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Govt. expends $4.5B on improving water quality in first half of the year, despite recent flow of rusty water Sep 04, 2024 News Residents of city have recently complained the flow of discoloured water with heavy sediments through the taps. Kaieteur News – Despite recent complaints by residents to the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) about rusty water and prolonged disruption in some sections of the city, the Ministry of Finance said that $4.5 billion was expended in the first half of the year on the improvement of water quality and supply. This was reflected in the Mid-Year Report released recently by the Ministry of Finance. The report detailed the works that were carried out on transmission and distribution mains at Annandale Housing Scheme, Cotton Tree, El Dorado and New Amsterdam, benefitting over 50,000 residents, in the first six months of 2024.  This is even as GWI promised to treat the flow of discoloured water with heavy sediments through the taps. The half-year document nevertheless said works are progressing at Providence, East Bank Demerara and Fellowship, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara. Further, it detailed too that another $432.6 million of the $1.5 billion (part of $4.5B spent) allocated for water systems was spent in the first half of the year. Works on water supply systems were completed at Karaburi in Region 1 and Karisparu in Region 8, benefitting over 600 residents, while works advanced at Orealla, Wallaba and Wax Creek. Further, the drilling of wells at areas including Red Hill, Santa Cruz, Santa Mission, Lower Bonasika Creek, Falmouth, Kimbia, Wikki-Calcuni and Wakapao are expected to be completed in the second half of 2024. In addition, works progressed on the upgrade of 12 existing water treatment plants and seven new water treatment plants along the coast in Onderneeming, Parika, Wales, La Parfaite Harmonie, Caledonia, Cummings Lodge and Bachelor’s Adventure. A new well at Lima, Essequibo was completed benefitting over 20,000 residents, while the drilling of wells at Bamia, Caledonia, Onderneeming, Vergenoegen and Wales are progressing. The document noted that it is expected that works on additional wells at Fellowship and Timehri will commence in the second half of the year. In the second half of the year, works are expected to commence for the extension of transmission and distribution systems in areas such as Belle West, Yarrowkabra, Lovely Lass, Perth, Belvedere and No. 46 and 57 Villages. Moreover, the award of contracts for five new water treatment plants at Adventure, Bath, Leguan, Maria’s Delight and Wakenaam is expected in the second half of the year. Meanwhile, the report noted that there was an installation of 14,000 water meters in the first half of the year, and the installation of an additional 16,000 slated to for the second half, it is projected that non-revenue water will reduce to 58 percent from 62 percent at the end of 2023. With respect to sanitation, the report said the Government continues to invest in the improvement and modernisation of solid waste systems across the country. To this end, a total of $304 million was expended in the first half of 2024, with works progressing on infrastructural and environmental initiatives including works at the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill Site and the upgrade of Kara Kara Regional Landfill Site. In the latter half of the year, operations will continue across the ten landfill sites as we expect the commencement of further upgrades and infrastructural works at landfill sites in Mabaruma, Santa Rosa, Leguan, Wakenaam, Yupukari, Kara Kara and Kwakwani, among others. Further, works are also expected to commence on the construction of a hazardous waste cell and waste stabilization ponds at Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill Site. In addition, awards are expected in the latter part of this year for the treatment facility and lining cell at Zorg-en-Vlygt and Bartica Sanitary Landfill Sites, while the Solid Waste Clean-Up Programme will progress across all regions to promote safe and healthy communities. Related Similar Articles

41 bid to construct concrete drains at Anna Regina Community ground Sep 04, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Forty-one contractors have submitted bids to construct open concrete drains at the Anna Regina ground, Region Two. The project is estimated to cost $17,116,050. Additionally, bids were open for the construction of covered concrete drains and bridge at the said community ground. That project is estimated at $32,265,450. Bids were opened on Tuesday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office where the contractors were revealed for the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport project. Below are the companies and their bids: Guyana Elections Commission Procurement of one new double cap pickup. Guyana Fire Service Procurement of fire fighting hose. Ministry of Health Supply and delivery of reagents and consumable. Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Construction of open concrete drains at Anna Regina Community Ground. Construction of covered concrete drain and bridge at Anna Regina Community Centre Ground. Related Similar Articles

