Blog

Trinidad and Tobago is currently leading the CARICOM Classic Chess Team Tournament after four rounds. The tournament is being held at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre in Georgetown, Guyana.

The Guyana Chess Federation, in collaboration with the CARICOM Secretariat, is hosting this second installment of the CARICOM Classic from July 1-6.

Ten teams from CARICOM nations, including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Dominica, Suriname, the Cayman Islands, St. Lucia, and host nation Guyana, are competing in the nine-round classical round-robin tournament.

Jamaica is in a close second, with Suriname trailing in third place. Sitting in fourth place is the Guyana A team, with Barbados, the Cayman Islands and St. Lucia close behind.

With five intense rounds still to be played, the tournament will be an exciting and challenging test for the competitors. Representing Guyana in the tournament are three distinct teams.

The Guyana A Team features CM Taffin Khan, Kyle Couchman, WCM Aditi Joshi and Ciel Clement. The Guyana B-Team comprises CM Sachin Pitamber, Keron Sandiford, WCM Sasha Shariff and Aniyah Couchman.

To ensure continuous play and avoid byes in each round, a third team, the Guyana Junior Team, was added.

This team comprises Ricardo Narine, Kishan Puran, Italy Ton-Chung and Anaya Lall.

Round One Highlights: In Round One, Guyana Team A was paired with Jamaica, while Team B faced Suriname. In the encounter with Jamaica, Khan and Joshi of the home team scored two draws, while Clement and Couchman went down to the Jamaicans.

Couchman lost a Rook in exchange for a weaker Bishop to his opponent FM Shreyas Smith. Faced with numerous threats to his monarch, and unable to improve his weakened position, Couchman accepted the loss.

Clement put up a stubborn f ight with her Jamaican opponent, Kaia Gayle that lasted 54 moves. The match ended with the fighting Kings and two pawns each per side on the board.

Gayle’s advancing King posed a serious threat to eliminating Clement’s two pawns, resulting in Clement’s loss. In the same round, Keron Sandiford, Aniyah Couchman, WCM Sasha Shariff, and Ciel Clement of Guyana Team B lost their matches to the Surinamese visitors.

Round Two Highlights: Pitamber lost his match to Gabriel Sixtus of St. Lucia. Almost all of Pitamber’s chess pieces were captured, leaving his King and a Bishop on the board. The St. Lucian dominated the board with his King, a Knight, and four pawns unopposed and to be promoted.

Pitamber finally gave up the struggle on the 50th move. Shariff manoeuvred her King and Queen to checkmate her St.Lucian opponent, Kiara Lambert, in a match that ended on move 51.

Round Three Highlights: In Round Three, Surinamese Jason Yeung went down to Khan in a match that lasted less than 40 moves. Yeung was lured by his opponent to capture material and appeared to have secured an advantage.

However, Khan skilfully maneuvered his active Bishop to support a pawn march, which overwhelmed Yeung’s Rook and centralised King in the fight. Despite his best efforts, Yeung conceded the loss on move 37.

The other three Surinamese team members, Ethan Tjin Kon Kiem, Alexandra, and Victoria Kaslan, drew their matches with their Guyanese Team A counterparts, Joshi, Clement, and Couchman.

Meanwhile, Guyana Team B, Pitamber, Sandiford, and female players Aniyah Couchman and Sasha Shariff faced Barbados.

Couchman lost to Channon Reifer Belle after 16 moves in a match that ended in checkmate. Shariff also lost to her Barbadian opponent Lashay Springer, while Pitamber scored a win over Emar Edwards.

In an endgame with only Kings and pawns on the board, Pitamber succeeded in promoting one of his pawns into a powerful Queen, creating havoc and forcing Edwards to resign. Sandiford drew his match with Barbadian Kemp Lynch.

The CARICOM Classic Junior Under-16 Tournament is also underway, with Mileke Sinckler from Barbados leading the way with 3.5 points after four rounds, followed by Ravish Ramesar and Ky-mani Wijnhard from Suriname with 3.5 points.

Aaron Jaikaran and Noah Clarke, both from Barbados, are on 3.5 points, followed by Guyanese Arysh Raghunauth, and Kataleya Sam on three points.

