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See below full release issued by the Guyana Office for Investment:

On the opening day of AgroFest 2026 in Bridgetown, Barbados, Peter Ramsaroop, Chief Investment Officer and Agency Head of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), delivered confident and forward-looking comments to regional media on Guyana’s expanding leadership in agriculture and eco-tourism across CARICOM.

Speaking on Guyana’s production trajectory, Ramsaroop underscored the country’s rapid growth in soy and corn cultivation, livestock expansion, and value-added agro-processing. Backed by the tax-free agriculture framework under Budget 2026 and guided by Vision 2030, he noted that Guyana is not only increasing output — it is building scale, strengthening corporations, and positioning itself as a production anchor within the Caribbean.

In his remarks to the media, he stated:

“Under the leadership of His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali — who has taken a lead responsibility for agriculture within CARICOM — Guyana has moved from commitment to execution. Food security must be driven by production, logistics, and corporate expansion. We are scaling agricultural output in soy, corn, livestock, and agro-processing, and we stand ready to work with our Caribbean partners to reduce extra-regional imports and retain more value within our economies.”

Ramsaroop also emphasized Guyana’s expanding eco-tourism sector, highlighting the country’s vast rainforest, biodiversity, river systems, and sustainable tourism investments. He noted that eco-tourism represents one of the Caribbean’s strongest growth frontiers, particularly as global travelers increasingly seek authentic, nature-based experiences.

He explained that Guyana’s jungle and eco-tourism product complements the established beach tourism markets of Barbados and Saint Lucia. By aligning destination marketing, encouraging multi-destination travel, and strengthening corporate partnerships in hospitality and tour operations, the region can offer a diversified Caribbean experience that extends visitor stays and increases overall regional earnings.

“Eco-tourism is not competition to beach tourism — it is a complement,” he added. “When we align our strengths, we create a stronger Caribbean brand. Guyana’s rainforest and sustainable tourism model add depth and resilience to the regional offering.”

With more than 50 Guyanese enterprises participating at AgroFest this year, Guyana’s presence reflects a broader diversification strategy— expanding corporations in agriculture and tourism, facilitating investment, and translating policy reform into measurable economic opportunity.

Ramsaroop also joined Minister of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Security for Barbados, Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight, and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Climate Change for St. Lucia, Lisa Jawahir, on a tour of AgroFest 2026.

The officials visited the Guyana Hub, which features displays from agro-processors, craft producers, and other stakeholders in the country’s agricultural sector. During the tour, the two leaders discussed strategies to further strengthen bilateral and regional cooperation, support local production, and enhance investment opportunities in agriculture and agro-processing.

AgroFest 2026 continues as a platform for business engagement and regional collaboration aimed at accelerating sustainable growth across CARICOM.

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With just weeks to go before Guyana’s new vehicle tint regulations take full effect, the government is ramping up efforts to ensure motorists are ready and compliant.

On Thursday, at Traffic Headquarters in Georgetown, Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond oversaw a live demonstration of newly procured tint meters, part of the national preparatory process ahead of the April 1, 2026 enforcement date.

The initiative, led by the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force, aims to make the system fairer, more transparent, and safer for everyone on the road.

During the demonstration, a fully compliant vehicle was tested to show exactly what the new standards will look like in practice.

Under the updated regulations:

•             Front side windows (driver and passenger) must allow 25% Visible Light Transmission (VLT).

•             Rear windows must allow 20% VLT.

•             Front windshields are only permitted to have a top visor strip at 25% VLT.

•             No additional tint is allowed on the front windshield beyond the visor strip.

Minister Walrond explained that excessively dark tint not only hampers police investigations but also creates serious safety risks for drivers, particularly at night.

“Heavy tint contributes significantly to road accidents, especially when drivers cannot see clearly at night,” she noted, adding that the regulations will also strengthen crime detection and prevention efforts.

Drivers do not have to wait until April 1 to find out whether they are compliant.

Some 47 testing sites are already operational across the country at designated police stations. At these centres, trained certification officers — not traffic ranks — are using fully calibrated tint meters to test vehicles.

