Blog

The 88-year-old husband of slain Ogle resident Lackandai Tamessar has undergone a psychiatric evaluation as police continue investigations into the alleged homicide of the elderly woman.

As part of the investigative process, the man was interviewed by detectives and later escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was assessed by a psychiatrist. A report from that evaluation was submitted to investigators, after which he was returned to the Sparendaam Police Station pending further investigations.

Tamessar, 89, was found dead with multiple stab wounds at her Ogle Airstrip Road home, East Coast Demerara. Police believe the incident occurred sometime between Friday, December 26, 2025, around 16:00 hrs and Tuesday, December 30, 2025.

Investigators said the elderly woman was last seen alive on December 26, when a relative visited her. On December 30, the same relative returned to the house and discovered her lying motionless with what appeared to be stab wounds about her body.

She was taken to the Plaisance Health Centre, where she was pronounced dead. Her body was subsequently transferred to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it remains pending a post-mortem examination.

Police ranks have since revisited the scene and carried out further investigations. Exhibits and samples collected during the processing of the area have been submitted to the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis.

A post-mortem examination is scheduled for Friday, January 2, 2026, as investigators continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.

The post Husband undergoes psychiatric evaluation as Police continue to probe Ogle stabbing appeared first on News Room Guyana.

In a pulsating night of semi-final action, holders Sparta Boss were sent packing, ensuring a new champion will be crowned when the President’s Cup Futsal Championship, coordinated by the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation,  reaches its climax this Friday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Bent Street ‘A’ emerged from a ten-goal thriller to secure their place in the final, where they will meet a rampant Road Warriors side who look in ominous form after a 9-0 demolition of Bomb Squad.

With a winner’s purse of G$3M on the line, the final on January 2 is set to be the most lucrative and high-stakes fixture in the tournament’s history.

The headline act of the night was the collision between giants Sparta Boss and Bent Street ‘A’. Bent Street looked to have taken early control, racing into a 2-0 lead through Beveney McGarrell and Colin Nelson.

Sparta Boss responded with a devastating four-goal blitz in just nine minutes. Nicholas MacArthur bagged a brace, supported by strikes from Jobe Caesar and Ryan Hackett, to leave Bent Street trailing 4-2 by the 31st minute.

In a frantic final five minutes, they produced an unanswered four-goal surge of their own. Jemar Harrigan became the hero of the hour, scoring twice in sixty seconds to restore the lead, before McGarrell added the exclamation point in the final minute to seal a famous 6-4 victory.

If Bent Street’s path to the final was a dogfight, the Road Warriors’ progression was a clinical execution.

Arckson Dos Santos was the catalyst, recording a hat-trick, while Matheus Henrique added a brace in a performance that lacked any sign of mercy.

While the senior men’s final takes center stage, the New Year’s Friday bill is stacked with championship pedigree across the divisions:

The Schoolboys: West Ruimveldt, led by a five-goal masterclass from Okel Roberts, will face Dolphin Secondary in what promises to be a high-scoring final.

The Women’s Final: Defending champions Lady Kanaimas—fresh from a 10-0 semi-final rout—will defend their title against a disciplined Lady Royals side.

The post Sparta Boss dethroned as new champion to be crowned in President’s Futsal Championship appeared first on News Room Guyana.

By Akeem Greene

news@newsroom.gy

In the quiet corners of the Georgetown Club or the National Racquet Centre, the rhythmic ‘thwack’ of a squash ball against a wall is a constant.

For 12-year-old Ethan Bulkan, it is the heartbeat of a dream that stretches from the courts of Guyana to the Olympic rings.

While many his age are navigating the early hurdles of secondary school, Ethan is in London, standing on the precipice of the ‘Wimbledon of Squash’—the Centenary British Junior Open.

It is a career high that comes on the heels of a year defined by bittersweet symmetry: 2025, the year of the “Double Silver.”

Reflecting on a campaign that saw him secure second-place finishes at both the Junior CASA and the Junior Pan American Open in Guatemala, Bulkan is candid about the thin margins of elite sport.

Ethan Bulkan finished second at the Junior Pan American Games in 2025

In the Pan Am final against Colombia’s Tomas Gonzalez, he won the first set and pushed the next two to 10-10 tie-breaks.

He describes it to News Room Sport as having one hand on the trophy, only for it to slip away.

While most would celebrate being the second-best U13 player in the hemisphere, Bulkan views those silvers as both his highs and his lows.

“It is not a nice feeling to come so close and not go all the way,” he admits with a maturity that mirrors his clinical play on court.

It is this honesty—this refusal to settle for second—that marks him as a future champion.

