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Migrants from Venezuela in Guyana, many with children enrolled in schools, are benefitting from the education grants currently being distributed in across the country. The distribution of the ‘Because We Care’ student grants commenced on Monday in Regions Seven and Nine.

Deodat Deochand, a Guyanese father who returned from Venezuela with his three daughters and wife, told the News Room that it has been challenging to adjust to life in Guyana.

After living in Venezuela for almost two decades, he returned to Guyana in 2022. He has two daughters attending the St. Anthony Primary School – they are in Grades Two and Five – his eldest daughter is sitting for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exam. Deochand said his daughters speak Spanish and this makes interactions in school difficult.

“The language beating them but they are trying…the other one writing CXC and she really trying,” Deochand said.

Though the family benefitted from the student grant before, he said this was the first time he went to receive the grant, as previously, his wife handled this.

With more distribution sites and teachers on the ground assisting, the Ministry of Education has made efforts to make the distribution of the grant smoother.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand visited schools in Region Seven and she noted the turnout of persons who migrated from Venezuela and have children enrolled in schools. She said the student grant is for every student in the school system and how the cash is utilised to benefit these students is to be determined by the parents.

“Once your children are registered, each and every child will get this grant in this country.

“It’s important to note that you have Venezuelans who have children in school whether they are from [Venezuela] with Guyanese parentage or not,” the minister said.

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A Smythfield, New Amsterdam man was remanded to prison after he was charged with the murder of 44-year-old Leon Fordyce called ‘nastyman’ on Tuesday.

Eubeern Bristol, also known as ‘Eusie’, 39, appeared before Magistrate Michelle Matthias at the Albion Magistrate’s Court.

The court was informed that on Sunday, May 4, at High Dam, Caracas Village, West Canje, Bristol, alongside another individual, was involved in the murder of Fordyce.

Bristol was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge.

During the proceedings, Police Prosecutor Sergeant Mark Edwards said the case file is complete and revealed that law enforcement is actively pursuing another suspect in connection with Fordyce’s death.

Edwards confirmed that once this suspect is apprehended, further investigations will be conducted, and the case file will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

In response to inquiries from Bristol’s lawyer, Sasha Robertson, who participated virtually, Edwards addressed the outcome of the case should the police fail to arrest the other suspect. He ensured the court that there would be no impediment to advancing with the matter as planned.

Edwards requested an extension of three weeks for obtaining statements, which Magistrate Matthias granted.

Bristol has been remanded to prison, and the case is scheduled to be reviewed on June 9.

Leon Fordyce called ‘nastyman’

On the day in question, 35-year-old Seon La Fleur, also known as “Shawn,” was arguing with 44-year-old Angelisha Newyear, accompanied by Neon De Jonge Bristol. The dispute revolved around threats made against Newyear’s 26-year-old son, Gregory De Jonge.

The argument escalated, and during the confrontation, Shawn stabbed Newyear in the abdomen.

In a separate incident, Leon Fordyce reportedly received a blow to the head and was pronounced at New Amsterdam Hospital.

Upon hearing about the altercation, Gregory De Jonge rushed to the scene and attacked Shawn with a machete before fleeing the area.

It is noted that Angelisha Newyear had a relationship with Leon Fordyce.

 

This publication understands that Fordyce was in the process of closing his shop when he was viciously attacked.

Shortly before the incident, Shawn’s mother, 50-year-old Nicola Christine La Fleur, spoke with her son. She later received a distressing call about the situation.

When she rushed outside, she found Shawn unresponsive on the road, suffering from a severe head wound.

When asked about the motive behind these tragic events, Nicola revealed that her son was troubled about the paternity of a two-month-old child.

Reports indicate that both Shawn and Gregory have been named as the fathers of the child.

On May 9, 2025, Gregory was charged and remanded to prison for the murder of La Fleur.

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As the probe into the death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge continues, President Dr Irfaan Ali has assured the grieving family and Guyanese that he and his government honoured the requests made.

“Everything that I’ve committed to in the case. We’ve brought in the independent pathologist, and they have done their work. Then there’s an independent investigator in,” President Ali told reporters at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Monday.

The investigator he mentioned is Leonard McCoshen, a retired officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, on Monday, confirmed that McCoshen is scheduled to arrive in Guyana Monday night to assist in the investigation.

