Kamal Ramkarran has been re-elected unopposed as President of the Bar Association of Guyana for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, following the organisation’s 46th Annual General Meeting held today via the Zoom online platform.
Also elected unopposed were Mr. Teni Housty and Mr. Arudranauth Gossai as Vice Presidents, while Ms. Yashmini Singh secured a second term as Secretary of the Association.
Mr. Chevy Devonish joins the executive body as the new Assistant Secretary, replacing Ms. Gabriel Benn, who has now been elected unopposed as Treasurer.
Other individuals elected unopposed to serve as Council Members include: Mr. Robin Stoby, SC, Mr. Keoma D. Griffith, Mr. Horatio Edmondson, Mr. Pratesh Satram, Ms. Rea Harris, and Ms. Mohanie Anganoo.
Mr. Kashir A. Khan served as the Returning Officer during the election process.
The Bar Association plays a critical role in upholding the rule of law and advancing the interests of legal professionals across Guyana.
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 1st 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]
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.
Over 75 drivers are set to compete at the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMRSC) 1320 Heat Drag Race this Sunday, June 1, at the South Dakota Circuit.
The one-day event will also serve as a qualifying round for the Caribbean Drag Racing Championship.
Competitors will battle in two key categories: Pro Street, for elapsed times between 10.000 and 10.999 seconds, and Pro Race, for times ranging from 9.000 to 9.999 seconds.
Race day begins at 08:30h with a free practice session, followed by dial-in preparations from 10:00h to midday.
Official elimination rounds are scheduled to start promptly at 12:00h, weather permitting.
Tickets will be available at the gate, priced at G$2,000 for adults and G$1,000 for children.
VIP seating is available for G$5,000 on a first-come, first-served basis.
The GMRSC advises early arrival due to anticipated demand.
After countless HMI mega-hit singles, Haitian singer, Charlin Bato, has officially released his debut album, titled, “Toro Rodeo“. The 2025 debut album was released on May 19, 2025. Likewise, Charlin Bato’s new album includes 11 tracks & features a collaboration with HMI superstar Kenny Haiti. Album Charlin Bato 2025 – Toro Rodeo Intro Toro Rodeo […]
A second autopsy conducted on the body of 11-year-old Adriana Younge has reaffirmed the initial postmortem findings that there was no evidence of trauma, with Dr. Carol Terry, Chief Medical Examiner of Gwinnett County, Georgia, describing the original autopsy as “competently and thoroughly” conducted.
The body was embalmed and flown to Georgia, USA, by Younge’s relatives in a bid to obtain a fourth opinion and an additional autopsy following the child’s tragic death last month.
In an interview with journalist Travis Chase shortly after the examination on Thursday, Dr. Terry explained that her examination served largely as a “quality control” measure, acknowledging that the best opportunity to determine the cause of death was during the first autopsy — when decomposition was minimal and before embalming had occurred.
While she acknowledged that certain artefacts introduced during the initial postmortem limited the forensic value of her own assessment, Dr. Terry emphasised that the first autopsy was done “correctly, competently, and thoroughly,” and explicitly stated that “no trauma was overlooked” in that examination.
Dr. Terry also agreed with the initial findings: there was no evidence of trauma and did not find no signs of struggle. However, she stopped short of confirming drowning as the definitive cause of death, noting instead that she would be “reluctant to rule drowning” due to the limitations of a second autopsy and the absence of supporting toxicology results provided to her directly.
“Drowning is a diagnosis of exclusion,” she explained, stressing that such a conclusion requires the elimination of all other possible causes of death. Nonetheless, she did call for a thorough investigation, remarking that the surrounding circumstances of Adriana’s disappearance and death were “suspicious.” That investigation, however, is already underway and has so far found no evidence of criminal involvement.
Retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigator, Mr. Leonard McCoshan, who was earlier engaged in the inquiry, also reported that there is “no evidence of foul play by persons named or unnamed during the investigation.”
11-year-old Adriana Younge, whose tragic death has sparked national outrage and demands for justice across Guyana
What the First Autopsy Found
The initial autopsy was conducted at the Georgetown Public Hospital on April 28 by three experienced forensic pathologists — Dr. Shubhakar Karra Paul, Dr. Glenn Rudner, and Dr. Gary L. Collins — and concluded that Adriana died by accidental drowning. That finding was based on a comprehensive analysis, including internal and external examinations, toxicology, DNA swabs, and postmortem imaging.
The autopsy found her lungs swollen and filled with fluid, a classic sign of drowning, and foam in her airways suggested she was alive when submerged. Notably, toxicology results showed no drugs and only trace ethanol levels — a byproduct of natural decomposition. DNA analysis detected no foreign genetic material, ruling out sexual assault or struggle, and her body showed no bruises, lacerations, or other injuries.