He speaks of “digging deep” in the quarter-finals and relying on raw fitness to overcome grueling five-setters, proving that for him, the result is consistently earned in the final moments of exertion.

Off the court, the stakes are just as high. A stellar academic performer at the prestigious Queen’s College, Bulkan is a living rebuttal to the idea that one must choose between the classroom and the court.

He represents a rare breed of student-athlete who maintains a high standard of performance in two national sports, having also donned national colors in badminton.

The secret to this balancing act is a combination of rigid discipline and an ironclad support system. He credits his parents for instilling a simple rule: when it is time for schoolwork, it is schoolwork; when it is time for sports, it is sports.

It is a philosophy centered on dedication, recognizing that what you put into the process is precisely what you get out.

He already has his eyes on the Ivy League—Harvard, Yale, or UPenn—but with a grounded perspective: “CXC first,” he reminds himself.

Behind this elite trajectory is a family fortress. He describes his family as his “backbone,” but singles out one person as his “rock”: his elder brother, Egan.

The two are inseparable training partners, pushing each other to the limit daily. However, the stars are aligning for a narrative that could have been ripped from a movie script, as in 2026, both brothers will move into the Boys U15 division.

Ethan and his elder brother Egan have a light moment 

The goal for the new year is a maiden individual Gold at Junior CASA in Trinidad.

The irony is that the person standing in his way in the final might be the brother who helped him get there.

It is the ‘Battle of the Bulkan Brothers, Part 2,’ and for Ethan, it is the final piece of the competitive puzzle.

As Ethan prepares for his first serve of 2026 in London, his progression is undeniable. From a CASA bronze in 2023 to a double silver in 2025, the trajectory points toward a single color.

“I want to one day represent Guyana in squash at the Olympics,” he says.

It is a bold statement, but for a boy who treats the most prestigious junior tournament in the world as a starting point rather than a destination, it feels less like a wish and more like a plan.

The post Ethan Bulkan chasing a ‘golden double’ in 2026 appeared first on News Room Guyana.

See below the full New Year’s message from the PPP/C: 

The People’s Progressive Party extends warm New Year’s greetings to all Guyanese at home and across the Diaspora as we welcome 2026 with renewed faith, hope, and confidence in our collective future.

This new year dawns at a moment of significance for our country and our Party. Having been entrusted with a renewed mandate by the people of Guyana, we enter 2026 humbled by that confidence and resolute in our responsibility to continue delivering results that tangibly improve lives.

Over the past five years, Guyana has emerged as a model state on the international stage—respected for principled leadership, sound economic management, and responsible stewardship of its natural resources.

Our record speaks clearly. Through the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030, Guyana has assumed global thought leadership on energy and climate security while preserving its environmental integrity.

We have positioned our nation as a regional leader in food production, delivering record achievements in rice and advancing diversification across key agricultural crops. Domestically, we have focused relentlessly on empowering citizens—reversing over 200 taxes and fees, creating thousands of jobs, increasing disposable incomes, restoring benefits to workers and pensioners, and ensuring that no new taxes were introduced between 2020 and 2025.

Our investments in people have transformed opportunity. Education has been made free at the University of Guyana, student loans written off, CSEC examination fees covered, and tens of thousands trained through initiatives such as GOAL. Health and education infrastructure continue to expand to world-class standards. Home ownership has been advanced at an unprecedented scale, with more than 50,000 house lots distributed in five years—bringing security and dignity to families nationwide.

As we look ahead, 2026 marks the acceleration of Guyana’s transformation. The coming year will see the commencement of 40,000 new homes, continued free education at all levels, expanded agricultural production with co-investment opportunities, and increased access to financing and support for small businesses through the Guyana Development Bank. Cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable energy will come on stream with the Gas-to-Energy project and major grid upgrades, complemented by renewable energy projects that reinforce Guyana’s global environmental credentials.

Equally important, 2026 will deepen reforms that make government more efficient, transparent, and people-centred. The digitisation of public services and the expansion of citizen-focused platforms will improve access, reduce inefficiency, and strengthen accountability. We will also intensify efforts to address social challenges—including gambling, drug abuse, and gender-based violence—through education, prevention, and community-based interventions that strengthen social cohesion and public order.

Guided by the commitments outlined in our 2025–2030 manifesto, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration remains steadfast in its mission to build a Guyana that delivers for all.

Once again, we extend New Year’s greetings to all Guyanese at home and abroad, and express our deepest appreciation to our hardworking educators, healthcare professionals, members of the disciplined services, and all other public & private sector workers whose dedication, sacrifice, and professionalism sustain our nation every day. As we enter 2026 together, may this new year bring continued opportunity, unity, and shared prosperity for every family and every community across our beloved Guyana.

