Old Age Pensioners can receive the increased pension payment beginning in March, according to Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud. Pensioners who already collected their January and February payments of $41,000 are required to visit the post office to stamp their March voucher, which reflects the new pension amount of $46,000.
Once the March voucher is stamped, pensioners will receive the additional $5,000 owed for January and another $5,000 owed for February. As a result, they will collect a total of $56,000 with their March payment.
Speaking with the News Room, the Minister explained that pension books must be stamped every three months, regardless of where pensioners collect their payments.
Stamping will be done on a quarterly schedule:
In April for April, May and June
In July for July, August and September
In October for October, November and December
All vouchers must be stamped at the post office, even if pensioners choose to cash their payments at Western Union, MoneyGram, or other locations.
A teen mother from Berbice is fighting for her life in the Intensive Care Unit of the New Amsterdam Public Hospital after being stabbed 25 times by the father of her child.
The injured teen is Tiana Chapman, 15, from Pepper Street, Heat Burn Village, East Bank Berbice.
Her aunt, Donzel Denhert, told reporters that around 21:00 hours on Tuesday, her nephew informed her about Tiana’s condition. When she reached the scene, just a street away, she found Tiana wrapped in a blood-soaked sheet and being transported to the hospital, where she is currently receiving care in the ICU.
The location where the incident occurred.
Donzel mentioned that the violent incident appeared to have occurred around 20:00 hours at the cousin’s house of the suspect.
With Tiana’s mother working in another region, she was left to look after her younger siblings. Tiana and her 28-year-old child’s father, who also resides in the same village, had reportedly been in a relationship for some time, resulting in the birth of their 10-month-old child.
According to Donzel, Tiana suffered 25 stab wounds.
“We want the police investigate and see what really going on. We want them catch this boy. They have to catch him,” she relayed.
Donzel added that Tiana’s relationship with her child’s father has been complicated by police involvement and Welfare services since she is underage. She said Tiana had previously reported instances of abuse to her.
“Long he was going around with her and they talking to him and tell him stay away from her but he isn’t staying away from her, and this is it. All we does do is just talk to her and she don’t listen. And he ain’t leaving her. When he go away and come back he deh looking for her, walking behind her all over the place,” she explained.
The suspect is on the run.
The specifics leading to the stabbing remain unclear.
Attempts to reach Region Six Commander Shivpersaud Bacchus for further details about the incident have been unsuccessful.
Vendors who sell at B Field, Sophia, were on Wednesday relocated to facilitate the ongoing road widening project in the area.
Some 11 of them, who previously operated between Dennis Street and Pain Lane (the 9th Corner) commenced the relocation process while another 60 will soon join. This is the start of a total revamp of the area.
The News Room visited the tarmac at B Field where the vendors are allocated upgraded facilities, including washrooms, paved walkways, and adequate lighting to improve security.
Even with these amenities, it is not a smooth transition.
Those who have dilapidated structures will have to rebuild on the tarmac while the structures in good condition were moved and placed onto the ground. The vendors had to select a number and a corresponding spot was allotted.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said the vendors were engaged on Tuesday and were in agreement with the process.
“Everybody knows exactly where they are going when they are removed,” the minister said.
He also said that the dilapidated state of some stalls slowed down the relocation process.
“The contractor was adequately engaged. It’s going a little slow because the stalls were of such a nature that if you try to lift it because they are not properly put together, everything will collapse,” the minister said.
According to Edghill, the ministry met with vendors in various locations within the community. He said this is not a new concept to facilitate road widening projects across the country. He pointed to areas such as Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, where vendors were relocated to a tarmac to facilitate road works.
“Wherever we are building roads and expanding roads and we have vending we are trying to migrate that vending operation to a safe space and at the same time give us the space to do the work,” he said.
He added that the size of the spots are 10×10 and this is adequate space for each stall to be properly relocated there. Additionally, he warned that only vendors who were actively working at the commencement of the project will be allowed to occupy a spot there.
Major foundation works are currently underway on the Hilton-branded 256-room Georgetown Seafront Resort and Convention Centre, a GYD 63 billion investment secured under an Investment Agreement signed in 2025 between Go-Invest and the project’s international developers.
The development represents one of the largest hospitality investments underway in Guyana and will significantly expand the country’s tourism and conference capacity. The introduction of a 256-room resort under the Hilton brand, alongside modern convention facilities along the Georgetown seafront, will strengthen Guyana’s ability to host large-scale regional and international events, support business tourism, increase visitor arrivals, and generate substantial employment and service-sector opportunities. The investment will also stimulate linkages across construction, hospitality, retail, transportation, and other supporting industries, contributing to economic diversification and sustained growth in the non-oil economy.
