Submissions made, hearing likely before year end
New US$28M Brickdam Police Station 23% completed Small business owners
Much work needed to repair CDB, restore its focus – Ashni Singh
...as new President appointed
The Caribbean Development Bank
(CDB) has appointed a new President in the person of Barbadian native Daniel Best, and calls have now been made for the regional financial institution to refocus its efforts on its mandate.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the CDB Board of Governors said the appointment of Best as the seventh President of the institution underscores the Bank’s commitment to visionary leadership and sustainable development
across the Caribbean region.
Guyana’s Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has extended congratulatory greetings to the new CDB President in a post on his Facebook page.
According to Minister Singh, Best has had a long and successful career in the CDB, and Best knows very well the Caribbean and its development circumstances and needs.
“Much work is needed to repair the Bank now and restore its focus on the important mandate enshrined
in its Charter. Daniel is well equipped to lead this work at this critical juncture,” Dr Singh has said.
The Guyanese Minister added that Guyana looks forward to working closely with the new CDB President to not just tackle the pressing needs of the region, but also work together to improve the lives of all of the people of the Caribbean.
A missive from the Barbados -based CDB states that Best brings to the post a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the region's developmental challenges and opportunities. With a distinguished career spanning over 20 years in development finance, policy planning, and infrastructure investment, Best is well-positioned to lead the CDB into its next chapter of impactful regional transformation.
As President, Best would oversee the Bank’s strategic direction, focusing on its core mandate to reduce poverty and inequality while fostering inclusive and sustainable growth. Under his leadership, the
Bank aims to build on its legacy while addressing emerging challenges and opportunities in a rapidly changing global landscape.
With nearly three decades of experience in infrastructure development, development finance, project management, and strategic leadership, Best’s career spans both the public and private sectors across the Caribbean, and he has made significant contributions to advancing sustainable development in the region.
Best has worked with the CDB for over 15 years, holding progressively senior positions, including Director of the Projects
Department. In this role, he managed the Bank’s investment lending and grant portfolios, and played a key role in fostering strategic partnerships with global and regional institutions.
At the time of his appointment to the presidency on Wednesday, the Barbadian national was serving as Senior Infrastructure and Development Advisor to the Prime Minister of Barbados, on secondment from CDB.
Best holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Durham in England, as well as a Master’s degree in Construction Engineering and Management, and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad. He is also an accredited Project Management Professional.
Best’s appointment follows the controversial exist of his predecessor Dr Hyginus ‘Gene’ Leon. In January of this year, it was disclosed that Leon had been sent on administrative leave until April as
“an ongoing administrative process” continued at the region’s premier financial institution.
Dr Leon subsequently resigned with immediate effect, and said, through his lawyers, that he “will never be treated fairly” after being sent on administrative leave in January. The lawyers had given the regional financial institution until May 4 “to negotiate an amicable separation.”
Then in July, the CDB confirmed the closure of an “internal administrative process” involving Dr Leon and confirmed that he “has ceased to hold the office of the President of the Bank”.
Newly-appointed CDB
President Daniel Best
Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Thursday, December 5 –19:30h-20:30h and Friday, December 6 –20:30h- 22:00h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Thursday, December 5 –06:45h-08:15h and Friday, December 6 –07:30h- 09:00h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Govt-LNDCH4 dispute on GtE Project Submissions made, hearing likely before year end
TParika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
are
at
Temperatures are expected to range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.
Winds: East North-Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.92 metres.
High Tide: 06:58h and 19:11h reaching maximum heights of 2.38 metres and 2.50 metres.
Low Tide: 12:43h reaching a minimum height of 0.87 metre.
he Guyana Government and the contractor for the Gasto-Energy (GtE) Project, Lindsayca CH4 Guyana Inc (LNDCH4-Guyana) have both made submissions to the three-member arbitration panel that was selected to resolve the ongoing US$50 million dispute regarding the timelines for the highly-anticipated energy project.
This was revealed by a senior Government official, who is close to the proceedings. He explained to <<<Guyana Times>>> on Wednesday that the team was here several weeks ago to conduct a site visit at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD), where the 300-megawatt (MW) Combined Cycle Power Plant and a Natural Gas Liquids
process, if either party is not satisfied with the outcome, then they can ask for a full arbitration.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration’s flagship GtE initiative is divided into five components: the pipeline from offshore production activities to Wales, the building of the power plant and NGL
(NGL) facility – key components of the GtE Project – are under construction.
Since that visit, the official said both the Government and the contractor have made their respective submissions to the arbitration panel.
The next step forward is for a hearing to be held and that, he added, is likely to be done before the end of this year. The official further told this newspaper that this matter is expected to be resolved in the first quarter of 2025.
The Government and LNDCH4-Guyana are at loggerheads over the timelines of the project and associated costs. The Joint Venture formed by United Statesbased companies Lindsayca and CH4 was awarded the US$759 million contract in November 2022 to build the 300-MW power plant and NGL facility at Wales.
However, there was a three-month delay in other components of the project that would affect LNDCH4Guyana’s delivery of the power plant in accordance with the contractual timelines. While the Government has extended the deadline by three months, the contractor is not satisfied and wants more time.
In addition, LNDCH4Guyana is making financial claims to the tune of US$50 million, stating that the delays would cost the company. The Guyana Government rejected this financial claim, resulting in the contractor activating a dispute resolution mechanism through a “Dispute Adjudication and Arbitration Board”.
The three-member Dispute Avoidance/ Adjudication Board (DAAB) was subsequently set up to mediate between the Guyana Government and the JV company and at the end of this
facilities, the transmission main to move power generated at the power plant, a new control centre at Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and upgrading the national power grid.
While LNDCH4-Guyana was given the contract to build the two plants, the procurement and installation of the 225-kilometre gas pipeline from the Wales project site to the offshore oil field is being executed by US oil major ExxonMobil Guyana, which is carrying out production activities in the Stabroek Block.
The installation of the
US$1 billion pipeline also includes the upgrade of the roads to get to the site at Wales, the Material Offloading Facility (MOF) and site preparation for 100 acres as well as a lay-down yard – all undertaken by Exxon and subcontracted out. However, there were threemonth delays in the handing over of two of these components to LNDCH4-Guyana for it to start work.
Based on the contract, LNDCH4-Guyana is required to deliver 228MW of power with four gas turbines coming on stream at the end of 2024 at 57MW each. To get the entire 300MW, another two steam turbines are expected by the end of 2025. However, the contractor wants to deliver the gas turbines in August 2025.
Only recently, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo warned that if the Government wins the arbitration, then there would be liquidated damages if the contractor does not meet the April 2025 deadline to start delivering power.
“There is a delay now, because the site was handed over late… We said what we believe is justified is a threemonth extension to the con-
tract. We offered that. The company doesn’t want that. They want more money… They’ve asked for a longer extension,” Jagdeo told reporters at a press conference back in September.
He added, “We have an arbitration now taking place and if we win the arbitration, they would have only by April to deliver this project. They have given a schedule which shows [project delivery] later in the year… We have only approved a threemonth extension. So, if we win the arbitration and we stick with that schedule then there would be liquidated damages.”
But even as efforts are being taken to resolve this dispute, the Guyana Government has maintained that this issue would not impact the project and that work continue on the ground. Only last week, the Vice President disclosed that the Board of the US EXIM (Export-Import) Bank has pre-approved a loan of over US$500 million for the GtE Project. The funding is currently before the US Congress for feedback before it is returned to the EXIM Bank Board for final approval.
Gas-to-Energy Project at Wales, West Bank Demerara
Editor: Tusika Martin
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Tourism in remote communities
The potential of Guyana’s remote communities to become vibrant hubs of cultural tourism is immense, yet largely untapped. The recent call by Culture, Youth, and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. for communities like Orealla and Siparuta to prioritize culture as a means to boost tourism should be seen as a clarion call for action.
It is an opportunity to embrace cultural heritage, diversify local economies, and present these communities as unique destinations on the global tourism map.
Orealla and Siparuta, nestled along the Corentyne River, are quintessential examples of Guyana’s natural beauty and cultural richness. Their isolation from the country’s bustling coastal regions presents both challenges and opportunities. On one hand, the remoteness of these villages limits access to the concentrated economic activities of urban areas. On the other, it offers an unmatched allure for travellers seeking authentic experiences far removed from the urban hustle and bustle.
The Minister rightly emphasized that tourists today are no longer drawn solely to pristine landscapes and wildlife. While the forests, rivers, and biodiversity of Orealla and Siparuta are compelling attractions, they must be complemented by immersive cultural experiences. Tourists are increasingly interested in connecting with the heart and soul of the communities they visit through food, music, dance, and storytelling. This is where cultural groups can play a transformative role.
Cultural tourism has proven to be a powerful economic driver in many parts of the world. By leveraging their unique traditions and ways of life, communities have successfully attracted travellers who spend money on accommodations, guided tours, crafts, and cultural performances. Minister Ramson’s observations about other Amerindian villages with active cultural groups are telling. These villages not only attract visitors, but create a cycle of economic activities that benefit the entire community.
The villages can draw valuable lessons from such examples. Establishing cultural groups dedicated to preserving and showcasing their heritage could provide a foundation for sustainable tourism. These groups can organize performances, festivals and workshops that allow visitors to immerse themselves in the community’s traditions. Whether it’s learning traditional dances, participating in craftmaking sessions, or tasting authentic cuisine, these activities create memorable experiences for tourists and economic opportunities for locals.
However, cultural expression alone is not enough. Minister Ramson rightly pointed out the need for a holistic approach that combines cultural offerings with adequate infrastructure. Tourists expect accommodations that are comfortable and secure, even if they are nestled in natural surroundings. Building eco-friendly lodges, training hospitality staff, and ensuring safety and hygiene standards are critical steps in creating a tourism product that meets international expectations.
This approach aligns with global trends in eco-tourism, where visitors seek out destinations that are sustainable, authentic, and immersive. Communities such as Orealla and Siparuta have a distinct advantage in this space. Their cultural and natural wealth gives them the potential to stand out in a competitive tourism market, but to fully capitalize on this potential, they need to be prepared to deliver a complete experience — from the moment a visitor arrives to the time the visitor leaves.
For cultural tourism to succeed, community buy-in is essential. Residents must see the value in preserving their cultural heritage, and be actively involved in sharing it with visitors. This requires capacity building and support from Government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector. Training in areas like events management, marketing, and customer service can equip local leaders and cultural groups with the skills needed to thrive in the tourism industry.
Additionally, tourism initiatives must be inclusive. Every segment of the community — youths, elders, artisans, and entrepreneurs — should have a role to play. This not only ensures equitable economic benefits, but strengthens the social fabric by fostering collaboration and pride in cultural heritage.
Orealla and Siparuta have a chance to set an example for other remote communities to follow. By embracing their cultural identity and creating a tourism product that is both authentic and appealing, they can open new doors of opportunity for their residents. This is not just about attracting visitors; it is about fostering pride, preserving traditions, and building a future where culture and commerce go hand in hand.
The journey toward this vision would require collaboration, creativity, and commitment.
Guyana Archives
Dear Editor,
In December 2023, an article was published by one of our daily newspapers on the inability of the Guyana National Archives to provide travel records of indentured servants from India who had landed on the shores of Guyana over one hundred and fifty years ago. Sadly, nothing has changed from one year ago.
But this is not a new issue. In an impassioned lecture in observance of Archives Week in 2009, Historian Dr Melissa Ifill said the relevant authorities seem to lack an understanding of how critical the preservation of records is, particularly its impact on future generations. (That article was published in the Stabroek News on November 1st, 2009).
An Indo-Guyanese still cannot trace his/her ancestral heritage back to the village from whence he/ she came. How do I know that? Well, I am an IndoGuyanese, and I attempted to trace my roots one year ago, in November 2023, at the Guyana National Archives building in Georgetown, before writing that article on December 27, 2023. I visited Guyana in November of 2023 simply to accomplish finding my ancestral records. The staff who tried to help me with the archives was indeed
helpful. She tried her best using the office computer, only to conclude that the information on the ship my grandparents came on was missing. I was not able to find the record of the ship my maternal grandparents nor my paternal grandparents came on. And I'm not alone in this dilemma. There are over 300,000 IndoGuyanese who also cannot prove that their grandparents or great grandparents were from India.
To put it in simple words, the Guyana National Archives cannot provide information on which specific ship our ancestors arrived. That is the case of the Guyana National Archives missing ship.
It is indeed laughable that I am Indo-Guyanese but I can't prove I'm Indian. I know this sounds funny, but hear me out. I cannot prove to the Indian Embassy in Georgetown, Guyana, that my grandparents arrived on a ship from India approximately 120 years ago. I cannot prove it because the Guyana National Archives cannot find the record of the ship my maternal grandparents nor paternal grandparents arrived on from India.
I need that proof from the Guyana National Archives to obtain an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) Card. By having an OCI Card, I would not need to
get a visa to visit India, and I can stay for as long as I want, and enjoy all the benefits that NRIs (non-resident Indians) enjoy.
