TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
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resident Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday inaugurated the newly re-constructed $346.2 million North West Secondary School in Region One (Barima-Waini), marking a significant milestone in the region's education sector. The modern facility, which replaces the original school destroyed by a devastating arson attack in 2021, now boasts 20 spacious classrooms, three fully-equipped science laboratories, and two modified lift classrooms for special needs education. This state-of-the-art institution is expected to serve 525 students from surrounding communities, providing them with enhanced educational opportunities to drive local and national development.
The new school is also outfitted with two modified lift classrooms to deliver special needs education to vulnerable students.
The school was constructed by Aruca Investment.
Catchment areas benefitting from the secondary school include Hotoquai, Yarakita, Matthews Ridge Sebai, Red Hill, Powaikuro, Wauna, Wanaina, Kamwatta White Water, Hobodeia, St. Jonn's, Kachikamo, St Cyprians - Barasina, Black Water Savannah, St.Margaret's, Thomas Hill, Mabaruma Settiement, Mabaruma Township, Mabaruma Compound, Kunaka,
to become a trained teacher from right where you teach. And every teacher in the hinterland who is a trained teacher must have the opportunity to become a trained graduate from right where you teach. So, it's not only the investment in increases in ROI and increases in salaries and benefits, it's investment in your personal welfare, it's investment in making you more competent, it's investment in making you more valuable, it's investment in making you more competitive, it's investment with a human face and these are investments that are important for us,”
a multipurpose court where your children can play various types of sports and we'll get the region to build a
shed right here that allows for assemblies and graduations and so on. So, this is not the end of us. This is a
Barabina, Hosororo, Wayne, White Water, Yarakita, Powaikuru, Arkansas, Hobodeia, Hotoqua, Red Hill and St Ansiems.
In his address, President Ali revealed that the school will be a transformational force, both at the individual and community levels by upskilling 525 students with the scientifical expertise needed to expand Guyana’s economy.
“We are not stopping at this we want to ensure that every teacher in the hinterland must have the ability
the Head of State disclosed.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Priya Manickchand announce the expansion of the school in 2025. Infrastructure works will include the construction of a multipurpose court for sporting activities, dorms and a kitchen.
“We were going to put a shed aside in the school that would be a more purposeful one for assemblies and graduations and so on. But now that I see this one, I'm kind of liking this a lot. And I'm thinking that at the side of the school, we'll put
good indication that we love you, but it's not the end of us. I promise you that whatever we say we will say to you, you will get that and more through the Ministry of Education, through the Ministry of Housing and Water, through the Ministry of Local Government, through the Ministry of Amerindian and Affairs, all of us coming at you all the time,” the Minister said. On September 24, 2021, the North West Secondary School was destroyed by fire which the Guyana Fire Service had ruled as an act of arson. (G1)
Editor: Tusika Martin
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In a society where traditional gender roles often dictate career choices, it is inspiring to see women in Guyana breaking through barriers and thriving in male-dominated fields. A prime example of this shift is the recent assignment of two young women, Divia Ragabier and Danita Chattergoon, as operators of mini-excavators for the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agriculture Development Authority (MMA/ADA). These women are not just entering the workforce; they are challenging norms and demonstrating that women can excel in roles traditionally reserved for men.
The assignment of these women to operate heavy-duty machinery is part of a larger initiative by the Guyana Government to invest in agricultural infrastructure. The recent handover of two mini-excavators valued at $47 million by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha is a testament to the country’s focus on modernisation and efficiency in the agricultural sector. However, the true significance of this event lies in the empowerment of women like Ragabier and Chattergoon, who have been trained under the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) programme.
Historically, fields such as agriculture, construction, and heavyduty machinery operations have been male-dominated. For years, women faced social barriers and preconceived notions that kept them away from such roles. But as Ragabier and Chattergoon show, times are changing. Their achievements underscore how women, given the right opportunities and training, can excel in any field, even those typically seen as the domain of men.
The BIT programme, which oversees vocational and technical education in Guyana, has been instrumental in this transformation. By offering training and certification in areas like heavy-duty machine operation, the BIT programme is equipping women with the skills they need to compete and thrive. These efforts align with Guyana’s national development goals, ensuring a skilled workforce that is capable of driving economic growth while promoting gender equality in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
For Ragabier, the opportunity to become a heavy-duty machinery operator is not just a job but a personal milestone. Inspired by her father and grandfather, who were also machine operators, she is proud to continue the family tradition and pursue a career she has always dreamed of. Despite only completing half of the six-month course, she already recognises the independence and empowerment that come with such a role. Her story is one of determination, proving that passion and hard work can lead to success, regardless of gender.
Chattergoon’s journey is equally remarkable. Having already worked with the MMA, she joined the BIT programme to formally qualify as a heavy-duty machine operator. She views her position not only as a personal achievement but as a platform to encourage other women to enter male-dominated fields. Her message to young women is clear: “Once you make that first step, nothing is beyond you.” She embodies the spirit of perseverance and encourages women to push past societal limitations, pursue their goals, and believe that they, too, can succeed in any career.
The involvement of women in these roles does more than just create job opportunities. It challenges outdated perceptions about what women can or cannot do. It shows that women are just as capable of handling the technical demands of operating machinery and contributing to large-scale infrastructural projects. This shift is significant for a country like Guyana, where agriculture and construction are critical to economic development. By empowering women to take on such roles, the BIT programme is helping to build a more inclusive workforce that reflects the diversity and potential of the nation.
In a broader context, the success of Ragabier and Chattergoon highlights the importance of vocational and technical training for women. As industries evolve and new opportunities emerge, women must be at the forefront, equipped with the skills to seize those opportunities. The BIT programme’s focus on practical training and apprenticeship not only enhances employability but also contributes to national progress by fostering a more diverse and inclusive economy.
As these women take control of the mini-excavators and begin their work in residential areas of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), they stand as living examples of what is possible when barriers are broken and opportunities are made available. Their stories will inspire a new generation of women in Guyana to pursue careers that once seemed out of reach. With the continued support of programmes like BIT, there is no doubt that more women will follow in their footsteps, creating a future where gender no longer limits potential.
These women are proving that they have the skills, determination, and drive to succeed in any field.
Sudan is the world’s gravest humanitarian disaster – but almost nobody cares
By Jonathan Freedland
Remember when we said that Black Lives Matter? We didn’t mean it. That much is clear now, as the world watches a war that is killing tens of thousands, that has displaced more than 10 million and which is threatening to devour 13 million more through famine –and barely gives it a glance. Most of those are Black lives and it could not be more obvious that, to an indifferent world, they don’t matter at all.
Don’t be too hard on yourself if you haven’t yet guessed which conflict, and project of ethnic cleansing, I’m speaking of. With a few honourable exceptions, it’s barely covered on TV, on the radio or in the papers. Most politicians never mention it. There are no mass demonstrations on the streets, no hashtags on social media. Instead, the war in Sudan is out of sight and out of mind – for reasons that say a little about Africa and much more about everyone else.
The conflict has raged since April 2023, so there’s been no shortage of time to notice it. Nor is it lacking epic scale. On the contrary, aid organisations say Sudan faces “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis”. The suffering is not complicated or abstract, but heart-rending, brimming with the kind of horror that ordinarily would seize global attention.
Take the testimony of one of those many millions who has fled Sudan for neighbouring Chad, a young woman called Maryam Suleiman. She told the New York Times about the day that the Rapid Support Forces, the rebadged version of the Janjaweed –the Arab militia guilty of the Darfur slaughter two decades ago – stormed into her village. The gunmen lined up the men and the boys as their leader declared: “We don’t want
to see any Black people. We don’t even want to see black trash bags.” He then promptly shot a black donkey, signalling his intent. After that, the RSF men set about executing all Black males over the age of 10, including Maryam’s five brothers, and some younger ones too. A day-old baby boy was thrown to the ground and killed, and a male toddler chucked into a pond to drown. And then, “they raped many, many girls”. They called them “slaves” and told them: “There is no place for you Black people in Sudan.”
How, then, is this attempt to complete the destruction of a population begun 20 years ago not one of the dominant issues of our time, clearing the front pages and the broadcast news, prompting hoarse demos and fervent protests? I spoke to Kate Ferguson, of the Protection Approaches organisation, who is doing all she can to get policymakers especially to focus on this vicious war. But it’s such a struggle.
There’s not even a rough estimate of the death toll –you can see ranges that go up to 150,000 or more – because no one is counting all the dead. In this civil war, there is no official state machinery, no health ministry, to publish daily figures. No international NGOs can do it because, says Ferguson, “no one has big teams on the ground”. Local groups do their best, but “the world isn’t listening to them”. That goes for the media too, whose coverage of, say, the disaster that is the IsraelHamas war, has been orders of magnitude more extensive than its coverage of the violence in Sudan. (I do not exempt myself, by the way: I’ve written dozens of times on the former and only now on the latter.) With multiple disasters unfolding around the world, there’s scarcely any capacity left for this one.
Still, all this does not answer the question so much as reinforce it. It’s true that there is apparently endless agony competing for attention, from Ukraine to the Middle East, and that bandwidth is limited. But none of that explains why it should be the catastrophe in Sudan that loses out.
Ferguson wonders if there’s a sense that Darfur was meant to be “done” 20 years ago and many of the celebrities and others who took a stand then are wearied by the prospect of having to do it all over again. It’s also clear that the nature of the Sudan conflict, a civil war, means there is no single government, no Volodymyr Zelenskyy figure, for outsiders to line up behind.
I fear that rather baser factors are at work, starting with the fact that this is a war in Africa. Certainly unstated, and possibly unconscious, is the thought that this is just what happens in a place that for centuries existed in the Western imagination as “the dark continent”. In the silence of the West, there is a whisper of what, in a different context, George W Bush once called “the soft bigotry of low expectations”. As if news editors and foreign ministers, too many of them, are quietly saying: “It’s Africa. What else do you expect?”
But while that may explain the inattention of media and politicians, it does not quite tell us why activists and progressives have been so lethargic. The very same people who took to the streets when George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis have barely raised a murmur at the organised murder of tens of thousands of Black men, and women, in Sudan. Could it be that the Western progressive does not quite know who to root for? Both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, are guilty of appalling
crimes and there’s no simple, comfortingly familiar narrative structure into which this conflict can be slotted. Many on today’s left have organised the world, past and present, into two neat categories. There are the oppressed and there are the oppressors, there are the colonised and the colonisers. With some conflicts it can seem easy to label each side – however mistakenly – and to cheer or boo accordingly. You don’t even have to think. But what are you meant to do when good and evil are not clear cut, when a conflict is not, either literally or metaphorically, black v white?
Faced with that conundrum, it’s easier just to declare the whole thing too complicated and look the other way. Many on the left did that during the civil war in Syria. Some relied on their wellworn, at-a-glance guide to international conflicts – support whichever side is opposed by the US – but it led them into an awkward place. Others preferred just to sit that one out, even as more than 600,000 people were killed.
