October 15th, 2024

Fact of the day: It may sound surprising, but Earth is neither perfectly round nor uniformly shaped. Due to the planet's rotation, it bulges at the equator and flattens at the poles. Additionally, the uneven distribution of mass across Earth's surface leads to slight variations in gravitational pull depending on location. While these differences aren't visible from space, where Earth appears round, the true shape is more complex. This form, known as the 'geoid,' represents the planet's average sea-level surface. Using data from ESA’s Gravity and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE), scientists have produced the most detailed map of Earth's gravity field to date.

Local News

Security Guard Dies in ATV Accident

Marlon Davison, a 37-year-old security guard, tragically lost his life in an ATV accident on Sunday, October 13, 2024. The accident took place at Sand Hill Trail in the Cuyuni Mazaruni region (Region Seven) around 17:25 hours. Employed by Hopkinson Mining Security Firm and residing in Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, Davison was reportedly driving east at a high speed when he lost control of the ATV, causing it to flip. He was pinned beneath the vehicle. Passersby rushed to his aid and transported him to the Bartica Regional Hospital, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Pedal Cyclist Dies After Colliding With Car

Shaman Ally, a 56-year-old cyclist, tragically died after losing control of his bicycle and crashing into a motorcar on La Grange Public Road, West Bank Demerara. The accident occurred at around 14:45 hrs, and police have placed the car’s driver, Kelvin Hodge, in custody. Reports indicate that Ally, who was riding without holding onto the bicycle's handle, swerved and collided with the car. He was transported to the West Demerara Regional Hospital but succumbed to his injuries later that day.

Motorcyclist Dies, Pillion Rider In Critical Condition Following Eccles Accident

Dillon Abrams, a 30-year-old motorcyclist, tragically died in an accident on the Eccles Public Road, East Bank Demerara, on Monday, October 14, 2024. Abrams reportedly lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a median. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) pronounced him dead at the scene.

The pillion rider, a female passenger, sustained critical injuries, including head trauma, a punctured lung, and a fractured right leg. She is currently admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital in critical condition. The police are conducting further investigations into the accident.

Business and Economy

TOTALTEC’s New State-of-the-Art Hospitality Complex to Open in December

TOTALTEC Inc. announced the launch of its new hospitality group, CampBOSS, which will open its first state-of-the-art complex in Houston, Greater Georgetown, in December 2024. The facility will feature 52 rooms (with plans to expand to over 100), a restaurant, a wellness center, a conference center, and leisure amenities, including a pool and roof terrace. CEO Lars Mangal emphasized CampBOSS’s commitment to providing high-quality, affordable services that meet the growing demand in Guyana’s market. CampBOSS will also offer integrated services like catering, maintenance, and laundry, all delivered by skilled Guyanese workers.

Sports

Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s century led Demerara to a dominant 105-run win over the GCB Select XI in the Guyana Cricket Board Senior Inter-County 50-over tournament.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s unbeaten century propelled Demerara to a commanding 105-run victory over the GCB Select XI in the Guyana Cricket Board Senior Inter-County 50-over tournament. Chanderpaul scored 102 runs from 135 balls and partnered with Akshaya Persaud, who smashed 80 runs off 53 balls, for a crucial 126-run stand. Demerara posted a total of 258 runs for 9 wickets in their 50 overs. Despite Carlos LaRose's 4 wickets for 41 runs, the Select XI faltered in their chase, bowled out for 153 runs in 43 overs. Devon Lord led Demerara’s bowling with 3 wickets for 21 runs, while Richie Looknauth contributed with 2 wickets for 19 runs.

On the same day, Essequibo beat Berbice by 4 wickets at Pomona, with Ricardo Adams taking 5 wickets for 25 runs and scoring a quick 60, steering his team to chase down 204 runs.

Australia Defeats India to Reach T20 World Cup Semi-Finals

Australia secured a spot in the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals with a close nine-run win over India. After posting 151-8, Australia managed to restrict India to 142-9, thanks to an excellent final over from Annabel Sutherland, which saw her give away just four runs and claim three wickets. The match saw standout performances from Grace Harris, who top-scored for Australia with 40 runs, while Ellyse Perry and Tahlia McGrath contributed 32 runs each. Harmanpreet Kaur led the fight for India with an unbeaten 54 but fell short of leading her team to victory. India will now have to wait and rely on New Zealand losing to Pakistan to secure their place in the final four.

Former CWI Media Manager Nominated For Caribbean Distinguished Service Award

Philip Spooner, the former Media Manager of Cricket West Indies (CWI), has been nominated for the prestigious Caribbean Distinguished Service Award at the inaugural CANOC Sports Awards. The event, hosted by the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), will take place in the Turks and Caicos Islands on October 19, 2024. Spooner, from Barbados, is recognized for his dedication to advancing sports in the Caribbean, including his recent role as Media Operations Manager for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Spooner spearheaded the first-ever Global Media Hub and led the tournament's global trophy tour and ambassador program. The event will also honor other Caribbean athletes and teams, recognizing excellence in sports and sustainability.