Lawyers meet Police Commissioner in search for answers in Adriana Younge’s case

The government engaged Mr. McCoshen after Adriana’s family requested that international law enforcement bodies be engaged by the Government of Guyana to investigate the young girl’s death.

For her autopsy, three international pathologists were brought to Guana. They are: Dr Glenn A. Rudner of Mount Sinai Hospital, New York; Dr Shubhakar Karra Paul, a government-appointed pathologist from Barbados; and Dr Gary L. Collins, Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Delaware, who was chosen by Adrianna’s family.

The President was specifically asked if the government would seek the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to aid in the investigation.

“I’ve done what I said I would have done. The political handlers are now at work aggressively. Let the political handles deal with what they want to,” President Ali told reporters.

US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, told reporters that the FBI could possibly assist with the investigations, but such a request would have to be made by the Government of Guyana.

Speaking at the sidelines at the event at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Theoriot reportedly explained that once the government makes a request, the FBI would then determine how they can support the local probe.

US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theoriot, engaging reporters (Photo: News Room/ June 14, 2024)

The investigation into the death of Adriana is at the evidence-gathering stage. Detectives are “examining several possibilities and theories,” which will be evaluated against the evidence gathered, Blanhum told reporters on Monday.

Asked about the Younge family’s confidence in the investigation, Blanhum responded: “We have selected the best [investigators] to work on this matter, and the investigators are very objective. I’ve instructed them to ensure that they do not disregard any information or any evidence during this process.”

Adriana went missing at the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen on April 23. Her body was discovered in the hotel’s pool on April 24.

The Crime Chief revealed that the relatives of the young girl were questioned over the weekend and that at least two more individuals who were at the pool will also be questioned.

The owner was arrested and later released after the statutory detention period expired. Blanhum also addressed this.

“The hotel owner, there were certain conditions imposed on him, he has to continue reporting to the police on a daily basis [and] also prohibited from leaving the jurisdiction,” Blanhum said on Monday.

He further added that “The investigators are in possession of video footage prior, or at the same time when an alarm was raised that she [Adriana] was missing,” Blanhum said.

The Younge family, who have postponed Adriana’s funeral since her passing on 24 April, are hoping for significant investigative progress before laying her to rest.

The post Adriana Younge case: President says requests honoured; Canadian expert to arrive Monday night appeared first on News Room Guyana.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali presented a security strategy using the acronym ‘HITLIST’ during his address at the 39th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP), currently underway at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

HITLIST outlines several pillars to be addressed during the conference to strengthen the Caribbean region’s security and crime fighting efforts, such as H for Human capital, I for Infrastructure, T for Technology, L for Legislation, I for Intelligence, S for Systems and T for Training.

“We must agree that we face a human capital challenge in the region,” President said during his remarks. And so, he called for better working conditions, including housing, respectful work environments, and greater access to training and education to retain and grow talent within Caribbean police forces.

The 39th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP), currently underway at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

On infrastructure, the President emphasised the importance of strategic regional investments. He announced Guyana’s plans to build a state-of-the-art forensic facility, equipped with the latest technology and training support, to serve not just Guyana but the entire region.

Technology was also discussed with the Head of State highlighting the need for the use of technology across borders to support intelligence gathering and real-time data sharing.

This brings legislation into the picture.

“How do we develop an infrastructure in the region that allows easier sharing of information, more proactive sharing of information, this leads to legislation the L,” the President explained.

He revealed that Attorney Generals in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have been tasked with reviewing regional laws related to crime and public safety, with a view towards seamless legal cooperation across jurisdictions.

And this is where various systems comes in.

“One of the main reasons the public express trust and dissatisfaction issue is the level of human impact on the systems itself,” President Ali said.

The 39th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP), currently underway at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

He added, “In the region there is also complete reliance on human intervention and input at every level of policing. This system must change to have human as the backbone but technology as the frame.”

Finally, President Ali talked about training as the last pillar of HITLIST.

Specifically highlighting India’s Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC), which offers free training in cutting-edge fields, the President challenged the commissioners present at the conference to take full advantage of it.

“I can champion this for you. Get the applications in and I am telling you, I will take a personal interest in ensuring I follow-up on all applications coming from the region under the ITEC programme,” President Ali pledged.

