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Students and lecturers from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at the University of Guyana were given an up-close look at one of the country’s largest developing energy infrastructure projects during an educational visit to the Gas-to-Energy Project site at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

The visit was facilitated by the Office of the Prime Minister through the Gas-to-Energy Task Force and included approximately 70 students from the university’s architecture, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering programmes.

Head of the Gas-to-Energy Task Force, Winston Brassington, briefed the students on the development of the project, its current progress and its potential impact on Guyana’s energy and industrial sectors.

Among the lecturers participating were Dean of the Faculty and Presidential Advisor on Tertiary Education Reform, Dr. Kofi Dalrymple; Assistant Dean and Architecture Lecturer Shion Norton; Lecturer Anirude Khelawan; and Head of the Petroleum and Geological Engineering Department, Ms. Klass.

Dr. Dalrymple described the experience as an important opportunity for students to engage directly with large-scale engineering and industrial systems now emerging in Guyana.

“This is a transformational project that promises to revolutionise the industrial sectors of Guyana,” he said. “What students saw here today was inspiring and brings world-class engineering right here to Guyana, giving them opportunities never before available in the country.”

Project Manager of Linsayca, Luis Pirela, said the project highlights the growing opportunities available within Guyana’s expanding oil, gas and infrastructure sectors.

“Guyana is one of the hottest places in the world right now when it comes to development, and this project will make a huge impact on the country and the wider region,” he noted.

During the tour, students observed large-scale civil infrastructure works, industrial engineering systems, energy operations and modern construction technologies while engaging project officials on technical and operational aspects of the facility.

Faculty representatives said the initiative forms part of efforts to strengthen industry engagement and expose students to practical engineering applications and emerging career opportunities within Guyana’s rapidly developing energy and industrial landscape.

Senior Petroleum Coordinator within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Bobby Gossai Jr., also participated in the visit.

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Trinidad and Tobago Red Force clinched the 2026 West Indies Four-Day Championship title on Wednesday afternoon, dismantling defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles by 141 runs at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

The emphatic victory successfully halted Guyana’s quest for a fourth consecutive title and what would have been their ninth crown in eleven professional seasons, securing Trinidad and Tobago’s first first-class title since 2006.

Chasing a demanding 281 for victory on the final day, the Harpy Eagles’ vaunted batting lineup crumbled under a relentless assault from the Red Force pace battery, folding for a meagre 139 in just 39 overs.

FULL SCORECARD: https://matchcentre.windiescricket.com/match/3b0b1451-f844-4668-bd79-a0082e6e297f/scorecard/4

The chase was derailed early and never found its footing. Terrance Hinds and Jayden Seales, who tormented Guyana throughout the match, starred once again with the ball.

Hinds finished with 3 for 30, while Seales matched his intensity with 3 for 39 as  Joshua James (2-12) and Anderson Phillip (2-63) provided stellar support, ensuring no respite for the Guyanese batsmen.

Only Kevlon Anderson offered sustained resistance with a fighting 41, and Kemol Savory chipped in with 24, but the remainder of the batting card capitulated under clinical, sustained pressure.

The groundwork for the historic triumph was laid across the first three days of a see-saw encounter. Trinidad and Tobago’s first innings was rescued from the depths of despair by an extraordinary, unbeaten 70 from lower-order batsman Jayden Seales.

Alongside Khary Pierre’s crucial 40, Terrance Hinds’ 29, and Anderson Phillip’s 26, the tail wagged furiously to push the total to 260. Keemo Paul (3-28) and Nial Smith (3-51) had done the initial damage for Guyana, while Gudakesh Motie snared 2-45.

Guyana’s first-innings response fell just short of parity, as they were bowled out for 247. Emerging talent Jonathan Van Lange top-scored with a charmed 50, closely supported by Keemo Paul’s sedate 49, and identical contributions of 33 from Motie and opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul.

Seales was the chief destroyer in that innings as well, bagging 4 for 56, while Hinds claimed 3 for 46.

Holding a slender 13-run lead, the Red Force reasserted dominance in their second dig, racking up 267.

The innings was anchored by a magnificent, authoritative 122 from opener Evin Lewis. Amir Jangoo (48) and the veteran Jason Mohammed (37) built vital partnerships around Lewis, setting a target that ultimately proved well beyond Guyana’s reach, despite a valiant 4 for 14 from veteran spinner Veerasammy Permaul and 3 for 47 from Paul.

