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In the early hours of Sunday morning, the Parish of Our Lady of Fatima, North Road, Georgetown, fell victim to a robbery. According to initial observations, the perpetrator(s) gained entry by forcefully breaking through the entrance door of the church building, the church stated in a Facebook post. Once inside, they proceeded to the sacristy, where they ransacked cupboards and the parish vault, leaving the area in complete disarray.

The Piety Shop corner was also vandalized and rummaged through, with several items disturbed and some appearing to have been taken. Parish officials are currently assessing the extent of the loss and damages sustained.

The matter has been formally reported to the Police, and investigations are ongoing.

This is, unfortunately, not the first time the parish has been targeted. In September 2024, a similar incident occurred, leaving parishioners deeply concerned about the safety and sanctity of their place of worship.

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The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) is celebrating a significant regional milestone after its Vice President, Rawle Toney, was appointed to the Caribbean Basketball Confederation’s (CBC) 3×3 Working Group.

The appointment, effective immediately and running until 2027, validates Toney’s extensive contributions to the growth of 3×3 basketball, an increasingly popular format now featured at the Olympic Games.

The Working Group’s central role is to promote, develop, and regulate 3×3 basketball across the Caribbean region in line with stringent FIBA standards.

According to CBC President Leslie Collymore, Toney’s expertise will be crucial in advancing the format. His role will involve directly contributing to the CBC’s strategic plan, overseeing regional events, enforcing competition standards, and driving grassroots and youth engagement initiatives.

“We are confident that your expertise will be invaluable in advancing the growth of 3×3 basketball within the region,” Collymore noted in Toney’s letter of appointment.

GBF President Michael Singh hailed the regional recognition as a direct reflection of the federation’s focused efforts on the fast-paced discipline.

“Having Toney on the CBC Working Group, and our General Secretary Patrick Haynes serving on the FIBA 3×3 Commission, shows that Guyana is well represented at both the regional and international levels,” Singh said.

Toney, who is also the driving force behind the popular local Rawle Toney 3×3 Classic, expressed his commitment to using this position to shape the game’s future across the Caribbean.

He revealed that the GBF is set to launch a series of pilot projects aimed at expanding 3×3 at the school level in Guyana, with ambitions to replicate this successful development model throughout the Caribbean.

Under the current GBF executive, Guyana previously made history by hosting the first-ever 3×3 Quest in the English-speaking Caribbean, drawing 19 teams from 17 countries to compete for a spot on the FIBA 3×3 World Tour.

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Guyana has stepped forward on just two weeks’ notice to host the 2025 Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Senior Championships, rescuing the event after it was forced to move from Jamaica following a devastating hurricane.

The Senior CASA tournament, which typically takes place in August but was rescheduled for November due to a conflict with the Pan-American Championships, will run from November 23 to 30.

The announcement was made by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr, during the National Sports Commission awards ceremony on Saturday evening.

Matches will be played primarily at the National Racquet Centre—home to the Caribbean’s only public squash courts—alongside the Georgetown Club.

The decision to host the tournament was led by David Fernandes, who serves as both President of the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) and CASA.

Fernandes indicated that with the facilities already available in Guyana, the priority was ensuring the event was not cancelled, given the difficult circumstances in Jamaica.

In a notable gesture, it is understood that any surplus funds generated from hosting the event will be donated directly to the hurricane relief efforts in Jamaica.

Guyana enters the competition as the team to beat, having held the overall title for the past four consecutive years. The senior national team was also recently voted the Team of the Year for 2024 by the National Sports Commission.

Over 130 athletes from nine countries are expected to compete.

This year’s tournament marks a significant milestone with the inclusion of the Dominican Republic, who officially join CASA for the first time.

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Georgetown’s Mayor, Alfred Mentore, joined mayors from across the world at the Climate 40 (C40) Summit for Mayors held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from November 3 to 5, 2025.

The summit convened leaders from Amazonian cities, major global metropolises, and international alliances to shape the agenda for COP30. It featured plenary sessions, breakout discussions, and high-level dialogues focused on key priorities such as waste reduction, climate finance, resilient infrastructure, and sustainable urban partnerships.

Mayor Mentore actively participated in discussions on:

• Waste reduction: Cutting methane emissions while creating green jobs;
• Climate finance: Unlocking investments for urban sustainability;
• Built environment: Strengthening city resilience; and
• Financing partnerships: Engaging with representatives of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), World Bank, Global Environment Facility (GEF), and Bloomberg Philanthropies on funding pathways for sustainable urban transformation.

These sessions focused on innovative, city-led projects eligible for technical and financial support from institutions such as the GEF and other global partners—opportunities that Georgetown is well-positioned to pursue.

As a member of the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM), the Amazon Cities Network, and other strategic alliances, Georgetown is leveraging these global linkages to strengthen urban protection and resilience.

Mayor Mentore underscored that building resilience in Georgetown—a city situated below sea level and highly vulnerable to flooding—is an urgent priority.“The role of the City Council is clear,” he stated. “We will work hand-in-hand with our international partners under existing pacts and covenants to secure the resources available to subnational governments.”