It’s further proof that, when it comes to viewing the world, crude “anti-colonialism” is a terribly clouded lens. It works only if you think our planet is divided into goodies and baddies, rather than understanding that some clashes pit two just causes against each other, while others involve a collision of two varieties of wickedness, each claiming to act in the name of the oppressed.
The people of Sudan should not have to apologise for the fact that their tragedy does not fit the storybook version of morality that so many seem to hanker for. It is us who should apologise to them, for ignoring them in their desperation – and for pretending we ever cared. (The Guardian)
(Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist)
Dear Editor,
Under the distinguished leadership of Ambassador Michael Brotherson, the Guyana Consulate in New York has been transformed into a people-oriented, people-centered organisation that reflects the philosophy of the PPPC Government’s “One Guyana” doctrine. The Consulate’s regular engagements with the Guyanese communities in the Greater New York region is fulfilling a powerful mechanism of inclusivity.
Like Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali, Ambassador Brotherson takes his Consul Office and staff to the people that need urgent service. This approach leads to swifter processing of issues and major reduction of frustration. Guyanese who travel for long distances to reach the Consulate to file
applications for birth certificates, passports, and other services are now relieved of that burden and are also certain that within a specified time their matter would be satisfactorily resolved.
Saturday, October 12, 2024 marked the beginning of a second series of outreach organised by the Consulate. Earlier in the year they held outreaches in Brooklyn, Queens, New Jersey, Upstate New York Connecticut, In this second series, the Consulate would conduct outreaches in Queens October 19th), followed by Brooklyn (October 26th) and Upstate New York (Nov 2nd). At the New Jersey outreach on Saturday October 12, 2024, they attended to scores of Guyanese drawn from East Orange and Newark areas. The services render in-
clude: processing applications for new passports; applications for lost or mutilated passports; emergency travel documents; applications for birth/marriage/ death certificates; registration of overseas births; notarisation of powers of attorney and other documents (like Bank) and notarization of Life Certificates. The people served were very grateful and expressed gratitude to Ambassador Brotherson and his hard-working staff who also assisted with other personal issues.
Outreaches are conducted for other purposes too. These include the Independence and Republic Flag Raising ceremonies, the Emancipation Day Observance at Medgar Evers College (Brooklyn), Public Engagements with top Government of -
ficials; and the Guyana Government-Private Sector Job Fair at the Marriott in New York near to La Guardia Airport. Ambassador Brotherson and his staff have shown a readiness and capacity to be guided by the “One Guyana” vision of the President and have been carrying out their tasks with care, concern and respect for the people they serve. They set a good example for other public servants to follow. It is this approach to service at the NY Consulate that has led to community and religious leaders showering praises on Ambassador Brotherson and his staff for their hard work and professionalism. Congratulations!
Sincerely,
Dr Tara Singh
Dear Editor, I refer to Dr Gampat’s letter in the local media on October 14, 2024, with the caption “I reiterate the fundamental point that the difference between arrival and departure cannot serve as an estimate or substitute of net migration”.
Dr Gampat sought to defend his thesis on the methodology he utilised in his book to arrive at the net migration rate for the period 2000-2018. The goodly professor intimated that he is uninterested in part II of my essay, which I wrote on the issue citing the World Bank/ UN data on net migration
and expanding on the context of the argument.
With respect to his “clarifications”, I have a few questions for Dr Gampat since he’s taken the time to lend clarity on the methodology he employed in his book.
He explained that to estimate the net migration rate, he employed the “Beautiful Population Identity” method to solve for the unknown variable (net migration). To this end, he demonstrated that for the 19 years period from 2000-2018, that the country’s population fell by 25, 262.
My questions are: what is the source of his popula-
tion data that showed the decline in the population for that period, when the latest official census data available was the 2012 census? Did he estimate the population for those years, and if so, what were the basis for his assumptions? It could not have been that he used the estimated population rate by the Bureau of Statistics for that period, because those estimates showed an increase in the population. Did he conduct his own house-to-house verification to derive his estimate on the population for that period? If so, please publish the report.
Dr Gampat would appreciate that the integrity of his data is as equally important as the integrity of the methodology employed, as well as the results derived therefrom. As such, Dr Gampat’s clarification on his book raises concerns about the integrity of his data source and/or method of assumption, and more so, the quality of the end result of his analysis.
I would appreciate some clarifications on these questions for the benefit of the readers.
Sincerely, Joel
Bhagwandin
Dear Editor,
There is an influx of Venezuelan refugees, squatting in the outskirts of Linden and this has caused the township some nervousness that the aliens are invading "their space," and the living conditions were so squalid that it necessitated Government attention. Their concern has been so grave that they called for the intervention of The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd. Now, when the honourable Minister visited the area, he found that the narrative peddled by the leaders there was quite the opposite to what he witnessed himself.
The Minister found a group of foreigners (many might not be foreigners but second-generation Guyanese) cutting through
virgin forest, constructing homes for themselves and family. This is not a new phenomenon; in that it runs along immigrant lines when they go into foreign lands. The progressive thinkers would utilise what limited resources that are available, to build fixed assets and move on with their lives.
This principle is observed worldwide, this is a principle if followed brought untold prosperity to immigrants seeking a better life abroad; The USA has been built on that principle adopted by the foreigners in their midst. Now, is the "concern" the PNC Leaders in Linden are exhibiting, did it come from pure nationalism or is it a rehash of Burnham"s Rank Racism? I think it is the latter, because a little step back in history would show that
Linden had a healthy population of Indo-Guyanese people who operated businesses there. Burnham at the height of his racist ideology, stirred up an ethnic cleansing to get the Indian out, this followed beatings, bombings and killings, the Indians were caught up in the racist objective of Burnham to cleanse Linden of The Race. So, ever since that time, The PNC have created a space called Linden, where only people of that race should inhabit and dominate, all others are seen as aliens and invaders.
So, when Minister Todd visited that community, the PNC Township leaders expected the Minister to dole out monies to them under the caption that they would provide for the Venezuelans. Well, they are ever so wrong,
that parasitic, begging bowl, always cash strapped town council needs to go somewhere else with that trick, if ever the immigrants need help the Government would do so directly, not through dubious third-party politicians.
The PNC and its fringe associates need to realise that Guyana is not a state that is carved out for the benefit of a race, we have moved on the world scene as a developing third world country with space for others living in our midst, this means foreigners are included. The myopic racist rhetoric of the Opposition has to be done away with, Guyana moves on as one unitary state!
Respectfully,
Neil Adams
Dear Editor,
I am writing to share my thoughts on the rebranding of Shell to Mobil under Sol’s stewardship and the potential this brings to Guyana’s fuel market. Having followed this transition closely, I believe it sets a fresh and exciting tone for the industry and Guyanese consumers.
For years, Shell was viewed as an upmarket brand in Guyana, catering largely to the elite. Many financially conscious consumers opted for other brands, perceiving Shell as expensive and out of reach. This created a disconnect between Shell and the average driver.
Though fuel in Guyana typically originates from the same sources, differentiated only by additives, Shell's "elite" image persisted, limiting its broader appeal.
Sol’s rebranding to Mobil, a globally respected name, now offers Guyanese consumers what is perceived to be a premium yet accessible option. While prices may remain similar, Mobil's image bridges the gap between exclusivity and the everyday consumer. Beyond just a name change, Sol now has the opportunity to redefine service and technology in Guyana, improving both performance and customer experience.
This rebrand is a strategic move that positions Sol to engage a wider market. Mobil’s global reputation, combined with Sol’s local expertise, sets the stage for long-term success. In contrast, GTT’s recent rebrand to One Communications has been largely met with frustration. Many customers associate it not with progress, but with inflated costs and declining service quality. Rather than inspiring confidence, GTT’s rebrand feels more like a marketing exercise disconnected from the real concerns of its customers. With service disruptions and poor customer service still being major issues, the change of name seems like an untimely attempt to distract from unresolved problems. Unlike Sol’s thoughtful approach, GTT’s effort appears to be out of touch with the needs of the people it serves. I commend Sol on this rebrand and look forward to its future developments. This is a positive step for Guyana’s fuel market, and I hope other companies take note of Sol’s careful strategy. I believe it will lead to longterm success and improved service for consumers.
Sincerely, Nicholas Yearwood Strategic Brand Planners
To estimate products, begin by rounding. Then multiply the two rounded numbers.
by Joy HarJo
When you round both numbers downward, you know your estimate is less than the actual product. If you round both numbers upward, your estimate will be more than the actual product.
When multiplying tow numbers that both end in zero, start by ignoring the final zeros. To multiply 60 x 50, just multiply 6 x 5 = 30. After you have done that, restore all the zeros that you ignored to the right side of the product. 60 x 50 = 3000. Materials squared paper, plain paper, pencils, rulers, erasers, pairs of compasses Instructions
Source: (www.artfulmaths.com)
The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live. The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table. So it has been since creation, and it will go on. We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe at the corners. They scrape their knees under it. It is here that children are given instructions on what it means to be human. We make men at it, we make women. At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers
Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms around our children. They laugh with us at our poor fallingdown selves and as we put ourselves back together once again at the table. This table has been a house in the rain, an umbrella in the sun. Wars have begun and ended at this table. It is a place to hide in the shadow of terror. A place to celebrate the terrible victory. We have given birth at this table, and have prepared our parents for burial here. At his table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of suffering and remorse. We give thanks. Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite. From The Woman Who Fell From the Sky, by Joy Harjo
VHE Consulting –the Guyanese consortium that did the second cost oil audit on ExxonMobil Guyana spanning 2018 to 2020 – has won the contract to conduct the third audit into the United States (US) based oil major.
According to information released by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), VHE Consulting was awarded the $312.6 Million contract, issued by the Natural Resources Ministry, on October 10.
Last week, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had said that the contract would soon be before Cabinet for approval. The contract for the third cost oil audit for the 2021 to 2023 period was tendered earlier this year. When the bids were opened in March at NPTAB in Georgetown, it was revealed that the three bids came from a mixture of Guyanese and foreign companies.
VHE Consulting had submitted a bid to the tune of $229 million. The second bid came from Londonbased Grant Thornton UK LLP and PFK Barcellos Narine & Co, which did not have a bid price at the time.
Priced at $202.8 million, the third bid was a joint venture of local Guyanese firm, N.Sookhai & Company and the Nigeria-based Infoworks Solutions Ltd.
Guyana President Alistair Routledge, arbitration is a last resort.
During a recent press conference, Routledge was asked for an update on the first cost oil audit, in particular the dispute over costs. The first audit was done in 2019 by IHS Markit, covering the years between 1999 and 2017.
Stabroek Block, which is operated by ExxonMobil, which has the majority interest of 45 per cent while CNOOC holds the remaining 25 per cent stake.
Guyanese firms Ramdihal and Haynes Chartered Accounting,
In that audit, some US$214.4 million was flagged as questionable costs. Following months of its own review, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) – the technical body tasked with advising the Government on the audited oil expenses – supported the US$214.4 million disputed sum. According to the oil executive, his company is still in talks with GRA over this audit. As he put it, an exchange of information is ongoing between the two parties.
