Guyana Times - Wednesday, September 11, 2024

UK-based King's Foundation to assist Govt in restoring Georgetown as Garden City

Guyana harvests 495kg of prawns at Onverwagt production facility MoH reaffirms commitment to comprehensive strategy for suicide prevention

2 injured after inmate sets fire at Camp St Prison

ECD man dies after falling into pothole while riding e-bike

– heritage conservation plan, modernised urban maps among initiatives

Up to US$23.8B in infrastructure investments needed to bridge gaps, maintain competitiveness – Pres Ali Police find $41M in ganja, ammunition during operation along Berbice River Family tragedy strikes again: Free and Easy murderer’s deadly actions mirror brother’s crime 11 years prior MoE launches Mathematics intervention programme to improve pass rate See story on

Private Sector crucial in combatting climate crisis –Foreign Secretary

UG continuing efforts to strengthen local workforce with 30 new courses – Vice Chancellor

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, September 11 –22:15h-23:45h and Thursday, September 12 – No retraction.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, September 11 –21:05h-22:35h and Thursday, September 12 – 10:45h-12:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.

WEATHER TODAY

UK-based King's Foundation to assist Govt in restoring Georgetown as Garden City – heritage conservation plan, modernised

eorgetown is set to be transformed as the government embarks on rolling out transformative projects as part of the next phase of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), with support from the United Kingdom-based King’s Foundation.

During a high-level discussion that focused on Guyana’s LCDS at the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC) on Tuesday, President Dr Irfaan Ali gave insight into what to expect from the strategy’s implementation over the next few years.

For instance, he noted that Georgetown will, with support from the Britishbased King’s Foundation, be transformed under the rollout of the next phase of the strategy. President Ali, whose doctorate is in Urban and Regional Planning, noted that the King’s Foundation will be providing support to Guyana in the area of sustainable urban development.

“Our work continues to expand and as part of the LCDS 2030 vision, that is the renewal of the city, the renewal of new areas and development of new growth

poles and growth areas, the beautification of our city and country, the expansion and revival of urban planning, the drainage and irrigation aspect of the city, addressing flooding. All of that is part of the LCDS 2030 vision.”

“Today, we are very pleased that we have established this strong partnership with the King’s Foundation in the renewal of the City of Georgetown. And we’re working on various projects to enhance the City of Georgetown and give it back that title of the Garden City of the world,” the President laid out.

Georgetown, which has for decades been under the management of the People’s National Congress (PNC) has grappled with the pile up of garbage and clogged drains for some time now. One issue the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (GM&CC) faces is that it lacks the adequate manpower and trucks to provide optimal service throughout the city.

Local authorities

The President further noted that these projects will require local authorities, to work hand in

urban maps among initiatives

hand with the government.

According to the President, his government’s massive development drive and the allocation of 36,000 house lots since its return to office in 2020, have laid the groundwork for the rollout of the next phase of urban development.

“We can all now imagine the Georgetown and Guyana we want to be in. Some say Georgetown could be the next Dubai or Miami.

But while we can certainly learn from these cities, we should be proud to craft our own future. Guyana has always been centered around village life. And we must reconcile this heritage with the modernization we want to see. Let us imagine a Georgetown that blends its rich history with cutting-edge infrastructure and technology.”

“A city that is both cosmopolitan and reflective of our values. To make this a reality, several key initiatives will soon start.

nical work will start to develop eight key elements for sustainable cities in Guyana. This will include an urban development framework and the articulation of a vision for greater Georgetown, a smart code for building design, the continuation of the master plan for Silica City, pilot neighbourhood plans, a greenway strategy and modernized urban maps.

“At the same time, we are committed to preserving Georgetown’s historic core. Once known as the garden city of the Caribbean, Georgetown is home to beautiful colonial architecture and green spaces. A heritage conservation plan, led by the national trust of Guyana, will set out plans for ensuring that history and modernity coexist in harmony.”

LCDS

The Head of State, meanwhile lauded British King Charles III for the

The cross-cutting nature of this work means that it requires action from the local government, as well as the central government. But its cross-cutting nature means that it appropriate that central government funds the work and leads the implementation,” he said.

Ali revealed that over the next few months, tech-

support he gave Guyana when, as the then Prince of Wales, the country was crafting its first LCDS. Praise was also heaped on Eric Solheim, who as the then Norwegian Minister of the Environment, signed the historic Norway agreement with Guyana in 2009.

President Dr Irfaan Ali

A section of the gathering at the discussion

Editor: Tusika Martin

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World Suicide Prevention Day

World Suicide Prevention Day is observed on September 10 every year, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that close to 800,000 persons take their own lives annually, and there are many more people who attempt suicide. The Organisation also informed that suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-to-29-year-olds globally.

Suicide is a mental health problem, often precipitated by one catalysing factor at a moment’s impulse. This global phenomenon is a scourge affecting every nation of the world. However, suicides are preventable, and education through generally interactive counselling sessions, especially in schools, churches and at various youth fora; as well as easily-accessible helplines that could provide timely interventions by way of a conduit – a compassionate listening ear and provision of advice based on rational reasoning, for revealing bad experiences and expressing negative emotions, especially if it is an impersonal one, can serve to reduce the crippling pain to bearable levels, and enable rational thought that defuses intentions of self-destruction.

In a national context, there needs to be a holistic approach involving multi-sectoral agencies, especially in the health, education and social services sectors.

A comprehensive suicide prevention strategy is imperative to curb and eventually eliminate this scourge from society.

According to the WHO, experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse or loss and a sense of isolation is strongly associated with suicidal behaviour. Suicide rates are also high among vulnerable groups who experience discrimination, such as refugees and migrants; indigenous peoples; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons. By far the strongest risk factor for suicide is a previous suicide attempt.

Prioritising formulating a strategy for suicide prevention has become an imperative, because the consequence is not only the tragic, preventable loss of a life but this one irreversible and tragic act has many victims, especially loved ones on whom are inflicted a lifetime of unendurable pain and emotional and psychological scars.

Statistically, only 38 countries are reported to have formulated a national suicide prevention strategy.

Raising community awareness and breaking down the taboo is important for countries to make progress in preventing suicide, but this figure is not cast in stone, because, according to WHO, globally, the availability and quality of data on suicide and suicide attempts is poor. Only 80 Member States have good quality, vital registration data that can be used directly to estimate suicide rates.

The first WHO World Suicide Report, “Preventing suicide: A Global Imperative”, published in 2014, aims to increase the awareness of the public health significance of suicide and suicide attempts and to make suicide prevention a high priority on the global public health agenda. It also aims to encourage and support countries to develop or strengthen comprehensive suicide prevention strategies in a multisectoral public health approach.

Suicide is one of the priority conditions in the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) launched in 2008, which provides evidence-based technical guidance to scale up service provision and care in countries for mental, neurological and substance use disorders. In the WHO Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2020, WHO Member States have committed themselves to working towards the global target of reducing the suicide rate in countries by 10 per cent by 2020.

In addition, the suicide mortality rate is an indicator of target 3.4 of the Sustainable Development Goals: by 2030, to reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment, and promote mental health and well-being.

Adolescents are especially at risk of hormone-related fluctuation of moods and they can sink into depression through many catalysts. In many instances, they are being allegedly bullied by their peers despite reporting instances of bullying to teachers.

We must not forget that teachers have the over-arching responsibility of moulding young lives to become the best they can be and becoming rounded, grounded, mature personalities, simultaneously guiding young minds into achieving their greatest potential for education acquisition.

Even one life lost to suicide is one too many. A listening ear, and rational advice, proffered in a non-judgmental way, can prevent many disturbed persons from taking their own lives.

Average Amerindian citizen would not deny that their living conditions have improved under the PPP/C

Dear Editor, Please permit me to respond to Peeping Tom's article, "The President needs to pay more attention to fact-checking," published on August 25, 2024.

Based on the author's ramblings, it was evident that he/she paid little attention to the President's presentation at the NTCC or disingenuously attempted to distort the President's message. The simple plain fact is that the statistics presented by the President were taken from various credible sources.

In demonstrating that the Hinterland Regions were systematically marginalized during the 28 years the PNC ruled Guyana, the President pointed out that in 1992, the residents in the rural interior were faced with absolute and critical poverty, significantly above the national average and the averages for Urban Georgetown, Urban Other, and Rural Coastal communities. This fact is well documented in various reports and academic studies that examined poverty in Guyana, including a report by the World Bank titled 'Guyana: Strategies for Reducing Poverty Report',' and the International Monetary Fund Guyana: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Progress Report 2005, as well as studies conducted by well-respected academicians.

In a comprehensive study by John Gafar entitled “Growth, Inequality

and Poverty in Selected Caribbean and Latin American Countries, with Emphasis on Guyana,” it was reported that 78.6% of the population in the rural interior were living below the poverty line, compared with an average of 43.2% for the country, 45.1% for Rural Coastal, 23.1% for Urban other and 28.8% for Urban Georgetown. In the same study, the author reported that over 70% of the rural interior was extremely poor, compared with extreme poverty of 27.7% at the national level. Regardless of the poverty measure used, there is consensus by all the reports and academic studies that the Amerindian population was affected by poverty more than the citizens from Urban Georgetown, Urban Other, and Coastal communities. The Peeper may wish to consult this study and the reports mentioned earlier to prove that the President was misleading his audience at the NTCC.

In his presentation, The President also highlighted the disparities between the hinterland regions and the rest of the country during the early 1990s, with respect to access to various social services, such as education, water, sanitation, housing, electricity, and health care. For instance, he revealed the following:

(i) The secondary enrollment ratios for the hinterland regions were significantly below the national average of 54.5% in 1991.

(ii) In terms of access to

safe drinking water, the average for the hinterland regions in 1990 was well below the national average.

(iii) In terms of access to improved sanitation, the average for the hinterland regions in 1991 was 8.4% compared with the national average of 31%.

(iv) Only 25% of the hinterland communities were heavily reliant on kerosene lamps and self-generated power.

(v) The hinterland regions mainly depended on low-tier health facilities such as Health Posts and Health Centres, and only had 15 health centers in the 1990s.

Based on my review, these statistics are consistent with those in a report published by the International Monetary Fund entitled Guyana: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Progress Report 2005 by the International Monetary Fund and reports from the Ministry of Health Statistics Unit. The Peeper may also wish to check these reports and provide the correct statistics if the President had misquoted them. Alternatively, the Peeper is free to offer more credible statistics concerning poverty and living conditions of hinterland communities to show that our Amerindian brothers and sisters were not the most impoverished during the 1990s and are worse off today than the pre-1992 period when Guyana was the second poorest country in

the Western Hemisphere. This would be more beneficial than fanciful anecdotal statements to ridicule the statistics presented by the President for the Pre-1992 period.

In his speech, the President also shared data on investment by the PPP/C government in the social sector that would have improved the living conditions of hinterland communities in the 1990s. The impact of these interventions is clearly visible. Except for a blind critic or someone who prefers to peep rather than to look at issues with open eyes, any objective citizen, especially those from hinterland communities, would readily agree that their living conditions have improved markedly under the PPP/C between 1992 and 2015. Under the PPP/C government, Amerindians were granted titles to their lands, accessed improved electricity via the Hinterland Electrification Programme, and housing via the Hinterland Housing programme.

The investments in the social sector also saw the upgrade and expansion of health and education facilities, resulting in improved educational opportunities and healthcare services for hinterland residents. Our Amerindian brothers and sisters also benefitted from improved sanitation and safe drinking water due to the investments in the water sector.

