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“This year, I think there is excitement for Guyana as a country (because) our President will be visiting OTC in his official capacity. What that says to us as the local private sector is that Guyana is being seen and being recognised,” Smith explained.

So what is the OTC? And what usually happens there?

The Offshore Technology Conference is the world’s premier energy event, featuring conferences and exhibitions that allow energy professionals to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and even solidify investments. And it’s held at the NRG Park in Houston, the American city widely considered the energy capital of the world.

Over the last few years, Guyanese stakeholders have capitalised on the event, be it through new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) or connecting with partners for investments here. Smith emphasised that many of the business ventures that have unfolded at OTC have not just been for the oil and gas sector but also in other areas like agriculture, construction, and mining.

This year, the GCCI and the Guyana Office for Investment (GO Invest) will be facilitating more business-to-business meetings and key engagements during the conference, slated for May 4 to 7.

An exciting development this year, the GCCI President shared, is a planned visit to an oil refinery. That visit will allow Guyanese private sector players to understand the complexities of a refinery— from the labour required to the compliance needed to operate or service such a facility.

President Ali has repeatedly said that Guyana should have its own oil refinery to meet local demand. Earlier in April, he said the country is forging ahead with talks for this refinery— including with the President of the Dominican Republic and other stakeholders to “come up with a plan” to move the venture ahead.

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President Dr. Irfaan Ali has written to the incumbent Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), objecting to acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez’s use of a brooch of her country’s map that includes Guyana’s Essequibo Region during official talks with regional leaders.

In a letter to St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrence Drew, President Ali said it is “deeply regrettable” that bilateral engagements between Venezuela and sister CARICOM states have been accompanied by the prominent display of symbols asserting Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s territory. The Guyanese leader reminded Prime Minister Drew that all CARICOM Heads have repeatedly and unequivocally supported Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for the resolution of the controversy through the judicial process before the International Court of Justice.

Rodriguez was last seen wearing the brooch during an engagement with Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley. The move has drawn widespread criticism from Guyanese.

See below the full text of the letter from President Ali to Prime Minister Drew: 

I note with grave concern the public display by Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, during official engagements in Member States of the Caribbean Community, of a map purporting to incorporate Guyana’s Essequibo region as part of Venezuela.

Guyana fully respects the sovereign right of CARICOM Member States to conduct bilateral relations with all partners, including the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. However, it is deeply regrettable that such engagements have been accompanied by the prominent display of symbols asserting Venezuela’s claim to Guyana’s territory.

The use of CARICOM engagements to project or promote a territorial claim against a Member State risks being interpreted as acquiescence or tolerance. No action, whether deliberate or inadvertent, should create the impression that the Community’s platforms may be used to advance claims now before the International Court of Justice. CARICOM’s principled support for Guyana must be reflected not only in declarations, but also in the context and conduct of official engagements.

This is not a matter of symbolism alone. It is a calculated and provocative assertion of a claim that Guyana has consistently and lawfully rejected, and which is before the International Court of Justice for final adjudication.

Venezuela cannot, while the case is before the Court, seek to normalise by symbols, maps, legislation, appointments or official display what it has failed to establish in law. Such conduct does not strengthen Venezuela’s case; it undermines confidence in its stated commitment to peaceful settlement, international law, and good neighbourly relations.

Guyana recalls its consistent position that the boundary was settled by the 1899 Arbitral Award, which determined the boundary as a full, perfect and final settlement. Venezuela’s revival of the claim decades later, and its more recent measures purporting to annex the Essequibo and appoint officials for that territory, form part of a pattern of conduct inconsistent with international law and the process to which the matter has been submitted.
These actions persist notwithstanding the Order of the Court of 1 December 2023, which required Venezuela not to take any action that would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby Guyana administers and exercises control over that area, and required both Parties to refrain from any action that might aggravate or extend the dispute or make it more difficult to resolve.

I am writing to you, the current Chairman of CARICOM, conveying Guyana’s concern and urging continued vigilance in safeguarding the Community’s principled position.

Guyana reminds all CARICOM Heads of Government of their repeated and unequivocal support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for the resolution of the controversy through the judicial process before the Court. That position was reaffirmed most recently at the Fiftieth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government.

Guyana remains fully committed to the peaceful resolution of this matter in accordance with international law. We continue to repose our confidence in the Court and to respect its processes and eventual judgment. At the same time, Guyana expects all States, including Venezuela, to act consistently with the principles of the United Nations Charter, refrain from provocation, and respect the ongoing judicial process.

