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Technology company, Apple, recently bought 100,000 of Guyana’s carbon credits as part of efforts to reduce its corporate and product emissions footprint for 2024.

The credits bought from Guyana were retired by Apple. This means that the 100,000 credits issued to Apple have been removed from circulation and cannot be traded or used again.For years, Guyana worked on a mechanism to monitor, report, and verify the carbon stored in its trees, and that amounted to over 19 gigatonnes. Under an international mechanism called ART TREES, credits are issued based on the carbon stored in forests.

Money from trees: What of Indigenous people and their rights? And do they benefit from the carbon trade?

Guyana entered the voluntary carbon market in 2022, wherein countries or companies can invest in environmental actions that compensate for the harmful carbon their operations emit into the atmosphere.

The American oil firm Hess Corporation was to first to support the venture, buying one-third of the carbon credits issued to Guyana at a cost of about USD$750 million.

Apple has now bought credits from Guyana’s 2019 stock; the move is said to contribute directly to Apple’s corporate climate goals.

“The jurisdictional program includes all 18 million hectares of forest in Guyana — about 85 percent of the landmass — and enables the country to benefit from its historically low deforestation rate, while funding low-carbon development priorities,” Apple said in its 2025 Environmental Progress Report.

The post Apple buys 100,000 carbon credits from Guyana appeared first on News Room Guyana.

See below the full media release from Caribbean Airlines: 

Caribbean Airlines advises that a recent advertisement published in its magazine featuring an incomplete map of Guyana has been removed from its online publications.

The airline has also taken steps to update the printed copies of the magazine and replace same with the ad removed.

Caribbean Airlines thanks all stakeholders for their continued support and understanding.

The post Caribbean Airlines replacing magazines with ‘incomplete map of Guyana’  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The National Assembly on Monday passed an amendment to the Representation of the People Act (ROPA) aimed at strengthening Guyana’s electoral system and preventing any attempts to derail the election process.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, introduced the modification to the bill’s second and final readings.

He explained that the amendment addresses an oversight where a deputy for the supernumerary returning officer was not included.

The AG said Section Two (One) of the principal act updates the definition of a supernumerary returning officer. This revised definition now includes both supernumerary returning officers and supernumerary deputy returning officers for polling sub-districts in Regions Three, Four and Six.

He explained that “The amendment is very small but significant. And what occurred when we did the final draft and when we enacted the bill in 2022, we omitted to include in the definition of a supernumerary returning officer, someone to deputise his/her functions…In the amendments that we did, we did not include a deputy for the supernumerary returning officer.”

And that is all the new changes are intended to correct.

The government, he said, made several commitments in 2022 to enact a range of amendments covering various areas under ROPA and the National Registration Act (NRA).

These two mega pieces of election legislation contain all the necessary amendments that have been passed over the last three decades.

He added that the amended bill will help prevent further misuse of the electoral system and promote transparency, following the general and regional elections held on March 2, 2020.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Sonia Parag also supported the bill. She said that since assuming office in 2020, the PPP/C administration has fulfilled its commitments by reviewing the laws that govern the electoral system.

She highlighted the extensive consultations held for ROPA, involving individuals from all sections of society, which enhanced transparency.

She reminded the House that “The plethora of obstacles, trauma and distress that was caused by a few had very little to do with the Representation of the People Act. It had every single thing to do with individuals and rogues who believed that they could somehow fix, trick, or twist the system to how they wanted it.”

Minister Parag said the change to the bill is necessary and should not be overlooked, explaining that the term supernumerary returning officer was previously undefined in a way that covered the growing operational demands within the three largest electoral districts.

“The inclusion of deputy supernumerary returning officers explicitly recognise in this bill is one of the quiet enablers of a broader level of reform which has received support from all sections of our local society, as well as our international partners,” she stated. “These officers play a critical role in our process and their functions are tightly regulated.”