OCI cardholders can work in India without the need for a work visa, and they have the same economic, financial and educational rights as NRIs. This includes the ability to open and operate bank accounts, invest in Indian securities, and access domestic airfare rates. OCI cardholders can also purchase residential and commercial properties in India.
I have visited India from the USA 13 times in the past 32 years, and I had to get a visa for every trip. If I had had an OCI Card, I would not have needed a visa.
On one of those trips, the Indian immigration officer noticed on my US passport that I was born in Guyana, then he asked me, "Why are you visiting India? I replied, "Because my grandparents were from India". He then asked, "Do you have any relatives in India? I answered, No . Then he asked, "Where did your grandparents live in India? I said, I don't know. He then became suspicious, and took me to a room nearby for further questioning. He and another officer interrogated me for 15 minutes, trying to find out if I was coming to India to en-
gage in terrorism. This was a year after India's 26/11 2008 bombing. This probably would not have happened to me if I had had an OCI Card.
President Modi of India visited Guyana on November 19, 2024. His visit, according to many news sources in Guyana, was to improve and increase the relationship between these two countries economically and culturally. India would become the world s third-largest economy by 2027, surpassing Japan and Germany, with GDP exceeding US$5 trillion. Obtaining an OCI Card would surely increase the relationship with India culturally and economically. As a result, more Guyanese would visit India, and may even start import and export businesses with India.
It's my fervent hope that this article would reach the eyes and ears of Guyana's President, His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, or the Honorable Bharrat Jagdeo, Vice President of Guyana, both of whose ancestors came from India, as mine did. We just can't prove it to the Indian Embassy in Georgetown because the Guyana National Archives cannot find the records of the missing ship.
Sincerely, Sri Rajaji
GAW fans on Wednesday evening during the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League T20 match between the home team and Rangpur Riders at Providence Stadium on December 4 (GSLT20/Global Super League via Getty Images)
GECOM’s agenda per ANUG Mr President, Skeldon vendors are suffering
Dear Editor,
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is a constitutional agency governed by Guyana’s Constitution, and enjoys yearly subventions of taxpayers’ funding to the tune of hundreds of millions of Guyana Dollars, or more.
In 2024, GECOM received $3.5 billion of taxpayers’ money for recurrent activity costs; and, more importantly, preparation for General Elections 2025. As with most Government/constitutional agencies, there seems to be a shirking of duties and a lack of established standard operating protocols, which increase the likelihood of decisions being made in what appears to be ad hoc or even partisan fashion.
In the past, GECOM erred egregiously by allowing ineligible members (dual citizens) to sit in, and vote in, Parliament -- our highest level of citizenry participation. Not only that, but GECOM allowed political parties to get away with not submitting for review, by the Commission, their campaign financing information as mandated by law - Sections 120-124(ROPA). This continued repudiation of mandatory statutes governing GECOM’s responsibilities has now scandalously manifested itself by GECOM allowing an ineligible member to sit in Parliament and vote on issues of national importance (as explained by GECOM's legal advisor Mr Kurt Da Silva at a GECOM press conference on November 22, 2024).
It is unambiguously stated in the ROPA ACT, Section 108, subsections 2&3, that “the seats are allocated first (by) using the electoral quota. Then any remaining seats are allocated according to the largest
number of votes below that quota”. Based on this interpretation by GECOM’s very own legal officer, the LJP party should have enjoyed the full term, having gotten the most votes in the combination of lists (Joinder). Instead, GECOM and/or their apparatus, by willful negligence, oversight, or blatant disregard for established protocols, allowed Dr. Asha Kissoon, a representative of a party (TNM) other than the LJP, to illegally enter, occupy, and now squat interminably in Parliament, enjoying full benefits (perks and financial) compliments of our hardworking taxpayers who are footing the bill. To make matters worse, this ineligible member (Dr Asha Kissoon) of the revered House of Representatives now occupies the post of Deputy Speaker, having been nominated and elected with the full and continued support of the governing side, making them as guilty as GECOM. Not only is the administrative arm of GECOM seemingly compromised, but the entire Commission, which has well-respected and experienced legal luminaries on both sides, seems to be complicit, or does not have the intestinal fortitude to “open the Pandora’s Box” in this “Asha Kissoon” blunder in addressing this glaring deficit in administration.
It is also noted, with a tinge of sadness and regret, that GECOM Chair Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh, being an esteemed former Judge herself, was either unaware of the situation, or did not conduct enhanced due diligence thereof, or trusted information presented to her by subordinates. Invariably, however, the buck stops with GECOM Chair Claudette Singh, and
this issue would always be associated with her stewardship as Chair of GECOM.
The above is a clear perversity and disinterested spending of taxpayers' funds. Clearly, GECOM has lost the confidence of the Guyanese population with its poor administration, flouting of its constitutional mandate (on more than one occasion), and inaction in righting these wrongs. To correct these obvious misjudgments and misdemeanors when highlighted, (as was done by Dr. Gerald Forde in requesting an update on his status as Representative of the List of TNM), the Commission and administrative arm have done their best to retard, drag on, and pussyfoot on a simple matter crystallized by the constitution. This amplifies public suspicion that GECOM has hidden agendas and motives, undesirable characteristics for any state agency/body funded by taxpayers.
It is time for all Guyanese to echo ANUG’s call for GECOM to get their act together and perform at the level expected of such a distinguished agency fully upholding their constitutional mandate. Anything less cannot be accepted. With general and regional elections mere months away, the public wants an agency that is free from perceived political bias, one that follows the constitution and operates with full transparency and accountability to the Guyanese people.
Voters, beware! ANUG
Dear Editor, One year ago, tragedy struck the Skeldon Municipal Market, consuming stalls in a devastating fire that left a trail of destruction and despair. The flames didn’t just scorch wood and merchandise— they seared through the lives and dreams of thousands of vendors, many of whom have yet to recover. Today, I am compelled to speak about a lingering injustice that cries out for resolution (on their behalf): the vendors’ electricity has yet to be reconnected.
That night, as embers cooled, politicians descended with sombre words and lofty promises, vowing to ease the anguish and restore order. Yet here we are, one year later, and those assurances ring hollow. Vendors who lost everything now endure the scorching sun, suffocating heat, and relentless humidity as they struggle to rebuild. Imagine working long hours in conditions so stifling, it’s akin to being locked in a car under the summer sun. This is the
daily reality for these hardworking individuals—while those in power luxuriate in air-conditioned offices and sip cold water.
Two weeks ago, the vendors gathered the courage to confront the Minister Parag. For a fleeting moment, hope glimmered. The Minister scolded local officials and GPL in a dramatic public display, pledging swift reconnection and railing against the injustices faced by these citizens. Yet what followed was silence—her words and assurances fading like echoes in an empty room. Her promises, like the promises of so many before her, proved to be nothing more than theatrics.
What must these vendors do to have their voices heard? They have pleaded with the Mayor, spoken to the Town Clerk, appealed to GPL, implored regional officials, begged the Minister and now stand before the President, hoping against hope that this time will be different. How much longer must they endure this neglect? How much more in-
dignity must they suffer before those in power act with genuine compassion and urgency?
These are not faceless people; they are mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters. They are the backbone of a community, eking out an honest living against unimaginable odds. They have suffered enough. The fire was not their fault, yet they continue to pay its price in sweat, tears, and frustration. If the President and his administration fail them, if promises continue to wither under the spotlight of accountability, what does that say about the leaders sworn to serve the people?
This is not merely about electricity; it’s about justice. It’s about recognizing the humanity of those who have endured so much and asking ourselves: can we stand by while they suffer in silence?
The nation watched in shock a year ago. Today, the nation must act.
Regards, Beatriz Sinclair
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2024
Plotting ordered pairs
The figure below is a grid. A grid has a horizontal axis, known as the x-axis, and a vertical axis, known as the y-axis. All points on a grid can be expressed, or identified, by two numbers: the x-coordinate which indicates where the point is located on the x-axis and the y-coordinate which indicates where the point is located on the y-axis. Each point is identified using the x and y coordinates in an ordered pair
The point where the vertical and horizontal axes meet is the origin. The origin is identified by the ordered pair (0,0). The x-coordinate indicates how far the point is to the right (positive) or how far to the left (negative) of the origin. The y-coordinate indicates how far the point is above (positive) or how far below (negative) the origin.
Exercises: Give ordered pairs
To find the x-coordinate, move your finger along the x-axis to the point. To find the y-coordinate, move your finger along the y-axis to the point. To identify the ordered pair , put the two coordinates in brackets – the first number is the x-coordinate and the second number is the y-coordinate. In this figure, point A can be expressed as A (1, 4) and point B can be expressed as B (– 3, – 2).
Make your own heart
Materials
1 thick piece of cardboard (like the side of a diaper box), at least 5”x5”
Pencil
Markers or paints
Scissors
Glue
25-30” long yarn or cord
Optional stickers or rhinestone stickers
Optional hole puncher
By RoBeRt HeRRick
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, Old Time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles today Tomorrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, The higher he’s a-getting, The sooner will his race be run, And nearer he’s to setting.
necklaces
Directions
1. Start by using the cardboard to make heart shapes for your necklace. Draw 5 hearts of gradually larger sizes onto the cardboard with a pencil. Don’t worry if the hearts aren’t perfectly symmetrical or heart-shaped.
2. Cut out the hearts. Use a sharp pencil to poke two holes in the top of the largest heart for you to attach the yarn to later.
3. Glue the hearts together. Don’t worry if the hearts aren’t stacked up perfectly.
4. Once the glue is dry, decorate the hearts using markers, paints, stickers. If you are painting the hearts, you can also add stickers when the paint dries.
5. To finish, thread one end of the yarn through a hole and tie a knot. Thread the other end of the yarn through the second hole and tie another knot. You may wish to use the pencil tip to help thread the yarn through.
6. Share the heart necklaces with family and friends! (Virginia Duan, pbs.org)
That age is best which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer; But being spent, the worse, and worst Times still succeed the former.
Then be not coy, but use your time, And while ye may, go marry; For having lost but once your prime, You may forever tarry.
New US$28M Brickdam Police Station 23% completed
...for July 2026 completion
Works on the new US$28 million state-of-the-art, multi-storey Brickdam Police Station are progressing and are approximately 23 per cent completed.
According to information from the Home Affairs Ministry, the foundation works are completed and the steel structure is currently being prepared on site, to be erected.
Guyana Times was further told that there has been no major challenge with the project, which is on schedule for its July 2026 completion date.
Following a massive fire that destroyed the previous wooden complex in October 2021, a US$28 million contract for a new 12-storey Brickdam Police Station was awarded to local construction company R Basso and Sons Construction in association with the China-based Qing Jian Group Company Guyana Incorporated. Construction work commenced in January following a sod-turning ceremony.
The modern facility will house central departments such as traffic, finance, Impact Base and the Criminal Investigation
Department (CID), and accommodate 2000 personnel. The building’s design also caters for it to be earthquake resistant, with stateof-the-art fire protection and detection systems, advanced Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) monitoring and access control systems, and a telephone and data connection system to provide 24hour service.
Back in June, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn and Permanent Secretary Andre Ally had conducted a site visit and at the time, works were eight per cent completed with test
piling being done. At the sod-turning ceremony earlier this year, President Dr Irfaan Ali explained that the build-out of the new station would play a
723 new businesses registered in Regs 7, 8, 9 as Guyana's economy expands
The Tourism, Industry, and Commerce
Ministry highlighted Guyana’s significant strides in business development, tourism, and industrial growth.
Among the standout achievements is the registration of 723 new businesses in Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), underscoring the Government’s commitment to fostering economic inclusivity.
Among the businesses registered are agro-processors, small retail shops, and salons.
Through its business registration hubs in the three above-named regions, the Ministry has brought formalised business opportunities to remote and underserved communities. This initiative has been transformative for local entrepreneurs, who can now access financing, contracts, and other resources previously out of reach.
“We are making history by ensuring that no matter where you are in Guyana, you have access to the tools needed to formalise your business,” Tourism, Industry, and Commerce
Minister Oneidge Walrond stated on Wednesday. “This is about inclusivity and economic empowerment for all Guyanese.”
In addition, the Small Business Bureau (SBB) has been instrumental in providing resources and training to new and existing enterprises. Over 2000 businesses have benefited from workshops on marketing, bookkeeping, and customer service.
Additionally, 21 business owners with disabilities received collateral-free loans to start or expand their ventures. “When we invest in small businesses, we invest in communities,” Minister Walrond said. “This is about
fostering resilience and creating opportunities that transform lives.”
The Ministry has also made strides in industrial development. On this note, it was stated that the Lethem Industrial Estate allocated 43 plots to businesses focused on value-added production, such as cassava flour, which is poised to tap into the $85 billion global cassava market.
Agro-processors have produced over 8000 pounds of cassava flour, dried fruits, and pepper using high-value equipment provided by the Government.
