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Students attached to seven technical institutions across Guyana were trained on Tuesday to help them better understand the importance of verified measurement standards and associated regulations in Guyana.

The training was conducted by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) at the National Exhibition Complex, Sophia.

The training session is part of observances for World Metrology Day. It is being observed under the theme “Measurements for All Times, for All People.”

Shailendra Rai, the Head of the Legal Metrology Department, said the focus on measurement is important as it is used to ensure safety to prevent accidents.

“It’s a very wide topic and it covers a wide cross section in terms of trade, almost anything that we do.

“This year is a very special year because this year marks the 150th anniversary for the signing of the meter convention,” Rai said.

Shailendra Rai, the Head of the Legal Metrology Department. (Photo: News Room)

The international bureau of weights and measures was established using the metric system and Guyana has adopted the metric system as the only legal system for measurement.

Rai warned the students that any other measurement system would be deemed illegal in Guyana. He said GNBS does not calibrate or verify any imperial instruments

Rai also informed the students that the GNBS has the authority to remove devices that have inaccurate readings from the public use.

As part of the bureau’s mandate, it frequently conducts training and awareness sessions at schools and agencies.

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Should commercial airline operators operating in Guyana’s hinterland areas continue to unfairly hike the cost of flights, the government will invest in an airline service, according to Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo.

The Vice President acknowledged that there are instances where the cost to transport people and goods increases intermittently, placing a significant burden on villagers in Indigenous communities.

Jagdeo said the government has engaged commercial flight operators on this matter. However, he said, the operators claim that “middlemen” are involved in chartering the flights and then charging higher rates when passengers are flown or freight transported.

Even so, Jagdeo said the government will intervene as necessary.

“If they can’t be reasonable about these rates, then the government will invest in a commercial arm of the Guyana Defence Force to compete with them.

“…We may very well buy four more aircraft to do this in the next term in office,” Jagdeo told the Toshaos on Tuesday.

His statement earned him rousing applause from the Toshaos gathered at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal for this year’s National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference.

And he reiterated, “We are going to operate a government service if we can’t solve the gouging of market, (that is), unfairly increasing the rates.”

He also assured the leaders that the government will continue to upgrade and expand airstrips.

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President Dr. Irfaan Ali posited that there is a major healthcare expansion in Guyana’s hinterland communities, allowing Indigenous communities to benefit from much-needed services.

He spoke at length about the healthcare transformation in Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine as he addressed Toshaos (Indigenous leaders) at the opening ceremony of the 2025 National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference on Monday.

Referencing major improvements since 2020, President Ali said thousands of surgeries were done in hinterland hospitals that could not do surgeries before.

“In Region One, we had less than 23 community health workers. We had zero surgeries conducted in the region, zero ophthalmology surgeries conducted, zero facilities, zero facilities with vaccine refrigerators, zero oxygen generation and production, and zero telemedicine facilities,” the President revealed.

Last year, over 500 surgeries were conducted at the Mabaruma Regional Hospital. Referrals to the Georgetown Hospital for critical cases also decreased due to investments in healthcare in the region.

Going forward, President Ali revealed that the new Moruca Regional Hospital will be completed; the Mabaruma Hospital will have expanded services; a nursing and Allied training complex will be established; health centres will be upgraded to polyclinics, and the electronic health record system will also be rolled out in the region.

Additionally, the government will establish a regional pharmaceutical bond, enhance transportation for patients and build more accommodation for doctors and nurses.

Between 2020 and 2024, in Region Seven the government invested in more than 45 pieces of transportation for the easy movement of medical practitioners and patients.

Prior to this period, President Ali said there was less than 45 per cent of drugs and medical supplies available in this region.

“We’ve expanded the services available in this region by leaps and bounds. We have added new medical specialties, both in equipment and in human resources, to this region. 43 new community health workers were trained and added to the staff, more nurses, more doctors, more patient care assistants and all, most of which came directly from your communities in your region,” the Head of State said.

He promised that health centres will also be upgraded to polyclinics and that a state-of-the-art hospital will be builtin Bartica.

In Region Eight, the President explained that a few years ago, X-rays and ultrasound services had to be referred out of the region.

“Almost 40% of all patients had to be medevaced out of the region.
“Today, what do we have? Let me give you one example. In 2020, 360 cases were referred to GPHC. Today, 180 only; half were referred and 94 persons were referred to the Regional Hospital at Mahdia,” the President revealed.

In Region Eight, President assured of the completion of the new Kato hospital; upgrades to Mahdia Hospital, Monkey Mountain and similarly health centres will be upgraded to polyclinics.

