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Trinidad and Tobago Red Force fought to stay in contention on day one of their crucial round seven encounter in the 2025 West Indies Championship against the Guyana Harpy Eagles at Queen’s Park Oval.

With the title on the line, the home side reached 217-7 by the close of play after 80.3 overs on a rain-interrupted day.

It was a disciplined bowling performance from the Harpy Eagles, spearheaded by Keemo Paul.

Guyana captain Tevin Imlach opted to field first, winning the crucial toss, a decision that quickly paid dividends.

The Red Force top order struggled to establish themselves against the probing Eagles’ attack. Keemo Paul proved particularly troublesome, picking up three vital wickets to put the brakes on the home side’s progress.

Opener Cephas Cooper showed resilience, anchoring the innings with a hard-fought half-century, reaching 50 before eventually becoming one of Paul’s victims. His innings provided some stability for the Red Force amidst the pressure.

Paul has taken 3-38, Nial Smith has 2-39, and Ronaldo Alimohamed and Veerasammy Permaul each have one wicket.

At the close of play, Jyd Goolie was unbeaten with a gritty 57, while Khary Pierre provided valuable late resistance with his 38.

The Harpy Eagles will be pleased with their efforts on the opening day as they have put themselves in a strong position to potentially secure vital first-innings points in this title-deciding clash.

The match resumes Thursday with Red Force aiming to recover and Guyana looking to press their advantage.

Weather permitting, play should resume at 10:00h.

FULL SCORECARD: https://matchcentre.windiescricket.com/match/66c1bb30-4a4b-4bdc-8be6-b0202f8aa5ca/scorecard

Below are the summarised scores of two other matches:

At Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground, St Augustine: Combined Campuses and Colleges 174-4 from 48 overs (Shaqkere Parris 70*, Johann Jeremiah 69, Larry Edward 11*; Brad Barnes 2-38, Marquino Mindley 1-23) lead Jamaica Scorpions 133 all out from 36.2 overs (Kirk McKenzie 31, Brad Barnes 23; Jaden Edmund 5-59, Larry Edward 3-6) by 41 runs

At Coolidge Cricket Ground: West Indies Academy 197-5 from 51.4 overs (Teddy Bishop 54*, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett 45, Justin Jagessar 42; Kenneth Dember 2-23) lead Windward Islands Volcanoes 106 all out from 25 overs (Noelle Leo 22, Kimani Melius 20; Joshua Bishop 3-15, Nathan Edward 2-15, Kelvin Pitman 2-22, McKenny Clarke 2-34) by 91 runs

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A tragic incident occurred on Wednesday morning when a labourer collapsed and drowned in a canal at Crabwood Creek, Corentyne Berbice.

The man has been identified as 30-year-old Bedore Totaram, who was homeless.

According to reports, Totaram’s body was recovered from the Side Line Dam canal in Crabwood Creek,  Corentyne Berbice, around 7:30 am.

Authorities were notified, and investigations revealed no signs of foul play.

Totaram’s remains were transported to Skeldon hospital, and a post-mortem examination is anticipated to take place shortly.

It has been reported that Totaram had a history of epilepsy.

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President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced on Wednesday afternoon that beginning this year, the government will fully cover the cost of Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination fees for up to eight subjects for every student in both public and private schools.

The cost for up to eight CXC subjects can amount to approximately $46,500. However, the cost is often subsidized based on the parents’ income. With this new measure, families across the board will benefit from significant financial relief.

CSEC cost displayed at a school in Guyana

“Beginning this year, as I speak to you, parents are preparing to pay for their children’s CXC fees.

“I have good news for you, with effect from this year CXC, the government will pay in full the cost for at least eight subjects for every single child in the public and private schools,” the President announced.

This initiative, he said, is part of the government’s broader commitment to building a prosperous and unified future for all citizens.

“These are the policies that we are embracing. This is the future that we are creating. We are not a seasonal presence in your lives,” the President stated.

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The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Wednesday said the first batch of automated e-tickets were generated, packaged and delivered to the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) to then be posted by mail to traffic violators.

According to the Police statement, this is in keeping with the rollout and full implementation of the e-ticketing aspect of the Safe Road Intelligent System. Representatives of the GPF, GPOC and National Data Management Authority (NDMA) started the process on Wednesday with the handover of the tickets at the NDMA Head Office at Crown Street, Queenstown, Georgetown.

“The first tickets were generated, packaged, and delivered to the GPOC for registered posts in keeping with amendments to the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act Chapter 51:02,” the Police noted in the statement.

This handover signified a commitment to ensuring swift dispatch of the tickets to liable owners whose motor vehicles being driven above the speed limits and which were captured via the speed cameras.

The automated speed ticketing system was officially implemented on April 7 to detect and issue tickers for speeding violations.

The police advised drivers to update their contact information (cellular phone number and email addresses) at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) which will facilitate immediate notification of violation. Payments can be made via MMG services countrywide using the ticket number and persons can utilise the GPF web page, guyanapoliceforce.gy , to track tickets issued to them.

