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See below the full release from the Board of Industrial Training (BIT): 

The Board of Industrial Training (BIT) is pleased to announce the appointment of its newly inducted Board, which will serve for the period January 23, 2026, to January 22, 2027.

Following her appointment by the Cabinet of the Government of Guyana, Ms Kathy Smith will serve as Chairperson of BIT for the 2026–2027 term.

This appointment is regarded as historic, as Ms Smith becomes the first woman to hold the position of Chairperson in BIT’s 115-year history.

Ms Smith brings to the Board a wealth of experience and knowledge accumulated over several decades. She is widely recognised as a prominent leader within the Guyanese business community and a strong advocate for private sector development and economic growth.

In 2025, Ms Smith also made history when she became the first female President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in its 136-year history. Her leadership experience and commitment to strengthening the relationship between industry and workforce development will be invaluable to the work of the Board of Industrial Training.

The Honourable Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma D. Griffith, has expressed confidence that the newly appointed Board will continue to strengthen the role of the Board of Industrial Training in advancing national workforce development and expanding opportunities for skills training across Guyana.

Under the leadership of the Chairperson and the newly appointed Board, BIT will continue to focus on strengthening technical and vocational education and training (TVET), addressing skills gaps through stronger alignment with industry needs, and expanding partnerships with the private sector in support of Guyana’s growing economy.

The official members of the Board of Industrial Training (2026–2027) are as follows:

Chairperson – Ms Kathy Smith

Vice-Chair – Mr Ganesh Singh

Members

• Mr John Edghill
• Ms Andrea Benjamin
• Mr Yannick Garraway
• Ms Sheila Verasammy
• Mrs Karen Roopchand
• Mrs Desa Liverpool
• Ms Penelope Harris
• Mr Michael Turner
• Mr Krishn Sharma
• Mr Suresh Singh
• Ex-Officio Members
• Ms Indrani Ramnarine
• Mr Jainarine Sarjoo Sookpaul
• Mr Richard Maughn

The Board of Industrial Training remains committed to its mandate of supporting technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Guyana through the development of a skilled, competent, and productive workforce.

 

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National youth players Emmanuel Lewis, Prosper Jacobus and Lomar Seecharran produced match-winning performances on Sunday when action continued in the Georgetown Cricket Association’s Under-17, 50-over competition sponsored by Enline Security Logistics.

At the Transport Sports Club, seamer Jacobus took 5-21 and Lewis than slammed a belligerent 97 not out as the home side defeated Queen’s College by six wickets.

Over at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), Seecharran, on a rare occasion when he missed out with the bat, snared 6-20 with his off-spin as the hosts defeated Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) by 121 runs.

Jacobus and Lewis lead the way

Batting first, Queen’s College had laid an excellent platform for a huge total, but from 103-1 in the 22^nd over they endured a calamitous collapse, being bowled out for a mere 116 in 31 overs.

Jacobus ripped through the batting line-up in a six-over spell that turned the game for Transport. Reyaz Latif supported with 2-36 from 10 overs.

Apart from Queen’s College top three batters, no other player got into double-figures as the innings imploded. Lakeraj Hemraj topscored with 40 off 65 (3x4s, 1×6), fellow opener Afraz Ali made 28 off 47 (4x4s), and Altaf Ali scored 25 off 19 (1×4, 3x6s).

Transport’s reply was all about Lewis, who opened the batting and staged a one-man assault on the bowlers, slamming nine sixes and eight fours in his 31-ball knock. His aggressive intent led his team to victory in just 10.2 overs.

Left-arm spinner Nathaniel Sukhnandan claimed 2-10, while there one wicket each for Hemraj and Altaf Ali.

Seecharran makes an impact with ball

More known for his batting exploits, Seecharran stole the spotlight with the ball, sparking a middle-order collapse as GCC chased a target of 225.

In pursuit, GCC had a solid start of 50 in 8.5 overs from national players Trilok Nanan and Shahid Ramzan.

However, the introduction of off-spinner Mickel Sharma brought immediate success as he broke the partnership, paving the way for Seecharran to impact the game.

From 60-1 in the 16^th over, GCC were dismissed for 103 in 30 overs with Seecharran taking 6-20 from nine overs, leg-spinner Adam Mohamed 2-8 from two overs and Sharma 2-22 off nine.

Nanan topscored with a shot-filled 29 off 32 (5x4s), Ramzan made a patient 23 off 56 (2x4s) and skipper Ravaldo Pereira made a run-a-ball 19 (1×4, 1×6).

Earlier, DCC recovered from 134-7 in the 23^rd over to post 224 all out from 41.1 overs, thanks to crucial lower-order runs from Stephon Seymour, Jasane Craig and skipper Kaylon Callender.

