(Financial Times) US president-elect Donald Trump on Saturday threatened tariffs of 100 per cent against the so-called Brics countries unless their governments agree not to create a new currency as an alternative to the US dollar.
“The idea that the Brics Countries are trying to move away from the Dollar while we stand by and watch is OVER,” Trump wrote in a post to his Truth Social platform on Saturday afternoon.
The group is made up primarily of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, but has recently expanded to include Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Egypt and Ethiopia.
Although the US dollar is the most-used currency in global business and trade, Brics nations such as Russia and China have called for the bloc to challenge the dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency. A proposal for a Brics currency was introduced at last year’s summit in South Africa.
“We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy,” Trump wrote on Saturday.
In October, Russian president Vladimir Putin accused western powers of “weaponising” the dollar, arguing at a Brics summit in Kazan that sanctions against Russia since its invasion of Ukraine “undermine the trust in this currency and diminish its powers”.
Kato Village situated in the North Pakaraimas of Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), will benefit from key development initiatives, including youth empowerment programmes and enhanced water access.
This latest development follows an engagement with residents and youths, held by President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali during his overnight visit.
Speaking at the sod-turning for the $5.4 billion Kato Hospital, President Ali said he was privilege to engage residents and address their priority concerns, outlining key projects to be undertaken.
Residents of Kato and surrounding communities at the sod-turning event
These include constructing a multipurpose tarmac, catering to the social needs Kato villagers, and, “The young people are going to build that tarmac themselves,” he said.
To expand access to water, the government will undertake the expansion of the water supply system, by distributing 140 tanks to every household in Kato. Furthermore, the Kato Secondary School will be connected to a spring, ensuring a reliable water supply.
As part of the construction of the major health facility, 60 youths will be permanently employed, ensuring they are financially independent.
In addition, he encouraged youths with the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) qualifications, to enroll in nursing programmes, and even in courses offered by the military.
“I said to Frank (Minister of Health), all those who have the five CSEC subjects, that want to do the nursing programme, let us enroll them now. And they will be working in this hospital,” President Ali elaborated.
President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali
Similarly, the living conditions of Itabac residents, also in Region Eight, will significantly improve, following the president’s visit. For instance, residents will receive black tanks and zinc sheets for enhanced access to water.
Furthermore, heavy-duty equipment will be assigned to the village to improve road infrastructure. The livelihoods of Eteringbang in Region Seven will also benefit from programmes tailored to enhance the social and economic situations.
Meanwhile, the president highlighted the stark contrast in investments into Region Eight, by current and previous administration.
For instance, investments in healthcare catapulted to over $10 billion over the past four years, compared to a mere $1.7 billion between 2015-2020. Additionally, per capita investment exceeds $4 million GYD in healthcare and education combined.
Notably, Region Eight’s budget has seen an almost 100 per cent increase under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.
“This is the real story of the development that is taking place in this region. If you look at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, an important piece of statistics…. We have spent almost $2.7 billion from the ministry,” President Ali emphasised.
He also highlighted the ongoing construction of the Monkey Mountain Secondary School project and eco-tourism development plans (Republished from the Department of Public Information)
The registration process for National Insurance Scheme (NIS) pensioners to receive the 0=one-off $100,000 cash grant will begin on Monday.
The government on Friday published the official registration schedule, which will enable pensioners in the various regions to register while conducting transactions at their respective NIS offices.
Registration will last from December 2-6, 2024.
Pensioners can register at various offices across Guyana, depending on their region of residence.
Registration schedule for NIS pensioners
In Region One, registration is available at the Mabaruma Compound. Region Two pensioners can register in Anna Regina. For Region Three, options include the local office in Klien Pouderoyen or Leonora.
In Region Four, registration can be done at offices in Brickdam, and Winter Place, or, Camp and Bent Streets in Georgetown, as well as in First Street, Melanie Damishana, and Mahaicony. Region Five pensioners can register in Fort Wellington, while Region Six offers registration in Port Mourant, Corriverton, and New Amsterdam.
Region Seven pensioners can register in Bartica, and Region Nine residents can register at the Regional Democratic Council office. Finally, Region Ten pensioners can register in McKenzie, Linden.
Persons are required to present a valid National Identification Card or a valid passport to register, and are only required to register once.
The $100,000 one-off cash grant was announced in October, and will bring significant relief to thousands of Guyanese.
On Wednesday, the National Assembly approved a $30.5 billion supplementary provision to begin distribution of these funds. Public servants and pensioners are among the first tranche of persons to benefit from the initiative. Additional locations for the registration of pensioners will be provided soon (Republished from the Department of Public Information)
Fifty pupils from Liberty, Hogg Island, and surrounding villages in Region Three now have a conducive environment for learning, following the commissioning of the reconstructed $54 million Western Hogg Island Primary School.
