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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.

The reaffirmation of the provisional measures is part of the substantive case before the ICJ regarding the long-standing Arbitral Award of October 03, 1899.

On Thursday, the Court said, “Pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from conducting elections, or preparing to conduct elections, in the territory in dispute, which the Cooperative Republic of Guyana currently administers and over which it exercises control.”

Venezuela had announced that it intends to hold elections in Guyana’s Essequibo for which it has administered for over 100 years, a territory that has been claimed by Venezuela. Over the past few days, the Bolivarian Republic has been issuing notices on the candidates for these elections.

Guyana maintains that Essequibo is an integral part of its sovereign territory, a position upheld by the ICJ in its December 2023 ruling. 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.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali welcomed the decision from the Court.

“Once again, Guyana’s position has prevailed. Once again, it has been demonstrated that Guyana’s position accords with international law. The Government of Guyana welcomes this decision,” he said.

Guyana seeks urgent Court intervention to stop Venezuela’s electoral plans for Essequibo

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Deodat Indar, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, has initiated legal proceedings against former Mayor of Georgetown, Pt. Ubraj Narine, in the High Court, alleging defamation arising from statements made on social media.

According to the Statement of Claim filed on Wednesday, Minister Indar is seeking damages exceeding $60 million, along with aggravated and/or exemplary damages. He also seeks an injunction to prevent further publication of the allegedly defamatory statements, the removal of existing posts from social media, and a public retraction and apology from Mr Narine.

The legal action stems from a Facebook post published on April 28 on the page “Pt. Ubraj Narine Former Mayor of the City of Georgetown”, which has a following of nearly 28,000 users.

In the post, Mr Narine criticised Minister Indar’s public silence following the tragic discovery of 11-year-old Adrianna Young’s body near a pool at the Double Day Hotel in Region Three. Mr Narine implied that Minister Indar had a personal or business connection with the hotel and had possibly interfered with media coverage surrounding the incident.

The Claimant, Minister Indar, denies all allegations, asserting that the statements are false, baseless, and damaging to his reputation. The Claim contends that the Defendant’s words suggest impropriety, a conflict of interest, and intentional misinformation – claims which the Minister emphatically refutes.

According to the Claim, the original Facebook post was widely viewed, shared 62 times, and garnered over 130 comments. A follow-up post by Mr Narine allegedly compounded the defamatory nature of the first by questioning the timing and sincerity of the Minister’s public response.

Minister Indar, a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and former President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has been a Member of Parliament since August 2020. He also holds a senior position within the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

The Minister argues that the posts caused him considerable distress and reputational harm. His attorneys, Sase R. Gunraj and Shania Y. A. Cummings of Gunraj & Co., are representing him in the matter.

The court filing emphasises that unless restrained, Mr Narine is likely to continue publishing similar defamatory content. The Claim also includes a request for interest under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act and any further relief the court may deem appropriate.

Mr Narine has been officially served via the Supreme Court’s Electronic Litigation Portal and has been given eight days to file a defence.

At the time of publication, Mr Narine had not publicly responded to the lawsuit.

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A police constable from the Guyana Police Force has been remanded to prison after being formally charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Sherman Ferguson, 31, appeared at the Friendship Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 30 April, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge. The matter has been adjourned to 22 May 2025.

Ferguson’s court appearance comes nearly three weeks after he was intercepted in an intelligence-led operation along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway near Hauraruni on Thursday, 10 April. His arrest drew public scrutiny earlier this week, prompting questions as to why the case had not yet been brought before the courts.

According to police reports, Ferguson was travelling west along the southern side of the highway when ranks stopped and searched his vehicle. Inside the car’s boot, they discovered three large transparent plastic bags containing what appeared to be cannabis — specifically leaves, seeds, and stems. The substance was later confirmed to weigh approximately 34.6 kilogrammes.

Following the discovery, Ferguson was cautioned and taken into custody. He was later charged with the offence of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

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Fourteen-year-old batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi experienced the lows of elite sport just three days after his record-breaking century as he was dismissed for a two-ball duck in the Indian Premier League.

The prodigious talent became the youngest player to hit a men’s T20 century in Monday’s victory over Gujarat Titans, but in his following outing he lobbed a catch to Will Jacks inside the first over of Rajasthan Royals’ chase.

His dismissal was just the start of his side’s woes, as Mumbai Indians’ bowlers tore through the Rajasthan line-up, bowling them out for 117 in the 17th over to win by 100 runs.

A sixth consecutive win takes Mumbai top of the table while Rajasthan remain in eighth and can no longer qualify for the end of season play-offs.

Having struck 101 from 35 balls in just his third outing in the IPL, all eyes were on Suryavanshi as Rajasthan embarked on a chase of 218.