 

The post ‘Gov’t focused on building a Guyana that delivers for all’ – PPP/C says in New Year’s message appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Having completed his first term since his return as Finance Minister in 2020, and being part of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government that has successfully managed an economy that continues to grow exponentially while the country’s landscape has transformed at a rapid pace, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh during an interview with the National Communications Network (NCN) explained that the growth in the country’s economy has been reflected in the creation of economic opportunity for Guyanese in every single sector.

“Everybody who is in economic policy aspires to a situation where your economy is growing. This is the objective of economic policy makers all over the world, but it is also important that that growth translates into improved well-being to the citizens whom you serve. Growth is not an end. It is really the means to a bigger end which is the improvement of the circumstances and lives of people,” Minister Singh posited as he reflected on government’s success over the last years with this year’s Mid-Year report showing strong economic growth, with an estimated 7.5 percent overall real GDP growth in the first half, driven by a 13.8 percent expansion in the non-oil economy.
“Certainly, we have seen very strong economic growth both in the overall economy and also in the non-oil economy, having grown at an average in excess of 10 percent, in the vicinity of 11 percent since 2021, reflecting the fact that that incorporates the benefits in the oil and gas sector along with the creation of economic opportunity in every sector,” the Minister highlighted.

Dr. Singh explained that there has been more foreign direct investment in the country than at any other time in its history reflected in the establishment of new companies and foreign owned businesses that have come to Guyana as well as those entering into partnerships with Guyanese companies and setting up new businesses in every single sector and sub sector of the economy.

“You see it also in the expansion in the credit to the private sector, which has also grown at astronomical rates, certainly over the last five years, more rapidly than at any other time in our country’s history,” Minister Singh further explained.

He noted that these have translated into more economic activity, job creation, and income generation, resulting in 60,000 more persons being employed over the last five years.

“And that’s not a small number. That’s a very significant number, and if you think about it, that expansion has occurred in every single sector of the economy. In oil and gas, you probably have in excess of about 6000 or 7000 persons working that were not six or seven years ago, in the tourism and hospitality sector, there are entire brand new hotels that are in operation, brand new restaurants in operation that didn’t exist before, in the healthcare sector there are several new hospitals that have been established, more doctors, more nurses, more laboratory technicians, more ambulance drivers, more pharmacists, so much so that we are unable to find enough of them,” he highlighted.

The finance minister then reminded that government has been training more persons as rapidly as it can to meet the requirements of both the private and public healthcare sector with private hospitals also expanding.
Turning his attention to the construction sector, the minister noted the ongoing construction boom as he explained that this was not only taking place as part of the public sector investment programme (PSIP), but also private industrial and commercial construction with the physical landscape and face of the country continuing to change.

“There are more factories, more warehouses, more processing plants, more office buildings going up than we’ve ever seen before, so you have private industrial and commercial construction, you have the public sector investment program, which, of course, are the bridges, roads and hospitals and schools that are being built by government, all of which have created job opportunities. And then of course, you have the household sector. These are homes being built,” Dr. Singh further underscored, alluding to the more than 50,000 house lots distributed during government’s first five-year term.

“Many of those house lots are now under construction. Imagine for every single home the number of jobs that will be created, imagine thousands of homes being constructed- carpenters, masons, plumbers, electricians, painters, transportation, providers. And I could go on and list sector after sector, and you would see that in literally every sector more people are working,” the Minister added.

The Minister said not only are there more people working because of economic growth but that more people are getting better quality jobs as well.

“And then, of course, we have taken the deliberate policy that we want to make sure that we invest in things that are necessary for people to be able to improve their lives so we are investing heavily as well in human capital development, social services, and in particular, in education and training and skills development,” Minister Singh concluded.

The post Economy’s growth reflected in creation of economic opportunities in every sector – Finance Minister  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Guyana’s horse racing season explodes into life on January 4 as two of the country’s most dominant Thoroughbreds- both undefeated, both champions- are set to collide in what is already being billed as one of the most anticipated races in modern Guyanese racing history.

All eyes will be on Olympic Kremlin, the reigning Horse-of-the-Year 2024, as he makes his much-awaited return to competition at the Opening Day of Racing at Rising Sun Turf Club.

The Brazilian-bred star, owned by Slingerz Racing Stable, is undefeated to date and comes into 2026 with an intimidating résumé: 2024 Guyana Cup winner and President’s Cup winner, and multiple feature race victories after his historic 2024 campaign.

