go that one step further and lift the trophy.”
You won’t want to miss South Africa’s Group B clash with England on 7 October, as Jon Lewis’s side continue
to espouse an attacking style in their bid to capture major silverware.
Also in Group B are original hosts Bangladesh, who can call on no fewer than five spinners to exploit conditions. There are also the West Indies and first-timers Scotland.
Only the top two teams in the stacked, fivestrong groups would make the semi-finals on 17 and 18 October in Dubai and Sharjah. The world will be watching on 20 October when two teams converge on Dubai for what promises to be an unmissable final. Let the games begin. (ICC)
Rose Hall village, which became a township on September 20, 1970, has over the years undergone massive development.
The 54th Anniversary celebrations started on Saturday September 14 when the Rose Hall Town Pepsi Team hosted an under-19 team from the Malteenoes Cricket Club for a 30-over match at the area H ground. Malteenoes won the exciting match by one wicket.
and Rose Hall Nursery. The top three winners in each category from the different schools received attractive prizes and trophies.
A medical outreach by staff of the Port Mourant hospital was held on Wednesday September 18, and dozens of residents received medical treatment, while JC Chandisingh Secondary School defeated the Lower Corentyne Secondary School to emerge as champions of the Inter-Secondary School Debating Competition.
RHTY&SC paid tribute to four of its most outstanding cricketers on Thursday September 19 by naming the two bowlers’ ends after them. The northern end was renamed the Royston and Esan Crandon end, while the southern end was renamed the Assad Fudadin
Celicia Narain and Kevin Basdeo as their respective best Grade 6 and CSEC student.
A pictorial exhibition was hosted on the township’s history, while a souvenir leaflet was also unveiled. Dozens of children were treated to an afternoon of fun involving trampolines and bouncy castle on Saturday September 24, and they each received ice cream compliments of Sterling Products Limited.
The Guyana Police Force Steel Band on Saturday also held a two-hour musical concert at the Rose Hall Arch Square. The celebration ended on Sunday September 29 with a 4-team cricket tournament in memory of Naeem Nasir, founder of Bakewell.
National flags donated by Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal decorated the town-
“It feels like an absolute dream to be se- lected. It’s what
I’ve worked for my whole life,” Chohan told Yorkshire County Cricket Club. “For me, this is a really good opportunity to be around some of the best players in the world, learn as much as I can, and just really sharpen up my game as much as possible.”
On a live television programme hosted on NCN Channel 26 on Sunday September 15, Rose Hall Town Poonai Pharmacy Under-13 Team defeated the Guymine Under-13 Team to win the Lorenzo Johnny Memorial Trophy.
and Kevin Sinclair end.
The 22-year-old Chohan has taken 17 wickets in ten T20 Blast matches for Yorkshire in 2024, and is the first South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) graduate to be named in an England squad.
The three-game ODI series begins in Antigua on October 31, while the five-game T20 series commences in Barbados on November 9.
England full squad: Jos Buttler (captain), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Jafer Chohan, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Dan Mousley, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, John Turner. (Sportsmax)
A cross-country race across the township attracted a total of 52 entries, and Essan Hooper emerged as champion to take home in excess of $200,000 in prizes, including $30,000 cash.
Among the other sporting competition held were an interschool basketball tournament which was won by JC Chandisingh Secondary School, while the football tournament was won by the Rose Hall Town A Team.
On Tuesday September 17, the organizers hosted essay competitions at the Lower Corentyne Secondary School and the Rose Hall Town Primary School, while a poster competition was held for students of the Lower Corentyne Secondary, Rose Hall Primary
Dozens of students drawn from six schools in the area were involved in an anti- drugs march on Friday September 20, while an impressive 54th Anniversary Celebration Ceremony was held at the Lower Corentyne Secondary School.
Eight residents were honoured under the Tribute to Outstanding Residents awards programme, while seven long-serving employees of the Town Council were also recognized and honoured.
