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Guyana’s Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony said local health authorities are on alert and taking the necessary precautions to protect persons against the spread of a new variant of COVID-19. 

Regional Health Officers (RHOs) have all been mandated to ensure that sufficient testing kits and isolation spaces are available at health facilities countrywide, Dr. Anthony told the News Room on Saturday. 

The new COVID-19 strain of concern is the NB.1.8.1. Its symptoms are similar to those associated with other variants, including fevers, coughs, and fatigue. 

“That one [the NB.1.81] they’re seeing in other parts of the world, that you’re getting some hospitalisations… across the country, all RHOs are on alerts to make sure we have enough test kits and so,” the Health Minister explained. 

He added, “(We’re) putting our systems on alert to make sure we have testing capacity.” 

Outside of testing and isolation, Dr. Anthony said the local health authorities are on alert to ensure that anyone who needs hospitalisation can get support quickly.  

The post New global COVID variant prompts local authorities to ramp up precautions  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is set for a significant expansion of its National Training Centre at Providence, with the ultimate ambition of hosting international football matches at the facility.

The plans received a crucial go-ahead from FIFA, the world football governing body, on 21 May, approving the appointment of a consultant to oversee the tender process for the project’s first phase.

This consultant will manage the procurement stage, with a public tender expected to launch within the next four weeks.

The GFF is also currently in discussions to secure a company for project supervision and oversight during the construction period.

Phase One will focus on essential spectator infrastructure, including the construction of seating on the western and southern sides of the pitch, modernised washroom facilities, and a service road around the playing area.

Improved vending and concessionary zones are also planned.

GFF President Wayne Forde anticipates that “physical work should begin by August, to be safe.”

The development is being funded under the FIFA Forward programme.

Forde revealed that approximately US$2.4 million has already been invested in the facility, covering the artificial pitch (around US$1 million), international-standard floodlights (approximately US$1.1 million), and the expansion of the existing building (approximately US$300,000).

Highlighting the “dire state of infrastructure for football” across Guyana, Forde explained that the Providence facility has become the nerve centre for all football activities in the nation.

“Our ultimate goal is to get approval from FIFA and Concacaf to host our international matches here,” Forde stated.

“We are pushing hard to get this venue approved for international football, even if it is at the youth level for the first couple of years.”

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SRKN’gineering and Associates Limited, the firm behind the facility’s design, has indicated that the completed venue is expected to accommodate between 4,800 and 5,000 spectators, and will include corporate boxes.

According to the GFF, SRKN Engineering has completed over 90% of the architectural and engineering design work, including revisions ratified by the GFF Council.

It has finalized tender documentation for Phase One.

The National Training Centre is Guyana’s first dedicated football facility, entirely funded through the FIFA Forward Programme.

It currently features an all-weather, regulation-size artificial pitch and dormitories for youth teams, serving as the official home of football in Guyana.

The post Stands construction next agenda as GFF targets International Football at training facility appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The United States made a strong start to their 2025 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship campaign, securing an emphatic 8-0 victory over Guyana at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

The win puts the USA at the top of Group A after the opening round of matches.

US forward Izzy Engle was the standout performer, scoring four goals to take an early lead in the race for the tournament’s Top Scorer award.

Engle opened the scoring in the fifth minute, followed by Kennedy Fuller doubling the lead from the penalty spot in the 13th minute.

Engle completed her brace in the 24th minute, assisted by Fuller. Sealy Strawn added to the tally in the 25th minute, before Linda Ullmark, who assisted Strawn, found the net herself in the 37th.

Engle completed her hat-trick in the 41st minute with a shot from outside the box, giving the USA a commanding six-goal lead at halftime.

Engle continued her scoring spree in the second half, netting her fourth goal in the 48th minute.

Emma Johnson struck a loose ball in the 77th minute to complete the 8-0 victory.

Guyana will now face host nation Costa Rica on June 1, before concluding their group stage matches against Puerto Rico on June 3.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, securing a berth in the 2025 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship.

The first-placed teams will play against the second-placed teams from the opposite group in the semi-finals, with the two winners progressing to the championship game.

