Blog

With just one week before Guyanese head to the polls, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is reporting a high, 83 per cent, turnout in the Disciplined Forces balloting, even as the Commission has flagged some issues with ballot sets in three districts, including District Four.

The turnout by service was as follows:

• Army: 2,575 of 3,100 eligible ranks voted

• Police: 5,727 of 6,909 eligible ranks voted

• Prison Service: 397 of 466 eligible officers voted

In 2020, Disciplined Forces polling saw an 81.8 per cent turnout.

Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud, speaking at a press conference on Monday, said the voting exercise on August 22 for members of the police, army and prison services was conducted “in compliance with the laws” despite minor glitches early in the day. He emphasised that there were no reports to cast doubt on the credibility of the process.

However, Persaud disclosed that during the sorting process, officials identified discrepancies with the ballots for District Four, where two extra ballots were found in one set. He explained that one ballot was short in District Five and another was short in District Ten.

“Interrogation led to the point where we zoned in on what could have caused the problem,” Persaud said, noting that a formal memorandum is being prepared to submit to the seven-member Commission, along with recommendations on how to correct the issue. He declined to comment further until the Commission deliberates.

When asked why GECOM could not balance the ballots, the CEO clarified that it was not a case of missing votes.

“All ballots went out and all came back in,” he said.

Persaud explained that each ballot is issued in an envelope containing the elector’s particulars, along with a smaller envelope labelled with the district where it must be counted. Polling staff were instructed to insert their ballots into the inner, district-marked envelope, but many instead returned them in the outer envelope.

Chief Elections Officer of GECOM, Vishnu Persaud (Photo: News Room/August 25, 2025)

“We cannot send the outer envelope for intermixing as it compromises the secrecy of the ballot,” Persaud explained.

After reviewing the matter from every angle, he said the only logical conclusion is that ballots meant for Districts Five and Ten were mistakenly placed in the envelope for District Four, creating the imbalance.

On preparations for election day, Persaud confirmed that staffing at all levels—from Returning Officers to polling day staff—is in place, although he acknowledged challenges with persons declining appointments as presiding officers, prompting GECOM to find replacements.

The Commission’s logistics plan, he said, is unfolding as expected, with no major hiccups anticipated. GECOM has also put a chain of command in place to allow for swift responses to any emergencies, citing the quick action taken following the accident on the night of the disciplined services balloting as an example.

Persaud also outlined measures for the close of poll on election day, including the posting of Statements of Poll at every station and the secure transportation of ballot boxes and Statements of Poll, escorted by police and accompanied by GECOM staff.

The post 83% turnout for Disciplined Forces vote appeared first on News Room Guyana.

A new nursery school at No.8 village in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) was commissioned on Monday to serve some 41 children already enrolled.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand attended the brief opening ceremony and said this school is a promise fulfilled by the government to ensure that students of every age have access to learning opportunities.

A classroom at the school. (Photo: Ministry of Education)

“We want to develop rounded, wholesome children ready to take on primary education.

“In the last three and a half years, we have built 67 nursery schools across Guyana and that will go down for the remainder of time, the most nursery schools ever built in a three and a half year period,” Manickchand said.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand. (Photo: Ministry of Education)

Prior to this school, the children were housed at No. 8 Primary School, but this was not optimal for learning. There is also a No.8 Secondary School, and this addition provides a holistic education system for children in the area.

The learning area.

Manickchand said nursery school enrollment currently stands at 93 per cent. She added that the ministry observed that enrollment at far-reaching communities are increasing when schools are constructed in nearby communities.

The minister noted that schools are not merely constructed and handed over to communities; teachers are also being trained. For this nursery school, all five teachers have received training, she added.

“Our job, our duty and our dream is to make sure that no child goes any day without education unless it is absolutely necessary,” the minister said.

 

The post Nursery school opens at No.8 village appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Darron Niles found the back of the net four times (Photo: Elite League Facebook)

Slingerz FC continued their dominant run in the GFF Elite League, thumping Santos FC 7-0 on Sunday night at the National Training Centre at Providence.

