Guyana Times - Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Jagdeo

reiterates

President Ali urges reformation at UNSC to increase representation

against

High Court frees mother of 3 accused of killing husband

G/town man remanded for stabbing 9-year-old boy

Man, 56, reportedly falls to death in Bartica home Investigation launched into death of worker at Cane Grove construction site Stakeholders push for Guyana to become friendly LGBTQ+ tourism destination

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, September 25 –22:45h-00:15h. No retraction on Thursday, September 26.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, September 25 –10:40h-12:10h and Thursday, September 26 – 12:15h-13:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Govt commits to fixing weaknesses in public financial system – Accountant General

– says recommendations in Auditor General's Report will be taken seriously

Accountant General

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

to

Jennifer Chapman has assured that the Government remains committed to fixing the weaknesses often highlighted by the Audit Office of Guyana when it comes to the public financial system.

During the handover of the Auditor General’s 2023 report on Monday at the public buildings, the Accountant General highlighted the importance of the occasion. According to Chapman, the government will not shy away from implementing any recommendations made in the report, when it comes to public finance.

Chapman noted that any weaknesses identified by the Auditor General give them a chance to improve accountability and transparency. The Accountant General noted that they have a responsibility, once public funds are being spent, to ensure they are spent in an accountable and transparent manner.

“This occasion ensures that we continue to strengthen accountability across the government agencies. The Auditor General’s report highlights to us our weaknesses within our accounting system.”

“However, those weaknesses we use to ensure that we improve accountability and transparency across government. Public funds being spent, one of the pivotal characteristics of spending public funds is accountability and transparency,” the Accountant General stated.

According to Chapman, the Finance Ministry and related agencies, are committed to strengthening their internal systems. She also thanked the Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, for his work.

“We continue to ensure the Ministry of Finance, the Audit Office and all the other accounting offices, to ensure that we continue to strengthen the accounting system. And AG, I would like to thank you for bringing out our weaknesses and highlighting all those breaches, so that we can continue to improve, to ensure that public funds are spent in accordance with the purpose it was intended for,” she further said.

Following the consid-

eration of the Auditor General’s report and the Public Accounts Committee's (PAC’s) own report, the Government will have to submit a Treasury Memorandum. This includes a commitment, in writing, to either adopt or reject the AG’s many findings and recommendations.

At the handover of the 2023 report, Auditor General Deodat Sharma had been largely mum on what the public could expect from the report since it only becomes a public document when laid in parliament. However, he did

share a crucial observation.

For years, the Audit Office has flagged overpayments being made by Ministries and regional offices, to employees and contractors alike. According to Sharma, however, the report documents improvements in this regard, with all prior year overpayments being recovered.

In the previous Auditor General report, which covered the 2022 fiscal year, it had been reported that the Government was able to recover over $50 million in overpayments, without dispute – a first in Guyana’s

history.

According to the 2022 report, a total of 466 contracts undertaken by Ministries and the regions were examined for that year. The Auditor General had found that as much as $52.8 million in payments were made on measured works for 33 of these contracts.

“Sums totalling $14.146 million were in relation to Ministries of which the entire amount was recovered at the time of reporting, whilst sums totaling $38.681 million was in relation to Regions One, Two, Five, Six, Eight and 10 of which $17.121 million remained outstanding in respect of projects for Regions One and 10,” the report had stated.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has been expressing its plans to review the entire public procurement system, saying that it will not be defensive about fraud or corruption scandals.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has been very vocal in warning persons, especially state employees, that they would face the consequences if they got caught in any corruption.

Accountant General Jennifer Chapman

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Enforcing procurement standards & greater accountability

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent statements during a high-level meeting at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on September 24, 2024, are both timely and necessary. The stern warning issued to the heads and accounting officers of public agencies signals the Government’s commitment to rooting out corruption and irregularities in the procurement process.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has made commendable strides in managing Guyana’s unprecedented Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP), with 95 per cent of public projects successfully executed according to procurement standards. However, as Jagdeo rightly pointed out, it is the five per cent of contracts that fall short of these standards that attract the most scrutiny from the parliamentary Opposition. While it is essential to recognise the positive achievements, the issues raised concerning procurement practices cannot be downplayed.

Several procurement violations have emerged, from the misuse of the three-quote system and restrictive tendering to the inclusion of unnecessary items in contracts that inflate project costs. Jagdeo was clear that these practices undermine the integrity of public procurement. His call for strict adherence to the Procurement Act and Standard Bidding Documents sends a strong message – deviations will not be tolerated, and those responsible will be held accountable.

The Vice President also highlighted a troubling trend: some agencies delay project implementation, leading to a last-minute rush that is then used to justify sole sourcing of contracts. This not only circumvents the competitive bidding process, but also raises questions about transparency. His directive for early planning and stringent National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) oversight on sole sourcing is crucial to preventing such loopholes from being exploited.

Another alarming concern is the potential manipulation of procurement systems by those within the public sector. Jagdeo’s condemnation of instances where bribes are solicited for expedited payments is a stark reminder that corruption can creep into the system at various levels. This practice not only tarnishes the Government’s reputation, but also erodes public trust. Accounting officers and agency heads must remain vigilant in ensuring that corrupt practices are rooted out and exposed.

Further, the issue of conflicts of interest – where officials hold private companies that bid for contracts within the agencies they work – deserves urgent attention. Jagdeo’s statement that such officials must leave their Government positions if they wish to engage in contracting is a firm stance against corruption. These conflicts undermine public confidence in the procurement system and raise serious ethical concerns about the conduct of public officials.

Jagdeo’s emphasis on penalties for shoddy or late work, including the imposition of liquidated damages, is equally significant. Too often, poor contract management results in substandard work or delays, with little to no consequences for contractors. By holding agency heads accountable, the Government is taking a necessary step towards ensuring that public resources are utilised effectively and that those responsible for mismanagement face the appropriate penalties.

The Vice President’s call for better contract administration and heightened scrutiny of procurement processes is a clear indication that the Government is serious about enforcing the rules. However, it is important that these measures are not merely reactive but proactive. The systems put in place to monitor procurement must be robust enough to detect potential violations before they escalate. Regular audits, transparent reporting mechanisms, and a culture of accountability will be key to achieving this.

While Jagdeo's message was direct and unambiguous, the real test lies in the enforcement of these policies. The Government’s ability to follow through on these warnings will determine whether procurement practices in Guyana are truly reformed or remain vulnerable to exploitation.

As Guyana continues its rapid development, the integrity of its procurement systems must be beyond reproach. The nation cannot afford to let a small percentage of corrupt practices overshadow the considerable progress being made. It is time for all public officials to heed the Vice President’s warning and ensure that transparency, fairness, and accountability are the guiding principles in the execution of public projects.

It’s not about religion, but about noise nuisance

Dear Editor,

I am also a Christian, and I respect everyone’s right to religious freedom and worship. The complaint about loud music at a church in Moruca is not a religious issue, it is a noise nuisance issue.

I was born in Moruca, Region One, and attended nursery and primary schools in Mabaruma and Moruca. I grew up as a member of the Santa Rosa Roman Catholic Church, until I left to go and further my studies and work in regions Two and Four. I returned to Mabaruma in 2012 with my wife and son, intending to start a small business in a building owned by my father, situated in what I would consider the commercial district of Mabaruma.

My wife and I had always had the goal to own our own home, and in 2015, we had finally saved up some money to purchase a piece of land in Mabaruma Settlement, on which we started construction of our home. In February 2017, we were finally able to move out of the shop and into our semi-finished home. After acquiring the property, there had been no conflicts between me and my neighbours, and we had been able to enjoy the tranquility of our home for seven years.

However, in February 2024, I started to detect loud music coming from the home of my neighbour, whom I

know as Miss Santiago. This noise would occur four to five times a week. One night during these loud music sessions, my son was very ill, so I approached my neighbour and asked if she could kindly lower the volume of the amplifiers, as my son was very ill. She informed me they were having a birthday party.

This issue of loud music continued four to five times a week from 6:30pm to 10pm, and sometimes even to 11pm. I approached them twice thereafter and asked them to please have consideration for the neighbours, as the noise was affecting my wife's sleep, and that was affecting us psychologically and also affecting my son's studies.

My requests were completely ignored.

The fourth time when I approached them, I asked them to kindly lower the volume during the month of March, and I was met with hostility, so I chose not to approach them again. We have since been trying to endure the loud music, even to the point of leaving our home on many occasions and waiting in the car on the roadside till after 10pm on some nights.

For the first time in his life, my son's academic achievements have severely declined, and I blame this on these disturbances. This

claim can be verified by his school report card. And my wife and I are having our psychological health severely affected by the loss of sleep.

After watching my family suffering from the loud music for so long, it finally became overbearing and I went to the police to ask for assistance in the matter. The police later told me they visited and warned the music technician of the complaint, and asked them to lower the music system volume. That request has been completely ignored, and my family and I continue to be bombarded with loud music and heavy bass.

Several times thereafter, when the music and shouting got overbearing, I went and asked the police for help, and many times I have been ignored. I have also been confronted at my place of business by the music technician of the church, who told me he had information that it was me who called the police to report the noise nuisance, and he wanted to let me know that bigger music systems are coming in and there is nothing anybody can do about that, as he is protected by the Regional Chairman. He has since made good on his threat.

I was also approached while I by my gate, and had insults hurled at me by the father of this music techni-

cian and some other men who purport to be members of the church. I have never responded at any time to him or his father, but I have reported these matters to the police.

Getting no help from the police, I decided to write the EPA, in March 2024, for help on the noise nuisance issue. After waiting several weeks with no response from the EPA, I went to the police commander and pleaded with him to please look into the matter, which he promised to do. That attempt was also futile. I made contact with the commander several weeks after, and he told me he was out of the region; I also reminded him of his promise to look into the matter, and he again promised to do so.

