9th April,
- RSS to lead thorough, independent, professional probe of shootings
- families urge peace, calm after expressing confidence
- President Ali announces, says gov’t will overhaul financial architecture, develop online payment system
President, Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday unveiled plans for the creation of a Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) Development Fund at the Local Content Summit held at the Georgetown Marriott Hotel (Delano Williams)
By Naomi Parris
A NEW era of opportunity for local businesses in Guyana is on the horizon with the creation of a Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) Development Fund.
The initiative, which is among a three-pronged strategy to boost the country’s development and bolster support for Guyanese owned enterprises, was announced by President, Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday during his address at the Local Content Summit being held at the Georgetown, Marriott.
“[It’s] a development fund that prioritises different sectors and brings together not only access to finances, but using the finances from the development fund to catalyse more financing from the financial system,” the President said.
The SME Development Fund, the President emphasised, is an innovative mechanism to turn small business ideas into scalable projects, ultimately driving largescale capital investment.
He said: “It's not about you receiving a grant, type of loan and you go off and so on. It's about how to develop a project that marries the development fund with a commercial bank so that
to reduce risk, and also you unlock additional fund for your project.
“So, it's a mechanism that can allow a good idea from a small business to become a medium-sized idea.”
ronment for innovation, investment, and sustainable growth.
He said: “How do we create the opportunities for businesses and individuals to redirect their spending back into the local
capital, reinvesting your resources in the local economy.”
The President’s vision also includes a widespread financial literacy campaign to equip citizens with the knowledge and tools nec-
overhaul of our financial system. We have to modernise the financial architecture. We have to have a payment system, a payment platform, by the end of this year, that you can make payment anywhere across
empower employees, stating that: “Growing wealth and building wealth and creating prosperity is not only about your businesses winning. It's about your employees winning with your businesses and creat-
The development fund is part of a broader strategy for modernising Guyana’s financial systems and creating a more robust business environment, particularly for local entrepreneurs.
President Ali outlined that this system would foster a conducive envi -
economy, so that there will be no motivation for any company to establish shell companies or headquarters outside of Guyana.
“The system must create in-built incentives, inbuilt opportunities through which you can get a higher return by reinvesting your
essary to make sound financial decisions.
This effort aims to teach Guyanese how to invest, save, and budget responsibly, empowering them to become active participants in the economy.
President Ali said: “We are going to have complete
the country by sitting in your home.”
The President encouraged businesses to create models that not only drive profit, but also promote shared prosperity.
He called for businesses to adopt innovative profit-sharing models that could
ing an even environment in which your employees must win with you, so they will deliver better every single day.”
This year’s conference was held under the theme: “Collaborate. Invest. Build: Shaping Guyana’s Future together.”
- RSS to lead thorough, independent, professional probe
- families urge peace, calm after expressing confidence in investigation
PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has pledged the support of the government to the families of the two men who died in separate police incidents in Linden, Region 10.
He’s also vowed that the priority is to ensure there is a proper investigation into these matters.
This came as the Head of State travelled to Linden on Tuesday evening, when he met with the grieving families of Ronaldo Peters and Keon Fogenay, called ‘Dan’.
During his meeting with family members at the Watooka Guest House, President Ali offered condolences to the families of both men.
“To the family, you have my love and prayers. To the community at large, you have my love and prayers, because I believe that all of us want the same thing; a just and peaceful society,” he said.
Subsequent to meeting with Peters’ family in a video shared on his official Facebook page, President Ali said that with mothers and children involved, the government will ensure that the relevant emotional and psychological support is offered to the families.
“[We want] to ensure
that the families; those who are hurting, are supported from an emotive perspective, from a physical perspective, and that is why I am here,” he said.
With this, Dr. Ali indicated that the government will remain in close contact with both families, and ensure that their emotional well-being is catered to in the medium and long term.
While the Head of State met with both families, he assured them that an investigation will be conducted into the two matters, that it will be led by the Regional Security Systems (RSS), and be done in the shortest possible time.
“I assured them that this will be an independent investigation led by the RSS in the shortest possible time; that the terms of reference will be developed, they (the families) have specific questions that they will share with us, and the investigation would be independent and that the recommendations and findings of the investigations will be respected,” President Ali said.
He further reiterated that the priority is to ensure there is a proper investigation with external support to ensure that the outcome of
the investigations and the recommendations are implemented.
Peters’ relatives, after meeting with President Ali, during the broadcast assured members of the community that the family has engaged the Head of State, and further urged community members to keep the peace.
“The President has pledged his full support for myself and my entire family, the entire family of the deceased, and justice will
be served in the situation,” Peters’ cousin said.
Meanwhile, relatives of Fogenay, following their interaction with President Ali, said that the community had requested the presence of the Head of State to have the issues discussed to ensure that justice would be served in both killings.
“He assured us that there will be no bias within the investigation; everything will be done independently… So, he’s here today to
show us the community the support that we need,” a relative said.
The relative further added, “We’re asking you guys; we could calm down now… We know that there is action being taken; this is what we want, swift action being taken, and this is what we are having right now.”
Fogenay’s visibly distraught mother expressed her pain, and called for justice for both her son and Peters as they both are from the same area.
“I really need justice and help for my grandchildren, and the President assured me that he will do it, and I take his word. I am begging for peace in the community,” she said.
According to a police statement, Peters was wanted for questioning into an allegation against him, and claimed that he was spotted at Shabba Bar in One Mile, Wismar and upon seeing the approaching officers, reportedly in full uniform, he fled and attempted to scale a fence.
The sergeant who confronted Peters alleged that while attempting to capture him, his service pistol discharged, fatally wounding Peters.
However, CCTV footage which was captured of the events and circulated on social media appeared
to contradict aspects of the police’s account of events.
That video shows Peters standing near the roadside with a group of men, when a heavily tinted minibus arrived, after which several men dressed in plain white t-shirts and black pants, reportedly officers, exited the vehicle.
Peters was then seen running before being chased, subdued, and then dragged back towards the minibus by the neck.
On Tuesday morning, protests erupted in the mining town, with residents calling for answers in relation to Peters’ death.
Several roads, along with the crucial interlink, the Wismar/Mackenzie Bridge, were blocked off by protesters, with fires being set as well.
While officers attempted to quell the protests, chaos ensued as the police opened fire on protesters, causing tension to rise. As a result, Fogenay was shot and killed.
As protests came to a close on Tuesday afternoon, several spent shells, broken bottles and other debris, along with a large burnt tyre could be seen on the Wismar/Mackenzie Bridge. Officers were also injured during the ordeal.
THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has expressed its deep concern over the tragic deaths of 26-yearold Ronaldo Peters, who was fatally shot by a policeman in Linden on Monday, and Keon ‘Dan’ Fogenay, who was shot during a protest on Tuesday in response to Peters’ killing.
The party in a press statement said it supports the widespread calls for a full, thorough, and professional investigation into both incidents.
“We welcome the assurance from His Excellency President, Dr. Irfaan Ali that the officers involved in the two
issue; urges citizens not to be misled,to remain calm
shootings are currently under close arrest, as advised by the Commissioner of Police,” the PPP said.
President Ali has further announced that a full investigation will be conducted, and that this investigation will be supported by the Regional Security System (RSS) to ensure an independent and credible process.
He has also made a heartfelt appeal for calm during this difficult time and has com-
mitted to meeting with the families of the deceased and community leaders to ensure their voices are heard and their concerns fully taken into account.
“While these tragic events deserve a united and compassionate national response, it is regrettable— though not surprising—that the political opposition and its extremist fringe elements have chosen to politicise these incidents.
“As is their pattern,
they have rushed to inflame tensions and sow division for narrow political gain, showing little regard for the victims or their grieving families. It is also yet another attempt to deflect from their glaring ineptitude and lack of appeal. They have no plan or strategy to develop the country or enhance the well-being of Guyanese, and no track record to stand on—hence their constant resort to seeking publicity by exploiting misfortune for political points,” the PPP said.
The party, therefore, condemned in the strongest terms
this dangerous politicisation and called on all citizens to exercise calm, good sense, and restraint.
“We urge residents, particularly in Linden and surrounding communities, not to allow themselves to be misled or used by those who view tragedy as an opportunity to push a political agenda.”
The party also extended its condolences to the families and other relatives of Peters and Fogenay, and wished a full and speedy recovery to the injured police ranks as well as civilians.
THE Government of Guyana, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has issued a strong rebuttal to recent claims by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro that Guyana has misinterpreted the 1966 Geneva Agreement regarding the longstanding territorial controversy over the Essequibo region.
President Maduro, in a letter dated March 19, 2025, addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres, asserted that the territorial issue concerning Essequibo was “dragged into the International Court of Justice (ICJ) without Venezuela’s consent, in open violation of the 1966 Geneva Agreement.”
Guyana has categorically rejected this claim, asserting that Venezuela’s interpretation has already been rejected by the ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the UN.
“President Maduro is wrong. His interpretation of the 1966 Geneva Agreement was thoroughly rejected by the International Court of Justice, in its ruling of December 18, 2020,” the ministry noted.
In a detailed response, the ministry emphasised that the ICJ, in its December 18, 2020 ruling, decisively upheld the jurisdiction of the court to hear and determine the controversy between the two states over the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award, which definitively established the land boundary between then British Guiana and Venezuela.
In that ruling, the World Court determined that the agreement provided for the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela over the validity of the 1899 Arbitral
Award which established the boundary between the two countries, ultimately to be resolved by the Court.
