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Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mahendra Singh has condemned a fraudulent SMS circulating in Guyana that falsely claims to be from the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department and requests payment for an alleged speeding violation. The fraudulent message claims to be from the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Traffic Department and tells recipients that their vehicle has been recorded committing a speeding violation. It includes a purported report number and directs recipients to a website where they are instructed to view photographic evidence, submit an appeal, or pay the alleged fine online. According to the Singh, who is the Traffic Chief, the GPF has already issued two public advisories on the matter- one about three weeks ago and another immediately after the fraudulent messages began circulating. He explained that the advisories carefully inform the public about the official process for receiving a speeding ticket in Guyana and the approved method of payment. He further outlined the procedure.
“In our country, a speeding ticket is only paid via MMG. But the messages that you or others would have received, or that were forwarded to you, direct persons to a site where they are asked to pay using a bank card. Right away you know that is not in keeping with our laws, and it is fraudulent. All of the public advisories to keep the public informed commenced from the time the SRIS (Safe Road Intelligent System) was put in place because we wanted people to know how they would receive the notice, how they would receive the SMS, and how they should pay.” Singh also reminded members of the public that legitimate speeding notices are issued only through official GPF channels.
“Right away, when you look at the link, you can see it is not in keeping with what you know. My encouragement to the public is to utilise the option to find your ticket on the official Guyana Police Force website. That way, if you are unsure whether you have received a legitimate notice, you can simply go to the official site and check whether a ticket has been issued to you.”
The GPF issues automated e-tickets through a digital traffic system: cameras capture speeding violations, notifications go out via SMS or email if contact details are updated with the GRA, and drivers can track or pay tickets online.
Persons can search for active tickets on the GPF Unpaid Tickets Lookup page using your ticket number, Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), or vehicle registration number.

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The prosecution in the murder case arising from the MV Barima tragedy has been granted additional time to complete disclosure of evidence to the defence.
The matter came up on Monday before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir at the Charity Magistrate’s Court, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) where Senior Police Legal Advisor Mandel Moore informed the court that only partial disclosure had been served on the defence. Appearing virtually from prison while handcuffed were Kevin Price, called “KP”, captain of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara (ECD), 40; Rondell Dwayne Roberts, 42, chief mate of Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and Delon Granderson, the 33-year-old goods superintendent of Fellowship, West Coast Demerara (WCD). The prosecutor informed the court that, although he had obtained the fiat to proceed with the murder prosecution, additional time was needed to complete disclosure of the prosecution’s evidence, including witness statements and documentary exhibits. The Magistrate subsequently adjourned the proceedings to September 7. As such all three of the accused were further remanded to prison. When the matter resumes, the prosecution is expected to indicate that disclosure has been completed, paving the way for paper committal proceedings.

