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$1.146 trillion budget paves the way for the government to invest heavily in new infrastructure projects while delivering the social services needed by Guyanese.

“…This People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government (is) in a hurry to improve the lives of every single Guyanese family and every single individual.

“We are also equally in a hurry to create opportunities,” Dr. Singh said.

The budget’s passage came after a full week of budget debates and four days of the consideration of estimates. And it was passed without changes though some $65.3 billion out of that budget is chargeable by law, directly to the Consolidated Fund.

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The group of players currently in training (Photo: GFF)

Guyana has been placed in Group B alongside El Salvador, Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname, and Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Junior Golden Jaguars inaugural match is set for February 23 against the host nation Antigua and Barbuda at the ABFA Technical Centre in Antigua.

McKinnon shared that the team’s training is advancing positively, providing space for players to adapt to the introduction of new coaching perspectives.

“I understand the talent that we have. So we’re excited to work with them, obviously we’re new coaches to them, we’re new people, there’re new voices. Everything takes a bit of time for people to adapt and to adjust but it’s been exciting so far. Things are moving in the right direction.”

The coaching staff also includes Richard Reynolds, who has been recently appointed as the Goalkeeping Coach and Assistant Coaches Vurlon Mills and John Saunders.

According to McKinnon, there is an ongoing effort to cultivate a good relationship with the players based on trust in an environment where they feel at ease to deliver top performances.

“Once players start becoming much (more) comfortable they begin to show who they really are so we’re cognizant of that. But the exciting part is the relationship we’re building with the players and one of the things we talk about here in this short stint is about trust.”

He added that the coaching team is “trying to identify those players that show firstly the intensity and the ability to execute at a high level in the decision making that is our foundation for success. Yes, we’ve identified some key players and we’re still looking.”

Coach Kayode McKinnon directing his charges at training (Photo: GFF)

There are 27 teams in the tournament. Following the round-robin stage, Guyana has to finish top of Group B to advance to the 2024 Concacaf Men’s U-20 Championship, joining the six pre-seeded top-ranked nations.

GFF Technical Director Bryan Joseph said the training camp comprises a blend of players based locally and young talents from overseas, adding that the addition of the new coaches has brought a fresh energy to the training programme.

“They’ve injected a fresh perspective and a new energy, and it’s evident that the players are enthusiastic. Their seamless integration into the existing structure is because of their understanding of the game.”

“Our extensive scouting efforts, reaching across Guyana via the Under-15 National Team programme and the Namilco Under-17 League, ensure that the coaches have the opportunity to choose from the finest talent in the country. We are thankful to parents overseas who responded to our invitations, enabling their children to participate in the local training camp.”

To afford the newly appointed coaches an opportunity to assess the players’ gameplay techniques, the youngsters engaged in a match against the reigning KFC Elite League champions, Guyana Defence Force, on January 28 at the Training Centre in Providence.

“This created an ideal setting for players to display their gaming techniques, allowing the coaches to conduct comprehensive evaluations. I was pleased to see the young players giving their all on the pitch against some of our best senior players.”

GFF President Wayne Forde’s administration continues to invest substantially in the junior national team programme, a route for players to secure coveted positions on the Golden Jaguars. The unveiling of the team is scheduled for mid-February. (GFF)

a thrilling win off the final delivery against Berbice to win the Guyana Cricket Board Inter-County Under-15 title on Thursday at the DCC ground, Queenstown.

National player Reyaz Latif and last man Darwin Larose held their nerves to seal the one-wicket win and secure the championship. Berbice batted first and scored 146 all out from 41.1 overs with the prolific Adrian Hetmyer hitting 53 and Brandon Henry taking 4-34.

The in-form opener Parmeshwar Ram then struck 32 and Shamar Apple scored 22 for Demerara, before Latif and Larose put the final touches on the match.

It was Demerara’s third victory from as many matches in the tournament, leaving Berbice to settle for second with two wins from three games.

In the other third round match at the Malteenoes Sports Club, Essequibo secured their first victory, defeating the winless Select XI by 65 runs. Incidentally, the Select XI played unbeaten to win the tournament in 2023.

Berbice narrowly missed out on winning the title

Below is a summary of the entire tournament

ROUND ONE

At Malteenoes: Berbice 137 all out from 35 overs (Arif Khan 37*, Kumalchan Ramnarais 20, Lakeram Singh 14, Chamesh Seenauth 13, Feeaz Baksh 13; Jathaniel Nurse 3-9, Eron Benjamin 3-22, Dennis Crossman 2-15) vs Essequibo 125 all out from 31.5 overs (Justin Dowlin 45, Bomesh Lall 23; Kumalchan Ramnarais 3-18, Arif Khan 3-26). Berbice won by 12 runs

At Queen’s College ground: Demerara Under-15 402-3 from 50 overs (Emmanuel Lewis 160, Parmeshwar Ram 117, Trilok Nanan 46*; Gilbert Griffith 2-51, Danvir Seegobin 1-52) vs Select XI 137 all out from 43 overs (Rivaldo Perreira 33; Lewis 3-12). Demerara won by 265 runs

