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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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)
Dans le département du Sud-Est, plus précisément dans la commune de Marigot, les vents violents provoqués par la tempête tropicale Mélissa ont déraciné un arbre qui a tué un homme âgé d’environ 70 ans. Cinq autres personnes ont été blessées dans le département de l’Artibonite, selon un premier bilan communiqué par la Direction de la protection civile (DPC).
Depuis le début de la semaine, les prévisionnistes de l’Unité hydrométéorologique d’Haïti (UHM), les responsables de la Protection civile et ceux du SEMANAH multiplient les messages de sensibilisation à travers les médias et les réseaux sociaux pour alerter la population sur les menaces liées à la tempête Mélissa.
Cinq départements géographiques du pays ont été placés en état de vigilance orange : la Grand’Anse, les Nippes, le Sud, le Sud-Est et l’Ouest.
Les autorités mettent en garde contre les risques de pluies torrentielles, d’inondations, de glissements de terrain et d’éboulements dans plusieurs zones vulnérables. Les habitants des zones rurales ainsi que les navigateurs sont particulièrement appelés à la prudence.
À Marigot, sous la pression des vents violents de Mélissa, un arbre s’est effondré sur un septuagénaire dont l’identité n’a pas encore été révélée. Dans l’Artibonite, cinq autres personnes ont été blessées à cause de l’inondation, selon le rapport de la DPC.
Les autorités exhortent la population à suivre les consignes de sécurité et à rester à l’écoute des bulletins météorologiques pendant le passage de la tempête.
Il sculpte là où le monde détourne les yeux. Woodly Caymitte, « Filipo », fait de la sculpture un geste politique : réveiller la mémoire, dénoncer l’injustice, refuser l’oubli. Du buste de George Floyd aux figures muettes de la souffrance contemporaine, son œuvre répare, accuse et élève. Entre Haïti, l’Europe et les États-Unis, Filipo impose une sculpture de combat, qui met le fer, le bronze et la résine au service de la dignité humaine.La section culturelle de la RTVC propose à son lectorat ce portrait de l’un des meilleurs sculpteurs haïtiens contemporains.
RTVC – Quel nom préfères-tu qu’on utilise pour cet article ? (Woodly Caymitte, Filipo, ou autre ?)
Woodly Caymitte Filipo – Je préfère Woodly Caymitte dit Filipo. Parce que je suis les trois.
RTVC – Quel moment précis t’a fait comprendre que tu devais sculpter (ou « faire de l’art ») ? Une anecdote d’atelier, une rencontre ?
WCF – Un jour, mon professeur de sculpture Ludovic Booz de regretter memoire m’a surpris en train de pratiquer la céramique artistique. Il m’a regardé et m’a dit : Je ne vois pas un céramiste… je vois un sculpteur. Il ne voulait pas que je me limite à la céramique, car il percevait en moi une vocation plus grande, celle de la sculpture.
Je sais que la sculpture est devenue ma passion le jour où j’ai réalisé que, lorsque je crée, le temps n’existe plus. Au départ, je faisais de l’art pour m’amuser, sans véritable but. Mais un jour, c’est l’art qui m’a choisi.
Ma famille ne savait même pas que je sculptais, ni que j’étais inscrit dans une école d’art, jusqu’à ma deuxième année d’études.
« Clarisse », bronze monumental de Woodly Caymitte Filipo inauguré à La Rochelle le 10 mai 2024.
RTVC – Tu as travaillé entre Haïti, la France et les États-Unis : comment ces différents contextes ont-ils transformé ta manière de penser la sculpture ?
WCF – En Haïti, j’étais le petit Filipo, celui qui nourrissait son âme de rêves, avec peu de moyens, mais beaucoup de passion. Certains me prenaient pour un fou, un jeune qui ne ferait jamais grand-chose, qui jouait dans la boue après des années d’études. Mais pour mes amis proches j’avais du talent.
