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A 26-year-old man, suspected of multiple armed robberies, was fatally shot during a late-night exchange of gunfire with Police ranks in Linden on Monday.

Dead is Shamar Prince, an unemployed resident of Wall Street, Amelia’s Ward, Linden, who was wanted in connection with a robbery under arms committed earlier on Monday on Long Xing, a 38-year-old Chinese businessman from Mackenzie Linden, as well as other robberies targeting Chinese businesses.

Police said that at about 23:45 hrs, acting on information received, mobile patrol ranks went to Prince’s residence — a lower-flat apartment of a two-storey concrete house in a partly fenced yard. Prince lived there with his girlfriend, 22-year-old Whitney Brazilio, a cook.

According to Police, when the ranks called at the apartment, Brazilio opened the western door and spoke with them. Prince, however, opened the back door on the north-western side and immediately discharged his firearm at one of the ranks, forcing the officer to take cover.

Prince then ran out of the apartment, continuing to fire at the ranks, who returned fire in his direction. He was struck and fell to the ground at the side of the yard.

Police said they found Prince lying on his back wearing a multi-coloured shirt and black denim pants. Next to him was a .38 revolver containing three live rounds and three spent shells, along with a box holding twenty-five additional .38 rounds.

He also had a black shoulder bag strapped around him containing his National ID card, a Blu cellphone, $1,040 in Guyana currency, a knife, and about five grams of a whitish rock-like substance suspected to be cocaine.

Ranks took Prince to the Linden Hospital Complex where he died while receiving treatment.

A post-mortem examination is to be conducted. Police reported five gunshot wounds on Prince’s body: one to the left side of his head, three to the upper left shoulder, and one on the right side of his chest.

All firearms, ammunition, spent shells and other items found at the scene have been sealed and lodged as evidence and will be sent for forensic examination.

Investigators say the operation was part of an ongoing probe into a series of armed robberies in Linden and surrounding areas targeting Chinese-owned businesses, where firearms were brandished and used.

Police investigations are continuing.

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President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Tuesday said it is time for ‘full evaluation and accountability’ after West Indies disastrous performance against Australia in the third and final Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica.

Set a target of 204 to avoid a 3-0 series whitewash, West Indies were dismissed for a hardly believable 27– their lowest Test score and the second lowest ever in the history of the format.

President Ali, who is the current Chairman of the CARICOM Sub-Committee on Cricket, highlighted that ‘an entire system that is failing’ needs to be fixed now.

“It is time for a full evaluation and accountability to the people of this region for the disastrous batting performance of the West Indies Cricket Team. We cannot disregard what all of us witnessed and endured in the last three Test matches,” the Head-of-State posted on Tuesday.

“This is not about our players, administrators, or any individual; it is an entire system that is failing, and together, all of us must fix it now. This cannot continue into another series; we must not allow it to.”

Following the West Indies’ catastrophic defeat, Cricket West Indies (CWI) President Dr. Kishore Shallow issued a call for ‘collaboration, not division’, a posture he believes must be adopted ‘if we are to truly move forward.’

CWI has since extended invitations to three former players- Brian Lara, Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards– to take part in an emergency meeting following West Indies‘ 3-0 series loss.

The West Indies greats will join Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Desmond Haynes and Ian Bradshaw on the Cricket Strategy and Officiating Committee to review the team’s “deeply disappointing” performances over the past few weeks.

The total was just one run better than New Zealand’s Test-record low of 26 in 1955, but it was 20 runs short of West Indies’ previous worst total of 47.

It was the first time in Test history a team recorded seven ducks in an innings and the six runs made collectively by West Indies’ top-six batters was the lowest in any innings in Test history.

West Indies will next take on Australia in a five-match T20I series starting July 21, before hosting Pakistan for a white-ball series in August.

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Following the West Indies’ catastrophic defeat to Australia in the third and final Test in Jamaica on Monday, Cricket West Indies President Dr. Kishore Shallow has issued a call for ‘collaboration, not division’, a posture he believes must be adopted ‘if we are to truly move forward.’

West Indies were bowled out for 27– their lowest Test score and the second lowest ever in the history of the format- in pursuit of a target of 204 to avoid a 3-0 series whitewash.