Sixteen-year-old Marissa Siriram was awarded the $250,000 RHTY&SC/Carol Trim Bagot University of Guyana Scholarship, while six grade 6 students receive awards under the Zaheeda/Sharima Haniff Bursary Scheme; and the township also recognised
ship for the celebration, while electric poles around the town were painted with colours of the national flag, compliments of Minister Zulfikar Mustapha.
The RHT NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Team and the Rose Hall Town Council hereby express gratitude to everyone who supported the week of celebration, which was held under patronage of Minister Dr Ashni Singh and under the motto “Simply the Best!”
The RHT NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Team is the most dominant first division team in Berbice, and has players like Kevin Sinclair, Junior Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Clinton Pestano, Silas Tyndall, Eon Hooper, Jonathan Rampersaud, Matthew Pottaya, Jason Sinclair, Shemaine Campbell, Vidal Crandon and Keon Sinclair, among others.
Jos Butler will take the reins of the English team
The winner of the Lorenzo Johnny Memorial cross country race posing with an official
Minister Sonia Parag presenting Robby Kissoonlal with his award under the Tribute to Municipal Workers
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has, for the first time, awarded multiyear contracts to several of its top men’s and women’s players for the next two years.
This historic achievement comes on the back of a new four-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in January 2024 between CWI and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA).
Fifteen senior men’s players have been contracted, with six (6) of those players being offered multi-year contracts based on their performances during the 20232024 evaluation period. Of the fifteen senior women’s players contracted, three (3) have been awarded multiyear contracts.
Miles Bascombe, CWI Director of Cricket, has remarked, “CWI has committed to maintaining open and honest dialogue with players, and being practical about the realities of the modern game. The players have responded in kind, and the acceptance of multi-year contracts is an indication of clarity, confidence and commitment on both sides. I’d like to congratulate the entire contracted cohort on their performances in the last assessment period, and I look forward to them building on those in (the) next one.”
Men’s International Retainer Contracts
The WI men’s contract-
ed pool of international players is relatively stable, with only two changes having been made in the 15-member group.
Kavem Hodge, who made his Test debut this year against Australia, has received his first ever international contract, as has Roston Chase.
Hodge played a pivotal role in Brisbane in the regional team’s first Test win in Australia in 28 years, and then followed that up with a maiden Test century against England at Trent Bridge. He was also the leading scorer in the series for the Caribbean Men.
Chase averaged 60.25 with the bat for the year in T20 Internationals at a strike rate of 141.76 in eight innings, wherein he notched 241 runs. He also bagged 12 wickets in the format with an economy rate of 6.43, and averaged 32.85 with the bat in eight One Day Internationals for the last 12 months.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul will take up a franchise retainer contract with the Guyana Harpy Eagles for the upcoming year, while Kemar Roach is in discussions regarding a new dual playing and mentorship/ coaching role as he begins to plan and consider the next stage of his cricket career.
WI Men’s players awarded multi-year international contracts are:
1. Shai Hope 2. Alzarri Joseph
3. Shamar Joseph
4. Brandon King
5. Gudakesh Motie
6. Jayden Seales
WI Men’s players awarded one-year international contracts are:
1. Alick Athanaze
2. Kraigg Brathwaite
3. Keacy Carty
4. Roston Chase*
5. Joshua Da Silva
6. Kavem Hodge*
7. Akeal Hosein
8. Romario Shepherd
9. Rovman Powell
*New for 2024/25
Women’s International Retainer Contracts
The senior women’s pool has maintained consistency, though several players have shifted grades within the contracted group annually.
The WI women will benefit from an updated performance assessment structure, now aligned to those used for international and regional men. This also comes with increased contract levels of pay, in keeping with the com-
‘We must and will find a way of honouring him’
GBA mourns loss of renowned Coach Terrence Poole, MS
The local boxing fraternity was plunged into a state of shock and mourning on Wednesday morning as news began circulating in regard to the passing of the Technical Director of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Terrence Poole, MS. Poole reportedly complained of feeling unwell early on Wednesday morning following a morning jog, and was subsequently rushed to a hospital, where he succumbed.
The 60-year-old boxing stalwart had been heavily involved in development of the sport in Guyana and the Caribbean Region, and had worked for decades as a Boxing Coach in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) -- factors which had landed him the Medal of Service National Award back in 2019.
