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Haiti signs pact to join Afreximbank partnership Oct 03, 2024 News Officials at the signing ceremony Kaieteur News – Haiti has become the 12th Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member state to accede the partnership agreement between and among CARICOM countries and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). During a ceremony on September 25 at the Haitian Investment Forum, held on the sidelines of the 79thUnited Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti, the Honourable Dr. Garry Conille, and the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Oramah, signed the documents formalising Haiti’s accession to the partnership, a press release from the bank states. Introduced by the Bank in 2022 following the African Union’s 2008 resolution designating the Diaspora as the sixth region of Africa, the Partnership Agreement recognises that Africans on the continent and in the Diaspora share deep historical, cultural, and political ties, as well as a sense of common identity. It therefore seeks to promote the Global Africa agenda, which includes the expansion of two-way trade and investment between Africa and its Diaspora, to stimulate economic development. With Haiti’s signature, 12 of the 15 CARICOM member states have now acceded to the Partnership Agreement, with nine of them concluding its ratification. The move paves the way for both public and private sector institutions in the country to access the US$1.5bn financing limit approved by Afreximbank’s Board to support projects and trade related transactions in the region. This limit is set to double once all the CARICOM member states join the partnership agreement. At the event, Afreximbank announced plans to institute a US$ 250 million facility to support the rebuilding of the Haitian economy. In his comments, Haiti’s Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Garry Conille said: “It is with immense gratitude that we receive your announcement today of a US$250 million facility for Haiti. This is a decisive and impactful gesture that holds the promise of revitalisation for our economy and renewal for our people. This facility will allow us to address some of the most pressing challenges we face, from infrastructure and energy to agriculture and manufacturing. It will also serve as a catalyst for unlocking the potential that exists within our nation—potential that has long been stifled but never extinguished.” He added that the facility was a concrete step towards regaining Haiti’s rightful place in the global economy, noting that it would create the right conditions for Haiti to ‘once again stand tall,’ contributing not only to the region but to the wider world. In his remarks, Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, said: “I express deep and sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister of Haiti, The Honourable Dr. Garry Conille, for his courage and demonstrated commitment to advancing trade and investment relations between Africa and Haiti, and the Caribbean region in general. Haiti’s accession to this Partnership Agreement marks another historic move towards enhanced Afri-Caribbean cooperation thereby helping to propel the Global Africa agenda towards a more prosperous future.” Following the introduction of the Partnership Agreementwith Caribbean countries, Afreximbank has hosted three editions of its AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) in the region and established its regional office in Barbados. In just under two years, the multilateral Bank has provided more than US$2.5 billion in funding across the CARICOM, targeting key areas such as infrastructure development, climate adaptation projects, SME financing, among others. In June, the Bank hosted its 2024 Annual Meetings in The Bahamas, a historic event that brought together more than 4,000 people from across the globe. The event also doubled as the third ACTIF and served as one of the high-level events by Afreximbank to demonstrate the Global Africa movement. The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. For 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. Related Similar Articles

Over 550 businesses registered for International Business Conference Oct 03, 2024 News Kaieteur News – More than 550 businesses have registered for the inaugural International Business Conference (IBC) 2024, set to take place from October 15 to 17 at the Marriott Hotel. This was announced during a press briefing on Tuesday at the Guyana Office for Investment. The conference is a collaborative event between Guyana and Suriname with the support of key business organisations providing critical investment. The event promises to provide networking opportunities, market intelligence and unmatched exposure to business prospects in Guyana. Head of the Guyana Office for Investment, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, said that hosting the conference underscores Guyana’s status as the premier destination for trade and investment in the region. “From a Government of Guyana perspective, this fits His Excellency’s goal to make Guyana a conference destination, to [build capacity] …and [to find opportunities within] all of the transformation projects that are happening within Guyana,” he said. In his remarks, Dr. Ramsaroop positioned Guyana as a hub for economic activity in Latin America and the Caribbean region, emphasising that this is a key factor to make Guyana a haven for quality investments. “We’d like to tell the world that it’s not just about Guyana. The fact that we are sitting close to Northern Brazil which is landlocked, we’re actually a part of CARICOM…so investments across the region is important,” he said. Meanwhile, Surinamese Ambassador to Guyana, Her Excellency Liselle Blankendal, highlighted the strong relationship between the two countries, stating that the IBC 2024 will build upon this firm foundation. “The IBC plays a critical role as a platform for fostering international partnerships, attracting investment opportunities…[and] it serves as a vital meeting point for diverse stakeholders – government officials, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and investors who come together to share insights, explore synergy and create avenues for sustainable development,” the Ambassador explained. The event’s organisers also launched an app designed to share information and knowledge and facilitate engagement for those interested in what the conference offers. The IBC is supported by the Guyana-Suriname Chamber of Commerce and the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association. Earlier this year, the Government of Guyana supported the International Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, which gathered hundreds of delegates from around the world in one place to discuss investment opportunities. As the country continues to grow, these conferences are an integral part of the government’s strategy aimed at highlighting Guyana’s investment potential. (DPI) Related Similar Articles

