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The Government of Guyana is spending substantial funds on infrastructure work needed to prevent flooding in Mahaica and Mahaicony, according to Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo.

Jagdeo, at a press conference on Thursday, said the work being done will also allow the government to develop thousands of acres of new farmland.

In Region Five (Mahaica- Berbice), Jagdeo said about $18 billion will be spent to develop 86 kilometres of flood protection embankments. Between Mahaica and Mahaicony, some 31,000 acres of land will be developed due to this venture, while another 24,000 acres of land will be developed between Mahaicony and Abary.

In Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne), 42KM of the embankment will be developed. Jagdeo noted that about 30,000 acres of land will be available for use.

“That will bring a massive output in (Gross Domestic Product),” the Vice President said.

Moreover, Jagdeo noted that the finds invested in these projects are from what the country earned through its carbon credits venture with Hess.

The post Gov’t spending billions of LCDS funds to prevent flooding, open up new farmlands – Jagdeo appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Kemol Savory and Quentin Sampson, both serving members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and long-time cricketers for the force, have been presented with new cricket kits ahead of their participation in the inaugural West Indies Breakout T20 tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.

Ravindradat Budhram, Deputy Commissioner of Police Administration and Chairman of the Guyana Police Force Cricket, met with the two players and National Coach Ryan Hercules to offer his congratulations and support.

Savory and Sampson, who have represented the GPF on the cricket field for over a decade, are part of the Guyana Rainforest Rangers squad for the tournament, which runs from April 25th to May 10th.

Coach Hercules, a veteran with over 15 years of coaching experience and a key figure in Guyana’s recent three consecutive regional titles, including the Four-Day Championship, offered words of encouragement to the pair.

“This is a significant opportunity, but it’s also just the beginning for you both,” Hercules said.

“Stay focused, maintain your discipline, and never forget the hard work that has brought you to this stage. Represent the Police Force and your country with pride, and use every match as a chance to develop, both as cricketers and as individuals.”

During the presentation, Deputy Commissioner Budhram extended his best wishes to Savory and Sampson and presented them with complete cricket kits as a gesture of support from the Guyana Police Force.

He also reminded them of the responsibility they carry as representatives of both the GPF and the nation.

“Your conduct, both on and off the field, should always reflect the values we uphold,” Budhram emphasised.

The post Guyana Police Force donates gear to Savory and Sampson ahead of Breakout T20 League appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The lush greens of the Lusignan Golf Course are set to come alive this Saturday, April 20, as the much-loved Romel & Robin 9-Hole Golf Tournament returns for its landmark 10th edition.

This popular private event, organised with passion by golf enthusiasts Romel Bhagwandin and Robin Tiwari, has become a staple in the local golfing calendar, promising not just competitive action on the fairways but a vibrant day out for the entire family.

Over the past decade, the Romel & Robin tournament has cultivated a reputation for its friendly atmosphere and inclusive spirit, attracting golfers of all skill levels alongside their friends and families.

This year’s edition will continue that tradition, with the competition unfolding under a medal play format across three handicap-based flights: 0–9, 10–18, and 19–36.

This structure ensures a fair and engaging contest for everyone, from seasoned low handicappers to those newer to the game.

The top three net scores in each flight will be rewarded with prizes, adding an extra incentive to perform well.

For those seeking individual glory, special awards will also be presented for the Longest Drive, showcasing power hitting, and Nearest to the Pin, rewarding accuracy and precision.

Beyond the golfing action, the Lusignan Golf Course will transform into a social hub. From midday onwards, the tantalising aroma of a sizzling barbecue will fill the air, with delicious plates available for $1,500.

Adding to the festive atmosphere, Sniper Sound will be on hand to provide a lively musical backdrop throughout the afternoon, ensuring a relaxed and enjoyable ambiance for players and spectators alike.

Reflecting on the tournament’s milestone, co-organiser Romel Bhagwandin expressed his delight. “This event has truly grown into something special,” he said.

