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School welfare officers and counsellors attached to the Ministry of Education Monday began a two-day special training on the use of restorative justice in schools, which could essentially replace corporal punishment and other archaic and old-school methods of administering discipline.

Restorative practices have been used in schools globally as an alternative to corporal punishment and suspensions within the school system. It is being described as the modern, holistic way of dealing with issues of wrongdoing. And while not an end-all to the disciplinary measures in place, it is intended to serve as more of a complementary measure for now.

The training of the officers, who are representing schools in Georgetown and along the East Coast Demerara, is being conducted at the Guyana Police Force Training Centre, in Georgetown.

Senior Welfare Officer in the Ministry of Education Cornella Leitch said the training should widen the scope of thinking for the officers and help to expand their knowledge on how to deal with certain behaviours.

“The goal of restorative practice is to help people understand their actions and how their actions impacted others, and what they can do in correcting their actions,” Leitch said.

She added: “We no longer want corporal punishment – the cane, the bamboo, the ruler – to beat the children. Let us learn new techniques … Let us improve what is being done at the Ministry of Education.”

Director of the Restorative Justice Centre, William Boston, shared that restorative practices give far more remedial results as they relate to amicable resolutions, rehabilitation, and reintegration, as opposed to the old-fashioned ways of administering discipline, which he pointed out do not always bring the best results.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Adele Clarke, informed the participants that the overall objective is to address two problems facing the criminal justice system, which are to reduce the overreliance on custodial sentences and to reduce the overuse of pretrial detention for minor offenses.

According to her, the system will be expanded to all 10 administrative regions with a restorative officer being present wherever there is a probation office.

“You will discover that a system for restorative justice not only seeks reconciliation between the victim and the offender but it also holds the offender accountable which can be a catalyst for behaviour change.”

The Restorative Justice Centre was established in 2023 as a result of a partnership between the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Legal Affairs and the Inter-American Development Bank which resulted in the Support for the Criminal Justice System Programme.

This programme saw the passing of the Restorative Justice Act 2022.

After the training, participants should be able to define and clarify the principles of restorative justice, differentiate between restorative practice and justice, explain the importance of social discipline, and conduct restorative practice sessions with offenders and the offended using circles.

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The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Select XI stunned Essequibo by four wickets in Round Two of the GCB Senior Inter-County 50-over Championship at the Lusignan ground on Tuesday.

The Select XI successfully chased down a target of 170 with four overs to spare with former national youth player Carlos LaRose anchoring the chase with 28 not out off 44 balls (5x4s).

LaRose kept his composure to steer his side to victory after the game was seemingly in the balance at 114-5 in the 33^rd over.

LaRose forged a sixth-wicket partnership of 31 with Kwesi Mickle and an unbroken stand of 26 with Aryan Persaud (six not out) to see his team over the line.

Skipper Jonathan Rampersaud made 32 off 37 (2x4s, 1×6), opener Navindra Persaud 26 off 62 (3x4s), Mickle 19 off 24 (1×4, 1×6) and Jonathan Van Lange 18 off 32 (1×6) in a total team effort, as Ricardo Adams took two wickets.

National youth player Golcharran Chulai was outstanding with the ball for the Select XI

Earlier, Essequibo, who defeated Berbice in the first round at the Pomona ground, slipped from 59-2 to be bowled out for 169 in the 46^th over.

National player Kemol Savory topscored with 51 off 109 (2x4s), Kevon Boodie made 26 off 24 (2x4s, 2x6s) and Ricardo Adams 24 off 18 (1×4, 2x6s).

Bowling for the Select XI, Golcharran Chulai took 3-45, while there were two wickets each for Rampersaud, Persaud and Mickle.

In the other second round game, Demerara defeated Berbice by seven wickets at the GCC ground, Bourda.

SUMMARY: Berbice 129 all out from 40 overs (Junior Sinclair 37, Tomani Caesar 24*; Devon Lord 4-28, Akshaya Persaud 2-19, Banerd Bailey 2-25, Ronaldo Alimohamed 2-35) vs Demerara 130-3 from 28 overs (Tagenarine Chanderpaul 63*, Matthew Nandu 44; Clinton Pestano 1-14, Junior Sinclair 1-14)

Third round action is slated for Thursday (October 17) with Demerara against Essequibo at GCC and Berbice against the Select XI at Lusignan.

The top two teams will clash in the final on Saturday (October 19) at GCC.

All games will start at 09:30h.

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Years after it was destroyed in a fire, a new North West Secondary school was on Monday commissioned in Region One with a new culture allowing students to explore more opportunities to be qualified in technical areas.

“By 2030,  for all the major centers in the hinterland communities, we want state-of-the art practical instruction centers and technical institutions that will give you world-class certification from right here in your communities

“So if you are a welder, you must be able to get the highest qualification in welding. If you are an electrical technician, you must you must get highest certificate. That is the vision that we are bringing. And every one of you will be fully absorbed in this economy,” President Dr Irfaan Ali said on Monday.

