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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: 

 

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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. 

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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.

The post Vreed-en-Hoop businessman charged with manslaughter, granted $1M bail in shooting of Lance Corporal appeared first on News Room Guyana.

West Indies‘ Gudakesh Motie isn’t your average spinner. The 30-year-old, whose primary skill is left-arm fingerspin, can also bowl wristspin with that arm, turning the ball away from left-handers, denying them a favourable match-up. Clips of him bowling left-arm wristspin to left-handers in Guyana’s Global Super League earlier this year went viral.

T20 continues to move forward at warp speed, and Motie is expanding his skills and range to keep up.

Besides being the second highest wicket-taker in the CPL since his debut in September 2021, behind only Imran Tahir, his captain at Guyana Amazon Warriors, Motie was recently picked by Paarl Royals in the SA20, and is also part of Quetta Qavalry in the Abu Dhabi T20 league.

He has previously had stints in the PSL (Multan Sultans) and UAE’s ILT20 (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders) as well.

“[Left-arm wristspin] is something I’ve been working on for quite a long time now,” Motie said on the sidelines of a spin-centric camp at the Super Kings Academy in Chennai earlier this month, ahead of West Indies’ tour of Bangladesh. “I think I’m not perfect with it yet and I still have a lot of work to do. That’s something I want to go in the nets and work on, so that I can get it and use it whenever I’m under pressure or bowling to a left-hander.”

Gudakesh Motie is a crucial part of West Indies white-ball set-up (Photo: ECB/Getty Images)

Whether he’s bowling to a left- or right-hander, Motie sees himself as a strike bowler in T20.

The numbers back him up as well.

In his four years in the format, he has taken 118 wickets in 104 innings at a strike rate of 17.7, which is better than fellow West Indians Sunil Narine (23.1) and Akeal Hosein (20.60) and comparable with elite T20 spinners like Noor Ahmad (17.3) and Rashid Khan (17.0) during this period.

“Well, whenever I’m bowling to a left-hander or anyone, I just look to get them out as quickly as possible, because I see myself as a wicket-taker,” Motie said. “And if they’re coming at me, I just find ways to get them off strike.”

At Amazon Warriors in the CPL and the Global Super League, Motie has had veteran Tahir as a sounding board. “Imran is always there to pass on his knowledge to me, so I try to use him as best as possible,” he said. “Whenever we are training, I look at him, look at what he’s doing differently and ask him a lot of questions.”

Motie is now one of the faces of Amazon Warriors along with Tahir and is a crowd favourite in Providence. As a homegrown player, Motie relishes the crowd support and hopes to make the country proud.

“Well, it’s a very proud moment for me. The people in Guyana really love me,” Motie said. “So every opportunity I get, I just want to go out and do it for my family and my country.”

Gudakesh Motie is a CPL crowd favourite (Photo: CPLT20)

It all began at the Albion cricket club in Guyana. “I started to practice [at the club] when I was six years old,” Motie recalled. “I was very young and from there, I was really committed to whatever I wanted. I know cricket was the only thing for me at that age, going forward. And then, I went on to play for Guyana at the youth level at age 10. And going on from there, I went on to play for the same team, played all ages and made my first-class debut in 2015. I took it forward from there.

He had two senior international pros to learn from. “I had Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo there with me. They are a very big help to me in my career so far because I learned most of my bowling from those two guys. They were playing for West Indies at the time I was playing youth cricket [for Guyana]. So whatever they know, they’re always passing it on to me and we always work together.”

Motie also draws inspiration from other giants of spin. “Coming through, there were players like [Daniel] Vettori and [Ravindra] Jadeja. I’ve picked up a lot of things from Vettori – the way he uses the crease and the pace with which he bowls.”

Like Vettori did back in the day, Motie also brings the traditional skills of a left-arm fingerspinner. He can give the ball a rip and toss it up liberally, daring batters to go after him. When Ben Stokes tried to whip him hard into the leg side in the Lord’s Test last year, Motie got one to fizz out of the footmarks and knock out middle stump. That ball elicited a nod of acknowledgement from Stokes at the time.

