Blog

Land clearing to commence work on the first 109 acres of Silica City (Photo: Ministry of Housing and Water/ March 21, 2023)

“We (the government) will settle all issues,” Kwame McCoy, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, told residents from communities along the Highway who were gathered at Kuru Kururu for a public consultation on Silica City Tuesday afternoon.

McCoy said even with the Silica City development now in train after a decade of its conceptualisation by President Irfaan Ali, while he served as Minister of Housing, the government’s commitment is to resolve all challenges along the highway with sustained development.

“The highway will be booming in a few years’ time with commercial activities and residential settlements and we will deal with the issue of squatting,” the Minister said.

Noting that there is visible evidence of extended squatting on the highway, he begged for residents’ cooperation in helping the government resolve these issues and said citizens could no longer make situations unmanageable for the State.

“Great opportunities are ahead. Silica City will bring so many opportunities for you and others along the highway.

“Apart from Silica City, we are constructing residential schemes to ensure squatters are regularised,” McCoy said as assured the residents there that they will be equal beneficiaries of the wealth and development to come to Guyana.

McCoy was backed up by Minister within the Minister of Housing and Water Susan Rodrigues.

Residents in attendance at the meeting at Kuru Kururu. (Photo: Ministry of Housing and Water/ March 21, 2023)

“We are not just talking about Silica City; we are talking about highway development.

“A vision is in place. We just need the cooperation of people and the sky is the limit,” Rodrigues chimed in during her presentation on the project.

She promised that Silica City will be developed in phases with ongoing consultation with nearby residents and farmers.

“… so, people don’t feel their lives will change overnight and they can’t keep up. We want people to be part of the development.

“And the development will not be central to Silica City. There is interest in the entire Highway and we will open new lands that look useless now but will become highly valuable and that’s why a vision is important,” Minister Rodrigues added.

She reminded residents that there will be a highway to link Silica City to the capital – Georgetown and other towns like Linden.

“In a few years, this community will be the envy of the rest of the country,” she said.

In the meantime, she has asked for the cooperation of persons who are squatting on lands for agriculture and residential purposes to support relocation efforts.

Two new wells will be drilled in the area in the coming months to also improve water access and quality.

Rodrigues said the government remains flexible in its negotiations for compensation.

In a bid to grow the pool of youth players who can ideally be developed into international stars, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has committed to supporting the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) with three National Under-19 tournaments.

It will start at the inter-club level from March 31 and then channel into the Inter-County where they would be the 50-Over and Three-Day formats.

Minister Charles Ramson Jr. viewed the age group as the cornerstone for cricket and talent development, and said this is a filter to the National Cricket Academy.

”This is what I consider to be the cornerstone of West Indies cricket,” Minister Ramson Jr. indicated at the National Stadium, Providence, on Tuesday.

He added, “It is the cornerstone for which all West Indian talents throughout the decades have been able to display talent in the territories that puts them on the pathway to becoming West Indian players and international stars.”

According to the Minister, though Guyana has found success in various age groups at the Regional level, the country has not been able to consistently produce players, in recent years, to become world stars.

GCB President, Bissoondyal Singh contended that investment in this age group means the pool of players will expand for future senior squads, and they will look to harness their talents through the academy.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr.

At least 40 clubs, 16 each from Berbice and Demerara and eight from Essequibo, are expected to participate in the first stage of the tournament.

It provides an opportunity for more matches for players to showcase their talent for both county and national selection for the upcoming Regional Under-19 tournament.

Approximately G$6 million has been pledged by the Ministry to the tournaments, and a commitment has been made for it to be done on an annual basis.

Rameez Mohamed lowered the time in the Starlet Cup on Sunday

The following records are official and verified by race day officials.

Overall Track Record

UNCHANGED

1:16.271 – Mark Vieira – Radical SR3

Sunday 13^th November 2022 – International Race of Champions – Radical Caribbean Cup, Free Practice 2

Rookie Class Lap Record

NEW RECORD

1:35.411 – Tarick Baijnauth – Toyota Starlet

Sunday 19^th March 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Rookie Class, Race 1

Street Tuner Lap Record

NEW RECORD

1:36.361 – Troy Muir – Toyota Corolla

Sunday 19^th March 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Street Tuner, Race 1

Previous Record:

1:38.909 – Vickey Persaud – Toyota Starlet

Sunday 13^th November 2022 – International Race of Champions – Street Tuner, Race 2

Sports Tuner Lap Record

NEW RECORD

1:33.287 – Azaad Hassan – Toyota Sprinter AE91

Sunday 19^th March 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Sports Tuner, Race 3

Previous Records:

1:33.823 – Azaad Hassan – Toyota Sprinter AE91

Sunday 19^th March 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Sports Tuner, Race 2

