Blog

The Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown have ordered the immediate removal of all vendors operating around Yhip’s Bakery at the corner of Alexander and Robb Streets, citing a High Court order prohibiting vending in the vicinity.

In a public notice issued on Saturday, the municipality said a mandamus and court order had been granted by the High Court, barring vending activity immediately surrounding the property.

The court ruling requires full and immediate enforcement by the city authorities.

The notice further disclosed that contempt proceedings were filed against specific officers of the Mayor and City Council, prompting the council to take immediate steps to fully adhere to and enforce the court’s decision.

All vendors operating in the area have been instructed to comply with previous notices and to remove all structures, including carts, tables, pallets and other vending items, with immediate effect.

The council warned that failure to comply with the final notice will result in enforcement action by the City Constabulary Department. Such action may include the removal of vending items and other measures permitted under law.

The municipality urged affected vendors to cooperate in order to avoid further legal consequences.

The post After court ruling, City Hall orders immediate removal of vendors around Yhip’s Bakery appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Ongoing nationwide consultations on the harmful effects of social media, gambling and substance abuse, including vaping, will help shape new policies and budgetary measures from 2026, Labour and Manpower Planning Minister Keoma Griffith said Saturday night.

Griffith noted President Dr Irfaan Ali’s earlier pledged to task a cross-ministerial team – including the ministries of education, information and public service – with leading broad consultations on the issues.

“We will listen to you and shape policies that protect our families,” Griffith said in a video statement posted online.

He said consultations are already taking place across Guyana, with concrete measures to curb the social and economic damage caused by gambling expected to be reflected in the 2026 national budget. Griffith added that the government is also stepping up education and prevention efforts to tackle threats such as vaping and fentanyl, alongside strengthening international partnerships to combat smuggling.

In a recent address to the nation, President Ali said his administration has been “besieged by voices from across Guyana” – including parents, teachers and elders – warning about the corrosive effects of social media on children and classrooms.

“Only recently you’re seeing countries taking drastic steps for children and young people below the age of 16,” Ali said, noting that while the challenge is global, its impact is being keenly felt in Guyanese homes and schools.

Ali said he has been repeatedly urged to act and has directed the relevant ministers to embark on a national consultation process to ensure the government’s response is “thoughtful, inclusive and anchored in the recommendations of our people” as policies are shaped for the next five years.

The post Budget measures, policies to flow from consultations on social media harm, gambling and substance abuse – Minister Keoma Griffith appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Guyana’s housing programme is facing a backlog of more than 78,000 applicants awaiting the allocation of house lots, with over two-thirds concentrated in Region Four, where demand is driven by the need to be close of economic and job opportunities near the capital, Georgetown.

In the last five-year government, more than 53,000 house lots were distributed.

Minister of Housing Collin Croal, in a statement on his Facebook page, said Region Four remains the most challenging, accounting for over 52,000 of the pending applications. Minister Croal pledged to clear the backlog in all other regions while working to significantly reduce the numbers in Region Four.

Minister of Housing, Collin Croal giving his statement (Snippet via the Central Housing & Planning Authority’s Facebook page)

To address the backlog, the government is working with key state agencies and partners to identify and release suitable lands. These include collaborations with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), the Guyana Sugar Corporation, and, in the case of Region Five, the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA).

The strategy, Croal said is to achieve a 100% clearance of pending applicants in all regions except Region Four, where it will steadily work to cut down the huge demand.

The government has said clearing the backlog remains a priority as part of its broader housing and development agenda.

The post Region Four drives 78,000-house-lot backlog appeared first on News Room Guyana.

More than 260 contractors have submitted applications to build housing units under Guyana’s latest government programme, as authorities step up efforts to deliver 40,000 homes over five years and respond to rising demand for turnkey housing, Housing Minister Collin Croal said on Saturday.

The Ministry of Housing has received 268 expressions of interest (EOIs) from contractors, including firms specialising in modular construction, Croal said in a statement released on his Facebook page.

In the last five years, while the government paid significant attention to distributing houselots and allocated about 53,000. However, only about 4,000 houses were built in those five years – these included turnkey houses and young professional houses.

But with the new commitment, the government seeks to build an estimated 8,000 houses per year.

Under the Expression of Interest issued by the Ministry of Housing and the Central Housing and Planning Authority, contractors were invited to submit proposals for building housing units across all administrative regions of Guyana using public-private partnership arrangements.

