Police ranks on Friday found a quantity of cannabis at the East Coast Demerara premises of a 45-year-old shop owner.
Police Headquarters said the ranks searched the premises and two transparent plastic bags containing a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis, wrapped in a black plastic bag, were found.
Another black plastic bag containing 25 small ziploc plastic bags, all containing leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis, was also found outside the premises in a tyre.
The suspect was arrested and escorted along with the suspected narcotics to the Police Station. In his presence, the suspected cannabis was weighed and amounted to 26.2 grams. The 25 ziplock plastic bags
containing suspected cannabis were also weighed and amounted to 106.9 grams. Both parcels were marked, sealed, and lodged.
The suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.
An elderly couple and their 28-year-old son were arrested on Friday after Police found an illegal .38 revolver and seven matching rounds of ammunition at their Alness Village, Corentyne, Berbice house.
Police Headquarters reported that ranks were conducting an operation in the area on Friday. The couple (a 56-year-old woman and her 66-year-old husband) and their son were all cautioned and arrested when the firearm and ammunition were found in the house.
The individuals remain in custody as the investigation continues.
Indian High Commissioner, Amit Telang on Saturday expressed his country’s support for Guyana in the border controversy with Venezuela.
“Our position is that they [Guyana and Venezuela] should strictly abide with that declaration (the Argyle Declaration) and avoid taking any actions.
“We respect the position of the government Guyana… We have always supported Guyana and will continue to support them,” the High Commissioner told reporters at a press engagement on Saturday.
His statements came as tensions between Guyana and Venezuela escalated recently.
The two countries have grappled with a border controversy for decades. Guyana has taken the case to the ICJ, seeking a final, binding ruling that the Essequibo is its own, affirming the 1899 Arbitral Award that settled the border between the two countries.
Venezuela 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.
Guyana’s President, Dr Irfaan Ali expressed confidence that the ICJ is the forum where the voice of international law will be heard and justice will be determined.
The Indian High Commissioner said that any action taken against the Argyle Agreement will not be supported.
“The matter is for consideration in the ICJ and I think the Government of Guyana has already made it clear that they would respect whatever judgement would come from the ICJ.
“Any action which is being taken which is against that declaration is not something that we will support,” he said.
The Argyle Agreement was signed in the presence of regional and international interlocutors, and unequivocally commits Guyana and Venezuela to refrain from escalating any conflict or disagreement arising from the territorial controversy between the two States. This includes refraining from actions that could aggravate tensions or alter the current situation in the disputed territory, pending resolution in accordance with international law.
But despite the order agreement in place, Venezuela continued with attempts to undermine Guyana’s sovereignty.
Should the aggression continue, and Guyana approaches India for support, the India High Commissioner said that the request will be considered.
“We are constantly in touch, we keep talking to the authorities in Government of Guyana and when that type of situation happens and government of Guyana approaches us, yes we will continue to support Guyana,” he said.
See below the statement issued by the National Toshaos Council (NTC):
The National Toshaos Council (NTC) strongly condemns the misleading and politically charged assertions made by the Alliance For Change (AFC) in the Stabroek News article titled, “Gov’t officials get more speaking time at NTC over Toshaos – AFC.”
This is a deliberate attempt to undermine the credibility of the NTC Conference, the most respected and comprehensive forum for Indigenous leadership in Guyana. The claims made by the AFC are baseless and reek of hypocrisy and political desperation.
We wish to clarify that the structure of the NTC Conference 2025 is carefully designed to ensure that every ministry is allotted 15 minutes to present, followed by an open and interactive Q&A segment where Toshaos are free to raise concerns, seek clarifications, and advocate for their communities.
This model, which has been successfully used under successive governments, facilitates productive engagement, direct dialogue, and meaningful accountability. It has worked effectively for years, including during the period the AFC itself was part of the governing coalition.
The sudden attempt by the AFC to now discredit this model, after benefiting from it while in office, is dishonest and insulting to the intelligence of Indigenous leaders and their communities.
It is clear that the AFC’s narrative seeks to sow division and politicize a platform that is fundamentally about unity, development, and Indigenous empowerment.