“I was just trying to hit my length there and there was a rough outside there,” Motie said. “But, fortunately, it spun and went through and hit the stump, which I was very happy with. It was a big wicket for me.”

Motie was rested for the recent two-match Test series in India, but remains a crucial part of West Indies’ plans for next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Gudakesh Motie: “Definitely, that [batting] is something I’ve been working on for quite some time now.” (Photo: Getty Images)

He is yet to play international cricket in India – he has played a handful of games in Sri Lanka – but he seems to have a fair understanding of what to do in these conditions, thanks to his camp with Keacy Carty, Sherfane Rutherford, Amir Jangoo, Ackeem Auguste, and CWI talent manager Jamal Smith at the Super Kings academy earlier this month.

“It was a very good opportunity to come to Chennai because you’re bowling on different pitches,” Motie said. “It’s black and red soils, which I haven’t bowled on before. I think it’s a great opportunity for me to gain that experience, going to play a series in Bangladesh and then the World Cup here.”

Motie also has ambitions of being an all-rounder. He showed his batting potential in his ODI half-centuries against England in 2025 and against Sri Lanka in 2024. Occasionally, Amazon Warriors have also used him as a pinch-hitter in the CPL.

“Definitely, that [batting] is something I’ve been working on for quite some time now,” Motie said. “I want to turn into a general allrounder. I don’t want to just be a bowler; I want to contribute with the bat too. I’ve been putting in a lot of work and I came here and put a lot of work into it. So, hopefully, whenever I get the opportunity, I can do it.”

West Indies are in the middle of a big block of cricket: their ongoing white-ball tour of Bangladesh will be followed by an all-format tour of New Zealand, with the T20 World Cup being the marquee ICC event in 2026. Motie’s form and multi-dimensional skills could be central to their chances, especially in the white-ball game, during this busy period for them. (ESPNcricinfo)

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The Lusignan Golf Club came alive on Sunday as 36 golfers battled it out under clear skies for top honours at the Bruster’s Real Ice Cream Golf Tournament 2025.

The course was in splendid shape, lush fairways, smooth greens, and a gentle breeze that tested every shot, setting the perfect tone for a day of spirited competition.

Emerging triumphant was Kassam Oliver, who carded a gross score of 85 with a 22 handicap, finishing on a net score of 63. His steady play throughout the round secured him first place in a strong field.

Anthony Scares followed closely with 86 gross, 23 handicap, and 63 net, losing narrowly on countback, while Roy Dhori finished third with 83 gross, 18 handicap, and 65 net.

In the special categories, Miguel Yunis unleashed a powerful drive to capture the Longest Drive award, while Mike Mangal displayed pinpoint accuracy to win Nearest to the Pin.

The Best Gross title went to Feroze Barkat 76, who delivered consistent form throughout the day.

The tournament, now an annual favorite, once again showcased the strong partnership between Bruster’s Real Ice Cream and the Lusignan Golf Club.

The course buzzed with camaraderie and anticipation as players gathered at the 19th hole to discuss their rounds and look ahead to the next big challenge, the Brava Guyana Open, scheduled for November 1-2, 2025.

LGC Secretary Chet Bowling extended gratitude to the sponsors, saying, “A big thank you to Bruster’s. The Bruster’s brand has been a great supporter of the Lusignan Golf Club over the past six years. Led by Director Paton George, the company clearly understands its corporate social responsibility.

“What’s also important is the number of players the tournament attracted, 36. This was a very high turnout and is reflective of the sponsor, but also a buildup to the Brava Guyana Open. You could feel the air pulsating at the 19th hole as players shared their anticipation for the major tournament.”

With the Brava Guyana Open just days away, Oliver’s win adds a thrilling chapter to the club’s competitive season and signals an exciting showdown ahead for Guyana’s premier golf event.

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What was supposed to be a simple, routine Sunday treat turned into tragedy for six-year-old Soraya Bourne, who lost her life in the fiery explosion at the Mobil gas station at Regent and King Streets, Georgetown.

Now, her grieving mother, Samantha Roach, is seeking for answers and justice as she struggles to make sense of her daughter’s horrific death.

