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See below full press release from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM):

As the Guyana Elections Commission prepares for Disciplined Forces Balloting on Friday, 22nd August, 2025 and the conduct of the Elections on the 1st September, 2025, the Commission takes this opportunity to remind the general public of the statutory provisions in relation to the annoyance, molestation, interference and obstruction during the electoral process.

Specifically, Section 78 of the Representation of the People Act enacts that, “No person shall anywhere within a distance of two hundred yards of a polling place annoy, molest or otherwise interfere with an elector or attempt to obtain any information as to the list of candidates for whom any elector in the polling place is about to vote or has voted either on his own behalf or as a proxy on behalf of another elector.”

The term “no person” indicates a total prohibition because it creates a broad absolute restriction for everyone, leaving no room for exceptions or specific allowances for certain individuals or groups.

Further, Section 78(A) is instructive. It provides that, “any person who, without due authority, obstructs, or otherwise interferes with access to, or egress from a polling place, the voting at an election by any person registered as an elector….shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of sixty-five thousand dollars together with imprisonment for a term of one year …”

Additionally, Section 79(b) of the Representation of the People Act clearly outlines the persons entitled to be at a polling place, polling station, and at a count. It is therefore against this backdrop, GECOM finds it necessary to advise all persons to abide by the legal provisions and avoid committing any of the above stated election offences.

The Commission anticipates the orderly and peaceful conduct of the polls and remains confident in delivering free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

The post 200-yard rule in effect: GECOM reminds public of election law restrictions appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Officers from the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Police Force, and the Guyana Prison Service will be voting on Friday, 10 days ahead of the September 1 General and Regional Elections. Ahead of those polls, political parties have shared some bold promises.

The governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) promised a suite of benefits.

“In the next five years, our joint services can look forward to higher wages and salaries, support in owning their own homes, expanded scholarship opportunities, childcare facilities, greater opportunities for promotion, expanded access to healthcare, recreational facilities, and a healthier working environment,” President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips said in a letter to members of the Disciplined Services.

President Ali and Prime Minister Phillips are both seeking re-election with the PPP/C. And they urged the ranks to vote for the party, leaning on their track record over the past five years.

“Over the past five years, we have restored dignity, improved conditions, and provided the tools you need to serve our beloved Guyana with pride,” they wrote, noting that the one-month tax-free bonus for ranks was restored under this administration.

When the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition government assumed office in 2015, it stopped the one-month tax-free Christmas bonus for the Joint Services, leaving thousands of families in distress. Immediately after assuming office, President Ali moved to restore the bonus.

APNU, as noted before, removed that bonus but now promises to give members of the disciplined services an annual, one-month bonus. The promise was made in a message shared on Thursday.

The party also promised salary increases of 35% and the elimination of income tax for all servicemen and women earning less than $400,000 monthly. The party also promised to make their work more technologically advanced and focus heavily on training.

Like APNU, the AFC has embraced an initiative it once shot down. It said it would give two months’ tax-free salary to all disciplined services members, and one month’s tax-free salary to the civilian GDF workers. Party leader Nigel Hughes also promised to fully cater to the officers, even after injury.

In a video message, Azruddin Mohamed of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, vowed to reduce the cost of house lots and give officers the “highest priority” in houselot applications. He also promised the officers that his party would significantly increase allowances for the officers.

As is customary, the ranks of the Disciplined Members vote ahead of the elections.

The post Parties make bold promises in bid to secure disciplined services vote appeared first on News Room Guyana.

“We still want to know why Nazar Mohamed went to the Venezuelan Embassy.”

That was the declaration of Vice President and PPP/C General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday as he pressed for answers from the U.S.-sanctioned businessman.

At his weekly press conference, Jagdeo said Nazar Mohamed has repeatedly avoided a direct answer on the matter, even when questioned by Stabroek News in a recent interview.

“He knows he went there. The entire public wants to know what he was doing there,” Jagdeo said.

“Was he getting information from the Venezuelans to help his campaign? Was he trying to flee Guyana? Or was it a benign purpose?

“Nobody wants to go to Venezuela now— [He should provide answers] especially in light of people saying Mohamed is a Maduro puppet and reports that Venezuelan generals are linked to gold smuggling in Guyana.”