On August 1, 2024, a police vehicle showed up at my home, and the officer informed me that the commander was requesting my presence at the Mabaruma Police Station at 1pm for a meeting with the pastor. The meeting was kept in the commander's office, and a sergeant was present. During the meeting, the commander informed us of the laws of the right to worship and the laws of noise nuisance, while I made myself clear that I have nothing against religious worship.

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo in discussion with the Ambassador of the European Union to Guyana, Rene Van Nes on Tuesday. Also at the meeting was Minister within the Prime Minister’s Office, Kwame McCoy and another official from the EU

Infrastructure work progressing on $15.8B Govt office complex – Ministry of Public Works

Infrastructure works are advancing on the $15.8 billion Government Office Complex which is near the new Eccles/Haags Bosch roundabout on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD).

All preliminary works for the 12-storey high rise complex were finalised back in May, and according to the Public Works Ministry, key milestones have been achieved since then.

These include the completion of land grubbing and stage one of geotechnical investigations, with stage two approximately 95 per cent complete.

Additionally, sand filling for 13 acres of tempo-

rary and permanent works is 99 per cent complete, and detailed designs are 25 per cent finished, with conceptual designs already approved.

Notably, the next phase involves manufacturing concrete piles, to be installed once all design parameters are confirmed.

As a result, the project is about 6 per cent complete, with a total of $2.6 billion already paid to the contractor, Caribbean Green Building Incorporated.

It was noted that all other payments that will be the contractor are based on measured deliverables.

Addressing public concerns made by Opposition Member of Parliament Annette Ferguson, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill emphasised “the current lack of visible activity on-site does not indicate a slowdown, rather much of the work is currently offsite, with steel be-

ing fabricated in factories before being assembled on the location”.

In a statement, he related “the assertion that public funds are being diverted to construct the Sheraton Four Points Hotel is not only absurd but also raises serious questions about the integrity of the opposition... Our primary objective is to deliver this vital project to the people of Guyana. We welcome constructive dialogue, but misinformation will not derail our commitment to progress”.

The Minister added that “the project has been transparently discussed and is a crucial initiative aimed at modernising government infrastructure and consolidating services for all Guyanese”.

The Government Office Complex which will accommodate 6,000 staff and alleviate parking issues currently faced in central Georgetown is scheduled

for an August 23, 2026 completion.

The complex features three entry points accessible from major roadways, including the Demerara Harbour Bridge, the Ogle East Bank bypass, and Heroes Highway.

In 2022, it was first announced that the complex would be built in Kingston Georgetown but by 2023, Edghill said the 12-storey high complexes will be constructed on lands at Houston, Greater Georgetown.

A total of $2.6 billion, approved in the 2022 budget, was paid to the contractor to be used as mobilisation advance for the office towers.

In 2023, another $4 billion was approved and another $1 billion was approved in 2024.

Notwithstanding, only $2.6 billion has been disbursed to the contractor to date.

It’s not about religion, but about noise...

He made some suggestions to the pastor on how the issue can be mitigated, such as using a smaller music system and possibly facing the speaker boxes in a different direction. He also suggested that I donate to the church to help with the construction, to which both I and the pastor agreed. We shook hands, and the commander also requested the sergeant do a follow up to ensure both parties are satisfied.

Shortly after the meeting, my family and I left for to spend a few weeks in Georgetown. Upon returning, we were disappointed to find that the pastor had not upheld his promise.

On September 11, 2024, I received a call from an EPA officer, informing me he was in Mabaruma to investigate a noise complaint I had made to the agency, which I confirmed having made. He informed me that when he was ready to visit the location, he would call me to accompany him. He then called me back and asked if I would be available after lunch to do the visit, and I told him yes. I never received another call from this officer.

On September 12, I called the EPA officer to inquire about the status of the matter, and he told me he had given the pastor some suggestions to mitigate the issue. He also informed me there was no sound testing equipment available in Mabaruma, so he could not do testing. I then asked him if I could purchase the equipment and have it calibrated by the necessary authorities. He told me I would have to contact his supervi-

sor, for which he provided a cell number and asked that I send video evidence to the same number.

The pastor is claiming that the EPA officer did testing at the church and my home in my presence, which is a complete lie. At no time was I ever in the presence of the EPA officer. The loud noise from the music remained unchanged throughout this time.

On Thursday, September 19, at 7:30pm, I made another report at the Mabaruma Police Station about the noise nuisance, and was told by the rank that nothing could be done because the sergeant was not in. The following day, I returned to the Mabaruma Police Station to report the noise, and was again told by the rank that nothing could be done, as the sergeant was not available. I then related to the rank that I would sit in the station until the sergeant returned, as the psychological torture from the noise was unbearable to me and my family.

While sitting on the station bench alone, I was approached by someone who identified himself as the new commander for the region, and he asked me what my problem was. I explained the situation and the duration of the ongoing issue, and also explained that I don’t have any issue with the church, just the loud music and shouting over the microphone. I was told to give the police a signed statement.

While giving the report, I saw three males coming into the station. One of them immediately started making derogatory remarks to me,

suggesting I was abused as a child and probably had bad parents growing up. I did not respond to any of those remarks.

I learnt the next day that the individual making the remarks to me was a pastor named Rockey Ramdeen. After giving my statement, I asked the police if I could leave, and they told me I could.

On September 20, 2024, I contacted the EPA via WhatsApp, told the officer the level of noise remained unchanged, and also provided him with video evidence. I received a WhatsApp message in reply saying recommendations were given to the pastor to mitigate the issue, and a letter to this effect would be sent to the pastor.

On Saturday, September 21, while in my home, I heard Pastor Ramdeen preaching loudly, calling my name many times provocatively, boasting of his political connections to the Vice President, President, and Regional Chairman, and insinuating the use of those political connections to victimize my business by blocking me from getting Government contracts.

All of this has been recorded.

I find his behaviour very disrespectful of these leaders, and that it can lead to the tarnishing of reputations and public image.

On September 22, I was alerted to videos on various social media posts made by Pastor Rocky Ramdeen, accusing the police of taking bribes and suggesting the police were in the narcotics

trade. He is also accusing me of bribing police officers, dealing with evil, having a baccoo, and suggesting I should move out of my home. He is also saying my home is over two thousand feet away from the church, which is a complete lie; the church is less than four hundred feet from my home. He is also saying that this is only a crusade, which is a lie. This music is blasted five times a week every week.

I find these accusations very repulsive and damaging to my reputation, which will in turn affect my business and family. On September 23, my son came home from school and told me his classmates were asking if his father deals with evil. I have always had good relations with everyone I interacted with throughout this region.

It was quite shocking to some of my neighbours to see a post on a video claiming I’m trying to fight them down, when I have always assisted when asked.

It has also been observed that people on social media are making this a political and religious issue when it is not. There is also a lot of deliberate misinformation being shared to gain political mileage, accusing me of having ties to political parties when I have no such ties. I have never been involved in politics, and have no intention of ever being so involved. I have never even exercised my right to vote. I challenge anyone to prove otherwise.

This is a noise nuisance issue, which has been affecting people throughout this country, with many people being afraid to voice their

plight due to fear of being victimized and categorized as is currently happening to me. I hope that someday these matters can be dealt with without people being demonized and attacked.

I believe that people should be free to worship as their choice of religion dictates, but I also believe that the right of other citizens to not be disturbed by such worship is also enshrined in the Constitution. I’m just asking for some peace and

tranquility -- which I think everyone deserves -- so that my family and I can enjoy our home and family time after working all day. I hope this issue can be dealt with fairly by all parties involved, without involving religion and politics; only dealing with the issue at hand, which is noise nuisance.

Thank you, Sheldon Baharally

An artistic impression of Government Office Complex

Maths as art Page Foundation

By Michelle Werdann

Most people use Maths to do everyday things, like balance their budgets, design workouts at the gym or build bridges. But for many mathematicians, Maths’ beauty outweighs its practical uses. For those who work in pure mathematics, it is seen as a form of art. The fields of number theory, knot theory and group theory each contain unexplored worlds of possibilities. For professor emeritus Jerry Johnson, Maths’ beauty is its main draw.

“Almost any mathematics that a person does has some potential for use at some point, even though you may not have any idea of what it’s going to be,” Johnson said. “People like me do mathematics just for the pure joy of it.”

“If you can imagine yourself as an explorer trekking to the

South Pole for the first time, being excited about what you’re going to find there, it’s like that.”

Srinivasa Ramanujan, a famous mathematician from India, was a number theorist whose work, though he would never know it, would be relevant to the mathematics of how black holes form. But Ramanujan wasn’t doing the math to learn about black holes. He did math for the sake of doing math, like many mathematicians in the College of Science, including Johnson.

“A lot of the mathematics that we do isn’t applied mathematics, it’s for its own sake,” Johnson said. “It’s almost like philosophy. It’s not necessarily applicable to anything, it’s just beautiful and creative and neat and you enjoy doing it.” (Excerpt from unr.edu)

To be continued

By Ovid

Into every channel of his body

A hurricane of starvation. The job done, she vanishes, She hurtles away, out of the lands of plenty, As if sucked back

Into the vacuum––

Deprivation’s hollow territories

That belong to her, and that she belongs to. Erysichthon snores on––

But in spite of the god of sleep’s efforts To comfort him, he dreams he sits at a banquet

Where the food tastes of nothing. A nightmare. He grinds his molars on air, with a dry creaking, Dreaming that he grinds between his molars

A feast of nothing, food that is like air. At last he writhes awake in convulsive Cramps of hunger. His jaws

Seem to have their own life, snapping at air

With uncontrollable eagerness to be biting Into food and swallowing––like a cat

WORD SEARCH:

Pres Ali urges reformation at UNSC to increase representation – says credibility, relevance of security organs on the line

Guyana, which is currently a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), continues to advocate for reforms at the institution, with President Dr. Irfaan Ali saying that changes are necessary if the coun-

cil is to remain relevant and credible.

