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President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali on Sunday commissioned the Guyana–China Friendship Park on the West Bank Demerara, a contemporary public space reflecting the enduring friendship and expanding cooperation between Guyana and China.

The upgraded park, formerly known as the Joe Veira Park, has been transformed into a multifunctional space featuring a lotus pond, a pavilion, a football field, basketball and tennis courts, jogging areas and a children’s play zone. Additional amenities include an open-air theatre, outdoor trampoline and accessible washroom facilities.

The park was funded through a US$10.8 million grant from China and adds to a growing list of bilateral initiatives spanning infrastructure, health, agriculture and education.

For decades, it was a wide-open field where families came to fly kites at Easter. The upgraded park, which stands on lands once part of Plantation Meerzorg, was originally gifted to the State by the late Joseph Rudolph Vera and declared a public space in 1982.

In his feature address, President Ali traced the historical roots of Guyana–China ties to the arrival of Chinese immigrants in 1853, highlighting their contribution to the country’s social and economic development.

President Ali said the location of the park is fitting, “for it is on this very site, watered by the labour and sacrifice of those first indentured souls, that the human thread of connection between our two peoples was first woven.”

He noted that cooperation between Guyana and China has expanded over the decades to include infrastructure development, health, education, agriculture, and culture, with Chinese-supported projects playing a visible role in the country’s ongoing transformation.

The facility blends elements of Chinese architectural design with Guyana’s natural landscape, offering a space for public use while symbolising the enduring ties between the two countries. The central feature of the park design is a Guyana/China friendship monument which commemorates the long and ongoing friendship between Guyana and China.

“This friendship park stands as a milestone on a road we are walking together into a future bright shared achievement,” President Ali said. “May it endure for generations and may it forever stand as a monument to cooperation and relation between Guyana and the People’s Republic of China.”

President Ali called on citizens to care for the park, promoting its use and maintenance to keep it an active and important public space for future generations.

The president reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to the One-China policy, describing it as a central pillar of the country’s foreign relations and a reflection of mutual respect and trust between the two nations.

Ambassador to Guyana, Ying Yang, highlighted the shared people-focused approach of the two nations as seen in the park’s design.

“Today, this park stands as a tribute of the Chinese Government to Guyana’s 60th anniversary and a celebration of our long-lasting and strong friendship,” she stated.

Regional Chairman, Inshan Ayube, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Protected Areas Commission (PAC), Robert Persaud, Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar and a representative from the contracting company delivered remarks at the ceremony.

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The village of St Cuthbert’s Mission was plunged into mourning on Sunday after two teenagers died in separate incidents just hours apart, sending shockwaves through the close-knit Indigenous community.

Residents awoke at around 5:00 hrs to news that 18-year-old Raj Henry had died by suicide. The discovery was made at his family’s home by relatives, including cousins. Villagers said there was a social gathering during the night.

Hours later, grief deepened when word reached the community that 19-year-old Mark Ferreira had died by drowning at a gold mining backdam in the Cuyuni area in Region Seven.

The deaths of the two young men, both on the cusp of adulthood, have left families, friends and residents struggling to come to terms with the loss.

Toshao Alvoro Simon, in a message to the village, described the day as one of the most difficult he has faced as a community leader.

“As night falls on one of the saddest days in our community, let us pray for all those persons affected by these passing. Let’s remember their parents, siblings and other family members who is going to bed with this heartbreak that cannot be explained,” he said.

He reflected on the unfulfilled promise of the two young men.

“Mark and Raj, two young guys about to start their adulthood, I’m sure had great plans for their future. We will never see them accomplish those dreams. But we will remember them for as long as we are alive.”

The Toshao urged residents to honour the memory of the teenagers by observing a period of quiet reflection.

“I ask the entire community to show respect by not playing loud music for the rest of the week – this means no clubbing,” he said, adding that the measure would be enforced with support from police in the community.

“Mark and Raj, we will miss you both a lot, but we will cherish every moment we spent with you both,” he added.

Authorities are expected to conduct investigations into both incidents.

If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available through local health services and trusted community members.

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A 56-year-old man of Pineapple Street and Front Road, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown is critical at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after a gas cylinder allegedly exploded on Sunday morning.

According to a police report, at about 02:32h, the man, a realtor whose name was given as Alleyne and his family were at home when his wife woke up and noticed the smell of what appeared to be gas. She alerted him and he went into the yard to make checks on the premises, where a 100-pound gas cylinder was installed.