The proposed units range from low-income homes of about 650 square feet to high-income houses of up to 1,800 square feet, as well as young professional units of at least 2,200 square feet, all to be delivered either as flat or elevated structures with standard finishes.

The EOIs closed on October 24, 2025, with the government indicating that successful bidders could be invited to construct one or multiple housing models as part of the national programme.

The minister said modular construction could help the government deliver homes at scale, particularly as demand grows among young professionals seeking completed houses rather than serviced land.

He said the demand for young professional housing has improved significantly. This is because, he said, as people become professionals, they are busy and many do not want the hassle of managing contractors or sourcing materials.

Construction under the new programme is expected to begin from 2026, with sites already identified across the country. Croal said engagements with shortlisted contractors will start soon.

The post Hundreds of contractors express interest as gov’t seeks to build 40,000 new homes appeared first on News Room Guyana.

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 now firmly on the horizon, discussions around team tactics, personnel and fixtures are intensifying. Another intriguing sub-plot is that, for many legends of the game, this may well be their final appearance on the global stage.

Many of these players have been driving forces for both club and country for a number of years, and have helped shaped the face of the sport.

Here’s a look at 10 superstars whose presence at this tournament could be their World Cup swansong, according to FIFA.

Kevin de Bruyne (Belgium)

It is impossible to separate Kevin de Bruyne’s World Cup history from the story of Belgium’s Golden Generation. He first played at the global showpiece in 2014 in Brazil and followed this up with two further appearances in 2018 and 2022.

The 2018 tournament in Russia turned out to be one of the most memorable for De Bruyne and his compatriots, with Belgium finishing third, their best World Cup display.

Throughout the competition, De Bruyne consistently delivered strong performances in midfield and greatly enhanced his reputation on the biggest stage.

However, four years later in Qatar, the side was facing a transitional period. Despite the vast amount of talent in their ranks, they failed to live up to expectations and were knocked out in the group phase.

Sadio Mane (Senegal)

Mane’s first foray into World Cup football came in Russia in 2018. Senegal had failed to qualify for the previous three tournaments, and Mane was a crucial part of the team who put an end to this streak.

He had already put together an impressive CV at club level, and all eyes were on him as the cornerstone of Senegal’s attack.

Despite earning four points in their group and finishing level with second-placed Japan, Senegal failed to reach the knockout stages by virtue of their weaker fair play record.

Although he once again helped his team qualify for the 2022 tournament in Qatar, Mane suffered an injury and was forced to withdraw from the squad.

Lionel Messi (Argentina)

A true icon of the game, Lionel Messi’s creativity, decisiveness in key moments and ability to orchestrate the game have seen him regularly re-write history.

He made his World Cup debut in Germany 2006 and has since gone on to feature in the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 editions, maintaining his place at the very peak of the sport for five consecutive tournaments.

This two-decade streak is a remarkable achievement that stands out even in Argentina’s storied history, and serves as testament to Messi’s longevity as one of the world’s finest. He may have changed roles and positions over the years, but he has remained firmly at the heart of his country’s squad.

Messi holds the record for the most appearances in World Cup matches with 26. He has also scored 13 goals and provided assists for another eight. In both 2014 and 2022 he won the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament.

In Qatar, Messi brought his experience and leadership skills to bear, helping his team to both survive and thrive as they recovered from a shock opening defeat against Saudi Arabia. He scored in each game during the knockout phase, including a crucial brace in the final.

It was largely thanks to his efforts that Argentina lifted the World Cup trophy for the first time in 36 years. With this victory, Messi completed the set of major titles from both club and international football, finally getting his hands on the missing piece that was the World Cup.

Luka Modric (Croatia)

For many smaller countries, going toe to toe with the world’s finest is a dream. Thanks to Luka Modric, that dream has been a reality for Croatia.

His playing style combines intelligence, technique and determination, making him the ideal modern footballer. Modric’s tournament debut came at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. At the time, he was considered to be merely one talented youngster of many, but his reputation soon grew with his outings in 2014, 2018 and 2022.

The 2018 competition in Russia stands out as one where Modric’s career truly reached another level. It was the first time Croatia ever contested a major international final, with their midfield talisman putting in a series of performances that earned him the Golden Ball for best player.

Modric once again represented his country in Qatar in 2022, wearing the captain’s armband.

He led them to a third-place finish, earning two World Cup medals in as many tournaments. His ability to play at the very highest level while also supporting young team-mates has earned him admiration from all over the world.