 

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Guyana is set to once again take centre stage in regional amateur boxing when it hosts the Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Boxing Championship from August 20-22 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The staging of the prestigious tournament represents another important chapter for the sport locally, as Guyana continues to serve as the home of the championship, having hosted it consistently since its inception.

The event was conceptualised and first staged in Guyana in 2016, and is named in honour of the country’s 1978 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Winfield Braithwaite.

Over the years, the championship has proven to be a vital breeding ground for elite talent, producing standout fighters such as Olympian Keevin Allicock, as well as the dynamic sisters Abiola and Alesha Jackman.

The tournament, which remains a key fixture on Guyana’s boxing calendar, has also served as a stepping stone for numerous regional boxers who have progressed to compete at the Olympic Games and World Championships, underlining its importance on the international pathway.

President of the Guyana Boxing Association, Steve Ninvalle, emphasised Guyana’s proud history in the competition, noting that the country has finished as overall champions almost every year since the tournament’s inception.

“Guyana has always taken this tournament seriously because it is our foundation,” Ninvalle stated.

“We’ve dominated consistently, and that speaks to the strength of our grassroots programme and our commitment to youth development.”

Ninvalle also highlighted the significance of hosting the championship annually, describing it as a major boost for amateur boxing both locally and across the region.

“Hosting this tournament in Guyana each year is massive for us. It allows our young boxers to compete in front of their supporters and gives the Caribbean another opportunity to experience Guyana’s passion for boxing,” he said.

He further underscored the GBA’s commitment to investing in the sport and creating opportunities for emerging talent.

“We are hosting because we believe in building boxing from the ground up. This tournament provides critical exposure for our young boxers and helps prepare them for the international stage. It’s an investment in the future of Guyanese boxing,” the GBA president added.

Adding an exciting dimension to Guyana’s line-up will be England-based prospect Bradley Khan, whose parents are Guyanese. Ninvalle pointed to his inclusion as part of a broader strategy to tap into diaspora talent.

“Bradley Khan is one of the top youth boxers in England, and having him represent Guyana is significant,” Ninvalle explained.

According to Ninvalle, the GBA is committed to inclusivity and identifying elite talent wherever it exists, adding that the diaspora is an important part of Association’s development strategy.

The post Guyana to host Caribbean Schoolboys and Junior Boxing Championship in August appeared first on News Room Guyana.

While Jamaica reels from the disappointment of the Reggae Boyz falling short of World Cup qualification, there’s a silver lining that’s striking a far more uplifting chord- one powered by basslines, global reach and undeniable star power.

International dancehall sensation Shenseea has landed a major career milestone, teaming up with reggaeton icon Daddy Yankee to produce a soundtrack for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Shenseea made the announcement via her social media accounts on Tuesday. The single Echo is now available for streaming.

To be aligned with the World Cup, the single largest sporting event on the planet, is no small feat.

The tournament commands a global audience in the billions, with its official and affiliated soundtracks often becoming anthems that define entire eras of sport and celebration.

From Shakira’s Waka Waka in 2010 to Wizkid’s contribution to the 2022 sonic landscape, these records don’t just accompany football- they become part of its cultural heartbeat.

For Shenseea, this collaboration signals not just personal growth, but elevation into a rare global tier.

Sharing creative space with Daddy Yankee, a pioneer who helped globalise reggaeton, positions her at the intersection of two of the Caribbean’s most influential musical movements.

But beyond individual achievement, this moment carries national significance.

Jamaican music has long been a dominant force internationally, with genres like reggae and dancehall shaping sounds far beyond the island’s shores.

Yet, direct involvement in a FIFA World Cup soundtrack at this level remains a relatively rare accomplishment for Jamaican acts. Formal partnerships tied to the tournament’s official musical identity have been few and far between.

This moment is not just a win for Shenseea- it’s a win for brand Jamaica. (Jamaica Observer)

 

The post Shenseea scores for Jamaica with FIFA World Cup 2026 soundtrack appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Thirteen workplace fatalities and 64 non-fatal incidents were recorded between January and April 2026, according to Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith.

These figures, Griffith said, are “troubling” and “unacceptable” as he called for urgent strengthening of safety systems across all sectors.

Speaking at the Occupational Safety and Health Symposium 2026 on Tuesday, Griffith said the latest statistics highlight the need for stricter compliance and stronger health and safety processes.

“This increase is unacceptable and underscores the urgent need for stricter compliance and health and safety process,” he said.