The devices, Minister Walrond said, were procured with one-year calibration certificates and will be recalibrated annually through the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) to ensure accuracy.

“We want citizens to come voluntarily if they are unsure. This is about getting everyone on board, not punishing people,” she emphasized.

The Minister described the previous tint permit system as bureaucratic and inefficient.

In the past, citizens were required to apply directly to the Minister’s office for exemptions, leading to long lines, lost productivity, and opportunities for unfair practices.

“People had to run into the minister’s office, wait for hours, sometimes days. It wasted time and created unnecessary bureaucracy,” she said.

The new system eliminates that process entirely. Every driver is entitled to the legal tint levels without needing special approval.

“It removes the need to beg, removes the bias, and creates transparency and ease for every citizen.”

For members of the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Defence Force, and other eligible security agencies who qualify for tint waivers, an online portal will soon be available.

Applications will require supporting documents to be uploaded electronically, reducing human bias and increasing accountability. Once approved, the waiver will be digitally linked to the vehicle’s registration number.

During a traffic stop, officers will be able to input the vehicle’s registration into their system and instantly determine whether a waiver exists.

“There’s no pulling out paper permits. Once the registration number is entered, the system will show whether a waiver is attached,” the Minister explained.

The government has allowed what Minister Walrond described as a “long amnesty period” to give citizens time to adjust.

Up until March 31, 2026, drivers will still have the opportunity to correct non-compliance.

However, from April 1, strict enforcement begins.

The penalty for non-compliance is $30,000 per infraction — not per window.

“It’s not $30,000 per glass,” the Minister clarified. “It’s $30,000 per infraction. Whether one window or multiple windows are in breach, it is treated as a single offence.”

Drivers found non-compliant after April 1 will be charged.

While some critics have questioned the focus on tint regulations, Minister Walrond insists the changes have far-reaching implications.

“This is not just about tint. It’s about public safety, road safety, and crime prevention,” she said.

She also hinted that additional traffic regulations are forthcoming, all aimed at making Guyana’s roadways safer for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians alike.

The Minister is calling for full cooperation from motorists.

“This is for the benefit of all of us — our families, our children, our communities. We are looking forward to full compliance.”

 

With testing centres already operational and April 1 fast approaching, drivers are being urged to check their vehicles now before the grace period expires.

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Minister of Housing, Collin Croal has confirmed that contractors responsible for infrastructure works in sections of Blocks 1 and 7, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara were terminated for underperformance.

Speaking during a site inspection on Thursday, Croal said the affected sections have since been retendered, with the tender process currently ongoing. Block One comprises 1,018 lots, with lots 493–677 affected, while Block Seven contains 725 lots, with lots 31–220 impacted.

“We did have some hiccups in terms of sections in blocks 1 and 7, Diamond.

“We have since retendered, the tender is ongoing, and its opening by the second week of March and before the month (March) is finish to have the necessary retendering of those contracts so we can have the necessary infrastructure work done quickly as possible,” Croal explained.

Once awarded, contractors will mobilise to recommence infrastructure works.

“We have a number of projects being undertaken on the East Bank of Demerara and equally important is also looking at how quickly we can have the infrastructure work done for a number of areas that we have allocated,” he said.

To ensure transparency, the Ministry will keep affected allottees informed so they can track when access to their lands becomes available.

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The National Sports Commission (NSC), in partnership with the Ministry of Health, launched a first-of-its-kind Physiotherapy Seminar for Coaches at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Friday.

The mission is to bridge the gap between the doctor’s clinic and the dugout to ensure athlete safety is never left to chance.

For years, the leap from clinical sports medicine to the everyday training pitch has been a wide one and this one-day intensive programme is the Government’s direct response, aiming to professionalise athlete welfare across every discipline in the country.

Close to 90 coaches registered for the seminar.

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, alongside NSC Deputy Chair Cristy Campbell and Dr Ariane Mangar, Director of Rehabilitation Services, oversaw a curriculum delivered by the country’s leading physiotherapists.