This project aligns directly with His Excellency’s Vision 2030, which prioritizes economic diversification, tourism expansion, private-sector growth, and the creation of sustainable employment opportunities across all regions. By deepening hospitality capacity and strengthening conference infrastructure, the investment reinforces the Government’s strategy of building an economy by design, one that positions Guyana as a competitive destination for global business, travel, and events.
The project will comprise 256 rooms and is expected to generate over 450 jobs during construction and operational phases. In addition to its core accommodation and 2,000+ seat convention facilities, the development will feature multiple food and beverage outlets, specialty restaurants and lounges, retail spaces, and a potential seawall restaurant. Amenities will include a kids’ zone, fitness centre, sports facilities such as tennis and paddle courts, a swimming pool, pool bar and grill, a spa with wellness centre, and a Social Club, positioning the facility as a full-service hospitality and events destination along the Georgetown seafront.
The developers have committed to full compliance with Guyana’s laws and regulatory frameworks and are implementing the project under robust local content requirements. These measures are intended to maximize participation by Guyanese businesses and workers, strengthen domestic capacity in the construction and hospitality sectors, and ensure that the investment delivers lasting economic benefits to the country.
The project builds on the sod-turning ceremony attended by His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. The ceremony marked the formal launch of construction activities and underscored the Government’s commitment to expanding Guyana’s tourism infrastructure.
Ramsaroop’s visit to Qatar
In late 2025 in Qatar, Hon. Peter R. Ramsaroop, MP, Chief Investment Officer and Head of Go-Invest, engaged senior executives of the project company to finalize strategic investment arrangements and accelerate implementation timelines. These high-level discussions formed part of Go-Invest’s targeted international investor engagement strategy aimed at attracting transformative, large-scale projects aligned with Guyana’s expanding tourism and non-oil growth agenda.
Hon. Peter R. Ramsaroop, MP, stated: “This investment is not incidental, it is intentional. Under His Excellency’s Vision 2030, we are building an economy by design, expanding our tourism infrastructure, deepening private-sector participation, and positioning Guyana as a premier destination for global business and international events. The commencement of major foundation works reflects investor confidence in Guyana’s trajectory and our government’s disciplined approach to sustainable, non-oil growth.”
As construction progresses, the Hilton-branded Georgetown Seafront Resort and Convention Centre stands as a visible symbol of Guyana’s economic transformation, where policy meets performance and vision become reality. [PRESS RELEASE]
A Corriverton woman is recovering after sustaining 12 stab wounds allegedly inflicted by her partner, 46-year-old Patrick Singh.
Ruth Persaud, a neighbour, recounted the frightening events. She said that at about 13:40 hrs on Sunday, she was at home with her family when their peace was shattered by screams that initially sounded distant. Moments later, the area fell silent.
Persaud said that when she looked outside, she saw 49-year-old Olive Thompson of Lot 667, Number 76 Housing Scheme, Corentyne, Berbice, staggering toward her home with blood on her clothing. When Thompson reached the house, Persaud assisted her into a vehicle. At the same time, she said Singh was seen leaving the yard on a motorcycle, his clothes stained with a green substance believed to be poison.
Thompson was rushed to the nearby Number 75 Public Hospital, where she received urgent medical attention.
Persaud said a report was made to the Springlands Police Station, prompting an investigation. She noted, however, that Thompson did not disclose details of the attack to her.
The couple’s daughter, Chandra Singh, said she and her siblings were in Rose Hall Town when they received news of the incident. They immediately went to the hospital, where they learned their mother had been attacked inside a bedroom.
Chandra said that later that day, police visited their home in search of Patrick Singh. A search party was subsequently organised after it was suggested that he had ingested poison. On Tuesday at about 10:45 hrs, relatives discovered him lying unresponsive in a secluded area of the Number 76 New Housing Scheme. He was taken to the local public hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
According to Chandra, her mother sustained 12 stab wounds, including one that injured her liver. She underwent surgery to repair the damage, which was successful. Chandra said her mother’s condition has since improved and they were able to speak briefly, although she remains in pain.
“I am praying to God that she gets much better and well and comes out from there,” she said.
Chandra added that her mother had never indicated that she was experiencing problems in the relationship. She noted that on the day of the incident, the family had planned to visit Number 63 Beach later that afternoon.