When the final wicket fell on Wednesday afternoon, it triggered wild celebrations from the Trinidad and Tobago contingent, drawing a curtain on two decades of heartbreak in the regional four-day arena and cementing a legendary shift in West Indies domestic cricket

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The charge of a fatal accident against Naitram Anghad, aged 61, of Lot 23, Number 64 Village, Corentyne Berbice, who was operating his vehicle at the time of the incident, was officially dropped on Wednesday. This occurred after the family of the deceased, Jagdeo Bhimsingh, elected to discontinue legal proceedings.

Anghad faced charges of causing the death of Jagdeo Bhimsingh through dangerous driving.

During his initial court appearance before Magistrate Tuanna Hardy at the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court, Anghad was remanded to custody. Subsequently, on the second court session, he was granted bail in the amount of $600,000 on February 25th, 2026.

After multiple court appearances, the mother of the deceased, Nadira Nathoo, aged 52, elected to cease pursuing the case.

Following her request, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommended that the matter be discontinued.

The case was officially discontinued on Wednesday, May 20th.

In an interview with the News Room following the court proceedings, Nathoo expressed her satisfaction with the resolution, stating that she was pleased the matter concluded without any settlement from Anghad.

“Apart from him [Anghad] he is not the only person involved in this situation. The person who had encourage my son to send the motorcycle, he is the main root of the problem. If wasn’t for that motorcycle to ship and come to Guyana, my son wouldn’t die like this. I am the loser,” Nathoo revealed.

She further explained that the decision to discontinue the case was influenced by her desire for her son to rest in peace.

“My son is priceless. My son carry no value. No money, no wealth can give me back my son. So I just settle the story for nothing and let my son go and rest,” Nathoo disclosed.

Anghad expressed his contentment with Nathoo’s decision.

“Today I am very happy that this case finish. I am very thankful that the mother and father of the kid didn’t take any money from me. I am very happy for that,” Anghad remarked.

According to the police report, at approximately 13:00 hours on February 17th, 2026, Jagdeo Bhimsingh, an overseas-based Guyanese, was riding his motorcycle (JH25C4002 7M003943) southward in the eastern lane when a vehicle, driven by a 60-year-old man from Number 64 Village, turned east into his path. The collision was reportedly caused as the vehicle was maneuvering into a turning lane.

Following the incident, Jagdeo was ejected from his motorcycle and fell onto the grassy parapet, sustaining severe injuries. Bystanders promptly assisted him and transported him to the Number 75 Regional Hospital, where medical personnel declared him dead on arrival.

Police authorities conducted a breathalyzer test on the driver of the car, which indicated alcohol levels of 7 and 8 micrograms, respectively.

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As Guyana builds its human resource capacity, Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith on Wednesday said stronger laws and ethical recruitment are a priority to safeguard against labour issues.

Griffith was at the time addressing attendees at the Diaspora Stakeholder’s Forum at the Guyana Marriott Hotel. He said migrant workers are not a threat to local human resource capacity.

“Guyana has become a destination for migrant workers, particularly from China, India, Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and regional neighbours but I wish to make one thing clear, migrants are not a threat – they are our partners in development,” the minister said.

According to the minister, the recruitment of these workers must be safe, orderly, ethical, regulated and grounded in human rights.

“Informal recruitment agencies have proliferated increasing the risks of exploitation and human trafficking, in response this government remains committed in enforcing ethical recruitment standards,” he said.

He said human trafficking, particularly in women and children through labour migration cannot become a channel for exploitation. He said legislative and institutional measures are being strengthened better supervise recruitment.

Guyana’s growing dependence on migrant labour is a priority for the ministry and Griffith said in 2026, the ministry intends to progress its work in developing a migration policy.

“As outlined in Budget 2026, the development of a migration policy will allow for the recruitment of foreign workers to meet the needs of our country’s rapidly growing economy without compromising the rights and interests of Guyanese,” Griffith said.

He noted that Guyana’s rapidly expanding economy is placing significant pressure on the labour market, with industries facing shortages of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers.

He said the Board of Industrial Training is tasked with equipping workers with the relevant skills needed.

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Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith on Wednesday said the investigation into allegations by 38 Indian nationals who claim they were subjected to poor working and living conditions while employed at a quarry operation in Region Seven is still ongoing.

The minister told reporters at the sidelines of an event that even as the investigation is being conducted, the company, Ekaa Hrim Earth Resources denied the allegation.

Importantly the minister said the investigation now involves his ministry and the Ministries of Human Services and Home Affairs because of the seriousness and scope of the claims, which include allegations of withheld passports, unsafe working conditions, outstanding payments and other labour violations.