“Industrial estates like Lethem are the backbone of regional development,”
Minister Walrond explained. “By prioritising value-added production, we are not only creating jobs but also ensuring Guyana’s competitiveness on the global stage.”
The estate at Onderneeming, West Bank Demerara (WBD) is 85 per cent complete and will host value-added and service-related businesses, while new industrial zones in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) are set to be completed by mid-2025.
It was further stated that the Ministry’s efforts, from tourism expansion to business incubation, are creating opportunities for citizens across all regions.
With the 723 new businesses and robust tourism growth, 2024 has proven to be a landmark year for the country’s economic transformation.
“Every initiative we undertake benefits the ordinary Guyanese citizen,” Minister Walrond concluded. “This growth story is not just about numbers but about lives transformed.”
The Ministry looks ahead to further achievements in 2025, promising continued support for local entrepreneurs and industries as Guyana cements its place on the global economic stage.
key role in transforming the country’s national security architecture, which aims to ensure Guyanese live in peace and crime rates are low.
“And that is proactive policing and intelligent policing. It is how Police and how the security architecture build a capacity to help the country in developing a culture of living in peace and that is far different from fighting crime. That is proactively engaging community through community initiatives, through community policing, through deploying the intellectual capabilities of our security architecture to infuse in the population a new model of thinking,” the Head of State noted.
Further, all services being accessed at the Police Headquarters at Eve Leary will be moved to the Brickdam Police Station when completed.
According to the Head of State, this will facilitate the development of Guyana’s Police Academy.
“What we want to do is move as much of the services from Eve Leary into this new facility that we’re building here, because we want to free up Eve Leary to be primarily the Police Academy… when I said our prosperity must lead to the Region’s prosperity, this is what I meant. Building our capacity to be leaders not only in Guyana but in the Region so that we have officers, we can have youngsters joining the Police Academy here in Guyana and then working throughout the Region,” President Ali had stated.
The Brickdam Station, which housed the Guyana Police Force’s Police Division 4A Headquarters (Georgetown), was destroyed by fire on October 2, 2021. The fire, which started about 11:06h in the upper flat of an eastern building, spread to several other mainly wooden buildings in the compound, despite the efforts of the Guyana Fire Service.
All the buildings in the compound were completely destroyed, with the exception of the station lock-ups, barracks and Impact Base. In addition, several Police vehicles were slightly damaged, while a number of privately-owned vehicles that were impounded were destroyed or damaged.
All the prisoners who were in custody in the station lock-ups were safely evacuated, and there was no loss of Police or civilian life. A few Police ranks received minor injuries during valiant efforts to save important records, equipment, furniture, and arms and ammunition that were since relocated for safe-keeping, and received medical treatment.
The fire also damaged a business place located in Hadfield Street behind the Brickdam Police Station.
Days later, 26-year-old Clarence Greene, who was in custody at the Brickdam Station for robbery under arms, was subsequently charged and remanded to prison on October 7, 2021 for setting fire to the Brickdam Police Station.
Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond
Works ongoing on the new Brickdam Police Station
The design of the new Brickdam Police Station
ECD businessman gets $1M bail for fatally shooting alleged thief
Businessman Pooran Singh has on Wednesday been placed on $1 million station bail for fatally shooting a man whom he alleges had been stealing items from his property at Bladen Hall, East Coast Demerara.
A statement from Police Headquarters has said the case file is at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further legal advice.
This shooting incident occurred at around 2:30h on Sunday, when the 52-yearold Singh claimed to have seen an individual removing Heineken beer from his property and he discharged rounds from his licensed 9mm firearm in the direction of that individual.
Bitter…
…comparisons
It’s said that “all comparisons are odious”. And we can see, most loudly and clearly, the profound truth of this saying in the kvetching by a Trade Union Leader (TUL) that the reception accorded by the PPP government to the Indian PM Narendra Modi on his visit last month far exceeded in pomp and ceremony that extended to Ghanian VP Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia back in Dec 2021!
The TUL concluded this proved that “(PPP) leaders are deep in their programme to diminish the presence of African and other non-East Indian Guyanese.” Imagine that!!
The shot individual, whose identity and address remain unknown, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical technicians (EMT) before his body was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) for examination.
also seized his firearm as part of the investigation.
While Singh’s property is equipped with CCTV cameras, police are yet to confirm the businessman’s claims.
Singh later reported the incident to the Vigilance Police Station, and was taken into custody. Authorities
It has been reported that investigators arrived at the scene to find the man’s
body bearing bullet wounds and with his hands and feet bound.
Residents in the area have said they had heard gunshots but did not witness the incident. Investigations are ongoing.
Lethem food vendor slapped with robbery charge
Anderson Cyril, a 28-year-old food vendor of Tabatinga in Lethem (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), has been placed on bail following his arraignment on Monday before Lethem Magistrate Omadat Chandan on a charge of armed robbery.
Arrested on November 10, 2024, Cyril had first been arraigned on November 13, and had not been required to plead to the indictment even as he was remanded to prison. However, in Cyril’s ar-
Bartica shop owner gets $60K bail for ganja possession
Thirty-three-yearold Frankie Speede of 5 Miles Housing Scheme in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), was on Wednesday granted $60,000 bail on a narcotics’ possession charge.
Speede appeared before Magistrate Teriq Mohamed at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court and pleaded not guilty to having in his possession 92 grams of cannabis on Tuesday, December 3, when Police in Regional Division #7 went to his shop at Fifth Avenue, Bartica and conducted a search for drugs, guns and ammunition.
It was reported that during that exercise, a quantity of cannabis was found, which when weighed amounted to 92 grams; and that Speede was told of
the offence committed and charged.
Speede is expected to make his next court appearance on January 2, 2025.
Charged: Anderson Cyril
raignment before Magistrate Chandan on Monday, defence lawyer Bernard Da Silva mounted a successful argument for bail, despite objections from the prosecution.
Da Silva argued that the prosecution is unprepared to go to trial, having no case file available and no clear timeline for disclosure of facts or date for trial.
The attorney told the court that his client, like any
other accused, is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and is entitled to a fair trial within a reasonable time.
He also highlighted that Cyril is not a flight risk, and pointed to his strong ties to the community, where he resides with his pregnant wife and young daughter.
The prosecution, in arguing against Cyril being placed on bail, emphasised the seriousness of the charge, but the magistrate overruled the prosecution’s objections and granted bail, citing delays in the case and Cyril’s constitutional right to a fair hearing.
The magistrate ruled that delays in the prosecution’s case and Cyril’s ties to his community warranted his release on bail.
Having been placed on bail, Cyril has been ordered to report weekly to the Lethem Police Station as a condition of his bail.
Baramita miner charged, remanded on murder charge
Erisa John of Casey Creek in the Baramita, North West District of Region One (Barima-Waini) has been charged with the capital offence of murder committed on Deon Thomas.
The 31-year-old miner was arrested last Sunday, and was arraigned virtually before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Port Kaituma Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
John was not been required to enter a plea, and has been remanded to prison until February 5, 2025.
His main complaint is that, while the official formalities were observed, the PPP Govt didn’t arrange for the Ghanaian VP to meet with ordinary Guyanese of African descentmany of whom originated in present-day Ghana. This, the TUL explained, had to be done by the local “Ghana Day Committee”.
Now, your Eyewitness – who’s been around the block and then some in our local fractured politics – had expected this sorta comparison the moment Modi landed at CJIA from Brazil!!
He just didn’t expect it to come from a TUL – whom he thought would’ve wanted to maintain a multi-ethnic “working class” façade!! But blood is thicker than wata, no?? Now, your Eyewitness can easily point out that Ghanaian politics is even more divided than ours. Over there, the divisions are “tribal”: even though all are of the same race, their competition is so fierce that elections are characterized by how many are killed!! For their elections at this month’s end, the political parties signed a code of conduct against vigilantism and election violence perpetuated by youth vigilante groups!!
But back to the invidious comparison. Will it change TUL’s mind to be told that he’s completely off-base with his criticism of Modi’s meeting with local Indians?? Both dignitaries met their diasporas at the Marriott, but Modi’s meeting with Indian Guyanese at the NCC - which had its own debate on how it was built!! – was arranged by the Indian (from India) Cultural Center and by local organizations. The TUL coulda check who paid for the rental of the NCC! Apart from the Ghana Day Group, couldn’t IDPADA-G - which claims membership of some 78 Afro-centric local groupshave done a similar jambalaya??
But your Eyewitness noticed when Pres Granger hosted President Akufo-Addo – equivalent to PM Modi - back in June 2019, the TUL didn’t complain about him not meeting the African Guyanese community. By then IDPADA-G had collected $168 MILLION, and could’ve easily rented the NCC for the Ghanaian President’s meetand-greet!!
But as Fat Boy said, we gotta distinguish between the CAUSE of the war and the OCCASION for the war. Modi’s visit is just the OCCASION for the TUL to wage his war!!
…culture
Your Eyewitness was looking out for a report on that event that was supposed to be held last Saturday at the Promenade Gardens - to “immerse” us into various strands of American culture in order to encourage us to visit. Imagine that!! We’re now seen as folks who can travel for leisure and spend big bucks to sustain the American economy!!! Does this mean we’re not a shithole country no mo?? But no report crossed his various feeds. Does that mean it didn’t come off??
But your Eyewitness would’ve gone in person for the “immersion” if…
They could pick the Latin-themed “What happens in Miami…” as part of their showcasing of American culture, why not Black American culture of Harlem (NYC), Bronzeville (Chicago), or Jackson Mississippi etc?? Your Eyewitness would’ve liked to enjoy “soul food” - not to mention “soul music” straight outa Compton!!
Rather than having Koreans sucking the wealth outa those communities, maybe we could visit and pump some money into them??
…hazing
Thank God for our courts. Imagine the GRA harassing a returning Guyanese who’d qualified for a duty-free vehicle as to where he got the money to buy said vehicle!! “What business is that of theirs?” asked the CJ!!
Charged: Erisa John
The ganja that was allegedly found on the premises
Charged: Frankie Speede
Businessman Pooran Singh The business place where the incident took place
Guyana records rise in arrivals, welcomes new airlines
Guyana’s tourism industry is booming, with record-breaking visitor arrivals, expanded air connectivity, and the development of new attractions and accommodations.
At a media briefing on Wednesday, Tourism, Industry, and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond detailed the achievements and ongoing initiatives that have placed Guyana firmly on the map as a premier travel destination.
From January to October 2024, visitor arrivals grew by 15 per cent compared to the same period in 2023, with nearly 300,000 visitors recorded. October alone saw a 22.5 per cent increase in arrivals.
“What we’re seeing is that every single year, we have this trend – growth month over month,” Walrond noted. “These numbers highlight that Guyana is quickly becoming a destination of choice, thanks to increased international promotions and expanded travel options.”
She attributed much of this growth to strategic efforts in sports tourism, conferences, and events such as the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the Guyana Energy Conference, which have attracted visitors from around the globe.
In addition, the aviation sector has played a critical role in this upward trajectory, with new airlines and routes enhancing accessibility. “Airline airlift is, of
course, extremely important, because the visitors have to come through aircraft,” Walrond emphasised.
Highlights from 2024 include the launch of several new airline routes, significantly enhancing Guyana’s global connectivity. United Airlines introduced four weekly flights between Houston and Georgetown, while Avianca Airlines began direct flights to Bogota, Colombia.
InterCaribbean Airways added routes to Grenada, Caribbean Airlines connected Guyana with Suriname, and SKYhigh Dominicana established flights to the Dominican Republic, reflecting growing confidence in Guyana as a thriving tourism destination.
“These new airlines and
routes signal the recognition of Guyana’s rapidly-growing tourism sector,” Walrond said. “Each airline is a powerful endorsement of the confidence the global aviation and tourism industries have in Guyana.”
Looking ahead, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is expected to connect Amsterdam, St Marteen and Guyana in 2025, adding over 1000 weekly seats.
According to the Minister, with more visitors comes the need for more accommodations. Guyana has made significant strides in this area, adding nearly 400 rooms with the opening of the Aiden by Best Western and Royal International Hotel this year.
Another 1000 rooms are expected to be available
soon, thanks to internationally-branded hotels which are near completion.
The Minister also highlighted the growth of the bed-and-breakfast sector.
“The bed-and-breakfast option plays a critical role in complementing major hotels while offering unique, personalised experiences,” she said.
In 2024, 26 bed-andbreakfast properties were
conditionally approved, with the Government providing technical support to help owners meet international standards. “This is about offering the visitor an authentic experience while enabling homeowners to earn additional income,” Walrond explained.
As the tourism sector grows, so does the need for a skilled workforce. The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) trained 2341 individuals this year in key areas such as bird guiding, ecolodge development, and first aid.
“Tourism is a relatively new sector for us, and training is essential,” Walrond noted. “We want our guides and service providers to meet international standards, ensuring that every visitor leaves with a positive impression.”