The workshop moved beyond basic first aid, tackling complex physiological issues led by a team of clinical experts:

• Injury Mechanics: Vanessa Wickham opened the day by defining the coach’s role as the “first line of athlete safety,” breaking down how coaching decisions directly link to injury patterns.
• Acute Management: Jana Edghill led a critical session on concussion recognition and “Heat Illness”—a topic of paramount importance in Guyana’s tropical climate—focusing on cooling and hydration strategies.
• Physical Prep: Angelica Holder and Neil Barry shifted the focus to the importance of structured warm-ups and the role of Strength and Conditioning in long-term resilience.
• Elite Standards: Kelly Coonjah introduced a “Return to Play” framework and addressed “Special Considerations,” including growth spurts in youth athletes and the “Male Athlete Triad.”

The seminar concluded with a look toward the “Way Forward,” where coaches were introduced to the IOC Injury Prevention Protocol.

The focus has now shifted to establishing an injury-tracking register and formal referral systems to ensure that no athlete falls through the cracks.

The revolution doesn’t stop at the physical as the NSC confirmed that a dedicated Sports Psychology Seminar is already in the works and a targeted programme for women in sport, differently-abled and master’s athletes.

 

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The road to the national crown begins this weekend as the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), backed by Diamond Fire and General Insurance, launches the 2026 National Chess Championship Qualifiers.

Starting Saturday, February 28, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, a diverse field of veterans and rising prodigies will commence an eight-round Swiss tournament battle.

At stake? The chance to challenge reigning National Champions CM Taffin Khan (Open) and WCM Aditi Joshi (Women’s) in the championship finals set for mid-March.

The Open field represents a fascinating clash of generations. Established masters FM Anthony Drayton and FM Rawle Allicock headline a formidable senior lineup that includes CM Ronuel Greenidge and Keron Sandiford.

However, they face an aggressive “rising wave” of junior talent. Under-14 Champion Abel Fernandez Ciria and U12 standout Aidan Tinne are among the youth contingent expected to mount a serious challenge for the top nine qualifying spots. With a classical time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment, the tournament will be a grueling test of endurance and tactical precision.

The Women’s category promises equal intensity. Former champions WCM Jessica Callender and WCM Sasha Shariff enter as favorites, but they must navigate a highly competitive field.

Veteran players like Treskolé Archibald and Ciel Clement will be looking to secure their positions, while “rising stars” Kataleya Sam (U14/U16 Champion) and Divya Persaud (U12 Champion) represent the high-potential youth movement looking to cause an upset over the board.

In a move to modernise the local game, the GCF has confirmed that the top eight boards of the Open Category and the top four boards of the Women’s Category will be live-streamed globally on lichess.org.

Technical Director and FIDE Arbiter John Lee will oversee the digital broadcast, allowing fans worldwide to track every move in real-time. Results and pairings will be updated via chess-results.com.

The first four rounds conclude this weekend, with the final four rounds scheduled for March 7th and 8th. Only the top nine finishers from each category will earn the right to advance to the National Chess Championship, which officially commences on March 14, 2026. (Modified Press Release) 

 

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After two weeks of hearing, the trial into the March 2020 General and Regional Elections was on Friday adjourned, with a series of dates fixed to guide proceedings through until June, 2026.

The trial is being heard at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty.

Friday’s hearing was set for the continuation of void dires involving two of the defendants, Sherfane February and Denise Babb Cummings. Several Police witnesses testified during the voir dires, and the court heard that two more witnesses remain to testify in February’s void dire.

The trial is advancing under structured case management guidelines.

So, on Friday dates were also set for future hearing following agreement by both the prosecution and defence.

The next proceeding in the trial is March 27, 2026.

Thereafter, hearings will be on March 31. The dates in March are set aside specifically for the completion of the void dires.

Further trial dates are scheduled for: April 20 and April 24 to 27, May 18 and May 20 to 22 and June 15 to 19 and June 22 to 26.

Before Friday proceedings was adjourned, defence attorney Eusi Anderson informed the court that one of the accused, Enrique Livan, is currently suffering from pneumonia in both lungs. As such, Anderson requested that he be allowed to join the hearings remotely until he recovers. The request was granted.

