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Buxton Stars Football Club secured a vital 3-1 victory over Rupununi’s Strikers Football Club on Saturday evening as action in the  Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Super 16 Cup continued at the National Training Facility, Providence.

The decisive performance by the East Coast side was headlined by forward Chidieber Chidume, who netted a crucial double in the 6th and 45th minutes.

Teon Stewart added a third goal in the 53rd minute before Sheeran Daniels pulled one back for Strikers FC in the 64th minute.

In the evening’s other fixture, Mahaica Determinators also secured a 3-1 win, overcoming West Demerara rivals Uitvlugt Warriors FC.

Julius Hamilton was the star for the Determinators, opening the scoring in the ninth minute and later extinguishing Uitvlugt’s comeback hopes by sealing his brace in the 65th minute.

Brian James also found the net in the 35th minute for the winners, while Shamal Smith scored Uitvlugt’s solitary goal (55th minute).

The Super 16 Cup brings together the nation’s top Elite League clubs and leading Regional Member Association (RMA) teams in a split knockout and group format, culminating in the Grand Final on January 1st.

The four top finishers from the recent Elite League Season VII —Slingerz FC, Western Tigers FC, Guyana Police Force FC, and Guyana Defence Force FC—are automatically seeded into the quarter-finals.

The remaining 12 clubs are battling in a round-robin group phase for the right to face these seeded heavyweights.

Teams are competing for: Champions: G$2,000,000, Runners-up: G$1,000,000, Third Place: G$750,000, Fourth Place: G$500,000

Upcoming Matches (Sunday, December 14)

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The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Women’s Football team have made history, becoming the first women’s team in Guyanese football to collect a G$1 million grand prize after being officially crowned champions of the Women’s Division One League.

The celebratory event on Friday night saw GDF rewarded for a phenomenal campaign that concluded last week when they sealed the title with a tense 1-0 victory over their closest rivals, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Women, at the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora.

Striker Sandra Johnson netted the decisive goal in the 15th minute—a powerful left-footed strike from outside the box—to complete the perfect season.

GDF finished the competition with a maximum of 27 points (from nine games) and maintained a formidable defensive record, conceding zero goals throughout the league.

Remarkable individual performances underpinned the team’s success as Sandra Johnson not only scored the title-clinching goal but also collected the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Highest Goal Scorer awards, having recorded an extraordinary 37 goals across the nine matches.

Sandra Johnson was the MVP of the tournament

More so, Goalkeeper Deena Fredericks was recognised as the Best Goalkeeper, reflecting GDF’s impenetrable backline.

During the prize presentation, Women’s Football Association (WFA) President Andrea Johnson emphasised the importance of the prize money in boosting the women’s game.

“The GFF Women’s Development League represents a transformative step toward advancing equality and opportunity,” Johnson said. “This league provides a structured pathway for female athletes to develop their skills and compete at high levels.

“By investing in women’s development, we are investing in the sport’s long-term success, diversity, and global appeal.”

Runners-up GPF Women received a G$500,000 prize, while third-place Santos FC were awarded G$300,000. Fruta Conquerors FC finished fourth and secured G$100,000.

Cup Semi-Finals Set

The focus now shifts to the Women’s Division One Cup playoffs. Fruta Conquerors booked their place in the semi-finals by defeating Western Tigers FC 1-0 on Friday, thanks to a 41st-minute goal from Akilah Blucher.

The Cup semi-finals schedule for Friday, December 19th, is as follows:

18:00hrs: Santos vs Police FC

19:30hrs: Fruta Conquerors vs GDF FC

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P&P Insurance Brokers Limited on Thursday afternoon made its annual Christmas donations to ten organizations. The company has been making donations to several organizations over the past 19 years to assist them in their humanitarian work.

In brief remarks, Executive Director of P&P, Mr. Vikash Panday said that when the idea was conceived at the time, it was with ten organizations at $100,000 per organization, making it a $1,000,000 donation.

Over the years, P&P has progressively increased the amount and last year it was ten organizations at $200,000 each, making a total donation of $2,000,000.

