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As countries in the Caribbean continue to focus on how achieving sustainable and resilient economic growth across the region can be attained in light of their smallness in terms of economies of scale and their vulnerabilities to climate shocks, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh called on regional leaders to focus on redoubling efforts to ensure that the historical impediments affecting the free movement of goods and people across the region are removed.   

The Minister made this call while leading an open floor discussion yesterday on ‘Building Food Resilience’ at the One Caribbean Ministerial Dialogue forum convened by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group and held under the theme “Building Resilience through Regional Collaboration,” in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Dr. Singh noted that while Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads adopted the objective of reducing the region’s food import bill by 25% by 2025 which has now been extended to 2030 (largely as a result of the shocks suffered over the last five years and  the clear mandate in the region to reduce food imports by an estimated 4.6 million tons by 2030, to build a resilient, competitive and climate smart, resilient agri-food system which many countries have been focused on), there are still some remaining internal impediments including sanitary and phytosanitary barriers to intra-regional trade. 

“In each of our respective countries, each of us has been investing in one aspect or another in pursuit of the objective of the realization of our objectives in relation to food security. In the Bahamas investments are being made in the area of climate smart agriculture and the deployment of solar powered and hydroponic farms. In Belize, financial support is being provided for small farmers and projects targeting sugar, rice, maize and soyabean. Jamaica is making significant investments in cold storage and the supply chain and in areas like water management and crop shifting,” Minister Singh outlined. 

He also highlighted that in Guyana heavy investments are being made in more climate resilient agriculture and in particular, drainage and irrigation infrastructure for better water resources management and a more climate resilient agricultural sector and therefore, the food security agenda is foremost amongst the priorities in Guyana and across the Caribbean with the objectives being to ramp up production and productive capacity.

“In Guyana’s case this includes transport infrastructure to open up more productive land, building out farm-to-market roads to be able to bring our production more efficiently to markets, building out agro-processing capabilities so that we are no longer an exporter of primary agricultural produce but that we produce more value-added output and in particular, unlocking the opportunities that lie in more intra-regional trade in agricultural products,” he added. 

The Minister noted however that herein lies the issue in relation to transport infrastructure, particularly movement of goods across and within the region. 

“There are still in some of our jurisdictions, some remaining regulations that impede free and easy trade in food products, in agricultural food products and I think there needs to be a redoubled effort within our region to remove these barriers,” he reiterated. 

Dr. Singh emphasized that food security is not only a humanitarian necessity, it is a fundamental economic pillar for the Caribbean and further explained that notwithstanding the Region’s competitive agriculture advantages, there still remain significant vulnerabilities, including climate shocks as he then expressed deep appreciation for the IDB’s efforts through the One Caribbean initiative, nothing that the Bank’s support is vital for both public infrastructure and private sector growth, in achieving long-term economic resilience.

“Agriculture and agri-business as an important aspect of our productive economy and as an important contributor to job creation and the creation and enhancement and improvement and enhancement of livelihoods for young people in the region,” Minister Singh concluded (Ministry of Finance press release)

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President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday revealed that more than 80,000 children across Guyana have already been screened under a nationwide health programme targeting the country’s school population.

Speaking at the opening of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) 70th Annual Health Research Conference, President Ali described the initiative as a major step toward strengthening public health planning.

He explained that the screenings were conducted within the primary school system through a coordinated effort involving parents, teachers and communities, with consent forms required for participation.

The programme is now being expanded to secondary schools, with authorities aiming to gather complete health data on students nationwide by the end of 2026.

Dr Ali noted that the large number of children already screened provides a strong foundation for developing more informed and targeted public health policies moving forward.

The screening programme is supported by the Hess Corporation and Mount Sinai Health Systems in New York, United States of America (USA). Through this initiative, local authorities are focused on the early detection of health issues like vision, dental, and hearing problems.

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See below the full release from the Guyana Elections Commission: 

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has determined, based on preliminary internal investigations, that its vessel involved in the accident on Sunday, 19th April, 2026, in the Barima River, Region 1, was being used without authorization and was not engaged in any official duties at the time. 

GECOM is assisting the Guyana Police Force (GPF) with investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The GECOM-employed Captain who operated the vessel is currently in police custody and is cooperating with the authorities. 