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha described the amendment as part of a comprehensive reform to clarify the definition of a supernumerary returning officer.

“This amendment is far more than a technical adjustment. It is a deliberate and substantive clarification that fortifies the structural integrity of our electoral process by defining the scope and status of these officers, particularly in the highly populated regions,” he noted.

Extracted and modified from DPI.

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In a move aimed at curbing masked criminal activity, the National Assembly on Monday passed the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, introducing new, harsher penalties for offenders who use face coverings while committing certain crimes.

The amended legislation, which updates the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, provides for fines of up to $750,000 and prison sentences of up to three years.

The new provisions target the growing trend of criminals using masks or other disguises to conceal their identities, particularly during public disturbances, home invasions and acts of terrorism.

Speaking on the Bill, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, told the House that the measure was “reasonable and necessary” to deter criminal behaviour and aid law enforcement efforts.

“Recently, our country has experienced a surge in certain types of criminal activities committed by persons wearing masks or other disguises, which pose a significant threat to public safety,” Nandlall said.

While the use of facial coverings is recognised in legitimate contexts — such as for health reasons, religious observances, or cultural practices — the Attorney General underscored that this law applies strictly when such coverings are used with criminal intent.

Nandlall noted that when individuals are aware they will face harsher penalties for concealing their identity while committing crimes, they are less likely to do so.

“Concealing one’s identity emboldens offenders by reducing the risk of being identified or apprehended,” he said.

“By criminalising this act, we are assisting law enforcement in swiftly identifying and prosecuting offenders.”

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC

To strengthen his case, the Attorney General referenced similar laws from other jurisdictions, including Canada, the United States, and Saint Lucia. Canada, for instance, introduced legislation following riots in Vancouver and Toronto, criminalising the wearing of masks during unlawful assemblies. The Canadian law prescribes penalties of up to 10 years in prison for offenders who conceal their identity while committing indictable offences.

In the United States, several states have enacted “anti-mask laws” targeting similar behaviour. Nandlall cited California, Florida, and North Dakota as examples where wearing a mask during the commission of a crime is itself a punishable offence.

“These jurisdictions recognise the dangers posed by masked criminals and have enacted strong deterrents,” Nandlall noted.

Referencing both recent events and historical patterns, Nandlall pointed to the resurgence of masked violence during recent protests in Guyana, where some individuals vandalised and looted businesses and properties while deliberately concealing their identities.

He also drew attention to the long-standing problem of “kick down the door bandits,” a criminal phenomenon dating back to the 1970s, where home invaders typically wore masks. The Attorney General lamented that legal provisions addressing such behaviour were long overdue.

“This amendment should have come decades ago,” he said. “We’ve always had criminals using masks to terrorise our citizens.”

The law applies specifically to a list of offences, including: riots and unlawful assemblies; acts of terrorism; robbery and armed robbery; housebreaking and burglary; and assault committed while masked.

Additionally, under the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, the penalty for mask-related offences has been increased from a previous maximum of $15,000 to $750,000, and the prison term raised from 18 months to three years.

Importantly, the law does not criminalise the general wearing of masks or facial coverings. It is only triggered when these items are used in the commission of specific criminal acts.

Nandlall called the bill a serious and timely intervention to address what has become an urgent concern for both law enforcement and the general public.

“This is a serious piece of legislation. It fills a major gap in our criminal law and addresses a pressing issue that has been highlighted repeatedly — most recently during violent protests,” he said.

“With this amendment, we are saying clearly: hiding your face to commit a crime will no longer shield you from the law.”

The post Law passed to crack down on masked offenders appeared first on News Room Guyana.

In an emphatic message delivered in the National Assembly on Monday night, Opposition Parliamentarian Geeta Chandan-Edmond endorsed President Dr. Irfaan Ali.

Chandan- Edmond declared, “President Ali earned a second term and Guyana deserves nothing less.”

