Election fraud case Chief Magistrate orders restart of trial; submissions to be filed by Jan 6, 2025
Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty on Monday ordered a restart in the election fraud trial and instructed that all submissions be filed by January 6, 2025.
At the hearing at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, McGusty requested defence attorney Nigel Hughes to file written submissions regarding the mode of trial. Hughes indicated his preference for the matters to proceed as indictable.
On the other hand, Special Prosecutor, King’s Counsel Darshan Ramdhani has called for a summary trial in these proceedings and would have addressed this at length.
Nevertheless, the acting Chief Magistrate will rule on the mode of trial on January 13, 2025. When the matter was called on December 8 last, Ramdhani had argued that a restart was completely unnecessary and that all the court needed to do was to recall the witnesses. On the other hand, Attorneyat-Law Nigel Hughes pressed for a fresh start to the already delayed trial.
Nine persons are before the court regarding electoral fraud. They are former Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo; former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield; his former Deputy, Roxanne Myers; former People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R) Chairperson
Lawrence; PNCR activist Carol Smith-Joseph; and Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) employees Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Michelle Miller and Denise BabbCummings.
They are facing 28 charges relating to electoral fraud. Among the offences these defendants are ac-
cused of committing are: misconduct while holding public office; presenting falsified documentation; and planning to manipulate Guyana’s voters by presenting an inaccurate vote total.
In her testimony as a witness, Parag had recalled acts of misconduct she witnessed from GECOM staff during the 2020 General and Regional Elections. Her testimony included witnessing efforts by GECOM staff to alter the results by deducting People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) votes and adding votes to the then-ruling A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC).
She had also testified that despite a Court Order from acting Chief Justice Roxane George which com -
pelled GECOM to use only the Statements of Poll (SOPs) to tabulate the numbers for the Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) votes, Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, one of those now on trial, continued to conduct the tabulation using a projector and bedsheet.
When Magistrate Daly had presided over the case, the prosecution, led by KC Ramdhani, had complained that witnesses were not being allowed to freely testify as they should. At the last hearing, before she came down with her illness, Magistrate Daly had acknowledged that not allowing certain testimony was indeed an error. As such, she had permitted the reopening of the examination of the witness, Minister Parag.
Volda
Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty
Defence Attorney Nigel Hughes Special Prosecutor, King’s Counsel Darshan Ramdhani
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Tuesday, December 31 –03:45h-05:15h and Wednesday, January 1 – 04:15h-05:45h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Tuesday, December 31 –16:40h-18:10h and Wednesday, January 1 – 05:10h-06:40h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
Low Tide: 10:26h and 22:56h reaching minimum heights of 0.77 metre and 0.55 metre.
Record-breaking 725,282 tonnes of rice produced in 2024 …Guyana
exports US$254M in rice, byproducts to 30 countries
uyana’s rice sector broke records this year, with Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha revealing that 725,282 tonnes of rice was produced this year, continuing the sector’s upward trajectory since the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government’s return to office.
During his end of year press conference on Monday, Minister Mustapha reeled off the statistics associated with the sector. The increased overall production also came with an increased average national yield of over 6 tonnes per hectare.
“Under the PPP/C Government, we are seeing improvements in farmers investment in the rice industry in Guyana. With policies supported from the Government, there has been improved output and improvements in the ability of the country to compete in the world rice market. Due to continued improvement in rice varieties, production practices and milling efficiencies, Guyana continues to be a strong competitor in the world of export markets for rice.”
“Rice production reached a record high of 725,282 tonnes from January to December 2024. This is a record-breaking production, since the introduction of rice production in our country. We have surpassed the 700,000-tonne mark. With an average national yield of 6.6 tonnes per hectare, the highest ever recorded in the country’s history,” the Minister explained.
According to Mustapha, this constitutes an increase from the 5.7 tonnes per hectare yield in 2020 to the 6.6 tonnes this year. He further explained that there has been an incremental increase in rice production over the past four years559,789 tonnes in 2021; 610,595 tonnes in 2022 and 653,706 tonnes in 2023.
“We have exported 425,490 tonnes of rice and byproducts, to 30 countries, with a value of US$254 million from January to December. We have also seen a number of new markets, that we have captured,” the Minister further said.
These markets, Mustapha later detailed, included Angola on the South Atlantic Coast of West Africa and markets in Europe, which had been among Guyana’s targets for exports. Mustapha also explained that in the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary (MMA) development, rice cultivation forms the bulk of the land under cultivation.
“At the MMA we have a total of 150,000 acres of land… 100,000 under rice
cultivation, 40,000 under livestock and another 10,000 in cash crop farming. We have close to 3000 farmers and the MMA has been working very aggressively in terms of cleaning and maintaining almost 15,000 kilometres (km) of channel, 150 kilometres of farm to market access road,” Mustapha related.
Another crucial area in which the Government has been supporting the industry, is through the provision of training. Mustapha revealed that over 5,000 farmers were trained by Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), in more efficient farming practices.
Then there are the new varieties of rice being developed, such as the GRDB-18 which has a yield potential of 7-9 tonnes per hectare, that was launched a few months ago. Mustapha explained that since 2020, three new varieties of rice were released.
“Also, we have seen increased capacity at our seed paddy facilities at various locations. We have seed paddy facilities at Burma, MMA, Black Bush Polder and #56, with a capacity to produce 152,000 bags per annum,” the Minister went on to explain.
Since 2020 farmers have also received subsidies in various aspects including fertiliser support from Government.
Only recently, the Agriculture Ministry secured a massive achievement when it was able to hand over to 29 farmers and 9 millers in Region Two, (Pomeroon-Supenaam), $437 million in money owed to them from rice exported to the Panama market over six years ago.
This payment formed part of the $1.5 billion recovered by the PPP/C Government to compensate farmers and millers affected by a flawed arrangement
initiated in 2018 under the previous A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Administration.
The Panama rice market was initially established in 2014 under the PPP/C Government, however in 2018 under the APNU/AFC arrangement, payments from Panama were delayed, plunging local rice millers into financial turmoil. This failure not only left farmers unpaid but also forced some millers out of business entirely.
This year, $1.3 billion was budgeted to be expended by the GRDB to support increased production and productivity of the rice industry. Farmers also benefited from the distribution of seed paddy and availability of more farmlands to increase yields, and a number of facilities have been built and upgraded to aid in the nation’s rice production. (G3)
The rice sector has broken records with its 2024 production numbers
Editor: Tusika Martin
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A champion of democracy in Guyana
The world mourns the loss of a global statesman and tireless advocate for democracy, human rights, and humanitarian causes. Former United States President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 100, leaves behind a monumental legacy that extends far beyond his tenure as the 39th President of the United States. For the people of Guyana, his contributions resonate deeply, as his efforts were instrumental in shaping the nation’s democratic journey.
President Dr Irfaan Ali’s tribute encapsulated the profound impact Carter had on Guyana and the wider world. Describing him as a “respected statesman, a benevolent humanitarian, and an indefatigable champion of democracy”, Ali highlighted the essential role Carter played in ending decades of political dictatorship in Guyana. His involvement in electoral reforms and the crafting of a National Development Strategy (NDS) marked a turning point for the country’s democratic and developmental trajectory.
Jimmy Carter’s contributions to Guyana began during a critical juncture in the nation’s history. The period leading up to the 1992 elections was fraught with political turmoil and rigged electoral processes, eroding public trust and stalling national progress. Carter’s intervention through the Carter Center was a decisive factor in ensuring free and fair elections, thereby restoring democracy to a nation that had endured nearly three decades of authoritarian rule.
President Carter understood that democracy was more than just holding elections. Recognising the need for sustainable development to reinforce democratic gains, he supported the formulation of the NDS. This comprehensive framework aimed to guide Guyana toward economic recovery and growth, addressing the structural challenges that hindered progress. His commitment to democracy and development was not a fleeting engagement but a sustained effort to uplift Guyana.
President Ali’s statement also underscored Carter’s enduring legacy as the “watchdog of transparency, fairness, and credibility in the electoral process”. The Carter Center’s election observer missions have become synonymous with impartiality and rigor, ensuring that the voices of the people are heard and respected. These missions were instrumental not only in 1992 but also during the contentious 2020 elections, where Carter’s principles once again served as a bulwark against electoral malpractice.
Jimmy Carter’s influence extended far beyond Guyana. As a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, he championed global initiatives for peace, democracy, and human rights. His work through the Carter Center brought healthcare, electoral reform, and conflict resolution to some of the world’s most vulnerable regions. Yet, his dedication to Guyana remains a moving reminder of how global leadership can transform local realities.
Former President and current Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo aptly described Carter as “a champion of human rights and social justice”. Jagdeo’s tribute emphasised the indelible mark Carter left on Guyana’s democratic institutions, which continue to evolve and strengthen thanks to the foundational work initiated under Carter’s guidance.
As the world reflects on Jimmy Carter’s life, his contributions to democracy and humanity stand as an example of hope and inspiration. His passing marks the end of an era but also reinforces the enduring relevance of his principles. Carter’s approach to leadership – rooted in humility, service, and unwavering commitment to justice – offers valuable lessons for today’s leaders.
In Guyana, Carter’s legacy is not confined to the history books; it lives on in the democratic processes, institutions, and aspirations of its people. His name will forever be linked to the milestones of 1992 and 2020, moments when Guyana’s democratic foundations were tested and ultimately fortified by his steadfast support.
The loss of Jimmy Carter is deeply felt, but his life’s work serves as a reminder of what can be achieved through dedication, empathy, and a vision for a better world.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Guyanese must never forget President Carter, Carter Center helped to restore democracy in 1992
Dear Editor,
As we bid farewell to former US President Jimmy Carter, Guyana should never forget it was President Carter and the Carter Center which played a pivotal role in helping to restore democracy and ending the PNC dictatorship in 1992.
In 2020, President Carter’s grandson Jason Carter was on the same flight with me going out of Guyana and in chatting with him, I had the pleasure of thanking him for what his grandpa did in saving Guyana, and what he the grandson was now doing in heading the Carter Center’s observer team, as the PNC was returning to its old ways and trying to rig again.
Many of us fought for the restoration of democracy in various ways, but the Carter Center’s involvement in brokering free and
fair elections and counting of votes at the place of the poll was the tipping point for change. (My wife and I were the only two people retrenched at our school under the guise that we were PPP people. The PNC government had done a national “retrenchment” exercise across the country to purge schools of “dissidents”- people they perceived as Opposition to their dictatorship).
In 1992, I had contacted Dr. Robert Pastor, who was head of the Carter Center, volunteering to help with the observer team. He responded by letter indicating they could not use Guyanese on the team.
President Carter will be remembered for being in the GECOM building when PNC hoodlums were pelting up the building. His presence in Guyana during the election was what saved a bigger riot and de-
railment of the democratic process.
In tribute to President Carter and the Carter Centre, I call on the President to keep his promise and honour all the “Guardians of Democracy” who guarded ballot boxes during the recount and stood up against the PNC’s failed attempt to rig the 2020 elections and plunging the nation into deep trauma for five months.
President Carter’s passing allows us to reflect that it takes people to rise and take a stand for the preservation of democracy in Guyana.
As we head into elections in 2025, who knows the PPP might need us again to keep vigil, and it might need all of those who wrote letters constantly.
Dr. Vishnu Bisram, Robin Singh and I were the top three letter writers during those five months. The
PNC has never apologized for the 28 years of rigging, and it has never apologized for the attempted rigging in 2020 when its supporters had controlled the key positions and levers of power at GECOM, and it thought they could engineer a rigging.
The twenty-eight years of Burnhamism were the closest we came to apartheid in Guyana. Our country was pauperised, our people fled to every little island in Caricom and in countries across the world. Our culture and politics had become deformed, and vestiges of that era remain.
Thank you, President Jimmy Carter. You have done God’s will in helping to save Guyana! Rest in peace, dear friend of Guyana!
Sincerely, Dr Jerry Jailall
One of VOA’s best news photos: A man dressed in a Spiderman costume and known as Ethio-Spiderman sits on a horse cart in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, August 12, 2024 (AFP)
Honouring the late President Carter
Dear Editor,
There is no doubt that the overwhelming majority of the Guyanese people will remember and highly regard the historical role of former American President Jimmy Carter in restoring free and fair democratic elections in Guyana.
His passing has been noted in the condolence message released by His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and this would also register the tributes of all sectors of Guyanese.
But is also opportune to recall that Mr. Carter developed a strong bond with Dr. Cheddi Jagan – both as a Democrat as well as an advocate for human rights and peace.
These are traits, if we like, that are not often displayed in ordinary individuals however intellectually gifted.
As a 20th – 21st Century reformer, Carter shaped historical forces in multilateral jurisdictions including Venezuela where the Atlanta-based Carter Center monitored elections in that country resulting in landslide popular support for Col. Hugo Chavez. Here in Guyana, his mission extended into branches of legislation, including support and training for lawmakers such as modules for parliamentary improvements (workshops, seminars and technical facilities).
The award of this country’s highest honour the Order of Excellence in 1993, predated the Noble Peace Prize recognition of 2002.
And these are only two of the orders of excellence of which this great man was a recipient.
Perhaps, a delegation of executives including members of the current administration who are ‘eternal friends’ of Carter’s philosophy should be represented at the final tributes whenever these are held in the USA.
Long live the Carter model for democracy and social justice.