Guyanese Golfer Patrick Prashad Wins ‘A’ Class at Suriname Open 2024

Veteran Guyanese golfer Patrick Prashad took top honors in the ‘A’ Class category at the Suriname Open 2024, held last weekend at the Paramaribo Golf Club. Prashad was part of a 12-member team from the Lusignan Golf Club in Guyana. Fellow Guyanese Patanjilee Persaud finished fourth in the same category, while multiple-time Guyana Open champion Avinash Persaud secured sixth place. In other categories, Brian Hackett took second place in the ‘B’ Class, and Troy Cadogan placed fourth in the ‘C’ Class. The tournament, known for its challenging course, saw golfers from across the region compete in a thrilling two-day event.

Prashad expressed his joy, acknowledging the significance of the victory after more than 20 years of participating in the event. The Guyanese contingent now prepares for the Brava Guyana Open, slated for November 2-3, 2024.

Angelina Yhap Wins Queenside Rapid Chess Tournament

The Queenside Rapid Chess Tournament, held on October 12, 2024, at the School of the Nations in Georgetown, saw 13-year-old Angelina Yhap of Marian Academy claim the championship with seven points, marking her first tournament win. Organized by the Guyana Women in Chess Community (GWICC) and sponsored by Jade’s Wok and Pinnacle Business Services, the event aimed to promote female participation in chess.

Rebha Lachman, 11, of Queen’s College, placed second, while 12-year-old Lusianna Farlot of the New Guyana School finished third. Special prizes were awarded, including Best Girl to Kaija Clement and Best Woman to Amanda Alli. The tournament featured 24 players, with G$50,000 in prizes and trophies awarded.

The next rapid chess event for females is scheduled for October 27, 2024.

Guyana To Host West Indies Fullbore Shooting Championship From October 28

The Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) is preparing to host the 2024 West Indies Fullbore Shooting Championship from October 28 to November 4 at the Timehri Rifle Ranges. The last time the event was hosted in Guyana was in 2017, during GNRA's 150th anniversary celebration.

Participating nations include Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the USA. The US Rifle Team is attending for the first time, led by Captain Yvonne Roberts, while Canada is expected to put up a strong performance.

GNRA’s planning committee, along with the Guyana Defense Force (GDF), has been working intensively to prepare the shooting ranges. Significant improvements have been made, including enhanced safety measures and the installation of new target mechanisms.

Guyana, the defending champion of both the Short and Long Range Trophies, will field a 10-man team, including veterans like Mahendra Persaud, Dylan Fields, and Lennox Braithwaite. President Irfaan Ali, the Patron of the GNRA, will fire the first shot to commence the competition.

The event is anticipated to be a significant showcase of sportsmanship and hospitality.

Education and Development

Guyana Energy Conference Launches Inaugural Essay Competition For Secondary School Students

The Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo has announced its first-ever essay competition, aimed at inspiring secondary school students across the country to explore the energy sector's impact on Guyana’s future. The competition is divided into three categories: Forms 1 & 2, Forms 3 & 4, and Forms 5 & CAPE. Topics range from managing oil revenues for sustainability to the role of youth in energy projects and addressing climate change.

Prizes include $1,000 for first-place winners in all categories, with an additional $10,000 scholarship for the top student in the Forms 5 & CAPE category. Second and third-place winners will receive cash prizes, iPads, and cellular phones. The competition encourages originality, with advanced measures in place to prevent the use of AI tools like ChatGPT. Submissions are due by December 31, 2024.

New North West Secondary School Opens, Offering Technical And Vocational Training Opportunities

The newly rebuilt North West Secondary School in Region One, Guyana, now offers students technical and vocational training opportunities. After a 2021 fire destroyed the school, it was reconstructed at a cost of $346 million and can now accommodate 574 students. The facility features 23 classrooms, three laboratories, two elevators, four canteens, and a state-of-the-art practical instruction center, which Minister of Education Priya Manickchand described as the best-equipped in the country. President Dr. Irfaan Ali, during the commissioning on October 14, 2024, emphasized the government’s goal for students in hinterland communities to receive world-class certifications in technical fields like welding and electrical installation by 2030. The school’s curriculum will integrate both traditional academic subjects and vocational qualifications, with the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) program starting in January 2025. Students will have the choice between academic paths under the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and vocational training through the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ). This initiative is part of the government's broader $7 billion investment to enhance education in the region, ensuring that students gain recognized qualifications and are prepared for the workforce across the Caribbean.

Industry and Agriculture

Training initiative boosts food safety standards for Guyana's seabob industry

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in collaboration with the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), recently conducted a two-day “Training of Trainers” workshop aimed at improving food safety and handling practices in Guyana’s seabob shrimp industry. Seabob, a key export for the country, requires strict adherence to international food safety standards, and the training emphasized quality control from harvesting to product preparation.

The workshop, attended by around fifteen participants from the Fisheries Department, Ministry of Agriculture, and private sector leader Pritipaul Singh Investment, focused on enhancing participants' understanding of food safety principles, such as hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP). This training is part of a broader effort to help Guyana's seabob shrimp industry meet the requirements of both local and international markets and reduce public health risks.

