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One of the women attending the ‘Celebratory Dinner’ at State House embraces President Dr Irfaan Ali (Photo: Office of the Presidnet/March 08, 2023)

In the healthcare system, he said, 60 per cent of Guyana’s doctors are women and 98 per cent of nurses are also women.

In the judicial system, Dr. Ali said 60 per cent of those who administer justice are women.

“No other country in the region can come close to these numbers,” the Guyanese Head of State declared at an event hosted at State House on Wednesday night to commemorate International Women’s Day 2023.

Still, there were some areas where female participation was lower.

For example, the President said 22 per cent of Guyana’s law enforcement officers are women. And in the government’s new shade house agriculture venture, women participation accounted for about 40 per cent.

Altogether, the President believes that greater efforts are needed to challenge the barriers that have long constrained women’s inclusion. And he highlighted that those much-needed efforts are underway.

“We are making a specific effort to have women engaged,” he said, noting that training in all sectors is among the government’s plans to push women participation.

It is, for this reason, he announced that the government will be training 500 women in heavy-duty machine operations.  More women are set to receive skills in the health, agriculture and business sectors.

Beyond the newer efforts, 72.6 per cent of the students participating in the government’s new Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarship programme are women.

The Head of State also noted that 70 per cent of the students at the University of Guyana (UG) are women, with those students having an extremely low withdrawal rate (only 0.4 per cent).

Special empowerment grants have been disbursed to help stimulate business activities among women.

Chairperson of the Rights of the Child Commission, Aleema Nasir, at Wednesday’s event, lauded the government’s efforts to foster greater women inclusion.

She, however, said there are key issues that should be addressed.

According to her, affordable access to reliable internet is needed to supplement online scholarships. Healthcare and social support is also crucial.

Nasir also emphasised that women must get equal pay in the workforce.

“The habit, in some businesses, of offering less because the position is held by women, should be curtailed,” she said

The National Festival Finals will be held on 10 March at the Police Sports Club Ground in Georgetown from 9:30 am to 12 noon with the official closing ceremony and awards presentation following the conclusion of the matches.

One of the winning teams

In the event of inclement weather, the matches and awards ceremony will be moved to the National Gymnasium in Georgetown at the same time.

After completing the zonal preliminary matches, the three teams consisting of three boys and two girls, qualified out of their zones to compete in the Republic Bank Five For Fun County Finals.

These were hosted at the Imam Bacchus Sports Club, Essequibo on 27 February; at the National Gymnasium, Demerara on 3 March; and at the Port Mourant Cricket Ground, Berbice on 6 March.

The Republic Bank Five for Fun is the new and exciting cricket format designed to grow interest and participation in cricket for future generations of children, which is part of Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) Future Stars Programme and the Republic Bank Power to Make A Difference programme.

Republic Bank and CWI partnered to create this unique 5-over, 5-player format of the game to drive participation amongst school age children.

Boys and girls play together in mixed teams in a format designed around the principles of fun, inclusion and equality.

The ‘fun’ elements of the game are rooted in its speed, energy, and uncomplicated rules.

Republic Bank leverages its group-wide “Power to Make a Difference” programme to grow and support Five for Fun.

CWI leverages their extensive coaching and school’s development infrastructure in partnership with the local Territorial Boards and Five For Fun is the starting point of the CWI Future Stars programme which is the home of the cricket pathway from grassroots to international level.

Jonelle Dummett, Manager, Marketing & Communications of Republic Bank (Guyana) Ltd. said, “Cricket is an important part of Caribbean culture and Republic Bank is committed to supporting this much-loved pastime as we understand its value across the region.

Republic Bank’s Five For Fun is another of our meaningful investments in this great sport that we love, and moreso, this new format that involves girls and boys at the Primary School level, will help to hone talent and ensure the continuity of the sport.

The dedication exhibited by players, coaches, teachers, organizers while having fun in a safe environment with the opportunity to develop life skills is the true power of the spirit of Caribbean cricket.

Republic Bank will continue playing its role as we seek to positively impact the sport and those involved.”

Deleep Singh, Director of Cricket West Indies (CWI) and Executive Member of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) said, “The foundation of all cricket starts at the primary school level, and coming out of a difficult period of almost two years with no extracurricular activity or sports interaction among children, this collaborative cricket initiative is timely and essential to restart and rebuild the base of the cricket development pathway in Guyana.”