Neymar (Brazil)

By the time his World Cup journey began in 2014, there was already a huge focus on Neymar. Brazil were playing on home soil, and expectations were high, with the young forward being viewed as a global star and a leader of his country’s next generation.

Although he left a big impression with his scoring prowess and personality, his competition was cut short by an injury sustained in the quarter-finals.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was Neymar’s third.

The squad was home to multiple emerging talents, who took much more of the attention and responsibility that had previously been his, but he still had a vital role to play in the team, finding the net for a third successive World Cup, only to see Brazil bow out against Croatia on penalties in the quarter-finals.

James Rodriguez (Colombia)

Many of the players on this list have accumulated a huge number of World Cup appearances over the years. For James Rodriguez, however, his impact at one tournament- the 2014 event in Brazil- was enough for his name to go down in folklore.

At the age of 24, James lined up at the centre of a promising Colombia side, and made his presence felt as they progressed through the group stage and into the knockouts.

His stunning volley in the round of 16 secured victory over Uruguay and is still considered by many to be one of the greatest-ever World Cup goals. By the end of the competition, he had scored a total of six times, earning him the Golden Boot. This was the first time Colombia had ever got as far as the quarter-final stage, setting a new high watermark in their footballing history.

James’ World Cup story so far has been a bright blaze rather than a steady fire. Nonetheless, he may be the purest example of how the competition allows players to grab the world’s attention in an instant and leave a lasting memory.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

The story of Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup has been one of continuity and reinvention. The Portugal star first stepped onto the world stage in 2006 in Germany. He has since gone on to represent his country in the four subsequent tournaments, in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.

Along the way, he has made 22 appearances in all, racking up a total of eight World Cup goals. His consistency has been particularly noteworthy, and he now holds the distinction of being the only male player in history to score at five consecutive World Cups.

His ability to deliver in such varied surroundings and circumstances is a clear testament to his goalscoring prowess and competitive spirit.

In his debut showing, Ronaldo caught the attention of the world as he drove his team to a fourth-place finish. Over the tournaments that followed, he continued to shine as one of Portugal’s biggest stars, and eventually took on the responsibility of captaining his national team.

When the event came to Russia in 2018, he showed precisely what he was made of with a number of fantastic individual performances, including a hat-trick against Spain in the group stage.

In 2026, he will be chasing the unprecedented feat of scoring in six consecutive World Cups, a prospect that will make him one of the focal points of the tournament.
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

For Mohamed Salah, simply appearing at the World Cup is something special. It carries a meaning that cannot be measured in facts or figures, and an importance that can only be felt by a player who shoulders the hopes of their country and their continent.

Mohamed Salah’s first and, so far, only outing at the World Cup came in 2018, when Egypt returned to the tournament following a 28-year absence. By this point, he was already emerging as a global icon due to his club performances.

Unfortunately for Salah, his two goals at the World Cup were not enough for his team to progress from the group stage. While he has been at the very peak of European club football for the vast majority of his career, Salah has not been blessed with many World Cup opportunities, and he will once again carry the hopes of his nation in North America.

Son Heungmin (Korea Republic)

Korea Republic great Son Heungmin was quick to ascend to the highest levels of the game, and made his first World Cup appearance in Brazil in 2014, before adding the 2018 and 2022 tournaments to his record.

In the final group stage game in Russia, Korea Republic found themselves up against defending champions Germany, needing to beat the European side by a two-goal margin to stand a chance of progressing. In added time in the second half, Korea opened the scoring, and shortly afterwards, Son secured a 2-0 win with almost the final kick of the game. Unfortunately, the result in the other game in their group prevented them from qualifying, despite their sensational victory.

By the time the 2022 tournament in Qatar rolled around, Son was wearing the captain’s armband for his country. Despite suffering from an injury, he insisted on remaining on the pitch, leading his team not only with his performances, but also with his attitude, as they reached the knockout stages.

Virgil van Dijk (The Netherlands)

Towards the end of 2010s, the Netherlands were going through a transitional period and missed out on Russia 2018. Fortunately, they had the right man to build their defence around- captain Virgil van Dijk. At the 2022 tournament, Van Dijk played every match for his country as they reached the quarter-finals

Van Dijk’s defensive discipline proved crucial in maintaining the composure of the Dutch backline as they went toe-to-toe with Argentina in the last eight, battling back from 2-0 down with two late goals, only to exit on penalties to the eventual champions.

Having been runners-up on three previous occasions, van Dijk will be at the heart of the Oranje defence once again as they look to take the final step to glory. (FIFA)

The post Last dance beckons on the World Cup stage appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The semi-final line-up for the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Super 16 Cup is complete after the tournament’s heavyweights produced a pair of dominant, one-sided performances at the National Training Facility on Friday evening.

