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The Ministry of Education has consulted key stakeholders regarding the construction of a new athletics track and football stadium at North Ruimveldt Secondary School in Georgetown.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand led the meeting, which included the president of the Guyana Olympic Association, Godfrey Munroe, and Nicholas Fraser, Head of the Unit of Allied Arts at the Ministry of Education.

Representatives from various sporting bodies were in attendance, including the Guyana Olympic Association, Athletics Association of Guyana, Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Football Federation, and members of the local sports journalism community. Teachers from North Ruimveldt Secondary were also present.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced the new 300-metre track and FIFA-certified football pitch.

The facility is intended to serve as a recreational hub for the local community, particularly for the estimated 4,000 students who attend schools in the North Ruimveldt, East Ruimveldt, South Ruimveldt, and Tucville communities.

Dr. Ali stated that the facility would be similar to the synthetic track at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, and would also feature courts for basketball, volleyball, and tennis.

The new sports complex will be built on an empty lot near the North Ruimveldt Secondary School.

 

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See below full statement:

National Insurance Scheme in order to meet the increased demands of the growing pension population is pleased to announce the expansion of its Life Certificate WhatsApp Service.

This initiative forms part of the Scheme’s ongoing commitment to improving accessibility and convenience for pensioners, both locally and abroad.

The upgraded service will now include twenty (20) WhatsApp contact numbers instead of the six (6) numbers that were previously in use allowing pensioners to complete their Life Certificates via a simple WhatsApp video call.

Through this service, pensioners can verify their identity directly with a NIS agent, eliminating the need for in-person visits. The added capacity aims to reduce wait times and ensure timely processing of pension payments.

The NIS encourages all pensioners, especially those residing overseas, to take advantage of this expanded service.

Persons using this service are required to have one form of identity and a blank life certificate during the video call.

The Life Certificate Call Centre WhatsApp numbers are as follows:

1. +592 751 6401
2. +592 751 6402
3. +592 751 6403
4. +592 751 6404
5. +592 751 6405
6. +592 751 6406
7. +592 751 6407
8. +592 751 6408
9. +592 751 6409
10. +592 751 6410
11. +592 751 6411
12. +592 751 6412
13. +592 751 6413
14. +592 751 6414
15. +592 751 6415
16. +592 751 6416
17. +592 751 6417
18. +592 751 6418
19. +592 751 6419
20. +592 751 6420

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The fairy tale run for Team Guyana in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Girls’ U-14 Challenge Series came to a gut-wrenching halt on Friday in Trinidad and Tobago.

After an epic, scoreless battle that pushed both sides to the absolute limit, Guyana’s hopes for a spot in the Tier II final were dashed in a sudden-death penalty shootout, falling 7-6 to a resilient French Guiana side.

The match at the Larry Gomes Stadium was a masterclass in tactical discipline. For 70 minutes, neither team ceded an inch.

It was a true stalemate, a defensive chess match with a final score of 0-0 after regulation time, reflecting the intense pressure and high stakes on the line.

The tension was palpable as the referee’s whistle signaled the end of normal time. Everything came down to the spot.

French Guiana appeared on the verge of victory after their first five kicks, converting through Tifanny Dadoe, Manuella Mantez, Wendia Monteiro, and Maylise Ambroise.

A miss by Shemia King gave Guyana a lifeline, but Matanya Roberts’ subsequent shot sailed high over the crossbar, leaving the door ajar for the Guyanese squad.

Guyana responded with a clinical display of nerve. Lehiana Bengamin, Kira Chor, Kaleigh Todd, and Leandra Henrito all calmly found the back of the net to keep their championship dreams alive.

As the shootout bled into sudden death, the pressure intensified with each kick. French Guiana’s Eve Desormeaux, Naylann Xavier, and Myrancia Apelombie held their composure, while Thais Charles and Sonia Simon responded in kind for Guyana.

The unforgettable moment came when French Guiana’s goalkeeper, Keysha Balotte, stood firm. With the game on her shoulders, she pulled off a stunning, match-winning save against Sonia Simon, sending the French Guiana bench into a frenzy of celebration and leaving the Guyanese players to process the agonizing sting of defeat.

The loss marked the first time the young squad had tasted defeat in the tournament.

They had earned their spot in the semi-finals by topping Group C, showcasing their defensive fortitude with a gritty 0-0 draw against the Cayman Islands.

