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Guyana records in excess of 300 sexual assault cases monthly, according to the Manager of Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Cona Husbands.

Dr. Husbands spoke at the “Asking for It” exhibition on Tuesday; the event was conceptualised to raise awareness about sexual abuse.

“In Guyana, we do have a significant number of sexual abuse. Early up in the year there was a little peak and now it is kind of going back down.

“Basically, on average, we have on a monthly basis, an excess of 300 cases of sexual assault, every year,” Dr. Husbands stated.

Manager of Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Cona Husbands

Providing a further breakdown of these cases, Dr. Husbands revealed that more than 90 per cent of these cases involve women, with women being the primary victims and the ones speaking out.

However, there are also cases involving men, though they account for less than 10 per cent.

“We still have some men who are speaking out and being abused, that would be less than 10 per cent.”

Alarmingly though, over 70 per cent of the cases involve children under the age of 18.

Despite the high number of reported assaults, less than 10 percent of the cases result in convictions, and more than 50 per cent of the cases make it to court.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud

Meanwhile, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, emphasised the importance of recognising that while statistics show women disproportionately experience violence, it is critical to acknowledge that boys and men also suffer violence.

“We live in a culture, a Guyanese culture or a Caribbean culture, where men are told it is not okay to be anything less than strong. Boys are told if that [sexual abuse] happens to you, you’re probably making it up, or something is wrong with you,” Minister Persaud explained.

Dr. Persaud underscored that addressing violence must be seen as a collective mission for all people.

“…when we embark on this mission it must not be seen as a women and girl’s thing but as a people thing, where every person feels confident in a system that will provide them the safety, security that they need, the help, the support that are necessities to them.”

The ministry is currently developing what is referred to as the Guyana Model to Counter Violence and Abuse. A key component of this initiative is the Brave Circle – a prevention strategy focused on intervention and rehabilitation for at-risk individuals with aims to curb the cycle of violence.

 

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Police have arrested a Bartica resident after he was allegedly found in possession of a quantity of narcotics in a bucket.

The narcotics found included: 427 grams of cannabis, 10 grams of cannabis gummies, 3 grams of ecstasy and 22 grams of amphetamine; the drugs were unearthed during an operation at Deon Roberts One Mile Potaro Road, Bartica house on Tuesday.

Police Headquarters reported that upon arrival at the location, the ranks met with Roberts and another resident, Blossom Holder.

They were informed that a search would be conducted at the premises for illegal items and they gave consent.

“As the ranks entered the house, Deon Roberts grabbed a small white bucket and jumped through the back window of his bedroom,” Police said.

Police pursued Roberts and he was apprehended. The narcotics were in the white bucket Roberts has. The man was later taken into custody and questioned; Police said he admitted ownership of the narcotics.

He is likely to be charged soon.

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Shazad Khan, a 29-year-old machine operator of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, was charged with simple larceny on Tuesday after he stole steel rods worth about $268,000.

Police Headquarters said the man reportedly stole from Shazam Ibrahim on March 29 at La Bonne Intention, ECD.

Khan appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court #2 before Magistrate Abigail Gibbs, where the charge was read to him, and he pleaded not guilty.

Bail was granted in the sum of $250,000 with a condition to report at the Beterverwagting Police Station on the last Friday of every month, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The matter was postponed to May 1, 2025.

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As the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Police Force prepare to launch the Automated Speed Ticketing System, citizens are receiving key clarifications on how the system will operate.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall has provided the latest update, confirming that the new system will issue tickets to vehicle owners for speeding and seatbelt violations, rather than to the drivers themselves. No additional charges are being pursued in the initial phase.

A day earlier, Traffic Chief Assistant Commissioner Mahendra Singh clarified that the only devices responsible for recording offences and issuing tickets would be the overhead traffic cameras located along various roadways.

These cameras will capture images of vehicles, including the speed at which they are travelling and whether the driver is wearing a seatbelt.

Singh further explained that the speed radar signs, which currently alert drivers to their speed, will serve only as a “traffic calming measure” rather than a tool for issuing tickets. The radar signs are designed to alert motorists when they are exceeding the speed limit, allowing them to adjust their speed accordingly.

A speed clock on the Rupert Craig Highway

In his commentary on Tuesday night, Nandlall elaborated on the system’s implementation.

“The system is being carefully designed to ensure accuracy and reliability.

“We have worked extensively to ensure that the data produced is precise and that the equipment is properly tested,” he said.

