Blog

Terrence Alstrom has been charged by local authorities after he reportedly drove dangerously along the Rupert Craig Highway, damaging several palm trees that were planted as part of beautification efforts around the city. 

Alstrom, a resident of Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Shivani Lalaram at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. He pleaded guilty to the charge of dangerous driving and was fined $30,000 or six weeks’ imprisonment. 

Alstrom told the News Room that he has compensated the Ministry of Public Works for the damage caused. The damages amounted to $240,000. 

Concerns flagged over destruction of trees along Rupert Craig Highway

The post Driver who damaged palms trees charged, compensates Public Works Ministry appeared first on News Room Guyana.

A third successive T20I half-century from Darwish Rasooli, an anchoring fifty from Sediqullah Atal and a maiden T20I hat-trick from Mujeeb Ur Rahman helped Afghanistan take an unassailable 2-0 lead over West Indies in the three-match series.

Mujeeb grabbed four wickets in five deliveries spread across two different overs – and spells – to wreck West Indies’ pursuit of 190, and their downfall was swift thereafter.

They were eventually bowled out for 150.

Before Mujeeb’s 4 for 21, Rasooli and Atal enjoyed a 115-run third-wicket stand to hold Afghanistan’s batting innings together. A late cameo from Azmatullah Omarzai on a turning surface made the total even more daunting.

The win made it a hat-trick of T20I series wins for Afghanistan. The two teams meet again on Thursday for what will be Afghanistan’s final T20I before the T20 World Cup. West Indies will seek a consolation win before their tour of South Africa.

Mujeeb runs through West Indies

West Indies’ chase started poorly. They lost newly promoted opener Alick Athanaze to a direct hit in the third over, and they could score only 29 in the powerplay, squeezed by Fazalhaq Farooqi’s opening spell.

Mujeeb, who bowled two overs in the powerplay, then returned in the eighth and went around the wicket to skid one straight through and hit No. 3 Evin Lewis’ pad before he could bring out a shot.

When right-hander Johnson Charles walked in next, Mujeeb came over the stumps and got a delivery to drift in beautifully from outside off and through the gate to peg back off stump as the batter drove away from his body. West Indies were 38 for 3.

But they were not going down without a fight, and Shimron Hetmyer’s assault on Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad kept West Indies in the game.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s 4 for 21 included his maiden T20I hat-trick • ACB

Hetmyer pumped six sixes in a 17-ball 46. Farooqi, however, dismissed him in the 14th over, and Rashid brought Mujeeb back for his third, with West Indies needing 68 runs in five overs.

Mujeeb kept his length back, and with West Indies desperate for big shots, Brandon King (50) came down the track and miscued the hat-trick ball down to long on. Mujeeb wheeled away in celebration, having become the third Afghanistan bowler to achieve the feat after Rashid and Karim Janat.

Two balls later, T20I newbie Quentin Sampson failed to put bat on a googly, and Mujeeb had his fourth.

The lower order offered little resistance, as West Indies lost their last five wickets for 27 runs. (ESPNcricinfo) 

The post West Indies slump to T20I series defeat against Afghanistan appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The National Ramadan Village is set to return for its third year, providing a space for spiritual reflection, cultural exchange, and community unity during the holy month of Ramadan.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, Director of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), Shaikh Moeen ul-Hack, announced that the village will be launched on February 15, 2026, at 4:00 pm on the lawns of the Muslim Youth Organisation of Guyana (MYO), Woolford Avenue, Georgetown.

The feature speaker for this year will be Ustadha Leasha Prime, an Islamic trained educator, activist, and public speaker from The Gambia, who is also the Executive Director of the Yan Taro Project, a charitable organisation in her home country.

Organisers expect over 30,000 visitors to traverse the village during the month.

This year, the village will feature an expanded range of booths, including authentic local and international cuisine, Islamic literature, art and garments, as well as educational exhibits on the history and contribution of Islam. A new play area for children will also be established.

“It has become a landmark spiritual and cultural event, drawing Guyanese from all walks of life and visitors from the diaspora to experience peace and the community spirit of the holy month,” Shaikh Moeen ul-Hack said.

The village will be open every Friday to Sunday from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm throughout Ramadan, which is expected to commence on Thursday, February 19, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon.