“This is an inter-ministerial approach we’re taking because every part of it doesn’t fall within my ministry,” Griffith said.

Griffith said the matter was being treated with “the utmost attention and urgency.”

The minister said labour officials, accompanied by the Indian High Commissioner, met with all 38 workers on Monday and obtained statements from them as part of the ongoing probe. This was following an investigative team which was deployed to the area at the weekend.

He also confirmed that representatives of EKAA HRIM Earth Resources Management were summoned to a meeting during which the ministry demanded the immediate return of the workers’ passports. As such, the passports were returned but the company maintains its innocence in the situation.

According to Griffith, investigators are examining workers’ contracts, safety conditions, living arrangements and allegations of unpaid salaries and overtime. The company, he said, was given 24 hours to provide documents and other information requested by investigators and has since complied. He did not disclose the preliminary findings.

Griffith stressed repeatedly that the investigation remains ongoing and cautioned against drawing premature conclusions before all the facts are established.

“It is our responsibility to listen to both sides and investigate,” he said.

He disclosed that the company has denied allegations relating to unsafe working conditions and the alleged retention of workers’ passports.

“It’s important for me to say that they have denied there was any retention of the passports,” Griffith said.

Asked whether the alleged withholding of passports could amount to trafficking in persons, the minister said he could not make such a determination without evidence gathered during the investigation.

“I’m not going to make an allegation of human trafficking without information. That would be irresponsible,” he said.

Griffith also declined to comment extensively on claims that workers were owed salaries. He said the company had provided explanations for some outstanding payments and additional information was being reviewed.

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The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is moving ahead with charges against the other accused in the deadly Mobil gas station explosion case, despite the alleged mastermind repeatedly claiming he acted alone and insisting the others had no involvement.

The court was informed of the development on Wednesday when the matter was called before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty.

During previous hearings, Venezuelan national, Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo, the alleged mastermind behind the October 26, 2025 attack at the Mobil gas station, reiterated in court that he alone was responsible for the explosion and urged the court to free the other individuals on trial.

However, following an adjournment, the court was informed that the DPP had decided to proceed with charges against the remaining accused.

In light of that decision, Poedemo indicated that he will no longer be taking a plea in the matter.

Poedemo is jointly charged alongside Alexander Bettencourt, Johnny Boodram and Krystal La Cruz in connection with the attack.

Meanwhile, two other accused who had been charged in another magisterial district — Ramesh Pramdeo and Wayne Correia — were freed in April after the court upheld a no-case submission in their favour.

The matter was adjourned to June 8 for the commencement of paper committal proceedings.

The deadly explosion resulted in the death of young Soraya Bourne and sent shockwaves across the country.

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says more than 20 persons have already been fined for littering as authorities intensify enforcement efforts across the country.

Head of EPA Investigations and Enforcement, Surjpaul Singh, revealed that the agency began the strengthened enforcement drive in March and has since seen several persons penalised for violating anti-littering regulations.

“So far we would have commenced this like in March and so far we actually fined over 20 to 25 persons and we have been seeing compliance of persons coming to pay their fines and so on,” Singh told the News Room during an exclusive interview recently.

According to Singh, many of the reports are being received through social media and the EPA’s “Clean 592” web-based reporting app, where members of the public submit photos and videos of persons littering.

“We are receiving reports of persons littering and we get that mostly on social media where we have video evidence of them actually committing an offence,” he said.

The app allows reports to be submitted in real time, enabling the agency to quickly launch investigations and take enforcement action.

“So soon as you upload, we are in receipt and can take action,” Singh noted.

He explained that persons caught littering from motor vehicles can also be identified through their licence plate numbers.

“If it’s a motor vehicle we collect the license plate and we share that information with GRA (Guyana Revenue Authority) who then provide the information to us, like the person’s contact information, and we send a fine to them,” Singh said.

He added that most offenders are given the option of paying a fixed penalty rather than appearing before the courts.

“Mostly it’s a fixed penalty where we go to them and we offer them the opportunity to discharge liability to going to court,” Singh said.

Under the anti-littering regulations, individuals can face fines of up to $50,000, while businesses can be fined up to $100,000.

Meanwhile, Executive Director of the EPA, Kemraj Parsram, reminded the public that the laws have existed since 2013 and warned that littering in any form is an offence.

“You can throw sand, water, dirt, plastic, paper…it is the act of littering. Once you do that then you are liable to penalties,” Parsram said.