During the first phase of the programme, the system will target two key offences: speeding and driving without a seatbelt. Once an offence is detected, the system will capture an image of the vehicle along with its speed. This information will be sent to a central database, where it will be reviewed to determine whether the vehicle was exceeding the speed limit or violating seatbelt regulations.

Once confirmed, an electronic ticket will be issued to the registered owner of the vehicle.

The ticket will be delivered through various means, including WhatsApp, email, or registered post. It will detail the alleged offence and provide instructions on how to challenge the ticket if the vehicle owner wishes to plead not guilty.

Nandlall also mentioned that payment platforms, such as MMG, have been identified for settling fines. If the ticket recipient chooses to contest the fine, they will be required to appear at a Magistrate’s court, where the case will be heard.

This new system is part of a broader initiative to improve road safety and reduce traffic violations, which authorities hope will lead to fewer accidents and a safer driving environment for all.

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The completion of the modern US$6.9 million College of Medical Sciences building at the University of Guyana (UG) is the culmination of hard work and visionary leadership, Deputy Vice Chancellor Dr Emmanuel Cummings said Tuesday.

“On this historic day, the annals of the University of Guyana will record a quantum leap in the delivery of medical education at the university,” Dr Cummings said.

The facility was built to include a lecture theatre to accommodate 200 students, a fully furnished skills laboratory and various labs, such as anatomy, biochemistry, histology, and hematology. The college was built by Chinese company, Shandong Hi-Speed Dejian Group Co, with funding from the Government of Guyana and the World Bank. Construction started in November 2023 but the project has been in the making for over a decade.

President Irfaan Ali with medical students at the college (Photo: Ministry of Education/April 1, 2025)

The project was conceptualised in 2013 and in 2017, the project loan agreement was signed with the World Bank.

President Dr Irfaan Ali highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic also played a role in the delay of the project.

The new College of Medical Sciences is dubbed as the most modern building on campus with touchless biometric labs, a biochemistry lab along with a water treatment plant and a power plant.

The facility was built to include a lecture theatre to accommodate 200 students, a fully furnished skills laboratory and various labs, such as anatomy, biochemistry, histology, and hematology (Photo: News Room/April 1, 2025)

Programmes offered at the college include general nursing, neonatal nursing, cardiovascular nursing, emergency nursing, medicine, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, optometry, medical lab science, respiratory therapy, occupational health and safety, environmental health engineering and food and vector control.

“The medical college now must be able to produce high quality graduates – must be able to be part of an international network in which we can punch pound for pound – in which we can position ourselves as a leader.

“So, these investments are not just another piece of investment. We’re investing in the best because there is a vision behind it,” President Ali said during his remarks.

The students common area at the college (Photo: News Room/April 1, 2025)

He posited that if nurses, doctors and lab technicians all study at the same level “then you’re training them to work together.

“In medicine you have to work together, you have to understand the environment and they are all learning in this new environment that would allow them to take this into their career.”

President Irfaan Ali toured the modern College of Medical Sciences at UG (Photo: Ministry of Education/April 1, 2025)

Meanwhile, World Bank Director for Human Development for Latin America and the Caribbean, Jaime Saavedra said noted the challenge in balancing technological advancement with humanistic care.

“Guyana is already investing in sophisticated technology and artificial intelligence for diagnostic and treatment planning.

Today’s medical student must learn to leverage that technology while preserving the essential human connection that lies at the heart of healing,” Saavedra said.

(Photo: Ministry of Education/April 1, 2025)

However, he explained that most challenging is the cultivation of resilience in future medical doctors who witness suffering and even death and the need to be compassionate puts a demand on health workers and they must be prepared for that.

A lecture room at the college (Photo: News Room/April 1, 2025)

UG’s Vice Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin said while many students would have applied to the medical school in the past, they could have only accommodated about 2/3 of them.

“Now, even though we still can’t take every single person who can apply, I am happy to say that this building today allows us to take in about 40 per cent more students in the medical school than we have been able to take in,” the Vice Chancellor said.

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No one asks to be abused or assaulted. It is not the victims’ fault. It was not what they were wearing. Every survivor of sexual assault deserves justice and to be heard, believed, and supported. These were the clear messages as the ‘Asking for It’ exhibition on sexual assault awareness opened at the Umana Yana on Tuesday.

From ages 4 to 40, survivors of sexual assault shared their harrowing experiences on large placards. On display, next to their stories, are powerful experiences of outfits the survivors wore at the time of their assault.

The exhibition runs from April 1 – 7 and aims to confront difficult questions about consent and dismantle harmful societal narratives surrounding sexual violence.