The NTC will not be used as a pawn in anyone’s political theatre. The conference belongs to the Indigenous people of Guyana.
We remain resolute in our mission to advocate for the interests of all Amerindian communities, and we will not be distracted by those who wish to inject division where there is dialogue, or chaos where there is collaboration.
Officers from the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) found two parcels containing cannabis in a motor car that was near the Mikey Restaurant at Parika, East Bank Essequibo.
A CANU release noted that the officers intercepted the vehicle on Friday, acting on information received. When the vehicle was searched, two parcels containing a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis were found.
The suspect in the vehicle was then arrested and taken to CANU’s headquarters along with the suspected narcotics. The items in the parcels were positively identified as cannabis later; the cannabis amounted to 1.034 kilogrammes (or about 2.23 pounds).
Subraj Singh, a Guyanese writer, is the Caribbean regional winner of the 2025 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. His winning piece pays homage to Guyanese folklore.
Singh competed against a whopping 7,920 other entrants around the world. His piece placed him on a shortlist and made him the winner for the Caribbean.
‘Margot’s Run’ is the writer’s winning story. It is set in rural Guyana and is about a mother’s perseverance to get help for her infant son, whose skin bears concerning scratches. In the story, Margot seeks help from two old women in the village, Estelle and Bhanu, to vanquish whatever has been troubling the child.
A majority of the characters- all except the infant boy- are women.
Subraj Singh
The baby’s blood was being sucked by an old woman who later escapes in a ball of fire, paying homage to the Guyanese folklore of the Ole Higue.
The Ole Higue is a supernatural creature who feeds on the blood of the innocent and escapes in a ball of fire. As penned correctly in Singh’s story, she also has limitations which include rice, garlic, onions and peppers.
The Ole Higue usually sheds her skin to count rice grains. When the creature did that in Singh’s story, Estelle and Bhanu capitalised on the opportunity to use the garlic, onions and peppers to burn the creature.
“I wanted to capture the solidarity that exists between women in Guyana.
“When I was growing up, it was quite common for women to get together to help each other out whether it was with children or to do something else. I wanted to represent that solidarity and the strength that it is,” Singh told the News Room.
The events of the story also took place, quite surprisingly, on the night Guyana gained Independence from England. Singh carefully chose to write this way.
“Writing about colonialism is very important to me because I think a lot of things people in Guyana struggle with are rooted in colonialism and for a very long time Guyana was exploited by Europe and the consequences of that exploitation still remains,” Subraj explained.
He also highlighted that he used the Ole Higue as symbolism; it was a nod to the struggle Guyana faced during British rule.
His storytelling evidently captured the attention of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize judging team.
But Singh was quite surprised when he found out that he won regionally. He revealed that the competition was tough and that this was his third year entering.
Singh, renowned as a prolific writer, offered some advice to young writers in his interview with the News Room.
He advises young writers to present their work to people before submitting to obtain feedback so that possible errors can be identified and improved.
Other regional winners for 2025 include: Joshua Lubwama from Uganda, Africa Region, Faria Basher from Bangladesh, Asia Region, Chanel Sutherland from Canada/Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Canada and Europe Region, Kathleen Ridgwell from Australia, Pacific Region.
The overall winner of the Commonwealth Foundation Short Story Prize is yet to be announced.
Guyana is set to host MECODEX 2025, a major regional disaster response simulation exercise aimed at strengthening international cooperation and improving national preparedness for flood-related emergencies.
Scheduled for May 19-22, 2025, the exercise will take place at the Pegasus Hotel & Corporate Center. MECODEX, short for Mechanism for Disaster Cooperation Exercise — is being organized in collaboration with the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB) and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) of Guyana.
The exercise brings together disaster response experts, military officials, and humanitarian agencies from across the Americas to test and refine coordinated strategies in a simulated flood scenario. It is designed to rigorously evaluate the operational readiness of local agencies while fostering regional solidarity in disaster risk management.