“We are continuing the work on the cost audits.
Vitality Accounting and Consultancy, and Eclisar had partnered with Oklahoma-based Martindale Consultants and Swizterland-based SGS to conduct the audit. Haynes Chartered Accounting is headed by Professor Floyd Haynes, who is also the founder of the New Hayven Merchant Bank.
Arbitration
ExxonMobil Guyana has meanwhile expressed reluctance to invoke the arbitration provision in the Stabroek Block agreement, over the disputed findings in the first cost oil audit, done by British firm IHS Markit. According to ExxonMobil
With regards the second audit, covering the years 2018 to 2020, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had explained in May that the government is still verifying certain details in the audit. This second audit was carried out by a consortium of local and international firms.
We’re still in discussion, exchange of information with the GRA as the appointed, authorized entity to work with us on the audit. Be it the first, second or indeed the approaching third audit of the Stabroek cost bank,” he said.
According to Routledge, he has no intention at this point in time, to go to arbitration over this US$214.4 Million sum. While the provision is there, he explained that arbitration would only be a last resort for the company.
“I don’t have any intent to call on an arbitration. I don’t think an arbitration, that’s the right way to get to resolution. But at the end of the day, its laid out in
the petroleum agreement,” Routledge explained.
“Ultimately the next, logical step would be to involve an independent expert. If we can’t resolve that way there is the provision for arbitration. But arbitration is generally a last resort and quite expensive process.”
This comes even as Exxon is currently em-
broiled in another arbitration process, this time in conjunction with CNOOC against Chevron’s efforts to takeover Hess Corp’s Stabroek block stake.
Back in October 2023, it was announced that Hess Corp. had agreed to merge with Chevron. This deal would allow Chevron to buy into Hess a 30 per cent stake in the oil-rich
However, in March, ExxonMobil announced that it had filed a case in the International Chamber of Commerce to assert its right of first refusal over Hess’ interest offshore Guyana. Exxon is claiming a right of first refusal on Hess’ assets in Guyana under a joint operating agreement that governs a consortium that is developing the South American nation’s prolific oil resources. The oil major filed for arbitration in March at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris. It was reported that Exxon and CNOOC had merged their arbitration claims against the takeover. Hess for its part has said that it will “vigorously defend its position” to have the deal, worth approximately US$53 Billion, go through. (G3)
While Government is forging ahead with plans to construct several Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) centres across the country, President Dr Irfaan Ali has disclosed that the administration is also mulling plans to establish state-ofthe-art practical instruction centres and technical institutions in hinterland and rural communities.
According to the head of state, these facilities will not only specialise and provide skills training but also play a crucial role in helping Guyanese secure worldclass certification for all courses offered.
He explained that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is actively designing the training programme, which it hopes to introduce by 2030.
“But with what we are planning now, and not only for Guyana, we want the children of our region, the CARICOM region also to have access to this. So, we are building this infrastructure for all of CARICOM. By 2030, we want your children in the hinterland and rural communities, not only to have access to quality education, but have access to quali-
ty training… that will give you world-class certification from right here in your communities. So, if you are a welder, you must be able to get CTDL's highest qualification in welding,” President Ali shared.
The president, who was at the time addressing the commissioning ceremony of the state-of- art North West Secondary School, added that the facilities will allow citizens to pursue career opportunities beyond your local market through the use of technology and digital education.
On this point, he added that the practical instruction centres and technical institutions will be designed in such a way that
high school graduates will be allow to transition into courses with ease.
“I can tell you about our vision of creating not only graduates, but functional graduates. And that's another thing that we'll explore in the coming weeks. How do we create functional graduates and not just graduates? And what constitutes a functional graduate? How that graduate from the school applies himself or herself to society? How we can make, move by 2030, from schools to centres of excellence where schools, a great school across the country, can compete among each other for a commercially viable innovation product.
So that we are able early in the school system to capture the imagination and minds of our children and deploy it into innovative ideas. These are the things that will set us apart,” he said.
On September 24, 2021, the North West Secondary School was destroyed by fire which the Guyana Fire Service had ruled as an act of arson.
Investments
Meanwhile, in keeping with its commitment to close the gaps between education being accessed in coast land when compared to hinterland and rural communities, the Guyana Government has expended over $7 billion on the education system in Region One (Barima-Waini).
This was highlighted by President Ali who revealed that of the $7 billion, $1.8 billion was disbursed in Because We Care Cash Grants, $226 million in school supplies grants, $4 billion on maintenance and construction of schools and more than $80 million on textbooks.
Recalling several events that occurred during the APNU/AFC coalition’s tenure in office, Ali reminded those gathered that it was the PPP/C government that revitalized the education, forestry and agriculture sectors, all of which ‘suffered’ under the previous government.
“So, in this region, let me remind you what took place. The forestry sector went into bankruptcy. In order to get back you’re earning from the forestry sector, since we came into office, we have invested close to $1 billion to give you back your jobs and your employment in the forestry sector. More than 500,000 acres of state forests are issued to small forest concessions. We invested from Human Services, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, and old aged pension to ensure that the elderly are comfortable”.
“So, from 2023 to 2024, we've invested almost $1.7 billion for pensioners in this region. People living with disability, we've invested close to $100 billion, public assistance, we've invested close to $185 billion. These are real investments all geared at making your life easier because we understand when your life is easier, less stress, less burden, you're creating a much more comfortable learning environment for your children,” the President said. (G1)
…fears
We bitch and moan constantly about our dysfunctional politics – which has kept us at each other’s throats for over six decades. The politicians and political pundits keep on coming up with all sorts of panaceas to resolve the situation. But these mostly focus on changing the rules of the game – institutions –like the electoral and governance systems. So, we hear about keep on changing the “pure” PR system of voting the British used to get rid of the PPP in the 60s towards a more mixed system of constituencies (now 40) with the PR used for a “top up” of 25 more seats in a bacterized sorta FPTP.
And on the governance front, the PNC and AFC Opposition have kept up a constant whine on the need for “shared governance”. What’s noteworthy, however, is when they slipped into Government from 2015 to 2020 –and the shoe was on the other foot – shared governance slipped their mind as they shared the public treasury!! Clearly whatever merits these institutional changes may or may not have, the Opposition just sing them opportunistically as a “virtue signalling” trope!!
But this cynicism goes much deeper into the psyches of our politicians from the Opposition benches. Your Eyewitness believes we need to look closer at HOW they conduct their politics based on this cynicism – since this may be the root of our dilemma!! And all the tinkering with the political institutions may just be a case of pi55ing in the wind!! It’ll simply blow back at you and leave a bad smell – and even a bad taste in the mouth!!
Basically, the PNC’s modus operandi in political mobilisation is to use the “politics of fear” – which goes back all the way to their founder-leader Burnham who cut his political teeth at the feet of Machiavelli!! This kinda politics starts off by identifying a fear in their targeted constituency and using very emotional language to stir it up. Burnham identified the Coloured/African Guyanese fear of Indian Guyanese being locked out of governing Guyana in a democratic system of governance because of the latter’s majority. That the Indian Guyanese were also economically more aggressive only added to the fear.
The second move is to convince the constituency they can easily do something about the fear – just support his rigging and use of violence to take power!! It worked for 28 years – and during the counting of the votes in the 2020 elections, we saw Burnham’s protégé – the Sanctimonious Gangster Granger, using the politics of fear for his power grab!!
So, trying to change the political system to solve our political impasse is akin to lowering the river and not raising the bridge to deal with a flood. It’s an exercise in futility!!
Imagine all these years – over 500!! – Italians in the US have been celebrating “Columbus Day” and joining the “Knights of Columbus” because it was thought Columbus was Italian. Well, it’s just been proven that the explorer was actually a Spanish Jew whose community had been driven out from Spain – if they didn’t convert to Christianity!! Their sin? They were too economically successful!! Some, including Columbus forbears left and must’ve ended up in the Italian city of Genoa.
Others are scattered all around the Middle East and are known as Sephardic Jews – from the Jewish word for Spain – Sefarad. So it was rather ironic that Columbus offered his services to the King and Queen of Spain to find that sea rote to the riches of India and China – to beat out the Portuguese who were pushing the envelope around Africa!!
Your Eyewitness is rather intrigued as to how modern day Italians will take this bit of news – since there’s no love lost between these two communities in NY!!
…Spanish language?
It’s clear some folks confuse Venezuelans with Cubans –because they speak Spanish. There was this news item in one of the dailies about a murder-suicide insisting the deceased were Venezuelans – while the others correctly identified them as Cubans.
Police in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) are investigating a fatal accident that claimed the life of 37-year-old Marlon Davison, after his All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) overturned on the Sand Hill Trail. The incident occurred around 17:25h on Sunday, when Davison, a resident of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, was driving his ATV east along the northern side of the Sand Hill Trail at a high speed. According to initial enquiries, the guard, who worked with Hopkinson Mining Security Firm, lost control of the vehicle, causing it
to flip, pinning him to the road.
Public-spirited persons rushed to Davison’s aid, but he was found unconscious. He was transported to the Bartica Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret'd), Mark Phillips is heading a Guyanese delegation to the XVI Biennial Conference of Defence Ministers of the Americas (CDMA), which is being held in Mendoza, Argentina, from October 1316.
The delegation comprises Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS; Head of Defence Secretariat, Colonel Ronald Hercules; and other Guyana Defence Force (GDF) military officers.
The conference brings together defence leaders from
across the hemisphere to foster collaboration, enhance regional security, and strengthen diplomatic ties. The CDMA, which includes over 30 member states, serves as a crucial platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation on security issues.
Its primary objectives are to address shared challenges and bolster collective security in the region.
Prime Minister Phillips emphasised the significance of Guyana's participation, stating, "Our involvement in this conference underscores Guyana's dedication to fostering robust diplomatic re-
lations, strengthening our defence diplomacy, and enhancing our national defence capabilities. The dialogue and partnerships formed here will contribute significantly to our nation's security and development."
The conference provides an invaluable opportunity for Guyana to demonstrate its commitment to democratic values and international cooperation.
Additionally, it serves as a vital forum for discussing strategies related to defence diplomacy, disaster response, and transnational threats.
A30-year-old motorcyclist, has died following a fatal accident on Monday along the Eccles Public Road, East Bank Demerara Dead is Dillon Abrams.
Police have said that the motorcyclist from Lot 91 'A' Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, and a female pillion rider were proceeding south along the eastern carriageway of Eccles Public Road when the
Abrams lost control of the motorcycle and collided with the concrete median that separates the eastern and western carriageways.
Due to the impact of the collision, the motorcyclist and pillion rider fell onto the roadway, where they received injuries on their bodies.
However, when the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) arrived, Abrams was pro-
nounced at the scene.
Meanwhile, the female pillion rider was picked up in an unconscious state by the EMTs, and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where she admitted a patient suffering from a punctured lung, fractured right leg and head injuries. Her condition is regarded as critical.
An investigation has been launched.