Suriname’s Thie-Yen Fung and Guyanese Mahir Rajkumar, and Alek Ubaldo-Singh are also on three points.

Round Four Highlights: Guyana Team B lost to a seasoned Trinidadian contingent featuring FM Joshua Johnson, FM Kevin Cupid, WCM Zara La Fleur and WFM Ysvett Hermoso Rodriguez.

Johnson checkmated Pitamber’s King with a final pawn push in a duel that lasted 43 moves. Sandiford faced Cupid in the same round and tensions mounted during their match.

In a precarious position, Sandiford resigned his King on move 29, anticipating a winning Rook, Queen and Bishop combination attack by his Trinidadian opponent.

Female players Shariff and Couchman also conceded to their counterparts from the twin-island Republic. Guyana Team A was paired with Barbados and was able to score a win and two draws against the Bajans.

Khan and Joshi both drew their matches with Emar Edwards and Chanon Reifer-Belle respectively. However, Kyle Couchman defeated Kemp Lynch, but Clement lost to female player Leshay Springer.

The Guyana Chess Federation wishes to express its profound gratitude to the generous sponsors whose support has been instrumental in the success of the CARICOM Classic Chess Team and the CARICOM Junior Under-16 Tournaments.

Those sponsors are: Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Topco and Savannah Milk, Apan Energy, Industrial Safety Supplies, NTS Amega Global, Movements Family Restaurant, NeuroSpine Services Inc., CB Group of Companies, C&V Shipping, SD&L Accounting, ENet, Guyoil, Queensway Security, Sterling Products Ltd, Power Producers, Marcis and Company, Crown Mining, Nand Persaud and Company and NK Enterprise Inc.

“Thanks to the supporters who also donated to the Federation. A special note of appreciation and gratitude goes to the Pegasus Hotel Guyana, our official hotel and the magnificent venue sponsor for the CARICOM Classic 2025,” the Federation said.

Rounds Five and Six will be hosted on Friday (July 4), starting at 10:00h and 16:00h respectively.

“The excitement is building as we eagerly await to see who will claim the coveted title of tournament winner!” the Federation added.

The post T&T leads CARICOM Classic Chess tournament after four rounds appeared first on News Room Guyana.

[Antigua.news] – Victor Ince, 24, of Lightfoot West appeared before Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel today in connection with the death of 19-year-old Guyanese national Joyleen Abraham and was remanded to prison.

Ince faces charges related to Abraham’s death on May 7, 2025, at Judges Estate. The charges include unlawful confinement and killing Abraham.

The incident occurred sometime shortly after 5pm when Abraham was somehow ejected from a moving vehicle being driven by Ince along a by-road leading from New Winthorpes to the Jabberwock main road. Police who responded to the scene found Abraham’s body on the south side of the road with multiple injuries. She was pronounced dead by a medical doctor at approximately 6:30pm.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE: https://antigua.news/2025/07/03/man-charged-in-death-of-guyanese-woman-thought-to-have-jumped-from-moving-vehicle/

The post Man remanded over death of Guyanese teenager in Antigua appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination, commonly referred to as SASOD, continues to advocate for an amendment of the 1997 Prevention of Discrimination Act to explicitly protect queer persons from workplace discrimination.

“It’s really important that we have some form of protection from discrimination for LGBTQIA people.

“This is one of the few pieces of legislation that is protective in nature… so in lieu of asking for broad anti-discrimination legislation being drafted to protect discrimination on all grounds in relation to all rights, we see it is important to expand what we have right now in relation to LGBTQIA rights,” Joel Simpson, SASOD’s Managing Director, told the News Room in a recent interview.

Currently, the Act prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on: “race, sex, religion, colour, ethnic origin, indigenous population, national extraction, social origin, economic status, political opinion, disability, family responsibilities, pregnancy, marital status or age…”

SASOD has, however, been advocating for the prohibition of discrimination based on an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics. Local studies show that queer persons have faced workplace discrimination so this law amendment could provide explicit protection, Simpson explained.

This advocacy for amendments to the Prevention of Discrimination Act has spanned about a decade, over two administrations.
Simpson said the group’s lobbying and advocacy continues but SASOD and its partners are also focused on other rights and protections for the queer community. One focus, he said, is on decriminalising same-sex intimacy.

