Blog

Several security guards employed by Sentinel Security in New Amsterdam, Berbice, have voiced serious concerns over the delayed payment of their salaries for the months of November and December 2025.

One of the affected workers, 60-year-old Bhojkarran Ramchander of Goed Bananen Land, East Canje, told the News Room that he and four colleagues have gone unpaid for two months. According to Ramchander, when he contacted the company’s New Amsterdam office for answers, he was reportedly informed that there were insufficient funds to process their salaries.

He explained that further inquiries resulted in workers being redirected between the New Amsterdam and Georgetown offices, with each office claiming the other is responsible for issuing payments.

“We need we money because we get children to mind, house bills to pay, and we gah eat,” he said.

Having worked with Sentinel Security for more than ten years, Ramchander noted that the situation has placed severe strain on him as the sole breadwinner for his family.

Another employee, 28-year-old Vishal Seenarine, also shared his frustration, stating that he was paid for October 2025 just before the Christmas holidays but has not received payment for the subsequent two months.

He added that the delay has made it difficult to meet basic living expenses, including utility bills.

“GPL doesn’t want to hear that you don’t have money. We still have to pay for electricity and internet. I came to work this morning without food because I don’t have money to buy anything,” he said.

The affected day-shift workers are now appealing to senior management at Sentinel Security to urgently intervene and ensure their outstanding salaries are paid. Efforts by the News Room to contact the company proved futile.

The post Sentinel Security guards strike over delayed salaries appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Minister of Education Sonia Parag will soon commence scheduled meetings with Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) as part of plans to foster stronger ties and ultimately, improve schools.

Parag, in a video shared on her Facebook page, said those scheduled engagements are expected to enable direct information sharing. That easy flow of information, she said, could help improve children’s attendance, reduce any dropout rates, identify any issues with infrastructure or address any other challenges.

“That engagement is going to assist us and assist parents, teachers, and students to get a better partnership… to ensure that the policies established are being carried out in the schools (so) that we can get the best results,” Parag said.

The Education Minister acknowledged that there are already some vibrant PTAs in communities and she believes relationships between the central ministry and the associations could be improved.

Days ago, Parag said schools across Guyana are expected to receive performance-based report cards for the first time, as the Ministry of Education moves to strengthen accountability and drive improvement. The engagement with PTAs, Parag said, is another way of driving improvement.

The post Parag wants stronger collaboration with PTAs as part of plan to improve schools appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips has defended the government’s development agenda, saying the administration has a clear mandate to transform lives and will continue to pursue its programmes while keeping the public fully informed at every stage.

Speaking on the ‘Starting Point’ podcast, the Prime Minister said while citizens have an unquestionable right to speak freely and raise concerns, the government remains focused on delivering services and improving the quality of life across all sectors.

“We have a mandate,” Phillips said, stressing that the government’s programmes are designed to be transformative and inclusive. He noted that development cannot be pursued in isolation and that projects across infrastructure, social services and economic growth are being implemented as part of a coordinated national plan.

The Prime Minister also addressed public concerns about transparency, emphasising that the administration is committed to clear and consistent communication. He said citizens are being informed about every major project, including timelines, costs and expected completion dates.

“If it’s a bridge, we tell you when it starts, when it’s expected to be completed and what it will cost,” Phillips said, adding that misinformation often creates unnecessary anxiety and resistance to projects that are intended to benefit communities.

Touching on public participation, Phillips rejected claims that citizens are afraid to share ideas for fear of political labelling or appropriation. He said the government remains open to ideas at all times, noting that proposals not included in one budget cycle can still inform future national budgets.

“We will continue to listen to the people,” he said, cautioning against allowing misinformation to divide citizens or undermine constructive dialogue.

The Prime Minister also spoke briefly about the country’s major development projects, including the gas-to-energy initiative. He explained that while the first phase is expected to come on stream later this year, the second phase will play an even stronger role in shaping Guyana’s long-term development trajectory.