The men in white and orange consolidated their position top of the table with another ruthless display to remain the only unbeaten team in the tournament.

Darron Niles led the charge for Slingerz with four goals, netting in the seventh, 31^st, 34^th and 38^th minutes, while Kelsey Benjamin (45’+3’) and Michael Joseph (88’) added one each.

Santos’ night went from bad to worse when Shemar Dublin scored an own goal in the 61^st minute.

The night’s opening contest never got going as Mainstay Goldstar FC failed to show up for their clash against Western Tigers, who claimed victory via walkover.

The post Niles leads Slingerz to 7-0 win over Santos in GFF Elite League appeared first on News Room Guyana.

West Indies all-rounder Kevin Sinclair and left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd are the notable omissions from the Guyana Harpy Eagles contracted list of players for 2025-2026 season.

News Room Sport was reliably informed that at the recent players’ draft held by Cricket West Indies (CWI), Guyana Harpy Eagles drafted Under-19 players Riyad Latif and Jonathan Van Lange.

18-year-old leg-spinner Latif and all-rounder Van Lange, currently in the West Indies Under-19 squad, are first-time selections.

Latif is currently with the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League.

Guyana Harpy Eagles contracted players (2025/2026): Tevin Imlach, Veerasammy Permaul, Raymond Perez, Kemol Savory, Kevlon Anderson, Isai Thorne (U-25), Nial Smith, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Ronaldo Alimohamed, Matthew Nandu (U-25), Junior Sinclair, Riyad Latif, Richie Looknauth, Sylus Tyndall, Jonathan Van Lange.

IN: Riyad Latif, Richie Looknauth and Jonathan Van Lange

OUT: Kevin Sinclair, Ashmead Nedd, Sachin Singh

Although Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) have not officially released the squads, sources have indicated that there are significant changes to all squads for the new contracted period.

GCB’s Chairman of Selectors, Ramnaresh Sarwan, did confirm some of the omissions from the previous contracted list.

In an invited comment, Sarwan opted not to disclose details regarding the omission of Kevin Sinclair and Nedd from the list, but noted specific “issues” with both players.

He noted that the players are aware of the reason(s) for their non-selection to the contracted list.

The former West Indies captain indicated that both players are still eligible for selection and would be considered for selection on a ‘Play-For-Pay’ basis.

According to Sarwan, the players in question know what “they need to remedy” to regain their contracts next season potentially.

Last November, the GCB pulled Kevin Sinclair from the Super50 in Trinidad and Tobago owing to an “internal report,” but it did not provide precise details of the report.

A month later, Sinclair was found guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during a Test match against Bangladesh.

He was fined 15 per cent of his match fee after he was found to have breached Article 2.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “Disobeying an Umpire’s instruction during an International Match.”

In addition to his fine, one demerit point has been added to Sinclair’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in 24 months.

The incident occurred when Sinclair ignored the on-field umpires’ instructions to stop using language deemed aggressive and harsh towards the Bangladesh batters.

In 2023, the Caribbean Premier League organisers announced that Sinclair left the Guyana Amazon Warriors squad for “personal reasons.”

In the last Four-Day season, Kevin scored 209 runs at an average of 26.12, with a best score of 62, and took four wickets.

Nedd, a stellar graduate from the West Indies Academy system, was not selected in the earlier rounds of the Four-Day competition for the Harpy Eagles owing to fitness issues.

He played just two matches and took five wickets; in the Super50, he played seven matches and took seven wickets and had an economy rate of 3.42.

Nedd is playing for St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Republic Caribbean Premier League 2025.

Riyad Latif (left) and Jonathan Van Lange

Investment in the Future

Commenting on the selection of Latif and Van Lange, Sarwan indicated that the young players have performed creditably in age-group cricket and have been bright sparks in senior matches.

Looking ahead, Sarwan contended that investing early in the players is critical for sustained success in the Harpy Eagles programme.