The FISH4ACP project, also funded by the European Union, aims to implement additional training sessions later this year and develop an Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) strategy to further ensure worker safety along the seabob value chain. This initiative marks a significant step toward securing Guyana's position as a leading exporter of seabob shrimp and improving industry-wide safety standards.

Government and Policy

Hicken Eligible for Police Commissioner Appointment, Says Attorney General Nandlall

Attorney General Anil Nandlall clarified that there are no legal barriers to Acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken’s potential appointment as the substantive Commissioner of Police, despite his age exceeding fifty-five years. Nandlall explained that according to the Constitution and the Constitution (Prescribed Matters) Act, while the retirement age for the Police Commissioner is fifty-five, the President can authorize an extension of service up to sixty years, as was done for Hicken.

Nandlall further addressed concerns stemming from a legal challenge initiated by Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, which argued that Hicken’s appointment violated the Constitution. However, the court ruled in favor of the government, affirming the legality of Hicken’s acting appointment. Nandlall emphasized that Hicken has been commanding the police force since his appointment, aligning with the constitutional definition of the Commissioner of Police. He also pointed out that President Ali, based on the Police Service Commission's recommendation, had already extended Hicken’s tenure beyond his fifty-fifth birthday.

In conclusion, Nandlall argued that the relevant legal provisions not only allow but strongly support the possibility of Hicken’s substantive appointment as Commissioner of Police, dismissing contrary arguments as baseless.

Minister Persaud Challenges Auditor General’s Report on WIIN Program, Calls Findings Flawed and Inaccurate

The Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN), launched in 2021, was created to provide accessible and free vocational training for women across Guyana. By the end of 2022, WIIN had trained 6,203 women, surpassing its initial goal of 6,000, with an investment of $185.5 million. However, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security (MHSSS), led by Dr. Vindhya Persaud, has sharply criticized the Auditor General’s report on WIIN, calling it flawed and full of misrepresentations.

Minister Persaud pointed out that the report failed to account for the state of disrepair at the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute (GWLI) when the current administration took office in 2020. At that time, the GWLI’s infrastructure was severely lacking, with a non-functioning kitchen, a broken computer lab, and only one technical staff member. The Ministry worked diligently to rebuild and increase staff and resources in 2021 and 2022, efforts that were not acknowledged in the audit.

The report also did not consider the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed the completion of the computer lab and hindered participation in 2021 and 2022. The lab was not finished until late 2022, limiting in-person training options.

Additionally, the WIIN program included the development of a Business Incubator, which required a phased approach to staffing and capacity building. The Ministry highlighted that the report overlooked this crucial development process and failed to account for the necessary time to recruit specialized staff for the incubator.

Another concern raised by the Ministry was that the audit downplayed the role of the GWLI’s Board, which provided essential oversight and guidance to ensure long-term alignment with the Institute’s goals. This omission, according to the Ministry, diminished the significance of the strategic actions taken during the review period.

The audit also concluded that the physical environment and facilities were adequate, but the Ministry clarified that the photos used in the report were taken after significant upgrades in 2023. These improvements were the result of ongoing efforts by the Ministry to enhance conditions beyond the audit period.

In terms of program access, the Ministry argued that it had already implemented structured plans to address shortcomings, particularly by expanding access through community-based training in rural and hinterland areas. These efforts were not acknowledged in the audit, which minimized the outreach and impact of WIIN.

The report’s definition of vulnerability was criticized for being too narrow, focusing mainly on unemployed single mothers. The Ministry emphasized that vulnerability also includes women with disabilities, survivors of domestic violence, and those from impoverished communities. The audit’s claim that only 16% of vulnerable women participated in WIIN was misleading, as it failed to account for the full scope of participants and outreach efforts. Additionally, the report did not explain its methodology for calculating this figure and disregarded the many women from rural and hinterland areas who benefited from the program.

Furthermore, the audit did not consider the barriers women faced in participating, such as limited access to technology, transportation, and childcare. The Ministry pointed out that it worked within its resources to address these challenges through community-based training. The Ministry also maintained communication with potential participants through follow-ups via phone calls, social media, and emails, another effort overlooked by the audit.

Despite these criticisms, the Ministry continues to work on removing barriers to participation by increasing access to technology, expanding outreach, and supporting online learning. These initiatives align with the government's broader digital transformation agenda, which aims to bridge access gaps in rural and hinterland communities. The Ministry’s partnership with Coursera has also significantly increased women’s participation in online learning.

In conclusion, Minister Persaud asserted that the audit report is fundamentally flawed and does not accurately represent the progress of the WIIN program. She argued that the report’s narrow definitions, failure to consider key challenges, and disregard for comprehensive outreach efforts led to inaccurate conclusions. While the Ministry acknowledges room for improvement, it emphasized that WIIN is a transformative initiative that empowers vulnerable women in Guyana through skill development and economic opportunities. The Ministry called for a more balanced and accurate assessment of the program’s impact to reflect its broader contribution to women’s empowerment in the country.