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In an effort to support small ventures, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Tuesday commissioned the Micro and Women Entrepreneur Learning Centre.

The centre will serve as a training and development hub for micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSME), particularly those involved in agriculture, providing business fundamentals to members and non-members. Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha in his remarks said the facility coincides with national plans to modernise infrastructure and training.

“Our five years agriculture plan focuses on empowering women and youth through training, startup support and access to agri-tech, strengthening market system and value chains, promoting climate smart innovation.

“It will provide women and micro-entrepreneurs with the skills and tools to strive,” the Agriculture Minister said.

Notably, women makeup 35 per cent of participants in the sector, whether through farming or other areas and play an integral role. It is the government’s intent to have at least 50 per cent of the ventures within the sector to be women-led by 2030.

Through this facility, support for accessing markets, tailored mentoring and pivotal support for sustainable production will be available.

Supported by Global Affairs Canada and the Ministry of Agriculture, the initiative reflects a shared commitment to modernising the sector and empowering women and youth to lead in agri-entrepreneurship.

The ribbon cutting for the launch of the Centre. (Photo: Ministry of Agriculture)

GCCI President Kathy Smith said farmers and small business owners play a pivotal role in ensuring national food security.

“I can tell you of the importance of farmers to food security in Guyana and the region.

“I can also tell you about the growing number of women-owned and women-led businesses in the Chamber and the zeal they have displayed. The Chamber is a dedicated supporter of local businesses and entrepreneurial growth,” Smith said.

Adam Loyer of Global Affairs Canada reaffirmed Canada’s ongoing support for agricultural and entrepreneurial development and said through initiatives such as the Sustainable Agriculture in the Caribbean (SAC) project, focus is placed on climate-resilient value chains and increased participation by women and youth.

The commissioning of the centre represents a major step in bridging agriculture and entrepreneurship, and strengthening food security.

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A Biotechnology Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory was officially commissioned on Tuesday at the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), marking a major milestone in Guyana’s ongoing journey towards agricultural modernisation.

The facility was developed with technical support from the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) of India and financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). It was constructed at a cost of $450 million.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha described the lab as a landmark achievement that will significantly transform Guyana’s agricultural production capabilities. While the lab was officially opened on Tuesday, it will not become fully operational until December 2025.

With 11 plant nurseries operating across the country, many of which have long required upgrades, this new biotechnology lab is expected to support and strengthen the overall plant propagation network.

Inside the Biotechnology Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory (Photo: Ministry of Agriculture)

The Agriculture Minister revealed that, the current production capacity is 15,000 plantlets annually but with the new lab this is expected to increase to one million plantlets.

“This tissue culture lab will produce disease-free high quality planting materials at scales and rapidly multiply key crops,” Mustapha said.

Those key crops are banana, plantains, sweet potatoes, pineapples and citrus.

Mustapha said these priority crops are expected to help reduce CARICOM’s food import bill by 25 per cent by 2030.

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha

“In today’s world, agriculture is not only about planting and farming, sometimes we want to use 10, 15 years techniques now, we have to change the way we are doing things and we have to ensure we bring into practice, innovation, sustainability, precision, those are things that will help us to have better yield and increase production.

“As the global population rise and climate change threatens food productivity, we must turn to biotechnology and research solutions to secure our food future,” Mustapha stated.

Inside the Biotechnology Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory (Photo: Ministry of Agriculture)

Director of Teri, Dr. G Rudra Narsimha Rao during brief remarks said the institute brings over five decades of experience in operating the commercial scale plant tissue laboratory in India.

“The plant tissue laboratory play a vital role in agriculture advancement by enabling the large scale production of disease free, high quality plants through micro propagation,” Dr. Rao said.

The initiative will not only improve the quality of planting materials available to farmers but also enhance crop resilience and productivity nationwide.

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The man who Police believe deliberately caused the deadly explosion at the Mobil Gas Station on Sunday night has been caught.

On Tuesday afternoon, Police said terrorist suspect Daniel Alexander Ramirez Peodomo was apprehended at the Vergenoegen sideline dam, East Bank Essequibo. The man is in custody, assisting with the investigations.