The ministry emphasised that President Maduro’s letter to the UN Secretary-General attempts to portray the Geneva Agreement as excluding the use of judicial settlement.
However, it reminded that the court has already ruled otherwise. The ICJ, in its 2020 judgment, made it clear that the Geneva Agreement, signed between the United Kingdom and Venezuela in February 1966 and acceded to by Guyana upon gaining independence in May 1966, does, in fact, contemplate judicial settlement as a valid path to resolving the controversy.
The ministry emphasised: “As the court found, the Geneva Agreement, signed by the United Kingdom and Venezuela in February 1966, and joined by Guyana upon its independence in May 1966, called for a fouryear period of diplomatic negotiations to resolve the controversy created by Venezuela’s challenge, asserted for the first time in 1962, to the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award that fixed the boundary between the two countries.
“The Agreement further provided that, in the event diplomatic negotiations failed to resolve the controversy within four years, the parties would attempt to agree on one of the means of settlement listed in Article 33 of the United Nations Charter, which includes judicial settlement. In the event they could not agree on the next means of settlement, the Agreement stipulated that they would leave the choice of that means of settlement to the Secretary-General of the United Nations who
would choose the means of settlement and this choice would be binding on the parties.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation specifically pointed to Article IV(2) of the Agreement which states: “If the Government of Guyana and the Government of Venezuela should not have reached agreement regarding the choice of one of the means of settlement provided in Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations, they shall refer the decision as to the means of settlement to an appropriate international organ upon which they both agree or, failing agreement on this point, to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
“If the means so chosen do not lead to a solution of the controversy, the said organ or, as the case may be, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall choose another of the means stipulated in Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations, and so on, until the controversy has been resolved, or until all the means of peaceful settlement there contemplated have been exhausted.”
In accordance with the agreement, Guyana and Venezuela engaged in over two decades of Good Offices efforts under the Secretary-General’s auspices, in an attempt to find a peaceful diplomat-
ic resolution. However, on January 30, 2018, after the process failed to produce meaningful progress, the UN Secretary-General concluded that the Good Offices initiative had run its course.
In accordance with Article IV (2) of the Geneva Agreement, he exercised his authority and selected judicial settlement by the International Court of Justice as the next method of resolution.
Guyana, in accordance with the Secretary-General’s decision, filed an application with the ICJ on March 29, 2018, seeking a ruling on the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award and the boundary it established. Venezuela, rather than cooperate, challenged the court’s
- in strong response to President Maduro’s UN letter
jurisdiction, once again arguing that the Geneva Agreement did not allow for judicial proceedings.
After receiving extensive written submissions from both parties and holding oral hearings in June 2020, the court issued its judgment on jurisdiction on December 18, 2020.
“The court found that Guyana and Venezuela mutually conferred upon the Secretary-General of the United Nations the authority to choose the means of settlement of the controversy, and on 30th January 2018, the Secretary-General exercised this authority by choosing judicial settlement before the Court,” the ministry noted.
The court ruled that it has jurisdiction to entertain the application filed by the Co-operative Republic of Guyana on 29 March 2018, in so far as it concerns the validity of the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899, and the related question of the definitive settlement of the land boundary controversy between the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the Venezuelan Government’s current position is an attempt to ignore or undermine the binding ruling of the ICJ, a ruling which Venezuela is obligated to respect under the UN Charter. In light of this, it said that the court’s jurisdiction has already been confirmed, and the matter is now proceeding to the merits phase.
Since the court affirmed its jurisdiction, Guyana has filed two detailed written pleadings on the substance of the case. Venezuela has filed one pleading thus far, with its second due in August 2025. Oral hearings are expected to commence in the first half of 2026, after which the court will deliberate and issue a final and binding judgment.
Importantly, Guyana has reiterated its full commitment to international law and a peaceful resolution to the controversy. The government has pledged to abide by the Court’s final decision, whatever the outcome.
GUYANA stands poised on the cusp of a remarkable reinvention, with the announcement of the Berkeley-Guyana NASA Innovation Forum representing a dynamic leap into infusing the latest technological prowess into the country's developmental agenda.
The vision of President, Dr Irfaan Ali to bring this ground-breaking forum to fruition in January 2026 is a calculated shift from merely dreaming of innovation to taking an active role in
shaping it, drawing in world heavyweights such as NASA and Berkeley into active synergy with Guyana's untapped potential.
This project is not symbolic; it's a real step toward positioning Guyana as a hub of technological excellence in the region. The recent presentation of the Global Leadership Award for Open Innovation to the president is an attestation of his efforts at fostering partnerships beyond borders. His visit to the NASA Ames Research
Centre and exposure to leading-edge technologies such as the Vertical Motion Simulator and NASA's latest supercomputer, reflect Guyana's interest in embracing innovation as a driver of national development.
The implications of this forum are profound. It offers Guyana a historic opportunity to leverage drone technology know-how, aviation innovation and supercomputing capability to address pressing needs—from climate resilience to sustainable
infrastructure. These collaborations could provide local researchers, entrepreneurs and policymakers with previously unimaginable tools and catalyse a culture of innovation that extends to every facet of society.
President Ali’s emotional reflection on walking through NASA and Google X facilities highlights a pivotal moment in Guyana’s narrative—a transition from passive spectatorship to active participation in global innovation ecosystems. This
is not merely about technology; it is about redefining Guyana’s identity on the world stage as a country capable of contributing meaningfully to solving complex global problems.
As January 2026 beckons, the Berkeley-Guyana NASA Innovation Forum is a shining example of what is possible. It is a challenge to Guyanese to welcome this new dawn with optimism and determination, to ensure that the dividends of these collaborations reach into all
sectors of society. By building indigenous competencies and embracing external expertise, Guyana can become a model of how small nations can harness innovation for transformative growth. This is not only a historic moment—it is a catalytic one. Guyana needs to grasp this moment with unshakeable determination, demonstrating that visions once limited to television sets can, in fact, be realised when vision is paired with action.
Dear Editor,
The rapid development in all sectors of Guyana’s economy is being impeded by an acute shortage of labour, especially skilled labour.
One big construction company says that it has vacancies for over 100 jobs, including unskilled, and is finding it hard to fill these slots. Another company says that it cannot get even unskilled labour to work on a regular basis and that they might have to seek approval from the government to import labour from overseas.
The estimate of labour shortage for the next five years ranges from 50,000 to 100,000. The latter figure was cited by Guyana’s Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud (Guyana Daily Business: 14/8/24).
The Ministry of Labour, recognising this massive labour shortage, has sharpened focus on technical training at
its Board of Industrial Training (BIT) unit to help close the skilled labour shortage gap.
Simultaneously, a crucial responsibility of the Labour Ministry is to strive to support a healthy industrial relations climate to facilitate the country’s social and economic transformation (SET). Towards this goal, the ministry vetted and countersigned 102 Collective Labour Agreements (CLAs) between employers and employees during 2020 to 2024. Building upon a stable industrial relations climate, the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) has conducted 653 courses during 2020-2024. These are critical for the country’s SET, and Labour Minister Mr Joseph Hamilton expounds on the need for the University of Guyana (UG), for example, to reconfigure its curriculum to embrace the skills set needed by SET.
He says that UG should produce graduates whose qualifications are compatible with the country’s development thrust and which are marketable. If graduates’ qualifications are not marketable, they would become frustrated, even demoralised, and inclined to emigrate.
The courses for each of the 10 regions may vary according to the needs of the regions. So far (20202024) 12,765 (M: 5,077; F: 7,688) Guyanese have been trained. Females comprised 60 percent of the graduates compared with 40 percent of males.
This is the pattern nationwide as proportionately more females tend to graduate compared with males at (i) Secondary schools, (ii) University of Guyana; and (iii) Teachers’ Training College (CPCE).
At BIT, female graduates outnumber males in such areas as: photovolta-
ics installation, information technology, social work, occupational health and safety, shade house farming, garment construction, early childhood development, data operation, cosmetology, agro-processing, and commercial food preparation.
Skills training is also provided by other organisations, including the private sector. The $(US) 13 million Oil and Gas Facility (Simulator) under the administration of the Guyana Technical Training College (GTTC) is a joint venture by the Guyana government and ExxonMobil and partners. This facility is dedicated to training in: mechanical, instrumentation, electrical, and production.
The $(US) 7.2 million Hospitality and Tourism Training Institute (HTTI), funded by the Government and the Caribbean Development Bank is under construction at Port Mourant,
and would be administered by the GTTC. The government expects to create 50,000 jobs in this sector (SN: 2/17/24) in the next few years.
GuySuCo’s training school at Port Mourant would be upgraded. Also, the Ministry of Education administers the TVET (Technical and Vocational Education Training) program that includes the Government Technical Institutes.
TVET trains about 4,000 students per year in various skills. The Ministry of Agriculture has its own training programmes run by the Guyana School of Agriculture and by NAREI (National Agriculture Research Extension Institute). Other Government Ministries and agencies have their own technical training programs.
How do we get an insight into the impact of these programs? For the BIT training, the Ministry of Labor
has employed tracer studies which have shown that BIT students did not only enhance or acquire new skills but also improve their employment prospects. Before BIT training, out of a sample of 226, 56 percent were gainfully employed, 13 percent were studying, and 31 percent were unemployed. After BIT training, 73 percent are employed, eight percent continue studying, and 19 percent unemployed. In the public sector, 43 percent of BIT graduates are employed, while 26 percent work in the private sector. No response on employment status was received from 31 percent (70) of the graduates in the sample.
Technical and vocational education, including AI technology, are given high priority in the furtherance of the country’s socio-economic transformation.