Following a police cordon and search in Regional Division Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) on, Monday morning two men have subsequently been arrested. According to police reports, this search took place between 04:35h and 05:30h, at dwelling houses in Den Amstel squatting area and Uitvlugt.
During the first search, which was conducted at a 41-year-old vendor’s house, police found 187.9 grams of marijuana in his kitchen cupboard. The man reportedly admitted ownership of the drugs and was arrested. Meanwhile, ranks then proceeded to Uitvlugt, WCD, where they searched the home of a 38-year-old regional sports officer, but nothing illegal was found.
Meanwhile, he was told of an allegation made against him that he, on September 4, at Uitvlugt, obtained credit by false pretense.
He was cautioned, and he replied: “I gon deal with that man”.
He was arrested and escorted to the Leonora Police Station, where he was placed in custody pending further investigation.
Police are investigating a fatal accident that claimed the life of a resident of Lot 39 Independence Street, La Grange, West Bank Demerara.
Dead is 56-year-old Shaman Ally.
Reports are that the accident occurred around 14:45h on Sunday on the public road at La Grange.
According to Police, the incident involved motorcar, PMM 9424, driven by a 34-year-old and pedal cy -
clist Ally. Initial investigations revealed that Ally was riding south along the eastern side of the road without holding onto the bicycle’s handlebars. He lost control of the bicycle, swerved west, and collided with the left front fender of motorcar, PMM 9424, which was traveling in the same direction.
As a result of the collision, Ally was thrown onto the road, sustaining head and other injuries. Police said that Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) responded and transported him in a semi-conscious state to the West Demerara Regional Hospital but succumbed to his injuries at around 17:30h.
His body is currently at Ezekiel Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination. The driver of the vehicle, has been taken into custody and is assisting with the ongoing investigation.
Two young wom-
en have been assigned two mini excavators handed over to the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agriculture Development Authority (MMA/ADA).
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha handed over the machines valued at $47M to the agency on Saturday.
Over the past four years Government through the Agriculture Ministry has given seven excavators to the MMA for work in the cultivation area.
“That is why we are able to have all of the canals clean now and we have repaired thousands of rods of dams, cleared new areas for farmers and MMA is responsible for the entire drainage system in Region Five, unlike other regions where it falls under the jurisdiction of the RDC [Regional Democratic Council].”
The mini excavators, which were acquired under the Flood Risk Management Pogramme will be used for work in residential areas.
According to the agriculture minister, there is a need to have drains in residential areas cleaned. He pointed out that the excava-
tors which should commence working immediately should stick to a work programme.
“This will not only work a few hours, it will work throughout the day and will work continuously. We want them to work seven days a week because there are a number of flood-prone communities in Region Five where the internal drains need desilting.”
Mustapha noted that the operators will be young females trained under the Board of Industrial Training (BIT).
“They will start operating this as from Monday. Ladies are very particular when they are doing work. This is
an example for other areas to follow.”
The two operators are 22-year-old Divia Ragabier and Danita Chattergoon 27.
According to Ragabier, she has only complemented the first half of the sixmonth heavy-duty machinery course. Nevertheless, he has an opportunity to be independent.
According to the young lady, she was inspired by her grandfather who was and her father who are heavy-duty machine operators.
“I always wanted to become just like my father,” she said.
Meanwhile, Chattergoon who had been working with
the MMA joined the BIT programme to be qualified as a heavy-duty machine operator. She said the opportunity given to her allows her to encourage females to take up positions that are available despite it being a male-dominated field.
“I want to show them that once you make that first step, nothing is beyond you. I am happy that I was actually given this opportunity. Together we can do great things and having this opportunity to be able to do that is quite amazing for me.”
She says females should not limit themselves based on how others view them.
“Think of what you want to do, think of where you want to be and fight for it and it will be within your grasp,” Chattergoon advised.
Meanwhile, BIT is responsible for overseeing vocational and technical education and training in the country. Its primary objective is to enhance the skills of the workforce to meet the demands of various industries.
The BIT works in collaboration with various stakeholders, including government agencies, private sectors, and educational institutions, to develop training programs that align with national development goals.
BIT focuses on providing practical training and apprenticeship opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and services. It aims
to equip individuals with the necessary skills to improve their employability and contribute effectively to the economy.
Additionally, BIT may also engage in initiatives that promote lifelong learning and skills upgrading for workers.
The MMA/ADA is a semi-autonomous agency under the Agriculture Ministry. (G4)
US$10,000 up for grabs as
The Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo has announced its inaugural essay competition, open to secondary school students across Guyana. This initiative aims to engage young minds in exploring the country's dynamic energy sector and its future
The essay competition is divided into three categories based on school grade levels. Category One is open to students in Forms One and
Two, who will have the option to write on topics such as managing Guyana's oil revenues for a sustainable future, the role of young people in nation-building, and what makes Guyana an ideal tourism destination.
Category Two targets students in Forms Three and Four. Their topics include the importance of community engagement in energy projects, how oil wealth can be used for a sustainable future, and key
investments Guyana should make to safeguard its people against climate change. Category Three is for students in Form Five and CAPE. This group will explore topics such as the significance of local involvement in energy projects, the economic transformation brought by the discovery of oil, and the future of Guyana's energy sector with a focus on the role of youth in driving innovation and positive change.
In an effort to ensure hotels are sustainable to business owners throughout the year in Linden Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Upper Berbice), the Region 10 Tourism Committee has been working with stakeholders to develop and roll out a number of initiatives geared at attracting tourists throughout the year.
Earlier in May Guyana Times reported that one of the Mining town’s highlight events ‘The Linden Town Week’ which is conducted every year as part of the town’s birth anniversary celebrations, would have received its largest turnout ever due to a 15-20 per cent increase in accommodation. According to information received most of these rooms we’re already booked since December 2023.
In a recent interview with this publication Region 10 Tourism Committee member, Devin Sears, expressed his confidence in these hotels being sustainable to business owners outside of the town week period. Sears revealed that over the years the region has seen an influx of tourist in the region.
“Yes, I definitely believe that the new guest houses and hotels are viable. Over the last couple of years, we've seen an increase in tourism activities, particularly on the weekends. Most hostels are already booked out and more are coming on stream.”
He added that, this influx coupled with initiatives that are being developed and rolled out by the Region 10 Tourism Committee and stakeholders, will ensure
that hotels in the region are profitable to business owners throughout the year.
“We've created such an amazing tourism product, which will sustain those kinds of investments. We're actually working along with some of our stakeholders to create weekday packages. So, whenever a tourist decides to visit Linden, let's say a Tuesday, you know, you can go to karaoke at Five Corner, you can go have maybe brunch at Colfin's and stay at a really good hotel and maybe travel back the next day. So we're working on those weekday packages as we speak.”
Moreover, the committee member revealed that all of the hotels in the region are owned by local investors that recognize the need more additional accommodation in the region.
“We're happy that residents within Linden see the need and there's, of course, there's a gap in the market in terms of accommodation and along with their families or other investors are confident in Linden's economy to invest.”
Whilst most of the hotels in linden are locally owned, Sears highlighted that the region is “open for business” to foreign investors.
Additionally, Sears highlighted that whilst em-
phasis is being placed on bolstering the regions accommodation capacity, similar investments are also being made to increase the hospitality sector in the Region.
“With the Region 10 Tourism Committee, being a non-governmental organization, a not-for-profit, what we have done is seek partners such as UNDP, GEF SGP program, which we started just about two years ago and a part of that program, there were various capacity building training that happened and then
under the Greater Guyana Initiative, which is funded by Exxon, HESS, and CNOOC, we were able to take part in, but initiate and also facilitate various trainings ranging from customer care, entrepreneurship, even to basic making of food.”
He added that as the tourism sector continues to expand the Region 10 Tourism Committee will continue to roll out new initiatives aimed at enhancing the hospitality sector in the region. These programmes he highlighted are crucial
towards ensuring tourist are met with the highest levels of service.
“So, there are many more trainings that are going to come on board. Now, this is important because you might have the most fancy, as if I may say, facility, you have a gorgeous building, but customer care particularly is what draws potential customers to come into your business and to enjoy whatever has to be offered. And the best recommendation you can have for whatever business you have is word of mouth.”
With fatal accidents increasing in Guyana, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said there is a level of irresponsibility that is practised by many drivers and the Police should start revoking drivers' licences, particularly those of errant public transportation drivers.
Edghill said his ministry has noticed an increasingly alarming trend of excessive speeding and reckless driving on the nation’s roadways – a practice that must never be condoned in a civilised society.
In fact, during a recent stakeholder meeting in Linden Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), the Minister explained that reckless driving and disregard for traffic laws is also resulting in the destruction of public infrastructure, which Government is expending billions of taxes-payers’ dollars to maintain and rehabilitate annually.
“Yesterday morning, I'm going to my office, and I had to delay a meeting that I had, because I'm going through Cemetery Road, and the concrete walkway, Mr Mayor, the drains covered with con-
crete, and a mini-bus is on top of there with the school children going to school because it's two lane and he want to get in front. We have to understand, no matter what you put in place, the culture of safety and the culture of consideration for others must be foremost in our minds, because in anything, development, making money, people are the beneficiaries, and we must put people at the front of everything,” the Minister shared.
Edghill said he plans to discuss this matter with the Home Affairs Ministry and
Guyana Police Force (GPF) to put systems in place to address the issue.
“You know what he's trying to tell me, the minibus man, all the passengers, he said, y'all can't do this, I'm not going to go, I'm going to ground your bus, I'm going to revoke your licence. You go down Georgetown, Mandela Avenue, there's a walkway, just by the police station. We make the mistake of making the walkway that two people could walk, one coming, the bus is driving through the walkway. The bicycle lane, which we separate on Sheriff Street, we mark a bike lane, so the children riding and going to school could be in the bike lane. Buses and cars are in the bike lane. So, I will have the road engineers look at that, but at the same time, even if we put in a speed bump every two meters, we still have to get a culture of safety,” Edghill added.
Over the past two days, three persons have died in accidents on the roadway.
In August, the GPF revealed that it recorded a 20 per cent increase in fatal accidents involving motor trucks/lorries for the period January 1 to August 26,
2024, according to its communications unit.
In providing the statistics, GPF’s Corporate Communications Head, Mark Ramotar, related that in the same period last year, there were 15 fatal accidents involving trucks, and that number has not increased to 18 for 2024. Additionally, there has been a 31 per cent increase in non-fatal accidents involving trucks.
Between January 1 and August 26, 2024, there were 187 incidents involving trucks, compared to 143 in
2023.
Meanwhile, Guyana has witnessed a decline in both fatal accidents and resultant deaths, according to recent data released back in May by the GPF.
According to the data released, between January 1 and May 14, 2024, there were 78 reported fatal accidents and incidents, marking a decrease from the 84 incidents recorded during the same period in 2023.
Correspondingly, the number of fatalities resulting from these accidents has
also decreased, with 91 fatalities reported in 2024 compared to 95 in 2023. Further, earlier this year, President Dr Irfaan Ali pledged to address the issue of traffic accidents on Guyana’s roads through comprehensive road safety and traffic management strategies. He emphasised the need for a national dialogue on this matter, leading to the implementation of new laws, regulations, and technological interventions to curb road accidents.