As regards Tyndall, a promising fast-bowler who did not feature last season owing to injury, Sarwan indicated that “we wanted to give him a fair opportunity.”

He noted that there were concerns raised on his level of match-readiness, but given the investment in the player and his improvement in workload, it was prudent to give him an opportunity towards a crucial department in the programme.

The aim is to find a “common ground” for Tyndall to be a constant feature.

While defending their Four-Day title will be the aim next season, this batch of players will focus on the Regional Super50 in Trinidad and Tobago from November 18 to December 6.

News Room Sport was also reliably informed by a source that the finals should be held in Guyana from December 10 to 13.

Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie and Romario Shepherd will likely retain West Indies international contracts, while Sherfane Rutherford, Keemo Paul and Shimron Hetmyer would be available for selection on a ‘Play-For-Pay’ basis.

The post Kevin Sinclair and Ashmead Nedd lose Guyana Harpy Eagles contracts appeared first on News Room Guyana.

BHM, an international company part of the United Kingdom’s Mowlem Group, will be constructing the second terminal at Guyana’s Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The sod for this project was turned on Monday, a move that President Dr. Irfaan Ali hailed as a signal of the transformation yet to come for the country.

“In 2025, Guyana declared itself ready for the future. Today’s event is not about the airport terminal but the journeys yet to come,” President Ali declared from the project site.

“There is no shortcut, there is only one route to this: hard work, sacrifice, and relentless commitment from every one of us.”

President Dr. Irfaan Ali leads the sod turning for the second terminal at CJIA. In the background is the area where the terminal will be constructed (Photo: News Room/ Vishani Ragobeer/ August 25, 2025)

BHM will be partnering with the Manchester Airport Group to design and construct the new 150,000 square-foot arrivals terminal. The company will also work on the reconfiguration of the existing international terminal.

Earlier this year, about $7 billion was budgeted for the CJIA’s expansion. This project is a major part of those expansion plans.

According to BHM’s Managing Director, Phil Atkinson, the design phase of the project is underway. Construction is expected to begin early next year, with completion anticipated within approximately 18 months.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali addressing the sod turning ceremony for the second terminal at CJIA (Photo: News Room/ Vishani Ragobeer/ August 25, 2025)

The rapid expansion of operations at the CJIA— with several new flights and a major increase in travellers— necessitated the construction of the new terminal, according to the airport corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, Ramesh Ghir. The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government’s focus on expanding the tourism sector is another major reason for the investment, Tourism Minister Oneidge Walrond explained at the event.

The PPP/C is seeking re-election at Guyana’s upcoming elections set for September 1, 2025.

The post UK firm building second terminal at CJIA appeared first on News Room Guyana.

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday night issued a rallying call to residents of Region Three, urging them to turn out in overwhelming numbers on September 1 to defend the gains made over the last five years and to secure even greater transformation in the years ahead.

“The best way to crush ignorance, the best way to crush egotistical gangsters, is to crush them overwhelmingly at the polls. And we will do that with our votes for the PPP,” the Head of State declared to thunderous applause as he wrapped up the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) rally at Stewartville.

Returning to his home region, with his wife and parents—both from Region Three—by his side, President Ali reminded the massive crowd that the progress they now enjoy did not happen by chance but by deliberate and determined investment.

“When we started this journey in 2020, we said Region Three will be the symbol of transformation. Today, look around—there is a new commercial bank, a new mall, a new private hospital, training and recreational facilities. This is the story of every village, and we will not stop,” he told supporters.

He pointed to signature projects such as: the new Four-Lane Demerara River Bridge, delivered toll-free and anchored by the Guyana-China Friendship Park; the Schoonord-to-Crane highway, completed in record time and now being extended to Wales and Parika and agricultural revitalisation, with farmlands in Crane, Wakenaam, and Leguan now holding value and promise, after once being sold off in desperation.

“These investments prove that Region Three has become the beating heart of Guyana’s transformation,” Dr Ali said.

What’s Next if the PPP/C is Re-elected?

