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A new $27 million building has been commissioned at West Demerara Secondary School in Region Three.

The new two-storey building features five large classrooms and other essential amenities and will create a spacious environment for some 150 sixth-form students.

Currently, thirty-three students are enrolled in Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) studies at the school, which offers a variety of subjects, including Economics, Physical Education, Communication Studies, Law, and Integrated Mathematics.

During the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, said the upgrade is part of the government’s broader plan to ensure all schools are equipped with the necessary facilities for students to excel.

In her message to the students, she encouraged them to make full use of the educational resources available to them to excel in their studies.

“Your job now is to do well…I commit to you that this is not the end for us at West Demerara [Secondary],” minister Manickchand said.

Minister Manickchand also unveiled plans to construct a swimming pool and a multi-purpose court at the West Demerara Secondary School, which will provide students with increased recreational opportunities.

Community participation will play a significant role in these developments.

Outlining some of the plans for the region, the education minister said several new secondary, primary, and nursery schools are expected to be constructed. A new block will also be opened at Leonora Secondary School on Friday.

The minister said that her ministry is currently looking for suitable land for new secondary schools at Nismes and Vreed-En-Hoop and is hopeful that her ministry’s proposals for the schools will be approved by Cabinet.

“In about two years we are going to have all the secondary schools we need in Region Three,” Minister Manickchand said.

Extension works at De Willem Secondary School have recently been completed and the space can now accommodate the school’s growing population. These initiatives promise to enhance access to educational opportunities for many students and reduce the need for long commutes for students. [Extracted and modified from the Department of Public Information]

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Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) has confirmed the successful resumption of production at several of its facilities, following a fire last Friday at one of its key power plants located at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

DDL said less than a week after the blaze broke out in the power station housing essential generators for the complex, operations are now returning to normal.

The TOPCO plant, responsible for producing Topco fruit juices and Savannah milk products, is fully operational. The Wines and Spirits plant is currently running in partial capacity, while the non-alcoholic beverage plant is expected to return to full production by the weekend. The distillery is anticipated to restart shortly.

The fire is believed to have originated from one of the seven generators located in the power station, which had recently undergone scheduled maintenance by the equipment supplier.

The fire quickly spread, engulfing the entire building, which housed all of the facility’s generators. This power station had previously supplied all of the energy necessary for the site’s operations.

Despite the extent of the fire, the efforts of the DDL firefighting team, supported by the Guyana Fire Service, successfully contained the blaze to the power station. This prevented the fire from spreading to other parts of the facility and threatening additional infrastructure.

Importantly, no employees were injured in the incident, and no jobs were affected. The swift resumption of production at the TOPCO plant meant there were no disruptions in the purchase of products from fruit farmers. DDL is also working closely with its network of resellers to mitigate any potential losses from stock shortages caused by the fire.

The directors and management of DDL have expressed their sincere thanks to the emergency services that responded to the fire and helped with the subsequent recovery efforts. The Guyana Fire Service’s rapid response was instrumental in limiting the damage, while the Guyana Police Force provided crucial security during the operation. Guyana Power and Light also responded swiftly, supplying power to ensure proper lighting during the firefighting efforts.

“We are extremely grateful for the professionalism and dedication of all those involved in managing this situation,” a press release noted. “Their quick actions ensured the minimal impact on our operations and workforce, and we look forward to resuming full capacity shortly.”

 

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Tevin Bacchus, a 26-year-old fisherman from North Sophia, Georgetown, was arrested late Wednesday night after a police patrol unit discovered 31.1 grams of cocaine in his possession.

At approximately 22:10 hrs, a mobile patrol unit, led by a Sergeant, was conducting routine operations in the Bel Air area of Georgetown when they noticed Bacchus behaving suspiciously on the western parapet of the highway.

The officers stopped to investigate, prompting a search of the individual.

During the search, the Sergeant, accompanied by other officers, found a transparent plastic bag containing a cream-coloured substance believed to be cocaine tucked away in Bacchus’s left pants pocket. Following the discovery, Bacchus was promptly arrested and taken to the Alberttown Police Station for further processing.

Upon arrival at the station, the narcotics were weighed, confirming a total of 31.1 grams. Bacchus was informed of the offence and was cautioned accordingly before being placed in custody, where he awaits formal charges.

 

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The National Schools’ Championship has been rebranded as the National Secondary Schools Athletic Championships and will now only feature secondary school athletes.

This new format was explained by Nicholas Fraser, Head of the Allied Arts Unit within the Ministry of Education, during a Facebook video launch and follows years of monitoring and recommendations dating back to 2008.

“This is something that has been building for a number of years, and we are now putting pen to paper in terms of getting the entire country in one standing in terms of how we standardize what happens with track and field and athletics in the school system,” Fraser said.

