Plans are underway for the construction of a new modern building to house the Central Immigration and Passport Office, as authorities move to expand services and improve comfort for the growing number of persons accessing the facility.
During an exclusive interview with the News Room on Thursday, Deputy Chief Immigration Officer Stephen Telford confirmed that discussion are ongoing for the construction of a new structure.
“I can tell you yes it’s coming soon and the structure is likely to be right within the same area…it is on stream,” Telford said.
The new structure, which is expected to be a four-storey state-of-the-art building, is intended to accommodate the increasing demand for passport and immigration services as Guyana continues to see growth in population movement and economic activity.
“We are living in modern times and as we change the place needs to expand because when you look at the passport office years ago there had to be some form of extension and then it continues to grow because so much persons are coming to Guyana and we have to accommodate them.
Comfort is one of the main thing when you come into a public service office,” Telford explained to the News Room.
The Central Immigration and Passport Office has operated from Camp Street, Georgetown since the early 1990s and serves as the main hub for passport applications and renewals.
There are also seven other passport office locations across the country.
Telford noted that while preparations continue for the new building, efforts have been made to improve the existing facility on Camp Street.
“We don’t have anything that is affecting the operation. We have mechanism in place to facilitate visitors,” he said.
According to Telford, once construction begins, a determination will have to be made whether operations can continue at the current Camp Street location or if temporary relocation will be necessary during the building phase.
He assured that the public will be informed of any changes.
A 70-year-old man and his wife is recovering from injuries after they were allegedly beaten by a foreign national, who they discovered in their Lusignan, East Coast Demerara yard early last Saturday.
Lakeram Bridgemohan, 70, and his wife, Sandra Bridgemohan, 63, were attacked around 06:30 hrs on May 2 after confronting a man they found inside their yard.
Recounting the ordeal to the News Room, Sandra said she and her husband woke up when Lakeram noticed a man in the yard.
She said she quickly changed her clothing and rushed outside, where she saw the suspect attempting to open the door of their car, which was parked in the yard.
“In the meantime while I was changing, my husband walked up to the car and said ‘get out the yard. What you doing in here? Get out the yard,’ not knowing the man had a wooden stick in his hand,” Sandra related.
According to Sandra, the suspect immediately began attacking her husband. “When I rush out he already had the stick squeezing my husband neck, bracing him on the car,” she said.
Sandra said she intervened and pushed the suspect away, but the suspect then turned on her and began striking her with the stick. During the confrontation, Lakeram tried to defend them. “He (Lakeram) turn back and push him (suspect) away,” Sandra said.
The suspect and Lakeram then became engaged in a fight as Sandra screamed for help and called out to her son, who lives in an apartment at the house. Neighbours later responded and helped restrain the suspect until police arrived.
“We tied him up and my daughter called the police. The police came and took him away,” Sandra explained.
The couple later went to the Police station and sought medical attention for their injuries. “We are elderly people, we are both diabetic and hypertensive and it was very difficult,” Sandra said.
She said she continues to experience pain from the attack. “I have a lot of pain, I still have swollen hands, both hands,” she said, adding that her husband suffered injuries to his head and ribs along with several bruises about his body.
“My husband just save me from getting the hit on my head,” Sandra told the News Room.
The suspect, who Sandra said is a Spanish speaker, was charged on Wednesday at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court with two counts of assault. He was remanded to prison and is scheduled to return to court on June 6.
Sandra noted that the investigation proved challenging because an interpreter was needed for the suspect.
She also stated that while there are several Spanish-speaking individuals living in the area, she had never seen the suspect before the incident.
Noor Cricket Youth Club (NCYC) of Canada began their Under-19 tour of Guyana on Wednesday, losing to hosts Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) in a T20 match.
Batting first after winning the toss, NCYC found the going tough, managing 56-8 from the allotted 20 overs. Opener Jatan Mehta was the lone batter into double figures, making 12 off 19 (1×4).
Bowling for GCC, Arun Gainda picked up 3-11 off his four overs, while fellow left-arm spinner Nathaniel Sukhnandan was frugal in his four-over spell, taking 1-9.
Skipper Dhanesh Persaud (1-10) and Balashankar Narine (1-11) were the other wicket-takers.