The News Room visited Roach’s home, where she sat surrounded by relatives, eyes swollen from crying and recalled her last moments with her youngest child.

“She excited fah go buy she chicken every Sunday… she got to get she money to go buy she chicken no matter wah you cook… she want she KFC,” the distraught mother said.

It was their routine, every Sunday, Soraya and her cousins would hop into her aunt’s car and head to KFC. This time, they never made it back.

At about 19:36 hrs Sunday night, the deadly explosion changed everything.

“Somebody come and ride tell me how meh niece car just blow up at the gas station.

“I rush go but by time I reach, they done carry some of them hospital,” Roach said.

At the hospital, she frantically begged for information.

“They keep asking me details about she… then I ask one of the girls to look and the girl seh no, she can’t see. The other one pull the blind and they start holler out. Me daughter lay down there dead.

“Onto now they ain’t tell me how meh daughter dead. They had me there questioning and questioning. I keep hollering, ‘meh daughter name Soraya Bourne! I want see meh daughter!’ When I finally see she… I blackout. I ain’t know nothing after that,” Roach told the News Room.

Soraya, who was seated behind the driver’s seat in the car, died at the scene. She was later rushed to the hospital by persons in the area.

“A man had to tek she and put she on he shoulder and beg a woman. The woman seh she can’t carry the rest, but she tek she,” Roach said.

The explosion left others badly injured.

The car Soraya was in, PTT 8275, was driven by Genica Hooper. The other three occupants were: Rashad Lord, 8; Sadiya McClintock, 11 and Yevonne Jonas.

For Roach, who described her family as “one big happy family,” the loss feels unreal.

“Every Sunday they does go buy they chicken and they does come back. Whole day yesterday (Sunday) she (Soraya) deh playing with them lil children, whole day. She too young fah get a death like that. I didn’t mind if she did sick… duh is a cruel death. She didn’t deserve to die like that,” Roach said through tears.

Police are searching for a man, believed to be Spanish-speaking, who allegedly left two suspicious bags at the gas station shortly before a powerful explosion.

Police sources told the News Room that CCTV footage shows the suspect—wearing a blue jersey, black pants, a light green hat, and grey slippers—arriving at the fuel station around 18:15 hrs carrying two large black garbage bags.

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

He reportedly attempted to dump the bags in a bin but was stopped by a pump attendant.

The man then walked to the southwestern side of the compound, near cages used to store cooking gas cylinders, where he placed the bags on the ground before leaving south along King Street.

At approximately 19:36 hrs, an explosion erupted from the same area, damaging the fuel station building, several vehicles, and nearby structures.

Roach is now clinging to memories of her daughter’s joy and innocence and a birthday that will never come.

“She birthday coming up next month. I buy she a tablet for she birthday, but she godmother buy a more fancy one. The tablet come and she never get it. She never get fah hold it,” Roach cried.

As she wiped away tears, Roach plea was simple.

“I need some type of justice for meh daughter. Like I can’t do nothing without it. She was meh baby, meh last one. I just want justice,” she pleaded.

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Police are searching for a man, believed to be Spanish-speaking, who allegedly left two suspicious bags at the Mobil Fuel Station at Regent and King Streets, Lacytown, shortly before a powerful explosion killed a six-year-old girl and injured several others on Sunday night.

Police sources told the News Room that CCTV footage shows the suspect—wearing a blue jersey, black pants, a light green hat, and grey slippers—arriving at the fuel station around 18:15 hrs carrying two large black garbage bags.

He reportedly attempted to dump the bags in a bin but was stopped by a pump attendant.

The man then walked to the southwestern side of the compound, near cages used to store cooking gas cylinders, where he placed the bags on the ground before leaving south along King Street.

Six-year-old Soraya Bourne died after the explosion

At approximately 19:36 hrs, an explosion erupted from the same area, damaging the fuel station building, several vehicles, and nearby structures.

Investigators discovered a two-foot-wide crater and fragments of black plastic and transparent tape, which have been sent to the Police Crime Laboratory for analysis.