That result capped a perfect group stage campaign with three impressive victories: a 1-0 win over Anguilla, a dominant 2-0 performance against the Turks and Caicos Islands, and a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Antigua and Barbuda.

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Former sugar industry analyst Joel Bhagwandin has condemned ex-GuySuCo executive and self-styled “Hindu priest” Vishnu Panday, calling him a “cautionary tale of hypocrisy, hubris, and decline” following Panday’s recent public attack on the PPP/C government over Guyana’s sugar industry.

Panday, who served as General Manager at Skeldon Sugar Factory and held other senior roles at GuySuCo, made headlines when he claimed that the PPP/C government, which governed from 1992 to 2015, was solely responsible for the industry’s decline.

Panday also recounted leaving GuySuCo multiple times, alleging management dysfunction and corruption, claiming he worked for Suriname’s sugar industry before returning at former President Donald Ramotar’s request.

However, Bhagwandin disputes Panday’s version of events. According to him, Panday did not “walk off” his position at Skeldon—he was terminated in 2010 due to poor performance, insubordination, and allegations related to questionable transactions, which Panday denied. Panday was later rehired in 2015 following a personal plea by the late GAWU President Komal Chand. Reports also indicate that Panday faced challenges in the private sector, including alleged termination from a major fishing company where he served as General Manager.

“At the center of Skeldon’s failure stands Mr. Panday. He was not a bystander; he was the executive with primary responsibility for the Skeldon Modernization Project and, by extension, a central figure in the decline of GuySuCo and the eventual closure of Enmore Estate,” Bhagwandin wrote. “To suggest otherwise is to rewrite history.”

Bhagwandin also critiqued Panday’s public language, noting its stark contrast with the eloquence he once displayed as a revered narrator of the Ramayana. He said Panday’s repeated use of terms like “jackass” reflects what he calls a “devolution” from a man of intellect into someone embodying “the characteristics of Ravana—magnified tenfold.”

“A guru who knows the scriptures but acts contrary to them is a hypocrite and unwise. Rama says that such a person is to be grieved for, because he loses both this world and the next, and drags others into darkness,” Bhagwandin added, citing Hindu teachings.

Panday’s remarks have reignited public debate about accountability and leadership failures in Guyana’s sugar industry. Observers say the controversy underscores the complex legacy of GuySuCo executives, the challenges of the Skeldon Modernization Project, and the eventual closure of estates like Enmore, highlighting how historical management decisions continue to shape the industry today.

“Mr. Panday’s own words and record speak louder than his outbursts,” Bhagwandin added. “His attempts to cast blame elsewhere collapse under the weight of history, leaving him not the accuser, but the accused.”

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Guyana’s aviation sector is taking off. This week, the Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lt. Col. (ret’d) Egbert Field, A.A., met with local air operators at the GCAA Boardroom in Kingston to discuss the ongoing growth and modernization of the country’s aviation industry.

The meeting served as a platform for the GCAA to outline key developments and set expectations for regulatory compliance, with safety and operational excellence at the forefront.

During the engagement, Col. Field highlighted several major initiatives currently transforming Guyana’s skies:

• Upgrading infrastructure at Ogle Airport;
• Adding new aircraft to the national registry;
• Conducting a study to reorganize airspace in the Georgetown Flight Information Region (FIR);
• Implementing Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) and Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARS) approaches.

He also detailed ongoing projects at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), including the construction of a second terminal, new taxiways, and a new staff complex at the Timehri Control Tower compound. Preparations are also underway for Guyana to host two major international conferences in 2026: one by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and another by the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations.

To support these expansions, the GCAA plans to recruit and train additional staff and has launched an online platform for drone and landing permit applications. Col. Field stressed that these initiatives align with President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s vision of enhancing local capacity and positioning Guyana as a modern, competitive aviation hub.

Attending operators also shared updates on their own developments, including:

• New parking facilities at Ogle Airport;
• Expanded aprons and terminal buildings;
• A new cargo facility;
• Construction of a new hangar facility at CJIA for Jags Aviation.

However, several operational challenges were raised, such as runway incursions at hinterland airstrips caused by animals, pedestrians, vehicles, and games; inadequate or absent runway lighting at night in some areas; and the coexistence of rotor and fixed-wing aircraft operations at Ogle.