“It is a space for unity and reflection. In keeping with Guyana’s rich tradition and multi-faith participation, the National Ramadan Village remains a space for both Muslims and non-Muslims.

“It offers a unique spiritual ambience for families to gather, break fast, pray, and learn about the Islamic faith in a welcoming environment, ,” Shaikh Moeen ul-Hack noted.

President of the Guyana Islamic Trust, Shaikh Abdool Aleem Rahim, highlighted the event’s growth over the past two years.

“Ramadan is all about growth and development. It’s about empathy, learning to appreciate, self-improvement.

“The village offers a unique opportunity for Guyanese to experience an environment of healthy socialising, share with one another, and understand Islam during the holy month,” he said.

The National Ramadan Village is an initiative of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), the Guyana Islamic Trust, and the Muslim Youth Organisation of Guyana (MYO), in collaboration with the Government of Guyana.

The Guyana Tourism Authority is expected to facilitate an Islamic Heritage Tour for locals, members of the diaspora, and international visitors wishing to experience Ramadan in Georgetown.

The post Ramadan Village returns, offering a space for unity and reflection appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The body believed to be that of Jamal Bourne, also known as “Skinny,” the wanted man who was captured on a live Facebook broadcast apparently shooting himself, was allegedly burned and dumped.

The News Room was reliably informed that efforts are being made to recover the body. Investigators probing the incident were told the details of what transpired during an operation at Three Miles Wisroc, Linden, on Tuesday, during which several persons were arrested.

During the operation, ranks discovered a Taurus pistol with its serial number filed off and six live rounds of ammunition hidden under a mattress. The firearm and ammunition were seized and were swabbed for gunshot residue.

Six suspects are currently in custody assisting with the investigation and according to sources, the suspects indicated that after Bourne fatally shot himself, they took his body into nearby bushes and burnt it. The remains were later removed from the area and dumped into a creek.

The News Room was reliably informed that one of the female suspects in custody reportedly told the police that she was washing bedsheets at a nearby creek when she heard the sound of what appeared to be a gunshot.

She claimed that upon returning to the house, she saw Bourne lying motionless; he was surrounded by others, whom she alleged was involved in burning his body.

Another suspect told investigators that Bourne had expressed fear for his life days before the incident and had instructed him to record a live Facebook video.

The suspect claimed that after the video was made, Bourne shot himself and also confirmed what the female suspect said about how the body was disposed. He stated that Bourne’s body was carried uphill into the bushes and burned.

The following day, the suspects disposed the remains into a creek. Police said a heap of burnt materials was later observed about 40 feet west of the wooden structure where the group of suspects was found.

When the incident went viral on social media, investigators could not confirm whether the incident did occur given the fact that no report was made to the police and the victim has a history of faking his death.

Police yet to confirm death of man in viral shooting video

The post Body of wanted man in viral shooting video burned, dumped in creek appeared first on News Room Guyana.

An operator was recently fined after he pleaded guilty to illegal mining when he appeared at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court.

The operator was arrested during routine inspections in keeping with ongoing efforts to ensure strict compliance with the Guyana Mining Act and Regulations. The exercises were conducted on several mining operations in the Essequibo River.

According to a release from the Ministry of Natural Resources, of the nine operations inspected by the ministry’s Corps of Wardens, one was found to be in breach of regulations.

“At J-199/000/10, overseen by Jonathan Rodrigues, the inspection revealed that the operation lacked permission and was mining within a designated buffer zone,” the ministry stated.

The general manager, found in possession of 1 ounce 13 dwt of gold, was arrested, and placed before the court.

The seized gold was lodged at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) headquarters.

“We will not tolerate illegal activities that undermine our laws and jeopardize our natural resources. We will remain steadfast in honouring our commitment to rigorous enforcement of the law to safeguard the integrity of our mining sector,” Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, stated in the released.

The ministry also reminded operators to conduct their business within the confines of the law as all offenders will be dealt with without fear or favour.

The post Operator fined after illegal mining shut down in Essequibo River appeared first on News Room Guyana.

As the National Assembly prepares for the presentation of Budget 2026, President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), Rafeek Khan, says the focus must remain on building a resilient and productive economy capable of sustaining growth over the next five years.

Khan, during an interview with the News Room on Wednesday, said the Association reported strong momentum in 2025, recording approximately 20 percent growth in membership. This expansion reflects increased confidence among senior business leaders across manufacturing, services, agriculture, construction, and emerging sectors such as oil and gas. Looking ahead, engagements with the government have centered on long-term planning rather than short-term gains.