Primary school athletes will only take part in the regional level of the competitions, as international bodies recommend avoiding serious competition for younger athletes.

There will also no longer be numerous competitions leading up to nationals as was done in previous years such as inter-branch and inter-zone. The revamped competition is slated to be held in March 2025 with only the inter-house competitions being held in the first term.

Fraser highlighted that consultations involving educators, athletes, sponsors, and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), along with interactions with coaches have guided the overhaul.

He further added that reports from visits to Brazil and Jamaica’s national championships helped to shape the new format. One key objective in the change is to align the championship with international standards while prioritizing athlete development.

The new structure also gives secondary school athletes more preparation time, aiming for them to peak at the right time so they can participate in regional competitions such as the CARIFTA Games.

“The winner of the competition will be a school, so it will be a competition among schools,” Fraser said.

The changes also focus on nurturing well-rounded students by balancing athletic excellence with academics.

“With this new format, it is going to be much more difficult to qualify for the National Schools’ Championships and so what you really want is to make sure the athlete has enough time to prepare and bring the best possible performance.”

“These are some of the things we are trying to do to develop a good national team using the education system,” Fraser said.

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St. Lucia Kings booked their place in the 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Final with a 15-run victory over reigning champions Guyana Amazon Warriors in a weather curtailed match at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence.

The Warriors will now take on Barbados Royals on Friday with the winner of that match contesting the final with Kings on Sunday.

Faf du Plessis and Johnson Charles of St Lucia Kings during the Men’s 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League Qualifier 1st v 2nd match between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Saint Lucia Kings at Providence Stadium on October 02, 2024 in Georgetown, Guyana. (Photo by Ashley Allen – CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images)

Winning the toss and batting first proved a wise decision given the forecast and Faf du Plessis led from the front once more for his side.

An opening stand of 124 runs between himself and Johnson Charles ensured the Kings posted a challenging total of 198-5 off their 20 overs.

Charles was starting to eye up a three figure score when he was well caught on the long on boundary by Keemo Paul off the bowling of Moeen Ali for 79 off 45 deliveries.

Du Plessis then fell for a well-made half century of his own, the Kings captain forced to depart after Rahmanullah Gurbaz held on to an exceptional catch from a firmly hit shot down the ground off Shamar Joseph.

The Warriors bowlers did well to keep the score down to a manageable target with Moeen Ali once again being the standout performer with the ball, figures of 2-24 off his four overs showcasing all his experience.

In response, the Warriors had reached 106-4 at the end of the 13th over before the persistent drizzle turned into heavier rain and the players were taken off the field by the umpires.

Unfortunately for the 2023 CPL champions it then did not relent meaning that they were behind the required run rate on DLS calculations when the match was called off over an hour later.

Shimron Hetmyer of Guyana Amazon Warriors bats during the Men’s 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League Qualifier 1st v 2nd match between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Saint Lucia Kings at Providence Stadium on October 02, 2024 in Georgetown, Guyana. (Photo by Ashley Allen – CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images)

Still requiring 92 runs off the remaining 42 deliveries when the weather intervened the Warriors would have still fancied their chances of hauling down the total with a well set Shimron Hetmyer looking dangerous with 37 off 18 balls and with Moeen Ali having just joined him.

Hetmyer had just opened his shoulders to hit four sixes in quick succession off Noor Ahmad and Roston Chase, despite this injection of runs the Warriors were comfortably behind the required DLS score of 121 when the rain decisively intervened.

The Warriors will have a chance of setting up a re-match with a victory of Barbados Royals in the final eliminator match on Friday evening.

St. Lucia Kings will await either side in Sunday’s final with an inaugural CPL title very much in their sights. (CPL)

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See below statement issued by the Caribbean Premier League (CPL)

At 20:58 on Tuesday 1 October, during the Eliminator match between the Barbados Royals and the Trinbago Knight Riders, there was a loss of power to all three floodlight towers on  the eastern side of the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, causing an interruption in play.

At the time of the interruption, 19.1 overs of the Knight Riders innings had been completed. Within half an hour, two of the three towers were functioning.

In the opinion of the on-field field umpires, Deighton Butler and Nigel Duguid the lighting level made it unsafe for play to continue.

Nevertheless, given the importance of the game, both teams were offered the opportunity to continue playing in the reduced lighting.

While the Barbados Royals were willing to continue, the Trinbago Knight Riders, as was their right, did not want to carry on playing in conditions which the umpires had decided were unsafe.

Initially, a cut-off time of 22:52 for the start of a minimum 5 over innings, which is required to constitute a game, was communicated to broadcast.

This was subsequently revised to 23:01 to account for the time allowed for the interval between innings which had not been initially included.

Eventually, power was restored to the third floodlight tower at 22:51 and, after making an allowance for enough time for the lamps to achieve maximum brightness, the match officials made the decision to re-start the game at 23:01, ensuring that a result could be achieved on the field of play.