Standing squarely in his path is another unbeaten powerhouse, Dataman, the USA-bred sensation from Master Z Racing Stable.

Dataman is a perfect 2-for-2, capturing both the Guyana Cup and President’s Cup titles in 2025, and has quickly established himself as a serious force at the very top of the local racing ladder.

The January 4 feature will be contested over one mile, a distance that both horses relish.

Olympic Kremlin and Dataman have each proven their class at the trip, winning mile races at Rising Sun Turf Club and Port Mourant Turf Club, posting remarkably similar times despite racing on different days and under different conditions.

It is a match-up that racing fans have been debating for months:

• Brazil vs USA
• Slingerz Racing Stable vs Master Z Racing Stable
• Horse-of-the-Year vs the New Champion Challenger
• Undefeated vs Undefeated

Simply put, something has to give.

Olympic Kremlin returns after a brief setback that kept him on the sidelines, but all indications from his camp suggest he is back at full strength.

A representative of Slingerz Racing Stable shared their confidence ahead of the race: “Olympic Kremlin has done everything asked of him in Guyana. He’s proven himself against the best, and he loves the mile. January 4 is about reminding everyone why he’s Horse-of-the-Year. Why he will remain undefeated.”

With victories in the two most prestigious races on the local calendar and an unblemished record, Olympic Kremlin enters the race as the established king, but with no room for complacency.

Across the aisle, Master Z Racing Stable is equally confident.

Dataman’s rise has been swift, decisive, and impressive, and his connections believe the time is right to challenge the old guard.

A spokesperson for Master Z Racing Stable responded with equal confidence: “Dataman hasn’t put a foot wrong since arriving. He’s undefeated, he’s won the biggest races, and the mile is exactly what he wants. If there was ever a moment to prove who the best horse in Guyana is, this is it. Their will not be a second chance.”

Dataman’s American breeding, tactical speed, and proven stamina make him a formidable opponent, one many believe could usher in a new era.

The January 4 showdown is about more than trophies. It is about bragging rights, stable pride, training skills and legacy.

It is the kind of race that defines seasons and becomes part of racing folklore.

Adding to the excitement, Dataman’s presence on Opening Day ensures that the curtain rises on the 2026 season with maximum intensity, setting the tone for what many expect to be one of the most competitive years Guyana racing has ever seen.

This head-to-head clash underscores the growing quality and ambition of horse racing in Guyana.

With top-class imports, serious investment from owners, and enthusiastic crowds, the sport continues its resurgence, culminating in moments like this.

On January 4, Rising Sun Turf Club will not just host an opening race day.

It will host a battle between two undefeated champions, over a distance they both dominate, in a race that will answer one question: Who is really the King of this sport?

Excuses are prohibited! The countdown is on!

The post Undefeated champions set for historic showdown at Rising Sun on January 4 appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Three men and a woman were remanded to prison on Wednesday after they were charged for their involvement in the attempted trafficking of 31.5 kilogrammes (or nearly 70 pounds) of cocaine.

According to a release from the Customs Anti-Narcotic unit (CANU), Andre Moonilall and Sherwin Laundry appeared before Magistrate Nurse at Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court No. 1 on Wednesday. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the offence of possession of narcotics for trafficking.

Bail was denied for both defendants, and they were remanded to prison until  February 9, 2026.

The cocaine found

Meanwhile, Jermin Adams and Amanda Lam appeared before Magistrate Nurse at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court No. 1. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the offence of aiding in the trafficking of 31.452 kilograms of cocaine. Bail was denied for both defendants, and they were remanded to prison until February 9, 2026.

In another release, CANU said ranks seized the cocaine during an operation in Broad Street, Montrose, on December 29. A motor vehicle was intercepted, and a subsequent search of the vehicle revealed 27 brick-like parcels, each containing a quantity of cocaine.

The post Four persons remanded to prison after nabbed with nearly 70 lbs of cocaine  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

President of the Lusignan Golf Club Anasha Ally said the club is poised for an exciting and progressive 2026, as it builds on the foundation laid over the last two years.

The Club has put together “a dynamic calendar of major events” for the coming year, as efforts continue to further elevate the club’s standing while offering significant visibility, engagement, and networking opportunities for corporate partners.

Below is a press release issued by the Club

Building on the momentum of a highly successful 2024 and a year of steady advancement in 2025, Lusignan Golf Club enters 2026 with confidence, ambition, and a clear focus on continued growth, partnership, and excellence.

Lusignan Golf Club President, Ms. Anasha Ally, reflected on the club’s progress and outlined an optimistic outlook for the year ahead, noting that her re-election allowed the executive committee to further strengthen the foundation laid in 2024.

