Blog

Rohit Sharma‘s decision to sit out of the Sydney Test shouldn’t be misconstrued as a retirement decision, he has said.

He is confident “things can change” and those with a “mic, pen or laptop can’t decide when we should retire.”

Rohit was reacting to media reports in India that had brought his Test future into sharp focus following India’s loss in the fourth Border-Gavaskar Test in Melbourne, which all but ended their chances of qualifying for the WTC final.

“This decision is not a retirement decision,” he told Star Sports during the lunch break on day two of the Sydney Test, in which Jasprit Bumrah is captaining India.

“Nor am I going to take myself out of the game.

“I sat out of this match because runs are not coming off my bat. There is no guarantee runs won’t come five or two months down the line. I have seen a lot in cricket that life changes every second, every minute, every day.

“I have confidence in me that things can change, but at the same time I have to be realistic as well. So life won’t change by what people with a mic, pen or laptop write or say.

They can’t decide when we should retire, when we should sit out, when we should captain. I am a sensible man, mature man, father of two kids. So I know what I need in life.”

Rohit, India’s Test and ODI captain, missed the start of the Test series on paternity leave.

After joining the squad midway through the series opener in Perth, which India won by 295 runs, Rohit slotted into the middle order for the Adelaide and Brisbane Tests to accommodate KL Rahul at the top of the order.

In Melbourne last week, Rohit returned to open the batting with Yashasvi Jaiswal, with Rahul slotting in at No. 3 and Shubman Gill losing out on a place in the XI.

However, two failures and a loss on a dramatic final day led to chatter around his place in the XI.

Rohit didn’t do his usual pre-match press conference a day out from the final Test, and head coach Gautam Gambhir sidestepped questions on Rohit’s participation, stating a call would be taken after looking at the pitch.

“I made this decision after coming here [to Sydney],” Rohit said.

“We had only two days between the matches. On New Year’s, I didn’t want to have this chat with the selector and the coach. But it was in my mind that I am trying my best but I am not getting the runs. I have to accept it and have to get myself out of the way.

“The chat that I had with the coach and the selector was very simple: my bat is not scoring runs, I am not in form, this is an important match, and we need players who are in form. As it is, the boys are not in great form. So I had this simple thought in my mind: we can’t carry out-of-form players.

“That’s why I thought I should tell the coach and the selector what’s going on in my mind. They backed my decision. They said you have been playing for so many years, you are the best judge of what you are doing.”

Rohit’s form has been a concern for a while. He had averaged 13.30 over 10 innings against Bangladesh and New Zealand during the 2023-24 home season.

And he presided over a 3-0 defeat to New Zealand, India’s first home-series loss since 2012-13.

“It was a difficult decision for me, but if you keep everything in mind, this was a sensible decision,” he said.

“I am not thinking too far. Right now, what does the team need? That is what I was thinking. Nothing else.” (ESPNcricinfo)

 

The post Rohit says he ‘stood down’ for SCG Test: ‘It is not a retirement decision’ appeared first on News Room Guyana.

People’s Progressive Party General Secretary, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday criticised the opposition for what he described as incessant misinformation and selective concerns surrounding the transformative Gas-to-energy plant being developed in Wales, Region Three.

Despite the project promising economic benefits both individually and nationally, opposition elements have continuously ignored these and instead, shifted their focus on minor issues, changing narratives over time.

Addressing the matter on Thursday, Jagdeo outlined the evolved criticisms, emphasising the project’s feasibility through a United States Export-Import Bank (EXIM-Bank) loan, amounting to US$526 million.

This line of credit will cover about 25 per cent of the project cost, while the remaining scope of the project will be financed with the government resources.

However, despite being proven wrong on all the allegations, the opposition has now shifted focus to concerns about rising costs and loan interest rates.

“They still want to run down the project. So they shift now speaks about the rising cost of the project,” Jagdeo lamented.

In addressing these concerns, the general secretary pointed out that the 4 per cent interest rate is highly competitive, given global market conditions.