Sincerely, Lawrence
Rodney
Centenarian Pres Jimmy Carter chiselled in Guyana’s history
Dear Editor, In 1979, during President Jimmy Carter’s presidency, I lived in the United States. The 1979 SALT II (Strategist Arms Limitation Treaty), signed between the Soviet Union’s Brezhnev and USA’s Jimmy Carter, limited the number of both nations’ Nuclear forces, to 2,250 apiece, was perhaps, President Carter’s crowning achievement as a President. Sighs of relief were heaved by the American populace.
So it is with the deepest of sadness, that I hear of the passing of the 39 President of the United States- James Earl Carter, Jr, fondly known as Jimmy Carter- the peanut farmer- (that was his family business). He was the only Centenarian President, being born October 1, 1924 - and deceased on December 29, 2024a life span of over 100 years!
President Carter hailed from the State of Georgia, USA, and was a Statesman who served one term as the US President. However, his greater legacy is, inarguably, his post-presidency advocacy
as a Humanitarian of world peace, through the Carter Center.
In 1992, in Guyana, President Carter pushed for fair and free elections as well as the dissolution of an authoritarian state (since 1966) and the restoration of democratic governance.
Agreed upon by Guyana’s then President, Desmond Hoyte and accepted by Guyana Election Commission, his blueprint as an introductory electoral reform for Guyana’s 1992 election, paved the way for the People Progressive Party (PPP) victory at the 1992 polls. Democracy prevailed!
However, the 1992 Electoral Reform blueprint, meant to be a “one off’ ONLY, for the 1992 Election, has, seemingly, found favour with successive governments and to this day, GECOM is still using the 1992 “one off” Electoral Reform blueprint.
Notwithstanding the above, President Carter’s legacy will be forever etched and interwoven in the annals of Guyana’s history.
FITUG mourns the passing of former US President Jimmy Carter
Dear Editor, The passing of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter leaves us with a heavy heart at the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG). His death signifies a profound loss not only for his family and friends but also for all of us who have admired his lifelong dedication to peace, justice, and humanitarian efforts around the globe.
in the democratic world. His efforts to unite people across political divides and the contribution of the Carter Center in shaping the National Development Strategy (NDS) are legacies that we treasure.
As I offer sincere condolences to his family and the Carter Center, may God grant them the strength to prevail and may the beacon of hope illumined by the Carter Center perpetually shine in Guyana.
Respectfully, Jonathan Subrian, Esq
President Carter was a true advocate for the poor, marginalised, and disenfranchised. His impact transcended the walls of the White House, as he championed workers’ rights, global health, and democracy –values that resonate deeply with our own mission at FITUG. We are committed to uplifting workers’ livelihoods and promoting fair labour practices, and we feel a kinship with his enduring advocacy.
In Guyana, President Carter was held in deep respect and admiration. His crucial role in fostering electoral reforms that restored democracy in 1992 profoundly influenced our nation’s trajectory, helping us find our place with-
Under his compassionate leadership, the Carter Center accomplished remarkable work in conflict resolution, advocating for free and fair elections, and tackling vital health and development issues. His commitment to social justice made him a steadfast ally to the working class, and we are grateful for his unwavering support.
As we reflect on President Carter’s incredible life, we remember him as a leader who valued the dignity of every worker and
believed deeply in the principles of equality, fairness, and compassion as the cornerstones of a just society. His legacy serves as a poignant reminder of the positive change that can occur when leaders prioritise the people’s needs.
In this moment of mourning, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Carter family, the American people, and the countless individuals around the world who were inspired by his life and work. We honour his memory and renew our commitment to the ideals he so passionately championed.
May his soul find eternal peace.
Sincerely, FITUG
Page Foundation
Polygons
A polygon is any closed 2-dimensional figure that is made up of line segments. Triangles and quadrilaterals are polygons. However, a polygon can have any number of sides greater than two. The number of sides equal the number of angles. Many polygons are named for the number of sides. The following are the main types of polygons
= 5, hexa = 6, hepta = 7, octa = 8, nona = nine, deca = 10
Exercises: Identify the polygons
New Year’s
Eve Ball Drop Decoration
Step 1: First, cut out the numbers 2025 from gold glitter card.
Step 2: Use a circular object or a pencil and a compass to create a circle for the ‘ball’.
Step 3: Cut out the same size squares from silver card, silver metallic card and silver glitter card (roughly 14 each).
Step 4: Stick the squares to the circle.
Step 5: Trim the edges using scissors, then stick the gold glitter numbers to the centre.
Step 6: To finish, cut a length of ribbon, tie a knot and stick it to the back of the ball drop decoration using sticky tape. (bakerross.co.uk)
By RoBeRt BuRns
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne!
For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne.
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, For auld lang syne.
And surely ye’ll be your pint stowp! And surely I’ll be mine! And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, For auld lang syne.
We twa hae run about the braes, And pou’d the gowans fine; But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit, Sin’ auld lang syne.
We twa hae paidl’d in the burn, Frae morning sun till dine; But seas between us braid hae roar’d Sin’ auld lang syne.
And there’s a hand, my trusty fere! And gie’s a hand o’ thine! And we’ll tak a right gude-willie waught, For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne. We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, For auld lang syne.
WORD SEARCH:
Penta
Probe ongoing into exploitation of foreign currency availability in local banks – Pres Ali
President Dr Irfaan Ali has revealed that a probe is ongoing into the possible exploitation of foreign currency availability in the local banking sector.
Foreign currency is used for a number of purposes, including to finance imports into the country.
On Sunday, President Dr Irfaan Ali in a Facebook Live explained how the country’s rapid economic expansion is impacting its foreign currency reserves.
He explained that from 2019 to date, there has been tremendous increases in the importation of a wide variety of items into the country.
“Motorcars, are at 264% that is a direct result of more disposable income, more affordability, more
disposable income in the pockets of people. There's more affordability. More people can now own their own cars…We have seen that between 2019 and 2024, there's a 317%, 317% growth in credit card and debit card usage. And that is, what is it used for? To purchase consumer goods and services.”
To ensure the country pays for all its imports, President Ali explained that the Bank of Guyana’s supply of foreign currency to commercial banks has grown significantly over the years. He also added that they are paying key attention to systems that
can possibly be exploiting Guyana’s currency availability.
“Between 2019 and 2024, the sale to commercial banks by the Bank of Guyana, [had] a growth of 1,744%. That is a foreign currency sale from Bank of Guyana to the commercial bank to help support this growth and expansion in the economy that I've been talking about. Of course, we're also looking to see where other systems might be exploiting our currency availability in the local banks too, and that's an ongoing issue.”
However, the Head of State noted that the government is investigating any exploitation of the system. The President’s remark comes as the local business community con -
tinues to complain of a shortage of foreign currency on the market.
“We have to see whether there are other markets that are buying through our system for their markets, and that is something that we are looking at, of course, as I speak to you so you can see here that in order to ensure the commercial bank and the system has that US dollars to support this expansion, the sale to commercial bank by the Bank of Guyana has grown by 1,744%.”
Earlier this month, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kester Hutson had contended that whether or not officials fully acknowledge the severity of this problem, the reality remains
that businesses are struggling due to difficulties in accessing foreign exchange promptly.
Hutson strongly urged the Government to address this issue at its core.
Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo had recently explained that while the Central Bank can inject as much as US$300 million into the market at any time now, the government is wary of leakages. For example, Trinidadian companies using the Guyana market to make payments for goods and services back home given the Twin Island Republic’s restrictions on foreign exchanges, which can take as much as six months to be released there.
Management changes imminent at GuySuCo – Mustapha …records
21% shortfall in 2024 target
Amid a year of challenges for the sugar sector, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) produced just over 47,000 tonnes of sugar and according to Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, several management changes at various sugar estates are imminent.
During his yearend press conference on Monday, Mustapha revealed that sugar production numbers from January to December 2024, was 47,123 tonnes while the target was 63,276. This constituted an almost 21 per cent shortfall of the target and according to Mustapha, he is very much dissatisfied with GuySuCo’s production performance for 2024.
“In sugar, we are very dissatisfied with the way in which GuySuCo has been performing. I want to reiterate what the President said a few days back in an interview. He said that he has already read the riot act to the management of GuySuCo. He also said he let them know that we are very dissatisfied with the performance, notwithstanding the difficulties they faced over the last year.”
“We know there was a serious drought issue that affected the growth of cane. But he has made it clear
that if the target for 2025 first crop and second crop is not met, then he will take drastic action to deal with GuySuCo,” the Minister explained.
And indeed, Mustapha revealed that a number of management changes will be made at the various estates of GuySuCo, though Mustapha explained that these changes were initiated within GuySuCo itself.
“In the new year you’ll see some changes in the management of GuySuCo at various estates. They’re already contemplating to move managers. Some managers will come out of the system. So, they themselves, without our intervention to move anybody, have looked to assign people in areas where they can perform better,” Mustapha added.
According to Mustapha,
the aim is to reduce the cost of production, increase efficiency and get GuySuCo to a target of no less than 100,000 tonnes of sugar for 2025. To help achieve this goal, a number of technical experts from Cuba and India have been brought in. Additionally, planting methods and cane varieties are being changed and investments are being made in mechanisation.
“We have a set of technical experts from India and Cuba, working along with GuySuCo. We have also seen that the mechanisation programme for Guyana has been intensified. That’s the way we can increase production, because we have seen also the manual way of production will not enhance productivity. So, to date, GuySuCo mechanisation programme with land conversion. We
have achieved 40 per cent already,” it was further explained.
These experts, Mustapha explained, have their specialisations in areas such as mechanical and electrical engineering and agronomy. Recommendations have also been made by these experts, including for billet harvesting and increased energy efficiency at the factories.
“And they told me that to increase production and reach the target for the new year, they have developed a set of strategies to increase the tonnes of cane per hectare by adopting double row planting, high density planting techniques that increase land utilisation while reducing the impact of weed,” Mustapha related.
He also noted that the strategy envisions shifting from manual and semi-mechanised planting, to more extensive mech-
anised approaches that would allow fertiliser application simultaneously with planting. Two new billet harvesters will also be procured in 2025, as well as more resources being allocated to upgrade the various factories.
Only last week, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo said that with significant upgrades come greater expectations and has made it clear that the Government will be expecting greater performances from agencies such as GuySuCo.
Between 2020 and 2024, the Government invested $45 billion in the sugar industry, to revitalise the sector and make it a vital component of the country’s developmental plans.
With a focus on strengthening internal cooperation, the Government hopes to bring the sugar industry back to its former glory,
contributing once again to the nation’s development and economic growth.
Between 2020 and 2024, the Government invested a whopping $45 billion in the sugar industry, to revitalise the sector and make it a vital component of the country’s developmental plans.
The focus has been on modernising operations, including the mechanisation of estates, with almost 40 per cent of the estates now automated.
Additionally, efforts have been made to recapitalise the industry by replacing broken infrastructure and systems to improve efficiency. However, despite these efforts.
During a recent interview, President Dr Irfaan Ali had made it clear that “heads will roll” if the first and second crop targets for GuySuCo are not met in 2025.
President Dr Irfaan Ali
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha
Labourer slapped with $3M robbery, discharging loaded firearm charges
Twenty-four-yearold Andre Stewart of Alberttown, Georgetown, was on Monday charged and remanded in connection with the multi-million-dollar robbery at the "Nice To You" Boutique on Regent Street, Georgetown
He was charged with armed robbery and discharging a loaded firearm with intent to maim, disfigure or cause actual bodily harm.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges when it was read to him by acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
Both incidents occurred on December 26, 2024. He was represented by Attorney, Ronald Bostwick who made a bail application for his client which was opposed by the prosecutor.
As such, he was remanded to prison and will make
his next court appearance on January 6, 2025.
It was reported that on the day in question, a 34-year-old guard was on duty and was reportedly sitting in a chair next to the door of the establishment. At the time, the boutique was open for business and customers were inside shopping when two men arrived on a red and black motorcycle and stopped at the front.
They reportedly disembarked the motorcycle and confronted the security guard. The pillion rider who was carrying a handgun held up the guard and took away a 'Toy Gun' which he had in the waist of his pants.
The suspects entered the business premises and ordered everyone to remain still. One of the men proceeded to the cashier’s drawer and took out the day’s sales, amounting to $3 million. At this point, a worker confronted the sus -
Charged: Andre Stewart
pect holding the gun. In retaliation, the suspect discharged a round, which struck him in his right thigh. The men then exited the boutique and made good their escape on the motorcycle
The injured worker was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) where he was treated. One 9mm spent shell was found at the scene. Based on CCTV footage, Stewart was arrested and charged.
T&T declares State of Emergency in response to spiralling crime levels
Acting Attorney General Stuart Young has outlined the specifics of a State of Emergency (SoE) declared to address escalating criminal violence in Trinidad and Tobago.
During a media conference at the Ministry of National Security in Portof-Spain, Young emphasised that the measures aim to target violent criminal activity, particularly involving illegal firearms, ammunition, and explosives, which escalated with a spate of killings over the weekend, while also ensuring that law-abiding citizens' rights are minimally impacted.
“There will be no curfew or restrictions on public meetings or marches at this stage,” Young stated during the media conference.
“The focus is on those engaged in criminal activities.”
Under the emergency regulations, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) will receive enhanced powers, including the authority to search premises and individuals without warrants if there is reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. Individuals found in posses-
sion of illegal firearms or in the company of those carrying such items can also face detention.
