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The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) has bolstered its administrative capacity following the donation of a laptop from the Pele FC Alumni Corp.

The equipment is designed to enhance the federation’s efficiency in coordinating and hosting national competitions.

During the presentation, Pele FC Alumni representative Adrian Murray handed over the device to GAPLF President Franklin Wilson, noting the group’s longstanding support for the sport.

Murray emphasised that administrative soundness is a vital pillar for athletic success and expressed the group’s hesitation-free commitment to assisting the federation in maintaining its high performance for the nation.

In response, Wilson expressed gratitude for the continued confidence shown in the sport. He noted that the executive team, which received a new mandate a few months ago, is focused on upscaling equipment to ensure progressive growth and operational efficiency.

The donation comes at a busy period for the GAPLF. Following a successful Novice Championship in March, the federation is currently organising the Intermediate and Masters Championships, scheduled for June 28 at a venue to be announced. A fundraising activity is also slated for that date.

Beyond local events, the federation is aligning with the International Powerlifting Federation mandates, specifically the requirement that accredited coaches accompany national teams and the requirement that trained female personnel be assigned to female athletes during international travel. Work is also underway on a robust revitalisation plan to re-engage athletes and gyms across various regions.

Looking ahead to the international calendar, the GAPLF is targeting participation in the South American Bench Press and Powerlifting Championships in Chile and the Commonwealth Championships in Canada, both scheduled for September.

The post Guyana Powerlifting Federation boosted by Pele FC Alumni laptop donation appeared first on News Room Guyana.

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, on Tuesday (May 12, 2026), met with a group of former A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Members of Parliament and current Regional Councillors at their request.

Those attending the meeting included former Members of Parliament Rickly Ramsaroop, Shurwayne Holder and Dinesh Jaiprashad, along with current Regional Councillors Ravoldo Birbal, Sheik Yaseen, Prince Holder and Gangadai Lloyd.

During the meeting, the group expressed to the General Secretary a desire to be associated with the People’s Progressive Party and to contribute meaningfully to Guyana’s ongoing development, while serving the interests of the Guyanese people, as the country advances along an unprecedented path of economic growth and modernisation.

The group praised the Party’s stewardship of the economy, inclusive approach to governance, and the scale of transformation taking place across the country. They noted that the PPP has demonstrated the leadership, capacity and technical expertise required to effectively manage the country, sustain growth, and improve the welfare of every Guyanese, regardless of race, religion, or any other differentiating factor.

The group also described the Party’s openness as welcoming and contrasted the current political atmosphere with their previous experiences. They observed that the Party’s manifesto outlines plans that have been, and continue to be, vigorously pursued, resulting in tangible improvements in the lives of Guyanese and communities across the country.

The General Secretary indicated that the PPP is a Party of inclusion that works for all Guyanese, and therefore welcomed the interest expressed by the group. The PPP reaffirms that the Party’s focus remains on strengthening national cohesion, expanding opportunities for citizens, and ensuring that the benefits of development reach all Guyanese.

 [Press Release]

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United States Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar has issued a forceful statement in support of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, directly challenging Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez over their continued threats to Guyana’s territorial sovereignty.

Congresswoman Salazar, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs, delivered the rebuke via social media, warning that attempts to manipulate or deceive President Donald Trump over the border controversy would not succeed. She drew a sharp contrast between the governance records of Venezuela and Guyana, asserting that Guyana had managed its oil wealth responsibly — establishing a sovereign wealth fund and achieving remarkable economic growth, with GDP per capita reportedly quadrupling over a five-year period.

“Delcy should stop threatening Guyana and start learning from it,” Congresswoman Salazar stated, in what amounts to one of the most direct expressions of U.S. Congressional support for Georgetown in the ongoing border controversy.

The Congresswoman’s remarks come amid sustained Venezuelan pressure on Guyana’s internationally recognised borders, including Venezuela’s egregious claim over Essequibo, which comprises approximately two-thirds of Guyana’s land territory. The matter is currently the subject of proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with Guyana asserting the full force of international law in defence of its borders.

Salazar’s intervention carries significant institutional weight. As Chair of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs, she holds direct oversight responsibility for U.S. foreign policy in the Caribbean and Latin America, and her public alignment with Guyana signals continued bipartisan support in Washington for the country’s territorial integrity.

Guyana has consistently maintained that the boundary between the two nations was definitively settled by the 1899 Arbitral Award, a position upheld by successive governments and supported by the international community. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has continued to pursue resolution through lawful multilateral channels.

