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Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha commissioned the Guyana Food Safety Authority’s Laboratory and Office at the ministry’s La Bonne Intention complex on the East Coast of Demerara on Saturday.

The commissioning of this new office and laboratory is a pivotal step in the government’s commitment to safeguarding public health and promoting food safety nationwide.

While offering remarks at the event, Minister Mustapha said that as agri-food production increases, citizens must be confident that the commodities produced are safe for human consumption.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and the IDB’s Country Representative in Guyana, Lorena Solorzano-Salazar opening the new laboratory (Photo: Ministry of Agriculture/ January 27, 2025)

He also said the government remains committed to ensuring that food is safe and has been working with the relevant agencies and partners to strengthen the capability of the Guyana Food Safety Authority.

Meanwhile, IDB’s Country Representative in Guyana, Lorena Solorzano-Salazar said the facility was a collaboration between the IDB and the Government of Guyana in a shared vision to ensure food safety and public health as international markets are also requiring traceability and quality.

Through funding from the IDB, over G$520 million was expended to outfit the laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment capable of testing a wide range of commodities to ensure they are safe for consumption.

The equipment can also be used to conduct sophisticated traceability studies and analyses and stay ahead in the rapidly evolving global food safety landscape (Modified press release from the Ministry of Agriculture)

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The landmark US$300 million Vreed-en-Hoop shore base facility was officially opened on Saturday, a move that Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali said is part of the long-term development of the country’s maritime and transport sector.

“This is that one additional asset that allows us to build one of the best marine industries and marine sectors in the region,” the Head of State said as he addressed Saturday’s inauguration ceremony.

He added, “It positions us to build a key transport and logistics hub.”

The venture, officially named the Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase Inc (VEHSI) project, was completed in December. It is a partnership between a Guyanese company, NRG Holdings, and an international maritime infrastructure company, Jan De Nul. Among other things, the project involved the creation of a 44-acre artificial island where the shore base is.

President Dr Irfaan Ali addressing the opening of the Vreed-en-Hoop shore base project opening (Photo: News Room/ January 25, 2025)

In April 2022, VEHSI landed a mega contract with ExxonMobil Guyana to support future construction activities of the oil and gas giant. Through the contract, ExxonMobil Guyana will use this shore base to support its prolific operations offshore.

The shore base is expected to support petroleum operations, including offshore subsea equipment installation, storage and preservation of emergency response equipment such as the capping stack in-country now, and the fabrication of equipment such as pipeline end termination structures (PLETS) and flowline end termination structures (FLETS).

Part of what the Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase project looks like (Photo: President Dr Irfaan Ali/ Facebook)

And President Ali noted that the government is also pursuing a deep water port, a second mega gas-to-energy project, and a refinery. He explained that these ventures, alongside the VEHSI project, will make the South American nation a regional powerhouse.

VEHSI Director Andron Alphonso said the project was supported by President Ali and his government. According to him, VEHSI is a result of bold thinking, support from key stakeholders and the willingness of Guyanese companies to join forces.

Importantly, Alphonso also highlighted that the venture is the first phase of a wider ‘Port of Vreed-en-Hoop’ project. About US$260 million has been spent so far.

‘A key milestone’ as sod turned for $62.7 billion Shore Base at V/Hoop

Additional details on the expansion of the project were shared by another VEHSI Director, Nicholas Deygoo-Boyer in a recent ‘Energy Perspectives’ podcast, produced by the Guyana Energy Conference. He said an expansion of the project could potentially support commercial shipping operations.

At Saturday’s event, Deygoo-Boyer alluded to the expansion of the project in the years to come.

He declared, “There is more to come.”

Meanwhile, President of ExxonMobil Guyana Alistair Routledge told those gathered at Saturday’s opening that the venture is a long-term investment in Guyana.

“This is the beginning of a 20-year contract.

“Our industry is one that invests over decades, it’s one that requires long-term investment… We look forward to supporting further investments for the expansion of this port,” Routledge said.

He also noted that 20 proposals for such a facility were received, and hailed the work of the partnership.

“Out of all of that, we could see the strength of the NRG (Holdings), Jan de Nul partnership,” Routledge said, noting that the selection process was highly competitive.

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Guyana’s Under-17 women’s football team, the Junior Lady Jags, has arrived safely in the Dominican Republic for the CONCACAF qualifying tournament for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.

The team will face tough competition in the group stage, with matches against Cuba, Panama, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Director of Women’s Programmes at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Paul Beresford, expressed confidence in the squad, saying they believe they have “put one of our best U-17 teams together”.

He added that the team would “give everything to represent Guyana and make Guyanese around the world proud”.

The Junior Lady Jags’ campaign kicks off on 27 January against Cuba, followed by matches against Panama on 29 January and the Turks and Caicos Islands on 31 January. All matches will be played at the Estadio Felix Sanchez in the Dominican Republic.