President Dr Irfaan Ali and Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand on Monday commissioned the new North West Secondary School (Photo: Office of the President/ October 14, 2024)

In delivering the feature address at the commissioning ceremony, Dr Ali said through investments in digital education, every child will soon be able to benefit from the highest quality of education.

“Education is very complex. Education is integrated in every aspect of national life.

“So we are building this infrastructure for all of CARICOM,” President Ali said.

From 2020 to date, President Ali noted that the government has invested $7 billion to enhance the education sector in Region One. This includes the distribution of school cash grants and the breakfast programme.

President Dr Irfaan Ali tours the North West Secondary school Practical Instruction Department (Photo: News Room/ October 14, 2024)

“For every single child in this country, the government is investing $700,000 per child annually.

“This is not a gift to you….this is what you deserve for you hard work,” Dr Ali said.

The new North West Secondary school was rebuilt to the tune of $346 million dollars.

The previous structure was destroyed on September 24, 2021, displacing hundreds of students and placing a strain of the region’s education sector.

The school has the capacity to house some 574 students. Its amenities include 23 classrooms, 3 laboratories, 2 elevators, a staff room, 4 canteens and a sick bay. The building was also constructed to include fire safety mechanisms including 11 fire alarms and several fire extinguishers.

It also includes a practical instruction department, which, according to Minister of Education Priya Manickchand is better equipped than any other currently in the country.

And so add a new culture to the almost 60 year-old school, Chief Education Office, Saddam Hussain said students will be allowed to choose from a variety of educational pathways at an early stage including the introduction of the Carribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence Programme which is expected to be rolled out in January 2025.

One of the classrooms (Photo: News Room/ October 14, 2024)

“So what will happen is this: students in Grade 7 and 8 will be doing the CCSLC (Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence) programme, a new programme being offered by the Minsitry of Education through the Caribbean Examination Council.

“This school comes with a well-equipped practical instruction center. What that means is that when your children enter Grade 9, they have a choice. They could do the traditional CSEC subjects and go on and write CSEC and get their 5 subjects or they can take the pathway called CVQ- the Carribbean vocational qualification,” Hussain explained on Monday.

The school is equipped through the Technical Industrial center to offer training in five areas: motor vehicle repairs, commercial food preparation, data processing, general office administration and electrical installation.

The aim, Saddam said is to offer opportunities that will offer qualifications that are not only accepted in Guyana but across the Caribbean.

“You want for your children the same thing I want for mine…that they have a better life that we had,” Manickchand said.

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Dillon Abrams, 30, died after he lost control of his motorcycle and collided with a median along the Eccles Public Road, East Bank Demerara on Monday.

Police Headquarters reported that the pillion rider, a female is in critical condition with head injuries, a punctured lung, and a fractured right leg. She is admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to reports, Abrams was pronounced dead at the scene by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).

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GRDB 18 – a new long grain high yielding variety of rice – was released for commercial cultivation in the country on Monday by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha at Sebastian’s Farm, Nooten Zuil, East Coast Demerara.

The new variety stands out for its plant architecture, strong stems, high yield potential (that is, 7-9 tonnes per hectare) and resistance to blast. It is long, slender grain with good milling and cooking qualities, with research showing only 11 to 13 minutes required for cooking.

It has the ability to withstand delayed harvesting for 10-15 days, which means less losses for farmers when they do not get to reap the crop on time. Since the genetic composition of this Candidate Variety is different from all the other varieties, it would also minimise the risk of genetic vulnerability to diseases.

A section of the audience at Nooten Zuil

Chief Scientist Mahendra Persaud, the expert behind the initiative who conducted the research and development of the new variety, believes that the rice can stand up to the conditions that typically pose challenges to farmers. According to him, the team conducted more than 120 yield and farm trials.

“If you want something good, you have to develop it for yourself, you have to develop it for your farmers and we have done that….the entire team has put their hands on this variety. We have tried to mix different genetic backgrounds, local and foreign, and come up with something that will be useful to our farmers,” Persaud shared.

Minister Mustapha shared that within four years, about two more new varieties would be commissioned. He pointed out how prior to 2020, 36 bags per acre were being produced, as compared to the 40-42 bags today.

The minister said the government is committed to expanding the country’s markets to approximately 50 new ones globally. “We are not just coming to tell you as rice farmers that in 2030 we want to produce a million metric tons of rice and leave you at that. We will never leave you on your own. We will always work with you to develop this important industry.”

Food and Agriculture (FAO) Representative in Guyana Gillian Smith, told the News Room that the new variety has advantages from “farm to fork.” Farmers, for example, can reap later than they should and still get a good amount of yield. “This is a rice that actually is a high quality and it cooks faster than previous varieties. So that’s really exciting. It means that everybody along the food chain gets some advantage from this.”

Students of the Guyana School of Agriculture were on hand to witness to the launch, and Year Two diploma student Jemima Wilson shared that the variety is more resistant in terms of fighting climate change and other challenges farmers face. “Guyana is on the verge of achieving food security by 2030; we aim to be the bread basket for the Caribbean and in other parts, so this variety can help us.”

