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President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Kester Hutson has urged citizens to speak out on the issue of expired goods in mainstream supermarkets throughout the country, and other breaches of regulations.

He said apart from robust monitoring and management by authorities such as the Government Food Analyst and Drug Department and the Guyana Bureau of Standards, the public’s help is also needed to curb this problem.

“Members of the Chamber would have shared with the Council and executives that we’ve been experiencing some challenges when we go to shop with our families. You recognise the labelling of a product is not in English, it’s expired, it’s not being well kept, and there’s some regulatory issues,” he pointed out.

Hutson was speaking to the News Room a few days ago on the sidelines of the launch of GCCI’s Business Development Forum.

“They should have some strict regulations when it comes to operating a supermarket,” Hutson said, adding, “From a standardisation standpoint, you travel and go to supermarkets abroad and you recognise that they’re properly labelled; they comply with international standards.”

He pointed out, too, that there’s a health issue when it comes to grouping of products, or having hazardous items next to those that people consume.

“We want to ensure that more monitoring is done and a thorough assessment. We want to encourage citizens to speak out. Guyana is growing very rapidly and so we demand a certain level of quality of service and products.”

In a statement earlier this month, the private sector group had said it is also calling on the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), through its Customs Department, to ensure all goods being cleared after import meet regulatory requirements.

“Notably, too, is the need for a closer examination of adherence to tax laws by those businesses to ensure equal application of the rule of law for all enterprises operating in this industry.

“In the same vein the Chamber is calling for the labour laws to be respected. The GCCI is calling on the Ministry of Labour to ensure that those businesses are in complaint with the Labour Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act and other pertinent labour laws,” GCCI said.

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Ranks on Tuesday found a gun and ammunition at Onderneeming, Essequibo Coast.

Police Headquarters said the gun and ammunition were found during an intel-led joint services operation conducted between 00:30 hrs and 01:10 hrs Tuesday at Onderneeming Sand Pit, Essequibo Coast. Ranks found a .38 revolver containing four live .38 rounds of ammunition under a bucket on land surrounded by thick vegetation.

The joint services ranks took possession of the firearm and ammunition, which were marked and lodged at the Suddie Police Station. No one was arrested as yet.

Investigations are in progress.

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Minister of Education Priya Manickchand on Tuesday announced the launch of concise study notes for Social Studies and Science subjects, specifically designed for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

“What this does is put all that heavy notes that your children usually get, exercise books upon exercise books into a concise form.

“So if they know this and they answer questions in and around these notes and they understand these concepts they are bang on ready for those exams,” the Education Minister said during a Facebook address.

The study notes are designed for pupils in grades four, five and six.

The notes are currently being printed to be distributed across the country, but Minister Manickchand acknowledged that the process takes time due to public bidding. In the meantime, the study notes are available on the Ministry of Education’s website.

Children’s Mathematics, English, and Social Studies performances at the 2024 NGSA improved this year. However, Science scores dipped slightly, even as the average science grade remained relatively the same.

English pass rates increased to 66.79 percent from 64.47 percent last year, Social Studies from 58.57 percent last year to 62.88 percent this year, and Mathematics from 38.87 percent last year to 40.36 percent this year.

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A man, who has not yet been identified, is dead following an accident at Sheriff and Dennis Streets early Tuesday morning.

Traffic Chief Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh confirmed that one person died and that ranks are on the scene trying to ascertain what transpired.

So far, it is known that one truck collided with another at the intersection of Sheriff and Dennis Streets. One of the trucks then crashed into a building along Sheriff Street, while the other struck down the man and crashed into other vehicles along Sheriff and Dennis Streets.

This is a developing story

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By Telesha Ramnarine

Telesha@newsroom.gy

Nasir Barnwell, a father of five school-aged kids, has been living in Samville for 15 years – a long-time off grid and remote community on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

Because of the lack of reliable electricity for many years, doing business has not been the easiest of livelihoods there.

So, when Barnwell started his small business – selling fish, chicken, and beef – he was forced to buy ice daily but when the village’s geography posed new challenges to this arrangement he had to close his shop.

Imagine Barnwell’s delight when President Irfaan Ali made a promise that the community would benefit from the services of GPL. With that promise delivered, he is definitely considering to restart his business.