On Monday, while addressing the Summit of the Future at the United Nations (UN) in New York, President Ali spoke of, the need for reform of global institutions. According to Ali, institutions must be more inclusive and geared towards sustainable development goals.

“Our public policies and global strategies must be aligned and our global institutions are responsive. Outdated and broken global systems must be fixed,” the Head of State explained in his presentation.

“We must reform international financial architecture and make it more inclusive and conducive to sustainable development for all. But sustainable development cannot flourish, without peace and security.”

One institution in particular came in for special attention from the President, that being the UNSC. Guyana is currently a non-permanent member of the council, with its term set to last from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025.

However, the permanent members of the council; China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA), are the only ones with veto power. There have been calls for at least two new permanent members from Africa, to be added to the council.

Only last week, the US announced that it would throw its support behind this move, though there are still question marks over whether the new countries from the African continent would have the veto power. According to President Ali, the UNSC must become

more representative.

“We must end and prevent wars. The security council must also be reformed, to be more representative, responsive and democratic. If not, it will lose both its credibility and relevance. Excellencies, as we seek to create a fair and just world, we must focus on including all our people. No region, no country, or no group, must be left behind,” Ali said.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, who is accompanying President Ali to the UN, called on the security council to cooperate and

find mutually acceptable solutions to present international challenges.

At a recent dinner meeting of the ten elected members and five incoming members, on the sidelines of the 9th Session of the UNGA, Minister Todd also urged the council to promote respect for human rights; and to play its part in harmonising the actions of nations.

“During his remarks, Minister Todd highlighted the importance of the grouping to provide leadership on matters of international peace and security in consonance with Member States’ internation-

al obligations to the principles of the United Nations Charter and multilateralism,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Earlier this year, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, had described the lack of Permanent representation for any small states or countries from Africa, as an injustice.

There is also the voting structure itself, with Article 27 of the UN Charter giving the power of veto to all permanent members on non-procedural decisions.

The United Nations Security Council in session

President Dr Irfaan Ali

Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd during the dinner meeting

Wooing...

…Perfidious Albion

Your Eyewitness was struck by the picture of Pres Ali and King Charles – the erstwhile not so “Bonnie” Prince Charlie – when he went up to Scotland to seek the King’s support for our LCDS. There he was, our wee lad from Leonora, literally rubbing shoulders with the King as they grinned broadly!! Your Eyewitness contrasts this with the picture of Granger meeting King Charles’s mum, Queen Elizabeth II, and our then-president so prostrating himself in submission that you’d never suspect we were an independent nation!!

The Opposition has complained about Pressie’s gregariousness with foreign leaders: giving Mia a bear hug; backslapping Rowley; fist-bumping Santokhi etc. They insist he’s breaking “protocol”. Well, if protocol means assuming a subservient posture like Granger’s, then your Eyewitness says, “All power to Ali”!! In this day and age - two centuries after slavery and a century after indentureship – if we still gotta doff our caps to others while looking at the ground, then what has the struggle been all about??

But why the bonhomie from Charlie?? Well, to be fair to him - unlike his mother - he has always been a fella who tries to fit in with ordinary blokes. But his easygoing ways don’t change the fact that millions of pounds are spent on him to keep him in luxury!! And that all the palaces and “Great Houses” – like Balmoral in Scotland – were acquired by our blood, sweat and tears!! Back in the day, when they were colonising us natives, the rest of Europe dubbed them “Perfidious Albion”. They were a country never to be trusted: with them it was always a matter of “looking out for number one”!

We raise this matter now because Pressie’s meeting with Charles III comes at a time when – with our light, sweet benchmark crude rising to 1 million barrels per day (bpd) - our stock in the world is soaring. As much as the King’s Foundation can help us market our LCDS, we can help his country, as we’ve been doing, by giving them a crack at participating in our development. But we gotta be careful not to allow the old relations to reappear – wherein we ship them raw materials and they end up with all the profits!!

Like when they needed their cuppa after WWII with sugar rationed during the war. We signed the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement, and agreed to have sugar transferred to the EU in 1975 as the “Lome Convention” that was to last “in perpetuity”. Well, we got the stick from the EU in 2007… Did Britain intervene for us? No Siree Bob!! Instead, they were the strongest proponent of slashing sugar prices!!

Let’s remember Perfidious Albion as they seek a piece of our oil!!

…Guyana

While Pressie was in NYC, he met US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and the picture shows him giving the latter a firm handshake while looking him straight in the eye. No toadying here!! And unlike what the Opposition always claims, there was no lecturing about our domestic politics - like the “shared governance” they read into every US statement!!! Blinken spoke directly to our major foreign policy challenge by declaring: “We also stand strongly for the territorial integrity in Guyana, and we’ll continue to stand with you on that and so many other things.”

We hope Pressie took the opportunity to remind Blinken that the only language Mad Maduro understands on our “territorial integrity” is the language of force!! And that the US gotta up the ante by supporting our declared intention to expand and retool our armed forces to be able to fight an asymmetrical war - and so deter the Madman from carrying out his threat to invade our Essequibo!!

Guyana Rising!!

…capitalists

Lenin is said to’ve declared emphatically before the revolution: “The capitalists will sell us the rope which we will hang them”. So said, so done!! In their quest for more and more profits, they degutted the US and empowered China!!

2025 would be pivotal for Govt to complete electoral commitments – VP Jagdeo

– says election promises crafted to ensure financial viability

Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Tuesday emphasised the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) commitment to fulfilling the promises made during the 2020 elections.

He was at the time addressing a high-level meeting with government officials and senior public servants, on Tuesday, Dr Jagdeo stated that 2025 would be pivotal for the government to complete its electoral commitments.

“This is a very important year for us because we expect to complete the list of promises we made to the electorate when we were

contesting the elections,” he remarked.

The Vice President highlighted the PPP/C’s belief in the delivery of commitments, noting that “the promises you make to people have to be fulfilled.”

While the administration has made significant progress, particularly in the areas of tax relief and social measures, he acknowledged that some tasks remain outstanding. However, he expressed confidence that these remaining objectives would be achieved soon.

Addressing agency heads, responsible for managing 95 per cent of the country’s public spending,

he stressed the importance of remaining focused on serving the people and managing resources efficiently.

He referenced a recent government circular outlining expectations for improved efficiency and cautioned against expecting substantial increases in the recurrent budget annually.

Jagdeo emphasised that while wages and salaries have already seen a substantial boost, with the wage bill having been increased by $90 billion, further expansion of recurrent expenditures should be monitored closely. “We are going to pay careful attention to any significant growth in the recur-

rent expenditures, outside of wages and salaries,” he said. Jagdeo further explained that the PPP/C’s election promises were crafted conservatively to ensure they were financially feasible. “Our promises, although they seemed a lot, were very conservative…we did not make promises we could not fund,” he noted. He contrasted this approach with that of the previous administration, which, according to Jagdeo, made numerous promises that could not be realized.

Despite the conservative nature of the manifesto, Jagdeo revealed that the government has already gone beyond those promises, implementing additional measures aligned with a broader, long-term strategic vision for Guyana. “All the measures we have implemented beyond the promises were guided by a strategic vision…they are all leading to the completion of the end goal for Guyana,” he said.

He pointed to key government strategies such as the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the National Development Strategy, which serve as blueprints for the nation’s future.

While the country is set

to benefit significantly from oil revenues, he urged caution, noting the volatility of global oil prices. “The best days for oil revenues are ahead of us, particularly if the current prices hold globally… but there is a real risk of a price collapse,” he warned. Jagdeo emphasised the need for fiscal prudence in the recurrent budget to avoid locking the government into unsustainable spending commitments in the face of unpredictable oil markets.

Budget 2025, expected to be presented early in the new year, is already in the preparation stages.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, echoed Vice President Jagdeo’s remarks on the budget’s importance, indicating that it would con-

tinue building on the progress outlined in the 2024 budget.

The 2024 budget, which amounted to $1.146 trillion, set out a comprehensive plan for improving the livelihoods of Guyanese citizens. The meeting was attended by Permanent Secretaries, Regional Executive Officers (REOs) from all ten regions, and Chief Executive Officers from key public sector entities such as the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and Guyana Power and Light (GPL). The continued focus on fiscal responsibility and strategic growth was emphasized throughout the discussion, signalling the government’s commitment to sustainable development as preparations for Budget 2025 advance.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

Heads of agencies at the meeting

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

High Court frees mother of 3 accused of killing husband

Lisa Halley, 28, was freed of a manslaughter charge following a ruling by High Court Judge Peter Hugh, who upheld a no-case submission due to insufficient evidence.

Halley, formerly of Swan Village Soesdyke-Linden Highway, had been on trial for the death of her husband, Dailson Halley which occurred in 2017.

During the trial, the

State, represented by Prosecutor Mikel Puran, argued that Halley had unlawfully killed her husband during a domestic dispute at their Queen Street, Kitty home.

However, Halley's defense attorney, Damien DaSilva, successfully argued that the prosecution's case lacked the evidence necessary for a conviction. As such, he contended that

the State failed to disprove the reasonable possibility that Lisa had acted in self-defense when she fatally stabbed her husband.

The case had garnered attention due to the history of domestic abuse within the couple's relationship. Reports indicated that Dailson had repeatedly abused Halley thus forcing her into prostitution, and took control of her earnings.