The post Women’s U-20: USA storm to 8-0 win over Guyana appeared first on News Room Guyana.

More than a month after being sent on administrative leave, Assistant Commissioner of Police Khalid Mandall, the Commander of Regional Division #3, remains off duty as investigations continue into the death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) confirmed on Thursday night that ACP Mandall is still on leave. The confirmation came from Head of the Force’s Corporate Communications Unit, Mark Ramotar, who stated, “Yes…he is still on Administrative Leave,” in response to media queries.

Mandall was sent on leave on April 26 in keeping with the Force’s Standard Operating Procedures. His removal was part of a broader internal probe to examine the circumstances surrounding Younge’s death. Prior to his administrative leave, Mandall was relieved of his post and replaced by Assistant Commissioner of Police Mahendra Siwnarine.

The Force’s update came shortly after the release of a statement highlighting high praise from retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) investigator Leonard McCoshen. McCoshen, described as highly respected and experienced, commended the Guyana Police Force for what he termed “exceptional” and “exemplary” investigative work in the Younge case.

With autopsy results now in hand, police have indicated that the investigation remains active and ongoing as efforts continue to bring the matter to a conclusion.

The post Mandall remains on administrative leave – GPF appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Mr Leonard McCoshen, a retired and highly respected investigator from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), has commended the Guyana Police Force for what he described as “exceptional” and “exemplary” investigative work into the death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge.

Mr McCoshen, who was invited to Guyana to conduct an independent review of the high-profile case, submitted a detailed report in which he lauded the depth and quality of the police investigation.

In his assessment, according to a statement from Police Headquarters Thursday night, Mr McCoshen revealed that he was provided with over 400 pages of documentation along with an extensive collection of digital forensic evidence in various formats. After reviewing all materials, he concluded that “members who investigated this incident took the utmost time and considerable effort to speak to any and all persons that had any information to provide, relative to the incident.”

He added that the documentation of the movement of Adriana’s body after she was transported to the Leonora Cottage Hospital was “exceptional” and unlike anything he had previously encountered.

“The statements that were taken are reasonably well detailed,” he wrote, and noted that investigators proactively followed up with witnesses as new information emerged, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the investigative file.

“Overall, it is my opinion that the members of the Guyana Police Force that conducted this investigation, after the initial response, did an exemplary job and should be commended for their effort and diligence under very trying circumstances,” Mr McCoshen stated. “They spoke to all of the witnesses who would cooperate with them and gathered all of the relevant information that was possible. They also made extensive efforts to speak with those witnesses who were not forthcoming.”

However, he pointed to what he considered a missed opportunity early in the case: “If a thorough search had been done of the pool by properly trained and properly equipped people at the onset, this investigation would have very likely not garnered the international attention and political pressure that it finds itself in today.”

No Evidence of Foul Play

Mr McCoshen’s report included a summary of findings in which he stated that there was no evidence of foul play by any named or unnamed individual in the information reviewed, according to the release from the Guyana Police Force.

Police Headquarters said the investigator’s conclusions were based on several key points:

• Video Evidence: Footage from Lot 7 Tuschen Public Road showed no sign of Adriana or any other individual leaving the Double Day Hotel under suspicious circumstances between her arrival and when she was reported missing.
• Witness Accounts: None of the individuals present at the Double Day Hotel saw or recorded anything to suggest Adriana was removed from the pool area or encountered foul play.
• Medical Examinations: Multiple doctors conducted extensive physical examinations, X-rays, and a CT scan of Adriana’s body. No evidence of trauma or injury suggesting foul play was found. McCoshen described the medical and pathological effort as unprecedented in his career:
  “In all of my service in the RCMP and since, I had not ever seen this level of medical or pathological effort done on any deceased persons. Having three highly qualified and experienced pathologists conduct an examination is something that I have never seen or heard of before.”
• Absence of Key Suspect: Video surveillance and multiple witness accounts confirmed that Bhojnarine Bhola, a person of interest named in public speculation, was not present at the Double Day Hotel during the time Adriana was alive and on the premises on 23 April 2025

In the release, Police noted that Mr McCoshen brings with him more than 30 years of investigative experience, 20 of which were spent with the Serious Crimes Branch of the RCMP’s Major Crimes Unit, focusing on homicides and other complex investigations involving suspected foul play.