During that stage, the Magistrate will determine, based on the prosecution’s written evidence rather than oral testimony, whether there is sufficient evidence to commit the accused to stand trial before a judge and jury in the High Court. Appearing for Price and Granderson was a defence team led by Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd and comprising Attorneys Dexter Smartt, Keona Higgins, Eden Corbin and Angel Stephens. Roberts was represented by Attorney-at-law Everton Singh-Lammy. The three men were jointly charged following legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in connection with the July 18 sinking of the MV Barima, Guyana’s worst maritime disaster. The charge alleges that the three accused murdered 68 named victims and other persons unknown at a point 9.3 nautical miles on a bearing of 040 degrees off the Essequibo Coast at Devonshire Castle on July 18, 2026, when the MV Barima capsized during its voyage. The charge identifies the victims as Kevin Wilson, Claymont King, Oxwell John, Roma Mendonca, Nathaniel Matabheek, Nathalia Matabheek, Rachel Wells Matabheek, Ezekiel Matabheek, Cheriannys Valenzuela, Orin Clarke, Edith Gordon, Omar Harris, Paul Seapersaud, Andriel Bautista, Youlanda Marks, Gwenette Marks, Shenira Smith, Cleiveliz Fraser, Vivianna Saddurddin, Argelys Kelly Williams, Devon Mars, Robina Hernandez, Tendhi Stanford, Adans Williams, Ranaldo Poon, Aarave Daniels, Marcia Beharry, Leonard Persaud, Mariam Bernard, Ravindra Singh, Shivana LaCruz Ramsindo, Christiani Rodrigues, Annalisa Murray and Owen Arthur.
Also named are Loveisa Bovell, Joshua Arthur, Ranaldo Pickering, Bibi Mohamed, Sylvester Peters, Shawn John, Akelah Rodrigues, Vishawn Ramjattan, Nelly Duesberry, Samara Manoharlall, Sherlon Joseph, Timar Manoharlall, Dellon Gaskin, Percy France, Alicia Atkinson, Dwyane Forbes, Orin Europe, Orwin Europe, Justin Mury, Odessa Mury, Reshana David, Kishana Sam, Tiona Sam, Elizabeth Bowin, Argany Williams, Omarions Europe, Jacob Jerome, Mark Abrams, Ashleena Bovell, Kyle Thomas, Carlton Bennett, Navessa Bovell, Martin Ishmael and Jason Headley.
The men first appeared before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on July 28, where they were not required to plead to the indictable charge of murder before being remanded to prison.
The matter was subsequently transferred to the Charity Magistrate’s Court.
The MV Barima, a passenger and cargo ferry, departed the Kingston Goods Wharf in Georgetown at approximately 15:15h on July 18, 2026, on its scheduled voyage to Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini), carrying passengers, crew and cargo. At about 23:01h., the vessel transmitted a distress signal after encountering difficulties off the Essequibo Coast near the mouth of the Pomeroon River, triggering Guyana’s largest maritime search-and-rescue operation. Authorities later confirmed that 179 people had been aboard the vessel, including 18 crew members. The disaster claimed 73 lives, while 76 people survived and about 30 remain missing. A day after the disaster, Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips disclosed that two crew members, including the captain, had tested positive for cannabis. Price and another crew member were subsequently arrested, while Granderson was arrested as investigations progressed. Meanwhile, President Dr Irfaan Ali has established a five-member Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to, among other things, examine the circumstances surrounding the sinking, regulatory oversight and the emergency response.
DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, has maintained that the criminal proceedings will not be affected by the Commission’s work, stressing that the inquiry and the prosecution can proceed simultaneously. The institution of the charge also triggered protests by relatives and supporters of the accused, who called for their release and demanded accountability from Government officials.

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Dear Editor,
The right to peaceful protest is one of the cornerstones of every democratic society. It is a constitutional right that must always be respected, protected and exercised responsibly. Those who choose to demonstrate peacefully are entitled to do so, and their voices deserve to be heard with dignity.
Equally, democracy provides another avenue through which citizens can pursue solutions: direct engagement with those entrusted with governing.
As the people of Region Ten prepare for two significant events on the same day a peaceful demonstration and the Government’s Region Ten Public Day we should ask ourselves a question that rises above politics:
Which course of action is more likely to produce tangible benefits for the people of Linden today? Every citizen will answer that question differently, and I respect that.
My own view is that whenever national leaders come directly into our community to listen, answer questions, and engage with residents, Linden should seize that opportunity. Communities advance not only by expressing dissatisfaction, but also by placing their concerns directly before those with the authority to make decisions.
Throughout my own political life, I have never hesitated to criticize where criticism was warranted. Neither have I hesitated to support initiatives that I believe serve the public interest. My political decisions have never been about personalities; they have been about what I believe best advances the welfare of our people. That remains true today.
Supporting constructive engagement with the Government does not require abandoning one’s principles. Likewise, attending a peaceful protest does not automatically make someone an enemy of progress.
Democracy is mature enough to accommodate both. The question is not whether citizens have the right to protest. They unquestionably do. The more important question is whether we, as a community, use every available opportunity to secure meaningful outcomes for Linden.
Region Ten continues to face challenges in employment, infrastructure, healthcare, housing, education, youth development, investment, access to land and capital and economic diversification. These are issues that require decisions, policies and resources. They cannot be resolved by slogans alone, nor by demonstrations alone. They require dialogue, advocacy, persistence and partnership.
As someone who lives in Linden, works among its people and remains deeply committed to its development, I have no interest in deepening political divisions within our community. My responsibility is to encourage whatever course of action that is most likely to improve the lives of our citizens.
If the Vice President and members of Cabinet are coming to Region Ten to hear directly from residents, then I believe we should use that opportunity wisely. Let our voices be firm, respectful and evidence-based. Let us present our concerns and needs clearly, let us demand accountability where necessary, and advocate for more investments that will improve the lives of our people and community.
Real leadership is measured not by how loudly we oppose one another, but by how effectively we secure results for the communities we represent.
Linden has always been a proud, resilient and politically conscious community. That identity should never change. But our political consciousness should also remind us that every decision ought to be guided by one overriding question:
Will this help move Linden and Region Ten forward?
If the answer is yes, then we should support it regardless of which political party proposes it.
Our loyalty must always be to the people of Region Ten before it is to any political organization, any political leader or any political dispute.
That is not a rejection of democracy. It is democracy at its very best.