Speaking today on the event, Colonel Nazrul Hussain, Director General of the CDC, emphasized the significance of the event: “To host the leadership of the Inter-American Defense Board is a great honor and augurs well for our civil-military coordination. We welcome the foreign delegations and look forward to a successful exercise here in Guyana.”
Lt. Col. Mark Thomas, Deputy Director General of the CDC, also noted the significance of the exercise for national readiness: “This is more than just a drill. It is a strategic opportunity to strengthen inter-agency coordination, evaluate our response mechanisms, and build the confidence of those entrusted with safeguarding lives during disasters.”
MECODEX 2025 is supported under the framework of the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas (CDMA), with the IADB acting as the permanent secretariat of the MECODEX mechanism. The initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure that international assistance, when needed, is both timely and effective, while fully respecting the sovereignty of member states.
Colonel José Carlos Diaz Torres of Brazil highlighted the technical tools that support the exercise: “Platforms like SICODE, developed by the Military Institute of Engineering in Brazil, allow participating countries to simulate real-world challenges and fine-tune their response protocols. This exercise is strictly humanitarian in nature and underscores the value of regional preparedness.”
Colonel Glauco Dos Santos Cândido also of Brazil emphasized the importance of hemispheric collaboration, stating, “MECODEX reflects our shared commitment to improving humanitarian assistance mechanisms so that, when disaster strikes, aid can be delivered swiftly, respectfully, and in full coordination with national authorities.”
The opening ceremony for the MECODEX 2025 exercise will take place on the afternoon of Monday, May 19, 2025. The exercise, now in its fourth iteration, was previously hosted in Peru (2024) and Ecuador (2023), following its initial exercise as a virtual tabletop event in 2022 (CDC press release)
Guyana’s swimming sensation, Raekwon Noel, delivered a truly historic performance at the inaugural Pan Am Aquatics Championships in Medellin, Colombia.
He secured an incredible four gold medals and set a new national record in each of his winning events.
Noel’s dominant display in the pool culminated with his fourth gold in the 400m freestyle on Friday evening.
He claimed the top spot and shattered another Guyanese national record in the process, touching the wall in an impressive 4:00.66s.
This added to his rapidly growing collection of gold medals from the championships.
Earlier in the competition, Noel showcased his versatility and speed by securing gold in the 100m and 200m butterfly events and the 100m backstroke.
Each of these victories also saw him etch his name into the national record books.
His triumph in the 100m backstroke was a stunning three-peat performance. He clocked 56.78 seconds to take gold, finishing ahead of Colombia’s Gabriel Hernandez (57.04s) and Puerto Rico’s Suil Quinoes (59.27s).
Noel commanded the final in the 200m butterfly, winning gold in 2:02.53. His powerful swim saw him outpace Puerto Rico’s Andres Brooks (2:04.04) and Mexico’s Mark Van Eybergen (2:05.69).
This time also marked a significant improvement on his national record, which he had already lowered in the preliminary heats from 2:04.21 to 2:03.33 before his gold-medal-winning swim.
His victory in the 100m butterfly also saw him set a new national record of 54.00 seconds.
Noel’s remarkable achievement of securing four gold medals and four national records at a single Pan Am Championships is a significant milestone and ensures his name will be remembered in the history of this inaugural event.
The Olympian, who is currently on scholarship at Indiana University, has undoubtedly made a بڑا statement on the regional swimming stage.
Meanwhile, fellow Guyanese swimmer Shareefah Lewis has also participated in the championships.
After finishing eighth in the 50m backstroke final, Lewis competed in the heats of the girls’ 16-18 50m butterfly on Friday, clocking 31.44 seconds to finish fifth.
She is scheduled to compete in the 50m freestyle heats on Saturday morning, hoping to make her mark in another event.
The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) has officially named its national senior and “Next Gen” training squads, signalling a focused drive towards success at the 2025 Caribbean Senior Table Tennis Championships and other key international assignments, including the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games.
The Caribbean Senior Championships are scheduled in Barbados from June 16th to 22nd, providing an immediate and crucial test for the senior players.