Officers reportedly went to this area based on intelligence received.

CCTV footage captured him at the Mobil gas station about an hour before the explosion; he was seen placing at least one black bag near a cage filled with gas cylinders.

After the explosion, six-year-old Soraya Bourne lost her life. Several others were injured.

Police Force offering $5 million reward for prime suspect in gas station explosion

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The Guyana Police Force on Tuesday announced that a $5 million reward is being offered to anyone who has information on the whereabouts of the prime suspect in Sunday’s deadly explosion at the Mobil gas station on Regent and King Streets.

In a notice, Police said anyone with information should contact the Police on 226-6978, 225-8196, 227-1611, 225-6940, 225-6978, 225-8196 or the nearest Police station.

The suspect’s name is not yet known, but Police said previously that he is a Spanish-speaking foreign national. Police also found his clothes at a location in Region Three.

CCTV footage captured him at the Mobil gas station about an hour before the explosion; he was seen placing at least one black bag near a cage filled with gas cylinders.

After the explosion, six-year-old Soraya Bourne lost her life. Several others were injured.

Clothing worn by prime suspect in gas station explosion found in Reg. 3

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The clothing worn by the foreign national who is the prime suspect in Sunday’s deadly Mobil gas station explosion has been found at a location in Region Three, Police said on Tuesday.

A release from Police Headquarters said the man’s clothing was discarded. Investigators subsequently found the blue shirt, black pants, and hat worn by the man who was seen placing at least one black bag at the scene of the explosion. Earlier Tuesday, the Guyana Police Force released a much clearer photo of the suspect and an updated wanted bulletin.

Police searching for man believed to be behind deadly gas station explosion 

See below the full release from the Guyana Police Force’s Corporate Communications Unit: 

The Guyana Police Force wishes to provide a 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 on the investigation into the tragic explosion that occurred on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at the Mobil Fuel Station, Regent and King Streets, Georgetown, which claimed the life of a child and left four others injured.

The Guyana Police Force has obtained a positive identification of the principal offender (Spanish-speaking foreign national), for whom a Wanted Bulletin was issued for Terrorism. At this time, the Guyana Police Force would also like to release the following photograph, showing the clothing which the suspect wore during the perpetration of the deadly crime, which was found at a location in Region Three.

The GPF’s Corporate Communications Unit will provide further updates as the Police pursue the suspect and investigations continue.

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Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond, has announced that the Guyana Prison Service is set for major reform, with a new approach that emphasises rehabilitation and reintegration rather than punishment.

Speaking during a recent interview with the News Room, Walrond said the government is in the process of developing a new Prison Act that will shift the penal system toward helping inmates rebuild their lives.

“The way we deal with prison or the penal system has to change.

“We’re looking at an approach that is less about punishment and more about rehabilitation and reintegration into society,” she said.

The country has five prison locations across the country with over 2,000 inmates.

According to Walrond, the majority of the country’s inmates are young men, and the government does not want to lose “an entire generation” to crime or unproductive lifestyles.

“We want them to feel as though they have an opportunity to live a normal life after coming out of prison,” she explained, noting that the reforms aim to remove stigma while revamping the entire system.

The proposed changes include creating more opportunities for inmates to earn an income, pursue education, and learn trades while incarcerated.

Already, the Prison Service offers a number of rehabilitation programmes for inmates in areas such as tailoring, carpentry and culinary arts.

Those who successfully complete training or return to school will be rewarded.

“We want them to start feeling what it’s like to live as productive human beings, as opposed to being locked up in a cell like a caged animal,” Walrond said.

She acknowledged that some members of the public may question why such reforms matter but stressed that successful reintegration benefits society as a whole.

“They ultimately do come back out and back into communities. We are all going to be affected if someone comes out and is not fit for a productive life.

“Best practice is treating inmates as if they will be and can be productive members of society,” Walrond noted.

Walrond also revealed that a pilot project will soon be launched, allowing assessed inmates to work on community and infrastructure projects.

These prisoners will be monitored and paid for their work, enabling them to help support their families while boosting their self-esteem and confidence.