She added, “I stand proudly with President Irfaan Ali, I stand with his leadership, I stand with his vision, and I stand with his steadfast commitment to this country.”

The politician, who has been part of the opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), said her decision came despite efforts to “silence” her. She also apologised to Guyanese for leaving the House recently alongside her Opposition colleagues when national solidarity was needed to reaffirm Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Opposition Parliamentarian joins a list of other prominent political players now endorsing President Ali and the PPP. Last week, Liberty and Justice Party Leader, Lenox Shuman; The Citizenship Initiative’s Shazaam Ally; and PNCR’s Daniel Seeram, Samuel Sandy and Dr. Richard Van-West Charles all endorsed President Ali and the PPP.

For Chandan-Edmond, the decision to back President Ali and the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) ahead of the September 1, 2025, elections was made after much deliberation and due to her love for the country. She also opined that President Ali has led Guyana’s transformation since 2020 and stressed that he should be supported further.

And Chandan-Edmond, who described herself as a child of the sugar plantation, said, “… my conscience spoke louder than any voice.”

The post ‘The work is not done’ – PNC’s Geeta Chandan- Edmond endorses President Ali appeared first on News Room Guyana.

See below full statement from the Ministry of Finance:

President Irfaan Ali’s initiative of an NIS One-Off payment programme for eligible insured persons who have between 500 and 749 contributions, was today officially launched by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh.

President Ali had laid out the details of the initiative on April 10, 2025, following his earlier  announcement of the programme. It is expected to benefit over 25,000 senior citizens. The initiative also forms part of Government’s broader range of interventions aimed at improving the quality of life of Guyana’s senior citizens

To be eligible under the programme, persons must have attained the age of 60 on or before 31 December 2024, have between 500 to 749 contributions on record and not be in receipt of any pension from NIS. These persons will benefit from the one-off payment as follows:

• 500 to 549 NIS Contributions – One-Off Payment of $260,000

• 550 to 599 NIS Contributions – One-Off Payment of $390,000

• 600 to 699 NIS Contributions – One-Off Payment of $520,000

• 700 to 749 NIS Contributions – One-Off Payment of $650,000

The programme is intended to allow the NIS to address the challenges faced, particularly by those persons who have fallen marginally short of the 750 contributions required for a pension from the NIS.

In keeping with President’s Ali’s commitment, a sum of $10 billion was allocated in Budget 2025 to ensure the financing and delivery of this programme.

The NIS has established a dedicated website at https://oneoffnis.gov.gy where persons can check their eligibility and submit their applications online. Alternatively, they can visit the nearest NIS office in their area, uplift a form, complete the form and place it in the drop boxes available at NIS offices countrywide.

The finance minister while highlighting further details of the initiative during the programme’s launch today, urged persons who are eligible to submit their applications as soon as possible so they may benefit from the President’s initiative.

The Government remains committed to ensuring that the senior citizens of Guyana, who have given their best years in service to the country, can retire with dignity and the respect they deserve.

The post NIS one-off payment programme launched appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Guyanese all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford has been appointed Vice-captain of the West Indies T20 team for the upcoming three-match series against Ireland.

Rutherford has also been included in the West Indies squad for the preceding three-match T20I series against England.

All-rounders Jason Holder and Andre Russell make a return to the squad, while Nicholas Pooran has asked to be rested for both series. Trinidadian Jyd Goolie gets his maiden international call-up and will feature in the Ireland series.

Below is the full press release issued by Cricket West Indies on Monday

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the squads for the three (3) T20 International matches against England from June 6-10 and another three (3) matches against Ireland from June 12-15.

The series will be the first for newly appointed T20 captain Shai Hope, who will have a dynamic and exciting squad which will see the return of Jason Holder who last represented the Caribbean team in the shortest format in February 2024.

Andre Russell makes a return to the squad after sustaining an injury during the first match of last year’s series against England in Barbados but has only been selected for the England leg of the tour.