A drone image shows a sunken German warship from World War II, exposed due to low Danube river levels caused by drought and extreme heat, in Prahovo, Serbia (REUTERS/Djordje Kojadinovic)

World Suicide Prevention Day Absence of emergency response glaring in measures rolled out for creeks

Dear Editor, Mental illness is more prevalent than we think. Suicide is a major public health challenge. It is estimated that there are currently more than 700,000 suicides per year worldwide. Suicide is a preventable tragedy, yet it remains a leading cause of death, particularly among young people. In Jamaica, suicide rates are alarming, especially in the under-45 age categories, where the burden of mental health challenges is often unnoticed. According to recent Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) data, the suicide rate in Jamaica is approximately 2.4 per 100,000 people. Each suicide has far-reaching social, emotional, and economic consequences, and deeply affects individuals and communities worldwide.

World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO). World Suicide Prevention Day is observed annually on 10 September and is organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention

(IASP) and endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The event focuses attention on the issue, reduces stigma and raises awareness among organizations, government, and the public, giving a singular message that suicide can be prevented. This year’s theme is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of changing the way we talk about and perceive this complex issue.

Mental Health Awareness

Everyone, individuals, communities, organization and governments have an important role to play in changing the narrative on suicide. The call to action encourages everyone to start the conversation on suicide and suicide prevention. Every conversation, no matter how small, contributes to a supportive and understanding society. By initiating these vital conversations, we can break down barriers, raise awareness, and create better cultures of support. This theme also emphasizes the need to prioritize suicide prevention and mental health in policymaking, calling for govern-

ment action.

Without a doubt, more can be done regarding mental health awareness. Each employer should have a mental health policy. As a consequence all employees should be made aware of such a policy as well as the resources that are available to assist those who are trying to navigate their mental health. Mental health days should be normalized and the government through the public sector has a responsibility to lead in this area. Changing the narrative regarding preventing suicide requires advocating for policies that prioritize mental health, increase access to care, and provide support for those in need.

Signs

People who are considering suicide may show signs that they are thinking about or planning to attempt suicide. These are known as warning signs of suicide. These signs include but are not limited to, prolonged feelings of sadness or hopelessness, withdrawal from social activities, changes in behaviour or personality, talking about wanting to die or to harm oneself, and increased substance use.

Help Available

Jamaica has seen a notable increase in the number of suicides, with the majority of these tragic deaths being older men. This rise in suicides must raise serious concerns among health officials, families, and communities throughout the country. That data for 2021 and 2022 indicates an increase in the number of persons in Jamaica committing suicide. In 2022, a total of 64 persons committed suicide. In 2021, it was 51 cases. A mental health/suicide helpline is to be established by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the non-governmental organization Choose Life International (CLI) to provide support to persons in need of assistance. Jamaica has several resources available for those in need, including the 24/7 Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Helpline (888639-5433), which offers confidential support.

In the words of Hayley Williams, when you feel like giving up, just remember the reason why you held on for so long.

Sincerely, Wayne Campbell

Average Amerindian citizen would not deny that...

With these investments, it is doubtful that the living conditions of the hinterland citizens would have deteriorated with improved access to educational opportunities, healthcare, water, sanitation, housing, and electricity. In my humble view, therefore, the Peeper’s ludicrous claim that poverty today is higher than in 1991, without providing an iota of supporting statistics, is not only spurious but downright scandalous.

Apart from side-stepping the statistics the President presented for the periods 1992-2015, the Peeper completely ignored the unprecedented investment in the social sector by his government in hinterland villages since 2020. The details of these investments can be found in the annual budgets and estimates from 2020 to the present. The current PPP/C government has also invested in the village economies throughout the hinterland regions. Under the expanded LCDS, for instance, the government has allocated 15% of the US$150 million received from HESS to finance over 800 transformative projects in 2023. This year, the government increased the allocation to 26.5% of the US$87.5 million received in 2024 to support 242 Amerindian villages and new entrants. Again, it is highly improbable that hinterland citizens would be worse off than in the Pre1992 period when absolute and critical poverty were at

the highest in our country. Indeed, regardless of the poverty measure used, it is impossible that poverty or the living conditions of hinterland communities would have worsened under the PPP/C. Whether we use the international poverty line, which is fixed and not necessarily contingent on a country's national income, or a multidimensional poverty measure that captures access to social goods and services, you would easily find that the living conditions of hinterland communities improved remarkably.

The efforts by the PPP/C between 1992-2015 and 2020-present, must be contrasted with the APNUAFC's decision to fire 2,000 CSOs, tax the economic sectors that Amerindian communities are dependent on for their livelihood, abandon the Amerindian Land Titling Programme and call them 'avaricious.' These facts, much like the statistics presented by the President in his speech, cannot be erased from our history or the memory of our Amerindian brothers and sisters who suffered under the PNC from independence to 1992 and between 2015 and 2020 under the APNU-AFC government.

It is understandable that Peeping Tom, in conducting his peeping activities, is probably squinting too intensely and missing half of the developments unfolding before his squint-

closed eyes. However, the average Amerindian citizen would not deny that their living conditions have improved under the PPP/C based on their own experi-

ences, with or without any statistics to confirm this reality.

Regards,

Kevin Persaud

Dear Editor, It was good to see movement at last, following the latest creek outing tragedy, the authorities putting measures in place. These safety measures should have been put in place for a long time. It is unthinkable, but happening all along and despite several incidents at these locations, an essential feature such as a trained lifeguard is absent.

It is posited the authorities must share some responsibility for these incidents and ensuing tragic outcomes. It is not as though they are not aware of what goes on at these creeks on weekends and holidays. The absence of basic safety measures should have seen operations suspended at these locations.

It was noted though in the measures rolled out and for operators to become compliant, the absence of emergency response was glaring. The latest incident noted that calls to the emer-

gency service hotline indicated 'no ambulance was available that far out' (KN September 9). So persons go to these locations and are left on their own when an emergency occurs. Better has to be done for emergencies at these locations. Some mechanisms must be found and put in place for an emergency call to be responded to. It is just unacceptable, where life matters, (and heaven forbids a similar incident might occur again) that the response given in this latest incident, is the norm. Of course, safety is everybody's and especially our own business and we must be mindful of this when venturing on outings and activities where the unknown can creep up unsuspectingly.

My condolences to the grieving families and relatives of the two young girls.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

Page Foundation

Tree Diagrams

A tree diagram can be used to show possible combinations of people, places, or things. It looks like a set of trees with branches.

Example:

At a school barbecue, you can buy a ticket that allows you to choose one main item and one side dish. The tree diagram shows the possible combinations.

To find out how many possible combinations there are, count the number of branches. In this example, there are nine branches. How many possible combinations could there be if you could also order chips as a side? Add chips as a branch on each item. Since there are 3 items, add 9 + 3 = 12.

Exercises: Interpret

1). How many different outcomes are there in the tree diagram? 2). Below is the tree diagram of the choices at the lunch you are going to attend. If you don’t like fish, how many different meal combinations can you select from?

Materials:

Small feathers, 10-15 or so

Crimp beads

Eyepins

Chain

Jump rings

Needle-nose pliers

Crimping pliers

Wire cutters

Methods:

1. Take a feather, a crimp bead, and an eyepin. If necessary, cut the eyepin so that it’s only about 1/4 of an inch long. Place

the crimp bead on the end of the feather and slide the eyepin end through the crimp bead, too.

2. Crimp the bead shut.

3. Repeat the last two steps for the rest of your feathers. I did 13, but you might want to do more or less depending on your feather size.

4. Using jump rings, attach the eyepin on the end of the feathers to the necklace chain.

5. Add a clasp to your necklace, and you’re done!(diyinpdx.com)

By RoBeRt FRost

Nature’s first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay.

Up to US$23.8B in infrastructure investments needed to bridge gaps, maintain competitiveness – Pres Ali

– IDB had highlighted Guyana’s need to upgrade transportation network

Based on assessments done by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), up to US$23.8 billion in infrastructural investments are needed by 2030 to bridge gaps hindering economic growth in Guyana.

This, according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali, is one of the factors behind the government’s lavish infrastructural spending.

During a recent broad-

cast, President Ali addressed the infrastructure needs of Guyana, which the government has been addressing through its investments in infrastructure. The President noted that without reducing this infrastructure gap, Guyana would have struggled to compete internationally.

“To reduce the infrastructure gap, that is what we have to do. Reduce the infrastructure gap. This is

what helps to bring equity between regions. Without investments in physical infrastructure, it would not be possible to improve the country’s international competitiveness. Or the barriers to private sector, development and economic growth,” the President said.

The President cited areas in which the government has been concentrating, such as improving

King's Foundation to assist...

FROM PAGE 3

Piled-up-garbage at a supermarket on Cemetery Road, Georgetown

This Norway agreement provided for Guyana to get up to US$250 Million by 2015 for avoided deforestation, once certain performance indicators were met. And met they were, with Guyana receiving around US$220 Million throughout the agreement. President Ali recognized that Solheim, who was present at the discussion, had the vision to see the potential for Guyana under the agreement.

access to healthcare and quality education, improving water and sanitation, to have more than 90 per cent of people on the coast having access to treated water.

He pointed out that the Inter-American Development Bank itself had done an assessment, in which it highlighted Guyana’s infrastructure gap. This gap, according to the IDB in this assessment, would need between US$9.4 billion and US$23.8 billion, to bridge.

“Without investments in physical infrastructure, it would not be possible to improve the country’s international competitiveness. If we don’t do this, how are we going to improve our international competitiveness? How are we going to get rid of the barriers to private sector development and economic growth and expansion?”

“According to the IDB, the deficient transportation network stifles economic opportunity in every sector. This is what the IDB said. What did we do to address this? To address the infrastructure gap, the IDB estimated that we would have

to invest between US$9.4 billion, to US$23.8 billion, by 2030. To upgrade the transportation network, and expand the energy grid, is exactly what we’re doing.” President Ali explained.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is undertaking several massive projects with a 2030 and beyond focus, including the US$260 million Demerara River Bridge, the US$190 million Linden to Mabura road and a bridge across the Berbice River. In the case of the Demerara River Bridge, the structure will have a lifespan of 100 years… far eclipsing the lifespan of the old bridge.

The new bridge will be a fixed 2.65-kilometre, four-lane, high-span, cable-stayed structure across the Demerara River, with the width of the driving surface being about 23.6 metres. The bridge, which features a bicycle lane, will bring an end to closures to vehicular traffic with a 50-metre fixed-high span to cater for the free flow of vessels uninterrupted. The river will be dredged along

a 13.5-kilometre stretch to accommodate large vessels. Another long-term project will be the Gasto-Energy (GtE) Project, which will have a lifespan of 25 years when complete. It will feature approximately 220 kilometres of a subsea pipeline offshore from the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels in the Stabroek Block to Wales, West Coast Demerara (WCD). Upon landing on shore, the pipeline will continue for approximately 25 kilometres to the Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant to be constructed in Wales. The pipeline would be 12 inches in diameter and is expected to transport some 50 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of dry gas to the NGL plant, but can push as much as 120 mmscfd.

In the 2024 budget, a sum of $80 billion had been earmarked for the transformative GtE Project. In the first half of the year, $40.8 billion was spent on this project. This is according to the Mid-Year report . (G-3)

The Norway agreement came to an end in 2015 with failure by the previous Coalition Government to have it renewed. Nevertheless, when the current People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration returned to office in 2020, it expanded the LCDS and sought certification of some 33.7 million carbon credits from the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) on December 1, 2022. The Guyana Government subsequently signed a historic multiyear agreement for the sale of its certified carbon credits to United States energy major Hess Corporation to the tune of US$750 million.

premier plan to aid in combatting climate change.

The resolution, signed on by the majority of the Toshaos attending the NTC Conference in Georgetown last month, states that the NTC is the collective voice and representative body of Indigenous Peoples across Guyana.

