Home Blog Page 97

15 officers complete training under Junior Command and Staff Course

-
0
15 officers complete training under Junior Command and Staff Course


Fifteen officers, including three from defence forces across the region, have completed the Guyana Defence Force’s Junior Command and Staff Course Number Thirty-Four (JCSC #34).

The 12-week course brought together officers from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) and the St Kitts and Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF). Instruction covered operational planning, battle procedure, military law, leadership, administration, intelligence and resource management.

Practical exercises and scenario-based assessments tested the officers’ ability to apply military doctrine, exercise sound judgement and make decisions in operational settings. The regional participation also facilitated professional exchange among the three defence forces.

Addressing the closing ceremony, the Commanding Officer of the Training Corps, Lieutenant Colonel Dale De Mendonca, described officer development as a strategic imperative for the GDF. He urged the graduates to treat course completion as a milestone in their careers and remain committed to professional growth.

The Colonel General Staff, Colonel Kenlloyd Roberts, MSM, addressed the responsibilities that accompany advancement. He stressed that character, competence and accountability must guide officers’ conduct and performance, particularly as they assume greater authority and lead their subordinates.

“Rank is responsibility,” Colonel Roberts reminded the graduates, emphasising that promotion brings greater expectations of professional conduct and performance.

Lieutenant Randolph Best of the ABDF received the Best Graduating Student award, while Lieutenant Delon Abrams of the GDF was named Runner-Up Graduating Student. Sub-Lieutenant Mohamed Khan of the GDF Coast Guard received the Best Service Paper award, and Captain Kenish Garnette of the SKNDF received the Physical Discipline award.

The Adjutant General, Colonel Lloyd Souvenir; the Commandant of the Guyana National Reserve, Lieutenant Colonel Drumson McCaulay; and other senior officers attended the ceremony.

The JCSC contributes to the GDF’s ability to meet its operational responsibilities by developing officers capable of sound planning, decisive leadership and effective staff work. These competencies are vital to safeguarding Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Discover more from INews Guyana

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Source: INews Guyana

Guyana targets end-of-year onion self-sufficiency as cultivation expands to four regions

-
0
Guyana targets end-of-year onion self-sufficiency as cultivation expands to four regions

Guyana is aiming to end onion imports by the end of this year as the government expands local production, with Region Nine expected to lead cultivation alongside Regions Two, Five and Six.

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha said the country is targeting approximately 500 acres of onion cultivation as part of efforts to meet domestic demand through locally grown produce.

“At the end of this year we will not import any onions. Region Nine will produce all the bulk of our needs, plus Region Two, Region Five and Region Six,” the minister said.

Guyana began onion production as part of an integrated farming approach aimed at diversifying agricultural output, reducing reliance on imported produce and creating additional income opportunities for farmers.

Approximately 2000 bags of onions stored for distribution across Guyana

The initial pilot project in Region Nine, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, recorded a harvest valued at more than $15 million, demonstrating the potential for local onion cultivation to contribute to the country’s food supply.

Minister Mustapha said the initiative forms part of a broader crop diversification drive that includes corn, soya, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and lettuce, among other high-value crops.

Onions harvested at Manari Creek, Lethem

He noted that farmers are embracing the integrated farming approach and encouraged interested persons to contact the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to explore opportunities to cultivate onions.

The government is prepared to support farmers who wish to enter the sector, including those with relatively small plots of land.

“I have already passed instructions that as long as they have an acre or two, we’ll work along with them. We will try as much as possible to provide the planting material, and we will give them all the technical guidance so that they can come on board,” Minister Mustapha said.

Through the expansion of onion cultivation and support for farmers, the government is seeking to strengthen domestic production capacity and move Guyana closer to meeting its onion needs without depending on imports.

This move forms part of the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) target of reducing the region’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2030. [DPI]

Discover more from INews Guyana

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Source: INews Guyana

Growing MICE tourism market creates new opportunities for Guyanese businesses

-
0
Growing MICE tourism market creates new opportunities for Guyanese businesses


Guyana’s expanding meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) tourism market is creating new opportunities for local businesses, with more than 20 conferences and exhibitions hosted in 2026.

Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Kamrul Baksh, highlighted the sector’s growing contribution to the tourism industry while addressing the State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2026, noting that the benefits extend beyond hotels and conference venues to restaurants, bars and other complementary services.

“When we have the discussions with the restaurants and bars, and the complementary services for tourism, they are experiencing a lot of the benefits, so they want to see more of this market,” he explained.

Towatuma women’s group at the SOTIC 2026 conference

The growth in conference tourism is providing opportunities for businesses across the wider economy, as delegates require accommodation, transportation, food, entertainment and other services during their stay.

This creates potential for increased sales and income for local entrepreneurs while supporting employment across the tourism and hospitality sectors.

He highlighted that Guyana hosted over 20,000 attendees, including more than 12,000 persons who travelled specifically for conference-related activities.

The market is also creating opportunities for Guyanese tourism operators to showcase the country’s attractions and develop partnerships with international visitors and industry stakeholders.

As Guyana hosts more regional and international events, local businesses can use these engagements to promote their services, establish new business relationships and attract future visitors.

The director noted that Guyana must continue investing in key tourism markets to attract more conferences and exhibitions, while developing additional experiences that encourage delegates to explore the country beyond their official engagements.

He emphasised the importance of providing activities for visitors, pointing to the need for continued product development alongside improvements in accommodation and connectivity.

The expansion of the MICE market is taking place as Guyana’s tourism infrastructure continues to develop, with close to 6,000 hotel rooms projected by the end of 2026 and additional hotels expected to enter the market after this year.

The growth in accommodation capacity, together with increased air connectivity, is expected to strengthen Guyana’s ability to host larger events and accommodate more visitors, while creating further opportunities for businesses to benefit from tourism expenditure. [DPI]

Discover more from INews Guyana

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Source: INews Guyana