Defending champions Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC and Slingerz FC both lived up to their billing, sweeping aside their quarter-final opposition to set up a mouth-watering Monday night of football.

Monday’s double-header at Providence will see Western Tigers FC face the formidable GDF FC from 18:30h followed by a high-stakes encounter between Slingerz FC and Guyana Police Force FC from 21:00h.

On Boxing Night, the soldiers delivered the round’s definitive performance, dismantling Mahaica Determinators FC in a clinical 7-0 rout.

While the Determinators managed to frustrate the holders for the opening half-hour with a disciplined low block, the resistance crumbled the moment Stephon McDonald found the breakthrough in the 33rd minute.

Shemar Scott (40′, 61′) and Makhaya Jarvis (64′, 82′) both notched a brace, while Jeffrey Pereira (75th) and Jaden Harris (79th) added gloss to a scoreline that reflected GDF’s overwhelming physical and technical superiority.

Guyana Defence Force Football Club were dynamic against Mahaica Determinators (PHOTO: Super 16)

Later in the evening, Slingerz FC eased to a 4-0 victory over Monedderlust FC.

It took just 10 minutes for Raushan Ritch to settle any pre-match nerves, slotting home a clinical opener and Kelsey Benjamin’s strike just before the interval effectively ended the contest as a spectacle.

Late goals from Kemar Beckford (75th) and the experienced Cardel Benbow (85th) underscored a professional performance from the title favourites.

The champions are set to pocket a G$2,000,000 prize on January 1st, while the runners-up and third-place finishers will take home G$1,000,000 and G$750,000, respectively. The fourth-place side will earn $500,000.

The post GFF Super 16 Cup: Heavyweights cruise into semi-finals after clinical display appeared first on News Room Guyana.

After a year defined by Olympic glory and untimely injury, sprinting sensation Julien Alfred is shifting gears.

The reigning World Indoor 60-metre champion has set an audacious target for 2026: to shatter one of athletics’ oldest records.

Alfred, who jointly holds the title of second-fastest woman in history over 60 metres, will launch her campaign at the prestigious Millrose Games in New York City on February 11.

This marks her highly anticipated return to the short indoor sprint, an event she “really loves” but skipped entirely during the last campaign.

Her mission is clear: to eclipse the 32-year-old world record of 6.92 seconds, set by Russia’s Irina Privalova in 1993. Alfred’s personal best stands at a tantalising 6.94, a mere two-hundredths of a second from immortality.

“I’m really looking forward to competing in the 60m again,” Alfred said on the CITIUS MAG podcast. “It’s a fun year for me doing the things that I actually love and enjoy. I’m actually really excited.”

The St Lucian star’s 2025 season was a rollercoaster. Having focused solely on the outdoor World Championships in Tokyo, she capped her year with a bronze medal in the 100m, the event in which she made history by winning Olympic gold in 2024, before an injury forced her withdrawal from further competition.

Now, with no major outdoor global championship in 2026, Alfred is seizing the opportunity to chase indoor history. Currently blending vacation with preparation at home in St Lucia, she has returned to training since early November following duties as a tourism ambassador in Europe.

The Millrose Games will provide an immediate blockbuster test. The field includes American rival Aleia Hobbs, who shares Alfred’s 6.94-second best, and the defending Millrose champion Jacious Sears.

Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, a former training partner, adds further elite competition.

Alfred is no stranger to The Armoury track, holding the meet record of 6.99 seconds from 2024. That performance is one of her five career sub-seven-second runs, a tally that pales next to Privalova’s 13, but places her among the event’s legends like Merlene Ottey and Gail Devers.

Her pedigree in the event traces back to her collegiate days at the University of Texas, where she became the third-fastest teenager ever before the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly ended her 2020 season. (Jamaica Gleaner/CMC)

The post Julien Alfred has 60m world record on 2026 radar appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said that “short Tests are bad for business” and admitted to a sleepless night following a 20-wicket day on Boxing Day despite a record crowd.

CA had been hoping to break crowd records across the entire Boxing Day Test between Australia and England despite the series being over given the number of pre-sold tickets across the first three days and the unprecedented demand across the series.

But having lost in the vicinity of AUD$5 million (US$3.3 million) for the two-day Test in Perth after 19 wickets fell on day one there, CA are staring another massive loss in the face if the MCG Test ends inside six sessions despite a record crowd of 94,199 on day one and another sell-out on day two.