ROUND TWO

At DCC: Demerara 149-8 from 32 overs (Parmeshwar Ram 51, Khush Seegobin 49, Shamar Apple 20; Jathaniel Nurse 3-30, Shazim Mohamed 2-12) vs Essequibo 82-8 from 17.4 overs (Omario Smith 16, Eron Benjamin 14, Jathaniel Nurse 13, Justin Dowlin 12; Emmanuel Lewis 3-29, Mickel Sharma 2-1). Demerara won by 67 runs

At Malteenoes: Berbice 134-7 from 20 overs (Adrian Hetmyer 55, Chamesh Seenauth 22, Sohail Mohamed 21, Lakeram Singh 15; Gilbert Griffith 3-20, Ahil Hemraj 1-19, Danvir Seegobin 1-27) vs Select XI 109-5 from 20 overs (Rivaldo Perreira 25, Danvir Seegobin 22, Ravid Fredericks 21; Richard Ramdeholl 3-22). Berbice won by 25 runs

ROUND THREE

At DCC: Berbice 146 all out from 41.1 overs (Adrian Hetmyer 53, Richard Ramdeholl 28; Brandon Henry 4-34) vs Demerara 147-9 from 50 overs (Parmeshwar Ram 32, Shamar Apple 22; Richard Ramdeholl 2-8, Kumalchan Ramnarais 2-19). Demerara won by one wicket

At Malteenoes: Essequibo 180-7 from 50 overs (Jathaniel Nurse 43, Francis Gurahoo 36, Eron Benjamin 26, Justin Dowlin 22; Gilbert Griffith 4-10) vs Select XI 115 all out from 34.3 overs (Danvir Seegobin 32, Arif Marimootoo 20, Gilbert Griffith 14; Jathaniel Nurse 3-14, Shazim Mohamed 3-30, Eron Benjamin 2-21). Essequibo won by 65 runs

MOST RUNS

 

Player (Team)	Runs	Highest score	Average	100s	50s
Parmeshwar Ram (Demerara)	201	118	67	1	1
Emmanuel Lewis (Demerara)	174	159	58	1	–
Adrian Hetmyer (Berbice)	112	55	37.33	–	2
Justin Dowlin (Essequibo)	79	45	26.33	–	–
Khush Seegobin (Demerara)	77	49	25.67	–	–

 

MOST WICKETS

 

Player (Team)	Wickets	Best	Average
Jathaniel Nurse (Essequibo)	9	3-9	5.89
Gilbert Griffith (Select XI)	9	4-10	9.00
Emmanuel Lewis (Demerara)	6	3-12	11.00
Brandon Henry (Demerara)	6	4-34	11.33
Richard Ramdeholl (Berbice)	5	3-22	6.00

 

Correta McDonald, the teachers plan to take industrial action from Monday over their disappointment about talks on salary increases and other issues.

But Hussain, in a letter, noted that negotiations are still ongoing with the GTU and since then, over 20 changes were implemented by the Ministry for the benefit of teachers.

They include:

1. The removal of the Child Development Index Card (CDIC) as a required school document.
2. The removal of the General Scheme of Work as a curriculum document.
3. The weekly preparation of lesson plans rather than daily.
4. All trained teachers being eligible to be a Senior Assistant Master/Mistress after 6 years rather than 7.
5. 50 duty free teachers per year PLUS the granting of a duty-free concession to all senior teachers who have 3 years left to serve and have not received a concession previously.
6. All teachers being provided termly with grants to purchase teaching materials.
7. All CPCE pre-service trainees being paid $90 000 rather than a $10 000 stipend per month except a trainee teacher refuses same.
8. The Ministry of Education requested the Teaching Service Commission and the School Board Secretariat to do 2 senior promotion cycles per year so that more teachers can be promoted and earn a higher salary.
9. A general waiver letter to allow teachers to travel abroad without collateral.
10. The issuance of one waiver letter to cover the teacher’s contracted period.
11. The holders of the Technical Teachers’ Certificate as being appointed as Assistant Master/Mistress.
12. The creation of more senior vacancies in nursery, primary and secondary schools.
13. The reduction in teaching periods for secondary teachers.
14. The assignment of an assistant teacher to senior teachers in primary and nursery schools.
15. The appointment of floating teachers to schools to reduce the workload and substitute for teachers who are absent.
16. The implementation of the EMIS system which will eliminate most aspects of manual record keeping.
17. An Open Day policy which is held centrally and regionally to address teachers’ concerns.
18. The appointment and upgrade of all teachers who attended UG without official release and permission before, during and after the COVID – 19 pandemic.
19. A reduction in the number of teaching practice for CPCE teachers.
20. The institution of a digitalized senior promotion process.
21. A simplification in the Teacher Upgrade Process after improved qualifications.
22. The substitution of the head teachers’ monthly report with a reduced digital version.
23. A waiver for the issuance of the permanent trained teachers’ certificate.
24. The placement of guidance and counselling officers in secondary schools to assist with the disruptive behaviour of students.
25. The continuous placement of a data entry clerks in each school to assist with digital record keeping.
26. The removal of the quota system to attend UG.
27. The introduction of a Teacher Support Unit within the Ministry of Education.

Spanish tutoring this year. She said then that training is expected to commence in March and will run for 16 months.

Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali has publicly spoken about the importance of more Guyanese learning the Spanish language. Spanish became a compulsory subject in all public schools last September.

Outside of this project, the $13.8 billion allocation for Region Six- the largest regional allocation- was approved.