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Pharmaceutical importer and distributor Optimum Health Supplies has joined a growing list of sponsors that are partnering with the Kevin Sinclair Foundation to carry out a charitable project in the Georgetown community of Sophia.

The Durey Lane, Campbellville- based Pharmaceutical company wasted no time in supporting the initiative that stands to benefit a number of underprivileged households in the community.

Optimum Health Supplies joins the likes of Big B’s Restaurant, Cricket Zone USA, Genuine Auto Sales, Trophy Stall, Markie Construction Inc. and VNet Communications, amongst others who are supporting the initiative.

In recent months the Kevin Sinclair Foundation has been very active last distributing over 300 back to school kits for children in Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam.

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Works will soon commence to transform the Linden-Soesdyke Highway and upon completion, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill said it is likely that fewer accidents will be recorded.

“This is not a project to come. It’s already here.

“You are actually seeing the good that is happening,” Edghill said during an appearance on a radio programme on Tuesday.

The new highway, Edghill said, will see the construction of three round-about, 2,900 lights and pedestrian walkways to promote safer use of the highway.

“Roundabouts are being utilised globally to enhance traffic flow and minimise accidents,” Edghill said.

He noted that within the next month, major progress is likely to be seen on the project.

“Work has already started, lots of the surveys have already been done, there is a huge stockpiling of material and we should be seeing much, much progress within the next month as the various clearances are given,” Edghill noted.

A US$161M contract was signed in August this year to construct the new highway.

The project is a collaboration between Trinidadian firm Namalco Construction Services Limited and local partner GuyAmerica Construction Inc., with international firm Al Habishi Engineering providing oversight services for US$1.7M.

The highway is expected to be completed within two years.

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Teachers across Guyana have received their promised 10 per cent retroactive salary increases, the Ministry of Education revealed on Wednesday.

“The 10% increase and the salary adjustments have put more than $2.5 billion in the hands of our educators countrywide,” the ministry stated.

The News Room understands that teachers in all regions except Region Ten received their increases. The teachers in that region will get their increases soon with payroll set be to completed in short order.

The increase is in keeping with the recently signed memorandum of agreement between the government and the Guyana Teachers’ Union.

“This underscores our commitment to valuing the hard work and dedication of our educators. A total of 14,786 teachers have benefitted, providing much-needed support to teachers and recognizing their vital role in shaping the future of our nation. We thank our teachers for their unwavering commitment to educating our children and building a brighter future for Guyana,” the ministry said.

The agreement for salary increases was finally inked after months of intense negotiations.

The deal covers the period 2024 to 2026 with teachers expected to get a direct 27% increase in salaries over the next three years. In 2024, they will get a 10% increase; in 2025, an 8% increase and in 2026, a 9% increase.

The increases can be adjusted if any general public service salary increases are higher.

Teachers across the country who engaged in strike action for more than two months returned to schools at the end of June, as the Education Ministry and GTU agreed to negotiate a new deal.

For context, an initial five-week strike began on February 5, with teachers demanding higher salary increases and duty-free concessions, among other benefits.

After a court-mediated process in March, talks between the Education Ministry and GTU resumed. Discussions were halted when the Education Ministry indicated that there was no fiscal space to cater for increases for the period 2019 -2023. Increases for 2024 and future years were put for consideration instead.

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West Indies suffered a series-defining loss in the second One-day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka, as they again went down by five wickets in Pallekele on Wednesday.

The defeat, which resulted from another disappointing batting performance, saw Sri Lanka taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, leaving the Caribbean side with mere hopes of salvaging pride in the final game on Saturday.

After a dismal batting collapse that saw the West Indies at a shocking 58-8 in the rain-affected contest, which was reduced to 44 overs per team, it was an historic ninth-wicket partnership between Sherfane Rutherford (80) and Gudakesh Motie (50 not out) that added a glimmer of respectability to their total.

Sherfane Rutherford made 80 off 82 balls•Oct 23, 2024•AFP/Getty Images

The pair put together 119 runs, the highest-ever ninth-wicket stand in West Indies’ ODI history, with Rutherford smashing four sixes and seven fours in his 82-ball knock, while Motie’s maiden ODI half-century came off 61 balls and included six boundaries, as they lifted the side to 189.

However, the damage had already been done by Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling attack led by spinners Wanindu Hasaranga (4-40) and Maheesh Theekshana (3-25).

Seamer Asitha Fernando had 3-35. Their batting unit led by an unbeaten 62 from captain Charith Asalanka then surpassed their target with some degree of comfort. (SportsMax)

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In a bid to help with the issue of waste management, especially regarding the use of plastics and aluminum cans, Policy Forum Guyana recently hosted the ‘Waste to Win’ competition, rewarding 54 participants from 17 schools for their efforts to help curb the problem.

