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Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has projected that the demand for credit and financial services in Guyana will grow astronomically so the financial services sector will have to adapt to ensure it is able to respond to this rapid expansion in demand.

In a recorded message to mark Demerara Bank’s 30th anniversary on Thursday, Dr Singh said looking ahead, banks will have an extremely important role to play as the Guyanese economy goes through this era of rapid economic growth.

“The Financial Services Sector in Guyana will definitely have to adapt to ensure that it responds to this rapid expansion in demand for its services,” Minister Singh said.

This, he posited, raises important issues like access to financing by the private sector and more innovation in the tools and instruments that are used by the Financial Services Sector to deliver credit and financing to the private sector.

“It also has very important implications for things like financial inclusion, bringing more people in to the banking system and delivering banking services to more people.

“I anticipate that in the coming months and years ahead, there will be a very significant need for the financial services sector to adapt and respond to the needs of this rapidly growing, changing economic situation,” Dr Singh said.

Government officials have advocated for a modernisation of the banking sector.

President Ali recently said banks have a role to play in helping Guyanese become more financially sophisticated. That includes encouraging more electronic transactions instead of a continued, heavy reliance on cash. Doing so, he said, helps to integrate Guyana’s financial services with the rest of the world.

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Jamal Forde, a 36-year-old Customs Officer from Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was charged on Friday for exposing his genitals to a Police Constable.

He was charged contrary to Section 28 [1] (b) of the Sexual Offences Act.

He was also charged with resisting arrest, contrary to Section 28 [b] of the Summary Jurisdiction Offences Act, and with disorderly behaviour contrary to Section 136 [a] of the Summary Jurisdiction Offences Act.

These incidents occurred on September 3, 2024; he was arrested then by ranks from the Sparendaam Police Station.

On Friday, the man appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court #2 before Magistrate Abigail Gibbs, where the charges were read to him.

He pleaded not guilty and was placed on $60,000 court bail for Exposure of Genitals; $50,000 for Resisted Arrest; and $50,000 for Disorderly Behaviour.

The matter was adjourned to December 12, 2024.

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Days after he was shot in a confrontation with Police, Carlton Cortland Jones managed to escape from lawful custody and is now on the run.

Police Headquarters issued a wanted bulletin for Jones on Friday. It was noted that he escaped from lawful custody on Wednesday, two days after he was shot in the confrontation.

Jones is wanted for the murder of Aeriey Matthew, an incident that occurred sometime between October 28 and 29, 2022.

Anyone who has information about the whereabouts of Jones is asked to contact the Police on 227-1149, 225-8196, 227-1611, 268-2328/268-2329, 226-3405, 225-6978, 333-3876, 225-8196 or the nearest Police station.

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The Carnegie School of Home Economics (CSHE) commemorated 92 years of excellence in education and training with the graduation of 114 students at its annual ceremony today. Held under the theme “Shaping Generations with Creativity and Skills: 92 Years of Transformation in Education and Training,” the event celebrated the institution’s legacy and its graduates’ promising futures.

This year’s cohort showcased the diversity and depth of CSHE’s programs, with certificates and diplomas awarded in Certificate in Household Management: (13), Certificate in Garment Making Level 1: (7), Certificate in Interior Decoration: (10), Certificate in General Cosmetology: (15), Certificate in Commercial Food Preparation Level 1: (15), Diploma in Catering and Hospitality: (54).

The graduates included 13 recipients of the Public Service Ministry (PSM) Scholarship, as well as representatives from key national institutions, including 7 from the Guyana Defense Force, 4 from the Guyana Police Force, and 2 from the Guyana Prison Service.

Principal of CSHE, Dr. Sharmaine Marshall highlighted the institution’s commitment to preparing students for the workforce and entrepreneurial ventures, emphasizing the importance of industry relationships.

“The CSHE uses the occupational standard as the curriculum for training in various occupational areas, intending to produce skilled persons ready for industry jobs, or as entrepreneurs or business owners. CSHE recognizes the importance of and prioritizes building relationships and partnerships with industries for our students’ success. As such, our institution enjoys good relationships with many of our partners in the hospitality, garment, and cosmetology industry. All of our full-time students were accommodated on work attachment or internship, after which, in many instances, our students are hired.”