In 2024, the Government launched 50 new tourism experiences across the country, ensuring that visitors have diverse options, from eco-tourism in the Rupununi to cultural tours in riverine communities.
“Tourism development is about giving visitors op-
tions,” said Walrond. “You come to a country, and you don’t want just one experience – you want several. That’s how you ensure repeat visitors, which are the lifeblood of a sustainable tourism product.”
These new offerings have also brought economic opportunities to rural and hinterland communities. “When visitors come to your village or community and spend money, it creates a ripple effect,” Walrond noted.
Looking back on the achievements of 2024, she expressed optimism about the future of Guyana’s tourism sector. “Tourism is a key pillar for Guyana’s sustained economic growth,” she said. “When the oil and gas are long gone, our tourism products will still be here.”
With new airlines, accommodations, and attractions already in the pipeline for 2025, Guyana’s tourism sector shows no signs of slowing down. As Walrond concluded, “This is about building a legacy – for our visitors, our communities, and our country.”
Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond (fifth from right) with tourism officers at Wednesday's press briefing
GWI working to resolve water challenges at Cummings Lodge
In light of ongoing water supply challenges being faced by residents of the New Cummings Lodge Housing Scheme and surrounding areas, Guyana Water Inc (GWI) is working to resolve the situation swiftly and effectively.
In a release to the media, GWI stated that it has been actively working to enhance water distribution in the New Cummings Lodge area through the drilling of new wells at New Cummings Lodge and North Ruimveldt.
“These wells were intended to bolster supply following the unfortunate collapse of the Turkeyen well, which had been a critical source of water for the region. Further, the well at North Ruimveldt has been experiencing challenges due to the drop in production at that site. However, despite our best efforts, the newly-drilled wells have not yet been productive, impacting the reliability of water service in the area,” GWI added. To address the situation, GWI
says it is undertaking remedial works on the wells and the net -
work distribution system. These measures aim to restore water supply to residents as soon as possible.
“In the interim, GWI is delivering tanks of water daily to ensure that residents have access to this vital resource. We are also maintaining regular communication to keep residents informed about our progress,” the utility company said.
“We are confident that the ongoing remedial efforts will yield positive results in the shortest
possible time. As such, teams have been on the ground daily, actively working to find solutions to ensure that the issues that are being faced are solved in the shortest possible time. Daily updates on our progress will be shared through the media and our official communication channels.”
The company thanked the residents of New Cummings Lodge and the wider community for their resilience and cooperation during this period.
Omai Gold expands drilling in wide gold zones at Wenot mine – records positive results
The Canada-based Omai Gold Mines Corp is continuing to see positive results from the ongoing drilling activities at the Wenot deposit in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
In a statement on Wednesday, the mining company said it was focused on expanding the Wenot deposit at the Omai Gold Project here. “Very wide zones of up to 68.7m with robust gold grades were drilled within the “Dike Corridor”, one of the five main subparallel gold zones that comprise the Wenot deposit,” it stated.
According to Omai, assays are reported for three additional drill holes and results are pending for an additional seven holes.
The findings at Hole 24ODD-085: 3.16 g/t Au over 68.7m including 6.65 g/t Au over 29.9m; 2.64 g/t Au over 6.5m, and 1.87 g/t Au over 7.5m. At Hole 24ODD-087: 4.57 g/t Au over 45.5m, in-
cluding 2.40 g/t Au over 38.0m and 77.71 g/t Au over 1.5m; 19.36 g/t Au over 2.5m, and 2.07 g/t Au over 8.5m.
Omai President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Elaine Ellingham commented, “We are very excited by the very wide gold zones intersected in these recent holes at Omai. The very significant widths and robust gold grades further demonstrate that the gold zones at Wenot increase in width and grade with depth.
“Drilling is expected to continue well into Q1 2025 and we remain on track for an updated Mineral Resource Estimate in Q1 2025, and an updated economic study is planned for Q2 2025. This is expected to include both an expanded Wenot deposit and the Gilt Creek deposit, which was not included in the 2024 Preliminary Economic Assessment 1.”
The mining company said the most significant of these
current drilling results at the two holes is that both intersected very wide gold zones and at greater depths than previously known within one of the most prolific zones within the Wenot deposit known as the “Dike Corridor”.
The Dike Corridor is one of five main subparallel, near-vertical gold zones that comprise the large 2.5-kilometre long Wenot deposit. Lying within the broader Wenot Shear, the “Dike Corridor “ is a 100 to 200m wide zone within the volcanic sequence, typically 25 to 100m north of the central sediment-volcanic contact. This zone was selectively mined from 1995-2002 when the gold price fell well below US$400/oz, suggesting it was deemed the most economic.
The “Dike Corridor “ comprises a series of felsic and diorite dikes intruded into the volcanic sequence with variable shearing, alteration and stockworks of quartz veining within the felsic dikes, and hosting significant gold mineralisation.
These high-grade drill results at the Wenot pit come on the heels of calls by the Guyana Government for Omai, which has been in the developmental stage for an extended period, to move on to production.
“Omai Gold Mines has been in the development stage for a very, very long time, and we would like to see people moving from proving reserves to actually producing gold,” Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said during a press conference in July.
While he noted that there was no timeframe set out for the Canada-based company
to start production, Jagdeo explained that only after a company began production, do the Government begin collecting royalties and taxes.
“Some people actually sit on companies forever, and they raise funds to prove reserves and they keep announcing how many ounces of gold are in reserve there without getting into the real production, and it is only in the production stage that the Government gets its share of royalty and taxes, because the large-scale mines got to pay both the royalty and taxes,” the VP had noted.
Omai is a past-producing
gold mine that was opened in 1992, and produced approximately 3.7 million ounces of gold, making it the largest gold mine in South America at the time. The project closed in 2006 due to financial constraints and low gold prices.
The operator then returned in 2020 when the gold price was over US$1,900 per ounce, and in April 2024, the company announced the completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).
In February 2024, the company announced an updated Mineral Resource Estimate of 2 million ounces of gold.
For 2024, the Omai team said it is prioritising drilling to demonstrate the further expansion potential of the new Wenot deposit, drilling on key near-surface highgrade exploration targets, and continuing baseline and engineering studies to determine a path forward towards a development plan for the project.
The PEA supports an initial open-pit mining scenario for production of 1.84 million ounces, averaging 142,000 ounces of gold per year over a 13-year mine life, with peak year production of 184,000 ounces.
Wenot plan map showing drill hole locations at the Omai Mining Project in Region Seven
Omai CEO Elaine Ellingham
Registration for the $100,000 cash grant at Festival City Ground and Old Mosque, Alexander Village on Wednesday (NCN Photos)
AIEP hydroponic farm at Fort Wellington to become operational soon
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and a team from ExxonMobil Guyana have recently visited the site where the hydroponic farm of the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme (AIEP) is being constructed at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice.
Declaring that this facility forms part of Government's efforts to re-
duce the regional food import bill, produce quality high-value crops, and have more young people involved in agriculture, Minister Mustapha has said the Fort Wellington facility is expected to become fully operational in another two months, and that construction of the other two facilities is on schedule to commence in the coming week.
During last year’s Agri-Investment Forum and Expo, President Dr
Irfaan Ali and officials from ExxonMobil and its Stabroek Block partners: Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, launched the AIEP Hydroponic Project, in which is invested US$4.5 million for the construction of hydroponic farms in Regions Two, Five, and 10.
These three projects would empower over 1000 youths to advance their experience in sustainable agribusinesses.
Small business owners receive cash entitlement through LRP
Sseven small business owners who have been affected by infrastructure works ongoing along the East Bank Demerara corridor have received cash entitlements under the Livelihood Restoration Programme (LRP) which forms part of the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHUAP).
These project-affected persons (PAPs) were presented with their cheques on Tuesday in the Housing and Water Ministry’s boardroom.
The Livelihood Restoration Programme (LRP) is designed to ensure that individuals economically displaced by programme activities have their socio-economic conditions restored or improved.
During the disbursement, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal emphasized the programme’s commitment to supporting those affected by development works, and highlighted Government’s focus on improving the lives of citizens through targeted policies and initiatives.
Urging these recipients to make wise use of the funds received, Minister Croal said, “It is initiatives like this that will help you go a long way, and I want to ask you to utilize your resources as maxi-
mally as possible in terms of investing further or expanding.”
In addition to the cash entitlements, the seven beneficiaries would soon receive training in key areas, including Entrepreneurial Awareness, Financial Management and Record Keeping, Small Business Development, and Taxation and Business Regularization.
Through AHUAP, the Ministry of Housing and Water has completed several major infrastructural projects on the East Bank of Demerara, valued at over $950 million. These works include the upgrade of 8.34km of roads, the construction of 2043km of reinforced concrete drains and sidewalks, and the installation of concrete side-
walks (600mm – 6) in areas such as Covent Garden, Farm Phases 1 and 2, Herstelling, Providence Phase 2 (North and South), Peter’s Hall, and Perseverance.
Funded by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), AHUAP aims to improve the quality of life of low-income populations in urban and peri-urban Georgetown by providing better access to adequate housing, basic infrastructure, and improved mobility services.
Key initiatives under AHUAP include Core Home Support, which provides low-income families with starter homes; and the Home Improvement Subsidy, designed to assist families to upgrade their homes to improve their living standards.
Work ongoing on the hydroponic farm
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and officials of ExxonMobil being briefed on the project
ome
Small business owners who received grants
Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal and one of the beneficiaries
Bath Regional Hospital scheduled for early 2025 completion
More than 30,000 residents of Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) are set to benefit from enhanced healthcare services when construction of the state-of-the-art Regional Hospital at Bath Settlement, valued at over $6 billion, has been completed.
During a site inspection on Tuesday, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony announced that the Bath Settlement Hospital is slated for completion by the first quarter of next year.
“The work is a little bit more advanced than that of Number 75 (hospital). They have been working on doing the tiling. I expect that, by early next month, the ceiling will be in place as well. There will be other (works) that they will be doing. By February, you will start see-
ing the installation of the equipment, so that the hospital can be ready by the first quarter,” Dr Anthony has said.
The completed Bath Settlement Hospital would feature a 24-hour Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department that is
that the hospital’s outpatient section would include several consultation rooms, allowing specialists to provide both primary healthcare and specialised services to patients.
Further, the Imaging Suite, consisting of digital X-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds and laboratories, would offer a range of quality services. Additionally, the top floor of the institution would feature two operating theatres, a delivery room, an intensive care unit (ICU), and a recovery room.
equipped with a theatre to deliver prompt medical care for minor fractures and other injuries.
Dr Anthony explained
“So, one section deals with all of these surgical kinds of capabilities of the hospital, and obstetrics and gynaecology area. And then
we [will] have in-patient services, where we are catering for 75 in-patients.
These are divided into rooms of five, and with each five beds, we [will] have a toilet and a bath. These rooms, which will be fully functional, will be enclosed with A/C,” Dr Anthony highlighted.
Importantly, the health facility would be classified a level four hospital, eradicating the necessity for persons to be referred to hospitals in Georgetown or New Amsterdam.
The health facility is being constructed by China National Pharmaceutical Group Corporation, Sinopharm.
Garbage collection in Bartica is resumed following dumpsite closure – Mayor
The recently handed-over garbage truck
Bartica Mayor Anthony Murray has revealed that following the closure of the Byderabo dumpsite, located on the outskirts of Bartica in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), interventions made by the council have led to the resumption of garbage collection within the township.
A court order issued earlier in the year had halted
further use of the privately owned Byderabo dumpsite, and an alternative dumpsite had been identified at 10 Miles.
In an interview with Guyana Times on Tuesday, Mayor Murray explained that due to the distance between the new dumpsite and the town, and taking into consideration the limited transportation capacity, gar-
bage collection services within the town had significantly been slowed.
“We were given notice to move to a new location, because we received a court order. So, we moved from the one that we were using over the years. So, because of the distance and the amount of garbage that was being disposed by partition, we now had to think about the dis-
tance and the time it would take for us to turn around and to pick up garbage at the different streets (and) different locations.”
In this regard, the mayor noted, to bring garbage collection within the town back to a state of normalcy, the council had had to request Central Government to procure additional trucks for the municipality.
“We only had three tractors, but the three tractors have a small trailer that would just accommodate a few. And then they have to go and dump and they come back. So, we requested the Government, and they were able to enter (into) a contract with a private company. We were able to have two compact trucks available to us, um, to help out with the garbage,” Mayor Murray detailed.
He added, “A few times, we had mechanical problems that caused some pileups quickly, but then we certainly get around it (problems), and we were able to minimize the excess garbage pileup.”
Moreover, he revealed that to bolster the town’s waste management disposal, another truck was handed over to the council just last week.
