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Pres Ali intervention: Camptown Football facility rehabilitation work to move up to speed Sep 07, 2024 Sports President Ifraan Ali (center) engages with residents and stakeholders at the Camptown Football ground. Kaieteur Sports – Earlier this year, concerns were raised to President Irfaan Ali regarding the deteriorating state of the Camptown Football Ground, a once-popular venue for grassroots and club football in Georgetown. In response, President Ali made an unofficial visit to the Campbellville-based facility on Tuesday to assess the ongoing work as part of the nationwide sports facility upgrade initiative. Having initiated the project back in April following appeals from local residents, President Ali returned to the site to accelerate efforts to make the venue functional as soon as possible. His visit was initially intended for the community, but his passion for sports led him to address the concerns of those who frequently use the facility, particularly for football. After hearing their feedback, he instructed Minister of Sport Charles Ramson Jr. to ensure specific amenities were added to the renovation plans. Current state of the ground at the Camptown Football Facility. The President also set a six-week deadline for completing the upgrades at the ground, stating, “We’re close to completion, but there’s still a lot of work to do to get the ground fully ready. We want everything finished within this timeframe.” Outlining the tasks to be completed, President Ali said, “We’ll finish the fence, address the drainage, and complete the playing field. I want all of this done in the next six weeks. We’ll break it down and get it done.” During the visit, President Ali also announced additional improvements, saying, “We’ll add two more pavilions like the one already here. One will be elevated, allowing space for washroom and changing room facilities underneath. We’ll install lighting and nets behind the goalposts. All of this will be done within six weeks to make the ground fully operational.” Related Similar Articles

Ross leads Guyana Jockey’s earnings after Guyana Cup Sep 07, 2024 Sports Jockey Colin Ross is primed to win jockey of the year 2024 after clinching the award in 2023. – Rivalry renews for President’s Cup Kaieteur Sports – Veteran Guyanese jockey Colin Ross returned to the top of the table after Guyana Cup 2024. Ross, who was jockey of the year for 2023, is now Guyana’s leading jockey in terms of earnings for 2024, but young Ronaldeo Appadu has 85 points, a slim three-point lead over Ross’ 82 points. In terms of the earnings, Ross earned G$1,149,575 while Appadu has G$981,875. Ross had a total of 40 starts this year and recorded 10 wins while Appadu had 36 starts where he recorded nine wins. Yovin Kissoonchand with 40 starts had seven wins and earnings of G$611,300. Jockey Kevin Paul is in fourth with seven wins from 30 starts while Kiran Razack had three wins in his 21 starts this year. Other jockeys to round out the top ten in respective order are; Quinton Kellman, Nicholas Patrick, Dillion Khelawan Yap Drepaul and Randy Richmond. The jockeys will renew their rivalry for supremacy on Sunday September 22 at the President’s Cup which will be hosted at Rising Sun Turf Club, West Coast Berbice. While the top horses are gearing up for the President’s Cup, so are the top jockeys from Guyana, Trinidad, and Brazil among other countries. Nine races are on the provisional President’s Cup program and more than G$15 million will be up for grabs. The feature race of the President’s Cup, which will be opened to all horses, will have a total purse of close to G$6,000,000 (six million) dollars and the race will be run at approximately eight furlongs. Entry will open on September 11, and entry forms for the President’s Cup will be at the Port Mourant Racecourse, the Rising Sun Turf Club, the Bush Lot United Turf Club & 106 Smyth Street, Werk-En-Rust Georgetown. Champion jockeys are primarily judged by the number of wins, meaning the total number of races they have won during a specific period, such as a racing season. However, some racing organizations may also use a points system that assigns points based on various factors, such as the race’s grade or prestige, to determine overall standings. In summary, with wins; the most common method where the jockey with the most victories is recognized as the champion and with Points System which is also used by some organisations to reward wins in higher-stakes races more heavily. The specific method can vary by jurisdiction and organisation. Related Similar Articles

Moeen Ali joins Guyana Amazon Warriors Sep 07, 2024 Sports Moeen Ali 2024 Caribbean Premier League…  Kaieteur Sports – Guyana Amazon Warriors have announced England international Moeen Ali as a replacement player for their 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season. Former England captain Moeen will be joining the defending champions, replacing Pakistan batsman Saim Ayub who is unavailable. The batting all-rounder’s availability is dependent on his team’s progression in T20 Blast in the UK. In the interim, New Zealand’s Tim Robinson has been selected as a temporary replacement for Moeen. When Moeen arrives, the 22-year-old Robinson will remain with the Warriors to act as a temporary replacement for Rahmaullah Gurbaz. Afghanistan powerhouse Gurbaz will leave the squad for international duties after the Barbados leg of the competition. Robinson will take his place in the squad until Gurbaz returns for the Guyana leg of the tournament. Related Similar Articles