Regards, Dr Tara Singh
I HAVE to read what the names above write. That is my work. I have to read their work and reply to them because my fear is if I don’t then the propagandistic dimensions could penetrate the mind of the young population of this country. I have a more pressing urge to reply to Jeffrey because he directs his letters in the press to African Guyanese.
Both of these men have learnt nothing from being part of a colonial society. They have learnt nothing about how the colonial narratives formed by the colonials have been used by the colonials after Independence to still control the post-colonial era. Read what Jeffrey and Ramcharan write, and their standard bearer for judging the world are American and European academics.
I am deeply convinced that not only have Jeffrey and Ramcharan not read the autobiography of one of the most experienced international economists, Maurice Odle, who is from Guyana but would frown on it because their standard bearer is what American and European scholars have to say about the world. Odle’s book is top scholarship in a far superior category than the works Jeffrey and Ramcharan are zealous in quoting for Guyanese readers.
It is easy to see the colonial mind of Ramcharan because every column he writes, he cites the publications of biased American authors who see the world as re-
volving around the superior democratic instincts of the USA. Some of the authors Ramcharan cites dismiss China, Russia and the Global South with instant contempt.
Ramcharran never mentions any Third World scholar who paints an alternative picture of global democracy. I say in all earnestness, I don’t think Ramcharan knows of a fine piece of scholarship on global democracy co-edited by one of our very own living right here in Guyana, Dr. Randolph Persaud. Together with Professor, Narendran Kumarakulasingam, they have co-edited, “Violence and the Third World in International Relations.” The stuff in that book you will never find in the works of American International Relations scholars because American authors and academics in the Global South use different concepts. The defining journal for American and European academic is “Foreign Affairs.” This journal is published by the Council on Foreign Relations which consist of past American presidents and Cabinet ministers plus America’s top CEOs. Writers in “Foreign Affairs” and American and European scholars do not recognise such terms as “imperialism, “neo-colonialism,” “the new imperialism,” “American hegemony.” They do not accept those are forces at work in the international system. Odle’s autobiography is an excellent treat of how the new imperialism in today’s world still suppresses the former
colonies of the European empires.
If Ramcharan and Jeffrey did not have to suffer from persistent colonial influence, they would have had a far better understanding of how the world works. Let me quote Jeffrey for all Guyanese to see: “Today, under the rubric of economic growth, autocratic regimes worldwide – in Africa, America, Guyana and Asia – are attempting to hypnotise their populations with material incentives as they systematically remove (sic) the human desire and right to democratic self-government.”
Read for yourself! Judge for yourself! Jeffrey did not mention Europe. In Europe, France, Italy and Germany have “systematically remove (sic) the human desire and right to democratic self-government.” It was a Guyanese columnist with the Stabroek News, Ashma John who lives in Germany that told us about Nazi-like deportations after dark in Germany. Neither Ramcharan nor Jeffrey read John.
Jeffrey and Ramcharan are too colonially saturated and ignorant to know about the Windrush Scandal where Caribbean citizens with legal citizenship were deported en mass from the UK.
Yet this silly man (no apologies) left out Europe in his discourse on autocratic countries. Guyana as a relatively unknown country in the world, is more democratic than many of the leading European powers.
Read Jeffrey and Ramcharan and you will
see who are their reliable sources for judging the world – Germany’s Transparency Institute; France’s Reporters Without Borders; Sweden’s Varieties of Democracy Institute ; America’s Freedom House.
All of these are unaccountable Western institutions that use Eurocentric concepts to describe the world and
two Guyanese, one in Guyana, Henry Jeffrey and the other in Canada, Bertrand Ramcharan continue to cite them as authorities for understanding the world. When it comes to Jeffrey, how do African Guyanese see this man? He writes in the name of African Guyanese. He speaks to African issues. But his mind is in the
colonial world. Can such a person find acceptance among African Guyanese. I hope not. I really hope not.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.
THE Guyana Police Force is currently investigating the alleged murder of a 30-year-old Marissa Beete at the hands of her ex-partner, Ghalee Khan.
The incident occurred between 18:15 and 19:00hrs on Tuesday night at Beete’s Recht-Door-Zee, West Bank Demerara home.
According to the police, initial investigations revealed that the couple’s two-year relationship ended recently due to a misunderstanding.
At about 16:15hrs on Tuesday, Beete was at home with her 62-year-old mother when she received a call from Khan, a security officer attached to Integrated Security Service, who related that he wanted to speak with her.
“Despite her mom rebuking her for doing so, Marissa opened the door and invited the suspect into the house. The 62-year-old woman stated that she got up and went to the back of the house, giving the suspect and her daughter privacy. Sometime after, the woman said she heard her daughter call out ‘Mommy’, followed by a loud explo -
sion,” the police said.
The woman rushed to the living room where she saw her daughter in a slouched position on the ground with what appeared to be blood coming from her head.
“At the time, the suspect was standing with what appeared to be a gun over the victim's head. The 62-yearold woman said she ran and held on to the suspect, who fired another shot in an unknown direction,” the police said, adding that Khan subsequently shot himself once in the head.
Both Beete and Khan were taken to the West Demerara Hospital where Marissa succumbed to her injuries.
Up to press time Khan was undergoing surgery and his condition was listed as serious.
The police related that Beete’s body was checked for marks of violence and one bullet-like wound was seen above her right eye.
Further, at the scene, three live rounds of ammunition were found.
In 2021, Khan was handed a nine-year prison sentence in New York for drug trafficking and jumping bail. This publication understands that the convict was deported to Guyana sometime last year.
A screenshot from the CCTV footage which captured the robbery
TWO suspected bandits were shot dead at a Chinese supermarket by a security guard on Tuesday night.
The two men, who have not yet been identified, were part of a group of bandits which attempted to rob the Jai Jai Supermarket, located on Hadfield Street, Georgetown.
The Guyana Chronicle understands that the men entered the supermarket to carry out the crime, and in the process were shot by a security guard attached to a private firm stationed there at the time.
Up to press time, CCTV footage of the encounter surfaced on social media showing the men running into the supermarket and jumping over the cashier counters, after which their attempts were foiled by the security officer.
Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy at the Meeting of the IPU Standing Committee on Sustainable Development
MINISTER within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, on Sunday highlighted Guyana’s proactive approach to sustainable development amid global and regional challenges using initiatives such as the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
Minister McCoy was at the time attending the Meeting of the IPU Standing Committee on Sustainable Development at the Hilton Hotel Ballroom in Uzbekistan.
The committee, according to a press statement, convened to deliberate on a resolution titled “Parliamentary strategies to mitigate the long-lasting impact of conflicts, including armed conflicts, on sustainable development.”
The discussion formed part of the 150th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, which is being held at the International Congress Centre in Tashkent, Uzbekistan until today.
In his remarks, Minister McCoy expressed strong support for the resolution and emphasised its timeliness and importance.
He highlighted Guyana’s proactive approach to ensuring sustainable development amid global and regional challenges. Chief among the initiatives he referenced was the Government of Guyana’s Low Carbon
Development Strategy (LCDS)—a pioneering framework that has facilitated the generation of revenue through carbon credit sales. These revenues have been equitably shared to 253 Indigenous communities, enabling them to undertake village development projects.
Minister McCoy also pointed to Guyana’s investment in digital empowerment through the provision of online scholarships and expanded internet access, further underscoring the government’s commitment to human development and resilience.
Delegates from other member states echoed Minister McCoy’s sentiments, affirming the need for sustained peace, dialogue, and inclusive governance to support sustainable development efforts.
The resolution emphasises a range of strategic actions, including the upholding of human rights, strengthening parliamentary oversight, fostering dialogue, enhancing coordination with humanitarian and development partners, and promoting educational initiatives in post-conflict contexts.
The discussions will feed into the broader outcomes of the 150th IPU Assembly, which continues to serve as a vital platform for parliamentary diplomacy, cooperation, and collective action in addressing global challenges.
By Naomi Parris
GUYANESE officials, later this week, will meet with domestic exporters to further discuss the impacts of the recent reciprocal tariffs imposed by the United States (US) on Guyana and other nations, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has said.
While responding to questions from the local media on the sidelines of an event on Tuesday, the Head of State noted that Guyana remains engaged with its US counterparts on the matter.
He said: “The US is a strong partner of Guyana, and we have a lot of discussions and conversations that are ongoing… there are some good discussions going on.
“I have asked the Minister of Finance, and the Vice President too will be meeting with our exporters before the end of this week to have a sense from them of the impact of the current circumstances.”
Just last week, Guyana’s Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo advised exporters not to panic as the Guyana government plans to engage the US.
Jagdeo noted that the announcement does not come as a surprise since President Trump had spoken extensively about trade during his election campaign, highlighting how he planned to use it as a vehicle to rebalance trade between his country and the rest of the world.
“So, President Trump’s announcement yesterday did not come as a surprise to us here in Guyana. This was anticipated,” he said.
The VP then delved into the government’s current understanding of President Trump’s tariff plans.
- President Ali says gov’t engaged in ‘good’ discussions, as North American nation remains a strong partner
President Trump imposed a 10 per cent tariff on all countries but he also announced individualised reciprocal tariffs that are higher for over 50 countries, including Guyana. Jagdeo then proposed the calculation that he believes the US used to arrive at that figure.
He said: “From what we looked at, all we have read, it seems as though all of the countries that have had higher reciprocal tariffs are countries that have been exporting more into the United States of America than they are importing from the United States of America. That is, countries that have a trade surplus with the United States of America. It seems as though that is the basis for higher reciprocal tariff not individualised tariff barriers in each country.”
