Blog

The 30^th and final regular fixture of this year’s Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) saw reigning champions Guyana Amazon Warriors suffer a heavy 74-run defeat at the hands of Trinbago Knight Riders on home turf in Providence.

Despite this loss, the Amazon Warriors finish top of the table and will face the St. Lucia Kings in Qualifier One on October 2. The Knight Riders will face Barbados in the Eliminator match on October 1.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first the Knight Riders innings got off to a rocky start as Warriors captain Imran Tahir bowled Shaqkere Parris with a perfect googly that completely bamboozled the batter and scudded into the stumps.

Tahir wheeled away in celebration, but it was to be the last thing his side would have to celebrate for a while on what turned out to be a bruising night.

Nicholas Pooran made Warriors pay for the fielding lapses (Photo by Randy Brooks/CPL T20 via Getty Images)

Nicholas Pooran played one of the finest innings in the history of the CPL by striking a majestic century for the Knight Riders, finishing with 101 off just 59 balls with nine fours and eight sixes to his name.

Jason Roy played the anchor role with 34 runs off 26 balls and watched on in awe as Pooran dispatched the Warriors stellar bowling line-up to all parts of the Providence stadium.

After Player-of-the-Match Pooran was eventually dismissed at the end of the 16th over- caught behind by Shai Hope off the bowling of Shamar Joseph- Knight Riders captain Kieron Pollard (19 off 13) and Keacy Carty (27 off 13) ensured the visitors made it past the 200 mark and set a challenging total of 211-5 for the Warriors to chase.

Imran Tahir (left) and Gudakesh Motie of Guyana Amazon Warriors take a breather during the Men’s 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League Match 30 between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders at Guyana National Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Providence, Guyana. (Photo by Randy Brooks/CPL T20 via Getty Images)

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Shai Hope both got starts but failed to go on and make a decisive big score as the Warriors chase failed to ignite in the face of scoreboard pressure and smart bowling.

Waqar Salamkeil’s left-arm wrist spin and Terrance Hinds’ medium-pace seamers proved the undoing of the home side, the middle overs seeing a bundle of wickets fall as each bowler picked up three wickets apiece.

When Moeen Ali fell with the Warriors score on 88-8 it looked as if the 2023 CPL champions were going to be handed an emphatic 100-plus run defeat, but some late order resistance from Gudakesh Motie (26*) and captain Tahir (20) saw them up to a final total of 137 all out.

Nevertheless, it was a chastening 74-run defeat for the Warriors after looking so dominant in their previous four matches and a huge confidence boost to the Knight Riders. (CPL)

The post CPL 2024: Pooran fires TKR to massive win, but Warriors secure top-two finish appeared first on News Room Guyana.

In what can be viewed as an unprecedented gesture to incentivise the performance of the team, Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle has confirmed that President Dr. Irfaan Ali has committed to paying the Golden Jaguars US$5,000 for each victory in their CONCACAF Nations League and World Cup campaign and a mammoth US$300,000 for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.

This intended act, which was announced in the presence of Ninvalle, was conveyed by President Ali to the team following the conclusion of the Guyana and Suriname Nations League fixture at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, on September 5.

Unfortunately, Guyana failed to win any of their matches in League A of the CONCACAF Nations League. The Golden Jaguars lost the opening contest to their Dutch-speaking neighbours 1-3. They then drew 2-2 away to Martinique in their second fixture four days later.

This is the second act of intended benevolence during this month from the President towards the national programme as the government of Guyana provided approximately G$4,000,000 towards the acquisition of airfare for the Martinique fixture.

Golden Jaguars players lined up before the clash against Suriname on September 5

Director of Sport Ninvalle said, “Under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Irfaan Ali, the development of sports and his commitment in establishing a culture of excellence is unquestionable. This is not a notional claim but is evident by the largest allocation in the sum of $4.6 billion towards sector. This historic allocation, which is a realisation of annual growth, is rooted in the recognised and established value of a structured and world-class sports ecosystem.”