He added that the lessons and connections gained from the summit will be immediately translated into action, with key officers set to begin project activation in the coming weeks.
“Just as Central Government is addressing critical national priorities, the City must match those efforts—delivering social and physical infrastructure upgrades for all citizens,” the Mayor said. “We have local resources, but tapping regional and international partnerships will amplify benefits for our people.”

Declaring the city’s new guiding mantra, Mayor Mentore concluded: “Projects, Projects, Projects!”

The post Mayor Mentore joins leaders in Rio to advance Georgetown’s climate resilience agenda appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Guyanese motorsport has found a new star to watch as young driver Zachary Persaud showcased his prowess in the competitive Vitz Cup, delivering a stellar performance this past weekend that confirmed his transition from karting prodigy to circuit talent.

Persaud, whose family is synonymous with Caribbean motor racing success, blazed to two first-place finishes and a second-place podium in the Vitz Cup B class at the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) International race meet.

The performance serves as a powerful reminder of the potential Persaud first showcased back in 2019 when, at just 14, he clinched the Junior Karting Championship.

That victory earned him a MOTUL-sponsored package to compete in Florida, an opportunity that was heartbreakingly shelved in 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Six years on, Persaud has seamlessly leaped the high-octane world of karting—often dubbed the feeder series for professional motorsport—to closed-wheel racing.

“The go-karting was the first taste of racing for me, and what I learned then still applies now,” Persaud said, crediting the discipline for laying a “great foundation” that made the move to the Vitz Cup an “easy step up.”

Racing with the Top Power Racing team, Persaud’s success was built on calculated speed and strategic consistency.

Zachary Persaud comes from a successful family of motor racers (PHOTO: Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club)

“The goal going into any race weekend is the same as always: staying consistent and keeping a smooth and fast race pace,” he explained. “I knew going into the weekend I had the pace, so it was about maintaining that and following through with my practice.”

Persaud’s lineage suggests his success is anything but accidental. He is the latest member of a storied racing family, following in the tyre tracks of his grandfather, Jad Rahaman, his great-uncle, Ray Rahaman, and his uncle, Ryan Rahaman, all of whom have enjoyed great success across the Caribbean motorsport landscape.

Looking ahead, the young driver is keen to maintain his momentum but remains open to where the journey takes him next.

“If the opportunity arises, stepping up to a higher class would definitely be something I’d be interested in doing,” he noted.

“No definite plan yet, but we’ll see where the road takes me.”

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Guyana’s Elite League champions, Slingerz Football Club, have been handed their winnings after the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) hosted an official cheque presentation ceremony just weeks after the season concluded.

The ceremony, held at the National Training Centre (NTC) in Providence, saw the GFF distribute a total of GY$4,925,000 in club prize money and awards to the top clubs and individual performers from the 2025 Elite League Season VII.

In a welcome move for Guyanese football, the prompt payout of funds marks a departure from previous seasons, ensuring clubs receive the vital financial resources needed for immediate planning and preparation for the next season.

GFF General Secretary Pushpargha Chattopadhyay oversaw the distribution of funds, celebrating champions Slingerz FC, who completed a dominant, unbeaten campaign.

Slingerz, who drew their final match 0-0 with Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in late October to complete their undefeated run (16 wins, two draws), had already sealed the title with two games to spare.

Their supremacy across the 90-match season was rewarded with a top prize of GY$2,000,000, along with an automatic berth in the prestigious CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield.

According to the GFF, “the Elite League is the nation’s premier professional football tournament”.

The full breakdown of the club prize money, totalling GY$4,500,000, is as follows:

Individual Honours

Beyond the club winnings, the GFF also recognised the League’s standout players with cash prizes totalling GY$425,000:

• Most Valuable Player (MVP): Darron Niles (Slingerz FC) – GY$150,000
• Top Goal Scorer: Neron Barrow (Guyana Police Force FC) – GY$100,000
• Best Goalkeeper: Akel Clarke (Slingerz FC) – GY$100,000
• Best Young Player: Malcolm Hendrick (Santos FC) – GY$75,000

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The future of female football in Guyana will be on display as 16 primary school teams prepare for the ninth annual MVP Sports Girls’ Under-11 Pee Wee Football Championship, kicking off on November 15.

The tournament, a collaboration between the Petra Organisation and MVP Sports, runs until December 6 at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue, and is seen as a vital platform for grassroots development.

Sixteen schools, including One Mile, Stella Maris, and West Ruimveldt, will compete in the initial group stage, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the quarter-finals.

Speaking at the launch on Thursday, Petra Co-Director Troy Mendonca emphasised the importance of providing consistent opportunities for young girls, noting the tournament’s growth.

“We’ve seen the direction female football has been heading,” Mendonca said. “With MVP Sports’ backing, we’ve been able to host a steadily growing Under-11 tournament, and we’re committed to ensuring these young players have a safe and supportive environment to showcase their talent.”

MVP Sports CEO Ian Ramdeo echoed this sentiment, highlighting the role of local competitions in building confidence and skills.