Home Nation Mexico Impress with Standout Submission Victories, El Salvador’s Calderon Extends Winning Streak Sep 07, 2024 Sports Mexico enjoyed a good showing at the event. 2024 IMMAF Pan American Championships Kaieteur News – On Day 4 of the 2024 IMMAF Pan American Championships, fans from around the world tuned in to witness the rising stars of Pan American MMA showcase their talents in front of a lively Mexican crowd. The action kicked off with the first Junior bout of the tournament, where Alejandro Cantu Rodriguez (Mexico) made an emphatic statement in the Men’s Bantamweight division. The hometown favourite locked in a textbook triangle choke, forcing Dylan Vera (Peru) to tap in the very first round. Rodriguez now advances to the Semi-Finals, where he will face fellow countryman, Daniel Martinez. In the Senior divisions, Team Mexico continued to impress. Jorge Cobos Marin, a former IMMAF World and Pan American silver medalist, once again demonstrated his elite grappling skills. Marin secured a third-round rear-naked choke against Diego Torres Valbuena (Venezuela), punching his ticket to the Flyweight Semi-Finals. Rodriguez and Marin weren’t the only Mexican athletes to shine on Day 4. Israel Rodriguez Salcido delivered a clinical performance, earning a victory with his own triangle submission, while former Pan American Champion Diego Torres Rangel wowed the crowd by finishing his bout with a stunning kneebar submission. Team USA, a perennial powerhouse at the IMMAF Pan American Championships, also had a successful day. In the Senior Lightweight division, Dante Bazan secured a rear-naked choke submission against Gabriel Mello, advancing to the Semi-Finals and setting the stage for a potential final showdown with Mexico’s Israel Rodriguez Salcido. Another standout from Team USA was Gabriel Muscat, who delivered one of the few KO/TKO finishes of the day. The welterweight fighter dominated his opponent with high-octane takedowns, eventually securing top control and raining down strikes to claim a stoppage victory. Teams Colombia also claimed a number of key victories, with Day 5 set to feature an all-Colombian matchup in the Men’s Welterweight division. Having both secured decision wins on Day 4, Yerson Cujar and Jeisson David Neita Jimenez will now lock horns for a shot at IMMAF Pan American gold. Finally, credit must be given to El Salvador’s Rodrigo Jose Lopez Calderon. One of the few athletes to have competed in the Round of 16, Calderon pulled off his second armbar finish of the tournament, cementing his status as a serious contender at Welterweight. However, the Salvadoran is now set to take on his toughest test to date, facing off against the aforementioned Diego Torres Rangel. Looking ahead, Day 5 will see athletes across multiple weight classes compete for a place on the podium. Notable veterans from the 2023 IMMAF World Championships, including Delffy Humer (Dominican Republic) and Cary Miller (USA), will all make their tournament debuts. Related Similar Articles

A new national dictionary – Part One Sep 07, 2024 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column Hard Truths by GHK Lall Kaieteur News – The English Language is a rich treasury of words.  Fascinating words.  Words with more than one meaning, and that function like a turtle, as contexts change.  With so many Americans and Europeans now present in Guyana, the Guyanese dictionary of today is a unfamiliar animal to old-timers like me and my peers, who cut our eyeteeth on the tongue of the now departed Elizabeth Regina. The mischievous ones from my time used to have loads of fun mimicking the public-school accents of the top British public servants, as well as those who serve her now tranquilized son in Guyana. GHK Lall Considering all this, plus the local outrages with the language of the world, notwithstanding Chinese objections, I thought it is timely to give a sneak preview of a new Guyana-English Dictionary that I am working on.  It should be mandatory reading in the Office of the President, the House of Parliament, and the Offices of the Prime Minister, Vice President, Opposition Leader, and every media editor.  It may not qualify as tongue-in-cheek material, but it meets any finger in the eye requirements.  