The ICC approved DLS calculator, which is utilized at the innings break of every CPL game, and which is the universally accepted method used to determine revised targets in an interrupted game was applied, and a target of 60 from the 5 overs was generated.

Reon King, CWI senior Match Referee, who was in charge of the Playing Control Team on the night, said: “The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League playing conditions allow for one hour extra time to be added to a game before overs are lost, and a failure of floodlights is treated in exactly the way as an interruption for rain. The priority for the match officials team is always for the safety of players, but they also work to try and see if the outcome of a game, one way or another, can be achieved on the field of play. This was the focus applied during the Eliminator match.”

 

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Feroze Khan, a 29-year-old ambulance driver, claims he was a victim of police brutality during his arrest. However, the police maintain that he caused his own injuries and was also responsible for a sergeant losing a tooth while resisting arrest.

On September 29, Khan was hired to transport individuals to the Amerindian Heritage Celebrations at White Water in Region One (Barima-Waini).

Khan’s brother, Gilbert Hernandez, told the News Room that Khan had to make numerous trips that day. After completing his last trip at around 21:00 hrs, he returned home but was called out again to pick up some cousins in White Water.

On his way back to his home in Hosororo Hill, he encountered a team of police officers in a pickup truck.

“The police vehicle was parked in front of a place called Roseann. From there, the police vehicle continued the journey ahead of them. He attempted to overtake them, but they had their red and blue lights on. He beeped his horn, and a traffic officer came out and asked what the problem was, if he had an emergency. He replied, ‘Sir, no’. The officer then asked him if he was under the influence of alcohol, to which he said, ‘Sir, no’,” Hernandez explained.

He claimed that Khan informed the officers that the lights were hurting his eyes and he couldn’t see properly on the road. Instead of switching off the lights, Hernandez alleged that the officers continued to drive ahead of his brother with the lights on.

“When he attempted to overtake them, they kept blocking him from right to left,” Hernandez said.

After finally managing to pass the police vehicle, Khan drove straight home, but Hernandez stated that the officers followed him.

“They started to chase him and recorded a video while doing so. He got home and parked, but before he could get out of the bus, a sergeant grabbed him by his jersey and began choking him. Right there, they started assaulting him, and the video continued,” Hernandez, who claimed to have witnessed the entire incident, explained.

Hernandez admitted that his brother “started to behave badly” but claimed this was because the police had reportedly beaten him in a similar incident previously.

In the video seen by the News Room, Khan was told he was being arrested for driving in a dangerous manner. Several officers attempted to arrest Khan with assistance from family members, but he hurled abusive language at the officers and, as shown in the video, assaulted one of them.

“The video is disturbing because my brother behaved a little badly. My stepfather is also in the video trying to control my brother,” Hernandez admitted.

The officers eventually managed to get Khan into the vehicle, and Hernandez stated he followed behind, witnessing the ranks assaulting him.

“I got a motorcycle, rode behind them, and saw them beating my brother. I went home and told my mother to get ready so we could go to the station,” Hernandez told the News Room.

Upon arriving at the station, Hernandez found his brother beaten, with blood on his clothes. However, Regional Commander Superintendent Krishnadat Ramana told the News Room that the blood belonged to a sergeant who also lost a tooth during Khan’s arrest.

“I am aware of the post, but nothing like that occurred. We have a video of the commencement of this incident. They have their opinion, but there is no evidence to support that [Khan was assaulted by officers]. When you see the video, you will see his behaviour. He inflicted those injuries on himself; no officers assaulted him. The sergeant’s blood was on his trousers from an injury to his finger, and the sergeant had to extract a tooth due to his behaviour,” Commander Ramana clarified.

Meanwhile, Hernandez further alleged that Khan was denied medical attention for hours. However, Commander Ramana disputed this claim, stating that Khan was taken to the Mabaruma District Hospital as soon as his relatives requested medical assistance.

“I went to the officer in charge, and he said we couldn’t go into the station. I started to wonder if my brother was going to die and then went back to the officer in charge and asked for bail and medical attention for my brother, but everything was denied,” Hernandez claimed.

According to him, Khan left the station at around midday on Monday, hours after his arrest.

“They said he verbally abused them, resisted arrest, damaged police property, damaged station property, and refused to take a breathalyser test. Those are the charges he is facing right now,” Hernandez said.

He is calling for a full investigation into his brother’s arrest and also claimed that this is not the first time the police have assaulted him during an arrest.

At around 14:00 on Monday, Khan was released on $200,000 bail.

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American model and actress Cynthia Bailey is set to make her debut in Guyana, stepping into the limelight as the host of the much-anticipated Guyana Fashion Showcase, Cricket Carnival edition.

Under the vibrant theme “Style with Beauty in the Rainforest,” this exciting event will unfold at the picturesque Castellani House in Georgetown on October 4.