In an invited comment, GBA President Steve Ninvalle described the sudden loss of Poole as a massive blow, and described Poole as the backbone of boxing locally.
“Well, this is of course a massive shock to us, and it’s a massive blow to the boxing fraternity in Guyana and in the Caribbean. Terrence Poole was the backbone of boxing. Matter of fact, we would’ve only spoken the day before,
and we were preparing to have him lead a team to the World Youth Championship in Montenegro,” Ninvalle shared.
He further stated, “We are devastated as an Executive and as a Boxing Association. He will be very hard to replace. Mr. Poole had a wealth of knowledge as it relates to boxing, the ins and outs, and we’re going to find it very, very difficult to replace him.”
While relating how widely Poole’s impact has been felt in the sport, Ninvalle committed to finding a way to honour the National Coach.
“To his wife, relatives, family, we want to say heartfelt condolences. As a matter of fact, we’ve been receiv-
ing condolences from across the Caribbean and the globe, and that is just how far he has reached and touched persons,” Ninvalle noted.
The GBA Boss further committed, “And in my own personal capacity, we must and will find a way of honouring Mr. Terrence Anthony Poole, MS.”
During his own boxing career, which began back in 1982, Poole had claimed bronze and gold medals at the Caribbean Championships, Central American and Caribbean Games, and Pan American Games, while also featuring in the quarterfinal segment of the 1994 Commonwealth Games.
mitment to a move to parity in match fees and prize money across men’s and women’s professional cricket by October 2027. WI women’s players awarded multi-year international contracts are:
Shemaine Campbelle
Hayley Matthews
Stafanie Taylor WI women’s players awarded one-year international contracts are:
Aaliyah Alleyne
Shamilia Connell
Deandra Dottin
Afy Fletcher
Cherry-Ann Fraser
Chinelle Henry
Zaida James
Qiana Joseph
Ashmini Munisar*
Chedean Nation
Karishma Ramharack 12. Rashada Williams Munisar has been awarded an international contract for the first-time, following her improved performances, including being the leading wicket-taker in the CG
United Super50 tournament. Glasgow, Mangru and Gajnabi have been offered WI Women Academy contracts, while Grimmond will take up a new franchise retainer for the upcoming year. The contract period runs from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025 for the players on a one-year contract, while for the multiyear awarded players, their contracts are from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2026. (CWI)
GMR&SC priming for second Essequibo Drag Race event
The second edition of the Essequibo Drag Race, to be held at the Mainstay/Whyaka airstrip on October 20, is being primed to be a bigger event than the first one.
With the first edition having been an unconditional success, the club has decided to have the second edition added to their official calendar of sporting activities, especially in view of the overwhelming support received from the communities and racing fans on the Essequibo Coast.
According to the club, drag racers from all across Guyana have already begun signing up electronically to participate in the event, and a number of vehicles from as far away as Berbice are expected to be featured.
Meet at the Timehri circuit last August, many competitors will be setting their sights
art of motorsport. In the coming days, the club would announce who the
on this event.
Many drivers had failed to put “their best foot forward” at that event, and are now eager to show that they are more
The 2024 edition is also expected to feature even more competition from Georgetown and East Bank Demerara as several ‘grudge matches’ have already been set.
Following a partially-rained-out day of racing at the International Drag Race
than what had been showcased.
And also, the onus is now on the GMR&SC to put on an even bigger show than the 2023 installment. In this regard, the club has announced a drift exhibition on the same day to introduce fans to the
exhibiting cars and drivers will be, but big names are expected to invade the Essequibo region.
Evin Lewis and Rashid Khan were teammates at St Kitts & Nevis Patriots last season
Drag racing action returns to Essequibo on October 20 (Sudhir Deokie photo)
Terrence Poole, MS, receiving his National Award from former President David Granger back in 2019
9 West Indies men’s and women’s players have been awarded multi-year contracts
Guyanese fans turned out in their numbers once again at the Guyana National Stadium as the local Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise and defending champions, Guyana Amazon Warriors took on the St. Lucia Kings in Qualifier 1
Here are a few snapshots from the nail-biting contest:
Another interruption of sorts plagued the Guyana National Stadium on Wednesday night, this time disenfranchising the hosts in Qualifier 1 of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024. Unlike Tuesday’s events, Wednesday’s misfortunes could only be chalked up to Mother Nature but in the end, the League’s defending champions found themselves 15 runs short and missed out on an opportunity to go straight to the CPL final on Sunday.