About two minutes later, a loud explosion was heard, followed by screams.

Police said the eastern side of the building reportedly collapsed and caught fire. Public-spirited citizens responded and assisted the family, after which the injured man was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

The Guyana Fire Service responded to the scene and extinguished the blaze. The scene was later processed by ranks and CCTV cameras in the area were observed and are to be viewed as part of the investigation.

Investigations are ongoing.

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A 27-year-old labourer of Hand-en-Veldt, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was on Sunday killed after he crashed into a motorcar on the Enmore public road.

Police said enquiries revealed Keshon Arthur was driving motor car PAB 1013 when it is alleged he overtook several vehicles before crashing into motor car PAM 3828, driven by a 33-year-old Police Sergeant of Belmont, Mahaica, ECD.

The Police Sergeant alleged that he swerved to avoid a collision but despite his efforts, motor car PAB 1013 collided with the right-side front of his vehicle.

As a result of the collision, both drivers received injuries about their bodies and were assisted by public-spirited citizens and Emergency Medical Technicians, who removed them from their vehicles and escorted them to the Enmore Regional Hospital, where they were seen and examined by a doctor on duty.

Arthur was pronounced dead on arrival, while the driver of motor car PAM 3828 was admitted as a patient suffering from a broken right leg and lacerations about his face and body. His condition is regarded as stable.

The body of the deceased was escorted to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Investigations are ongoing.

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A masterclass from Gudakesh Motie ensured Guyana Harpy Eagles stayed firmly in the hunt on the opening day of their Regional Four-Day clash against Windward Islands Volcanoes.

Motie’s 6 for 73 dismantled the Volcanoes’ middle and lower order, restricting them to 286 before Guyana’s openers safely negotiated a testing one-over period before stumps.

FULL SCORECARD: https://matchcentre.windiescricket.com/match/f89cda16-6d0d-49e9-a8d3-961a7afdd375/scorecard/1

The day, however, belonged as much to Ackeem Auguste as it did to Motie. The young left-hander played an innings of immense composure and technical proficiency, anchoring the Volcanoes’ effort with a delightful 95.

Keemo Paul (2-27) justified Tevin Imlach’s decision to bowl first by removing Stephan Pascal, but Auguste looked every bit the future of West Indies batting.

He found able, if not enduring, partners in Kavem Hodge (31) and Sunil Ambris (30).

Auguste’s 177-ball stay was punctuated by 12 boundaries, many of them crisp drives through the covers that suggested a maiden First-Class century was a mere formality.

But the ‘nervous nineties’  claimed another victim in agonising fashion. With a ton in sight, Auguste succumbed to a moment of rush-of-blood, attempting a lofted shot against the guile of Motie.

Ryan John provided a late-order wag with a defiant 42 and Darron Nedd contributed 35 to push the total past 250.

With 86.1 overs of toil behind them, the Harpy Eagles were left with a solitary over to face before the close of play.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul, typically watchful, picked up two runs, while Matthew Nandu remained scoreless.

Summarised scores of other matches:

At Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua: Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 62-0 from 26 overs (Evin Lewis 28*, Chephas Cooper 22*) trail Leeward Hurricanes 138 all out from 60.5 overs (Jahmar Hamilton 44, Jewel Andrew 27; Bryan Charles 3-9, Khary Pierre 3-34, Jayden Seales 2-31) by 76 runs

At Chedwin Park, Jamaica: Jamaica Scorpions 17-0 from six overs (Kirk Mckenzie 8*, John Campbell  3*) trail Barbados Pride 348 all out from 81.4 overs (Kevin Wickham 153, Kyle Mayers 64, Shamar Springer 40, Joshua Bishop 37; Marquino Mindley 4-32, Peat Salmon 4-102, Ojay Shields 2-58) by 331 runs

 

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The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Under-19 50-over tournament began with a thrilling upset as the defending champions, Berbice, were sensationally upended by the GCB Select XI in a low-scoring thriller at the Police Sports Club on Sunday.

While the Select XI celebrated a narrow 12-run victory, Demerara sent a warning shot across the tournament with a clinical 99-run dismantling of Essequibo at the Joe Jagmohan Ground.

After a disciplined performance in the field, the champions appeared to be cruising toward a routine victory before a dramatic middle-order implosion saw them bundled out for just 91.