Region Nine was no different from the other hinterland regions with surgeries and other essential services not available prior to investments in the healthcare system.

“Today, less than 2% needs to be transferred out of the region. Between 2015 and 2020, 39% of patients required medical evacuation to the GPHC. In 2024, this dropped from 39% to 3% because of the investment we are making, the improvement in the services, the quality of services,” President Ali said.

He further mentioned the training of over 500 health care professionals in the region and the completion of over 1000 surgeries at the Lethem Hospital.

“Today, the services of the Lethem Hospital are of such high and exceptional quality that we are now taking a record number of patients from Brazil getting their surgeries done here in Guyana. It was the reverse before,” President Ali said.

But President Ali said all of the advances and successes in healthcare is not a celebration of his government, but a celebration of the country and its people.

Promises were also made to expand and improve agriculture with projects in aquaculture, honey, coffee, cocoa, and spices.

“You are part of a revolution in the agricultural sector, the spices, new investment in coffee, cocoa, high-value commodities. We are going to partner with you, a continued social transformation in health, education, important infrastructure,” the President said.

Grants, subsidies, and economic literacy programmes will also be introduced in the Indigenous communities as the President further pledged continued support for Amerindian land titling.

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The sustainable use of Guyana’s natural resources by Guyana’s Indigenous communities will be on full display at an upcoming international forum, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said on Monday.

Guyana is set to host the world’s first Global Biodiversity Alliance, a groundbreaking initiative that will spotlight the country’s leadership in sustainable development under its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030. As he addressed the opening ceremony of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference on Monday, President Ali said Guyana’s indigenous leaders will play a vital role in the forum.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali addressed the opening ceremony of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) conference 2025 (Photo: May 19, 2025)

“We are expanding the LCDS to include biodiversity as in the LCDS 2030 and Guyana will be hosting the first Global Biodiversity Alliance right here… where once again you the leaders of the Indigenous communities will have an opportunity to showcase to the world what sustainable development really feels like, looks like and mean,” the Head of State said.

At the two-day Global Biodiversity Summit in July, participants will focus on establishing a market for biodiversity credits, scaling conservation efforts, and promoting nature-positive actions.

“The greatest contribution to the LCDS came from you, the Amerindian leaders and people, because we did it through consultations with you, we did it by honouring your intellectual ability, your cultural contribution, your sustainable ideas. We did it by engagement with you,” President Ali affirmed.

On Monday, he also commended Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who the president described as the “architect” of the LCDS, for his vision and leadership.

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The Guyana Blind Cricket Association (GuyBCA) has unveiled its national squad, which will compete in the 11th Regional Blind Cricket Tournament in Barbados, scheduled from May 21 to May 28, 2025.

The team will vie for honours in a 40-over round-robin competition and a T20 championship.

Kevin Douglas, a seasoned West Indies blind cricketer, will lead the 17-member contingent.

He’ll be joined by fellow West Indies stalwarts Ganesh Singh and Leroy Phillips, adding significant experience to the squad.

Four West Indies female blind cricketers—Rosemarie Ramitt, Robecka Edinboro, Ackila Smith, and Crystal Aulder—are notable inclusions, highlighting the growing inclusivity within the sport.

Travis Mohamed will take on coaching duties, Mahendra Algu will be the team manager, and Shaniyah English will be the physiotherapist.

The GuyBCA extends its heartfelt appreciation to all the companies and individuals whose contributions have made the team’s participation possible, and it especially thanks the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports for their unwavering support.

Guyana Squad: Kevin Douglas (captain), Ganesh Singh, Leroy Phillips, Anthony Robinson, Roell Sumner, Musa Haynes, Robecka Edinboro, Rosemarie Ramitt, Crystal Aulder, Ackila Smith, Robindra Ramnauth, Patrick Howard, Seon Mitchell, Teshawn Rodney, Asif Khan, Dimitry Waldron, Joshua Augustin

Management Team: Travis Mohamed (coach), Mahendra Algu (manager), Shaniyah English (physiotherapist)

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Guyana’s young female footballers are poised to compete in the 2025 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U-14 Girls’ Challenge Series, which will take place in Trinidad and Tobago from August 15-24.

According to CFU, the Guyanese squad will feature in Tier II of the competition.

The Challenge Series will see 23 Member Associations participate, split across two tiers. Tier I comprises eight teams divided into two groups of four:

• Group A: Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Martinique
• Group B: Aruba, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago

Tier I group stage matches will be played in a round-robin format. Group winners and runners-up will progress to the semi-finals, culminating in the Tier I final on August 24. Playoff matches will determine the 5th to 8th place rankings.