The expanded LCDS 2030 meanwhile recently received renewed support from the National Toshaos Council (NTC), comprising leaders of the indigenous community from all around the country who passed a resolution endorsing the government’s

It was noted that the strategy promotes economic growth while ensuring the protection of forests, ecosystems, and cultural heritage, all of which are of paramount importance to Indigenous communities. The resolution acknowledges that the LCDS 2030 is in harmony with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and international climate commitments. (G-3)

The new Demerara River bridge will have a 100-year lifespan

The Gas-to-Energy Project

Police

find $41M in ganja, ammunition during operation along Berbice River

As the Guyana Police Force (GPF) continues its Narcotics Eradication exercise, some 41 million worth of ganja was destroyed at Friendship Savannah, Upper Berbice River, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on Monday.

Based on reports received, the nine-hour exercise led to

the discovery of three camps, one 'drying area' and three Cannabis farms under cultivation.

Police stated that the first camp measured one acre and contained about 200 cannabis plants measuring approximately three feet in height. In addition, at the second camp about 400 plants ranging from six to eight inches in height were discovered.

Finally, at the third camp, police stated a drying area with about 100 pounds of dried Cannabis and a farm measuring about two acres with about 400 plants ranging from one inch to six inches in height were found.

Further, nine live rounds of 12-gauge cartridges were also found at the location. The cannabis plants and the camps were destroyed by fire.

Digging up…

…Durban Park dirt

It’s said that it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie…the point being when you wake them up, they may then just bite you on your bamsie!! Your Eyewitness is sympathetic, since he’s also not in the best of moods when he’s awakened form a sound sleep!! Opposition MP Annette Ferguson just demanded that Public Works Minister Edghill fix Durban Park – which she said had “fallen into disrepair”. She provided a pic that looked like it was taken straight out of Gaza after an Israeli bombardment!! Well!! Does she really want the PPP Govt to delve into the tragedy at Durban Park??

Burnham, of course – as he’d done to so many Guyanese institutions – destroyed what was then the premier venue for horseracing in our dear, old British Guiana!! There was a racetrack in every British colony and ours was right up there among the very best – where the colonial elite and their wannabees turned up to place their wagers as they downed their rum swizzles!! But even though he was a pretentious horse rider, as soon as he got independence, Burnham had the Homestretch Highway cut the racecourse in two. He placed the National Cultural Centre at the eastern end and Cuffy’s statue at the western dubbed Square of the Revolution. In between, he allowed the course to revert to swamp!!

Enter Granger the historian as president in 2015 – who then decides he’d recreate Durban Park as a world-class stadium where he would commemorate the 50th Jubilee Anniversary of Independence under a National Commemoration Committee (NCC) chaired by Ed Min Rupert Roopnarine!! He brought in some PNC/Army colleagues – Larry London and “Brigah” Bobby Viera – to realise his vision. They duly launched a private company Homestretch Development Inc (HDI) and appointed Roopnarine as a Director. They boasted that the stadium would accommodate 30,000 persons in its stands and would have the world’s longest flagpole at 200 feet!!

More to the point, they started collecting money from the Private Sector and appeared to have been extremely successful since that sector was slavering at the prospect of getting an “in” with the Government!! Contracts, baby!! Contracts. Evidently, they collected some $600 million which by April 2016 was exhausted and there was no stadium!! Granger turned over the project to the Min of Public Infrastructure in which Ferguson was a Junior Minister.

They allocated $300 million from the 2016 Budget to HDI and another $400 million from the Contingency Fund to deliver an incomplete wood ants-infested Stadium that was already falling apart for the Independence celebration!! Its descent into a haven for the homeless was inevitable and is an ironic commentary on PNC’s “independence”.

Maybe MP Ferguson might finally release an account of how the $1.3 billion was spent!!

…money changers

Seems that no matter how many times we hear we’ve got enough US$ in the system, businesses are always complaining about “shortages” when they try to fund their foreign purchases. The story’s told in the Good Book that Jesus was terribly upset with the Jerusalem Temple “money changers” – the precursors of our Cambio dealers today. “And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.” Now this is some serious precedent!!

Nowadays while everyone gets skittish when Governments intervene in the operations of the “free market”, we should know no market’s ever really “free” – and Governments must stabilize market operations. So while he’s not suggesting that BoG Governor Ganga – who’s responsible for our monetary matters – use a “whip of cords” on the Cambio dealers, he gotta get them in line.

He can use that “easy touch”!!

…that grave voice

The success of the Star Wars franchise is – to a large degree – dependent on Darth Vader, the Jedi who turned to the dark side. And that success was largely due to the voice of James Earl Jones – who just passed. RIP.

Fire set to the ganja found during the operation

A quantity of dried cannabis

One of the camps being destroyed

The 12-gauge cartridges found at the location

Family tragedy strikes again: Free and Easy murderer’s deadly actions mirror brother’s crime 11 years prior

As residents of Free and Easy, West Bank Demerara (WBD) try to come to grips with the shock of the heinous murder of a 29-year-old mother of four at the hands of the father of her children, the community cannot help comparing how the man’s brutal act of violence mirrors a tragic pattern established by his brother years earlier.

On Sunday, 35-year-old James Lord fatally stabbed Alexis Harris, in Free and Easy on the WBD before attempting to take his own life.

The crime took place in front of the couple’s now traumatised children and other family members. Lord also stabbed his nephew who attempted to intervene.

Sadly, this tragic event marks a grim continuation of a cycle of violence within the Lord family.

Lord’s actions are eerily reminiscent of those committed by his brother, Richard Lord, who in 2013 murdered his two young children – a 5-year-old and 2-year-old – and severely injured his wife, 20-year-old Natasha Huston.

The brother later died by suicide, leaving a trail of devastation that resonates hauntingly with James’ current crime.

Several villagers also

pointed to actions by the father of the two men, who also died by suicide, allegedly to avoid facing the consequences of the persons he abused.

“It’s like a curse!” Harris’ sisters Abiola Harris and Natasha Harris, remarked on the situation during an interview with this publication on Monday. James’ violent outbursts and subsequent suicide attempts have drawn attention to the alarming patterns of domestic violence that persist across generations. As the community

grapples with the shock of this latest tragedy, the Lord family’s history stands as a sobering reminder of the deep and often devastating impacts of domestic abuse.

“Pain, I’m in serious

pain, my heart is hurting,” Harris’ mother Sherry tearfully remarked. Sherry got the news of her daughter’s murder while out on an errand. When she made it home, her daughter was al-

ready dead lying in a pool of blood.

At the time of her death, Harris had been living with her sister, Abiola for the past few months, after she left her Hill Foot, SoesdykeLinden Highway home she shared with James in an attempt to escape domestic abuse.

“He beat her up on the highway so she come down and stay by me. She has been here for over two months and something. She come and start to work with me and my husband. This was the second time [James came to visit],” Abiola shared.

Harris’ family shared that throughout their 15year relationship, Lord has had a history of abusing the woman, and at one point she received a restraining order against him. However, faced with the economic constraints of taking care of four children on her own, Harris eventually returned

to her life with Lord.

“They go to court all. He beat she and threaten she. But he come and he beg back, and by she have the four children she took him back and move back to the highway,” Abiola explained.

On Sunday, Lord was in Free and Easy under the guise of coming to visit his children. While the murder came as a shock to everyone, the family firmly believes that the murder was premeditated and Lord came with the intent of harming Harris given that Lord arrived at the Free and Easy residence with the murder weapon already in his bag.

“He said he was bringing money for the children, but he had a plan. He bought a knife and had it in a haversack. He come to kill,” Sherry noted. Now the family remembers Alexis as a quiet peaceful person, who did not deserve to have her life cut short so gruesomely.

The house where Alexis Harris (inset) was murdered

Private Sector crucial in combatting climate crisis – Foreign Secretary ... calls for greater investment in innovative solutions

Private sector investment and participation are critical to advancing climate resilience initiatives, according to Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud, who addressed a roundtable discussion on Tuesday, where he emphasised the vital role, the private sector must play in addressing climate challenges.

The discussion offered a prime opportunity for the Guyanese private sector to connect with United States (US) partners, and to further strengthen Guyana’s initiatives in clean energy, food security, and climate resilience.

It was organised by the American Chamber of Commerce of Guyana, in collaboration with the ACE Consulting Group, and with the support of the U.S. Embassy. It featured the Director of Caribbean Affairs

at the U.S. Department of State, Katharine Beamer. It also focused on the USCaribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030 (PACC 2030).

Persaud highlighted that PACC 2030 is based on four key pillars: access to development financing, clean energy, food security, and deepening collaboration.

“The successful implementation of PACC 2030 would require greater public-private partnerships to yield more effective and efficient results for the benefit of all, because the climate crisis, food insecurity, and energy insecurity affect everyone, both rich and poor. The private sector in Guyana has an important

role in meeting these challenges by contributing to the pillars of Pact 2030,” he said.

He urged the private sector to invest in innovative solutions, such as climate-smart mechanisms, irrigation infrastructure, and nature-based approaches. Tangible investments in renewable energy were also deemed essential.

“The government supports public-private partnerships and is ready to partner with the private sector to implement the objectives of PACC 2030. The private sector in Guyana is also encouraged to actively explore joint ventures with companies, and investors from the United States

on projects that will deliver some of these objectives, and in alignment with Guyana’s low-carbon development strategy,” Persaud underlined.

The LCDS, a cornerstone of Guyana’s climate change efforts, focuses on preserving the country’s vast rainforest.

Through international partnerships, with this strategy, Guyana receives payments for maintaining its forest cover, which is then directed towards sus-

tainable development projects within Amerindian communities.

In addition, Guyana is actively transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, including large-scale solar power projects, wind farm initiatives, and exploring hydropower potential.

He also underscored Guyana’s commitment to achieving food security through the regional ‘25 by 2025’ objective.’ “Already, we’ve seen significant prog-

ress being made through several projects and interventions. And given that Guyana is the lead on agriculture and food security in the region, we have been supporting a lot of member states in taking the initiative. In fact, we are now considered a donour country for CARICOM, especially in the issue of food security,” he added.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, said that by leveraging existing platforms, exploring funding opportunities and fostering private-public partnerships, Guyana can advance climate resilience initiatives.

Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud

US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot

A section of the gathering at the event

$45M Health Centre commissioned at Swan Village

After years of analysis for the enhancement of lives for residents of Swan Village along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, a new health centre to the tune of $45 million was recently commissioned.

The health centre is equipped with medical supplies and equipment and is staffed with adequate human resources to provide primary healthcare services to the residents.

Speaking at the event Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony explained that this was an initiative that began some years ago after it was realised that the community was growing in population.

thing that we wanted to do because we recognised that we had a relatively new community, and we had oth-

ing health centre.”

He also related that the residents deserve to benefit from the rapid transforma-

“We are very pleased that we can now officially open this health centre that we built. This was some-

er people living here. If you have to access healthcare, it is going to be difficult for you to go to the neighbour-

tion of the country.

“With where you are going and the population that you have, you deserve to

have your own health facility here. You would have seen steady progress over the last couple of years, so since the PPP Government has come back to office, one of the things that we have been doing is working to see how we can improve the lives of our community.”

“This community is now like a strip of progress. From the time you drive in here and look at this side, you can see all of the government buildings, which span across the community centre, a new school, and a new addition, which is this health facility. That shows that there is proper planning and that we are working to improve the lives of people living in the community. In almost all villages across the country, we have

been working to improve health facilities because we recognised that this is really important.”

The establishment of a health centre within the Swan community is of great importance, as it falls under the primary healthcare system. One of its main objectives is prevention—not only treating illnesses but preventing them. The centre will provide services aimed at preventing illness, with a key focus on maternal and child healthcare.

Expectant mothers will have access to comprehensive care throughout their pregnancies, ensuring they reach the end of their term in good health. After the baby is born, the centre's primary goal will be to ensure the child receives all

age-appropriate vaccinations.

In line with the primary healthcare goal of prevention, the centre will offer vaccination services, maternal and child health programmes, and contraceptive services, including family planning.

These essential healthcare services will be accessible directly within the community. Residents will also receive a schedule outlining the clinic's operation and the range of services provided.

