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Several parents continued to voice their concerns about the conditions at the Beterverwagting Primary School, with some individuals locking the gate of the school to prevent anyone from entering early Thursday morning.

Pupils and teachers of the school have long been tormented by pigeons whose droppings have contaminated the premises. Some cleaning was done over the weekend, and mesh was installed in some areas to prevent the pigeons from accessing the classrooms.

“As much as work is being done at the school, it is not sufficient. The environment is not conducive to learning or teaching,” President of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Alvin McCurdy, told reporters on Thursday.

McCurdy and other parents called for the school to be closed and thoroughly sanitised.

On Thursday, Regional Councillor Neville Cumberbatch told reporters that much work was done over the weekend. Remedial work included covering exposed areas with protective mesh to prevent the birds from entering the classrooms and cleaning some of the classrooms.

When Cumberbatch took reporters inside the school, mesh was seen covering some of the exposed areas, and some classrooms appeared as though they were recently cleaned. However, several birds were still seen inside some of the classrooms and along the corridors. Additionally, the library remained contaminated with pigeon droppings. There was also no running water at the time of the visit.

In response to these issues, Education Minister Sonia Parag has given instructions for several immediate actions to be taken to improve the conditions at the school.

The News Room understands that before Monday, the school will be power-washed, all plumbing issues will be fixed, any remaining access points that allow pigeons to get inside the buildings will be sealed, and all overgrown vegetation will be removed. While these actions are undertaken, other long-term solutions for the BV Primary School and all other schools affected with similar issues are being explored.

“We are currently working to assess various schools throughout the regions where this may be a problem and looking at a long-term solution for the schools,” Parag told the News Room.

At the Beterverwagting School, parents and teachers hope for a lasting solution.

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Jomo Peters, a 45-year-old man resident of Haslington New Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD), died on Thursday morning after he collided with two vehicles along the Rupert Craig Highway.

Police Headquarters reported that Peters was riding a motorcycle without his helmet and speeding on the highway near Pump Road, Liliendaal.

While overtaking a line of traffic, Police said, the left side handlebar of the man’s motorcycle collided with the left side and rear view mirror of motorcar PYY 4296, which was driven by a 21-year-old woman and proceeding west. Peters reportedly lost control of his motorcycle and then further collided with the left side front portion of motor car PAE 9879, driven by a 28-year-old woman, which was also proceeding west.

After colliding with the second vehicle, Peters was flung onto the median, sustaining multiple injuries to his head and body. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

His body was later taken to the Memorial Gardens Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, breathalyser tests conducted on both drivers showed no trace of alcohol. Both drivers are in custody, assisting with further investigations.

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Justice Roxane George continues to perform the duties of acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, as the former acting Chancellor, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, has not been sworn in again to perform the duties of acting Chancellor.

Justice Cummings-Edwards proceeded on vacation leave in August 2025. Justice George, who was Guyana’s acting Chief Justice, was sworn in as acting Chancellor. She remains in this position, according to reliable sources, who explained that Justice George’s instrument of appointment while acting would have superseded any previous acting instrument.

Meanwhile, Justice Navindra Singh was sworn in to carry out the responsibilities of Chief Justice. It is understood that after her leave, Justice Cummings-Edwards will return in her capacity as a Court of Appeal judge.

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There are over 600 fish species in Guyana but efforts to ensure endangered species are protected remain a challenge.

Speaking at a forum at the University of Guyana, Randy Bumbury, a Fisheries Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, disclosed that there are challenges with protecting endangered fish.

“Overfishing is suspected of certain high value species, notably the Arapaima,” he said.

The Arapaima fish is widely sought for its meat. A study on the fish in Guyana, conducted by foreign and local biologists, found that the Arapaima here is different from those around the world, making it critically endangered.

But it’s not just the Arapaima. The Hammerhead shark, also critically endangered, may be another stakeholders should be concerned about.

Bumbury warned that fisherfolk need to be careful about the fish caught and sold.

“As we eat shark, it means we have to be quite careful about the species that we are extracting. Measures have to be in place to ensure that these species are protected,” he said.

Guyana has policies in place to assist with monitoring fishing operations.

While systems are formed to tackle some issues, the matter of microplastics remains a constant battle.

“There’s been serious concerns over the fish having some aspects of microplastics within them, they’ve been studies done in Guyana which demonstrated that some microplastics have been found in these fishes but it’s how we can manage the situation, it means more awareness,” he said.

