Some persons are concerned about the increasing number of Chinese shops in communities all across the country but Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday said it is difficult for the government to restrict any such foreign ventures in Guyana.
He, however, noted that those businesses must comply with all local laws. If not, they should be held accountable.
“I spoke with about four persons and they recognise that you can’t stop foreigner once they get access into the country because we don’t have restrictions on foreigners or foreign companies estblishing businesses in Guyana.
“There’s no restriction on it and there is hard to put a restriction based on nationality,” Jagdeo said at a People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) press conference.
He explained that any restrictions based on nationality would be discriminatory. Further, such restrictions may run counter to World Trade Organization (WTO) arrangements and place Guyana in a “very difficult foreign policy situation.”
While restrictions may be difficult, the Vice President said more can be done to level the playing field for local and foreign businesses. Doing so, he said, requires the local authorities to enforce key laws and regulations that may be bypassed currently.
Jagdeo acknowledged that some of these foreign ventures evidently bypass regulatory approvals such as those needed in the construction of buildings. He also noted that there may be some Chinese businesses that sell several different items at one shop without the necessary permits to sell those items.
These occurrences, he said, must cease.
“We’ve made it clear to the regulatory bodies that you have to enforce the laws uniformly,” Jagdeo said.
Even as he addressed concerns about the Chinese businesses in Guyana, the Vice President noted that there are many who value their presence.
For some business persons, like those who rent to the Chinese, Jagdeo said the foreigners are well-supported because they generally pay on time.
The Government of Guyana has made its fourth withdrawal from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) for the year 2024.
On October 1, the government transferred US$300 million (equivalent to G$62.394 billion) from the NRF to the Consolidated Fund.
This latest transfer brings the total withdrawals for the year so far to US$1.150 billion (G$239.176 billion), out of a total approved amount of US$1.586 billion (G$329.9 billion) for 2024.
The withdrawal, sanctioned under the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Act of 2021, as amended by the Fiscal Enactments (Amendment) Act 2024, follows parliamentary approval. T
the NRF Act, which governs the management of revenues generated from Guyana’s natural resources, allows for annual withdrawals based on pre-approved budgets and fiscal needs.
The most recent release of funds, the fourth of the year, aligns with the government’s fiscal strategy to support public expenditure and development projects.
The total amount allocated for withdrawal in 2024, US$1.586 billion, remains unchanged, with approximately US$436 million (G$90.7 billion) still available for the remainder of the year.
The NRF, which is designed to manage revenue from Guyana’s burgeoning oil industry, aims to ensure that natural resource wealth is used sustainably and in a manner that benefits future generations.
Approximately 500 residents of Samville, Kuru Kuru – a community located miles off the Soesdyke Highway – will for the first time benefit from the services of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL).
It fulfills an undertaking by President Dr. Irfaan Ali during one of his recent outreaches to the community.
Representatives of GPL visited the area on Thursday to interact with residents, listen to their concerns and answer questions on the application process.
The community was developed in 2005 with manual labour; with axes and cutlasses, according to NDC Councillor Edris Boston.
It was more like a jungle and was built with self-help. In fact, only last year it received concrete roads for the first time.
Because it is made up of mostly squatters, authorities have been working to get the area regularized. This is one of the issues preventing many residents at the moment from benefitting from the electricity service that is now available.
They must get their land documents in order before their applications can be processed. And this is why residents were hoping to see representatives from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission on Thursday.
Residents are elated at the new developments in the community and cannot wait for the day they will be able to have electricity in their homes.
Project Engineer at GPL, Oscar Gravesande explained that the network has already been constructed, and it is now up to the residents to apply.
“The project started a few months ago and now the network is already constructed as per design, meaning that the power is readily available for the residents,” Gravesande told the News Room.
Once residents produce the relevant documents, their application can be processed within seven to 14 working days.
Network Manager for the Demerara Zone Nigel Chetram shared that residents can now make their application for electricity.
“The resources are available to give them the supply when they apply for it, so we now encourage them to do that.”
Carlos Kellman
Kelly Ramnarace spoke about how the darkness in the area affects her.
“Especially when you have to come home from work in the nights and walk in total darkness. This is definitely a breakthrough for us; we are very much thrilled and happy,” She said, adding that: “I have a solar that gives us light and help us charge our devices. But it’s nothing like coming into a house and pressing a switch and there’s electricity, so you can charge your phone, watch TV, keep updated with the news, children can get to use the internet as they like.”
Another resident, Carlos Kellman, explained that some residents do not even have access to solar power and generators.