According to the Director of Sport, “From the establishment of new facilities and the restoration of existing edifices, President Ali’s vision is a concerted move to actualise development through investment in the requisite pillars for advancement, that is, infrastructure and human capital, and underscores his resolve and dedication to establish a vibrant sporting landscape, one that not only acts as a social unifier but a means to enhance and strengthen our ever-burgeoning world standing.”

Ninvalle further stated, “While wearing and representing the national colours is an honour second to none in the athletic world, President Ali’s monumental pronouncement serves as an additional motivation for the team in their quest to attain greatness.”

He added that the president’s gesture was well received by the players.

Guyana will get another opportunity to benefit from the President’s decree as they are slated to face off against Guatemala on local soil on October 11 before concluding their campaign four days later in the return fixture against Suriname.

The Golden Jaguars are also scheduled to resume their 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in 2025 away to Nicaragua and home to Montserrat. To date, Guyana sports a record of one win (3-1 vs Belize) and a defeat (0-2 vs Panama) in their campaign.

The post President Ali commits financial incentives for Golden Jaguars appeared first on News Room Guyana.

General Marine is on board for this year’s Prime Minister’s Softball Cup, which is slated for October 11-13.

At the business location on Camp Street in Georgetown, Chief Operating Officer of General Marine Anthony Rahaman Khan expressed delight to be associated with the mega softball event.

The three-day extravaganza is hosted by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

There will be three men’s categories- Legends (Over-50), Masters (Over-40) and Open (All-Stars)- along with the ladies.

Over G$3M is at stakes with the men’s champion team in each category carting off G$600, 000 while the women’s winner will pocket G$200,000. More attractive prizes are also up for grabs. The men will be T20 format while the girls competing in 15 overs.

At the simple presentation ceremony, President of the League Ian John was elated with the contribution and promised that the eighth edition is anticipating to be thrilling from ball-one.

He thanked Rahaman Khan during his remarks, noting that General Marine has been supporting softball cricket for years and the Managing Director is no stranger to softball cricket.

Meanwhile, all four finals will be played at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary, in Georgetown as well.

The post General Marine ‘batting’ with Prime Minister’s Softball Cup appeared first on News Room Guyana.

One forklift, nine transformers, twenty-three drums of castor oil, and seven Caterpillar generators were among the items destroyed in a fire at the Demerara Distillers Limited Power Plant on Friday.

See below update provided by the Guyana Fire Service:

The Fire Service received an urgent alert at 16:43 hrs, triggering a rapid response that dispatched six firefighting units to the scene.

The first unit arrived just seven minutes later, at 16:50 hrs, with a total of 10,220 litres of water deployed to contain the blaze. Under the leadership of Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham, a dedicated team of six officers and twenty-two firefighters worked diligently to control the fire, successfully limiting it to a single building.

The fire originated in the generator enclosure and spread to a nearby chemical bond, damaging portions of the wooden ceiling and metal guttering. Thankfully, the prompt response ensured that the chemical bond and fuel storage areas were safeguarded, minimising the risk of further damage.

Firefighters utilised a mix of foam, dry chemicals, and water to extinguish the flames, employing five jets from various units. Fire Prevention officials are now investigating the cause of the incident to prevent future occurrences.

The Fire Service has commended all personnel involved for their professionalism and commitment, noting that their efforts undoubtedly averted what could have been a catastrophic event for the company.

The post Nine transformers, seven generators destroyed in fire at DDL appeared first on News Room Guyana.

By Telesha Ramnarine

David Lee Cheong stands out as one of the few professional diamond setters in Guyana. His passion for the craft was ignited at the tender age of seven, and now, at 40, he is determined to establish a classroom to share his expertise with others.

Having spent over 30 years immersed in the world of jewellery—often practically living in a workshop as a child—David took a bold step to forge his own path about a year ago, launching Dreamers Creations.