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As Guyana reflects on 60 years of independence, attorney and former diplomat Neville Bissember Jr. is urging the country to confront its political and ethnic history more honestly, reviving calls for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to help heal long-standing national divisions.

Speaking during a panel discussion titled “Guyana at 60: The Next Bridge Challenges,” Bissember said Guyana cannot truly move forward without first reckoning with its past, including foreign intervention, political distrust, constitutional weaknesses and racial tensions that have shaped the country since independence.

“I think if we really want to be sovereign, we have to own our own history and our own destiny,” he stated.

While acknowledging that the idea is not new, Bissember argued that Guyana has reached a stage in its development where difficult national conversations can no longer be avoided, especially as the country experiences rapid transformation from oil wealth and increasing geopolitical attention.

Drawing comparisons with countries such as South Africa and Rwanda, Bissember pointed to mechanisms used in those nations to address painful periods of conflict and division.

“Look at South Africa… they brought everything out,” he said while referencing that country’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission established after apartheid. He also referred to Rwanda’s community-based Gacaca system, which was used to address atrocities following the 1994 genocide.

“We are nowhere near what happened in Rwanda,” Bissember said. “If those people could come together and find systems to address their issues, surely Guyana can have honest conversations about its own divisions.”

He suggested that any Guyanese model should focus less on punishment and more on truth-telling, accountability, compensation and national healing.

Throughout his presentation, Bissember reflected heavily on Guyana’s political history, including the 1964 constitutional changes that introduced proportional representation, foreign involvement during the Cold War era and what he described as longstanding questions surrounding sovereignty and governance.

He argued that many Guyanese still feel disconnected from the political system, criticizing the current constitutional arrangement in which citizens vote for party lists rather than directly electing parliamentary representatives tied to constituencies.

“You don’t know your parliamentary representative,” he said, adding that reforms to governance structures and judicial appointments should also form part of broader national discussions.

Bissember’s remarks come amid renewed public debate about national identity, ethnic relations and governance as Guyana commemorates its 60th independence anniversary while simultaneously undergoing unprecedented economic transformation driven by oil revenues.

Though calls for truth and reconciliation processes have surfaced periodically over the years, particularly after periods of political unrest and ethnic tension, no formal national mechanism has ever been established.

Bissember said political leaders must begin speaking more openly and honestly to citizens if the country hopes to strengthen unity moving forward.

“People want to hear the truth from our politicians,” he said. “That would help us get along a little better.”

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Residents and Amerindian leaders from several hinterland and riverine communities in Region Two raised concerns ranging from education and housing to roads, telecommunications, healthcare and youth development during a government outreach led by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Cabinet ministers on Tuesday at Anna Regina.

The majority of the issues highlighted were resolved immediately while some were given assurance that they will be resolved soonest.

One of the issues highlighted were challenges faced by children in accessing secondary and tertiary education, particularly in remote villages where students travel long distances or stay in dormitories to attend school.

Some of the residents that were in attendance at the public day

In response, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said the government must pursue sustainable solutions and suggested examining the possibility of grouping communities together to improve access to secondary education. He also acknowledged concerns surrounding dormitory conditions and noted that repairs are already underway.

Further a broader vision for Amerindian development, was highlighted, with emphasis on employment creation and access to free university education.

Village leaders were urged to identify residents interested in tertiary education with assurance given that remedial education support would be provided where necessary.

“We need every home visited. We need to know who wants to study and who can access free university education,” the VP said.

An Amerindian leader highlighting issues regarding education and roads

He explained that, “If we are repairing the dorm, it means that we recognise there is a problem there and we have to fix it for the children”.

Residents also raised concerns over limited internet and mobile connectivity in remote villages, noting that communication signals are only available in isolated spots.

While he acknowledged that there are issues with internet access, and even shared a personal experience, he noted that the issues had already been discussed with Prime Minister Mark Phillips.

He indicated that the government would continue engaging telecommunications providers to improve services in the hinterland.

Several village leaders also requested assistance with internal roads and transportation infrastructure.

One leader explained that approximately 15 kilometers of internal roads linking communities require upgrades.

Another representative from Tapakuma highlighted the need for an all-weather access road after residents experienced severe disruptions due to mining activity and poor road conditions during periods of rainfall.

It was proposed that a model where villages themselves could be contracted to undertake road works using equipment already available in communities through government support initiatives should be perused.

“So let’s think about contracting the village to do the internal roads,” Vice President Jagdeo said while encouraging the use of laterite materials already available in the communities.