Anthony Mathurin, a 53-year-old resident of Greenheart Street, South Ruimveldt, was found dead in his yard on Tuesday.
Police Headquarters, in a statement, reported that the man died sometime on Tuesday between 21:40hrs and 23:45hrs.
It was also noted that the man reportedly suffered from an illness, and was found lying motionless in the yard of the residence by relatives who then summoned Emergency Medical Technicians. He was examined and subsequently pronounced dead by a doctor on duty.
The body was escorted to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it awaits a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death.
CCTV cameras were observed and will be processed. No arrests have been made. Several persons were questioned as investigations continue.
The floodwaters in Black Bush Polder are receding after days of rainfall left the community inundated affecting residential and farmlands.
In response to the flooding, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, travelled to the region to assess the situation on Sunday last.
Following his visit, he held a meeting with local representatives and subsequently addressed the media, outlining several plans to mitigate the flood effects.
During an interview with the News Room on Wednesday, the Regional Chairman revealed that floodwaters have begun to recede after all interventions proposed by Minister Mustapha were fully implemented.
“We have seven pumps operating at Number 43, Eversham, and Adventure draining the lands, taking the water out into the sea. Those plans are active. All the pumps are functional. All the kokers are functional as well,” he affirmed.
Amar Jones has been described as a devoted father and a hardworking young businessman. Amar was gunned down in broad daylight on Tuesday while he was waiting to pick up his 5-year-old daughter along the Half Mile Public Road.
According to a Police release, the incident occurred at approximately 15:00 hrs while Jones was in a motor canter. Amar worked with his family’s tow truck, wrecking and machinery business.
Speaking with the News Room, a close relative said Amar, who recently celebrated his 27th birthday on December 14, was a jolly and friendly person who enjoyed playing football and was in the process of building his house.
“You ask the community, you ask the region, you ask the police, you would never hear [Amar] in a problem,” the relative said.
Amar Jones has been described as devoted father and a hardworking young businessman.
The relative explained that he and Amar worked closely together. On Tuesday, just 10 minutes before tragedy struck, the relative said Amar was waiting on his daughter to arrive.
“The last thing [Amar] told me, about ten minutes before this happened, was that he was waiting on his daughter who was coming in a car. I drove off and went home.
“Ten minutes later, I got a call that [Amar] dead,” the grieving relative said.
The News Room understands that Amar was with a friend in the canter and had asked the friend to collect his daughter from the vehicle moments before the gunman opened fire.
“He took very good care of his child. He would plait her hair, send her to school, and even the teachers could tell you the kind of person [Amar] was,” the relative explained.
Investigations revealed that an unidentified man discharged several rounds in Jones’ direction and then fled the scene.
A 24-year-old woman of Amelia’s Ward, Linden, has since been arrested and is currently in custody assisting with the investigation. Police have also seized a motor vehicle which is being processed as part of the ongoing probe.
As the New Year approaches, the Guyana Police Force has issued a stern warning to individuals and businesses against the illegal sale, possession, and use of firecrackers and other explosive devices. The Police Force, in a statement, cited serious public safety concerns.
According to the Force, the New Year’s period traditionally sees an increase in the use of firecrackers, which has, in past years, resulted in grievous injuries.
“There have been past instances where both children and adults suffered grievous injuries due to the use of firecrackers. We therefore urge all to exercise care and caution and to act responsibly when deciding whether to purchase or use these items,” the Force stated.
The Police Force further emphasised that persons found selling or in possession of illegal explosives will face prosecution. Under Section 13(1) and (2) of the Explosive Act, Chapter 16:06, the sale, purchase, and possession of explosives without permission from the Minister are strictly prohibited. Anyone found selling or distributing these items without the required permit from the appropriate authority will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Regional Commanders across the country have been instructed to maintain and strengthen enforcement efforts aimed at preventing the distribution of firecrackers and similar devices. These efforts include seizures where evidence of illegal sales is found, as well as raids and searches based on intelligence received.
