Blog

See below the full release from the Guyana Power and Light: 

The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) advises that a service interruption at approximately 08:50 hrs on Sunday, April 26, 2026, was caused by heavy-duty machinery operated by China Railway First Group (Guyana) Incorporated during road works at Dennis Street, Sophia. 

GPL’s investigations confirmed that the equipment came into direct contact with the L10  Transmission Line linking the New Georgetown and Sophia Substations, resulting in a significant disruption of electricity supply to tens of thousands of customers across multiple communities. 

The damage caused considerable inconvenience to GPL’s valued customers, disrupting households, businesses, and essential services. 

GPL has issued a strongly worded letter to Mr. Ma Qiang, Project Manager of China Railway  First Group (Guyana) Incorporated, and is seeking to recover a total of $30,645,189 for losses incurred. 

The contractor has been given fourteen (14) days to settle the full amount, failing which GPL  will pursue legal action. 

The incident has also resulted in law enforcement action, with one individual already arrested in connection with the matter. 

GPL notes that this incident represents a serious breach of safety and operational requirements.  The company reiterates that any works conducted in proximity to electrical infrastructure must be executed in strict compliance with established safety standards, including required clearance distances and proper coordination with GPL. 

GPL further underscores that contact with electrical infrastructure presents a grave and immediate danger to life, with the potential for severe injury or fatality, in addition to widespread outages and damage to critical systems. 

GPL is therefore reminding all contractors and equipment operators that strict adherence to all safety protocols when working near electrical lines is mandatory. Any breach will attract decisive action, including financial recovery and legal proceedings. 

The post GPL seeking $30.6M from China Railway First Group following transmission line damage appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The fourth edition of Guyana’s premier tapeball tournament sees a massive spike in stakes with bespoke gold prizes and a restructured $2.5 million top payout.

In a move that adds significant glitter to the upcoming season, D&S Ramdeholl & Son Jewellery has officially partnered with the One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast.

 The local jewellers will award a bespoke “Gold Prize”—meticulously crafted from Guyana’s finest gold—to the batsman who clears the ropes the most times during the fourth edition of the tournament.

Proprietor Sachin Ramdeholl expressed that the decision to join the tournament’s sponsor portfolio was driven by the event’s rapid rise in the local sporting landscape.

 Having observed the tournament’s evolution from a grassroots initiative to a national spectacle, Ramdeholl noted that the brand felt compelled to contribute to the high-octane atmosphere.

“We have been following the growth of this tournament for quite some time and were incredibly impressed by the level of talent and the community spirit it fosters,” Ramdeholl stated.

“We wanted to give back in a way that reflects the prestige of the event, and what better way to celebrate the power-hitters of Guyana than with a piece of our national heritage?”

The 2026 season, scheduled to run from early August through mid-October, is set to culminate under the lights of the brand-new Anna Regina National Stadium.

FL Sport is aiming to professionalise the format by introducing a quarter-final payout structure that significantly increases the financial incentive for participating teams.

Under the new prize distribution, each zone winner will now pocket $500,000. By advancing to the National Finals, teams remain in the hunt for a $2 million first-place prize, $1 million for the runner-up, or $500,000 for each of the losing semi-finalists.

This revamped structure effectively increases the potential overall prize to $2.5 million, with the runner-up walking away with $1.5 million.

In an effort to remain player-centred, FL Sport has expanded rewards for teams that fall short of the final stage.

The losing finalist at the zone level will receive $200,000, while losing semi-finalists will earn $50,000 each. For the first time in the tournament’s history, losing quarter-finalists will also be rewarded with $25,000 each, ensuring that more teams leave the competition with tangible returns on their efforts.

Individual excellence remains a cornerstone of the tournament’s allure. A comprehensive suite of cash awards has been established, including $150,000 and a motorbike for the Most Valuable Player.

The top run-scorer and leading wicket-taker will each receive $100,000 plus a television, while the Player-of-the-Final earns $75,000. Incentives for the Super Strike Rate and Best Economy Rate sit at $50,000 each, supplemented by non-monetary prizes for those recording the most dot balls, sixes, and fours.

Registration for the 80-team knockout tournament is scheduled to open in early May with a $35,000 entry fee.

