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200 children receive $50,000 under Childcare Subsidy initiative Sep 10, 2024 News – $400.6M invested in quality childcare services in first half of 2024 Kaieteur News – Under the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Working Parents Child Care Subsidy initiative, 200 children have each received a $50,000 subsidy to cover three months of childcare services. This support allows employed parents to work effectively without worrying about their child’s safety and care. By the end of 2024, an additional 500 children are expected to benefit from the programme. According to the 2024 mid-year report, the government expended $400.6 million in the first half of 2024 on various childcare improvements. This funding, part of the $1.4 billion allocated to the ministry in the 2024 budget, was used for training childcare personnel, constructing and upgrading infrastructure, and licensing facilities nationwide. Efforts to enhance the accessibility of childcare services have also led to 89 additional childcare facilities being licensed to operate within approved standards, bringing the total number of licensed facilities nationwide to 336. The government is also looking to complete constructing two new day and night care centres and rehabilitating the Sophia Care Centre by the end of 2024. These efforts ensure that children across Guyana can benefit from quality services tailored to their emotional and mental development needs. Further, the government intends to provide one-off cash grants of $100,000 to any WIIN programme graduates, who have completed the Levels one to three studies in Child Care and are desirous of opening their licensed daycare facility. Funding has also been allocated to address the pressing issue of child abuse. According to the World Health Organization, approximately one billion children aged two-17 years have experienced some form of child abuse. To alleviate the mental repercussions of endured abuse, the government in collaboration with the Child Advocacy Centres (CACs) is providing the necessary emotional, psychological, and therapeutic support for child abuse survivors. Special emphasis is being placed on reintegrating these children into safe, secure and functional families. All of the government’s initiatives align with the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which defines children’s rights to protection, education, health care, shelter, and good nutrition. (DPI) Related Similar Articles

P&P Insurance Cycling Classic set to return after brief pause Sep 10, 2024 Sports Cycling action returns to National Park as Cycling Classic 2024 unfolds this Saturday. Kaieteur Sports – The much-anticipated 2024 P&P Insurance Brokers Cycling Classic is set to make its grand return on Saturday (September 14) at the National Park’s Inner Circuit, marking a key event on this year’s cycling calendar. GCF Vice President, Linden Dowridge receiving sponsorship from Vikask Panday of P&P Insurance Brokers. After a brief five-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cycling Classic makes a triumphant return. The event, conceived by retired cyclist and administrator Hassan Mohamed, promises to showcase some of the nation’s top cycling talent, all vying for championship glory. P&P Insurance continues to demonstrate its commitment to local sports, particularly cycling, by sponsoring the Classic once again. Their support remains vital in fostering athletic development in Guyana. This year’s competition is expected to be bigger and better, with organisers eager to deliver a thrilling spectacle after the long break. Vice President of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), Linden Dowridge, expressed excitement about the event’s return. He also emphasized the longstanding partnership between the GCF and P&P Insurance. “In a brief conversation with Mr. Bish Pandy, seeking sponsorship, his response was immediate. He simply asked, ‘What took you so long? Come into the office and let’s make it happen,” Dowridge recalled. With P&P Insurance Brokers’ continued backing, expectations are high for increased participation and spectator engagement. The organisers are confident that this year’s Classic will set new benchmarks in competitive cycling and event organization. The event is set to take center stage this Saturday as the action pedals off at the Inner Circuit of the National Park, Thomas Lands. Related Similar Articles

Uitvlugt Warriors, Pouderoyen FC register first wins in WDFA Men’s Senior League 2024 Sep 10, 2024 Sports Kaieteur Sports – Uitvlugt Football Club and Pouderoyen FC kicked off the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) 2024 Men’s Senior League with commanding victories on Sunday at the Uitvlugt ground, West Coast Demerara. Stephen Jupiter (left) and Matthew Chidume share photo after defeating Eagles FC 3-0. Uitvlugt FC’s goal scorers, Delon Lanferman and Jamal Harvey. Football returned to Region 3 with ten enthusiastic clubs competing for the championship title. The 2024 season opened with an exciting doubleheader, as Pouderoyen FC dominated Eagles FC 3-0 in the first match. Matthew Chidume and Stephen Jupiter set the pace for Pouderoyen’s triumph. The Nigerian striker Chidume put his team ahead in the 14th minute with a sharp strike from close range, making it 1-0. Eagles FC tightened their defence after the early goal but couldn’t stop Jupiter from adding a second in the 33rd minute, blasting the ball past the Eagles’ goalkeeper. Just three minutes later, Chidume found the net again, securing a comfortable 3-0 lead for Pouderoyen. Despite Eagles’ efforts to recover, the match ended with Pouderoyen firmly in control. The second game of the day saw Uitvlugt Warriors FC secure a 2-0 win over Beaver’s FC. After a goalless first half, Delon Lanferman broke the deadlock in the 47th minute, followed by Jamal Harvey’s 60th-minute goal to seal the victory. Uitvlugt’s defence held strong throughout, keeping Beaver’s FC at bay and ensuring a smooth start to their league campaign. The tournament continues on September 14 and 15 with another thrilling doubleheader at the same venue. Belle West FC will face Wales FC, while Number 1 All Stars take on Uprising FC. The WDFA 2024 Men’s Senior League is sanctioned by the Guyana Football Federation. Related Similar Articles

