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Countries across the Caribbean were battered by Hurricane Beryl, a monstrous Category 5 storm that ripped through the southeastern part of the region. And Guyanese living in or visiting those countries were among those affected by the hurricane.

Sunita Ghir, a Guyanese living in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for more than 15 years, was brought to tears after the hurricane devastated parts of the country.

Ghir said only her plantain and banana trees were uprooted when the heavy winds passed her community but Union Island, a place she lived when she first moved to the country, was almost flattened.

“Last night when I got in touch with some friends who told me what is happening in Union… I was in tears last night when I saw what Union Island is today.

“There is no airport, nothing. It is completely demolished,” Ghir told the News Room.

This island is just about three miles long and is best known for its seafood, like the iconic conch.

According to St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, about 90% of the houses on Union Island have been severely damaged or destroyed. During a press briefing on Tuesday, he confirmed that the airport has indeed been badly affected and unusable.

“Union Island has been devastated,” Gonsalves said.

Grenada was another Caribbean island particularly hard-hit by the hurricane on Monday.

SUPPORT FOR AFFECTED COUNTRIES

In a statement, Guyana’s President and the current Chairman of the Caribbean Community, Dr. Irfaan Ali said support for Grenada would be prioritised even as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) was working on a wider response plan for the Windward Islands.

Guyana’s first shipment of relief aid to Grenada in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl was handed over to Kerryne James, the Minister for Climate Resilience, the Environment, and Renewable Energy, at the Maurice Bishop International Airport (Photo: President Irfaan Ali/ Facebook/ July 02, 2024)

For its part, Guyana has already sprung into action- sending relief items to Grenada and other countries affected.

On Tuesday, via a Facebook update, President Ali highlighted that aid arrived in Grenada.

“Our first shipment of relief aid to Grenada in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl was handed over to Kerryne James, the Minister for Climate Resilience, the Environment, and Renewable Energy, at the Maurice Bishop International Airport,” the post on the President’s official Facebook page noted.

Tobago, St. Lucia and Barbados were other islands affected.

A screenshot from a video showing the damage done on Union Island during the passage of Hurricane Beryl on Monday, July 1, 2024.

FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS

Beryl also grounded flights across the region.

Guyanese Rona Ramlall was one of the thousands of persons who travelled to Barbados to catch the final match of the T20 world cup- the showdown between India and South Africa. She has, however, been unable to return home.

“I’m crossing my fingers that the winds they predict for tomorrow (Wednesday) doesn’t affect my travel plans for Thursday,” she told the News Room on Tuesday.

Caribbean Airlines, for example, notified flyers that its flights were grounded but issued a schedule for relief flights, barring any further disruptions.

 

In a statement, the airlines said it would “operate relief flights for ticketed and confirmed passengers who were displaced due to regional flight cancellations during the period June 30 to July 2.”

Similar actions are being taken by other airlines.

As stakeholders try to cope with the situation, the hurricane continued to move across the region on Tuesday, forcing Jamaica to brace for some impact.

Already, the hurricane has killed at least six people after making its landfall in the southeast Caribbean.The hurricane has since been downgraded to a Category 4, and is expected to hit Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on Wednesday.

Jason Isaacs was arrested on Tuesday at the Weldaad Police Station. He was wanted for the 2021 murder of US-based Guyanese Hemraj Pardesi.

Police issued a wanted bulletin for Isaacs in May this year.

According to a statement from Police Headquarters, Isaacs is also suspected of fatally shooting a man in Suriname on October 12, 2023.

Police said he was arrested in Suriname on October 13, 2023, but escaped from the Paramaribo University Hospital and has been on the run since until his arrest Tuesday by ranks from the Guyana Police Force.

Pardesi was murdered on August 3, 2021 at Reliance Settlement, East Canje Berbice.

Days after, Maryo Bissoondyal of Cumberland, East Canje Berbice and Malisha Dutchin, 26 of Reliance, East Canje were charged and remanded for murdering Pardesi.

Hemraj Pardesi, who had returned to Guyana a few weeks prior to his death, was found motionless in his yard.

Bissoondyal, during interrogation, confessed to being a part of the plot and execution of the robbery/murder and implicated Dutchin and Isaacs.

Three days later, Dutchin turned herself over to authorities and confirmed with police that she shared a relationship with Pardesi and that she had called the man over to her house the night he was killed.

She told investigators that after he left her house she had no knowledge of what occurred after.

However, Bissoondyal told the Police that Dutchin lured Pardesi over to her house via a phone call and when he left she contacted Isaacs.

Bissoondyal further said that he and Isaacs went over to Pardesi’s yard and attacked him.

Round Two of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s Circuit Racing Series at the South Dakota Circuit.

Also setting lap records in their individual categories were Adrian Fernandes in the Sports Tuner, Anand Ramchand in the Starlet Cup and Heeranand Boodram in the Superstock Bikes (B Class).

Sixteen-year-old Evelyn, powering his Hand-in-Hand sponsored Toyota Starlet, clocked one minute, 24.883 seconds, bettering the one minute, 25.140 seconds he set earlier in the day.

Evelyn’s times erased the previous record of one minute, 28.109 seconds recorded by Jeremy Ten Pow last April. He also had a flawless day on the track, winning both Rookie races, ahead of Ten Pow and Shivan Raganauth.

Evelyn, the son of race car driver Keith Evelyn, made his competitive debut this year, placing sixth overall at the first round of the Endurance Racing Series in January.

He also competed in the first round of Circuit Racing in April, but encountered mechanical troubles and did not finish.