Through these preventive measures, the health centre aims to support the overall well-being of the community by ensuring healthcare is both accessible and proactive in maintaining health.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony

Residents at the commissioning ceremony

The newly-commissioned $45M Swan Health Centre

MoH reaffirms commitment to comprehensive strategy for suicide prevention

Despite the “significant” decline in the number of deaths caused by suicide in 2024, the Health Ministry has recommitted to a holistic approach to suicide prevention.

On Tuesday, during the observance of World Suicide Prevention Day, the Ministry disclosed that its approach will “encapsulates a whole–of–government and whole–of–society approach to promoting mental well-being and providing support”

While specific plans were

not disclosed on how the Government aims to achieve this, it was noted that the initiative is being spear-

headed with an image of unity, aimed at building a healthier and more resilient Guyana.

Guyana harvests 495kg of prawns at Onverwagt production facility

The first batch of inland prawns at Onverwagt Shrimp and Prawns production facility along the West Coast of Berbice (WCB) was harvested on Monday.

The project has the potential of bringing in over US$2 million annually. According to information received, some 495 kilograms of prawns which is about 70 per cent of the 89,000 being reared were harvested from one pond.

The remaining 30 per cent will be harvested within a month.

Project Engineer of the Agriculture Ministry’s Onverwagt Prawns Project, Raymond Latchman explained that Monday’s harvest was just a trial, and production is expected to increase for the next harvest.

“In our second pond, we have increased the stocking number to 380,000. So, that will see a larger harvest in about two months. We are a month into production for that. The first harvest will be three months and the final harvest will be four months. It takes about three to four months to grow because some grow faster than others,” he explained.

In addition, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha stated that the price on the world market is US$15,000 per ton which will give an estimated US$750,000 for one crop of prawns. Currently, they are catering to the in-

ternational market.

The farm has ten production ponds, three water storage ponds, and four nursery ponds and is expected to produce approximately 360 tons of shrimp annually at full capacity.

Latchman says they are pleased with the outcome of the trial run. “We are satisfied with the size. It took us a bit longer because this first batch is an experimental activity for us. Now we understand the constraints we are working with and so on. In terms of size and production, we are satisfied with the production.”

The harvest was sold to an exporter and sent to a processing facility where it would be prepared for the export market. Latchman revealed that five pounds have already been lined with two of them already put into production.

“We are fixing the third one now. That will be stocked within two weeks and we are also preparing the others. We have nine ponds currently construct-

In an issued release, it stated, “Prevention is about understanding that suicide is preventable and breaking the stigma is achievable by encouraging openness, understanding and support”.

This year, World Suicide Prevention Day was observed under the theme "Changing the Narrative on Suicide" with the call to action "Start the Conversation".

Guyana joined the international community to commemorate this annual day of observances, urging the general public to reflect on the lives lost this year.

In 2024, the country recorded 40 cases of death by suicide during the period January to August. In 2023, the Health Ministry had recorded 100 deaths by suicide across the country.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2021 100,933 people died by suicide in the Regions of the Americas of which 79.4

per cent of suicide deaths in the Region occurred among males in 2019.

However, suicides in women showed a sharper increase than male suicides between 2000 and 2019.

Further, statistics indicated that middle-aged adults (40–69 years of age) make up the greatest proportion of 38.0 per cent of suicides in the Region, followed by older-aged adults.

Interventions

Recognising the need to address mental health challenges and reduce the stigma surrounding suicide, the Ministry of Health of Guyana in collaboration with the International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF), with the support of Global Affairs Canada (GAC), completed the Gatekeepers Training for Suicide Prevention Programme.

This initiative trained 800 community figures,

called Gatekeepers, across all 10 regions of Guyana, who possess basic essential skills and knowledge to intervene in suicidal situations, working in conjunction with the Regional Health Authorities, for referral to specialist mental health services as required.

Moreover, in April this year, the Government launched the National Mental Health Action Plan & Suicide Prevention Plan 2024 – 2030, which adopts a human rights approach to addressing mental health and suicide, thus improving the treatment of patients suffering from these conditions.

Additionally, under the Plan, the Ministry of Health and Agriculture is collaborating to develop safe storage of pesticides by vendors as well as end users, achieve the phasing out of the most hazardous pesticides, along with the introduction of lowrisk alternatives.

2 injured after inmate sets fire at Camp St Prison

ed. The tenth one is currently being constructed. We also have three water storage ponds which entail the storage of seawater and the treatment of return water because we don’t want to be dumping the wastewater directly into the sea so we recirculate that water and reuse it.”

By the end of the year, Latchnam stated, most of the ponds will be in production.

Meanwhile, Mustapha while expressing satisfaction says the project will be replicated in other regions.

“This will be a tremendous boost for us as a country. In Latin and Central America countries like Ecuador and Peru, they are having large revenue coming out of the aquaculture sector. That is why we talk about agriculture we don’t only mean rice and sugar, we want to be a leader in all of the areas,” Mustapha said while noting that his Ministry is also working with Barbados to start a similar prawn project. (G-4)

Two inmates of the Camp Street Prison are now nursing first and second-degree burns after another prisoner set fire to one of the cells at the facility on Monday.

Injured are 25-year-old Christopher Stanley who sustained second-degree burns on various parts of his body and 35-year-old Delon Blake who received first-degree burns to his upper right shoulder.

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) in a release on Tuesday stated that it received reports of a fire at

the correctional facility at about 14:10h which led to the deployment of several water tenders and some 18 firefighters.

Upon arriving at the scene, the fire was detected in a three-storey concrete and metal building. The fire, however, destroyed one mattress and a quantity of clothing.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the blaze was started by an inmate who lit a mattress using a lighter, which then ignited nearby combustible materials. Before the arriv-

al of the Fire Service at the scene, prison officers were able to put out the blaze by using three 4.5 kg dry chemical extinguishers.

Nevertheless, Stanley and Blake were injured during the inferno. Further investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

The GFS urges all institutions to review their fire safety protocols and ensure that fire prevention and suppression equipment is readily available and maintained.

The interior of the cell after the fire

The harvested prawns

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

Winston Jordan must tell Guyana which

projects he thinks are “waste”

TGuyana Energy Conference unveils new App for Industry updates, exclusive insights

TDr Leslie Ramsammy

his is an open challenge to Winston Jordan to tell Guyanese which present infrastructure projects fall into his category of “waste”. In his latest peeping out of the hole, he also waxed totally out of tune on taxes, revealing that tax subsidies in agriculture are a “waste”. He exposes his and the PNC’s obsession with taxes, wanting to use taxation to raise money anywhere and anyhow possible. It is not enough or acceptable for this gentleman to surface now and then and proclaim like a “genius” what we need to do. He must state categorically which project must go and which taxes we should reintroduce.

It is not that Jordan speaks without distinction; he speaks as the worst Minister of Finance ever in Guyana and Caricom. For one, he does have the distinction of being the Minister of Finance who foisted the most taxes in the history of a one-term Finance Minister on the people of any Caricom country. From his latest idiotic pronouncements, he spoke as if taxes are the solution to a country’s problem. Jordan must not be allowed to think Guyanese have forgotten – we remember who placed taxes on education, water, electricity, data and Internet services, medicines, land lease rates, drainage rates, etc. In part, Winston Jordan played a significant role in the PNC-led APNU/AFC losing government after just one term. Oh! when will they ever learn?

PNC rank-and-file members should demand a malfeasance charge against Jordan. Here is the difference between Jordan and PPP finance ministers – Jordan believes a government must find every opportunity to impose taxes on people; PPP’s finance ministers look for every opportunity to reduce or remove taxation from people.

The former Minister of Finance who was responsible for either introducing new taxes or raising taxes for 200 different kinds of taxes in Guyana peeped out of his hole last week, albeit very briefly, to inform Guyanese that the Government could increase the salaries of teachers and public servants by more than double it agreed to pay the teachers for 2024, 2025, and 2026. He said the money could have been taken from “waste” projects. I am interested. I would like him to tell me and the Guyanese people which project presently undertaken by the Government falls under the category of “waste”.

It is easy to say that the Government is wasteful in undertaking projects that are not needed at this time. It is also lazy and dishonest to say that the Government could cancel or defer the use of resources it has allocated for certain capital projects to fund wages and salaries without identifying the projects. This column, therefore, challenges Jordan to be brave, to show his conviction, by telling us plainly which project and how much money cancelling the project would provide to fund a percentage of teachers’ and public servants’ salaries and benefits for decades.

Project investments are one-time investments. Salary increases must be sustained forever. Maybe monies from one project could support a salary increase for a few months or even a year. But what happens afterwards? I know Jordan comes from a place where Mathematics is an onerous task, where voodoo Mathematics prevails unconstrained, but proper Mathematics rejects Jordan’s absurd notions.

It is insulting to the Guyanese people for someone of the stature of Jordan to be so flippant. But this is just noise from an empty vessel. He does not dare name a project because there is no project presently being implemented that is not of value to the nation and that is not in dire need if our country will begin to look like and function as a high middle-income country. Maybe, he wants the country to abandon the Demerara River Bridge and save US$160M or about G$30B. Maybe he wants us to halt the construction of the six regional hospitals in Lima, De Kinderen, Diamond, Enmore, Bath and Skeldon for US$180M or G$36B. Or is it the Wismar Bridge? Maybe he meant the various roads between Georgetown and the East Coast or Georgetown and the East Bank, or the Linden Highway or the Road to Lethem or the Schoonord Highway.

Could it be the Child and Mother Hospital in Ogle or the New Amsterdam Hospital? Maybe, it is the new stadium in Berbice or the new airport in Palmyra? Who knows! Jordan opened his mouth, but was afraid to tell us which project he would have preferred for the Government not to do.

Or maybe it is the newly proposed Berbice River Bridge? Just two weeks ago, their comrades in the AFC claimed the investment in a new Berbice River Bridge is not needed. At least, not needed, until a feasibility study has determined its need. This is even though a feasibility study when Bharrat Jagdeo was President had recommended a fixed-bridge and even their infrastructure spokesperson at the time, David Patterson, had suggested a fixed-bridge as the preferable option. If today any of us need a feasibility study to tell us that we need more than ever before a fixed-bridge model for the Berbice River, we are the ones who are looking to “waste” money. But Jordan, like his comrades in the PNC and the AFC, always gets desperate any time we talk about development in Region 6.

Why the obsessive hate for the people of Region 6? Why is the hate so intense that the leaders in the PNC and the AFC would abandon their own supporters in Region 6 as collateral damage by trying to suffocate development in Region 6? Why can they not see that development in Region 6 is also development for all of Guyana?

Is “More Taxes” Jordan too “chicken” to name the projects he wants to cancel and the taxes he would like to reintroduce or introduce again?

he Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo (GECSCE) recently launched the EnergyEcho mobile application. This cutting-edge platform provides industry updates and exclusive insights from its Energy Perspectives podcast.

EnergyEcho, designed by the GECSCE’s Exclusive Digital Partner, V75 Inc., delivers more than just the usual industry news; it offers fresh perspectives on international issues and Guyana’s development from multiple angles. Launched in 2023, and ramped up in 2024, the Energy Perspectives podcast has quickly become a go-to platform for industry leaders to discuss Guyana’s socio-economic opportunities, particularly within the oil and gas sector.

It also explores critical areas essential to ensuring Guyana’s reputation as a model for sustainability and diversification. The podcast has featured some of the most distinguished voices in the industry.

Guests in 2024 included Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali; former President of Colombia, Ivan Duque; and Guyana’s Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat.

This platform has also hosted top executives such as Alistair Routledge, Head of ExxonMobil Guyana; Anand

Gohil, Senior Manager of Commercial and External Relations, CNOOC; Martin Cheong, General Manager, SBM Offshore Guyana; and Sharlene Seegoolam, SLB’s Managing Director for Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean.