Player-of-the-Match Arun Gainda (right) receives his trophy from Assistant Coach of NCYC Aftab Shamsudeen (Photo: News Room/Avenash Ramzab/May 6, 2026)
Shiloh Adams and Shahid Ramzan then added 47 for the first wicket to effectively seal the game for GCC, with Adams the aggressor, hitting four fours in 28 off 27.
National youth players Ramzan (14*) and Trilok Nanan (06*) closed out the contest with Nanan scoring the winning runs, an authoritative pull for four as GCC won with 57 balls to spare.
Bhumesh Ramkissoon (1-6) was the lone wicket-taker for NCYC, whose tour continues on Thursday with a match against hosts Everest.
Gainda was named Player-of-the-Match for his three-wicket haul, while Adams was presented with a trophy for the highest individual score of the match.
Shiloh Adams gave GCC a flying start during the run-chase (Photo: News Room/Avenash Ramzab/May 6, 2026)
Coach Peter Persaud thanked NCYC for choosing GCC as a stop on their tour, and wished them well in the remaining matches.
Assistant Coach of NCYC Aftab Shamsudeen was elated to have his young charges play at such a historic venue, noting that the club is grateful for the opportunity to connect with ‘Bourda.’
The Canadians will also play Everest Cricket Club, Lusignan Sports Club, Albion Community Centre Cricket Club, Cotton Tree Cricket Club and Guyana Police Force cricket team.
NCYC has been a dominance force in the Canadian Commonwealth Cricket First Division League, securing back-to-back 40-over championships in 2024 and 2025.
PRESS RELEASE || Guyana’s Lennox Braithwaite placed second overall and captured the Bermuda Shield, while the Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) National Rifle Team finished second in the Short Range Team standings at the recently concluded West Indies Full Bore Shooting Championship, contested over three days in Antigua and Barbuda.
The 11-man squad, led by Captain Dylan Fields and Vice-Captain Leo Romalho, with Chief Wind Coach Mahendra Persaud, navigated tricky daily winds to post solid scores against competition from the home team, Barbados, Bermuda, England, Grenada, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
The host nation’s Laurne Benjamin took full advantage of familiar conditions to emerge as the top West Indian Individual shooter by the slimmest of margins, tallying 461 points and 31 V-Bulls, one point ahead of Braithwaite.
Fullbore Captain Dylan Fields claimed the bronze medal close behind in second; Fields (452.32) finished third and Roberto Tewari (450.32) placed fifth.
Sherwin Felicien ended 16th, Peter Persaud 20th, Leo Romalho 21st, Ryan Sampson 31st, the returning Mahendra Persaud after eight years 44th, Kayann Ghanie 47th (lone female competitor for Guyana) of 52 West Indian competitors.
USA-based Sigmund Douglas did not compete after the first day of the individual competition after sustaining a shoulder injury.
A huge achievement for the shooters from the ‘Land of Many Waters’ was the performance of 22-year-old Kyle Romalho, son of Fullbore Vice Captain Leo, who won the Tyro category (and the coveted Wogart Cup).
Such was his performance that he ended in the top 15 amongst the senior marksmen and women, the youngest to achieve this feat.
Kyle, who only began shooting three months ago, warmed to his first international championship and collected gold medals across most of his ranges and daily aggregates.
Several competitors, including members of the visiting England team complimented his steady composure and urged him to keep building on this promising start in the sport.
Former Captain Mahendra Persaud, who was amongst the best in the Caribbean, competed whilst still recovering from illness, displaying grit and determination.
Shooters from across the West Indies praised his fortitude and encouraged him to keep going.
In the West Indies Team Match, Antigua and Barbuda set the early pace at the opening range, but Guyana rallied at 500 yards to pull back some ground before ultimately falling short and ending with the silver medal, the home nation won gold.
Jamaica and Barbados rounded out the leading positions.
The GuyanaNRA is expressing thanks to the sponsors who made the trip possible: Patron of the Association President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, National Sports Commission, the Guyana Olympic Association, Crown Mining Supplies, Secure Innovation Concept Inc., Queensway Security, Industrial Safety Supplies Inc., Sterling Products Ltd., Citizens Bank and the Continental Group of Companies.
The Association is also extending thanks to GuyanaNRA President Brig. Omar Khan for his continued support and words of encouragement ahead of the squad’s departure.
