The government has forged a strategic partnership with G-Mining, Canadian gold company, to train thousands of Guyanese to work in one of the country’s largest gold mines in Region Seven.
Starting with 1500 trainees, the programme will begin in February 2025 and steadily expand.
Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton provides details of the project
Once the mine is developed by 2027, even more Guyanese will receive training to work in the mines.
The Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, briefly detailed the goal of the game-changing collaboration during a press briefing at the ministry’s head office on Tuesday.
“After the development of the mine we will continue to train all the people who will work in this mine, relatively to equipment operators, welders and fabricators, electricians and so forth…The focus primarily is on people from the region, both males and females,” he said.
This collaboration will play a key role in bolstering Guyana’s mining sector while enhancing the skills and employment opportunities for locals.
Since the country’s natural resources are crucial for economic development, special emphasis will be placed on the sustainability and environmental integrity of the mining operations.
Given that the main operations will take place in Region Seven, majority of the workers will most likely hail from this area.
Minister Hamilton explainedthat “G-Mining has bought out Reunion Goldmines. It’s about to establish one of the largest goldmines in Guyana. At our facility in Bartica, we will train all the staff that will work at this mining centre.”
Employment opportunities such as these are a direct result of the government’s policies to ensure locals benefit first from foreign companies operating in Guyana.
By mandating local employment quotas and promoting training opportunities, the government is safeguarding the jobs of Guyanese whilst enhancing the country’s economy. [DPI]
The community of Enterprise along the East Coast of Demerara will soon enjoy a greater sense of security with a new police outpost.
The instruction to establish the outpost was issued by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali during a community engagement on Wednesday afternoon.
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali
The meeting was part of a series of community engagements to listen to concerns expressed by residents and to ensure that appropriate actions are taken to address them.
The president said a staff complement of three officers will man the outpost and will perform regular patrols with the use of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV).
“Before the end of the week, let us get an outpost here,”the president instructed senior officers at the meeting.
President Ali explained that while residents are happy with the infrastructural development underway in their communities, there have been heightened concerns about their personal security.
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali addresses residents at a community meeting along the East Coast of Demerara
The government has taken note of this and has committed to erecting closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in these communities, in addition to street lights for enhanced visibility.
The president pointed out that other issues, including community grounds and playfields, will be addressed shortly.
President Ali visits Dazzle Housing Scheme
Also on Wednesday afternoon, President Ali visited Dazzle Housing Scheme, where some residents voiced concerns about land that is owned by the community’s cooperative society.
Addressing members of the co-op society, President Ali said,“If you tell me now that the co-op is ready for the Ministry of Housing to come and complete the regularisation, we are ready to come in with the infrastructure so that people can have their homes.”
Concerns relating to water supply, housing, and infrastructure were also addressed by the president while he was in Dazzle.
Many residents said the president’s visit put their minds at ease and said they were thrilled at the transformation that is underway in their communities and across the country.
Enterprise resident, Ayube Subhan, said the president’s visit has ignited a passion within him and a desire to work alongside the government to bring further development to his community.
“I feel very humbled by him coming up here and mixing with the masses in such a simple and a humble way,” Subhan told the Department of Public Information (DPI).
Resident Jessica Bacchus said the government’s investments in Enterprise have drastically improved lives, especially for elderly residents, women, children and other vulnerable groups.
A resident raising her concern
“We would have also seen a lot of agriculture being invested in our community because the farmers are now being recognised and we’re getting donations from the Ministry of Agriculture,” Bacchus said.
Bacchus added that she has witnessed “the Ministry of Human Services working with a lot of young women, helping develop businesses, and it’s a great thing for us because we have a lot of young women in our community doing business.
Carl Anthony, another Dazzle resident, said he has noticed a lot more support by the government for small businesses.
“Some persons were doing business and didn’t have any license and didn’t know how to go about it. This assistance was given to them, showing them how they can go about business. I think basically within this community, life has been better,” Anthony told DPI.
He expressed optimism that the 2025 budget will hold provisions to further improve the lives of Guyanese.