Ailleurs, dans d’autres pays, j’ai grandi à travers les expériences. On m’a fait confiance sur de grands projets artistiques sans savoir de quelle famille je suis. Juste en découvrant mon travail via mon portfolio, et surtout, en comprenant ma vision.
RTVC – Tu as aussi réalisé un buste de George Floyd en mai 2020 et offert des œuvres à des institutions : comment choisis-tu les figures que tu veux honorer ou défendre par la sculpture ?
WCF – Mon art naît là où le silence fait mal. Il naît dans ces zones oubliées, dans ces douleurs qu’on cache, dans ces cris qu’on n’entend plus.
Quand j’ai vu la vidéo de George Floyd ce n’était pas un simple fait divers. C’était un appel, un miroir. J’ai senti ce souffle coupé entrer en moi. Ça aurait pu être moi. Ou un autre. Un frère. Un noir. Un humain. Alors j’ai sculpté, non pas un corps, mais une mémoire vivante, une figure de résistance, pour ne pas oublier — pour que l’injustice cesse d’être un spectacle passager.
Je ne choisis pas les sujets. C’est mon âme qui me parle. Et elle me pousse vers ce qui dérange, ce qu’on laisse dormir dans les tiroirs du monde : la souffrance des femmes et des enfants, les esclaves modernes, les oubliés, les handicapés, la voix muette de la nature qui s’effondre.
Buste de Georges Floyd réalisé par le sculpteur Filipo.
Mon travail est un pont. L’esthétique de la laideur. Entre l’invisible et le tangible. Entre la douleur et la beauté. Entre ce qui ne se dit pas… et ce qui doit se montrer. Je sculpte pour ceux qui n’ont pas de place, mais qui portent, en silence, le poids du monde.
RTVC – Tu as une façon particulière de travailler le bronze / la résine / le fer — peux-tu décrire une étape technique que tu considères essentielle dans ta pratique ? (pour les lecteurs qui aiment le concret)
WCF – Oui, chaque matériaux ses exigences et ses mystères. Travailler le bronze, par exemple, c’est une discipline rigoureuse, presque un rituel. Il faut passer par plusieurs étapes essentielles : le moulage, la cire perdue, le coulage à haute température, puis vient le temps de nettoyer, souder, et enfin patiner le métal pour lui donner sa texture et sa couleur finale. C’est un processus dur, parfois dangereux, mais profondément noble.
Avec la résine, je fais attention à la toxicité. Il existe des résines plus respectueuses de l’environnement, que je privilégie quand c’est possible.
Le fer, lui, m’ouvre à la transformation des métaux — aluminium, cuivre, bronze. Je dois le conformer, découper, souder, presque comme si je le forgeais à mon image.
Chaque matière a son langage, et moi je me tiens à l’écoute, prêt à le traduire en forme
RTVC – Tu as enseigné / partagé ton savoir, quelle importance a la transmission pour toi ? Qu’est-ce que tu cherches à transmettre ?
WCF – Transmettre, c’est faire vivre. C’est un acte fondamental, surtout dans un monde en constante mutation. À travers mon parcours, notamment à l’ENARTS (Haïti) ISA (Cuba), j’ai compris que le métier de sculpteur, pourtant millénaire, est en train de se perdre, souvent au profit de pratiques plus virtuelles ou immédiates.
Or, a sculpture est une école de la patience, de l’observation et du geste. Elle apprend à voir au-delà des apparences, à ressentir le volume, à dialoguer avec la matière. Elle relie l’humain à ses racines, à son corps, à son histoire. Dans mon enseignement, je cherche à réveiller ces capacités manuelles, à faire redécouvrir le pouvoir du toucher, de la forme, de la transformation. Mais surtout, je transmets une culture, un héritage celui des grands sculpteurs, des gestes anciens, des luttes humaines incarnées dans la matière.
Transmettre, pour moi, c’est aussi donner accès à une dignité par le savoir-faire, ouvrir des voies vers d’autres métiers ( design, art public, artisanat, restauration, scénographie.)