The competition started in August and ended in September, with the prize giving ceremony being held last week. The initiative, with 27 teams for plastic and 19 teams for aluminum cans, started with a partnership with Cevons Waste Management Inc.

Policy Forum Coordinator Benita Davis told the News Room on Wednesday at her office on Hadfield Street, that the participating students were drawn from schools in Regions 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10.

Wanting to help, Policy Forum decided to call up Cevons to find out if there was anything that the company did with plastics, and based on the feedback received, the idea of the competition came about.

“To our surprise, Cevons actually strips plastic and recycles them. So we thought maybe we can launch a competition with schools to see if there’s an interest with the separation of garbage so at least all of that garbage don’t go to the landfill and it can go directly to Cevons recycling plant,” Davis shared.

Thanks to the combined efforts of the participants, an astounding 28,321 plastic bottles and 7,736 aluminum cans were saved from entering Guyana’s landfills, marking a significant contribution to the fight against plastic pollution.

The winning participants were selected based on how many pieces of plastics they were able to pick up from their environment and the team with the highest score for plastic cans got 14,086 plastics.

“We were able to divert over 28,000 plastics from entering the landfills as well as over 7,000 cans….we were also able to educate students about the need for separation of garbage to understand that plastic is pervasive; it has a negative impact on the environment,” Davis said.

According to Davis, the competition helped the students to realise how much plastic they actually use in a two-month period. They were also reminded of the pollution issue at hand and what they can do to reduce their use of plastic.

As for the basic process of waste separation, she explained: “You just need a separate bin or garbage bag, and you just put all your plastic items. Contact Cevons and you actually get reimbursed for the amount of plastic that you take in.”

The competition’s top performers were recognized with 1st to 5th place plaques, creatively made from shredded plastic bottles collected during the competition, along with other prizes.

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Turbulent rains and strong winds swept through Kako Village, Upper Mazaruni, leaving unexpected destruction on Monday.

Toshao of Kako Village, Romario Hastings, told the News Room that the storm struck suddenly.

He said the weather changed drastically between 16:00 hrs and 16:30 hrs, and lasted for an hour.

This house was damaged in the storm (Photo: Kako Village Council/ Facebook)

“So we had like a sudden stormy weather, strangely because the weather has been dry for the past maybe week or so, we had a brief shower the day before but it wasn’t really much,” Hastings explained.

One house was hit particularly hard, losing the entire roof. The damage also extended to the kitchen, where food supplies were soaked.

“What they were telling me (is that) it came like a small version of a tornado, like a whirlwind and so that is what really pulled it right off,” he said.

This house was damaged in the storm (Photo: Kako Village Council/ Facebook)

Hastings explained that other houses were also damaged “but they were able to reinstall because these were makeshift houses.”

“We have had stormy weathers before but never to this extent where it would have affected a home in this manner.”

The affected family is receiving assistance from the Welfare Department of the church in the community. The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs have also extended support.

Meanwhile, the Village Council is open to receiving support for future emergencies, and those wishing to assist are encouraged to reach out.

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School-aged children and other juveniles can indeed be charged, prosecuted, and convicted for criminal activities.

During his “Issues in the News” commentary on Tuesday night, Attorney General Anil Nandlall addressed growing concerns regarding the rise of illegal and violent conduct among students in schools.

He firmly rejected misconceptions surrounding the legal status of juveniles, asserting that they can be investigated by the police and placed before the courts.

Nandlall said reports have emerged suggesting a misunderstanding of the Juvenile Justice Act, where some people believe that juveniles are immune to criminal charges.

Nandlall emphasized that this notion is “absolutely false,” clarifying that the Act provides a framework for handling cases involving minors but does not grant them immunity from the law.

“The Juvenile Justice Act outlines a different regime for juveniles when they come into conflict with the law,” Nandlall explained.

“However, they are still answerable to the criminal justice system. There is no exemption from investigation, charge, prosecution, or conviction for juvenile offenders,” he added.

The Attorney General also addressed concerns regarding the police’s role in investigating juvenile crimes, stating that some members of law enforcement have the mistaken view that they cannot pursue cases involving delinquent minors.

“This is a complete misunderstanding,” he noted.

Nandlall stated that all individuals, regardless of age, must face the consequences of their actions.

“Juveniles are defined within the law and are subject to its provisions,” he said.

“While we recognize their young age and the need for a different approach, they do not enjoy any form of impunity,” he added.