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Fifteen-year-old Tyrese Adams was one of the two bandits shot dead as he tried to rob the Jia Jia supermarket on Hadfield Street in Georgetown Tuesday night.

Adams’ family has been speaking out. One of his relatives, in a brief video posted on Facebook, expressed regret at his death, admitting that Tyrese used to ‘deh pun stupidness.”

“They just kill meh big son. They just kill he bai.

“Even though he does deh pun stupidness, they kill he. He and he friend go fah rob the Chiney just now. Well duhs how life does go,” Tyrese’s relative expressed.

Meanwhile, the teenager’s aunt Colita Adams shared that she was heartbroken.

She expressed disappointment in the path he chose. Colita said she wished Tyrese had “just listened”.

“Rest up my nephew. God got you regardless. You wasn’t no pie but your family still love you.

‘Only if you used to listen – just listen. But God knows best,” Colita wrote in a post on Facebook.

Tyrese was among four armed, masked bandits who tried to rob the supermarket.

The 35-year-old security guard who was on duty was confronted by the bandits and he opened fire, fatally wounding two of the bandits. The second dead bandit is Orwin Garraway.

Upon entering the supermarket, the bandits attempted to rob the cashiers.

It was then that the guard who was armed with a licensed 9mm pistol, confronted the robbers.

Both Tyrese and Orwin attempted to flee the scene. However, in doing so, one of them collapsed inside the supermarket, while the other made it outside before collapsing on the roadway.

The two other bandits who were waiting outside the supermarket escaped west along Hadfield Street, leaving behind two motorcycles.

Police recovered a Glock 17 pistol loaded with eight rounds beside one of the bodies. Additionally, fourteen spent 9mm shells, four fragments and one live round were found at the scene.

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At the 2025 Local Content Summit, President Irfaan Ali announced ambitious plans to transform Guyana’s innovation landscape with the establishment of a world-class National Innovation Centre, modeled after top institutions like those at the University of California (Berkeley) and in collaboration with global partners like NASA.

“What I want us to have here is a National Berkeley Guyana Institute of Innovation instead of Guyana Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST),” President Ali revealed.

The Head of State further noted that IAST will be converted into the Berkeley Institute. President Ali said soon arrangements will conclude on the establishment of innovation institute here in Guyana.

“We are going to target innovators that are already in with something, so we have to have scouters,” the President said.

The goal, he explained is to position Guyana at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, research, and development within the Community of Latin American and Caribbean states (CELAC).

“I believe that we have to be competitive in a way that is different.

“In a way in which we will lead the next generation of business opportunity in this CELAC region, in which we will lead the human output here in the CELAC region and to do that we have to associate with the best, we have to build partnership with the best,” President Ali stated.

President Ali also noted ongoing discussions with leading global innovators from Silicon Valley, some of whom are currently conducting human trials in healthcare, to bring their groundbreaking technologies to Guyana.

“That is what India did, that is how India leapfrogged their technological sector not by starting from scratch [but by] creating an enabling environment.”

The initiative is also designed to create opportunities for the private sector to invest something that is “futuristic” and create a new space “for those who want to be in a society that is not just catching up, but truly competitive.”

President Ali further stated that “this is what the revenues from oil and gas allows us to do, to be bold, to be innovative, to be ambitious.

“It does not allow us to share out money like every day Christmas it allows you to space to be innovative and bold in your thinking.”

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President Dr Irfaan Ali Tuesday told the 2025 Local Content Summit that in the last four years Guyanese businesses have benefitted from over US$1.5 billion in contracts and procurement.

President Ali said the local content law allows for inclusive participation in Guyana’s oil and gas sector specifically for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and women-owned businesses highlighting that “local content is an instrument of national development.”

He said that despite the criticisms, the government’s strong legislative and regulatory local content framework has proven effective.

“You know they were many naysayers when we first approached local content in the way in which we approached it, but when we see in 2024 (that) 1,100 Guyanese companies successfully added to the local content register that tells you something. It tells you that there is success, there is appetite, and that was facilitated through a legislative and regulatory arrangement,” President Ali said.

He further stated that with the structure, planning and decision-making capability of the local content law, it is no surprise that the sector has opened up opportunities for Guyanese businesses.

“We have seen all the successes in local content and what it has done for our country, our private sector, local investors and importantly for women owned businesses,” President Ali said. The President further pledged to close any gaps that are being abused under the act.

The Third Local Content Summit was held on Tuesday at the Mariott Hotel under the theme: Collaborate, Invest, Build – Shaping Guyana’s future together.” The Summit was an opportunity to share, learn and challenge local companies and to further seek partnership and solutions.

One of the organisers, Abbigale Loncke-Watson, emphasised that shaping Guyana’s future is not a solo task, it is a shared mission.

“In 2025, there is perhaps no greater strength than being a Guyanese owned business. We are the heartbeat of this nation’s growth story and this summit is designed to give us the tools, the knowledge and the network to strive,” Loncke-Watson said.