A resident raising his concern
“I think people are looking forward to the 2025 budget to see what is there to be offered to them so that they can continue their life. And I know within the budget, there are things there for every citizen across this country,” Anthony said.
Kwesi Douglas, another Dazzle resident, highlighted the massive roadworks that have significantly eased transportation woes in his area.
“A lot of times we’ve been struggling to get here and there and so forth, especially where emergency cases are concerned. We’re very grateful that the roads are being done so that those can be facilitated,” Douglas said.
According to Douglas, development is moving at a rapid pace and he is certain that many Guyanese are grateful. “I know there’s a lot more to be done as well which government is working towards. And we are optimistic that things will go according to plan for each and every citizen of this particular country, because it’s been a while that we’ve been waiting for things to move and now that we’re seeing it. I think it’s just a matter of time before things touch each and every person individually,” Douglas said. [DPI]
Former captain Steve Smith will lead Australia in the upcoming three-match Test series against Sri Lanka as Pat Cummins will be on paternity leave.
Smith, 35, previously served a two-year ban from captaincy following his involvement in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
Cummins is missing the series for the birth of his second child and seamer Josh Hazlewood is also left out as he recovers from a calf injury.
Spinner Cooper Connolly earns his first Test call-up, while Nathan McSweeney, who opened in the first three Tests in the recent series against India, retains his place.
McSweeney, 25, scored 72 runs in six innings before being replaced by 19-year-old Sam Konstas, who is also named in the squad.
Connolly, 21, has played two one-day internationals and two T20s for Australia and is yet to take a wicket in either format.
He joins Nathan Lyon, Matt Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy in the spin attack, while Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Sean Abbott are the frontline seamers.
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh has also been omitted after a poor series against India while Beau Webster, who replaced him in the final Test at Sydney, keeps his spot.
The first Test takes place on January 29 in Galle.
Australia’s series win over India saw them qualify for the World Test Championship final, where they will take on South Africa at Lord’s on June 11-15.
Australia Test squad for Sri Lanka: Steve Smith (capt), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster. (BBC)
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is pleased to announce that the 2025/2026 Mid-Season Transfer Window officially opened on January 1, 2025, and will close at midnight on January 31, 2025.
The GFF has advised all clubs, regional associations, and Transfer Matching System (TMS) users to review FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players to ensure compliance with the relevant guidelines.
The Federation also reminded clubs and associations of the procedural requirements for domestic player transfers noting that it must include involvement from the player’s former club, the relevant regional associations, and the new club.
Transfers involving Elite League clubs require direct consent from the GFF.
Furthermore, any disputes or delays during the process can be escalated to the relevant regional association or the GFF for resolution.
The GFF remains committed to ensuring a transparent and efficient transfer process that supports the continued development of football in Guyana.
Stakeholders requiring clarification or assistance have been encouraged to contact the GFF Secretariat’s Competitions Department at (592) 227-8758 or via email at competition@guyanafootball.org
Guyana has bolstered its capacity to combat forest and bush fires by acquiring helicopter helibuckets. President Dr. Irfaan Ali revealed this on Wednesday at a Guyana Fire Service event in Georgetown.
“We have now acquired the helibuckets for the chopper with the Guyana Defence Force. We have already done training to fight bushfires and forest fires with the buckets,” Presidet Ali said while adding it’s a first for the Caribbean region.
These buckets, which can dip water directly from rivers, mark a significant step in enhancing the country’s firefighting capabilities.
“We are also going to conduct training in case we have major fires within the city or other urban settings, so they are equipped now and they are fully trained,” the head of state noted.
President Ali recalled the prolonged dry season last year when Guyana sought assistance from Brazil to combat forest fires. He revealed it was Brazil’s capability that inspired the integration of helibuckets into Guyana’s system.
“In the very dry season last year we had to have the help of Brazil to fight some of the forest fires and they had this capability and we have now adopted that capability in our system.”
The head of state explained that this initiative is part of a broader integration of assets within Guyana’s joint services. The Guyana Police Force is also developing an air wing to enhance its operational capacity, while the Guyana Defence Force will complete a hangar deployment area for its assets at Ogle Airport.
Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane Miller revealed that the Fire Service responded to some 1, 285 forest fires last year between January and April.
“Fires are a reality whether we are talking about economic growth and all the new buildings or whether we are talking about wildfires. I think it is excellent that investments are being made in the Fire Service,” Miller revealed.
President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday emphasised the role of technology in improving traffic management and law enforcement, citing recent data from newly-installed speed cameras.
Data collected over the past five days revealed that, on average, 7 to 11 per cent of road users are speeding. The analysis also identified peak speeding times and according to President Ali, this enables more effective placement of traffic ranks to improve road safety.
“We have been able, through the use of technology, to be able to get real information that can help us to more strategically use our police assets,” President Ali said while addressing an event at the Guyana Fire Service Headquarters on Wednesday.
Recently, digital speed clocks were installed along some highways in the country. These clocks are part of efforts to make the roadways safer and are a crucial part of the forthcoming e-ticketing system.
The new system comprises cameras and advanced technology to monitor traffic accurately, check speeds, read license plates, and track traffic violations to ensure efficient ticketing.
The road intelligent camera system will be fitted onto traffic lights to support the implementation of the new law.
The systems will be managed by the Guyana Police Force.
Photographs will then be taken of vehicles that violate speeding and seatbelt laws. Thereafter, the photo and a notice of the fine will be sent to the vehicle owner’s mobile phone and subsequently mailed to the owner’s address.
One of the biggest programmes under the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs’ budget remained the Community Service Officers (CSOs) programme which has engaged some 2,759 youths for 2024.
The youths are between the ages of 16 and 35 years old, and about 10 to 15 are selected from one village.
“The investment is $1.3 billion in young people. It is not only about reimbursing them for their engagement and contribution to community development… It’s an investment in Amerindian human capital,” Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai said at a press conference on Wednesday.
The government, through the ministry, has been investing billions of dollars in developing indigenous communities across the country.
According to a Department of Public Information (DPI) report, over the last four years, $4.2 billion have been channeled into the CSO programme.
The training under the CSO programme spans various fields, including tourism and hospitality, which has benefitted 62 CSOs from 2020 to the present.
In garment construction, 319 CSOs have been trained, while 331 individuals acquired skills in small engine repair.
Additionally, 255 CSOs were trained in tractor driving and maintenance, and 160 gained expertise in solar installation. Another 151 participants are now equipped with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) knowledge.
“Presently, we have 2,737 CSOs on the programme countrywide. This gives young people in all the regions an opportunity to earn a stipend while they build their capacity,” Permanent Secretary Ryan Toolsiram had said last December.
The investment also facilitated an increase in stipends from $30,000 a month to $40,000.
“This significant investment in Indigenous youth development was made possible by the reimplementation of the CSO programme, which the PPP/C government reinstated upon returning to office in 2020. The programme was discontinued by the previous administration in 2015, leading to job losses across Amerindian communities,” DPI reported.
Recognising that the first few minutes of a fire are critical in preventing loss of life and minimising damage, new volunteer firefighting groups in every Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) should be up and running by the end of January 2025.
These groups will consist of persons employed under the government’s part-time job initiative.
And President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Wednesday revealed that they will receive training to become an integral part of the human resource base of the Guyana Fire Service.
To ensure this venture is well-implemented, the President tasked the Chief of Defence Staff, the Commissioner of Police, the Fire Chief, the Director of Prisons and the National Security Advisor to work with regional commanders to ensure the groups are fully operational.
This move is part of a comprehensive plan to enhance emergency response systems in Guyana.
The unveiling of the new Guyana Fire Service Headquarters (Office of the President photo)
Equipping communities with modern firefighting tools is another focus. And 40 specialised firefighting vehicles, that cost $910.8 million, were also procured to be placed in NDCs across the country. The vehicles were procured from Angloco, a UK company.
“They have all the assets within this vehicle, they have the pumps [and] they have everything that the big fire tender would have except that initial water storage capacity,” the Head of State said.
