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Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at Sunday’s reception (Photo: Office of the Vice President/ April 23, 2023)

Further, he said the Narendra Modi-led government has keenly promoted flights to those countries where there is a large Indian diaspora. Guyana is one such country with a sizable diaspora.

Asked about India-issued visas, the External Affairs Minister said existing immigration services from his country are generally efficient. The country, he highlighted, issues e-visas that are easily validated upon arrival in India.

Though not commenting on potential visa-free travel, Jaishankar added, “I would actually suggest in a way that the current system may be better.”

Guyana’s Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who attended the reception alongside Minister Jaishankar, made it clear that the Irfaan Ali-led administration is working towards easier travel between India and Guyana, and other countries.

Shortly before the reception, at a commissioning ceremony held in Georgetown, President Dr. Irfaan Ali made a subtle call for easier travel to and from Guyana not just with India but other countries.

“We have to resolve the difficulties in flights coming here, removing, as much as possible, hurdles.

“In this modern world there (are) enough global safeguards for us to ensure the efficient, safe movement of people among countries,” Dr. Ali said in the presence of Minister Jaishankar and several other diplomats.

The United Kingdom (UK) last year implemented visa-free travel from Guyana. Efforts are underway to broker a similar agreement with Canada.

Importantly, an Air Services Agreement (ASA), which allows for easier travel between the two nations, was inked during Minister Jaishankar’s visit.

This agreement reportedly opens investment opportunities and caters for Guyanese owned airlines to have direct market access to international airports in India and vice versa.

Presently there is no direct flight between Guyana and India but a press release from Guyana’s Ministry of Public Works explained that this agreement institutes the legal framework that opens market access for airlines of both states to operate and enhance competitive air transport services, trade, and economic growth between the two countries.

If anyone attempted to script the end of this year’s Milo Schools Under-18 Football Championship, it is improbable they would have penned the thrilling encounter between Chase Academic Foundation and Santa Rosa Secondary on Sunday evening at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

At half-time, Chase was up 2-0, and it truly seemed done and dusted for the talented Region One team, until a dramatic change in score line and eventual success for Santa Rosa.

The nimble marksmen of the city side, Seon Cato and Matrim Martin, scored two minutes apart, with Cato first hitting his mark in the 22^nd after a tense opening exchange between the two sides.

Santa Rosa had some offerings on goal, but none that really tested custodian Reegan Lewis until the second-half where they found his weakness.

Five minutes into the second-half, Roy Vansluytman had a shot on goal and what should have been a pedestrian stop, went through the hands of Lewis, and Santa Rosa was back in the hunt.

It sent off a thunderous cheer from the massive support for the visiting team and their tactics changed to one where they created more opportunities to test the goalie from the long ball at times.

MVP! Roy Vansluytman collects his Most Valuable Player award from the President of the Guyana Football Federation, Wayne Forde

Though still leading by one, the pressure was on the three-time champions, and a foul outside of the box presented a free-kick opportunity.

Slotted to the back-post, against the wind, the towering Vansluytman leaped to head the equaliser and his ninth tournament goal in the 73^rd, and the match was truly on again.

Ten minutes later, Justin Alcindor of Chase saw his shot enter the net after a deflection from a defender and it was back on a knife’s edge.

In keeping with the theme of the second-half drama, a goal was bound to come, and it came one minute later via Nelson Lucas that levelled proceedings for Santa Rosa.

Though 90 minutes into the contest, there were hardly any slouched shoulders with fans cheering every play during an enterprising 20 minutes of extra that laid the way for the penalty shootout.

Both sides of the field were swamped with spectators, as Santa Rosa took the first shot and scored, and Chase followed and did the same.

Chase Academic Foundation produced a valiant effort, but had to settle for second

Tense again was the crowd, surprisingly despite all the early ruckus, you could hear a pin drop at this point with all eyes pierced on the penalty area.

Santa Rosa scored again, and the cheers probably could have been heard all along the seawall.

It was Chase’s time again, and this time, it was no goal for them and it was the fault that cost them as Santa Rosa had a perfect five.

Locked 3-3 after extra time, Santa Rosa won 5-3 on penalties in their maiden outing in the tournament – an unbeaten run in seven matches – six wins and a draw.

Earlier, Carmel Secondary won the third-place playoff by defeating McKenzie High 3-0 via goals from Samuel Ferguson (34th), Shem James (46th), and Ian Daniels (85th).

Santa Rosa was voted the most discipline team while their players, Vansluytman and Enrique Williams, won the Most Valuable Player and Best Goal Keeper accolades respectively, while Daniels’ 13 goals were the most for the tournament.

The top four teams were rewarded G$300,000, G$200,000, G$100,000, and G$75,000 respectively, towards school projects.

Santa Rosa indicated they would use the funds to build on their football programme.

Backed by Massy Distribution Guyana Inc. through its Milo brand, the tournament was also supported by MVP Sports, GenEquip Guyana Ltd. and GINMIN Guyana.

Up next for the Petra Organisation will be its ExxonMobil Boys and Girls Under-14 tournament, set to commence mid-May.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal during his contribution to the debate of Budget 2023 (Photo: DPI/January 23, 2023)

Currently, applications have to be made at the various local authorities, whether town council or Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), to apply for permits and make separate applications at other agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Ministry of Public Works and the Guyana Fire Service.

The new law will allow for the management and implementation of the system through a small secretariat for oversight.

Legislation to give effect to the system, styled as the Planning and Development Single Window System Bill, was expected to be passed in the National Assembly on Monday.

Instead, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal announced that following the debate, the Bill will be sent to a Special Select Committee for a “brief period.”

Croal informed the House that, along with technical staff from his Ministry, he met with seen Opposition Parliamentarians on Sunday where a number of queries were raised and amendments to the Bill proposed.

“We do intend following the debate to send the Bill for a brief period to a Special Select Committee,” Croal said. While in the Special Select Committee, MPs from both the government and opposition side of the House will be engaged in robust discussions to agree on a final draft before the Bill is returned to the National Assembly for eventual passage.

Former Minister with responsibility for Housing and Water Annette Ferguson made contributions from the Opposition benches.

“I commend you for your efforts, Honourable member and your technical team, that they sacrificed their Sunday just to meet with us.

“I wish to report to the National Assembly that the discussions were quite professional and cordial,” Ferguson said.

She said the piece of legislation was a “good Bill” and the Opposition intends to support it.

“… but we do have concerns and proposed amendments,” she added.

Ferguson believes this is a model to emulate when dealing with other Bills of importance.

A $202.9 million contract for the development and implementation of the information technology solution for the single window system was signed in December 2022 between the Central Housing and Planning Authority and Global Services – a consortium including a local company and companies from the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

Ferguson believes this engagement between the government and the opposition at the parliamentary level should have taken place before the contract was signed.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water Susan Rodgrigues provided some details on the opposition’s “last hour” proposed amendments and said she struggled to make sense of the amendments even as she questioned the consultative process that led to the suggestions.

Among the proposed amendments is for the Director of the Single Window Unit to be appointed by the Parliamentary Committee of Appointments, for the unit to be staffed through appointments by the Public Service Commission and for the Planning Oversight Committee to have a nominee from the Office of the Leader of the Opposition.

Rodrigues believes these proposed amendments defeat the purpose of the Bill which is intended to remove political control.

“It is cumbersome and unhelpful to the functioning of the system.

“It is an attempt to politicise the process and more importantl they want to frustrate the process,” Minister Rodrigues said.