Appreciation is also being expressed to LIAT for its service and support, and the Guyana Revenue Authority Customs Division for its assistance.
The battle lines have been drawn and it’s all to play for when the semi-finals of the inaugural Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s East Bank Inter-Village Football Tournament are contested on Thursday night at the Eccles EE Ground.
Organised by Sports Extra, this tournament has rekindled the competitive flame of football on the East Bank with the final four now in the mix having commenced with 12 villages.
Grove, led by their captain Domini Garnett, who has scored in all three of their matches so far and has six goals, the most by any player, will put all on the line when they face Agricola in Thursday’s first semi.
Grove has been clinical in their matches to date, defeating Circuitville (7-2), Upper Soesdyke (2-0), and Kaneville (3-0) and will be aiming to maintain this record against Agricola which did not have such an easy time reaching this stage.
The Agricola lads suffered a 1-3 loss in their opening match at the hands of Kuru Kururu but rebounded to beat Mocha by a similar scoreline before moving on to win an epic clash against Swan in their quarter-final, 5-3 in extra time.
The task at hand for both villages would be victory which is the only pathway forward.
Garnett will depend on the Padmore siblings- Kevin Jr. and Devon- Rayfield Hilliman, Akeem Jarvis, and Jamal Cordis to secure a place in Saturday’s final.
Agricola’s charge for a similar result will center around the likes of Shemar Sampson, Demanie Cort, Jamal Fiffe, Solomon Austin, Samuel Garnett, and Dennis Alexander who have all registered goals for their village.
Herstelling’s scorers from the penalty mark. From right: Malcolm Hendricks, Candel Hazel, Jose Vasquez and Andri Gomez
Thursday night feature game will see Kuru Kururu, boasting a record of three wins in as many matches coming up against a determined Herstelling side.
The Soesdyke Linden Highway based Kuru Kururu team have won against some of the more seasoned villages in Agricola, Mocha (2-1) and Upper Soesdyke by a similar score.
They will want to preserve this run and will depend on their most experienced player and leading scorer, Mervin ‘Munro’ Joseph who has scored a goal in each of their wins so far.
He will hope to get support from Leroy Evans, Kevin Scott and Seith Adams, among others.
Herstelling started their campaign on a high when they blanked Lower Soesdyke 2-0, but was jolted in their next game by Swan 1-4 before rebounding to upstage Timehri on Tuesday night 4-0 via kicks from the penalty mark after a 0-0 stalemate in regulation and extra time, will fancy their chances of booking a place in the final.
They have been putting in the work and have been seeing positive results.
They will now have to step it up another notch in order to be in the final and will turn to their Captain Jonathan, Malcolm Hendricks, Johenni Mendoza, Candel Hazel, Jose Vasquez, Jesus Perez, Eleaezer Vandez and Andri Gomez to deliver another win and place in the championship match.
Fans are encouraged to come out and support their teams as admission is free.
Organiser, Sports Extra is expressing gratitude to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Housing, National Sports Commission, Bounty Farm Ltd., Fitness Express, Star Rentals, Trophy Stall, NAMILCO and Republic Bank for their partnership which has made this tournament possible.
Guyanese all-rounder Quentin Sampson has been retained as the Breakout Player by the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the Caribbean Premier League 2026.
Sampson was the Breakout Player of CPL 2025, displaying consistency and match-winning impact in his debut season. In eight matches, he scored 241 runs at an average of 40.16 and a strike rate of 153, including a career-best 76.
His retention by the Warriors came as no surprise, given his tremendous performances, which later secured him a spot on the West Indies T20 team earlier this year.
Quentin Sampson receives his prize from CEO of Cricket West Indies, Chris Dehring
Below is a press release issued by CPL on the mandatory pre-draft Breakout Player retentions
Ahead of the highly anticipated Caribbean Premier League Draft, all six franchises have confirmed their mandatory pre-draft Breakout Player retentions, locking in a group of emerging Caribbean stars who represent the next generation of regional cricket excellence.
Under the CPL’s player draft and acquisition regulations for the 2026 season, each franchise was permitted to retain one player ahead of the draft, with that player required to be selected from the team’s Breakout Player category.
The retained players – Joshua James, Ramon Simmonds, Quentin Sampson, Navin Bidaisee, Ackeem Auguste and Nathan Edward – have each earned recognition for their performances, potential, and growing impact across Caribbean cricket.