His mission is to create unique, timeless pieces that will endure beyond his lifetime. Following the completion of meaningful short courses in Dubai recently, he is poised to embark on advanced studies in Russia next year.

Growing up with his uncle, a jeweller, David would take in every detail he could. The guy working with his uncle would allow him to link chains and show him how to master other aspects of the work.

“The reason I named it Dreamers Creations is because I would look at every little detail when he’s making stuff and memorise it in my bed, and I would go in my bed and think about what I learned. I put it together in my head… I basically learned jewellery in my dreams,” David reflected in an interview with News Room on Friday.

When he was about 13 years old, he’d work whenever school was out. “My uncle had a situation where he sent home all of the staff, and he had no one to do the work,” he recalled. By this time, he had already learned how to do most things, so he had an opportunity to create jewellery for the first time.

“I usually create pieces that nobody else would have. I work on one-of-a-kind things. I specialise in diamond setting, and I set for other jewellers, but I want to create timeless pieces, unique pieces that will be here long after I am here,” he expressed.

David had always entertained the thought of studying in the field, but when he looked at the cost of doing so, he figured he’d never be able to. However, he eventually saw an amazing deal in Dubai and went for it. “I wanted to improve my diamond setting and my engraving. I was able to do two courses in two weeks,” he shared.

To his delight, his instructor was someone he had been following on YouTube, someone he described as one of the best in the field.

Asked what makes him stand out from any other jeweller, he said: “I honestly believe I am one of the most passionate jewellers when it comes to my work and creating amazing pieces, the uniqueness; I come up with the craziest ideas, and I am also the first person to make gold shades for my wife.”

When he came back from his training in Dubai, several people reached out to David to inquire if he would be teaching at some point. Having already been inspired at this point to pass down his skills, David is ready to pursue a classroom to help especially young people who are interested in learning the trade.

The post ‘I want to create timeless pieces that will last long after I am gone’ – Jeweller appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Work is advancing on the Kumu and Moco-Moco power plants in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), with both projects set to become operational by the end of 2024, providing clean, reliable energy to the region.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips during a recent visit to the region, inspected the progress of the two major hydropower projects that are set to transform the region’s energy landscape.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips during an inspection of one hydropower plants

According to a release issued on Saturday, the PM was provided with detailed briefings from the construction and engineering teams on the ground.

The Kumu Hydropower Plant, with a capacity of 1.5 megawatts (MW), is approximately 78 per cent complete, while the Moco-Moco Hydropower Plant, which is being upgraded to a capacity of 0.7 MW, is 95 per cent complete.

The PM received detailed briefings on the progress of the hydropower plants

The plants are being constructed under an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract valued at around US$12.85 million. The contract was awarded to Sri Lankan firm Vidullanka PLC.

“The Kumu Hydropower Plant will supply power to the Kumu community and the Lethem power system, contributing to regional development and improving energy access. It is expected to produce about 9,700 MWh annually and reduce power costs to the community,” the release stated.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips during an inspection of one hydropower plants

Meanwhile, the Moco-Moco Hydropower Plant will generate approximately 4,565 MWh annually. The plant, built in 1999, was temporarily shut down after a landslide damaged its infrastructure.  Rehabilitation works are now nearly complete, with the final grid connection anticipated by October 2024.

PM Phillips reaffirmed the government’s commitment to renewable energy investments to ensure long-term sustainability and energy security. He said that the Kumu and Moco-Moco projects will play a vital role in meeting the country’s renewable energy targets.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips during an inspection of one hydropower plants

These projects advance the promise outlined in the PPP/C’s 2020 manifesto to implement an energy-mix that includes hydropower, solar and wind.

Similar projects include the 0.65 MW solar farm in Mahdia, which is expected to be completed this year, and three other solar farms, namely a 10 MW solar farm in Berbice, 8 MW solar farm in Essequibo, and a 0.6 MW solar farm at Leguan.