According to Phillips, the project is central to reducing energy costs, boosting industrial growth and supporting wider economic expansion, positioning Guyana for sustained development in the years ahead.

The post Prime Minister promises transparency and wider public engagement appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill has ordered the placement of barriers along sections of the Ogle to Eccles highway to prevent developers from creating dangerous 90-degree entry points onto the highway, warning that failure to act could result in loss of life.

Addressing the issue on Monday, Edghill raised concern about what he described as an increase in unsafe access routes being constructed by developers along the corridor.

He reminded that the highway was designed for high-speed travel, with a speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour, and is not intended to accommodate direct right-angle entrances.

“Erect barriers to prevent them from getting onto the highway…before somebody dies or several people die and then we have to face the consequences of not allowing safety concerns not to be addressed on this highway,” Edghill said.

According to Edghill, officials from the Ministry of Public Works have repeatedly cautioned that improper access points create a dangerous speed differential between vehicles exiting developments and motorists already travelling on the highway.

“I know people will say that government give them permission to do the development but I am certain as a representative of the Cabinet, a permission to do development does not mean recklessness in the use of the roadway or a highway,” he said.

Edghill disclosed that developers operating along the corridor were previously summoned to the Ministry, where they were instructed to submit detailed designs outlining how their projects would safely access the highway.

“Everybody have to comply. I called every developer that we knew to my boardroom and we had a discussion, and all of them were supposed to bring a design to show how they will make their access to get to the highway,” Edghill explained.

However, he said only some developers have complied by submitting drawings and receiving approval. As a result, the Ministry has authorised the installation of barriers to physically prevent unapproved entry points onto the highway.

Issuing a stark warning, Edghill said continued unsafe practices could have deadly consequences.

“People are going to die here if they continue to drive out like that,” he cautioned.

The Guyana Police Force has been engaged on the issue, as authorities move to address the matter urgently.

The post Edghill orders placement of barriers to block unsafe access onto Ogle–Eccles Highway appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Police are investigating a viral shooting social media video that allegedly shows wanted man Jamal Bourne, also known as “Skinny,” inflicting a suspected gunshot wound to himself during a Facebook Live broadcast. Police noted that there is currently no official confirmation of Bourne’s death.

Though an investigation was launched, the Guyana Police Force said no official report of the incident has been made to any of its divisions.

According to Police Headquarters, the Force is aware of the video, which surfaced online on Sunday, January 18, 2026, and appears to show Bourne sustaining a suspected gunshot injury during the live broadcast.

Bourne, Police said is wanted in connection with the murder of Akeem Hamer at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, on September 12, 2024.

Police noted that during the broadcast, Bourne was also seen in the company of other individuals and was allegedly displaying a cadre of suspected firearms.

“The video has since been removed from the page on which it was originally posted,” Police Headquarters said.

The GPF said it is treating the matter seriously and is making all necessary enquiries to verify the location where the video was recorded, as well as the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The post Police yet to confirm death of man in viral shooting video appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh on Monday announced that Budget Day this year is Monday, January 26, 2026.

This will be the first Budget presented by the current administration since it was re-elected to office in September 2025.

The post Budget Day is Monday January 26 appeared first on News Room Guyana.

An unidentified man robbed a 34-year-old manager of a Smyth Street restaurant of $642,000 on Sunday night.

Police Headquarters, in a statement, said the incident occurred at around 21:58 hrs just outside the restaurant.

The manager reportedly collected the daily sales from the restaurant and placed the cash into a bag before heading into her motor car, which was parked in front of the establishment. However, she was approached by an unidentified male who opened the driver’s side door, pointed a handgun at her, and relieved her of the cash before fleeing the scene on foot.

Police said CCTV cameras in the area were identified and will be reviewed. Several persons were contacted and questioned.

The suspect is presently being sought as investigations continue.

The post Smyth Street restaurant manager robbed of nearly $650,000  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The Guyana Police Force is investigating the tragedy that unfolded at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Sunday evening, where a pregnant 22-year-old woman reportedly died by suicide.