Detention powers explained
The regulations allow for the detention of individuals for up to 48 hours without charge. Beyond that period, a magistrate or senior police officer may authorise further detention for up to seven days while evidence is gathered. These provisions aim to facilitate thorough investigations into suspected criminal activities.
Additionally, the regulations suspend bail for individuals detained under the SoE. Police officers will also be empowered to stop, search, and detain individuals, vehicles, and vessels without warrants in public or private spaces.
Defence Force on high alert
Young confirmed that the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) will be deployed in a support role to the police. Members of the TTDF, under the instructions of the Chief of Defence Staff, will have powers equivalent to those of police officers while acting under the SoE regulations.
Tribunal and oversight
A tribunal will be established to handle matters arising from the SoE. Young has been in communication with Acting Chief Justice Justice of Appeal Barrow to ensure the legal framework is in place.
No connection to recent military call-out
Young dismissed claims that the SoE is linked to the recent mobilisation of Defence Force reserves by President Christine Kangaloo. He clarified that such mobilisations are routine during the Christmas and Carnival periods to bolster national security efforts.
The SoE, Young explained, was necessitated by intelligence indicating threats of retaliation from
criminal elements. These threats involve the continued use of illegal firearms in a manner that poses heightened risks to public safety, he said.
“This is a targeted response to brazen criminal activity and the escalating use of illegal weapons that endanger the lives of law-abiding citizens,” he stated.
The Acting Attorney General assured the public that the Government remains committed to maintaining order and addressing the root causes of crime. The regulations are expected to be published shortly, outlining the scope and application of these emergency powers. (T&T Guardian)
Giving Jimmy…
J… his (democratic) due
immy Carter was an American phenomenon. We all know about the peanut farmer who became President of the USA – but that’s only half of the (incredible) story!! His claim to fame here is he singlehandedly ensured free and fair elections returned in 1992. This removed the PNC’s yoke from our necks after twenty-eight harrowing years. And he wasn’t even President then!! President Ali summarised it well in his statement noting Carter’s passing:
“His legacy is intertwined with the story of Guyana’s journey towards democracy and development. Jimmy Carter’s name will forever be linked to the electoral reforms that paved the way for free and fair elections in Guyana, breaking the shackles of nearly a quarter-century of political dictatorship. President Carter also understood that democracy’s return had to be fortified by development. As such, after freedom had been restored in October 1992, he helped to support the crafting of a National Development Strategy (NDS) for Guyana and to mobilise resources for reconstruction.”
We should flesh out that overview. After he’d massively lost the 1980 elections to Reagan, Carter returned to his native Plains village in Georgia. Everyone expected him to follow the well-trodden path of ex-presidents to build a Presidential Library and hit the million-dollar lecture circuit. But the homespun Carter surprised the pundits when – in conjunction with Emory University – he launched a “Carter Center” next to the library in Atlanta. It was gonna “improve lives by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy and preventing diseases”.
Cheddi Jagan contacted the Center – which had already been attuned to electoral challenges to democracy. In 1989, Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega attempted to steal an election that wasn’t going his way. Infuriated, Carter climbed atop a platform in the election commission and demanded to know, in Spanish, whether the balloting officers were thieves!! Then he called a press conference and told the world the vote was bogus!! In Guyana, Carter’s first hurdle was to get Desmond Hoyte to agree to unravel the Burnhamite “innovations” that rigged elections for decades.
First, there was the need for a new voters’ list that Hoyte agreed to in 1990 – but which delayed the elections to 1992. The other critical change was “counting ballots cast at the place of poll” to circumvent switching ballots when taken to one central PNC-controlled location.
On the day of the elections, Hamilton Green orchestrated some thugs to storm the GECOM main office on Croal Steet – with Carter inside.
Carter got in touch with George HW Bush at the White House and it only took one phone call to make Hoyte stand down. He called in the GDF to clear the rabble!! Pretty soon, the vote was totalled and Jagan was sworn in as President.
Democracy was returned to Guyana!!
…his (humanist) due
When Jimmy Carter decided to run for the US Presidency, most thought a hick from the sticks of Georgia didn’t stand a chance. They forgot he was a graduate of the US Naval Academy and was being fast-tracked in the US budding nuclear submarine fleet who quit after his peanut farmer father died unexpectedly. He took over running the peanut warehouse – which crop the US had carefully nurtured and subsidised – rejoined the integrated Baptist Church and entered local politics. He was later elected Governor of Georgia – still a southern backwater!!
He, however, turned that into an asset by stressing he was an outsider – untainted by the Washington swamp!! He stressed a simple, moral politics that stressed human rights for Black Americans and other minorities. He was undone, however, by that same humanism when he accepted the Shah of Iran to be treated for cancer in the US.
This infuriated the Islamicists who seized the US Embassy – making Carter look helpless during the elections!!
…the finger
Hamilton Green has consistently derided Carter as a Southern bigot. But it was the same Carter who between 1986 and 2021 eradicated the Guinea worm disease with 3.5 million cases in 21 countries in Africa and Asia.
3-year-old perishes after fire ravages Albouystown apartment
… “Where’s the baby?” – neighbour recalls asking
Three-year-old Amanie Abrahams lost his life after a fire ripped through the family’s Cooper Street, Albouystown, Georgetown apartment in the wee hours of Monday. At the time of the blaze, the lad along with his two other siblings ages, four and 11 was at home alone.
Based on reports received, the children’s mother, Tandica Bailey who is a clothes vendor left home at about 07:00h to ply her trade along Regent Street thus leaving the three children at home.
However, at about 01:36h, when she was about to head home, she was informed via a telephone call that her house was on fire. The woman rushed to the scene where she saw her eldest child and the four-yearold who informed her that
after the fire started, they ran out of the house leaving Amanie lying on the bed in the room.
The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) was contacted and the fire was eventually extinguished after which the charred remains of the three-year-old were discovered in the bedroom area.
When Guyana Times visited the area later that day, a neighbour recalled that if it had not been for her, the fire would have been much more catastrophic. In tears, she said she helplessly heard the child screaming from the burning building.
“To tell you the truth, if it wasn’t for me, the alarm, the whole block would have caught. The whole block would have caught… Around one, or two, I could average, I was on the landing, drinking. Shortly after,
I heard the little child hollering, ‘Help, help,’ but the paling tall. I couldn’t see the little child. The little child couldn’t see me. When I peeped at the back, I saw the chair with fire. I ran downstairs.”
The woman stated that apart from the mother who was at work, the grandmother who normally takes care of the children was also not at home. Some of the residents rushed into the burning house and managed to rescue two of the children.
According to the neighbour, upon seeing the flames, she immediately contacted the fire service, which arrived some 30 minutes later.
She related that while awaiting the arrival of the firefighters, a group of residents formed a bucket brigade to put out the blaze but the heat was too intense.
“I even left my own kids in my house and ran downstairs to get a bucket of water when I saw the fire starting in my neighbour’s
house. But I didn’t even get through to get the bucket. While I was trying to out the fire, the neighbour’s son kicked down the door, trying to get the other child, and they didn’t get the other one, because the front door didn’t open.”
Conscious of how many children were in the house, she added that when the other neighbours were trying to rescue the children, she was yelling for them not to forget to look for little Amanie.
“I was the only one who saw the child, and I knew the little baby was in there. And I kept hollering, ‘Where’s the baby? Where’s the baby? The baby’s down there.’ A girl, she came around, went to help, brought out the two, and they were trying to get the other one because he was trapped in the fire.”
While there are speculations about how the fire started, the GFS has launched an investigation into the fatal fire.
(Misheal
Henry)
The remains of the burnt house
GOGEC President pays tribute to Carter Center's legacy in Guyana
The President of the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), Manniram Prashad, has lauded the Carter Centre's enduring contributions to Guyana, highlighting the role of former United States’ (US) President, Jimmy Carter, in promoting democracy, economic growth, and private sector collaboration in Guyana.
Speaking on the Center's historical influence, Prashad recalled how President Jimmy Carter himself played an instrumental role in expunging rigged elections and dictatorship in 1992, a turning point in Guyana's political history. "The Carter Center has always engaged
the Private Sector, even after President Carter's direct involvement, to ensure a brighter and more democratic future for Guyana," Prashad stated.
He emphasised the fruitful partnership between the Carter Center and the Private Sector in crafting the National Development Strategy, a comprehensive plan aimed at promoting economic growth and restoring confidence in investment opportunities. "This collaboration has been invaluable in shaping the trajectory of our nation's development," Prashad noted.
Looking ahead, Prashad expressed optimism about the Carter Center's continued involvement in Guyana, particularly in safeguard-
ing democratic practices. "The Private Sector will once again seek the assistance of the Carter Center to observe our elections in 2025," he affirmed, underscoring the organisation's trusted role as an impartial observer.
Prashad conveyed heartfelt condolences on behalf of the Private Sector and all Guyanese for the loss of a "dear friend" in the Carter Centre. "We mourn deeply, but we also celebrate the enduring legacy of hope, progress, and democracy they have gifted our nation."
The Carter Center, founded by former US President Jimmy Carter, has played a central role in promoting democracy and human rights globally.
Mechanic wanted for murder of Sophia youth
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a wanted bulletin for 31-year-old Allin Sahoye for the stabbing to death of 22-year-old Saif Ally of North Sophia, Georgetown which occurred on Friday evening.
The last known address of the wanted man was given as Lot 130 Downer Canal, North Sophia Greater Georgetown. Based on reports received, on the day in question at about 20:00h, the now dead man who was highly intoxicated visited the home of the suspect and reportedly slapped his father, Christopher Julian, several times.
Police stated that Ally and Julian are known to
Wanted: Allin Sahoye
each other. However, in retaliation, the suspect confronted Ally thus leading to an altercation where they both began hitting each other.
In an attempt to escape
the beating, Ally reportedly ran towards the Liliendaal Railway Embankment and was pursued by Sahoye who dealt him a stab to his chest with a knife. As a result, the victim collapsed while the suspect fled the scene.
Ally’s body was later found by passersby who contacted the police. Upon arriving at the scene, detectives found one stab wound to Ally’s chest.
Meanwhile, several days after the incident, police are asking anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the suspect to contact them at telephone numbers 225-6940; 225-8296; 226-7476, 911 or the nearest police station.
…pump left dismantled by contractor Westminster residents without potable water since Saturday
The community of Westminster, La Parfaite Harmony, West Bank Demerara (WBD), has been left without water since Saturday due to ongoing works at one of the community’s main pumps.
Currently, residents are unable to receive water in their homes, and a contractor has dismantled the well within the area but no works is ongoing on the pump.
The hose that connects to the pump that sucks the water from underground is out on the street lying on the ground.
This information was revealed by members of the community. Speaking with this publication, one resident, Ganesh Madoo, said that after the community was not receiving water, he took it upon himself to check the situation at the pump.
“Since Saturday lunchtime, they turned off the water so no water Saturday at
stripped, and they’re out on the mud and side of the road,” the resident said.
The persons who were working on the road left everything there and now one is in the compound where the pump is located.
“…not a single person working on anything here. Come on we the residents
all, no water Saturday night, no water the whole day yesterday [Sunday], and no water last night (Sunday night). I decided to say, man, let me go down and see what’s going on at the pump. When I went down everything was
are human beings,” he stated frustratedly.
He added that if the GWI had inform residents of what was going to happen they would have put system in place to have water.
“If they came around and
informed us, we would have pulled some water up on the hill. Because we don’t get this problem.”
According to Madoo, this has caused residents to be unable to attend to their basic needs.
“When I called the GWI office, customer’s service, they said that some contractor came to do some maintenance on the well. I said, man, but since Saturday, and nobody came around and informed us or sent anything to the media or Facebook And it’s a lot of people in this area around me. Everybody around the area, the whole place, that this pump supplies.”
He also urged the authorities to ensure that notices are communicated to communities when works like these are about to happen.
“How are they expecting us to survive man? Next time they need to tell people these things a day or two before so people can prepare themselves, because to this day they’ve still got it out on the road, and they’ve just stripped everything and dung it and left with it.”
Attempts to reach officials from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) for comment have been unsuccessful. (G2)
File photo: Manniram Prashad greeting former President Jimmy Carter ahead of talks on electoral matters and good governance
The hose left on the roadside
The section of the pump that was unattached
Over 2600 accident victims, 98 sexual assault cases treated at GPHC in 2024
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) delivered care this year to over 60,000 patients, of which 14,100 were admitted and 7300 were referred.
Among these, 2,698 individuals required treatment for injuries sustained in motor vehicle collisions, highlighting the persistent dangers on the nation’s roadways.
During the hospital’s End of Year press conference on Monday, GPHC’s Head of the Accident and Emergency Department, Dr Zulfikar Bux revealed that patients injured in motor vehicle accidents accounted for five per cent of those treated throughout the year.
Additionally, GPHC provided care to 96 victims of sexual assault in 2024, reflecting a 14 per cent decrease compared to the previous year.
Dr Bux explained that GPHC’s patient statistics underscore the hospital’s growing demand for services and these numbers reflect the hospital’s position as a critical referral and treatment centre in Guyana.
“In terms of interpersonal violence, we’ve had a 15 per cent increase from 2023. We’re currently at 2,246 cases. This is the only emer-
gency department in the country that has emergency specialist nurses, emergency specialist doctors, 247, 365”.
