admin

Jade’s Wok, Pinnacle Business Services Inc. supports Women in Chess Oct 10, 2024 Sports – Best Beginner Trophy also up for Grabs Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana Women in Chess Community (GWICC) under the umbrella of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) has organised the inaugural Queenside Rapid Tournament. The event will take place on Saturday, October 12. GWICC receives backing from Jade’s Wok and Pinnacle Business Service Inc. to host Queenside Rapid. This event, reserved for women and girls, will encourage beginners and unrated female players to compete in hopes of expanding the pool of women and girls playing competitive chess. There will be nine rounds of games with durations of 15 minutes and 5 seconds increments per round. Pinnacle Business Services Inc. and Jade’s Wok are the event’s sponsors. The venue for the Queenside Rapid Tournament will be the David Rose Special School, with the first round kicking off at 9 am. The top five female participants with the most points will receive trophies, and the top three players will win prizes totaling $50,000. The GCF is also looking out for the best talent to emerge among the beginners, with a special trophy for the winner of that category. Prizes for the best girl, best woman and youngest player will also be awarded. The Women in Chess Community has been eagerly anticipating this tournament. Over the past two years, the GWICC has hosted its annual Queenside Chess Camp, a programme designed to inspire more girls and women to embrace the game of chess and strengthen their community. These camps attract women and girls of all ages and skill levels, fostering friendships and camaraderie among participants. Thanks to the GWICC, female participation in chess has surged, with 25% of national competitors now being girls. This heartening trend challenges the traditionally male-dominated sport in Guyana. The GCF has strong female representation on its National teams, and they have represented Guyana both regionally and internationally with exceptional results. The Federation wishes to thank the administrators of the David Rose Special School for graciously providing the venue for the tournament. The GCF and the GWICC are grateful to their generous sponsors Jade’s Wok and Pinnacle Business Services who have been long-time sponsors of the GCF. Related Similar Articles

Lindeners wary over growing number of Venezuelans in community Oct 10, 2024 News – flay Govt for ignoring local leaders during meeting with migrants Kaieteur News – Leaders and residents of Linden have sounded the alarm over the growing number of Venezuelans who have taken up residency in the mining town, saying that the migrants putting a strain on their already scarce resources and have urged the government to intervene. Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd engaging with Venezuelan migrants in Linden on Tuesday Some 600 Venezuelans have already been living in the township and on Tuesday Foreign Affairs Minister, Hugh Todd visited the area to engage with the migrants, but he ignored the local leaders. “It is disappointing that during Minister’s Hugh Todd visit to Linden he chose to meet only with members of his party and Venezuelan migrants, without engaging with local elected officials or community leaders, who raised this matter as an urgent issue, since last December,” Mayor of Linden, Sharma Solomon said. He said that the township has been on the front lines of addressing the concerns surrounding the migrant situation, “and the voices of our residents who have legitimate questions and concerns have been overlooked by the Ministry for too long.” Solomon said last December, during several public forums the People of Linden have warned government of this unchecked issue in our town. Opposition Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira “This notwithstanding, governments migration unit which was established to monitor this matter, but according to the minister of Home Affairs, as of January, Linden did not have Venezuelan migrants. While we welcome any effort to support and assist those in need, it is crucial that all parties, including the Ministry, take into account the local context and the challenges our town faces. The lack of engagement with local officials and residents further alienates the very people whose lives are being directly impacted by these decisions.” Solomon said: “We hope that, the ministry’s response, by having the minister come himself, is not just a show to appease the international community, while reducing the legitimate concerns of Guyanese. The way government chooses to handle this issue, will say how much confidence the community should have in any information being released,” Solomon said. “As mayor, I call upon Minister Todd to take immediate steps to open dialogue with our community and ensure that all perspectives are heard, and not just those that align with a political agenda. Our priority remains the safety, well-being, and cohesion of our community, and we expect the same from national leadership,” his statement concluded. For his part, Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira said that Todd’s visit to Linden to address the Venezuelan migrant crisis was deeply concerning, as it failed to involve local leadership for a comprehensive and bipartisan approach that is an imperative when addressing such sensitive matters. “This lack of engagement is not only disrespectful but raises doubts about the seriousness the minister attaches to the fulsomeness of this crucial issue,” Figueira said. He noted that a more magnanimous and responsible approach, one that involves local leaders and stakeholders, is not only necessary, but paramount, for the development of a comprehensive plan that addresses the humanitarian issues at hand and the attendant impacts and implications for the municipality and its local services architecture. “I urge the minister to engage more collaboratively to ensure that the migrants and local concerns are adequately and amicably addressed,” he said. Related Similar Articles