He added,  “This collaboration between Republic Bank Limited, CWI, GCB and the Government of Guyana, has passed participation and cricket volume expectations, with 75 schools participating in over 390 matches. This is significant and promising for rebuilding participation numbers in cricket and for the identification of emerging talent, both boys and girls, in a manner that is strategic and progressive. The programme is simple and fun, and gives our children the opportunity to play freely, learn, and build a love for the game.”

Former Guyana and West Indies batter Assad Fudadin is one of the coaches who has been involved in the Republic Bank Five For Fun initiative.

He said, “This programme is truly a gamechanger because it is fast paced, fun, engaging, and the format is very relevant to our time. From my experience coaching in the programme, the kids truly love the short game format, and I can see it allowing them time to enjoy and appreciate the outdoors, their community and promoting family involvement which is important.”

The Republic Bank Five For Fun Cricket Programme in Guyana is a partnership between Republic Bank Limited and CWI, in collaboration with the GCB, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. (CWI)

Republic Bank Five for Fun County Final Results:

Essequibo

Five for Fun Champions: St. Lawrence Primary (East Bank Essequibo)

Second: Maryville Primary (Leguan Island)

Third: Maria’s Pleasure Primary (Wakenaam Island)

Fourth: Fisher Primary (South Essequibo Coast)

Fifth: 8th of May Primary (North Essequibo Coast)

Demerara

Republic Bank Five for Fun Champions: Enterprise Primary (East Coast Demerara)

Second: Uitvlugt Primary School (West Demerara)

Third: Mackenzie Primary (Upper Demerara)

Fourth: Timehri Primary (East Bank Demerara)

Fifth: St Pius Primary (Georgetown)

Berbice

Republic Bank Five for Fun Champions: All Saints Primary (New Amsterdam)

Second: Sheet Anchor Primary (Canje)

Third: Place – Rose Hall Primary (Lower Corentyne)

Fourth: Place – Rosignol Primary (West Bank Berbice)

Fifth: Number 51 Primary (Upper Corentyne)

Lorenzo Alphonso

Construction is scheduled to commence in April and the first phase of the project will see two five-storey towers being built.

The amenities will include an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a basketball court, a tennis court, a jogging trail, a country club, a restaurant, a bar, a retail centre, and shops.  There will also be 24-hour security and a car park that will be able to hold up to 130 vehicles.

Each condo will come equipped with one reserved parking and one visitor parking spot as well. Pricing for the condominiums will be approximately US$255,000 each.

During an interview with the News Room, investor Lorenzo Alphonso said the project has been a work in progress for some time now.

“This project was in the making for about several months now in terms of drawings, layouts and the whole concept,” he said.

According to Alphonso, land clearing exercise has already begun and the project is expected to be completed in 16 months.

Already constructing several hotels across the country, Alphonso said as the economy flourishes, there is a continued high demand for housing.

“The need for more housing. The need for more living space for re-migrant Guyanese…It’s just that it is going to be a good concept. It is going to be a good layout,” he told the News Room.

He also hinted that phase two of the project can be expected as soon as phase one is completed.

This condo is being built almost a year after the Condominium Bill was passed in the National Assembly.

An artist impression of the Mazaruni Estate

Described as a ‘modern’ piece of legislation, the Condominium Bill 2022, was passed on May 17, paving the way for the construction of condominiums and the conversion of existing buildings into units for individual ownership.

More importantly, it allows persons who have purchased duplexes or condominiums from the State to access their ownership documents for their lands.

“It is a modern piece of legislation that is on par with other territories… it is timely and relevant to emerging trends in home buildings. “It has limitations but we will continue to examine and put forward solutions,” the Housing Minister, Collin Croal had told the Parliament in May 2022.

Mohammed Shami castles Marnus Labuschagne•Mar 09, 2023•BCCI

After an opening stand of 61 with Travis Head, Khawaja put on 79 in a third-wicket stand with Steve Smith that lasted 41.2 overs.

They batted throughout the afternoon session – the first session in the series in which a wicket did not fall – before Smith was bowled by Ravindra Jadeja for 38 from 135 balls after tea.

Seamer Mohammed Shami bowled Peter Handscomb for 17 but the partnership between Khawaja and Green, who hit eight fours in his 64 balls, tipped the day in Australia’s favour.

Khawaja’s century was his 14th in 60 Tests and his sixth since his recall in the Ashes in January 2022. (BBC)