On Thursday, former Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, took the witness stand, focusing his testimony on the tabulation process for Region Four at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Command Centre at Ashmin’s Building.

Benn told the court that while voting on March 2, 2020 proceeded smoothly, tensions arose the following day when tabulation was halted after former Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, indicated that staff were tired.

He said when tabulation resumed, the figures entered did not match the Statements of Poll (SOPs), leading to objections from opposition agents. Benn also detailed events on March 4, including Mingo’s reported illness, discrepancies in tabulated figures, and the discovery of GECOM staff working with spreadsheets in a separate room.

According to Benn, further disputes erupted on March 5 when an alternative tabulation process was established and Mingo later attempted to declare the results for Region Four from a balcony, prompting objections and intervention from the Police.

He added that by March 13, 2020 following court action, Mingo was required to properly tabulate and present the results.

Benn had been scheduled to return to court on Friday afternoon to continue his testimony. However, the court was informed that he would not be appearing. No reason was provided.

Nine individuals are currently before the court, charged with conspiring to manipulate the election results in favour of APNU+AFC 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 official results for five months, until PPP candidate Irfaan Ali was sworn in as President on August 2, 2020.

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The Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) Inter-Association Under-19, 50-over competition resumed on Thursday with two fourth round games, producing contrasting results.

At the Police Sports Club Ground in the city, the powerful home side Georgetown inflicted a 254-run whipping on the hapless Upper Demerara unit, while over at Meten-Meer-Zorg, hosts West Demerara emerged with a 22-run success over East Bank in a low-scoring affair.

Persaud, Apple script big win for Georgetown 

SUMMARY: Georgetown 317-8 from 40 overs (Dhanesh Persaud 83, Shamar Apple 65, Emmanuel Lewis 45, Jonathan Mentore 30, Dave Mohabir 19, Reyaz Latif 16*; Andy Ramgoolam 2-39, Shahid Ramzan 2-58) vs Upper Demerara 63 all out from 17.5 overs (Shahid Ramzan 27*, Extras 14; Ravaldo Pereira 2-4, Samuel Ally 2-13, Jasani Craig 2-17)

Led by powerful knocks from the talented Dhanesh Persaud and West Indies Under-19 player Shamar Apple, Georgetown piled up a massive 317-8 against Upper Demerara in a match reduced to 40 overs per side.

Upper Demerara won the early exchanges when new-ball pair Errol Alder and Alex Ragubeer bowled openers Lomar Seecharran (1) and Khush Seegobin (5) respectively to make it 6-2 in the third over.

Emmanuel Lewis with 45 off 37 (4x4s, 1×6) and Jonathan Mentore with 30 off 59 (1×4, 1×6) then repaired the innings with a third wicket stand of 86.

Georgetown then went into overdrive as Persaud and Apple added 136 for fifth wicket, and with useful lower-order contribution they breached the 300-mark.

Persaud made a classy 83 off 58 (11x4s, 3x6s), while Apple struck six fours and three sixes in 65 off 43. Skipper Dave Mohabir chipped in with 19 off 11 (3x4s) and Reyaz Latiff struck two fours and a six in 16 not out off five.

Bowling for Upper Demerara, spin pair Andy Ramgoolam (2-39) and Shahid Ramzan (2-58) were the leading wicket-takers, while Alder took 1-10 and Ragubeer 1-48.

In reply, Upper Demerara were shot out for 63 from 17.5 overs with Ramzan surviving a barrage of short-pitched bowling from Jasani Craig and Lewis to make an unbeaten 27 off 35 (4x4s). No other player got into double-figures with extras being 14.

Off-spinner Ravaldo Pereira took 2-4, off-spinner Samuel Ally 2-13, Craig 2-17 and Lewis 1-27.