(G1)
Ateam of Auditors from the Audit Office of Guyana will be heading into Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), to acquire and examine documents that pertain to over $111 million in cheques found in a safe, a situation that was highlighted by Auditor General Deodat Sharma, in his 2019 report.
This was discussed during Monday’s sitting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), where Regional Executive Officer (REO) Kerwin Ward was called in by the committee to give account for the AG’s findings.
PAC member and Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister, Gail Teixeira drew the committee’s attention to paragraph 1414 of the report, which pertains to the Audit Office’s January 2020 discovery of 142 cheques totaling $111 Million in the sub-treasury safe.
“No evidence of the payment vouchers and related documents were seen in respect of the cheques cut. As a result, it was difficult to ascertain if the items were delivered and works completed,” the AG report had said.
However, at a previous PAC meeting the REO had informed the committee that the cheques were cleared in January of 2020. Teixeira questioned whether the REO had provided documents to the Audit Office to substantiate this and for due diligence to be conducted.
That was over four years ago. Fast forward to today and according to Ward, they were still working to identify these persons.
“An assessment is being done to ascertain who is entitled to rent free… there’s a document with the regional administration, to know all quarters, their locations and who’re occupying these quarters. However, we’re doing some updating now because some of these quarters, officers moved out and new officers moved in. So that’s what we’re updating now,” Ward said.
“The committee asked for the following information from the REO. The date the cheques were cut, the name of the contractors were on the projects. So, the list he gave us complies with that. The date on which the documents were corrected and queries addressed… a copy of the regional engineer’s logbook and the name of the accompanying officer.”
In response, however, the REO noted that while the vouchers were located and payments verified, they were not provided to the Auditor General’s office. Instead, he said that these vouchers are available at the Regional Administration’s sub-treasury department.
At this point, Teixeira asked the Auditor General whether his team could vis-
“Let me remind the REO of the last meeting, where a query was raised about when and how the cheques were cleared in the absence of documentation. The accounting officer informed the committee that cheques were cleared in January 2020 and the queries were attached to the specific vouchers,” Teixeira pointed out.
it the region to acquire the vouchers and investigate them, with a view of clearing the query. At this point, Auditor General Deodat Sharma revealed that a team of auditors would be sent into Bartica to do just that.
“Through the chair, I will have a team visit Bartica shortly to get this query cleared,” the Auditor General, who was present at the sitting, said.
Living quarters
The issue of living quarters owned by the region was also raised at the PAC, with the Auditor General’s 2019 report finding that out of 110 of the 124 living quarters that were occupied by persons, only nine occupants were actually paying rent and three were entitled to rent free accommodation.
According to the Auditor General, no documentation was ever provided to verify whether the remaining 98 officers were entitled to rent free accommodation and at the time, the region had said they were working to identify these persons.
Ateenage girl of Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) is undergoing medical treatment after being stabbed by a man on Monday evening.
Sources told this publication that the teen was inside a car when the male, when another vehicle crashed into the vehicle. The man who crashed into the car then exited his car and forcibly opened the door of the car the teen was in and attacked her with a knife.
The victim is currently receiving care at the Suddie Public Hospital, while the suspect escaped following the stabbing.
More details in our Wednesday’s edition.
PAC member Juretha Fernandes, who expressed her displeasure at the length of time it was taking to verify these occupants, requested that the REO be given two weeks to submit this updated assessment of all those occupying the quarters, to the committee. This would include the location and number of quarters and the utilities paid.
Teixeira meanwhile
pointed out that the information supplied by the REO must also take into account whether these officers are entitled to rent free quarters and how long they have been occupying these quarters.
“We’re not interested in just a list of names of people in the quarters. We want to know, are they entitled to rent free or not. And secondly, how long they’ve been there. To go back to Mahipaul’s issue, that is
what we’re looking for. Why we want to see the dates as well, is to see how long have they been there, 2019? And were they entitled to rent free or not.”
“So REO, I think you need to look at putting a proper system in place. And making sure it is implemented, that when people are transferred to the region and are looking for accommodation, the request has to go to you. And then that is approved or not approved,” she explained. (G3)
TOTALTEC Inc, a provider of integrated services to the energy and construction sectors, on Monday announced the launch of CampBOSS Inc, its wholly-owned hospitality group. CampBOSS is set to open its first state-of-the-art hospitality complex in Houston, Greater Georgetown, in December 2024.
In a recent press release CEO of TOTALTEC Inc Lars Mangal said,"CampBOSS is designed to provide affordable, high-quality accommodation and services to meet the growing demand in Guyana's dynamic market.”
He added, "We are committed to delivering exceptional cuisine and outstanding service, setting a new standard for hospitality in the region."
CampBOSS will offer flexible room rental models to cater to various needs and bud-
gets, with integrated services including catering, maintenance, laundry, and a dedicated camp concierge. The facilities boast a modern architectural design, featuring floor-to-ceiling glazing and stylish furnishings, creating a comfortable and sophisticated atmosphere.
This new facility will offer a range of amenities, including 52 comfortable rooms with plans to expand to over 100 rooms in the next 6-8
months, restaurant seating for 88 guests, including a VIP/conference dining room, and a second kitchen dedicated to catering services, a fully equipped spa and fitness center for guest relaxation and well-being,a modern conference center for meetings and events, a refreshing pool and a relaxing roof terrace. The opening of the CampBOSS hospitality complex is scheduled for December, 2024.
Over 40 innovations and applied research projects will be on display this year at the University of Guyana as the Institute for Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (UGIRIE)
hosts its second exhibition.
On Monday, the Director of UGIRIE, shared insights about this grand upcoming event.
According to UGIRIE Professor Pat Francis, these inventions serve as a great
asset for economic pursuits and partnerships with the government.
“These innovations are important for us to stimulate our economy and for working in partnership with the Government of Guyana and the business sector because much has to be done to scale up some of the projects and to get the prototypes to the marketplace.”
Additionally, in a release by the university it was stated that the profession noted that this is a clear sign of the diversification in the students being trained at the institute.
“I want us to recognize that we are producing a different type of student as they are innovators and entrepreneurs. Our Institute is working on two platforms: one focused on generating innovation and the other on encouraging all staff and students to be entrepreneur-
Participants
In an effort to increase awareness on emerging local and international market requirements related to quality and safety of seabob products, from harvesting through to preparation. Some 15 persons who hail from the Fisheries Department of the Agriculture Minsitry, and Pritipaul Singh Investment (PSI), were engaged by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), at a two-day "Training of Trainers" workshop for workers in the seabob sector.
Seabob (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri), a shrimp species harvested from the Atlantic Ocean, is one of Guyana's key exports, with the country being one of the world's leading exporters. As such Key fo-
Participants
cus areas of the workshop included a deeper understanding of food safety principles, hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), the importance of food safety standards for enhancing market access, as well as strategies to further reduce waste and minimize public health risks.
FAO Representative, D. Gillian Smith noted that this mix of public and private sector participants is important to ensure that stakeholders across the value chain have the right information to increase the opportunities for reaching new and demanding markets. The participation in the workshop also marks a step toward a long-term commitment to improving food handling and safety in seabob production.
Trainers from CRFM commented that, before the end of this year, more training will be offered to other industry stakeholders and to interested vendors and fishers. The FISH4ACP project will also assist stakeholders in developing and implementing a comprehensive Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Strategy for the seabob value chain. This will help to drive a strategy to enhance safety across the industry, further reducing the risk of injury and illness to workers and fisherfolk along the seabob value chain.
These initiatives are part of the FISH4ACP Programme which is implemented by FAO and the seabob industry, with funding from the European Union (EU).
ial-minded,” Prof. Francis added.
Innovators are expected to showcase their work in Climate Smart Applications, Food Science Technology, Coconut Technology, Renewable Resources, Biotechnology Applications, ICT Applications, and newly published books, among others.
The selected innovations aim to stimulate scientific inquiry, promote business opportunities, and share UG’s research. Research is the second major mandate of the University, with the aim of solving problems and stimulating national development.
The UGIRIE, established in 2021 as a Technology Transfer Facility (TTF), provides a platform for researchers and innovators
within the University of Guyana and allied institutions to share new products and services with industry. The programs and courses offer practical approaches to establishing, accelerating, and scaling up businesses.
The Institute focuses on concepts grounded in sound science and technology. This supports UG Blueprint Goals 3 and 4, aiming to create centers of excellence to solve the grand challenges of Guyana and the region and to create successful citizens who are equipped to navigate complexity.
Additionally, the Institute was established to ensure that research is documented, scaled up, protected, and publicized. It also aims to provide solutions to problems in industry and commerce and to share new
information in various areas of societal development.
The UGIRIE will be hosting its Second Exhibition of Innovations from October 17, to Saturday, October 19, at the University’s Multipurpose Centre at the Turkeyen Campus.
This highly anticipated three-day event will give University of Guyana’s researchers, students, entrepreneurs, and innovators an opportunity to showcase their work to the general public, collaborate with other researchers, explore business opportunities, and engage with potential sponsors.
The event will be largely face-to-face and is free and open to the general public from 10:00h to 17:00h and on Saturday, and 09:00h to midday.
Rival factions engaged in a bloody gang war over the lucrative extortion racket in Spanish Town, St Catherine over the weekend.
The Police’s Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) confirmed that two persons were killed in different incidents, but that there were four murders in total in the parish.
The CCU confirmed the names of two individuals, one of whom was Bradley Orr who was killed on Young Street on Saturday. Another man, 25 year-old Adrian Boothe, was killed by unknown attackers on March Pen Road about 13:24h on Sunday.
“Boothe’s death was a stabbing murder, we don’t
have the details and we don’t know if it was a reprisal for another murder, but we have reports of four persons killed in different incidents in Catherine,” a CCU representative said.
There are also unconfirmed reports that a man’s body was found in the vicinity of Distinction College at the corner of Nugent and Wellington Street in the old capital. (Jamaica Observer)
It was curiosity that drew 15-year-old Aliangel
Jose Rodriguez to one of the protests that erupted following Venezuela's contested presidential election in late July, his mother said.
That outing led to serious consequences. Rodriguez was arrested, making him one of dozens of minors still detained amid political and social upheaval in Venezuela, relatives and rights groups say.
"A boy who is always studying... cannot be labelled a terrorist," his mother Maria Tovar said tearfully from their modest home in the state of Carabobo, about 177 kilometres (110 miles) west of Caracas.
According to data from
local human rights group Foro Penal, Carabobo has the highest number of "political prisoners" in Venezuela, accounting for 297 cases out of 1916 nationally.
Seventy of the detainees are between the ages of 14 and 17.
Since July 29, the day after the election, 1784 individuals have been arrested in Venezuela, according to Foro Penal, potentially facing charges of "terrorism" or "incitement to hatred" and between 10 and 30 years in prison.