“I feel so happy. I know we woulda get the current but I didn’t know exactly when, so I must say thanks to the President also for letting we have the current in a convenient time,” Barnwell expressed.

“My children feel real happy. We had a television that we put away for a long time, so I will get it up and running. They could do their school work and stuff, so it’s really beneficial,” he added.

One of the houses in Samville that was connected to GPL’s grid recently.

Developed in 2005 through self-help efforts, the once jungle like terrain was cleared manually and gave life to what is now Samville. It is home to about 500 persons, many of whom, will for the very first time in history, access electricity.

This significant development comes following a visit to the community by President Ali.

On October 3, 2024, Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) representatives visited the community to address residents’ concerns and explain the electrification application process.

Because most of the inhabitants are squatters, a process ensued to ensure that they could be regularised in order to access electrification services.

Recognising the urgency of the initiative and its mandate, the company deployed an outreach team a month later, on Sunday, November 3, 2024, led by GPL’s Executive Management Committee Head Kesh Nandlall, to follow-up with residents and to help with their application efforts.

Close to 60 persons received advice with a significant number of those applicants successfully concluding their application process.

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Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) hosted a live draw for its recently concluded Drive Home Promotion, where one lucky customer, Ryan Basdeo, was selected as the winner of the grand prize: a brand-new Toyota Raize SUV.

The live draw took place on November 17, 2024, at the GBTI GuyExpo booth. The attendees included, Hon. Prime Minister of Guyana– Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips, GBTI’s CEO– Shawn Gurcharran, GBTI’s Chief Commercial Officer– Rawattie Mohandeo and their Marketing Manager–Pernell Cummings. Members of the media and other GBTI team members were also present, making the event a grand celebration of customer appreciation.

Ryan Basdeo with GBTI representatives

The Drive Home Promotion, which aimed at empowering customers on their journey of home ownership, culminated in this grand moment that showcased the bank’s commitment to giving back to its loyal customers.

Remarks by Hon. Prime Minister of Guyana– Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips,

“GBTI is at the forefront of ensuring dreams are realized, as a government we will continue to work with institutions like GBTI to ensure that dreams are realized and to ensure that all the people of Guyana are empowered and can own their own home.”

Speaking at the event, Chief Commercial Officer- Rawattie Mohandeo said, “At GBTI, we understand that homeownership is one of life’s most significant milestones. Since launching our housing loan campaign in 2022, we have strived to make this dream attainable for even more Guyanese families. Today we are proud to award one lucky winner the grand prize of a Toyota Raize SUV- a symbol of the new journey each customer embarks on when they choose GBTI. As we look to the future, we are committed to continuing to innovate and provide solutions that resonate with the needs of our communities. To our customers- thank you for choosing GBTI and trusting us with your dream.”

The draw concluded with the winner, Ryan Basdeo, taking photos with GBTI representatives, capturing the memorable moment as he received the keys to his new SUV (GBTI press release)

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Guyana has excelled in this year’s CXC® Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, securing top positions among candidates across the region. Guyana proudly ranked in the top ten candidates per subject for 13 subject areas.

In 2024, Guyana saw a total of 259 candidates who sat the CSEC® exams earning eight Grade 1s or more. Seventy students earned twelve Grade 1s or more –an increase from 50 in 2023. Similarly, the number of students attaining fourteen or more Grade 1s rose to 33, up from 29 in 2023 and 28 in 2022. These results underscore a positive trend in academic performance and highlight Guyana’s commitment to excellence in education.

Since 2020, the Ministry of Education has been committed to ensuring equitable access to quality education across the nation. Key interventions included providing free access to high-quality textbooks, expanding the Learning Channel to reach remote communities, and reintroducing the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant program to support families. These initiatives have reduced barriers to educational resources and helped ensure that all students can excel academically.

The Honourable Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, stated, “These results reflect the dedication of our students and the Ministry’s continued efforts to uplift the standard of education across Guyana. The Ministry remains focused on building an educational environment that promotes access and equity, enabling our students to thrive and compete regionally and globally.”

The Ministry of Education congratulates all CSEC candidates, their families, and their teachers. We will continue to support our students with initiatives that elevate Guyana’s educational standards and empower our students to achieve even greater success (Ministry of Education press release)

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