Meanwhile, animal welfare advocates are also appealing to the nation to reconsider the use of fireworks as Guyana prepares to welcome 2026.
In a heartfelt message, Tails of Hope described the past year as a “rollercoaster ride” and called on the Government of Guyana, businesses, and citizens to choose compassion over noise during celebrations.
The organisation highlighted the distress caused to animals during firework displays, describing scenes of dogs, cats, horses, birds, and other animals cowering in fear, their tails tucked between their legs as they attempt to hide from what they perceive as “war-like” sounds. Animals, they noted, have highly sensitive hearing and can detect sounds beyond the range of human hearing, making loud, continuous explosions especially traumatic.
Tails of Hope also pointed out that fireworks negatively affect vulnerable groups such as the elderly, the sick, and young children. The group is therefore urging the public to be considerate and empathetic, and to help protect those who cannot protect themselves.
December 31, 2025: Today, at the stroke of midnight, Guyana will conclude its two-year term as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council. Our tenure began on January 1, 2024 and was guided by the overarching theme “Partnering for Peace and Prosperity”.
Guyana’s tenure on the Council coincided with a period of profound global and regional upheaval. Major crises included the war in Ukraine; the conflict in Gaza; violence in Sudan; the spread of terrorism and violent extremism across the Sahel; the Taliban’s intensified repression of women’s rights in Afghanistan; and the protracted conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Security Council also confronted severe humanitarian and political crises in Haiti, Syria, Yemen, and Myanmar, alongside emerging developments in the Caribbean Sea.
In 2025, renewed tensions between India and Pakistan, as well as between Cambodia and Thailand, further strained international security. The Council faced also difficult decisions on financing African Union–led peace operations, while also addressing worsening food insecurity in conflict-affected regions. Its agenda included issues such as cyber security, artificial intelligence, the safety and security of humanitarian and UN personnel, the future of multilateralism, and peacekeeping reform. These matters were deliberated on amid deep geopolitical divisions among the permanent members, which often hindered the achievement of consensus.
Guyana’s UNSC team
Guyana had the distinction of presiding over the Security Council in February 2024 and again in June 2025.. Under Guyana’s presidency, two signature events focused on “The Impact of Climate Change and Food Insecurity on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security” (February 2024) and “Poverty, Underdevelopment, and Conflict: Implications for International Peace and Security” (June 2025).
Guyana also played a notable role in advancing the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda, the Climate Peace and Security Agenda, the Youth Peace and Security Agenda and the Children and Armed Conflict file. It worked closely with Switzerland and Slovenia to draw attention to conflict-induced food insecurity as an Informal Co-Focal Point on Conflict and Hunger.
During its tenure on the Security Council, Guyana pursued an active and collaborative approach, working closely with elected members and regional partners to advance inclusive, principled, and pragmatic responses to international peace and security challenges.
Key actions and contributions during Guyana’s tenure included:
A3+ Collaboration:
Guyana worked closely with the African members of the Council—Algeria, Mozambique, and Sierra Leone in 2024, and Algeria, Sierra Leone, and Somalia in 2025—under the A3+ Mechanism. Together, the A3+ partners co-authored resolutions, Presidential Statements, and press statements on situations including Sudan, Libya, Benin, and the Guyana–Venezuela controversy.
Engagement with Elected Members (E10):
Guyana coordinated with the ten elected members to advocate for ceasefires and expanded humanitarian access in Gaza, including the co-authorship of several resolutions addressing the situation.
Youth, Peace and Security:
We co-authored with Sierra Leone a landmark resolution on Youth, Peace and Security aimed at strengthening the mainstreaming of youth across the peace and security agenda. The resolution calls, inter alia, for enhanced youth participation and leadership in peace processes, conflict prevention, peace-building, recovery, and reconstruction at all levels, and was unanimously adopted by the Council on 12 December 2025.