Jagdeo emphasised that the Venezuelan Ambassador confirmed that Nazar visited the embassy in Georgetown and applied for visas. The revelation was first made by Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd two weeks ago.

“They can’t say yes because the next question is why,” Jagdeo contended.

“They’ve been hiding all week, putting out statements on other things, but avoiding this one. The Ambassador has already confirmed it.”

Jagdeo went further, saying there is video evidence of the Mohameds visiting the embassy, and described the unanswered question as a “national security issue” for Guyana.

In his interview with Stabroek News, Nazar Mohamed did not give a direct response when asked about the embassy visit. Instead, he accused the PPP/C of orchestrating a smear campaign against his son, Azruddin, who recently launched a presidential bid with the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party.

“I’m not going to answer that,” Nazar was quoted as saying.

Jagdeo dismissed this as a deflection. “He did not say yes or no; he avoided the question. He framed it as political allegations but gave no confirmation or denial.”

The Mohameds, along with several of their businesses, were sanctioned last year by the United States Department of the Treasury over alleged corruption and ties to illicit gold trading. US lawmakers have also accused Azruddin Mohamed of having links to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s regime.

Guyana and Venezuela remain locked in a border controversy, with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) currently considering the substantive merits of Guyana’s case to confirm the 1899 Arbitral Award as a final settlement of the boundary.

Against that backdrop, Jagdeo argued that Nazar Mohamed’s unexplained embassy visit raises troubling questions.

The post ‘Country still wants to know why Nazar Mohamed visited the Venezuelan Embassy’ – Jagdeo appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday brushed aside letters sent by the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party to international organisations, insisting they carry no weight.

“A vagrant can write the Secretary-General. Even Mad Max can write the Secretary-General. It doesn’t mean anything,” Jagdeo told reporters during his weekly press conference at Freedom House.

The letters, penned by WIN’s General Secretary Odessa Primus and released to the press on Wednesday, were addressed to CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. In them, WIN complained about the decision of several commercial banks to close the accounts of some of its members and candidates.

But Jagdeo said international agencies will not be swayed.

“The first thing they’ll do is Google—and they’ll see the Reuters report and tax evasion…. You think these people will then tell a local bank or any bank in the world what to do?” the Vice President questioned.

WIN, led by U.S.-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, has claimed the closure of bank accounts amounts to discrimination and a violation of political rights. The party is calling on the UN and CARICOM to publicly condemn the banks’ actions, demand reinstatement of accounts, and even deploy observers to monitor the situation.

The letters specifically named the Bank of Nova Scotia, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), New Building Society (NBS), and Demerara Bank as institutions that have terminated accounts or cancelled loans of WIN members. Citizens Bank, which has also closed WIN-linked accounts, was notably not mentioned.

The banks acted amid heightened compliance requirements, particularly under Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) rules, which prohibit institutions from facilitating transactions linked to sanctioned individuals or entities.

Mohamed, his father Nazar, and their businesses were sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in June 2024 for alleged gold smuggling, corruption, and other crimes. Former Labour Ministry Permanent Secretary Mae Thomas was also sanctioned.

Financial institutions in Guyana are especially sensitive to international scrutiny. In 2016, weak compliance saw major correspondent banking relationships severed by Bank of America and Citibank, crippling cross-border transactions and threatening remittances and trade.

Against that background, Jagdeo said the international community is unlikely to take the WIN letters seriously.

“Writing a letter doesn’t erase sanctions or history,” the Vice President said.

The post Jagdeo scoffs at WIN’s letters to UN, CARICOM: ‘A vagrant can write the Secretary-General’ appeared first on News Room Guyana.

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday said the Carter Center’s first pre-election report for Guyana’s September 1 polls confirmed what the government has been saying all along – that the voters’ list is not “bloated” and that the campaign has so far been peaceful.

But while welcoming the findings, Jagdeo expressed concern that the report left out major issues, including widely reported incidents of alleged vote-buying and violence linked to opposition parties.

“I gave an initial comment on Tuesday, and I don’t have much more to say. The report confirms what we have been saying all along – the list is not padded,” Jagdeo told reporters during his weekly press conference at Freedom House.