The six retained Breakout Players are:
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons- Joshua James
Barbados Royals- Ramon Simmonds
Guyana Amazon Warriors- Quentin Sampson
St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots- Navin Bidaisee
St. Lucia Kings- Ackeem Auguste
Trinbago Knight Riders- Nathan Edward
Each franchise will name a total of three Breakout Players in their final squad for the 2026 season, reinforcing the CPL’s continued commitment to developing emerging Caribbean talent and providing young players with opportunities on the region’s biggest cricketing stage.
As part of the tournament regulations, every team will also be required to field at least one Breakout Player in every match throughout the season.
With only one pre-draft retention allowed- and that retention reserved exclusively for a Breakout Player- the remaining squad positions for all six teams will now be filled during the CPL Draft, setting the stage for one of the most competitive and exciting player selections in league history.
The Caribbean Premier League continues to serve as the premier platform for Caribbean cricket, combining elite entertainment with a proven pathway for the next generation of players to develop and succeed on the global stage.
The Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown have issued a public notice reminding citizens that parking on pavements across the city is strictly prohibited.
According to the notice, pavements are intended for pedestrian use, including persons with disabilities, children and the elderly. The council said vehicles parked on sidewalks create obstructions and safety hazards by forcing pedestrians onto busy roadways.
City Hall also cited provisions under the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, Sections 9 and 10, which prohibit persons from driving or placing vehicles and other objects on pavements and footpaths. The legislation outlines that sidewalks are to remain clear for public use and safety.
The council is urging motorists to cooperate and comply with the law by parking responsibly in a manner that is safe for both vehicle owners and pedestrians.
Officials said adherence to the regulations is necessary to improve public safety and accessibility throughout Georgetown.
Almost six years after the tragic deaths of Isaiah Henry and Joel Henry, two men will soon stand trial in the Berbice High Court.
On Wednesday, the courtroom was virtually alive with anticipation as Anil Sancharra, known as “Dan pole” and “Rasta,” of D’ Edward Village, West Coast Berbice, and 30-year-old Vinod Gopaul, nicknamed “Magga” from Yakusari, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, appeared before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall.
The court hearing revealed two counts of murder for each defendant, accusing them of the brutal murders of Joel and Isaiah between September 5 and 6, 2020, in Berbice.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
State Prosecutor Marisa Edwards announced plans to call 45 witnesses, including 16 police officers and Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh, to build the case.
A 12-member jury was selected to listen to the evidence and determine the defendants’ guilt or innocence.
Represented by Dr. Dexter Todd’s Associates law firm, Sancharra and Gopaul face a challenging trial ahead.
The proceedings will continue on Thursday, with several witnesses expected to testify, bringing the case one step closer to justice for the victims.
Chris Green believes his local knowledge could be a huge advantage for the Desert Vipers in this year’s ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL).
The off-spinning all-rounder, who has been appointed Vipers captain for the tournament, has eight years of playing experience in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
And that includes three years with the Guyana Amazon Warriors at Providence Stadium, the home of the GSL in July and August.
Speaking to the Vipers Voices podcast, Green offered his thoughts on the conditions expected when he said: “I think New Zealand are playing five one-day games there before us against the West Indies so I think it will be a very used square, typically dry.
“For night games (at Providence), they become toss dependent. It is important to bowl first, bowl well, and then, typically, the dew comes in, making it somewhat easier to bat (in those conditions, with less swing and a damp ball that becomes hard for the spin bowlers to grip).
“Spin plays a huge part of the game, particularly through the middle overs. For the stats people out there, you look at overs seven to 14 or 15 in the Caribbean T20 tournaments and domestic cricket and it is usually when the game comes to a standstill and spinners take over.
The power play and backend (of the inning), because of the power they (West Indies players) possess and the attacking nature of the game, that is where the huge spikes in run-rate come with boundaries and sixes.
“Every now and again there are those 220-240 run wickets there (in Guyana). For day games it is hot and the conditions are very sweaty. I am hoping there is no rain, we get uninterrupted cricket and we can entertain the crowds that are there and the fans following along from afar as well.”