Teams are permitted to register for any of the four designated zones: Berbice, East Bank/West Demerara, Essequibo, and Georgetown/East Coast Demerara.

Beyond the immediate financial rewards, the stakes are heightened by the announcement that zone winners will earn an automatic spot in the upcoming Global T10 Tapeball tournament.

The post D&S Ramdeholl & Son Jewellery to reward ‘Most Sixes’ in One Guyana T10 Blast appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Another masterclass in left-arm spin from Gudakesh Motie and Veerasammy Permaul propelled the Guyana Harpy Eagles to a 93-run victory over the Windward Islands Volcanoes on Wednesday.

The win officially completes a three-nil series sweep and punches Guyana’s ticket to the 2026 West Indies Four-Day Championship playoffs.

FULL SCORECARD: https://matchcentre.windiescricket.com/match/b7b1697b-b937-41c0-8c09-84c9e26e4820

According to fixtures on Cricket West Indies’s website, the Harpy Eagles, who topped the table heading into this round, have qualified for the final and will play the West Indies Academy in a First-Class ‘warm-up’ match prior to such.

While the “spin twins” did the damage on the final day, the victory was built on the back of Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s marathon resilience.

The opening batter produced a vintage display of attrition, following up a first-innings 69 by carrying his bat in the second.

Chanderpaul finished unbeaten on 117 off 297 balls, an innings that anchored the Harpy Eagles and allowed them to set a target well beyond the Volcanoes’ reach.

Chanderpaul found support from an unlikely source in the second innings as Motie showed his prowess with the bat, struck a brisk 53 to help push the lead toward the 300-mark.

Defending 319 on a wearing surface, the Harpy Eagles turned to their premier slow bowlers to clinical effect.

Motie, who has been in devastating form throughout the series, followed up his four wickets in the first innings with another 4 for 83.

His eight-wicket match haul proved the difference, as he consistently found the edge and challenged both sides of the bat.

 Permaul provided the perfect foil from the other end as his relentless accuracy strangled the Volcanoes’ middle order, as he finished with figures of 3 for 40 to ensure there would be no late-order heroics from the hosts.

The Volcanoes’ chase showed brief signs of life through Alick Athanaze as the left-hander was the lone bright spot for the Windward Islands, following his unbeaten first-innings 50 with a fluent 64.

However, once Motie removed Athanaze, the resistance crumbled, with Shamar Joseph (2-26) returning to polish off the tail.

 The playoff round is scheduled to begin on May 10, with the tournament culminating with the final on May 17 in Antigua and Barbuda.

Below are the summarised scores from the other matches:

At Antigua Recreation Ground, Hurricanes fight back to earn draw

SUMMARY: Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 522-9 declared from 134.3 overs (Joshua DaSilva 220, Amir Jangoo 83, Jason Mohammed 47, Terrance Hinds 44, Jyd Goolie 36; Karima Gore 4-86, Oshane Thomas 2-70) vs Leeward Islands Hurricanes 345 all out from 72.2 overs (Jahmar Hamilton 121, Karima Gore 90; Anderson Phillip 4-92, Terrance Hinds 3-49) and 467-7 from 122 overs  (Keacy Carty 147, Justin Greaves 122, Rahkeem Cornwall 66*, Jahmar Hamilton 50*; Anderson Phillip 4-89)

At Sabina Park, Barbados Pride defeated Jamaica Scorpions by an innings and 11 runs

SUMMARY: Jamaica Scorpions 142 all out from 51 overs (John Campbell 36, Kirk McKenzie 31, Javelle Glenn 21; Roston Chase  5-28, Joshua Bishop 4-31) and 286 all out from 70.4 overs (Odean Smith 73, Brandon King 63; Joshua Bishop 5-72) vs Barbados Pride 439 all out from 112 overs (Jonathan Drakes 94, Roston Chase 84, Kraigg Brathwaite 74, Leniko Boucher 50, Shamar Springer 45; Marquino Mindley 3-62, Odean Smith 3-91, Brad Barnes 2-56)

The post FOUR-DAY: Motie, Permaul spin Harpy Eagles to 93-run win over Volcanoes appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The 16th edition of the April Open Chess Tournament concluded in Georgetown this week, signalling a changing of the guard in Guyanese chess as youthful brilliance overthrew seasoned experience across both major categories.