“We left him in the hammock, and she was inside. When we left to go to Rose Hall Town, everything was normal — no argument, nothing,” she said.
Patrick Singh is survived by his wife, seven children, and other relatives and friends.
The upcoming physiotherapy seminar for coaches has already attracted strong interest, with 45 participants registered so far for what is a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at strengthening athlete welfare and performance standards in Guyana.
The one-day programme, scheduled for February 27 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, is being organised by the National Sports Commission (NSC) in collaboration with the Physiotherapy Department of the Ministry of Health.
The initiative is designed to bridge the gap between clinical sports medicine and everyday coaching practice, ensuring coaches are better equipped to manage athlete health and injury prevention.
Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle noted that the workshop aligns with the broader vision of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to professionalise support systems within sport and ensure Guyanese athletes receive world-class care (Photo: News Room/Avenash Ramzan/February 2026)
Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle described the programme as an important step in modernising sport development locally and revealed that the NSC is calling on all National Associations and Federations to take advantage of the opportunity by registering their coaches and technical staff.
“With 45 persons already registered, we are encouraged by the response so far, but we are still hopeful that the sports associations and others interested can come on board and register,” Ninvalle said.
He added, “This programme is important because coaches are often the first responders when injuries occur, and they must be equipped with the right knowledge and tools to make informed decisions.”
The seminar will feature a panel of experienced local physiotherapists and sports medicine practitioners, including Vanessa Wickham, Jana Edghill, Angelica Holder, Neil Barry and Kelly Coonjah.
Each presenter will focus on critical areas ranging from injury prevention to safe return-to-play protocols, providing both theoretical knowledge and practical applications.
According to organisers, the seminar will cover a wide cross-section of topics, including injury prevention and load management, mechanisms of injury linked to coaching decisions, acute injury management, concussion recognition, heat illness prevention in tropical environments, hydration strategies, structured warm-up and cool-down protocols, and strength and conditioning for injury resilience.
Additional sessions will examine youth athlete considerations, injury tracking systems, and criteria-based return-to-play frameworks.
Wickham is expected to set the foundation by addressing sports medicine team dynamics, injury patterns, and International Olympic Committee injury prevention protocols, while Edghill will focus on acute injury response, concussion management, and heat-related illnesses, a particularly relevant topic given Guyana’s climate.
Holder will emphasise proper warm-up and recovery strategies, Barry will present strength and conditioning principles for performance and injury prevention, and Coonjah will conclude with guidance on safe return-to-play systems and youth athlete development.
Ninvalle further stressed that the partnership between the NSC and the Ministry of Health represents a significant shift towards a more integrated national sports system, where medical expertise becomes embedded within training environments rather than treated as an afterthought.
“Its our vision for Guyanese athletes to perform at their highest level, but never at the expense of their health. When we invest in education for coaches, we are investing in the protection of athletes across every discipline, from grassroots to elite levels,” Ninvalle explained.
The NSC believes the seminar will play a key role in reducing injury incidence, preventing reinjury, and improving long-term athlete performance sustainability nationwide, while reinforcing a broader national commitment to athlete-centred sport development.
Trishwantie Persaud is a farmer who constantly faces pest control challenges in her backyard garden at Parika, East Bank Essequibo; a problem that can threaten weeks of hard work in a matter of days.
From unfamiliar insects attacking her cash crops to signs of plant disease she cannot immediately identify, Persaud says there are moments when she simply has to rely on guesswork or delayed advice.
“I am not fully knowledgeable about everything and sometimes you come across some things that you are not aware of,” she told the News Room.
But that could soon change.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), launched the Farmers Connect App — a digital platform developed within three months to deliver real-time agricultural information directly into the hands of farmers like Persaud.
Trishwantie Persaud
One of the app’s key features is an integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) system that allows farmers to upload photos of insects or diseased crops and receive immediate guidance. For someone like Persaud, that means quicker intervention and potentially saving her harvest.
“They say you can flash stuff like if you have insects or a disease or anything, you can put it in the app and you will get a response right now so you will be able to save your crop in the long run,” Persaud told the News Room.
Beyond pest identification, the Farmers Connect App offers direct access to extension officers for advice on best practices, crop health and pest management. It also provides real-time market prices for various crops and livestock, enabling farmers to make informed selling decisions. Climate updates and soil data are integrated into the platform, giving farmers additional tools to plan their production.