Bahadur dominates GMMAKA’s 2nd Annual Epic Clash Martial Arts C/ship Oct 10, 2024 Sports Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana Mix Martial Arts Karate Association (GMMAKA) recently concluded its 2nd Annual Epic Clash Martial Arts Championship at the New Diamond Grove Primary School. Aryan Bahadur (right) receiving his first place trophy. The event saw Aryan Bahadur of the Iron Fist Martial Arts Academy delivering a dominant performance across several divisions, ultimately claiming the prestigious first place in the Grand Kata division for the second consecutive year. The Championship, which featured 13 competitors in the Kata discipline, saw Bahadur cementing his top position with a series of standout performances. In addition to his Grand Kata win, he took home first place titles in several categories, including Traditional Kata, Flag Sparring, and Point Sparring. His only second-place finish came in the Shambar division. Expressing gratitude after his impressive showing, Bahadur stated, “I would like to thank my Instructor, Master Lloyd Ramnarine, for working with me to be at the stage I am today.” The GMMAKA continues to create platforms for local martial artists to showcase their talent at high intensity competition; the GMMAKA is elated to culminate another successful Epic Clash Championship. Aryan Bahadur performance further solidified his place as one of the rising stars in Guyana’s martial arts scene. Related Similar Articles

‘One Guyana’ 3-Stage Road Race set for thrilling weekend Oct 10, 2024 Sports – Race designed to foster ‘unity through sports’ Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana Cycling Federation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports, is one step closer to hosting the inaugural One Guyana 3-Stage Cycling Race. This national cycling event, which reflects the “One Guyana” initiative of unity and sportsmanship, will unfold from October 12-13, drawing top cyclists from across the nation. Lt Col Mark Sinclair of the GCF discussing plans for this weekend’s race at a previous meeting with H.E. Honourable Dr. Ifraan Ali. Endorsed by President Dr. Irfaan Ali as part of his broader vision of fostering national unity through sport, the race will see competitors tackle three challenging stages designed to test their endurance, speed, and strategy. Riders from elite and junior categories will vie for cash prizes, with the elite category offering a grand prize of $500,000 and the juniors competing for $250,000. The action begins on Saturday, October 12; with Stage 1 covering a grueling 140 km. Cyclists will start at the New Amsterdam State House in Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne), racing to No. 63 Village and back to the starting point. The race is set to commence at 9:00 a.m. Stage 2 follows on Sunday morning, covering a shorter 80 km distance. This stage begins at 7:30 a.m. in Region 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), starting at the Schoonord to Crane highway roundabout, heading to the Parika Market, and looping back to the roundabout for two circuits along the Vreed-en-Hoop/Schoonord Highway. The competition reaches its climax later on Sunday with the third and final stage in Georgetown. The fast-paced Criterium race starts at 3:30 p.m. along Main Street. Cyclists will loop a 60 km circuit, starting at Middle Street, rounding the Cenotaph, heading north on Main Street toward Lamaha Street, and then back onto Main Street. This final stage promises an intense battle as the riders push for the title of One Guyana Cycle Champion. Each stage of the race has been crafted to showcase the scenic beauty of Guyana’s landscape while providing a rigorous challenge for the participants. Spectators can expect a thrilling display of skill and stamina as the nation’s top cyclists compete for the One Guyana title. The One Guyana 3-Stage Cycling Race is supported by the Government of Guyana, Star Party Rental, ENet, and VNet Communications. Related Similar Articles