In the Open division, Kyle Couchman delivered a performance of clinical precision to secure his first-ever April Open crown. Couchman amassed a commanding 7.5 points from a possible nine, navigating a field of Guyana’s elite to claim the top prize of $300,000.

While Couchman took the spotlight, the chasing pack remained locked in a fierce battle for the podium as Keron Sandiford demonstrated remarkable discipline to take second place with a solid seven points.

Candidate Master Ronuel Greenidge snatched third on tie-breaks, narrowly edging out former National Champion Taffin Khan after both finished level on points.

Special honours were also reserved for Rudy Jadoopat, who was named Best Newcomer, while Alexander Zhang earned the Bravest Junior award for his fearless leap into the senior ranks.

The Junior category witnessed a near-perfect display from rising star Matthew Singh. Singh dropped only half a point across nine rounds, finishing with a staggering 8.5/9 to claim his first major tournament victory.

Nicholas Zhang of Queen’s College followed in second place with 7.5 points, further cementing his reputation as one of the country’s most reliable young talents. Kataleya Sam, who is currently preparing to represent Guyana at the upcoming Chess Olympiad, rounded out the top three.

The depth of the junior field was on full display as Dominic Sam secured fourth place in a successful return to competitive play, while 12-year-old Javier Davenand finished fifth to prove he can punch well above his weight class.

Additional accolades were presented to Mark DeFreitas for Best Under-12 and Axela Vieira, who took home the Best Female award following a spirited five-point performance.

Kaleb Ramchandar was recognised as the category’s Best Newcomer, while the youngest player of the tournament, seven-year-old Jayon Sookram, impressed onlookers by scoring 2.5 points in his competitive debut.

Reflecting on sixteen years of competition, tournament organisers credited the Guyana Chess Federation and a local roster of sponsors—including DesignersHouse and Victoria Law Chambers—for fostering a pathway to international representation.

The post Couchman and Singh reign supreme at April Open Chess appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Ryan Rickelton played one of the innings of IPL 2026, an unbeaten 123 off 55 balls, the highest-ever score by a Mumbai Indians batter in the tournament’s history.

But it still wasn’t enough against the batting might of Sunrisers Hyderabad in another run-fest at Wankhede Stadium. MI went against the grain and batted first for the first time in 22 games at Wankhede Stadium.

Led by Rickelton’s sensational ton, they amassed 243 for 5, their highest first-innings score in the IPL. SRH hardly broke a sweat in chasing it down by six wickets and eight balls to spare.

Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head added 129 runs for the opening wicket, with 92 coming in the powerplay. Heinrich Klaasen thrashed an unbeaten 65 off 30, while Salil Arora smoked 30 not out off ten balls to hand SRH the fourth-highest successful chase in the IPL and their fifth straight win of the season. (ESPNcricinfo) 

The post IPL 2026: Travishek, Klaasen outmuscle MI as SRH chase 244 for fifth straight win appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The ongoing trial into the 2020 General and Regional Elections is set to move to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) headquarters on High Street, Kingston, Georgetown on Thursday.

The visit is scheduled for 10:00 hrs and forms part of a court-ordered inspection of key locations linked to the disputed electoral process.

The GECOM headquarters has been described in court as a critical “locus” in the proceedings. A similar visit to another key location, Ashmins Building, which housed the GECOM command center was already visited.

The visit follow confirmation from the GECOM Chair, Ret’d Justice Claudette that access to the headquarters is granted and the visit can be accommodated on Thursday.

It is intended to give the magistrate, prosecution, and defence team a firsthand view into the physical space referenced by witnesses throughout the trial. Attorneys and defendants are expected to be present in person during the visit, where witnesses will also be asked to point out their respective placements and explain operational procedures carried out during the 2020 elections.

Among the witnesses expected to be present are Rosalinda Rasul and Jonathan Yearwood. They have completed their testimony. All of the defendants in the case are also required to be present.

However, acting chief magistrate Faith McGusty informed the court that any new issues arising from the visit may be subject to further cross-examination upon application to the court, although witnesses involved have already completed their testimony.

During the inspection, the court will carry out pointing out, marking, measuring and recording of relevant areas.

Meanwhile, the case case continued on Wednesday with witnesses Bibi Aneishaw Mohamed and Dr Frank Anthony returning to the stand for continued cross-examination by defence attorneys. They have both concluded their evidence too.