On July 29, 2017, during an argument, Dailson allegedly threatened to kill her while armed with a knife. In the altercation that followed, the mother of three managed to take away the weapon and fatally wound him. Despite witness testimonies and Halley’s caution statement to the police, the

prosecution's evidence was found lacking.

Justice Hugh ruled that the case should not be left to the jury, as the evidence, even at its strongest, could not lead to a conviction. The

jury was directed to return a formal verdict of not guilty, and Halley was freed. Halley has been on the run for seven years after the incident and had fled while out on bail.

Freed: Lisa Halley

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

Proven wrong always, naysayers continue objecting to anything that uplifts Guyana

CPL is in Guyana, and, every night, millions of people around the world are glued to their television sets, watching and wishing they were in Guyana. The atmosphere is so pregnant with excitement that it even seems to permeate the screens and fill people’s hearts with joy. Even as the CPL excites people and the world, the US EXIM Bank is about to approve a loan to support the Gas-toEnergy (GTE) Project, which in late 2025 would lead to an instant 50% reduction in electricity costs for every single household and every single business in Guyana.

A technical team hired by the EXIM Bank of the USA concluded, after a thorough feasibility study, that the project is feasible and would recover its cost in a period that is an investor’s dream.

This is not Jagdeo or the PPP telling the country this; this is an independent, high-quality feasibility study. But the PNC-led naysayers insist that the project would be a white elephant; that it is a reckless venture by the Irfaan Ali-led PPP government; and that, far from reducing electricity rates, it would burden the Guyanese people with more loans.

There is not a single project since 1992 that the PPP has initiated that the naysayers have not criticized as reckless and as not needed. Each of these projects has become part of people’s daily lives and an integral part of the socio-economic architecture of Guyana. The Berbice Bridge and the Hope Canal come to mind immediately. The naysayers have had nothing positive to say about any project. They always find a reason to conclude Guyana would be better off without it.

CPL 2024 is now winding down to the playoffs and, fittingly, in Guyana. Guyana once again is in the playoffs, even with games remaining on its schedule. Players, no matter which team they belong to, and spectators, no matter whom they support, agree that there is no place in the CPL like Guyana. The atmosphere is simply dazzling. Whether the Guyana Amazon Warriors repeat or not as champions, and I am betting they would, all Guyana would be proud.

What the world is watching now as the CPL is winding down in Guyana makes people want to come, not just to see the cricket, but to experience the amazing things happening in Guyana. There is a feeling, that intangible feeling, that tells you something special is happening to a country and its people.

In a trending social media blog, people are calling the Providence Stadium the Bharrat Jagdeo Stadium. Guyanese are proud of what the Providence Stadium is showcasing to the world – a nation where the people are brimming with excitement, not just because of the Guyana Amazon Warriors and cricket, but about their country.

Not so long ago, when BJ was President in 2006/2007, the naysayers among us, led by the PNC, rejected construction of the National Stadium at Providence, deeming it a “white elephant”, a “waste of money”, and a reckless expenditure of the people’s tax revenues. Today the National Stadium at Providence is the pride of the nation. Supporters and political leaders of all political parties, Guyanese, are showcasing their country through the national stadium.

Make no mistake, the stadium at Providence stands majestic because of the vision and tenacity of a political leader – Bharrat Jagdeo. It was constructed at a time when Guyana was still grappling with the suffocating impact of a burdensome foreign debt which the PNC had left on the backs of the Guyanese people; more than 900% of Guyana’s GDP, making Guyana one of the most indebted nations on earth. World Cup Cricket was coming to the Caribbean for the first time, and Bourda was deemed not suitable to host World Cup Cricket. Jagdeo and his Government decided they would find a way for World Cup Cricket to come to Guyana. With an EXIM Bank of India loan, the stadium was built. Today, no matter who people voted for or will vote for, every Guyanese agrees that the National Stadium was a worthy investment.

But, in addition to the stadium, Guyana needed more and betterquality hotel rooms. BJ led the initiative that saw many new hotels being constructed, including the present Ramada Princess Hotel at Providence. The naysayers screamed that the Government was pursuing a policy that would leave many private investors broke. Today those many hotels represent just a fraction of Guyana’s needs.

When, later, Bharrat Jagdeo’s PPP government decided to pursue a higher quality of hotel rooms to catalyze the tourism industry, the naysayers again were in top form. They called the Marriot a “white elephant” that would become derelict. They claimed it would never be able to have its rooms at full capacity, and would become a huge expense for the Guyanese people. Imagine where we would be without the Marriot in Georgetown! Imagine that today, at least 10 new internationalbranded hotels are completing or about to start construction, bringing in another almost 2,000 high-quality hotel rooms.

In 2014, funding for a new Demerara River bridge was secured, and a feasibility study was done. Funding was secured and construction started on the expansion and modernization of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and reconstruction of the four-lane East Coast Highway from Georgetown. When in 2020 the PPP came back into Government, the bridge was still a paper thing, and the CJIA and the East Coast Highway were incomplete. The PPP completed those projects, and by the first half of 2025, the new Demerara River bridge will be commissioned.

The naysayers just do not learn. They are now opposed to bridge tolls being removed, a new stadium in Berbice, a new Berbice River bridge, and a new hospital in New Amsterdam. They are visionless and clueless. For them, Guyana will be better off without bridges and highways, and without any new development. They want us to stay where we were in the 1960s. But people know better.

Japanese company offers UG students internships in O&G sector

In keeping with the Government’s vision to increase the number of skilled Guyanese employed in the Oil and Gas sector, Japanese company - MODEC Guyana Incorporated has launched its first internship programme, which will see high achievers being offered fulltime jobs upon completion.

On Monday, students from the University of Guyana were engaged and sensitised about opportunities available if they choose to join the training programme.

Students from the prestigious tertiary institution have the ability to fill slots in the Human Resources, Legal and Compliance, and Supply Chain departments for 12 months.

Additionally, final-year engineering students can benefit from a 20-month onshore trainee programme, with the opportunity to train in Singapore.

This aspect of the internship will target different technical areas related to Oil and Gas including Contracts, Rotating Equipment, Process Safety, Integrity, Instrumentation and Control, and Electrical and Commercial operations.

The management of MODEC Guyana told the Guyana Times that “all interns will face a dynamic environment and will be able to experience the unique industry of Oil Gas. The main skills they will gain are Communication, Teamwork, Time Management, Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking, as well as specific knowledge of the areas. In addition, the participants of the Onshore Trainee Programme will also have the opportunity to experience the offshore environment in some of our units in Brazil, and will be immersed in the later stages of the integration and commissioning of an FPSO in Singapore”.

The Internship Programme is slated to commence in January 2025 and upon its completion participants will be evaluated thoroughly by their superiors.

Following this exercise, MODEC Guyana has indicated that successful interns will be employed fulltime by the company.

“Yes, in the Internship

Programme, they will go through a close evaluation and if they succeed, they may be hired as a full-time Assistant or Junior Analyst. In the Trainees Programme, right from the start they will have a full-time contract and will be placed in the related areas if they are successful in the evaluations as well,” the company related.

MODEC Guyana is a global leader in building and operating Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessels (FPSOs)

for the offshore oil and gas industry.

The Japanese company which joined the Guyanese market in 2022 in preparation for the arrival of its first local FPSO has over 50 years of experience and other largest offices in Singapore, the United States of America, and Brazil.

The move to open its door to young professionals aligns with a commitment made to adhere to Guyana’s Local Content Legislation.

“We are making significant investments annually in the procurement of Guyanese goods and services, the recruitment of Guyanese nationals and lo-

cal capacity development. This is reflected in our fiveyear master plan. Our commitment to local content is a strategic and ethical choice that paves the way for a more inclusive and sustainable future in the energy sector. The launching of our internship and trainee initiatives is a step in this direction”.

According to MODEC, the University of Guyana’s students were prioritised due to the signing of an agreement, however, the company is open to accepting students from other educational institutions given that they meet the eligibility criteria.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Vice-Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin and MODEC Guyana Country Manager Rafael Fumis

UG students being sensitised about MODEC Guyana's Internship Programme

SBB working with technical institutions to push youth entrepreneurship – CEO

Recognising the many benefits accessible through developing and running a successful enterprise, the Small Business Bureau (SBB) over the years ramped up its engagement with citizens across Guyana, particularly the youths who are actively involved in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

This was highlighted by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SBB, Mohamed Shazim Ibrahim during an interview with the Guyana Times on Monday. He reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment towards providing the necessary knowledge among other resources that will encourage persons to venture into the field of entrepreneurship.

“We understand that we have this mandate of promoting entrepreneurship and developing businesses

of becoming independent of having a career. Instead of having a specific career, you can get into business” The CEO asserted.

In this regard, recognising the important role youths play in the country’s development, Ibrahim explained that the Bureau over the years has included youths in its sensitisation agenda.

“Well, the youths are the people of tomorrow. Well, actually they are the people of today. That’s why we focus a lot on this programme (Green-TechnologyFund), as well we have the Youth Entrepreneurship Programme where we bring awareness of entrepreneurship to young people in high schools. And once they come up with a simple business plan of how to develop a business and start a business, we give them a small grant, a small amount of cash to get that programme going” Ibrahim stated.

Moreover, the CEO highlighted that the Bureau through several programmes has been working with technical institutes across the country to foster business innovation. He explained that this strategic move was made due to the specialised training learners receive at these institutions.

“So, we went through the TVET programme. I met with all the heads of these institutes so we gave them the general idea of the Green Tech Programme because these are young people who are getting spe-

cialised knowledge and developing ideas in which they can start businesses very soon and they would have these groundbreaking solutions coming up” He stated.

This year the organisation has had several engagements with technical institutes across Guyana. This was done as part of efforts to encourage persons to be a part of the Green Technology Fund. The bureau’s push to fund green technology projects comes as Guyana is making strides in diversifying away from the use of fossil fuels and gravitating towards the use of more green technology. Through this initiative, persons can access up to $1 million in financing for their business.