The post Canadian expert praises Guyana Police work in Adriana Younge case; finds no evidence of foul play – GPF  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr Ashni Singh, on Friday announced that nearly 2,000 Guyanese are set to graduate from the Government’s Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) during its third graduation ceremony, scheduled for 9 and 10 June 2025 at the National Cultural Centre.

In addition to the upcoming graduation, Dr Singh revealed that 9,179 Guyanese have been awarded scholarships for 2025, bringing the total number of scholarships granted since the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) assumed office to 39,000 — nearly doubling the 20,000 pledged in the party’s 2020 manifesto.

Speaking at the announcement, Dr Singh described GOAL as “a flagship initiative” of the PPP/C Government, stating:

“The Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), as it has come to be known popularly, is a flagship initiative of this People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government. It was initiated by President Ali, in the first instance, in our manifesto as we prepared for the 2020 elections, and it aims to provide educational opportunities to those who wish to upgrade their qualifications, including by obtaining post-graduate qualifications, as well as to give opportunities to those who might otherwise had not have access to post-secondary education.”

He added that the graduation of 2,000 students and the award of more than 9,000 new scholarships is “exciting testimony” to the Government’s fulfilment of its commitment to making tertiary education more accessible:

“What we are witnessing today as we prepare to graduate 2,000 persons and to award a further 9,000 persons with new scholarships is exciting testimony to two things. One, testimony to the Government’s delivery of a commitment that we made… But in addition to that, the award of these new scholarships also represents at an individual and personal level, a triumph for those who would have undertaken and completed an academic programme.”

The batch of graduating students come from every region of Guyana and have completed programmes in various disciplines offered through international universities. The 2025 scholarships span from certificates to PhDs and are being provided through 22 accredited international partners, including the University of East London (UK, in partnership with UNICAF), Jain ‘deemed to be’ University in India, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Amity University, and the University of Suffolk (UK, also in partnership with UNICAF).

This year’s graduation ceremony is being held under the theme “Enhancing the Nation’s Human Capacity”, aligning with the Government’s broader development vision. It also marks the fifth anniversary of GOAL, which was launched to transform access to tertiary education for thousands of Guyanese.

Dr Singh further highlighted that from January 2025, access to education at the University of Guyana (UG) has been made free of cost. As outlined in the 2025 National Budget, more than 11,000 current and incoming students are expected to benefit from the move:

“This will relieve students of having to bear the cost of university education at UG, whether by way of cash or student loan. In 2025, reflecting the abolition of tuition fees, $13.4 billion is allocated to finance UG’s operations,” Dr Singh had stated during his Budget presentation.

In a related effort to ease the financial burden on students, the Government last year began implementing its student loan write-off programme. Dr Singh confirmed that $2.5 billion in loans had already been written off for over 3,700 persons, with the process ongoing:

“In keeping with our Manifesto commitments regarding making university education more accessible and affordable, we have begun Phase I of the debt write-off process for persons with outstanding University of Guyana (UG) student loans.”

Furthermore, as part of its education support agenda, President Irfaan Ali announced in April that the Government will fully fund the examination fees for at least eight subjects under the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) for each student — a policy set to benefit every child in both public and private schools.

This initiative complements existing programmes such as the annual cash grant to every school child, further cementing the PPP/C Government’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities across Guyana.

The post Nearly 2,000 to graduate from GOAL as Gov’t doubles scholarship commitment appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Guyana is set to assume the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the month of June 2025, with its Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Her Excellency Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres ahead of the country’s leadership role.

The meeting took place at the UN Headquarters in New York, marking a key moment as Guyana prepares to steer the Council’s agenda during its one-month presidency.

Guyana, currently serving as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2024–2025 term, last held the presidency in February 2024. During that tenure, the country was praised for adopting a transparent, consultative, and inclusive approach, earning the cooperation and support of fellow Council members.

The presidency of the Security Council rotates monthly among its members, in accordance with the English alphabetical order of the Member States’ names.

