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The Promotech National Top Flight Golf League is heading for a thrilling finish after six rounds of competition, with the latest round producing strong performances, a points shake-up, and a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard.

With only two rounds remaining in the eight-round league, the competition is now finely balanced, paving the way for what promises to be an exciting finale.

The sixth round got underway with impressive scoring on the front nine. Fazil Haniff and Arnold Deo both returned net scores of 33, while Ian Gouveia bettered that with a net 32.

The standout performance on the front nine, however, came from Joseph Szeplaki, who fired an excellent net 31 to capture the front nine and secure two important league points.

The back nine proved just as competitive, with players battling not only for round honours but also for crucial points in the overall standings.

Haniff delivered when it mattered most, carding a composed net 33 on the back nine to finish with an outstanding overall net score of 66.

His consistent performance across both halves earned him the overall net victory on a tie-breaker and maximum points for the round.

Szeplaki finished second overall to collect five points, while Payton George produced a solid net 69 to earn three points. Brian Hackett returned a net 72 to secure two points, while Chet Bowling, also finishing on a net 72, claimed the final point position.

One of the key moments of the round involved Patrick Prashad, who recorded a net 71 that would have earned him valuable points.

However, due to an incorrectly marked and signed scorecard, his score was disqualified from the points allocation. This resulted in a shift in the points standings and allowed Hackett to gain important ground in the overall league table.

As has been the pattern in recent rounds, many of the leading players were grouped together, and the pressure of direct competition was evident as no one was able to break away from the pack.

After six rounds, the standings are now extremely tight, with Haniff, Videsh Persaud and Szeplaki all tied at the top of the leaderboard on 17 points each.

Hackett sits just one point behind on 16 points, while Patanjilee Persaud remains close on 15 points. Mike Mangal and Keshan Bacchus are both on 10 points, with Bowling still within striking distance heading into the final rounds.

With the leaderboard so close and multiple players still in contention, the Promotech National Top Flight Golf League is now perfectly poised for a dramatic and exciting finish as the battle for the title heads into the final two rounds.

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Demerara Bank opened a new branch at Beterverwagting, relocating its East Coast Demerara operations from Le Ressouvenir and offering more modern, expanded services to thousands of customers.

Demerara Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Dowlat Parbhu, said the massive facility will provide “comprehensive, modern and efficient” banking services for both retail and business customers.

Notably, there is a drive-thru and two walk-up ATMs for withdrawals and cash deposits without envelopes, allowing funds to be credited to an account instantly. Parbhu also revealed that there are dedicated digital banking spaces to be introduced shortly, as the bank forges ahead with digital transformation initiatives.

The opening of this branch was hailed by Guyanese Head of State, Dr. Irfaan Ali.

The President posited that Demerara Bank has made a massive investment in recognition of the growth of the local economy and in response to the increasing demand for financial services. Such an investment, he said, aligns with his government’s vision for expansion of the financial sector.

“Demerara Bank has recognised that Guyana is changing. Our economy is growing, our communities are expanding, and our people need greater access to financial services,” President Ali said.

However, the President also emphasised that traditional banking services must evolve. He said there is a need for more digital, online, and cashless transactions— services he said Demerara Bank is already embracing.

Aside from online banking and several other digital services, Parbhu hinted at other plans that should take shape in the months ahead. In his remarks, he said the bank will soon embark on a “series of next-generation digital solutions” to transform how banking is done in Guyana.

“You should not need to visit a branch to have a relationship with the bank. In other words, Demerara Bank will be coming to you,” Parbhu said.

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President Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced that his government will soon establish plazas to support more organised vending, as part of efforts to curb illegal vending on roadsides.

“Let me be clear: We have to build a more orderly system of growth and development. We can’t have hundreds of shops on the main public road,” the President stressed as he addressed the opening ceremony for Demerara Bank’s new Beterverwagting branch.

To establish this orderly system, Dr. Ali said plazas with food courts and necessary amenities will be constructed in communities along the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara. Those spaces, he vowed, will be clean, safe, and enjoyable.

In recent weeks, the Ministry of Public Works has moved to crack down on roadside vending, which has been obstructing traffic and encroaching on pedestrian walkways. Removals have already begun in some areas, while other vendors have been issued notices to vacate.

The President did not provide a definite timeline for the construction of these plazas, but said the new Guyana Development Bank and commercial banks will support the venture.

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Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced on Monday that a new national system, which will allow persons to easily make payments, should be ready in a matter of months.

The President made the announcement as he spoke at the opening of Demerara Bank’s new Beterverwagting branch, East Coast Demerara.