“And I’m happy to also say again (that), to control the garbage collection, we did, in 2023 subvention, request to purchase a brand-new compactor truck, (and) we got through with that. We had the handing-over ceremony last week Friday, and now we have a brand-new truck added to the fleet of vehicles that
we have. So, there you have it, that you (Bartica) certainly wouldn’t have the problem of picking up the domestic refuse or garbage collection,” he detailed.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had, in 2020, been contemplating closure of two landfill sites: at Esplanade Road in New Amsterdam and at Byderabo in Bartica. This contemplation had been occasioned by the EPA stipulating new criteria for landfills and dumpsites, and a list of all landfill sites had been compiled. This list was used to determine which would be closed or upgraded to EPA standards. It was discovered that both of the landfills contemplated for closure had been situated close to residential areas.
With the decision to close the landfills being contemplated, Puran Brothers Disposal Inc had, in December of 2022, been awarded a contract worth $195,855,000 for closure of the Byderabo dumpsite and development of a sanitary landfill at Bartica.
Bartica Mayor Anthony Murray
The Bath Settlement Hospital under construction under construction
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony in discussion with contractors
The interior of the building
Guyana’s commitment to contract integrity earned US$6B in oil revenues
Guyana’s oil wealth, concentrated in the Stabroek Block, has transformed the nation’s economic fortunes, not only through direct revenues but also through substantial benefits for ordinary people. These benefits show the importance of the Government’s principle of contract sanctity and respect for investors.
While the Government recognises that the petroleum agreement for the Stabroek Block is less favourable to Guyana than it could be, the Government firmly upholds the principle of contract sanctity.
This has been underscored on numerous occasions by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo who stated, “We pride ourselves in being predictable, fair, and working with the companies in partnership but looking out for national interests.”
He has said that this approach is not merely about honouring one agreement but about preserving the broader investment environment. Respecting contracts
is widely known to foster investor confidence, signalling to foreign companies that Guyana is a stable and reliable partner for long-term investment.
The Vice President has said that the industry appreciates predictability and non-capricious behaviour.
A predictable and fair investment climate has thus far encouraged further exploration, development, and innovation, ensuring that the oil wealth continues to benefit the country across generations. Additionally, it aligns with the electoral mandate of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), reflecting the will of the electorate who entrusted the Government with managing this vital sector.
To date, Guyana has earned approximately US$5.5 billion in direct government revenues from oil production, which is being invested into critical infrastructure, healthcare, education, and energy. These revenues have also empowered the government to advance climate adaptation and mit-
igation efforts, addressing the country’s vulnerability to flooding and other climate-related challenges.
Notably, however, the country’s oil wealth do not only come from direct revenues.
When the PPP Government assumed office, Guyana lacked local content legislation, leaving Guyanese businesses and workers with limited opportunities to capitalise on the oil boom. In 2021, the Government introduced the Local Content Act, mandating increased hiring of Guyanese nationals and awarding contracts to local businesses in specific sectors.
This legislation has empowered Guyanese companies to provide basic services as well as offer specialised capabilities. For example, local companies now fabricate steel for Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, directly contributing to the infrastructure that facilitates offshore production. The Local Content legislation now generates hundreds of millions of US dollars annually for Guyanese businesses and fosters generational wealth.
Further, in 2024, the Government enhanced local content by increasing the bid evaluation weighing for local companies from five per cent to 10 per cent, giving businesses with local content certification a greater competitive edge. Over 800 Guyanese companies have already acquired local content certification, and can reap the benefits of increased access to contracts.
Aside from Local Content, there is the benefit derived from oil companies’ corporate social responsibility. One such example is the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI), funded by ExxonMobil, Hess, and CNOOC. This US$100 million, 10-year initiative supports diverse projects that drive societal transformation.
Key examples include the construction of the Berbice Stadium; the Accelerate-
HER Programme; the enhancing community wellness project; the Egg Sandwich Project; the University of Guyana Campus Safety and Security Project, and the Centre for Local Business Development. These initiatives, and others under the GGI, demonstrate the oil sector’s contributions to diverse areas of national development, from health and education to entrepreneurship and infrastructure.
Overall, Guyana’s oil wealth offers benefits far beyond direct financial inflows, driving local capacity building, societal development, and economic diversification. By respecting contract sanctity and maintaining a favourable investment climate, the government ensures that these benefits continue to grow while safeguarding Guyana’s longterm economic health.
Application portal for GOAL scholarship programme opens
Guyanese seeking opportunities to advance their tertiary education can now apply for a scholarship through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme.
The application portal is now open, and prospective students are being encouraged to apply before the 11:59 (pm) February 28, 2025, deadline.
Interested individuals can access a wide range of programmes at various levels, including vocational certificates, undergraduate diplomas, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate diplomas, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees – free of cost.
The government has partnered with accredited
local and international academic institutions to administer these programmes, including the University of West Indies (UWI and the University of South California, among others.
A brainchild of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, this programme offers Guyanese a unique opportunity to attain higher education, allowing them to become highly skilled and participate in national development.
Since its introduction in 2021, GOAL has opened doors for thousands of Guyanese, with 29,758 scholarships awarded to date. This number is significant as it surpasses the initial target of 20,000 for the 2021-2025 period.
These scholarships were awarded to individuals from
the ten administrative regions, with the numbers increasing yearly. Based on statistics provided by GOAL, 6,280 scholarships were awarded in 2021, 7,410 in 2022, 7,752 in 2023 and a massive 8,316 in 2024. Notably, around 6,624 scholars have completed their programmes, contributing to their development of skills in various fields. For additional information on how to apply, persons can visit https://goal. edu.gy/.
Launched in 2021, the Guyana Online Academy (GOAL) is a part of the Government of Guyana’s transformative agenda to have an educated workforce, that will complement the massive transformation.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo
Graduates from the GOAL programme
Guyana’s malaria elimination efforts take centre stage during CCM dialogue
The Health Ministry’s Vector Control Services, in collaboration with the Guyana Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM), hosted a dialogue on Wednesday to assess the status of malaria in Guyana, and reflect on progress made and strategies for the next phase of malaria elimination efforts.
This dialogue brought together key stakehold-
ers, including representatives from the Miners’ Association; the Finance Ministry; the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC); CCM members and other healthcare workers.
During his opening remarks, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony highlighted the Ministry’s ambition to transition from malaria con-
trol to elimination.
He noted that while Guyana has benefited from Global Fund grants addressing HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, the country is gradually becoming ineligible for such funding.
"This may be the last malaria grant from the Global Fund; However, our focus is on eliminating the disease. Guyana’s strategy must shift to align with success-
ful elimination efforts seen in neighbouring Suriname, where they are now awaiting validation from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Dr Anthony emphasised that eliminating malaria requires innovation, targeted interventions, and region-specific approaches.
He outlined a pilot programme in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper
Essequibo), in collaboration with Harvard University, which uses geospatial mapping and AI technology to identify and treat areas with high mosquito breeding activity.
The Minister also addressed the broader goal of eliminating neglected infectious diseases in Guyana, including lymphatic filariasis, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, and leprosy, by 2030.
He stressed the importance of eliminating diseases to free up resources for addressing non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. The dialogue concluded with a commitment from stakeholders to align their efforts with the Ministry’s goal of malaria elimination by adopting innovative strategies and fostering collaboration across sectors.
Eddy Grant, PM Modi bestowed with Honorary Order of Freedom
Guyanese musical icon and legend Edmond Montague Grant, also known as Eddy Grant, has been conferred with the Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados in observance of that country’s 58th Independence Anniversary.
In a ceremony held at the Kensington Oval, the President of Barbados, Her Excellency Dame Sandra Mason, conferred on Eddy Grant this honour which acknowledges a distinguished person who is not a citizen of Barbados but whose contributions make it desirable for the nation to confer such
of Barbados
recognition on that person. Eddy Grant has been cited for his exceptional achievements as a global cultural icon; innovator of unique music genres, including Soca and Ringbang; vociferous promoter of indigenous music; socio-political commentator; and matchless talent as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. The OFB also honours Grant’s excellent contributions to the development of local, regional, and international recording artists. The Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados has also been conferred on
prominent entrepreneur Richard Edghill and on global icon the Honourable Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, who is being honoured for his “leading role and reputation for responsiveness and care”. The citation details that under the strategic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of the Republic of India took urgent action to assist countries like Barbados with Covishield vaccines, which changed the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and minimised its social and economic impacts.
Stakeholders during the dialogue chaired by Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony
Eddy Grant
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
East Bank Berbice pensioners forced to travel to NA to collect pensions
Pensioners along the East Bank Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) are forced to travel to New Amsterdam to collect their pensions despite President Dr Irfaan Ali instructing this should not be the case one year ago.
In 2021, pensioners raised the issue of having to travel to New Amsterdam to collect their pensions with the Head of State who asked for the issue to be addressed. Upon his second visit to the area in 2023, he expressed disappointment when he was told that the inconvenience experienced by pensioners along the East Bank of Berbice still existed.
He said it was the
Government’s policy to pay pensions in the communities where the pensioners live.
However, some pensioners from the community told
<<<Guyana Times>>> that after the President’s instructions, the officer gave them one payment covering three months. This was done on two occasions, in April and July.
Eighty-two-year-old
James Chisholm, who lives a few villages away from Mara with his 84-year-old wife Martha, said on one occasion the pension was paid to them in the village. “They have not come back since then,” he said, pointing out that his daughter-in-law would collect his pension.
Many of the pensioners would have to hitch a ride with farmers going to the market and leaving at 22:00h to get to New Amsterdam if they were making the pickup them-
selves. The farmers return after market hours the following day.
A regular 4x4 pick-up to which most of them do not have access and which is used by the Human Services Ministry staff to go into communities would take under 90 minutes to travel from New Amsterdam to Mara.
“Nobody coming in here to pay, we does got to go out,” Martha said.
Now only able to see out of one eye, the 84-yearold woman explained that without the assistance of her daughter, it would have been almost impossible for her to go and collect her pension.
“The President said they
are supposed to come and pay us every month. They just come and pay the three months and they never come back,” she added.
Meanwhile, Seighfred Prass, 84, who suffers from a hearing impediment, explained that it would be better if his pension could be taken to him at Mara.
“It would be better for me rather than having to go till in New Amsterdam,” he said, noting that it was last brought to him in July and covered August and September and for October and November, he had to travel to New Amsterdam to uplift his pension.
He has not collected his December pension as yet. Prass said during the
1950s and 1960s even with the poor state of the road network then, his folks received their pension in the village.
“They used to come up here,” he noted.
Another pensioner in the community, Selochine Bhagmati, 67, who has spent her entire life in Mara, says she is still hoping that they would bring November and December pensions to them in the village.
“They are not telling us nothing. We are not hearing anything and share the pension book... They came and pay three months, September was the last that we get pay for,” the pensioner noted. (Andrew Carmichael)
QC’s TVET Block boosted with donation of PPE
The Education Ministry through its office of the Deputy Chief Education Officer (Technical), continues to prioritise equipping students with the necessary tools for hands-on learning.
On Tuesday, the TVET Unit supplied Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the newly-es-
tablished TVET Block at Queen’s College, marking a significant step in fostering practical skills development.
The PPE, including safety vests, gloves, hard hats, and goggles, is tailored to meet the needs of students participating in various technical courses. This effort reflects the
Ministry's focus on creating a safe and secure learning environment while enabling students to develop valuable technical skills.
Speaking at the handing-over ceremony, Deputy Chief Education Officer (Technical), Dr Ritesh Tularam, emphasised the importance of safety in technical education. He
noted that as the education system evolved, prioritising student safety during hands-on training was essential. The provision of PPE highlights the Ministry's commitment to ensuring students are wellequipped and protected.
The TVET Block at Queen’s College, commissioned in October, offers students opportunities to
explore technical fields, enhancing their readiness for careers in engineering, technology, and other industries. The addition of PPE strengthens the department's ability to deliver high-quality, safe, and effective technical education.
This initiative is part of a broader national strategy by the Education Ministry
to modernise and expand TVET facilities across Guyana, ensuring students have access to advanced resources and dynamic learning environments.
The Education Ministry remains dedicated to preparing Guyana's youth for a competitive global workforce by fostering innovation, safety, and excellence in technical education.
James Chisholm and his wife, Martha
Seighfred Prass
Selochine Bhagmati
Deputy Chief Education Officer (Technical), Dr Ritesh Tularam along with officials and students at the handing-over ceremony
Students at the event
News
Lula recognises 3 more Indigenous territories
Brazilian President
Luiz Inácio Lula
da Silva officially recognised three more Indigenous territories on Wednesday, pushing to 13 the number of lands to which he has granted legal protection since his latest term began in early 2023.
Lula signed the state recognition of the Potiguara de Monte-Mor land, in the northeastern Paraiba state, as well as the Morro dos Cavalos and Toldo Imbu lands, both in the southern state of Santa Catarina, a Government statement said.
The recognition grants the territories legal protection as reservations to be defended against encroachment by illegal loggers, gold miners, and cattle ranchers.
Lula had signed off on giving two other territories legal protection in April, while postponing recognition for four more as they still needed to be cleared by people currently occupying them.