"Even the most hardened criminals wouldn't get a 10-year sentence for something they didn't do, simply for stepping onto a highway to watch some lights," added
Tovar, a pair of worn bibles visible next to her.
During a visit to his place of incarceration, her son told her that he had attempted suicide in jail three days earlier, distraught after seeing another minor sentenced to 10 years in prison.
"I only ask the President to have compassion, and to reconsider the cases of all the children," Tovar said, referring to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
"It's not just my son. There are 14 minors."
At least 80 teenagers arrested during protests have been released from prison, including four from Carabobo, according to Foro Penal. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Police in Mexico have found the decapitated bodies of five men on a road in western Jalisco state as the country’s new Government faces pressure to suppress organised crime.
Drivers on the road spotted plastic bags containing the remains in the municipality of Ojuelos, in northeastern Jalisco on Sunday, the state prosecutor’s office said.
“A report was received indicating that, on the asphalt strip of the road … there were several bags that looked like human silhouettes,” it said.
National Guard members who reached the scene discovered the headless bodies of five men. Authorities
unit of the Mexican Federal Police patrols an area in Jalisco state, Mexico [File: AFP]
also located a nearby bag believed to contain the victims’ severed heads, according to a statement from the prosecutor’s office.
Forensic experts are now searching the area for further evidence and trying to identify the victims. (Al Jazeera)
The Brazilian Government is preparing to roll out measures to curb mandatory spending after a second round of municipal elections at the end of the month, two Finance Ministry officials told Reuters.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has focused largely on restoring the country's fiscal balance with more tax revenue since he took office last year.
However, the sources say his Government is now looking at spending controls to hit budget targets and stabilise gross debt below 80 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Investors and private economists have been sceptical of Lula's ability to deliver on budget promises, with interest rates rising in Brazil and the leftist president wary of belt-tightening as recent polls show his popularity under pressure.
Lula reiterated in a Friday radio interview that he aims to expand an income tax exemption for poor Brazilians, vowing to fulfil that election promise by the end of his term in 2026.
That exemption has garnered attention after newspaper Folha de S Paulo reported that the Government could raise taxes on millionaires to
offset its estimated 35 billion reais fiscal impact.
However, one of the sources said the Government's economic team sees the introduction of spending controls as more urgent. A second source from the Ministry said the containment of mandatory expenses is intended to strengthen Brazil's fiscal framework, creating room for discretionary spending.
The rapid expansion of mandatory expenses such as public salaries and pensions is squeezing out investments and other programmes due to a spending cap imposed under the new framework.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
AHigh Court judge will rule on October 15 on an application by businessman Steve Ferguson for an injunction to stop the State from demanding information from him as it seeks to enforce a US$131 million judgment against him in Miami.
After lengthy submissions on October 14, Justice Frank Seepersad said he will give his decision on Tuesday.
Ferguson filed the emergency application for an injunction on September 27.
Ferguson has complained that the State is pursuing “aggressive measures” to enforce the 2023 Miami judgment against him and two others, includ-
ing demanding the production of documents, information and the taking of depositions.
In May, he filed a similar application, which Justice Nadia Kangaloo dismissed, in a constitutional complaint. She is still presiding over that matter, but Ferguson has asked for her to recuse herself. She is expected to give a ruling and make a statement in that application at the end of October.
In March, Ferguson failed to get the Miami court to block the disclosure of his assets as the State seeks to enforce a multi-million-dollar US Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO)-
case judgment. It is seeking to recover US$131 million arising out of the Piarco International Airport expansion project decades ago.
On May 15, 2023, Miami District Court Judge Reemberto Diaz entered final judgment for Trinidad and Tobago in the racketeering case against Ferguson, former United National Congress (UNC) Minister Brian Kuei Tung and US businessman Raul Guitierrez Jr for US$131,318,840.47. The final judgment followed a jury’s verdict in March 2023, which led to T&T getting treble the damages it sought under RICO law. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsdays)
Caribbean Airlines’ regional network expansion continued Monday as the airline began commercial service to Tortola, British Virgin Islands. 9Y-TTJ, a CAL ATR 72-600 operating as BW294, touched down at the Terrance B. Lettsome Int’l airport just after 11am local time. The aircraft and its crew were greeted by a water cannon salute – traditionally given when an airline begins a new route. Tortola is CAL’s 24th destination and according to CEO Garvin Medera, it will not only be a “boost to tourism but also additional opportunities to foster trade and deepen cultural ties.”
Madonna Debique, one of the passengers onboard
told Guardian Media she wanted to be part of history, so she booked her ticket specifically for Monday’s service as soon as she heard it being announced. Having never been on an inaugural service before, the retiree and avid traveller says it won’t be her last. Her next flight? Guadeloupe. Debique says it’s all about exploring and connecting with other islands in the Caribbean.
Natalio Wheatley, Premier of the Virgin Islands, along with several officials were on hand to speak with guests and members of the media. The BVI has been in discussions with Caribbean Airlines since 2019 to begin service to the islands. He says it’s
a “gratifying feeling” to see their vision come to reality. “These things are not simple, it took a lot of work. It took Caribbean Airlines doing its due diligence and we are so grateful for the confidence Caribbean Airlines has shown in the Virgin Islands product,” he added.
Noting the large number of Caribbean persons living and working in the British Virgin Islands, he told Guardian Media the new route will help to make intra-regional travel more efficient and shorten the journey times.
With four weekly flights, Caribbean Airlines will provide 540 seats weekly, in and out of the destination with four weekly flights.
(Trinidad Guardian)
Oil prices fell two per cent on Monday as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) again lowered its outlook for 2024 and 2025 global oil demand growth while China's oil imports fell for the fifth straight month.
China's stimulus plans failed to inspire investor confidence while markets kept watching for potential Israeli attacks on Iranian oil infrastructure.
Brent crude futures settled US$1.58, or two per cent, lower at US$77.46 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell US$1.73, or 2.29 per cent, to US$73.83 per barrel. Brent had gained 99 cents last week, while WTI climbed US$1.18.
Brent fell five per cent, or more than US$4, in after-hours trading following a media report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the US that Israel is willing to strike Iranian military targets and not nuclear or oil ones.
US heating oil futures fell five per cent in late trading. US gasoline futures eased over four per cent.
OPEC on Monday cut its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2024 and also lowered its projection for next year, marking the producer group's third consecutive downward revision.
China, the world's largest crude oil importer, accounted for the bulk of the 2024 downgrade as OPEC trimmed its growth forecast for the country to 580,000 barrels per day (bpd) from 650,000 bpd.
China's crude imports for the first nine months of the year fell nearly three per cent from last year to 10.99 million bpd, data showed.
Declining Chinese oil demand caused by the growing adoption of electric vehicles (EV), as well as slowing economic growth following the COVID-19 pandemic, has been a drag on global oil consumption and prices.
China's deflationary pressures also worsened in September, according to official data released on Saturday. A press conference the same day left investors guessing about the overall size of a stimulus package to revive the fortunes of the world's second-largest economy.
"The lack of a clear timeline and the absence of measures to address structural issues, such as weak consumption and reliance on infrastructure investments, have only increased ambiguity amongst market participants," noted Mukesh Sahdev, the global head of commodity markets-oil at Rystad Energy.
The negative news from China outweighed market concerns over the lingering possibility that an Israeli response to Iran's October 1 missile attack could disrupt oil production.
The US said on Sunday it would send troops to Israel along with an advanced anti-missile system in a highly- unusual deployment meant to bolster the country's air defences.
"While an attack by Israel into Iran is likely to happen, the latest reinforcing measures by the US military may have calmed the responses on both sides," said Dennis Kissler, Senior Vice President of trading at BOK Financial.
"A nervous trade will remain with most fund managers remaining on the sidelines," Kissler said.
Washington has been privately urging Israel to calibrate its response to avoid triggering a broader war in the Middle East, officials say, with President Joe Biden publicly voicing his opposition to an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear sites and his concerns about a strike on Iran's energy infrastructure.
The dollar also hit a nine-week high on Monday in thin trading. A firmer US currency can hurt demand for dollardenominated oil from buyers using other currencies.
US crude oil stockpiles were expected to have risen last week, while distillate and gasoline inventories likely fell, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday. (Reuters)
Israel expanded its targets in its war with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon on Monday, killing at least 21 persons in an airstrike in the north, health officials said, while millions of Israelis took shelter from projectiles fired back across the border.
So far the main focus of Israel's military operations in Lebanon has been in the south, the Bekaa Valley in the east, and the suburbs of Beirut.
The strike in the Christian-majority town of Aitou hit a house that had been rented to displaced families, the town's Mayor Joseph Trad told Reuters. In addition to the deaths, eight persons were injured, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.
Rescue workers at the
site of the strike searched through piles of rubble on Monday, where burnt vehicles and trees could be seen strewn across the ground.
Israel ordered residents of 25 villages in southern
Lebanon to evacuate to areas north of the Awali River, which flows some 60 kilometres (35 miles) north of the Israeli frontier.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, vis -
iting a military base in central Israel where four soldiers were killed on Sunday by a Hezbollah drone strike, said Israel would continue to attack the Iran-backed movement "without mercy, everywhere in Lebanon –including Beirut".
The United Nations Security Council on Monday expressed strong concern after several UN peacekeeping positions in southern Lebanon came under fire amid clashes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah.
In a statement adopted by consensus, the 15-member council also urged all parties – without naming them – to respect the safety and security of the personnel and premises of the UN peacekeeping mission, known as UNIFIL. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, including the High Commissioner on Monday, linking them to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader and alleging a broader effort to target Indian dissidents in Canada.
Earlier in the day, India retaliated by ordering the expulsion of six high-ranking Canadian diplomats, including the acting High Commissioner and said it had withdrawn its envoy from Canada, contradicting Canada's statement of expulsion.
The diplomatic row rep-
resents a major deterioration of relations between the two Commonwealth countries. Ties have been frayed since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last year he had evidence linking Indian agents to the assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian territory.
The Government now has "clear and compelling evidence that agents of the Government of India have engaged in and continue to engage in activities that pose a significant threat to public safety", Trudeau said at a news conference.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskiy's chief of staff called on Monday for a new international security system to preclude future instances of armed aggression, as he addressed an online conference on securing peace following Russia's invasion.
Andriy Yermak said 66 countries and international organisations had taken part in the conference, devoted to one point of the president's peace plan on ending the more than twoand-a-half-year-old war with Russia. The discussions focused on future instances of escalation and aggression.
Zelenskiy planned to present to Parliament this week a "victory plan" – a follow-up to the peace plan he drew up in late 2022 calling for the withdrawal of Russian troops and the restoration of Ukraine's 1991 borders.
That plan formed the basis of a "peace summit" held in Switzerland in June.
Yermak, writing on Zelenskiy's website, said existing security systems "had been unable to propose active means to rule out Russian aggression" and its world-wide consequences. (Excerpt from Reuters)
These activities involved clandestine information gathering techniques, coercive behaviour, targeting South Asian Canadians and involvement in over a dozen threatening and violent acts, including murder, he said.