Industry experts such as Carlos Pascual, Senior Vice President for Global Energy and International Affairs at S&P Global Commodity Insights and Mark Oberstoetter, Head of Upstream Americas Research at Wood Mackenzie, have shared their invaluable insights.

Notably, EnergyEcho is part of a broader suite of digital tools created by V75 Inc. to enhance the experience of energy industry stakeholders. With its focus on delivering quality content and expert insights, EnergyEcho is positioned to become a must-have resource for those invested in Guyana’s energy future.

Anthony Whyte, chairman of the GECSCE, said, “The launch of EnergyEcho marks a significant milestone for the energy sector in Guyana and beyond. We are excited to offer this platform as a vital resource for professionals, stakeholders, and anyone interested in the future of energy, fostering greater connectivity and knowledge sharing across the sector.”

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kiana Wilburg also noted the importance of EnergyEcho, stating, “As Guyana races forward in its development, embracing technological advancements is not just an option—it’s a necessity. With EnergyEcho, we offer reliable insights and analysis, empowering industry leaders and stakeholders with the knowledge needed to navigate our dynamic landscape.

Overall, EnergyEcho embodies our commitment

to staying at the forefront of innovation, while continuing to position Guyana as a leader in the energy world.” Chairman of V75 Inc., Eldon Marks, said, “The EnergyEcho app is seamlessly integrated with the conference website, client portal, and main conference mobile app, forming a cohesive part of the Guyana Energy Conferencing Software Suite. This integration allows users to access published stories and podcasts from anywhere within the ecosystem.” For a conference of this calibre, Marks said the content delivered through the EnergyEcho app adds critical value for all stakeholders.

He concluded, “Our robust publishing platform ensures a convenient and effective delivery system for the latest news in Guyana’s Oil and Gas Sector.” Download the App in the iOS and Google Play Store.

ECD man dies after falling into pothole while riding e-bike

Fifty-eight-year-old

Dexter Jacobs of South Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) lost his life on Tuesday after he reportedly hit a pothole in the vicinity of the University of Guyana’s main access road.

Police stated that on the day in question at about 8:55h, Jacobs was speeding when the bike struck a pothole thus causing him to lose control and fall onto the roadway.

Jacobs sustained severe injuries and was picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. An investigation is underway.

With the regularisation of electric cycles (e-bikes) coming to fruition, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been engaging with e-bike users on road rules and safety.

Following the passage of several amendments to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Bill in the National Assembly in May last year, e-bike users are now required to follow the same rules as motorcyclists on the road and carry the relevant documents to use the roadways.

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has begun registering these e-bikes at the Licence Revenue Office, Lamaha Railway

Embankment, Camp and Lamaha Streets, and Integrated Regional Tax Offices (IRTOs) countrywide. The introduction of elec-

tric bikes into

roadways have been met with significant concern and backlash from members of local law enforcement.

From left: GECSCE Chairman Anthony Whyte, GECSCE CEO, Kiana Wilburg and V75 Inc CEO, Eldon Marks

Guyana’s

Aranaputa residents to determine projects for $160M budget allocation – Min Edghill

To satisfy the needs of residents from the Aranaputa area in Region 9 (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), the Public Works Ministry will be allowing residents to identify areas in which they would like enhancement and infrastructural projects to be executed.

This was revealed by Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill on Saturday who conducted a community outreach with residents to address some of the community issues.

During the engagement, several residents expressed their dissatisfaction about the construction and enhancement of thoroughfares within the community noting that the overseer of the project did not consider their recommendations.

“We attended several meetings but the villagers didn’t really have the opportunity to say where we want the roads, I don’t know if they took you to that mountain corner so, where there

is approximately 2 kilometres of the road was done and nobody lives there,” one resident stated.

Another resident related, “A lot of decisions are being made without the villagers’ input. They do have meetings but a lot of villages don’t go to the meetings because even though they go and talk about things. The council still goes ahead and does their own thing.”

As such the subject minister assured residents

that moving forward, their voices will be heard. He explained that the residents will work alongside the engineer to identify projects and areas where the $160 million budgeted for this year will be spent

“When the team comes back in to ensure that the contractor is working, I want the chairman or councillor and residents to sit with Mr. Walcott and Mr Raphael and determine where you want the $160 Million for this year to be

spent,” the minister added.

Moreover, the minister urged the engineers to engage with the contractors promptly, to ensure all of the projects are completed by January before the rainy season.

“Within one month of today’s date (Saturday) the contractor for 2024 must be engaged, so that would be sometime in early October and we could be able to get the work done and get out of here before the rains come back in January,” he

further explained.

Meanwhile, the subject Minister during this year’s National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference, which was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), disclosed that a total of $6.41 billion was invested for the construction and rehabilitation of roads in hinterland communities countrywide.

He underscored the government’s commitment towards improving connectivity and access in these

remote areas, highlighting the scope and magnitude of the planned developments. A key project involves the construction of a crucial road link between Karasabai in Region Nine and Monkey Mountain in Region Eight, aimed at enhancing the efficient delivery of goods and services throughout the region.

A team from the ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, was dispatched to conduct surveys and determine the project’s cost and requirements. In addition to the Karasabai to Monkey Mountain link, Minister Edghill announced that all internal roads in Mabaruma, Moruca, Port Kaituma, and Matthews Ridge in Region One will be upgraded to rigid pavement concrete.

The minister pointed out that the end goal is to bridge the gap between hinterland and coastland areas, to ensure equitable access to services and to improve living conditions for Amerindian communities.

5 Reg 1 communities benefit from GMCS EU-funded experiential exchange to Reg 9

Nine members from five communities in Region One (Barima-Waini) participated in an experiential exchange programme in Region Nine (Upper Demerara-Berbice), organised by the Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS), from September 1 to 10, 2024.

This initiative is funded by the European Union (EU) under the project titled “Developing the Capacity of the Barima-Mora Passage Communities in Natural Resources Governance”.

The participants included Toshao of Red Hill, Desmond James; Treasurer of Three Brothers, Monique Henry; Orin Sam and Yoland Sam of Imbotero; Smith Creek CDC Vice Chair, Jerry Bumbury; Smith Creek Councilor, Greg Thomas; Alexander Mendonca of Aruka; Zaheer Khan and Sylvia Williams of Morawhanna.

The project works with Warrau indigenous communities, who have had little formal exposure or training in natural resource management, monitoring, and tourism. Due to challenging literacy capacity among the communities, learning by

seeing and doing (experiential) is an important means to build capacity through engagement with various partner organisations and indigenous communities in Region 8 and 9.

The experiential ex-

change participants from these Barima-Waini and Barima Mora Passage Communities in Region 1, visited the Caiman House, Shulinab village, and Wichabai Ranch to experience firsthand and learn

about governance, leadership, natural resources management, and tourism from a Region 9 community context.

They also engaged with the South Rupununi Conservation Society and received hands-on training in wildlife conservation activities. These indigenous-to-indigenous community peer exchange of information and experiences provide valuable insights and learning opportunities that will benefit and strengthen Region 1 communities and their own practices. It is part of GMCS’ commitment to support culturally appropriate learning for Indigenous peoples.

During their overnight stay in Georgetown on the way to Lethem, on September 2, the participants also benefited from a workshop on village mangrove action planning and leadership led by Governance Consultant

Sara Bharrat and supported by Annette ArjoonMartins and Chelbie Gilkes of GMCS. During the EUfunded project, GMCS will continue to engage the BMP communities in building their natural resource management capacity, including establishing and strengthening the governance of Village Mangrove Action Committees (VMACs) while amplifying the voices of women and girls. This initiative complements Guyana’s national framework set-out in the National Mangrove Management Action Plan.

GMCS extends sincerest gratitude to the EU for funding this project initiative and its continued support in the important work of protecting and managing mangrove forests and other natural resources in Guyana. The latter is a significant part of the country’s response to mitigating the impacts of climate change.

GMCS Project Director Annette Arjoon-Martins (front row, right); GMCS EU Project Coordinator Chelbie Gilkes (second row, left) and Region 1 Indigenous leaders at a Village Mangrove Action Committee (VMAC) and Leadership Workshop

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill

A resident of Aranaputa

Members of Reg 10 construction sector benefit from safety training

In a bid to enhance safety and health measures within the construction industry, several construction firms and agencies from both private and public sectors in Linden participated in a crucial educational seminar on Tuesday.

This event, held at Watooka Guest House, marks the second seminar of its kind this year and was organised by the Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Department.

The inaugural seminar for 2024 took place at the Regency Hotel Suites, drawing 20 representatives from various organisations.

Attendees included subject minister Joseph Hamilton; Consultant of the OSH Department, Gweneth King; Head of the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency, Yolanda Grant; Regional Executive Officer (REO), Dwight John; and other regional officials.

In his keynote address, Hamilton emphasised the critical need for a cultural shift in safety practices, aligning with the government’s commitment to safeguarding workers’ rights and well-being. He stressed that as a develop-

ing nation, Guyana faces higher risks, making it imperative to prioritise safety to prevent fatalities.

“We must change our approach because, as a developing country, our risk levels are higher. Ignoring safety leads to more fatalities,” he asserted. He further underscored that ensuring every worker can return home safely is a fundamental goal, advocating for safety and health as a cultural priority rather than merely an obligation.

The minister also highlighted that each statistic in the OSH reports represents a real person—a family member lost, which

the Ministry views with grave concern. He called for immediate and effective changes to improve safe-

ty standards across all sectors.

OSH Department Consultant, Gweneth King echoed the Minister’s sentiments, pointing out that there have been 27 fatalities in the construction sector over the past four years, with figures fluctuating each year. This seminar was deemed crucial for fostering safe and healthy workplace practices and adhering to the OSH Act Chapter 99:06, emphasising preventative measures and over-reactive solutions.

“The construction industry, in particular, poses significant risks, which can be mitigated by employing health and safety officers,” King noted. She compared the construction sector’s fatality rate with that of the mining sector and urged companies to invest in education and preventive measures, emphasising that such efforts are both cost-effective and lifesaving.

This seminar represents a critical step toward improving safety practices in the construction industry, demonstrating a collaborative effort between the Ministry and industry stakeholders to promote a safer working environment.

UG continuing efforts to strengthen local workforce with 30 new courses – Vice Chancellor

In light of Guyana’s rapid economic growth, the country’s premier tertiary institution the University of Guyana (UG) over the years has been implementing initiatives aimed at upskilling Guyanese citizens to bridge the labour gap.

This was revealed by Vice Chancellor of the institution Dr. Paloma Mohamed Martin during a recent edition of the Energy Perspectives podcast.

Speaking about the economic transformation that Guyana and the importance of quality during this phase the chancellor revealed that UG has a major role to play towards ensuring Guyanese are adequately trained to benefit from this expansion.

She noted that several labour studies revealed that Guyana will need thousands of workers to supply the needs of several key sectors, however, she explained that the current output rate of trained Guyanese at several major institutions is currently below what is required.

“We are going to need in the country at various levels, between 25,000 to 50,000 people trained in the next five years. When you com-

pare that with what the output is now of the educational institutions in the country, not only universities, but GTI, the technical institutes, and so on we’re doing just under 40 per cent of what we are supposed to be doing right now” she stated.

On this point, the chancellor explained that the university over the past three years has taken several steps to address the issue of building a workforce for the future. One step the university has undertaken is to work with stakeholders from the primary level

towards ensuring learners are adequately skilled when they are ready to enter the university.

“So UG has been really focused on several things, one is identifying and helping to strengthen the pipeline, what we call going all the way back into primary. Because we can’t wait until people are ready to get into the university and then you realise, they need this kind of mathematics. We have to work with everyone along the pipeline and we have a fairly good integrated relationship with the Ministry of Education and all, most of the institutions in the country” Martin said.

Moreover, she revealed that the country’s premier tertiary institution, in order to keep up with the needs of the country has reworked and expanded its curriculum to develop programmes particularly in the field of oil and gas.