The explosion resulted in the death of six-year-old Soraya Bourne.

She was in a silver Toyota Premio (PTT 8275) occupied by Jenica Hooper, 27, her mother Yvonne Honas, 71, and two other children, Seddia McIntosh, 12, and Reshard Lord, 7.

Browne was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital, while the others sustained injuries and remain hospitalized in stable condition.

Investigators are making efforts to locate the suspect.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has since directed that a full-scale investigation be launched into the explosion.

6-Y-O girl dies after explosion at Regent Street gas station

 

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West Indies captain Shai Hope led a batting turnaround that helped his side win by 16 runs against Bangladesh in the first T20I in Chattogram. Hope and Rovman Powell, playing his 100th T20I, put together a late burst of sixes to help the visitors to 165-3.

In reply, Bangladesh crashed to 42-4 in the Powerplay, and were bowled out for 149.

Jason Holder and Jayden Seales took three wickets each, while Akeal Hosein picked up two in the Powerplay.

It was, however, Hope and Powell’s unbroken 83-run stand for the fourth wicket that set up victory. Hope scored an unbeaten 46 off 28 balls with a four and four sixes. Powell had similar numbers, facing 28 balls, hitting four sixes and a four, and ending up unbeaten on 44.

Nasum keeps WI quiet

Bangladesh began well with the ball. They rallied around Nasum Ahmed’s four overs. He went wicketless but the left-arm spinner kept West Indies quiet, conceding just 15 runs in his quota.

Openers Brandon King and Alick Athanaze only hit a six each though they stuck around for 8.2 overs. Rishad Hossain bowled Athanaze for 34, when the batter missed a reverse sweep. Taskin Ahmed then removed King, caught at deep square leg for 33.

Taskin followed up with the wicket of Sherfane Rutherford, whose Bangladesh ordeal continued. This time, he fell first ball, caught behind. Although Hope struck couple of sixes at this stage, West Indies couldn’t quite push the scoring rate. Nasum finished off his spell with another stingy over, the 15th.

Hope, Powell roar in the end

Hope then went after Rishad with two sixes, but with three over remaining, the visitors looked well short of a decent total. Hope cracked a Taskin half-volley for his fourth six to start the 18th over. Powell, meanwhile, finally middled one with seven balls remaining in the innings.

He slog-swept Mustafizur Rahman for a 102m six, before creaming Tanzim Hasan for three consecutive sixes in the last over. He hammered Tanzim’s full-toss, before going straight for the next two. West Indies picked up 51 runs in the last three overs, changing the complexion of the contest.

Bangladesh crash in the powerplay

Bangladesh came out all guns blazing in their pursuit of 166 runs. Tanzid Hasan was going at a shot-a-ball but he lasted just five balls, with Romario Shepherd taking a stunning catch running back from mid-on.

Litton Das then played a soft shot as Akeal Hosein got the ball to stop on the Bangladesh captain. Caught in two minds, Litton popped back a return catch, with Hosein taking it blind behind the non-striker standing next to him.

Hosein then had Saif Hassan caught at short fine leg in the next over, attempting a sweep. When Holder removed Shamim Hossain in the fifth over – clipping off his off-bail – West Indies had made significant progress, with Bangladesh’s last pair of specialist batters at the crease by the end of the powerplay.

Tanzim, Nasum make late effort

The hosts continued to slide when Khary Pierre bowled Nurul Hasan off the inside edge in the ninth over. Towhid Hridoy joined the procession when he fell to Seales in the 12th over. He struck just two fours in his 28 off 25 balls.

Tanzim Hasan then struck a six and three fours in his 33 off 27 balls, to keep Bangladesh’s hopes alive. He added 40 runs for the seventh wicket with Nasum, before Holder had him caught at deep point in the 16th over.

Nasum kept the fire burning with another boundary, but Seales made him his third wicket in the following over.

Holder then snuffed out the threat of Rishad, who miscued one to long-off. The innings ended when Taskin stepped on the stumps in the final over, having sent Holder sailing out of the ground in the 18th. (ESPNcricinfo)

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