Reports indicate that the vessel collided with a sandbank near Morawhanna, resulting in several persons on board sustaining injuries. None of the passengers is an employee of or affiliated with GECOM. The injured were rescued by the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard. The vessel was subsequently destroyed by a fire  of unknown origin. 

GECOM expresses its sincere appreciation to the Coast Guard for its swift and effective response in ensuring the safety of all passengers and assisted in preventing more serious injury or loss of life. The Commission also extends its best wishes for a full and speedy recovery to those injured. 

GECOM will continue to cooperate fully with the Guyana Police Force in its ongoing investigations and will await the outcome of those investigations to determine the appropriate way forward. 

READ MORE ABOUT THE ACCIDENT HERE: https://newsroom.gy/2026/04/21/gecom-vessel-hits-riverbank-nine-rescued-before-boat-destroyed-by-fire/

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A milestone bamboo planting activity has commenced for the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) project: “Piloting Bamboo for Restoration & Sustainable Livelihoods in Guyana” – funded by the European Union (EU) under the Euroclima programme; and implemented with technical assistance from Expertise France and the International Bamboo & Rattan Organisation (INBAR).

This planting activity marks a significant step toward an era of livelihood diversification for forest-dependent Guyanese communities through meaningful restoration of degraded lands, and an opportunity to economise an underutilised but present non-timber resource in Guyana – bamboo.

Bamboo plants of the species Bambusa vulgaris var. vulgaris are being trialed for the restoration of a mined-out bauxite site in the old Coomacka mines area, close to the Maria Elizabeth/Three Friends community, with the technical guidance of INBAR. Mines communities in Region Ten: Maria Elizabeth/Three Friends, Coomacka, Old England/Siberien, Nottinghamshire, and Richmond Hill have been steady partners in designing a project that fits the context of their landscape and their people.

This flagship project continues to focus on actionable and tangible targets, not only for bamboo trials, but for building bamboo knowledge and capacity at all levels; and for hands-on community training in both bamboo resource propagation and management, and value-added product creation. It also sets the stage for dynamic partnerships at all stakeholder levels for a new industry based on nature and sustainability.

Almost 500 bamboo plants will be planted at Coomacka. This exercise will be replicated in other areas throughout the country.

Since 2023, the National Forest Restoration Initiative (NFRI) – a collaborative effort between the GFC and the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC) under the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), has provided a framework for exploring restoration through the lens of diversification through the consideration of non-timber and agroforestry pathways, alongside native forest species (Modified Ministry of Natural Resources press release)

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Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore on Tuesday said the city is moving to provide an alternative space for displaced vendors who were at the Square of the Revolution, with plans advancing for a new site on Hadfield Street.

During the delivery of the Council’s 2026 budget, the mayor revealed that officials recently visited the location, which is being considered as a designated vending area to ease pressure on the contested downtown space. The move comes as the Mayor and City Council faces ongoing pushback from vendors who have resisted relocation efforts tied to the reorganisation of the Square of the Revolution.

Mentore explained that the Hadfield Street initiative is currently in its design phase, with authorities assessing what type of structures will be established, the layout of the facility, and the overall cost of development. He noted that the process will also determine how expenses will be shared between the municipality and vendors.

“We paid a visit to that location where we will have it as an alternative on Hadfield Street. It’s in the design phase of the project to come up with a design of what we will put up or allow there and the kind of money we will spend and what the vendors will also spend…we will surely have it accommodated,” the mayor said.

The Square of the Revolution issue has remained a point of contention in recent months, with vendors arguing that relocation threatens their income.

Against this backdrop, the mayor assured them that the council is committed to finding a workable solution. He emphasised that vendors will be accommodated, signalling that the Hadfield Street project is intended to provide a structured and sustainable alternative as the city continues efforts to regularise vending activities.

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Two men from Corriverton were granted bail on Monday after being accused of firearm and ammunition possession.

Mark Matthews, a 23-year-old laborer, and Umeer Park, a 23-year-old businessman, both from Springlands, Corriverton, appeared before Magistrate Tuanna Hardy at the Whim Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

It was alleged that on April 16th, 2026, in Dukestown, Corriverton, Matthews, and Park possessed two black 9mm pistols with one round of ammunition.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the joint charges.

