Blog

President Dr Irfaan Ali will be leading public consultations in several regions across Guyana on the Government’s ‘Model Village’ – an initiative that seeks to create better communities with enhanced roads, drainage, irrigation systems and green spaces. These public engagements will commence today in several communities throughout Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). According to a notice from the Government, the consultations will start from 09:00h at the Leonora Secondary School, West Coast Demerara (WCD). Meetings will also be held today at Zeelugt, Tuschen, Goed Fortuin, Parfaite Harmonie and Pouderoyen, culminating with a presentation on the proposed new Pouderoyen Market at 18:30h. Citizens are encouraged to participate in these engagements during which they will be able to share their ideas, raise community concerns and most importantly, help shape the future development of their communities. On Tuesday, the consultations will move to Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) with engagements scheduled for Kaneville (13:00h), Grove (15:00h) and Diamond (17:00h) on East Bank of Demerara (EBD). The Region Four public meetings will continue on Thursday at Melanie, Mon Repos, Good Hope, and Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD). In Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), consultations are scheduled for Friday at Bush Lot, Bath and Hopetown. These engagements will continue over the weekend at Port Mourant, Rose Hall, Skeldon and New Amsterdam in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Saturday, and then conclude on Monday with meetings scheduled at Supenaam, Suddie, Charity and Anna Regina in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

This ‘Model Village’ initiative is being spearheaded by the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry alongside the Ministry of Housing, the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Agriculture. During an appearance on the ‘The Guyana Dialogue’ programme back in June, Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Priya Manickchand, had disclosed that the Government plans to develop 21 model communities across the country that will feature better roads, drainage and irrigation systems and green spaces. “The model community will have…concrete drains, properly marked roads, streetlights, green areas or play parks, public buildings that are accessible and that work, just what a model community would look like…,” she outlined.

Develop neighbourhoods
According to the Local Government Minister, the Government’s goal is not to just distribute house lots but to develop neighbourhoods where families can thrive. “Where we develop communities or housing schemes, it’s an entire scheme developed, it’s planned out or drawn by urban planners, people with the appropriate qualifications where green spaces are identified, house lots are surveyed and mapped off, streets and drainage are planned into that housing area, schools areas left for primary as well as nursery schools and if necessary, secondary schools, places left for worship…,” she noted.
“It’s not just the handing out house lots, it’s a very layered approach to making sure people can live in communities, not just houses…it’s building neighbourhoods and communities, understanding that stronger families and stronger communities will give us a stronger country…its very conscious building,” the Minister added. Manickchand explained that there are challenges in implementing these features with existing communities. For instance, she said in Newtown Kitty, Georgetown, “we can fix the drainage, we can clean the alleyways and make them concrete so that the water is flowing but you can’t do much with how its already planned”. The President Dr Irfaan Ali-led administration is, in this term, focusing much energy of building out better communities, where families can thrive. The Government has been working to improve the functioning of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) and other local authority areas by increasing their subventions so they can deliver better services to residents.
Additionally, heavy investments are being made to improve road networks, drainage and irrigation systems and install streetlights and safety features to make communities more welcoming. Millions are also being invested in creating recreational spaces to promote better lifestyles among citizens.

The post Public consultations on “Model Village” initiative gets underway today appeared first on Guyana Times.

Guyana’s Boxers were a high point for the local contingent on Sunday as the Central American and Caribbean Games continued in Santo Domingo Dominican Republic. However, there were many other notable performances, especially from the Women’s 3×3 Basketball team who left it all on the floor in a narrow, 1-point loss.

Boxing
Terron Wintz and Desmond Amsterdam both produced commanding performances on Sunday to advance in their respective weight divisions at the Games’ Boxing competition.
Competing in the Elite Men’s 70kg division in the Dominican Republic, Wintz delivered a flawless display to defeat Saint Lucia’s Kyghan Mortley by a unanimous 5-0 decision, despite having a slow start.
All five judges awarded the contest to the Guyanese boxer, each scoring it 30-26 in Wintz’s favour following an impressive three-round performance.
Meanwhile, Amsterdam required even less time to book his place in the next round of the Elite Men’s 80kg competition.
The Guyanese stopped Dominica’s Daniel Ali Shillingford by Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) in the second round at the 1:10 mark after taking complete control of the bout.
All five judges had Amsterdam ahead 10-9 before the contest was halted, underlining his dominance inside the ring.
The victories continue Guyana’s campaign at the CAC Games boxing tournament, with both Wintz and Amsterdam progressing to the Quarterfinal of their respective divisions.

