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See below the full statement issued:

The Canada–Guyana Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Lilian Chatterjee, former Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, was appointed as the Chamber’s Honorary Canadian Co-Chair, effective January 1, 2025.

With a distinguished career in public service and diplomacy, Ms. Chatterjee brings a wealth of experience and regional insights to the Chamber. She served as Canada’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Ambassador to Suriname, and CARICOM Ambassador from 2017 to 2020.

Between 2021 and 2024, Her Excellency served as  Canada’s High Commissioner to Barbados and six other Caribbean nations, including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Ms. Chatterjee’s career began in journalism and expanded into public service, including roles at the House of Commons of Canada and with international NGOs. In 2003, she joined the Canadian International Development Agency as Director General, later taking on senior executive roles at Global Affairs Canada. She holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism and a Master’s degree in International Affairs.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Ms. Chatterjee to the Chamber,” said Patricia Bacchus, Chair of the Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce.  “Her deep knowledge of Guyana and the Caribbean, coupled with her distinguished career in Canadian public service, will be invaluable in helping us advance our mission to promote trade, investment and strengthen the relationships between Canada and Guyana.”

“I look forward to promoting bilateral trade and foreign direct investment between Canada and Guyana. We have been collaborating for centuries and have mutually benefited from the contributions of Canadians and Guyanese to both our countries,” noted Ms. Chatterjee.

“Ms. Chatterjee’s appointment reflects the Chamber’s commitment to leveraging exceptional expertise to facilitate meaningful collaboration and growth. Her leadership will enhance the Chamber’s ability to connect businesses in the region, create opportunities, and further strengthen economic partnerships” said Mr. Winston Kassim, the Chamber’s Co-Chair.

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Samiyah Shaw

Samiyah Shaw, a 14-year-old student from Good Hope Secondary School, has published her debut book, Canvas of Strength. Launched at her school, the book is a powerful testament to her resilience, determination, and creative spirit.

Taking two years to complete, Canvas of Strength is a deeply personal collection of stories drawn from Samiyah’s own experiences with bullying.

Through her writing, she has transformed her pain into a narrative of healing and empowerment, illustrating how creativity can be a tool for overcoming adversity. Her heartfelt words convey the strength found in vulnerability and the courage needed to rise above life’s challenges.

Beyond her writing, Samiyah also expresses herself through painting, adding a visual element to her story. Her artwork captures the emotional journey of her experiences, from moments of sorrow to the hope and triumph that follow.

Together, her written words and paintings create a vivid and moving portrayal of resilience and self-expression.

With the unwavering support of her parents, Samiyah has fulfilled one of her dreams: becoming a published author. Canvas of Strength is now available for purchase at $3,200, and can also be found on Amazon.

In the coming months, the book will be available in bookstores across Guyana, and it is hoped that it will be included in school libraries as part of the Ministry of Education’s literacy promotion initiative.

Samiyah’s story serves as an inspiration to young people everywhere. She has proven that it is possible to turn challenges into something creative and transformative.

Her journey encourages others to embrace their struggles, pursue their passions, and create something meaningful from their experiences.

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Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has announced his retirement from boxing.

Fury last fought in December when he lost his rematch against WBA (Super), WBC and WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk.

The 36-year-old Fury previously announced his retirement after beating Dillian Whyte in April 2022, but returned six months later.

The Briton has enjoyed two stints as heavyweight champion and holds a record of 34 wins, two defeats and one draw.

“Hi everybody, I’m going to make this short and sweet,” Fury said.

“I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing, it has been a blast, I’ve loved every single minute of it and I’m going to end with this; Dick Turpin wore a mask.”

The Briton shocked long-reigning world champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 to win the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles.

After over two-and-a-half years out of the ring, during which he tackled mental health issues, Fury returned to action in 2018 and became a two-time champion by beating Deontay Wilder to claim the WBC belt in 2020.

‘Is this the end? I doubt it’- Hearn

Fury’s decision to retire denies fans the chance to see a long-anticipated clash with fellow Briton Anthony Joshua.

On Saturday, Joshua said a fight with Fury “has to happen this year” when speaking at the Ring Magazine awards.

Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, who promotes Joshua, has however questioned the legitimacy of Fury’s announcement, claiming that if he was “looking for the right deal” he would also go into retirement.

“If you haven’t got a heart for it anymore and you don’t want to compete anymore I think retirement is the best option,” Hearn said, external.

“Disappointing obviously for British fight fans because we’ve got the chance to make the biggest fight in boxing but if that’s the last we see of him, he’s had a great career – I doubt it [is the last time we will see him box].

“It’s always best to come into retirement to make sure that someone has to pay you to come out of retirement, but if that’s his lot then much respect to him and I wish him all the best.”

Fury boasted an undefeated record of 34 wins and one draw until he met Ukraine’s Usyk in the first heavyweight undisputed contest of the four-belt era.

Usyk won the first meeting by split-decision and backed up that performance with a unanimous decision victory last month.

Frank Warren, who promotes Fury, told BBC Radio 5 Live he had not spoken to Fury prior to his retirement announcement.

“I’ve said all along that there is no way I will be trying to in anyway influence him,” Warren said.

“If that what he wants to do, that’s great. He’s done everything he can do. Probably been the best British heavyweight of his generation by far. Two-time world champion, two closely fought fights against Usyk. He’s got plenty of money, got his wits about him, got a lovely family. God bless him, enjoy.

“He’s become a world star. If you look at some of the fights he’s had, he’s not been in one fight that hasn’t been exciting. Very, very exciting fights. Big heart, got off the floor when he’s been knocked down by big punches and come back to win fights. He’s been something special.” (BBC)

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Amid concerns regarding the misuse of personal data collected during the cash grant registration process, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has reassured the public that the Ministry of Finance will not release any personal information collected.

Addressing the issue at a press conference last Thursday, Jagdeo responded to questions about the integrity and security of the data gathered for the government’s cash grant initiative.

The concerns, which have been circulating largely by the political opposition, centre on the collection of personal details such as names, identification numbers, photographs, and addresses.

Some opposition figures have suggested that the data might be misused for political gain or to infringe on citizens’ privacy.

Jagdeo was quick to dismiss these fears, emphasising that the information collected for the cash grant registration process is no different from the publicly available data on the national voters’ list, which includes over 700,000 individuals’ names and addresses.

He pointed out that such data is already accessible to political parties, thus making the outcry over the cash grant data seem exaggerated.

“This is all public data,” Jagdeo stated.

“I don’t see a single bit of information here that anyone can use for any malicious purpose. The public’s information is already out there in many forms, including the voters’ list, which contains far more details than we are collecting.”

He further assured that despite the transparency of the information, the Ministry of Finance would not release any of the personal data collected during the registration process.

This assurance comes in the context of the government’s ongoing efforts to operationalise the long-awaited Data Protection Act, which aims to safeguard citizens’ rights to privacy in an increasingly digital world.

Jagdeo also addressed concerns raised by some who feared the programme could fuel inflation or create confusion in the distribution process. He suggested that opposition parties were deliberately stoking such skepticism for political purposes, in an attempt to undermine a beneficial initiative.

“The opposition first said the government would never implement this grant. When we did, they said it would cause inflation. Now they say it should not have been done. They’re creating issues to diminish a good initiative,” he added.

To further address the public’s concerns, Jagdeo pointed to the wider legislative framework being developed by the government to protect citizens’ personal data. He referenced the introduction of privacy laws, such as the Privacy Act, alongside measures like the establishment of electronic medical records, which will also require stringent safeguards to prevent unauthorised access.

“We don’t want people’s medical records or any other sensitive information to be available to anyone without their permission,” Jagdeo remarked. “We are committed to improving our systems, but we also want to ensure that people maintain control over their own data.”

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Police are investigating a serious road accident that occurred Saturday night on New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara, involving a minibus and a motor van. The collision has left both drivers injured and under medical care.

The crash involved minibus #BZZ 6795, owned and driven by 47-year-old Troy Waterman from Vreed-en-Hoop, and motor van #GAC 9067, owned and driven by 32-year-old Ronel Pakenram from the Tuschen New Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo.