The 39th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP), currently underway at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

He also urged the police commissioners to take time to examine the HITLIST as he further mentioned Guyana’s plans for a Regional Police Academy with internationally certified programmes.

Meanwhile, the President further spoke about the harmful consequences of using crime as a tool for political gain as well as glorifying crime.

“The politicising of crime and criminality and the glorification of crime and criminality, now this may sound uneasy in this room but when political actors and architecture see crime as an opportunity for political puppeteering it becomes dangerous,” he said.

Stressing that crime should be recognised for what it is, the President called for a unified approach in dealing with crime.

“Crime and criminality is not an opportunity to get into government or is not an opportunity to beat the system, because it affects all of us and if our interest is in the development of countries and our economies then we have to do what is right wherever we sit or stand,” the Head of State said.

 

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The court case involving city businessman, Marlan DaSilva, who was charged with the brutal killing of his partner, Kenesha Vaughn, has been adjourned to May 22, 2025.

The case was called on Monday before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman via Zoom. The case was adjourned for statements of declaration to be filed.

DaSilva is awaiting a preliminary inquiry (PI), which is a judicial hearing held in the Magistrate’s Court for serious offences such as murder. It is not a trial itself. Before a PI can commence, there is a procedure. This procedure includes the disclosure of statements taken from witnesses in the case.

City businessman to be charged with murder of partner

In the case of Vaughn, all statements have not yet been disclosed to the court. Only when that is done can the PI commence. The next step would be for witnesses to testify before the court.

When all evidence is before the Court, the body is then tasked with determining whether there is sufficient evidence for the defendant (DaSilva) to proceed to trial. That trial is usually conducted in the High Court before a Judge.

DaSilva is accused of killing his partner on the evening of February 22 at their Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara house, shortly after returning home.

According to a Police report, DaSilva and Vaughn had an argument during which the businessman reportedly slapped her. In retaliation, Police said Vaughn reportedly reached for a knife and approached the suspect.

It was at this point that DaSilva pulled out his licensed firearm from the waist of his pants and discharged several rounds in Vaughn’s direction, hitting her about the body.

Police ranks were later contacted, and Vaughn was taken to the Diamond Hospital, where she died while receiving treatment. The incident was captured on CCTV footage which has since been admitted as evidence.

The post Kenesha Vaughn case now adjourned to May 22  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Monday, assured Guyanese that the country’s borders are being monitored and all foreign partners are consistently updated on the developments with neighbouring Venezuela.

Venezuela had announced that it intends to hold elections in the Essequibo region, an area internationally recognised as Guyana’s territory and has been under Guyana’s administration for over 100 years. So the Venezuelan election plan, scheduled for May 25, 2025, is seen by Guyana as a direct violation of the Court’s Order and international law.

Earlier this month, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) unanimously reaffirmed provisional measures granted in December 2023 and told Venezuela that it shall refrain from conducting, or preparing to conduct, elections in the Essequibo region.

President Ali acknowledged this ruling from the ICJ and affirmed that Guyana is a “rules-based” state committed to international law.

However, he said, Guyana’s borders are being monitored and the government is engaging foreign partners on the developments concerning the ongoing controversy.

“We are not sitting back also.

“I want to assure you and all Guyanese that the Guyana Defence Force, the government, and every stakeholder, we are putting everything in place to ensure that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana are protected,” President Ali told reporters at the sidelines of an event on Monday.

World Court tells Venezuela to refrain from conducting elections in Essequibo region 

He also assured citizens that Guyana’s sovereign space will be protected.

The border controversy between Guyana and Essequibo is decades-old. The boundary, as internationally recognised, was settled in 1899 through an Arbitral Award. It was accepted by Venezuela and Guyana (then British Guiana) until the 1960s as Guyana approached its independence. Guyana has taken its case to the ICJ, hoping for a final, binding settlement of the controversy.

 

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The investigation into the death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge is at the evidence-gathering stage. This is according to Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, who spoke with reporters at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Monday.

Detectives are “examining several possibilities and theories,” which will be evaluated against the evidence gathered, Blanhum stated.

He also confirmed that Leonard McCoshen, a retired officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will arrive in Guyana Monday night to assist in the investigation. McCoshen has been engaged by the Government of Guyana. He is a trained and certified expert in homicide and suspicious death investigations.