MCYS/NSC lends support to Guyana Chess Federation Team for 45th Chess Olympiad Sep 04, 2024 Sports Minister of Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. hands over the cheque to GCF President, Anand Ragunauth. On the left is Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle. Kaieteur Sports – In its continued effort to ensure that Guyanese athletes are afforded every opportunity to represent the Golden Arrowhead, the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the national Sports Commission, has supported the GCF team for the 45th Chess Olympiad. This prestigious spectacle is set to take place in Budapest, Hungary from September 10th to 23rd 2024. Hungary is the nation that had hosted the first unofficial Chess Olympiad for teams in 1926 and won the first two official editions in 1927 and1928, respectively. Minister of Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. in the company of Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle handed over the Government’s contribution of 2.5 million dollars to President of the Guyana Chess Federation, Anand Ragunauth. Whilst congratulating GCF President Ragunauth for the strides that Chess has been making in the past few years, Minister Ramson underscored the Government’s commitment to the development of chess and other sports in Guyana. Minister Ramson emphasized that Government will continue to empower athletes by investing in their development, not only in building new facilities and refurbishing those already existing, but by making sure that they are enabled to compete at the highest possible levels they can, reaffirming that this is a commitment of His Excellency, across the sporting spectrum. Ragunauth, expressed the gratitude of his Federation for the unflinching support of President Irfaan Ali and the Government of Guyana.“We are so grateful for this timely intervention which has relieved the pressure of meeting the demands of travel to this prestigious event. The commitment by President Ali in getting the team the additional funds show chess is being recognised for its hard work and government is committed in creating opportunities for athletes to compete at the highest level.”Team Guyana is made up of five (5) males and an equal number of female players who qualified after competing in the numerous tournaments where they gained points according to their performances. The five top highest cumulative scores for each gender qualified for the team. A team captain Mr. Ronuel Greenidge has been appointed for the male team and an international Grandmaster Mr. Georg Mohr will captain the female team. Team Guyana: Female – WCM Jessica Callender, Aditi Joshi, WCM Sasha Shariff, Ciel Clement, Treskole Archibald.Male – CM Taffin Khan, Keron Sandiford, FM Anthony Drayton, Loris Nathoo, Sachin Pitamber. Related Similar Articles

How 1.6% Inflation Feels Like 16% Sep 04, 2024 Dem Boys Seh, Features / Columnists, News Kaieteur News – De government has spoken! Yes, you heard it right: de almighty Consumer Price Index has only gone up by a mere 1.6% in the first half of dis year, and over the last 12 months, inflation was pegged at a modest 4%. Now, before we all throw a grand celebration and shower dem officials with confetti made from last month’s grocery bills, let we tek a moment to scratch we heads and wonder—did someone mix up their numbers? Because in the real world, where the rest of us mere mortals live, dem prices are doing the cha-cha-cha to a different tune. You see, these numbers must belong to some other parallel universe. Maybe it’s a universe where de milk and bread grow on trees, where rice is handed out as party favours, and where cooking oil is a natural product that is pumped in your backyard. In this fantastical realm, 1.6% and 4% inflation might make sense. But here on hard-rock Guyana, those numbers might as well be written in invisible ink. The reality on the ground is that prices are murdering we. Forget inflation, it feels more like we deh in Gaza Every trip to the market is like stepping into a battlefield, with shoppers trying to dodge skyrocketing prices like they’re dodging bullets. Just last week, dem boys saw a woman try to haggle for a bunch of greens as if her life depended on it—and it probably did. Chicken, fish, flour, you name it—it’s all suddenly a luxury. Dem chicken coming out stunted like de last sugar crop and de prices have increased. So while de chicken getting smaller, de price becoming fatter. Yuh might soon have to apply to de bank fuh buy fruits. Bananas are now $300 per lb. So, let’s be real here. Unless these inflation numbers are taking into account some secret discount aisle that only a privileged few know about, they don’t reflect what the average Guyanese is feeling. We’re being squeezed tighter than a tube of toothpaste at the end of the month, and no amount of creative accounting can change that. Talk half. Leff half! Related Similar Articles

Fritz beats Zverev to end quarter-final heartache Sep 04, 2024 Sports Taylor Fritz is ranked 12th in the world, eight places below Alexander Zverev.  (Getty Images) BBC Sport – Taylor Fritz ended his run of Grand Slam quarter-final disappointment by beating Alexander Zverev to reach the US Open semi-finals. The American 12th seed had lost all four of his previous matches at this stage of a major but edged out 2020 runner-up Zverev 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3). He roared in delight as Germany’s Zverev pulled the final ball wide before holding his arms aloft to take the acclaim of the crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The win keeps alive Fritz’s bid to become the first American men’s singles champion at Flushing Meadows since Andy Roddick in 2003. Fritz could play another American in Frances Tiafoe for a place in a first Grand Slam final. Tiafoe meets Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in Tuesday’s night session in his quarter-final. Fritz’s victory followed New Yorker Emma Navarro beating Paula Badosa to reach the semi-finals of the women’s singles. Fritz’s breakthrough victory This has proved to be Fritz’s breakthrough moment in his 33rd Grand Slam appearance. He lost to Novak Djokovic in the US Open quarter-finals in 2023, twice lost in the last eight at Wimbledon in 2022 and July this year and suffered defeat in the Australian Open quarters in January. After sharing two tight sets, the crucial moment came deep in the third when Zverev looked to have the momentum, having recovered an early break. He missed a straightforward backhand on break point at 4-4 which allowed Fritz to hold and then the fourth seed offered up three forehand errors to fall 0-40 behind. Zverev fought off those three set points but Fritz eventually broke through at the fifth attempt. Zverev will feel he had his moments but Fritz won by being able to neutralise Zverev’s booming first serve and remain the more solid with the finish line in sight. He gained the initiative in the fourth-set tie-break by taking the first point on the Zverev serve and won a gruelling 24-point rally for the second break and a 5-2 lead. Fritz faltered momentarily, pushing a nervous forehand wide, but Zverev offered up two more errors to seal the result. Zverev, seeking a third US Open semi-final and his first Grand Slam title, was unusually flat in the final set and complained throughout about his racquet. Britain’s Jack Draper is among those remaining in the top half of the draw. He plays Alex de Minaur in the quarter-final today, Wednesday. Related Similar Articles