Basketball
Guyana’s Women started the day taking a dent to their quarterfinal hopes in a 13-8 loss to the hosts Dominican Republic. Ruth Adams and De Angelique Waithe both put up three points for Guyana while Dominican Republic’s Esmery Martinez hit a game- high 6 points.
However, when Jamaica lost to the same opponent (21-10), hope was restored for the Guyanese girls who moved on to Sunday afternoon’s quarterfinals by virtue of finishing second in Group D.
There, they met El Salvador, fighting hard but eventually suffered a 1-point loss, 15-14. This time Adams netted 6 points followed by Waithe with 5 and Anaya Clemons, 3. On the other hand, Hillary Martinez led the charge for El Salvador with 7 points, in addition to Guadalupe Vazquez’ 6.
The 3×3 Women’s team will now turn their attention to the placement games where they will compete for 5th place.

Squash
Daniel Ince was the lone Squash player to progress in the Singles’ division at the Games on Sunday but it was later short lived.

Ince started with a 3-1 victory over Dominican Republic’s Eduardo Curiel, 11-4, 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, in the men’s Singles Round of 32.
However, in the Round of 16, Ince fell to Colombia’s Miguel Angel Rodriguez 0-3 (1-11, 3-11, 0-11).
Samuel Ince- Carvalhal met a similar fate in the Round of 32, going down to Dominican Republic’s Chrisopher Fernandez 0-3 (5-11, 3-11, 6-11).
In the Women’s Round of 16, Guatemala’s Winifer Bonilla got the better of Mary Fung- A- Fat 3-1 (11-9, 10-12, 2-11, 6-11). The Guatemalans also got the better of Ashley Khalil as she faced off with Darlyn Sandoval. Sandoval took the game 3-0 (11-3, 11-6, 113).

Table Tennis
Over in the Table Tennis arena, Guyana’s Men’s team took an early hit with a 0-3 loss to the Dominican Republic.
The pair of Isaac and Ramon Vila got the better of Malachi Moore and Elishaba Johnson 3-0 (12-10, 11-6, 114).
Match 2 saw Jiaji Wu sweeping Shemar Britton 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-8) while Ramon Vila defeated Johnson 3-1 (11-4, 11-6, 4-11, 11-9).

The post Boxers shine, narrow loss for 3×3 Women on packed day for Guyana at CAC appeared first on Guyana Times.

Veteran jockey Colin Ross was on the saddle of Hot & Lucky as he piloted the underdog horse from Nathan Racing Stables to a maiden victory in Guyana.
In the absence of Js Racing Stables, Slingerz Racing Stables, Master Z and Jumbo Jet Racing Stables; Jagdeo Racing Stables was set to dominate the Emancipation Cup Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club, but it was Jockey Ross and trainer Deonarine Ramroop who pulled off a major upset.

Ross came with a ‘Stat-looking’ ploy, and he took the early start with Hot and Lucky, setting the pace in the one-mile race. Hot & Lucky stopped the clock in one minute and 40 seconds; favorite horse Front Line Warrior got into fifth gear a bit late as Gryphon ran second. Front Line Warrior had to settle for third while Stormy Victory finished fourth.
This is Hot & Lucky’s second race in Guyana, after a third place in May. Hot & Lucky is owned by a special need teenager who was at center stage of an emotional win on Sunday afternoon.
Under glorious sunshine, the opening race got off to a flyer with the L Class race. Lion Heart stormed to victory finishing ahead of Doctor J, who ran second, while Perfect Trip and Sakar were the other top four finishers in that order.
In the nursery stakes, two-year-old Guyana bred maidens, JanoStar outshined the opponents with jockey Yovin Kissoonchand leading the charge. Chelsea ran closely for second while Princess Alesha finished third and Just in Time ran fourth.
The third race was the Emancipation Sophomore stakes two-year-old Guyana bred maidens. Boss Lady enjoyed a sweet victory, by ten lengths while Ocean Star ran in second spot. High Beam claimed third and Lady Cash finished fourth.
In the Emancipation mile stakes three-year-old Guyana bred maidens and of one race, Miracle Boy ran with bravery to finish in pole position while Glory Queen ran in second. Risen Star and Black Beauty finished in third and fourth respectively. Jockey Arvin Dhanraj and Yovin Kissoonchand were unseated from their horses.
Jagdeo Racing Stables took the top spots in race five. Theory of Colors took the lead from the inside to emerged as the victor in the H Class and Lower while stablemate Sydney ran comfortable for second. She WBO on Time ran third and Mufasa finished in fourth.
New-comer Turmalina Negra out of Brazil had withdrawn from the Emancipation Classic Stakes W Class Non- winner Open to F & G Class horses. The day got even better for Jagdeo Racing Stables as Oy Vey displayed pure dominance to clinch victory. Converter ran second while Qurbaan’s Kingdom came in third.
A host of the big horses were in rest mode ahead of the Guyana Cup which is slated for August 23 at Rising Sun Turf Club.
More than G$66 million in cash and prizes will up for the taking at the 18th running of the Guyana Cup. The top stables are expected to feature new horses for the most lucrative event in the history of Guyana’s horse racing.