He stressed that the situation requires a fundamental shift in approach to workplace safety.

The Minister also pointed to wider trends in workplace safety, noting that the ministry recorded a 12.78 per cent decrease in work-related fatalities and a 50% reduction in non-fatal incidents over a broader period.

He said that between 2020 and 2025, the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning conducted 6,186 occupational health and safety inspections across both high-risk and low-risk sectors.

Griffith emphasised that prevention must go beyond policy and must be supported by innovation and practical solutions.

“Prevention cannot be achieved by policy alone. It must be driven by innovation, informed by evidence and supported by practical solutions that enable workplaces to identify risks, manage hazards effectively, and create environments where workers feel safe, protected and supported,” he said.

He added that workplace risks also include psychosocial factors such as stress, excessive workloads, poor supervision, harassment and job insecurity.

“This means addressing not only unsafe conditions, but also the factors that shape how people experience work, how they experience stress, excessive workloads, poor supervision, harassment and job insecurity. These are real risks, and they demand real action,” Griffith noted.

The Ministry said it has increased enforcement activities across all sectors, strengthening occupational safety and health systems to manage climate-related and emerging workplace risks. It has also expanded inspections, sector-specific training, offshore inspections and outreach activities.

The Occupational Safety and Health Month 2026 theme is “Good psychosocial working environments: a pathway to thriving workers and strong organisations.”

The post 13 workplace deaths recorded this year so far – Minister Griffith appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Rajasthan Royals completed a successful chase of 223 with four balls to spare to end Punjab Kings’ unbeaten run.

Royals’ dynamic opening duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi blitzed 51 in 3.1 overs, before the latter fell for 43 from just 16 balls.

Jaiswal kicked on to make 51 but Punjab’s bowlers dragged back control in the middle overs, leaving the Royals needing 72 from the last six overs.

But Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey, who came in as an impact player, combined for an unbeaten stand of 77 from 34 balls to complete the chase.

Ferreira struck his third six to simultaneously hit the winning runs and reach his 26-ball fifty, while Dubey finished unbeaten on 31 off 12.

Punjab had also made an explosive start with Prabhsimran Singh scoring 59 and Priyansh Arya whacking 29 off 11 balls in the powerplay before he was dismissed by Jofra Archer.

Australia’s Marcus Stoinis ensured that the innings did not lose its momentum as he crashed 62 not out from just 22 balls with four fours and six sixes as Punjab finished on 222-4.

Punjab remain top of the table despite defeat, with six wins from eight, while the crucial win takes the Royals up to third behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru. (BBC)

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­See below full statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs:

The Ministry of Home Affairs is aware of a video currently circulating on social media which appears to contain threats directed at the Director of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh.

Any threat against the life of a public official is a serious criminal matter. Law enforcement agencies have launched an active investigation to determine the origin, authenticity, and intent of the video, and all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety and security of those targeted.

This development comes at a time of intensified anti-narcotics enforcement. During the first quarter of 2026, CANU removed more than 371 kilograms of narcotics from circulation and disrupted multiple trafficking networks through sustained, intelligence-led operations. While this context is noted, it does not prejudge the outcome of the ongoing investigation.

The Government of Guyana makes it clear: intimidation will not succeed. Threats against law enforcement officials will be met with the full force of the law.

Our national effort to dismantle organized criminal networks, both domestic and transnational, will continue with resolve, coordination, and unwavering focus. No individual or group will be allowed to undermine the rule of law or threaten those tasked with upholding it.

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A tense scene unfolded Monday afternoon at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court during the ongoing 2020 elections trial, after Carol Smith-Joseph rose in court and interrupted proceedings, claiming she was being verbally harassed.

The incident occurred after the prosecution brought in a group of individuals as potential witnesses.

However, when presiding magistrate Faith McGusty questioned them, they told the court they were not witnesses but observers. They were subsequently allowed to remain seated in the courtroom.

Bibi Aneishaw Mohamed is currently on the witness stand. She has completed her evidence in chief and is being cross examined by defence attorneys.

Shortly after the proceedings continued after the lunch break on Monday, Smith-Joseph stood in court and addressed the magistrate, saying: “Ma’am I am being harassed in court…and they don’t know who is me. I don’t play.”

She further alleged that two of the persons present were verbally harassing her.

Following the outburst, the magistrate issued a warning and instructed court officers to remove the individuals identified.

