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The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Thursday said William Jaris, 25, from Greenwich Park, East Bank Essequibo, was fatally stabbed during a fight in the vicinity of Ruby Bridge.

Enquiries disclosed that William and the suspect, who was identified as Davie Riveia, 33, a labourer of Ruby Back Dam, East Bank Essequibo, are well known to each other. Riveia was arrested and is assisting with the investigation.

It further disclosed that the two men were involved in an argument at a shop in the vicinity of Ruby Bridge. A fight ensued between them, and the suspect was seen with a knife. Shortly after, blood was seen oozing from Jaris’ body.
Riveia reportedly escaped on a bicycle, and the victim collapsed.

Jaris was subsequently rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by Dr. Persaud.

The body was examined, and three stab wounds were seen: one to the right side of the jaw, one to the chest, and one to the left upper arm.

The body was later escorted to Ezekiel Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Riveia was later arrested at his home and taken to the Parika Police Station. He was also taken to the hospital for medical attention after a wound was seen above his left eye.

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General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday said strong actions are needed to deter persons from flouting election laws. And if any laws are broken, he said, there must be strong enforcement.

“I hope that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is vigilant and the Police too, because there are lots and lots of cases where we have seen this happening.

“They need to take strong enforcement action against people who transgress elections laws, including paying people for their vote because this is a crime,” Jagdeo said on Thursday during his weekly press conference.

Already, GECOM issued a statement reminding all candidates and citizens that offering or accepting inducements in return for votes is a criminal offence.

“Further, it is an offence for any person, directly or indirectly, to offer any money, gift, and/or a loan, to any voter to secure the vote of any voter at the elections,” the Commission stated.

GECOM warned that violators face a fine and up to six months’ imprisonment on summary conviction. Those convicted may also be barred from contesting future elections.

Earlier this week, GECOM decided not to require voters to surrender their mobile phones before casting their ballots. While the body agreed that photographing marked ballots is a prohibited act, it has opted not to implement a mandatory phone storage policy at polling stations.

GECOM reminded all stakeholders that they all have a statutory duty and civic responsibility to contribute to the elections being conducted in a free, fair, transparent, and credible manner.

The post ‘Strong enforcement’ needed for anyone who breaks election laws – Jagdeo appeared first on News Room Guyana.

National Literacy Programmes were officially launched by the Ministry of Education on Thursday, as the Government continues work towards attaining universal education. This initiative aims to strengthen reading and writing skills among young learners and ensure every child in Guyana can read by Grade Four.

Teachers and literary officers have already been trained in most regions and the programme will commence at the start of the new school term on September 8.

The launch was attended by educators, school administrators, education officers, students, and other representatives.

Assistant Chief Education Officer, Stembiso Grant, called the initiative a “comprehensive research-driven and culturally rounded set of initiatives that will transform literacy teaching and learning from nursery to secondary and beyond.”

Grant explained that this renewed literacy initiative began in 2023 following a meeting with Minister of Education Priya Manickchand. This discussion sparked a series of meetings with various stakeholders to identify challenges, explore potential solutions, and design a literacy framework that would address the needs of all learners, from nursery to secondary school.

“This initiative is a national movement. From establishing and revitalising school libraries, establishing reading clubs, strengthening community libraries, and collaborating with our partners, this initiative is grounded in the science of reading supported by culturally relevant resources and delivered with the belief that literacy is the right of every citizen,” explained Grant.

The team working on this initiative has also developed a website with a blog for improved access to resources.

In her remarks, Grant said the initiative is “not merely an education programme, it is a national promise. Literacy is the foundation for learning, citizenship, and opportunities.”

(Photo: Ministry of Education)

Additionally, Grant and Minister Manickchand spoke extensively on the work of the Government through the Ministry to improve the country’s education sector.

Reflecting on the shortcomings of the previous A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administrations, the Minister stated that these issues needed to be addressed and rectified.

She described the initiative as “an intervention” for children already in school at various levels and a “beginner programme” for those just starting their educational journey. The Minister also said that for parents with nursery-aged children entering school, this is the best opportunity post-independence Guyana has ever seen in terms of literacy programs and interventions.

She also emphasised the critical importance of accountability, stating, “We have to love our children in a way that demands accountability from the people who are paid to teach them. And, that accountability will include us holding the hands of teachers and training and retraining where necessary because these are specialties.”

The Minister further highlighted the need for improvements in classroom management, saying that there should be more than one teacher in problematic classrooms, and the number of children in the classroom must be brought down to significantly improve the teacher-child ratio.

“We have to move to a place, in my view, where there is no top school and bottom school. All schools will provide the kind and quality of education that each child deserves.”