“This has been APNU’s battle cry all along, saying people who should not be on the list are there. They provided no evidence, and even today, they continue to make that claim. The Carter Center examined all the evidence and found none,” he added.

Jagdeo also welcomed the mission’s finding that campaigning has been conducted in a free and peaceful manner. “People are campaigning openly and getting their message out, and I am pleased with that finding,” he said.

Still, Jagdeo said he was troubled that some of the most serious issues in the campaign were not reflected in the Carter Center’s assessment.

“They reported on allegations made by the opposition, and that’s fair, but they didn’t cover all the allegations. They missed the biggest one—Azruddin handing out money. That prompted GECOM to remind parties that vote-buying is illegal and even prompted APNU to call for a ban on cell phones in polling places. How could they miss that?” he asked.

He also cited the highly publicised “Doggie” Sampson assault incident and other reports of violence and intimidation, which he said should have been included.

Another area of contention for Jagdeo was the Carter Center’s comments on U.S. sanctions against WIN party presidential candidate Azruddin Mohamed and associated entities. The report suggested banks should avoid “de-risking” their accounts.

Jagdeo said this was “strange” for an observer group to recommend.

On the report’s mention of state resources, Jagdeo pushed back at suggestions that the government was misusing its position. He argued that the real abuse occurred in 2020 when the then APNU-led administration spent $419 billion outside of parliamentary approval around the elections and signed large contracts even after election day.

And on government project launches during the campaign, Jagdeo said he makes “no apology.”

“I’m proud of these inaugurations. They show we are delivering on promises.”

The post Jagdeo insists key incidents, including vote-buying, omitted from Carter Center report appeared first on News Room Guyana.

On the eve of voting by the Police, Army and Prison Service, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary and Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has made a direct appeal to servicemen and women, urging them to judge parties by their track record.

“You can trust us, because we did what we promised,” Jagdeo declared at a press conference Thursday, pointing to restored benefits, improved conditions and major investments under the PPP/C government.

The Disciplined Forces will cast their ballots on Friday, August 22, ahead of the September 1 general and regional elections. Jagdeo noted that while many political parties are asking for their support, credibility must be measured against what was delivered in the past.

Jagdeo reminded voters that in 2015, the APNU+AFC coalition promised to create jobs, lower taxes, improve welfare and enhance support for the security forces.

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo

“They failed on all those promises,” he said, adding that the “worst act of discrimination” was reserved for the men and women in uniform when the coalition scrapped the one-month tax-free bonus.

The bonus, introduced during Jagdeo’s presidency, was dismissed by then Finance Minister Winston Jordan as a “bribe” and opposition leader Aubrey Norton, in 2019, argued that soldiers would be better off without it.

“Now he says he will support the bonus. How can anyone believe anything Norton says?” Jagdeo questioned, pointing out that the opposition leader has previously described the police as “grossly incompetent” but is now writing to every officer promising to look after their interests.

Jagdeo stressed that under the PPP/C, the tax-free bonus was not only restored but protected.

“That’s $2 billion a year back into the pockets of members of the Disciplined Services,” he noted.

Alongside higher wages and a revised salary scale, Jagdeo pointed to accelerated promotions and heavy investments in modern facilities and equipment.

“Look at Police Headquarters, the new Brickdam Police Station and the many improved stations across the country,” he said.

Jagdeo insisted the contrast is clear: the PPP/C has delivered, while the APNU+AFC coalition failed to keep its promises.

“The Disciplined Services know this. They know which party keeps its promises. And I have no doubt many of them will vote for the PPP/C,” Jagdeo affirmed.

He also brushed aside attempts by others, including U.S.-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, to sway security personnel.

The post ‘You can trust us, because we did what we promised’ – Jagdeo tells Army, Police, Prison Service ahead of Friday’s vote appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Investigations are still ongoing into the horrific accident at Loo Creek, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, which resulted in the deaths of three people on Saturday last.

“The Loo Creek accident, we are still investigating that,” Regional Division 4B Commander Wayne DeHearte told the News Room on Thursday, adding that the truck driver was released from custody.