The magistrate also reminded those present that there are charges for misconduct within the precincts of the court, stating “I am one of the magistrates who has never been shy to read those charges.”

Nine individuals are currently before the court charged with conspiring to manipulate the election results in favour of APNU+AFC, allegedly in an attempt to deny victory to the PPP.

Those charged include former government minister Volda Lawrence, former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, former Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, and former Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers, among others.

The controversy surrounding the March 2020 elections delayed the declaration of results for five months, until PPP candidate Irfaan Ali was sworn in as President on 2 August 2020.

The trial continues on Tuesday.

The post Elections trial interrupted by APNU’s Carol Smith – Joseph appeared first on News Room Guyana.

By Danielle Swain
danielle@newsroom.gy

Guyana’s climate strategy is no longer only a matter for government negotiators, environment experts and international development agencies. It is a business opportunity.

That was the central message from Pradeepa Bholanath, Guyana’s Senior Director for Climate Change and REDD+ at the Ministry of Natural Resources, during a virtual presentation to the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry on what the outcomes of COP30 mean for Guyana’s businesses.

Speaking to members of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), Bholanath said the private sector has a direct role to play in Guyana’s Low Carbon Development model and stands to benefit from new streams of climate finance, carbon markets, biodiversity finance and green investment.

“The private sector really has a key role,” she said, describing businesses as the implementers of many of the opportunities emerging from global climate negotiations. “The private sector in many ways is the implementer of what comes from these meetings.”

COP30 UNFCCC Round-Up: ​ What It Means for Guyana’s Businesses​ ​ by Pradeepa Bholanath Excerpt 1

For Guyanese businesses, climate policy is shaping access to finance, investment standards, tourism opportunities, construction practices, agriculture, energy security and the way companies position themselves in the global economy.

Bholanath told the chamber that Guyana’s forest conservation record has created a valuable national platform. With about 85 per cent forest cover and one of the lowest deforestation rates in the world, Guyana has earned revenue from forest carbon credits while continuing to pursue economic development.

To date, she said, Guyana has earned US$353 million from the sale of carbon credits into voluntary and compliance markets. Buyers have included Hess, now Chevron, Apple and 20 airlines participating in CORSIA, the international aviation emissions programme.

But Bholanath stressed that the private sector should not view carbon markets as something happening only at the national level. Local businesses help make those credits possible by building industries in ways that support sustainable development.

That includes ecotourism ventures, climate-smart agriculture, green construction, renewable energy, sustainable supply chains, technology services, insurance products and village-level enterprise development.

COP30 UNFCCC Round-Up: ​ What It Means for Guyana’s Businesses​ ​ by Pradeepa Bholanath Excerpt 2

“When a new ecotourism project is launched, rarely would we hear that this is part of the LCDS and helps to foster Guyana’s ability to create climate finance through the carbon markets,” she said. “But that is a fact.”

Her point was that businesses that reduce environmental impact, create green jobs, support Indigenous and rural livelihoods or help conserve forests are not operating outside the national climate agenda. They are helping Guyana prove that economic growth and forest protection can happen together.

That proof, in turn, strengthens the country’s ability to attract climate finance.

For the private sector, Bholanath outlined several areas of opportunity.

The first is access to finance. She said companies should continue to pursue financing through banks, international development institutions, private-sector partnerships, and multilateral agencies such as the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Caribbean Development Bank.

She also pointed to the planned Guyana Development Bank, which she said could help align private sector financing with national development priorities.

“The Guyana Development Bank, I think, will be a game changer in this respect,” she said.

The second opportunity is ecotourism and nature-based business. Bholanath repeatedly used tourism as an example of how companies can generate income while supporting conservation. She pointed to village-level investments, ecolodges, Indigenous tourism experiences and local knowledge as areas where Guyana can expand its low-carbon economy.

She also cited Iwokrama as a model for how sustainable forestry, ecotourism and community partnerships can create business value while maintaining ecosystem services.

Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development (Photo: Protected Areas Commission)

The third opportunity is green construction and engineering. Bholanath said construction is often seen as a “grey industry,” but Guyana has space to build a stronger model that blends infrastructure with environmental protection.

She pointed to mangroves along the coastline as an example of “green-grey solutions,” where natural systems and traditional infrastructure can work together. For engineering and construction firms, this opens opportunities in resilient infrastructure, coastal protection, drainage, renewable energy systems and climate-smart building design.