Nine individuals are currently before the court charged with conspiring to manipulate the election results in favour of APNU+AFC, allegedly in an attempt to deny victory to the PPP.

Those charged include former government minister Volda Lawrence, former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, former Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, and former Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers, among others.

The controversy surrounding the March 2020 elections delayed the declaration of results for five months, until PPP candidate Irfaan Ali was sworn in as President on August 2, 2020.

The post Visit to GECOM Headquarters planned as 2020 Elections trial continues appeared first on News Room Guyana.

There is a renewed focus on foundational learning with targeted projects in literacy, numeracy and teaching methods to improve student outcomes at the primary level.

With pupils undertaking the National Grade Six Assessment on Wednesday and Thursday, Education Minister Sonia Parag told reporters that additional initiatives to improve results are underway for 2027. These areas are critical to building a strong academic foundation for students.

The ministry will roll out the numeracy assessments in 2027, a new initiative designed to sharpen students’ comprehension and reading abilities from an early stage, particularly in Grades Two and Four.

“It is to, of course, strengthen our mathematics, our sciences and numeracy will help with that greatly.

“By the time you’re in Grade Four the curriculum is completed or is supposed to be completed so that in Grades Five and Six you are doing a revision of those curriculums,” she said.

According to the minister, the literacy unit is actively working to develop a robust curriculum that supports these assessments, ensuring that students acquire the necessary skills as they progress through the system.

This structured approach is intended to better prepare pupils for key examinations while reinforcing their understanding of core subjects.

“We want our students to be fully literate and strengthened in numeracy as they exit the primary level,” the minister said.

Minister Parag also said that improvements in mathematics and science are closely tied to these foundational skills.

She said the ministry has also invested heavily in resources to support learning, including the distribution of textbooks and past examination papers. These interventions are already contributing to improved preparedness among students.

She emphasised, however, that long-term success depends on early intervention.

“If you don’t prepare students from the foundation level, you will have cracks,” she said.

This initiative will support the Literacy Assessments which were adopted in preparation for the 2025 sitting of the exam to achieve sustained improvement at the secondary level.

The post Renewed focus on numeracy as assessment curriculum gets revamped appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning on Wednesday opened the Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) Village and Job Fair, with the aim of directly connecting job seekers with employment opportunities while promoting workplace safety and skills development.

The two-day event, which is being held in observation of Occupational Health and Safety Month features 37 participating businesses, along with agencies and organisations showcasing career opportunities, workplace safety practices, and practical tools for both workers and employers.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Griffith said the initiative is designed to ensure that Guyanese can immediately benefit from the country’s expanding economy.

“The aim is to ensure that with all that is happening in Guyana that persons can have a system where they are employed and they can leave today with opportunities,” he said.

Over the past five years, Griffith said more than 1,000 jobs have been created, stressing that each job carries wider impact beyond individual employment.

“Every job represents an opportunity. An opportunity not just for transformation but as well an opportunity to bring transformation to the lives of other persons,” he said.

Griffith urged job seekers to make full use of the platform, especially young people looking to enter the workforce.

He described the fair as “a call to connect with employers, to ask questions, submit applications and to network with purpose.” He also highlighted that the event goes beyond job placement, focusing on career development and skills alignment with market needs.

“At a time when Guyana’s economy is expanding and diversifying, we must ensure that our people are not just observers of growth but active participants in it.

“Employment is not just about income, it is about dignity, independence, building, and future,”Griffith said.

Alongside job placement, the OSH Village is being used as an interactive platform where safety practices, innovations in risk management, and practical tools are being shared.

“Let this health and safety village and job fair not be seen as just another event but as a movement…towards safer workspaces, greater awareness, stronger institutions and expanded opportunities for all,” Griffith urged.

The job fair runs from April 29 to 30, from 10:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs at Main Street Avenue, Georgetown.

The post Labour Ministry hosts job fair to connect people with opportunities appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith, is calling for a major shift in how workplace safety is approached, stressing that jobs should not expose workers to stress, depression, or unsafe conditions.

“Our jobs are not stress environments…we should not be…susceptible to stress and depression and unhappiness at the job,” Griffith said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the opening of the Occupational Health and Safety Village and Job Fair being held on Main Street, Georgetown, Griffith rejected the idea that high-stress workplaces are normal, arguing that workers should not have to endure mental strain on the job.