The squad is as follows:

• Goalkeepers: Jasmine Solomon-Ross, Sara Ernest, Thashanna Singh
• Defenders: Whitney King, Jaida Tucker, Anaya Joseph, Avril Pasvolsky, Aliyah John, Ella Yhip
• Midfielders: Shonna Bisnauth, Naomi Benjamin, Arianna Chin, Sydney Glean, Ellie Biffin, Ayah Stewart, Kimora Edwards, Martha Chance, Allia Henry
• Forwards: Alexandria Chasles, Veronica Chatta, Devi Sookdeo

The team is led by Head Coach Dellon Williams.

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Dindyal Persaud, a 47-year-old labourer of Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was charged on Friday and remanded to prison after he assaulted a Police Officer.

Persaud reportedly assaulted Lorenzo Gitten, a Police Constable at the Grove Police Station on January 16.

Police Headquarters reported that the man appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Diamond/ Grove Magistrate’s Court on Friday. The charge of ‘Assault with Intent to Prevent Law Apprehension’ was read to him and he pleaded not guilty.

He was, however, remanded to prison. The matter has been adjourned to February 7, 2025 for statements.

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Aubrey Haynes, a 37-year-old man, was charged on Friday and remanded to prison after he was nabbed with a firearm and ammunition.

Haynes was arrested on Monday after he was accused of discharging a loaded firearm in the vicinity of Makouria Creek, Essequibo River.

Police searched for his person and discovered a .32 semi-automatic pistol with a magazine containing six live matching rounds of ammunition concealed in his crotch area.

Haynes appeared before Magistrate Teriq Mohammed at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court. He pleaded guilty and was remanded to prison.

The case was adjourned to February 25, 2025.

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Police Headquarters on Saturday said ranks captured a pack of stray dogs in Leonora after it was reported that the animals attacked and killed a woman’s sheep at Leguan.

Sharron Stephens, of Leguan Island, reportedly told ranks that the dogs attacked five of her sheep on Thursday and Friday.

As such, an Officer and other ranks from the Parika Police Station visited the area to conduct investigations and render assistance.

On arrival at Leguan at 10:30hrs Friday, the Police team visited the area of the alleged attack by the stray dogs.

Freshly dug earth was seen in an area identified to be the burial area of the slain sheep. After further investigations, 12 dogs were seen at the Chinese Restaurant.

When the operators of the restaurant were questioned, they claimed not to be the owners of the dogs and reportedly insisted that they were strays.

Police, in the release, said the ranks tried to bring some relief to the woman who lost her sheep and were able to catch four of the dogs with the use of ropes.

The move attracted much attention online after photos of the capture were shared on Facebook. Several persons criticised the treatment of the animals

Police, however, said the dogs were then taken to a Police boat and transported safely to Parika.

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Police are investigating a public fighting incident on Friday outside a betting outlet at Leonora, West Coast Demerara.

According to a Police release, 23-year-old driver Javier Kubair was involved in a confrontation with 24-year-old JFazal Jabbar and 42-year-old Donia Alleyne after attempting to make a purchase before others who were in line before him.

Soon after, Kubair left and returned with a cutlass. He then reportedly attacked and threatened customers.

In retaliation, the customers reportedly armed themselves with rocks and pieces of wood and threw them at Kubair.

Kubair retreated and sought refuge inside the District Sports Bar. Thereafter, the Police were summoned.

Ranks from the Anti-Crime Patrol responded. Kubair and several others were contacted and escorted to the Leonora Police Station, where reports and statements were documented.

Investigations are ongoing.

 

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Paul Battersfield, a 48-year-old businessman of Mocha Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was nabbed with 1,989 grammes (or about 4.4 pounds) of marijuana.

He was also caught with 82 grammes (or about 0.18 pounds) of cocaine.

Police Headquarters reported that the man was caught at the Police checkpoint at Mabura while he was a passenger in a blue Toyota Hilux (#GZZ 9658). Ashman Scott, a 50-year-old gold miner, was the driver while Dexter Atkinson, a 39-year-old gold miner, was the other passenger.

Police said when the driver went into the Police Outpost at the checkpoint, Battersfield acted suspiciously. He subsequently told ranks that a freezer in the vehicle’s tray belonged to him.

The pickup at the checkpoint

A rank reportedly asked Battersfield what was in the freezer and he said his belongings. The rank then told him to take out his belongings and in doing so, Battersfield handed a bulky plastic bag to the rank which, when opened, contained five parcels of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be marijuana.

Another parcel found contained a quantity of a whitish powdery substance suspected to be cocaine.

Battersfield was told of the offence committed and cautioned; he admitted ownership of the narcotics.

The man was then arrested and escorted into the Mabura Police Outpost along with the narcotics.

The suspect was subsequently escorted to the Mackenzie Police Station where the narcotics were weighed in his presence.

The narcotics were sealed, marked, and lodged. Battersfield was placed in custody pending charges. Investigations are ongoing.

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