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The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is currently accepting applications for proxies for voting at General and Regional Elections on Monday, September 1, 2025. 

WHO CAN APPLY TO VOTE BY PROXY 

A voter is entitled to vote by proxy at the upcoming General and Regional Elections if he/she is unable to go to the Polling Station where he/she is listed to vote on Election Day based on any one of the following circumstances:

• Is a rural constable or a member of the Disciplined Forces performing duties related to election day and did not vote on the day set aside for Disciplined Forces Balloting. 
• Is a person appointed as Returning Officer or another election official working on election day in a district other than the district in which he/she is listed to vote. 
• Is engaged in the running of a vessel for the Transport and Harbours Department on election day. 
• Is a duly appointed Candidate at the Elections, and is performing duties in a district other than the district in which he/she is listed to vote. 
• Is a visually impaired or physically incapacitated voter who is unable to go to the polling station. 

NOTE: The Applicant/ voter and proxy /voter must be listed in the same List of  Electors to vote at the same Polling Station. 

Application Forms to vote by Proxy can be uplifted from and submitted to the under-mentioned Offices of the Returning Officer or Supernumerary Returning Officer for  the District or Sub-District in which the applicant (voter) is listed to vote.  

Applications for appointment of proxy must be presented to the District  Returning Officer not later than August 11, 2025. (GECOM Press Relase)

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ENet has completed a transformative multibillion dollar telecommunications project, landing the first ever direct submarine fiber‑optic cable to Bartica. This pioneering investment brings state-of-the-art fiber connectivity and 5G mobile service to the hinterland town, connecting Bartica directly to ENet’s fiber-optic backbone, which is the largest in Guyana.

The cable, which crosses two major rivers, Demerara and Essequibo, and navigates difficult terrain, is now fully operational. With the network infrastructure complete, Bartica residents and businesses can now access the same gigabit-speed internet, robust 5G mobile coverage, and advanced digital services previously only available on the coast. ENet now connects seven of the country’s ten regions via fiber and remains the only operator to run submarine fiber cables to Regions 2 and 7.

At the ceremonial unveiling in Bartica on August 6, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips praised ENet’s initiative in contributing to the Government’s Digital Guyana agenda. “Bartica, long regarded as the gateway to Guyana’s interior, is now poised to benefit from dramatically faster and more reliable service for homes, businesses, and institutions. This is an immense technical achievement that also signifies a meaningful step toward bridging the digital divide between our coast and hinterland,” the Prime Minister stated. “We commend ENet for its bold investment and welcome this initiative as a demonstration of what can be achieved through partnership, innovation, and a shared commitment to national development.”

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and ENet’s Chief Executive Officer, Vishok Persaud.

The Prime Minister added, “We realise that if the digital divide continues, we cannot speak of development in a truly inclusive way. That is why the Government will continue to support initiatives like this one, ensuring that every region, every town, and every citizen is included in Guyana’s digital future.”

ENet’s Chief Executive Officer, Vishok Persaud, said the project was a challenging undertaking, and required innovation, resilience, and strong collaboration.

“The project was extraordinarily challenging as it required finding a viable route and running fiber through the trails,” he explained. “Today, we have connected Bartica via fiber-optic cable for the first time.”

Persaud highlighted the role of Roger Chan-Yuen, a key member of the ENet team, who led the effort to make the river crossing possible.

From L – R: ENet’s Chief Executive Officer, Vishok Persaud; Ravin Ramoutar, CEO of Astra Services, a key partner in the project and Roger Chan-Yuen, a key member of the ENet team.

“Forty-five minutes into the initial journey to identify a crossing, Roger [Chan-Yuen] called and said it [the original plan] couldn’t be done. But instead of giving up, we went back to the drawing board. Roger was determined to find a solution, and every weekend, they would explore different options. The idea of crossing two rivers was an expensive venture, but we did it. Today, in Bartica, you get exactly the same service that’s available in Georgetown.”

Vishok Persaud also recognised Ravin Ramoutar, CEO of Astra Services, as a key partner in the project, as their company had undertaken some of the most challenging tasks, including build-outs, associated with the laying of the cable.