“We have this huge mandate in Georgetown to build out our city, and they are going to be part of this,” Walrond noted, adding that the initiative will be the first of many aimed at transforming the prison system and promoting social rehabilitation.

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Seventeen-year-old Dani Ram Narine Mahadeo, also known as ‘Jonathan’, of De Kinderen, West Coast Demerara, has been missing for over one week, leaving his family distraught and pleading for help in finding him.

Mahadeo, a construction worker, was last seen on October 19, 2025, when he left home around 9:00 hrs to meet friends at the Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo ball field.  His aunt, Seema Narine, told the News Room on Tuesday that it was the last time anyone in the family heard from him.

“In the morning, he get dress and go out to meet some friends. Since then, we can’t get onto he. When he mother call he phone, it nah ring; the call just a forward,” Narine said.

The family reported Mahadeo missing to the Leonora Police Station, and both relatives and police ranks launched searches. However, all efforts have so far proven futile.

“A lot of friends the Police them get and take to the station, and everybody just saying no, them ain’t know no whereabouts, them ain’t see he,” Narine said. “One boy been send a message to he phone and he tell the boy on the phone he going ‘far end,’ but we don’t know where that is.”

Relatives say it is unusual for Mahadeo to leave home without informing his mother or staying in contact.

“He mother crying and she don’t know what to do because she said she son never off he phone. If he ain’t come home, he go call and say he go come later,” Narine added.

Mahadeo reportedly did not leave home with any belongings.

“Now we ain’t know wah fah think, say or do because every single way we know fah go search, we search. At one point, we saying wonder if anybody do he anything…all kind thing we thinking as a family. We just want think that we will find he back alive,” Narine said.

She added that Mahadeo’s parents are struggling to cope with his disappearance.

“Me brother can’t rest, he wife just deh throw down all the time, she got to go the hospital…we just ah study where this child can be. We just pray and hope that he come home back,” Narine told the News Room.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Mahadeo is asked to contact the family on 685-7911 or 632-6651, or the nearest police station.

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See below the full release from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation: 

The post Deadly gas station explosion: Three persons discharged from G/town hospital, four still receiving care  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

See below the full release from the Private Sector Commission: 

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) is seriously concerned at the news of the explosion at the Mobil Fuel Station at Regent & King Streets and deeply saddened over the loss of the life of six (6) year old Soraya Bourne and the injuries suffered by other persons. The Commission extends its sincere condolences to the bereaved family and looks forward to a full and speedy recovery of the injured persons. 

The Private Sector commends and fully supports the directive issued by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali for a comprehensive investigation into the cause of this incident. 

The Commission urges all business places and every citizen to be alert to the seriousness of this matter and to maintain a maximum and heightened state of security and vigilance as the government takes immediate and appropriate action to address the matter. 

This tragedy underscores the urgent need for stronger safety and security practices across the country to protect lives and property and continues to work with and support our national authorities in upholding these standards. 

The post ‘Be alert, heighten security’ – Private Sector Commission tells businesses after gas station explosion  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

A 37-year-old Vreed-en-Hoop businessman, Robert Hoosein, has been charged with manslaughter after fatally shooting Police Lance Corporal Richard Hayes last week.

Hayes died from a single gunshot wound to the chest following an incident at Hoosein’s cellphone stall on Stelling Road, Vreed-en-Hoop.

On Monday, Hoosein was formally charged and granted $1 million bail.

Police reported that the incident occurred around 09:00 hrs on Thursday, October 23.

Hayes and Hoosein were not known to each other prior to the incident. Hayes had visited Hoosein’s business the previous afternoon to inquire about purchasing a cellphone.

On the morning of the shooting, Hayes reportedly returned, spoke briefly to Hoosein, and walked out.

Hoosein claimed that Hayes became hostile and allegedly threw a cellphone heater gun at him, striking him in the chest area.

Hoosein, a licensed firearm holder of a .32 Taurus pistol, then discharged one round, hitting Hayes in the right side of his chest.

UPDATE: Policeman died from single gunshot wound to the chest

Hayes’ brother, Ron Hayes, who operates a barbershop across the street, rushed to the scene and transported him to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Hoosein was arrested, and his firearm and license were seized.

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