1:34.408 – Azaad Hassan – Toyota Sprinter AE91

Sunday 19^th March 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Sports Tuner, Race 1

1:36.686 – Adrian Fernandes – Toyota Levin

Sunday 13^th November 2022 – International Race of Champions – Sports Tuner, Race 1

Starlet Cup Lap Record

NEW RECORD

1:25.807 – Rameez Mohamed – Toyota Starlet EP82

Sunday 19^th March 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Starlet Cup, Race 2

Previous Records:

1:27.031 – Rameez Mohamed – Toyota Starlet EP82

Sunday 19^th March 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Starlet Cup, Race 1

1:31.519 – Anand Ramchand – Toyota Starlet

Sunday 13^th November 2022 – International Race of Champions – Starlet Cup, Race 1

Group 2 Lap Record

NEW RECORD

1:27.814 – Chet Singh – Honda Civic

Sunday 19^th March 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Group 2, Race 3

Previous Records:

1:28.012 – Shan Seejatan – Honda Civic

Sunday 19^th March 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Group 2, Race 2

1:28.078 – Rameez Mohamed – Honda Civic

Sunday 19^th March 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Group 2, Race 1

1:30.573 – Mark Williams – Honda Civic

Sunday 13^th November 2022 – International Race of Champions – Group 2, Race 1

Group 3 Lap Record

UNCHANGED

1:25.100 – Danny Persaud – Mazda Miata

Sunday 13th November 2022 – International Race of Champions – Group 3, Race 1

Group 4 Lap Record

NEW RECORD

1:17.527 – Mark Vieira – Mazda RX-8

Sunday 19^th March 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Group 4, Race 2

Previous Records:

1:17.608 – Mark Vieira – Mazda RX-8

Sunday 19^th March 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Group 4, Race 1

1:20.479 – Mark Vieira – Mazda RX-8

Sunday 13^th November 2022 – International Race of Champions – Group 4, Race 1

Radical Caribbean Cup Lap Record

UNCHANGED

1:16.413 – Kristian Boodoosingh – Radical SR3

Sunday 13^th November 2022 – International Race of Champions – Radical Caribbean Cup, Race 1

Street Class Bikes Lap Record

NEW RECORD

1:24.274 – Heeranand Boodhram – Yamaha R6

Sunday 19^th March 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Street Class Bikes, Race 2

Super Stock Bikes Lap Record

NEW RECORD

1:19.306 – Matthew Vieira – Yamaha R6

Sunday 19^th March 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Super Stock Bikes, Race 2

Previous Records:

1:19.620 – Stephen Vieira – Yamaha

Sunday 19^th March 2023 – South Dakota Grand Prix – Super Stock Bikes, Race 1

1:22.785 – Matthew Vieira – Yamaha R6

Sunday 13^th November 2022 – International Race of Champions – Superbikes, Race 1

Shavannie Gravesande being consoled by the child’s father.

Gravesande said it took two hours before they got the news and also asked why the child was taken to the health centre instead of a hospital.

She complained too that she had earlier been deprived of entry into the facility to see where her daughter would be kept.

“She said Child Care does come every day and there was no reason to come in.”

Recalling that her daughter came home previously with marks on her forehead, Gravesande cries for justice.

An investigation is underway. You

Godfrey Munroe has been elected the new President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) following the Electoral General Meeting at the GOA Headquarters, Liliendaal, on Tuesday evening.

Munroe, who replaces K.A. Juman-Yassin as President, defeated Robin Singh 31-4 in the race for the top spot.

Phillip Fernandes, Steve Ninvalle and Christy Campbell will serve as Vice-Presidents, while Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon was elected Secretary-General and Emelia Ramdhani the new Assistant Secretary-General.

Garfield Wiltshire returned unopposed as Treasurer, while Michael Singh was elected Assistant Treasurer.

Attorney-at-Law, Emily Dodson was the Returning Officer.

READ MORE: Motion passed for GOA elections to be held on March 21

Meanwhile, Munroe informed News Room Sport, he will step away from his current position as President of the Guyana Table Tennis Association to fully focus on his new role and allow a new era to form at the GTTA.

The former national player, who previously served as a Junior Vice-President of the GOA, said his main goal will be to charter a course with strategic partners to help move sport forward.

He will serve as President until 2025.

How Juman-Yassin exited 

A new president of the GOA became inevitable after the General Council last June voted in favour of a recommendation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in its governance principles to limit the age of executive members of the IOC and its affiliate members of national Olympic Committees.

The IOC has recommended an age limit of 70 years for functioning executive members. Juman-Yassin, who had been in the post since 1996, is 76.

At a special Annual General Meeting last June at its Lilliendaal headquarters to ratify its new constitution as proposed by the IOC, the GOA General Council voted 29-13 in favour of the age limit recommendation.