“In addition to doing all the level of care that we do at the Accident and Emergency Department, we support that pre-hospital response to ensure a lot of the intimate planning and having all of the teams that are on standby at the sites
to ensure that if there are emergencies or any medical issues for Ramadan, trust me, there have been quite a lot of medical emergencies that have occurred during these events for the last year. Our team is there to start care and communicate with the specialists at the Emergency Department to ensure that we save those lives that need to be saved,” Dr Bux said.
GPHC, through its international partnerships and advanced training for health practitioners, with Northwell Health, and Operation Walk, among others, has reaped success in 2024.
In fact, the public hospital was able to successfully execute over 8,000 surgeries this year, with a total of 2216 elective surgeries executed, 169 joint replacement surgeries, 2207 general surgeries, 158 neurosurgical procedures, 274
paediatric surgeries, 16 renal transplants and 9 brain tumour surgeries, among others.
Meanwhile, the Ophthalmology Department conducted 2933 electives surgeries between January and November this year.
Despite these demands, Dr Bux said GPHC has not increased its staffing complement or bed capacity, leaving its 18 available beds to accommodate thousands of patients annually.
“We have not increased our bed capacity. So, we’ve managed to do what we were doing in 2020, about 37,000 patients, we’re now at 60,000 patients, with not much in terms of improving our staff capacity or improving our space capacity. But at the same time, we basically improve our efficiency and effect on the medicine care”.
“So that shows the commitment and the hard work
that the team at the emergency department they’re doing. I must commend them because I think as a head of department they will tell you I probably juice them out as much as I can and I do see that if the numbers continue as they’ve been doing over the years, I am very concerned for 2025-2026 because we will have to look at space, we will have to look at how we improve our morale in the department and of course improve the increase in numbers of staff that we have,” he added.
Further, Dr Bux explained average waiting time at GPHC for emergency cases stands at 58 minutes, with patients typically receiving four hours of service care. These figures highlight the strain on staff and resources as they work tirelessly to meet the needs of the population.
(G1)
Prices for basic food items show little increase over past year
The prices for most basic consumer items showed little increase over the past year.
A comparison with prices for a handful of basic consumer items purchased at a supermarket on Old Years Day 2023, as against the prices for the same items at the very supermarket on Old Years Day 2024, shows an overall increase of just
over 10 percent.
Comparing this with the said items at the same supermarket shows a significant higher increase during 2023 as against 2024.
The price of for consumer items would vary at the different retail outlets but to find out exactly how it compared with prices one year ago, we are the same outlet where prices were
checked one year ago.
Nevertheless, the same items were priced at other outlets ad shows similar prices with some slight differences in some instances.
A 400 gram of a certain brand of milk was $860 one year ago and is being retailed at the same supermarket for the same price a year later.
However, at the start of
2022, the same milk was $700 which reflected a 22 percent increase in 2023 a zero percent increase in 2024.
Another brand of milk which was $600 last December is currently being retailed at $680 which reflects an 11 percent increase during 2024.
That same milk was $300 at the start of 2022.
A 2kg pack of flour is was $520 last year and is now $550 which is a 6 percent increase.
At the end of 2022 the same flour was $420.
The slight increase in the price of flour over the years did not impact the
price of flour-based items like Chowmein and noodles.
The price for a onepound container of margarine mover from $360 last December to $680 currently which is a 90 per cent increase.
A 2kg sack of rice which was being retailed at $480 one year ago is now $520 which is an increase of nine per cent.
A one-liter bottle of a certain brand of cooking oil which is currently $420 was $480 which is a reduction in the price 12.5 per cent.
The price for sugar remained at $100 per pound
throughout the year. There was no noticeable increase in the price for toiletries with a cake of soap or a certain brand being retailed at $200 which is the same price it was one year ago. It must be noted however that that same brand of soap was increased by 150 per cent during 2023, moving from $80 to $200.
A single role of toilet tissue of a certain brand was $180 a year ago and it is the same price as of Old Years Day 2024.
The items compared show a 10.84 percent increase over the past year. (G4)
Head of GPHC Accident and Emergency Department, Dr Zulfikar Bux
Govt to work with int’l partners to develop modern port facility laws – AG
…ABC countries & UAE among those helping to develop framework
Modern port facilities will need a modern legislative framework and according to Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall, SC, the Government is working along with its international partners in a number of other countries to develop such a framework in pursuit of its ambitions as a transshipment hub.
The Government has for some time articulated its vision of transforming Guyana into a transship-
ment hub, while leveraging the country’s geographic advantages. According to the AG during his recent end of year press conference, this means building out of a modern port facility at strategic locations in Guyana.
“We are building out a modern port facility, at Port Georgetown and at various important riverain sites. Because we have to expand the country to increase in trade and maritime activities. The country is growing,” Nandlall explained.
A key component of these ambitions is a modern port facility legislative framework, which would govern operations at these facilities and ensure international standards are met.
Nandlall explained that Guyana is working with various international partners, including the United States (US), countries in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Caribbean, towards this goal.
“Again, you need a modern port facility legisla-
tive framework. And we are working with international partners such as the Government of Canada, United Kingdom (UK), United States and the Governments of the UAE countries, along with some in the Caribbean,” Nandlall added.
President Dr Irfaan Ali had recently revealed that a proposal is being worked on for a new deep-water port, identifying mid-January as a timeframe to complete this proposal. The Government has expressed its interest in co-investing in a port facility venture, amid logistical challenges with shipping in the Caribbean.
Not only would such a port significantly boost Guyana’s exports, it would also enhance the delivery of goods and reduce shipping costs. And on the heels of President Dr Irfaan Ali’s recent revelation that a proposal is being worked on for a new deep-water port, the head of the Shipping Association of Guyana, Phillip Fernandes had confirmed that several locations and investment options are indeed being considered.
In an invited comment to the Guyana Times, Fernandes had acknowledged the need for such a facility, as well as the fact that his association and some of the major terminal operators have had engagements with the Government.
“The current infrastructure in Port Georgetown is inadequate to handle any significant increase in cargo volumes. With Guyana growing at its current rate, the projected cargo in the coming years would surely over-tax our cargo terminals and produce congestion and inefficiencies,” he had explained.
“Over the past couple of years, the Shipping Association of Guyana and some of the major terminal operators have had several engagements with the Government to consider various options for a deep-water port and new national cargo-handling terminal,” Fernandes had further said.
Recently, an industrial dispute in Trinidad and Tobago had resulted in delays in shipments of goods to Guyana. Since Guyana does not have a deep-water port, vessels would have to go to countries like Trinidad and Jamaica to offload and then transship the goods to Georgetown. Only last year, the local private sector had bemoaned the delays in transshipment after consignments were stuck in those territories ahead of the busy Christmas holidays.
However, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had explained that the reason Guyana has not been able to move forward with this port facility is due to the large-scale investment it would require. He ascertains that the project could run upwards of US$1 billion, hence, the need for the Government to co-finance such a venture.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC
GPHC records decline in neonatal, maternal deaths in 2024
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has made significant strides in reducing neonatal mortality and improving maternal and paediatric care outcomes this year.
In 2024, GPHC recorded 955 neonatal admissions and 41 neonatal deaths. When compared to 98 newborn babies who passed in 2023, this number represents a 50 per cent decrease in neonatal mortality.
Prematurity—infants born before completing 37 weeks of gestation—remains the leading cause of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admissions and accounts for 26 of the reported deaths.
During the public hospital’s End of Year press conference on Monday, the NICU Director, Dr Winsome Scott said that sepsis and other infections are also significant contributors to neonatal mortality.
She explained works are
staff members that are undergoing fellowship in maternal paediatric medicine and one in reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI). So, within the next two years, we have these two super specialised specialists that will be in our unit, which we will significantly expand these services to women again to help them improve in their high-risk conditions, to have healthier babies and a safer pregnancy, and for actually helping them to be healthy in pregnancy in terms of REI,” Dr Radha Sookraj explained.
ongoing to further reduce newborn deaths in 2025 and beyond.
“Prematurity also contributes significantly to neonatal deaths, the complications of prematurity, that is. As such, during 2024, we have prioritised acquiring life-saving equipment for especially our preterm babies, including building blankets and overhead and ribbon lights that
assist us in the management of neonatal jaundice. As well, we've acquired even more neo puff devices, which we use for respiratory support.”
“To address the spread of infections among our babies, the hospital has ensured a consistent supply of personal protective equipment for our staff, including having gloves and hand sanitisers at every bedside
Venezuela fines TikTok US$10M over viral challenge deaths
Venezuela’s highest court on Monday fined TikTok US$10 million in connection with viral challenges that authorities say left three adolescents dead from intoxication by chemical substances.
Supreme Tribunal of Justice Judge Tania D’Amelio said that the popular video-sharing app had been negligent in failing to implement “necessary and adequate measures” to stop the spread of content encouraging the challenges.
TikTok, which is owned by China’s ByteDance, was ordered to open an office in the South American country and given eight days to pay the fine or face “appropriate” measures.
Venezuela would use the money to “create a TikTok victims fund, intended to compensate for the psychological, emotional and physical damages to users, especially if these users are children and adolescents,” D’Amelio said.
The company told the
court that it “understands the seriousness of the matter,” she said. According to Venezuelan authorities, three adolescents died and 200 were intoxicated in schools across the country after ingesting chemical substances as part of social media “challenges.”
TikTok’s huge global success has been partly built on the success of its challenges — a call that invites users to create videos featuring dances, jokes or games that sometimes go viral.
The app has been accused of putting users in danger with the spread of hazardous challenge videos.
TikTok’s official policy prohibits videos promoting self-harm and suicide.
In November, President Nicolas Maduro threatened “severe measures” against TikTok if it did not remove content related to what he called “criminal challenges.”
Parliament is consider-
ing laws regulating social networks, which Maduro said after his disputed reelection in July was being used to promote “hate,” “fascism” and “division.”
He has accused Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of social media platform X, of orchestrating “attacks against Venezuela.” (AFP)
for every baby. By doing so, we, and also because of the commitment of our nurses and our doctors and our multidisciplinary team, we have achieved a NICU hand hygiene compliance rate of greater than or equal to 96 per cent throughout 2024,” Dr Scott disclosed.
Meanwhile, eight maternal deaths have been recorded at the GPHC. Guyana’s main referral hospital, for the year so far, however, proactive measures have resulted in saving 49 women from neardeath situations.
According to statistics provided by GPHC’s Consultant of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr Radha Sookraj, deliveries at GPHC totaled 4,216 in 2024, a decline from 4,857 in 2023.
Vaginal deliveries accounted for 2,821 of these cases, representing a six per cent reduction. Cesarean sections numbered 1,395, with 992 performed as emergency procedures. Total admissions to the
maternity unit decreased by eight percent compared to the previous year, with 7,333 recorded in 2024.
Additionally, in the realm of gynecological surgeries, there were 212 procedures this year, a slight reduction from 242 during the same period in 2023. Of these, 118 were emergencies, while 94 were elective surgeries.
“Areas that we have already excelled in is minimally invasive surgery, where patients have chemo surgery. Which they benefit from a reduction in the state of the hospital due to blood loss. And overall, improve patient quality care”.
“Other areas we have achieved in are having a maternal ICU, which is now the second ICU for the hospital. So, you have that collaboration with the ICU team and the seizure team, being close to us in the department, which is highrisk and we need your assistance most of the time”.
“Presently, we have two
Paediatric care
The Paediatric Medicine Board admitted 1,319 children aged 29 days to under 13 years in 2024. Pneumonia led as the primary cause of admissions with 370 cases, followed by sickle cell disease and anemia (172 cases), neurological conditions (120 cases), and blood cancers (83 cases).
The Paediatric High Dependency Unit (PHDU), Paediatric ICU, and Adult ICU collectively admitted 194 paediatric patients. Additionally, GPHC's outpatient paediatric clinics recorded 11,234 visits, with 9,244 at the walk-in clinic and 1,990 at specialised clinics.
Three specialised missions conducted this year facilitated 23 cardiac surgeries, eight diagnostic factorisations, and one interventional factorisation, highlighting advancements in paediatric cardiac care. (G1)
GPHC’s Consultant of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr Radha Sookraj Director of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Dr Winsome Scott
GPHC facing escalating nursing shortage, 700 more nurses needed for essential operations
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) continues to grapple with a severe shortage of nursing staff, with an alarming deficit of over 700 nurses.
In 2023, GPHC’s reported a nursing deceit of 600, of which 146 nurses resigned.
The hospital is working tirelessly to meet the healthcare demands of a growing population, and while this shortage has not raised concerns about the hospital’s capability to provide care, the positions must be filled if GPHC is to function effectively.
As of the end of November 2024, GPHC reported having 996 nursing staff across all levels of practice. However, this total is still far below what is required, especially considering the hospital’s increasing number of patients and the growing complexity of
healthcare needs.
The number of Registered Nurses (RNs) dropped from 232 in 2023 to 212 at the end of November 2024, reflecting the ongoing challenges in staffing levels.
This was disclosed by the Director of Nursing Services, Dr Leslyn Holder during the hospital’s end of year presser held on
Monday.
“As you already know, the Ministry of Health is currently training over 1,000 RNs, that is registered nurses, and approximately 800 nursing assistants, of which we are proud partners. That is, GPHC is a part of this training since we facilitate all the clinical rotations for nursing practice and specialty care”.