“Local tournaments like this one are stepping stones toward regional and even international competition,” Ramdeo commented. “They help build better athletes, stronger teams, and more confident individuals.”

Prizes on Offer

The competition offers financial support directly to the schools’ development, with the top four teams receiving prizes.

The eventual champion will receive GY$100,000 towards a school project, along with medals and the championship trophy.

The second-place finisher walks away with GY$75,000 for a school initiative, plus medals and the corresponding trophy.

Individual awards for the Highest Goal Scorer and Best Goalkeeper will also be presented at the conclusion of the event on December 6.

The post MVP Sports Girls’ U-11 Pee Wee Football set for November 15 – December 6 appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Officers of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) intercepted a significant quantity of cocaine during an operation at a residence in Hydronie, Parika, East Bank Essequibo on Friday.

Acting on intelligence, CANU officers searched the premises and discovered several parcels containing a whitish powdery substance suspected to be cocaine. Three individuals were arrested during the operation and escorted to CANU headquarters along with the suspected narcotics.

Preliminary testing confirmed that the substance was cocaine, with the total weight recorded at 23.958 kilograms (52.8183488 pounds). Authorities have indicated that investigations into the seizure are ongoing.

This interception is part of CANU’s continued efforts to disrupt drug trafficking operations across Guyana.

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In a show of enforcement and accountability, the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Saturday morning, destroyed approximately 926.56 kilograms of seized drugs in a government-backed operation aimed at protecting communities and sending a firm message to traffickers. The haul, which included 618.26 kilograms of cocaine, 308.30 kilograms of cannabis, and smaller quantities of methamphetamine and ecstasy, carries an estimated international value exceeding $4 billion (USD 19.3 million).

Addressing media on-site along Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown, CANU Director James Singh emphasised the importance of intelligence, testing and strict adherence to court procedures in ensuring transparency.

“Every gram of narcotic destroyed here today has been fully accounted for, verified, and approved by the courts,” Singh said. “This is not just a symbolic exercise—each kilogram represents a life protected, a community made safer, and a criminal enterprise dismantled.”

Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond, present at the exercise, highlighted that these seizures demonstrate Guyana’s unwavering stance against the use of the country as a transit point for illicit drugs. “When traffickers see hundreds of millions of dollars literally going up in smoke, they understand that Guyana is serious about defending its borders and communities,” she said.

The destruction exercise follows multiple successful interdictions across Guyana over recent months, from coastal ports to remote hinterland locations. Most of the seized drugs were destined for transshipment to Europe, the Caribbean, and Africa. Based on international street values, the cocaine alone could have fetched €30,000–€40,000 per kilogram depending on the destination.

Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond joins CANU Director James Singh and other staffers, to witness the destruction of approximately 926.56 kilograms of seized drugs.

Director Singh stressed that the exercise adheres to strict protocols. All drugs destroyed were maintained in their original court-approved packaging, and the destruction process was fully documented to assure the public of CANU’s integrity and professionalism.

“This level of accountability and transparency ensures public confidence in our operations,” Singh said. “Every operation, seizure, and destruction activity is intelligence-driven and conducted with precision, reflecting our evolving approach to proactive drug enforcement.”

With ongoing support from the government, CANU is expanding its reach and modernising its operations. The unit is strengthening surveillance, analytic, and intelligence-gathering capabilities, integrating digital, forensic, and aerial technologies. Officers continue to receive advanced training through international partnerships, including SEACOP, COPOLAD, RSS, and the U.S. DEA, ensuring that Guyana meets global standards in drug control and interdiction.

“Thanks to government backing, we are now able to anticipate and prevent drug movements before they happen, rather than react after the fact,” Singh said. “This operation reinforces our commitment to protecting citizens, dismantling criminal networks, and ensuring that Guyana is no longer an attractive route or market for traffickers.”

Both Minister Walrond and Director Singh reiterated that public vigilance and reporting remain crucial. CANU’s success depends on timely information and collaboration with communities, ensuring that Guyana continues to reduce both the supply and demand for narcotics.

News Room’s Kurt Campbell participates in random testing of the narcotics before destruction.

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Vendors who conduct business along the Railway Embankment in Buxton along the East Coast of Demerara will soon be relocated to allow the completion of the ongoing roadworks.

Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill, along with his technical team, inspected the area on Friday, which will be constructed into a market tarmac. The vendors will still be able to continue their 24-hour operations.

He made it clear that the property is the government’s and falls under the Buxton-Foulis Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill with residents and vendors of the Buxton community

With 42 vendors already identified for relocation, the minister has asked the NDC to select representatives from among them to advocate for their collective interests.

The market tarmac will be upgraded to create a more attractive and comfortable environment for vendors, with newly designed stalls. It will include modern amenities such as washroom facilities and adequate lighting. The work is anticipated to be completed within three weeks.

“You’re going to continue to vend until the tarmac is completed, and then we’ll transition. I’ll come back within three weeks, which will take us to the end of November, and you will have your facility for Christmas,” the minister noted.

He informed them that the structures must be removed in the coming week to allow the works to proceed. [DPI]

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