 

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The post Top Republican in U.S. Congress Slams Delcy Rodriguez’s comments at the ICJ, Condemns Venezuelan Territorial Threats appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Residents of Alexander Village are expected to benefit from improved drainage with the installation of a second pump in the community.

The pump was installed based on instructions from President Irfaan Ali amid ongoing flooding concerns in low-lying areas of Georgetown.

During a visit to the River View pump station on Tuesday afternoon, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha said Alexander Village and Queenstown remain among the most vulnerable communities during heavy rainfall because water accumulates there “much faster” than in other parts of the city.

However, he noted that unlike Queenstown, water in Alexander Village was slow to recede on Tuesday morning when President Ali and a team toured the area.

“In Alexander Village, this morning when the President and the team visited, the water was building up.

 “So the President instructed that we move another pump and bring it here and…the pump is here, it’s operable, the sluice door is open now. As soon as the sluice door close both pumps here will be operable,” Mustapha said.

According to Mustapha, the new pump will remain in the community, bringing the total number of pumps in Alexander Village to two.

“This area here is very vulnerable and is prone to flooding so we are hoping that this would ease the situation a lot,” he said.

The additional pump increases Georgetown’s total pumping capacity to 16 pumps, all of which are currently functioning.

According to Mustapha, several low-lying communities in and around Georgetown that experienced flooding earlier in the day had already seen significant improvements by Tuesday afternoon.

“Around low-lying areas in Georgetown almost all the areas now are clear. Those areas are dry and I am hoping that the pumping capacity in Georgetown will increase because we are looking now to beef up other areas,” he said.

The Agriculture Minister also disclosed that authorities are looking to strengthen pumping operations at Cowan Street, noting that the pump there was not activated by the Mayor and City Council despite flooding on Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, with more rainfall expected later this week, Mustapha said the government is continuing preparedness efforts nationwide.

“When we look around the country the rain has eased off but also the Hydromet Office warned that we will have more rainfall closer to the weekend so we are continuing doing all the preparatory work,” he explained.

He added that drainage systems across Georgetown and other regions have improved significantly due to ongoing interventions.

“Because of the work done water accumulated in these areas are now for less time. We are draining the city faster and we are having better drainage system around the country,” Mustapha said.

Mustapha further revealed that Guyana now has 217 pumps across the country, with additional units recently acquired to be deployed wherever flooding challenges arise.

The post Second pump added to Alexander Village to boost G/town drainage system appeared first on News Room Guyana.

See below the full press statement from the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C): 

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, on Tuesday (May 12, 2026), met with a group of former A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Members of Parliament and current Regional Councillors at their request.

Those attending the meeting included former Members of Parliament Rickly Ramsaroop, Shurwayne Holder and Dinesh Jaiprashad, along with current Regional Councillors Ravoldo Birbal, Sheik Yaseen, Prince Holder and Gangadai Lloyd.

During the meeting, the group expressed to the General Secretary a desire to be associated with the People’s Progressive Party and to contribute meaningfully to Guyana’s ongoing development, while serving the interests of the Guyanese people, as the country advances along an unprecedented path of economic growth and modernisation.

The group praised the Party’s stewardship of the economy, inclusive approach to governance, and the scale of transformation taking place across the country. They noted that the PPP has demonstrated the leadership, capacity and technical expertise required to effectively manage the country, sustain growth, and improve the welfare of every Guyanese, regardless of race, religion, or any other differentiating factor.

The group also described the Party’s openness as welcoming and contrasted the current political atmosphere with their previous experiences. They observed that the Party’s manifesto outlines plans that have been, and continue to be, vigorously pursued, resulting in tangible improvements in the lives of Guyanese and communities across the country.

The General Secretary indicated that the PPP is a Party of inclusion that works for all Guyanese, and therefore welcomed the interest expressed by the group.

The PPP reaffirms that the Party’s focus remains on strengthening national cohesion, expanding opportunities for citizens, and ensuring that the benefits of development reach all Guyanese.

The post APNU group meets Jagdeo, interested in PPP’s plans for Guyana appeared first on News Room Guyana.

A taxi driver passed away early Tuesday morning after being stabbed multiple times and then crashing.

The deceased has been identified as Oswain Lawson, a 42-year-old resident of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

The News Room understands that Lawson had an argument with a 21-year-old man at a shop located on the Edinburgh Public Road, Berbice. Lawson was reportedly stabbed several times in the right side of his chest during the argument.