While referencing statements from the International Labour Organization (ILO),  he underscored that psychosocial health is essential to productivity and overall worker well-being.

“The ILO has made it clear that good psychosocial health is important on the job…and this is something the government is dedicated in ensuring,” Griffith said, noting that workers must be able to operate in “a decent environment” to achieve their best.

According to Griffith, improving safety at workplaces requires a change in mindset and shared responsibility.

“If we are truly going to put safety first, if we are going to change the paradigm of how we approach health and safety.

“Everyone one of us have a significant role to play in ensuring that every worker…return to work safely, that their job is secured and that they are no more stressed on the job when they leave work,” he said.

Occupational Health and Safety Month is being observed throughout April under the theme, “Good psychosocial working environments: a pathway to thriving workers and strong organisations.”

The post Griffith pushes shift in workplace culture, says jobs should not cause stress appeared first on News Room Guyana.

By Wazim Mowla

Advisor to the Embassy of Guyana in Washington DC and a Senior Fellow at Florida International University’s Jack D. Gordon School for Public Policy

Defense of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is paramount to our national interests, our nationhood, and our right to development. Under President Irfaan Ali’s leadership, this has been front and center — from the strengthening of our defense capabilities to the speed at which we engage and secure support from international partners during moments of tension.

Despite these efforts, Venezuela’s unjust and egregious claims over two-thirds of our territory cannot be deterred solely via national policies. By virtue of the fact that a case currently sits at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award that settled the border, Guyana has been calling on the international community to support this process.

This means that, at a minimum, there is an expectation that our regional partners not only vocally support the case at the ICJ but are quick to condemn efforts by Venezuela to undermine it. Most recently, Venezuela’s acting president undermined the ICJ process by wearing a lapel pin depicting a map of Venezuela that incorporates Guyana’s Essequibo region.

First, symbolism matters. The Venezuelan leader’s public display carries a weight that extends beyond photographs — particularly since this is the second such occasion, following appearances in Grenada and Barbados. On one hand, it emboldens the hardline Venezuelan elites and military officials who have historically posed threats to our border. On the other, Caribbean leaders who do not explicitly and publicly condemn its usage further incentivize its recurring use. As the saying goes: give someone an inch, and they’ll take a mile.

The Venezuelan leader’s movements are also widely covered in international media, given the significant attention Venezuela has attracted this year. Seeing such a map can create confusion among policymakers and potential investors who are not well-versed in the ICJ case or Venezuela’s posturing over the border dispute.

The severity of Venezuela’s claims over Essequibo therefore requires unambiguous support from regional partners and organizations. Ambiguity at this moment is not neutrality nor support but instead a failure to meet the occasion. CARICOM, as a regional grouping, will always be constrained by the need to find common ground among member states. But that should not deter individual members from making their own statements reaffirming support for Guyana and denouncing the public use of propaganda that undermines our sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Venezuela’s claims matter for neighboring Caribbean countries too. Venezuela’s threats could potentially impede our right to development–a development that benefits not just Guyanese but Caribbean citizens as well. This is not merely rhetoric. Since taking office, President Ali has taken national policies around energy, climate, and food security and adapted them for a regional context. President Ali’s plan to reduce CARICOM’s food import bill by 25 percent by 2030 is a prime example. Caribbean citizens, then, stand to miss out on the broader regional development that comes with Guyana’s rise.

Guyana has not asked for support from neighboring countries that would conflict with their own values. As small states in a volatile global system, we depend on adhering to and upholding international law to protect our shared values and rights.

The Caribbean is a shared region and one that has remained stable in a Western Hemisphere marked by instability for decades. Part of the reason has been a shared commitment to respecting international norms, upholding the rule of law, and condemning aggressive and illegal acts when they arise. That same commitment is being called upon now. Guyana’s territorial integrity is non-negotiable, and we expect our partners to say so, clearly and without hesitation.

*Wazim Mowla is an advisor to the Embassy of Guyana in Washington DC and is a Senior Fellow at Florida International University’s Jack D. Gordon School for Public Policy

 

The post Essequibo is Non-Negotiable: The Regional Silence We Cannot Afford appeared first on News Room Guyana.