At the event on Wednesday in Brasilia, Lula said one territory in the northeastern state of Alagoas was still expected
to be recognised, but that it did not happen at the moment due to some issues, without providing further details.
He said officials from the federal and state governments will meet next week to discuss the subject, adding he hopes the recognition could still happen this year.
The leftist leader, in his third non-consecutive term, has pledged to legalise as many reservations as possible.
Meanwhile, Argentina's libertarian President Javier
Milei, increasingly a poster child for right-wing politics and free-markets, was hosting allies of US Presidentelect Donald Trump and Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro at a summit in Buenos Aires on Wednesday.
Buoyed by the election win of ideological ally Trump, Milei is kicking off the Conservative Action Political Conference at which Bolsonaro is expected to speak. Bolsonaro's son Eduardo is also on the speaker list. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Manhunt on for killer of US CEO
Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States, has been shot and killed in New York City in what officials describe as a “targeted” attack.
Thompson was fatally shot by an unknown gunman about 6:40h (11:40 GMT) on Wednesday as he
was walking towards the New York Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, dressed in a suit and tie, to attend a company investor meeting. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).
“This does not appear to be a random act of violence,” NYPD
Mexico nabs
Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters during a news conference. “It appears the suspect was lying in wait for several minutes.”
Tisch also described the killing in a post on social media as “a brazen, targeted attack” and said Police “will not rest until we apprehend the shooter”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
over a ton of fentanyl
in largest-ever seizure
Mexican security forces said on Wednesday they had made the largest fentanyl seizure in the country's history, impounding 1100 kilograms of the synthetic opioid in the state of Sinaloa.
In a statement, law enforcement said the seizure was the equivalent of 20 million fentanyl doses and would cause an economic hit to organised crime of an estimated US$400 million.
There has been wors -
ening violence recently in Sinaloa, where factions of the Sinaloa Cartel have been engaged in bitter fighting that flared after the capture of kingpin Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada in July.
US President-elect
Donald Trump has vowed to get Mexico to do more to stop the flow north of fentanyl, which has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans. He has threatened to impose steep tariffs if he does not see curbs on fentanyl trafficking and illegal migration.
Mexican authorities said on Wednesday they had apprehended over 5200 migrants across the country on Tuesday, signalling a further rampup in enforcement aimed at stopping migrants from reaching the US border.
Security forces found the fentanyl at two properties in the municipality of Ahome, which intelligence work and tip-offs from the public had led them to investigate. (Excerpt from Reuters)
UN orders Venezuela not to destroy election vote tallies
The United Nations' Human Rights Committee has ordered Venezuela "to refrain from destroying" the voting tallies from July's presidential election.
The voting tallies – a detailed official breakdown of the votes from each polling station – have been at the centre of the dispute over who won the election.
The Government-aligned National Electoral Council (CNE) declared the incumbent, President Nicolás Maduro, the winner, but failed to provide the voting tallies to back up its claim.
The Opposition, which with the help of accredited election witnesses collected and published more than 80
per cent of the voting tallies, says these prove that its candidate, Edmundo González, was the overwhelming winner.
The Human Rights Committee – a UN body made up of 18 independent experts – said it was investigating allegations of electoral fraud following a complaint brought by a law firm on behalf of a Venezuelan voter.
As part of that investigation, the committee demanded that the Venezuelan state preserve the detailed voting data from the presidential election on July 28.
There has been huge pressure on the CNE – which is stacked with Government loyalists – to release the vot-
ing tallies.
But more than four months on from the election, it still has not done so, blaming an alleged computer hack on election night for its unprecedented failure to provide the data within 30 days of the election date. In contrast, the Opposition quickly uploaded the voting tallies it had gathered onto a website. But Maduro has dismissed the tallies published by the opposition as "fraudulent" and maintains that he is the election winner. He is ploughing ahead with preparations for 10 January, when he says he will be sworn in to his third consecutive term in office. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Minister of Indigenous Peoples Sonia Guajajara attend a meeting with Indigenous people on the day of a protest to demand the demarcation of land and to defend cultural rights, in Brasilia, Brazil, April 25, 2024 (Reuters/Adriano Machado photo)
The Opposition says the voting tallies prove its candidate won the election
Regional
South American, EU negotiators race to close divisive trade deal
South America’s Mercosur trade bloc will meet in Uruguay today with fresh signs the group could use the event to announce a long-delayed deal with the European Union after last-minute negotiations to get it over the line.
Uruguay’s President pencilled in a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the presidential residence in Montevideo for Thursday afternoon, in a positive signal for trade talks.
The trade deal, supported by most of the South American countries and being pushed by Germany and Spain, has met strong opposition from France due to fears about agricultural imports to Europe that would hit the nation’s powerful farming sector.
Negotiators from all sides came together in Brazil last week, senior diplomatic and Government sources told Reuters, with plans that delegations could travel to Montevideo if a deal is clinched during virtual talks continuing this week.
All four founding members of Mercosur support the current terms, two sources told Reuters on Wednesday. Their support has further raised hopes the EU chief will travel to the December 5-6 summit in Uruguay’s capital with the intention of finalising the agreement, two European sources said, though most cautioned that nothing was likely to be signed. One source said von der Leyen had reserved a plane ticket just in case.
“The last round of negotiations ended with important progress,” Mauricio Lyrio, secretary of economic affairs at the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, said on Monday.
“We’re hopeful. Pending issues are being submitted to the leaders to be finalised.”
the prospect of a trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and the Latin American countries united within Mercosur, near Angouleme, France, November 18, 2024 (Reuters/Stephane Mahe photo)
Bernd Lange, a German Social Democrat who chairs the European Parliament’s trade committee, on Tuesday said the domestic situation in the EU was the main obstacle to a deal and the decision whether to travel this week remained uncertain.
In the works for over two decades, the trade deal has been delayed by European concerns over farming competition, while Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, all major producers of soy, corn and beef, have criticised European protectionism.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said last week, however, that the deal was being negotiated directly with von der Leyen as a new round of in-person talks took place in Brazil. He is confident a deal will be finalised this year.
Others voiced scepticism. “If Ursula goes to Montevideo it will be to show EU commitment to concluding the deal, but it will not be signed,” one European diplomat in Brasilia said.
Another diplomat in Uruguay said: “I’m still 6040 that it fails to go anywhere.”
Deal or no deal?
Paris, which is in crisis after lawmakers passed a no-confidence vote against
the government, has tried to convince other EU members to form a blocking minority. Poland recently joined in opposition. France needs a minimum of three countries making up over 35 per cent of the EU’s population to jam up the deal.
Other EU countries, including Germany and Spain, are leading a coalition of 11 member states in favour. They want new trade routes that would reduce reliance on China and insulate members from US President-elect Donald Trump’s planned trade tariffs.
An EU-Mercosur deal was initially struck in 2019, but never ratified due to EU demands for commitments on deforestation and climate change. Some officials feared the same could happen again now even if a final text is agreed.
“While we will applaud if something is signed in Montevideo this week, let’s see when it actually takes effect,” said Ignacio Bartesaghi, from Uruguay’s Catholic University.
A final and legally binding version of the agreement would also need to be carefully reviewed and translated into some two dozen languages before it could be formally signed, Brazilian negotiator Lyrio said. That could take months still.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Bahamas suspends Parliament after lawmaker throws symbolic mace out window
The Bahamas’ legislature was forced to suspend its session on Wednesday after a heated debate about a Police corruption scandal escalated, with one Opposition lawmaker grabbing the symbolic parliamentary mace and throwing it out the window.
Parliament member Shanendon Cartwright, frustrated after Speaker Patricia Deveaux did not let him speak, was seen rushing up to where she was seated, grabbing the parliamentary mace,
a heavy ceremonial staff, off the bench, and then tossing it out a nearby window.
“Get him!” Deveaux then yelled, with the incident recorded on a government broadcast.
He, alongside several ally lawmakers, were forced out of the building by Police.
The move harks back to 1965, when the Leader of the Opposition threw the mace out of a window in a push for political change, an event that became known as “Black Tuesday”.
It comes after US federal prosecutors charged several high-ranking Bahamian Police officials with facilitating the flow of cocaine into the US in exchange for bribes.
Prime Minister Philip Davis said during the session on Wednesday that the Police Commissioner had resigned, and promised a complete overhaul of the force to weed out corruption.
Outside Parliament, dozens of protesters gathered, shouting “Police are criminals!” (Reuters)
Millions in Cuba remain in dark after nationwide blackout
Cuba said it was generating only enough electricity to cover about 1/6th of peak demand late on Wednesday, hours after its national grid collapsed leaving millions without power.
The National Electric Union (UNE) said it was producing 533 megawatts (MW) of electricity by evening, still just a fraction of typical dinnertime demand of between 3000 and 3200 MW, leaving a majority of Cubans in the dark as night fell across the Caribbean island.
Earlier, the communist-run Government said it would prioritise returning power to hospitals and water pumping facilities. Schools and non-essential government services were closed until further notice.
Lights flickered on across parts of the capital Havana late on Wednesday. The local electric company said more than 260,000 clients had seen power restored.
It was the latest in a
string of nationwide blackouts of Cuba’s antiquated and increasingly frail power generation system. This year, Cuba’s grid fell into near-total disarray, stressed by fuel shortages, natural disaster, and economic crisis.
Dwindling oil imports from Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico pushed the island’s obsolete and struggling oilfired power plants into full
crisis several months ago. Hours-long rolling blackouts and severe shortages of food, medicine and water have made life increasingly unbearable for many Cubans, who in recent years have fled the island in record-breaking numbers.
Cuba blames the crisis on US sanctions, which complicate financial transactions and the purchase of fuel. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Colombia replaces Finance Minister amid corruption scandal
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on Wednesday that Finance Vice Minister Diego Guevara will step into that Ministry’s top job, after previous Minister Ricardo Bonilla resigned amid an ongoing corruption scandal.
Petro had said earlier on Wednesday he was expecting Bonilla’s resignation, but that he does not think the former Minister has committed any wrongdoing.
The growing scandal, which is being investigated by the attorney general’s office and other entities, revolves around the alleged misdirection of resources from the national disaster management agency (UNGRD) and has been tied to various officials, including a former Interior Minister.
“It will be Dr Guevara, the current Vice Minister, a university professor, who knows the whole effort we have been fighting,”
told Journalists after a meeting in Montevideo with outgoing Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou, when asked about Bonilla’s replacement.
Bonilla said in his resignation letter that he needed to “assume my defence as a citizen with my legal team, devoid of my public position, to concentrate on the process and avoid whatever damage from affecting the Government’s public agenda”.
Bonilla added he was highly confident he would convince investigators of his innocence. The scandal ignited earlier this year when two former UNGRD officials were accused of ties to suspicious purchases of water tankers for 46.8 billion pesos (US$10.5 million), which were supposedly bought to supply remote areas of Colombia’s La Guajira province with water. (Excerpt from Reuters)
A drone view shows the word “Mercosur” made with city signs on a road as French farmers protest against
A view of the sky in the early morning during a national electrical grid collapse, in Havana, Cuba, December 4, 2024 (Reuters/ Alexandre Meneghini photo)
Petro
Ricardo Bonilla, Colombian Minister of Finance and Public Credit, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Bogota, Colombia, September 17, 2024 (Reuters/Luisa Gonzalez photo)
Around The World
OOIL NEWS
Oil slips ahead of OPEC+ decision on production cuts
il futures fell nearly two per cent on Wednesday as investors awaited an imminent Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) decision on production cuts, while a larger-than-expected draw in US crude stockpiles last week lent some support to prices.
Brent crude futures fell US$1.31, or 1.78 per cent, to settle at US$72.31 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell US$1.40, or two per cent, to US$68.54.
On Tuesday, Brent posted its biggest gain in two weeks, rising by 2.5 per cent.
The market was on tenterhooks, with investors focused on the upcoming OPEC+ meeting, analysts said.
OPEC+ meet today, and is likely extend output cuts until the end of the first quarter of next year, industry sources told Reuters.
"While a delay to unwinding production cuts is expected, the rhetoric out of the meeting is going to have the biggest sway," said Matt Smith, Kpler lead Americas oil analyst.
OPEC+ has been looking to phase out supply cuts through next year.
A single bank sold a large volume of US oil futures contracts in early afternoon trading on Wednesday, a source told Reuters, pushing prices down more than one per cent within minutes and causing traders to scramble to decipher the reason.
US crude stocks fell more than expected last week as refiners ramped up operations, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said. Gasoline and distillate stockpiles rose by more than expected during the week.
"A pop in refining activity with runs climbing to a high not seen since the summer has resulted in a see-saw of crude inventories drawing and products building," Smith said.
The bullish momentum only lent some support to prices.
A shaky ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, South Korea's curtailed declaration of martial law and a rebel offensive in Syria that threatens to draw in forces from several oil-producing countries all lent support to oil prices, said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.
In the Middle East, Israel said on Tuesday it would return to war with Hezbollah if their truce collapses and that its attacks would go deeper into Lebanon and target the state itself.
