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part time jobs initiative. This initiative makes way for unemployed persons to sustain their livelihoods.

“For the first time in the history of our country we are seeing a new category of persons being employed…I’m very proud to tell you that just over three years we have delivered on all our manifesto promises to the people of our country,” Minister Mustapha said.

The government has surpassed its goal of providing 20,000 scholarships to Guyanese with more than 21,500 persons benefitting from the GOAL Scholarship in 2023. He added that over 60 persons living in the region are benefitting from the initiative.

Residents of Wakenaam, Region Three during the outreach.

“That’s the way we try to make economic opportunities available to the people of the country. This budget, we will see a number of benefits,” the minister said.

Minister Mustapha encouraged farmers to consider other areas of farming aside from rice and sugar.

“We want more production, we want Guyana to be a food hub, and we want Guyana to be the chief producing country in food.

“We have expanded coconut cultivation in this country over the last three years by 6,500 acres we are now annually producing over 40,000 coconut nuts. Coconut is the third most lucrative crop in this country and easy to maintain… we have to go into new crops and create new things. We are encouraging farmers to move away from the primary production,” the minister said.

A section of one of the bins at HCIL’s nursery with some of the Brazilian Green Dwarf coconut variety. (Photo: Ministry of Agriculture)

The high-yielding Brazilian green-dwarf coconuts that farmers are currently expanding production on is expected to significantly boost the country’s economy. Now, the government is urging farmers to take up opportunities in non-traditional farming and value-added products.

riddled with bullets in Tucville, Georgetown on Tuesday night sustained 12 gunshots wounds about his body.

The News Room was reliably informed that Hazel was shot in his abdomen, thighs and hands.

The 36-year-old electrician was taken to a city private hospital and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where he underwent emergency surgery.

He remained hospitalised on Wednesday in a critical condition.

The shooting unfolded around 19:07 hrs in front of Hazel’s Lot 86 Tucville, Georgetown house.

The News Room understands that Hazel was returning home from D’Urban Street, Lodge in his motorcar, PRR 3310 and as he turned into his entrance, two men appeared on an XR motorcycle.

The suspects, who were armed with handguns and wearing hoodies, came off the motorcycle and discharged several rounds at Hazel while he was in his car.

After realising he was shot, the wounded Hazel made his way out of his car, ran into his yard and called out to his wife.

The gunmen continued to shoot at him before escaping.

The police were alerted and Hazel’s car was examined; they found bullet holes on the door of the driver’s side and the windows were shattered.

The News Room understands that investigators recovered seven 9MM spent shells and one live 9MM ammunition at the scene.

Police have also obtained CCTV footage from the area.

And as the investigation continues, efforts are also being made to locate the suspects.

When the News Room visited the scene on Wednesday, residents recalled hearing “rapid” gunshots.

Many said they don’t know Hazel and never spoke to him although he has been living in the area for some time.

Hazel is known to law enforcement officials.

In March 2022, he and another man, Devon Simon were arrested by ranks of the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit.

They were allegedly found in possession of 12.8 lbs of cocaine worth $6.5 million.

The parcels of cocaine were discovered in the vehicle they were travelling in which was intercepted during an operation in the Guyhoc Park – Tucville area.

Both men were charged and remanded to prison.

avenash@newsroom.gy

Berbice defeated Demerara by seven wickets in a rain-affected final round of the Guyana Cricket Board’s Female Inter-County 50-over competition on Tuesday at the Malteenoes Sports Club ground to emerge overall champions.

In a match reduced to 37 overs due to overnight and early morning showers, Berbice dismissed Demerara for just 76 in 29 overs with West Indies off-spinner Ashmini Munisar taking 3-16 off six overs.

Berbice, in reply, coasted to victory at 77-3 in exactly 14 overs.

The 20-year-old Munisar sent down 26 dot balls in her miserly spell to complement her impressive figures of 7-4-7-2 in the previous game against Essequibo.

The experienced off-spinner Plaffiana Millington backed up her 3-11 in the last match with outstanding returns of 5-1-7-2, while seamer Trisha Hardat and off-spinner Sheneta Grimmond picked up 2-14 apiece.

Hardat had copped the Player-of-the-Match award against Essequibo with figures of 3-5.

Player-of-the-Match Ashmini Munisar collects her award from Nandkumar Shivsankar (Photo: News Room/Avenash Ramzan/February 13, 2024)

Opener Naomi Barkoye topscored for Demerara with 24 off 67 (1×4, 1×6), while Nya Latchman made 16* off 20 and opener Mandy Mangru 12 off 32 (1×4).