Persaud also thanked Carlos Prowell, team leader in Bartica, who, he said, has always been an integral part of the operations and contributed to the company’s success in Bartica.

Carlos Prowell, team leader in Bartica

Since the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector in 2020, ENet has led the modernisation of Guyana’s digital landscape. The company was the first to deploy a locally owned international fiber-optic cable, and the first to introduce a 5G fixed wireless and mobile network. ENet has also built the country’s largest fiber-optic backbone, spanning Berbice, Linden, Essequibo, and now Bartica, reaching more of Guyana’s regions than any other provider.

ENet continues to invest in next-generation technologies and infrastructure that power Guyana’s digital transformation. With this milestone, the company reaffirms its position as the country’s most agile and future-ready telecommunications provider.

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The Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) have set ambitious targets for disciplined services ahead of the September 1 General and Regional Elections, including doubling the annual bonus, which it scrapped while in government.

The AFC, led by Nigel Hughes, said it will ensure that all new recruits have a starting salary of $250,000 and vowed that there will be a $150,000 minimum salary for the lowest-ranking officers.

The AFC is also promising that ranks will get two month’s tax-free bonus every Christmas while civilian workers will get a one-month tax-free bonus. The party also pledged that border stationed ranks will get an extra $50,000 tax free bonus while every member will get an annual $100,000 cash grant.

The AFC was part of the APNU+AFC coalition government in office from 2015 to 2020 that scrapped the long standing one-month joint services bonus. It was reported that the then Finance Minister Winston Jordan urged the security forces to cease yearning for bonuses because they rob them of salary increases which are permanent and long-term and help to determine the size of their pensions.

Meanwhile, the AFC also said each member who turns 18 will get a free house lot.

The party also vowed to introduce standardized compensation. Families will get $10 million if a member dies in the line of duty, while ranks will get a one-off payment of $5 million for any permanent injury on duty and $2.5 million for off-duty permanent injuries.

Then at a press conference on Friday, APNU’s Aubrey Norton unveiled some of the party’s promises for members of the joint services.

APNU promised to increase the salaries of soldiers and Police officers by up to 35%, with yearly bonuses. It also said its promised across-the-board tax-free threshold oof $400,000 will benefit them.

APNU also said police and soldiers enjoy all the other benefits it plans to implement for all citizens, such as rent-to-own housing, water and electricity subsidy, and child allowances for children up to 18 years.

Mr. Norton also doubled down on his rhetoric of prejudicial treatment and said that APNU, if elected, would ensuring promotions and training scholarships are based on merit and transparent rules, not on politics or favoritism. He also promised to give ranks priority for house-lot allocation and housing.

And he said an expert commission to review the conditions of service and to make recommendations on living conditions in camps and compounds, benefits and compensation, job satisfaction, and personal safety would be established. All officers would have better working conditions, he said too.

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As the new Demerara River Bridge nears completion, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has reaffirmed that employees of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation, including those who managed toll operations, will not lose their jobs.

The crossing of the structure became toll-free on August 1, and the President strongly emphasised that no workers will be displaced in the process, and instead of layoffs, the government is actively exploring opportunities for employees to take on more advanced roles.

“Not a single employee will be losing their job. We’ll be upskilling, retooling, and re-deploying. There is enough space in the system for the full deployment and reintegration of everyone.

“We have absolutely no issue in terms of workers being under–utilised or losing their jobs. Matter of fact, we are looking to upskill them to perform even higher tasks in every area,” the President told reporters at the sidelines of an event on Thursday.

Work on the new Demerara Harbour Crossing (Photo: Juan Edghill/ Facebook)

He said, based on updates from the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, the new bridge is in its final stages of construction.

“The sealing of the bridge, which is the completion of the bridge, will be done.

“The structural completion will be there, the traffic management we’re hoping all of that – the roads coming on and off the bridge – that all of that will be completed, so that’s what we’re working on,” Dr. Ali said.

The full 2.9km concrete structure will be completely connected by August 25. During a recent site visit, the minister was briefed on the progress of the works by the contractor and consultant.