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand and Regional Chairman, Inshan Ayube presided over the commissioning ceremony for the new school on Wednesday.
The reconstructed Western Hogg Island Primary School
Due to the school’s deplorable state over the years, it was decided that the school would be rehabilitated to provide a better learning environment and eliminate the need for the pupils to travel great distances.
During the school’s construction phase, the pupils were accommodated at the two government buildings adjacent to the school.
The school was completed back in July.
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and Regional Chairman, Inshan Ayube unveil the plaque for Western Hogg Island Primary School
The newly renovated school is staffed by four teachers who recently graduated from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE). An additional teacher from the school is currently being trained at CPCE. This will ensure that the pupils are provided with high-quality education.
The completion of this school reflects the government’s continuous dedication to making sure that every young person in Guyana has equitable access to quality educational opportunities, fostering growth and development (Republished from the Department of Public Information)
Three chess players were awarded prizes for their outstanding achievements in chess for 2023 in the National Sports Award Ceremony on Thursday, November 28, 2024, on the lawns of the Castellani House and Art Gallery.
The formal event was organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport in collaboration with the National Sports Commission (NSC). Guyana’s top athletic performers, coaches and officials in all disciplines were recognised for outstanding performances in local, regional and international competitions.
Members of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) were on hand to represent the chess community and celebrate with the 2023 chess players who were recognised for their stellar performance and sportsmanship.
Jessica Callender receives her award from Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. (Photo: News Room/Akeem Greene)
Copping the Runner-up award for Senior Sportswoman-of-the-Year was WCM Jessica Callender, currently the reigning National Women’s Chess Champion and holder of the 2023 National Women’s Chess Championship Title.
Callender started playing chess when she was 11 years old, and now over a decade later, she has represented her country numerous times, most notably at the recent Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary.
She earned her Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title at the 2022 Olympiad in India. Callender is also a National Arbiter and has completed the FIDE Arbiter training.
As a FIDE certified School Instructor, she uses her free time to train younger chess players and volunteers at the GCF chess club. She is now a chess coach employed by the Ministry of Education.
Young Kataleya Sam collects her award from Chairman of the National Sports Commission Kashif Muhammad (Photo: News Room/Akeem Greene)
For Junior Sportswoman-of-the-Year, the Runner-up award went to 11-year-old Kataleya Sam.
The junior player copped the 2023 Under-12 Girls Chess Champion title and is the current reigning Under-12 Girls Chess Champion.
Sam has been actively playing chess for the last four years and has represented the country at prestigious events.
She made her mark in the junior chess world when she earned her Conditional Women’s chess title (WCM) for outstanding performance in the Under-10 female division at the XIV CAC Youth Chess Festival held in Trinidad and Tobago in August 2023.
Sam was also part of the junior contingent which represented Guyana at the recent Pan American Youth Championships XXXIV in Orlando, Florida.
She attends Queen’s College and assists young and upcoming players in her school’s chess club.
In the category of Sportswoman Person with Disability (PWD), the winner of this award went to the exceptional Anaya Lall. Anaya holds the 2023 Under-14 and 16 Female Chess Championship Titles.
Anaya’s amazing career as Guyana’s first national Deaf chess player began at a bottom house school for Deaf children in Tuschen, a village in Region Three on the East Bank of the Essequibo.
Born on February 5, 2010, Anaya never faltered in her love for the game and, over the next decade, would prove herself a real champion, gentle and shy and a core of steel.
Her consistently excellent performances at the national and international level as a Deaf chess player have made her an icon for inclusivity and a shining example for all youth living with a disability.
Among the high points of her career was her participation at the 44th Chess Olympiad in India in 2022 as the only Deaf player to ever represent Guyana internationally and, at 12 years of age, the youngest player on the team.
Anaya has been the spark that ignited the Special Needs School chess program, now being implemented by the Guyana Chess Federation across Guyana, with annual inter-school competitions and ongoing teacher training. This has already led to two more young Deaf players competing nationally.
The GCF extends warm congratulations to the ladies on their well-earned awards and wishes them well in their future Chess journey.
Other players and officials nominated from the GCF were CM Taffin Khan for Senior Sportsman of the Year, Keron Sandiford for Junior Sportsman of the Year, FM Anthony Drayton for Male Coach, and FIDE Arbiter John Lee for Male Sports Official.
Corporate Sponsors who were nominated by the GCF for 2023 were Gaico Construction (large), De Sinco Trading (medium), and Jade’s Wok (small). Aveanash Ramzan was nominated for Sports Journalist of the Year.
The Honorable Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport, Mr. Charles Ramson, in his address, highlighted the Government’s investment in sport and firm belief that by intelligently building a collaborative environment, a lot can be achieved for Guyanese athletes.
The GCF congratulates all the winners and nominees of the 2023 National Awards.