During court proceedings, the prosecution objected to bail, citing an incomplete case file that needed to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

Represented by Attorney Vinay Punwa, the defendants’ bail application was made.

Punwa asserted that his clients did not have the firearms and ammunition, explaining that officers had observed the weapons in the hands of individuals on a boat arriving from Suriname.

He acknowledged that his clients were present at the scene during the operation, but emphasised they were there by coincidence.

Punwa also informed the court that Park has a heart condition, supported by medical documentation.

Taking the lawyer’s request into account, Magistrate Hardy granted bail of $300,000 per person, with $250,000 for the firearms and $50,000 for the ammunition.

The men are scheduled to return to court on May 14th at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court for further proceedings.

According to a police statement, officers from the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU), acting on intelligence, responded on April 16th, 2026, around 16:00 hours, to Dukestown, Corriverton, near the sea walls. They searched two males—Park and Matthews—and found each holding a black box containing a ZORAKI 9mm pistol, with serial numbers A31ZR99YS03-2401246 and A31ZR99YS03-2401248, respectively, along with a single .23 round of ammunition.

The officers escorted the suspects, along with the weapons and ammunition, to the Springlands Police Station, where they were informed of the charges, placed in custody, and subsequently charged.

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After more than a decade of discussions spanning successive administrations, Guyana’s long-awaited law school is moving into implementation phase with procurement for key design and consultancy services set to begin next week.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall announced Tuesday night that advertisements inviting bids for a range of professional services related to the project will be published shortly by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

The procurement will cover detailed structural and architectural designs, engineering estimates, bills of quantities, tender documents, and supervision services for the construction of the facility, which is to be located at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen campus.

“This advertising… inviting bids for all of those services will be published next week,” Nandlall said during his weekly programme Issues in the News.

The development marks a significant milestone for a project that has been under discussion for several years, with previous efforts stalled under different administrations. The current government has committed to delivering the institution as part of its broader agenda to expand access to education and strengthen Guyana’s legal system.

Earlier this year, Nandlall told the National Assembly that construction of the law school will commence in 2026, backed by funding allocated in the national budget. The project forms part of the government’s $1.558 trillion fiscal plan.

The Attorney General noted that preliminary work has already been undertaken, including site clearing and preparatory planning.

Once completed, the law school will operate under the Council of Legal Education, the regional body responsible for Caribbean law schools, ensuring that it meets international standards and integrates into the existing regional legal education framework.

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The legislation to establish Guyana’s promised Development Bank is in its final stages and is expected to be presented to Parliament soon, Attorney General Anil Nandlall has confirmed.

Speaking Tuesday night on Issues in the News, Nandlall disclosed that the draft bill has already been completed and submitted to President Dr Irfaan Ali, who has since appointed a team of technical experts to review the document before it proceeds to the National Assembly.

“Once reviewed, it will swiftly go to Parliament, and it will be operationalised very shortly thereafter,” Nandlall said.

The Development Bank was first promised during the 2025 election campaign. It is intended to expand access to financing, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that often struggle to secure loans from traditional commercial banks.

According to Nandlall, the institution will be established through legislation that clearly defines its structure, governance, and operational framework, ensuring that it is not created “in an ad hoc way.”

The Attorney General explained that the model for the bank was developed after examining similar institutions in countries including Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Botswana, Nigeria, Finland, and Singapore, with elements from those systems adapted to suit Guyana’s needs.

Once operational, the bank will offer loans of up to $3 million without interest and without requiring collateral, targeting sectors such as agro-processing, small-scale manufacturing, and other entrepreneurial ventures.

“There will be no interest… and no collateral required as security,” Nandlall said, noting that the initiative is aimed at segments of the population that are currently underserved by the financial system.

The bank is expected to begin with an initial capital base of approximately US$100 million, forming part of a broader US$200 million government commitment.

In addition to direct lending, the institution will also partner with commercial banks to co-finance larger projects, allowing small businesses to access financing of up to $10 million under more favourable conditions.