Desert Vipers come to GSL on the back of winning the ILT20 for the first time this year (Photo: CREIMAS/ILT20)
And what about swing for the faster bowlers? Green said it was always a possibility given conditions in Guyana, whether matches were played during the day or at night.
“Even in the day, because of the humidity in the Caribbean (the new ball tends to swing, in my experience),” he said.
“Even as an off-spinner a lot of my arm balls move a lot more in the air. It happens during the day and particularly during the night – the ball does definitely swing.
“Having Jason Behrendorff and Ramon Simmonds, those two left-handers who utilise it (swing), plus a number of others will be a huge, huge help for us, to impact the game at different stages.
“So, hopefully it swings, hopefully it spins and hopefully balls get whacked out of the park (by us) as well.”
Green added that having the trio of swing and seam bowlers from the UAE, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Sanjay Pahal and Matiullah Khan, could prove to be highly effective in the GSL.
“That trio of local (UAE) players are guys that I have not come across yet or played with or against and that is something that I am really looking forward to,” Green said.
“One of the huge positives of playing global T20 tournaments is you get to meet so many different people with so many diverse backgrounds and stories. Everyone has their (own) individual story of how they got there, why they are there and what they are playing for.
“Those guys are playing some great cricket that I have been following through socials and cricket websites. I am really excited to see their skill sets up close and personal, and hopefully they can impact the game like they have been doing for the Vipers over the last season.”
And what about the team’s prospects in what promises to be a cut-throat tournament also featuring the hosts and defending champions the Guyana Amazon Warriors, the Lahore Qalanders from the Pakistan Super League, the Perth Scorchers from Australia’s Big Bash League and the San Francisco Unicorns from Major League Cricket in the United States of America?
“I think (we should be) incredibly optimistic,” Green said. “Looking at our squad, I think we have got a really good, balanced group.
“You look at our top-order batters and power batters at that top and in the middle-order and what they can do. I think we have got a good group of middle-order and lower-order players that can navigate spin and hit, and get us to big and formidable totals, whatever they may be. In Guyana, that could be 120, it could be 180, it could be 200-plus.
“And then I think we have got a really good mix of fast bowlers, skilful bowlers, and obviously spin bowlers that complement each other well. So (in one sense) my job is going to be very difficult trying to figure out who is best to use at different times. And (Head Coach) Azhar (Mahmood) and myself and the management have got probably a really tough job to pick our best 11 as well.
“But you need that competition for spots. So, I think anytime that is in the scenario, then there is an excitement about it. And I think also looking through that list, we have got good people as well.
“So, hopefully you will see us playing with smiles on our faces, hopefully see us winning more games than not. And that means you will hopefully see us in a final at the end of it with a crack at winning another trophy for the Vipers, because that is the ultimate goal.” (Desert Vipers)
Desert Vipers Squad for GSL2026: Chris Green (AUS) – Captain, Jason Behrendorff (AUS), Daryl Mitchell (NZ), Bevon Jacobs (NZ), Shadab Khan (PAK), Vriitya Aravind (UAE), Khuzaima Bin Tanveer (UAE) , Matiullah Khan (UAE), Sanjay Pahal (UAE), Andries Gous (USA), Kyle Mayers (WI), Khary Pierre (WI), Ramon Simmonds (WI) and Zachary Carter (WI)
“ Catches win matches” is probably one of the oldest and most overused clichés in cricket. But it couldn’t have been truer on Wednesday. Punjab Kings (PBKS) dropped three catches and missed a stumping; Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) dropped two but held onto most of the important ones.
The final result? SRH, despite a maiden Cooper Connolly century, marched on to defeat PBKS by 33 runs and displace them at the top of the points table.
Travis Head (38 off 19) and Abhishek Sharma (35 off 13) got SRH off to a flying start. Heinrich Klaasen (69 off 43) and Ishan Kishan (55 off 32) made use of the missed chances, smashing quick fifties, while fit-again Nitish Kumar Reddy provided the finishing touch with 29 not out off 13 as SRH finished on 235 for 4.
SRH had never lost defending a 220-plus target in the IPL and that stat remained intact. Connolly – who had two lives – smashed his maiden century in any format, finishing unbeaten on 107 off 59 balls, but got little support from the rest as PBKS were handed a third straight defeat.
With the win, SRH are now leading the table with 14 points, while PBKS remain on 13. (ESPNcricinfo )