The announcement of the squads marks the resumption of the GTTA’s year-round national training programme, which will feature tailored technical and tactical sessions designed to elevate the competitive standard of Guyanese table tennis.
The GTTA has opted for a strategic blend of experience and youth across the selected players, implementing team-based and individualised training plans to cultivate elite performance and sustained international competitiveness.
The Senior Men’s Squad features a strong line-up: Christopher Franklin, Shemar Britton, Jonathan Van Lange, Elishaba Johnson, Nigel Bryan, Joel Alleyne, Niran Bissu, Miguel Wong, and Levi Percival.
Olympian Chelsea Edghill leads the female team
The Senior Women’s Squad is equally formidable, with: Olympian Chelsea Edghill, Natalie Cummings, Jasmine Billingy, Thuraia Thomas, Michelle John, Priscilla Greaves, Samara Sukhai, Akira Watson, Angela Robinson, and Shakecy Damon.
Looking to the future, the GTTA has also named expansive “Next Gen” squads to ensure a pipeline of talent:
The Next Gen Boys Squad comprises: Jonathan Van Lange, Krystian Sahadeo, Malachi Moore, Colin Wong, Umar Percival, Salih Rahim, Chad Outar, Aaron Hopkinson, Travis Lyken, Akel Hall, Akeem Hall, Kayden Meusa, Rensford Beaton, Zamani Johnson, and Abinora Johnson.
The Next Gen Girls Squad includes: Jasmine Billingy, Samara Sukhai, Akira Watson, Angela Robinson, Shakecy Damon, and Seona Barker.
Several players feature in the senior and “Next Gen” lists, highlighting their current capabilities and future potential.
The GTTA is also inviting eligible international athletes of Guyanese heritage or those based overseas to express their interest in being considered for national selection.
The goal is to field the strongest possible teams on the international stage.
CIC Insurance Brokers (Guyana) Inc. has partnered with the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) for the upcoming Independence T10 Cup, which will be played on May 25 at the LBI Ground.
The DCB’s highly anticipated event is geared to raising funds to facilitate the growth and development of cricket in the county.
At a simple presentation ceremony at its location at Lot A52, Barima Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown, Assistant General Manager of CIC Insurance Brokers (Guyana) Inc. Preneta Bharosay made a financial contribution on behalf of her company to Vice-president of the DCB, Puneet Jaigopaul.
Bharosay said CIC Insurance Brokers (Guyana) Inc. is a leading insurance brokerage and risk management firm providing the absolute best in claims advocacy services.
She stated that while they develop innovative and industry-focused insurance solutions tailor-made to protect businesses, they are also keen on supporting activities that make a positive impact, hence the decision to align with the DCB’s Independence T10 Cup.
“As your partners you can rest assured that your assets and liabilities are adequately covered so you have the freedom to do what’s right for your business and focus on achieving your long-term goals,” Bharosay said of CIC Insurance Brokers (Guyana) Inc.
Speaking on behalf of the DCB, Jaigopaul indicated that the board is extremely grateful for the support of CIC Insurance Brokers (Guyana) Inc. and all the other businesses that have embraced the tournament.
Already onboard are L. Mahabeer and Son Cambio, Office Express, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Anil Beharry Real Estate, Construction and General Business Services and Naven’s Construction.
He urged cricket fans and the general public to patronize these establishments, so that they can continue to extend their benevolence to events such as the Independence T10 Cup.
Eight first division teams from the county will compete for top honours, with the format being a one game knockout.
Six teams- Lusignan, LBI, Better Hope, Enterprise, Herstelling A and Helena One and Two- are already confirmed, with the other two to be revealed in the coming days.
Total cash prize of G$500,000 and trophies will be up grabs at the one day event.
While the teams will be represented by players within the respective associations, each team is allowed two guest players from other counties.
The champion team is guaranteed G$250,000 cash plus trophy; the runners-up G$150,000 and trophy, while the losing semi-finalists will be receive G$50,000 each.
On the individual side, Man-of-the-Match in the semi-finals and final will receive a trophy.
Action will bowl off at 10:00h and conclude under floodlights.
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Olympian Chelsea Edghill leads the female team