Dr. Ali said he expects this system to be ready in about six months. New digital wallets should be rolled out too, offering persons the ability to pay through their phones or with bank cards.

President Ali said he has already engaged the governor of the Bank of Guyana on the rollout of the new system. The establishment of the supporting infrastructure, be it at cashier stations in supermarkets countrywide or other transaction spaces, must also be developed over the next few months.

In February, Dr. Ali said the Bank of Guyana, which is the country’s central bank, has completed several necessary processes to make way for this new system. Two commercial banks are also ready to embrace this system now, he revealed then too.

Last year, President Ali announced the government’s pursuit of this e-payment system. He also said it will able be able to make bill payments on the platform and that government ministries and agencies will also be linked for payment of services.

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In a historic step to make the law more accessible, the government of Guyana on Monday officially launched the Revised Laws of Guyana, updated to December 31, 2022, along with law reports covering the period 2008 to 2021.

The move aims to ensure legal clarity, consistency, and fairness, giving judges, lawyers, and the public the tools they need to uphold justice in a rapidly changing society.

Printing of the revised laws was facilitated by the government at a cost of $178 million, producing 200 sets of 19 volumes.

The Law Reports (2008–2021) compile significant decisions from the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Caribbean Court of Justice, providing an essential resource for legal practitioners and judges.

Delivering remarks at the ceremony, Attorney General Anil Nandlall noted that the launch comes at a crucial time for a nation experiencing “exponential growth and transformation.

“The ultimate object of any system of law is to deliver access… No orderly society can exist in the absence of rule of law. The operation of the rule of law is indispensable to any democratic society,” he said.

Repeal provisions have been removed and replaced with new ones, and principal acts reorganized to include amendments.

In his remarks, President Dr. Irfaan Ali underscored that laws must be practical and globally relevant.

“A society without laws cannot endure. Without rules to restrain power, authority becomes unchecked, without legal protection, the weak are left exposed.

“A hidden law is no law, an outdated law is unreliable, and an inconsistently applied law is an unjust law,” Dr Ali said.

He noted that the revised laws are part of a broader legal infrastructure that strengthens judicial reasoning, promotes fairness, and ensures justice is delivered consistently.

“When laws are clear, applied equally, and enforced consistently, it provides a structure within which justice can be delivered. Without that foundation, rights become fragile, power becomes unchecked, and justice becomes uncertain,” President Ali said.

The launch, Dr Ali said reflects the government effort to maintain Guyana as a law-based society, where rules are known, applied and respected, forming the foundation of order, fairness, and justice.

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Still not out of the woods, Agricola made a huge statement that they are not giving up when they stormed back from their opening game defeat to Kuru Kururu with a big win over a star-studded Mocha, 3-1, when the battle for quarter-final berths continued in the inaugural Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport/East Bank Inter-Village Football Tournament on Sunday night at the Eccles EE Ground.

Sunday’s opening game, a group D contest, saw Friendship contesting their first match, halting the winning streak of Kaneville which had downed Timehri in their first match a week before, beating them 3-2.

Agricola came into the contest with Mocha knowing that defeat would have sent them packing from the tournament and from the first whistle, looked a determined unit against a side that came into the contest as a favourite to win the tournament.

Despite this billing, Agricola were not intimidated and 10 minutes into the match, found the back of the nets through a Shamar Sampson strike which gave the Agricola lads the confidence needed to believe in themselves.

One could have felt a heavy pressure easing off the team but there was still lots of work to be done. Their play saw a fluidity that was missing against Kuru Kururu. The half ended with the slim 1-0 advantage for Agricola which doubled in the 40^th minute with a goal off the boot of Demanie Cort.

The goal added even more flair to Agricola’s play, even as Mocha still could not find a consistent rhythm. Three minutes after Cort’s goal, Agricola increased the tally to three when Jamal Fiffe added his name to the scoresheet, effectively stifling any inkling of a comeback by Mocha.

Even Kelvin Gordon’s 60^th minute strike for Mocha was not enough to jolt the progression of Agricola as there was no denying them, full points. They now sit just behind Kuru Kururu on three points but have exhausted their full quota of two matches.

Mocha will have to defeat Kuru Kururu heavily when they tangle to displace Agricola, while Kuru Kururu will aim to end with a win to stay atop Group A.

Friendship took the early lead against Kaneville when Jomlin Scott netted the first of his double in the eighth minute. But that advantage was cancelled out in the 17^th minute when Kaneville’s Tyequan Robinson levelled the score.