This year some 12 small businesses will be receiving a total of $1 million through the Green Technology Fund initiative. In 2023, SBB in collaboration with the Education Ministry launched the Youth Entrepreneurship Programme at secondary schools nationwide. It is aimed at helping students to develop an entrepreneurial attitude and to get them to effectively participate in the business world.

The students are being guided on how to create business plans and most importantly, will have the opportunity to receive assistance from the SBB to start up their businesses. A total of $1.5 million was budgeted by the SBB to help initiate these business projects.

Soesdyke man arraigned for murder of former GEA employee – body yet to be recovered

After being on the run for some 12 years, Ryvan Francis, 46, was finally arrested and charged with the murder of Levoy Taljit, a former employee of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA).

Francis who was arrested late last week appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court and was not required to plea to the indictable charge. As such, he was remanded to prison until October 9, 2024.

Fransis had long been identified as the main suspect in the 2012 disappearance and suspected murder of Taljit. His recent arrest was carried out by officers from the Criminal Investigations Department's (CID) Cold Case Unit, who acted on new information received.

A wanted bulletin was issued for the suspect back in April 2022, reviving in -

terest in the decade-old case.

It was reported that a key witness came forward, informing investigators that she last saw Ryvan Francis with Taljit on the night of December 23, 2012. Days later, she learned through social media that Taljit had gone missing.

When she confronted Francis about Taljit’s disappearance, he allegedly confessed to strangling Taljit in his car and then burying the body. However, Taljit's remains have never been recovered.

Taljit, who worked as a field manager with the GEA, was last seen on December 23, 2012, driving his Toyota Raum, license plate PNN 8315. His vehicle was found a few days later, abandoned, and vandalised along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. Authorities believe the murder took place between December 23 and 24, 2012.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Small Business Bureau, Mohamed Shazim Ibrahim

Dead: Levoy Taljit

Charged: Ryvan Francis

Investigation launched into death of worker at Cane Grove construction site

The Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health Department has launched an investigation into the tragic death of 28-year-old Jermaine Hercules, who died while working at a rice mill in Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara, on Friday.

Hercules, a labourer from Lot 4 Airy Hall, Mahaicony, was employed

by a contractor tasked with repairing the roof of A. Cayume Hakh & Sons, Rice Millers & Exporters. Reports indicate that while working to fix leaking zinc sheets, he fell approximately 30 feet to the ground. Hercules was rushed to the Mahaicony Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Occupational Safety

Man, 56, reportedly falls to death in Batica home

The lifeless body of a 56-year-old labourer, Rushik Ramkarran, also known as 'Crushal', was discovered on Tuesday at his 7th Avenue, Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) home, days after he was reported missing by his family.

and Health Officer Johana Vaughn, responsible for the East Coast Demerara region, conducted a preliminary investigation at the site. The investigation aims to determine the cause of the fatal accident

and provide recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Meanwhile, Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton, expressed his deep concern over the incident, reiterating that every worker should expect to return home safely at the end of the workday. The investigation into the fatality is ongoing, with further details expected in the coming days.

G/Town man remanded for stabbing 9-year-old boy

A23-year-old man was remanded to prison on Monday for unlawfully wounding a nineyear-old boy by repeatedly stabbing him.

composition.

Upon arrival, the officers noticed the door, the only entrance to the house via the stairs, was locked from the inside.

Blood was seen trickling down the stairs. Police were forced open the door and found Ramkarran’s body lying face down at the bottom of the stairs in a state of de-

Based on reports received, Ramkarran’s 33-year-old niece alerted authorities on Tuesday stating that her uncle, who was known to struggle with alcoholism and drug addiction, had not been seen for several days. In response, a team of police officers visited his residence.

A wound was visible on his head, and blood covered his face. The body was taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Police are working on the theory that Ramkarran may have fallen from the top of the stairway thus resulting in the fatal head injury. Further investigations are ongoing.

The accused, Joshua Austin, is alleged to have attacked young Justin Colley, who resides at Russel Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, on September 12, on Broad Street, Georgetown.

Austin of Lot 151 Lodge Housing Scheme, Georgetown, appeared before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court and entered a notguilty plea.

The court was told that Austin and Colley are familiar with each other, as they

live in the same neighborhood. On the evening of the incident, Colley was walking with his mother when Austin reportedly became agitated upon seeing the boy and allegedly attacked him with a pair of scissors, stabbing him seven times in the neck.

Colley was rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for immediate medical treatment and was discharged a week later. He is now recovering at home.

In court, Austin claimed that he and Colley were friends, even stating, "He’s my friend; we all live in the same house." However, the prosecutor objected to granting bail, given the severity of the charge and the fact that the victim was a child. As a result, the Magistrate denied bail, and Austin was remanded to prison. His next court appearance is set for October 7. Remanded: Joshua Austin

Dead: Jermaine Hercules

VP Jagdeo warns against procurement violations – reiterates departure from regulations would not be tolerated

Vice President Bharrat

Jagdeo has issued a stern warning to the heads and accounting officers of public sector agencies in reaffirming Government’s commitment to enforcing strict compliance with procurement rules. He has made it clear that any departure from these regulations would not be tolerated.

In a high-level meeting held at the Arthur Chung Conference Center on Tuesday, Jagdeo stressed that Government prioritizes transparency and accountability in the execution of public projects.

That meeting brought together key figures, including Permanent Secretaries, Regional Executive Officers, and senior officials from agencies such as the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Guyana Water Inc. (GWI), and the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc, among others.

Violations under scrutiny

He acknowledged the challenges agencies face in managing the country’s “unprecedented” Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP); and while commending public servants for successfully implementing most of those projects in spite of resource constraints, he ex-

pressed concern over issues in procurement practices.

Highlighting that 95 per cent of public projects are completed successfully and in compliance with procurement rules, Jagdeo nevertheless criticized the Parliamentary Opposition for focusing disproportionately on the problematic 5%, making it appear as though failures are widespread.

“We want a fair procurement system,” Jagdeo reiterated as he emphasised the need to address the five per cent of problematic contracts that fall short of required standards.

Pointing out that there have been some deviations from the Procurement Act and the Standard Bidding Document despite the time and effort spent in developing these advanced legislative frameworks, Jagdeo stressed that all public officials must familiarise themselves with the Procurement Act and Standard Bidding Documents, and fully comply with the rules.

On the rare occasion that need should arise to depart from the Standard Bidding Documents, he said, it should occur only with prior approval from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

He said officials would be evaluated on their adherence to these guidelines,

moving forward.

Jagdeo also criticized instances wherein there has been deliberate slowing down of project implementation by some agencies, which has led to a year-end rush for completion, which is then used to justify sole sourcing of contracts. He called for early planning and execution in order to ensure that NPTAB grants sole sourcing approvals only under exceptional circumstances, which must be clearly detailed to the Cabinet.

The Vice President made it clear that this practice must be curtailed, even as he also highlighted the potential manipulation of the three-quote system and warned that it must be used sparingly and within a controlled environment in order to preserve the integrity of the bids.

Moreover, he expressed

concern at the increasing use of restrictive tendering by some ministries, often without valid justification. While restrictive tendering may be necessary for complex projects, Jagdeo cautioned, it should not be used to favour specific contractors. He has thus called on NPTAB to closely scrutinize any requests for such tenders.

Referring to some reports of corruption, Jagdeo condemned instances wherein bribes are being solicited to expedite payment for completed work, urging agency heads to remain vigilant. He emphasized that such practices ultimately damage the Government’s reputation, as those paying bribes often blame the administration for these corrupt activities. He is urging accounting officers to be more vigilant, moving forward.

The Vice President pointed out, too, that there are a few cases in which several members from one family may have registered com-

panies, and they all bid for contracts. Acknowledging that this may be difficult to identify, he has urged accounting officers to be wary of this and to ensure vigilance.

Further, Jagdeo noted that some contracts include unnecessary items, such as vehicles and computers, which inflate costs by tens of millions. He warned that such additions are not allowed, and disclosed that, where discovered, these have been corrected.

He is urging accounting officers to ensure that contracts focus solely on essential project deliverables moving forward, and not be used for the comfort of their own agencies.

In addition, Jagdeo addressed the misuse of contingency sums set aside for projects, stressing that these resources are subject to approval, and are not for the discretionary use of engineers, nor are contractors entitled to use them. He revealed that several engineers have been fired for approving substandard projects that have led to Government making payments for work not completed, condemned the inflation of bills, and warned that this practice would not be tolerated.

He also voiced concerns about conflicts of interest in some Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) and other Government agencies, where officials have private companies and are bidding

within the agencies where they work. He made it clear that those wishing to be contractors must leave their Government positions, as this conflict of interest would be scrutinized closely.

According to him, agency heads must engage in better contract administration, and stress the importance of penalties for late or shoddy work, including imposition of liquidated damages. He made it clear that Government would hold agency heads responsible for these issues.

Budget 2025

Looking forward, Jagdeo stressed the importance of data-driven decision-making in the public sector to enhance policy effectiveness and combat misinformation; and urged public servants to rely on facts and analyses when making decisions.

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh also participated in the discussions, which included early preparations for the 2025 budget. Jagdeo underscored that transparency and accountability would remain central to the Government’s priorities as it continues to execute its ambitious public sector investment plans.

The meeting concluded with Jagdeo reaffirming Government’s dedication to delivering its commitments to the people while maintaining a strict watch on procurement practices in order to prevent inefficiency and corruption within the system.

Pres Ali urges reformation...

This has led to instances where all it took was one country withholding assent for a resolution to not pass, something the Ambassador highlighted.