As such, Sunday’s double victory was a sort of redemption for Evelyn, who hailed the input of his father in the success.

“My dad has been my number one supporter throughout and without him none of this would have been possible,” Anthony remarked.

“Thanks to him everything turned out good in the end.”

Adrian Fernandes’ Toyota Levin (Photo: Jeremy Jagroop)

Meanwhile, Fernandes, in his Toyota Levin, has the new Sports Tuner lap record, clocking one minute, 28.136 seconds on Sunday.

That time bettered the one minute, 28.334 seconds recorded by Azaad Hassan’s Toyota Sprinter AE91 at the ENet Caribbean Clash of Champions in November 2023.

Anand Ramchand had a day to remember, copping five victories across the Starlet Cup and Group Three categories (Photo: News Room/Avidesh Narine/June 30, 2024)

Heeranand Boodram relaxes at the start time (Photo: News Room/Avidesh Narine/June 30, 2024)

Ramchand, who blazed to a combined five victories across the Starlet Cup and Group Three on Sunday, now owns the Starlet Cup lap record at one minute, 25.577 seconds.

Powering his EP82, Ramchand lowered Rameez Mohamed’s one minute, 25.807 seconds recorded at the South Dakota Grand Prix in March 2023.

Boodram, onboard his Yamaha R6, lowered the Superstock Bikes (B Class) time, recording one minute, 21.511 seconds.

He also held the previous record of one minute, 21.553 seconds which he rode on Sunday to pip Alain Hopkinson’s one minute, 21.674 seconds effort in April.

How the day went (Click here to read the full report)

Vishok Persaud extended his brilliant run over the last few seasons, clocking the fastest lap time of the day in a dominant Group Four performance.

Powering his KTM X-BOW, Persaud clocked 1.17.366s, coming close to the overall lap record (1:16.691s) he set in November 2023.

Mark Vieira took top honours in the opening Group Four race, with Mohan Rangasammy and Persaud coming in second and third respectively.

However, it was all Persaud in the other two races, as Vieira and Rangasammy were forced to settle for second and third respectively in both events.

Matthew Vieira, onboard his ENet sponsored Yamaha R6, dominated the Superstock Bikes (A) with a clean sweep of the three races, with Kevin Persaud taking second throughout.

Heeranand Boodram also won all three Superstock Bikes (B) races, while Adrian Mohar took the chequered flag in all three Street Class Bikes races.

Raymond Seebarran won all three Street Tuner Group One races, and Shan Seejatan also had a flawless day, winning all three Group Two events.

Waramuri Primary Top finished second overall (Photo: GFF)

The final, broadcast live on GFF social media platforms, delivered a compelling clash between the top teams from Regions One and Nine.

Despite a goalless draw at the end of the official 20-minute match time, both sides exhibited robust attacking and defensive tactics, with assured goalkeeping performances on full display.

However, St. Ignatius Secondary clinched a thrilling victory in a nail-biting penalty shootout, scoring three goals to Waramuri Primary Top’s two. Teammate Sonia Simon won the MVP award, while goalkeeper Shontell Jobe took home the Golden Boot.

In the contest for third and fourth place, Santa Rosa Secondary recorded a 2-0 victory over Bartica Secondary to secure the trophy. Veronica Chatta, who led the tournament with 19 goals, scored in the 16th and 29th minutes.

In addition to trophies and medals, the champions received equipment valued at over G$600,000, with Waramuri Primary Top and Santa Rosa earning football gears valued at just over G$450,000 and G$379,000, respectively.

Santa Rosa Secondary finished third overall (Photo: GFF)

During the brief awards ceremony, GFF President Wayne Forde commended all the participating teams stating, “You are all winners.”

He congratulated the champions and stressed that “we have witnessed weeks of exceptional football and a championship match that will be remembered for years to come.”

The top football official also thanked Blue Water for their ongoing support and acknowledged the Ministry of Education for embracing the federation’s vision for girls in football.

“Plans for a second edition of the tournament are already underway, with new schools expected to register from across Guyana.”

Blue Water Shipping Senior Vice-President Jennifer Falconer congratulated the GFF on the success of the tournament, stating that her company is “proud to have been the sponsor of this first historic championship with girls’ under-15.”

She shared that the global shipping brand will “absolutely be happy to participate” in the next nationwide championship.

Marti DeSouza, Deputy Chief Education Officer for Amerindian and Hinterland Education Development, said he enjoyed the competitive level displayed during the championship match, highlighting that it “struck a balance” in showcasing top football players, as both teams originated from the hinterland region.

Meanwhile, Women’s Football Association (WFA) President Andrea Johnson disclosed that standout performers from the tournament have been identified to represent Guyana at the upcoming Concacaf Under-15 event in August.

“I am confident that they will make us proud.” Johnson also urged other teams to remain focused and “return next championship ready to battle again.”

Earlier in the day, the other four quarter-finalists competed for positions fifth through eighth. President’s College triumphed over Bush Lot Secondary 2-0 to claim fifth place, courtesy of goals from Kimora Edwards in the eighth minute and Rayanna Gounga in the 29th minute.

Tucville Secondary concluded the tournament in seventh place after prevailing over Queen’s College in a 2-1 penalty shootout.

The competition commenced nationwide on May 4, engaging over a thousand student athletes from 53 schools.

It marked the beginning of the competitive phase of the FIFA Football For School Programme (F4S), designed to foster life skills through football.

A total of 138 games were played, resulting in 325 goals scored.