Speaking on SEN prior to the start of day two, Greenberg was asked whether 20 wickets in a day was too many.

“The short answer for that in my opinion is yes,” Greenberg said. “As mesmerising and fascinating and enjoyable as it was to watch as a fan, we want Test cricket clearly to go for longer.

“A simple phrase I’d use is short Tests are bad for business. I can’t be much more blunt than that. So I would like to see a slightly broader balance between the bat and the ball. I thought yesterday slightly favoured the ball. The batters have some ownership in some of that, it’s not all around the pitch, but we’ve got some challenges.”

A raft of former players, turned pundits, were critical of the MCG surface on day one with suggestions it was far too much in favour of the seamers.

Greenberg was asked whether his administration would have a larger say in the pitch preparation for Tests in Australia in the short-term to avoid short matches.

20 wickets fell on the opening day at the MCG•AFP/Getty Images

“Historically we have taken a hands-off approach in all of our wicket preparation and allowed the staff and the conditions and those characteristics to be presented,” Greenberg said. “But it’s hard not to get more involved when you see the impact on the sport, particularly commercially.

“I’m not suggesting we’re going to go around talking to groundstaff, but we do have to have a careful eye on what our expectations are over the course of a summer.

CA have already had to do some cost-cutting inside their business this year making several staff in their administration redundant while looking for cost savings in other areas including high performance. Greenberg is in the midst of the complex process of trying to bring private investment into the BBL within the next 12 months.

Another large financial loss in this Test match would be untimely.

“I didn’t sleep well last night, put it that way,” Greenberg said. “It was an amazing day of Test cricket, so for that record number of people who were here, boy, they’ve had an experience. But our challenge is to make sure we can continue those experiences day after day. That’s the challenge for all of us.” (ESPNcricinfo) 

The post ‘Short Tests are bad for business’ – CA CEO hints at intervening on pitches appeared first on News Room Guyana.

3– Bilateral series with more than one Test ending inside two days before the 2025-26 Ashes. Australia’s tour of England in 1888 had three such matches, while England’s tour of South Africa in 1888-89 and 1895-96 also had two Tests that ended in two days. The 1912 triangular tournament, hosted by England featuring Australia and South Africa, also had two two-day Test matches.

Only two of the 450 men’s Test matches in Australia before this Ashes had ended in two days – the Melbourne Test against West Indies in 1931 and the Brisbane Test against South Africa in 2022.

479– Balls Australia batted in the Melbourne Test – their fewest in a match since the Brisbane Test in the 1928 Ashes, when they were bundled out twice in 457 balls.

284- Runs scored by Australia in Melbourne, their second-lowest aggregate in a home Test since 1928, behind the 246 runs against South Africa in Hobart in 2016.

17- Tests Joe Root played in Australia without a victory until this MCG Test. Former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori now holds the record for the most Tests in Australia without a win – 12. Ben Stokes also went 12 Tests in Australia without victory until the win in Melbourne.

46- Travis Head’s score in the second innings in Melbourne was the highest individual score of the Test, making it only the fifth men’s Test in Australia with no batter scoring a fifty. Overall, it is the 17th such Test in men’s cricket.

1981- The last time a team won an Ashes Test without any of their batters scoring a fifty, England at Edgbaston. The Melbourne Test was the first that England won without an individual fifty since the Lord’s Test against West Indies in 2000.

0- Overs bowled by spinners in Melbourne – the first such Test in Australia. The previous fewest balls bowled by spinners in a Test in Australia was 12 – in the 1984 WACA Test against West Indies. Nathan Lyon and Joe Root collectively bowled 18 balls in the Perth Test earlier this series, which is the third fewest.

39.02- Bowling strike rate in the five Tests played in Australia in 2025. It is the lowest strike rate for any host nation in a year with five or more Tests. The previous best was 43.8 in five Tests in South Africa in 2019.

Across their 11 Tests in 2025, Australia’s bowlers had a strike rate of 36.7, the second best for a team in a year (minimum of five Tests) behind England’s 32.7 in six Tests in 1896.

5571– Balls in the 2025-26 Ashes so far – the third fewest across the first four matches of a Test series. The first four matches of the 1902 Ashes had only 4675 balls, while the 1985-86 Wisden Trophy had only 5513 balls bowled in the first four games. (ESPNcricinfo)

The post England’s 5468-day wait ends in just two days at the MCG appeared first on News Room Guyana.