SASOD continues advocacy for law changes to prevent workplace discrimination

The post Queer rights body still seeking law amendment to counter workplace discrimination appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Following a weekend of compelling action in Berbice, the Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast will now focus on the East Bank and West Demerara zones.

Despite weather disruptions necessitating venue adjustments, the Berbice leg delivered on its promise, showcasing a wealth of talent.

Montra Jaguars emerged as the dominant force from the Berbice cluster, securing their passage to the national finals at the Guyana National Stadium.

The question now is: who will join them?

This weekend, 16 teams will compete in the East Bank Demerara/West Demerara zone, all vying for a coveted spot in the national finals.

The teams set to compete are Diamond Gunners, Soesdyke XI, Eccles All-Stars, 592 Gunners, Hyde Park, Young Guns, Laluni, Timerhi Sports Club, Visionary Vipers (from Saxacalli), Trendsetters, The Guard, Stripling Warriors, Tourism Guyana Titans, Young Steppaz, CJIA Warriors, and K&B All-Stars.

Organisers have indicated that the persistent inclement weather may lead to further venue changes.

Updates will be announced as soon as confirmations are made.

Some matches may be staged in Laluni, aligning with the tournament’s objective of bringing cricket to various communities across Guyana.

Beyond the prestige of reaching the national final, the zone champion will also be rewarded with a significant prize of $300,000 and a specially commissioned trophy.

They will then be able to compete for a further $1.7 million in the national finals. The runner-up in the zone final will also receive a substantial prize of $100,000.

The stakes will be even higher at the national finals. The runner-up will take home $700,000, along with a trophy and medals, while the two losing semi-finalists will each receive $300,000.

The tournament will continue with the Georgetown/East Coast Demerara zone scheduled for July 19th and 20th, followed by the Essequibo zone on July 26th and 27th. The grand national finals are slated for Sunday, August 3rd.

The Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast has garnered support from Kares Engineering Inc., the Office of the President, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, KFC Guyana, Star Rentals, Banks DIH, ENet, Guyana Lottery Company, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Impressions, Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal, Shawn’s Mini Mart, Giftland Group of Companies, Kris Jagdeo Construction Company, Montra Restaurant and Lounge, Windsor Estates, The New Doctor’s Clinic, GuyOil, ANSA McAL, SuperBet Guyana, Digital Technology, Camille’s Academy, Navin Construction, Demerara Mutual Life Insurance, Continental Transportation, and Environmental and Technical Solutions.

The post Kares One Guyana T10: Spotlight shifts to East Bank/West Demerara after Berbice thrills appeared first on News Room Guyana.

In a significant boost for women’s football in Guyana, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has announced that all ten elite league clubs will participate in the second season of the Women’s Division One League.

This marks the first time every elite club will be represented in the competition, signalling a strong commitment to developing the female game.

The teams participating in the Elite League are: Slingerz FC, Western Tigers FC,  Guyana Police Force FC, Guyana Defence FC, Santos FC, Mondedderlust FC, Fruta Conquerors FC, Ann’s Grove FC, Den Amstel FC and Mainstay FC.

The GFF, in partnership with the Guyana Women’s Football Association (GWFA), unveiled an enhanced league on Wednesday, with a substantially increased prize pool of $3.7 million.

The winner will receive a $1 million top prize, followed by $500,000 for second place, $300,000 for third, and $100,000 for fourth.

A separate Cup phase will also offer significant rewards: $300,000 for the winner, $200,000 for the runner-up, $100,000 for third, and $50,000 for fourth.

Furthermore, each participating club will receive a training grant of $100,000.

The league, which kicks off on Friday, August 1, will adopt a 9v9 format instead of the traditional 11v11 and run for approximately four months in a single-round league.

This format is intended to provide more intense and competitive matches.

According to GFF Technical Director Bryan Joseph, the league is a crucial part of their preparation framework for selecting a national team to compete in the CONCACAF Women’s Championships in October and November.

These championships will also qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil. Joseph emphasised that the current format aims to give local players the necessary exposure and competition to prepare them for international tournaments.

A loan system will be implemented to ensure maximum participation and competitiveness, allowing Elite League clubs without active female programmes to strengthen their squads.

A draft will be held, open to all female players nationwide, to facilitate this process.