“We have also removed a lot of the non-nursing, or most of the non-nursing duties from nurses, so that we can concentrate, or nurses can concentrate more on care delivery. Nurses have also accessed BLS and other competency training in collaboration with Northwell Health. They have also been in continuing training with our own Institute of Health Science Education, IHSC, for BLS training, which every nurse should have,” Dr. Holder disclosed.
Nursing staff are essential at all levels, including nursing managers, staff nurses, midwives, nursing assistants, and patient care assistants.
In 2024, GPHC recorded a significant shortfall in direct nursing care. In the first quarter alone, the hospital reported 593 staff providing direct care at the bedside, a stark decline from 666 in the same period
last year. Although the total number of nursing staff increased slightly in subsequent quarters, direct care numbers remained critical, highlighting the disproportionate demand on an overburdened workforce.
“For the first quarter, our grand total was 899, as against our first quarter last year of 885. Which is not a huge difference, really. For direct nursing care, as we refer to it, that is bedside care, first quarter, we had a total of 593 nursing staff, as against the first quarter last year of 666. And that is a significant number, a significant difference. For the second quarter, our grand total was 918, as against 860 for last year, same period. And direct care, direct nursing care at the bedside, this year we had a total of 623, as against last year, 616. For the third quarter, grand total, we have a total of 996, as against last year,
same third quarter, of 852. For direct care, we had a total of 661, as against last year, 626,” she added.
GPHC is also dealing with overcrowded conditions. The hospital has a daily occupancy rate of 95 percent, and its Accident and Emergency Department is struggling with just 18 beds, an inadequate number given the increasing influx of patients.
Despite these challenges, nursing administrators at GPHC are committed to addressing the workforce issues by focusing on professional development, in-service education, and clinical training.
Addressing the nursing shortage at GPHC is not only a matter of improving working conditions for healthcare professionals but also ensuring that the hospital can continue to meet the healthcare needs of the population. (G1)
Jimmy Carter to be honored with state funeral and laid to rest in Georgia
Jimmy Carter, the former US president who died aged 100 on Sunday, will be honored with a state funeral before being laid to rest in his home town of Plains, Georgia, next to his wife, Rosalynn.
The proceedings to honor the 29th president of the United States will start on Saturday, when a motorcade accompanying Carter will travel through Plains to his boyhood home. The procession will briefly pause in front of his family’s farm.
From there, Carter’s remains will be taken to Atlanta, where the motorcade will stop at at Georgia’s state capitol for a moment of silence led by Georgia political leaders. Carter’s remains will then be transported to the Carter Presidential Center, where he will lie
in repose until the early morning of next Tuesday, 7 January.
From there, the remains of the late president will be brought to Washington, where he will lie in state at the US Capitol.
Next Thursday, Carter will be honored at a state funeral in Washington national cathedral, with many world leaders and other former presidents expected in attendance. Joe Biden will deliver a eulogy.
The date, 9 January, has also been declared a National Day of Mourning in the United States.
After the state funeral, Carter’s casket will return to Georgia, where a service will be held at Maranatha Baptist church in Plains, followed by a private funeral service and an internment
later in the afternoon.
Carter, the longest-lived president, died on Sunday, two years after entering hospice care. Most of the nation saw the former president for the last time at Rosalynn Carter’s funeral last year.
The Carter family said on Monday it had accepted the invitation from Congress for Carter to lie in state at the US Capitol.
Congressional lawmakers extended the invitation to the late former president’s family “in recognition of his long and distinguished service to the nation”, the Carter Center said in a statement posted on X.
The invitation was “respectfully and gratefully accepted”, the statement said.
Flags were flying at half-staff on federal buildings and grounds across the US in tribute to Carter on Monday, and they will continue to do so for the next 30 days.
It is tradition after deaths of acting presidents or former presidents for the US government to order American flags to fly at halfstaff, or half-mast, on all federal buildings, grounds and naval vessels, across the US and its territories worldwide.
The tradition is carried out for 30 days, which means flags will be at halfstaff when Donald Trump is
inaugurated in Washington on 20 January.
Joe Biden gave a short public address paying tribute to Carter, in which he delivered official praise and personal anecdotes.
“It’s a sad day but it brings back an incredible amount of good memories,” Biden said.
“Today, America – and the world, in my view – lost
a remarkable leader. He was a statesman and a humanitarian and Jill [first lady Jill Biden] and I have lost a dear friend.”
Biden said Carter had told him in the past that he was the first official figure to endorse Carter for the presidency in 1976. Biden was a Democratic US senator for Delaware at the time.
Biden said it “dawned on him” that he and Carter “have been hanging out for 50 years”, and he recalled that Carter used to tease him affectionately.
Biden has issued an executive order directing the closure of US government agencies and executive departments on 9 January. US stock exchanges will be closed as well. (The Guardian)
Director of Nursing Services, Dr Leslyn Holder
Former US President, Jimmy Carter
9th Political Dialogue EU reaffirms support for ICJ in resolving Essequibo border controversy
Guyana and the European Union (EU) held its ninth Political Dialogue late last month, 2024, in Georgetown with a meeting, which took place under the framework of the Samoa Agreement, a partnership agreement between the EU and the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS), marked an important milestone in the growing relationship between Guyana and the EU.
Guyana's delegation was led by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd alongside senior officials from the Ministry. The EU delegation was headed by ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Guyana, René van Nes, with the participation of senior representatives from the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the EU Delegation, as well as Jean-Jacques Forté, the French Chargé d’affaires to Guyana.
In a joint statement released on Monday, it was stated that the discussions reaffirmed the value of the Political Dialogue as a key platform for strengthening bilateral relations, addressing shared global challenges, and supporting multilateralism. Both sides underscored their mutual commitment to upholding international peace and security, promoting sustainable development, and advancing democratic governance.
In light of the ongo-
ing political and economic changes, both parties reaffirmed their dedication to deepening cooperation. They acknowledged Guyana's current membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2024-2026 term and expressed satisfaction with the progress made over the past 52 years of bilateral relations.
One key focus of the dialogue was the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Minister Todd and ambassador Van Nes emphasised the importance of leveraging the EU’s Global Gateway Investment Agenda, particularly in sectors such as agriculture and food security, forest preservation, health, renewable energy, and digital connectivity. Both sides recognised these areas as critical to promoting shared prosperity and sustainability.
The dialogue also addressed pressing global issues, particularly the need for enhanced action on climate change. Both parties committed to strengthening their cooperation on climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, including initiatives like the Global Biodiversity Alliance. Recognising the vulnerabilities of certain regions, they called for more ambitious environmental protection measures.
The situation in Haiti was another major topic, with the EU acknowledging Guyana’s leadership in promoting peace and stability in the region. The
discussions highlighted the importance of compliance with international humanitarian law and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, particularly in areas such as the Middle East and Ukraine, where both sides shared concerns over ongoing crises.
A significant portion of the dialogue was dedicated to security matters, including issues related to the Essequibo region of Guyana. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of upholding the United Nations (UN) Charter, respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensuring peaceful dispute resolution. The EU reiterated its support for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as the appropriate forum to resolve the territorial dispute over Essequibo.
The joint statement also noted that the dialogue also underscored the growing significance of EUGuyana relations, with the announcement of the upcoming opening of a French Embassy in Guyana in 2025. This reflects the EU’s strengthened commitment to its partnership with the Caribbean region, especially with the upcoming 4th EU–CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Summit in Colombia in 2025.
Both parties expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the ninth Political Dialogue and reiterated their commitment to continued cooperation. They agreed to schedule the next
dialogue session before the end of 2025 and to establish a coordination mechanism within the Foreign Affairs Ministry to ensure
the effective monitoring of initiatives and progress.
As both nations look to build on their partnership, this dialogue represents a
crucial step in addressing shared challenges, promoting sustainable development, and enhancing international cooperation.
Guyana and the European Union’s 9th Political Dialogue meeting in Georgetown which was attended by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd alongside senior officials from the Ministry and Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation to Guyana, René van Nes with the participation of senior representatives from the European External Action Service and the European Union Delegation, as well as Jean-Jacques Forté, the French Chargé d’affaires to Guyana
US$35M Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge
Relocation efforts being finalised as construction continues
As the Public Works Ministry, works assiduously to construct the new US$35M Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge on time, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill reveled that the ministry is currently in the process of finalizing the relocation of two property owners to facilitate the project.
Edghill during an outreach in the mining town of Linden region 10 (Upper Demerara- Upper Berbice) in September highlighted that at least two persons would have to be relocated in order to facilitate the construction of the new US$35M Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge.
Providing an update on Monday, Edghill told this
publication that the ministry is currently in the process of finalising the relocation of these persons. The minister explained that presently these persons are not affecting the construction process.
“Not yet but they are not in the way of the construction right now,” Edghill said. Meanwhile, providing a progress update on the project was Project Manager at the Public Works Ministry, Patrick Thompson, who highlighted that the construction of the temporary bridge structure has been completed.
In this regard he noted that construction of the new bridge has begun with construction works on the east-
ern abutment of the bridge.
“That has commenced, they have commenced the construction of the abutment on the easter side of the bridge.”
The abutment is the structure that supports the bridge in both directionshorizontally and vertically. The bridge abutment also connects and transfers the bridge load to the ground.
Meanwhile, in January the Guyana Government had signed a contract to the tune of US$35 million for the construction of a new four-lane bridge at Wismar in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) – a facility that will serve as a critical link in the road network that is being built out with
the aim of making Guyana a transport and logistic hub in the Region. When completed, the pertinent piece of infrastructure will play a crucial role in strengthening trade between Guyana and Brazil by positioning the region as a key player in inter-
Flooding in Region 9
national commerce and economic growth.
The new Mackenzie/ Wismar Bridge is being built by China Railway and Construction – the same company that is constructing the new US$260 million bridge across the Demerara
This four-lane bridge will be a pre-cast structure running 220 metres long and will include vital safety features such as lighting and signs. It will boast a maximum horizontal clearance of 32 metres and a vertical clearance of 11.5 metres.The new bridge will land some distance away from the original single-lane bridge built by the Demerara Bauxite Company from 1965 to 1967.
Following the contract signing in January works on the project commenced in August. During a outreach to the mining town, Public works minister Juan noted in an effort to fast track the completion of the bridge, the contractor would have agreed to have the bridge completed by 2025.
Residents begin preparations ahead of rainy season
In light of heavy downpours during the last rainy season which, severely flooded several parts of Region 9 (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) earlier this year. In a bid to mitigate the impact of flooding residents have already begun preparations ahead of the rainy season. In an interview with Guyana Times, Region Nine’s Regional Chairman, Bryan Allicock highlighted that whilst the rainy season has commenced in several regions particularly those close to the coast. He explained that Region 9 is currently experiencing droughts; this he noted has been ongoing for several months now. The
regional chairman told this publication that the prolonged heat wave has had a significant impact on agriculture in the region.
“We're not getting any rain season, we're getting droughts, several months now, the dry weather is on. Even though you're getting showers in Georgetown, we hardly get anything up here in the region, just a slight drizzle and that's it. All the cassava farms I just spoke with, some Toshaos, the cassava farms, they're not bearing. The tubers are thin, stringy, you know, even though the trees are large. So that is why it's happening now with the farmers.”
However, despite the cur-
rent dry spell the regional chairman highlighted that when the season ends significant flooding is expected. In this regard the chairman explained that residents of Region Nine, particularly farmers, have already begun to prepare for the upcoming rainy season.
“We know that the heavy rains will come next year. For this December you might just have a few showers. But that's it, they call it the cashew rain. But next year, I know, when this drought should have ended, there'll be tremendous flooding. You know, that's what happens after a long dry spell. So the people are prepared, they're planting the crops on higher
grounds, you know. So when the rain do come, they're higher up. And those that are planted in the swamp, they'll be harvesting those crops before the heavy rains come.”
Moreover, Allicock highlighted that the region will be prepared to assist affected residents during the rainy season.
“The Civil Defence Commission has a centre here, they have a large building with storage facilities. But what we noticed is that we brought in some stocks last year. And they were there for about three months. And when we checked, the black-eyed peas, the split peas, the flour, the rice, you know, got weevil infested. So,
we are calculating when we'll get a rain so that we'll have stocks come in at that time, before the rain starts.”
The regional chairman added. “So, what we do is keep a certain amount. And we know that we don't have anything in stock at the moment, large amounts. But we have some stores, supermarkets. And so when we have these emergencies, they would assist us by having stocks sent to us. And we distribute to those affected persons.”
Meanwhile, earlier in May as the La Niña season took hold of climatic conditions in Guyana, several villages in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo)
were inundated by heavy rainfall.
While other regions have reported no flooding, communities in Region Nine, particularly villages in the North Rupununi district, have reported being affected by the relentless downpours. According to the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Hydromet Service’s reports highlighted that villages such as Toka, Massara, Yakarinta, Aranaputa Valley, Karasabai, Tiger Pond, Sand Creek, Karaudarnau and Katoonarib had been hardest hit. In these areas, floodwaters had risen to alarming levels, submerging roads and inundating homes. Among the severest impacts of the flooding detailed in the report is the erosion of crucial roadways by flash floods, such as the section between Toka and Massara. This erosion disrupted transportation, and also isolated communities by rendering them inaccessible by land. Additionally, vital infrastructure such as the Yakarinta Bridge were submerged, further complicating matters for residents. Karasabai Village faced a particularly dire situation, as soaring water levels in the Yurora Creek blocked off all land routes, leaving the community stranded.