The President stressed that the September 1 vote is about choosing between progress and stagnation, unveiling major projects already on the agenda for Region Three’s future:

• A new stadium at Crane
• A Level Five Regional Hospital
• A Medical College at Tuschen
• A regional shipping hub at Parika to connect farmers directly with Caribbean markets
• Expanded housing, agriculture, and tourism lands
• Direct government transfers to help families build and upgrade their homes

“When you vote, think of the new roads, the opening of new lands, the opportunities that lie ahead. On September 1, you are voting for all of this,” he said.

Dr Ali ended on a personal note, thanking his village and the wider Region Three for the support that has carried him to the presidency.

“All of the glory, all of the honour belongs to you. You are the strength and foundation of me, and I recommit to work harder every day to make you prouder,” he said, vowing that no threat could ever derail the region’s or the country’s progress.

 

The post “Let’s crush them overwhelmingly at the polls” – Pres. Ali rallies Region Three to defend hard-won gains appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) took its campaign fire to Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, on Saturday night where thousands turned out to hear President Dr. Irfaan Ali deliver a rousing defence of his party’s record and a call for five more years in office.

“Brothers and sisters of Region Three,” the President began, his voice lifted above the sea of red-clad supporters, “tonight I am proud to stand on the platform of the PPP/C, on the shoulders of so many who came before me, who fought tirelessly for the greatest political movement in the Caribbean.”

President Ali praised former President and current Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo for his visionary leadership, noting that under Jagdeo’s stewardship the PPP/C proved itself as a party of the people—one that could take an ordinary citizen from humble beginnings and elevate him all the way to the presidency.

Ali reminded the packed crowd that for 75 years, the PPP has been at the forefront of every major struggle in Guyana—from the fight for independence and resistance against dictatorship to battling racism, criminality, and anti-democratic forces. “Today again,” he declared, “we are fighting to give you the best future you can have.”

The President sharply contrasted his party’s leadership with the alternative. “Our country needs leadership the world respects and wants to work with,” he said, recalling the failed attempts to rig elections in 2020. “The alternative is criminality and smuggling. That is the choice before you.”

Ali revisited the hardships endured between 2015 and 2020 under the APNU+AFC administration, which he said abandoned the people during times of crisis. He cited the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when, according to him, the then government “refused to do anything.” In contrast, Ali said the PPP, then in opposition, mobilised nationwide—distributing masks, organising food hampers, and going house-to-house in communities, even losing comrades in the line of service.

“I tell you this not for praise,” Ali explained, “but so you can understand the guiding philosophy of this party. Service and loyalty to the people—this is what the PPP stands for.”

The rally grounds erupted with chants as the President urged supporters to wear their red shirts with pride. “It is about success, it is about unity, and it is about building a future together,” he affirmed.

The post From independence to COVID relief, Ali reminds Region Three of PPP’s 75-year fight for the people appeared first on News Room Guyana.

“This man has been tested for many, many years in terms of competence, leadership, skills, credibility, and integrity. That’s the leadership that we want for the country. And by his side is Mark Phillips, Head of an army…these are people of substance.”

Those were the words of General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) and Vice President of Guyana, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, as he addressed thousands of supporters at the party’s rally in Stewartville, West Coast Demerara on Sunday.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, who are both seeking re-election, at the PPP/C rally at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara (Photo: News Room/ Vishani Ragobeer/ August 24, 2025)

Jagdeo urged residents of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) to take their civic duty seriously when they go to the polls on September 1 as they vote in the general and regional elections.

“Take this responsibility seriously, regardless of your race, your religion, your gender, young and old,” the Vice President said.

He urged them not to put their future at risk. “Think about it. On the 2nd of September, you don’t want to regret anything. You don’t want to say, ‘I made a bad decision. I put at risk the future of my country and my children, because I voted wrong, or I did not vote.’

“It’s your future. It’s a future of this country, and only one party can lead this country to the prosperity that will change your life.”

The post ‘Take your responsibility seriously, regardless of race, religion, gender’ – Jagdeo tells Reg. 3 appeared first on News Room Guyana.