Defending champions Guyana Defence Force Football and Guyana Police Force Football Club have already agreed to place players into the draft pool after finalising their initial rosters.

GFF Third Vice-President Dion Innis highlighted FIFA’s substantial support for the league, which has contributed G$9.5 million.

He also noted the positive impact of the FIFA Football For School Programme, which has led to more trained female coaches in schools, and cited the Blue Water Shipping Girls U-15 tournament as another vital source of emerging talent.

The post Elite League clubs to compete in revamped GFF Women’s Division One League appeared first on News Room Guyana.

More than four months after he was charged with the brutal murder of his partner Kenesha Vaughn, city businessman Marlan DaSilva remains on remand and is scheduled to make his next court appearance on July 10.

The case was called on Tuesday before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

DaSilva is awaiting a preliminary inquiry (PI) — a judicial hearing held in the Magistrate’s Court for serious offences such as murder. It is not a trial in itself.

In DaSilva’s case, the PI is being conducted via a “paper committal”. In legal terms, a paper committal is where a magistrate reviews written evidence and arguments, rather than conducting a traditional in-person hearing, to determine whether an accused person should be committed for trial.

For this to proceed, the defence must file statements from witnesses in the case.

DaSilva is accused of killing his partner on the evening of February 22 at their Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara home, shortly after returning there.

According to a police report, DaSilva and Vaughn had an argument during which the businessman allegedly slapped her. In retaliation, police said Vaughn reportedly reached for a knife and approached him.

It was at this point that DaSilva pulled out his licensed firearm from his waistband and discharged several rounds in Vaughn’s direction, hitting her about the body.

Police ranks were later contacted, and Vaughn was taken to the Diamond Hospital, where she died while receiving treatment. The incident was captured on CCTV footage, which has since been admitted as evidence.

The post Kenesha Vaughn case adjourned again to July 10 appeared first on News Room Guyana.

A taxi driver has been remanded to prison after being charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, following his arrest alongside three others during a foiled robbery attempt in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Jayz Halley, 23, of Stevedore Housing Scheme, Georgetown, appeared at the Reliance Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Michelle Matthias.

Halley was charged with the offence of possession of a firearm without a licence in connection with an incident that occurred on June 27, 2025. Police said he was among four men intercepted during a planned robbery at a Chinese supermarket in New Amsterdam.

According to a police statement, at approximately 14:00 hours on Thursday, June 27, two motor vehicles travelling from Georgetown were stopped by a Senior Police Officer and their team on the Berbice River Bridge access road.

During the stop, police discovered a .38 revolver bearing serial number J465543 concealed in a compartment beneath the steering wheel, along with five matching rounds of ammunition.

The suspects, all males from Georgetown aged between 18 and 29, were arrested and taken into custody.

The charge against Halley was laid under Section 16 (2)(a) of the Firearm Act, Chapter 16:05. He was not required to enter a plea.

Following the proceedings, Magistrate Matthias ordered that Halley be remanded to prison. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 21.

The post Taxi driver remanded for possession of unlicensed firearm appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Sixteen years ago, it began as a small circle of eager dancers guided by the bold vision of Kelton Jennings. Today, Unique Arts Dance School stands as one of Guyana’s leading cultural powerhouses — and it’s now setting its sights even further across the Caribbean.

What started with a handful of students has grown into a vibrant institution nurturing generations of young Guyanese through the transformative power of dance. For Jennings, this anniversary is not only about marking time, but expanding the reach of Guyanese cultural expression across CARICOM and beyond.

“We’re celebrating 16 years this entire month,” Jennings shared. “And I have two dancers from Trinidad and Jamaica right here in Guyana now, working in schools under our mentorship. That’s what this is about — growing beyond borders and keeping our culture alive and moving.”

Over the years, Unique Arts has showcased its craft at home and abroad — from cultural exchanges in Suriname and Jamaica to performances in the United States. It has become a mainstay at national events such as Mashramani, school programmes, charity shows, and its own acclaimed productions like Kaya Home in Africa.

The school has collaborated with government ministries, regional stakeholders, and cultural organisations, all with one mission: to preserve the beauty of African dance while embracing other genres to reflect Guyana’s diverse roots.