In South Korea, lawmakers have submitted a bill to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after his declaration of martial law on Tuesday, which was reversed within hours, sparking a political crisis in Asia's fourth-largest economy. (Reuters)
South Korea's Yoon names new Defence Minister after botched martial law
South Korean President
Yoon Suk Yeol has accepted the resignation of Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun and nominated the ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Choi Byung-hyuk, as the new Defence Minister, the presidential office said today.
Kim, who offered his resignation on Wednesday, was seen as a central figure in Yoon's declaration of martial law on Tuesday. A senior military official and filings to impeach Yoon by Opposition members said Kim made the recommendation to Yoon.
Yoon's chief of staff, Chung Jin-suk, called Choi "a person of principle who carries out his duties with dedication and adheres to regulations".
The nomination is the first official move by Yoon after he announced the withdrawal of the martial law declaration in the early hours of Wednesday, amid a storm of political turmoil and diplomatic fallout.
Parliament introduced a motion early on Thursday to impeach him over the botched attempt to impose martial law, but his party vowed to oppose the move, throwing the process into doubt.
The main opposition Democratic Party has called Yoon's martial law attempt a treasonous act, and its lawmakers could lead a vote for the bill as early as Friday.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Trump's Middle East envoy in diplomatic push to help reach Gaza ceasefire before inauguration
Donald Trump's Middle East envoy has travelled to Qatar and Israel to kickstart the US President-elect's diplomatic push to help reach a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal before he takes office on January 20, a source briefed on the talks told Reuters.
Steve Witkoff, who will officially take up the position under Trump's Administration, met separately in late November with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the source said.
Witkoff’s conversations appear aimed at building on nearly 14 months of unsuccessful diplomacy by the Biden Administration, Qatar and Egypt aimed at
a lasting ceasefire between Israel and militant group Hamas in Gaza and the release of dozens of Israeli hostages held in the enclave.
The meetings also signal that the Gulf state of Qatar has resumed as a key media-
French Government falls in no-confidence vote, deepening political crisis
French far-right leader and Member of Parliament Marine Le Pen, President of the National Rally (Rassemblement National – RN) party, delivers a speech during a debate on two motions of noconfidence against the French Government, tabled by the alliance of left-wing parties the "Nouveau Front Populaire" (New Popular Front – NFP) and the far-right RN, at the National Assembly in Paris, France, December 4, 2024 (Reuters/Sarah Meyssonnier photo)
French lawmakers passed a no-confidence vote against the Government on Wednesday, throwing the European Union's second-biggest economic power deeper into a crisis that threatens its capacity to legislate and tame a massive budget deficit.
Far-right and left-wing lawmakers joined forces to back a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Michel Barnier, with a majority 331 votes in support of the motion.
Barnier now has to tender his resignation and that of his government to President Emmanuel Macron, making his minority government's three-month tenure the shortest lived in France's Fifth Republic beginning in 1958. He is expected to do so this morning, French media reported.
The hard left and far right punished Barnier for using special constitutional powers to adopt part of an
unpopular budget without a final vote in Parliament, where it lacked majority support. The draft budget had sought 60 billion euros (US$63.07 billion) in savings in a drive to shrink a gaping deficit.
"This (deficit) reality will not disappear by the magic of a motion of censure," Barnier told lawmakers ahead of the vote, adding the budget deficit would come back to haunt whichever government comes next.
No French government had lost a confidence vote since Georges Pompidou's in 1962. Macron ushered in the crisis by calling a snap election in June that delivered a polarised parliament.
With its President diminished, France now risks ending the year without a stable Government or a 2025 budget, although the constitution allows special measures that would avert a USstyle government shutdown. (Excerpt from Reuters)
tor after suspending its role last month, the source said.
The source added that Hamas negotiators would likely return to the Qatari capital Doha for more talks soon.
Biden's aides have been
aware of Witkoff's contacts with Israeli, Qatari and other Middle East officials and understand that Trump's envoy supports a Gaza deal along the lines the Administration has been pursuing, a US official said.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported at least 50 persons have been killed in Israeli air strikes across Gaza, Palestinian medics say, as Israeli tanks push into northern parts of the Khan Younis area in southern Gaza.
Medics said at least 20 persons were killed and others wounded in an Israeli attack on Wednesday on a tent encampment in al-Mawasi near Khan Younis. The Palestinian Civil Defence said the attack set several tents housing displaced families ablaze. (Excerpts from Reuters and Al Jazeera)
Syrian Govt forces battle Opposition fighters near city of Hama
The Syrian Government said its counteroffensive has pushed back Opposition fighters attempting to advance to the strategic central city of Hama, while Opposition forces say they captured more Syrian troops and Iran-backed fighters in fierce battles.
Forces opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have staged their biggest advance in years over the past week, capturing large parts of the northern city of Aleppo, the country’s largest, as well as towns and villages in southern parts of the northwestern Idlib province.
The offensive is being led by led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as well as Turkiye-backed Opposition fighters known as the Syrian National Army (SNA). Both
groups have in recent years entrenched themselves in northwest Idlib province and parts of northern Aleppo, with HTS considered the dominant force.
A video circulating on social media confirmed by Al Jazeera’s Sanad verification agency showed HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani on Wednesday surrounded by supporters as he walked in front of the Citadel of Aleppo, a large medieval fortified palace in the centre of the old city.
The war between Assad and his allies – including Russia and Iran – and the array of armed Opposition forces seeking his overthrow has killed an estimated half-million people during the past 13 years. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Threat of RSF invasion looms over el-Fasher in Sudan’s Darfur
Displaced people are taking up arms to defend themselves against the paramilitary and the atrocities it is known for.
Sara Ismail wears a black hijab and camouflage, and wields an AK-47, in the central market of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.
The 30-year-old is a member of the Sudan Liberation Army belonging to Minnie Arko Minnawi (SLA-MM), a former Darfur rebel leader now allied with the Sudanese army.
“We’ve picked up weapons to protect our land and ourselves,” she said, holding her rifle close.
Formerly part of the political office of the SLA-
MM, Ismael decided to take up arms seven months ago to protect her community and herself from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary fighting the army for control of Sudan since April 2023.
Hailing from the Zaghawa, a Darfuri tribe classified as “non-Arab”, she is on duty in el-Fasher while her family lives in the nearby displacement camp, Zamzam. She worries for their safety with the looming threat of the RSF, who for decades have been known for their brutal violence against non-Arabs in Darfur, including wielding sexual violence as a weapon of war. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Palestinians at the site of an Israeli strike on a house amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, December 4, 2024 (Reuters/Ramadan Abed photo)
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21-April 19) (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) (May 21-June 20)
Changing how you present yourself and what you have to offer will affect how others respond to your ideas. A flirtatious gesture will be misleading and costly. Protect your assets.
An emotional plea will help you to get your way; don’t promise more than you can deliver. An updated look will help you stand out and attract supporters.
Listen carefully. An offer will be falsely inflated to tempt you. Be bold, ask questions and ask for what you want in writing. A romantic gesture will pay off. Stick up for yourself.
Network, socialize and plunge into the hustle and bustle as we approach the festive season. Reach out to old, familiar faces and make a point to let go of what no longer resonates with you.
Take care of unfinished business to make room for pursuits you want to embrace. Put out a welcome mat for people you haven’t seen for a while and adjust your schedule to make room for events you want to attend.
Tidy up in preparation for what’s to come. Don’t hesitate to host an event or change your living arrangements to better suit your current endeavors. It’s time for new beginnings.
It’s easy to overspend at this time of the year. Think twice before you shop or pledge your time or money to something you cannot afford. Discipline and ingenuity will help you devise a plan.
23-Dec. 21) (June 21-July 22) (July 23-Aug. 22)
Take the initiative and make things happen. Get the lowdown, verify facts and take advantage of an opportunity to excel. Avoid joint ventures and paying for something you don’t need.
(Feb. 20-March 20) (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)
Dress your surroundings to suit your mood and needs. The functionality and convenience you gain will give you more downtime to focus on self-improvement and pursuing what makes you happy.
Be proactive and follow through with your plans. A physical response will bring the best results. Don’t hesitate to change or let go of what you don’t like.
Sit back and observe, and you’ll figure out your options. Greater involvement in a cause you believe in is worth your time and effort. Someone you encounter will pique your interest.
Khan wins President’s Cup chess tournament
…Joshi leads the female division
andidate Master Taffin
CKhan has emerged victorious at the highly anticipated President’s Cup Rapid Chess Tournament, and Woman Candidate Master Aditi Joshi has seized the female crown.
This long-awaited chess competition, organized by the Guyana Chess Federation, was graciously hosted by His Excellency President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Sunday, December 1st, 2024 under the Benab at State House on Main Street in Georgetown.
Eighty-two chess players participated in the seven-round Swiss event under a time control of fifteen minutes per player, with a five-second increment after each move.
The one-day tournament was played in two categories: Open and Female, attracting chess players from every skill level. The Open section saw
substantial competition from the fifty-two contenders, the youngest player being seven years old.
In the Female section, twenty-eight women and girls competed for a chance to be among the prize winners.
CM Khan, who played unbeaten with 6.5 points, had a draw against FM Anthony Drayton. Drayton, also unbeaten, placed second with 6 points, after conceding draws to Khan and Saeed Ali. Ali placed third with 5.5 points, with his only loss being against CM Khan. Young Alexander Zhang placed fourth with 5.5 points, while Junior Chess Champion Ricardo Narine placed fifth with 5 points.
WCM Aditi Joshi again lived up to expectations, scored wins over her five female opponents and earning two draws against
For the 5th year, Lucozade will be the beverage of choice at the KFC Goodwill International Schools’ Football tournament, distributors ANSA McAL Limited having confirmed the brand’s support on Wednesday morning.
The company made an official presentation at their Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD) Headquarters to the tournament’s coordinators, Petra Organisation, wherein Lucozade Business Unit head Triston Freeman reiterated why the brand continues to support youth football in Guyana.
“This is a tournament that we believe in, reason behind it: an international school tourna-
ment gives our youths the opportunity to play with some of the best in the Caribbean and around the region, and give them that international exposure. So, it was a no-brainer for us, the Lucozade brand and Ansa McAL, to join forces with Petra to aid and support this tournament,” Freeman shared.
“We’re happy to collaborate and keep up the partnership,” he added.
Meanwhile, Petra CoDirector Troy Mendonca, in detailing the growth of the tournament, illustrated the value of Lucozade’s contribution when he informed, “As you know, we’ve grown to 8 teams: and there’s one from Jamaica, two from Trinidad and Tobago,
WCM Jessica Callender and Treskole Archibald. She ended with 6 points. Callender earned the second-place spot with 5.5 points, while WCM Sasha Shariff and young Anya DeGroot placed third and fourth respectively with 5.5 points each. Ciel Clement placed sixth with 5 points.
Trophies and cash prizes amounting to five hundred thousand dollars were presented to players in the top five positions in each category.
Gift certificates totalling forty thousand dollars and medals were also presented to best under-12 and best under-14 winners in each category, while cash prizes amounting to forty thousand dollars went to the best under-16 and best under-20 winners in each category.
Alek Ubaldo-Singh and Saura Ruplall took home the best under-12 prizes for their
one from Suriname, our two hinterland teams, and our two teams that just completed the league tournament. That in itself represents growth, and it is because of support like these that allow us to be able to move from 4 teams to 8 teams,” he detailed.
“And also, it gives the opportunity for these youngsters to display their talent, and provide a safe environment and space for them to express themselves. once again, we’re happy to have on board with us Ansa McAL Lucozade brand,” the Petra Co-Director added.
The KFC Goodwill International tournament will get underway on December 15th with 8 schools participating. Just last Sunday, Chase’s Academic Foundation and Dolphin Secondary sealed their spots in the tournament, with Annai and D.C Caesar Fox (Waramadong) Secondary being the other Guyanese schools.
Defending champions Clarendon College out of Jamaica will return alongside Trinidad and Tobago’s St. Benedict’s College and Speyside High School, while the winner of Suriname’s Schools’ football League will also compete.
categories, while Nicholas Zhang and Emma John won the best under-14 prizes. The best under-16 prizes went to Kyle Couchman and Tharisha Montes De Oca, while Kishan Puran and Treskole Archibald each won the best under-20 prizes in the Open and Female categories respectively.
These prizes were presented to all the winners by His Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali in a short presentation ceremony at the end of the tournament.
The GCF wished to thank His Excellency for hosting the President’s Cup, providing the cash prizes and trophies, and for the words of encourage - ment and support offered to all the chess players. The President also pledged 500 chess sets in his commitment to ensure the game remains inclusive to all Guyanese players who are eager to learn new skills.
Usual suspects shine at National Senior Bodybuilding Championships
The National Senior Bodybuilding Championships staged on Sunday at Olympic House delivered a night of high-octane performances and remarkable physiques as local athletes vied for supremacy in the final event of the season. By the end of the evening, five standout competitors — Emmerson Campbell, Julio ‘Hulk’ Sinclair, Hannah Rampersaud, Christina Ramsammy, and Romelton Siland — stood tall as the champions of their respective categories.