Full SCORECARD: https://cricheroes.com/scorecard/23879305/gcb-u19-inter-county-50-over-championship-/gcb-select-xi-u19-vs-berbice-u19/scorecard

Earlier in the day, the Select XI innings was defined by the aggressive blade of Yannick Newton, who played a counter-attacking cameo, smashing 42 off just 30 balls, including six boundaries and a six.

His contribution proved to be the difference-maker, as only Gibran Yacoob (16) managed to join him in double figures.

The Berbice bowling attack was led by a clinical Richard Ramdeholl, who finished with the remarkable figures of 5 for 6 from his six overs.

Pacer Micah Amsterdam provided the perfect foil, tearing through the top order to claim 4 for 26.

With a modest target of 104, Berbice seemed well-placed at 71 for 5, anchored by skipper Romario Ramdeholl’s 22 and solid starts from Antonio DePaul (18) and Vishal Williams (11).

However, the introduction of spin turned the match on its head. Gibran Yacoob, haunting his home county, produced a masterclass in left-arm orthodox bowling to claim 4 for 11.

He was expertly supported by off-spinner Joshua Budhram, who took 3 for 16, sealing a famous win for the Select XI.

Demerara dominate in Essequibo

SUMMARY: Demerara 242-6 from 50 overs (Jonathan Mentore 48*, Shamar Apple 46, Khush Seegobin 43, Parmeshwar Ram 40, Emmanuel Lewis 22; Nicholas Lovell 3-40, Ravesh Singh 2-33) beat Essequibo 143 all out from 30.5 overs (Justin Dowlin 78*, Ravesh Singh 17,  Navindra Sankar 13; Parmeshwar Ram 4-18, Vijai Kalpu 2-26, Shane Prince 2-33) by 99 runs

FULL SCORECARD: https://cricheroes.com/scorecard/23879281/gcb-u19-inter-county-50-over-championship-/demerara-u19-vs-essequibo-u19/scorecard

Demerara signalled their title ambitions by posting a robust 242 for 6, a total built on the back of several starts that frustrated the hosts.

While no Demerara batsman reached a half-century, the collective effort of the top order was relentless. Jonathan Mentore led the way with an unbeaten 48, narrowly missing out on a milestone, while Shamar Apple (46), Khush Seegobin (43), and Parmeshwar Ram (40) all provided substantial contributions.

Emmanuel Lewis added a quick 22 to ensure the momentum stayed with the visitors. Nicholas Lovell was the pick of the Essequibo bowlers, taking 3 for 40.

In reply, Essequibo’s chase never truly gathered the required steam, despite a heroic lone hand from opener Justin Dowlin. While wickets tumbled around him – five batsmen failed to get off the mark –  Dowlin remained defiant, finishing unbeaten on 78.

His innings, however, lacked a partner of substance, with Ravesh Singh (17) being the only other batsman to offer significant resistance.

Ram followed up his batting performance with a superb spell of 4 for 18, ensuring Essequibo remained tethered throughout their innings.

Vijai Kalpu and Shane Prince picked up two wickets apiece as Essequibo were eventually dismissed for 143 in the 31st over,

Action resumes Tuesday (April 14) with Demerara opposing the Select XI at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, and Berbice meeting Essequibo at Police.

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Police in Regional Division #4 ‘C’ are investigating a shooting incident which occurred on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at about 17:30hrs at Victoria Road, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, leaving three persons injured.

Those injured are a 38-year-old businessman of Victoria Road, Plaisance, a 36-year-old male security guard of Graham Street, Plaisance, and a 52-year-old overseas-based Guyanese woman of Ben Profit Drive, Plaisance.

Investigations revealed that the two injured men are known to each other and have an ongoing conflict stemming from a previous incident. On Saturday, one man was at a bus shed while the other was in the vicinity of a nearby business place. Upon seeing each other, both allegedly discharged rounds in each other’s direction.

As a result, the businessman sustained a gunshot injury to his left ankle, while the security guard received injuries to both feet. The 52-year-old woman, who was in the area at the time, was struck in her left leg.

Investigators processed the scene and recovered several 9mm spent shells. CCTV cameras were observed in the area and footage is expected to be reviewed as part of the probe.

Police also recovered one 9mm Luger pistol along with two magazines, one containing 22 live rounds and the other containing seven live rounds, which were lodged pending investigations.