Delivering the feature address, Ms. Oma Ramdin, Director of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), praised CSHE’s vital role in advancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Guyana:

“In the Ministry of Education, we tell Dr. Tularam that he trades on his tagline, ‘Skill is Wealth,’ and ‘TVET is on the move.’ Indeed, TVET is definitely on the move and moving rapidly, and I’m very happy that you’re part of that movement. Learn that challenges will strengthen you, but you have to resolve personally that you’ll be the best at what you do, regardless of the situation. When people see and experience quality, they are going to follow you wherever you go. This qualification gives you independence and an avenue to do better for yourself and for the people around you.”

TVET, a cornerstone of the Ministry of Education’s development strategy, is designed to equip individuals with practical skills to meet local and global workforce demands. Through programs like those offered by CSHE, students gain not only technical expertise but also the confidence to pursue careers or launch their own businesses.

Founded in 1933, the Carnegie School of Home Economics is Guyana’s premier institution for technical and vocational education, offering programs in hospitality, garment construction, interior design, and cosmetology. Over its 92 years, the school has continually evolved to address industry trends and national development needs, producing generations of skilled professionals and entrepreneurs.

As CSHE celebrates 92 years of transformation, the institution remains steadfast in its mission to empower individuals with creativity and skills, shaping not only their futures but also contributing to Guyana’s socio-economic development. The ceremony served as a reminder of CSHE’s enduring impact and its graduates’ potential to excel in their respective fields. [Ministry of Education Press Release]

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Australia collapsed to 67-7 as India rallied with the ball to seize the initiative, despite being dismissed for just 150 on an extraordinary opening day of the first Test in Perth.

After opting to bat first the tourists, who made a staggering six changes from their historic third Test defeat by New Zealand earlier in November, were reduced to 32-3 and 73-6.

Virat Kohli’s struggles continued as he made just five, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal, both playing in Australia for the first time, were dismissed without scoring.

Rishabh Pant (37) and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy (41) showed some form to counter-attack and drag India to 150, but they were bowled out within two sessions.

In reply, Jasprit Bumrah produced a breathtaking opening spell to leave Australia 19-3.

He removed debutant Nathan McSweeney lbw on review and had Usman Khawaja caught in the slips, before removing Steve Smith lbw first ball.

Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh both then fell cheaply, before Marnus Labuschagne, who batted resiliently for two off 52 balls, was trapped lbw by Mohammed Siraj.

Bumrah returned to remove Pat Cummins, as Australia reached 67-7 at stumps, and will resume 83 runs behind when play resumes on Saturday.

The 17 wickets to fall is the most on the opening day of a Test in Australia since 1952.

Josh Hazlewood captured the wicket of Virat Kohli (Photo: Getty Images)

Kohli fails again as India’s top order blown away

There were questions over India’s batting coming into the series, after being bowled out for 46, 156 and 121 in their 3-0 defeat by New Zealand.

Opener and captain Rohit Sharma is missing this game after the birth of his second child, while number three Shubman Gill was not considered for selection after injuring a thumb in India’s intra-squad warm-up.

That led to KL Rahul opening and Padikkal, playing in his second Test, coming in at three.

With the pressure on Kohli to hold the innings and makeshift line-up together, he brought energy to the crease and looked proactive, but once again he failed.

It was beautiful bowling from Josh Hazlewood to set him up, going slightly shorter, and he found extra bounce to bring the outside edge.

It was Kohli’s fifth single-figure score in his past 10 Test innings where he averages just 21.2, compared to his career average of 47.6.

His average innings has lasted just 29.4 balls, way down on the 80.3 across his career.

The rest of the India batting line-up was blown away by the accuracy of the Australia seamers.

There was barely a loose ball, and subtle changes of line often brought the edge, with nine of the wickets caught behind the stumps by Alex Carey or the cordon.

Rahul’s dismissal, given out caught behind on review, was controversial, with the Indian convinced that the noise on the snickometer technology was bat hitting pad, rather than an outside edge.

Pant, who is the one Indian batter in form, offered resistance alongside Kumar Reddy – with both offered a life – but Australia’s persistent nagging brought rewards. (BBC)

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For the second day in a row, captain Shahid Ramzan claimed the Player-of-the-Match award with a superb all-round performance to lead the Select XI to victory over East Bank in the Demerara Cricket Board’s ‘Next Generation’ Inter-Association Under-15, 50-over competition.