He then pointed to some statistics from the United Nations (UN) global trade platform, Comtrade data, which indicated that, for 2024, Guyana exported US$3.3 billion to the US and imported US$2.56 billion, so there was a trade surplus.
However, the US re-
ported that the exports from Guyana into that country totalled US$5.5 billion while the imports amounted to US$1.3 billion. According to their figures, there was a trade surplus of $4.1 billion.
Jagdeo told members of the media that the Trump administration might have derived the 38 per cent figure based on the aforementioned figures.
However, Jagdeo contended that the rate might drop if the trade surplus statistics drop and if the facts are made clear and both parties can reconcile the trade figures.
FROM PAGE 16
During the meeting Dr. Singh alluded to the long history the government has had working with the GCCI and other business support organizations. He congratulated the new President on her appointment, recognizing her advocacy in the past while indicating that Mrs. Smith’s work thus far and perspectives on various issues have been noted and appreciated.
Dr. Singh also reiterated the historic aspect of the new President being the first female to be elected to the post. He emphasized further that the government
remains a committed partner and friend of the private sector and looks forward to continuous engagement with the GCCI.
For her part, Mrs. Smith said she looks forward to further building the relationship with government as she expressed appreciation to government for a number of measures taken to support private sector growth and development including most recently, the increase in the income tax threshold, reduction in the personal income tax rate in the 2025 budget, the removal of Value Added Taxes (VAT) from agricultural machinery as
well as assistance thus far provided for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and to the agriculture sector.
Ms. Kathy Smith was elected as President of the Chamber during the first statuto-
ry meeting of the GCCI of 2025 held on March 21, during which the election for the Executive Management Committee was held. The election followed the elections for the Chamber’s 21-member
Council for the year 2025/2026 held during its AGM on March 19, 2025.
The new Executive Management Committee includes the GCCI President Mrs, Smith, Senior Vice
President, Mr. Gavin Ramsoondar; Junior Vice President, Mr. Brian Edwards; Treasurer, Mrs. Melisa McRae-George, and Secretary, Mrs. Kristia Ramlagan-Prescott.”
By Michel Outridge
MINISTER of Agri -
culture Zulfikar Mustapha on Tuesday announced that as part of a massive plan for the sector, a swine programme will soon be launched and Soesdyke-Linden Highway farmers will be beneficiaries of free agricultural inputs under a new initiative that seeks to increase their earnings and boost production.
The minister was at the time meeting res -
idents of Loo Creek and its environs at the Seventh-Day Adventist Camp Site on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. The sizeable audience consisted mainly of farmers.
There was loud applause when the minister announced a programme which would equip farmers with the resources and tools needed to increase agricultural production through the distribution of chickens and planting materials.
The people of Loo
“We are equipping people to earn for themselves. When we make a promise or a commitment, we take it very seriously. We will bring water supply to Loo Creek, and if you notice, we have started this project. All commitments and promises have been fulfilled, delivered to the people of this country. We are doing new things, such as building stadiums at Anna Regina, Linden and in Berbice,” he said.
Creek, and the neighbouring villages of Kairuni, Adventure, and Silver Hill were more than pleased with this announcement.
Minister Mustapha emphasised that the government’s development plan includes all Guyanese and is not applicable to people of a certain ethnicity, back-
ground or religion. He said the government’s aim is to modernise the country.
Turning his attention to the agricultural sector, he spoke of the tremendous losses poultry farmers suffer as a result of disease. Armed with this knowledge, government has invested some $29 million to purchase vaccines to combat diseases.
He said too that persons have been brought to Guyana to manufacture the vaccines as part of efforts to reduce cost and the number of birds that dies.
He urged poultry farmers to engage the livestock officers who
FROM PAGE 18
were present at the meeting as part of his team.
The minister announced that 50,000 birds would be handed to farmers and cashcrop farmers would receive planting materials to boost their productivity.
“In Guyana, the demand is high so what we are doing, we have 11 nurseries across the country where we produce planting materials, but we are building a tissue-culture lab in another few months, which upon completion will produce millions of planting material[s] for large-scale farmers,” he said.
In the drainage and irrigation (D&I) sector, the minister pointed out that they are working to modernise it.
He disclosed that they are presently constructing Hope-like canals in Regions Five, Three and Six and installing a modern pump at Jimbo, East Bank Demerara.
Further, Minister
Mustapha revealed that a total of 40 new pumps will be installed across the country. Additionally, 100 new sluices will be either rehabilitated or built, while mega canals will be constructed in what he says is part of a massive plan for the agricultural sector.
“In all sectors we are moving, developing, securing, and hope as beneficiaries you will prosper and let progress continue in this country,” he said.
The minister added that the ministry will soon launch a swine programme in which a pair of swine will be distributed to farmers to increase its population since they will be building a swine abattoir at Garden of Eden, East bank Demerara. Further, he disclosed that $40 million has been spent on importing corn and soya for the livestock industry. This he underscored has got to change.
Speaking more on this, he said that President, Dr Irfaan Ali’s
vision is for us to produce our own corn and soya in Guyana and as such, the Tacama savannah is being developed for cultivation by year’s end.
The minister added that agriculture is far-reaching and efforts are being made to modernise the sector and get more young people involved.
The minister stated that they have started a programme targetting young people from the University of Guyana (UG) and the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) to become involved in agriculture through the Agricultural Innovation Entrepre-
neurship Programme. It is expected that within a year, more young people will turn to farming.
He also highlighted achievements in hydroponics farming.
“Right now, we have the largest hydroponics farm in the Caribbean at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. There are 100,000 plantlets at any time and we are now replicating that in Regions, Two, Five and 10. Works are ongoing to build hydroponics in three regions,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister Mustapha emphasised the importance of
agriculture to the government, highlighting the growth of the sector over the past four and a half years.
“You heard of our progress; you have seen it in all sectors and for us as a government, agriculture will always remain important for us because our objective is to ensure Guyana becomes food secure. And for us to have food security, we have to invest in agriculture to produce food and our aim is to make Guyana the food provider of the region, the main food producer,” he said.
The minister added that the current administration has developed
every single village and every corner of this country, and they will continue to meet with the people, the stakeholders, working with them to develop the agricultural sector.
He told the group of residents and farmers that his presence in the village is to continue the work which started four and a half years ago since agriculture is one of the most important activities in Guyana and around the world.
“Judge us by our records .,, Be honest enough to make the correct decision for progress to continue beyond 2025 in Guyana,” he said.
- Khan says after ‘professional interaction’ with US authorities - denies false allegations on social media, vows to take legal action over misinformation
DR. Roshan Khan, a prominent figure, has addressed recent social media posts that have been circulating which he claims are false and contains defamatory accusations against him. Khan categorically denies any involvement in criminal activities in a statement released to the public. He expressed his con-
cern over the spread of the allegations, including claims of involvement in human trafficking, drug trafficking, and gold smuggling.
He emphasised that these accusations are "completely false, reckless, and libelous."
He further clarified the situation surrounding his recent interaction with U.S. authorities at John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport, stating that he was briefly interviewed as part of standard security procedures.
“The questions were entirely focused on whether I knew of Azzruddin Mohamed and Nazar Mohamed. The interview was conducted in an extremely professional manner. At no point was I detained or
arrested. Additionally, my phone was never confiscated.”
Further expressing his respect for U.S. laws and institutions, Dr. Khan acknowledged the right of authorities to question individuals entering the country as part of their national security protocols.
Dr. Khan has instructed his legal team to take immediate action against any parties responsible for continuing to promote these falsehoods, highlighting his commitment to protecting his reputation.
LIFE in the communities of Hururu and neighbouring Landerville is steadily improving, as targetted investments by the PPP/C Government continue to transform key sectors.
From education and infrastructure to agriculture and healthcare, residents are witnessing tangible changes that are shaping a better future for themselves and their families.
Among the most notable achievements is the construction of Hururu’s nursery, primary, and secondary schools.
Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill spearheaded a community engagement in the area on Tuesday, where he inspected the facilities and highlighted the government’s commitment to transforming education in communities across the country.
The Hururu Academy, previously in a dilapidated state, was fully rehabilitated following consultations with residents, and is now operational. The nursery school has also been reopened, replete with electricity and ceiling fans to ensure a more comfortable learning environment.
“With your support, I am very happy that I was able to go to secondary school, and learning is progressing. Our children are in school,” Minister Edghill told residents.
He also highlighted the government’s support for teacher training through Online platforms, allowing educators to upgrade their qualifications without leaving their communities.
Fifteen Community Service Officers (CSOs) in Hururu, and 19 part-
time workers in Landerville have also been employed to support ongoing community development.
Minister Edghill highlighted the continued distribution of the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant of $50,000, along with a $5,000 uniform voucher, initiatives implemented to ease the financial burden on families nationwide, including those in these communities.
Teachers have also received grants to purchase classroom materials, boosting the overall learning environment.
In agriculture, the government is focused on improving market access for farmers. To this end, three new boats are being constructed, one of which will serve the Berbice River.
These vessels will help reduce transportation costs, and improve income for farming families.
“We have made a decision that by the end of May, early June, you will have a boat that will carry your products to the market at a reasonable cost, so that you can sell and make money to support your wife, children and everybody,” Minister Edghill stated. The boats will be managed by the Ministry’s Transport and Harbours Department.
The minister also announced the construction of new landings along the Berbice River, along with concrete walkways linking them to schools and health centres.