La sculpture n’est pas qu’un art : c’est une philosophie du concret
RTVC – Est-ce que tu considères ton travail comme un acte politique ? Si oui, comment tu navigues entre mémoire, commémoration et esthétique ?
WCF – Oui, je considère mon travail comme un acte politique. Pas au sens partisan, mais dans le sens profond du mot : agir sur la société, poser un regard, laisser une trace. Ma sculpture parle des oubliés, des victimes sans voix, des héros invisibles. Elle interroge l’esclavage, la violence, l’injustice. Elle remet en lumière des mémoires qu’on tente souvent d’effacer. Je navigue entre mémoire, commémoration et esthétique en cherchant un équilibre : honorer le passé sans le figer, donner du sens à la forme, toucher les consciences sans détourner le regard. L’esthétique n’est pas là pour adoucir le message, mais pour le rendre visible, sensible, humain. Sculpter, pour moi, c’est redonner corps à ce qu’on ne voit plus.
Buste de l’empereur Jacques 1e, réalisé par le sculpteur Woddly Caymitte Filipo.
RTVC – Sur quoi tu travailles maintenant ? Un projet que tu veux partager (expo, commande, résidence) WCF – Sincèrement, je ne parle pas de mes projets sans que ce n’est pas a 89.9 pourcents au public.
RTVC – Si tu pouvais porter un message aux jeunes sculpteurs haïtiens, quel serait-il ?
WCF – La sculpture est un métier exigeant, parfois difficile mais profondément noble. Il faut de l’amour, de la patience, de l’espace intérieur, et surtout de la passion.
Apprends à entrer en contact avec l’univers , la matière, à l’écouter, à la transformer. Pousse tes limites, ose aller là où on ne t’attend pas. Reste humble, toujours prêt à apprendre même de tes erreurs. Il y aura des moments de doute, de découragement. Quand cela arrive, sois encore plus motivé. Et surtout : reste toi-même. C’est ta singularité qui fera ta force.
The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) notes with deep concern the recent racially charged statements circulated on social media by Ms. Jennifer Ally who was previously cautioned for similar conduct.
Such comments are divisive, offensive, and contrary to the spirit of respect and harmony that the Commission continues to advocate across all communities in Guyana. The ERC wishes to remind all citizens that freedom of expression carries with it the responsibility to ensure that public statements, particularly those made online, do not inflame ethnic tensions or undermine social cohesion
Article 146 (3) of the Constitution of Guyana states that freedom of expression “.. does not relate to hate speeches or other expressions, in whatever form, capable of exciting hostility or ill-will against any person or class of persons.’
The Commission has since issued a summons to the individual involved, requiring her to appear before the ERC at 11 a.m. on the 23” of October 2025, to respond to these renewed allegations of racially insensitive remarks. Failure to comply with this summons will result in the Commission taking appropriate action as provided for under the relevant laws of Guyana.
The ERC reiterates that racial hostility in any form has no place in Guyanese society. The Commission continues to encourage citizens to use social media responsibly, to speak out against intolerance, and to promote messages that build unity rather than division.
The Ethnic Relations Commission remains committed to fostering a society where mutual respect and understanding form the foundation of national harmony. (ERC Press Release)
See below full statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation:
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.
This latest statement stands in direct contradiction to the Ambassador’s earlier account, which was provided during a meeting with the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. On that occasion, 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 also recalls that the Ambassador indicated that the event referenced in the visa application was scheduled for July 2025, while the actual visit to the Embassy occurred in August 2025. This information was shared directly by the Ambassador when summoned for clarification on the matter.
The Ministry therefore views the Ambassador’s subsequent denial as both troubling and inconsistent with his previous statement.
The Ministry reaffirms its expectation that all representatives of foreign missions accredited to Georgetown will conduct their duties with the highest standards of honesty, professionalism and respect for the norms governing diplomatic relations.
The invitation letter related to this matter is hereby attached for reference.