Be cautioned that no word is absolute, all definitions enjoy the greatest flexibility, and every word has its own generalities. But meanings are unique to Guyana. Politician – someone who has been a miserable failure at every job, but given one last chance to continue the trend, and retire with a perfect score (and a national award or an ambassadorial posting). Political leader – someone who has been a confirmed blight relative to anything that he or she touches; a Guyanese who makes other Guyanese worse; a perpetual loser even when a winner; slang: a conman pretending to be converted. Legal eagle: a Guyanese lawyer who is encumbered by some handicap that prohibits he or she from rising to his full potential; an air traffic controller’s worst nightmare; a courtyard grasshopper or ambulance chaser pretending to be a highflier. Sanctity of contract: an International Court of Justice concept now in its market testing and focus group stages; an idea that oil companies give a test run in Guyana to work-out the bugs; an experiment to test the hospitality of its reception in Guyana. American oil company: an Elizabethan hustler of the caliber of Drake, Raleigh, and Hawkins now reborn as an investor; archaic: a plunderer or pillager operating under the banner of red, white, and blue. Contractor: a Guyanese who previously made a living as a hustler or a harlot, but failed at both. Contract: an arrangement between a political operator and a bidder about how to execute a certain piece of work; it is the terms outlining who does what for how much and how the pot is to be shared. State media worker: someone who is good at listening, open to offers, and knows how to package a product to suit the masters’ expectations; a peddler usually not constrained by Fourth Estate standards; someone who cuts side deals, speaks from both sides of the mouth; in sum, a politician’s dream come true. Tender award: Guyana’s equivalent of a Red Alert terrorist threat; a national viral contagion; a synonym for political hijinks. Trusted Guyanese: an endangered species; a local UFO. Reliable Guyanese: another enigma; refer to definition of trusted Guyanese. Chinese oil company: ant Ghost Shadow member operating locally; part of a secret society triad. Indian supremacist: a visionary (depending on who is asked) African supremacist; a hooligan or a thug (per Indian supremacist). Guyana supremacist (Guyana Firster): an undesirable, a parasite, a dissenter of the worst sort. Indigenous Guyanese: anyone who can be taken for a political leadership ride, and applauds the result no matter the outcome. Guyanese independent/centrist: a feared daytime nightmare, a Creole Peking Man, a universally reviled Guyanese dinosaur. No confidence motion: the calculated maneuvers of some old con who has lost favour, but gets a new lease on life. Private sector: a national dumpsite for mainly lowlifes, assorted lunatics, and feeders at the public trough, with an occasional saint thrown in to keep things civilized (and the lions happy). Union leader; a part-time negotiator, a full-time salesman, self-promoter, and self-helper (it’s the American Way taking Guyana by storm). Political opposition: a group of citizens working hard at self-resurrection, only to collapse into self-destruction by its own hand. Ruling party: a synonym for a national criminal conspiracy or a national lunatic asylum. Richest people in the world: a construction by psychopaths for the naïve with delusions of grandeur; a lowdown, dirty trick put together by Yankee oil companies. Financial analyst: someone who specializes in charts and tables, deals under the table, while dealing self a secret pile on his or her own table. Public commentator: a soup drinker with record to match, a gifted brownnoser; some combination of hatchet man-double dealer-self-enricher; a Guyanese regular. Guyanese voter: a citizen who hopes for the best, expects the worst, and ends up in the gutter with the worst gangsters. Cost-of-living: a concoction of the people’s imagination; a statistical apparition (all spirit, no substance); an opposition guerilla warfare tactic. Street protest: that rare platform that is a gathering place for hooligans, political degenerates, and government skullduggeries. Press conference: an international convention converted to a domestic circus with humans performing in animal roles; the circus master is the master juggler. Presidential press conferences: jesters in action; leadership trampolines; the intoxicating union of arrogance and insipidity. Attorney general: a lawman who thinks he is a military man but is really a man weakened by political circumstances; an attorney restrained, like a nun, by silence and obedience Constitution: any sitting president’s or former president’s autobiography; a bestselling work of local political-historical fiction. Burnhamism: the best of times, the worst of times for Guyanese. Jaganism: the time when America came to Guyana and recreated it in its own image; America has never left, now taking over totally. Corruption: the national religion jointly sponsored by the PPP-PNC axis of evil; PPP, now the monopoly holder; national God worshipped by most Guyanese Elections: a time of national rumormongering, scaremongering, scandalmongering, race baiting, spreadsheet innovating, ballot box reconstructing; and American cleaning up operations. This is a sneak preview of the new national dictionary. More coming up soon. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this  newspaper.) Related Similar Articles