Growing up in a farming family, Persaud told the News Room she developed a love for agriculture at an early age and later studied the subject in school. After getting married and not being allowed to go out to work, she remained at home and transformed what started as a small kitchen garden into a steady source of income.
“It was always a kitchen garden we started with,” she said.
Today, she utilises both her yard and a neighbouring space to cultivate cash crops, with much of her produce sold within her own community.
“My neighbours tend to buy me out,” she added.
At the launch, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said agriculture continues to take the “front seat” as one of the main pillars of national development.
“Our farmers have carried the nation forward through resilience, dedication and hard work. You feed our people, you support our export and you strengthen our economy,” Mustapha said.
He explained that the app was designed to close long-standing gaps in information, communication and market access, ensuring the sector keeps pace with a rapidly modernising world.
“For too long farmers have faced challenges accessing real time pricing, receiving timely advisory services and connecting efficiently with buyers and support agencies. This app will change that,” he said.
Mustapha added that the platform complements the Agriculture Information System launched in 2024 and positions Guyana as the only country in the Caribbean to introduce such a system.
“This is the app that will help to transform the agriculture sector,” Mustapha declared, urging extension officers to embrace the technology and respond promptly to farmers’ needs. He also encouraged farmers across Guyana to download and uutilise the app regularly.
The app is currently available on the Google Play Store and accessible via the Ministry’s website and social media pages through a QR code.
Rotary District 7030 Governor Soraya Warner-Gustave is currently in Guyana for six days to better assess the community service efforts of local clubs. Warner-Gustave, the first Saint Lucian woman to hold this position, told the News Room that during her visit, she would meet with local leaders, youth groups, and volunteers.
Warner-Gustave said that the visit is intended to give her a clearer understanding of how clubs are responding to the needs of the communities they serve, while also motivating and inspiring members to continue their work.
“We want our clubs to understand the community needs of a particular environment and provide as much support as possible in collaboration with government, other stakeholders and corporate citizens,” Warner-Gustave said.
Rotary District 7030 brings together more than 2,400 Rotarians across 77 clubs in 17 countries and territories throughout the Southern Caribbean, stretching from St. Kitts in the north to Trinidad and Tobago in the south, including the Guianas – French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname. The local Rotaract includes six Rotaract clubs and nine Interact clubs, reflecting a strong youth presence.
According to Warner-Gustave, Guyana remains one of the district’s strongest Rotary groupings.
“Guyana is really one of our strongest Rotary groupings. The clubs here are very passionate and deeply rooted in their communities,” she said.
She explained that Rotary’s focus is not only on service delivery, but also on understanding club governance and the real impact of projects within each jurisdiction. Collaboration with government agencies, corporate citizens, and other stakeholders remains critical to ensuring sustainable development outcomes.
Assistant Governor Rafeek Kassim, who oversees Rotary’s local operations, said Rotary’s work has a meaningful impact but it often does not receive widespread recognition.
“Sometimes our work goes unnoticed, and sometimes we don’t have the spread of the work that we do,” Kassim said.
He highlighted several projects currently underway in Guyana, stressing that most initiatives are driven by detailed needs assessments. These include cervical cancer screenings in the Rupununi, as well as diabetes testing and dental outreach programmes in various communities. It also works with the Government to facilitate the distribution of $10,000 Ministry of Health vouchers to underserved communities. It also supports a shade-tunnel agricultural project where tomatoes and celery are being cultivated for community use while also providing an income-generating opportunity at Yarrowkabra and a childhood obesity prevention initiative promotes the consumption of water instead of carbonated and sugary beverages.
“Our projects are based on need assessments. Sometimes you can put the impact in numbers, and sometimes you can’t but when you go into the communities, you will definitely see the difference that we make,” he said.
Opposition Parliamentarian Ganesh Mahipaul has admitted that he did not anticipate the scale of the 2025 election loss but says his own post-mortem may hold the answers to the APNU’s defeat and what the coalition must do next.
The election results saw a significant demotion for the APNU in parliament. While it remained in opposition, the APNU now has 12 seats in the National Assembly, down from 31 it held with the AFC in the last session.
The AFC has failed altogether to secure a single seat on its own, but three APNU MPs have returned with the newly formed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN). Amanza Walton Desir is going it alone with a single seat and representing the Forward Guyana Movement – a party she started after a fallout with APNU.
“I did not see WIN coming in the way it came in with 16 seats. I did not see the PPP getting 36 seats, nor did I see APNU getting 12,” Mahipaul said in an exclusive interview with the News Room at the weekend.