These works will be undertaken by local residents, generating employment and ownership within the community.
Healthcare delivery has seen a boost, with the
FROM PAGE 21
introduction of telemedicine, allowing residents to consult with specialists based in Georgetown, Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, and even India.
The government is also distributing vouchers for spectacles for children and senior citizens and encouraging women to access cervical cancer screenings.
“The development you see here isn’t by accident,” he asserted. “It is the result of a government that listens, plans, and delivers.”
With general and regional elections approaching, Minister Edghill urged residents to be wary of empty promises.
“A lot of people are going to be coming to pick mango, but people who ain’t plant nothing want come and pick. People who ain’t do nothing coming to tell you the mango is their own,” the minister told the residents.
While reminding residents of the previous administration’s failure to deliver on its promises, Minister Edghill noted, “They once came and tell you all the fancy stories; they didn’t come back. And if they had done anything or everything for
you, we won’t have to be doing all that we are doing now.”
He reminded residents of the government’s quick response during recent floods, when President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips visited to offer support.
“You got food, black tanks, animal feed, seeds, and shelter. We didn’t abandon you,” Edghill said. “The PPP/C has always been in your corner,” the public works minister emphasised.
Hururu received $48 million from carbon credit revenues under the Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, in addition to annual Presidential Grants to fund economic development projects.
Some 40 residents from Hururu and Landerville who did not receive their cash grants during the initial distribution phase received their $100,000 grants on the sidelines of the engagement. (DPI)
LINDEN Stewart recalls that he first spotted a bee at the tender age of seven. By the time he was fourteen, beekeeping was his hobby. Over time, he has become the leading beekeeping expert in Guyana.
For his work in building the sector in his country and his continued efforts to disseminate practical knowledge on bees, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) has named Stewart a “Leader of Rurality of the Americas”.
Stewart was bestowed with the “Soul of Rurality” award as part of an initiative by the specialised organisa-
tion in agricultural and rural development to highlight the role of men and women who are leaving their mark and making a difference in the rural areas of the hemisphere, while also ensuring the planet’s environmental sustainability and its food and nutritional security.
Our conversation with the beekeeper is a veritable lesson not only on the world of bees, honey and pollination, but also on the geography of his South American nation and snippets of the history of life in Georgetown. Stewart proudly recounts the steps that led him to become an instructor for other beekeepers
in Guyana.
First, Linden explains the origin of the predominant type of bee in his country today. When Stewart began to work with these insects, the most common variety in the country was the popular Italian bee, which was active and popular throughout the world.
However, looking back in history, he recalls that, “Somewhere around 1976, 1977 or 1978, beekeepers from the Pomeroon region (in northern Guyana) reported that they had noticed changes in the behavioral pattern of bees” in the region. “They complained that these bees
were more aggressive and they were not sure why”.
In fact, what was happening was that Africanised bees were slowly migrating to Guyana from Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname. Africanised bees are known to be a class of hybrid bees that are a cross between the African and other European sub-species. They are known to be more defensive and aggressive than Italian bees, for example.
Continuing his story, Stewart recalls that the Africanised bees came in contact with weak colonies in number and did not hesitate to invade these hives and to
breed with the local species, thereby “taking over” the country.
Stewart noted that, at that time, before they realised what was happening, “beekeepers would still approach their hives as if they were still inhabited by Italian bees, without taking the necessary precautions or wearing adequate clothing”.
For some reason, the authorities at that time “did very little” to curb the invasion of the Africanised bees, and as a result, “Guyana no longer has any Italian bees”, said the expert. “We had to adapt and to learn how to handle these bees”, Stewart continued. Finally, “We got the hang of it, having travelled to every nook and cranny of the country and developed a training programme”.
Nowadays, with the benefit of hindsight, he explains that no one really misses the Italian bees. Africanised bees are more pest- and disease-resistant. The country’s beekeepers practically have no concerns about mites or parasites, such as the dreaded varroa mites or the colony collapse disorder (CCD) that results in the mysterious disappearance of massive numbers of worker bees, causing entire hives to collapse.
Stewart uses our conversation as an opportunity to point out that these tremendous benefits of beekeeping in Guyana are periodically certified, which is a task in which IICA is also involved.
Turning back to his own history, Stewart shares a few details about the start of his
professional career, as he recalls scenes from everyday life in Georgetown during the 70s, when children “had to obey our parents”. His parents suggested that he should train to be a librarian and bookbinder; and the young Lindener dutifully agreed, completing two years of the course. What his parents didn’t know was that he was secretly rearing bees in hives established in an abandoned building, although beekeeping was still just his hobby.
Later, also feeling compelled to follow in the footsteps of many family members who had passed through Guyana’s security forces, Stewart enrolled in a penitentiary service. After four years in this job and then experimenting with other jobs, the time came when he was ready to devote his efforts completely to bees, somewhere around 1990. “I started with three hives, and I never looked back”, he said. Currently, in addition to his hives and teaching activities, Stewart manages a bee removal service. “We travel throughout the ten regions of Guyana”, to relocate colonies that are established in homes, deserted buildings, farms, government facilities, trees or abandoned cars at the side of the road”.
To provide a clearer understanding of this work, Stewart released a hypnotic video on YouTube some time ago, where he and one of his colleagues can be seen rescuing some bees that built a colony inside an old tire! The panels of the im -
THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), by a majority vote, has decided not to renew the contract of its Legal Officer, Attorney-at-Law Kurt Da Silva, who was appointed in 2022.
People’s Progressive Party (PPP)-nominated GECOM Commissioner, Attorney-at-Law Sase Gunraj, confirmed that the decision was made on Tuesday following a vote by its seven-member Commission. The Guyana Chronicle has
People’s Progressive Party (PPP)-nominated GECOM Commissioner, Attorney-at-Law Sase
learnt that Da Silva's threeyear contract ended last Monday.
As a result, the issue of renewal was raised at a Commission meeting on Tuesday, when the three PPP-nominated GECOM Commissioners, along with Chairperson Justice Claudette Singh, voted in favour of not renewing his contract.
This publication understands that the opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioners abstained from voting and walked out of the meeting. Addressing the matter, Gunraj said: “The contract came to the commission for its consideration and views were given on both sides— [PPP] and A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC). At [Tuesday’s] meeting, Justice Singh rendered her vote and gave very elaborate reasons as justification for voting against the renewal of the Legal
TURN TO PAGE 27
FROM PAGE 26
Officer’s contract.”
He highlighted that some of Justice Singh’s reasons referenced a recent court case filed by People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chief Scrutineer, Carol Smith-Joseph.
GECOM’s decision comes just weeks after GECOM’s Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Vishnu Persaud, distanced himself from submissions made by Da Silva in that very case.
In the case, Smith-Joseph requested the court to issue an order compelling GECOM to verify that a registrant resides at the address provided for inclusion in the National Register of Registrants (NRR) and for voting purposes.
Da Silva had, among other things, largely agreed
with Smith-Joseph’s position that residency in administrative regions is a constitutional requirement for electors to vote in regional elections.
However, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire, SC, ruled that residency is not a requirement for either General or Regional elections, and that individuals are free to provide any address at the time of registration.
NOTHING UNUSUAL
Gunraj emphasised that there was nothing unusual about GECOM’s decision, noting that the contract of Da Silva’s predecessor was also not renewed.
He also criticised APNU+AFC-nominated GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander for describing the Chief Justice’s
decision as "myopic."
Gunraj stated: “Everyone is entitled to their view; however, the ruling of the court is the ruling of the court until/[if] it is set aside. I have also seen in the media an intention to appeal the ruling. Well, we will see where that goes.”
According to Gunraj, the APNU+AFC-nominated GECOM Commissioners, who are now "championing the cause" of Da Silva, have been raising concerns about his conduct for months.
“That conduct and those complaints are well documented in our minutes. A lot of those complaints were referenced in their own contributions in relation to the renewal or otherwise of the Legal Officer’s contract. But in their
view, perhaps for reasons best known to them, those complaints ought not to have formed a basis for the non-renewal,” he said.
In response to claims by opposition-aligned commissioners about inconsistencies in the chairperson’s vote, Gunraj urged them to engage in some self-reflection, pointing out the contradictions in their own positions regarding the non-renewal of Da Silva’s
contract.
He reiterated that these commissioners themselves had previously raised complaints about the Legal Officer.
No formal statement has been issued by GECOM detailing the specific grounds for the contract termination.
When reached for comment on GECOM’s decision, Da Silva stated that he had nothing to say “at
this time”. GECOM’s decision to part ways with the attorney comes at a time when Guyana is preparing for General and Regional Elections due later this year.
Da Silva served as the Chief Legal Adviser to the commission and was responsible for providing legal guidance on matters related to electoral laws, regulations, and procedures.
THE world faces unprecedented challenges: A growing population, increasing climate extremes, and dwindling natural resources. Feeding the planet sustainably requires a shift, a move away from "business as usual" to embrace innovative solutions that can transform our agri-food systems.
This transformation demands not only technological breakthroughs, but also a renewed commitment to collaboration and a willingness to rethink how we produce, distribute, and consume food. At the heart of this effort lies the critical need for strengthened multilateralism, ensuring that the benefits of innovation are shared equita-
bly across the globe.
But what does "innovation" truly mean in the context of agriculture and food security? How can emerging technologies like artificial intelligence be harnessed responsibly to address these global challenges? And what role can international organizations, governments, and even individual citizens play
in shaping a more sustainable and food-secure future?