But the exhibition also dives deeper to educate on the various laws and policies in place against sexual assault and violence.

(Photo: News Room/April 1, 2025)

The event marks the commencement of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, observed annually in April, and is hosted by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security in collaboration with The Imperial House.

Executive Director of The Imperial House, Wasim Khan, said the event was conceptualised when survivors were asked to share their stories.

He said speaking out took immense courage, and their stories are not just accounts of suffering but testaments to their survival, resilience, and their fight to reclaim dignity and justice.

“To think that persons have gone through such horror in places where they were supposed to be kept safe at home with their parents, grandparents, and yet this was the eventuality of it,” Khan explained.

(Photo: News Room/April 1, 2025)

For seven years, Vicky was assaulted by her grandfather.

“I took a shower, and when I was getting dressed, he came into the room and asked to see my boobs. I was terrified,” Vicky wrote.

For the seven years that she was abused, seven towels in a laundry basket were on display.

For Shanique, who was 7 at the time, a visiting deacon at her church raped her after she acted in play as Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was wearing a sheet.

“After the play, I left to use the washroom where I was cornered by a deacon from a visiting church. I didn’t recognise him from my church. But she knows his name based on his name tag.

Next to her story, a sheet was on display with an underwear on the ground.

For many others, the perpetrators were close to them – partners, employers, and teachers.

“We realise that age does not matter, gender neither, social stature not at all, ethnicity, religion and more so what you are wearing. Implicit in all of this is the deep understanding that no one asks for this, not a soul,” Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud said.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud

Minister Persaud said that to truly make a difference, society’s consciousness needs to change. She explained that when victims speak up, the remarks and reactions they receive expose deep-seated biases that must be confronted and changed.

“What we are standing against is not a two-day occurrenc. These are things that are embedded for decades, and I dare say centuries,” Minister Persaud said.

(Photo: News Room/April 1, 2025)

Deputy Director within the Ministry of Human Services, Hamwanttie Bisesar, said victim blaming does more than silence victims and survivors. It emboldens their perpetrators.

“Too often survivors are met with judgement instead of justice, scrutiny instead of support or phrases like ‘what was she wearing’ and ‘why was she there’, or in Guyanese dialect ‘dem girls like play big woman’ or ‘she was asking for it’,” Bisesar stated as she highlighted that sexual violence remains a pressing issue in society.

A study released in 2019, that was conducted by the Guyana Bureau of Statistics with support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), UN Women, UNDP, USAID, the Global Women’s Institute of George Washington University and the University of Guyana, revealed that more than half (55%) of all women experienced at least one form of violence at the hands of their partner.

In Guyana, 1 in every 2 women experience either physical and/or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner at some point in their lives.

“This is not just a statistic. It is a stark reminder of the pervasive nature of this problem and the urgent need for change,” Bisesar stressed.

Meanwhile, Child Care Director Levine Gouveia stressed that many children experience sexual abuse at the hands of individuals they trust, leading to lasting psychological, social, and emotional consequences.

“It is our duty to protect our children, educate them about personal safety, and create an environment where they feel safe to disclose abuse. We must also recognise that irresponsible reporting can be equally detrimental to victims of child sexual abuse,” Gouveia said.

The “Asking For It” exhibition is more than a display; it is an immersive experience designed to spark dialogue, challenge misconceptions, and ultimately drive meaningful change in the fight against sexual violence.

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Tristan Saphan Franklyn was arrested on Tuesday after he was found with $80,000 in counterfeit currency, which he allegedly used to purchase a quantity of beverages; a further check revealed he had another $180,000 stashed.

Police Headquarters reported that Franklyn, 26, a labourer of Friendship Village, East Bank Demerara, was taken into custody following a report made by Althea Peters, a Customer Service Representative and Cashier at Banks DIH Limited, Brickdam and Cornhill Street, Stabroek, Georgetown.

According to a police report, Peters visited the Stabroek Police Outpost around 07:59 hrs and informed the police that Franklyn had visited her workplace to purchase beverages.

She stated that Franklyn paid $80,000 in $5,000 notes.

“She collected the money and, upon checking it, observed that it appeared counterfeit. She handed over the notes to a police rank at the Stabroek Outpost, after which she identified Franklyn to the police, and he was arrested,” Police Headquarters reported.

Following Franklyn’s arrest, a search was conducted on a black haversack he was carrying, and additional $5,000 notes amounting to $180,000 were discovered.

Franklyn was taken to the Brickdam Police Station, where he remains in custody.

Police said the suspected counterfeit currency notes were secured in an evidence bag, marked, sealed, and lodged for analysis at the forensic laboratory.