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Tier II, where Guyana will compete, features 15 teams across three groups of five:

• Group A: St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Bonaire, US Virgin Islands, Saint Lucia
• Group B: Grenada, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, French Guiana, Suriname
• Group C: Cayman Islands, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Turks and Caicos Islands, Guyana

Teams in Tier II will also play a round-robin format.

The three group winners will advance to the semi-finals, joined by the second-placed team with the highest points total across all Tier II groups.

The top-ranked group winner will face the best second-placed team, while the second—and third-best group winners will play in the other semi-final.

Tier II action will commence on August 15, with Tier I kicking off a day later on August 16.

Further details regarding the official match schedule are expected to be released soon.

The CFU U-14 Challenge Series, established in 2018, is a cornerstone of the CFU’s developmental strategy.

It aims to provide young male and female players (in alternating years) with their first taste of international competition, aligning with both the CFU’s and FIFA’s commitment to grassroots football development in the region.

Beyond player development, the series also serves as a crucial training ground for aspiring match officials through the CFU’s Next Generation Referee Course, offering essential technical and practical experience for those looking to advance to the FIFA International Refereeing Lists.

Additionally, the event provides valuable training for match and venue coordinators.

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The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has unveiled a 21-man training squad as preparations ramp up for the eagerly anticipated Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Under-19 Tournament.

The announcement, made on Monday, signals the start of an intensive camp designed to hone the skills of both seasoned campaigners and promising new faces.

Jonathan Van Lange, named captain of the provisional squad, will lead the charge.

Garvin Nedd, appointed as the team’s coach, will provide crucial guidance from the sidelines, with Nazeer Mohamed stepping into the role of team manager.

Andre Percival, the lead selector, confirmed that training sessions will commence shortly. However, with the current weather patterns, outdoor practice might be limited initially.

“Because of the weather, there may not be much outdoor work at first,” Percival noted, “but we’ll be utilizing the indoor facilities at the National Gymnasium, courtesy of the GCB President, to get in technical drills and fitness work.”

Percival expressed confidence in the squad’s composition, highlighting a blend of experience and raw talent.

“We have five emerging players currently in the CWI group under Coach Felix, and a few others who showed promise during the rain-affected Inter-County tournament,” he explained. “We feel this 21 offers a strong foundation.”

The final 14-member squad for the CWI Regional Under-19 Tournament will be named after the training camp, following comprehensive input from the coaching staff.

Despite his recent commitments with the Breakout League tour, Percival has been closely monitoring the selection process.

“I’m confident in the group. I wasn’t directly involved in the initial selections due to my tour commitments in the Breakout League. I’ve followed the process closely, and I believe these boys have what it takes,” he asserted.

The Guyanese unit is scheduled to depart for St. Kitts on June 29, where the tournament will be hosted.

Guyana Under-19 training squad: Rampersaud Ramnauth, Parmeshwar Ram, Romeo Deonarine, Sachin Balgobin, Jonathon Van Lange, Afraz Ali Boodhu, Romario Ramdehol, Shamar Apple, Salim Khan, Riyad Latif, Golcharran Chulia, Nityanand Mathura, Bruce Vincent, Micah Amsterdam, Wavell Allen, Neeran Bani, Sanjay Algoo, Jayden Dowlin, Shiloh Adams, Matthew Pottoya, and Ronaldo Jeffery.

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Two robbers who held the owner of West Bank Berbice Chinese Supermarket at gunpoint have agreed to repay him after admitting guilt in court.

On Monday, Berbice Magistrate Michelle Matthias granted bail to Cleveland Sears, a 24-year-old construction worker from South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown, and his 17-year-old accomplice, who appeared virtually in the Blairmont Magistrates Court.

The Magistrate ordered probation reports for both defendants, which revealed their troubled backgrounds. The teenager reportedly had a history of theft from family and was dismissed from a lemonade factory for stealing money.

As part of the proceedings, attorneys Ronald Daniels and Kevin Morgan advocated for restitution, with Sears showing a willingness to pay $500,000 to the victim.

The Chinese owner agreed to settle for $600,000.

Magistrate Matthias emphasised the importance of accountability and directed both offenders to apologise not only to the victim but also to their families when possible.

Subsequently, both the offenders apologised to the victim.

Ultimately, both individuals were released on their recognisance but must participate in counseling programs provided by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.

They are required to return to court on June 27 for an update on their counselling and restitution progress.