Yours respectfully,
Jermaine Figueira
Former Member of
Parliament

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As Guyana continues its economic transformation, there is growing recognition that the true test of national progress lies in whether prosperity reaches the communities where citizens live their daily lives and creates opportunities that are both meaningful and enduring.
It is against this backdrop that the Government’s Model Communities Programme deserves commendation. By placing villages at the centre of the country’s development agenda, the initiative signals an understanding that sustainable national growth begins at the community level and that every citizen should be able to experience the benefits of the country’s unprecedented expansion.
The decision to commence the programme through extensive public consultations is particularly noteworthy. Development planning is most effective when it reflects the realities, priorities and aspirations of the people who will ultimately benefit from the investments. Communities possess unique characteristics, challenges and opportunities that cannot be fully appreciated through technical assessments alone. Listening to residents before finalising development plans is therefore not simply good governance; it is a practical approach to ensuring that public resources are invested where they can generate the greatest impact.
Equally important is the recognition that there can be no “one-size-fits-all” model for community development. Guyana’s villages differ in their history, geography, economic activities and cultural identity. Preserving those unique characteristics while introducing modern infrastructure and amenities allows development to enhance communities without diminishing the qualities that make them distinctive.
The programme’s emphasis on connectivity, community, commerce and care signifies a comprehensive vision for national development. Modern roads, drainage networks, street lighting and reliable public utilities remain fundamental to improving the quality of life and supporting economic activity. Such investments not only enhance mobility and public safety but also create conditions that encourage private investment and business expansion.
Recreational facilities, parks, community centres and other public spaces play a vital role in strengthening social cohesion and improving the overall quality of life. These are the spaces where neighbours interact, families gather, young people participate in positive activities and communities cultivate a stronger sense of identity and belonging.
Perhaps the greatest long-term value of the initiative lies in its economic dimension. Organised commercial spaces, modern markets and support for small businesses, farmers and entrepreneurs have the potential to create vibrant local economies capable of generating employment and reducing the need for residents to travel long distances in search of opportunities. As Guyana’s economy continues to diversify, empowering communities to become centres of enterprise will help ensure that economic growth is more inclusive and geographically balanced.
This is particularly significant given the rapid pace of development taking place across several regions. Expanding housing schemes and growing populations will inevitably increase demand for commercial services, transportation, healthcare, education and recreational facilities. Planning for these realities today is considerably more prudent than attempting to address them after communities have already outgrown existing infrastructure.
The programme also appropriately recognises that Government investment alone cannot build successful communities. Public infrastructure provides the foundation, but the long-term success of any development strategy depends upon responsible citizenship, active community participation and shared ownership of public assets. Clean surroundings, well-maintained facilities, respect for neighbours and support for local initiatives all contribute to creating communities that are attractive, safe and resilient.
Equally commendable is the emphasis on inclusivity as development should improve the lives of every citizen, including children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups. Accessible public spaces, improved environmental management, expanded educational opportunities and stronger community support systems all contribute to building communities where opportunity is genuinely shared.
The transformation of villages into modern, connected and economically vibrant communities is an investment in people.

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