All efforts are being made to ensure the bridge is completed by the August 31 deadline.

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The Government of Guyana is in the final stages of negotiations for the acquisition of the Berbice River Bridge, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said on Thursday, while assuring citizens that the process will be fair to all parties involved.

During an interview with reporters at the sidelines of an event on Thursday, the President said the agreement could be linked after the September 1 General and Regional Elections.

“I know we are in the final stages of that, the Minister of Finance is leading that, and we will be working towards inking an agreement after the elections so that the responsibility of the bridge will be that of the government and we will have an amicable solution with investors,” the Head-of-State said.

The President added that while there is no fixed deadline, it is important that investors get a fair chance at negotiating.

“There are ongoing negotiations with investors because investors must have an opportunity to negotiate, because if there’s a buy-out, then they must have their concerns dealt with,” Dr. Ali said.

The structure is currently managed by the Berbice Bridge Company Inc.; however, it remains a private-public partnership. The bridge became toll-free as of August 1, 2025, alongside the Demerara Harbour Bridge and the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge.

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President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Thursday said investments into infrastructure, childcare support and job creation are building an eco-system that supports disposable income growth, leading to citizen empowerment.

The President was at the time commissioning the $93.8 million Day and Night care and Early Childhood Centre in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara). He highlighted that through massive investments in the health, education and social service sectors, a comprehensive poverty reduction framework is being built.

According to Dr. Ali, with millions of dollars injected into early childhood development and focus placed on family planning through programmes by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, opportunities for families to benefit economically are generated.

He said parents who once worried about finding caregivers while they worked can now benefit from the free caregiving services facilities that will be established in other regions. Adding to that, jobs are created at the centres and going forward, these facilities will work collectively with the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) and community police.

“These investments are linked to economic and social inclusion.

“We’re going to work on upskilling our part time workers. And we already have a mechanism through which this will be linked. So, it will be linked to police stations, fire service, mosque, temples…we’re going to support directly, families, not only in terms of cash transfer and grants, but we also empower families to own their own homes by giving you subsidies to build your homes,” the head of state said.

He noted that the cost of living in Guyana is a major part of the government’s plans, with focus placed on free healthcare, recreation facilities, toll free transport at the major bridges and community facilities. Additionally, the President said the treated water infrastructure also complement this plan by ensuring families are healthy.

“Every time we invest in giving you treated water, every time we invest in giving you a better road, give you a better drainage, reduce the risk of malaria, reduce the risk of typhoid, reduce the risk of dengue, all of those investment help in Family Development, and that is why investing in infrastructure is so critically connected to the improvement and empowerment of families,” he said.

Dr. Ali said the government aims to build equity in the system, giving everyone the type of support that is needed for a family to grow.

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August 8, 2025- ExxonMobil Guyana started production today at Yellowtail, the fourth oil development in Guyana’s offshore Stabroek block. Yellowtail’s ONE GUYANA floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel joins the Destiny, Unity, and Prosperity FPSOs, bringing total installed capacity in Guyana to above 900,000 barrels of oil per day.

“Yellowtail’s ahead-of-schedule startup is a significant milestone for ExxonMobil and the people of Guyana,” said Dan Ammann, president of ExxonMobil Upstream Company. “With Guyanese making up more than 67% of the country’s oil-and-gas workforce and over 2,000 local businesses engaged, this project reflects our deepening roots in the country and our shared commitment to long-term, inclusive growth.”

The ONE GUYANA is the largest FPSO on the Stabroek block to date with an initial annual average production of 250,000 bopd and a storage capacity of two million barrels. Oil produced from the FPSO will be marketed as Golden Arrowhead crude.

By 2030, ExxonMobil Guyana expects to have total production capacity of 1.7 million oil equivalent barrels per day from eight developments.

ExxonMobil Guyana’s deepwater developments are the most successful in the world. In five years, the company has started up four complex offshore mega-projects under budget and ahead of schedule – while simultaneously advancing plans for four additional projects by the end of the decade.