Leadership in Subsidiary Bodies:
Guyana chaired the Security Council Sanctions Committees on Haiti and Guinea-Bissau, and served as Vice-Chair of the Committees concerning Afghanistan and the Central African Republic. We also actively contributed to the work of other subsidiary bodies.
High-Level Engagement and Field Missions:
Guyana helped to organize and lead high-level briefings, debates, and expert engagements, including a Security Council mission to Colombia in February 2024 and an informal expert field mission to Chad in December 2025. Guyana also convened the annual open debate on Children and Armed Conflict.
Coordination and Regional Outreach:
Guyana was honored to serve as Coordinator for the E10 group (October 2024 and October 2025), the A3+ group (January–March 2025), and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Caucus in the Security Council. In this capacity, Guyana worked closely with CARICOM and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to elevate regional perspectives and priorities.
Civil Society Engagement:
We collaborated with civil society organizations to facilitate briefings for Council members, enhancing understanding of on-the-ground realities in several conflict-affected situations.
During Guyana’s period of service, the Security Council adopted 90 resolutions, 15 Presidential Statements, 77 Press Statements, and 21 Notes by the President, all of which were the subject of negotiation. Throughout this time, Guyana was widely regarded as a principled and constructive actor, firmly committed to multilateralism, the United Nations Charter, and the rule of international law.
Guyana’s service on the Security Council has brought immense acclaim and enhanced the country’s standing on the global stage. Guyana’s successful tenure on the Security Council over the past two years is owed to the outstanding support and tireless exertions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. Special recognition is due to Guyana’s Mission to the United Nations and their counterparts at home, whose dedicated efforts spearheaded this national endeavor. Guyana also expresses deep appreciation to its international partners, whose cooperation, goodwill, and constructive engagement strengthened the country’s work on the Council. Through these combined efforts, Guyana’s contributions on the Council remained consistently principled, effective, and widely respected. All of Guyana can take great pride in this collective achievement.
As this service concludes, Guyana takes this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to the shared pursuit of peace, security, and prosperity, striving together with partners across regions, hemispheres, and the global community to build a more just, inclusive, and harmonious world (Office of the President release)
In the year 2026, Guyana will observe its 60th anniversary as an independent nation, and President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday told reporters that grand celebrations are planned throughout the year.
Alongside those celebrations, he said, will be a major focus on supporting local creatives and fully embracing Guyana’s culture— deploying that local asset at a scale never seen before in the Caribbean.
“We are going to invest heavily in creating a film industry here (and) in creating entertainment hubs,” President Ali announced, adding that there will be new initiatives to guarantee that local artistes have a “structured form of income.”
Support for local creatives and the cultural sector is part of the government’s focus on developing the orange economy. This orange economy, or creative economy, refers to all economic activities related to creativity, culture, and innovation. And President Ali said he will encourage the local private sector to support ventures in this regard, particularly as his government hopes to harness local talent for the 60th anniversary celebrations.
Beyond the orange economy, the President said there will be a “grand homecoming” and tons of activities and events planned throughout the year for the anniversary celebrations.
Beautification of the capital city, Georgetown, and the development of spaces all across the country are also ventures the government will be focused heavily on. The President also said he wants more major cruise lines to come to Guyana.
The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has been beset by numerous challenges, leading to blackouts that have been a point of frustration for citizens. Though acknowledging that there have been some improvements, President Dr Irfaan Ali says many more developments are coming, and much more relief will be brought to citizens.
The President spoke about these plans during a year-end interview with women journalists and students.
He pointed out that ongoing development, which has led to the construction of thousands of new houses and the establishment of new businesses, contributed to the spike in the power demand. The increased demand, coupled with the aging power distribution system, has challenged GPL, the President said.
“On the power side, there have been improvements (though) still not where we want them to be (and there are) still weaknesses in management that we are addressing,” he said, adding later: “We are fixing and reinvesting in the entire infrastructure whilst we have to keep the power on.”