The initiative is designed to address longstanding barriers to credit access in Guyana, particularly for entrepreneurs lacking traditional forms of security such as land titles or substantial assets.

Nandlall urged citizens to begin preparing to take advantage of the facility by developing business ideas and proposals, noting that while requirements will not be overly rigid, applicants will still need to meet basic standards of transparency and accountability.

“This will create jobs… and cause an economic expansion at a particular level of our society,” he said.

The bank is also expected to provide technical support, including assistance with proposal writing and business development, helping to improve the sustainability of small enterprises.

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Guyana Harpy Eagles pulled off a magnificent innings and 141-run win over Windward Islands Volcanoes, winning with a day to spare at the Antigua Recreation Ground in Round Two of the West Indies Four-Day Championship on Tuesday.

After conceding a massive lead of 340 on first innings, Volcanoes were bowled out for 199 in their second innings with Albion left-armers Gudakesh Motie and Veerasammy Permaul putting the Volcanoes in a spin.

Motie took 5-51, his ninth five-wicket haul in First-Class cricket, and Permaul bagged 4-20, with only opener Ackeem Auguste putting up any resistance with 91 off 139 balls.

Motie finished the game with figures of 6-55 to go with his match-haul of 10-119 in the first round.

The four-wicket haul was Permaul’s best returns of the season thus far, but his real impact came earlier in the day when he scored his eighth First-Class fifty, an unbeaten 82.

With Shamar Joseph and Nial Smith as company, Permaul led a Harpy Eagles batting surge that ended with a total of 491 in response to Volcanoes 151.

Resuming on 361-8, Harpy Eagles had a ninth wicket partnership of 74 between Permaul and Joseph, before Smith joined Permaul to add 86 for the final wicket.

Permaul faced 150 balls and struck nine fours and two sixes, while Joseph cracked 46 off 32 and Smith made 37 off 52. Smith had taken 5-36 in their first innings.

Harpy Eagles and Volcanoes clash in Round Three of the tournament starting April 26.

Below are the summarised scores from the other games 

Brathwaite and Wickham ton up against Scorpions’ at Sabina Park

SUMMARY: Jamaica Scorpions 457 all out from 103 overs (Kirk McKenzie 114, John Campbell 96, Javelle Glenn 65, Odean Smith 54, Brad Barnes 40; Shamar Springer 3-99, Johann Layne 2-67, Jomel Warrican 2-89, Roston Chase 2-92) vs Barbados Pride 460-5 from 125 overs (Kraigg Brathwaite 176*, Kevin Wickham 105, Jonathan Drakes 55, Shayne Moseley 53; Peat Salmon 4-100) Pride lead by three runs

Hurricanes take vital lead against Red Force at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium 

SUMMARY: Leeward Islands Hurricanes 131 all out from 39.3 overs (Karima Gore 57, Jeremiah Louis 19; Anderson Philip 6-38, Jayden Seales 3-33) and 130-7 from 47.3 overs (Mikyle Louis 73, Jahmar Hamilton 41; Jayden Seales 7-34) vs Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 175 all out from 60 overs (Jyd Goolie 51*, Joshua Da Silva 36; Kelvin Pitman 6-52, Oshane Thomas 3-52) Match declared a draw as pitch deemed to be dangerous

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A Berbice man wanted for allegedly shooting his former partner, 27-year-old Vasanti Gordon, multiple times, has decided to surrender to the authorities.

Region Six Police Regional Commander Shivpersaud Bacchus confirmed that on Monday at approximately 09:40 hours, Damon Morgan, 28, who hails from the 915 Fort Ordinance Housing Scheme in East Canje, Berbice, walked into the Central Police Station and turned himself in.

Upon his arrival, Morgan was informed about the charges against him and was subsequently taken into custody.

According to police reports, the incident occurred on April 11, 2026. At that time, Gordon was sitting in her car outside her home at Lot 2, Islington Village, East Bank Berbice, when Morgan approached her with a black handgun. He allegedly shot her multiple times in the legs, struck her on the head with the weapon, and made threats to take her life.

The Gordon was transported to New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, where she received a thorough assessment and examination. Medical staff discovered four puncture wounds on her right leg and thigh.

Morgan is likely to be facing legal charges for the incident.

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