“Is a lil thing you boi doing” – man found with ganja tells police Oct 03, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Police on Monday during a cordon and search exercise arrested a 36-year-old labourer after ranks discovered 850 grams of marijuana in his Stanleytown, New Amsterdam Berbice (Tannery Dam) home. Jim Schultz, along with the 850 grams of cannabis and cell phones at the police station The Guyana Police Force (GPF) in a report stated that Jim Schultz lives in a one-storey wooden house, in a well-fenced yard. During the search in the presence of Schultz, police found in the yard and house two plastic bags in a cupboard with leaves, seed and stems suspected to be cannabis. As such, police informed him of the offence committed and he was cautioned to which he reportedly responded, “Officer, is me thing, is a lil thing you boi doing.” A further search was conducted in the bedroom, and a black plastic bag was found under a bed, which when opened contained a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis. “The findings were brought to Schultz’s attention, where he was told of the offence committed and cautioned,” Police said in the report. Additionally, Schultz reportedly told police, “I did tell you is a lil thing you boi doing”. To that end, a further search led to the discovery of cell phones, which were collected by police. Following that the narcotics was found and amounted to 850 grams, Schultz was placed into custody pending further investigations. Related Similar Articles

DDL resumes production after fire at power plant station Oct 03, 2024 News Firefighters battle a fire at DDL’s power plant complex at Diamond (GFS) Kaieteur News – The Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) on Wednesday announced that it has resumed production at several of its facilities following a fire that erupted from one of the generators in the power plant station on Friday Last. The company highlighted in a press statement that the TOPCO plant, responsible for producing Topco fruit juices and Savannah milk products, is fully operational. The Wines and Spirits plant is currently in partial production mode, and the non-alcoholic beverage plant is expected to be fully operational by the weekend. The distillery will be restarted as soon as possible. DDL noted that no job has been affected by the fire, and the successful resumption of operations ensured the continued full employment of all staff.  “The specific generator (the one that was erupted in flames) had recently undergone scheduled maintenance by the equipment supplier,” DLL highlighted.  Seven caterpillar generators and nine transformers were destroyed in the fire, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) had said in a release. The Fire Service said too that there had been significant damage from the fire that originated in the generator enclosure. Related Similar Articles

