Captain Vincente deems togetherness as key to GBF Elite Knockout champions – Guyana Times Home Sports Captain Vincente deems togetherness as key to GBF Elite Knockout champions Nikolai Smith, who transferred from Plaisance Guardians to the North Ruimveldt Ravens for his first season, added to the team’s potent offensive attack with his incredible shooting accuracy as they won the Guyana Basketball Federation Elite 16 Knockout Basketball Tournament against Victory Valley Royals on Saturday at the National Gymnasium.The destructive duo of Shamar Huntly and Dominic Vincente, with their cohesiveness, managed to give the Ravens a one-point advantage in the first quarter of the game. They set the tone for the game with the scoreline reading 15-14.Smith, with his ability to flood the court with three-pointers, helped as they extended their lead in the second quarter to an astonishing nine-point advantage, going into the...

Dear Editor, I WAS pleased to see that the AFC finally managed to livestream its press conference on Friday, after a series of so-called ‘technical difficulties’ which supposedly hindered its ability to do so for several weeks. Friday, however, might have been the ideal moment for those ‘technical difficulties’ to intervene to spare the party from the embarrassment its leadership subjected it to during that press conference. The comedic outpourings began with AFC’s technical adviser on Indigenous Affairs and former member of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) Ms. Laura George. In her usual style, she sought to champion the rights of Amerindians, going as far as to call on the PPP/C Government to make financing (specifically from the sale of carbon credits) more accessible to Amerindian villages. Ms. George proposed the setting up of a “fund” through which these villages would have greater access to carbon credit funds. The irony...

Exxon remains interested in S8 block won in bid round – VP Jagdeo – Guyana Times Home Top Stories Exxon remains interested in S8 block won in bid round – VP… – as Govt continues talks with company over oil block Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo Far from walking away due to differences with the Government over carbon capture, United States (US) oil giant ExxonMobil and its partners remain interested in talks on the S8 (shallow water) oil block off the shore of Guyana, which they won in the 2023 bid round auction.This was confirmed by Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, during his most recent press conference. According to Jagdeo, the company reached out to the Government to indicate its continued interest in the block.“I was notified by Vickram Bharrat, the Minister, that they had indicated that they would walk away from it...

– aims to produce all Corn, Soy locally by next year, Minister Mustapha announces GUYANA has reaffirmed its position as a vital player in the Caribbean’s food security efforts, according to Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha.During a community meeting held at the Beterverwagting Community Centre on Saturday morning, Minister Mustapha provided an update on the agricultural sector, highlighting significant achievements and ambitious plans for the future.In a historic announcement, Minister Mustapha revealed that Guyana has surpassed the 700,000-tonne mark in rice production for the first time in history. “We are presently at 724,000 tonnes, and we still have more to harvest,” he stated, crediting this record production to substantial investments in the sector. Over the past four years, government support for agriculture has tripled, with a more than 300 per cent increase in the budgetary allocation since 2021.Looking ahead, Minister Mustapha forecasted that 2024 will be a pivotal year for...

We are voting via paper-balloting – Guyana Times Dear Editor,Guyana will be voting via the paper-balloting system come Election Day 2025. This is a foregone conclusion.Paper-balloting is a system that has served us since the introduction of adult suffrage in this country, and there is no need to change it now. The PNC and its fringe elements are acting up the obstructionist role, trying desperately to stop or complicate an official process. Well, this writer is making an official announcement: they are not going to succeed with that deceptive political strategy; it simply will not happen. It is tantamount to fulfilment of the old proverb, “A bad workman quarrels with his tools.”We have not encountered any problem with paper-balloting, other than a disgruntled party who seeks every available opportunity to compromise the process. Paper-balloting has served us well over the years, and...

– this hidden gem should be on your travel bucket list THE Deep -South Rupununi of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) is not often on the travel bucket list for many people, but it should be!We all know that traveling helps us expand our horizons, learn more about cultures and make lifetime memories. However, when we only gravitate to the well-known hotspots, we miss the opportunities to dive deep into culture, meet local people, and discover hidden gems.If you want to see something truly unique, exploring the undiscovered treasure of the Deep South will open up new doors and give you unexpected insights into how truly magnificent Guyana is. Thomas Kenyon and his family are the proprieties of the Saddle Mountain Ranch Trekking through the savannahs of the Deep South Rupununi allows you to discover places that remain untapped by the modern world, giving you a chance to gain insights...

GBTI making financing easier for SMEs – Guyana Times …with launch of ‘Grow’ initiative The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) on Friday launched its ‘GROW’ initiative aimed at making financing easier and more accessible to Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs).The ‘GROW’ initiative will offer tailored financial solutions designed to address the needs of small and medium-sized businesses to maximise their full potential.Speaking at the launch of the initiative was GBTI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shawn Gurcharran highlighted that Small and medium-sized enterprises are a vital pillar in economic growth but are often met with the challenge of easily accessing financial loans.“In a booming oil and gas economy, it bemoans us to remain committed to food security and the enhancement of vulnerable groups in our society. Small and medium-sized enterprises are a vital pillar of economic growth and development, accounting for...

INDIGENOUS representative of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and former member of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) Laura George is now calling for more access to climate financing for Amerindian communities, after failed attempts by her party and the Association to block that same funding. Over the last two years, the APA has made several failed attempts to get the Architecture for REDD+ Transaction (ART) Secretariat to suspend the issuance of carbon credits to Guyana. George, who was a senior member of the APA, was part of those efforts until she resigned earlier this year to join the AFC. Those carbon credits, the sale of which the APA attempted to block, are what Guyana has been able to sell to Norway and Hess Corporation for close to US$1 billion. Of this amount, 15 per cent goes directly to Amerindian communities for development projects, which are approved by the communities themselves....

Sod turned for new $5.4B hospital at Kato, Region 8 – Guyana Times – residents urged to get trained to take up employment at facility Healthcare delivery and access to healthcare services in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) is expected to be significantly enhanced with the construction of a whopping $5.4 billion new modern hospital at Kato.President Dr Irfaan Ali joined Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai, Regional Officials and residents on Friday for a sod-turning ceremony at the project site for the new medical facility.The 57,000 square feet hospital is being funded from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and will have 75 beds, a modern medical laboratory, operation theatres, and a 24-hour operated Accident and Emergency Units. It will also offer medical services, some for the first time in the regions, such as X-rays, CT scans, cataract surgeries, a...

-President Ali announces at sod-turning for $6B Kato Hospital   PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has revealed that his government has invested over $10 billion in healthcare infrastructure and services for Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) since taking office in 2020. The announcement came during Friday’s sod-turning ceremony for the new modern Kato Hospital, a flagship project aimed at transforming healthcare access in the hinterland. The healthcare facility is being constructed at a cost of nearly $6 billion, with completion expected within 24 months. Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai Addressing a packed audience of residents, village leaders, and regional officials, President Ali emphasised that the initiative reflects his government’s unwavering commitment to enhancing healthcare access and delivery in Guyana’s hinterland regions. The Guyanese leader revealed that the new healthcare facility will span over 57,000 square feet which is 57 times larger than the existing Mahdia Hospital. It will feature 75 beds, including...