“The solar you have to keep buying every few months. You have to buy gas for your generator, and the solar needs battery. It’s over $300,000 you have to pay for a good solar system in your house to have your little fridge; to charge your phone instead of going all the way to the front (of the community) to charge your phone.”
One week after he was abducted and as efforts continue to locate him, the family of Joshua David is hopeful that he will be found alive.
Their patience has never been more fervent with the Police coming in for commendations for their efforts to locate the young man.
Notwithstanding, the family believes there should be intervention from higher authorities to speed up the probe so that David can be located sooner rather than later.
Known fondly ‘Bricks’ among his peers, David was abducted outside a Main Street, Georgetown restaurant where he had gone to purchase food on the evening of September 26.
A total of six men; Alpha Poole, Osafo Peters, Aaron Alleyne called Cats, Wayne Barker, Dwayne Griffith and Damien Barlow are being treated as suspects in the abduction.
Two men, Poole and Peters have since surrendered to the Police.
Acting on information, the Police began their search for David last weekend in the Buxton and Annandale backlands. However, three days of searches ended in futility as nothing of evidential value was found.
On Thursday night, David’s family members and friends gathered outside the Main Street restaurant for a candlelight vigil.
They held placards some of which read: “Return our loved one Joshua David”, “Justice for Joseph David” and “A real youth is somewhere out there and the family is not getting justice”.
Intended to offer support to each other and apply some public pressure on the police, the gathering soon became drowned in sorrowful emotions as tears filled the eyes of many, including his wife and mother.
“Today is one week since our loved one has gone and… it hurts,” David’s wife, Amanda Connell told the News Room.
Connell said she has been hearing from the Police daily since the incident but all she is being told is “they are trying their best”.
“The police are doing a great job…but I think…something better needs to be done. Justice for Joshua David,” Connell said.
According to Connell, the abduction of David has left his family clueless and tormented for answers.
Though she said she is not aware of him having any issues with anyone that might engender this, Connell said David was threatened in the past but he paid no heed to those intimidations.
“At this point, there is no need to say sad news and we haven’t seen his body.
“For the persons that want to stain Joshua David, he is not that type of person. He is loving. He would make a lot of noise but he is a very loving and helpful person,” Connell said.
The woman said she and David had major plans for a family.
“He would sit with me and he would say ‘Manda everything is going to be okay and just now I putting a caravan out hay because you know to cook and we gah mek money’. We had great plans,” Connell related as she fought back tears.
She is pleading with anyone who may have information on his whereabouts to come forward.
“Joahua is a nice person and he doesn’t deserve this and I would like for anybody to come forward and let us know the whereabouts of Joshua and let us get over this because it’s hard for his family. It’s really, really hard,” Connell pleaded.
Police Headquarters have since indicated that all leads are being pursued as the search continues.
Suriname, Guyana’s eastern continental neighbour, is entering a new era of offshore oil and gas development.
Though Guyana supports the country’s new pursuits, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo Thursday said that the English-speaking nation remains keen on joint natural gas development and shared infrastructure with Suriname.
“We are looking forward to working on Suriname with synergies.
“The project [that Suriname inked recently] will focus a lot on oil so we still need to look at the development of gas.
“Suriname found a lot of gas, and our discoveries closer to the Suriname border have more gas in them, so we still need to collaborate,” Jagdeo said at a People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) press conference on Thursday.
A whopping US$10.5 billion investment for Suriname’s Block 58 oil and gas project was made this week. TotalEnergies and APA plan to develop the Sapakara and Krabdagu fields, renamed as “Gran Morgu”, with combined recoverable resources estimated above 700 million barrels.
Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo (DPI Photo)
Suriname is moving ahead with this project and Guyana remains optimistic that the two countries will collaborate more in several areas, including oil and gas development.
The Vice President disclosed that he has engaged Suriname’s Foreign Minister Albert Randim about meeting soon to talk about the Guyana/ Suriname partnership.
Outside of oil and gas, he said shared infrastructure is another focus.
“We are looking forward to working with them in the future and also to what kinds of shared infrastructure we can have because we are two contiguous countries, the only two contiguous countries in CARICOM,” Jagdeo said.
Already, the two countries are partnering with each other to push joint development be it in manufacturing or agro-processing. The new Corentyne River Bridge is also expected to push partnerships between the two states.
Amid concerning developments at the APNU-dominated Mayor and Town Council of New Amsterdam, General Secretary of the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said the party will not allow its councillors to be stifled or bullied as they attempt to serve citizens in the township.