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Full statement issued by GECOM on non-Renewal of the contract  Legal Officer Kurt Da Silva:

Deliberations on the request of Mr. Kurt Da Silva, Legal Officer to have his employment contract with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) renewed concluded, at the Commission’s Statutory Meeting of Tuesday, April 8, 2025, with a majority decision being taken against renewal.

It is acknowledged that, in his Performance Appraisal the Legal Officer was indeed given high scores with a proposal from the Chairman that his employment contract be renewed. In this regard, however, it is of crucial importance to emphasize that the performance review period ended on February 10, 2025, whereas the Legal Officer served in the position until March 31, 2025.

However, subsequent to the preparation of the Performance Appraisal, there was the emergence of new circumstances involving the Legal Officer, which ultimately led to the Chairman concluding that, there existed a compelling case for his employment not to be renewed.

The Legal Officer represented the Chief Election Officer in a court matter based on the provisions of Representation of the People (Amendment) Act No. 25 Of 2022 concerning the verification of the addresses of applicants for registration. However, the submissions made by the Legal Officer carried extreme potential for the emergence of harmful effects insofar as

• confidence in the Commission’s ability to conduct credible elections is concerned,
• postponement of the elections beyond the Constitutional deadline, which could lead to the aggravation of political conflicts, and
• consequences associated with legitimacy and governance.

The question that had to be answered was whether the Legal Officer’s submissions to the court was done without regard as to the consequences, or in error. In this regard, it was determined that the Legal Officer’s submissions to the court were made without concern for the potential consequences.

Further, it appears that his submissions were supportive of the Applicant’s arguments instead of the respondents whom he was authorised to represent.

The following critical factors which demonstrated a breach of professional conduct and failure to represent the interests of the client were also given due consideration.

• The primary responsibility of the Legal Officer was to represent his clients’ interests diligently and faithfully. In this case, the Legal Officer acted contrary to this duty by introducing new arguments contrary to the sworn position of the CEO without prior discussion or authorization. This behaviour undermined the trust and reliance that was placed in the Legal Officer.
• The Legal Officer was required to act within the scope of authority granted by his principal in this case the CEO. By acting outside this scope, particularly in favoring the applicant, the Legal Officer violated this fundamental principle.
• The actions taken by the Legal Officer severely eroded trust and confidence in his ability to fulfil his responsibilities, especially in legal matters concerning the conduct of elections.

As a consequence, the Chairman denied the Legal Officer’s request for further employment.

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A Police rank was rushed for medical attention on Wednesday after he was allegedly ‘accidentally’ shot by one of his colleagues.

The incident took place at the Beterverwagting Police Station, East Coast of Demerara.

Information gathered by the News Room revealed that the rank was struck to the foot after the weapon ‘accidentally’ went off.

More details will be provided in a subsequent report.

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Thirty-year-old Marissa Beete, the woman who was killed on Tuesday night had shared a two-year relationship with convicted drug trafficker Ghalee Khan.

However, that relationship had recently ended, and the couple were not on speaking terms for some time.

Tuesday night he showed up at her house to ‘talk’.

What happened?

• At around 18:15 hrs, Ghalee Khan, armed with a gun, showed up at Beete’s home at Parfait Harmonie, West Bank Demerara
• He had called her saying he wanted to talk
• She was home with her 62-year-old mother, who strongly opposed having Ghalee Khan come over
• Despite this, Marissa opened the door and allowed Khan inside
• To give the couple privacy, Marissa’s mother went to another section of the house
• Shortly after, a loud explosion was heard
• Marissa’s mother ran into the room and found her in a slumped position in the living room, bleeding from a gunshot wound to the head
• Her mother held on to Ghalee Khan, but he pushed her aside
• He then went behind a door in the house and turned the gun on himself, but he did not die
• Both Marissa and Ghalee Khan were taken to the hospital
• Marissa was pronounced dead
• Ghalee Khan survived and was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital

Who is Ghalee Khan?

Ghalee Khan owns Integrated Security Service and is a licensed firearm holder.

Police recovered three live rounds of ammunition, four spent shells, and one bullet fragment at the scene.

Ghalee Khan

Back in 2008, Ghalee Khan and Danvor Griffith were jointly charged with drug trafficking in the United States. They were tracked by federal agents after landing in New York from Guyana. They were traced to a location where they made a cocaine drop and were arrested.

Ghalee Khan was granted US$200,000 bail and instead of facing court, he fled the US and came back to Guyana.

While hiding out here, he became involved in different businesses, including the security firm.

He eventually got a passport and returned to the United States in 2020 and was arrested. In November of the following year, he was nabbed and sentenced to nine years in prison – for drug trafficking and for missing court appearances.

In September 2023, Ghalee Khan was re-sentenced in the US to 18 months in prison and returned to Guyana.

It was then that he started up a relationship with Marissa Beete.

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