However, Mr. Panday said P and P celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and it was a good time to make another increase. Each organization was therefore given $250,000 making it a total donation of $2,500,000.

Mr. Panday said that it was a manifestation of the company’s commitment to giving back that they have been able to not only make these donations every year but have been able to consistently increase the amount from time to time. He also said that this would not have been possible without the success of the company and he thanked all his clients for their unwavering support over the years. He said that all through its existence, P&P has been known as a company that was always willing to assist in various causes.

He commended the representatives of the organizations for the work that they do and urged them to continue playing their very important role in society. The organizations benefiting from the donations were:

• Bless the Children Home
• Ptolemy Reid Rehab
• Uncle Eddie’s Home
• Friends of the Archer’s Home
• The Dharm Shala
• Cheshire Homes Guyana
• Hauraruni Girls Home
• Bal Nivas Shelter
• Joshua House Children Centre
• Abraham’s Tent Inc.

Mr. Panday extended Christmas greetings to everyone. In response, representatives of the various organizations thanked Mr. Panday and P&P Insurance for their continued generosity and support over the years and reciprocated Mr. Panday’s good wishes for the holiday season (Press release)

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A four megawatt peak (MWp) solar farm was commissioned by Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips on Saturday at Trafalgar, Region Five (Mahaica- Berbice).

The Trafalgar Solar Farm was constructed at an estimated cost of US$8 million, fully financed through the Guyana–Norway climate partnership, under the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund, administered by the Inter-American Development Bank.

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Kesh Nandlall, said this solar farm will increase the supply of clean energy in the ancient county.

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Kesh Nandlall at the Trafalgar solar farm commissioning ceremony (Photo: Yusuf Ali/ News Room/ December 13, 2025)

Solar farms convert energy from the sun into electricity, making it a clean, renewable source of energy that does not rely on the burning of fossil fuels (particularly diesel).

According to Nandlall, over 1.3 million liters of diesel will be avoided once the project is fully operational. As such, Nandlall said, the Trafalgar solar project will save the public purse about $300 million annually in avoided fuel costs, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 4,000 to 5,000 tonnes every year.

“That’s not just good for the environment, it’s good for our economy,” he told the gathering at Trafalgar.

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips at the Trafalgar solar farm commissioning ceremony (Photo: Yusuf Ali/ News Room/ December 13, 2025)

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Phillips emphasised that the government will continue to invest in renewable energy as the demand for power continues to grow.

“These solar farms are a clear demonstration of our commitment to modernise Guyana’s energy sector. The Government of Guyana will continue to expand renewable energy sources for a sustainable future for all Guyanese,” the Prime Minister said.

The Trafalgar solar farm forms part of the Guyana Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Programme (GUYSOL), which is deploying 33 MW of solar capacity across Regions Two, Five, Six, and Ten. Trafalgar joins sister sites at Prospect and Hampshire in Berbice, and Onderneeming and Charity in Essequibo, as part of a coordinated national rollout of renewable energy infrastructure.

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips; Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar; Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Kesh Nandlall; IDB Country Representative, Lorena Solórzano Salazar, Head of the Guyana Energy Agency, Mahender Sharma, GUYSOL Project Coordinator, Amir Dillawar and other officials at the Trafalgar solar farm (Photo: News Room/ Yusuf Ali/ December 13, 2025)

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By Avenash Ramzan

avenash@newsroom.gy

Skipper Lomar Seecharran led from the front on Saturday, hitting a polished half-century as Guyana defeated Barbados by seven wickets in the opening game of the Under-13, 40-over bilateral series at the Lusignan Ground, East Coast Demerara.

Early morning rain reduced the contest to 36 overs per side. Inserted to bat first, Barbados posted 177-7 and Guyana responded with 178-3 from 26.5 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Click here to view full scorecard

The game was witnessed by President of the Guyana Cricket Board Bissoondyal Singh and his counterpart from the Barbados Cricket Association Calvin Hope.

The Cricket West Indies Directors had both signed off on the agreement to provide young players from the two nations with early exposure to competitive cricket and the opportunity to develop their skills in a structured, cross-territory environment.