West Indies player Shabika Gajnabi then led the run-chase with an unbeaten 24 off 31 (2x4s), while opener Realanna Grimmond scored a run-a-ball 18 (4x4s).

Left-arm spinner Kaysia Schultz (1-15), off-spinner Latisha Jordon (1-20) and leg-spinner Latchman (1-23) were the wicket-takers for Demerara.

It was Berbice’s second victory of the competition after prevailing by four wickets over Essequibo, while Demerara had thrashed Essequibo by 185 runs in the first round.

What they said

Berbice captain Shemaine Campbelle: “I want to say congrats to the girls, I think they played good cricket. All in all, I think it was a good outing for Berbice today. We need more cricket for these girls. Even two-day cricket can help these girls to improve their game.”

Player-of-the-Match Ashmini Munisar: “It feels really good (to perform in a big match). Coming into a final it feels really great to contribute to a good all-round team performance. Being a part of the senior team and working with the legends of the game and the better players of the game, I’ve learnt quite a lot. I’ve also been working with my coaches at home and we’ve been working on consistency.”

Demerara opener Mandy Mangru: “I think we lost it in the batting to be honest. We had a collapse and we never recovered from that and it was too much for the bowlers to come and do at the backend.”

Summarised scores from the three rounds

Round One: Demerara defeated Essequibo by 185 runs at Malteenoes

SUMMARY: Demerara Women 273 all out from 41.5 overs (Mandy Mangru 81, Cherry-Ann Fraser 68, Naomi Barker 27, Extras 60; Yonette Welcome 3-48, Nikesha Narine 2-65) vs Essequibo 88 all out from 22 overs (Lavina Ragobeer 21, Analesia D’Aguiar 16, Extras 31; Latisha Jordon 4-16, Nya Latchman 4-25)

Round Two: Berbice defeated Essequibo by four wickets at Meten-Meer-Zorg

SUMMARY: Essequibo 64 all out from 27.2 overs (Cyanna Retemiah 12, Latoya Williams 12; Trisha Hardat 3-5, Plaffiana Millington 3-11, Ashmini Munisar 2-7) vs Berbice 65-6 from 12.1 overs (Sheneta Grimmond 16, Ashmini Munisar 16, Tia Isaacs 11*; Cyanna Retemiah 2-28, Yonette Welcome 1-6, Kumarie Persaud 1-28)

Round Three: Berbice defeated Demerara by seven wickets at Malteenoes

SUMMARY: Demerara 76 all out from 29 overs (Naomi Barkoye 24, Nya Latchman 16*, Mandy Mangru 12; Ashmini Munisar 3-16, Plaffiana Millington 2-7, Trisha Hardat 2-14, Sheneta Grimmond 2-14) vs Berbice 77-3 from 14 overs (Shabika Gajnabi 24*, Realeanna Grimmond 18, Crystal Durant 11; Kaysia Shultz 1-15, Latisha Jordon 1-20, Nya Latchman 1-23)

Demerara opener Mandy Mangru was the leading runscorer with 93 runs from two innings, including the tournament’s highest individual score of 81 (Photo: News Room/Avenash Ramzan/February 9, 2024)

Leading runscorers

Mandy Mangru (Demerara)- 93 runs, highest score 81, average 46.5

Cherry-Ann Fraser (Demerara)- 69 runs, highest score 68, average 34.5

Naomi Barkoye (Demerara)- 51 runs, highest score 27, average 25.5

Nya Latchman (Demerara)- 26 runs, highest score 16*, average 26

Shabika Gajnabi (Berbice)- 25 runs, highest score 24*, average 25

Leading wicket-takers

Ashmini Munisar (Berbice)- 5 wickets, best 3-16, average 4.6

Plaffiana Millington (Berbice)- 5 wickets, best 3-11, average 3.6

Trisha Hardat (Berbice)- 5 wickets, best 3-5, average 3.8

Latisha Jordon (Demerara)- 5 wickets, best 4-16, average 7.2

Nya Latchman (Demerara)- 5 wickets, best 4-25, average 9.6

The players will now switch focus to the T20 segment, with all matches at Malteenoes starting at 13:30h.

February 15- Essequibo vs Berbice

February 16- Demerara vs Essequibo

February 17- Demerara vs Berbice

The Inter-County competition is being used to select the Guyana team to compete in the Cricket West Indies Regional Women’s tournament, set for St. Kitts in March.