“The second thing is to somewhat refine the curricula that we already had to bring them in synergy with what is needed and then to create a new curriculum. And so in the last four or five years, we have added about 30 new programmes inside

the university and two institutes that are very specific to oil and gas. So, one of them is the Institute for Energy Diplomacy and the other one is the recent Institute for Marine and Riverine Economies and Ecologies” she stated.

Additionally, she noted that the university partnered with the Greater Guyana Initiative in 2018 to develop a programme which will accelerate STEM learners.

“We pioneered with the

Greater Guyana Initiative in 2018, actually. But then we couldn’t do the project until after COVID because it involved children. This project is called the RAISER Project.

It’s a regional STEM students accelerator where we’ve taken 10 students who have done well at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). They must have had a good score in math and science and we take 10 from each region” she stated.

Students who are selected to be a part of this project are subjected to a curriculum which is similar to that of CXC.

The goal of the project is to continue the student’s involvement in STEM activities as well as to accelerate them to get into college one year ahead of their peers. Notably since its inception, the programme has been well received by students with only one student dropping out of the programme to date.

Vice Chancellor Dr Paloma Mohamed Martin

OSH Department Consultant Gweneth King

A section of the gathering at the seminar

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton

MoE launches Mathematics intervention programme to improve pass rate

In light of the persistent decline in mathemat -

ics performance at all levels, the Education Ministry is taking a bold step with a targeted initiative aimed at transforming math outcomes across Guyana.

On Tuesday, the Ministry launched an intensive Mathematics Intervention Programme, designed to raise the national pass rate to between 45 per cent and 50 per cent at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level—a significant increase from the current 31 per cent.

Chief Education Officer (CEO) Saddam Hussain, who had previously criticised the lack of progress in math education, now expresses confidence in the revamped approach.

“We hope that these measures will help the students to ensure that they do well in CSEC. If students are present and they are taught, they will pass,” Hussain asserted, outlining the Ministry’s renewed commitment to success.

“There might be a math problem… in selective schools, we are looking at having additional classes”.

The centrepiece of this transformation is the deployment of a team of 50 math specialists—comprising retired teachers, degree holders, and uni -

versity lecturers—tasked with supporting teachers and ensuring adherence to the improved curriculum. These experts will monitor classrooms, providing both guidance and accountability to ensure that teaching methods effectively address students’ needs.

This intervention comes at a critical time.

While the pass rate for Additional Mathematics

Guyana’s

saw an increase to 53 per cent, core Mathematics results continue to fall short.

To reverse this trend, the Ministry is focusing on schools with historically low performance, particularly at the Form Four and Five levels in CSEC.

Students will now have access to a range of enhanced resources, including past exam papers, scientific calculators, and textbooks. The initiative also introduces national mock exams, diagnostic tests, and bi-weekly lessons aired on the Guyana Learning Channel.

Additionally, a math hotline, “736 MATH,” has been launched for students to seek help when facing challenges.

In an unprecedented move, the Ministry is holding both schools and teachers directly accountable for their students’ math re-

sults.

“Teach the students or we are coming,” Hussain warned. The Ministry plans to provide more coaching and support, particularly to schools that have consistently struggled, while also expanding teacher specialisation in subjects like math, starting from the primary level.

On the other hand, Education Minister, Priya Manickchand emphasised that the struggle with math is a global challenge, but Guyana cannot afford to wait for regional solutions. Sharing her personal experience with poor math instruction, she underscored the importance

of quality teaching.

“I hated mathematics because we had a teacher who didn’t teach it,” she recalled, driving home the point that effective teaching is critical to improving student outcomes. Parents are also being called upon to play an active role in supporting their children through this transition.

“You have to do that, and if parental supervision is absent, your child will suffer and be at a disadvantage,” Manickchand warned, highlighting the need for a partnership between home and school to ensure the success of this ambitious plan.

“I don’t believe children

can’t learn regardless of which school they are in or what grade they got at NGSA, so part of the problem is what we are teaching, how we are teaching, and who we are putting to teach”.

With the Ministry’s focus on accountability, support, and specialised instruction, this aggressive approach marks a turning point in tackling one of Guyana’s most pressing educational challenges. While the road to a 4550 per cent pass rate in math may be difficult, the Ministry is determined to ensure that the nation’s students are well-equipped for success.

(G-9)

BPO sector remains resilient – GO-Invest

…as Itel Call Centre to close doors after

4 years

In light of recent reports of Itel Call Centre’s plans to close operations in Guyana, the Government remains optimistic about the future of the country’s Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry, as the sector continues to attract new and substantial players.

Responding to news of the closure, Chief Investment Officer (CIO) and Head of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), Dr Peter Ramsaroop, has assured that the sector's overall health remains robust, so much so that the Government is even focusing on a shift from traditional call centre services to more sophisticated back-office processing operations.

This transition aligns with the Government's strategy to move towards higher-value services that demand more specialised skills.

“We’re ensuring that we move from call centres to

more back-office processing. We want our people to have higher-skilled jobs, not just answering the phones. These are more jobs that require higher levels of qualifications. Even with Itel pulling out, we know that the industry, with the back-office processing, is expanding. Just answering phones is ok, but we’re not just interested in that, we’re interested in our people having higher-skilled jobs. We’re looking at the higher-end operators and we’re getting them,” Dr Ramsaroop noted.

The revelations of Itel’s plans to shut up shop have caught Guyanese off guard given the country’s expanding BPO sector. Earlier this year, leading authority on global digital services, Nearshore Americas ranked Guyana in the top 10 BPO value destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean for 2024.

Guyana’s leading BPO

Chief Investment Officer (CIO) and Head of the Guyana Office for Investment, Dr Peter Ramsaroop

operator, Teleperformance also expanded its operations and is even currently on a hiring drive.

“This is not an issue. We have other operators who are very interested in Guyana, and we have new operators taking over the centres,” Dr

Ramsaroop noted.

“Teleperformance just expanded in Guyana. Why would they be expanding in Guyana if the industry wasn't ready for it? We’re looking at the higher-end operators and we’re getting them.”

New call centre operations also commenced earlier this year in Tuschen on the East Bank of Essequibo, while another operation in Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara is set to be opened shortly. According to Dr Ramsaroop, incoming call centre operators are continuously hiring, so he would even encourage the Itel employees to seek work at one of the other BPO operators.

“They are looking for another 50 people at the Tuschen operations right now, and Enmore is about to go operational. We have just opened the Tuschen centre. We have over 100 people working there, we’re about to open the Enmore centre which is also going to cater for over 100 people. We are moving rapidly into the market,” Dr Ramsaroop said.

He noted that while individual companies may come and go, the sector's overall trajectory remains positive

and forward-looking as the Government continues to be proactive in nurturing a diverse and skilled BPO workforce.

According to news reports, customer care centre operator, Itel, on Tuesday informed over 400 employees that the company would be closing down its Guyana operations in a phased manner. The move comes four years after the Jamaican call centre firm opened its doors in Guyana.

According to news reports, an internal message sent to employees noted that the company’s Guyana operations are no longer sustainable, with the company facing ongoing challenges despite the country’s continued economic growth. The company cited escalating expenses and difficulties in retaining qualified candidates and high-profile clients as the primary reasons for its closure.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand

Teachers at the launch

Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain

Around the World

UK halts all Iran flights as allies step up sanctions

The US, UK, France and Germany have imposed fresh sanctions on Iran for supplying Russia with ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine.

The measures include restrictions on national carrier Iran Air’s ability to fly to the UK and Europe, and travel bans and asset freezes on several Iranians accused of facilitating military support for Russia.

Visiting London, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russians had been trained by Iranian forces to use short-range ballistic missiles and that they could be deployed against Ukrainians within weeks.

Iran has repeatedly denied supplying such self-guided weapons to Russia.

At a joint news conference with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Tuesday, Blinken asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin was “increasingly relying on support” for Iran and North Korea to help “wage his war of aggression on Ukraine”

in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.

He said the US had recently shared intelligence with its partners showing that dozens of military personnel had been trained in Iran to use the Fath-360 ballistic missile system, which has a maximum range of 75 miles (120km).

Lammy said the move was “a significant and dangerous escalation”.

The missiles are likely to boost Russia’s arsenal, enabling it to hit Ukrainian cities close to Russia’s borders or areas it already controls at the same time as it deploys its longer-range missiles deeper into Ukrainian territory.

The UK Foreign Office said the US and UK sanctions targeted several key individuals heavily involved in the ballistic missile and drone supply chains.

They included Brig Gen Seyed Hamzeh Ghalandari, who it said was director general for international relations at Iran’s defence ministry and was linked to its

exports of defence products to its partners.

Sanctions have also been imposed on five Russian cargo ships for transporting the military supplies from Iran, despite what the UK said were repeated warnings not to do so.

Additionally, several organisations, including some allegedly involved in the production of Iran’s kamikaze-style Shahed drones - which Russia has used consistently in attacks on Ukrainian cities - have been sanctioned.

In a statement, the UK, France and Germany

Tyrese Gibson ordered jailed over failure to make child support payments

Ajudge in Georgia on Monday ordered actor and singer Tyrese Gibson jailed over failure to make child support payments.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kevin M. Farmer found the “Fast & Furious” franchise star in contempt for failing to pay more than $73,000 in child support, according to an order for incarceration reviewed by NBC News.

“The Court HEREBY ORDERS that the Respondent shall be taken into custody and incarcerated until such time as he purges himself of contempt by making a payment in the purge amount or until further order of this Court,” court records said.

Gibson, 45, owed $73,525.73 in child support, according to the order.

A lawyer who represents Gibson declined an NBC News request for comment. Representatives for Gibson’s career were not immediately reached Tuesday afternoon for comment.

It was unclear if and for how long Gibson was detained. He posted a story on his Instagram page that seemed to acknowledge he was arrested.

“Getting arrested wasn’t easy… As a matter of fact it was very traumatic...”

Gibson then asked why Judge Farmer and his exwife’s lawyer hate him so much.

Gibson’s ex-wife, Samantha Gibson, also known as Samantha Lee, filed for divorce in 2020. Court documents in the case indicate he is legally appealing having to pay $10,690 per month in child support, which is the same amount Gibson was paying in child support for another child from another relationship, according to court records.

Gibson did not appear on the database for inmates in the Fulton County Jail on Tuesday. Attempts to reach personnel with the jail were unsuccessful. Gibson and

his ex-wife have a daughter who was born in 2018, according to court records.

Samantha Gibson’s attorney, Adam Gleklen, said on Tuesday his client did not want her ex-husband ordered to jail, but he’s very rarely met the full child support payments since late 2022.

“Mr. Gibson has chosen not to abide by the court’s child support order and he was held in willful contempt now for the third time,” Gleklen said. “He only paid full child support three times in 20 months.”

Less than 10 minutes after the judge ordered Gibson jailed, his attorneys appealed the decision, Gleklen said. (NBC)

- known as the E3 - said Iran’s supply of missiles represented a “a direct threat to European security”.

But Iran called the Western statements “false and misleading”.

The Western sanctions come as Russia has continued to make gains in east-

ern Ukraine, with Moscow’s forces rapidly approaching the key settlement of Pokrovsk - an essential transport hub.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has made clear the UK government will continue to back Ukraine for as long as needed.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised the pace of weapons deliveries, and asked for authorisation to strike targets deep inside Russia with Western-supplied missilesa move the US has thus far resisted.

Blinken and Lammy also announced a joint trip to Ukraine this week, the first such trip in years as UK diplomats seek to frame the secretary of state’s visit as a reaffirmation of a close partnership between the two countries, often described as the “special relationship”.

Blinken said one of their goals ahead of the visit was to “hear directly from the Ukrainian leadership” about their “objectives and what we can do to support those needs”. (BBC)

Brazilian President flies into Amazon amid alarm over droughts and wildfires

– says Amazonia suffering its worst drought in more than 40 years

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has flown into the Amazon amid growing alarm over the droughts and wildfires sweeping the rainforest region and others parts of Brazil.

