A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) had been hopeful that the opposition parties could present a united front in the National Assembly; however, the party’s Chief Whip Ganesh Mahipaul said talks with the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party have not materialised.
As such, Mahipaul explained in a statement, APNU will go alone in Parliament and has identified its shadow ministers to guarantee adequate representation.
The APNU Chief Whip said his party asked him to engage WIN so the parties could collaborate in Parliament to effectively hold the governing People’s Progressive Civic (PPP/C) Administration accountable. However, Mahipaul said there was a mere telephone discussion and no substantive workplan has been developed though months have gone by.
Consequently, APNU has abandoned hopes of partnering with WIN. The newly-formed WIN party managed to secure more votes and seats in Parliament than the PNC-led APNU; the People’s National Congress Reform has been a major player in Guyana’s governance in the post-Independence era.
Mahipaul said APNU will no longer waste its time pursuing such engagements.
“We will continue to be disposed to working with other opposition forces. Hopefully WIN sees the wisdom of working together . The only thing Azurdin seems to be interested in right now is to protect himself from his legal jeopardy and selectively exposing some of the wrongdoings of the PPP/C that he was part and parcel of, and facilitated when the friendship was strong. In the circumstance, he is best advised to continue to sing like a canary but also realise that being a MP requires lots more,” Mahipaul said in the statement.
As the National Assembly prepares for the presentation of Budget 2026, optimism is building across Guyana’s private sector, with business leaders expressing confidence that the government’s fiscal plan will deliver tangible benefits, particularly for women and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh confirmed on Monday that the national budget will be laid in the Assembly on January 26, setting the stage for what private sector stakeholders describe as another round of people-centred, growth-oriented policies shaped by sustained consultation and engagement.
Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh with leading representatives of the private sector on Budget 2026
By Tuesday, leaders of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the Private Sector Commission (PSC), and the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana (WCCIG) were united in their assessment: the government’s consistent engagement with business is translating into confidence, predictability and opportunity.
Kathy Smith, the first woman President of the GCCI
Kathy Smith, the first woman President of the GCCI, elected in March 2025, said the budget process has become one defined by structured dialogue and mutual respect.
“Budget season for us always begins with consultations with our members,” Smith explained. “They share their ideas in different ways—emails, WhatsApp messages, phone calls—and we compile those submissions and present them to the Minister of Finance.”
Smith said the Chamber’s most recent engagement with Dr. Singh left the private sector feeling encouraged and heard.
“This has become a staple programme for the GCCI and private sector members. Every year before the budget presentation, the Minister ensures he engages us to understand what the private sector would like to see,” she said.
She pointed to the government’s willingness to revisit and act on proposals previously submitted, including incentives related to backup generators and productive sectors, as a key confidence booster.
“When we see ideas repeated and refined in subsequent budgets, it gives us confidence that consultation is not just symbolic—it matters,” Smith said.
She noted that the GCCI is particularly optimistic about increased support for MSMEs, a segment she said is growing rapidly and becoming more diverse.
“We are seeing more women and more young people entering the MSME space over the last two years because of the opportunities being created.
“Access to finance used to dominate the conversation. That’s no longer the case—finance is available. What we are now encouraging members to do is position themselves to access it,” she said.
Smith highlighted improved lending arrangements from commercial banks, alongside government-backed initiatives such as the Development Bank, as signs of a more enabling environment for business.
“We will continue to support the government’s pro-business initiatives because we have realised that this government is good for business. That is something the business community sees clearly,” Smith said.
That sentiment was echoed by President of the Private Sector Commission, Captain Gerald Gouveia Jr., who said the PSC’s submissions focused on broad, inclusive growth objectives—from empowering women and persons with disabilities, to improving take-home pay for workers and incentivising investment.
President of the Private Sector Commission, Captain Gerald Gouveia Jr.
“Our goals included maximising take-home salaries, raising the minimum wage, reducing corporation tax, and creating incentives for businesses to do the right things,” Gouveia said.
He described the consultation process with the Minister of Finance as robust, fair and productive.
“He was receptive. In some cases, he said, ‘Great idea.’ In others, we debated back and forth. There were no easy wins, but there was fairness and pragmatism,” Gouveia said.
Gouveia said discussions spanned every major sector—from tourism and aviation to mining, manufacturing and infrastructure—and left the PSC hopeful that a significant portion of its proposals will be reflected in the final budget.
“Even if we see 50 per cent of what we asked for, that would be meaningful.
“The engagement was very fruitful, and I’m excited to see the presentation. I think it will do very good for the country,” he said.
President of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana, Josephine Tapp
Meanwhile, President of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana, Josephine Tapp, said the government has shown a growing appreciation for the role of women in economic development and long-term growth.