See below full statement issued by CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow

Like every West Indian cricket fan, I felt the pain of our recent Test defeat to Australia. The result hurts deeply, not only because of how we lost, but because of what West Indies cricket has always represented to our people: pride, identity, and possibility.

There will be some sleepless nights ahead for many of us, including the players, who I know feel this loss just as heavily. But while disappointment is natural, we must not allow this moment to define our journey.

We are in a rebuilding phase, steadily investing in the next generation, and reigniting the spirit that has long made West Indies cricket a force in the world.

Progress is rarely straightforward. It takes time, perseverance, and belief, especially in our most difficult moments.

The road ahead will test us, but I have faith in the talent and commitment of our players when they apply themselves.

We have already seen encouraging signs, particularly with the ball. Our batters are keen, but now must be even more deliberate as they work to improve.

Now is not the time to turn away. Now is the time to stand even closer as a people. These are the moments that shape us.

As an immediate step, I have advised the Chair of the Cricket Strategy and Officiating Committee to convene an emergency meeting to review the recent Test series against Australia, particularly the final match.

To strengthen the discussions, I have extended invitations to three of our greatest batsmen ever: Sir Clive Lloyd, Sir Vivian Richards, and Brian Lara.

They will join past greats Dr. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dr. The Most Honourable Desmond Haynes, Ian Bradshaw, who already serve on the committee.

This engagement is not ceremonial.

These are men who helped define our golden eras, and their perspectives will be invaluable as we shape the next phase of our cricket development. We intend for this gathering to result in tangible, actionable recommendations.

Consistent with my message over the last weeks, this is a moment that calls for collaboration, not division.

We need everyone on board: fans, players, coaches, legends, and administrators, if we are to truly move forward.

There is much work to be done. But we must do it with purpose, and we must do it together.

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The Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) and ENetworks Inc. (ENet) have joined forces in a strategic partnership that will see fifteen Post Offices across five regions now offering ENet Recharge services.

Starting Monday, July 14, Post Offices in Regions Three, Four, Six, Seven, and Ten will provide convenient top-up solutions through the ENet Recharge PC platform. The service also includes features for managing sub-agents and merchant accounts, making it easier for customers to access ENet’s growing range of services.

In addition to topping up, customers will now be able to make monthly installments for the latest smartphones at these selected locations, adding further value and convenience to everyday transactions.

The Post Offices offering the new service are:

• Region Three: Wales, Leonora, Parika

• Region Four: Ogle, Bourda, Carmichael Street, East La Penitence, Timehri

• Region Six: Benab, No. 51, Whim

• Region Seven: Bartica

• Region Ten: McKenzie, Wismar

The initiative reflects GPOC’s continued drive to expand its services beyond traditional postal operations and demonstrates ENet’s commitment to making its services more accessible countrywide.

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Cricket West Indies (CWI) has extended invitations to three former players- Brian Lara, Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards– to take part in an emergency meeting following West Indies‘ 3-0 series loss at home to Australia.

The West Indies greats will join Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Desmond Haynes and Ian Bradshaw on the Cricket Strategy and Officiating Committee to review the team’s “deeply disappointing” performances over the past few weeks.

West Indies folded quickly in the first two Tests too, but they saved the biggest ignominy for the very last, folding for 27 in 14.3 overs in Kingston.

The total was just one run better than New Zealand’s Test-record low of 26 in 1955, but it was 20 runs short of West Indies’ previous worst total of 47.

It was the first time in Test history a team recorded seven ducks in an innings and the six runs made collectively by West Indies’ top-six batters was the lowest in any innings in Test history.

Dr. Kishore Shallow, the president of CWI, said that the entire West Indies cricket community will have several “sleepless nights” following the losses, but called for patience as they look to “rebuild and start investing in the next generation”.

“Like every West Indian cricket fan, I felt the pain of our recent Test defeat to Australia,” he said.

“There will be some sleepless nights ahead for many of us, including the players, who I know feel this loss just as heavily. But while disappointment is natural, we must not allow this moment to define our journey. We are in a rebuilding phase, steadily investing in the next generation, and reigniting the spirit that has long made West Indies cricket a force in the world.