Ram bowls West Demerara to victory 

SUMMARY: West Demerara 82 all out from 24 overs (Extras 32, Arvind Suknanan 17, Amit Persaud 13; Joshua Budhram 3-16, Rupie Rajaram 3-26, Vinesh Kalpoo 2-6) vs East Bank 60 all out from 22.2 overs (Yeshua Hutson 20, Vinesh Kalpoo 18; Parmeshwar Ram 4-14, Robin Seecharran 3-10, Navindra Sankar 2-27)

Inserted to bat first, West Demerara were dismissed for 82, after their in-form openers Parmeshwar Ram and Arvind Suknanan put on 23 for the first wicket.

Once Ram was dismissed for five, bowled by seamer Rupie Rajaram, wickets fell regularly as the East Bank bowlers kept a stranglehold, though they conceded 32 extras, inclusive of 29 wides.

Suknanan made a top score of 17, while Amit Persaud contributed 13 in West Demerara’s 82 all out from 24 overs.

Bowling for East Bank, off-spinner Joshua Budhram, who took four wickets in the last game against Upper Demerara, was again impressive with 3-16, so too Rajaram (3-26) and Vinesh Kalpoo (2-6).

In reply, East Bank landed in early trouble losing opener Shane Kissoondeo and Budhram, both without scoring in the first over bowled by Ram.

Ram then added the wickets of Shane Shivbarran (1) and Dilshan Latchman (3) to reduce East Bank to 16-4 and effectively swing the match in favour of West Demerara. Despite a 35-ball 20 from Yeshua Hutson and a 41-ball 18 from Kalpoo, East Bank were dismissed for 60 from 22.2 overs.

Ram bagged 4-14, Robin Seecharran 3-10 and Navindra Sankar 2-27.

Final round matches

The final round will take place on Friday (February 27) with Georgetown playing West Demerara in a top-of-the-table clash at the Police Ground, while East Coast will face Upper Demerara at LBI, with both games starting at 09:30h.

With three wins from three matches, the Georgetown lads are on 9.40 points, followed by West Demerara on 8.00 points, inclusive of two wins and a defeat.

East Coast, also with two wins and a defeat, are third on 6.00, followed by East Bank on 4.60 (one win and three defeats) and Upper Demerara on 0.80 (three defeats).

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Questions over how extradition requests are received, transferred and authorised dominated Thursday’s hearing in the case involving U.S. indicted businessman Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sharon Roopchand-Edwards, returned to the witness stand for further cross-examination by defence attorney Siand Dhurjon.

Much of the day was spent examining the handling and transfer of extradition documents.

Roopchand-Edwards outlined what she described as the established channel for receiving and transmitting extradition requests, telling the court that once the Ministry of Foreign Affairs receives such a request, it is forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs under longstanding protocols.

She said that if she personally receives the documents, she may deliver them directly to the Minister of Home Affairs. In her absence, the Head of the Legal Department would facilitate the transfer.

According to Roopchand-Edwards, these procedures have been in place for years and are governed by strict confidentiality, given the sensitive nature of extradition matters. She added that if the Head of the Legal Department is unavailable, ministry officials would communicate internally to determine who is authorised to receive the documents. If no competent officer is available, arrangements would be made with the relevant embassy to deliver the documents at another time.

She said the measures are guided by confidentiality protocols, particularly in matters involving extradition, deportation and the confiscation of passports.

Dhurjon questioned whether those protocols were applied consistently in this case, particularly in relation to the timing of the transfer and who was authorised to receive and move the documents.

Several lines of questioning were disallowed by Magistrate Judy Latchman on grounds of relevance.

Before proceedings began, both defence and prosecution attorneys approached the magistrate following a request by defence counsel. Latchman asked Dhurjon whether he had received submissions from the prosecution. He confirmed that he had received them on the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 25, noting that they included, among other things, reference to a paper committal process.

Nazar Mohamed, who had been absent from the previous two hearings due to illness, was present in court on Thursday. When asked whether he would consent to proceedings continuing in his absence if he became unwell, he said he would try his best to attend every hearing going forward.

Azruddin Mohamed and his father, who has been indicted in the United States on several financial crime charges, are each on $150,000 bail pending the conclusion of the matter.

The court will be on leave from March 2 to March 9, 2026. The case was adjourned to March 12.

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