While chairing the Council’s formal sessions is a central responsibility, the role of President encompasses far more. It includes leading consultations, engaging with UN officials, liaising with Member States, and interacting with civil society organisations on key issues before the Council. These responsibilities position the President at the heart of global diplomacy during their month-long tenure.

As June begins, all eyes will be on Guyana as it prepares once again to help shape international peace and security discussions from the Council’s helm.

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The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) at its statutory meeting held on Thursday, 29th May, 2025, has approved the workplan prepared by Chief Election Officer, Mr. Vishnu Persaud for the conduct of General and Regional Elections (GRE) which is scheduled to be held on the 1^st September, 2025.

In this regard, the GECOM Secretariat is authorised to proceed with implementation of the tasks delineated in the workplan to ensure that the elections are conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.

Against this backdrop, and in keeping with statutory provisions, Political Parties desirous of contesting the upcoming elections will be required to submit their respective Lists of Candidates on the 14th July, 2025 i.e., Nomination Day. The respective statutory forms for the submission of Lists of Candidates are accessible on GECOM’s website at www.gecom.org.gy.

Additionally, Political Parties will be required to submit applications for allocation of symbols for approval by the Commission by the 22nd of June, 2025.

Recognizing that the Commission has been conducting continuous registration throughout the year since January 2023, a short Claims and Objections exercise will be held from the 16th – 20th of June, 2025. This exercise is in keeping with the legal requirement to produce an Official Lists of Electors (OLE) to be used for the conduct of the elections. Eligible persons who will be 18 years and older by June 30, 2025 and have not been registered can apply for registration during that period to be included in the OLE to be eligible to vote in the 1st September elections.

Persons who are already registered can apply for

• correction of incorrect particulars on their National Identification Cards,
• name change if they have changed their name(s) since they were registered, and
• transfers if they have changed their addresses since they were registered.

It is of crucial importance to note that any elector who have changed their residential address from one electoral division/district (Region) to another, will have to go the polling station associated with their previous address in order to vote it the elections. [GECOM PRESS RELEASE]

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Nigel Hughes, the Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC), has officially declared the party’s intention to contest the 2025 General and Regional Elections, saying it will with “an extremely strong team” that will feature several “surprises”.

“We will be focusing on several things and this is not necessarily the order of priority – cost of living, governance, indigenous development and indigenous land rights, education, complete health reform, adjustment in the taxation, and, of course, we will also be addressing the issue of infrastructural development.

“We have a lot of new modern innovative ideas that we will be disclosing over the next course of 4-5 days.”

He said the AFC looks forward to the elections and is confident in its participation.

Hughes also emphasised the party’s commitment to maintaining high standards of discourse throughout the election campaign.

“Let us debate about policies and performance and not get distracted by other events that perhaps will not put us in a favourable light as the country ought to be,” Hughes stated.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the AFC, David Patterson said the party will ensure better governance and transparency in the oil and gas sector. He spoke about revisiting oil contracts, enforcing environmental regulations, and implementing baseline surveys.

Regarding a coalition with APNU, the AFC’s leader explained that while the party made efforts toward a combined opposition, it did not bear fruit.

“The Alliance for Change has gone above and beyond to try and find a resolution that would result in a combined opposition. We are at a stage where we have decided that we are going to compete in the elections, and that is where we are.

“We are always committed to whatever is in the best interest of Guyana,” Hughes.

However, Patterson noted that while a formal coalition has not been reached, the possibility of a joinder list remains open.

“The name of our party, since our establishment is Alliance and we will be having alliances with likeminded persons to contest the 2025 elections – until nomination day, technically that is when all possibilities are closed, and then there is also other possibilities of a joinder list,” Patterson said.

Meanwhile, Hughes also welcomed US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed into the political race and that he would look forward to a national debate of all candidates.

“I welcome Mr. Mohamed into this elections cycle; it gives Guyanese a wider range of choices and anything that offers the electorate a wider range of choices is good. I think for a long time we have had limited choices.

“Mr. Mohamed clearly has had an impact on the electorate and we welcome him,” Hughes said.

The AFC leader promised that the party will soon announce his running mate, having already decided he will be the presidential candidate.

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