Cop under close arrest for beating son who refused to do house chores Oct 03, 2024 News Kaieteur News – A 39-year-old member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is under close arrest at the La Grange Police Station, after he allegedly assaulted his 17-year-old son, due to the child’s refusal to do household chores on Monday night. The cop who is under close arrest: Mark Forde The policeman has been identified as Mark Forde. The incident occurred between 19:00h and 19:30h in the vicinity of Rect-door-Zee, West Bank Demerara (WBD). Police reported that the 17-year-old boy was at home, when his father accused him of refusing to do his chores. “An argument ensued, and as a result, Mark Forde began to cuff his son, causing him to receive injuries about his face and body,” police stated. Thereafter, the teen managed to escape and found refuge at his uncle Joseph Grant, who is an Inspector of Police. Grant then accompanied the teen to the Parfaite Harmonie Police Station, where a formal report was made. The teen was then sent to seek medical attention. Forde was arrested and placed under close arrest as investigations continue. According to a short video shown to this publication, the teenager was seen on the ground braced to a fence, in front of the house, while his father repeatedly sent blows about his body. It was observed that the son was curled up, while trying to use his hands, and feet to block the hits being fired his way. Pubic-spirited citizens were heard chastising the father for his actions. During an interview with this publication, the 17-year-old boy recalled the injuries he sustained, and also highlighted that he was often beaten when his father gets upset.  “I get cuff to my ribs, mostly he hoist (lift up) me up and lash me down … majority of time my knee catch cramps. My head just kept knocking and it bust up,” he said. The son added, “Not the first time, I don’t really know, it reach to a point …cause mommy gone, he does be good sometimes but when he vex, he does go on in a certain way.” Turned to smoking In light of this constant alleged abuse, the son highlighted that he turned to smoking as a way to heal himself from the hardship he goes through with his father. “…I don’t even want to be in the house majority of the time,” the teenager said.  Kaieteur News also spoke with Earlester Grant, the aunt of the 17-year-old boy, who revealed that the abuse has been occurring for years. On Tuesday, Grant stated that she, along with the 17-year-old boy went to welfare, and was allegedly told that they (Welfare) cannot order him to be arrested, given that it is child abuse and the matter should be dealt with at the Police Station. “So for the entire day (Tuesday), I have just been back forth, back forth,” Grant stressed.  While citing how fearful her sister is of Forde, Grant declared, “We feel this time is enough, my nephew could have died last night and what would have happened? …Not because he is a police means he is above the law.” Related Similar Articles

Motorcyclist suffers punctured lung after collision with car Oct 03, 2024 News Kaieteur News – A motorcyclist has suffered a punctured lung and other injuries after colliding with a car on Tuesday. The accident occurred in the vicinity of Daggle Beauty, located on Norton Street, Georgetown.  The injured man has been identified as Lamar Mittelholzer, who resides at Lot 853 Timehri Road, East La Penitence, Georgetown. Police reported that Mittelholzer, was the driver of a black unregistered motorcycle. It was related that he was proceeding west at a fast rate of speed on Norton Street, when the driver of motorcar PNN 4801, Ivan Edwards negotiated a right turn and ended up in the path of the motorcycle, which resulted in a collision. Both vehicles were damaged and the motorcyclist fell in the surface of the road. The motorcyclist received injuries to his body, the police report stated. Thereafter, he was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was admitted, suffering from a punctured lung and other injuries. It is noted that his condition is serious. A breathalyzer test was done on the driver, which showed no trace of alcohol. The investigation continues. Related Similar Articles

Matthews Ridge to get $290M students’ dormitory Oct 03, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Complementing the new secondary school that will soon be built at Matthews Ridge, Region One is the construction of the students’ dormitory which will be constructed for $290 million. This is according to information provided by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) who recently awarded the $290,460,000 contract to JK Enterprise Inc. The dormitory will cater for students who live in neighbouring villages such as Baramita and Arakaka who will attend the secondary school when it is completed. As reported previously, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is undertaking the project for the construction of the first ever secondary school building in Matthews Ridge. NPTAB which awarded the contract earlier last month will see Prored Resources building the new school for $350 million. Kaieteur News understands that the secondary school for Matthews Ridge is among several the government is constructing in the hinterland this year. Secondary school aged students would usually utilize the primary top (secondary department in the primary school) to receive their education and would have to travel to nearby Port Kaituma to sit their CXC examination. In Region One, five new secondary schools will be constructed in various communities including North-West, Kwebanna, Matthews Ridge, Waramuri and Hosororo. Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand at a previous press conference had said that her government would continue to build schools, so as to give children an opportunity to not only finish school, but to capitalize on tertiary education. This year, the Education Ministry was allocated some $74.4B, a portion of which will be used for the construction, rehabilitation, extension and maintenance of educational facilities. With over 16 secondary schools scheduled to be constructed in the hinterlands regions, this newspaper reported that the Ministry of Education has embarked on an aggressive programme to ensure that the nation’s children have access to secondary education. The Government has set 2025 to achieve universal secondary education. To achieve this, the ministry has since moved to have several secondary schools constructed across the country. Related Similar Articles