To explore these crucial questions, FAO Newsroom spoke with Vincent Martin, Director of the FAO Office of Innovation. Martin outlines FAO's vision for innovation, highlights projects underway, and emphasizes the urgent need for collective action to build resilient and equitable agri-food systems.
Let's talk about innovation at FAO. What does that really mean, in practical terms?
Vincent Martin: Innovation, simply put, is about doing things differently— and doing different things. For me, it's also about translating science into market opportunities and bringing it into the field. The goal is to
harness the power of science and innovation to transform agrifood systems and deliver solutions directly to farmers and those who need them most—helping people build better lives and make a living from agriculture. In short, it’s about scaling impact and ensuring innovation reaches the last mile.
It’s important to recognize that innovation is not a luxury—it must become the norm. Why? Because we are facing exponential, complex, and interconnected challenges: climate change, biodiversity loss, pandemics, economic and financial crises, and growing global demands. Yet, too often, we respond with linear solutions that fail to match the scale and complexity of these problems.
In other words, we are acting like firefighters—always reacting, rarely anticipating. We're behind the curve when we need to be ahead of it.
To truly meet the challenges of the 21st century, we must move from linear thinking to holistic, forward-looking, and innovative approaches.
Innovation is essential. It’s also about staying relevant—closing the gap between what we are doing now and what we should be doing to keep pace with rapid change and transformation.
So, how does FAO apply this concept of innovation, specifically to agri-food systems?
TURN TO PAGE 29
FROM PAGE 28
In 2022, we launched our Science and Innovation Strategy and established the Office of Innovation. The goal was to define what innovation means for transforming agri-food systems—finding ways to feed a growing population without depleting natural resources. This requires a new vision: doing different things and doing things differently.
Applying innovation in agri-food systems means leveraging science, technology, and innovation to produce more with less— ensuring systems not only avoid contributing to climate change or resource depletion but also become part of the solution. In the face of climate shocks, crises, and financial downturns, we explore a broad spectrum of solutions—not just technological innovation, but also social, institutional, financial, and policy innovations.
For example, in technology, biotechnology plays a key role. New genomic techniques can help develop crop varieties that are more resistant to climate change, drought, salinity, and pests. But technology alone isn't enough. Social innovation is also critical. How do we empower women and youth to drive innovation? How do we enable them to develop solutions and bring scientific discoveries to the field? We support women and young entrepreneurs to do exactly that.
We also work directly with farmers through our flagship Farmer Field Schools (FFS) program. For decades, it has enabled peerto-peer learning—farmers identifying problems and finding solutions together in the field. Now, we are developing Farmer Field Schools 2.0, focused not just on scaling numbers but scaling impact. This next phase
aims to mobilize entire rural communities for landscape regeneration, inclusive economies, and gender-transformative change. By 2040, we aim to reach 50 million rural people by integrating digital tools, behavioral science, and innovative finance. To achieve this, we’re scaling out to new regions, including post-conflict areas; scaling deep to foster lasting social and cultural change; and scaling up by embedding FFS into national policies and private sector strategies.
Could you give us some concrete, country-specific examples of these innovation projects that have been successful?
In 2023, we launched FAO’s own incubator programme for field innovation, called Elevate. So far, we've supported two cohorts of projects and teams, ranging from high-tech to low-tech solutions.
One example is a dronebased air sampling project in Southeast Asia. Drones collect samples from bat caves to identify potential pandemic viruses—allowing researchers to screen environments safely and accurately, without health risks. This method can be replicated across different agricultural settings for rapid, high-precision results.
Another project, based in Africa, focuses on bio-economy by using black soldier flies to reduce food waste.
The flies consume waste, lay millions of eggs, and the larvae are then dried to produce animal feed—a circular, sustainable solution. This initiative was selected for the UN Global Pulse Accelerator Programme due to its success.
In Cabo Verde, a project supports women in fish-producing communities by training them to turn fish skins into leather for fashion items—creating new livelihoods and adding value to local resources.
The diversity of innovations is impressive. Many teams are also exploring artificial intelligence—from boosting production to detecting diseases. We're seeing creative, impactful solutions emerge from across FAO.
And this is just the beginning. We’re continuously working to accelerate these innovations, scale them effectively, and ensure they reach the communities who need them most. (FAO)
DR Sean Cambridge who has endorsed the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), said on Tuesday that as a large-scale poultry farmer who has invested heavily in Guyana, he isn’t about promoting any political party, but merely acknowl -
edging progress as he sees it.
Dr Cambridge was among those present at a community meeting with Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha and his team, at Loo Creek, Seventh-Day Adventist Camp Site on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.
“I want to thank not only the minister but the government at large for doing a good job. I am not here to promote any political party, but I am here to say ‘give Jack his jacket’ and to acknowledge progress when you see it’s being done everywhere. There will be
new elections shortly and I will not tell you how to vote, but people should use their conscience and put their ‘x’ where they see there is progress,” a very hyped Dr Cambridge said.
The poultry farmer and Chairman of the Seventh-Day Adventist Conference told the large gathering that he wanted an opportunity to point out a few things done by the political par-
ty in Loo Creek and generally across Guyana.
He stated that in the sugar sector, a 28 per cent increase in production was recorded with the reopening of the Rose Hall estate, along with a seven per cent increase in rice production. Additionally, he said there has been an increase in our exports of over $3 billion.
“And I think that is complimentary for the
Ministry of Agriculture. Crops are up $919 million, and people do not know this but it’s true,” he said.
In addition to the rapid development, Dr Cambridge noted that there are 17 new pump stations under construction or already completed, pointing out that he did not know that drainage and irrigation (D&I) was the responsibility
TURN TO PAGE 31
of the Ministry of Agriculture.
As a large-scale poultry farmer at Loo Creek, he stated that as for processing plants, one each is located at Yarrowkabra, Anna Regina and Charity, which will help boost food productivity in Guyana.
Dr Cambridge, who fully endorsed the PPP/C with his enthusiastic stance, heaped praise on the current administration for taking Guyana forward on many levels.
He added that aquaculture is up 250 per cent, noting that there is a facility at Black Bush Polder. He reminded the gathering that 123 shade houses have been set up in Guyana since 2023.
As for farmers’ relief, he said many have benefitted from cash grants among other interventions, noting that all the promises that were made have been fulfilled in the community.
Further, Dr Cambridge disclosed that
with the minister’s intervention, Loo Creek will soon have potable water. He reminded the gathering that pipes have been laid and a well dug in keeping with a promise that was made by President Irfaan Ali when he visited the community.
As he continued to highlight the progress under the Ali-led administration, he asked, “Agriculture is good, but do you think it contributes a lot to our country’s gross domestic product (GDP)
in the area of oil and gas? Does agriculture play a difference well?”.
In response, he stated that agriculture contributes to 28 per cent of our country’s GDP.
“That is more than commendable,” he emphasised.
Dr Cambridge made it clear that he is not a politician, and he wasn’t
there to speak on behalf of the government, nor was he paid by the minister to make a statement in favour of the government. He told the gathering that he chose to speak up because of the noticeable continuous progress in the country.
He later revealed that 65,000 jobs have been created, and this infor-
mation is available on the internet and on Google for all to see. It is not just fiction, he added.
Dr Cambridge pointed out that over 25,000 new house lots were developed, new roads were built, healthcare is improving and there are general improvements in every sector.
FROM PAGE 32
to engage the diaspora and attract skilled professionals and investors to support Guyana’s development goals.
Some 104 individuals became citizens of Guyana in 2024. According to the 2025 Henley Passport Index, the Guyanese passport ranks 55th globally, granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 91 countries and territories. This marks a steady improvement from previous years when it ranked 59th in 2024 and 62nd in 2023.
The Henley Passport Index is a respected global ranking of passports based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), complemented by in-depth research from Henley and Partners.
Guyanese passport hold-
ers currently enjoy visa-free access to a diverse array of destinations, including the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Ireland, Singapore, Russia, Brazil, and Qatar.
Within the Caribbean, travel is permitted without a visa to all Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states such as The Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, and St. Lucia, as well as other Caribbean countries such as the Dominican Republic.
However, visas are still required for entry into countries such as the United States of America, Canada, Japan, Australia, and all member states of the European Union.
To strengthen the integrity of its travel documents, the Government of Guyana
in February, introduced a redesigned passport with enhanced security features, including an embedded electronic chip.
This upgrade aligns Guyana with global standards for secure travel documents and is expected to improve international processing times and traveller authentication.
The new 10-year passport also incorporates the 'One Guyana' branding, celebrating the nation’s unity and cultural diversity.
The 2024 Series Guyana E-Passport is not just a document for travel; it is a portable celebration of Guyanese identity. Every detail, from our flora and fauna to our cultural unity, was chosen to reflect the nation’s beauty, resilience, and journey forward.
THE blockade of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip is having dire consequences for more than a million children, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Saturday.
No aid has been allowed into Gaza since March 2, representing the longest period of aid blockage since the start of the war, resulting in shortages of food, safe water, shelter, and medical supplies.
UNICEF said that without these essentials, malnutrition, diseases and other preventable conditions will likely surge, leading to an increase in preventable child deaths.
The agency has thousands of pallets of aid waiting
to enter the enclave, said Edouard Beigbeder, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
“Most of this aid is lifesaving – yet instead of saving lives, it is sitting in storage,” he said.
“It must be allowed in immediately. This is not a choice or charity; it is an obligation under international law.”
UNICEF warned that children receiving malnutrition treatment are at serious risk as 21 treatment centres, representing 15 per cent of total outpatient facilities, have closed due to displacement orders or bombardments.