“In a relatively short time, we have touched almost every region through our work developing women and advancing opportunities,” Tapp said, noting that the Chamber has been actively engaging ministries, including Social Services and Finance, to feed ideas into the budget process.
“There is an acknowledgement that women are important to the economy and to sustainable growth,” she said.
“There is a willingness to engage and to understand how these initiatives can work practically.”
Banks DIH Holdings Inc. has rejected claims that a proposed amendment to cap shareholder voting power at 15% is unlawful, saying the criticism is based on misinformation and a failure to review official shareholder documents.
The amendment is due to be voted on at the company’s Annual General Meeting on January 31, 2026.
“Our goal remains transparent governance, wider shareholder participation, and the continued protection of our company’s core values,” the company stated.
In a detailed response published on Tuesday, the company dismissed arguments raised by Christopher Ram, a chartered accountant and corporate governance commentator, who described the proposed amendment as “misconceived and legally impermissible”.
Banks DIH said the 15% limitation on voting power is consistent with company law, established Commonwealth legal principles and the long-standing corporate philosophy of its founder, Peter d’Aguiar, aimed at preventing the concentration of control among a small group of shareholders.
To move was to ensure shareholder democracy, with the “essential idea” being that the company “ should not be under the control of the few, but share ownership should be widely dispersed.”
The company noted that Ram sold all of his shares in Banks DIH Holdings Inc. in October 2025.
According to the company, a circular explains that the 15% cap does not restrict share ownership or deprive shareholders of property rights, but instead limits the number of votes that may be exercised at meetings if the threshold is exceeded.
Banks DIH said that once a breach of the limit is discovered, shareholders would be required to divest excess shares within 28 days, failing which the company may sell the shares and remit proceeds to the owner. Votes cast above the threshold would also be deemed invalid.
The company rejected assertions that such a voting cap is illegal, stating that courts in Commonwealth jurisdictions have upheld similar provisions as enforceable when included in a company’s constitution.
Banks DIH also denied claims that the amendment is designed to entrench existing management, noting that no single shareholder currently owns more than 11.4% of the issued share capital.
The response said the restructuring of the Banks DIH group under a holding company framework represents a novel development in Guyana’s corporate landscape and aligns with best practices in governance and control.
Though massive renovation works of the City Hall building completed, the City Engineer, Colvern Venture has said minor works within the compound are still ongoing.
Speaking about the progress of the years long project during a meeting on Monday with the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, Venture said works are still ongoing for the buildings within the compound.
“There’s some minor works to be completed then we have to do some upgrades on the City Engineer buildings which has a similar construction as the City Hall building so that will be upgraded very shortly and then we will move on to the other buildings which is the building that houses the Mayor’s office,” Venture said.
He said that the administration building will also be upgraded. The buildings are expected to be done within the next six months.
The $780 million restoration project, funded by the European Union, has returned the century-old Gothic Revival structure to its former glory, following years of deterioration.
The restoration of the building was originally slated for completion in March 2023. The project was awarded in 2021 to Trinidad-based contractor, Fides Limited, and initially had an 18-month timeline.
A major task for the team is to balance the structural integrity of the buildings there and preserving the historical value of the three-storey building of City Hall itself. These challenges required meticulous planning and manual labour, further extending the project timeline.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand has affirmed that beautification efforts at the Stabroek Square have already yielded numerous benefits and similar projects will unfold across the country.
“Change is not always easy, change is very hard until you can see the benefits of those changes. Across the country, you are going to see various spaces that we are building out not only for beautification but for young people to play games and for young people to have a healthy wholesome way for people to bounce some basket balls,” Minister Manickchand said.
To observe the Christmas season, several events were held at the Square in efforts to entertain shoppers there. Manickchand said bands performed and families were entertained, highlighting the impact that the beautification project paves the way for.
The audience at one of the events.
In December, the plans to have the space to be upgraded, similar to the public area recently created opposite Parliament Building were revealed.
However, there was some unease as vendors within the area were asked to vacate. The issue was eventually resolved and two vendors still remain, operating in the square.
“Those two same vendors are vending in that same square which incidentally should not be happening for any vendors but we are not going to interfere with anyone’s livelihood unless we have somewhere to relocate them,” Minister Manickchand said.
Additionally, Manickchand said these are projects and upgrades that will be done within several communities as the government works towards improving the aesthetic and spaces across the country. Already, parks and recreational spaces are being built out to provide persons with comfort and spots to engage in games.
With a mission to provide structure, visibility and a stage for talents to shine, the newly formed Caribbean Boxing Organisation (CBO) is set to transform regional boxing with its Pro/Am Showdown, a monthly boxing card geared to showcase the region’s fighters, grow the professional combat sport and deliver unforgettable events for fans.
The CBO is a conglomerate of promoters of Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Martin, Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Grenada, Curacao and Suriname fusing their vast experience and working in unison to build a stronger Caribbean boxing community.