Asked about the Younge family’s confidence in the investigation, Blanhum responded: “We have selected the best [investigators] to work on this matter, and the investigators are very objective. I’ve instructed them to ensure that they do not disregard any information or any evidence during this process.”

Adriana went missing at the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen on April 23. Her body was discovered in the hotel’s pool on April 24.

“We anticipate we will be able to question at least two more individuals who were at the pool on the day that Adriana Younge went,” Blanhum said.

The owner was arrested and later released after the statutory detention period expired. Blanhum also addressed this.

Lawyers meet Police Commissioner in search for answers in Adriana Younge’s case

“The hotel owner, there were certain conditions imposed on him, he has to continue reporting to the police on a daily basis [and] also prohibited from leaving the jurisdiction,” Blanhum said on Monday.

He further added that “The investigators are in possession of video footage prior, or at the same time when an alarm was raised that she [Adriana] was missing,” Blanhum said.

The Younge family, who have postponed Adriana’s funeral since her passing on 24 April, are hoping for significant investigative progress before laying her to rest.

(more…)

Cricket West Indies (CWI) is on the verge of appointing a new captain for the West Indies Test team, with an announcement anticipated within the next week.

CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow expressed confidence in the ongoing selection process, highlighting its comprehensive and structured nature.

Speaking on WESN TV’s Face of Sports show on Friday (May 9), Shallow confirmed the timeline for the crucial appointment.

“We are hopeful that by the end of next week, the Board will receive recommendations for the Test captain,” Shallow stated.

“The last update I got from the Director of Cricket [Miles Bascombe] is that the process is going pretty well.”

The selection process, described as rigorous by Shallow, marks a new approach for CWI in identifying leadership candidates.

Six players have reportedly been shortlisted and are currently undergoing a series of interviews and assessments.

These candidates include Roston Chase, Joshua Da Silva, John Campbell, Jomel Warrican, Tevin Imlach, and Justin Greaves.

The assessment panel conducting the interviews comprises Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe, CWI’s Cricket Committee chairman Enoch Lewis, head coach Daren Sammy, and CEO Chris Dehring.

However, the final recommendations for the captaincy role will be put forward by Bascombe and Sammy.

Cricket West Indies President, Dr. Kishore Shallow

Shallow emphasized that the process extends beyond merely filling the captaincy position. “This is the very first time we are going through this sort of process for identifying a Test captain,” he explained.

“What I want the public to understand is that it is not just done with eyes on the Test captaincy only; it is actually a process where these people who are identified as potential leaders will be able to get a level of exposure to the requirements and the criteria that we look for in a player to appoint them as captain.”

He further underscored the weight of the Test captaincy. “The Test captain is a significant role. It’s not just cricket on the field, but they are representing the entire region off the field as well, so we want to give them an insight as to what is required of them when they are considered.” A psychometric test is also noted as a component of this in-depth process.

Dr. Shallow believes that even those not ultimately selected will benefit from the exercise, gaining valuable insight to help them develop as future leaders within the West Indies cricket framework.

 “It is really impressive stuff by the technical team, and hopefully, it can produce a very successful Test captain for us and hopefully, put the others who are up for consideration on a path that they would know what they need to do to be a captain in the future or whenever the opportunity arises,” he added. (Modified SportsMax article)

 

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The Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) is working to keep its course in top condition during the rainy season, focusing on playability and long-term maintenance.

LGC President Anasha Ally explained that a key tool in their arsenal is a powerful 16-inch rice pump, which, when waterlogging is severe, can drain the entire course in two to three days.

“Our pump is vital during the rainy season,” said Ally.

“It allows us to quickly manage water levels, so the course can be playable again in a reasonable time. Our staff are also working to keep drains clear, which helps water flow.”

LGC President Anasha Ally

The club also asks golfers to play responsibly, especially those using carts.

“We encourage players, particularly cart users, to stick to the edges of fairways to avoid damaging the turf,” Ally added. “Simple steps like this make a big difference, especially after heavy rain.”

In extreme conditions, the LGC will take action to protect the course.

“If the course is very wet, playing can cause serious damage,” Ally said. “We’ll issue warnings and, if needed, stop play temporarily. We then carry out repairs to get the course back to its best.”

The LGC says these measures show its commitment to maintaining high standards, protecting the environment, and ensuring the sport’s long-term future.

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