Likely taking a page out of Trinbago Knight Riders’ book from last Sunday, St Lucia Kings Captain Faf du Plessis opted to have a go with the bat first and, together with his fellow opener Johnson Charles, got off to a flier, much to the dismay of the thousands of fans at the National Stadium.
Again, Gudakesh Motie
took the ball first and had support from Dwaine Pretorius in the following rotation. However, no amount of variations could stop the Kings’ opening pair, who struck in excess of 10 per over, from the very first one.
The beginning of Romario Shepherd’s first over appeared to be the solution that the Amazon Warriors sought after, serving up three dot balls initially. However, Charles smashed a hat-trick of boundaries off the remaining deliveries to ensure the Kings continued to strike in excess of 10 an over.
Warriors Captain Imran Tahir introduced himself into the bowling attack
was able to pull the runs back, conceding a tidy six. Tahir’s good work was quickly undone, however, as du Plessis and Charles continued to move apace, taking Pretorius for 17 runs in the next over.
By the 10th over, the St Lucia Kings were cruising at 115 without loss. A word from the dressing room of the defending champions seemed to have done them good, as they looked a much more enthusiastic outfit following the drinks break.
Then, the breakthrough finally came in the 12th over bowled by Moeen Ali. The England native teased Charles with a wide-ish delivery which he launched into the sky at long on. After taking a while to settle under the ball, Keemo Paul took the catch, to send sighs of relief throughout the Providence Stadium. Charles departed
well-played 79 from 45 balls.
After Charles went his merry way, du Plessis went into the driver’s seat reaching his half-century in no time. However, du Plessis’s entertainment did not last much longer as Shamar Joseph made the St Lucia Captain his victim after a brilliant catch from Rahmanullah Gurbaz just inside the boundary.
two runs after being promoted up the order, concern began to show in the faces of the Warriors’ fans.
Unlike his teammates, Shimron Hetmyer had a fearless approach to the chase, dispatching both Noor Ahmad and Roston Chase into the stands on multiple occasions, to give the runrate a much-needed boost.
However, when a lingering cloud which had been teasing an interruption for a few overs finally broke, the Amazon Warriors were still 15 runs behind the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) par score, with just 106-4 in 13 overs.
What began as a slight drizzle began to bucket down
on the National Stadium as patrons rushed to escape the torrent; adding more worries to the Amazon Warriors. The rain continued for another 45 minutes or so as Warriors Nation split between revelling in the rain or seeking refuge under any available shelter. In the end and even as the rain eased and the super sipper began its work; around 23:05h, the teams were seen shaking hands, an indication of the game’s end.
A few minutes later, the official word came, the Guyana Amazon Warriors were 15 runs short and would need to return on Friday for their second shot at the final against the Barbados Royals.
Ali struck again not too long after, sending Tim Seifert back to the dugout for 18, but there was no stopping the constant flow of runs. The Kings eventually ended their innings on 198-5, compliments of a late double strike from Pretorius and a rosy final over from Shepherd, which only leaked eight runs.
Again, the Amazon Warriors opted for a new opening pair, this time featuring Gurbaz and o Paul. Paul was up to the task, finding the boundary twice, but soaked up a lot of deliveries in his brief 14 from 15 balls. Both Gurbaz and Shai Hope, though showing glimpses of what they could do, also had brief stays for 24 and 27 runs respectively and when Pretorius could only produce
Just when Shimron Hetmyer took off, the heavens opened
Johnson Charles set the St Lucia Kings up with a blistering start
Faf du Plessis kept the party going after Charles’s departure
Alzarri Joseph’s two overs were critical in keeping the Warriors quiet