President of the CBO and Chief Executive Officer of Bris-O Promotions Seon Bristol explained that each country will undertake to host an event every month, with Guyana targeting the staging of three to complete a full year of boxing.
Bris-O Promotions has teamed up with the Guyana Boxing Board of Control and the Guyana Boxing Association to stage the inaugural card on January 24 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, featuring six high-octane amateur bouts and seven riveting professional fights.
“It’s about to go down,” Bristol emphatically stated at the media event just days before the opening card.
“I’m happy that all our boxing fans here in Guyana and throughout the Caribbean are going to get a night of excitement. We have what I would consider pure prized fighters. We’re here not to recreate anything, but to enhance the world of boxing throughout Guyana and the Caribbean.”
Bristol continued that the CBO is premised on setting a standard for the fistic sport in the region to the point that it can be emulated elsewhere.
“We are creating a blueprint from fighters’ contracts to security to the finesse of comfort and style.
“We like to compare ourselves to others, but we will have others compare themselves with us- they will want to be like us. When we hear Don King Promotions, Caesars Palace etc. we look for glamour and fame- we’re going to have it right here.”
See below full amateur fight card
Abiola Jackman (Guy) vs Eyed Angel George (T&T ) at 90+kg
Shakquain James (Guy) vs Ossis Prince (Guy) at 71kg
Roopesh Balgobin (Guy) vs Junior Madray (Guy) at 40kg
Travis Iverary (Guy) vs Mordino Massie (Sur) at 72.5kg
Jofes Jackman (Guy) vs Chivoro Blackson (Sur) at 76kg
Ken Harvey (Guy) vs Zahir Timpico (Sur) at 56 kg
See below full professional fight card
Desmond Amsterdam (Guy) vs Edmond DeClou (Guy)- six rounds
Quincy Gomes (Guy) vs Charles Cox (Bar)- six rounds
Rasheed Williams (Bah) vs Nico Yeo (Jam)- eight rounds
Terrence Adams (Guy) vs Samuel Green (Sur)- four rounds
Joel Williamson (Guy) vs Damar Haslam (Jam)- four rounds
Delon Charles (Guy) vs Jamal Eastman (Guy)- four rounds
Mitchell Wielson (Sur) vs Tyreece Taitt (Bar)- four rounds
Tickets are available at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Transport Sports Club and Windjammer Hotel. General admission is G$2,500 and Ringside G$5,000.
CB 1 Construction Company, SuperBet and C and G All Sports Promotions are the corporate entities onboard as partners for this weekend’s card.
See below the full release from the Ministry of Home Affairs:
The Ministry of Home Affairs has taken note of serious allegations of sexual exploitation, abuse of authority, and misconduct at the Guyana Police Force Academy.
Upon receipt of the report, the Administration immediately directed the Criminal Investigation Department and the Office of Professional Responsibility to commence full investigations into the allegations.
The Ministry treats these matters with the utmost seriousness and reiterates its zero-tolerance policy for abuse, exploitation, or misconduct within any agency under its oversight.
Any individual—regardless of rank, position, or tenure—found to have engaged in wrongdoing will be charged and held fully accountable under the law. At the same time, the Ministry remains firmly committed to ensuring that due process is observed and that investigations are conducted thoroughly, fairly, and without interference.
The welfare, dignity, and protection of all trainees and officers within the Guyana Police Force remain paramount.
Australia recorded a comfortable win against Japan in their second match of the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 to book a place in the Super 6s on Tuesday.
Points were shared again in Bulawayo after the game between New Zealand and Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.
Japan opted to bat first after winning the toss and despite losing Nikhil Pol early, were able to set a platform to post a competitive score on the board.
Nihar Parmar and Hugo Tani-Kelly built a solid 58-run partnership that was ended by a smart piece of Australian fielding as Parmar was run out on 33. But Tani-Kelly, the centurion in the last game, was in fine form and continued to aid the Japanese cause.
He was supported well by Charles Hinze after the departure of Parmar, adding 24 runs off 22 balls. However, after his dismissal, Tani-Kelly kept running out of partners until Montgomery Hinze, whose 29 off 51 allowed Tani-Kelly to take Japan’s score past the 200-run mark
Tani-Kelly was the pillar of the Japanese innings as he remained unbeaten on 79, setting the defending champions a target of 202.
Australia’s opening pair sniffed out any chance of a threat in the second innings with a power-packed opening partnership.
Will Malajczuk and Nitesh Samuel posted a 135-run stand in just 15 overs to put Australia on course for the win. Malajczuk scored a 51-ball hundred to record the fastest-ever century in ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup history. His knock of 102 in 55 deliveries gave Australia enough momentum for them cruise to a win.
Samuel remained unbeaten on 60 as Australia eased to an eight-wicket win to book their place in the Super 6s.
