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The foundation for the first energy turbine will be poured Tuesday, President Irfaan Ali announced Monday, signaling a major milestone for Guyana’s flagship Gas-to-Energy (GTE).

At a meeting with Winston Brassington, head of the GTE Task Force, the President was informed that “the pouring of the first gas turbine foundation will take place on Tuesday night, September 9, and that over 300 persons are currently employed on the project.”

Brassington, who reported that work on Phase I — which includes a 300-megawatt combined cycle power plant and natural gas liquids (NGL) facilities being built by Lindsayca Guyana Inc, said the project is advancing steadily.

Another 100 people are expected to join the project within a month as concrete pouring for the remaining turbine foundations gets underway.

Phase II of the project, which envisions another 300-megawatt plant and NGL facility, has also attracted strong interest. Brassington told the President that seven submissions have been received and that talks are ongoing to finalise a shortlist of pre-qualified firms before moving directly to engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) and financing arrangements.

The GTE project is central to Guyana’s strategy of cutting energy costs by half and boosting industrial development as the country channels offshore gas resources into domestic power generation.

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Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Suriname’s President Dr. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons could soon meet to hammer out matters of mutual interest, including the construction of the Corentyne River Bridge.

“I think very early, maybe over this weekend, there will be a face-to-face meeting with the President of Suriname,” President Ali told reporters on Monday afternoon.

Details of that meeting are still being finalised but President Ali said the bridge remains a priority for both nations, and financing the structure will be a key focus.

Hours before, President Ali engaged Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Melvin Bouva, in Georgetown. A release from the Office of the President noted that President Ali and Minister Bouva spoke about efforts to advance development initiatives between the two countries.

“Discussions focused on Guyana’s commitment to the Corentyne River Bridge project; collaboration with Suriname to resolve issues affecting fisherfolk; improving the efficiency of the Guyana–Suriname ferry system; and exploring joint investment opportunities,” the release noted.

The Corentyne River Bridge is seen as a critical infrastructure project aimed at strengthening connectivity between Guyana and Suriname, while also advancing broader regional integration with Brazil.

Both Presidents Irfaan Ali of Guyana and Suriname’s former President, Chandrikapersad Santokhi repeatedly emphasised the importance of the bridge, noting how it will enhance the flow of people, facilitate trade, strengthen agricultural cooperation, and boost tourism and investment in the region.

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Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, a former President of Guyana, was reappointed Vice President of Guyana on Monday afternoon.

For decades, Dr. Jagdeo has been virtually synonymous with Guyanese politics and development. As President Dr. Irfaan Ali and People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) take up office for another five years, the Guyanese Head of State said Dr. Jagdeo remains evidently steadfast in his commitment to the country.

“His story is one of unparalleled achievement. As a former Minister of Finance, he stewarded our economy with a keen and brilliant mind. As President of this Republic for twelve remarkable years, he set the stage for the prosperity we are now realizing,” President Ali said after Jagdeo was sworn in.

On a more personal note, the re-elected President said Jagdeo provided him with “expert and wise counsel” from 2020 to 2025, helping him to ably lead Guyana.

And President Ali said, “His command and knowledge of governance is a resource we are incredibly blessed to have at our disposal.”

“Dr. Jagdeo, your continued service is a gift to the nation, and we are all beneficiaries of your wisdom and boundless energy.”

Jagdeo served as Guyana’s President for two terms. In 2020, he was chosen as the country’s Vice President, supporting President Ali and Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips.

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Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips was sworn in on Monday afternoon, serving his second term as President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s right-hand man.

Phillips served as Prime Minister of Guyana from 202o to 2025 and will serve again in this capacity following the re-election of President Ali and the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C).

For Dr. Ali, PM Phillips provides stability and leadership in the new administration.

“His name is synonymous with duty and public service. When called to serve, he has never faltered. He embodies the spirit of discipline, loyalty, and steadfast commitment,” President Ali said after the retired Brigadier was sworn in.

He added, “He brings years, indeed decades, of selfless service to the people of Guyana, always placing Guyana above self.”

Before serving as Prime Minister, Phillips was the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Chief of Staff from 2013 to 2016. He served in the army for about four decades.

Dr. Ali was sworn in on Sunday. Alongside the Prime Minister, Bharrat Jagdeo was sworn in as Vice President on Monday.

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Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and Dr Bharrat Jagdeo were Monday afternoon sworn in as Prime Minister and Vice President of Guyana, as the re-elected Irfaan Ali administration gets down to work.

President Ali himself was sworn in just a day before, on Sunday. President Ali and the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) have gone back into government following the September 1, 2025, General and Regional Elections.

“These appointments are evidence of placing the reins of our nation’s development in the most trusted hands,” President Ali said.

According to him, Brigadier (Ret’d) Phillips has decades of demonstrated national service, particularly over his time in the military. Meanwhile, Ali said Jagdeo has been a “visionary” whose expert and wise counsel has proven invaluable.