Furthermore, only enough ready-to-use infant formula (RUIF) is currently available for 400 children for a month. Estimates indicate that nearly 10,000 infants under six months old require supplementary feeding, which could force families to use alternatives mixed with unsafe water.
Meanwhile, UNICEF has also had to scale back mental health and psychosocial support, mine education, and child protection case management due to the ongoing hostilities and displacement.
During the ceasefire, UNICEF began repairing critical wells and waterpoints, but the collapse of the truce means that many remain unrepaired or at risk of further damage.
The agency further noted that drinking water access for one million people, including 400,000 children, has dropped from 16 litres per person per day to just six. If fuel runs out, it could plunge to below four litres, forcing families to use unsafe water and increasing the risk of disease outbreaks, especially among children.
“For the sake of more than one million children in the Gaza Strip, we urge the Israeli authorities to ensure, at a minimum, people’s basic needs are met, in line with its obligations under international humanitarian law,” said Mr. Beigbeder.
“This includes their legal responsibility to ensure that families are supplied with the food, medical and other essential supplies they need to survive.”
Meanwhile, UNICEF and partners are maintaining a critical presence in Gaza.
The agency continues to call on the parties to cease hostilities and reinstate the ceasefire, stressing that humanitarian aid and commercial goods mut be allowed to enter and move freely across the Gaza Strip. (UN News)
WEDNESDAY, April 09, 2025
CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD-83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY’S QUIZ: (1) Chennai Super Kings (2) Gujarat Lions TODAY’S QUIZ: (1) Who was voted Man of the Match in the 2023 IPL final? (2) Who won the Man of the Tournament Award in IPL 2023?
CHIEF Executive Officer of Cricket West Indies (CWI), Chris Dehring, met with Jamaica’ s Sports Minister, the Honourable Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, on Monday, 7 April 2025, as part of his ongoing engagement with regional stakeholders.
The discussions with Minister Grange focused on the upcoming Test against Australia at Sabina Park and the preparations for a historic day/night Test match from 12–16 July this year. Key highlights from the discussion included plans to strengthen the cricket infrastructure and grassroots cricket for both boys and girls.
Hailing the discussions a success, especially with Aus-
tralia set to play in Jamaica for the first time in a decade, Dehring said:
“I am extremely pleased with the intent shown by the Minister of Sport and by extension the Government of Jamaica to collaborate with Cricket West Indies ahead of the imminent Australia tour. In addition, I would like to thank the Minister for the recently announced support for the Jamaica Cricket Association to purchase and install the new lights at Sabina Park in time for the Australia Test and T20 matches. With this in view, we believe fans will enjoy the experience of what will be the first day/night, pink ball Test in Jamaica.”
For Minister Grange, it was a pleasure to have dis-
cussions with the Cricket West Indies CEO to learn
with the regional body to strengthen the relationship.
of his plans and vision for the game, including how the government can work closely
(ESPNCRICINFO) - Priyansh Arya announced his arrival in the IPL with a 39-ball century, the fastest by an uncapped Indian and joint fourth-fastest by anyone as Punjab Kings (PBKS) consigned Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fourth successive defeat in IPL 2025 . Only Chris Gayle (30 balls), Yusuf Pathan (37) and David Miller (38) have scored faster hundreds than Arya in the IPL.
CSK didn’t help themselves in the field, dropping as many as five catches, including two offered by Arya The 24-year-old rookie capitalised on those chances to charge to his hundred as early as the 13th over. He holed out for 103 off 42 balls in the next over, but Shashank
Singh (52*) and Marco Jansen (34*) provided the finishing kick for PBKS.
CSK started well in the powerplay in their pursuit of 220 - Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra added 59 in the first six overs - but their soft underbelly was exposed once again in a chase Conway retired out on 69 off 49 balls, with CSK needing 49 off 13 balls, but MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja couldn’t get the job done. CSK have now failed to chase a 180-plus target in their last 11 attempts, stretching back to 2020.
ARYA’S ASSAULT
Arya had triggered a bidding war at the auction after having cracked six sixes in an over in the inaugural Delhi Premier League. In the lead-
up to IPL 2025, his coach Ricky Ponting had talked him up as a “special” player. On Tuesday, Arya backed up Ponting’s comments in only his fourth IPL innings.
Arya is a bit like a left-handed version of the original Delhi basher Virender Sehwag. He sees the ball and hits the ball. He has also the gift of timing. When Matheesha Pathirana marginally missed a wide yorker and bowled a full toss - it was still a hard-to-hit full toss - Arya opened his bat face and carved it over point for six. He dispatched the next three balls from Pathirana for 6, 6, 4 to surge to a 39-ball hundred in the 13th over. In the next over, left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad had Arya dragging a catch to long-on.
ductive and exciting. We, as a government, have demonstrated tangibly our commitment to the further development of cricket in Jamaica and the region and pledges even more support for the sport of cricket. I certainly wish Chris all the success in his new role as CEO. We are confident his experience and commitment augurs well for the advancement of West Indies cricket. I look forward to working with Chris.”
for the game at the lower levels. He further added:
“A key takeaway for me and the region is the special push by the Minister and her team to invest in grass roots and women’s cricket, in particular in Jamaica. I must add, that with this level of commitment, the Caribbean stands to benefit tremendously and can play a dominant role in World Cricket with the athletic ability of our women.”
She expressed:
“I found the discussions with CEO Dehring most pro-
With Minister Grange pledging to support the Jamaica Cricket Association with an investment of 100 million Jamaican dollars across five years at the grassroots level, Dehring sees this as a massive move to re-energise the passion and desire
Dehring reiterated his stance that CWI remains committed to working closely with all regional governments to ensure an effective and strong pathway for the current and next generation of cricketers.
(ESPNCRICINFO )Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) smashed their second-highest total in the IPL, and conceded 90 in the powerplay during the chase, before inducing a collapse of 5 for 23 to beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens.
Mitchell Marsh ’s fourth fifty of IPL 2025, and Nicholas Pooran’s 36-ball 87, took LSG to 238. KKR’s top order fired too, with Ajinkya Rahane top-scoring with 61 off 35 balls. He shared handy partnerships with Venkatesh Iyer and Sunil Narine but could not take the hosts home
On a day where all bowlers travelled, LSG stuck with five bowlers. Shardul Thakur and Akash Deep went for many wides and conceded over fifty in their four-over spells , but they also got key wickets that derailed the chase
KKR LOSE THEIR WAY
The hosts were 162 for 2 in the 13th over, and needed another 77 runs
off 43 balls. But KKR’s middle-order batters kept taking chances and holing out to fielders. Ramandeep Singh hit a slot ball off Ravi Bishnoi to Aiden Markram at long -off, Angkrish Raghuvanshi miscued a reverse sweep off Avesh Khan to the wicketkeeper, and Venkatesh, who was the set batter , mis-hit a full ball off Akash Deep to long -on. Despite big-hitting finisher Andre Russell falling cheaply to a full toss from Thakur, Rinku Singh, who finished with a 15-ball 38*, kept the chase alive. But LSG ’s plan of shuffling the bowlers and giving spinners two overs at the death paid off as they sealed a four-run win.
The chase started with Akash Deep struggling to find his line. He bowled three wides down leg, the first of which went to the boundary. The second would have too, had Rishabh Pant not run and dived to the left. Narine and Quinton de Kock whacked
two slot balls for sixes. Narine edged two slower balls off Thakur as KKR blazed to 31 for 0 in two overs.
A jaffa from Akash Deep beat de Kock’s defence but tempted Pant into an unsuccessful review. Akash Deep, though, made amends next ball by reviewing an lbw that landed just in line with the stumps and beat de Kock’s slog across the line . Thakur, at the other end, went for the wide-line ploy and delivered three wides. Narine clubbed the other two for a six and a four over cover.
Rahane got a lucky edge behind point but helped himself to a flick for his first two fours. Pant kept Akash Deep on for his third over, but Rahane brought out Test -quality boundaries, including a square drive to a length ball . KKR’s captain then got hold of Avesh, this time with flicked sixes over the leg side, to take KKR to 90 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.
In a dazzling display of skill and strategy, fourteen-yearold Aditi Joshi has emerged unbeaten as the new National Women’s Chess Champion, making her one of the youngest females to hold the title in Guyana. Her stellar performance in the tournament, held from March 22nd to April 4th, 2025, at the David Rose Special School, earned her eight wins and one draw.
WCM Joshi is not just any chess player; she is one of Guyana’s brightest young minds, who proudly represented her country at the last Chess Olympiad in Hungary. Her performance there earned her the prestigious title of Woman Candidate Master (WCM). Joshi is Guyana’s highest-rated active female chess player, a testament to her dedication and exceptional talent in the game.
The Women’s Championship tournament saw fierce competition, with participants showcasing their best moves and strategies. Fifteen-yearold Ciel Clement finished in second place with 6.5 points. Clement, who also represented Guyana at last year’s Chess Olympiad, demonstrated her prowess and potential throughout the tournament.
Seasoned player Aniyah Couchman made a commendable return to chess after taking a break to focus on her studies. Couchman finished third with 6 points, proving her strategic acumen and experience remained sharp.
Treskole Archibald, another Olympiad team member, secured the fourth position with 5 points. Archibald’s performance was consistent and noteworthy , adding to the competitive spirit of the tournament.
In fifth place was onetime women’s champion WCM Sasha Shariff, who also finished with 5 points. Shariff’s experience and skills were evident as she competed fiercely against her peers.