According to initial investigations, the minibus was travelling eastbound along the northern side of New Road, while the motor van was heading west on the southern side of the road. As both vehicles approached the vicinity of the ‘cone shop,’ the driver of the minibus reported that the motor van veered into his lane, resulting in a head-on collision.

The impact of the crash caused extensive damage to both vehicles, and both drivers sustained injuries. Quick-thinking bystanders came to their aid, rescuing them from their vehicles before transporting them to the West Demerara Regional Hospital. At the hospital, both men were examined by medical staff. Waterman, the minibus driver, was diagnosed with a fractured left foot and multiple bodily injuries, while Pakenram, the motor van driver, was found to have a fractured right foot and other injuries.

Both drivers have been admitted to the male surgical ward for further treatment. The police have launched a full investigation into the cause of the accident, and traffic in the area was temporarily disrupted as emergency services attended to the scene.

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Thousands of residents along the East Bank of Demerara now have access to an uninterrupted 24-hour water supply through the state-of-the-art modern water treatment plant at Caledonia.

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday commissioned the facility which was built to the tune of $700 million by Sigma Engineers Limited out of Bangladesh.

The water treatment plant was designed to provide eight million liters of water daily and will serve over 12,000 residents from New Hope to Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara.

During the construction phase, cutting-edge technology was utilised by local workers, setting new standards in the water industry.

It is one of the three new ones being constructed in Region 4 under the Water Treatment Infrastructure Programme and is equipped with a generator to provide water even when there are power outages.

In his remarks at the commissioning ceremony, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal said the establishment of the water treatment plant is a transformative step in ensuring that more communities in Region 4 have access to clean and reliable water.

Croal said the facility will play a pivotal role in supporting industries and households contributing to the development of the country.

Over the past four years, Croal highlighted that the government has invested over 50 billion dollars to advance the water sector.  For the same period, 28 wells were drilled and are completed or near completion in coastland areas.

“We believe in actions not just words and this plant is proof.

“This is only the beginning, we are building a Guyana where every home have access to clean water, where every family can grow and every family can flourish,” Croal said.

Outlining the vision for the sector, President Dr Irfaan Ali said in the coming years, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) would change “rapidly” and will become a national water management entity.

Currently, Dr Ali said 98.3 percent of the country’s population have access to water and there has been a 91 percent improved access in hinterland communities.

This, he said was achieved through major investment in water treatment plants, the drilling of hundreds of wells and other investments made to ensure that the system is built to support a future ahead.

Meanwhile, GWI Chief Executive Officer Shaik Baksh said that while the infrastructure is being built out to ensure access to water, measures will be put in place to ensure that it is effectively maintained.

Baksh said the aim is to ensure that over the next two to three years, the water quality being supplied will allow people to drink from their taps.

“It will be pure, treated, safe water for you the people,” Baksh said.

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A police team from Region One conducted a successful raid in Tenapeu Backdam, North West District on Sunday, seizing illegal firearms and drugs during their operation.

At approximately 1:00 hrs, the officers, acting on information received, arrived at the camp of Randolph Duncan. Using torches and generator lights, they observed a suspicious individual – later identified as Darnel Lewis, a 24-year-old Venezuelan pork-knocker – at the top floor of a wooden camp.

As the officers approached, the man, who was shirtless and wearing pants, quickly moved to the back corner of the camp and tossed a long black object into nearby dry bushes. This prompted the officers to investigate.

Upon retrieving the object, the police identified it as a KEL-TEC KSG semi-automatic 12-gauge shotgun, which contained four live 12-gauge cartridges. Lewis was subsequently questioned about the firearm, to which he admitted ownership but stated he did not have a license.

He was informed of the offence, cautioned, and arrested. No further illegal items were found during additional searches of the camp.

Shortly after, the police team proceeded to another camp nearby, owned by Roy Goocharan, a 47-year-old gold miner from Friendship, East Bank Demerara. Goocharan, along with his two workers, Joseph Williams, 64, and Lawrence Wells, 36, both from the Barima River area, complied with the officers’ request to search their premises.