"This is unacceptable," he said, adding that India had committed a fundamental error by engaging in criminal activities in Canada.
India has long denied Trudeau's accusations.
On Monday, it dismissed Canada's move on the inquiry and accused Trudeau of pursuing a "political agenda".
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said the Government had requested India to remove the diplomatic immunity of six diplomats so that the Canadian investigative agencies could question them regarding the allegations of criminal activity. But since India did not cooperate, it had to expel the diplomats.
"We're not seeking diplomatic confrontation with India," she said. "But we will not sit quietly as agents of any country are linked to efforts to threaten, harass or even kill Canadians."
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Three United Statesbased academics won the 2024 Nobel economics prize on Monday for research that explored the aftermath of colonisation to understand why global inequality persists today, especially in countries dogged by corruption and dictatorship.
Simon Johnson and James Robinson, both British-American, and Turkish-American Daron Acemoglu were commended for their work on "how institutions are formed and affect prosperity", the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.
"Reducing the vast differences in income between
countries is one of our time's greatest challenges," said Jakob Svensson, Chair of the Committee for the Prize in Economic Sciences.
"They have identified the historical roots of the weak institutional environments that characterise many low-income countries today," he told a press conference.
The award came a day after a World Bank report showed that the world's 26 poorest countries – home to 40 per cent of its most poverty-stricken people – are more in debt than at any time since 2006, highlighting a major reversal in the fight against poverty.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Keep secrets to yourself. Observe what others do and say without comment. The less others know about you, the better. Listen to your body and address health issues with hope and vision.
You are overdue for a change. Consider how you can harness something you enjoy and build it into your daily routine. Let your imagination lead the way, and you’ll discover a path that makes you feel good.
Refuse to let anyone manipulate you. Change must come from the heart and have meaning for you. Don’t let someone talk you into something you don’t need or want. Stand up for yourself.
Consider and develop ideas and skills that excite you. Doing something you love will change the atmosphere and affect how you use your time to get ahead. Refuse to let someone’s mixed emotions mess with you.
Be careful with whom you align yourself. Someone will offer misleading information or make a last-minute adjustment that doesn’t favor you. Do your research and be ready to state the facts.
Keep your explanations simple. Don’t underestimate anyone or anything. Keep your finger on the pulse and your head in the game. Address what’s important to you and get things done.
Keep an open mind when dealing with associates, business opportunities and healthy living. Refuse to let frustration and anger surface when there are better ways to use your energy.
Strut your stuff, do your thing and make a splash. Go all out, express and articulate your thoughts and position, and you’ll mesmerize someone who has as much to contribute as you do.
Stop, look and listen. Protect your position, popularity and property from anyone trying to make you look bad. You’ll get the best results working toward your goal alone.
You’re in a better position than you realize. Pump up your stamina and aim to get things done. High energy, vision and charisma will help you raise awareness. Leave nothing to chance, get the facts and follow through.
Take your time. Premature changes will turn out differently than you anticipate. Be open to suggestions, break down costs and make decisions based on facts, figures and binding contracts.
Take control and do things your way. An innovative approach to using your attributes will help you bring about positive change. Forge ahead with confidence and aplomb.
India's hopes briefly rose.
New Zealand could perhaps feel a sense of déjà vu. Pakistan themselves threatened to do the unthinkable. Only for all of it to come crashing down at the end of it all.
New Zealand crushed Pakistan in their final group game to qualify for the semi-final of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women's T20 World Cup for the first time since 2016. Batting first, they could
only finish on 110 for 6. India needed Pakistan to beat New Zealand for them to make the semi-final. Pakistan themselves needed to hunt down the score anywhere inside 11.3 overs to qualify for the last four at the expense of India and New Zealand. In a bid to do so, they were bowled out for 56, their lowest all-out total in T20 World Cups
Nashra Sandhu led Pakistan's charge with the ball, picking up three wickets to pull the plug on New
Women (T: 111 runs from 20 ovs)
Aliya Riaz c Devine b Carson 0 Iram Javed run out (Tahuhu) 3 Sadaf Shamas b Jonas 2 Fatima Sana (c) c Bates b Kerr 21 Sidra Amin b Mair
Nida Dar st †Gaze b Kerr
Omaima Sohail
c & b Carson 2 Syeda Aroob Shah run out (Green/Kerr) 0 Nashra Sandhu not out
Sadia Iqbal c Bates b Kerr 0 Extras (lb 1, w 3) 4
Zealand's scoring. But Amelia Kerr returned with three of her own, following Eden Carson's strikes up top
looked good for more, despite a slightly higher number of dot balls faced.
Only when Omaima Sohail was brought on for the final over of the powerplay, did there come a sign of what was to follow.
Pakistan drop catches, NZ drop scoring Nida Dar's first over, the fifth of the game, gave an indication of her fortunes for the day. Bates attempted a reverse lap on the second ball against Dar, only to deflect it to the wicketkeeper. But Muneeba Ali failed to hang on. That was the first of five dropped chances Pakistan missed off Dar's bowling alone. In the sixth, Bates pulled Sohail straight to midwicket, but Sandhu could not hold on. A ball before, Plimmer had survived a run-out chance.
as New Zealand completed a remarkable comeback having come into the competition on the back of a record 10-match losing streak.
overs. Despite that, New Zealand could hit only seven fours – the last two coming off Brooke Halliday's bat – and were restricted to a total that seemed very gettable at the halfway mark. Sandhu
straight back and then pulling Lea Tahuhu through deep backward square leg – aided by a misfield. But Tahuhu got one to seam in, past the inside edge, to make a mess of Muneeba's stumps.
Omaima Sohail 4-0-14-1 Nashra Sandhu 4-0-18-3 Syeda Aroob Shah 2-0-11-0
Total 11.4 Ov (RR: 4.80) 56 Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Aliya Riaz, 1.2 ov), 2-19 (Muneeba Ali, 2.4 ov), 3-21 (Sadaf Shamas, 4.1 ov), 4-23 (Iram Javed, 4.6 ov), 5-28 (Sidra Amin, 5.4 ov), 6-52 (Nida Dar, 9.5 ov), 7-55 (Omaima Sohail, 10.3 ov), 8-56 (Syeda Aroob Shah, 11.1 ov), 9-56 (Fatima Sana, 11.2 ov), 10-56 (Sadia Iqbal, 11.4 ov) • DRS Bowling O-M-R-W Rosemary Mair 3-0-18-1 Eden Carson 3-1-7-2 Lea Tahuhu 1-0-8-1 Fran Jonas 2-0-8-1
Amelia Kerr 2.4-0-14-3
Bates, Plimmers and a fours-ful start
When Suzie Bates drove the second ball of the game down the ground to beat mid-off, it looked as if New Zealand's decision to bat first was vindicated. An over later, both Georgia Plimmer and Bates managed to hit a four apiece off Fatima Sana before Plimmer bisected the gap at extra cover in the fourth over. By the end of five overs, New Zealand had hit five fours and
Plimmer and Bates could not make those chances count. With New Zealand's score on 41, the former skewed a top edge off Sandhu towards cover, where Sana fumbled before hanging on. In Sandhu's next over, Bates hit one down long-on's throat. Sohail had grassed a tough caught-andbowled chance when Kerr was on nought, but managed to have her caught at the deep midwicket ropes cheaply.
Boundaries were hard to come by. Sophie Devine tried using her feet to counter spin, but to no avail. She was also given a life when she was on 13. Pakistan dropped five catches in the last three
finished with 3 for 18 while Sadia Iqbal, Dar, and Sohail picked up a wicket apiece.
Pakistan's attacking ways play into NZ's hands Pakistan knew they had to hunt down the 101-run target inside 12 overs for a semi-final place. Their intentions were clear when they sent Aliya Riaz up to open the batting alongside Muneeba. It was only the second time that Riaz had walked out to open in a T20I, the first time since 2014. Her stay lasted only three balls as she miscued offspinner Carson to cover. Muneeba began solidly, first skipping down to loft Carson
That was the start of a massive collapse from Pakistan. They lost five wickets inside the powerplay to be 28 for 5. A massively-reworked batting order – that saw Dar bat at number seven – did not bear the desired result. Dar and Sana's 24run partnership for the sixth wicket was Pakistan's best. But once their most experienced all-rounder fell in the 10th over, Pakistan folded as quickly as New Zealand started. They lost their last five wickets for just four runs in 11.4 overs, the exact over mark by when they had to complete the chase to qualify. (ESPNcricinfo)
Jamaul John, with 51 points, rose to the occasion on Sunday as he clinched the top spot in the Elite Category of the One Guyana 3-Stage Cycling Race.
The race culminated on Sunday on Main Street after two days of competitive action, and John with a powerful sprint left his competitors chasing shadows.
Briton John, showing a major points gap from the leader with only 40 points, managed to come in second followed by Aaron Newton with 34 points as they both showcased the growth of their cycling ability.
into second with 33 points and Kevin Seaton had 30 points for third.
Stage Two saw cyclists traversing the Schoonord roundabout to Parika and return to the roundabout to complete two loops of the Vreed-en-Hoop Schoonord Highway. At the end, Jamual John led the Elite pack with 36 and following in second was Aaron Newton with 23 points and Marlon Williams with 21 points.
ing in third was Ridley with 29 points.
Category 4/5 saw Roy Mangru and Ralph Williams share the top spot as they were tied with 27 points followed by Dave Bissoon and Kevin Seaton with 26 points.
Speaking to media operatives after the event was Guyana Cycling Federation
General Secretary Mark Sinclair, who emphasised that cycling is on the rise and the areas needed to be worked on ahead of the Caribbean Championship.
In the juniors’ event, Alexander Leung, with 63 points, rode his way to a dominant first-place finish, taking the lead early and never looking back. After a fierce battle, Alex Newton with 41 and Sidwell Sandy with 37 points finished second and third, respectively.
closely by Johann Burrowes with 47 points and Kwame Ridley with 40 points.
In the masters category, Robin Persaud crossed the finish line first thanks to his seasoned legs as he secured 45 points followed
Category 4/5 saw intense rivalry as one point proved to be the decider, with Dave Bissoon clinching first place with 34 as he forced Ralph Willams
Leung with his perseverance despite the ferocious heat led the juvenile category with 42 points while Alex Newton followed in second with 30 points and Sandy with 22 points.
Burrowes controlled the momentum for the masters as he led the Points tally with 32 followed by Persaud with 30 and com-
Sinclair said: “Over the two days, what I can say, this race is a new race to the whole racing calendar for the Guyana Cycling Federation. We can say we saw fresh competition by the various categories and as you can see, a lot of families and spectators came
out for the race. But over the past two days, it was a very well-put-together competition. The first stage in Berbice, the second stage West Coast this morning, and now the final stage. And from all the witnesses here, you can recognise that cycling is more or less on the rise and that's a good thing for Guyana in a whole. There's a couple of minute things that we need to tweak and our friend from the Caribbean Cycling Union can actually comment on those. Next year, cycling and later down in this month, November 1st, the 4th, Guyana will be hosting the Caribbean Cycling Elite Championship. So cycling is on the rise and the Guyana Cycling Federation, we were able to tick all of our boxes and more.”