Labour gap Sep 07, 2024 Editorial Kaieteur News – Being a labour market specialist, a senior political leader, or an astute observer would help.  But not being one of those doesn’t prevent anyone from appreciating that Guyana’s labour needs versus its labour pool has a yawning gap.  The arrival of oil and its many vital supporting services demand an army of workers to keep both running at the speeds that they have been going.  The hospitality sector stands as a case in point.  With the construction of each new hotel, the call for droves of new workers at different levels possessing various skills expands.  Guyana has its share of willing workers, but what the local labour pool may not lack in numbers, it is short relative to needed skills. Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton said that the government has expanded its training programmes in several sectors.  These include construction, healthcare, and the racing oil and gas sector.  We at this publication recognize the government’s efforts, that a start has been made in these fields, and that more work is underway.  Still, it seems a day delayed too long, when more than four years after being in office, and at the helm of a barreling ahead economy.  The PPP/C Government shouldn’t be talking now about manpower studies that have been initiated to address sector-specific needs.  Commonsense would inform from leaders to citizens that such studies had to be launched very early, as in the first year(s) of this government.  The result would guide about how much could be planned for, and how to spread things out, so that the labour lag does not widen and drag down the pace of economic growth.  By now, such manpower studies would have long been completed, giving the government a clear picture of how much labour is required where, and how much Guyana has to offer.  If quality contributions are to become the standard of the Guyana labour force, then it cannot be executed in a slipshod manner, and on the run.  Considering the rate at which government has been going, it is a recipe for falling back in terms of the labour gap. For sure, there will usually be found workers to load and unload trucks, to operate them, and to perform the lower-level duties that spring up all over this country.  But with one project after another being approved, as if in some mad rush, where are the skilled people in the local workforce to oversee them, to pronounce comprehensively on them.  That is, to ensure that Guyana gets value for its money.  When the projects multiply at such a blinding speed, there are not enough Guyanese with the skills to move them along at the hands-on level, and there is not a sufficiency of locals to supervise what is going on.  Those that are available are spread too thin and are run ragged in their efforts to cover what has been assigned to them.  Or, understanding comes sooner than later, that to keep the project assembly line going, some sacrifices must be made.  Some may describe that as judgment calls, while we call that the cutting of corners that become all but inevitable to keep abreast of the grueling work pace. Churning out a dozen trainees in one sector and another dozen in a separate area calling for different skills does not do much to make a dent in labour needs.  Matching is crucial and in sufficient quantities.  The local manufacturing sector is a crucial contributor to the many developments and projects but suffers from a massive labour shortage.  The local manufacturing association has reached beyond Guyana’s shores to the University of the West Indies to identify what is needed, and how to tailor training programmes to address those needs aggressively.  As Manufacturing Association President, Ramsay Ali noted, this would benefit other sectors that are also struggling to find skilled workers.  We agree, even as we think that Guyana is going too fast, considering local limitations.  Politicians have recognized the severe capacity deficit, but have not slowed the pace, so that Guyana can get the best out of its people, and the most from its expenditures.  Rush ahead without planning carefully, and the risk grows of tripping over our own feet. Related Similar Articles

Defence in Depth Sep 07, 2024 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom Kaieteur News – We have been advised by Guyana’s political elder that fifty years ago, the doctrine of defence in depth was developed for Guyana. This came as a shocker especially when it was reported that the adoption of the idea was the brainchild of Forbes Burnham. The idea of defence in depth evokes images of trench warfare and medieval ramparts—a romantic notion of military defence that belongs more to history books than to the realities of modern warfare. It is a shocking indictment of the PNC government to learn that it was once presented with a paper about defence in depth and had flirted with this antiquated military strategy. Why anyone would propose this approach for a country like Guyana, a nation of modest resources and limited military capability, is perplexing. It is a case of fighting tomorrow’s wars with yesterday’s playbook, and the results would likely be disastrous. The basic concept of defence in depth is deceptively simple: instead of concentrating resources on a strong, impregnable front line, defences are spread across multiple layers, each intended to absorb an enemy’s advance. The idea is not to prevent an attack outright but to slow it down, causing attrition along the way and buying time for reinforcements to arrive. On paper, this might sound reasonable—if you happen to command a vast army, and possess limitless funding to maintain such a complex web of defences. And if the major attack was across land rather through airpower, as one expects would happen should any of Guyana’s neighbour’s attack.  