It is expected that this variety along with the GRDB 16 will occupy the majority of the farmlands across the country in the next few seasons.

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The Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo is pleased to announce the launch of its inaugural essay competition which is open to all Guyanese students countrywide. This initiative is designed to inspire young minds to explore the rapidly evolving energy sector and its impact on Guyana’s future.

Categories & Topics 

Category 1: Forms 1 & 2

Topics:

• If you were in charge of Guyana’s oil revenues, what would you spend it on to ensure a sustainable future and why?
• Explore ways in which young people can play a role in building a better future for Guyana.
• What makes Guyana the ideal tourism destination?

Category 2: Forms 3 and 4 

Topics:

• Consider the importance of community engagement in energy projects and how young people can facilitate greater local involvement.
• Explore how Guyana can use its oil wealth to create a sustainable future for its people
• With the worsening impacts of climate change, explore what key investments Guyana should make to protect its people and safeguard its economic future

Categories 3: Forms: 5 and CAPE 

Topics: 

• Explore the significance of involving local communities in energy projects and how it can lead to more sustainable and inclusive energy development.
• Discuss how the discovery of oil reserves has transformed Guyana’s economy and the potential long-term benefits and challenges it brings
• Reflect on the future of Guyana’s energy sector and the potential role of young people in driving innovation and positive change.

Prizes 

• US$1000 for first place winners for all categories.
• A US$10,000 scholarship will also be awarded to the first-place winner of Category 3 (Form 5 and CAPE).
• US$500 and an iPad for second place winners for all categories.
• US$250 and a cellular phone for third place winners for all categories.

NOTE: All prizes will be awarded to students on February 18, 2025, during the opening day of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo. 

Guidelines:

• Essays must be written by one participant only and must be the original work of the author.
• Each submission should include a cover page with the following information: Essay title, name of participant, age, class, school, and contact information.
• Entries must be written in English. Type-written submissions can be sent to conference@guyanenergy.gy. The subject of the email should be titled ‘Energy Essay’ OR submit your hand-written essay to Lot 97 Chandranagar Street, Prashad Nagar, Georgetown, Guyana.
• For essays in Category One, the word count should be between 600 to 700 words; for Category Two, 800 to 1,000 words; and for Category Three, 1,000 to 1,200 words.
• Essays must directly address the given topic without straying into unrelated areas.
• Ensure your essay has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion with clear and concise language. Avoid overly complex sentences or vague terms.
• Your essay should reflect your own insights and ideas, not just restate common knowledge or plagiarize phrases and ideas.
• Participants are advised not to use ChatGPT or other AI-based tools to assist in writing their essays. The Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo will employ advanced tools and techniques to ensure that all submissions are original and authentic. Any entries found to have been written with the assistance of AI tools will be disqualified.
• Check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors before submission to avoid losing marks.

All submissions must be made by December 31, 2024. 

Scoring

• Essays will be rated on a scale from 1 to 10 for Content/Focus/Vocabulary, 1 to 5 for Organization, and 1 to 5 for Language and Expression, with a maximum score of 20 points.
• Entries will be disqualified if they do not follow the topic or exceed the word limit provided.

Good luck to all participants!

(Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo Press Release)

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Last week, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), conducted a two-day “Training of Trainers” workshop for workers in the seabob sector. The workshop aimed to increase awareness on emerging local and international market requirements related to quality and safety of seabob products, from harvesting through to preparation. Seabob (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri), a shrimp species harvested from the Atlantic Ocean, is one of Guyana’s key exports, with the country being one of the world’s leading exporters.

Picture showing participants engaging demonstation on food safety handling of a cold chain (Photo: FAO)

This is the first in a series of planned trainings in this crucial area. The first cohort of about fifteen participants, included personnel from the Fisheries Department, Ministry of Agriculture, and Pritipaul Singh Investment (PSI), a leading private sector processing firm. Dr. Gillian Smith, FAO Representative, noted that this mix of public and private sector participants is important to ensure that stakeholders across the value chain have the right information to increase the opportunities for reaching new and demanding markets. The participation in the workshop also marks a step toward a long-term commitment to improving food handling and safety in seabob production.

Key focus areas of the workshop included a deeper understanding of food safety principles, hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP), the importance of food safety standards for enhancing market access, as well as strategies to further reduce waste and minimize public health risks.

Trainers from CRFM commented that, before the end of this year, more training will be offered to other industry stakeholders and to interested vendors and fishers. The FISH4ACP project will also assist stakeholders in developing and implementing a comprehensive Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Strategy for the seabob value chain. This will help to drive a strategy to enhance safety across the industry, further reducing the risk of injury and illness to workers and fisherfolk along the seabob value chain.

These initiatives are part of the FISH4ACP Programme which is implemented by FAO and the seabob industry, with funding from the European Union (EU).

(FAO Press Release)

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