Speaking during a visit to a riverside community near the city of Tefé, the Brazilian president said Amazonia was suffering its worst drought in more than 40 years. He said he had come to discover “what is going on with these mighty rivers” that in some places now resemble deserts.

Lula voiced concern over the often criminally set fires that are consuming three of Brazil’s six biomes: the Amazon, the Cerrado and the Pantanal wetlands.

“It seems to me that things are getting worse, year after year after year,” Lula said as he visited drought-stricken communities in Amazonas state, where all 62 municipalities have declared a state of emergency. More than 340,000 people have reportedly been affected.

“In the Pantanal we’ve had the worst drought in the last 73 years … This is a problem that we have to fix because otherwise humanity is going to destroy our planet,” Lula added. “We cannot destroy that which we rely on for our life.”

The president’s visit came as huge swaths of South America’s largest country, and neighbours such as Bolivia and Peru, grappled with the consequences of extreme climate events that have caused temperatures to hit record highs and fires to rage.

Schools have been closed and flights diverted in Rio Branco, the capital of the Amazon state of Acre, after smoke enveloped the city and pollution levels soared. In the city of Porto Velho, the capital of Rondônia state, the Madeira River has fallen to its lowest level since the late 1960s.

The effects of the wildfires and drought have been felt as far away as Rio and São Paulo, where air quality has also plummeted in recent days. On Monday an expert from Brazil’s space institution, Inpe, said smoke from the fires had covered a 5m sq km area – about 60% of the country.

“We’ve reached a historic moment, the likes of which we’ve never reached before,” said Danicley de Aguiar, an Amazon campaigner for Greenpeace Brazil who is monitoring the situation.

“We’ve had severe droughts before in Brazil but not to this extent. I don’t think we’ve ever had a drought that

affects not only the north but also the midwest, the south and the south-east and a part of the north-east too.

“We are facing a gigantic drought … and a drought that has come combined with fire.”

Aguiar said at least five Indigenous territories in the Amazon were burning this week.

The activist said one such territory, Sararé, near Brazil’s western border with Bolivia, had seen 59% of its total area burned. Fires were also raging in the Kayapó Indigenous territory to its northeast.

“And after the drought comes hunger,” warned Aguiar, who feared the crisis could jeopardise crops Indigenous communities depended on to survive.

Brazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has partly attributed the situation, which is expected to worsen in the coming weeks, to the effects of global heating and the El Niño climate pattern.

(The Guardian)

Tyrese Gibson attends the world premiere of the film Fast X at the Colosseum, in Rome, on May 12, 2023 (Massimo Insabato / Sipa USA via AP file)

President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula visiting a rural community affected by drought in the state of Amazonas, Brazil on Tuesday (Photograph: Ricardo Stuckert/Brazilian presidency HANDOUT/EPA)

DAILY HOROSCOPES

(March 21-April 19)

Take charge and use your energetic attitude to impress and persuade others to participate in your plans. Stick to the facts and tell the truth if you want to maintain a stellar reputation.

Changes to how you do business or handle your affairs will pay off. A change at work or home that raises your income or lowers your overhead will ease stress and encourage you to pursue what makes you happy.

SUDOKU

(May 21-June 20) (April 20-May 20)

(June 21-July 22)

(July 23-Aug. 22)

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

(Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

(Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Keep your records updated. Don't lose sight of what's on your agenda and how much it costs. Focus on health, well-being and doing the best job possible. Take the initiative and protect your interests.

Set the bar high and use your intellect, experience and intuition to guide you. What you put into your pursuits, you will get back, so don't be stingy with your time or talents.

Get out, participate, network and gather information to help you get ahead. Connect with people who have as much to contribute as you, and you'll be privy to unique ideas that will encourage you to reset your goals.

Someone will take advantage of you if you let them. It's OK to change your mind or to say no to someone pressuring you. Don't wait until you are exasperated; if you aren't interested in someone or something, say no.

A change will lift your spirits and energy levels. It's time to start something new and to indulge in activities that get you feeling good about how you look and what you have to offer.

Avoid deals or proposals that sound too easy. A reasonable assessment of what's possible will help you change direction and improve your life. Stick to what you know you can achieve with the skills you have.

(Nov. 23-Dec. 21)

Focus on how you look and feel and what you can do, instead of fixating on the impossible. Opportunity depends on you, so don't look for freebies when input, intelligence and ingenuity are necessary.

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Pay attention to where every dollar goes. Stay on top of your game and control the outcome of tricky situations. Be honest in affairs of the heart. Speak your truth in a tactful manner.

(Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

Socializing and showing interest in what others do will lead to profits. Consider safe investments and avoid emotional spending or involvement in unsound joint ventures.

Let your intuition lead the way and allow your conscience to be your barometer. Consider ways to make your home user-friendly without going into debt. Focus on your comfort and convenience.

September 27 declared National Holiday in honour of Olympic champion Alfred

In a historic moment for Saint Lucia, September 27 will officially be declared "Julien Alfred Day", a national holiday in honour of Julien Alfred, who became the first athlete from the island to win an Olympic gold medal. Alfred made history by claiming gold in the 100 metres with a lifetime best and national record of 10.72 seconds, and also secured a silver medal in the 200 metres at the Paris Olympic Games. No St Lucian athlete had ever won an Olympic medal before her extraordinary achievement.

Prime Minister Philip J Pierre made the announcement during a pre-Cabinet press briefing on Monday, unveiling the grand celebrations

planned for Alfred's return to the island. Alfred, who has become a national hero,

will return to Saint Lucia on September 24 for the first time since her Olympic tri-

umph. A series of events has been organised to mark the occasion, including a motorcade, school rallies, and a mural unveiling, culminating in a national holiday on September 27.

The celebrations will begin on September 24 when Alfred returns to Saint Lucia, where she will be greeted with a motorcade along the East Coast. On September 25, national school rallies will be held at Soufriere Mini Stadium and La Resource Playing Field to celebrate her achievements. The following day, September 26, Alfred will visit the Ciceron Primary School for the unveiling of a mural in her honour, followed by what officials have described as "massive

announcements".

"Julien Alfred Day" will be celebrated with a free concert at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground on the evening of the holiday, with Saint Lucians being encouraged to come out in large numbers to honour their national icon.

In response to the Prime Minister's announcement, citizens expressed their gratitude and pride, while also calling for further recognition of Alfred's accomplishments. Some suggested that Alfred should be awarded a diplomatic passport and the keys to the city of Castries.

Others proposed the establishment of a Julien Alfred Fund for elite athletes and a legacy project aimed at developing sports in Saint Lucia to

a world-class level.

Alfred’s achievements have not only brought immense pride to Saint Lucia, but have also placed the island on the global athletics map. Her gold and silver medals at the Paris Olympics have inspired a new generation of athletes in Saint Lucia, and the celebrations are expected to be a momentous occasion of national unity and pride. With the announcement of "Julien Alfred Day", Saint Lucians are set to celebrate not only Alfred's success but also the potential of their small island to produce world-class athletes who can compete and succeed on the biggest stages in sport.

(Sportsmax)

WTC scenarios: England's chances take a hit; Sri Lanka, Bangladesh still in contention

Sri Lanka

Percent: 42.86, se-

ries remaining: New Zealand (two home Tests), South Africa (two away), Australia (two home)

The Oval win keeps Sri Lanka in contention for a top-two finish. If they win all six remaining matches, they'll finish with 69.23, which will almost certainly take them to the final. Five out of six wins will take them to 61.54, which will still keep them in contention. Four of their six remaining Tests are at home, against New Zealand and Australia.

England

Percent: 42.19, series remaining: Pakistan (three away Tests), NZ (three away) England's unexpected defeat at The Oval against Sri Lanka means they can no longer breach the 60% mark in this cycle. The maximum they can achieve now, with wins in their six remaining Tests, is 57.95. That could still be enough if other results go their way.

For instance, if India run away from the rest of the pack, then England can finish second if Australia get no more than 42 points out of the 84 on offer from their seven remaining Tests, and if other teams stay below 57.95 as well. If Australia finish on top then England need India to take no more than 58 points and stay below 57.95. However, if England drop more points - five wins and a draw will reduce their percentage to 54.92 - they will need even more help from other teams.

India

Percent: 68.52, series remaining: Bangladesh (two home Tests), NZ (three home), Australia (five away) India remain on top of the table with a healthy percentage of 68.52, but they still have 10 matches to go, the most for any team. To keep their percentage above 60they qualified for the 2023 final with 58.8 - they need 63 more points, which they can achieve with five wins and a draw. Six wins will lift the percentage to 64.03, but to match their current score they will need seven wins, which will lift their overall

percentage to 69.3.

Australia

Percent: 62.50, series remaining: India (five home Tests), SL (two away) Currently in second place, Australia need 47 more points from their remaining seven Tests to finish on the right side of 60%. They can achieve that with either four wins, or three wins and three draws. To a large extent, their final standing will depend on how many points they rack up in the five-Test home series against India.

Bangladesh

Percent: 45.83, series re-

maining: India (two away Tests), West Indies (two away), South Africa (two home)

Bangladesh's terrific 2-0 series win in Pakistan has pushed their percentage up to 45.83 and fourth position in the points table. If they win each of their six remaining Tests, they will go up to 72.92, while four wins out of six will keep them at 56.25.

Pakistan

Percent: 19.05, series remaining: England (three home Tests), SA (two away), WI (two home) Pakistan not only lost 2-0 to Bangladesh, but they also dropped six points due to slow over-rates. Their percentage dropped from 36.66 at the start of the series to

19.05. From here, the maximum they can achieve is 59.52, if they win each of their seven remaining Tests.

New Zealand

Percent: 50.00, series remaining: SL (two away Tests), India (three away), England (three home)

New Zealand have played only six out of their 14 Tests in this cycle. Five of their eight remaining Tests will be in Asia. Out of the 96 points available, they need at least 65 to finish on 60%. That means five wins and a couple of draws (or six wins), but it's a tough ask given three of those Tests will be in India.

South Africa

Percent: 38.89, series remaining: SL (two home

Tests), Pakistan (two home), Bangladesh (two away) If South Africa win each of their next six Tests, they will finish on 69.44, which will almost certainly take them to the final. They have home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan later this year, apart from what could be a tricky two-Test series in Bangladesh.

West Indies

Percent: 18.52, series remaining: Bangladesh (two home Tests), Pakistan (two away)

West Indies have already played four series and have only scored 20 points out of 108. Even if they win their last four Tests, they can only finish on 43.59%.

Julien Alfred captured gold and silver at the Paris Olympics, St Lucia’s first medals

A look at the World Test Championship standings

Sri Lank have given themselves a chance with an 8-wicket victory over England on Monday

GFF adopts child safeguarding policy in line with FIFA regulations

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has formally adopted a child safeguarding policy, in full compliance with FIFA regulations, aimed at ensuring the protection of children involved in football across the country.

Central to the policy is a requirement for all individuals engaged in football-related activities that involve minors to undergo mandatory safeguarding training. Participants must also sign a formal declaration agreeing to adhere to the policy's strict guidelines on appropriate conduct with children. The policy applies to coaches, staff, volunteers, referees, and administrators at both the national and club levels.

The governance framework of the child safeguarding policy includes the appointment

of a dedicated Safeguarding Officer, responsible for overseeing its implementation and managing any reported incidents. An internalSafeguarding Steering Group, made up of representatives from various GFF departments, will monitor the policy’s effectiveness and recommend improvements where necessary. The GFF has also established partnerships with local child protection agencies and civil society organisations to ensure access to

expert advice and support.

GFF President Wayne Forde emphasised the importance of the policy: stating, “The protection of children is of utmost importance to the GFF. Children are among our most vulnerable stakeholders, and we have a responsibility to ensure their safety, whether they are involved in football at the grassroots, club, or national level. This policy reflects our commitment to creating a safe space for young players to develop, learn, and enjoy the sport without fear of harm.”