As he has highlighted before, Dr Ali explained that GPL and the main power grid it runs (the Demerara- Berbice Interconnected System), did not have enough investments from 2015 to 2020 while the former APNU+AFC government was in office. So, with demand outstripping supply, the President said his government has the herculean task of rapidly investing in GPL’s expansion.
There has been a need to invest in new generators locally as the power demand grows. The government sourced additional power from two power ships, so that excess demand can be met. Investments are being made to update the old transmission and distribution network.
Beyond current capacity, a major natural gas power project is under development. That Wales Gas-to-Energy project should provide an additional 300 megawatts (MW) of power to Guyana- an amount nearly equivalent to what currently exists.
There will be a complete assessment of the gold mining sector on January 5, 2026, as part of the government’s efforts to crack down on illegal activities within the sector, President Dr Irfaan Ali said on Tuesday.
The Guyanese Head of State delved into several topics during a year-end interview with journalists and students on Tuesday. The gold mining sector, he said, requires serious focus.
“We are going to link the mercury they buy with their declarations; if they have land that they are working on (and) they have dredges registered, but there is no declaration, we’re going to repossess those lands because there is no sense they destroy the environment and it’s not being used,” the President said.
He confirmed that the complete assessment of the sector will be done early in the new year and “strong decisions” will be made.
Over the past few weeks, government bodies and local mining associations have reiterated some of the rules governing the sector. A strong focus has been placed on reminding miners that gold must be sold to the Guyana Gold Board or authorised licensed dealers.
Last year, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo emphasised the need for the strengthening of the gold exportation system as well as the ramping up of charges and penalties to tackle gold smuggling. He noted that concerted efforts have enabled local authorities to pinpoint new tactics being used by gold smugglers.
Some of these efforts include the establishment of a task force and a rigorous assessment of gold declarations being made from time to time. The task force, which is comprised of the Attorney-General, the Minister of Finance, the Commissioner-General of the GRA, the Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the Governor of the Central Bank and representatives of the Guyana Gold Board, have already found loopholes in the existing regulations and have begun work to tighten the loose ends.
The trial of businessman Marlan DaSilva, who is charged with the brutal killing of his partner, Kenesha Vaughn, will begin at the next sitting of the Demerara Criminal Assizes.
DaSilva was committed to stand trial in the High Court after the case was heard before Magistrate Dylon Bess on Tuesday at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court.
DaSilva was represented by attorneys Sanjeev Datadin and Everton Singh-Lammy while attorneys Nigel Hughes and Kishawna Jefford served as prosecutors.
DaSilva is accused of killing his partner on the evening of February 22, 2025 at their home in Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara.
According to a Police report, DaSilva and Vaughn had an argument during which DaSilva allegedly slapped her. In response, Vaughn reportedly reached for a knife and approached him.
Police say DaSilva then drew his licensed firearm from his waistband and discharged several rounds in Vaughn’s direction, striking her about the body.
Ranks were later summoned, and Vaughn was taken to the Diamond Hospital, where she died while receiving treatment. The incident was captured on CCTV footage, which has since been tendered as evidence.
Legendary pacer Lasith Malinga has been appointed as a consultant fast bowling coach by Sri Lanka in the lead up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed in a statement that Malinga’s appointment is on a short-term basis effective from December 15 to January 25, 2026.
Having skippered the team to the title against India back in 2014, Malinga brings in a wealth of experience in the fast bowling forte.
Boasting 107 wickets from 84 T20I appearances and best known for his death bowling nous, the 42-year-old has mentored and coached in T20 franchise leagues since his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2021.
He also played the role Sri Lanka’s bowling strategy coach in 2022.
Sri Lanka will be looking to make the most of his experience as they brace to co-host the upcoming global event starting February 7.
The island nation is slotted in Group B alongside Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman. The former champions will face off Ireland in their opening fixture on February 8 at the R Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo.
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Amar Jones has been described as devoted father and a hardworking young businessman.
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Guyana’s UNSC team