ExxonMobil Guyana Limited operates the Stabroek block and holds a 45% interest, with Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holding 30%, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holding 25% (Press release) 

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See below the full release from the Ministry of Natural Resources: 

August 8, 2025- The Government of Guyana is pleased to announce that first oil has been achieved from the ONE GUYANA Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel — the country’s fourth offshore development within the prolific Stabroek Block and Guyana’s largest production vessel, to date.

ONE GUYANA will be producing approximately 250,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd). With this addition, Guyana’s total daily crude output will surpass 900,000 bpd, up from the previous combined average of 677,000 bpd across the Liza Destiny, Liza Unity, and Payara Prosperity FPSOs. The vessel will develop the Yellowtail and Redtail fields, discovered in 2019 and 2020, respectively. It is equipped with state-of-the-art Subsea, Umbilicals, Risers and Flowlines (SURF) infrastructure, enabling production from 26 production wells and 25 water-alternating-gas (WAG) injection wells.

Built by SBM Offshore, ONE GUYANA is designed with significant environmental safeguards. It is the first FPSO offshore Guyana to feature installed sparing on all gas processing compressors, and ensuring uninterrupted gas handling even during planned or unplanned maintenance events.

The Yellowtail Petroleum Production Licence, approved in 2022, has been the template for future licences, embedding stronger environmental and safety requirements, improved

decommissioning safeguards, and alignment with Guyana’s broader climate commitments.

The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Natural Resources, will continue to work to ensure the prudent management of the petroleum sector to support long-term national benefit and sustainable development.

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The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) has named its 12-player squad for the upcoming two-game women’s series against Suriname.

The matches are scheduled for 10-11 August at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Europe-based professional Joy Adams has been selected to captain the team, in what will be her 5-on-5 debut for Guyana. Adams, who previously led the national side and was the tournament’s top scorer at the FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup in Miami, is expected to be a key leader on the court.

The roster also includes the Minnesota-based Ramlall siblings—Ashna, Arshia, and Amisha—who will be making their national team debuts.

Their inclusion is expected to add youth, versatility, and defensive intensity to the squad.

Veteran centre Keane Andrews returns to the national team to provide crucial experience.

Head coach Willon Cameron noted that Andrews’ presence will help balance a team that includes many younger players who featured in last year’s Inter-Guiana Games.

GBF President Michael Singh has called the two-day series the “jump start” for the federation’s revitalised women’s programme, which will be a central focus for the remainder of 2025.

Guyana Women’s National Team Roster: Joy Adams (Captain), Amisha Ramlall, Ashna Ramlall, Arshia Ramlall, Jamaicy Ogle, Junelly Paddy, Keisha Copperfield, Kassidy Woolford, Malia Samuels, Akeelah Campbell, Brean Ritchie Keane Andrews

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West Indies seamer Matthew Forde has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series against Pakistan that starts in Tarouba from Friday. Forde suffered a shoulder dislocation earlier on Wednesday while attempting a catch during a training session.

Johann Layne, the West Indies academy seam-bowling allrounder, has replaced Forde in the squad. Layne is among the seamers that impressed Ian Bishop, who called him “rangy, tall and intelligent”.

Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph, Romario Shepherd and Jediah Blades are the quicks in their ODI squad with Gudakesh Motie as their frontline wristspinner. Alzarri Joseph has been rested. West Indies would also miss Forde’s talent with the bat lower down the order; he holds the ODI record for fastest fifty (16 balls), achieved in May against Ireland.

West Indies lost the T20I series against Pakistan 2-1 in Lauderhill, but are looking to claim a fourth-straight ODI series with the tour moving to Trinidad & Tobago.

It is only their fifth ODI series since the start of 2023, but come into the contest having beaten England twice (2-1, on both occasions) and Bangladesh once (3-0).

The 50-over game has been a difficult format for West Indies in recent history, missing out on the last two ICC tournaments for ODIs.

Their qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup is also far from guaranteed as they are ranked tenth in the rankings. West Indies realistically need to finish within the top nine – one place higher than they are – to secure automatic passage at the cut-off date. A series win against Pakistan, ranked six places above them, would help them significantly. (ESPNcricinfo) 

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