Two-time defending champion WCM Jessica Callender finished in sixth place with 4 points. Despite not securing the top spot this year, Callender’s participation added a significant challenge to the young players in the tournament.
Kataleya Sam, last year’s runner-up junior sportswoman of the year and the youngest player finished in seventh place with 3.5 points. Sam, the current Under-12 Girls Chess Champion, continues to impress with her growing skills
ACCORDING to government updates, the redevelopment of the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground into a modern stadium of international standard is progressing. Seating has now been installed in the first of two spectator stands.
The upgraded facility, soon to be known as the Mackenzie Stadium, features a significantly enhanced outfield, an international-grade pitch suitable for multiple sports, automated irrigation system and ICC-approved floodlights.
as she defeated Shariff in round two and secured draws with Clement, Archibald, and Callender. Sam will be sure to earn her much-deserved ELO rating points.
Italy Ton-Chung, who took a year’s break for studies, finished in eighth place with 3 points. Her return to the chessboard enforces her determination and strategic thinking skills.
Angelin Yhap and Lusianna Farlot finished in ninth and tenth places, respectively, with 2 and 1.5 points. Their participation added to the diversity and competitiveness of the tournament.
The 2025 National Women’s Chess Championship proved to be a remarkable event, offering a compelling display of the players’ talents and strategic prowess. Joshi’s victory is a significant milestone in her chess career and sets a high standard for future competitions. Each player brought unique strengths to the tournament, making it an unforgettable event in local women’s chess.
The Guyana Chess Federation expresses thanks to the tournament sponsor, Diamond Fire and General Insurance Company for supporting the National Women’s Chess
Championships for 2025. Our sincere thanks go to the David Rose Special School for generously providing the venue and to Mr. John Lee, the esteemed FIDE Arbiter, whose expertise ensured the smooth conduct of the games and enabled their live broadcast.
Guyana Chess Federation President Anand Raghunauth noted that this marks the second time a fourteen-year-old has won the National Women’s Chess Championship in Guyana, expressing his satisfaction that young players are actively pursuing their goals and dreams. Pooja Lam was the youngest female to win the title in 2022. Raghunauth noted that this tournament will act as a qualifier for the upcoming CARICOM Classic Chess Team tournament in July 2025 which will be hosted in Guyana.
The GCF congratulates WCM Joshi on her outstanding achievement as well as all the participants of the championship tournament. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the year at a prize giving ceremony after the remaining championship tournaments have been completed.
One Guyana 3x3 Quest to be used as a catalyst to springboard sport in the Caribbean
The venue will accommodate nearly 4,000 spectators across two stands and a grass embankment area.
This project is a key component of a broader government initiative to modernise sports infrastructure throughout Guyana.
Similar stadium developments are underway in Bayroc, Anna Regina, New Amsterdam, and Palmyra, all of which are scheduled for completion in 2025. These developments aim to boost the nation’ s sporting capabilities and provide better facilities for athletes and fans.
President Irfaan Ali’s office stated in a recent briefing that the stadium is on schedule to be finished and ready for its inaugural events by mid-2025.
General Secretary of the Guyana Basketball Foundation and President of the Central American and Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CONCENCABA) Patrick Haynes says this the successful hosting of the English-speaking Caribbean’s first 3x3 quest tournament will be use to jump start the growth of the sport in the region.
“Part of this initiative, [was] we also had a referee’s clinic, so it is now to amplify the 3x3 programs within the Caribbean region within South America, Central America. North America has a pretty strong presence but it’s about how do we grow from here, we have already an interest from the Cayman Islands and Dominican Republic of hosting a series of 3x3 quest. This is the beginning of more competition within this space and this is going to ultimately Improve the quality of basketball within the region.”
Haynes who is a longtime regional basketball
administrator says the realization of the event was made possible through the support of the Government of Guyana.
“I was able to use my influence with FIBA headquarters, in terms of promoting 3x3 basketball within the Caribbean region, one of the things they are looking for is more competitions and the growth of 3x3 basketball, so approaching both the Government of Guyana though the ministry of Cul-
ture Youth and Sport, was an easy sell and by getting them on board, it was easy for me to present this to FIBA headquarters to get this approved and executed.”
He said the GBF is working behind the scenes to make sure it has the desired effects in months to come of the competition.
“One of the things I’m talking to a number of academies within Europe, in Serbia 3x3 academy and the Spain 3x3 academy, is building basketball, not only 3x3 basketball, basketball on a whole from the grass roots level. We are talking about four to five all the way to the ages to make sure that the fundamentals are there, the accessibility to the game is there, this is a stepping stone that we can use to now influence the youth and bring them into the game.”
The two-day competition which tipped off on Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall saw Top Puerto Rican 3x3 sides Carolina overcoming a Dominican Republic
outfit 21-15 after playing unbeaten in the earlier rounds.
Guyana’s teams Georgetown and the Renegades played well but didn’t advance finals.
Georgetown edged Guatemala side PSN 13-8 in their opening game and narrowly lost a thriller to Team Paramaribo 18-17. Meanwhile, the Renegades, representing Guyana in Pool B, bounced back from an early loss to defeat Elite Blazers 15-12 and Quarters United 18-16. Renegades would reach the quarter final before losing 21-14 to Trinidad side Maloney Pacers who were edged by the eventual champions Carolina in the semis.
The champions Carolina collected 1 million Guyana dollars for the win plus four tickets to Canada for the FIBA 3x3 World Tour which they also qualified for by winning the tournament.
Second place collected four hundred thousand dollars with half that amount for third place.
The electrifying Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast is set to ignite grounds again in 2025, with Kares Engineering Inc. reaffirming its unwavering commitment as the title sponsor for a third consecutive year.
Over the weekend, Kares Engineering solidified its continued support for the popular tournament organized by FL Sport, signaling its belief in its growth and impact.
Natasha Persaud, General Manager of the Kares Group of Companies, expressed immense satisfaction with the tournament’s trajectory over the past two editions. She enthusiastically anticipated an even larger scale in 2025, with the number of participating teams projected to exceed 32.
“We are happy to see the
impact this tournament has made and the connection it has developed with fans alike, and we foresee 2025 will be a success,” Persaud
stated.
John Ramsingh, Director of FL Sport, expressed profound gratitude for Kares Engineering’s enduring
partnership and emphasised their integral role in the tournament’s success.
“Kares has never said no; they have only asked, how
Veteran cyclist Robin Persaud put in a superb performance on Sunday to capture the Beacon Paceline Cycling Race held on the country’s road ways.
The race which pedaled off from Beacon Café, at Quamina and Carmichael Street saw Persaud battling the elements and some fierce riders to finish first.
The race proceeded to the East Coast Corridor and made its way back to Quamina Street for the finish, completing 50 miles.
The event was hosted in collaboration with the Kaieteur Attack Racing
Cycling Club (KARCC) and saw more than 40 riders hitting the road.
Persaud outpaced the competition to take victory in the Open Category and also securing top position in the Veterans under 50.
Persaud took the veterans over 50 ahead of Kwame Ridley and Philip Clarke.
Second place went to Jamual John (first senior) with third going to Andre Greene (second Senor).
Ridley finished fourth with Alexander Leung fifth and Christopher Griffith sixth.
Leung copped first in the juniors ahead of Omari Abrams and Ajani Cuttings third.
The category 4/8 was won Kelwin Johnson with Collis Williams second and Andy Rajcumar taking the final podium position.
The veterans over 50 saw Talim Shaw emerging as the winner with Ian Jackson second and Deon David third.
Abigail Jeffrey won the female class while the juvenile saw Denish Sokhai taking the victory with Julio Melville capturing the mountain bike category.
big can we go? And we have answered that call from our title sponsor and the government on expansion this season,” Ramsingh noted.
Looking ahead to the 2025 edition, Ramsingh outlined ambitious plans to expand the tournament to at least 72 teams. The format is envisioned to include various zonal competitions, culminating in a national championship clash between the zone winners.
While the precise format and venues are still under discussion, Ramsingh confirmed the commitment to increased participation beyond Region Four, promising more teams, more matches, and a corresponding increase in prize money.
The tournament’s first phase is tentatively scheduled for late June,
with the highly anticipated national finals carded for early August. Definitive details regarding the format, schedule, and prize money will be announced in the coming days.
Registration will also commence in the coming days, and players can follow the tournament’s social media pages.
Titans All-Stars are currently the defending champions, while Eccles All-Stars etched their name in history as the winners of the inaugural edition in 2023.
Beyond the crucial partnership with the government, the private sector significantly rewards the participating teams, further elevating the tournament’ s prestige and appeal.
The Guyana Olympic Association and Paraguay Olympic Committee have partnered to have Twenty- two (22) Athletes and Eight 8 Coaches benefit from High- Performance Training Camps.
The move comes after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Between the GOA and Paraguay Olympic Committee.
GOA says that it is pleased for the historic and ground breaking MOU signed between the bodies which has begun to bear fruits.
The agreement establishes a comprehensive framework for collaboration in high-performance sports, human resource development, and technical expertise sharing among other things.
The high-performance training schedule includes training stints allocated for the respective sports selected.
ments fostering excellence in sports and will be all covered by the Paraguayan Olympic body and its government.
To ensure inclusivity and equal representation, the Executive Committee of the GOA has urged the National Federations identified for the sports program to select participants with gender parity
in mind.
This forms part of a shared commitment to developing athletic talent and strengthening regional cooperation in sports, planting the seeds for the future growth of our sports ecosystem amongst the two nations.
The focus will be on exposing participating athletes and coaches’ to training in high performance