And Satindra Shiwdarsan starred with bat and ball on Thursday to spur East Coast to a comfortable 54-run win over West Demerara in the other third round game.

Shahid Ramzan receives the Player-of-the-Match trophy from Alstyne Haywood (Photo: News Room/November 21, 2024)

Ramzan stars again…this time at Farm!

SUMMARY: East Bank 105 all out from 23 overs (Ganesh Appanah 19, Vinesh Kalpoo 18, Tunil Suraj 10; Shahid Ramzan 4-13, Jasani Craig 3-19, Azariah Duncan 1-3, Saurav Persaud 1-7, Aditya Khan 1-10) vs Select XI 106-4 from 18 overs (Shahid Ramzan 42*, Nathan Puran 16, Roscoe Anderson 9*, Adam Mohamed 6; Jagdesh Kalpoo, Devindra Mohamed and Tunil Suraj all picked up one wicket)

After taking 3-14 and making a match-winning 45 not out against West Demerara at Transport on Wednesday, 14-year-old Ramzan returned on Thursday to take 4-13.

He then stroked a sublime 42 not out to inspire his team to victory.

New-ball pair Jasani Craig and Saurav Persaud rocked East Bank top-order with three wickets in the Powerplay, before off-spinner Ramzan cleaned up the middle-order with a tight five-over spell.

Craig was again impressive with 3-19 off six overs, while Persaud, Aditya Khan and Azariah Duncan took one each, as the East Bank lads were routed for 105 in 23 overs.

Jasani Craig was again impressive with the new ball, generating good pace and taking three wickets (Photo: News Room/November 21, 2024)

Ganesh Appanah (19), Vinesh Kalpoo (18) and Tunil Suraj (10) were the leading scorers for East Bank, whose bowlers were confronted by positive intent from the Select XI batters.

Batting at number three, Ramzan led the way with another captain’s knock, which spanned 40 balls and included four fours, while the technically correct Nathan Puran made 16 off 29.

Roscoe Anderson (09*) struck two fours to close out the match at 106-4 from 18 overs, while Adam Mohamed showed glimpses of his talent with some crisp shots in a supporting role to Ramzan.

Ramzan, who plays for Georgetown Cricket Club, has been the rock of the Select XI batting, topscoring in all three games thus far.

He made 25 in the opening round against Georgetown at the Queen’s College ground, and has a tournament average of 112, having been dismissed just once in three innings.

Satindra Shiwdarsan receives his Player-of-the-Match trophy from Troy Khan

Runs and wickets for Shiwdarsan as East Coast

SUMMARY: East Coast 153 all out from 33.1 overs (Satindra Shiwdarsan 38, Akeem Persaud 24, Junior Dindyal 22, Nicholas Mahadeo 15; Patrice Fraser 4-34, Alwin Williams 3-25) vs West Demerara 99 all out from 32.1 overs (Joshua Williams 23, Joshua Corlette 18; Satindra Shiwdarsan 3-22, Nathaniel Sukhnandan 3-23)

Playing the LBI ground, East Coast Demerara, Shiwdarsan made a topscore of 38 (7x4s) and got support from Akeem Persaud, Junior Dindyal and Nicholas Mahadeo as East Coast posted 153 in 33.1 overs.

Patrice Fraser took four wickets and Alvin Williams picked up three for West Demerara, who were dismissed for 99 in 32.1 overs.

Leg-spinner Shiwdarsan took 3-22 off nine overs, while left-arm spinner Nathaniel Sukhnandan bagged 3-23 off 10 overs.

The five-team competition, which is being used by the Demerara Cricket Board to select its team for the Inter-County tournament in 2025, will wrap up this weekend with the final two rounds.

East Coast will next face Georgetown on Saturday at the LBI ground, while on the same day, West Demerara will take on East Bank at the Meten-Meer-Zorg ground.

On Sunday, the Select XI will collide with East Coast at LBI, while Georgetown will tackle West Demerara at the Queen’s College ground.

Matches will start at 09:00h.

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Concacaf conducted the official draw for the 2025 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Qualifiers.

The qualifying tournament for next year’s Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship will take place from February 20 to 25 across four venues in Central America and the Caribbean.