Tying this to the literacy programmes, she said “but we can only move to that place when we produce a reading child, when we demand accountability from the people who are placed to give us the reading child, and when we make sure resources are equally and equitably distributed.”

Minister Manickchand added, “This is the most comprehensive package we have ever done as a ministry, as a country, for every level of children all across Guyana and I suspect strongly that this is going to be a programme that our  Caribbean brothers and sisters utilise also.”

In her closing remarks, the Minister also highlighted another Ministry initiative, noting that a primary school library is being added to every primary school in Guyana, with secondary schools to follow. This effort is part of a broader goal to ensure that every school across the country has access to a reading library.

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A multi-purpose Day and Night Care and Early Childhood Centre was commissioned on Thursday at Anna Catherina, Region Three, creating a safe space for children, support for families, and an avenue for employment in the region.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, opened the $93.8 million centre during a ceremony, marking a fulfilled commitment by the government.

During the commissioning ceremony, Dr. Ali said this facility will greatly improve the lives of many families.

“You may have a family, a young professional family, where one member of the family decide they have to stay home because they have children.

“Another young professional who may afford to hire someone to take care of their children, and that family achieved their full potential, which leads to full economic empowerment, which leads to a larger growth, more disposable income… it’s an equalising investment,” the President said.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali delivering remarks at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday. (Photo: DPI)

The ‘day and night’ care programme was conceptualised by Minister Persaud. It is part of the PPP/C’s 2020–2025 manifesto under “Empowering women and taking care of children and vulnerable groups,” where it aims to encourage and assist in the establishment of daycare centres for working women.

This facility, the first of three centres to be established, provides support to low-income families by offering a safe space for children. It will accommodate children up to 12 years old and also provide access to early screening programmes for eye diseases, hearing, among other conditions, to ensure early intervention in the lives of children.

One of several play areas located at the Centre. (Photo: DPI)

“This was birthed from that understanding that when parents go out into the world of work, they want the assurance and guarantee that their children are absolutely safe. Their children are in a secure environment,” the minister said.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud during the commissioning ceremony. (Photo: DPI)

Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency, Lavene Gouviea, said this is a first-of-its-kind initiative for Latin America and the Caribbean.

In addition, Guyana’s first National Integrated Early Childhood Development (NIECD) Policy, aimed at improving the lives of children aged 0–3, was introduced this year.

A learning area at the Centre. (Photo: News Room)

The government also injected funding into the establishment of a programme focused on early childhood development. This comprehensive programme focuses on cultivating an understanding of early childhood development and fostering positive developmental outcomes.

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The government could engage taxi drivers and bus operators on possibly reducing their fares now that Guyana’s major bridges are toll-free, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said Thursday.

As of August 1, tolls for the Berbice River Bridge, the Demerara Harbour Bridge, and the Mackenzie/Wismar Bridge were removed. Some operators, such as those plying the Number 56 minibus route (from New Amsterdam to Rosignol), have dropped their fares, but others have refused to do so.

The Vice President explained that Guyana has a free market economy and, as such, the government does not dictate prices. S,o engaging operators would have to be done “carefully.”

Still, Jagdeo opined that such discussions may be necessary to bring further relief to persons dependent on public transportation. He also emphasised that the government wants taxi drivers and bus operators to earn a decent living.

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Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who is the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), said the government will not distribute any more cash grants before the upcoming elections.

However, he vowed that once re-elected, citizens will benefit from more cash grants and increases.

“I can assure you there will be lots of cash grants after the elections, but not before.

“We are a party, you know, once we put it there (in our manifesto)… There will be cash grants and increases,” Jagdeo said at his press conference on Thursday.

During the recent PPP/C manifesto consultations, it was announced that the party will distribute more cash grants to people. Those cash grants- from the Because We Care grant for schoolchildren to grants for other key groups- will also increase in amount.

Jagdeo, on Thursday, also reiterated the PPP’s plans to reduce the cost of living and provide more disposable income to persons by reducing taxes and increasing wages, salaries and other benefits.

The post No more cash grants before elections but expect them after – Jagdeo appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who is the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), on Thursday said no government minister is on a list to be sanctioned.

Jagdeo was responding to at least one Facebook post which insinuated that ministers from the governing PPP would be sanctioned by the United States of America.

“It’s a lie. No PPP minister is on any sanction list or to be sanctioned,” Jagdeo said during a party press conference on Thursday.

However, Jagdeo zeroed in on the sanctions handed down by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) last year.

On 11 June 2024, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury announced the imposition of sanctions against the Mohamed family—specifically targeting Nazar Mohamed, his son Azruddin Mohamed, and their businesses: Mohamed’s Enterprise, Hadi’s World, and Team Mohamed’s Racing. These sanctions were related to alleged gold smuggling and corruption.