Investigations are ongoing.

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The Gladiators emerged victorious in the inaugural Bartica Premier League (BPL) T20 tournament, defeating Bartica Super Strikers in a high-scoring final at Daag Point Ground.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the Gladiators posted a formidable 182 all out in 14.5 overs.

Due to prior delays, the final was reduced to 15 overs per side.

Their innings were characterized by explosive hitting, with Leon Swamy leading the charge, smashing 48(1×4, 7x6s) off just 15 balls.

Kelvin Orford 34 (3x4s, 3x6s) off 17 balls, and Jermaine Dover, 28 off 11 balls, provided crucial support.

Despite the onslaught, Bartica Super Strikers’ bowlers fought valiantly.

Kevon Stephens (3-14) was the pick of the bowlers, while Ashberk Hohenkirk (3-50), Garfield Phillips (2-13), and Christopher Harry (2-44) also contributed with wickets.

In response, Bartica Super Strikers fell short, finishing 161-5 from their allotted 15 overs.

Garfield Phillips 73* (5x4s, 7x6s) off 29 balls and Christopher Harry 30* (3x4s, 2x6s) off 14 balls, provided late fireworks, nearly pulling off a remarkable comeback after a top-order collapse.

Ronaldo Jeffrey, a standout performer throughout the tournament

Ronaldo Jeffrey (23 off 14 balls) also contributed. However, Aston Simmons (3-31) and Marvin Peters (1-23) restricted the Super Strikers’ chase.

Ronaldo Jeffrey, a standout performer throughout the tournament, amassed a staggering 480 runs in five matches, averaging 120.

His scores of 168 not out, 118, 104, 69, and 23 earned him the Most Valuable Player award and the awards for Best Youth Player and Most Runs of the Tournament.

The BPL’s unique pitch setup, featuring a concrete batting surface and a mud turf bowling end, added an intriguing dimension to the tournament. It tested the players’ adaptability and provided a unique cricketing experience.

FULL SCORECARD: https://flsport.gy/live-score/

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Days after she was arrested, a 59-year-old woman was remanded to prison on Tuesday after being charged with the illegal possession of 2.03 grams of cocaine.

Shameena Budhu, of Good Hope, Essequibo Coast, appeared at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Tamieka Clarke.

She denied the allegation of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. The prosecutor objected to bail, and Budhu was remanded to prison.

The case was adjourned to 17 April for a report.

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The Punjab Kings made it two wins from two in the Indian Premier League, with a superb eight-wicket victory over the Lucknow Super Giants.

The Punjab Kings made light work of their chase in an eight-wicket victory over the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League.

Lucknow had toiled in the first innings before rallying late on to reach 171, but Punjab went big in the chase and racked up 177 with 22 balls to spare.

The Super Giants made a stuttering start, with Mitchell Marsh dismissed for a first-ball duck by Arshdeep Singh (3-43).

Aiden Markram hit 28 before Lockie Ferguson took a wicket on his debut, while Rishabh Pant’s poor start to the season continued as he was caught for two.

Nicholas Pooran (44) helped steady the ship somewhat with a patient knock, but when he fell in the 12th over to leave Lucknow on 89-4, a competitive score looked beyond them.

However, Ayush Badoni’s 41 off 33 balls anchored the innings, and they banded together to score 63 off the final six overs.

The Kings, in contrast, started strongly, with Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya taking 20 off the first two overs, before Digvesh Rathi (2-30) came to the fore in the third over, with Arya dismissed for eight.

Prabhsimran did not follow until the 11th over, having shone during the powerplay, and Lucknow needed a tag-team catch near the boundary from Ravi Bishnoi and Badoni to end his stand at 69.

Shreyas Iyer (52 not out) and Nehal Wadhera (43 not out) finished the chase with ease. The latter made an impact, hitting 16 runs in the penultimate over, including back-to-back sixes to put Punjab on the brink.

Iyer then hit the winning maximum to get them over the line and up to second place, level on points with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals.

Prabhsimran clattered a 23-ball half-century to propel Punjab forward, and was the leader of their charge, with his early runs doing most of the damage.

He scored 45 of the 62 runs Punjab scored during the powerplay, ensuring there was no way back for the Super Giants.

It was a torrid day for Lucknow, though. Marsh had made back-to-back fifties in the IPL so far, only to fail to get on the board on Tuesday.

Pant has also struggled in this year’s competition. His two runs in this game brought his total for the season up to just 17 runs from three innings. (SportsMax) 

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