“For Robin and myself, it’s always been about more than just the golf. It’s about creating a space where people can come together – the golfers themselves, their friends who come to cheer them on, their families who want to enjoy a day outdoors.

Whether you’re fiercely competitive and aiming for the trophy, or simply want to soak up the good vibes and enjoy the company, there’s a place for you here.

Seeing how this tournament has become a fixture over the last ten years is incredibly heartwarming. And with the Easter weekend just around the corner, it feels like the perfect opportunity to reconnect with friends, relax in a beautiful setting, and celebrate the spirit of community.”

Extending the Easter celebrations, the Lusignan Golf Club will also open its doors to the public on Easter Monday and Tuesday.

For a small entry fee of $500 per person, members, their guests, and caddies can enjoy the facilities, perhaps taking in a leisurely round or simply enjoying the picturesque surroundings.

For further details, please contact Romel Bhagwandin at 619-9933 or Robin Tiwari at 618-3172.

The post Romel and Robin Tournament marks a decade of golf appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The flooding brought on by heavy rainfall in Georgetown is being monitored by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council.

Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore told the News Room on Thursday during a telephone interview that he visited the pumps across the town during the morning. He reported that kokers and pump stations are operating well, allowing the water to be quickly discharged.

“I’ve inspected the various kokers and various outfalls, as have the engineers, and they identified some areas where they have some plastic and some other bottles and so on happen to be blocking some of the outfalls,” the Mayor said.

He explained that the rainfall is being monitored and the issues of blockage are being addressed.

“Most things are in place in relation to pumping and the regular grading flow so those things we are on top of. More than likely during the next couple hours everything should be back to normal unless we have more rain,” Mentore said.

According to the Hydrometeorological service’s weather forecast, it is expected that the rainfall will continue until next week.

The post G/town flooding ‘being monitored’ – Mayor appeared first on News Room Guyana.

BK International Limited on Thursday received a new fleet of heavy-duty trucks from Industrial Supply of Guyana Inc. (ISG), a prominent subsidiary of MACORP to enhance the company’s work in the nation’s development.

The handover of the first eight of 50 trucks was conducted at Macorp’s Providence office. This is a new line of equipment that will be utilised by BK for their various projects. The fleet consists of tipper and concrete Foton trucks, which have modern technology features that can provide the level of output needed for the country’s development needs.

Brian Tiwari, BK International’s owner, said the new fleet of equipment will greatly complement the work done by the company for government and private projects.

“We are the first here to have these Foton trucks that hopefully we are going to take 50 from them.

“[They are for] Development work for the government and for ourselves. We have a lot of projects we are doing for ourselves too,” Tiwari said.

The staff of MACORP and BK International Limited during the handover of the new fleet. (Photo: News Room/ April 17, 2025)

MACORP’S General Manager, German Consuegra said the partnership with BK International to enhance the country’s heavy-duty machinery capabilities is a privilege. He also said MACORP is providing the equipment and the inventory needed to support it.

“Besides the product that we’re introducing, we will also rely in the growth capabilities that we have built, in capability to support our customers with the right inventory and very efficient supply chain to have the right parts needed on the shelf, but also with technicians to be able to support the needs of our customers, to service their equipment,” Consuegra said.

He said this is a massive partnership that will greatly benefit both companies amid the county’s economic growth. MACORP has been operating in Guyana for more than 20 years and it is a leading heavy-duty machinery provider.

The post BK International invests in new fleet of heavy-duty trucks appeared first on News Room Guyana.

See below the full release from St8tment Investment Inc.: 

The Bamia Primary School, a flagship educational project in Region 10, is now in its final stage of completion. With only minor electrical installations, lighting fixtures, and limited plumbing work remaining, the school is on the verge of being handed over. A recent inspection conducted by the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Mr. Dwight John, other regional authorities and Project Consultant Mr. Rudolph Anthony (from E&A Consultants Inc.) confirmed that construction is progressing at a satisfactory standard. The state-of-the-art facility is expected to be fully operational in time for the September 2025 academic year.