As a result of the OFAC sanctions, the Mohameds’ business licences were revoked, and their bank accounts were closed. Mae Thomas, the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, who was also sanctioned, and her family members had their accounts closed, too.

Mr. Mohamed, Jagdeo said, has been claiming that the sanctions aren’t serious. However, Jagdeo contended that there are many ramifications.

In addition to what happened with the Mohameds and their businesses already, four local banks- Demerara Bank, GBTI, Citizens Bank, and the New Building Society- closed accounts belonging to candidates of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party. WIN is led by Azruddin.

This year, Senior Superintendent Himnauth Sawh and three other Guyanese also faced OFAC sanctions. The others are: Paul Daby Jr., son of the late Paul Daby Snr., who died in Colombia in 2021; Mark Cromwell, also known as ‘Demon’ and ‘Diamond,’ a name long linked to criminal elements in Guyana; and Randolph Duncan, for whom little public information is available.

Jagdeo affirmed that PPP Ministers are not being sanctioned but opined that such assertions may be mischievous.

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James Bond, once a chief campaign strategist for the PNC-led APNU coalition, has now unequivocally declared that the party has lost the youth vote and critically, Region Four itself.

In a wide-ranging Facebook live on Thursday morning, Bond laid bare the APNU’s disarray and forecasted a dire electoral outlook.

“The youth are 100% behind the PPP,” Bond said. “Region Four? That’s gone red.”

Bond, who once spearheaded APNU’s campaigns in Georgetown and the East Bank, is now a central figure on the campaign trail with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). Over recent weeks, he has been spotted actively engaging with residents across East Coast Demerara, Georgetown and the East Bank.

Bond assured that his comments were far from vague speculation. He revealed that he and his team had conducted voter research and disaggregation exercises dating back to January 2025.

“I’ve known since January… I had done the research,” he said. “APNU is too splintered. The horse has already bolted.”

In his assessment, the APNU is in freefall. Bond estimates that APNU will struggle to get more than 80,000 votes in Region Four — home to the country’s capital and largest voting population. This is a staggering collapse from previous elections where the party pulled well over 100,000 votes in the region.

He blames this plunge on internal divisions and strategic missteps, including zero community engagement in East Indian-majority areas, fragmentation of its core support base, with splinter groups like the Amanza Walton led Forward Guyana Movement, Simona Brommes led Assembly for Liberty and Justice and AFC returning to elections on its own.

“The APNU vote in Region Four is split into four and five different parts,” Bond argued. “They have not worked hard enough. They haven’t even shown up.”

Bond in turn suggested that the governing party is dominating the grassroots ground game.

“That is why [the PPP] kept meetings in every single community,” he said. “The others gave up. Zero meetings. You can’t win that way.”

He went further, outlining specific communities where he claims the PPP has made decisive inroads: Melanie, Four Miles, Haslington, Great Diamond, and even traditional opposition enclaves like Grove and South Georgetown. He disclosed that ongoing walkabouts are planned in Nabacalis and Beterverwagting, and described a growing tide of support that is “undeniable.”

“What’s happening in Region Four is stunning,” he said. “It’s PPP red—and it’s not just about race anymore. Young people are making a values-based decision.”

Bond took aim at commentators and opposition figures clinging to the belief that APNU still holds a chance in Region Four, calling such claims baseless.

“There’s no path for APNU in Region Four,” he declared. “If they get 70,000 votes, they’ve done well.”

“They’ve lost the young people. They’ve lost the region. This is not gaff,” Bond added.

The post APNU has already lost the youth vote and Region Four – James Bond appeared first on News Room Guyana.

With recent promotions announced by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has made it clear that all eligible Police officers will be duly promoted.

About 2,800 Officers are being promoted. The elevation will span across several ranks, including promotions from Constable to Lance Corporal, Lance Corporal to Corporal, Corporal to Sergeant, and Sergeant to Inspector.

Jagdeo said about 2,000 of those Officers have been notified of their promotions already. Others will be notified soon.

Over 2,000 Police ranks promoted by President Ali 

The Vice President said some Police ranks have engaged the government with concerns that they may be overlooked or bypassed for promotions. However, he vowed that all eligible individuals would get the promotions.

“… everyone who is eligible will receive the promotions,” Jagdeo affirmed at his Thursday press conference.

And for those Officers who feel aggrieved or bypassed, Jagdeo said there will be a review process. Once that process finds that any Officer qualifies for a promotion, he said that individual will be promoted.

President Ali announced the Police promotions last week. Beyond sweeping promotions for the ranks, he also announced that his government will go further, promising to restore pride, dignity, and the right resources to the Guyana Police Force, saying officers will no longer have to “beg for water.”

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