Left-hander Seecharran, one of the country’s brightest youth prospects, scored a crisp 79 off 63 balls, hitting 10 fours and three sixes.

Click here to view match photos

After the early loss of opener Nathaniel Ramkhelwan (1) with just two runs on the board, Seecharran and his deputy Sahid Gajnabi (14 off 23) added 65 for the second wicket to stabilise the innings.

Seecharran and Afraz Ali then put the game beyond the Bajans, stitching together a third wicket stand of 57 as the Guyanese made light work of the target.

Makai Dowlin (left) sped up the run-chase with a brisk 31 not out (Photo: News Room/Avenash Ramzan/December 13, 2025)

At the departure of Seecharran, Makai Dowlin joined Ali and they took Guyana to victory with an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 54 in just 5.5 overs.

Dowlin was the aggressor, slamming an unbeaten 31 off 15 balls (1x4s, 3x6s), while Ali dropped anchor with an unbeaten 25 off 61 balls (2x4s).

Z’Dari Scantlebury (1-15), Niako Patterson (1-17) and Kijani Inniss (1-20) were the wicket-takers for Barbados.

Jasani Craig was impressive with the new ball for Guyana (Photo: News Room/Avenash Ramzan/December 13, 2025)

Earlier, the Bajans benefitted from 37 extras (23 wides), while Natarie Lavine (37), Ky-Mani Inniss (27), Patterson (19), Scantlebury (16) and Jon-David Greene (16) all got starts with the bat.

Bowling for Guyana, Gajnabi (2-33), Dowlin (1-20), Ashton Collins (1-22) and Jasani Craig (1-26) impressed with the ball.

Leg-spinner Sahid Gajnabi delivered an impactful spell (Photo: News Room/Avenash Ramzan/December 13, 2025)

Upcoming games (starting at 10:00h)

• December 14 at Lusignan
• December 16 at Lusignan
• December 17 at Everest
• December 19 at Everest

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The Ministry of Natural Resources has strongly urged miners across Guyana to cease the practice of paying workers in raw gold, warning that the illegal method of compensation undermines transparency, weakens gold declarations, and exposes workers to exploitation and unsafe practices.

The call was made during a high-level meeting convened on December 10, 2025, by the Ministry of Natural Resources in collaboration with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA).

In a statement, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, reiterated that all workers in the mining sector must be paid through lawful financial channels in keeping with labour and tax laws. He also reminded miners that it is illegal to allow what is commonly referred to as the “Blai box,” stressing that gold may only be used in transactions with approved buyers and the Guyana Gold Board. The ministry indicated that inspections will be increased and employers found in breach will face penalties.

During the engagement, Minister Bharrat further emphasised the Government of Guyana’s firm commitment to ensuring that the country’s mineral resources are managed responsibly, transparently, and in strict accordance with the law.

As part of a strengthened enforcement approach, several enhanced measures were identified and are to be implemented immediately. These include tighter oversight of licensed gold dealers and traders, with intensified audits of purchasing records, verification of gold source declarations, and routine compliance checks. Dealers found facilitating undeclared gold transactions or failing to meet reporting requirements risk sanctions, including the suspension or revocation of their licences.

The ministry also announced a significant scale-up in field operations across mining districts to curb illegal mining. These efforts will focus on ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, and production reporting standards, while targeting unauthorised mining activities.

Additionally, agencies under the ministry’s purview have been directed to intensify the seizure of illegal mining equipment, particularly machinery operating without proper documentation or within prohibited areas. This forms part of what the ministry described as a zero-tolerance stance against activities that undermine national mining regulations.

To further strengthen enforcement, multi-agency operations will be expanded, involving the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and other relevant agencies. These joint operations will focus on identifying, arresting, and prosecuting individuals and groups engaged in illegal mining.

Miners were also strongly urged to sell gold only to the Guyana Gold Board or licensed dealers, a move the ministry said is critical for maintaining accurate national production data, promoting fair trade, and ensuring the sector’s benefits are properly accounted for.