Col. Field acknowledged these concerns, promising that the GCAA will work closely with operators to address the issues while maintaining high standards of aviation safety and security.

“The GCAA remains committed to building a safe and modern aviation sector that supports Guyana’s development,” Col. Field said. “Our goal is to ensure aviation safety and security are never compromised, even as we expand and modernize our operations.”

With these initiatives, Guyana’s aviation sector is poised for a major leap forward—providing safer skies, modern infrastructure, and a growing platform for international and regional aviation growth.

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The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has confirmed that all election materials, including ballot boxes with votes cast by members of the Disciplined Forces, were safely secured and delivered to its headquarters in Georgetown on Friday night, following a road accident along the East Coast Demerara.

In a statement issued on Saturday, GECOM dismissed as “malicious” a social media post claiming that ballot boxes were scattered on the roadway after the crash. “This is exactly the kind of disinformation that the Commission has been relentlessly pleading must be avoided,” GECOM said, assuring the public that every ballot box and related material remained intact, accounted for, and is now in secure custody.

The accident occurred at about 20:55 hrs on the LBI Public Road when, according to the Guyana Police Force, an unknown motorcar drove suddenly out of the LBI Access Road into the path of the police escort. The lead police vehicle applied brakes, triggering a chain-reaction collision involving three vehicles transporting ballot boxes.

Police reported that minibus #BAB 6899, carrying Ballot Box #DF048 from Central Police Station, was the first to brake. Motorcar #PXX 7899, transporting Ballot Box #DF047, then collided with its rear, followed by minibus #BAL 2180, which was carrying Ballot Box #DF050 from Whim Police Station, crashing into the back of the motorcar.

Several GECOM staff, party agents, and a police officer were injured in the collision. They were transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where they are receiving treatment. GECOM said it will provide support to ensure their speedy recovery.

Despite the accident, the police confirmed that all three ballot boxes were promptly and securely escorted to GECOM headquarters without compromise. Opposition APNU parliamentarian Christopher Jones also confirmed in a Facebook post that the materials were safely delivered, noting that one of the party’s agents was among those injured.

The incident comes just days before Guyanese head to the polls on 1 September for General and Regional Elections. GECOM reiterated that the crash will in no way affect election preparations. “The case has absolutely no merit, it has no likelihood of success, and would amount to a colossal waste of the court’s time,” the Commission said, urging the public to remain vigilant against misinformation that could undermine confidence in the process.

The Guyana Police Force has launched an investigation into the accident.

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Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, has issued a rebuttal against a legal challenge filed by the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) in the High Court against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

During a televised interview with the National Communications Network (NCN) on Friday, the AG described the legal challenge as “baseless and frivolous.”

The case, which alleges that approved political parties were unlawfully excluded from ballots intended for distribution in several regions ahead of the September 1 General and Regional Elections, has been described by the AG as reflecting a deep misunderstanding of Guyana’s constitutional and electoral framework and as an abuse of the court’s process.

“This case, in my humble and respectful view, is a demonstrable illustration of a major lack of understanding of our electoral framework, as established by the constitution of our country, and the electoral machinery as established by the relevant statutory provisions,” the legal affairs minister stated.

Minister Nandlall reassured the public that this case will in no way affect or derail the upcoming elections while highlighting that it has no chance of success.

“The case has absolutely no merit, it has no likelihood of success, and would amount to a colossal waste of the court’s time,” he stated.

The senior council noted the odd timing of the legal action and the unnecessary diversion of resources it requires.

“A tremendous amount of resources, time and energy have to be expended at this crucial time, days before the elections, with a hopeless legal challenge,” he reiterated. “The court has an obligation, in my view, to express its discontent with actions that are so patently frivolous and vexatious.”

The AG also reminded viewers that the leader of the party bringing the proceedings to the court is an attorney-at-law and should have been fully aware of all constitutional and statutory provisions that govern Guyana’s elections.

He also said that the submitted affidavit in itself undermines the claim it is making because ‘it fails to show any valid legal basis for relief.’

The minister expressed confidence that the court will dismiss the case and hopes that it will impose costs that essentially would deter further abuse of the judicial process.

“Hopefully, at the end of the matter, the court would express its displeasure with its process being so abused and impose an appropriate order in relation to costs,” he said.