The fourth opportunity is agriculture and technology. Businesses can benefit by developing new crop varieties, expanding shade house programmes, investing in hydroponics, supporting climate-smart agriculture, transportation and creating technological solutions for emerging industries.

These areas, she suggested, are not separate from climate policy. They are part of the practical economy that climate finance is meant to support.

A BYD electric vehicle on display in Guyana. Clean energy transition is among the sectors being linked to new opportunities. (Photo: GT Automotive)

The fifth opportunity is Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting. Asked about ESG reporting, Bholanath said ESG should be seen as a company-level version of the Low Carbon Development Strategy.

“At the company level, that is ESG reporting. That is your LCDS,” she said.

She said ESG reporting can help businesses define what they stand for beyond profit, including how they treat employees, how they manage environmental risks, how they serve communities and how they prepare for future investment standards.

While ESG reporting is not mandatory for all businesses, she said companies that voluntarily develop clear plans and report on progress would be helping to usher in a “new era of responsible and responsive industry development.”

The sixth opportunity is direct participation in carbon markets. Bholanath said Guyana would welcome a local private sector first mover purchasing carbon credits, either as part of corporate social responsibility or another business programme.

She said local companies have already begun asking about the modalities for purchasing credits and suggested it would be significant if such a move happened under the leadership of the GCCI.

That, she said, would allow the private sector to close the loop, not only innovating and benefiting from the low-carbon economy, but reinvesting in the system that makes it possible.

COP30 UNFCCC Round-Up: ​ What It Means for Guyana’s Businesses​ ​ by Pradeepa Bholanath Excerpt 3

Bholanath also urged the GCCI and other business bodies to strengthen ties with regional and global private sector organisations. She said Guyana’s business community needs a stronger voice in global climate and finance discussions, especially as decisions are made about carbon markets, biodiversity finance and private sector support.

Without that connection, she warned, the priorities of smaller countries can be muted.

The presentation also looked beyond carbon to biodiversity finance, which Bholanath described as the next frontier for Guyana.

Through the Global Biodiversity Alliance, Guyana is seeking to build on its forest carbon model by placing greater value on biodiversity, ecosystem services, local knowledge and forest-based livelihoods.

For the private sector, that could mean future opportunities in biodiversity credits, conservation finance, nature-based tourism, sustainable supply chains and partnerships that link business growth to ecosystem protection.

Bholanath thanked the GCCI for being among the early members of the Global Biodiversity Alliance, saying its participation showed that the chamber recognises the link between global climate action, biodiversity and industry development.

COP30 UNFCCC Round-Up: ​ What It Means for Guyana’s Businesses​ ​ by Pradeepa Bholanath Excerpt 4

The challenge now, she suggested, is for Guyanese businesses to make that link more visible.

Several participants asked how businesses could see more direct benefits from climate finance. Bholanath acknowledged that government and the private sector both need to do more to show how investments in renewable energy, community development, construction, agriculture, education and village economies connect back to business opportunities.

That visibility, she said, should become part of the shared work ahead.

For Guyana’s private sector, the takeaway was that the low-carbon economy is not a narrow environmental agenda. It is a financing strategy, a branding opportunity, a route to new markets and a way to build companies that are more competitive in a changing world.

Government sets the policy, Bholanath said. Industry brings the innovation.

“The private sector is blazing the trail to show how those actions set out by policy could be best implemented in a way that benefits people,” she said.

The post Guyanese businesses urged to tap into climate finance opportunities appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Police have made a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into the alleged murder of Moses Chapelle, also known as “Bizo,” with the recovery of firearms and ammunition in the Cuyuni River area.

Chapelle was reportedly killed on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at about 21:30hrs at Blackwater Backdam, Cuyuni River.

As investigations continue, a 45-year-old gold miner of Company Road, Buxton, East Coast Demerara, remains in police custody in connection with the incident.

Police said that further enquiries led ranks on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at approximately 16:20hrs, to locations at Blackwater Landing, Cuyuni River, where a cache of weapons and ammunition was discovered.

Among the items recovered were an AM-15 rifle and a .32 pistol, along with multiple magazines and rounds of ammunition. These included two magazines containing 42 live .223 rounds, one magazine with four live .32 rounds, a 9mm magazine, as well as 70 additional .223 rounds and 48 live 9mm rounds.

The weapons and ammunition have since been taken into police custody and lodged as part of the ongoing investigation.

Authorities have not yet indicated whether the recovered items are directly linked to the murder, but sources say the discovery marks a key development in the case.

Investigations are ongoing.

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