All three injured persons were taken for medical attention. The two men, along with a 49-year-old businesswoman of Victoria Road, Plaisance, have since been taken into custody as investigations continue.

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Prasidh Krishna’s resurgence continued at pace as his clinical 4 for 28 powered Gujarat Titans to a commanding seven-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday.

Three nights after his death-overs heroics against Delhi, Prasidh combined searing pace with intelligent cutters to dismantle the LSG middle order.

Support from Mohammed Siraj and Ashok Sharma ensured the hosts were restricted to a sub-par 164, despite brief resistance from Nicholas Pooran and a late flurry from the tail.

The chase was a masterclass in authority, headlined by Shubman Gill’s sublime 34-ball fifty. Gill emphatically won the much-anticipated battle against Mohammed Shami, taking the veteran for 20 runs in a single over that included a signature lofted drive over the bowler’s head.

Jos Buttler, buoyed by a reprieve on 12 when Rishabh Pant floored a regulation catch, feasted on the LSG attack to bring up his 100th T20 half-century.

The pair’s 84-run stand broke the back of the pursuit, allowing GT to cruise home with eight balls to spare and maintain their perfect start to the campaign. (ESPNcricinfo) 

 

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In a major move to decentralise teacher training, Minister of Education, Sonia Parag, has announced the construction of a new Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) centre in Charity, along the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

A total of $45 million has already been allocated in the 2026 budget to kickstart the project, which will specifically serve educators in the Pomeroon River and other nearby remote communities. This initiative ensures that professional development is accessible to teachers residing in those hard-to-reach areas, ending an era where they were forced to leave their homes and families to gain certification.

Addressing headteachers at a recent forum in Region Two, Minister Parag emphasised that the facility is a fundamental step towards national educational equity.

“Teachers no longer have to travel to wherever or go just online,” the minister stated, adding: “You will have the experience of an in-classroom teaching at CPCE right here in Region Two. And that’s something that you should applaud.”

She further underscored that the project is about “quality education and quality delivery in the classroom,” noting that investing in professional growth ultimately translates into better outcomes for the nation’s children.

The impact of this decentralisation is already being celebrated by local educators like Ms Janika Jones, the Headteacher (ag) of Jacklow Nursery in the Pomeroon. Reflecting on her own journey to becoming trained, Ms Jones recalled having to arrive at the existing CPCE Centre in Anna Regina by 07:00 hrs and then rushing to complete her work by 13:00 hrs in order to make the trip back home.

“I have experienced that and it wasn’t easy. We usually have to be on the water top late at nights. Sometimes we reach home after 10:00 p.m. and then we still have to attend to our children, and our families,” Ms Jones shared.

Once completed, this new, modern facility will feature a dedicated classroom block, staff offices, a kitchen area and washroom facilities, all housed within an elevated, ridge-and-beam structure. This new facility will aid the government’s mission to move the national percentage of trained teachers from over 90 per cent to a perfect 100 per cent.

The development of the Charity CPCE branch follows billions in sector investment over the past five years. With the CPCE continuing to churn out record-breaking numbers of graduates, including over 1,300 in the most recent cohort, Minister Parag reiterated that this project is a direct response to the needs of local educators.

“The development of our teachers means the development of our children and our future,” Minister Parag posited.

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Defying the Wankhede dew factor, Royal Challengers Bengaluru silenced a partisan Mumbai crowd by posting the highest IPL total at the venue. Phil Salt set the tone with a bruising 78 off 36 balls, including a 47-run Powerplay assault that forced Jasprit Bumrah into an early double-spell.

While Virat Kohli struggled for rhythm during his 38-ball 50, Rajat Patidar ensured no momentum was lost, smashing a 20-ball half-century highlighted by a trio of sixes off Mayank Markande.

Mumbai’s chase began brightly via Ryan Rickelton, but the introduction of spin proved decisive.

Suyash Sharma struck twice in his opening over, removing Rickelton and Tilak Varma, while Krunal Pandya strangled the middle overs with a masterclass in matchup bowling against brother Hardik.

Despite Sherfane Rutherford’s late-innings carnage—a whirlwind 71* off 31 balls—the asking rate had climbed beyond reach.

RCB’s spinners combined for 3 for 73, outclassing their MI counterparts and securing a comfortable defense of their 240-run mountain. (ESPNcricinfo) 

 

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