Microplastics eaten by fish can damage their tissues and the chemicals can be passed on to humans who consume them.

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Yolanda John, a 34-year-old resident of Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, died on Wednesday after the motorcycle she was riding on collided with a cow on the Elisa Public Road, Essequibo Coast.

Police Headquarters reported that the incident occurred at about 19:30 hrs and involved a motorcycle (registration number unknown) driven by 23-year-old Leroy Prince of Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, and a cow. John was a pillon rider.

Prince reportedly told Police Officers that be picked up John from work and was proceeding north on the Elisa Public Road. While riding, Prince saw a cow on the western side of the road, and he attempted to avoid a collision. Despite his effort, Police reported, the motorcycle came into contact with the cow, causing Prince to lose control.

John then fell off the motorcycle and onto the roadway, receiving injuries to her body. She was subsequently picked up and taken to the Lima Regional Hospital, where she died while receiving medical attention.

A breathalyser test was conducted on the motorcyclist and no trace of alcohol was found. The motorcycle was lodged at the Anna Regina Police Station to be examined by the licensing and certifying officer.

The motorcyclist was placed in custody, assisting with the investigation.

Meanwhile, a post-mortem examination conducted on the remains of John showed she died as a result of multiple injuries consistent with a motor vehicle accident. The autopsy was conducted by Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh on Thursday.

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Former Member of Parliament for the Alliance for Change (AFC) and Linden educator, Devin Sears, was remanded to prison on Thursday after he was charged with drug trafficking.

Sears and his co-defendant, Albert Sandy made their appearance at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on Thursday before Magistrate Rushell Liverpool.

Sears pleaded not guilty and was remanded until November 11, 2025, for report and disclosure. Sandy pleaded guilty and took full responsibility for the narcotics. He was sentenced to four years in prison.

Sears was represented by attorneys Nigel Hughes and Bernard Da Silva.

The two men were arrested on Monday night after police uncovered more than 310.71 kilogrammes (approximately 685 pounds) of cannabis in a minibus in the vicinity of the Old Bamia Police Checkpoint, Linden. Sears was the driver and the vehicle registered to the Region 10 Tourism Committee Inc.

While Sears remained silent, Sandy allegedly admitted ownership of the narcotics, telling investigators that the drugs belonged to him and that he had paid Sears to transport him to Parika.

Police said Sears began acting suspiciously, “sweating profusely” and when asked what he was transporting, Sears reportedly told the officers, “I am transporting tourism plants.”

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President Dr. Irfaan Ali has issued the proclamation for the opening of the 13th Parliament on Monday, November 3, 2025.

In a live broadcast, President Ali said the Arthur Chung Conference Centre will be used for the opening and for further sittings of the National Assembly.

The November 3 sitting will commence at 14:00 hrs.

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Stabroek News has clarified that it erroneously reported that the Venezuelan Ambassador to Guyana, Carlos Amador Pérez Silva denied that Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed visited the embassy in Georgetown.

“… in Tuesday’s edition of Stabroek News under the headline `Ambassador denies Mohamed ever visited Venezuelan embassy’, Stabroek News erroneously reported that the ambassador had said that neither of the Mohameds had visited. This is not so as he had only spoken about Azruddin Mohamed. Stabroek News regrets the error and apologizes to the ambassador for any inconvenience caused,” the newspaper said in an article published on Thursday.

Mr. Nazar’s visit to the embassy had been widely publicised, with video footage showing him leaving the embassy. Months ago, Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd summoned Venezuela’s Ambassador to Guyana, Carlos Amador Perez Silva, to explain frequent embassy visits by the Mohameds. It later became known that Nazar, father of the businessman-turned-politician Azruddin Mohamed, was the one who visited the embassy.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in response to the Stabroek News article, the Foreign Affairs Ministry reiterated that the Ambassador clearly confirmed that Mr. Mohamed had indeed visited the Venezuelan Embassy and further offered specific details concerning the documentation presented and the purpose of the engagement.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation notes with concern the recent comments made by the Venezuelan Ambassador in Georgetown, and questions why the Ambassador is being secretive about the visit of Mr. Nazar Mohamed to the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, regarding a visa application,” the statement read.

Azruddin, Nazar, and several of their businesses were sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury last year. Earlier this month, the duo was indicted in the United States on 11 charges.

Azruddin had launched a presidential bid with his We Invest in Nationhood party; that party lost the 2025 elections but got the second-highest number of votes. However, Azruddin has been accused of having ties to the Nicolas Maduro government in Venezuela by US Congressmen, so his father’s engagement at the embassy raised questions.