In January of this year, Guyana took its seat as an elected member of the UNSC for a two-year term 2024-2025. In June 2023, Guyana was elected to the UNSC, becoming one of five new non-permanent members for the term.

This will be Guyana’s third time serving on the council following terms in 1975-1976 and 1982-1983. Guyana’s candidacy was uncontested, being the sole candidate for a single seat available to the Latin

America and Caribbean Region, where it garnered the highest vote count at 191 out of 192.

The UN Charter established six main organs of the organisation, including the security council. It is given primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. Its functions and powers are: to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the UN.

It is also tasked with investigating any dispute or situation that might lead to international friction; recommending methods of adjusting such disputes or the

terms of settlement; formulating plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments; to determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend what action should be taken among others. In some cases, the security council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorising the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security. Temporary members hold their seats on a rotating basis by geographic region. Guyana will serve a two-year term on the Council from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025. (G-3)

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

IDB approval for Good Success-to-Timehri Road Project likely within 2 weeks

– contracts for Grove, Buzz Bee Dam-Friendship roads at procurement stages

Rehabilitation works on the Good Success to Timehri road on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) are expected to start soon, once the government secures financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). This approval is expected within a matter of weeks.

This is according to the Ministry of Public Works, which on Tuesday issued a stinging rebuke to persons who were using the need for repairs on the East Bank corridor for political gain. It follows a video that was shared by Alliance for Change (AFC) leader Nigel Hughes, claiming that a section of the east bank road had collapsed.

According to the Ministry, it is aware of the need for repairs to the East Bank corridor, which is constantly under stress from the high traffic volume, including from heavy-duty trucks. The Ministry made it clear that the government has been doing periodic maintenance work to sections of the roadway, to ensure traffic can keep flowing.

Additionally, the Ministry assured that it has a holistic plan for en-

suring the entire corridor, from Mocha to Timehri, can be repaired while avoiding undue hindrances to traffic… which is why a bypass road between Grove and Diamond was constructed in the first place.

“To holistically address this pressing concern, the Government of Guyana has recently constructed a bypass road through GroveDiamond to connect with Heroes Highway so that the stretch of road between Grove and Diamond can be available for reconstruction, while simultaneously facilitating the flow of traffic that is necessary to keep the wheels of industry turning,” the Ministry said.

Their plans include the rehabilitation of Good Succes to Timehri, which is being funded by the IDB. Approval of financing is expected within two weeks, according to the government, after which construction will start.

“This segment of road is scheduled for rehabilitation under financing from the IDB under a Design and Build contract. The contract was signed and designs for Section B were submitted for approval. Works entail; i. Rehabilitation of struc-

tures, ii. Rehabilitation and widening of carriageway, iii. Installation of roadside furniture, iv. Road markings, v. Installation of street lighting, vi. Provision of pedestrian walkways in residential areas,” the Ministry said.

Another IDB-funded road project along the East Bank corridor is the Mocha to Diamond stretch of road. According to the Ministry, the Bills of quantities which will determine the engineer’s estimate for the project, have been completed and are being reviewed.

“Works entail: i. Pothole patching, ii. Milling (removal, grinding and reusing the top layer of asphalt without disturbing the underlying subbase) iii. Local failure repairs, iv. Asphalt concrete overlay,” the Ministry further explained.

Meanwhile, the parts of the corridor being funded by the Government of Guyana are currently at the procurement stage. In the case of one, Grove Road, works will get underway to reconstruct the road once a contractor is on board.

The work includes; “i. Excavation of unsuitable existing material (approx. 1m), ii. Backfilling with white sand, iii. Use of geosyn-

thetic fabric, iv. Loam subbase, v. Crusher run base, vi. Asphalt concrete wearing course, vii. Concrete drain and utilities are already completed, viii. The by-pass road from Diamond to Good Success is completed and operational (for light vehicles).”

When it comes to the four-lane highway being constructed along the Heroes Highway alignment from Buzz Bee Dam to Friendship, the bids for this project are currently being evaluated. According to the Ministry, the vision is to have this road built to the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, which itself is also going to be reconstructed to the tune

of US$161 Million.

In light of the plethora of plans already in place and at various stages of implementation, for the rehabilitation of the East Bank corridor, the ministry slammed the misinformation campaign in full swing, which gives the mistaken impression that there is no plan for the road transport network.

“It is unfortunate that while this plan was discussed in the National Assembly because monies were appropriated for sections of this undertaking, we now have individuals who are “politicking” in a way that would suggest that there is no plan to comprehensively address the issues

being faced along the East Bank Public Road.”

“As can be observed in every part of the country, the Government of Guyana is addressing the road transport network and its connectivity with bridges. Surely, the product is what we all desire and hope for, but the process is also important,” the Ministry further said.

The EBD Road Improvement Project aimed at supporting climate-resilient infrastructure development, marks the first of its kind to be funded by IDB in Guyana. A notable feature of the project is the integration with the Soesdyke/ Linden Highway through the construction of a roundabout, designed to facilitate smoother traffic transitions. As the main roadway leading to the country’s main port of entry – the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in Timehri, the EBD corridor has been massively expanded in recent years. The development works have included the alternate four-lane highway from Mandela Avenue to Diamond, a Diamond to Mocha/Arcadia two-lane road, a four-lane road at Little Diamond and a new Grove/Diamond Road.

Stakeholders push for Guyana to become friendly LGBTQ+ tourism destination

On the basis that Guyana’s tourism sector can benefit significantly from the global LGBTQ+ community, stakeholders are advocating for legislative amendments to make ‘Destination Guyana” more accommodating to that section of the population.

This urgent advocacy was expressed during the World Tourism Day Event, which was held under the theme “Tourism and Peace: Embracing Peace through Diversity and Inclusion,” at the Guyana Marriott Hotel Georgetown – Kingston, Georgetown.

The campaign’s message is that all Guyanese should be treated with dignity and respect and that the country’s laws need to be reformed to reflect these positive Guyanese values.

President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana Inc. (THAG), Dee George, was one of the key voices in this event. According to George, the global tourism market for the LGBTQ+ community accounts for some $200 billion, and Guyana can capitalise on a fraction of this once homophobia is eradicated.

Assuming that Guyana can capture just one per cent of the global LGBTQ+ market, this would translate to an annual tourism revenue of $2 billion.”

Another fact that was highlighted by her is that Guyana is losing potential visitors and tourism revenue due to the country being surrounded by others who promote homophobia.

“Because of criminalising same-sex laws, it has cost us potential revenue and is sending a damaging signal. All Guyanese should be treated with dignity and respect, and our country’s laws need to reflect this. We must be mindful and sensitive to local customs and societal norms.”

On this point, she highlighted the consequences that Guyana can face in tourism if the LGBTQ+ community is not included in the tourism market.

“Globally, the LGBTQ+ tourism market accounts for approximately 7 to 10 per cent of the total travel industry. By alienating this market segment, Guyana is not benefiting from a potentially high-spending, high-frequency demographic.”

“The global LGBTQ+ market contributes over $200 billion annually to the tourism industry. The US travel market alone spends $65 billion annually.

gay persons.

She added, “By eliminating discriminatory laws before they affect and reach the doors of friends and families, Guyana can send a very strong signal that our welcome mat is rolled out and stretched. Guyana has an opportunity to signal that we embrace and respect our LGBTQ+ family.”

Meanwhile, Senior Trip Planner of Wilderness Explorers, Amarylis Lewis acknowledged that the tourism agencies she is a part of are very inclusive of all genders and that Guyana should mimic this inclusivity mindset by calling for a new era of how people treat

“It’s time for Guyana’s leaders, businesses, and people to join together under our shared values of respect and family. It’s time to put faces to the majority of Guyanese who oppose discrimination and believe in treating our gay neighbours with dignity. And it’s time for Guyana to finally send a signal to the rest of the world — that we are the inclusive and hospitable place that we know ourselves to be. That everyone is welcome to experience the wonders of Guyana and share in our many cultures.”

She added that once this law is removed, the LGBTQ+ community in tourism will significantly benefit from it.

“When this discriminatory law targeting LGBTQ+ people is removed, I have no doubt that Guyana will finally be able to tap into a growing tourism market of LGBTQ+ and allied people who are interested in eco-tourism and would consider Guyana as their next destination. Let’s show the world that our ‘welcome mat’ is truly out in Guyana — and move forward together by eliminating the vestiges of discrimination that for too long have held us back.”

Same-sex sexual activity is prohibited under the Criminal Law (Offences) Act 1893. The law was inherited from the British during the colonial period, in which English criminal law was

imposed upon Guyana. Guyana retained the provision upon independence and continues to criminalise same-sex sexual activity through the colonial-era 1893 statute today. There have been reports of discrimination and violence being committed against LGBTQ+ people in recent years, including murder, assault, harassment, and denial of basic rights and services.

THAG, along with its partners in tourism and social advocacy, has since launched a campaign aimed at highlighting the importance of creating a safe and inclusive environment for all visitors, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana Inc (THAG), Dee George

Officials advocating for the LGBTQ+ community

The Heroes Highway is connected by a bypass road through Grove-Diamond

Anger won’t help, but putting muscle behind what you want to achieve will give you the get-up-and-go you require to reach your destination of choice. Refuse to let what others do ruin your plans.

Learn all you can and execute your plans with knowledge, expertise and confidence. A change at home will offer greater freedom. Personal gain, growth and improvement will unfold.

An open mind and patience are necessary to achieve your objective. Know your limits and allocate only those funds that are within your means. Don’t hesitate to move forward alone.

Set the stage for success by putting your best foot forward and marketing what you have to offer. Your actions and words will have an impact, and an entertaining presentation will distribute a message.

Be frank about what you can do for others, lay out the incentives you have to offer, and don’t waste your time on indecisive people. Your objective is to get things done quickly and with the least fuss.