River.
Aftermath of heavy downpours in Region 9 earlier this year
Ongoing construction of the new Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge
German election ‘will not be decided by social media owners’ – Olaf Scholz
The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has urged voters not to let the “owners of social media channels” decide next year’s snap election, after Elon Musk repeatedly endorsed the farright party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).
In a New Year’s Eve address recorded for television and made available before its broadcast on Tuesday, Scholz said German citizens alone had the power to decide “where Germany goes from here” after the general election on 23 February.
“It will not be decided by the owners of social media channels,” Scholz said of the country’s future.
“In our debates, one can be forgiven for sometimes thinking the more extreme an opinion is, the more attention it will garner.” Rather, Scholz said, the fate of German society “will be up to the vast majority of reasonable and decent people”.
Without mentioning Musk or his platform, X, explicitly, Scholz urged Germans to resist manipulation and to stand up for their democracy.
“After all, it’s customary to make wishes on New Year’s Eve. What I wish for is that we will not let ourselves be played off each other,” he said.
Scholz noted there had been a surge of disinformation on social media after the Christmas market attack in Magdeburg on 20 December in which five people were killed and more than 200 injured. The car ramming was allegedly committed by a Saudi-born assailant with farright sympathies.
“No small number of these
rumours and conjectures, though, have meanwhile been debunked. These things divide and weaken us,” he said. “This is not good for our country.”
On Monday, a spokesperson for Scholz, Christiane Hoffmann, accused Musk of trying to meddle in the country’s election campaign with a series of declarations backing the anti-Muslim, anti-migration AfD party.
“It is indeed the case that Elon Musk is trying to influence the federal election,” Hoffmann said at a regular media briefing. Musk had the right to free speech, she said, adding: “After all, freedom of opinion also covers the greatest nonsense.”
Musk has often weighed in on German politics, even calling Scholz a “fool” on X last month. However, his more recent open calls for German voters to support the AfD, which federal authorities classify as a suspected extremist party, have sparked outrage and accusations of troubling
interference in Europe’s top economy.
The South African-born entrepreneur, a close adviser to Donald Trump who has been named by the incoming president to co-lead a commission aimed at reducing the size of the US federal government, wrote on X earlier this month: “Only the AfD can save Germany.”
In the post, Musk shared a video by a German rightwing influencer, Naomi Seibt, who criticised Friedrich Merz, the conservative frontrunner in the German election, and praised Javier Milei, Argentina’s self-styled “anarcho-capitalist” president.
He followed up at the weekend with a guest editorial in the broadsheet Welt am Sonntag arguing that Germany was teetering on the brink of economic and cultural collapse, defending the AfD against accusations of radicalism and praising the party’s approach to the economy, including regulation and tax policy. (The Guardian)
8 in hospital after LPG blast in Bahamas
Eight people, including three children, were rushed to hospital after an explosion on Baillou Hill Road South, Nassau, New Providence, yesterday that occurred as a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) truck was filling a tank at a home.
Police Superintendent Demeris Armbrister, the chief fire officer, said police received reports of the explosion around 4 p.m. and responded with two units.
Officers discovered that one home experienced extensive damage and nearby buildings were also damaged by the blast.
“What we can say at this time is a fuel truck, an LPG truck, they were fueling an LPG tank when an explosion occurred,” Armbrister said.
He said two of the people taken to hospital work for the LPG company, while the others are residents of the home.
Last night, the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) said the National Emergency Medical Services (NEMS) team responded promptly to the scene, ensuring the swift transport of the eight individuals to the hospital for urgent medical attention.
Three adults remained in critical condition while two were stable, the PHA said.
The PHA reported that one of the children was in a “guarded” condition, and two were stable.
“Updates on the condition of our patients will be given to the next of kin and relevant authorities as per established protocols,” the authority said.
“The PHA extends its thoughts and prayers to the individuals and families impacted by this tragedy. We remain committed to providing the highest quality care and ensuring the best possi-
ble outcomes for all those affected.
“We remind the public to utilize the Accident and Emergency Department at PMH for emergencies only. Department of Public Health community clinics are open with extended hours to provide urgent care services as needed.”
Prime Minister Philip Davis responded to the incident in a social media post. He said he and his wife, Ann Marie, are heartbroken by news of the explosion.
“I have been fully briefed on the situation and have instructed that all available resources be deployed to support those affected,” Davis said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured and their families as they navigate this difficult time.”
(The Nassau Guardian)
Police Officers investigate the scene of an explosion off Baillou Hill Road South (Photo: Torrell Glinton)
Olaf Scholz records his New Year's Eve speech at the chancellery in Berlin (Photograph: Sören Stache/Reuters)
Regional
T&T Opposition: SoE is political gimmickry
Opposition Leader
Kamla PersadBissessar says the declaration of a State of Emergency (SoE) on December 30 was an act of political gimmickry by Government and it will not reduce crime.
She made this comment in response to a signed proclamation by President Christine Kangaloo to declare an SoE and comments about it by acting Attorney General Stuart Young and National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds at a subsequent news conference.
A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said Kangaloo declared the SoE, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley in accordance with Section 8(2)(c) of the Constitution.
In a statement, PersadBissessar said, "I called for a SoE in January as I correctly predicted that failure to do so would result in a most murderous year."
She recalled being condemned by the Prime Minister and his political and business community supporters.
"Many lives could have been saved had they heeded my advice at the beginning of this year."
Persad-Bissessar claimed Dr Rowley's prior refusals and
condemnations indicate the SoE is his last, desperate attempt to convince the population he has a crime plan on the virtual eve of a general election.
"This SoE is a shameless political gimmick, a band-aid solution in an election year that does nothing to address the root causes of crime. This government is out of ideas and out of time."
She said the SoE was declared before the Cabinet holds a retreat in Tobago next month.
Persad-Bissessar claimed Rowley is a coward who is hiding from a violent crime crisis
which his government created over its last decade in office.
She questioned the manner in which Government chose to inform the population about the SoE.
"The country awoke this morning to a dubious press release that declared an SoE, but had no details nor even identifiable official markings, and it was rightly rapidly condemned as fake news by most people."
Persad-Bissessar claimed Young and Hinds held their briefing to convince the population the SoE was real.
(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)
Lula's embrace of new Brazil central banker has markets wary
After months of rancour, ties between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Brazil's central bank look poised for an era of sweetness and light – which is precisely what worries some investors.
Gabriel Galipolo, 42, is set to take the reins at the bank on Wednesday. The former Deputy Finance Minister has earned a reputation for economic views that sometimes stray from his predecessor's embrace of free markets, but warm the hearts of left-leaning politicians.
While that should help quiet months of sniping from a President exasperated with high interest rates, it may test the new formal independence of that institution, six of its former directors told Reuters.
Galipolo takes over from central bank governor Roberto Campos Neto, an appointee of former President Jair Bolsonaro, in the first transition since a 2021 law that required Heads Of State to wait two years before naming their own central bank chief, in a move designed to boost the bank's autonomy.
The handoff will be scrutinised after frustration with Government spending plans triggered a market meltdown, sending Brazil's risk premium surging and its currency to alltime lows.
The central bank declined
a request for comment from Galipolo, who now serves as one of its policy directors.
Galipolo and Campos Neto have played down their differences and vowed continuity at a shared news conference on December 19.
Now leading the country in his third non-consecutive term, Lula praised Galipolo in a social media video on December 20, vowing fiscal discipline and a handsoff stance toward the central bank. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Venezuela to free additional 413 election protesters
People carry Venezuela's national flag to protest the election results that awarded Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro with a third term, in Maracaibo, Venezuela, July 30, 2024 (Reuters/Isaac
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab said on Monday that 413 more persons arrested over election protests are to be freed, taking the total number of prisoners released to 1369.
In recent weeks, Saab has announced a series of releases of groups of the more than 2000 persons who were arrested for taking part in protests after the July election.
(Reuters)
CDB supporting Caribbean trade statistics modernisation with new WTO Initiative
Greater evidence-based trade policy is on the Region’s horizon as Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) member countries are set to benefit from a recently-approved project.
Over US$165,000 has been allocated for the Caribbean Development Bank and World Trade Organisation (WTO) Statistics Training Programme, a trade-focused capacity-building regional activity set to modernise the production, compilation and dissemination and use of data in national statistics and customs offices, and ministries of trade.
According to CDB Director of Economics,
Ian Durant “The Bank is pleased to support, this initiative which will assist in deepening Caribbean trade and integration and further support development outcomes.”
Increased capacity and technical expertise, and enhanced cross-agency partnerships in the collection, compilation, and dissemination of trade and tariff data will undoubtedly improve the design of related strategies and policies and advance achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He added that the “CDB recognises the significance of establishing and expanding our strategic relationship with the WTO to further a shared commitment
to fostering economic development and trade expansion.”
In 2022, CDB and WTO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support countries on various international trade matters, capacity building in trade and statistics; and collaborating on knowledge products in the areas of tourism, education, culture and entertainment, public policy support, and innovation.
Both institutions also pledged to explore intersections of trade policy, climate change and women’s participation in international trade focused on achieving gender equality.
(Excerpt from Antigua Observer)
Barbadian economy “lacking innovation boost” – IDB economist
Barbados must adopt more technological innovations if it wants to reverse lagging productivity and unlock more economic growth.
That is the assessment of Cloe Ortiz de Mendivil, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) country economist for Barbados.
“In Barbados, total factor productivity (TFP) is at the same level as two decades ago, and a boost to innovation is necessary to increase growth prospects,” she says in the IDB Caribbean Country Department’s final Caribbean Economics Quarterly for 2024.
The publication, titled
“Innovation For Faster Economic Growth In The Caribbean: Are We There Yet?”, examines the connection between technological innovation and economic growth in Barbados, The Bahamas, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. These are the six IDB member countries covered by the Bank’s Caribbean Country Department.
The report noted that “TFP, which explains technological progress in an economy, has been a key factor explaining the lack of growth in the region”.
“The Bahamas has been no exception . . .Bahamian TFP peaked in the 1990s and since then has been slowly decreasing. There is a shared downward trend with Barbados and Jamaica, meaning that a significant part of the Region has suffered a decrease in TFP over the last 20 years,” the publication stated.
In the section on Barbados, de Mendivil concluded that “public policies designed to improve the provision of public services as well as to address the main challenges to engage in innovation . . . such as the skills mismatch in the labour force and access to finance – will help strengthen the enabling environment for innovation”. (Excerpt from Nation News)
Winter tourism season to bring 1.6 million airline seats to Jamaica – JTB
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) says the island is experiencing an unprecedented surge in tourism as the winter season sees the destination securing 1.6 million airline seats, underscoring the island’s status as one of the Caribbean’s most sought-after destinations.
JTB added that the strong demand for travel to Jamaica comes as international airlines continue to expand their offerings, making the island more accessible than ever to visitors from around the world.
“This is going to be the best winter season on record. This is the first winter that we have 1.6 million seats coming into Jamaica. We know that 1.6 million seats are 100 per cent of the flights that are coming, but if we consider 80 per cent
we are looking at 1.3 million visitors coming which is 12.8 per cent higher than last winter which is also 178,000 more seats,” said Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.
To mark the beginning of the winter season, the
JTB hosted an Appreciation Breakfast on December 15 at Sangster International Airport and on December 18 at Norman Manley International Airport. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)
Acting Attorney General and Energy Minister Stuart Young and National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds hold a press conference at the National Security Ministry, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, December 30, 2024 (Reuters/Andrea De Silva photo)
Urrutia file photo)
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett (right) greets staff at the Norman Manley International Airport during a walkthrough of the airport on December 18
Around the World
OOil rises on diesel demand boost in sparse holiday trade
OIL NEWS
Gaza babies dying from the cold as winter temperatures drop
Sila was less than three weeks old when her mother Nariman realised she wasn't moving.
"I woke up in the morning and told my husband that the baby hadn't stirred for a while. He uncovered her face and found her blue, biting her tongue, with blood coming out of her mouth," says Nariman al-Najmeh.
il prices settled higher on Monday in thin late-year trade as investors bet on a drop in temperatures across the US and Europe over the coming weeks to boost diesel demand.
Brent crude futures rose 22 cents, or 0.3 per cent, to settle at US$74.39 a barrel. The more active March contract settled at US$73.99 a barrel, up 20 cents.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 39 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to settle at US$70.99 a barrel. US ultra-low sulphur diesel futures settled 2.5 per cent higher at US$2.30 a gallon, the highest since November 5.
"Diesel prices are leading the energy complex," fuel distributor TACenergy's trading desk wrote on Monday. Concerns of colder weather in the weeks ahead are boosting diesel as a substitute for natural gas in space heating, TACenergy wrote.
Heating degree days, a measure of energy demand for space heating, are expected to rise to 499 over the next two weeks in the US, compared with 399 estimated on Friday, according to LSEG. Meteorologists at the firm also anticipate temperatures turning colder in Europe in January.
US natural gas futures surged 17 per cent to their highest level since January 2023, boosted by the weather forecasts and rising export demand.
Further support for oil prices could come from declining US crude stockpiles, which are expected to have fallen by about three million barrels last week, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday.
Both Brent and WTI rose about 1.4 per cent last week buoyed by a larger-than-expected drawdown from US crude inventories in the week ended December 20 as refiners ramped up activity and the holiday season boosted fuel demand.