In addition, according to Dr Jagdeo, previous projections on the cost of electricity stood at 7 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), and updated numbers have shown that this can be decreased significantly.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

When completed, massive economic benefits will transform the country’s savings as well as individually.

Jagdeo reiterated that the project will save 1 million barrels of oil annually, resulting in $100 million in foreign exchange savings per year.

Also, 2,600 gigawatt hours (GWh) of power will be generated annually, and at the current consumer rate of 22 cents per kilowatt hour (KHw), $500 million in revenue will be generated for the Guyana Power and Light (GPL).

With the government plans to cut electricity costs by 50 per cent, consumers will save approximately $250 million per year.

Dr Jagdeo further detailed that with cooking gas production, costs will be slashed by half and can result in additional savings of $138 million.

And according to the general secretary combined savings from electricity and LPG will amount to $388 million a year.

These savings alone, he emphasized, could repay the entire project cost within six years, while critics focus on the $55 million annual loan interest payments.

Dr Jagdeo emphasised that the project’s financial benefits far outweighs the debt servicing costs.

“How can they not see this? It’s not that they are not seeing it. They talk about everything else, how much we have to repay a loan, but they would never tell you about what will benefit the people of this country,” Dr Jagdeo underscored.

The Gas-to-energy project is Guyana’s largest single investment, with significant economic m, environmental and social benefits.

The multi million loan from US EXIM-Bank will aid the construction of a natural gas separation plant, a 300 MW combined cycle gas turbine power plant and services related to the gas supply pipeline. [DPI]

The post Financial benefits of gas-to-energy project far outweighs debt servicing costs – Jagdeo highlights appeared first on News Room Guyana.

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali said he is amazed at the innovative use of hydroponics technology at the CV Farm at Kuffy Koker Dam, Friendship, East Bank Demerara.

The Guyanese leader made an unscheduled visit to the farm on Friday where he commended its owner for pioneering a remarkable project and for cultivating a large number of high-value herbs and vegetables.

He believes the fully automated farm demonstrates Guyana’s potential for advanced agricultural practices, particularly in areas where technology can help revolutionise food production.

“We will further support This. This is exactly what we wanted,” President Ali said.

President Ali highlighted the strides his administration has made in the last four years to boost productivity and diversify crops.

He said his government is ready to make all the necessary resources available to strengthen Guyana’s agricultural sector and position the sector as a critical driver for national growth.

Meanwhile, recognising the growing importance of agricultural innovation, the president acknowledged the potential for critical collaboration with experienced agriculturists who can train young people to adopt modern techniques.

Persons can take advantage of the training sessions that are available through the Ministry of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).

The government continues to promote the use of state-of-the-art technology to modernise the regional agricultural system, boost food production and ensure food security.

The aim is to lower the high cost of food imports locally and in the Caribbean.

Some of the benefits of hydroponics farming include a soil-free controlled environment, year-round cultivation, optimised nutrient delivery, space efficiency, reduce pest and disease infestations, faster harvests cycles and water conservation.

In March 2024, the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) received a first-of-its-kind greenhouse, which houses hydroponics and aquaculture facilities from Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

The conservatory will help impart knowledge of climate-resilient agriculture production, a sustainable safeguard for food security while also creating jobs. [DPI]

The post President Ali encourages youth to embrace modern farming practices appeared first on News Room Guyana.

In Region Five, a number of pensioners have begun receiving the $100,000 cash grant, an initiative introduced by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government.

During a visit to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) office located in Fort Wellington on Friday, Bhagmattie, 75, of Number 5 Village, West Coast Berbice, noted her satisfaction regarding the process for collecting her grant.

She specifically noted that she did not encounter any challenges while accessing the funds, which provided her with significant relief.

“I must thank the government a million times for giving me this money. I hope to put it in very good use,” she said.

Mavis Reynolds, a 57-year-old resident of Calcutta Village in Mahaicony

Another recipient, Mavis Reynolds, a 57-year-old resident of Calcutta Village in Mahaicony, also conveyed her appreciation for the grant and highlighted its positive impact on her financial well-being.

“I thank the government for this grant. I think it coulda do in a better way. It was so hard to come into the line,” she noted.