Keep the momentum flowing and your interest growing. Gather the facts, devise a plan and put the wheels in motion. Success comes from experience, preparation, participation and communication.

Pay attention to detail, quality and completion, and avoid getting trapped into doing something that slows you down. Think big, but stick to the confines necessary to prevent criticism from ruining your plans.

Look around and align yourself with the go-getters, the movers and shakers and the people who think outside the box. Let your imagination wander and your thoughts unfold.

Use your imagination, but don’t venture far from the truth. Look at the big picture, determine what’s doable and enthusiastically press onward. Don’t neglect your responsibilities.

Embrace what interests you, and you’ll discover a way to use your skills in an exciting fashion. Make your routine more enjoyable and improve your day-to-day. Choose happiness over discord.

Put your energy where it brings the highest return. Be thorough and execute your plans with authority and confidence; opportunity will follow. Refuse to underestimate or undersell what you can offer.

Tie up loose ends and focus on wealth, health and legalities. A steady push forward will pay off and raise your profile. Networking and socializing will lead to exciting prospects that stimulate your mind and enthusiasm.

Lusignan Golf Club offers Barbados Royals another exciting visit

The Lusignan Golf Club

(LGC) has welcomed the Barbados Royals for an exciting day of golf, marking another high-profile visit to this course which has increasingly become a destination for international athletes.

The Royals were joined by Head Coach Trevor Penney, who had visited in 2023, and by David Miller and Keshav Maharaj, who, like the rest of this team, were making their debut on this challenging course.

Brian Hackett, Public Relations Officer of the Lusignan Golf Club, in expressing the LGC’s delight at being visited by this exciting team, said, “Once again, the Barbados Royals have visited us to have a game of golf on this challenging course. Last year we host-

ed several teams, including the Barbados Royals with Jason Holder, Laurie Evans, Roelof van der Merwe, and Head Coach Trevor Penny, along with the Trinbago Knight Riders. This year, we even had the South African Cricket Team visit during their tour against the West Indies at Providence.”

The growing popularity of the Lusignan Golf Course continues to attract international attention, and Hackett noted, “The word is getting around about the Lusignan Golf Course, and the LGC is extremely pleased to host these teams.

Golf, archery highlight reopening of Helena Cricket Ground

The grand reopening of the Helena Numbers 1&2 Cricket Ground, ECD, last Sunday was a smashing success, as several hundred persons came out to enjoy a day of sport and relaxation at the renovated ground, which was in pristine condition courtesy of Nexgen Golf’s equipment and maintenance team.

Several cricket matches were played, as were dominoes, darts and cards matches, but the crowd was enamored with Nexgen Golf’s mini golf and Pro Archers archery, wherein they were introduced to these sports for the first time and won lots of prizes, compliments of Sterling Products Ltd and Guyana Beverages Inc.

GGA President Aleem Hussain was joined by 11-

time Guyana Golf champion Avinash Persaud and pro golfer Asroodeen Shaw to give demonstrations and personal instruction to dozens of persons who experienced golf for the first time.

The Pro Archers team that interacted with the crowd was led by Narda Mohamed-Mangra, Anand Mangra, Dwain Albert, Tyreck Paul, Bibi Saleema Salim, Chantal Lovell and Nandanie Boodram. Also showcasing darts to many of excited youngsters were national champion Sudesh Persaud Fitzgerald and Norman Madhoo of Foreign Links Darts Club.

Winner of the fund-raising cricket match was De Hoop Sports Club, and winner of the exhibition match was Helena Ground Management

Committee. De Hoop Sports Club also captured top spot in the dominoes competition.

The event was sponsored by the Guyana Golf Association, Premier Insurance, H. Nauth & Sons, KK Gas Station, Sterling Products Ltd, Roraima Airways, Guyana Beverages Inc, Pro Archers, and Nexgen Golf Academy.

All in attendance received complimentary Ice cream and Oasis Water as a thank you gesture from the sponsors.

The respective prizes of a trip to the Kaieteur Falls and to Arrowpoint Resort, sponsored courtesy of Roraima Airways, were not won, and would thus be rolled over to the upcoming Hole-in-One Challenge at the Westside Golf Course.

They are eager to come to Guyana to play, and they find the course challenging to defeat.”

Hackett disclosed that the LGC’s commitment to promoting golf as an inclusive sport remains strong. “The executive committee remains committed to ensuring that golf is available to everyone, especially persons visiting Guyana, and that they enjoy the ambiance and experience of a golf club,” Hackett explained. “We are warm to the idea of welcoming teams from

Jamaica’s

across the region, and will continue to embrace them to play on our golf course.”

Barbados Royals Head Coach Trevor Penny has said he thoroughly enjoyed every moment on the course. He even gave it a rating of 10/10, as the course presented a unique experience for the team.

The Lusignan Golf Club boasts a strong history, having more than 50 years of hosting both local and international athletes. One of its notable moments was when West Indies cricketing legend Lance Gibbs won the World Series Golf Tournament on this very course. As the Lusignan Golf Club continues to grow in prestige, its position as a premier destination for golfers across the region and beyond is being reinforced, and a unique and challenging experience is being offered in the heart of Guyana.

Jacqueline Williams among all-female

cast to officiate at Women’s T20 World Cup

Jamaica’s Jacqueline Williams is among 10 umpires and three match referees set to officiate in this ninth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled for October 3-20.

Although this tournament would be played in the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh would still serve as host of the tournament, which would see 23 matches being contested over 18 days in Dubai and Sharjah, after which a champion would be crowned for 2024.

Along with Williams, who will be standing in a fourth ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the experienced group of umpires comprises seasoned official Claire Polosak, who will be umpiring in her fifth World Cup; and Kim Cotton, who would be appearing in a fourth Women’s T20 World Cup.

Williams and Cotton had taken charge of the final in Cape Town between hosts South Africa and eventual champions Australia last February.

Sue Redfern, who was the TV umpire for that final, is also back for her fourth appearance in the tournament.

At the other end of the spectrum, Sarah

Dambanevana of Zimbabwe would be making her debut appearance.

The match referees’ team features GS Lakshmi, who refereed her first T20I back in 2012, and oversaw the final in 2023. She is joined by Shandre Fritz and Michell Pereira, who both would be officiating in their second ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

ICC Senior Manager of Umpires and Referees, Sean Easey, beaming with pride about the quality of the officiating team, has said,

“The ICC is proud to be contributing to the advancement of women in our sport. To be announcing this all-female lineup of match officials for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 is wonderful. This group, selected as the most deserving umpires

for this event following their recent form in bilateral and other cricket, are some of the very best from around the world.

We are confident that they will do a great job at this event. I wish them the best of luck as they oversee the world’s top women’s cricketers in what will be an exciting tournament for all involved.”

ICC supports the ongoing development of all international umpires via a clear, high-performance officiating programme; through the appointment of ICC Umpire Coaches; by working with Full Member Board officiating managers and coaches to align practices; by employing two full-time data and digital video specialists to help review decisions, and by conducting regular performance reviews either online or in Dubai as the officials pass through on assignment.

Panel of Match Referees: Shandré Fritz, GS Lakshmi, Michell Pereira.

Panel of Umpires: Lauren Agenbag, Kim Cotton, Sarah Dambanevana, Anna Harris, Nimali Perera, Claire Polosak, Vrinda Rathi, Sue Redfern, Eloise Sheridan, and Jacquiline Williams. (Sportsmax)

Barbados Royals players enjoying their time at LGC

Jacqueline Williams

St Lucia Kings thrash Trinbago Knight Riders

– through heroics of Johnson Charles and Noor Ahmad

It was not the sort of result the Trinbago Knight Riders had been hoping for when they took on St Lucia Kings on their home turf at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, on Tuesday morning – the Republic Day of Trinidad & Tobago.

In the final week of preliminary matches in the 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (RBLCPL), the Trinbago Knight Riders found themselves falling short to the St Lucia Kings by a whopping 80 runs.

The Knight Riders, having won the toss, sent their visitors in to bat; and Johnson Charles let loose in a 145run first-wicket partnership with

Captain Faf du Plessis. His stay at the crease produced a plunder of 89 runs that were punctuated by seven fours and eight sixes, and he fell 11 short of another CPL century; but the damage had already been done. Faf du Plessis kept the party going after Charles’s departure with 59 runs off 43 deliveries; and Tim Seifert later hit a quickfire 30 from 17 deliveries while Shadrack Descartes added 10 runs from 4 balls to get the Kings to 218-6 in their 20 overs, to rewrite the highest total at the South Trinidad venue, which had just been set at 197 by the hosts two days prior.

After Dwayne Bravo appeared to have suffered a groin injury while fielding,

Captain Kieron Pollard stepped up to bowl a full complement, and he claimed 4-38 from those overs. Jayden Seales and Chris Jordan claimed the other two wickets.

Pollard’s 4-fer was crucial in restricting the Kings, who looked well on their way to a 230+ score, but little did the famed captain know that his side would not be up to the task. Almost instantly, the Knight Riders were off to a rocky start in the chase, losing Keacy Carty for two and Nicholas Pooran for 10.

Ahmad was the pick of the St. Lucian bowlers, claiming 3-39 from 4 overs, while David Wiese had returns of 2-27 from 3.5 overs. Every other Kings’ bowler each took one wicket.

The St. Lucian bowlers continued to take regular wickets, leaving the home side reeling at 56-6 before a 61-run partnership between opener Jason Roy and Chris Jordan gave the Knight Riders hope; which was shattered when Roy departed for 41 from 29 in the 14th over -- Shadrack Descartes pulling off the breakthrough with a stunning catch off his own bowling.