The post Hot & Lucky deny Jagdeo Racing Stables in Emancipation Cup appeared first on Guyana Times.

Months after several international companies submitted their proposals to develop the 165-megawatts (MW) Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), the Guyana Government is now in the process of putting together the technical team to review the bids received. “Amaila Falls Project is awaiting evaluation right now. We’re putting together the evaluation team,” a senior Government official recently told the Guyana Times. Some five foreign companies are in the race for the AFHP after responding to the Government’s call for proposals, which closed in May. A joint venture (JV) between United States (US)-based OEC USA, GE Vernova, and Australia’s Worley submitted the highest bid of US$800,060,842, according to tender documents seen by this newspaper.
The OEC, GE Vernova, and Worley grouping had previously tendered to be pre-qualified for this project in 2023 before the Government eventually decided to reissue the Request for Proposal (RFP) last year. Coming in second with a US$668,000,000 proposal was a consortium of CAMCE-CMEC from China. China CAMC Engineering Co. Ltd. (CAMCE) and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) have individually undertaken construction projects in Guyana’s public sector and have also bid for major gas-related projects here.

Another Chinese company, China Gezhouba Group Company Limited-HYI, submitted a bid to the tune of US$432,338,377 – the third highest proposal. In addition, Chinese state-owned, Sinohydro Corporation Limited, came in fourth with a US$416,866,949.21 proposal. The fifth company that bid for the project was a JV comprising India-based Afcon Infrastructure Limited and Scandian Infrastructure AB from Sweden. However, no figure was listed for this JV in the tender document seen this newspaper. Back in October 2025, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), which has responsibility for the energy sector, published the RFP invite for the Amaila Falls Hydro project under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model. According to the RFP document, the project is expected to deliver a minimum installed capacity of 165-MW including the hydro dam, powerhouse, substation, and a 23-square-kilometre (km²) storage reservoir, consistent with environmental studies and permits. However, it was noted that the size of the hydro may be re-engineered to take into account of changes in turbine technology thus allowing more than 165-MW to be generated and transmitted. Under the revised RFP, developers are required to assume all geotechnical risks associated with the project and must demonstrate proven capability and financial capacity to deliver large-scale hydro projects. Only firms or consortia that have successfully built at least three hydro projects of 100-MW or more in the last 10 years will be considered.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has been keen on reviving the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, which has been on the cards since 2011 but was blocked by the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition both in and out of office.
The 165-MW project was the flagship initiative of the Bharrat Jagdeo-crafted Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). However, the project failed to take off despite having a developer in US-based Sithe Global, which was backed by investment major – The Blackstone Inc.
In August 2013, Sithe Global announced that it was pulling out of the project, which it said was too large to continue without national consensus, citing the lack of consensus in Guyana’s Parliament. At the time, the then-A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) opposition parties, holding a majority of seats in the National Assembly, had both voted down key pieces of legislation, which consequently halted the project.
Then during its term in office from 2015 to 2020, the APNU+AFC Coalition regime, again, shelved the project. The revival of the 165-MW hydropower project was one of the promises made by the ruling PPP/C in its 2020 Elections Manifesto, and again in the 2025 Manifesto. In November 2021, the AFHP was awarded to China Railway First Group (CRFG) but negotiations fell through after the company wanted to change the BOOT model which Government rejected. A revised RFP was then issued in 2023 and four companies – Rialma S.A. (Grupo Rialma) from Brazil; China International Water & Elec. Corp; Lindsayca CH4 Guyana Inc., and a group made up of OEC, GE Vernova and Worley – had submitted tenders to be pre-qualified for the Amaila Falls Hydropower project. Those bids were under evaluation for several months before the Government decided to eventually retender the project with new technical requirements last year.

The post Evaluation team being set up to review bids for Amaila Falls Hydro Project appeared first on Guyana Times.