During a search of Williams’ camp, the police discovered a black, unregistered 16-gauge shotgun hidden under a mattress. The weapon contained one live 16-gauge cartridge. Williams was questioned and denied ownership of the firearm, stating he did not have a licensed gun. Further searches uncovered eight live 12-gauge cartridges and a suspected live .223 round hidden in a boot belonging to Williams. Both Williams and Wells were arrested.

In another part of the camp, the police discovered a quantity of suspected cannabis – 52 grams of leaves, seeds, and stems – hidden in two transparent plastic bags inside a black plastic bag on a shelf in Goocharan’s sleeping quarters. Goocharan was informed of the discovery, cautioned, and admitted that the items were his. He was also arrested.

All three men, Lewis, Williams, and Goocharan, are currently in police custody at the Port Kaituma Police Station, where they are assisting with ongoing investigations.

The police operation has resulted in the confiscation of two firearms, several live ammunition rounds, and a significant quantity of suspected drugs. Investigations are continuing.

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IPL 2025 is set to start on March 21 with Eden Gardens hosting both the season opener and the final on May 25. It is also understood that WPL 2025 will be held between February 7 and March 2.

Ahead of the mega auction in November, the IPL had shared with the franchises the windows for the next three seasons (2025-27).

For 2025, the window was between March 15 and May 25. However, with the 2025 Champions Trophy final scheduled for March 9, the IPL decided to keep close to a two-week gap between the tournaments.

The full IPL schedule is expected to be out later this month.

As has generally been the case, the home venue of the defending champions will host the opener and final.

This season it’s Eden Gardens, home base of Kolkata Knight Riders who won IPL 2024. While Eden Gardens will also host Qualifier 2, the first two playoff matches – Qualifier 1 and Eliminator – will be played in Hyderabad.

The 2025 season will comprise 74 matches, the same as the last three seasons – ten fewer than the 84 games a season listed by the IPL in 2022, when media rights for the 2023-27 cycle were sold.

In the tender document for the new rights cycle, the IPL had listed a varying number of matches per season: from 74 games in 2023 and 2024, 84 in 2025 and 2026, and a maximum of 94 games for the final year of the deal in 2027.

Four venues shortlisted for WPL

The BCCI has also added two new venues for the WPL. Along with Mumbai and Bengaluru, Baroda and Lucknow will also host WPL games this year.

The exact number of matches at each venue is not yet known as the WPL schedule is not yet out for the season scheduled to begin on February 7. (ESPNcricinfo) 

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West Indies XI and Pakistan Shaheens had to settle for a draw in their three-day tour match. Both teams delivered competitive performances but ultimately cancelled each other out in the final push for a result in Islamabad on Sunday.

Resuming day three with a commanding 134-run lead, after the Shaheens declared their first innings at 212-9, the West Indies XI set the Shaheens a daunting target of 311 after they also declared their second innings at 177-5.

The Shaheens responded with a solid batting effort, as they got to 128-2 by the close of play to ensure the match ended in a stalemate.

Alick Athanaze again led the West Indies XI from the front, adding a second half-century to his stellar 98 in the first innings.

His composed knock of 58 from 84 balls featured seven fours and two sixes, as he displayed some semblance of form heading into the more crucial two-match Test series against Pakistan.

Tevin Imlach was also impressed with a fluent 57 off 65 balls, including nine boundaries to keep the momentum in the visitors’ favour.

Mikyle Louis (5), Joshua Da Silva (13), Keacy Carty (1), Kavem Hodge (36) and Amir Jangoo (zero) were the batsmen dismissed.

Mohammad Musa Khan, who grabbed 2-5, and Ali Raza, who chipped in with 2-32, spearheaded the Shaheens bowling attack.

Chasing 311 for victory, the Shaheens opted for a slightly aggressive approach, anchored by opener Mohammad Huraira’s sparkling 80 off 80 balls, decorated with 12 fours and two sixes.

Umair Bin Yousaf supported with a patient 25 as the pair ensured no further wickets fell after Jomel Warrican’s two early strikes. He ended with 2-23. (SportsMax)

FULL SCORECARD: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/west-indies-in-pakistan-2024-25-1442208/pakistan-shaheens-vs-west-indies-tour-match-1467951/full-scorecard

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