Cricket West Indies (CWI) hosted an official induction ceremony for the third cohort of the Men’s Academy.
The ceremony, held on October 11, 2024 at CWI Headquarters at Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) in Antigua and Barbuda, marked a significant milestone as this cohort is the first to be based in that country full-time for their year of training and development.
The 18 young men in at-
tendance were addressed by West Indies cricket legend Courtney Walsh, an esteemed group of technical staff and cricket professionals, including CWI Director Enoch Lewis and CWI Chief Operating Officer Lynford Inverary.
In his opening remarks, Inverary emphasised the importance of the academy in developing the next generation of West Indies cricketers, saying, “CWI has invested in you
because we believe you are worth the investment. You are the future of West Indies cricket. This is not a one-off investment; it’s part of our long-term commitment to creating a high-performance system that ensures West Indies cricket thrives on the
The full list is: Selwyn Grogan (Masters Under 75kg; Sylvon Gardner (Masters Under-70kg), Orlanzo Valenzuela (U-65kg); Daniel Lutchman (U-70kg); Delrae McLean (Masters-U-75kg); Christopher Anthony (Masters U-75kg); Seon Budhan (U-65kg); Julio Sinclair (Over 100kg); Marley Vyphuis (Men’s Physique 186cm); Kewsie Anderson (Men’s Physique 186cm & Physique Mass); Roger Callender (U-60kg); Yusuf Khan (Physique 172cm); Antowyn Bayley (Men’s Physique 176cm); Sachin Sharma (Men’s Physique 170cm); Jamal Pollydore (Men’s Physique 176cm); Emmerson Campbell (Men’s Physique 170cm); Renaldo Caldeira (Men’s Physique 170cm); Hannah Rampersaud (Junior Wellness); Melitha Fernandes-Anderson (Women Wellness under 158); Christine Ramsammy (Bikini Under 169); Sabita Stephenson (Bikini Under 165); Joel Caldeira ( Bodybuilding under 65kg); Vanisha Munroe (Women’s Wellness under 160); Aliya
Wong (Women’s Wellness under 158) and Rawle Green (Masters Bodybuilding Under 90kg).
Meanwhile, the countries confirmed to participate are Antigua and Barbuda; the Bahamas; Barbados; Bonaire; Curaçao; the Dominican Republic; El Salvador; St Lucia; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago; Venezuela; Colombia; Jamaica; Sint Maarten (Dutch side); Haiti; Nicaragua; Mexico; Costa Rica and St Vincent and the Grenadines along with hosts Guyana.
global stage.”
He encouraged the players to rise to the challenge and remember that they are not just representing themselves but their families, countries, and the entire region.
Cricket legend Walsh was greeted with a standing ovation by the enthusiastic players, who were bowled over by his record-breaking accomplishments on the pitch. Walsh, who still holds the West Indies record for highest Test wicket-taker (519), shared his unique perspective as a former player and left the young men with 13 key points to consider. Of those points, he emphasised fitness, which allowed him to once bowl an extraordinary 45 consecutive overs in one innings; the importance of constantly learning about the game, which he does to this day; striving for excellence in Test cricket as a foundation for mastering all formats of the game; and finally, to always enjoy them-
selves and this unique journey.
Lewis, who is also a CWI Board Member and Chairman of the Cricket Performance and Development Committee, also delivered a powerful address, highlighting the pride and responsibility of wearing the West Indies crest. He reminded the young players that they are part of a legacy that extends beyond the field.
West Indies Men’s Academy Head Coach Ramesh Subasinghe and CWI Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe outlined the year’s curriculum, which, in addition to on-the-field training, focuses on skill development, personal growth, and leadership training.
Men’s Academy
The Men’s Academy continues to play a vital role in developing young cricketers, with three graduates from the previous cohort already securing franchise contracts.
The programme offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes on-field skill enhancement and off-field elements like leadership training and media engagement. In addition to the Men’s Academy, CWI also operates a Women’s Academy, with training camps being held in Antigua and Barbuda and across other territories. This parallel programme is part of CWI’s broader commitment to youth development and aims to prepare the next generation of women cricketers for success on the international stage. Both programmes reflect CWI's dedication to building a legacy of excellence in West Indies cricket, for both men and women.
The Queenside Rapid Chess Tournament, sponsored by Jade's Wok and Pinnacle Business Services, was successfully concluded on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at the School of the Nations Campus in Kingston, Georgetown.
Hosted by the Guyana Women in Chess Community (GWICC), the event aimed to encourage females of all ages who are new to chess to compete. The tournament was also open to players without an ELO rating.
Thirteen-year-old Angelina Yhap amassed seven points to claim the
Queenside Championship Title for Beginners and Unrated Players. The Marian Academy student, who has been playing chess for two years, was elated to have won her first competition.
Up-and-coming 11-yearold Queen's College student, Rebha Lachman claimed the second-place prize with seven points and 12-year-old Lusianna Farlot from the New Guyana School took the third spot with six and a half points. Both girls started playing chess earlier this year. Marcia Lee came in fourth place with six points, while 13-year-old Claire
Cole from Queen’s College secured fifth place, also with six points. Thirteen-yearold St Rose’s student Kaija Clement ended also with six points earning her the sixthplace spot. Notable performances came from Shreya Harjohn (five and half points) and Faraa Gaskin, Bianca Jessimy, Kyla Jordan, Raphaella Omarao, and Arianne Lynch who all ended on five points each.
Monetary prizes totalling $50,000 were distributed among the first to thirdplace winners, and trophies were awarded to the top five players. Special prizes were also presented: Best Girl
Prize – Kaija Clement; Best Woman Prize – Amanda Alli; Best Beginner Prize – Kyla Jordan, and the Youngest Player Prize went to Amy Ramphal. The prizes were presented by National Women's Chess Champion Jessica Callender.
The tournament attracted 21 girls and three women, who competed in nine rounds of 15-minute games with a five-second increment per move.
Nearly half of the participants, including all three women, were first-time competitors. The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) anticipates continued growth in
tournament participation as more girls and women join the programme. The arbiters for the tournament were Jessica Callender, Odit Rodrigues, and John Lee.
GCF President Anand Raghunauth expressed his appreciation to the players for their participation, which contributed to the tournament's success. He noted that while the girls compete with each other, they have social interactions and get an opportunity to forge new friendships with persons who have a common goal.
The GCF thanked the sponsors Pinnacle Business
Services and Jade’s Wok for their kind and continuous support of chess in Guyana.
The GCF also thanked the administration of the School of the Nations for stepping up and allowing the use of their facility on short notice to host the event.
Another rapid chess tournament for females is scheduled for Sunday, October 27, 2024. All female players are eligible to play. For more information on how to become a member of the Guyana Chess Federation, please visit its website guyanachess.gy and follow it on Facebook and at guyanachess on Instagram.
he 2024 DBS
TSuriname Open has officially come to a close, wrapping up a thrilling weekend of competitive golf at the Paramaribo Golf Club.
Sixty-two players from across the region, including top talents from Suriname, Guyana, and beyond, showcased their skills in what has become one of the marquee events on the regional golf calendar. When the dust had settled, it was veteran golfer Patrick Prashad, who stormed to the lead in the prestigious Class A category, while his countryman Brian Hackett copped second place in the Class B category.
This year’s tournament saw fierce competition, with the Guyanese contingent facing the well-known challenges of Paramaribo Golf Club's demanding course. The tight fairways, strategic bunkers, and fast greens tested the ability of every golfer, ensuring that only the best rounded players could rise to the top.
As expected, the competition delivered exciting moments, with many golfers posting strong scores across the rounds. The final day provided heightened tension, as a number of competitors remained within
striking distance of the lead, ensuring the title was up for grabs until the very last putt.
At a simple presentation ceremony at Golf Club Paramaribo, an overjoyed Prashad said, “I've been visiting and playing with the Surinamese in excess of 20 years, the only time I missed was after COVID- 19 and 2023 and I have never won anything. I represent Guyana and Lusignan Golf Club, the club has always represented Guyana and we feel privileged to be invited here. Every year we are able to send a team to represent Guyana and Lusignan Golf Club. The Paramaribo Golf Club has produced a won-
derful tournament and I am grateful with the results.”
The results for the local contingent for the two-day tournament were as follows:
A Class
1st: Patrick Prashad –Gross 79, HC 13, Net 66
(Overall Net 142)
4th: Patanjilee Persaud
– Gross 86, HC 13, Net 73
(Overall Net 144)
6th: Avinash Persaud
– Gross 73, HC 3, Net 70
(Overall Net 146)
10th: Mohanlall
Dindanauth – Gross 78, HC 6, Net 72 (Overall Net 149)
15th: Vishal Dhanai
– Gross 88, HC 6, Net 82
(Overall Net 154)
21st: Lakeram
Ramsundar – Gross 89, HC 13, Net 76 (Overall Net 157)
B Class
2nd: Brian Hackett –Gross 88, HC 18, Net 70 (Overall Net 136)
C Class
4th: Troy Cadogan –Gross 99, HC 25, Net 74 (Overall Net 149)
9th: Orson Ferguson –Gross 101, HC 30, Net 71 (Overall Net 159)
Senior Class 4th: Carlos Adams –Gross 105, HC 22, Net 83 (Overall Net 152)
Patanjilee Persaud –Longest Drive, Day 1
Carlos Adams – Longest Drive, Seniors category
The participation of Guyanese players from the Lusignan Golf Club for the
last 22 years continues to highlight the growing relationship between the golf clubs in the region and the competitive spirit that motivates these athletes.
The tournament has not only been a showcase of regional golfing talent, but also a celebration of the sport’s growing popularity. The Guyanese contingent will now turn their focus to the Brava Guyana Open slated for November 2-3, 2024.
In just a few days, the National Cultural Centre will be transformed into a bodybuilding and fitness spectacle as the best of Central America and the Caribbean display their ripped and chiselled bodies in front of what is anticipated to be a large audience.
Following months of arduous preparations, both at the administrative and athlete levels, this weekend showdown among the athletes will occur face to face as they battle for individual and regional supremacy in the Central America and Caribbean (CAC) 2024 Championships.
One such team is St Maarten, who have sent a small contingent to represent them at this year’s championships and word is that despite their size, they are confident of doing well at the event. They arrived in this country on Monday, and the Guyana Body Building & Fitness Federation (GBBFF)
President Keavon Bess disclosed that more teams were expected in today to continue preparations for the ‘big’ show that commences on Saturday and culminates the following day.
More than 250 athletes from 20 countries, includ-
ing Guyana, will flexing and posing their bodies in what is already being touted as the most exciting event to be held this weekend.
Several defending champions will be returning to represent the “Land of Many Waters”, and they include Mr Physique from last year, Emmerson Campbell and Hannah Rampersaud, who also grabbed a silver medal. Julio Sinclair, who claimed a bronze medal last year, has also been named on the team shortlisted to represent Guyana.