But what happens for example such airpower and sea power be used to cripple the country’s military infrastructure? What happens in defence in depth, then? For Guyana, a small nation with its limited financial and military resources, defence in depth is nothing short of suicidal. It is the kind of strategy that could only have emerged from the fever dreams of bureaucrats enamoured with military jargon, completely detached from the reality of Guyana’s defence needs. That the PNC government, 50 years ago, even contemplated such a strategy should alarm any rational observer. It is precisely this kind of thinking that could invite catastrophe. One of the main issues with defence in depth is that it demands an enormous logistical investment—something Guyana can ill afford. Multiple layers of defence mean multiple lines to fortify, supply, and staff. This isn’t just about placing a few soldiers at each outpost; it requires extensive training, advanced equipment, constant surveillance, and a reliable supply chain to keep the system operational. Each line of defence needs to be as strong as the one before it, or else the entire structure crumbles. In essence, it’s a house of cards, where weakness in one layer jeopardizes the entire strategy. The idea of funnelling billions into a militarized version of Russian nesting dolls is laughable. The government would find itself spending obscene amounts of money on a strategy designed to fail. And fail it would—because the very premise of defence in depth is that you’re willing to trade control of territory for time. In Guyana’s case, this means that in the event of an invasion, we’re essentially inviting the enemy to come deeper into our land, sow chaos, and force us into a protracted defence on terrain we barely have the means to defend. How does this make sense for a small country? The architects of defence in depth often tout its ability to buy time. But time for what? If an invasion were to occur, what exactly are we stalling for? Reinforcements from where? Certainly not from the small, ill-equipped Guyanese military that has historically relied on international solidarity for even basic upgrades. In fact, defence in depth assumes that some external power will rush to our aid while we fight a slow, grinding battle on our own soil. It’s the geopolitical equivalent of calling for help while your house is already burning down. The fire department might show up, but by then your home is a smouldering ruin. This brings us to the core of why defence in depth is a non-starter for Guyana. The geography of the country, with its vast rainforests, savannahs, and rivers, makes it impassable for any invading force by land. The enemy would simply bypass the various layers of defence in depth and neutralize us through aerial and naval bombardment. Modern warfare is not about trench lines and static frontiers; it’s about speed, precision, and overwhelming force. A well-equipped military, using air and naval power could tear through Guyana’s defences in a matter of minutes. By the time reinforcements—assuming they arrive—are mobilized, the battle is already lost. The entire notion of defence in depth smacks of nostalgia for a time when wars were fought by marching armies, when territory was won inch by bloody inch. But today’s battles are fought with drones and precision-guided missiles. To suggest that Guyana could effectively wage a defensive war using these old tactics is to betray a fundamental misunderstanding of how modern conflicts unfold. Defence in depth is not only outdated; it’s an invitation to defeat. We might as well be defending ourselves with bows and arrows. Rather than investing in a defence system that is more suited to the 19th century, we should be looking to the future. Cybersecurity, aerial surveillance, rapid-response units—these are the tools of defence in the 21st century. Guyana’s defence strategy should focus on agility, technology, and alliances, not on the construction of multiple Maginot Lines across its territory. What is most troubling about the contemplation of defence in depth is that it was likely kept from the public. Had the average Guyanese citizen known that their leaders, fifty years ago, were toying with such an outdated and impractical strategy, there would have been public outcry. Or would there? In a country where government actions are often shrouded in secrecy and policy is dictated by a small circle of elites, the public remains largely in the dark about critical defence matters. Defence in depth is a relic of a bygone era. It has no place in the modern world, let alone in the defence of a small, resource-strapped nation like Guyana. The proposal of such a strategy today would be nothing short of madness. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.) Related Similar Articles