Along with the vehicles communities will be equipped with modern firefighting balls.
“Our vision is to ensure that almost every community in Guyana is organised to respond to fires within their precincts, equipped with essential firefighting tools and supported by accessible fire tenders.
“Through these efforts we aim to empower communities to take immediate action upon the outbreak of a fire while they await the dispatch of fire tenders from the Guyana Fire Service,” President Ali explained.
Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, highlighted a $1.2 billion investment in 2024, which includes the acquisition of the 40 vehicles, three ambulances, two bowsers, a telescopic firefighting vehicle, a new fireboat, and additional water tenders.
To prevent misuse, cameras and GPS tracking will monitor the use of these vehicles and equipment.
“We have put in place a monitoring room with cameras and GPS tracking for the vehicles, we want to make sure that the vehicles are properly maintained, management, tracked and do not fall into misuse,” Benn revealed.
Additionally, six new fire stations have been constructed in Eccles, Wales, Ogle, Leonora, Diamond.
On Wednesday too, the new $635.5 million Fire Service headquarters was officially commissioned. Other stations at Charity, Parika, Wisroc, and Soesdyke are being developed.
L’Organisation des Nations-Unies (ONU) a publié un rapport accablant sur les violences extrêmes perpétrées par les gangs armés en Haïti en 2024. Selon ce document, 5 600 personnes ont été tuées, 2 212 blessées par balles, et 1 414 autres enlevées. Ces chiffres témoignent de l’ampleur terrifiante des exactions commises contre la population civile.
L’année 2024 a été cauchemardesque pour les Haïtiens. Les gangs armés, lourdement équipés, ont multiplié leurs attaques, étendant leur emprise sur environ 80 % de la zone métropolitaine de Port-au-Prince. Des civils ont été assassinés, parfois brûlés ou jetés à la mer. De nombreuses maisons ont été vandalisées, pillées, et des bâtiments publics ainsi que des véhicules privés ou étatiques incendiés, notamment au centre-ville et dans des quartiers populaires.
Malgré le déploiement en juin 2024 d’une force multinationale de soutien à la sécurité, les gangs n’ont montré aucun signe de recul. Cependant, la police et l’armée, appuyées par cette force internationale, ont réussi à limiter certaines exactions criminelles.
Le rapport, rendu public le 7 janvier 2025 par le Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme (HCDH), montre une hausse de 20 % des meurtres par rapport à 2023.
« Ces chiffres, bien qu’alarmants, ne suffisent pas à rendre compte des horreurs absolues vécues en Haïti. Ils illustrent toutefois la violence constante à laquelle la population est soumise », a déclaré le Haut-Commissaire Volker Türk.
Un exemple frappant de cette barbarie est le massacre de plus de 200 personnes âgées, ordonné par le chef de gang Mikanò, basé à Wharf Jérémie, après de simples accusations de sorcellerie ayant, selon lui, causé la mort de son fils.
Le carnage le plus récent s’est produit le 24 décembre 2024, lors des préparatifs pour la réouverture de l’hôpital de l’Université d’État d’Haïti, connu sous le nom d’Hôpital général. Ce drame a coûté la vie à plusieurs personnes, y compris des journalistes, illustrant une fois de plus la gravité de la crise sécuritaire.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Thursday announced that all Joint Services Ranks will receive a minimum salary of $130,000.
Currently, constables in the Joint Services earn between $105,000 and $110,000.
The President, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Guyana, said this decision means a new minimum salary will be in place.
“We have your best interests at heart. We ask you to give your best to your country, and in return, the country will invest in you,” President Ali stated at an event held at the Guyana Fire Service Headquarters on Homestretch Avenue.
He added, “We have your best interest at heart because we ask to give your best to your country and the country will invest in you.”
In December, the President announced that the country’s servicemen and women would benefit from a one-month bonus in addition to the 7% retroactive salary increase for public servants.
Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton provides details of the project
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali addresses residents at a community meeting along the East Coast of Demerara
A resident raising her concern
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The unveiling of the new Guyana Fire Service Headquarters (Office of the President photo)