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Region Two has been earmarked as one of the regions to offer the University of Guyana’s (UG) College of Medical Sciences programmes, bringing these medical courses closer to students.

President Dr Irfaan Ali made the announcement during the commissioning of Lima Regional Hospital on Friday.

“I have given the Minister of Health and the Minister of Education instructions that we are going to attach a number of medical colleges from the University of Guyana in these regions, and this is one of the regions that will have one such Medical College,” President Ali disclosed.

He explained that UG has received an overwhelming number of applications to its medical field, including pharmacy, dental technician, dentistry, nursing, biology and medical sciences.

Healthcare workers in Region Two at the commissioning of the Lima Regional Hospital

Unfortunately, the university cannot accommodate all the applicants, which has left many feeling disappointed. This situation highlights the urgent need for the establishment of more medical colleges to support aspiring students.

“The new school that we are building will have enough capacity. We are building it so that in the night, it will be the Guyana Medical College Essequibo Branch as part of the University of Guyana, where your nurses, physicians, dentist, and technicians will be trained right here in Essequibo. Those are the opportunities,” the president stated.

President Dr Irfaan Ali at the commissioning of the Lima Hospital

When completed, medical students will no longer have to leave Essequibo to travel as far away as Turkeyen to pursue their medical studies. [Department of Public Information]

 

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Public healthcare delivery on the Essequibo Coast is expected to be transformed with the official opening of the $6.6 billion Lima Regional Hospital on Friday.

The hospital was constructed by China CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd. (CAMCE) and China National Machinery Industry Corporation (SINOMACH). It is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities that will provide residents with modern, world-class medical care and reduce the burden of travelling to Georgetown.

“This hospital will be the hospital of service to our people,” Regional Chairman Vilma De Silva said as she hailed the moment as “historic.”

Inside the new Lima Regional Hospital (Photo: DPI/August 22, 2025)

The Lima Regional Hospital boasts three operating theatres, a specialised birthing suite, a fully equipped Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a high dependency unit, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), a dialysis unit, a blood banking facility, and a modern laboratory capable of performing over 150 different tests.

Other features include a 24-hour pharmacy and emergency department, dental, ophthalmology, and audiology services, sterilisation services, and a mortuary.

The hospital is also fitted with digital X-ray capabilities, two ultrasound machines, a CT scan machine, an oxygen plant, and 75 inpatient beds.

Importantly, President Dr Irfaan Ali revealed that it has the capacity to support telemedicine, allowing patients to access faster diagnoses and specialised care.

The new Lima Regional Hospital consists of several departments (Photo: DPI/August 22, 2025)

“There was a time when living far from the capital meant living far from healthcare. That time is coming to an end,” President Ali said.

The Head of State positioned Lima Regional Hospital, along with the other new regional hospitals, as part of Guyana’s push to become a leader in digital health across CARICOM.

In emphasising the importance of matching the hospital’s infrastructure with quality and professionalism, President Ali revealed that a Quality Assurance Unit will be implemented to ensure services meet the highest standards.

He also underscored the need to reward healthcare workers for their sacrifices and hard work.

“Those in healthcare who are giving more and sacrificing, I believe strongly that the system must reward them,” President Ali said.

There will be a 24-hour pharmacy at the facility (Photo: DPI/August 22, 2025)

Looking ahead, President Ali called on medical professionals to seize training opportunities over the next three years, promising a strengthened welfare and benefits structure to encourage the return of Guyanese healthcare workers abroad.

“The best wealth we can ever create is the health of our people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony said every head of department at the hospital will be headed by a specialised doctor.

Dr Anthony described the new hospital as “a concrete step in the journey towards a world-class health system made accessible to all Guyanese.”

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President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Friday said Guyana’s healthcare system must become so technologically advanced that robots can assist with surgeries.

While speaking at the commissioning of the new Lima Regional Hospital, in Region Two, he also noted that robots could be deployed where they are most needed, connecting patients with healthcare specialists in Georgetown or anywhere in the world.

The new Lima Hospital in Region Two (Photo: DPI/August 22, 2025)

Highlighting the global shift towards cutting-edge medical technology, President Ali emphasised that the integration of surgical robots into operating theatres is inevitable.

“This is the way the world is going. We have to get there now, not tomorrow,” he stated.

 

 

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