Last held in 2019, the fashion show has been eagerly awaited by fashion enthusiasts and aspiring models alike. It promises to be a spectacular platform for showcasing talent and collections, as well as an opportunity to network with both local and international figures in the industry.

American model and actress Cynthia Bailey

Bailey, renowned for her illustrious modelling career and her role in Real Housewives of Atlanta, expressed her enthusiasm for supporting emerging designers.

“I love supporting new designers… As a fashion icon, I love to use my platform to highlight and give exposure to young businesses, young designers, and I’m very excited to actually see the designs myself,” she remarked at a recent press briefing.

With a wealth of experience in the fashion world, Bailey is keen to impart her knowledge and offer guidance to foster the burgeoning fashion scene in Guyana.

American model and actress Cynthia Bailey

“I am totally open. I am happy to give my opinion. I am just here to show some love and excitement and help make this showcase as successful as possible,” she added.

The Guyana Fashion Showcase, Cricket Carnival edition, was originally launched in 2019, but after a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it resumed in 2021 in New York, showcasing passionate young designers and models eager to grow their careers.

American model and actress Cynthia Bailey

“I think this is an excellent opportunity for anyone who is interested in being a model to come… a lot of the right people are going to be there. Because the plan is to grow the showcase every year and let it get bigger and better,” Bailey noted, emphasising the event’s potential.

Tickets for this fabulous showcase are available at CoLabs Guyana Inc., Ramada Hotel in Providence, Julius Variety Store, and Hits and Jams Entertainment, with general admission priced at $10,000 and VIP tickets at $15,000. Don’t miss out on this thrilling celebration of fashion!

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Kenrick Wickham, 34, from Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara, began farming seven years ago and believes it is the ultimate path to sustainability.

Married with two children, farming has supported his family over the years. Previously, he worked as a taxi driver, bus driver, and carpenter before turning to agriculture.

He cultivates cherry, soursop, celery, and pepper, and now plans to venture into passion fruit, which is low maintenance. Wickham will also test a new farming technique to protect his crops during flooding.

In an interview, he discussed the challenges faced by him and other local farmers, including theft and water issues.

“We at Nabaclis encounter many difficulties with water; that is one of our main problems. Sometimes we have too much water, and when we do have the right amount of water, sometimes it is salt because Nabaclis is one of the lowest areas within Cove and John, Golden Grove, and Haslington,” Wickham explained.

Wickham will also test a new farming technique to protect his crops during flooding.

He farms on ancestral lands that have been passed down from generations long before him.

The ambitious farmer is also leasing land to expand his agricultural business. But he has had to deal with theft, a lack of proper planting materials, and other issues.

“Sometimes we get people coming and thieving our stuff, and insects—we also encounter insects,” Wickham explained and added that the spraying of rice fields also affects the farmers. “When they encounter insects, they have to spray, and sometimes when they spray with the motor blower, we have to run from here to get fresh air. Sometimes it affects our crops, and we cannot pick our crops, and that goes to spoil,” Wickham stated.

Kenrick Wickham, 34, from Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara, began farming seven years ago and believes it is the ultimate path to sustainability.

He said the farmers would try to estimate when the rice fields would be sprayed and harvest beforehand. “Sometimes the loss can be great; sometimes it is a minor loss, but we still have to keep going. Farming is the way forward, and as Mr Burnham said, plant something, grow something, and you will reap something.”

He only sells his produce to local villagers. “I don’t go to the big market because everybody knows around the village that when I produce, it is close to organic, so it is like they are getting proper stuff for a cheap cost, so people are waiting for me to come out and sell,” Wickham said.

The father of two said he loves everything about farming. “It keeps my body active; it helps me to produce more organic, healthier stuff for me and my family; also, I can provide for my surrounding community,” he said.

Pepper cultivation on one of Wickham’s farms

He encourages everyone to get into agriculture, even if it’s on a small scale, and at the same time called for more support for farmers. Wickham and several other farmers are benefitting from the Sustainable Agriculture in the Caribbean (SAC) Project, which is being implemented by the World University Service of Canada (WUSC).

The project focuses on empowering women, youth, and marginalised male farmers, addressing the challenges faced by these farmers, and developing solutions for improving agricultural markets.

“Through WUSC Caribbean, through the SAC programme, I have learned about the raised bed technique; I said I am going to try that technique,” Wickham said.

Setting up a water system at one of his farms

He has already started to make preparations to test the new farming technique with recycled five-gallon bottles.

“Instead of burning the bottles or throwing them away, I am reusing the bottles. I cut the tops off and put in soil; I am going to plant passion fruit in there and then put it on tyres, so it is going to be off the ground. That way, when we get flooding, it won’t affect the passion fruit,” Wickham explained.

He will also soon embark on a tomato trial project.

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