The PPP is not a people-oriented party Sep 10, 2024 Letters Dear Editor Peter Vieira, one of Guyana’s outstanding Leather artists died at his home in Sophia some weeks back. His body was discovered badly decomposed. Peter was diabetic. He and several other senior Guyanese artists have died due to a lack of proper medical treatment. As General Secretary of the Guyana United Artists, I have written a number of letters to the media houses as to the shabby treatment and neglect of our senior artists who have given their golden years in service to our country. When I returned to Guyana in the late seventies I met Peter Vieira. In the seventies and eighties, Peter had one-man shows at the Guyana National Museum and the Pegasus Hotel.  In the aftermath of CARIFESTA Guyana saw for almost two decades a cultural renaissance that came to an end when the PPP assumed government in 1992. The Guyana United Artists came to the rescue of artists from 1997 until 2019. Our last exhibition in Main Street, GEORGETOWN, was the last. The Covid shutdown for over two years and the return of the PPP to government in 2020 brought an end to the organisation of Guyanese artists, many of whom were in their senior years. The Ministry of Culture with billions of dollars had no empathy with the small artists community. In fact, the new Minister never met with the Guyanese artists, he created a group made up of party loyalists and gave out millions to them, a grave injustice to the artists who had represented Guyana in the diaspora and at home. While the PPP continues to blame the PNC for its many failures, the fact remains that the PPP is not a people-oriented party. Many of our artists have departed for the diaspora. Of those who remained, many have gone to their graves among whom are some of our talented Omowalle Lumumba, Winston  Strick, Osaze, Bermi, Frances Ferreira, Basil Thompson, Samuels…died in abject poverty under the PPP government. Under the Department of Culture in which Ms. Lynette Dolphin was the Chairman and Dr. Dennis Williams Director of Art, most of the artwork that forms the treasury of Guyanese Visual Arts collection was acquired. Among these were prize-winning pieces of the National Visual Arts Competition that were purchased and the Department continued to support the work of winners of the National Visual Arts Competition. When the PPP came into government all this came to an end. The only thing that the PPP did was to use what was referred to as the RESIDENCE to house what has since been called the National Collection and the location of the National Gallery Castellani House. The PPP were deliberate in their actions in more ways, as a Stalinist party, they never appreciated the role of the artists and their contributions to the enrichment of our history and cultural development.  Attaining the seat of government in the aftermath of the collapse of International Communism, with little knowledge of how to administrate a country, they became avaricious, seeing Guyana as their private property. They have no empathy with the Guyanese nation, with absolutely no commitment to nation-building. Yours FaithfullyDesmond Alli (Architect of the National Unity Monument) Related Similar Articles

Massive corruption at MMA/ADA, Ministry of Agriculture Dear Editor Sep 10, 2024 Letters Dear Editor, Reliable sources from the Ministry of Agriculture have revealed to the PNCR/APNU Coalition that there is an impending cover-up of what is deemed to be a massive corruption scheme perpetrated by several staff members at the MMA/ADA in Region #5. Sources revealed that this corruption scheme has been active for a few years and that records of the misappropriation of millions of dollars could be found in the finance department. What is said to be the misappropriation of funds took place between inside staff and several contractors linked to the agency who requisitioned for work that was never done and in many cases, works that were significantly overvalued. It was just about a month ago that the said agency returned to the National Assembly for additional funding under the Ministry of Agriculture, Development and Support Services – Subsidies and Contributions to Local Organisations where it received a further 60 million dollars in addition to the 250 million dollars it had received from the 2024 budget under Capital Expenditure. Sources of the Ministry revealed that the possible cover-up is likely since nothing has been done since the revelation of the misappropriations and fear that the same measure would be extended to the Senior Officers and other staff involved as was extended to a known Supervisor just over a year back who misappropriated millions of dollars in payments to a ghost security guard (machine watchman) and remained on the job with no investigation to date. The PNCR/APNU Coalition calls on the Minister of Agriculture to immediately call in the Police and to launch an investigation into the alleged conspiracy and theft of monies at the MMA/ADA. The Coalition also reminds the Minister of the investigation into the destruction of thousands of duck eggs which was deemed as sabotage to the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock Development Authority that has either not yet been completed or he has refused to make it public. The Minister of Agriculture should also investigate the alleged land-grabbing and misuse of the machinery, fuel, staff, and other malpractices leveled against a senior official of the MMA/ADA. The PNCR/APNU Coalition promises all Guyanese especially the people of the Mahaica/Berbice Region #5 that upon return to Office, it will make these investigations a priority and that all will be made public knowledge. RegardsVinceroy Jordan, MP Shadow Minister of Agriculture Related Similar Articles