Emmerson Campbell’s triumphant farewell Emmerson Campbell, a dominant force in Men’s Physique, capped his illustrious amateur career with his eighth and final national title. Fresh off a gold medal and pro card victory at the CAC Championships in October, Campbell showcased impeccable size, conditioning, and aesthetics to outshine a competitive 11-man field.
His victory not only solidified his legacy, but also marked a transition
Hannah Rampersaud, Christina Ramsammy shine
Hannah Rampersaud, an IFBB Elite Pro, delivered a flawless performance in the Bikini Wellness category.
Marking her final appearance on the local stage, she triumphed over rising star Melitha Anderson in a closely contested battle.
In the Miss Bikini category, Christina Ramsammy exhibited elegance and precision to clinch victory ahead of Sabita Stephenson. Ramsammy’s performance was a testament to her dedication and skill, solidifying her place as one of the leading athletes in her division.
Romelton Siland takes Men’s Fitness crown
In the Men’s Fitness division, Romelton Siland claimed the top spot, rounding off a night of exceptional athleticism and discipline.
A celebration of local talent
as he steps into the professional ranks next season. Runner-up Jonathan Jeffrey is now poised to carry the torch, with Marley Vyphuis rounding out the top three.
Julio "Hulk" Sinclair claims Mr Guyana title In the bodybuilding division, Julio ‘Hulk’ Sinclair proved to be an unstoppable force. After securing the heavy-
weight title, Sinclair returned for the overall showdown and emerged victorious, earning the coveted Mr. Guyana title.
He edged out Nicholas Albert, who had been aiming to become the youngest holder of the prestigious title.
Sinclair’s win underscored his dominance on the local bodybuilding scene, leaving fans eager to see his future endeavours.
The championship event, featuring over 30 athletes, served as a platform for the best of local bodybuilding talent. Sponsored by the Ministry of Sport, Fitness Express, Autopit Signs, and Camille’s Academy, the night was a resounding success, bringing the bodybuilding season to a fitting close.
As the curtain falls on 2024, the achievements of these athletes serve as a reminder of the dedication, discipline and passion that define the sport. With several champions now set to compete on the international stage, the future of Guyanese bodybuilding looks brighter than ever.
Julio Sinclair is the new ‘Mr Guyana’
Emmerson Campbell
The female bodybuilders in action
Woman Candidate Master Aditi Joshi again topped the female division
Candidate Master Taffin Khan receiving his prize from President Dr Irfaan Ali
ANSA McAL’s Triston Freeman making a presentation to Petra’s Troy Mendonca in the presence of Petra’s Troy Peters
GSLT20 organisers remind patrons of Friday’s final
The organizing committee of the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League wishes to remind fans of the change in the date for the final match of the tournament. The final of the inaugural competition will take place on Friday, December 6, 2024, starting at 7:00 PM at the National Stadium, Providence.
Additionally, the match between the Hampshire Hawks and Victoria will be played on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 10:00 AM. Fans who have already purchased tickets for this match can rest assured that their tickets remain valid despite the change in schedule.
Meanwhile, the match between the Lahore Qalandars and Rangpur Riders remains as scheduled
for Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 7:00 PM.
Fixture: Hampshire Hawks vs Victoria- Thursday
December 5, 2024 at 10 am Lahore Qalandars vs Rangpur Riders- Thursday
December 5, 2024 at 7pm
Final- Friday December 6, 2024 at 7pm
Tickets for all three matches—Hampshire Hawks vs. Victoria, Lahore Qalandars vs. Rangpur Riders, and the Final— are still available at the following locations:
GSL Box Office, Camp Street Berbice:
A. Ally and Sons, 15-9 Main and New Streets, New Amsterdam Sensation Variety and Gift Shop, 10 Number 78 Public Road, Corriverton Essequibo: ICAN Technologies, 1 Apartment 47 WD’s Mall, Charity ICAN Technologies, 53 Cottonfield, Essequibo Coast S&N Creole Snackette, Cottonfield Old Road, Essequibo Coast
Port Mourant Showdown of Champions… GUYAMERICA Construction, Rohan Auto Spares, Armco on board
The countdown has begun to one of the hottest horse racing events in Berbice, the Port Mourant Showdown of Champions, with sponsors lining up to join in the fun.
GUYAMERICA
Construction, Rohan Auto Spares, and Armco are the latest companies to show their support for the event, which is already attracting the attention of top horse owners and jockeys.
Day’s feature event, the Metro Mile, is already the talk of all horse owners as the December 15 showdown looms large on the horizon of the Port Mourant Turf Club.
The feature mile event, sponsored by Metro Office Supplies, would headline the eight-race card set to ring in the festivities for horse racing fans.
The 1600M event will go for a GY$4M prize, with the winning horse pocketing $2M. This event is open to all horses.
The co-feature event
Guyana Energy Conference and Expo adds incentives …as National Futsal Championships get underway
The organisers of the National Futsal Championships have given players more incentives to compete feverishly, as the much-anticipated tournament kicked off on Tuesday night at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.
64 male teams and 6 female teams, encompassing hundreds of players in the shortest format from across the country, will compete over the next 5 weeks for millions in cash and prizes in the event, coordinated by the renowned Kashif and Shanghai
this way.
And I would like to congratulate the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation.”
Meanwhile, the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo was announced as a sponsor on opening night, where their CEO, Kiana Wilburg, disclosed plans for a follow-up tournament.
Wilburg divulged, “We have been ramping up, particularly in the past year, initiatives that support the development of our youths. And in keeping with this, we’re proud to announce that, for
Organisation.
Delivering the feature address at the tournament’s opening was Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr., who touted the history-making event as a means of providing more opportunities to underprivileged communities.
will be the E-Class non-winners in Guyana and F-Class & Lower with a combined purse of $2M in the 1300M dash.
The Two-Year-Old Guyana and West Indiesbred horses over 1200M are sure to attract the attention of horse racing fans along with a race for ThreeYear-Old Guyana-bred horses over 1700M.
The G-Class horses over 1200M, H-Class NonWinners of 2024 open to Guyana Bred horses will run for 1600M with another 1600M Race set for all K-Class and L-Class horses.
A 1300M sprint is also carded for J, K and L class Maidens.
The event is also sponsored by J’s Supermarket, Jumbo Jet, Shi-Oil, AJM, OBL, KP Jagdeo General Contractor, Permaul Trading, Laka Rambrich Rice Farm, Big G Sawmill & Lumber Yard, Shook Shivmangal & friends of USA.
“Our initial focus was not just for Futsal. Our initial focus was how could we get closer to you so, that we could make a positive impact in your life by opening up the doors that we can open up for you. All of
the first time, we will host the Guyana Energy Conference Futsal Championship in partnership with one of the legends withing Guyana’s Sporting organisations, and that is the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation.
“And trust me, we will match the prizes that you will be playing for today,” the Guyana Energy Conference CEO added.
In addition to the 16team tournament, the Energy Conference would also be aid-
these things have happened, and there are lots of success stories that happened already; but those success stories don’t just end here today by me saying it. It’s just me saying it so you can know where the opportunities are,” he said.
The Sport Minister continued, “When we decided that we wanted to do this and in a very special way, when you see the photographs, you will realise never have you seen this organised Futsal happen in
ing in boosting the tournament’s individual prizes, according to Organiser Kashif Muhammad.
“This year, we decided that we will not give a trophy for the best goalkeeper or the person who scores the most goals, or the MVP for women or men. We will not give that; we will give $30,000. But then what happened, their company [Guyana Energy Conference] came onboard and said we want to up that,” Muhammad announced, “So, the Guyana
Energy Conference will be giving a motorcycle for every single one of those prizes. Motorcycles for the MVP males and females, motorcycle for the best goal keeper, and motorcycle for the person who scores the most goals in this tournament.”
On opening night, the likes of Bent Street ‘B’ (1-0 against Street Vibes), Festival City (Walk over), Albouystown ‘A’ (3-2 Sophia Ballers), Stabroek Ballers (8-2 Mighty Rulers) and Sparta Boss (12-0 Melanie) were all in the winners’ circle.
Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr Guyana Energy Conference and Expo CEO Kiana Wilburg
A look at the teams during the tournament’s opening ceremony
Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr executing the official kickoff of the National Futsal Championships
Horseracing action will light up the Port Mourant Turf Club
The Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) fans turned out in their numbers once again to support the local franchise in the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) T20 against the Rangpur Riders.
Shah, Islam help Rangpur script 15-run win over Warriors
Tensions at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence were at an all-time high on Wednesday night when the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) T20 continued with a nail-biting clash between the local franchise Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) and Bangladesh’s Rangpur Riders.
It was a game of two halves, with both teams experiencing highs and lows but in the end, the Bangladeshi visitors were able to stifle the locals just enough to eke out a 15-run victory.
Many found the Rangpur Riders’ decision to bat first curious, especially considering the way the wicket played in games prior. Then, when the Amazon Warriors had reduced their opponents to five down, inside of six
on bagging a big win, evident by their superb bowling.
In the second over, Tanzim Hasan Sakib cleaned up Soumya Sarkar for 2 and in the following rotation delivered by Pretorius, Wayne Madden went on his way, driving a soft shot straight into the hands of Keemo Paul, who had just returned from injury.
No questions asked, the Rangpur Riders were reeling at 14-4. Then, Captain Imran Tahir found favour with the bowling gods, removing Mahedi Hasanin in the seventh over to leave the visitors 27-5.
However, the Amazon Warriors failed to inflict the death blow, allowing Khushdil Shah to get familiar with the tricky surface out in the middle at Providence. Alongside Nurul Hasan, who was patient enough to play the supporting role,
for the hosts.
First, Pretorius, who surprisingly came out to open the batting alongside Moeen Ali, was trapped lbw. Two balls later, Ali was caught behind and in the
subsequent delivery, Shimron Hetmyer had his leg stump disturbed by the ball.
overs, Rangpurs’ decision appeared glaringly obtuse, but the tides would turn as the contest unfolded.
The Guyana National Stadium erupted in cheers the moment the Amazon Warriors bowling unit began their work as Dwaine Pretorius shattered Steven Taylor’s stumps with the first ball of the innings.
After being smashed for a pair of boundaries, four balls later, Pretorius would find favour again, castling Saif Hassan for eight from four deliveries.
With a spot in the GSL T20 on the line, the hosts looked like a team intent
Shah managed to dig the Rangpur Riders out of the hole
Roston Chase was the victim of a welltimed catch inside the circle, while Hassan Khan was short of his ground attempting a single. Half of the Amazon Warriors were back in the dugout, but they still had Hope, literally and figuratively.
Shai Hope held one end of the pitch while Gudakesh Motie showcased all his know-how with the bat for a valuable 15 off 23 balls. When their 36-run partnership was broken by Mahedi Hasan, Keemo Paul came to the crease.
Paul looked intent from ball one and even found himself in a short spat with Hasan a few balls later.
One glorious six later, which was dispatched into the Red Stand, Paul chopped the ball onto his stumps, perishing for 18 from 12, but still having the healthiest strike rate on the Amazon Warriors’ scorecard.
Try as Romario
with a classy and well-deserved half-century that encompassed two fours and four sixes.
As Amazon Warriors Captain Tahir chopped and changed his bowlers, looking for a solution to the problem in the form of Shah, he finally found his answer in Sakib, but one might say it was a little too late.
Shah perished for 58 from 47 deliveries, but his job was done as the Rangpur Riders were already approaching the 100-run mark.
Hasan got to 15 from 26 before perishing while Rishad Hossain and Harmeet Singh added 10 and 11 runs respectively to get the Rangpur Riders to 117 before finally being bowled out in exactly 20 overs.
Pretorius had the best figures on the Amazon Warriors’ sheet with 3-15 from 4 overs while Sakib, Tahir and Gudakesh Motie all claimed one wicket each.
The target was a small one for the Amazon Warriors, but the beginning of their innings followed an almost identical script, with the Warriors finding themselves 27-5 at one point also.
The first over of the innings went by quietly, featuring one boundary, but the second over, served up by Kamrul Islam Rabbi ,was menacing
Shepherd did, his attempt at a golden flourish at the end went in vain, leaving the local franchise 15 short of their target and without a sure spot in the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) final.
The tournament continues today with a double-header, which will ultimately decide Friday evening’s finalists.
At 10:00h, Hampshire Hawks will take on Cricket Victoria, while at 19:00h, Rangpur Riders will head into battle again against the Lahore Qalandars.
Kamrul Islam claimed a four-for
Keemo Paul’s innings was refreshing, but cut short
Shai Hope tried to keep the Amazon Warriors’ batting ticking
Khushdil Shah’s half-century was the deciding factor for the Rangpur Riders
Dwaine Pretorius was unplayable in his first spell