“What we were cautioned about is building a resilient economy. We don’t want to grow at a pace that we cannot sustain, having a resilient economy is very critical in our budgeting, in our planning.  

“There are tariffs that impact Guyana, there’s shipping that impact Guyana [but] what are the things that we can control? Let us do best at it – infrastructure cost, energy cost, training of people, empowering businesses to get better,” Khan stated.

He said discussions with the Ministry of Finance and other private sector stakeholders highlighted the need to strengthen areas the country can directly impacts the businesses and their consumers. Access to financing remains a critical area of advocacy, with the GMSA welcoming ongoing discussions around development finance and alternative funding mechanisms. In 2025, the government announced its zero- interest development bank which will be established.

Khan said improved financing would enable businesses to invest responsibly while remaining aligned with the government’s broader economic vision.

“Access to capital continues to be a burden for businesses across the entire country. We hear the Government talking about solutions, we are anxiously looking forward to those solutions,” Khan said.

One of the Association’s key budget priorities is support for small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly through the expansion of shared industrial spaces and business incubators.

“I look at it like a business incubator, the GMSA will be including that in our building but the government has been doing it, we want to increase that even further to help small businesses grow,” Khan said.

Overall, the GMSA expressed optimism that the upcoming budget will reinforce collaboration between government and the private sector, ensuring that growth is inclusive, sustainable, and resilient in the years ahead.

The post GMSA advocates for financial & infrastructure support ahead of Budget 2026 appeared first on News Room Guyana.

On a day when England’s Ben Mayes flirted with history, the most significant movement occurred in the Group D standings.

Afghanistan’s 222-run hammering of Tanzania has not only secured their progression to the Super Sixes with a perfect record but has effectively pushed the qualification door shut for the West Indies—unless they can conjure an unprecedented result in their final group fixture.

The Group D Equation

Afghanistan 310 for 3 (Hassan 112, Ishaq 94) beat Tanzania 88 (Nabi 4-12) by 222 runs

Afghanistan’s massive victory has seen their Net Run Rate (NRR) skyrocket, leaving them at the summit of the group. For the West Indies, the scenario is now stark: to leapfrog into the Super Sixes, they require a “huge” win over an in-form South Africa in their final group match.

The mathematical reality suggests that a simple victory will no longer suffice; the Maroon Boys will need to win by a massive margin—likely exceeding 150 runs if batting first, or chasing a target within 15 overs—to repair their NRR enough to displace the Proteas.

Mayes makes history

England 404 for 6 (Mayes 191, Moores 81) beat Scotland 152 (Morgan 3-21) by 252 runs

While the calculators were out in Group D, Group C witnessed a batting masterclass at the hands of England’s Ben Mayes. Opting to bat, England recovered from the early loss of Ben Dawkins to post a tournament-high 404 for 6.

England’s Ben Mayes flirted with history

Mayes was the undisputed star, bludgeoning 191 from just 117 deliveries. It was an innings of pure carnage, featuring 18 fours and 8 sixes, marking the highest individual score ever by an England batter in U-19 World Cup history.

He fell just one run short of Viran Chamuditha’s all-time tournament record (192), but his 188-run stand with Joseph Moores (81) had already batted Scotland out of the contest.

Scotland’s chase never gained traction. Sebastian Morgan’s opening spell dismantled the top order, and despite a gritty middle-order resistance from Finlay Carter, the Scots were bundled out for 152.

The 252-run victory ensures England enter Group 2 of the Super Sixes with maximum points and significant momentum. Scotland’s fate now rests in the hands of Pakistan; they require a Pakistani victory over Zimbabwe to sneak through to the next phase.

The post U-19 World Cup: Afghanistan’s thumps Tanzania to leave West Indies needing miracle against South Africa appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Two of Guyana’s rising stars in football officiating have successfully completed the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Next Generation Referee Course.

Sherwin Alli and Alliyah Antigua were among 24 officials from across 15 Caribbean nations who descended on St Kitts and Nevis for an intensive three-day developmental programme.

The course, which concluded on Sunday, combined gruelling fitness assessments with high-level technical sessions on handball interpretation and penalty-area management.