Guyana is in Group A alongside Haiti, Belize and Antigua and Barbuda.

The 24 Women’s U-20 national teams participating were split into six groups of four national teams each, as follows:

Group A: Haiti, Guyana, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda 

Group B: Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Honduras, US Virgin Islands

Group C: Dominican Republic, Panama, Cuba, Bonaire

Group D: Jamaica, Nicaragua, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines

Group E: Canada, Trinidad & Tobago, Bermuda, Dominica

Group F: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Cayman Islands, Aruba

After round-robin play between February 20 and 25, 2025, the first-place team from each group (six teams in total) will advance to the 2025 Concacaf U-20 Women’s Championship, joining the two pre-seeded top-ranked nations, the United States and Mexico.

Matches will be played in four venues: Antigua and Barbuda will host Group A, Dominican Republic Groups B and C, Nicaragua Group D, and Trinidad and Tobago Groups E and F.

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The Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF) will host the prestigious ‘Mr. Guyana’ National Seniors’ Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships on December 1, 2024, at Olympic House.

Top athletes, including recent Central American and Caribbean gold medalists Emmerson Campbell, Hannah Rampersaud, Nicholas Albert, and Julio Sinclair, are expected to compete.

Other notable participants include Christina Ramsammy, Seon Budhan, and Melitha Anderson.

The competition will feature five categories: Bodybuilding, Men’s Physique, Bikini, Wellness, and Fitness. Over 30 athletes are expected to participate in this highly anticipated event.

The GBBFF has secured financial support from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and Fitness Express.

Additional sponsors are expected to come on board to support this significant event.

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A successful police operation in Agatash Village, Bartica on Thursday resulted in the arrest of a murder suspect and the discovery of three unlicensed shotguns. The operation was led by Senior Superintendent Dion Moore, Commander of Regional Police Division #7, who acted on intelligence received at approximately 11:04 hrs.

Commander Moore, accompanied by a team of officers from the Bartica Police Station, arrived at the residence of Frederick Singh, a 71-year-old farmer, to apprehend a wanted individual. The suspect, identified as 55-year-old Heimraj James, also known as ‘Ricky’ or ‘Sawman,’ is a chainsaw operator from the area.

Upon arrival, the police ranks made contact with James and informed him of the allegations against him. After being cautioned, James admitted to his involvement in a fatal altercation on October 14, 2023, at Granny Landing, Omai Backdam. He confessed that during the incident, he had an argument with 52-year-old Perry Budram, which escalated into violence, and James chopped Budram, who later succumbed to his injuries.

In addition to the arrest, a search was conducted at Frederick Singh’s home, where police discovered three shotguns—one 16-gauge and two 12-gauge shotguns—along with six 12-gauge cartridges hidden beneath the bottom of the house.

Singh, during an interview with authorities, admitted ownership of the firearms and ammunition. He stated that he used the shotguns for hunting purposes. Singh was also cautioned and arrested for possession of the unlicensed firearms.

Both suspects were transported to the Bartica Police Station, where they remain in custody, assisting with the ongoing investigation. The firearms and ammunition were seized as evidence.

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Four individuals, including two teenagers, have been formally charged with the murder of 40-year-old Davanan Hosea, a chainsaw operator, who was killed on November 17 during a violent altercation.

The accused, 24-year-old Javon Granstuart and 21-year-old Rodwell Fraser, both construction workers from Victory Valley, Timehri, were charged alongside two 16-year-olds.

All four appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at Diamond Magistrate’s Court #2 on Thursday, where the charge of murder was read to them. They were not required to plead to the charge, and the case has been adjourned until January 15, 2025, for further reports.

Following the charge, the two juveniles were remanded to the Holding Centre, while Granstuart and Fraser were taken into custody at the Georgetown Prison.

The investigation into Hosea’s murder was launched after the victim was fatally attacked early on Sunday last during a violent confrontation with several men.

Police confirmed that the suspects were arrested during an intelligence-led operation, after reviewing CCTV footage from the area.

The investigation revealed that Granstuart was found in possession of a large ‘Rambo’ knife, while one of the juveniles had Hosea’s cell phone at the time of his arrest.

Five suspects, including a 25-year-old salesman, who was arrested shortly after the crime were all held in custody pending charges. Police have not disclosed the identities of the other suspects involved.

 

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