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Richard Hayes, the Police Lance Corporal who was allegedly murdered by a 37-year-old Vreed-en-Hoop businessman, died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Police Headquarters reported that the incident occurred around 09:00 hrs on Thursday. The businessman, who has not yet been named, is in custody.

In a release, Police said investigations revealed that Hayes and the businessman are not known to each other. However, the suspect owns and operates a cellular phone stall on the northern side of Stelling Road, Vreed-en-Hoop. Additionally, the suspect is a licensed firearm holder of a .32 Taurus pistol.

Hayes reportedly went to the suspect’s business place sometime Wednesday afternoon and spoke to the businessman about purchasing a cellphone.

At about 09:00 hrs Thursday, Hayes reportedly returned to the suspect’s business place, where he walked into the stall and stated that he came to buy a phone and walked back out of the stall.

Police related that the suspect said he was packing several boxes in his store when Hayes arrived; the businessman claimed Hayes became hostile, and as such, he (the businessman) told the Policeman to leave.

“Hayes continued his hostile behaviour and it is alleged that he picked up a cellphone heater gun, which was on the display counter and threw it at the suspect, hitting him on his chest area. During the confrontation, the suspect drew his firearm and discharged one round in the direction of Hayes, hitting him in his right side chest area, which caused him to receive injuries,” Police said in the release.

It was further noted that upon hearing the loud explosion of a gunshot, Ron Hayes, who is the brother of the Policeman and who operates a Barber Shop opposite the suspect’s business place, rushed over and, on his arrival, saw his brother bleeding from his chest area. Ron then took the Policeman to the West Demerara Regional Hospital in his motor car, where he was treated for his injuries and subsequently succumbed.

The man’s body was examined at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, and one suspected gunshot wound was seen on his right side chest area.

Meanwhile, the suspect was arrested and placed into custody pending investigation. His firearm and license were seized and lodged. Also, the suspect was processed for gunshot residue. He remains in custody pending further investigation.

Policeman, 34, shot dead by businessman at Vreed-en-Hoop 

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The Family Enhancement Services Section (FESS) of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security on Wednesday commenced a two-day Youth and Family Violence Training Conference at the Regency Hotel.

The training has brought together 35 dedicated professionals from across the Ministry, including FESS, the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), and the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit (SO&DVPU), along with officers from the Ministries of Home Affairs and Education.

This collaborative initiative aims to strengthen partnerships, deepen understanding, and foster dialogue on effective strategies to support youth and families across Guyana, while addressing and preventing violence in schools and homes.

Delivering opening remarks, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, underscored the importance of tackling youth and family violence as a critical component of national development.

“This will be a very productive and fruitful session where you, as professionals, can pool your ideas, share creative and innovative suggestions, and collectively move in a strategic direction to eradicate violence among youths. Together, we can develop coordinated strategies that drive us toward the same goal,” Minister Persaud stated.

She further emphasised the need to address the root causes of youth violence from an early stage, highlighting that every individual and agency plays a vital role in the solution.

“Violence among youth continues to be a pervasive issue both globally and here in our country. To truly gain an in-depth and balanced understanding, we must look at its root causes and address them comprehensively, family by family, community by community, and collectively as a country,” Dr. Persaud said.

Minister Persaud also noted that empowering young people requires creating an enabling

environment that fosters encouragement, motivation, positivity, and inclusion, one where they feel valued, heard, and supported to reach their full potential.

The Ministry, through its partnership with USAID, has since introduced the YSET test under the Y-RIE programme, which focuses on building resilience and empowering at-risk youth.

Additionally, six youth-friendly spaces have already been established, with a goal of expanding to ten by the end of the year.

The Ministry has also launched a national anti-bullying and body-shaming campaign in schools to promote positive behaviour and self-esteem among students.

Facilitator of the training, Lauristan Choy from the University of Guyana, explained that the initiative is designed to enhance understanding of family dynamics and strengthen coordinated responses across systems.

“Youth and family violence present complex challenges that intersect the justice and child protection systems. Many young people are victims, witnesses, or even perpetrators of violence within their families. This training seeks to close systemic gaps and develop more effective, unified interventions,” Choy explained.

During the morning session, participants engaged in meaningful discussions with Minister Persaud, sharing valuable insights and recommendations based on their experiences working directly with youth and families (Ministry of Human Services and Social Security press release) 

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