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Records indicate that Assistant Police Commissioner (ag) Calvin Brutus had not withdrawn his salary for several years, resulting in his salary account accumulating “dozens of millions of dollars.”

While all other accounts linked to Brutus—including those belonging to his companies and his wife—were frozen, this particular account remains unfrozen, giving Brutus access to substantial funds amid the ongoing investigation.

Brutus has claimed in court documents, where he alleges victimisation, that he was left without access to funds.

During his “Issues in the News” commentary on Tuesday night, Attorney General Anil Nandlall spoke on the ongoing investigation and made new revelations.

Brutus is facing 240 charges related to significant financial misconduct and Nandlall believes he will go down as the highest-ranking officer in the Guyana Police Force to be implicated in such extensive fraud.

An affidavit filed by the head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Fazil Karimbaksh, revealed that in February 2024, Brutus purchased an $85 million property in Alberttown, Georgetown.

Brutus, who receives a monthly salary of $491,487, reportedly withdrew $63 million from his salary account to pay off the balance on the property, while an initial $21 million was paid months before.

Nandlall announced that charges against Brutus were imminent.

“Once the charges are instituted, we will take necessary legal steps to remove him from office in compliance with the law,” he stated, highlighting this case’s unprecedented nature.

The Attorney General also noted Brutus’s confrontational approach throughout the investigation.

Brutus has filed legal actions against several entities, including the Attorney General’s office and the Police Service Commission, the Police Commissioner, the Minister of Home Affairs and the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

“He chose a confrontational path long before the investigation concluded,” Nandlall said.

In a recent court hearing, a High Court judge denied Brutus’ request to leave the country for medical care for his pregnant wife, Adonika Aulder.

The Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) is investigating financial crimes linked to Brutus amounting to approximately $800 million. Of this total, $300 million is said to be in assets and properties, while $500 million is currently held in frozen bank accounts.

Amidst skepticism from the opposition and sections of the media who had suggested that no significant action would come from the investigation, Nandlall reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

The Attorney General reminded that the rule of law will always prevail, as the government is determined to ensure that justice is served in this high-profile case.

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Students of Queen’s College will benefit from the newly- commissioned state-of-the-art Industrial Technology and Home Economics building.

The building includes six new labs: three for Industrial Arts subjects and three for Home Economics. With this facility, students of the college will be better- -equipped to learn technical skills.

During remarks, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand acknowledged that while the country needs doctors, lawyers, and parliamentarians, the need for vocational training is becoming increasingly vital, as there is a growing demand for skilled labour in Guyana.

The building was commissioned on Tuesday by Education Minister Priya Manickchand (Photo: Ministry of Education/ October 22, 2024)

“We need a labour force that can look after the needs of Guyana and the conversation right now in the world is an interesting one, whether or not the academic degrees are worth as much as the skills training certificates,” Manickchand said.

With that consideration in mind, Minister Manickchand said students now have the opportunity to complete the Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs) during high school or the traditional Caribbean Secondary Education Certificates (CSEC) subjects.

Inside the newly- commissioned building (Photo: Ministry of Education/ October 22, 2024)

“We are trying to give a wider range of opportunities to all of our students to all, all our children, to all our young people,” the minister stated.

Meanwhile, Minister Manickchand also highlighted the importance of practical education and added that students must be able to make their own breakfast, prepare dinner, make their beds, and sew on buttons by third form.

Inside the newly- commissioned building (Photo: Ministry of Education/ October 22, 2024)

Deputy Chief Education Officer, with responsibility for technical education, Dr. Ritesh Tularam, encouraged students to consider careers in technical and vocational fields.

“This is what will make you employable, and the lifelong learning skills we talked about, technical and vocation education and training will gravitate you towards, it will help you to realise what are your fullest potentialities,” Dr. Tularam said.

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The Petra Organisation has announced a change to the semifinal fixtures for the Courts Optical Under-11 Pee-Wee Schools’ football tournament set for Saturday at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carfesta Avenue.

Due to fielding ineligible players in the quarterfinals, Rosignol Primary has been disqualified.

As a result, the defending champions, St. Pius Primary, will now face Marian Academy in Semifinal One from 16:00h.

Semifinal Two will remain unchanged, with Santa Rosa Primary facing Belladrum Primary from 17:00h.

The quarterfinals saw victories for Marian Academy, Belladrum, and Santa Rosa.

Marian Academy defeated Enterprise 2-1, while Santa Rosa edged West Ruimveldt 1-0. Belladrum squeaked past St. John the Baptist 1-0.

Rosignol had won 4-0 against St. Pius Primary.

The losing quarterfinalists will compete in the plate section for positions 5-8.

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