The post Region Five pensioners begin receiving $100, 000 cash grant appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The Ministry of Housing and Water has terminated contracts with 15 contractors in several major housing areas, including La Bonne Intention, Prospect, Perseverance, and Little Diamond, due to performance issues.

This was revealed by Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal on Friday during his ministry’s yearend press conference.

“I have seen on my desk a number of termination letters over the last couple weeks for some contractors and they have one on one engaged the beneficiaries to ensure they are aware and the completion can be done by another contractor.

“At least about 15 contractors we have terminated,” Minister Croal said.

Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal (centre) and other housing officials at the La Reconnaissance (Photo: Central Housing and Planning Authority/ August 4, 2023)

The housing minister revealed that he engaged with the contractors in late December 2024 to address issues and progress.

In noting that some of the complaints are legitimate, Croal said “where we required termination, we have been doing those, where because of how far they have gone in terms of completion and the process in terms of how the money is released from the bank etc, we have been working with the contractors.”

The construction of government-built houses, including the new young professional homes has faced hurdles due to tight profit margins, Minister Croal explained.

The Young Professionals houses under construction at La Bonne Intention (Photo: Matthew Gaul/November 2024)

“The cost for those houses that are being built, the young professional houses now, the new ones, they are being built to $24 million.

“If you take that same design and you try building for yourself, it will post a challenge to you, it therefore is being built by contractors not for a great profit margin and that is why sometimes we struggle with contractors because from a government level we want to keep the cost of the houses at minimum and in order to achieve that, obviously the profit margin will not be like someone who is working for a private individual or private sector,” Croal explained.

Nevertheless, he said once the contractor bids and is awarded, they have an obligation to the contract.

The post Housing Ministry terminates 15 contracts with delinquent contractors in key housing areas appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues on Friday announced the signing of a $12 billion contract with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for the extension of the Coastal Water Treatment plan. The funding will be put towards five additional water treatment facilities.

“Work is expected to commence this month January 2025,” Rodrigues said at a yearend press conference on Friday.

The minister further acknowledged complaints about water quality and revealed the completion of the draft Strategic Investment Plan to further improve treated water on the coast.

The strategic plan will guide the development of treated water, address gaps in the network and cater for the expanding housing programme from 2025 to 2028.

“This strategic investment plan is valued at $28.3 billion dollars, so this will guide the future years,” Rodrigues stated.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues

It will include the drilling of 15 new wells, construction of four surface water treatment plants and two iron removal plants and is expected to benefit over 200, 000 residents.

Despite challenges in the water sector, Minister Rodrigues said it has also been a remarkable year for the ministry. She listed challenges such as disruptions caused by extensive construction and infrastructure development.

“We have a task force or committee that meets from GWI and CH&PA and the Ministry of Public Works, this entire country is a construction site, so a lot of the disruptions in the network are accidental, or you have contractor who did not seek advice or consult GWI to find out exactly where the pipe networks are,” Rodrigues explained.

She revealed that the majority of the incidents last year occurred along the East Bank of Demerara.

Minister Rodrigues further revealed that some contractors “would not report” if they caused an accident to the pipe networks but assured that the ministry is actively involved in rectifying leaks once it is not costly.

“We don’t go through any long bureaucratic process to get these things repaired…we don’t make the public wait for that to be fixed, we make an intervention through GWI to fix it,” she stated adding “if there is cost attached [then] the contractor has to fix it.”

Meanwhile, the century-old water transmission and distribution network in Georgetown also began upgrades last year.
So far, $2 billion has been spent on areas such as Avenue of the Republic, Broad Street to Pegasus Hotel.

In 2025, the ministry will be seeking an additional $1.5 billion to extend upgrades from Lamaha Street to David Street and from Water Street to Marriott Hotel among other areas in the city.

These upgrades aim to address gaps in the network, accommodate expansion, and provide higher water pressure and cleaner water.

Minister Rodrigues urged citizens to be patient with the disruptions the expansions will cause and stated that the improved water infrastructure will benefit all citizens.

The post $12B contract inked with CDB to further improve treated water appeared first on News Room Guyana.