Feasibility, COIs and conferences Sep 10, 2024 Letters Dear Editor, The APNU/AFC should be proud of the new dimension to socio-economic development which they ‘delivered’. They were successful in delivering a developmental formula made up of feasibility studies, white papers, Commission of Inquiries, and ‘consultations’ via conferences. They wanted this Nation to believe that these alone are sufficient to propel socio-economic growth in an upward trajectory having spent hundreds of millions from the Treasury. Once again these Parties want the Guyanese to swallow this rubbish. As the saying goes, ‘Words without action are meaningless’. The APNU/AFC is a specialist in feasibility studies, they even were contemplating doing a ‘feasibility study’ before doing a feasibility study, hiring a feasibility expert and pay him a hefty fee to determine the need for such a study. These studies were aimed at convincing the public that the ‘good life’ is being delivered. The question was ‘feasible’ to whom? Since these feasibility studies consumed hundreds of millions. It is not difficult to know who benefitted. In case of any doubt then just ask the previous Public Infrastructure Minister. It would seem that the first 5 years were just to do the feasibility studies. The next 5 years would have been the ‘action term’. Now that the AFC has a ‘brand new’ leader, suit and all, the nation is once again made to endure the cacophonic reverberation of feasibility studies, conferences, consultations, ‘knocking on doors’, and presenting empty haversacks. The reality is that at first the studies appeared to be intellectually correct, being garlanded with a plethora of illuminating benefits which the Guyanese people will enjoy such as improving their standards of living, lowering the cost of living and injecting millions into their pockets. Guyanese will not fall for this again. The lead actor has changed but the script remains unchanged. The ‘white paper’ the Coalition presented on sugar not only guillotined the sugar industry but the lives of 7,000 workers and their families. Yet the AFC and the APNU still brag and boast that they were correct in ‘right sizing’ the sugar industry. The objective of the Coalition was clear: freezing wages in the sugar industry, freezing capital investments and aborting meaningful rehabilitation of plant and equipment in the field and factory, the stage was set not only to close the Wales, Enmore, Skeldon and Rose Hall estates which they did but to shutter the entire industry. They were uncaring about the dire socio-economic consequences. Seven thousand sugar workers were given the ‘white paper’ and kicked out with no recourse to any alternative means of livelihood. They became mendicants overnight, some committed suicide, some migrated and thousands of their children faced a life of poverty, for the first time, some barely making it to school on empty stomachs, dressed in rags, whilst the Coalition Ministers enjoyed their humongous salaries and benefit increases and their children became the Richie Riches of Guyana. The Commission of Inquiry into the sugar industry preceded the closing of the four sugar estates and it recommended the non-closure of the Industry among others which actually saw the industry being made viable by 2025. Why would a ‘caring’ government set up such an inquiry, spend millions, and then throw it in the garbage bin? The COI was just more money for the boys and ‘proof’ that the Coalition ‘cares’ about sugar. Then there were the conferences-Rice Farmers Conference, Rice Millers Conference, Cane Workers Conference, Cane Farmers Conference, the Women Conference, the Youth Conference and the list goes on. The Coalition loves an audience to sell dreams. In the end, rice was deemed to be private business and the sugar industry a ‘black hole’, and sugar workers were deemed ‘raiders’ of the Treasury. Youths were told to manufacture and sell cook-up rice and plantain chips and stop drinking Guinness at street corners. Any competent government will be cognizant of what needs to be done even before taking office since it keeps track of what is happening in the country and comes up with concrete plans to govern in order to guarantee progress. The APNU/AFC always sounds vacuous and hollow. This can be contrasted with the PPP/C whose micro and macro policies are always realistic and achievable and on assuming Office they hit the ground running and began delivering on their manifesto with great alacrity. In conclusion, the APNU/AFC delivered more to friends, families, and themselves than to this nation, and feasibility studies, COIs and conferences were mere sham meant to fool and deceive the nation. Yours sincerely,Haseef Yusuf Related Similar Articles

Stop the PPP from rigging the next elections Sep 10, 2024 Letters Dear Editor While we continue to demand that a new voter list be published for use in the next Regional and General Elections, it is also necessary that we get the updated population census data in time for those elections. The census was conducted in 2022 using modern technology and electronic communications and up to now the country cannot see the results of this work. The reluctance to produce a new voters list and the sloth in releasing even a preliminary census report heighten suspicions about the possible rigging of the next elections by the PPP. Many safeguards for elections in Guyana have been proposed including the use of biometric technology following the revelations of the recount exercise of the 2020 elections. The supposed guardians of democracy find it inconvenient to introduce changes in the electoral process that will assure Guyanese that their elections will be an open and fair event. One gets the impression that the PPP intends to carry on with its skullduggery of manipulating the results of future elections. The litany of corrupt events that seem to emerge daily since the PPP returned to office and the failure of the government to stamp them out add to apprehensions about the integrity of the upcoming elections. No one has confidence in the current leadership of the Police Force and the unwillingness of the government to rectify the failures of police leadership deepens the suspicions and apprehensions about many things in Guyana, including its elections. It is for this reason that Guyanese must demand that the census report be released immediately so that some measure of respectability can be attached to the next set of elections. Yours faithfully,Mervyn Williams. Related Similar Articles