The construction contract for the Bamia Primary School was awarded to St8tment Investment Inc. in November 2021. Since then, the project has experienced several delays due to a range of challenges, including labor shortages, increased material costs, and unfavorable weather conditions. These setbacks collectively impacted the original timeline and contributed to extensions.

The Bamia Primary School

Despite these hurdles, the project is now in its final phase, and the school is poised to become one of the most modern educational facilities in Region 10. The expansive campus is designed to accommodate a growing student population and will include 44 classrooms, a fully equipped gymnasium, an auditorium, a science laboratory, a music room, a library, smart classrooms, and modern restroom facilities – all aimed at delivering a well-rounded educational experience.

The community has expressed great anticipation for the opening of the new facility, which is expected to transform the learning environment and improve access to quality education for children in the area. Kerwin Bollers, representative of St8tment Investment Inc., shared his enthusiasm for reaching this milestone, stating, “We are proud to have brought this project to its final stage and look forward to officially handing it over to the Region and the young minds who will benefit from it.”

The post Construction of Bamia Primary School ‘in final stage of completion’  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo opined that the APNU/AFC coalition talks were bound to fail since the parties seemed more focused on securing benefits for themselves instead of partnering for Guyana’s development.

“They see government as an opportunity to share spoils, and that is why it was bound to fail… They are all about ‘what do we get out of this’ and that was the entire philosophy for their talks.

“This is why they are at this stage,” Jagdeo said at a People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) press conference on Thursday.

APNU/ AFC coalition talks collapse despite ‘best efforts’ in negotiations 

Just an hour before, it was confirmed that the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) opposition parties will not be contesting the 2025 General and Regional Elections together as talks over a possible coalition collapsed.

This was confirmed by the AFC’s David Patterson. However, he noted that the party still believes there are other avenues through which the two opposition parties can collaborate. He also said the “door is always open” for a coalition agreement should the parties have a change of heart ahead of Nomination Day.

In a statement issued after Mr. Patterson’s statements, APNU said it is ‘willing & ready’ to re-engage AFC in coalition talks.

The two parties formed a coalition a decade ago. Together, they contested the 2015 General and Regional elections and won. They again contested the 2020 elections together but the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) was elected to government.

(more…)

See below the full statement issued by the People’s National Congress Reform, the major constituent of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) party: 

APNU has noted a public statement by the AFC at its press conference today to the effect that it plans to contest the 2025 elections on its own. APNU was formally notified earlier of the AFC’s decision in a written correspondence.

The PNCR and APNU remain committed to discussing and working with all interested parties in establishing a coalition government to take Guyana forward. As such, should the AFC wish to re-engage APNU in coalition talks or in any joint endeavor, we stand willing and ready.

The post APNU ‘willing & ready’ to re-engage AFC in coalition talks  appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Minister of Education Priya, at the end of the first day of the 2025 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), announced a high turnout of pupils across the country. A total of 15,813 were registered to write the exams.

“I am happy to say and I am very pleased about this with just about six schools where we do not have data for them, that’s 99 per cent of our schools that we have data for – 15, 497 children turned up to write on day one that represents a 98 per cent attendance of all our students,” the Education Minister said adding that this year is one of the highest turnout of pupils.

“It is the highest we have seen since COVID,” Manickchand said.

Region Five had the highest attendance rate with 98.8 per cent.
Additionally, 115 special education needs pupils wrote the exams, while 91 wrote the exams in Spanish. The Spanish version of the secondary entrance exam was introduced last year.

Citing various investments and interventions by the ministry, Manickchand was also optimistic about better results this year.

She attributed the high turnout to the school feeding programme for public schools, stationery packages for every child in both private and public schools for the NGSA, which includes the correct exam pencils, rulers, and erasers.

Minister Manickchand also revealed that all children in public schools received the required textbooks, while more teachers were trained in delivering a higher quality of education.

The post Highest turnout for NGSA since COVID appeared first on News Room Guyana.