Seymour made a topscore of 30 off 39 (1×4, 2x6s), Craig scored 28 off 47 (3x4s) and Callender 25 off 31 (2x4s).

Opener Jermaine Groversnor struck two sixes in a 29-ball 27, Makai Dowlin made 22 off 25 (3x4s), Yeshua Hutson 17 off 32 (1×4, 1×6). Seecharran looked in good touch, hitting a six and a four before being dismissed in the second over for 11.

Bowling for GCC, off-spinner Pereira took 4-24 off 10 overs, seamer Aaron Persaud bagged 3-45 off six, while there was one each for Balashankar Narine, Darius Haynes and Nanan.

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Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond on Monday emphasised that rehabilitation must remain central to the country’s correctional system, warning that punishment alone is not enough to reduce crime.

She made the remarks while addressing the opening of the annual senior officers’ conference of the Guyana Prison Service. She encouraged the officers to ponder the impact of their work.

“What happens inside our correctional institutions has a direct impact on what happens in our communities,” she told officers gathered at the conference.

Walrond cautioned that a system focused only on punishment will not effectively address crime.

“If prisons only punish, crime returns. But when persons rehabilitate, reform, and reintegrate, communities become safer.

“… For too long in many societies, [the focus on corrections] was treated as the forgotten arm of the justice system, a place where people were simply locked away and forgotten, but modern governance demands something different,” she said.

The minister explained that the government is committed to modernising the prison system to ensure it is professional, accountable, secure, and focused on rehabilitation. She added that achieving this goal requires investment in infrastructure, stronger operational systems, and enhanced training and leadership development within the service.

Walrond also urged senior officers to recognise their critical role in driving institutional transformation.

“Institutional transformation requires leadership. It cannot happen without it. The senior officers gathered today, your role is pivotal. You are the institution builders,” she said.

According to Walrond, corrections is not simply about enforcing rules but about shaping the discipline, culture, and standards across the prison service.

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A high-level team is being assembled to strengthen Guyana’s security system, the country’s Head of State said on Monday, while urging local prison officers to remain cognisant of the growing threats regionally.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali spoke on Monday while addressing the opening of the Guyana Prison Service Annual Senior Correctional Officers Conference. The conference is being held from March 16 to 20 with participation from several delegations from across the region.

In a wide-ranging presentation, President Ali stressed the importance of situational awareness in a changing regional security environment. According to him, conferences of this nature must take into account the realities facing the region, particularly the shifting movements of organised crime.

He explained that as authorities clamp down on criminal networks in major economies, those groups often seek new areas where they can operate.

“As pressure grows in other large economies, criminal networks are pressed. When they are pressed, they look for new grounds. You have to identify where those grounds are, and here in Guyana, we know with the growth in the country, there is a natural attraction,” he noted.

President Ali said preparing for these potential threats requires strong data analysis and strategic planning within the security sector.

In Guyana, efforts are being made to fortify the security sector overall.

The President said a high-level team aimed at strengthening the country’s security systems will be established.

“In the coming weeks, I will be launching a high-powered group of experienced persons that will look not only at the integration of our system but that would also be taking the lead on everything I spoke of this morning,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Ali further emphasised that the prison service plays a critical role in the country’s overall security framework.

“It is a part of the integrated national security architecture of the country,” he stated.

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About 77 per cent of persons trained through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) are now employed, with many others establishing their own businesses, according to Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith.

Speaking on the Starting Point Podcast on Sunday, Griffith said the outcomes show that the training programmes are producing meaningful results for participants across Guyana.

“Based on our case study, about 77 per cent of all the persons trained in BIT are employed and most of them have established their own businesses. We are seeing not just a training certificate but a transformation in lives,” the minister said.

Griffith also highlighted the growing participation of women in skills training programmes, noting that they now make up the majority of trainees, including in fields traditionally dominated by men.

Over the last five years, the ministry has trained 9,331 women compared to 7,021 men through BIT programmes.

According to the minister, women have increasingly been taking advantage of opportunities in areas such as electrical installation, heavy-duty equipment operation, photovoltaic installation and repairs, tractor operation and maintenance, and welding and fabrication.

“We have women who are being trained in electrical installation, 386; heavy-duty equipment operation, 500; photovoltaic installation and repairs, tractor operation and maintenance, welding and fabrication,” Griffith said.

He noted that the programmes are evolving beyond traditional areas of training.

“These aren’t just the regular types of skills training. We’ve moved away from cooking and garment construction. We still have those things, but what we are seeing is women taking opportunities which will directly impact the transformation of Guyana,” Griffith said.

Meanwhile, the programmes have also expanded to include vulnerable groups, with close to 500 persons living with disabilities receiving training through BIT. Of that number, 107 were trained in the last year in areas such as welding, computer technical skills, drone technology, plumbing, cosmetology, soap and candle making, sustainable farming and website development. The minister said the programmes continue to play a key role in equipping citizens with practical skills needed to participate in the country’s growing economy.