“These [PPP/C] councillors have been doing extraordinary work and it frightens APNU and AFC and I have no doubt that the minions in the council there have been given instructions from the centre leadership to try to muzzle our councillors.
“One way of doing this is to fabricate an issue and suspend the councils but this will not stand, we will not allow it to happen, “ Jagdeo said at a press conference on Thursday from the party’s Georgetown headquarters – Freedom House.
Though he did not mention the names of any parties in conflict, Carol Trim- Bagot, a PPP/C councillor, was recently suspended from the Council.
She was accused of being disruptive and disrespectful towards Mayor Wainwright McIntosh and other councillors. Trim- Bagot, in turn, accused the Mayor of bullying and acting outside of his official capacity and positioned herself as a defender of democratic principles against those authoritarian tactics.
Jagdeo maintained that the PPP/C’s six councilors, increasing from two in the historically PNC stronghold, have been diligently engaging citizens, raising their concerns at the council level and connecting them with opportunities from central government.
APNU, contrastingly, has eighth councillors in the Council they once entirely controlled and Jagdeo accused them of being “anti-development.”
Because of what he believes is growing support for the PPP/C in the town that has long been an APNU stronghold, Jagdeo contended that the APNU councillors may be manufacturing conflicts.
“Their whole approach is to stifle dissenting voices and bully people into submission,” he said, adding that the PPP/C will not let this happen.
Investigators are probing the cause of a fire that destroyed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) storage room at Eve Leary, Georgetown on Wednesday night.
Reports are that the fire started at 18:27 hrs.
The single- storey structure was used as a storage facility, formerly known as the CID Identification room.
In a statement, the Guyana Fire Service said upon being alerted, water tenders and a team of twelve firefighters were immediately dispatched to the scene.
A section of the building that was destroyed in the fire (Photos: Guyana Fire Service/ October 03, 2024)
“Police personnel were instrumental in the initial firefighting efforts, using 6kg and 4kg dry powder extinguishers along with buckets of sand to suppress the fire before the firefighters arrived,” the GFS said.
The firefighters went into action and “swiftly” extinguished the fire.
However, the building and its contents were destroyed.
An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.
The Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) is gearing up for an exciting period of tournaments and development, according to the club’s president, Anasha Ally.
In an interview, Ally shared the challenges and rewards she has experienced since taking on the role and provided a detailed overview of the club’s upcoming activities, including the highly anticipated Brava Guyana Open Golf Tournament 2024.
New president of the Lusignan Golf Club, Anasha Ally
Reflecting on the first few months
Ally characterised her early months as club president as both challenging and rewarding.
While balancing the responsibilities of leading the club has been challenging, she is optimistic about the progress made and the promise of what lies ahead.
“It’s been a huge pain at times, but with the support of everyone it has been rewarding, encouraging, and promising,” she noted.
This sense of optimism is reflected in her leadership, as she works to ensure the club is prepared for its next major event- the Brava Guyana Open.
Aside from that, the club is gearing up for the Trophy Stall tournament this Saturday and the Citizens Bank Golf Tournament in November.
Vision
As it relates to the vision of the club, Ally revealed that there have been fruitful discussions for the long-term development of the club.
She stated that a preliminary presentation would be prepared and presented to a smaller committee.
She shared that in the coming weeks, the vision will be rolled out.
Brava Guyana Open 2024
Scheduled for November 2–3, 2024, the Brava Guyana Open Golf Tournament is set to be one of the most significant events on the club’s calendar.
Ally confirmed that discussions with Brava have concluded, and preparations for the tournament are well underway.
In a bid to ensure the tournament runs smoothly, she has reached out to club members for their time and energy, emphasising the importance of early registration.
“We encourage early registration, with a deadline of October 19, 2024,” Ally said, adding that the tournament is expected to attract between 80 and 90 participants.
The president’s call for engagement reflects her desire to make this year’s tournament the best yet, building on the momentum the club has gained in recent months.
Ground Preparations and Course Management
Preparing the golf course for the Guyana Open has been no easy task. Ally acknowledged the efforts of Grounds Superintendent Deno Bissesar, along with the ground staff, including members like Pandit Ravi and Patanjilee Persaud, for their ongoing dedication.
Maintaining the course in optimal condition has proven difficult, as when she came into her role, some parts of the course were waterlogged, muddy, and overgrown with bushes.
While the conditions have improved sufficiently, the club is now dealing with a drought, which requires pumping water to irrigate the course.
Nevertheless, Ally expressed her gratitude to those involved.