Chris Jordan eventually contributed 27 from 24, and Jayden Seales produced an unbeaten 16 from 10, but it was not enough for the home side. When it came down to nine wickets, DJ Bravo bravely went out to bat with his injury, but could only face two balls from David Wiese before throwing in the towel. As such, the Knight Riders managed a sore of only 138 in 17.5 overs.

The Kings have thus extended their lead atop the points table with 14 points

from 9 games, 4 ahead of second-placed team Guyana Amazon Warriors, who have 10 points. However, de-

SCOREBOARD

St Lucia Kings (20 ovs maximum) Batting R

Faf du Plessis (c) c sub (T Hinds) b Pollard 59

Johnson Charles c Jordan b Seales 89

Tim Seifert † b Jordan 30

David Wiese c Jordan b Pollard 6

Roston Chase c David b Pollard 4 Aaron Jones not out 8

Shadrack Descarte c David b Pollard 10

Alzarri Joseph not out 0

Extras (b 2, lb 2, w 8) 12

TOTAL 20 Ov (RR: 10.90) 218/6

Did not bat: Ackeem Auguste, Khary Pierre, Noor Ahmad

Fall of wickets: 1-145

(Johnson Charles, 12.4 ov), 2-178 (Faf du Plessis, 15.6 ov), 3-186 (Tim Seifert, 16.5 ov), 4-194

(David Wiese, 17.5 ov), 5-205

(Roston Chase, 19.1 ov), 6-216 (Shadrack Descarte, 19.5 ov) •

Trinbago Knight Riders (T: 219 runs from 20 ovs) Batting R Jason Roy c & b Descarte 41

Keacy Carty c Descarte b Joseph 2 Nicholas Pooran † c Noor Ahmad b Chase 10

Tim David b Noor Ahmad 14

Akeal Hosein lbw b Noor Ahmad 0

Kieron Pollard (c) c sub (M Govia) b Pierre 0

Andre Russell b Noor Ahmad 12

Chris Jordan c Joseph b Wiese 27

Jayden Seales

1.5 ov), 2-24 (Nicholas Pooran, 3.3 ov), 3-42 (Tim David, 5.2 ov), 4-42 (Akeal Hosein, 5.4 ov), 5-43 (Kieron Pollard, 6.2 ov), 6-56

(Andre Russell, 7.5 ov), 7-115

(Jason Roy, 13.4 ov), 8-117

(Chris Jordan, 14.2 ov), 9-138

(Waqar Salamkheil, 17.3 ov), 10-138

(Dwayne Bravo, 17.5 ov)

Andre Russell 2-0-19-0

Bowling O-M-R-W Khary Pierre 4-0-30-1 Alzarri Joseph 3-0-22-1 David Wiese 3.5-0-27-2 Roston Chase 1-0-5-1 Noor Ahmad 4-0-39-3 Shadrack Descarte 2-0-11-1

Noor

Jason Roy was the only TKR batter to stand up to the Kings’ bowling

St Lucia’s Captain Faf du Plessis followed Johnson Charles’s explosive lead

Johnson Charles later dedicated St Lucia’s win to Julien Alfred

Noor Ahmad, though a little expensive, claimed 3 crucial wickets

fending champions Amazon will be looking to add to their points tally tomorrow night, when they take on the Barbados Royals at the Guyana National Stadium from 19:00h.

Guyana dominate at Archery CDC

Team Guyana have again done Archery Guyana proud by securing a massive medal haul at the 6th Caribbean Development Championships, held in Ocho Rios, Jamaica from September 19-22, 2024.

The seven countries that participated in that competition were Jamaica, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and the USA.

The ranking rounds were held on Friday, September 20, and the following are the ranking scores for the men: Mehandra Chatargum, 636; Jeewanram Persaud, 619; Faraad Gani, 606; Saifullah Gani, 606; Gregory McKoy, 605; Teemahall Lall, 530; Richard Dookie, 492; Saeed Karim, 483; Alec Simmons, 460; and Afzal Karim, 424.

The women’s ranking scores are: Juanita Persaud,

The semi-final and final matches were played on Sunday with more excitement as there were surprises and upsets among archers shooting for the gold.

A special award has been presented to World Archery Americas

with the most gold medals awarded to Guyana in entire competition.

Last year’s Recurve Mixed Team power couple Jeewanram Persaud and Roshini Boodhoo took the gold again in this year’s Mixed Team matches, as

627; Melesa Ramnaraine, 600; Roshini Boodhoo, 559; Fatima Gani, 552; JulieAnn Williams, 502; Karin Toppin, 425; Naudia Maraj, 415; Nataliya Pollard, 408; and Theresa JaikishunDeoroop, 306.

Elimination matches were held on Saturday, September 21, which saw some very exciting matches with the archers aiming for the top brackets in the medal matches for the following day at the Plantation Cove venue.

Massiah

Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Executive member Shaun Massiah has been appointed a director of Cricket West Indies (CWI), and will represent Guyana at the CWI Board of Directors’ meeting on September 28, 2024 at the Hilton Hotel in Trinidad and Tobago.

Development Committee Chair Philip Graves for his tireless commitment to the Caribbean Development Championships and to archery.

Also receiving gifts of recognition from the Jamaican Archery Association were the head coaches from each country.

While Team Jamaica took a larger medal count: 25 (8 gold, 12 silver & 5 bronze), Guyana won a total of 23 medals: 15 gold, 5 sliver and 3 bronze,

Holding the key position of Chairman of the GCB Competitions Committee, Massiah is a former first-division cricketer who had captained the senior team of the Transport & Harbours Department’s Sports Club for a number of years, and is a qualified cricket coach, having been accredited at Levels

did last year’s Barebow Mixed Team of Teemahall Lall and Nataliya Pollard. Trinidad & Tobago followed with a total of 13 medals (7 gold, 3 silver & 3 bronze). The British Virgin Islands took a total of 7 medals (2 gold, 2 silver & 3 bronze), The Bahamas medal total was 6 (3 gold, 1 silver & 2 bronze), Barbados followed with 5 (4 silver & 1 bronze), and USA 2 (2 gold medals) Additionally, in the mixed teams wherein ar-

chers from 2 different countries were paired, Jamaica and Guyana won silver, Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago won bronze, and Guyana and Barbados won bronze.

President of Archery Guyana, Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, has expressed her immense pride in Guyana’s representation in Jamaica with such an incredible success. According to her, every one of the participants from various affiliated clubs in Guyana performed to their best.

She said, “They brought their very best to the field, and it is their talent, dedication, and perseverance that truly made this tournament special. Without their commitment,

countless hours of training, and perseverance through all obstacles, none of this would have been possible. I am reminded of how far we’ve come from 2018 when Archery Guyana hosted the inaugural Level 1 coaching seminar. The global pandemic may have slowed us down for a couple of years, but within five years, despite the downtime, here we are on the international stage, coming home with a very shiny collection of medals.”

The Guyanese archers impressed all who saw them compete, and demonstrated true sportsmanship towards their fellow competitors while making friends at the same time.

PAHF Challenge…

The Team was led

by the following officials: Nicholas Hing: Chef-deMission/Head Coach; Saeed Karim: Team Logistics Coordinator/ Archer; Roshini Boodhoo: Team Manager/Archer; Jeewanram Persaud: Coach/ Archer; Juliana Rickhee: Team Support Coordinator; Shrikanta Deoroop: Team Photographer.

Archery Guyana remains committed to fostering the development of its athletes and raising the profile of the sport both locally and internationally. The federation is grateful for the support of its affiliates; Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport; the National Sports Commission; the Guyana Olympic Association; Guyana Beverages Inc; World of Flowers; and the Guyanese public and the media.

The Board of Directors of Archery Guyana wishes to extend a massive thank you to World Archery Americas, the Jamaican Archery Federation, the organisers and volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly. A special commendation is extended to Coach Phil Graves - his leadership and expertise have been pivotal in making this event what it is, and his commitment to the development of archery in our region has been invaluable.

One Communications Guyana ladies draw with Paraguay

1 and II of the CWI Coaching Education Programme. Massiah had also served as Liaison Officer of the Guyana Team for the Regional Under-19 Tournament in 2015, for the Sri Lanka Under-19 Team in the ICC Youth World Cup Tournament in 2022 in Guyana, and for St Lucia Kings in the Caribbean Premiere League (CPL) T20 Tournament.

With his wealth of cricket knowledge and experience as both player and administrator, Massiah is expected to be of great value as he represents Guyana.

The Guyana and Paraguay hockey teams shared points as they participated in the PAHF Challenge being contested in Hamilton, Bermuda on Wednesday, 22nd September.

With either team failing to be both offensively pivotal and defensively strong, Paraguay showed their superiority in the game's opening minutes by pressing Guyana high in their defensive area and creating a few penalty corner opportunities.

The Guyanese defence, and especially goalkeeper Alysa Xavier, remained sol-

id to keep the ball out of the net; and when Guyana settled into their rhythm shortly thereafter, the game adopted a more even flow.

While both teams had their chances, and several exciting moments of play were witnessed at both ends, the defenders’ game that eventually played out resulted in a final score of 0-0. Guyana’s coach Philip Fernandes, commenting on the result, said, “Our team has the ability to match all those in participation here. We, however, are not making the best use of our opportuni-

ties, as our execution in the final attacking third of the field is producing too many errors. If we are to come away with a good final result in the tournament, this has to improve.” Guyana will face hosts Bermuda today, September 24, at 5:00pm Guyana time. At #70, Bermuda sit two spots below Guyana on the world ranking, but the result from the last time these two teams met was a 1-0 victory for Bermuda. The Guyanese side are, however, unfazed by this experience, and will be making every effort to keep their unbeaten record intact.

Hockey action between Guyana (white) and Paraguay in Hamilton

GCB Executive member Shaun Massiah

Team Guyana in action