The GCF recognizes the importance of acknowledging outstanding individuals in sport and commends the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport and the NSC for maintaining and enhancing this 70-year tradition.
The GCF would like to acknowledge the inclusion of the private sector and the media in these awards and their vital part in the growth of chess in Guyana. Gratitude is extended to the
National Sports Commission and the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport for their hard work and dedication to sport in Guyana.
President Irfaan Ali of Guyana recently joined the people of Barbados to mark the island’s 58th Independence Anniversary and third Republic Anniversary; the celebrations were also attended by a US bipartisan Congressional delegation, led by Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
The celebrations also honoured the centenary of Shirley Chisholm’s birth; Chisolm, an American politician, was born to a Guyanese father and Barbadian mother, and became the first Black woman to be elected to the United States congress and the first black candidate for a major-party nomination for President of the United States and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.
According to Prime Minister Motley, the commemorations provided a platform for discussions on critical regional issues.
President Ali meets Mark Green, US Republican Congressman from Tennessee
Mottley reflected on the milestone events and highlighted engagements with Caribbean leaders and U.S. lawmakers.
Alongside President Ali, the events included Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago and Camillo Gonsalves, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ finance minister, as they discussed a wide array of challenges and opportunities for the region.
“These celebrations were more than just a reflection of our history. We took time to engage with CARICOM colleagues President Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Rowley, and Minister Camillo Gonsalves, as well as members of the U.S. Congress on a bipartisan basis, to discuss matters of mutual interest,” Mottley said.
Among the issues raised were regional security, with leaders reaffirming the Caribbean’s commitment to being a Zone of Peace. They also tackled the escalating climate crisis, emphasising its disproportionate impact on small island states.
Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali joined Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley for the celebrations and talks with the US officials. Alongside President Ali, the events included Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago and Camillo Gonsalves, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ finance minister
Mottley stressed the importance of financial frameworks that account for the region’s vulnerability. Access to concessional funding must be based on vulnerability and not simply on GDP per capita,” she said, reiterating previous calls for a new development and investment programme, ehanced market access and near-shoring.
“We look forward to working together in the interest of strengthening our resilience and opportunities for inclusive growth for all of our citizens,” Mottley concluded.
Kemar Roach rocked Bangladesh early, but West Indies’ poor catching denied the home team a few more wickets on the truncated first day of the Kingston Test.
Bangladesh finished on 69-2, with Shadman Islam and Shahadat Hossain unbeaten on 50 and 12, respectively.
It could have been much worse had the West Indies fielders not dropped three catches quickly.
The match began at 3pm local time, five hours after the scheduled start of play, due to the wet outfield at Sabina Park.
The delayed start forced Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz to bat first on a sunny day where only 30 overs were possible.
The visitors, however, lost two wickets early in the first half an hour.
Mahmudul Hasan Joy was the first to be dismissed, caught behind for two, with wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva taking a fine diving catch.
Roach then removed Mominul Haque with a delivery that swung into the left-hander from around the wicket, before leaving and taking the edge.
It was Mominul’s fourth duck in the West Indies, as Roach picked up his 50th wicket against Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s batters looked ripe for the picking, but the West Indies players didn’t back their fast bowlers with their fielding.
Alick Athanaze dropped Shadman on 15 when he drove in front of first slip but couldn’t hold on to the chance. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite then dropped Shadman on 35 at cover.
Then came the comical drop when Jayden Seales drew Shahadat’s edge with the batter on eight.
The ball burst out of Athanaze’s grip and went towards Kavem Hodge at first slip, who spilled the rebound, which then fell out of Athanaze’s reach as he tried to collect to the ball.
The slow outfield after the rain hampered the run flow as well. Shadman struck three fours and a six in his 100-ball stay. Shahadat edged one boundary.
Many of their forceful shots however were stuck near the boundary rope.
Bangladesh would however not mind the way this batting pair stuck it out for a couple of hours after a poor start. (ESPNcricinfo)
Residents of Kato and surrounding communities at the sod-turning event
President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali
Registration schedule for NIS pensioners
The reconstructed Western Hogg Island Primary School
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and Regional Chairman, Inshan Ayube unveil the plaque for Western Hogg Island Primary School 100vw, 1256px”><figcaption class=)
Jessica Callender receives her award from Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. (Photo: News Room/Akeem Greene) 100vw, 942px”><figcaption class=)
Young Kataleya Sam collects her award from Chairman of the National Sports Commission Kashif Muhammad (Photo: News Room/Akeem Greene) 100vw, 2560px”><figcaption class=)
President Ali meets Mark Green, US Republican Congressman from Tennessee 100vw, 1254px”><figcaption class=)
Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali joined Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley for the celebrations and talks with the US officials. Alongside President Ali, the events included Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago and Camillo Gonsalves, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ finance minister