The Police Force, in a release, said the pregnant woman hailed from Schoonard, West Bank Demerara. She was a patient of the female medical ward, on the top floor of the hospital.

“… while a nursing assistant was administering medication to another patient in the ward, the victim was observed lying on her bed covered with a sheet. Moments later, an alarm was raised after the victim was seen outside a window where she reportedly fell to the ground below,” Police said in the release.

The woman died around 18:25 hrs. Her body was escorted to the hospital’s Mortuary, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Investigations are ongoing.

The post Police probing GPHC tragedy appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Prime Minister Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips has assured that Guyana’s security forces remain in a heightened state of readiness along all borders, as authorities closely monitor developments in neighbouring Venezuela and their potential spillover effects.

Speaking on the Starting Point podcast at the weekend, Phillips said the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has long maintained deployments along the country’s borders with Suriname, Brazil and Venezuela, but security posture was further intensified following recent events across the western frontier.

“In terms of readiness, the Defence Force is already deployed along all our borders… and as a result of what transpired in January, we immediately went into a more heightened state of readiness,” the Prime Minister explained. He added that troops were already on alert, but additional emphasis was placed on sensitising not only the military, but also the police, the Guyana Fire Service and border communities.

Phillips disclosed that following a meeting of the Defence Board, he travelled to Region One (Barima-Waini), where engagement focused not only on the security forces, but also on the regional administration. According to him, local officials play a critical role in intelligence-gathering and regional security, particularly in hinterland and border communities.

“We met with the regional administration because they have an important role in terms of intelligence and security of the region,” he said, noting that officials also visited several communities to interact directly with residents.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that many residents in border areas are closely following developments in Venezuela, despite challenges with connectivity. He said that before his arrival, residents were already aware of major political events unfolding there.

Phillips stressed that while authorities have not observed any unusual activity along the Guyana–Venezuela border so far, vigilance remains key.

“To date, thankfully, we have not seen anything unusual — just what we consider routine activities of people on the frontier. But we will not fall into any false sense of security,” he warned.

Guyana, he said, will continue to focus on preventing any instability or untoward acts on the Venezuelan side of the border from spilling over, underscoring the State’s responsibility to defend its territorial integrity and protect citizens living in border regions.

“At the end of the day, we have to defend our border and ensure that the people who live on our side enjoy an acceptable level of security, free from any acts of instability that may take place on the other side,” Phillips said.

The post PM Phillips says Guyana remains on heightened alert at borders appeared first on News Room Guyana.

As Guyana prepares to host several international events in the coming months, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill has given a directive to contractors working on the Carifesta Avenue road widening project to improve the safety and cleanliness there.

Edghill recently visited the project site to ensure progress is being made. Highlighting the dangers posed by poor visibility and increased risks to motorists at night, the Minister noted that this roadway is heavily traversed.

“I’ve asked that the carriageway be cleaned and the lighting be improved because while driving here at night, it’s difficult and while we are improving and bringing benefits to our citizens, we must minimise inconvenience and ensure safety,” the Minister said.

A section of Carifesta Avenue where the project is being executed. (Photo: DPI)

The minister further stated that more lights are required along the corridor and the ministry will be monitoring to ensure that all the lights are working in the area.

“They have to clear the mud off the shoulders of the road to ensure that the lanes are remaining safe,” he said.

Another issue affecting the work are cables within the area that are connected to several agencies in the area. He said this issue is being remedied.

“[They have to get] NDIA’s permission to proceed forward with a design that is approved by them to ensure that the water that needs to be drained and get to the pump station is placed in a manner that is adequate to allow for the removal of the water.

“This has been a process that has been taking too long. And I’ve asked that the head of the programme, as well as the project engineer, engage NDIA. We have to tie this up and get this done fast. We must get out of this area and get this road completed,” the minister said.

The project commenced in 2024. The minister said this roadway has heavy traffic and must be ready to accommodate a further influx in February, therefore these interventions are being done.

The post Edghill directs improved safety for ongoing Carifesta Avenue road project appeared first on News Room Guyana.