Just before the half time whistle, Friendship restored the advantage with Scott’s second goal in the 34^th minute. Three minutes into the second half, the advantage was doubled, compliments of Michael Correia’s goal.

Kaneville tucked in another in the 65^th minute off the boot of Hermon Gill but couldn’t find an equaliser as time ran out.

The win for Friendship has catapulted them to the top of Group D with a game in hand against the point-less Timehri.

It’s all to play for as the only two villages that have qualified for the quarter-finals are Group C’s Grove and Upper Soesdyke. The final group match between the two will decide who will end as group winner.

The tournament will take a break for the Easter holidays and restart with the final four group matches.

Upcoming games

• Swan vs Lower Soesdyke
• Mocha vs Kuru Kururu
• Friendship vs Timehri
• Grove vs Upper Soesdyke

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Guyana’s master hockey stars are heading to England this week, as genuine podium contenders for the 2026 World Masters Hockey (WMH) Indoor World Cup.

Two years ago, the South American nation arrived at its debut tournament in the Over-45 Men’s division with “little to no expectations.”

They left as silver medalists, pushing hosts England to the absolute limit in a 5-4 thriller that echoed around the veteran hockey world.

When the tournament flickers into life at the David Ross Sports Village in Nottingham on March 26, Guyana will have quadrupled their presence, fielding teams in the Men’s Over-40, Over-50, and Over-55 categories, alongside a historic first appearance for the Women’s Over -40 side.

Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) President Philip Fernandes admits that the element of surprise—their greatest weapon in 2024—has likely evaporated.

“The last time we were unknown, and teams were not really looking out for us to cause any damage,” Fernandes said. “This time, they will be looking for Guyana.”

Fernandes has high hopes for the Men’s Over-40 group, which he believes possesses the same blistering pace that dismantled European defences two years ago. While he describes the Over-55S as an “unknown quantity,” he points to the “intelligence and maturity” of the O50S as a key factor in their tactical arsenal.

Perhaps the most significant victory for Guyanese hockey is the inclusion of the Women’s Over-40 squad.

Composed of a core group that has represented the nation since the mid-2000s, the team serves as a bridge between the sport’s past and its competitive future.

Their journey to Nottingham has been a true community effort, fueled by fundraisers and major backing from sponsors like Cevons Waste Management and Guinness.

The 2024 silver medal was achieved despite limited access to training facilities. This time around, the preparation has been “thorough and strategic.”

Upgraded facilities at home have allowed for realistic practice matches, meaning the teams arriving in the East Midlands are arguably the best-prepared units Guyana has ever sent abroad.

With the temperature in Nottingham expected to be a far cry from the Caribbean heat, the teams have also been kitted out with winter jackets provided by Rockhard Cement.

The tournament runs from March 26 to 31, featuring the world’s best veterans. (Modified Press Release) 

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[Press Release] – The U.S. Embassy Georgetown, in collaboration with the British High Commission, opened a three-day anti-corruption workshop today under the jointly funded U.S.-UK Criminal Justice Reform Project. The program brings together 25 investigators and prosecutors from Guyana’s leading investigative agencies and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to strengthen skills for investigating, prosecuting, and preventing corruption.

During the March 23 – 25 workshop, participants will focus on financial investigations, case-building, and international best practices for managing complex corruption cases.  As the first Guyana-based initiative under the multi-year project, which also supports criminal justice partners across Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, the workshop advances the project’s broader objectives to modernize laws and practices, expand technical expertise, and reinforce effective interagency collaboration.

At the opening ceremony, U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission John Crippen highlighted the persistent threat corruption poses to good governance and encouraged participants to apply the skills and interagency relationships developed during the workshop to address complex cases collaboratively.

Liam McShane, Chargé d’Affaires at the British High Commission in Georgetown, welcomed the agencies’ enthusiastic participation, which he said reflects strong commitment to the “continued improvement and success” of Guyana’s criminal justice system.  He added that, “this commitment to justice and public service is essential to the strengthening of Guyana’s institutions, as well as to the confidence and trust that citizens place in them.”

Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force Clifton Hicken encouraged the participating officials to uphold accountability across the justice sector, uphold high character in their work, and apply the lessons of the training workshop.

The United States and United Kingdom both underscored that corruption fuels transnational organized crime, hinders development, and weakens public trust.  We look forward to strengthening cooperation with Guyana to improve accountability, criminal deterrence, and shared security.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs provided the U.S. funding under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, a U.S. security cooperation program with Guyana and 12 other Caribbean countries to degrade and dismantle transnational criminal organizations, curb illicit narcotics, and deepen regional security cooperation.

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