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The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) at its annual general meeting re-elected Mr. Ronaldo Alphonso as its president for the next two years. Mr. Alphonso was unopposed and was easily re-elected. In his short message to the members, he called on miners to immediately put an end to smuggling by refusing to sell to unlicenced buyers and illegal shops. He also explained that the GGDMA will be working even more aggressively with the Government of Guyana to help eradicate gold smuggling and the operation of illegal landings and shops. Alphonso also reminded miners that the gold belongs to the state and the practice of paying and trading in gold must end. He also called on all miners to ramp up their production to help meet the national target set for 2025. He urged miners to declare their production soon to ensure that the figures get locked in for 2025. (The national target for 2025 is 500,000 ounces.)

Several other executive members echoed the President’s call for a stamping out of gold smuggling and called on miners to stop the practice of paying in gold. It was also raised that the association should considering blacklisting members who are caught in gold smuggling activities. The meeting was unanimous in taking more decisive action against smuggling.

Managing Director of the GGDMA. Mr. Avalon Jagnandan, in his report noted that there has been an increase in membership and urged other miners to come on board with the association. For last year he noted that the Association was instrumental in facilitating duty free concessions for members and through the open day initiative several small miners were given assistance to restart the operations.

The new executive was elected and will serve for 2 years. The new executive is as follows:

1) Mr. Ronaldo Alphonso – President

2) Mr. Dabria Marcus – Vice-President

3) Mr. Azeem Baksh – Secretary

4) Mr. Patrick Harding – Treasurer

5) Mr. Geraldo Alphonso – Organizing Secretary

6) Mr. Terrence Adams – Committee Member

7) Mr. Terry Singh – Committee Member

8) Ms. Vishanti Balgobin – Committee Member

9) Mr. Shawn King – Committee Member

10)Mr. Andron Alphonso – Immediate Past President

Meanwhile Mr. David Bacchus, Mr. Charles DaSilva and Mr. Alfro Alphonso, all founder members will serve on the board as ex-officio members/ advisors.

(GGMA Press Release)

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A man has been detained for questioning regarding the fire that destroyed a house at Salton Farm in Corentyne, Berbice, on Friday night.

Reports indicate that Samantha Crawford, a 44-year-old housewife, was living in a two-story, three-bedroom home located at Lot 9, Salton Farm.

In an interview with reporters, Samantha explained that she had left her house around 19:30 hrs on Friday with her fiancé, Terrence Edwards, a 38-year-old gold miner, and traveled to Rose Hall Town. It was there that she received a call from a neighbour alerting her that her home was on fire.

When she returned, she found her house completely engulfed in flames, with firefighters working to put out the blaze. Unfortunately, the fire destroyed the building.

Samantha Crawford

Samantha stated that she has been having issues with a rice farmer who lives in Alness Village, Corentyne Berbice. Earlier that day, around 16:30 hrs, she reported having a heated argument with him; Samantha claims the man ominously told her she had “nine days more to live” before walking away. She also noted that the man often leaves two horses in her yard, and when she tries to talk to him about it, he responds with verbal insults.

Samantha is of the view that the man might have set the house ablaze since he threatened her.

Fortunately, no one was hurt in the fire, and the building is not insured.

Based on the information obtained, the man Samantha suspects has been arrested and is currently in custody while the investigation continues.

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Police ranks in Regional Division #7 are investigating the discovery of a quantity of suspected cannabis found on Friday at the Itaballi Police Checkpoint, Region Seven (Cuyuni – Mazaruni).

According to a release from Police Headquarters, ranks were performing duties at the checkpoint when a motor pick-up bearing registration number GVV 3523 arrived at around 07:15 hrs, en route to Black Water Backdam. The vehicle was being driven by a 47-year-old male driver of Bartica and was accompanied by two male miners, ages 51 and 31 years.

Searches were conducted on the occupants and the vehicle, during which ranks examined the clothing of the 51-year-old male miner of Buxton, East Coast Demerara, where one bulky transparent plastic bag containing leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis was found in the pocket of his pants.

The 51-year-old miner was arrested and escorted to the Itaballi Police Outpost along with the suspected narcotics, where he remains in custody.

The suspected cannabis, which was weighed in his presence and amounted to 16.4 grams was lodged as investigations continue.

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