Following an extended stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Nicholas Pooran asked to be rested for both series.

Test captain Roston Chase will leave the squad after the England T20Is to join his red-ball teammates for the Test Series camp in Barbados from June 13 to 21, ahead of the highly anticipated three-Test series against Australia for the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy.

Brandon King has been granted leave from the Ireland leg of the tour.

Jyd Goolie, a standout performer in the inaugural West Indies Breakout League and a member of the 2016 ICC Under-19 World Cup team, earns his first senior team call-up as Chase’s replacement.

In-form batter Keacy Carty replaces King.

Head Coach Daren Sammy, as well as his assistants Floyd Reifer and Ravi Rampaul, will also depart to join the Test Series camp after the England leg of the tour, a strategic move as he prepares for his first outing as Head Coach of the Test team, alongside the newly appointed Chase.

This is a critical start to the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle, where the Caribbean squad is seeking to regain its place as one of the world’s leading Test playing squads.

The highly experienced Rayon Griffith, who has been a widely respected and admired staple of the coaching unit for many years, will take the reigns as the lead coach for the matches against Ireland, with Donovan Miller stepping in to add support to the coaching staff.

Squad for T20Is against England: Shai Hope (Captain), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King (Vice-Captain), Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd

Squad for T20Is against Ireland: Shai Hope (Captain), Keacy Carty, Johnson Charles, Matthew Forde, Jyd Goolie, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford (Vice-Captain) and Romario Shepherd

Team Management Unit for Ireland Series:

Lead Coach: Rayon Griffith

Manager: Rawl Lewis

Assistant Coach: Donovan Miller

Physiotherapist: Dr. Denis Byam

Strength and Conditioning Coach: Ronald Rogers

Massage Therapist: Fitzbert Alleyne

Analyst: Avenesh Seetaram

Media and Content Officer: Jerome Foster

Match Schedule vs England:

6 June 2025: First T20I, England vs West Indies @ Chester-Le-Street, Durham

8 June 2025: Second T20I, England vs West Indies @Bristol

10 June 2025: Third T20I, England vs West Indies @ Southampton

Match Schedule vs Ireland:

12 June 2025: First T20I, Ireland vs West Indies @Bready

14 June 2025: Second T20I, Ireland vs West Indies @Bready

15 June 2025: Third T20I, Ireland vs West Indies @Bready

The post Rutherford named West Indies Vice-captain for T20Is against Ireland appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Shamar Williams, a 24-year-old resident of Sophia Squatting Area, Greater Georgetown, was charged on Monday after he assaulted a Police Officer and was involved in other traffic-related offences.

Williams, who first appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Fabayo Azore, had the following charges of assault, committed on a Police Constable, read to him:

• Assault Causing Actual Bodily Harm. He pleaded not guilty and was placed on $15,000 bail
• Damage to Property. He pleaded not guilty and was placed on $10,000 bail
• Assault of a Peace Officer with Intent to Resist Lawful. Williams was remanded to prison on this charge

This matter was adjourned until June 23, 2025.

Additionally, Williams later appeared before Magistrate S. Lallram at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, where the undermentioned traffic-related charges were read to him:

• Unlicensed Driver. He was found guilty, and fined $30,000 or 6 weeks imprisonment
• Failure to Confirm to Sign. He was found guilty, and fined $20,000 or 4 weeks imprisonment
• Failure to Wear Safety Helmet. He was found guilty, and fined $10,000 or 2 weeks imprisonment
• Breach of One-Way Street. He was found guilty, and fined $20,000 or 4 weeks imprisonment
• Uninsured Motor Vehicle. He was found guilty, and fined $30,000 or 6 weeks imprisonment
• Unlicensed Motor Vehicle. He was found guilty, and fined $20,000 or 4 weeks imprisonment
• Uncertified Motor Vehicle. He was found guilty, and fined $25,000 or 5 weeks imprisonment
• Maintenance of Motor vehicle. He was found guilty, and fined $20,000 or 4 weeks imprisonment
• Obscured Rear ID Mark. He was found guilty, and fined $150,000 or 30 weeks imprisonment
• Failure to have Front ID Mark. He pleaded not guilty, and was placed on $10,000 bail.