“He was released, he was placed on bail after the 72 hours,” Commander DeHearte said.

Police reported that he did not have a truck licence and that the parked truck had no reflectors at the rear, sides, or the front to alert other road users.

The accident occurred at approximately 01:30 hrs on Saturday.

Mario Campbell, a 26-year-old man from Hyde Park, Timehri, was driving with his seven-year-old son and two other passengers when they collided with the truck. Police said the truck, which was transporting wooden materials, experienced a tyre blowout and came to a stop along the highway.

Mario was reportedly speeding at the time of the accident. His son, Marenzo Campbell; 26-year-old Shelly Joseph; and 25-year-old Keiron Wells all died.

They were removed from the car by police and public-spirited citizens while unconscious, placed into a passing vehicle, and taken to the Linden Hospital Complex. Marenzo and Keiron were pronounced dead, while Shelly later succumbed to her injuries during medical treatment.

Mario was also admitted to hospital with a dislocated left foot and a displaced left eye. A breathalyser test conducted on the truck driver showed no trace of alcohol in his system.

The post Fatal Highway accident: Truck driver released on station bail appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Team Guyana has experienced mixed fortunes at the FIDE World Youth U16 Chess Olympiad, but Candidate Master Sachin Pitamber’s standout performance has put him in contention for an individual prize with three rounds remaining.

The nine-round tournament, which features 85 teams from 40 countries, has tested the young Guyanese squad.

The team’s campaign began with a tough encounter against the hosts, Colombia Team One.

Despite a fighting effort, including a strong showing from Kyle Couchman and a dominating position for Pitamber, Guyana could not secure a victory. Pitamber, with a pawn advantage, was ultimately forced into a draw, while the team fell to a defeat.

Guyana rebounded in Rounds Two and Three, securing a narrow 2.5-1.5 victory over Colombia Team Sixteen and a convincing 3-1 win against Guatemala. Alexander Zhang and Aditi Joshi secured crucial wins in the Guatemala clash.

Pitamber’s strong form continued into Round Four against Venezuela Team One, where he easily dispatched his 1900-rated opponent.

However, despite his brilliance, the team went down 3-1.

The young star delivered a moment of tactical genius in Round Five against Colombia Team Seven, executing a brilliant queen sacrifice to secure a stylish victory.

The team ultimately lost the match 2.5-1.5.

In Round Six, Guyana bounced back with a 3-1 victory over Colombia Team Eleven, with wins from Couchman, Zhang, and Joshi.

Pitamber is now a contender for the Board Two prize, a testament to his impressive run of form.

The post Pitamber leads Guyana’s charge at World Youth U16 Chess Olympiad appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Six political parties are contesting the upcoming General and Regional Elections in Guyana. Seeking support from citizens, the candidates of those parties have been making various promises- from cash incentives and policy commitments, to plans for improved healthcare and social protection initiatives.

The post The Manifesto Series: Cash Initiatives  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

See below the full release from the Organization of American States (OAS): 

The Organization of American States (OAS) has begun deployment of its Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) for the 2025 General and Regional Elections in Guyana, led by former Prime Minister of Jamaica Bruce Golding.

The OAS/EOM will comprise 27 experts and observers from 18 countries. The Mission will focus its work on electoral organization and registries, electoral technology, political-electoral financing, electoral justice, and the political participation of women. This will allow the team to analyze the process in a structured and technically rigorous manner.

Members of the Mission will observe both the Disciplined Services vote on August 22, and the main poll on September 1, On Election Day, visiting polling stations from the opening of the polls to the counting of votes and the processing of results. Ahead of the elections, the Chief of Mission and the OAS observer team will meet with government and electoral authorities, political parties and candidates, representatives of civil society, and other stakeholders to hear their perspectives on the ongoing electoral process.

In the days after the election, the OAS/EOM will present its Preliminary Report with observations and recommendations that seek to strengthen the country’s democratic and electoral processes.

This is the seventh (7) Electoral Observation Mission that the OAS has deployed in Guyana. It is possible thanks to the financial contributions of Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Morocco, Peru, Spain, and the United States.

The post Bruce Golding leads OAS electoral observation mission to Guyana  appeared first on News Room Guyana.