“Progress is rarely straightforward. It takes time, perseverance, and belief, especially in our most difficult moments. The road ahead will test us, but I have faith in the talent and commitment of our players when they apply themselves. We have already seen encouraging signs, particularly with the ball. Our batters are keen, but now must be even more deliberate as they work to improve.”

Shallow said the involvement of Lara, Richards and Lloyd wasn’t purely “ceremonial”, and that they would be actively involved in West Indies’ “next phase of cricket development”.

“These are men who helped define our golden eras, and their perspectives will be invaluable. We intend for this gathering to result in tangible, actionable recommendations.

“Consistent with my message over the last weeks, this is a moment that calls for collaboration, not division. We need everyone on board: fans, players, coaches, legends, and administrators, if we are to truly move forward. There is much work to be done. But we must do it with purpose, and we must do it together.”

West Indies will next take on Australia in a five-match T20I series starting July 21, before hosting Pakistan for a white-ball series in August. (ESPNcricinfo)

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In a coordinated push to safeguard its natural resources and sovereignty, Guyana has intensified surveillance and enforcement operations across land, river and sea to combat illegal logging, mining and maritime crimes.

These efforts have resulted in the shutdown of illegal logging and mining operations in Regions 7, 8 and 9 over the past year.

This is according to Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) Colonel Sheldon Howell.

“NISA is working with the Forestry Commission and the Geology and Mines Commission to monitor illegal logging and mining.

“We use drones, satellite imagery and other technology, alongside community intelligence, to provide the information needed to shut down those illegal mining operations,” Colonel Howell explained during the fourth episode of the “Safeguarding the Nation” programme.

Along the rivers, Colonel Howell said rapid-response units have intercepted several gold-smuggling operations and curbed unregulated dredging, particularly in border areas.

“We’re not waiting for damage to be done; we’re acting fast,” Colonel Howell emphasised.

Maritime security has also been significantly strengthened.

To this end, Colonel Howell said the Coast Guard, Maritime Administration (MARAD), Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit and the Guyana Police Force are jointly monitoring Guyana’s seas for illegal fishing vessels, including those from Venezuela, as well as combating drug and arms trafficking.

The deployment of advanced coastal radar systems and Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) now enables real-time tracking and rapid response.

In the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), near offshore oil installations, maritime patrols have been increased and surveillance capabilities expanded with support from international and regional partners.

“Across all these efforts, NISA helps to bring the intelligence together so that if something suspicious occurs, there is no time lost in coordinating the response,” Colonel Howell noted.

He added: “These are not just plans; they are happening now. So if you observe illegal dredging, mining or a suspicious vessel, make the call. Your call could save lives or protect our national assets.”

Colonel Howell reiterated that Guyana’s patrimony is more than oil, gold or timber, describing it as the nation’s identity, future and sovereignty.

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The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) on Tuesday officially commissioned a state-of-the-art tugboat, valued at $790 million, to enhance Guyana’s maritime trade and operational efficiency.

Capable of towing and manoeuvring ships between 10,000 and 20,000 tonnes, the tug is designed for a range of functions, including towing, mooring and pushing operations. The vessel will be manned by a crew of six.

Named the “Arau”, the vessel was built by the Dutch shipbuilding company Damen in partnership with local firm Farm Supplies Limited. It is the second newly built vessel acquired by MARAD since 2020.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill tour the tug vessel (Photo: DPI/July 15, 2025)

The contract for its construction was signed in 2023, and the vessel now joins the national fleet as part of the government’s broader maritime modernisation drive.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, described the acquisition as another milestone in the transformation of Guyana’s maritime infrastructure.

“Guyana’s maritime sector has moved from broken-down boats to a facility that will be able to meet international standards.

“Guyana is not just open for business; Guyana is engaging people who are serious about doing business. We are creating an environment to ensure that when you come here, the standards that should be upheld are in place and will be upheld,” Edghill said.

The state-of-the-art tugboat (Photo: DPI/July 15, 2025)

Prior to the commissioning, the crew received training on how to operate the vessel.