Unique Arts has also left its mark through mentorship — teaching discipline, self-expression, and cultural pride to countless children who pass through its studio doors every year. Its alumni have gone on to become dancers, teachers, choreographers, and cultural ambassadors in their own right.

Now, as it celebrates this milestone, the school says its next step is deeper regional integration. Jennings is already expanding partnerships within CARICOM, hosting dancers and cultural workers from Trinidad and Jamaica, and exploring performances and workshops across the Caribbean.

“This journey has never been just about us,” Jennings said. “It’s about sharing our heritage — our rhythm and our stories — with our Caribbean brothers and sisters. We want to keep building those bridges.”

For supporters, students, and families who have been part of the movement since its humble start, the anniversary is a moment to reflect on the lives changed and the communities connected. But the dance is far from over.

As Unique Arts enters its 17th year, its feet remain firmly rooted in Guyana — but its spirit keeps stepping boldly onto new regional stages.

The post Unique Arts Dance School marks 16 years; eyes stronger regional reach appeared first on News Room Guyana.

With a focus on crafting sustainable communities integrated with digital infrastructure and presenting opportunities across all sectors, Guyana’s largest exposition, Building Expo 2025, is promised to be the “most transformative”.

This year, the expo will run from August 14 to 17 and is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors, both local and international.

It will feature a total of 373 booths, 268 of which have already been reserved.

Building Expo 2025 is being held under the theme “The Road to Success: Guyana 2030 and Beyond.”

Speaking at a media launch on Tuesday, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, said the theme captures the collective mission to not only build physical infrastructure, but to craft a future that is inclusive, resilient, innovative, and sustainable.

“This year’s expo will be the largest, most inclusive, and most transformative edition yet.

“It will be a dynamic platform where ideas and opportunities intersect… It will be a space where cutting-edge technology meets traditional craftsmanship, where global best practices merge with local innovation, and where dreams of better living become tangible realities,” Croal said.

In urging members of the diaspora to utilise the opportunity to reinvest and return to Guyana, Croal said Building Expo 2025 is “more than a trade show”.

“It is a National Event. A celebration of Guyanese ingenuity, resourcefulness, and unity. It is a platform to showcase local manufacturers and service providers, to foster meaningful partnerships between government and private enterprise, and to attract investment from across the globe,” he said.

At this year’s expo, a 3D replica of Guyana’s first sustainable and resilient city, Silica City, will also be on display. House lots will be allocated through the Dream Realised initiative, and land titles will be distributed.

According to Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, the International Building Expo remains a household name.

“The international building expo is renowned for providing a platform for entrepreneurs, to launch new businesses, to expand existing businesses and services and offer a unique network among industry platform.

“You will see an exhibition of the growth and success of all of the sectors,” Rodrigues said.

Building Expo 2025 will be held at the Guyana National Stadium.

The post ‘More than a trade show’- Building Expo 2025 to be the ‘most transformative’, will feature over 350 booths appeared first on News Room Guyana.

England were held up by India captain Shubman Gill’s patient century as their bowlers fought admirably on day one of the second Test at Edgbaston.

After captain Ben Stokes opted to bowl first again, his bowlers battled against Gill’s calmness and another flat pitch to limit India to 310-5 at the close.

Chris Woakes bowled KL Rahul off the inside edge in a fine new-ball spell and Brydon Carse found extra bounce to have Karun Nair caught at slip for 31 shortly before lunch.

But opener Yashasvi Jaiswal complied an elegant 87 and after he was caught behind off Stokes, Rishabh Pant put on 66 with Gill as the new-ball zip faded in the Birmingham sunshine.

England hung in, however, and Pant’s patience broke after tea when he hit Shoaib Bashir to long-on for 25. Nitish Kumar Reddy was bowled shouldering arms to Woakes in the next over.

That left India at risk of collapse but Gill remained unflustered and reached three figures for the second match in a row in 199 deliveries. He put on 99 with Ravindra Jadeja to see out the final 90 minutes of play.

The tourists, who made three changes including leaving out star bowler Jasprit Bumrah, will be content but memories of England’s win at Headingley only adds to the feeling India have a long way to go to bat Stokes’ side out of the game. (BBC)

 

The post Gill holds India together with second hundred as captain appeared first on News Room Guyana.