The policy also mandates

Manager Rossum confident about Back Circle securing another championship

With their current dominance in futsal, Back Circle are looking to go threefor-three in titles as they compete in the 5-A-Side Football Competition, which commenced on September 7, 2024 at the Campbellville Tarmac, Georgetown.

In August, Back Circle secured the Keep Your 5 Alive Championship and the Bend it Like Beckham Championship as they proved to be a team filled with immense passion, being led by the likes of Simeon Moore and Beveney Marks’ attacking force.

Speaking exclusively to Guyana Times Sport , Manager of Back Circle, Anthony Rossum divulged on the impactful areas that continue to reap the team

success towards titles.

“The normal thing, we come out as champions, winning back-to-back tournaments you know that boost our confidence, and our team is well compact as it relates to training and so on. We doing a lot of training, we do a lot of teamwork, so for sure that is another championship. As I say again, teamwork and a lot of training that is going to continue to give us success,” Rossum said. He went on to expound on the confidence that the back-to-back titles give the team and the impact of Simeon Moore on the attacking front.

“Sure, for sure definitely we won both Keep Your 5 Alive and the Bend it Like Beckham and that give us a lot of boosts and that

helped to develop more as it turns to a cohesive unit, so be stronger together and we confident. Well, you know, Simeon Moore is the man that always shines, he is the man that does keep the ball at any time, so once Simeon is there for sure we have goals from him and also in the format of football he likes, so … looking forward for a very impactful game from him,” Rossum said.

The ongoing 5-A-Side Football Competition will see the participation of 24 teams vying for supremacy, including Albouystown, Lodge All Stars, Kitty Hustlers, Stabroek Ballers, Gold is Money, Sophia, Sparta Boss, Back Circle A and B, Family, Bent Street B, Street Vybz, Ballerz Empire, and Laing Avenue.

regular evaluations, community involvement, and continuous training for GFF staff and volunteers. In addition, the GFF will work closely with local authorities to address any safeguarding concerns, ensuring that cas-

es are handled promptly and in accordance with national child protection laws.

The implementation of this policy marks a significant step forward in safeguarding children within Guyana’s football ecosystem.

Through these measures, the GFF aims to foster a culture of safety and protection, ensuring that young players can participate in football in a secure environment free from abuse, exploitation, or harassment.

Malvern All-Stars cart off OSCL B Division T20 trophy

their trophies after

Malvern All-Stars carted off the 2024 Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL) T20 B Division trophy last Saturday against Ramblers at Littles ground, Scarborough.

Malvern All-Stars batted first after winning the toss and reached a competitive 148-7 from their allotment of 20 overs while Ramblers were dismissed for 106 in the 17th overs, losing by 42 runs.

Experienced campaigner Vic Mangal led the way for Malvern All-Stars with a steady 31 which included three sixes while contributions of 19 and 18 came from Preim Singh and Joe Menoram respectively. Opener and Captain Amit Balram also contributed 15, having participated in a solid 43-run opening stand with Sohan Somwaru (10).

Rofel Budhoo grabbed 2-28 from his maximum four overs to be the best bowler for Ramblers.

When Ramblers batted, they struggled for momentum throughout their chase, having lost their key batsman Vishal Balram cheaply (03). Budhoo returned with the bat to prove his all-round capability hitting a combative 28. He struck two sixes and similar number of fours.

Singh, a former Canada

game

Under-19 player, churned out an outstanding, bowling performance by claiming 3-28 from 3.5 frugal overs. Darshanand Parasram was also tidy by accounting for two victims having conceded 5 runs from his allotted four overs. Keshan Banasar also bagged two wickets for 25 runs from his four consecutive overs to help bowl out the opposition.

Singh was voted the Player of the Match and he received a trophy. The winning and runners-up teams also collected a trophy each while Budhoo was adjudged the Most Valuable Player for Ramblers. He also took home a trophy for his effort.

Meanwhile, at the presentation function, President of the OSCL, Shiv Persaud congratulated Malvern All-Stars for being the champion side. He thanked all four teams for their participation in this year’s edition and looked forward for their continued support in 2025. Malvern All-Stars were crowned champions after last year’s winners Leguan Warriors featured in the A Division.

The tournament was played in honour of former President of the OSCL, Kenny Girdharry. (Ravendra Mandholall, Toronto)

16-member...

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I expect our team to be very competitive and hopefully pull off a few upsets. Our goal is to finish at the top despite the odds.”

In their first game on Saturday, September 21, the squad plays against Peru, a team that are rapidly growing. On Sunday, September 22, Guyana will play its second game against Mexico, the pre-tournament favourites. Following a day off

on the 23rd, Guyana plays Paraguay on Wednesday, the 25th, and Brazil on Tuesday, the 24th. On Friday the 27th, Guyana's last pool encounter will take place against the hosts, Bermuda. Teams are seeded and play in placement matches for fifth and sixth place, the bronze medal match, and the final on Saturday, September 28, following the completion of the pool stage.

The winning Back Circle team in the Keep Your 5 Alive Tournament along with Manager Anthony Rossum (far right)

The victorious Malvern All-Stars with

the

“Disappointed” Golden Jaguars must win next game – Jones

Disappointed was the first word out of Golden Jaguars forward Isaiah Jones’ mouth during an interview following the senior men’s national football team’s 2-2 draw against a 10-man Martinique at the PierreAliker Municipal Stadium, Fort-de-France, Martinique on Monday afternoon.

The Golden Jaguars were enjoying a 2-0 lead against the hosts in the CONCACAF Nations League (CPL) League A clash compliments of a brace from Jones (14th, 24th), with a red- carded Martinique player being an added advantage. However, it all went to dust for the Golden Jaguars as the hosts came back to level the scores (Brighton Labeau 45th+2, Rudy Varane 86th) to force the sharing of points.

Quizzed about his emotions following the end of the 90 minutes, Jones responded, “Disappointed re -

ally, two nil up, against 10 men, it’s our mistakes that let them back into the

J’s Racing Stables will be force to reckon with at President’s Cup

…as Guyana’s horse racing attracts new owners

Legislation is on the cusp of arriving in Guyana’s horse racing, and the sport is growing.

Certainly, the prize money has grown significantly, with the 2023 Guyana Cup having a total purse of G$24 million and this year’s Guyana Cup saw G$40 million being paid out, a G$16 million increase.

While the incentives are higher, new horses and new owners are now in Guyana’s horse racing. The most significant new entry into Guyana’s horse racing of recent is J’s Racing Stables.

The owners who hail from New Amsterdam made headlines when they purchased Spankhurst, Guyana’s horse of the year in 2023.

J’s Racing stables also had a solid entry into Guyana Cup, with their newly-imported Nova Sol claiming second in the feature event at Rising Sun Turf Club. The President’s Cup will be an event where others will have their eyes on J’s Racing Stables, who will be a force to reckon with on September 22.

In addition to Spankhurst and Nova Sol, J’s Racing Stables made another bold move, to import two top horses from Brazil –Mapa Do Brasil and Companheiro Lea. The established stables in Jumbo Jet and Jagdeo Racing Stables along with the underdog racing stables,

Simply Royal Racing Stables and Guyana Cup champion Slingerz Racing Stables have made the upcoming President’s Cup a level playing field.

John Bull will be out to defend his President’s Cup title while Guyana Cup champion Olympic Kremlin will be searching to extend his dominance in Guyana.

Nine races are on the provisional programme, and entries open today, (September 11) and close on September 17. Approximately G$15 million will be divided among

nine races at the President’s Cup.

The feature race of the President’s Cup will have a total purse of close to G$6,000,000 (six million) dollars and the race will be run at approximately eight furlongs.

That race will be open to all horses three years old and over.

Entry forms for the President’s Cup will be at the Port Mourant Racecourse, the Rising Sun Turf Club, the Bush Lot United Turf Club & 106 Smyth Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown.

game, mistake for the first goal and mistakes for the second goal.”

The come-from-behind draw without a doubt overshadowed Jones’ celebration of his first-ever international goal for the senior national team in just his second game. As such, the player muted his jubilation about the achievement, in the face of the disappointment.

“Happy to score two goals, but not the result that we wanted. So, it’s a moment that I’ll treasure for a long time, but not the result I wanted,” the forward shared.

With the Golden Jaguars scheduled to continue their League A campaign next month, Jones has deemed their upcoming clash with Guatemala, likely to be played at the National Track and Field

Center (NTFC), West Coast Demerara (WCD) on October 11 as a must-win game.

Jones opined, “A must win. It’s a must-win game, so we got to go back over the two games, see what we’ve done wrong and what we did right and hopefully, correct it in the next game.”

Guyana are in Group A of League A, alongside neighbours Suriname, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Martinique and Costa Rica.

After two games played by each team, Costa Rica currently top Group A’s points table with 4 points from a win over Guadeloupe and a draw against Guatemala. Guatemala are second, also with 4 points but an inferior goal difference to the top-ranked team in the group, following a victory over Martinique and a draw against Costa Rica.

In third place are Suriname, who defeated Guyana but lost to Guadeloupe on Monday, for 3 points from two games. Guadeloupe follow in fourth place, also with 3 points from a defeat to Costa Rica and subsequent win over Suriname. Both Guyana and Martinique have 1 point and an equal goal difference, having suffered matching 3-1 losses to Suriname and Guatemala, followed by their 2-2 draw. The teams are fighting for spots in the CNL quarter-finals, which will be afforded to the top two teams in Group A and B, while equally trying to avoid being the fifth and sixth places in the groups, which are likely to be relegated. The League A action will continue in the next international window in October.

(G6)

16-member women’s hockey team named for PAHF Challenge

The Guyana women's hockey team are set to compete in the 2024 Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) Challenge in Hamilton, Bermuda, a missive from the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) indicated on Monday. This tournament will serve as Guyana's only route to the World Cup and serves as a qualifier for the 2025 PAHF Cup in Uruguay.

The full Guyana team reads: Goalkeeper – Alysa Xavier; defenders – Kezia Chinian, Kirsten Gomes, Makeda Harding, Tekeisha Deleon, Trisha Woodroffe; midfielders – Clayza Bobb, Gabriella Xavier, Madison Fernandes, Sarah Klautky;

strikers – Abosaide Cadogan, Carolyn Deane, Chantelle Fernandes, Makayla Poole, Princessa Wilkie, and Samantha Fernandes.

As the Challenge's lowest-ranked participant, Guyana will have to overcome overwhelming odds to take first place. Mexico are the highest-ranked team among the six teams in competition, with a global ranking of #37. Peru are rated #41, Brazil are ranked #54, Jamaica are ranked #67, Bermuda are ranked #68, and Guyana are ranked #70.

When Guyana last participated in the PAHF Challenge in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2011, they came in second to Uruguay.

Goalkeeper Alysa Xavier, Gabriella Xavier, Trisha Woodroffe, Samantha Fernandes, and Chantelle Fernandes are the only five members of the former squad still competing.

According to National Coach Philip Fernandes, the team are a good mix of youth and experience.

Fernandes said, “We lost a few mainstay players from our last national team like sweeper Ulrica Sutherland and midfielder Marzana Fiedtkou, but the young players are highly skilled and are now more mature than they were in our last outing.

Isaiah Jones has labelled the Golden Jaguars’ next League A games as “must-win”

Jermaine Sripal, Guyana’s new horse owner, is making great strides; his horse finished second at the 2024 Guyana Cup

Back row: Coach Philip Fernandes, Princessa Wilkie, Sarah Klautky, Abosaide Cadogan, Tekeisha Deleon, Carolyn Deane, Trisha Woodroffe, Makeda Harding, and Kirsten Gomes. Front Row: Kezia Chinian, Makaylah Poole, goalkeeper Alysa Xavier, Gabriella Xavier, and Clayza Bobb