Teen among two remanded for robbing Berbice supermarket 

The robbery occurred on April 9 at the Sweet Life Supermarket located at Rosignol Village, West Bank Berbice.

During the incident, Sears and the teenager were armed with a firearm and a knife. They demanded cash as the supermarket was closing. They successfully stole $500,000 in cash and $400,000 worth of phone cards.

Following the robbery, authorities were notified, and an examination of the crime scene led to the duo’s arrest after CCTV footage identified them.

Confronted with the evidence, they confessed during audio and video interviews, with authorities recovering $7,800 and clothing matching that seen in the footage.

Sears claimed that the firearm was a toy and indicated that the teenager suggested they could make quick money by robbing the supermarket.

The robbers were charged and remanded on April 14 after pleading guilty.

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Troy Singh, a 30-year-old motorcyclist, died on Monday after allegedly losing control of the motorcycle he was riding and crashing into a lorry along the Charity, Essequibo Coast.

Police Headquarters said the accident occurred around 14:25 hrs on the Charity Public Road.

A 47-year-old man was driving a lorry, GDD 5397, west along the Charity Public Road. Singh was riding in an eastward direction, allegedly at a fast rate.

The lorry driver reportedly told Police that he was making a right turn on the road when he suddenly saw the motorcyclist, who lost control and skidded towards his vehicle on the road surface. The motorcycle then collided with the front of the lorry.

The driver said he picked up the motorcyclist in an unconscious state and took him to the Charity Cottage Public Hospital, where he was examined by a doctor on duty. However, the victim was pronounced dead soon after, while receiving medical attention.

The lorry driver was arrested and escorted to the Charity Police Station, where he was placed into custody, assisting with the ongoing investigation.

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Guyana Harpy Eagles quintet of Tevin Imlach, Kemol Savory, Kevlon Anderson, Shamar Joseph, and Ronaldo Alimohamed have been selected for West Indies ‘A’ duties against South Africa ‘A’ later this month in St. Lucia.

Imlach will captain the first Four-Day match and serve as vice-captain to John Campbell for the second.

All-rounder Alimohamed is also in the red-ball squad, while Anderson and Savory are included in the Four-Day and 50-over squads.

Additionally, fast-bowler Shamar Joseph, who is in Ireland for the white-ball series, has been included for the second Four-Day match.

On Monday, Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced the squads for the 50-over and “A” Team Test matches.

The series is scheduled from May 21 to June 11 at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia.

CWI Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, highlighted the series’ importance in developing player depth.

“This series gives us the opportunity to broaden our player pool and aligns with our long-term strategic plan to support the growth of emerging and fringe players who are on the cusp of advancing to the senior team,” Bascombe said.

Alick Athanaze will captain the 50-over squad, while Tevin Imlach and Jomel Warrican will each captain one of the two “A” Team Test squads.

Andre Coley has been named Head Coach for the series.

The West Indies “A” vs South Africa “A” series precedes the “Full Ah Energy” West Indies Home Series, which begins on June 11 at the 3Ws Oval in Barbados, where the West Indies Women take on South Africa.

Admission to all “A” team matches is free.

West Indies A Squads

West Indies A (50 Over): Alick Athanaze (Captain), Kadeem Alleyne, Kevlon Anderson, Jediah Blades, Darel Cyrus, Jyd Goolie, Javelle Glenn, Marquino Mindley, Shaqkere Parris, Khary Pierre, Kemol Savory (vice-captain), Oshane Thomas, Gilson Tyson, Kevin Wickham

West Indies A (A-Team Test 1): Tevin Imlach (Captain), Ronaldo Alimohammed, Kevlon Anderson, Alick Athanaze, John Campbell (vice-captain), Kavem Hodge, Mikyle Louis, Johann Layne, Khary Pierre, Kemol Savory, Ojay Shields, Oshane Thomas, Gilon Tyson

West Indies A (A-Team Test 2): Jomel Warrican (Captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, Kevlon Anderson, Jewel Andrew, Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach (vice-captain), Shamar Joseph, Johann Layne. Kemol Savory, Ojay Shields, Gilon Tyson

Team Management Unit: Andre Coley (Head Coach), Dwain Gill (Manager), Jerome Taylor (Assistant Coach—bowling), John Eugene (Assistant Coach—fielding), Shian Ollivierre (Physiotherapist), and Damique Walters (Strength and conditioning Coach).

FULL MATCH SCHEDULE

21 May 2025: 1st 50-over match

24 May 2025: 2nd 50-over match

27 May 2025: 3rd 50-over match

1-4 June 2025: 1st A-Team Test

8-11 June 2025: 2nd A-Team Test

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