Spankhurst set for return at President’s Cup Sep 04, 2024 Sports Spankhurst is expected to return on September 22 at Rising Sun for the President’s Cup. Kaieteur Sports – Guyana’s champion horse for 2023, Spankhurst is confirmed for the President’s Cup horserace meet on September 22 at Rising Sun Turf Club. The crowd favorite missed the Guyana Cup due to injury, but according to new owner Jermaine Sripal, Spankhurst is fit and ready for September 22. With Spankhurst being added to the star-studded roster, the President’s Cup will certainly be highly competitive. Spankhurst had four starts in 2024 and secured two victories, with the last coming at Port Mourant’s Easter Cup. The horse is now owned by J’s Racing Stables. This new stable has also imported Nova Sol, the horse that ran second at this year’s Guyana Cup. The competition will be out of this world as the Guyana Cup champion, Olympic Kremlin, President’s Cup defending champion John Bull, Easy Time and Stolen Money are some of the top-of-the-line horses that will be out for glory. Approximately G$15 million will be divided among nine races at the President’s Cup. The feature race of the President’s Cup 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. That race will be open to all horses, three years old and over. Entries 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. In addition to the feature the race, the other races on the provisional President Cup programme include the three-year-old Guyana and West Indian-bred, Sprint ‘E’ Class for horses three years old and over, two-year-old maiden, H1 And Lower Open to ‘G’ Class Non Earners on Guyana Cup. Also open to ‘G’ class Non winners in Guyana, H3 and Lower, ‘J’ Class Open to H3 Non earner in last two starts, K Class/J3 Non-Earner Last Start and the L Class/J Class and K Class and Non Earner Last Start. Related Similar Articles

GTA Storm capture Canada Cup softball trophy Sep 04, 2024 Sports The victorious side GTA Storm team strikes a pose with their prizes. Kaieteur Sports – GTA Strom captured the 2024 Canada Cup softball trophy on Sunday at Ashtonbee Park, Scarborough where the Legends (Over-50) category concluded. GTA Strom defeated defending champions Toronto Blizzards by a nail-biting, 5-wicket margin with two balls to spare. Blizzards took first strike at the invitation of GTA Storm and they reached an inadequate 131-9 from the 20-overs while GTA Storm responded with 132-5. Their victory chase was led by experienced campaigner and frontline Guyanese batsman Ramo Malone with an unbeaten 38 which contained 5 fours from 36 balls. Earlier, Toronto Blizzards lost the inform batsman and former Guyana first-class player Sunil Dhaniram cheaply (04). The left-handed Dhaniram was in sublime form after scoring a century (110) in the preliminary round against Trophy Stall Lions of Guyana and 91 against New York Softball Cricket League. Veteran all-rounder Jesh Parsnauth top-scored for Toronto Blizzards with a hard-fought 47 which included 3 sixes and 2 fours. Other Canadian player and skipper Shiv Seeram, the brother of ex-Guyana batsman Rabindranauth Seeram, also failed to make a big impact with the bat only scoring 2 runs as left-arm bowler Richard Driffield grabbed 4-11 from his maximum four overs to be the most outstanding bowler for GTA Storm. Driffield was named the Most-Valuable-Player for his impressive, bowling performance. He received a trophy, while Malone was also given one for taking the best catch in the Legends Category. Dhaniram was voted as the top batsman with the most runs (247). The winning side also collected a trophy and CDs $4,000 for dethroning Toronto Blizzards. In the Opening category, Softball Cricket Canada beat Titans of New York to lift that trophy. The hosts made 126-7 while Titans replied with 110-9 off 20-overs. And in the Masters (Over-40) Division, there was a no-result due to a controversy. Meanwhile, President of the Ontario Twilight Softball Cricket League and Canada-based Guyanese Azeem Khan expressed his appreciation to all the participating teams in each category. He also echoed similar sentiments to the all sponsors and special mention was made to Jennifer McKelvie, Deputy Mayor, Councillor, and Scarborough-Rouge Park for her attendance. He also thanked all the volunteers and commentators Khem Singh, Ravendra Madholall and Jai Singh along with members of the League Feizul Bacchus and Dickey Singh. The League hosted the mega softball event for the second time and it was run for three consecutive days. The inaugural occasion was held in 2022. Related Similar Articles