“Working to get this course in good shape is sometimes harder than pulling teeth, but I think we can all agree it’s becoming a realisation,” she remarked.
Ally also took the opportunity to thank everyone who played a vital role in keeping the club functioning smoothly.
“Our clubhouse staff, committee members, ground staff, and the many members who contribute their time and energy all deserve a heartfelt thank you. It’s through their dedication and hard work that the club is where it is today,” she said.
The learning curve for Ally has been steep, with new insights into the technical aspects of course maintenance, such as the use of tractors, slashers, and mowers, as well as dealing with mole crickets.
However, she remains committed to the task at hand, with more members being recruited to help complete various course-clearing tasks in the coming weeks.
Post-Guyana Open activities
The excitement doesn’t end with the Guyana Open. Following the tournament, MACORP will host its traditional event, followed by another tournament sponsored by a long-time friend of the club, Feroze Barakat.
Additionally, the annual Christmas Hamper event is already in the planning stages, promising a festive close to the year.
Balancing Leadership and Expectations
In closing, Ally candidly reflected on the realities of managing the club, noting the challenges of addressing the diverse wishes of its members.
“It’s physically impossible to fulfill the wishes of all that I/we hear on a daily, hourly, or weekly basis,” she said, acknowledging that this can sometimes lead to unsavory experiences.
However, she remains undeterred, emphasising the importance of community and collaboration in making Lusignan a “home away from home” for its members.
As Lusignan Golf Club prepares for a busy few months, Ally’s leadership and vision are clear.
Through a combination of dedicated ground preparation, member engagement and long-term planning, she aims to steer the club towards a successful season and a bright future.
Guyana Amazon Warriors captain Imran Tahir said the bowling Powerplay was a crucial moment in Qualifier One of the Republic Bank CPL against St. Lucia Kings on Wednesday night at the National Stadium Providence.
Tahir felt it was during that phase of the match that the Kings wrested control with opener Johnson Charles and Faf du Plessis racing to 69-0 in the first six overs on their way to an opening stand of 124.
Kings piled up 198-5 and when the rains came and curtailed the game, Warriors were 106-4, 15 runs behind the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern par score of 121.
At the post-match press conference, Tahir reflected on the game, and also touched on that opening batting combination, which the Warriors have been toying with all season.
SUMMARY: St. Lucia Kings 198-5 from 20 overs (Johnson Charles 79, Faf du Plessis 57; Moeen Ali 2-24, Dwaine Pretorius 2-51) vs Guyana Amazon Warriors 106-4 from 13 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 37*, Shai Hope 27, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 24; David Wiese 1-3, Alzarri Joseph 1-9, Roston Chase 1-31, Noor Ahmad 1-35)
CPL action is set to continue on Friday (October 4) with Guyana Amazon Warriors facing Barbados Royals in Qualifier Two from 19:00h at Providence.
The winner will come up against St. Lucia Kings in the final on Sunday from 19:00h at the same venue.
Tragedy has struck the township of New Amsterdam (East Berbice-Corentyne) following the death of 26-year-old Debbie Blacks on Wednesday, just a day after she ingested a toxic substance at the hands of her girlfriend.
The shocking incident occurred at the home of Belinda Fraser, 22, who had been in a romantic relationship with Blacks for some time.
However, the relationship had recently become strained.
Fraser had reportedly developed feelings for another woman and was considering ending her partnership with Blacks. What should have been a routine visit between the two women on Tuesday afternoon quickly spiralled into a horrific sequence of events.
At around 14:30 hrs, Blacks went to Fraser’s home, where a heated argument ensued. In a fit of anger and confusion, Fraser is alleged to have spiked two glasses of liquid with a dangerous substance.
In a chilling statement, she is said to have told Blacks, “Let’s drink, and we’ll be together in death.”
Fraser handed one of the glasses to Blacks, who drank from it, while Fraser is believed to have only taken a small sip before spitting it out. She reportedly drank some milk in an attempt to counteract the effects.
Both women were quickly rushed to New Amsterdam Hospital, where authorities were notified of the situation.
At the hospital, Blacks gave a statement to the police, confirming that Fraser had urged her to consume the lethal mixture. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, Blacks succumbed to the the following day. Fraser remains in a critical condition, still receiving medical care.
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Residents are elated at the new developments in the community and cannot wait for the day they will be able to have electricity in their homes. 100vw, 1600px”><figcaption class=)
Carlos Kellman
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Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo (DPI Photo)
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New president of the Lusignan Golf Club, Anasha Ally