The post Sophia resident charged with assaulting Police Officer, other offences  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

See below the full statement issued:

The Beharry Group is proud to announce the acquisition of the Pizza Hut franchise in Guyana, effective June 1, 2025. This strategic move represents the Group’s continued investment in the quick-service restaurant sector and its commitment to delivering high-quality, globally recognised dining experiences to the Guyanese public.

As part of the transition, all Pizza Hut locations across Guyana will be temporarily closed from May 31 to June 4, 2025 to facilitate minor infrastructural enhancements. These changes are being made to ensure a seamless and refreshed experience for customers as operations resume under new management.

The restaurants will reopen on June 5, 2025, with more exciting developments to follow in the coming weeks.

“This acquisition reflects our vision to grow the presence of leading global brands in Guyana while elevating service and product quality through strong local leadership,” said a spokesperson for The Beharry Group. “We thank our valued customers for their patience and look forward to serving you even better in this exciting new chapter for Pizza Hut.”

Customers can follow Pizza Hut Guyana on social media for reopening updates and a first look at what’s new.

 

The post Pizza Hut locations closed until Thursday as ownership shifts to the Beharry Group appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Some 13 health and pharmaceutical companies from seven EU member states are in Georgetown this week, as the European Union’s Health and Pharma Investment Mission officially opened on Monday at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston.

The three-day mission, which runs from June 2–4, forms part of the EU’s flagship Global Gateway initiative, designed to foster sustainable investment and deepen ties with strategic partners across the globe. In Guyana, the focus this week is firmly on healthcare and pharmaceuticals.

Organised by the EU Delegation in Guyana, the mission brings European firms face-to-face with key Guyanese stakeholders, offering a platform to forge partnerships and explore commercial opportunities; understand regulatory frameworks and market trends and engage directly with the country’s rapidly expanding health infrastructure.

The agenda features a packed programme of seminars, business meetings, and field visits, offering valuable insight into what is fast becoming one of the most dynamic investment destinations in the region.

EU Ambassador Rene Van Nes and Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony are both expected to underscore the strategic significance of this collaboration at the opening.

Guyana’s rapid economic ascent has caught the attention of global investors. With a GDP growth rate of 62.3% in 2022 and a projected 37.2% in 2023, the South American nation—bolstered by its burgeoning oil and gas sector—is now actively courting diversified investment to build resilient, future-ready systems.

The healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, in particular, are being prioritised by the Guyanese government, with incentives such as tax breaks and reduced tariffs offered to manufacturers and suppliers operating locally. Combined with Guyana’s strategic geographic location and expanding healthcare infrastructure, the country presents a compelling case for European firms seeking to establish a regional footprint.

This week’s mission builds on high-level EU-Caribbean engagement. At the CARICOM Heads of Government Conference on February 19, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a new initiative to support pharmaceutical production in Barbados and Guyana. The programme includes regulatory cooperation, investment support, and education partnerships, with the aim of developing independent pharma value chains in the Caribbean.

A day earlier, President Irfaan Ali announced a visionary plan to position Guyana as a regional biopharmaceutical and healthcare research hub, working in partnership with the EU, Rwanda, and Harvard University. The initiative will focus on vaccine development, oncology, genomic research, AI-driven diagnostics, and the use of Guyana’s biodiversity for medical innovation.

With this mission, the EU is signalling a long-term commitment to Guyana and the Caribbean. It is not just about trade and investment, but about shared growth, knowledge transfer, and sustainable development.

The post Several EU health, pharma firms in Guyana until Wednesday to scope investment opportunities appeared first on News Room Guyana.