Australia next face Sri Lanka, who also have a perfect record in the tournament so far on Friday while Japan take on Ireland on Thursday.
New Zealand and Bangladesh had to settle for a share of the spoils after rain only allowed 10 overs of play on Tuesday.
Bangladesh had asked New Zealand to bat first after winning the toss and the Kiwis had got off to a good start thanks to Aryandeep Mann and captain Thomas Jones, who came in after the loss of Hugo Bogue’s wicket.
However, the heavens opened at the end of the 10th over, allowing no further play as the game was called off.
This is New Zealand’s second straight game that has been abandoned due to rain. They next face India on Saturday, while Bangladesh take on USA a day earlier. (ICC)
The new Hosororo Secondary School in Region One (Barima- Waini) has been completed and opened its doors on Tuesday, providing hundreds of students with a modern and comfortable learning environment.
During a live broadcast on Monday night, Regional Chairman, Brentnol Ashley announced that the school is fully prepared to welcome students from several villages across Mabaruma.
“The school is ready to open its doors to the many children who have been longing to start attending this new institution,” Ashley said.
The $2.6 billion state-of-the-art secondary school complex is expected to accommodate more than 500 students. Classrooms are designed to house between 15 and 25 students each, offering increased space and a more conducive environment for learning.
Some of the students attending the Hosororo Secondary School (Photo: Ministry of Education/January 20, 2026)
Regional Education Officer Anasha Peters confirmed that all systems are in place ahead of the opening, including furnished classrooms, water and electricity.
“We have made it possible for the opening of this school so your children can be in a much more comfortable classroom and learning will be even better,” Peters said.
Before the construction of the new facility, students were forced to attend classes under a shift system for an extended period. Peters acknowledged the challenges this posed.
“We know that was not good. So now, they will be in school from Monday to Friday,” she said.
A classroom in the new Hosororo Secondary School
The Hosororo Secondary School complex features several modern facilities, including science laboratories, a dining area, and specialized spaces for Science, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Information Technology, Home Economics, and Industrial Technology. Teachers’ quarters and a student dormitory were also constructed as part of the project.
In October 2025, Minister of Education Sonia Parag visited the site and engaged contractors on the importance of meeting the project’s January 24, 2026 completion deadline.
With construction now complete, an official commissioning ceremony is expected to be held soon.
Police are investigating the discovery of 513 grams of suspected cannabis found on the southern side of the New Amsterdam Prison on Monday afternoon.
The discovery was made at about 15:10 hrs after a prison officer, acting on information received, searched the area and found leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.
Police were subsequently summoned and the suspected narcotics were handed over and escorted to the Central Police Station, where it was weighed and amounted to 513 grams.
The suspected cannabis has since been lodged pending further investigations.
 100vw, 640px”><figcaption class=)
Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh with leading representatives of the private sector on Budget 2026 100vw, 423px”><figcaption class=)
Kathy Smith, the first woman President of the GCCI 100vw, 457px”><figcaption class=)
President of the Private Sector Commission, Captain Gerald Gouveia Jr. 100vw, 460px”><figcaption class=)
President of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana, Josephine Tapp
 100vw, 506px”><figcaption class=)
The audience at one of the events.
</p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/615820116_1212647234342470_1768433453256903873_n-300×169.jpg” data-large-file=”https://newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/615820116_1212647234342470_1768433453256903873_n-1024×576.jpg” class=” wp-image-217364″ alt=”” width=”640″ height=”360″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/615820116_1212647234342470_1768433453256903873_n.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/615820116_1212647234342470_1768433453256903873_n.jpg 300w, https://i0.wp.com/newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/615820116_1212647234342470_1768433453256903873_n.jpg 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/615820116_1212647234342470_1768433453256903873_n.jpg 768w, https://i0.wp.com/newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/615820116_1212647234342470_1768433453256903873_n.jpg 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/615820116_1212647234342470_1768433453256903873_n.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1 1280w” sizes=”auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px”><figcaption class=)
Some of the students attending the Hosororo Secondary School (Photo: Ministry of Education/January 20, 2026) </p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/618151621_10161775649370566_3192465976293196008_n-300×225.jpg” data-large-file=”https://newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/618151621_10161775649370566_3192465976293196008_n-1024×768.jpg” class=” wp-image-217365″ alt=”” width=”640″ height=”480″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/618151621_10161775649370566_3192465976293196008_n.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https://i0.wp.com/newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/618151621_10161775649370566_3192465976293196008_n.jpg 300w, https://i0.wp.com/newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/618151621_10161775649370566_3192465976293196008_n.jpg 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/newsroom.gy/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/618151621_10161775649370566_3192465976293196008_n.jpg 768w” sizes=”auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px”><figcaption class=)
A classroom in the new Hosororo Secondary School 