For Sherwin Alli, the 2026 programme served as a platform to confirm his status as one of the region’s most promising talents.

Having already established himself in the domestic Super 16 Cup and Elite League, Alli walked away from the course with both the Peer Award and the Leadership Award—high praise from his contemporaries and instructors alike.

“It’s about maintaining professionalism on and off the field,” said Alli, who hails from Kamarang in Region 7.

For a man who started his journey in one of Guyana’s more remote districts, the goal is now clear: the FIFA International List.

While Alli is a familiar face at this level, Alliyah Antigua made her NextGen debut following a breakout 2025 season.

Antigua’s inclusion reflects the widening pathways for women in Guyanese football. After impressing in the Women’s Development League, her transition to the regional stage in St Kitts marks a significant step toward international recognition.

Beyond the drills and classroom sessions, there was a poignant moment for the Guyanese contingent.

The programme observed a minute’s silence to honour the late Maurees Skeete, the trailblazing Guyanese referee whose impact on Caribbean officiating continues to be felt.

For Alli and Antigua, the tribute served as a reminder of the “Elite” legacy they are now tasked with carrying forward.

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) confirmed the duo’s success as part of a wider “milestone” for the country’s refereeing standards, with both officials expected to return to domestic duties with an expanded international network and a refined tactical approach to game management.

The post Guyanese duo make their mark at CFU Referee Course appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Guyana’s Under-17 women’s football team is preparing for a gruelling schedule in Aruba as they look to navigate a path toward the 2026 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.

Head Coach Delon Williams officially unveiled his squad for the first round of the CONCACAF qualifiers and the message from the National Training Centre was clear: Guyana is ready to compete.

Despite being drawn in a ‘Group of Death’ alongside regional heavyweights Jamaica and Honduras, there is a palpable sense of progress within the camp. Williams has named a squad balanced with technical poise and physical grit, insisting his side possesses the tactical identity needed to cause an upset in Aruba.

“We are undaunted,” a defiant Williams said following the final selection. “The work we’ve put in at Providence wasn’t just about fitness; it was about belief—we are going there to compete for the top spot.”

Technical Staff: Delon Williams (HC), Gavin Fredericks (Asst), Nichola Argyle (Mentee), Danitza Indacochea (GK).

The post Guyana out to topple CONCACAF giants in Women’s U-17 World Cup qualification quest appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Police have taken one person into custody as investigations continue into the fatal shooting of 34-year-old carpenter Homton Chichester, also known as “Orlando,” along the Bare Root Access Road, Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara, on Sunday night.

Police Commander of Region 4C, Khali Pareshram confirmed the arrest. He said investigations are ongoing.

The shooting occurred at about 19:30 hrs. Chichester’s body was found lying motionless along the roadway with suspected gunshot wounds to the chest and shoulder. He was subsequently pronounced dead.

Reports indicate that Chichester was recently involved in an altercation with a man from the Dazzle Housing Scheme, during which he was accused of having an affair with the man’s wife.

As the investigation unfolds, Chichester’s mother, Mary Smith-Chichester, is pleading for justice. She said her son had returned home only to spend time with his son who was celebrating his birthday.

“I was inside sitting down when I heard residents telling my daughter that my son get shot and he’s dead,” the grieving mother recalled.

At the time, she said she knew Homton was working in Berbice and was expected to return home, and she initially did not believe the news.

She said she later went to the scene, where her worst fear was confirmed.

“I saw a crowd and when I look, I saw my son lying. From the way he look, I know that he was dead. The motorbike was at the corner in the trench and he wasn’t far from there.

“I go and I touch his belly…and I begin to cry,” Smith-Chichester said.

Smith-Chichester said her son had returned home after hearing that his only son’s birthday was on January 13 and that the child was crying to have his father around.

On the night of the shooting, Homton reportedly left home to cut his hair and told his mother he would stop by afterward.

Describing her son as a hardworking and straightforward man, Smith-Chichester said she was unaware of any ongoing issues involving him.

“He didn’t had problems with anyone I know of. He had one incident and that resolve in a peaceful way,” she said.

Still struggling to come to terms with his death, the grieving mother said she is relying on her faith as she waits for justice.

“God time is the best time. I trust God that whoever shot my son multiple times, that they would find the perpetrator,” she said.

The post One in custody in Bare Root carpenter murder probe appeared first on News Room Guyana.