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The Guyana Prison Service has digitised 90 per cent of prisoners’ records and warrants as part of a broader push to modernise the correctional system and improve data management across the service.

The update was shared by acting Director of Prisons Nicklon Elliot during the opening ceremony of the annual Senior Correctional Officers’ Conference, which is being held under the theme “Fostering Growth, Driving Synergy and Securing the Future of Corrections.”

According to Elliot, the digitisation initiative was undertaken through collaboration with the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) and also includes the electronic conversion of staff personnel files.

“All of the staff personnel records are already digitised, while 90 per cent of prisoners’ records and warrants have been completed, with the remaining records to be finalised shortly,” Elliot told the gathering at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

The Director noted that the move towards digital records forms part of the service’s wider effort to advance technology and strengthen efficiency within the correctional system.

Elliot also highlighted that 2025 has been a productive year for the prison service, driven largely by the implementation of its 10-point improvement plan. The plan focuses on enhancing human resources, promoting data-driven decision-making, and improving ethical and professional standards among prison officers, etc.

He explained that the role of correctional officers continues to grow in demand due to the high level of professionalism required in supervising and managing prisoners.

Significant steps were also taken last year to review the legal frameworks governing the prison system, including the Prison Act, as part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the operations of the service.

Among other achievements in 2025 were the completion of Phase One of the CCTV programme across correctional facilities, as well as rehabilitation works to officers’ accommodation at Lusignan.

The acting Director further disclosed that approximately 1,000 inmates are exposed annually to various rehabilitation and development programmes within the prison system.

“These efforts contribute to reducing the number of persons committing offences and returning to prison,” Elliot said.

Guyana currently records the lowest recidivism rate in the Caribbean at 14 per cent, with efforts continuing to work towards further reducing the rate.

Guyana’s prison system is among the topics discussed at the ongoing conference. The event is being held from March 16-20 with participation from countries across the region.

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The Government spent over $200M on Mashramani floats in 2026 to contribute to a successful celebration. This is according to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr., who on Saturday evening said he is proud of the events’ growth while emphasising the need for continued investment and support for the local creative sector.

Speaking at the 2026 Mashramani Awards, held on Saturday at Castellani House, Vlissengen Road and Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown, Minister Ramson said the investment was aimed at improving the quality of presentations while supporting the creative community.

“Just for the sake of record we have spent over $200M this year on Mashamani floats alone… I am extremely proud, extremely proud of what I saw this year. We had four monarchs we ran off,” he noted.

Ramson noted that this year’s Mashramani was among the most successful to date, highlighting improvements in artistry, creativity and innovation displayed through the various events and float parades. He praised the dedication of staff within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and other contributors.

“These individuals, along with many others, work in the background to make Mashramani safe and successful,” he said.

According to Minister Ramson one of the key changes implemented by the government was an earlier release of funding to creatives and designers involved in producing floats and other elements of the festival. He explained that the initiative was introduced to give participants more time to plan, design and source materials.

The minister also defended the work of local designers and creatives, cautioning against public criticism that discourages artistic development. “We will never ridicule them, in fact, we will do the opposite, we will protect you, and we will fight for you and figure out how we can get better solutions for you,” the Minister noted.

Minister with the Ministry Steven Jacobs acknowledged the work of the ministry’s cultural teams, national events coordinators and regional organisers who travelled across the country to ensure that Mashramani activities were carried out smoothly. He noted that Mashramani remains one of Guyana’s few national celebrations that spans communities across the entire country, bringing together citizens of all ages.

“This is our national event that stretches right across the country,” Jacobs said, noting that activities extended beyond Georgetown and continued in several regions.

Jacobs also highlighted the economic benefits associated with the festival, pointing to increased activities during the Mashramani season and increased demand for vending spaces along the route of the road parade.

According to Jacobs, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council sold over 400 vending spots this year, generating over $13 million in revenue.

Jacobs called on the private sector to play a greater role in supporting Mashramani.

“The government has invested over $200 million this year, but we want corporate Guyana to embrace Mashramani and work with the Ministry of Culture so that we can take it to another level,” he said.

The minister further stressed the importance of creating more opportunities for artists, designers and performers to earn from their craft. He encouraged creatives to continue sharing their work with the ministry so that it can help promote their talent locally and internationally.

The 2026 Mashramani Awards ceremony honoured winners of the 56th Republic anniversary celebrations. Awardees received trophies for their achievements in the various competitions, including soca, dancehall and chutney monarchs and the road march. Awards were also presented to the best designers and the People’s Choice Awards.