It is reported that around 01:30 hours Tuesday, after being attacked and while driving car HD 8644 along the Edinburgh road, Lawson then lost control of the vehicle while driving at a fast rate. He collided with a structure in the eastern grass area before ending up in a nearby canal, where the car sank.

Public-spirited citizens pulled Lawson from the car while he was unconscious and took him to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where a doctor pronounced him dead. Police confirmed that there were multiple wounds found on Lawson’s body.

Reports indicate that a 21-year-old male contractor has been taken into custody for questioning regarding Lawson’s stabbing.

Police are continuing their investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the stabbing of Lawson.

The post Taxi driver, 42, allegedly murdered  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Foreign cannabis, worth about $7.5 million, was seized during a Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) operation at Backstreet Grove, East Bank Demerara.

Acting on intelligence received, officers intercepted a male suspect carrying a container, in which fifteen brick-like parcels of foreign cannabis, commonly known as “poppy” or “creepy,” were discovered.

Denzel Crawford, 27, of Grove Housing Scheme, was arrested on Monday and escorted to CANU Headquarters along with the narcotics, which weighed 10.760 kilogrammes.

Authorities say this type of cannabis being imported into Guyana carries a significantly high THC content and fetches a premium price in the local market.

Investigations are ongoing.

The post Foreign ganja worth $7.5 million seized along East Bank  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

See below full release from Republic Bank: 

Following its massive mortgage announcement in February 2026 of 5% for loans up to 60 million in February 2026 Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited is again proud to announce the Republic Mortgage Move. This is another strategic update to its residential mortgage offerings to ensure access to finance and affordable low and middle income housing for all Guyanese.

The new Republic Mortgage Move enables customers at other banks who have existing residential mortgages between GYD$20 million to GYD$40 million to move their mortgages to Republic Bank to benefit from better rate of 4.70% and access additional financing for home improvements, expansion or other needs.  

In addition, Republic Bank has no lending ceiling for residential mortgages which means that there is no limit to the amount Guyanese can borrow, giving them greater flexibility to borrow on their individual needs and qualifications.

Republic’s highly competitive offerings for Republic Mortgage Move seek to meet the evolving needs of Guyanese across all segments at the low, middle and high income segments:

• 3.50% for amounts up to GYD$9 million
• 4.25% for amounts over GYD$9 million and up to GYD$20 million
• 4.70% for amounts over GYD$20 million and up to GYD$40 million
• 5% for amounts over GYD$40 million and up to GYD$60 million

Additional benefits include:

• Up to 100% financing
• Zero negotiation and attorney fees. 
• Extended repayment terms tailored to your needs
• Monthly amortized payments
• Online application and document submission.

Republic Bank remains committed to providing strategic, affordable and customer-focused solutions that help more Guyanese invest in their homes with greater ease and flexibility.

The post Republic Bank introduces new ‘mortgage move’ initiative  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Members of the public will be able to access information from the soon-to-be established sex offenders’ registry through a formal request system, as the government moves closer to implementing amendments to the country’s sexual offences legislation.

The clarification was provided by Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, on Monday during the ministry’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month Symposium.

Guyana is currently in the final stages of implementing the National Sex Offenders’ Registry through the Sexual Offences Amendment Bill of 2024.
This registry is a database used to track individuals convicted of sex-related crimes to improve public safety and monitor offenders.

Addressing concerns about public access to the registry, Dr Persaud explained that while the database will not be openly available online for unrestricted browsing, citizens will still have the right to request information from the Commissioner of Police.
“So to clarify it, the register will be in the custody of the Police Commissioner, and if you would like information from that register, it’s the simple way of writing to ask for that information, which will be provided.

“It’s not that it would be closed to the public and held away from the public. The repository is within the office of the Commissioner of Police,” Dr Persaud explained at the symposium held at Duke Lodge, Georgetown.

She further stated that the system is intended to ensure responsible public access while protecting the integrity of sensitive information.

“It will be accessible to the public, but it is not that the entire register will be up there and people can scroll through at their leisure, but you can definitely request information,” Dr Persaud said.

STARK STATISTICS

At the symposium, statistics were also shared showing that children and young women continue to be the primary victims of sexual violence in Guyana.

According to Dr. Cona Husbands, Manager of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit, the Guyana Police Force receives an average of 206 rape reports annually. Although there was a seven per cent reduction in reported rape cases in 2025 compared to 2024, the figures have remained relatively consistent over the years.

“And over the past five years, it has been steady. 2021, we saw a slight increase to 262 but for the majority, it has always been around 200,” Dr. Husbands explained.