Investors are also waiting for China's PMI factory surveys, due today, followed by US ISM survey on Friday, to gauge the economic health of the top oil-consuming nations.
A weak Chinese economy could cause oversupply in oil markets next year, said Alex Hodes, analyst at brokerage firm StoneX.
Chinese authorities have agreed to issue a record three trillion yuan (US$411 billion) in special treasury bonds in 2025 to revive economic growth, Reuters reported last week.
Oil-market participants are also speculating that US President-elect Donald Trump will cut Iranian crude oil exports to below 500,000 barrels per day through sanctions, taking over one million barrels of daily crude oil supply off the global market, Hodes said. (Reuters)
Syria appoints foreign Islamist fighters to its military, sources say
Syria's new rulers have installed some foreign fighters including Uyghurs, a Jordanian and a Turk in the country's armed forces as Damascus tries to shape a patchwork of rebel groups into a professional military, two Syrian sources said.
The move to give official roles, including senior ones, to several jihadists may alarm some foreign governments and Syrian citizens fearful about the new Administration's intentions, despite its pledges not to export Islamic revolution and to rule with tolerance towards Syria's large minority groups.
A Syrian Government spokesperson did not reply to a request for comment on the thinking behind the appointments.
The sources said that out of a total of almost 50 military roles announced by the Defence Ministry on Sunday, at least six had gone to foreigners.
Reuters was not able to independently verify the nationalities of the individuals appointed.
Thousands of Sunni Muslim foreigners joined Syria's rebels early in the 13year civil war to fight against the rule of Bashar al-Assad and the Iran-backed Shi'ite militias who supported him, giving the conflict a sectarian overtone.
Some foreign fighters formed their own armed groups while others joined established formations.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
She is one of six newborns who have died from hypothermia within a twoweek period in Gaza.
In their tent situated on the beach in southern Gaza, Nariman is sitting with her husband, Mahmoud Fasih, and their two young children – Rayan, who is four years old, and Nihad, who is two and a half.
The family say they have been displaced more than 10 times during the 14-month war.
"My husband is a fisher-
man, we're from the north and left without anything, but we did it for our children," says Nariman in an interview with a freelance cameraman working with the BBC. Israel prevents international media from entering and freely working on the ground in Gaza.
"When I was pregnant,
I used to think about how I was going to get clothes for the baby. I was really worried because my husband doesn't have work."
During her 20 days of life, Sila's home was the small and overcrowded campsite in the al-Mawasi "humanitarian area", where hundreds of thousands of
Palestinians displaced from elsewhere in the territory have been ordered to move by the Israeli military. The area suffers from poor infrastructure and sanitation, as well as flooding caused by both rain and waves from the Mediterranean Sea.
"The cold is bitter and harsh. All night, because of the cold, we huddle together, curling up next to each other," says Sila's father, Mahmoud.
"Our life is hell. It's hell because of the effects of the war, my family was martyred, and our situation is unbearable."
Despite telling civilians to head to the area, the Israeli military has struck al-Mawasi repeatedly during its campaign against Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. (Excerpt from BBC News)
US Treasury says it was hacked by China in “major incident”
AChinese Statesponsored hacker has broken into the US Treasury Department's systems, accessing employee workstations and some unclassified documents, American officials said on Monday.
The breach occurred in early December and was made public in a letter penned by the Treasury Department to lawmakers notifying them of the incident.
The US agency characterised the breach as a "major incident", and said it had been working with the FBI and other agencies to investigate the impact.
A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC told BBC News that the accusation is part of a "smear attack" and was made "without any factual basis".
The Treasury Department said in its letter to lawmakers that the
China-based actor was able to override security via a key used by a third-party service provider that offers remote technical support to its employees.
The compromised third-party service – called BeyondTrust – has since been taken offline, officials said. They added that there is no evidence to suggest the hacker has continued to access Treasury Department information since.
Along with the FBI, the Department has been working with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and third-party forensic investigators to determine the breach's overall impact.
Based on evidence it has gathered so far, officials said the hack appears to have been carried out by "a China-based Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actor." (Excerpt from BBC News)
Russia and Ukraine exchange hundreds of prisoners of war
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Russian Defence Ministry said it had swapped 150 Ukrainian soldiers held captive for an equal number of Russian troops.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said 189 Ukrainians had returned home.
He added that those released included "defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol", the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and Snake Island.
The BBC was present as freed Ukrainians were reunited with their loved ones at a location in northern Ukraine.
Before they arrived, Alina who was waiting for her husband Oleksandr – captured while defending the south-eastern city
of Mariupol in 2022 – had tears streaming down her face.
"I have so many emotions," she said "It's been so difficult. I just want to see him."
Released prisoner Anatoliy, who was captured in the south-eastern city of Mariupol in 2022, told the BBC he was "overwhelmed by feelings".
"Thank God this day has come. We're home. Now we're going to support Ukraine with everything we've got," he said.
Another released prisoner, Ihor, told the BBC: "I'm very happy to return to my own country, to my own land. I have no words to say what I feel now."
The Russian Defence Ministry meanwhile said newly-released Russian troops were in Belarus and were being given medical assistance and the chance to
contact
This
59th
exchange since
South Korea court issues arrest warrant for President Yoon, Yonhap reports
ASouth Korean court on Tuesday approved an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been impeached and suspended from power over his decision to impose martial law on December 3, Yonhap news agency reported.
Yoon is facing a criminal investigation into possible insurrection charges.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Sila's father carries her tiny body to be buried (BBC News)
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers an address to the nation at the Presidential Office in Seoul, South Korea, December 12, 2024 (The Presidential Office/Handout via Reuters)
their families.
was the
prisoner
the fullscale invasion began and one of the biggest so far. (Excerpt from BBC News)
End the year on a high note. Leave nothing unfinished that might jeopardize your position or chance to advance. Embrace and love who you are, and you’ll make an impression on the people you encounter.
Put your energy into tidying up loose ends. Go over important papers and be sure to take care of time-sensitive transactions. Celebrate, but choose venues that don’t pose health risks.
Maintain continuity as the new year begins. Be an attentive observer and learn all you can by noting how those you respect operate among their peers. How you treat others will determine what you get in return.
The world is yours to discover. Do your research and take a leadership position as you wow everyone with your ideas and plans. Someone special will be watching.
Start by setting boundaries to avoid participating in things you should forgo and mingling with people who are a poor influence. Focus on personal victory and engaging with what matters most to you.
Accept an invitation, get out and participate in events that offer insight into new possibilities. What makes you happy will impact your priorities throughout 2025. Choose discipline, not indulgence.
Pressure yourself to be, do and look your best. Don’t hesitate to venture out and participate in social events that offer access to people you look up to or can learn from. Keep your valuables in a safe place.
Listen to health warnings and plan accordingly. Don’t put yourself or your loved ones at risk. There are plenty of ways to ring in the new year without jeopardizing what you’ve built.
Refrain from letting anyone tempt, belittle or pressure you. Think matters through before you commit to something that will make you feel uncomfortable.
Welcome a diversion. The insight you gain will help reformat your perception regarding the past, present and future. You have the qualifications to live life your way.
Don’t feel the need to participate in events that don’t appeal to you. It’s your life; take the initiative to follow your heart, speak up and make choices that suit your needs.
An objective position will help you conclude what’s best for you. Head into 2025 with a plan that suits your needs instead of bending to others’ demands others. You have the freedom to choose.
4th Test, Melbourne, India tour of Australia
India lose 7 in final session, Australia snatch 2-1 series lead
Early in the final hour at the MCG, Australia won an epic Test that had been played in front of a record crowd to take a 2-1 lead in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, having snared seven wickets in the final session when it appeared India were on track to save the game.
Yashasvi Jaiswal defied the home side for 208 deliveries before falling to the herculean Pat Cummins while hometown star Scott Boland made three key incisions to secure one of Australia's most significant victories of recent history.
Nathan Lyon claimed the final wicket, when he pinned Mohammed Siraj lbw, sparking wild celebrations for the home side: a margin of 184 runs did not do justice to the tension and drama of the final
for 3, Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant added 88 in 32 overs to take India into the final session with seven wickets in hand, but Travis Head burgled the wicket of Pant and Australia seized their mo-
day and the importance of the result to this Australia team who have turned their fortunes around after the crushing opening defeat in Perth.
After India had slid to 33
2nd Innings (T: 340 runs)
Jaiswal c †Carey
b Cummins 84 Rohit Sharma (c) c Marsh
b Cummins 9 KL Rahul c Khawaja
b Cummins 0 Virat Kohli c Khawaja
b Starc 5 Rishabh Pant †c Marsh
b Head 30 Ravindra Jadeja c †Carey
b Boland 2
Kumar Reddy c Smith
b Lyon 1 Washington Sundar not out 5
b Boland 7 Jasprit Bumrah c Smith
ment as India lost 7 for 34.
The quick bowlers were immense, Mitchell Starc bowling in the mid-140kph region despite a back niggle, while Cummins and Boland add-
b Boland 0 Mohammed Siraj lbw b Lyon 0 Extras (b 5, lb 5, nb 2) 12 Total 79.1 Ov (RR: 1.95) 155 Fall of wickets: 1-25 (Rohit Sharma, 16.1 ov), 2-25 (KL Rahul, 16.6 ov), 3-33 (Virat Kohli, 26.1 ov), 4-121 (Rishabh Pant, 58.4 ov), 5-127 (Ravindra Jadeja, 62.2 ov), 6-130 (Nitish Kumar Reddy, 63.2 ov), 7-140 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 70.5 ov), 8-150 (Akash Deep, 76.1 ov), 9-154 (Jasprit Bumrah, 78.3 ov), 10155 (Mohammed Siraj, 79.1 ov) Bowling O-M-R-W Mitchell Starc 16-8-25-1 Pat Cummins 18-5-28-3 Scott Boland 16-7-39-3 Mitchell Marsh 3-2-2-0
ed further chapters to previous MCG heroics. Cummins earned the Johnny Mullagh Medal as Player of the Match for an outstanding all-round Test in which he also contributed 90 runs alongside his six wickets.
There was a dose of controversy, too, when Jaiswal's rearguard was ended via the DRS after he gloved a pull down the leg side against Cummins. Snicko did not register anything, but third umpire Sharfuddoula ruled he had seen a clear deflection, which matched what was shown on TV. Jaiswal appeared to know he had hit
with Australia nine down and they opted to continue batting which added just a further six runs, but removed four overs from the day's allocation. Lyon became the fifth wicket for Jasprit Bumrah, retaining his record of having the most Test runs without making a half-century. It all meant that India needed 340 in 92 overs and talk of the Gabba 2021 was never far away.
India were very cautious early on against some
it, but spoke with the umpires on the way off. It meant India's lower order had 21 overs to survive and it proved too much.
The defeat means India's hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final are now out of their hands, but in terms of this series they can still retain the BorderGavaskar Trophy with victory in Sydney. For Australia, a win in the final Test – and a 3-1 margin - would secure their spot in the WTC final alongside South Africa, who qualified yesterday with their own gripping victory over Pakistan.
The final day dawned
extremely testing new-ball bowling; Rohit Sharma later said they set out wanting to lay a platform for a chase but it always looked a long shot. Australia were made to wait for their opening incisions before, as has so often been the case, it was Cummins who came to the fore. He had the struggling Rohit edging to gully, where Mitchell Marsh took a sharp catch, and five balls later squared up KL Rahul with a superb delivery which ended in the hands of first slip.
In the final over before lunch, Starc was rewarded for battling through the pain barrier when he lured Virat
Kohli into his latest drive outside off, the edge reaching Usman Khawaja. The wicket ended a controversial time in Melbourne for Kohli, and made it clear that there was no realistic chance of India chasing down the target.
Jaiswal and Pant played very solidly through the afternoon to repel everything Australia threw at them.
Jaiswal, who dropped three catches yesterday, including a vital chance off Marnus Labuschagne, survived a tight lbw appeal against Starc on 31 and brought up his second fifty of the match off 127 balls.
Shortly after tea, India were 121 for 3. Head, who was used partly to improve Australia's over rate. which
Carey. In the next over from Lyon, India's first-innings rescuer, Nitish Kumar Reddy, edged a delivery which went straight on and Steven Smith took a superb catch, low to his left at slip. Australia had taken 3 for 9 to crack the innings wide open.
Jaiswal's dismissal will likely be dissected in detail over the coming days and the DRS was called into action again to rule that Akash Deep had got a thin edge into his pad which went to short leg. By then, Australia were firm favourites, especially with a new ball soon to be available, but in the end that wasn't even needed.
Boland found Bumrah's outside edge, with Smith taking another superb catch, and
risked WTC point deductions, dropped a ball short outside off stump and Pant went for the pull, finding Marsh at long-on who took an excellent catch. It gave Australia an opening. And belief.
Cummins quickly returned to Boland and he soon made a delivery jump at Ravindra Jadeja to take the shoulder of the bat through to
then Lyon cannoned one into Siraj's front pad. Inevitably, India reviewed, but it was going nowhere but the stumps. When the decision was confirmed, Lyon did a jig of delight. Overall, the Test had been watched by 373,691 spectators, a new record for a Test match in Australia. It will go down as one of the more memorable. (ESPNcricinfo)
Australia celebrate the MCG win
Pat Cummins was awarded the Mullagh Medal after being named Player of the Match
Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrates his fifty
Rishabh Pant swipes across the line
Scott Boland got one to climb on Ravindra Jadeja and take his edge through to the keeper
One Guyana Basketball League…
Ravens, Nets, Trojans in winners’ circle
There were wins on the cards for the likes of North Ruimveldt Ravens, Meadowbrook Nets and the University of Guyana (UG) Trojans when the Guyana Basketball Federation’s One Guyana Basketball League continued at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue on Saturday.