“Continuing from a successful 2024 and following my re-election, we focused on building on what we started,” President Ally said.

“A restructured executive committee saw members placed in new roles, and the results have been very encouraging. The entire committee has performed credibly, as demonstrated by the successful hosting of the Brava Guyana Open and several other tournaments, even with weather challenges at times.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Lusignan Golf Club is preparing for a dynamic calendar of major events, including the highly anticipated AmCham Golf Tournament, along with a number of other national and regional competitions.

President Anasha Ally (third left) and other members of the executive

These events are expected to further elevate the club’s standing while offering significant visibility, engagement, and networking opportunities for corporate partners.

President Ally also highlighted continued infrastructural and operational investments aimed at enhancing the overall golfing experience. Lusignan Golf Club is in the process of acquiring new grounds equipment to further improve course quality and maintenance standards.

The club has also expanded its fleet of golf carts, while the clubhouse continues to benefit from upgrades including new bathroom facilities, fresh painting, and other outdoor improvements.

“These investments directly translate into better playing conditions and an enhanced experience for our members and visitors,” Ally added.

“We have also seen encouraging growth in membership and participation, which reflects the positive direction in which the club is heading.”

The President expressed sincere appreciation to existing corporate sponsors, acknowledging their integral role in the club’s development and the successful execution of major tournaments.

She also issued a strong invitation to Corporate Guyana to partner with the club in 2026.

“As we move into 2026, Lusignan Golf Club actively welcomes new corporate sponsors and partners,” Ally stated.

“Sponsorship of the club and its events provides meaningful brand exposure, direct engagement with key stakeholders, and an opportunity to contribute to the continued growth of golf in Guyana. We look forward to building mutually beneficial partnerships with Corporate Guyana as we expand our events calendar and continue to enhance our facilities.”

Despite wider national staffing challenges, Lusignan Golf Club has successfully retained dedicated and experienced grounds and clubhouse staff, a factor President Ally described as essential to the club’s ongoing success.

“We could not do this without our hardworking staff. Their commitment and professionalism are fundamental to maintaining the standards of the course and the club,” she said.

As the new year begins, Lusignan Golf Club reaffirms its commitment to development, collaboration, and excellence, ensuring that 2026 will be a year of opportunity, growth, and excitement for members, sponsors, and visitors alike.

The post Lusignan Golf Club poised for exciting and progressive 2026 appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The search for 54-year-old fisherman Permaul Punsammy continues, and recently, some of his belongings have been found. Permaul fell overboard in Suriname waters during a fishing trip.

Permaul’s brother, 56-year-old Veerasammy Punsammy, who was on the trip with him, told the News Room that it was raining at the time of the incident on December 19, 2025. Permaul was caught in the seine that was being thrown into the Coppename River, Suriname, and fell overboard.

Veerasammy confirmed that after noticing this, he and the other two crew members began searching and calling out, during which Permaul responded three times.

“The third time he call on me, he seh ‘Harvey’. And he go down deh. After he call on me we start pull back the seine. Abe tie the seine so if he hold on it he can come up but he na hold on the seine, ” he said.

Veerasammy stated that after pulling the seine, Permaul’s cloak was found hooked onto it. Veerasammy believes his brother attempted to remove the cloak in hopes of catching the seine again, but he did not. While continuing the search, they found Permaul’s headlight a short distance away.

The search persisted until the following morning. The next day, he said they visited several landing sites in Suriname and sought the assistance of other boat operators to help locate Permaul.

The incident was reported to authorities in Suriname, and a formal report was filed at the Number 51 Police Station. Given the elapsed days since his disappearance, Veerasammy believes Permaul is no longer alive.

“That’s extra hard for him to live. Unless he hold onto something or meet up with Town boat. Otherwise, he don’t have any alternatives. That is what me understand because of what position abbay bin deh because he gon pitch far,” he stated.

The post Search continues for missing Whim fisherman appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Three men were robbed of their valuables on Tuesday night at Harpy Drive, North East La Penitence. They were robbed by two men who have not yet been identified.

Police said the men– ages 23, 35, and 37– were relieved of a quantity of cash, a cellular phone, jewellery, and other personal items.

Preliminary enquiries revealed that two unidentified males on a motorcycle, one of whom was armed with a handgun, approached the victims and carried out the robbery before escaping.

Ranks visited and processed the scene. No injuries were reported. CCTV cameras were observed and will be reviewed. Efforts are being made to locate the suspects.

Investigations continue.

The post Three men robbed at La Penitence appeared first on News Room Guyana.