‘$28M contract to Region 8 engineer was never blocked’ Oct 10, 2024 News – Works were completed, inspected in September by ministers – Mahipaul Ministers Edghill, Pauline and Parag walking the Princeville Road in Region 8 where the $28M contract was awarded to the company owned by the Regional Engineer Latchman Singh. (Picture taken September 11, 2024) Kaieteur News – As the controversy surrounding a government engineering bidding and winning a contract in his home district of Region Eight continues to grow, Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul on Wednesday said that contrary Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo the $28M contract was never blocked. He said that the project was completed and government ministers actually visited to check off on the works. The completed works on the Princeville Road, Region Eight Kaieteur News has been reporting that Regional Engineer for Region Eight, Latchman Singh through his company , Lene’s Contracting Enterprise had won the contract to execute rehabilitation and construction of the Princeville Road, Region Eight, but Jagdeo said when government found out about the issue the contract was blocked. Mahipaul however told Kaieteur News on Wednesday that the facts paint a different picture. “The contract was awarded in May, and by September, the work had been fully completed. This directly contradicts Jagdeo’s claim. If the contract had truly been blocked, how the project was completed on time?” Mahipaul queried.  Additionally, Mahipaul said Ministers Juan Edghill, Pauline Sukhai and Sonia Parag inspected the project during their Ministerial Outreach in Region 8 on September 11, 2024. “This raises a critical question: if the project had been blocked as Jagdeo claimed, why did these ministers take time to inspect a project that was supposedly halted?” Moreover, Mahipaul said key questions need to be answered by Ministers Edghill and Deodat Indar: Was the contractor paid?; how much was he paid and when was the payment made. Furthermore, the MP asked which engineer measured the work to determine how much was to be paid and whether it was Latchman Singh himself. Mahipaul also wants to know which engineer signed off on the work as satisfactorily completed and whether it was Latchman Singh himself.  “To settle this matter, the public deserves the truth. We need to see the signed documents that show which engineer authorised the payment and certified the work as complete. If it was Latchman Singh, as suspected, then Jagdeo’s claim of blocking the contract is not just misleading, it is entirely false. We call on the Government to provide the proof and disclose the signed documents that reveal the truth about who signed off on this project. Distraction Meanwhile, Mahipaul has insisted that Jagdeo’s declaration that the contract was blocked owing to conflict of interest was actually calculated to distract attention away from the bigger picture. According to Mahipaul, Singh is no stranger to the Ministry of Public Works and Amerindian Affairs. “Our intelligence is clear: whenever PPP/C ministers grace Region 8, they are wined and dined at Lene’s Restaurant and Bar, owned by the same individual behind Lene’s Contracting Enterprise,” Mahipaul said. He explained that there was an instance where Singh stood before the Public Accounts Committee and accused a Regional Executive Officer (REO) of directing him to undertake illegal activities under the APNU/AFC administration. “But one must ask, who directed him to open a contracting company and who is instructing him to do wrong things now? Could it be a PPP/C Minister pulling the strings behind the scenes?” he questioned. He advised that the citizens must not be deceived by surface level optics and the government wants them to believe that they are addressing the issues, however “this is just a calculated distraction.” Mahipaul is of the opinion that the government “knows full well who this engineer is, and they continue to enable his actions in Region 8. Now, with elections on the horizon, they are attempting to sell us on a false narrative of reform.” Furthermore, Mahipaul disclosed that there is a PPP/C Regional Councillor in Region 8, reportedly very close to Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai. Mahipaul said the said contractor receives a lot of contracts in Region One. “The time will come when their names, faces, and company will be exposed. But make no mistake—this is the most corrupt government Guyana has ever seen and we cannot allow ourselves to be blindsided by their games,” he said. On Monday, this publication reported that Singh was told to decide whether he wants to be an employee of the State or work as a private contractor after he had won the $28M contract through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). While responding to a Stabroek News editorial last week at his newspaper, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo exposed the issue. He said there are complaints that persons may be influenced or they may be violating procurement laws because of instructions they receive or they may even lack awareness of the law and what it has provisions in place for. However, he said the current administration has embarked on a campaign to fix all of this and they have made it clear that non-adherence to the law will not be tolerated at a political level. “So people know now that they are responsible for compliance with the procurement laws and that they will bear the consequences should we find breach. We have already seen that from the time we spoke on one visit to Region Eight last week, we got a number of things,” he said. Giving an example of one such situation where the laws were breached, he told reporters of the case with Singh. “One engineer there in the region…so he is based in Mahdia and then put in a bid through the public process, an open bidding process but through NPTAB and got a contract for $28M because they just looked at whoever had the best bid, but this guy is also the regional engineer.” The engineer however did not submit his bid through the regional system, instead he submitted via an open public tender, and received the bid to do work in Mahdia. “Now if you’re an engineer and you’re based in Mahdia working for the RDC and you’re the contractor for a project in Mahdia, people wouldn’t care if it’s NPTAB that gave that and you participated in an open bid, this is the kind of conflict I spoke of,” Jagdeo stressed. The VP is of the opinion that as an employee of the government, you cannot also be a contractor for government project as well, hence the engineer will have to make a choice which path to follow as he cannot assume both roles. Additionally, a number of other issues were exposed to the officials during the outreach and the government is working to address them, Jagdeo said.  “People are now bringing this to our attention, we didn’t know the NPTAB didn’t know I asked them, they said we don’t know this guy is the regional engineer, he bid through an open process. They did not know. Once this comes to our attention, people have to make a determination,” the VP said. Related Similar Articles

GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas — In response to the expected impact of Hurricane Milton, the Director of Aviation and Deputy Director General of Tourism,...

Millions were seeking shelter in anticipation of strong winds and rainfall. Like its predecessor Helene, this hurricane has been strengthened by waters warmed by...