An overtime encounter saw Ravens prevailing by three points over Masters, 63-60. The North Ruimveldt- based outfit took a one-point lead, 9-8, after the first quarter, but had a seemingly better 10 minutes to follow, increasing their lead to 23-19 at half time.
Masters, however, had a stellar third quarter, piling on 13 points whilst working defensively to limit Ravens’ scoring. The third quarter finished 32-27 in Masters’ favour. As one would expect, the fourth quarter was an entertaining one as both teams worked to get ahead, but, in the end, the final buzzer went with the score locked on 53-53, forcing overtime.
In the added minutes, the likes of Ravens Captain Dominic Vincente kept their cool to lead the Ravens to a 10-7 win in
overtime. Vincente led the scoresheets with 19 points while Nikkoloi Smith and Shamar Huntley netted 13 and 6 points respectively. Meanwhile, Sheldon Howell and Jason Squires shined for Masters with 12 and 10 points respectively. Also in the winners’ circle on Saturday were the Meadowbrook Nets, who arrested the Guyana Defence Force 69-45.
Nets took an early 23-12 lead in the first segment and netted another 16 points in
the second to end the first half with a 39-25 lead. The Nets kept their momentum going into the third quarter, reaching 54 points and ultimately scoring another 15 points, as compared to GDF’s seven in the fourth quarter for the 24-point win.
Richard Alexander led the charge for Nets with 17 points while Dennis Niles and Travis Stewart offered support with 13 points each. For the losers, R Griffith netted an impressive 20 points.
Barcelona lose 2nd appeal to register Olmo before deadline
Barcelona have lost another appeal to register Spain forward Dani Olmo for the rest of the season – one day before the deadline.
The 26-year-old was signed from German side RB Leipzig for a reported 60 million euros (£51m) in August.
However, he was registered only for the first half of the season as Barcelona could not meet La Liga's wage cap restrictions.
A court rejected Barcelona's attempt to re-register Olmo last week, with a second court backing the decision on Monday, meaning he may not be able to play for the club from January 1.
According to La Liga, the court rejected the precautionary registration of Olmo after "none of the conditions necessary for the adoption of the precautionary measure were met".
La Liga also defended the competence of its Delegate Commission to approve its budgeting rules, adding "this has never been questioned by any club, including Barcelona".
The Spanish league said
Olmo has scored 11 goals in 41 appearances for Spain
the decision not to register Olmo, who was a youth player at Barcelona, but left for Dinamo Zagreb aged 16, was initially taken by its Budget Validation Body. It was then confirmed three times by its Financial Fair Play Committee, its Social Appeals Committee and by the Uefa Second Instance Licensing Committee of the Spanish Football Federation.
Barcelona decided on the judicial route, but now face a race against time to find an alternative plan to register Olmo or he could become
a free agent.
Spanish media reports say the club is planning to sell VIP boxes at its Camp Nou stadium which could bring in over 100 million euros, but it will need the approval of La Liga.
Olmo, who helped Spain win the European Championship in the summer, has scored six goals in 15 appearances for Barcelona this season.
Hansi Flick's side are third in La Liga, three points behind leaders Atletico Madrid. (BBC Sport)
Another close encounter saw UG Trojans getting the better of Bounty Colts by five points. A close first quarter saw Colts holding the advantage 15-13, but the Trojans found their footing in the second, netting 20 points to get ahead 33-30 at the end of the second quarter. The Trojans continued in similar stead with another 21 points in the third to soar to 54-49 while in the fourth quarter, both teams netted 25 points as the Trojans prevailed 79-74 over the Colts.
marksman to watch, netting 19 points while Anton Fileen chipped in with 17 points. O’Quacey Short accumulated 17 points for the Colts.
Jushawn Bailey was the
The teams in the One Guyana Basketball League are competing for a $1,000,000 grand prize.
Bumrah, Brook, Root, Head shortlisted for Men’s Cricketer of the Year award
English batsmen
Harry Brook and Joe Root as well as Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Australian batsman Travis Head have been nominated for the coveted Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy given to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricketer of the Year, the Council announced on Monday.
Brook produced fireworks in all formats during a memorable year on the international stage, lighting up England’s Test, One-Day International (ODI) and T20 International (T20I) encounters with explosive hitting and boasting an average of over 50 in all three formats.
His compatriot Root earns a nomination following a scintillating year in
the longest format, having struck more runs (1556) and more centuries (six) than any other batter.
Another star performer at the peak of his powers in 2024 was sensational Indian speedster Bumrah, who dominated batters in World Test Championship duels and inspired India’s surge to glory at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in June, clinching the Player of the Tournament with 15 wickets at a phenomenal average of 8.24.
The final name on the list for the coveted accolade is Australia all-rounder Head. The top ranked Men’s T20I batter will be aiming to go one better than his nomination in the same category last year, after hitting almost 1400 runs
formats with trademark
Jasprit Bumrah, Harry Brook, Joe Root, and Travis Head were nominated for the prestigious award
North Ruimveldt Ravens in action (file photo)
Captain Dominic Vincente took Ravens to victory on Saturday (file photo)
Guyana’s prized fighter, Elton Dharry added another KO to his stellar professional record on Saturday, in what he described as a homecoming of sorts, fighting once again at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown.
“There’s a number of
Dharry hoping to take shot at world title on local soil
The six-round bantamweight bout did not last much longer after Dharry was able to decipher the Colombian’s game.
According to the Guyanese pugilist, his preparation for the fight and his strategy played key roles in his victory.
Guyanese that I see here that’s always been supporting me. Twenty years ago, December 26, 2004, I had my first professional fight right here in the Sports Hall, so this is like a homecoming again for me here,” Dharry said following his second-round knockout victory over Colombia’s Randy Ramirez on Saturday night.
Dharry divulged, “I know mentally I’m going to be more prepared than these guys. I expect him to be aggressive, because he’s young, undefeated got some knockouts under his belt. I expect him to attack me, because I’m the older fighter. He do exactly what I was expecting, he just hitting a little harder than I was expecting. I know I was going to get rid of him later on.
“My trainer wanted me
to put pressure on him, but first see what he bring before we put pressure on him and go for the knockout. You know, he had a very awkward style, I didn’t know what to expect, he’s undefeated, there’s no clips out there on him and I know the Latin fighters are aggressive. It’s just I’m mentally prepared, I have the experience for any style, been in the ring with all styles already, so I’m really not worried.”
The Guyanese now shifts his attention to a shot at the world title, which, in his own words, he fought to have hosted in the Land of Many Waters.
“May 3, that’s the promise. I don’t like making promises, but I was sched -
The business end has arrived, a place in the final is at stake tomorrow night
When this inaugural championship kicked off almost one month ago with a historic 64 teams in the fray, it would have been anybody’s guess as to who the final four teams would be. Fortunately, the guessing period is over and we are all informed that two of those final four teams are Sparta Boss, the perennial bosses of futsal, who will play Back Circle A, who can be considered one of the top exponents of this format.
Another top futsal side, Bent Street A will be throwing all they’ve got at the Brazilian-Guyanese combo of players that have been named Road Warriors and have looked a clinical unit that is capable of upstaging all and sundry in their march to the top prize of two million dollars.
The crowd-pleasing and exciting brand of futsal being executed by Road Warriors is exactly what our central teams and those around Guyana must be aiming to learn, going forward.
Nonetheless, Bent Street A have what it takes to pull off what will very well be considered the biggest win of their playing career if they can achieve it. They’ll be banking on the experience of senior Golden Jaguars Daniel Wilson, Colin Nelson, Pernel Schultz, Marcus Wilson, Sese Norville in goal, Jamaine Beckles, Jobe Ceasar, Clive Nobrega, Daniel Ross, and Adrian Aaron,
In reaching this final four, Bent Street A narrowly got past Region 9 (2-1), Spaniard (3-2), Stabroek B (5-2) and Team Cruel (6-3).
Their opponents, however, seem very versed in the universal style of futsal and have been schooling each opponent thus far in their march. Their first win was a 10-2 drubbing of Footsteppers
who were hardly allowed to step on the ball. Next up, they clipped Victoria Eagles 8-3, trounced Ballers United of Berbice 10-0 and humbled Gold Is Money 9-1 in their showdown.
Road Warriors will be led by Wendrecky De Souza, who is the second highest goalscorer of the championship (11 goals); Matheus De Souza (8 goals); goalkeeper Erilson Cadete who has one goal and plays out of his position regularly; Hildemir Filho; Dionathas Pereira; Daniel Alves; Teon Stewart; Jaleei Alcindor and Chai Williams. The first semifinal brings together Sparta Boss, which boast a star-studded lineup that includes a number of current and former senior Golden Jaguars in Captain Jermaine Junor, Omari Glasgow, goalkeeper Omar Jones, Curtez Kellman, Ryan Hackett, Darron Niles, Eusi Phillips, Carl Griffith, Kelsey Benjamin, and Nicholas McArthur.
Sparta, in mapping their way to this stage, hammered Melanie 12-0, got past Festival City 7-4, defeated Bent Street B 5-2 and eased
past Stabroek Ballers A 6-3. Their semifinal opponents Back Circle A while not boasting such big names have been holding their own and will be led by the championship’s leading goal scorer with 22 goals, Bevney Marks. He’ll receive able support from his goalkeeper, who has only been beaten thrice in four matches, Azariel Davis. Ravin Naughton, Akil Plass, Cecil Jackman, Mikel Garraway, Stephon Reynolds, and Darren Benjamin will lend support as the big prize is just two matches away.
Back Circle A boasts the best goal record in the championship to date and have only conceded three goals with the most goals of any team – 49 in four matches as a result of a 12-0 beating of Essequibo, 16-0 thrashing of Vryheid’s Lust, an almost similar score against Timehri Warriors, the latter scoring once and a 5-2 win over North East.
Only time will tell who’ll be the two teams battling in the final for the top prize of two million, with the loser also walking away with a
handsome one million. The respective losers will collide in the third-place match with 500,000 and 200,000 at stake. Meanwhile, the female segment of the championship will also see the finalists being decided when the final leg of the home-and-away format is contested. The respective winners on Boxing night, Lady Canaimas 11-0 over The Lioness and Lady Royals with a 7-0 triumph against Tucville Terrorists, seem likely to bolster that aggregate on their way to the final. The losers will play for third. The winning team will pocket $200,000, losing finalist $100,000, third place, $60,000 and fourth place, $40,000.
New Year’s Night schedule: Lady Royals v Tucville Terrorists 20:00h
Lady Canaimas v The Lioness 20:30h
Exhibition Game: Brazil v Venezuela 21:00h
Back Circle A v Sparta Boss 22:00h
Road Warriors v Bent Street A 23:30h
uled to be in South Africa, February 15 for the world title. They offered to come to New York and fight me, but I pushed to make it happen in Guyana,” Dharry revealed.
The boxer added regarding his Guyanese roots, “This man said I’m representing America, he’s out of his mind, somebody needs to correct him. I’m the only Guyanese doing it the way I’m doing it, always come home and bring home my best fights here. So, I’m a Guyanese to the bone and will continue representing.”
Quizzed about what his preparation will be like for the anticipated bout, Dharry boldly declared that
he was even ready now.
“I’m physically and mentally prepared right now. At my age, you need two fighters and three fighters in my division to handle me in the sparring session. I can’t get one guy to outlast me in sparring, I got two of them, they’re in their early twenties. So, you know, it’s nothing about my age that don’t mean shit to me because I don’t allow that to limit what I do in my profession.”
“I got the same love for them. They showed me a lot of love and I show them back the same when I step in the ring, representing well,” the boxer added in a word for his devoted Guyanese fans.
Rutherford among nominees for ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year
West Indian batsman Sherfane
Rutherford’s breakout year in One-Day International (ODI) cricket has culminated with him being named among the nominees for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award for 2024.
Noted more for his prowess in the shorter white-ball format, Rutherford flourished in the ODI game in 2024, bringing over his batting belligerence.
Not succumbing to the pressures of playing away from home, Rutherford began his year in the format with three consecutive half-centuries against Sri Lanka, albeit in a 2-1 series defeat.
Rutherford’s 204 runs not only came at a strike rate of 107.36, but the lefthander was only dismissed once.
The 26-year-old still made an impression even
with just one opportunity against England at home in Antigua, making 54 (36), though the best was yet to come in December, where Rutherford was again in the runs in a home series against Bangladesh.
Rutherford made light work of a chase of 295 in St Kitts, making 113 in just 80 balls to help his side take a 1-0 series lead. He closed out with an unbeaten 24 and a knock of 30 in the series, both of which helped the West Indies to a 3-0 series win.
Overall this year, Rutherford scored 425 runs in seven innings at an average of 106.25 while striking at 120.05 in 2024.
The other nominees for the award include Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai and the Sri Lankan duo Wanindu Hasaranga and Kusal Mendis. The winner will be announced in January 2025. (Sportsmax)
A glimpse of what to expect tomorrow evening
Sherfane Rutherford is among four nominees for the ICC award
Elton Dharry is scheduled for a world title fight in 2025