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The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has officially unveiled its Under-16 squad for the upcoming Cricket West Indies Rising Stars 50-Over bilateral series against Barbados, set to be played on home soil from March 27 to April 7, 2026.

According to a release on Sunday, Lomar Seecharran has been handed the captaincy and tasked with leading a side that looks to leverage local conditions against its Bajan counterparts.

Leon Reddy will serve as his deputy in a squad that the GCB describes as a “balanced group” reflecting the breadth of talent across the various counties.

Guyana Under-16 Squad: Lomar Seecharran (c), Leon Reddy (vc), Ravid Fredricks, Akash Ramdewar, Luke Amsterdam, Nathan Bishop (wk), Asgaralli Nabi, Altaf Ali, Makai Dowlin, Jaden Ganpat, Jonathan Barry, Gautam Dhanraj, Brandon Grimmond and Devraj Persaud

Reserves: Ashton Collins, Ravindra Persaud, Demarcus Thomas, Trevor Reynolds, Afraz Khan, Prosper Jacobus, Usain Fredricks.

Terry Newton, with Yeuraj Khemraj taking the reins as Head Coach, will manage the team.

The GCB has underscored this bilateral series as a critical component of its long-term youth development strategy.

“The Board expresses confidence in the squad’s ability to perform competitively on home soil,” the GCB stated in an official release.

“We continue to emphasise the development of youth cricket as a key component of Guyana’s cricketing future.”

While the rivalry between Guyana and Barbados is steeped in senior-level history, this U16 clash offers a glimpse into the next generation of West Indian talent.

CWI views these bilateral engagements as vital stepping stones for players transitioning into the U17 and U19 regional brackets.

Venues across Guyana and the full fixture list are expected to be confirmed in the coming days.

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The hunt for Guyanese chess supremacy has begun at the David Rose Special School, as the Jumbo Jet National Open and Diamond Fire Women’s Championships commenced Saturday.

With twenty of the nation’s finest players gathered for the nine-round round-robin marathon, the narrative is clear: can the established guard hold off a surging wave of junior talent?

In the Open section, defending champion CM Taffin Khan faces a “who’s who” of Guyanese chess. Khan, a veteran of the 64 squares, finds himself in the crosshairs of seasoned rivals like FM Anthony Drayton and CM Ronuel Greenidge.

However, the real intrigue lies in the “Junior Titans.” Reigning National Junior Champion Kyle Couchman and U16 standout CM Sachin Pitamber are no longer just prospects—they are genuine threats to Khan’s throne.

The Women’s Championship features a unique brand of drama for defending champion WCM Aditi Joshi. While her opponents are calculating variations on the board, Joshi is also navigating the pressures of her academic examinations.

Her path to a second title is far from clear. Former champions WCM Sasha Shariff and WCM Jessica Callender are back with a point to prove, while 10-year-old prodigy Kataleya Sam—the current U14 and U16 champion—seeks to become one of the youngest senior champions in the federation’s history.

The stakes are high, with a classical time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment ensuring every move is under the microscope.

As the first four rounds conclude this weekend, the Guyana Chess Federation has extended its thanks to sponsors Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Diamond Fire Insurance for their continued backing of the sport.

The championship is set to conclude over the next two weekends.

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Archery Guyana has successfully concluded the second stage of its Wellness and Nutrition Seminar, shifting the focus from the shooting line to its athletes’ physical and mental health.

The session, held at the National Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue, brought together a cross-section of the archery community to tackle the “off-the-bow” essentials: nutrition, injury prevention, and physical conditioning.

The federation’s strategy is clear: elite performance in modern archery requires more than just a steady hand; it demands a disciplined approach to recovery and bodily health.

Head Coach Ryan McKinnon delivered a firm message to participants, noting that high-level improvement isn’t achieved simply by increasing range volume.

“Meaningful improvement in archery is not achieved simply by increasing the number of arrows shot during practice,” McKinnon told the seminar. Instead, he argued that success lies in “intentional training,” where technical skill is balanced with mental discipline and physical care.

In a move specifically tailored to the demands of the sport, Federation President Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon announced a new partnership with the Ministry of Health to provide vision screening for archers.

Given the sport’s heavy reliance on depth perception and focus, the federation is organising a dedicated Saturday session for eye examinations, with the potential for athletes to access vouchers for corrective lenses through a Ministry-backed programme.

The event saw significant collaboration with the Guyana Physiotherapists Association, with facilitators Vanessa Wickham and Aretha Legall leading practical demonstrations—including scapula strength testing with youth prospects.

The seminar also garnered support from the National Sports Commission and corporate partners, ensuring athletes remained fueled and hydrated throughout the intensive morning session.

As Archery Guyana looks toward regional and international competition, these workshops form the backbone of a broader strategy to ensure Guyanese archers are as physically robust as they are technically proficient.

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