As he readies to appoint the rest of the cabinet shortly, President Ali said PM Phillips and VP Jagdeo demonstrate the “unity of purpose and diversity of skills” in his administration.

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The Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) extends warm congratulations to His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) on their reelection at the recently concluded 2025 General and Regional Elections.  This achievement reflects the trust and confidence that the people of Guyana have placed in your leadership and vision for the country.  As you move forward in shaping national development, we are optimistic that your government will continue to prioritize inclusion, accessibility, and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in collaboration with the disability community.  From 2020 to 2025 under your leadership, we have seen the positive transformation of the disability landscape in Guyana.  Opportunities for empowerment and independence for persons with disabilities is no longer a dream but the reality.

The GCOPD remains committed to working in partnership with your administration to advance policies and programs that promote the rights, independence, and full participation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of national life.

We look forward to strengthening collaboration in the areas of education, employment, accessibility, healthcare, and sports, ensuring that no citizen is left behind as Guyana continues its journey of progress. [Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities Press Release]

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A 44-year-old gold miner was on Tuesday remanded to prison after being charged with trafficking more than 26 pounds of cocaine.

Junior Anthony Greaves, of Kitty, Georgetown, and Port Kaituma Waterfront, Region One, was arrested on August 24 at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Ogle, East Coast Demerara. Police said he was found in possession of 26.7 lbs of cocaine.

Greaves was charged on August 26 with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. He appeared before Magistrate Abigail Gibbs at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court, where the charge was read to him.

The defendant pleaded not guilty. Bail was refused and Greaves was remanded to prison. The case has been adjourned to September 19, 2025, for disclosure.

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Hours after police issued a wanted bulletin, Paul Daby Jr., also known as “Randell,” surrendered to the Guyana Police Force on Monday accompanied by his lawyer.

Daby Jr. remains in police custody as investigations continue, the News Room understands. He is wanted in connection with the shooting of popular artiste and social media personality Lolita Callendar, widely known as “Lola Doll.” Police issued a wanted bulletin for him on Sunday.

Daby Jr., whose last known address is Lot 127 ‘D’ Aguair Park, Georgetown, is to be questioned about the late-night attack that left the 33-year-old entertainer hospitalised in stable condition.

The shooting occurred on Saturday night at Texas Square, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, when Lola Doll was seated in her car. Investigators said she was shot multiple times by a man on a motorcycle, sustaining wounds to her neck, face, hands and right leg. She was rushed to hospital, where doctors stabilised her condition.

Police said another person has also been arrested as the probe intensifies.

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Kanand Ojha, wanted in Guyana for the 2015 murder of sex worker Noel ‘Nephi’ Luther, was arrested on Monday in Queens, New York, by a task force including US Marshals, Homeland Security, and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.

See full statement from the Government of Guyana:

Law Enforcement Authorities in Queens, New York, including New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force consisting of US Marshals, members of Homeland Security and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), on Monday, September 8, 2025 arrested Kanand Ojha who is wanted in Guyana in relation to the murder committed on Noel ‘Nephi’ Luther in July, 2015.

The arrest of Ojha is as a result of continuous collaboration and cooperation between the Government of Guyana through the Guyana Police Force, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Attorney General’s Chambers and authorities in the United States of America under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters platform.

Over the years, Guyana and the U.S. Law Enforcement Agencies have strengthened their relationship and this has led to mutual cooperation in criminal investigations by virtue of which criminal investigations have been pursued in both jurisdictions leading to the arrest of fugitives in both countries and their extradition to stand trial in the country where they have committed offences. This relationship will intensify in the future.

A wanted bulletin was issued for Ojha in July, 2019 in relation to the killing of Luther, a sex worker, who was shot at Carmichael and Quamina Streets. It is alleged that Luther was shot once to his chest during a confrontation with Ojha and his friend Ron ‘Andel’ Forde.

Forde was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June, 2017 after pleading guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter for the killing of Luther.

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Hours after social media star and artiste Lolita Callendar, popularly known as “Lola Doll” was shot multiple times, the Guyana Police Force issued a wanted bulletin for Paul Daby Junior known as Randell.

His last known address is Lot 127 ‘D’ Aguair Park, Georgetown. Daby Jr. was among four Guyanese who was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in June for drug trafficking.

Meanwhile, Police arrested another in connection with the late-night shooting of Lola Doll.

The 33-year-old artiste was shot multiple times outside her home at Texas Square, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown on Saturday night.

According to initial Police reports, she sustained gunshot wounds to her neck, face, hands, and right leg. Lola Doll was allegedly attacked by a man on a motorcycle while sitting in her car.

She was rushed to the hospital where her condition is listed stable.

Lola Doll, widely recognised for her music, flamboyant parties, and outspoken social media presence, has built a large following over the years.
Police have not yet disclosed a possible motive for the attack.

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