Director General of MARAD, Stephen Thomas, urged the crew to maintain the highest standards of safety and professionalism.

“The vessel will be in your hands, and we expect that you will operate it safely and keep it sailing safely.

“Your job is to make this ship unsinkable,” Thomas said.

Director of Legal Services at MARAD, Thandi McAllister, also emphasised that modernisation extends beyond physical infrastructure.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill commission the tug vessel (Photo: DPI/July 15, 2025)

“Building out the infrastructure is not only physical; it includes the legislative, administrative and financial frameworks to ensure that what we have serving Guyana is a modern, well-equipped and capable maritime department,” McAllister said.

She added that the sector’s development has required vision and commitment, assuring that further progress lies ahead.

The vessel is expected to significantly contribute to safer and more efficient maritime trade in Guyana, reinforcing the government’s commitment to raising industry standards and fostering international partnerships.

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Former Parliamentarian Tabitha Sarabo-Halley Monday made her first appearance on the 2025 election campaign as a candidate for the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party led by US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed.

Sarabo-Halley appears on WIN’s list of candidates which was submitted to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Nomination Day on Monday, July 14, 2025.

This signals her fourth change in political parties over the last five years, and her departure from the Guyana Nation Builders Movement (GNBM) – an obscure political party she formed in 2021.

In 2019, Sarabo-Halley replaced Dr. Rupert Roopnarine in the National Assembly as the representative of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA). That same year, she became Minister of Public Service under the then APNU+AFC Government.

After the defeat of the APNU+AFC at the polls in 2020, she remained a member of the WPA which was still one of the parties within the APNU.

However, later that year she resigned from the WPA after that party broke ranks with the APNU. To retain her seat in the National Assembly, Sarabo-Halley reasoned that she was occupying the seat as an “independent”.

Shortly after, she launched GNBM and has been the lone face of that party until her reappearance yesterday as a candidate for WIN.

“I understand people are saying it’s a surprise but for me personally I had to make a decision. The people made a choice, the people want to see something different, something new…” she said in an interview on the sidelines of the Nomination Day activities.

She went on to add that her role as a “servant leader is to ensure the people get what they deserve”.

Mere weeks after becoming a Minister of Government, Sarabo-Halley arbitrarily fired several employees at the Ministry of Public Service without reason.

The then APNU+AFC government initially denied the claims but later commissioned a Board of Inquiry which found that her actions were “unlawful”. No disciplinary action was ever taken against her for the dismissals.

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If there are no major delays or a request for a recount, the results for the September 1 general and regional elections should be known the night of September 2, with an official declaration the following day, Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud said Monday.

“So far as a declaration is concerned, at the level of GECOM (Guyana Elections Commission) at the district level, we are earmarked to have declarations done by the night of the day after elections,” Persaud told members of the media on Monday at the end of Nomination Day activities held at the Umana Yana.

Once those declarations are made by Tuesday evening at the district level, it would then be clear who the winner of the election is. Persaud therefore said that an official declaration of the results could be made the following day.

A total of seven political parties submitted their lists of candidates to contest the upcoming elections. They include the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the Alliance for Change (AFC), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and newcomer We Invest in Nationhood (WIN).

According to Persaud, staff of GECOM are trained and prepared for the elections.

Already, he said, several international overseas missions are in Guyana to observe the process.

Additionally, Persaud said security measures have been introduced to ensure that the tabulation of votes is done in a “transparent manner.”

Once confirmed, Persaud said the lists of the parties contesting the elections will be posted outside his office.

And, in keeping with the law, Persaud said as soon as Statement of Polls (SOPs) are processed, it will be posted on GECOM website.

“So the results can be known even before we declare it because you can be sitting in your sitting room and doing your own tabulation,” Persaud said.

In terms of the declaration, Persaud said, “If there is a recount, it would be delayed.

“If there is not, I think by the second day after elections we should have a national declaration.”

Editor’s note: This story originally stated that results could be available as early as elections night (September 1) but it has since been updated to accurately reflect what the Chief Elections Officer, Mr. Vishnu Persaud said; that is, that the results could be available as early as the night of September 2. 

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