Now months after the polls, he says his post-mortem of the elections is that APNU’s defeat was driven as much by internal weakness as by external forces.
Mahipaul argues that the previous 31-seat opposition bench was already unstable long before voters went to the polls.
“The 31 was fragile. This 12 is solid,” he said.
APNU’s 12-member team in the 13th Parliament
According to him, fragmentation inside APNU created the opening for WIN’s rise.
“We were reduced because of the fragmentation. We were reduced because of the in-house fighting. There wasn’t a sense of camaraderie. There wasn’t a sense of loyalty,” he said.
Instead, he said, too many individuals were focused on “self upliftment, ego and political capital.”
“And that destroyed the 31.”
He pointed to the fact that three returning MPs now sitting with WIN previously came from APNU’s side a shift he believes speaks to deeper fractures within the coalition.
“When you allow your being as an individual to consume the bigger picture, it affects the organization you’re a part of,” he said.
At the same time, he acknowledged that WIN leader Azruddin Mohamed’s philanthropic activities, including highly publicised acts of assistance to vulnerable citizens, and his ongoing troubles with the U.S law enforcement generated sympathy support.
“He showed the vulnerable that he has the ability to do philanthropy,” Mahipaul said.
“And I think that gathered some support for him.”
Mahipaul believes Mohamed’s entrance into frontline politics also heightened public attention to parliamentary proceedings.
He noted spikes in viewership during key parliamentary moments, arguing that the new political dynamic exposed both weaknesses and strengths across the spectrum.
“It amplifies the attention the country is placing on politics,” he said.
Asked to identify APNU’s single biggest mistake heading into 2025, Mahipaul did not hesitate.
“Unity,” he said. “We have to demonstrate greater unity.”
Opposition Parliamentarian Amaza Walton- Desir during her contribution to the debate of budget 2023 (Photo: DPI/January 23, 2023)
He believes visible internal division cost the coalition dearly and insists that rebuilding trust among supporters will be critical ahead of future elections.
“I think we are on that road,” he said, adding that APNU must show discipline in its approach, engage more directly with citizens and clearly distinguish itself from other opposition players.
He also pushed back against attempts to tie newer party figures to controversies from APNU’s 2015–2020 term in office which ended in aattempts to alter the results of the elections in favour of the APNU+AFC.
“Some of us are being asked to answer for things we know nothing about,” he said, noting that not all current members were part of government during that period.
Still, he acknowledged that political parties cannot selectively claim credit.
“You can’t defend the good and not take ownership of the bad,” he said.
For Mahipaul, the lesson of 2025 is that fragmentation weakens, ego divides and perception matters.
The Ministry of Agriculture is set to launch a new digital app aimed at improving farmers’ access to real-time agricultural support, including soil management guidance and weather forecasts.
The announcement was made by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during his appearance on the Starting Point podcast at the weekend.
“We will be launching an app where anyone can go on that app and get any information on agriculture.
“You can go on that app and get weather forecast, get all the soil mapping so if you go in Black Bush Polder, it will tell you what can grow in Black Bush Polder, if you go to Linden, it will tell you,” Mustapha said.
This app will provide accurate and actionable information sourced from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, allowing farmers to make better-informed decisions based on their location.
Mustapha explained that the platform will offer area-specific recommendations, outlining which crops are best suited for different regions across the country.
Zulfikar Mustapha, the Minister of Agriculture during the interview.
“You will see in different areas, what the type of crops are that can be planted so that you can get better markets for it,” the minister said.
The app forms part of the ministry’s broader push to modernise the agriculture sector through digital solutions, placing timely and reliable data directly into the hands of farmers.
He also said the government is hopeful that by the end of next month, a data centre will be commissioned to provide data for the wider Caribbean. Similar to the App it will include weather patterns, soil types and recommended crops for various territories.
The idea for this facility stemmed from President Dr Irfaan Ali’s visit to Costa Rica, where a similar model exists at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) headquarters.
He said this is important because the government is aiming to modernise the agriculture sector which has for many years only adopted traditional means of work.
“Farmers don’t take technology seriously, they want to do things how their foreparents used to do things so we want to change that concept, change that culture,” he said.
The minister further outlined plans to modernise the fishing industry through digital platforms and infrastructure upgrades. Over 500 vessels now have tracking devices on them. The Fisherfolk Organisation is working with the government to conduct digital training and track the fisherfolk in a system.