Region Three recorded the highest number of rape reports over the five-year period with 253 cases, followed by Region Six with 243.

“These two regions together account for over 60 percent of the cases in the country,” Dr Husbands revealed.

Region Six consistently recorded high numbers throughout the years, peaking at 74 cases in 2024, while Region Three steadily increased and reached its highest level of 72 cases in 2025.

Meanwhile, January and October were identified as the months when the highest number of reports is typically made.

The report also found that 94 per cent of victims of sexual violence are females, while males account for 5.5 per cent .She further revealed that most sexual violence cases reported in 2025 involved victims under the age of 18 years old.

Dr. Husbands stressed that sexual violence extends beyond rape and includes sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual exploitation.

“Most of the cases involved sexual assault and most of these cases again were under the age of 18 years old…and the majority of the victims were students and family members, accounting for almost half of the perpetrators,” Dr. Husbands stated.

The ministry also observed increasing reports from indigenous communities, particularly in Regions Seven, Eight, and Nine.

Looking ahead, Dr. Husbands said the ministry plans to establish more safe spaces for reporting, counselling, and support services, train more than 500 additional police officers, and begin research and community assessments in sexual violence hotspots.

In a separate presentation focusing on children, Director of the Child Protection Agency, Levine Gouveia, said sexual abuse cases involving minors have remained persistently high throughout the reporting period.

“Girls accounted for the majority of reported victims annually. Adolescent girls in particular remain the most vulnerable group,” Gouveia said.

According to her, girls between the ages of 14 and 18 recorded the highest number of reported cases, while girls between the ages of 8 and 13 were the second most affected group.

“Notably, 77.1 per cent of children below the age of 18 years are victims of child sexual abuse,” she revealed.

Gouveia noted that while boys account for a smaller share of cases, their experiences should not be overlooked.

“Their victimisation must not be overlooked in prevention and responsive planning,” she stressed.

Region Four consistently recorded the highest number of reported child sexual abuse cases, followed by Regions Three and Six.

However, Gouveia cautioned that lower figures in hinterland regions should not be interpreted as fewer incidents of abuse, noting that barriers to reporting and limited access to services remain major challenges in remote communities.

“Oftentimes the perpetrators are persons within the communities. What we often find is that those perpetrators are persons from positions of trust…but the ministry is doing everything in its power to reach those remote communities,” she said.

The post Public can access sex offenders’ registry through requests appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Guyana’s reigning Elite League champions, Slingerz Football Club, continued their preparations for the upcoming Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Shield tournament with a commanding 6-1 victory over a Blueberry Hill/Alleys/Valleys/Christianburg combination team on Saturday evening at the Bayroc National Stadium in Linden.

Despite the emphatic scoreline, Slingerz FC Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz made it clear after the match that the outing was never about the result, but rather the continued development of the team’s tactical approach and overall match fitness ahead of July’s regional assignment in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Linden combination side earned the opportunity to face Slingerz FC after emerging champions of the recently concluded Linden Town Week Football Tournament, and scores of fans turned out despite intermittent showers to witness the contest featuring several of Linden’s top players against one of Guyana’s premier clubs.

The visitors wasted little time asserting themselves, with Elite League MVP Darron Niles producing a clinical double to lead the attack.

The remaining goals came from Solomon Austin, Kemar Beckford, and Curtez Kellman, while an own goal rounded off Slingerz FC’s tally on the night.

While pleased with aspects of the performance, Shabazz stressed that the focus remains firmly on preparation rather than results at this stage of the season.

“The match wasn’t about the result. Of course, as a club, you want to win every time you step on the pitch, regardless if it’s a practice match or not, but for Slingerz FC, it was about using the game to implement and work on our playing style, getting the players match-ready,” Shabazz explained.

According to the experienced coach, the club had resumed training shortly following the conclusion of the GFF Elite League Cup and is now placing heavy emphasis on sharpening the squad physically and tactically ahead of regional competition.

Shabazz noted that the technical staff is carefully managing the players’ workload while gradually increasing the intensity of sessions to ensure the team peaks at the right time for the CFU Club Shield.

He also revealed that Slingerz FC intends to engage in additional pre-season matches, both locally and regionally, as part of the club’s build-up to the prestigious Caribbean tournament.

With just over a month remaining before the Club Shield kicks off, Shabazz noted, that Saturday’s dominant performance offered supporters in Linden an encouraging glimpse of a Slingerz FC side determined to represent Guyana strongly on the regional stage. (PRESS RELEASE) 

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