PM Phillips was accompanied by Regional Chair, Bryan Allicock; Chief Executive Officer, of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Dr Mahender Sharma; Chair of the GEA Board of Directors, Jerome Khan; and Chair of the Lethem Power Company Board, Rodger King during his visit. [DPI]

The post Kumu, Moco-Moco power plants nearing completion appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The post Exclusive travel operator Abercrombie & Kent to enhance Guyana’s tourism offerings appeared first on News Room Guyana.

In a significant stride towards tackling global hunger, Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali unveiled his latest book, Achieving Global Food Security: The Caribbean Experience and Beyond, at the prestigious Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford.

This launch, held on Saturday, aims to shed light on a pressing issue affecting millions worldwide.

The book comprehensively examines the root causes and challenges surrounding food security, both globally and specifically within the Caribbean context.

With the region grappling with soaring food and fertiliser prices, alongside labour displacement, Dr Ali’s work presents an innovative pathway to achieving freedom from hunger.

He advocates for harnessing the Caribbean’s unique comparative advantages and its potential for agricultural investment.

Published in partnership with World Scientific Publishing, this volume not only serves as a critical resource for scholars and professionals in the fields of food security, international development, and Caribbean studies but also aims to engage a broader audience.

A chapter dedicated to ongoing and future initiatives in Guyana invites locals to connect with the issues at hand.

At the book launch, renowned professor and UNESCO chair Amitav Acharya commended Dr Ali’s work, describing it as “a significantly necessary and timely contribution to one of the most pressing global issues.”

His endorsement highlights the book’s relevance and importance in today’s context.

For those interested in exploring this vital topic further, Achieving Global Food Security is available for purchase directly from the World Scientific Publishing website or on Amazon.

Dr Ali’s insightful contributions promise to inspire readers and encourage action towards sustainable solutions for food security in the Caribbean and beyond. [Extracted and modified from the Department of Public Information] 

The post President Ali launches book on global food security at Oxford appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Using drones, police searched the Buxton, East Coast Demerara backlands for Joshua David, who was allegedly abducted on Thursday from Main Street in Georgetown.

The search took place on Saturday between 15:00 and 19:00 hrs and included ranks on feet but yielded no evidence of value.

David, known as ‘Bricks,’ was reportedly taken outside the New Thriving Chinese Restaurant while with a friend.

According to reports in other sections of the media, CCTV footage showed the abductors arriving on two motorcycles and in a car, forcibly taking David and fleeing north along Main Street before last being spotted along the East Coast of Demerara.

In connection with the case, the Guyana Police Force has issued wanted bulletins for five suspects: Aaron Alleyne (alias Cats), Alpha Poole, Wayne Barker, Dwayne Griffith, and Osafo Peters (alias Saddest).

Authorities are urging the public to come forward with any information regarding these individuals, as the search for David continues.

The post Police deploy drones over Buxton backlands in search of abducted man appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Pedal cyclist Standford Benjamin, 63, of Number 28 Village, West Coast Berbice lost his life in an accident on Saturday.

The fatal collision occurred at 14:00 hrs on the Number 28 Public Road.

The accident involved motor car PZZ 7256, owned and driven by Malcolm Nurse, a 65-year-old resident of New Amsterdam, Berbice.

According to a police release, Benjamin was proceeding west along the southern side of the road, while the car was proceeding in the same direction behind him.

Nurse alleged that as he was in the process of passing Benjamin when he suddenly swerved into the path of his vehicle, which caused the front of the car to collide with the pedal cycle.

As a result of the collision, Benjamin received injuries and fell onto the roadway.

He was picked up in an unconscious condition and taken to the Fort Wellington Public Hospital where he was seen and examined by a doctor and later died while receiving medical treatment.

The post Pedal cyclist, 63, dies after hit along No. 28 Public Road appeared first on News Room Guyana.