A patterned imprint on her forearm matched the “VIP” wristband she had been wearing, believed to have formed during prolonged submersion — a key detail affirming she had not been removed from and returned to the water posthumously.
Adriana was last seen near the pool of a hotel on the East Bank of Essequibo on April 23. Her body was discovered floating in the pool the following morning. Her death, under unclear circumstances, prompted intense public scrutiny and speculation, leading the family to seek further examination.
The findings of both autopsies, however, converge on a central point: there is no evidence of trauma, sexual assault, or foul play.
While Dr. Terry urged caution around ruling drowning in the absence of complete data available to her, her conclusion ultimately reaffirmed the professional integrity and accuracy of the first autopsy.
The University of Guyana (UG) has reported a historic surge in student interest, with over 20,000 applications initiated during the first month since the Government’s tuition-free policy came into effect.
The overwhelming response prompted the University to close its applications portal on 16 May 2025. However, in response to continued demand and numerous requests from students and stakeholders, UG will briefly reopen its application portal from Friday, 30 May to midnight on Monday, 2 June 2025. This reopening will apply only to selected programmes that still have available capacity, as most competitive offerings are already oversubscribed by several hundred applicants.
The application process for the 2025/2026 academic year originally opened on 1 April and saw an unprecedented number of initiated and submitted applications. University officials have advised applicants who have already submitted their forms to expect responses from the second week of June through to August 2025.
Orientation for new students is expected to commence around 25 August 2025. All new and continuing students are urged to monitor their emails and Student Records Management System (SRMS) accounts regularly to avoid missing crucial updates or deadlines.
Owing to the record number of applications, successful applicants will now be given a two-week window to accept their offers. Additionally, applicants are reminded to ensure that their submissions are fully completed, as the University has noted a significant number of initiated but incomplete applications.
Meanwhile, the application process for continuing students will open on 16 June 2025 and run until 1 August 2025.
Comprehensive information regarding course offerings, application procedures, and admission requirements is available on the University’s official platforms, including its website and SRMS. Official updates will also be shared through press releases, advertisements, and announcements via media partners.
The University has further encouraged this year’s CSEC candidates to apply for admission in advance of their results and request that CXC send their results directly to UG, allowing for faster processing. Some programmes will also provisionally accept students pending final grades.
For more details on applying to the University of Guyana, please visit: https://uog.edu.gy/
A search operation is underway in Region Seven following the disappearance of a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldier who reportedly fell into the Cuyuni River during a routine patrol.
The missing soldier has been identified as Lance Corporal Stefon Tudor. He was part of a riverine patrol team operating near the Makapa rapids, close to the Guyana-Venezuela border, when the incident occurred between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Troops stationed at Eteringbang and Makapa were immediately mobilised and are currently engaged in ongoing efforts to locate their missing comrade. The GDF, in an official release, confirmed that it is “sparing no resources” in the search and rescue mission.
Lance Corporal Tudor’s family has been informed of the incident, and the Force has assured the public of its unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of all its officers and ranks.
In line with military protocol, a Board of Inquiry has been convened to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.
Popular Guyanese businessman and entertainer, Marlon ‘Freedom Boss’ Jacobs has endorsed the incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C).
In a simple Facebook post, Jacobs declared: “VOTE PPP/C.”
The entertainer is among many prominent persons who have endorsed the party in the past few days.
In the past week, Liberty and Justice Party Leader, Lenox Shuman; The Citizenship Initiative’s Shazaam Ally; and PNCR’s Daniel Seeram and Dr. Richard Van West Charles all endorsed the PPP.
Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo rejected assertions made by Azruddin Mohamed, challenging the businessman to release whatever evidence he has implicating President Dr. Irfaan Ali in a tax waiver for an undervalued Lamborghini.
“Let him release the evidence that President Ali told him to submit a false invoice to the GRA… (It is) a fake invoice, because no such thing happened,” Jagdeo said at a party press conference on Thursday.
Just before, President Dr. Irfaan Ali challenged the businessman to provide proof that he ever presented the true invoice of a Lamborghini Aventador to the Office of the President, dismissing claims that he authorised any tax waiver related to the luxury vehicle as “ridiculous.”
In a comment to the News Room, Dr. Ali further clarified that while tax matters are frequently brought to the attention of the presidency, they are appropriately referred to the GRA, which operates independently in such matters.
Mohamed made the claim outside the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, shortly after he was granted $500,000 bail. He had just pleaded not guilty to two criminal charges related to fraudulent declarations made to the GRA concerning the vehicle’s importation.
The charges stem from an investigation that revealed major discrepancies in the declared value of the Lamborghini Aventador. Mohamed is accused of declaring the vehicle at just US$76,000 — a figure vastly lower than the US$695,000 indicated in original purchase documents now in the hands of authorities.
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11-year-old Adriana Younge, whose tragic death has sparked national outrage and demands for justice across Guyana