He was unable to repeat his feat of hitting his first ball in the competition for six, fending his first ball into the covers before chipping to Jacks at mid-on from Deepak Chahar’s next delivery.

His opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal struck two sixes off Trent Boult in the following over, but the veteran New Zealand seamer then took his revenge, bowling the India international.

Rajasthan slid to 47-5 as Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer with consecutive deliveries, before 37-year-old spinner Karn Sharma took three wickets for 23 to ensure there would be no Rajasthan fightback.

Jofra Archer held up the Mumbai victory, top-scoring with 30, but he became the last man out as Boult returned to have the England seamer caught at short fine-leg and finish with figures of 3-28.

Having been put into bat, Mumbai openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton got their team off to a strong side with an opening partnership of 116.

South African Rickelton was bowled by Maheesh Theekshana for 61 and Rohit followed in the next over, lofting Parag to Jaiswal at long-off having scored 53.

The wickets brought Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya to the crease and they each scored an unbeaten 48 from 23 balls as Mumbai closed on 217-2, a total Rajasthan proved incapable of chasing.

Mumbai move up two places from third and now sit at the top of the standings with seven wins and four losses – ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru on net run-rate, having played one game more. (BBC)

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The Guyana Squash Association (GSA) is delighted to announce a first-of-its-kind event in the history of the sport in Guyana.

It is planning to host a weekend long series of events to mark the 60^th Anniversary of Squash in Guyana.

President of the GSA David Fernandes said: “We wanted to mark this special occasion with a celebration of the sport for the entire Guyana squash community and our supporters both local and international. Given all our incredible accomplishments and sustained excellence during this time, we felt it appropriate, not only to acknowledge the contributions from previous generations, but also to outline our vision and strategy for continued success into the future.”

President of the Guyana Squash Association, David Fernandes

The GSA expects significant participation from the diaspora for this inaugural event, scheduled to take place in Guyana between September 26 and 28, 2025.

Of the many events scheduled over the three-day period, the GSA aims to host a presentation on the history of the game since 1965, an unveiling of the national champions from 1971 to the present, outlining a strategy for the future, as well as promoting its marque event- inducting its first-ever class into the Guyana Squash Hall of Fame.

Fernandes said that a sub-group of the association, called the Guyana Squash Archival Project (GSAP), has been quietly and diligently working hard over the past three years to research, digitise and preserve the history and records of the sports from its inception to date.

Fernandes said, “We are so excited to have the first player ever to play on the first court built in the country, Ian McDonald attending this event, along with the first ever Men’s and Women’s national champions, Mike, James, and Josephine Whitehead respectively. It is the contributions of these great players along with many others why the sport is where it is today.”

He added that the announcement of the inductees for the Hall of Fame will be publicised in the coming months, and emphasised that this would be the highest honour that can be bestowed on a national player.

“We very much believe in recognising and acknowledging what great individuals have done for our sport. The sport is in a terrific place right now, and we are so grateful for the support the government has given us with funding the new National Racquet Centre. Especially now with squash being included in the Olympic Games in 2028, we need to plan for the next generation of future national champions and support them in order to compete with the very best on the international level.”

The GSA is currently approaching the local business community to help secure sponsorship for this historic event.

The Association is expecting people from the US, Europe and Canada to attend the main gala event on September 27 for the Hall of Fame ceremony.

Also expected to attend are the Presidents of other Caribbean squash playing nations, as well as various government officials from the Ministry of Sport, the Guyana Olympic Association and the National Sports Commission.

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Two men have been arrested and are assisting with investigations into a shooting incident at Perseverance Village, Mahaicony, that left a 23-year-old businessman injured.

The injured businessman is Ijaaz Arjune; he was shot at about 01:45 hrs Wednesday after an altercation with two suspects in a black motorcar.

A statement from the Officer of the Commissioner of Police noted that Arjune, of Unity, Mahaica, is in a stable condition receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

A .32 pistol and nine matching rounds were recovered at the scene and lodged. The men apprehended are said to be assisting with the ongoing probe.

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The Mayor and Councilors of the Municipality of Linden wish to inform residents that following consultations with all of our stakeholder partners and promoters, that all remaining activities on the Linden Town Week 2025 calendar are hereby officially halted, as from today, April 30th 2025. This, in light of prevailing national unrest and growing public safety concerns around several constituencies across the town.

This difficult but necessary decision comes, as the town was already coping, and as we now mourn with the rest of the nation the tragic and deeply unsettling deaths of Ronaldo Peters, Keon Fogenay, and most recently, Adrianna Younge.
Linden, like much of Guyana, is experiencing intense grief, anger, and a sustained call for justice.

Over the past weeks, the leadership of our municipality stood in strong solidarity with the families and residents, urging a vigilant pursuit of justice in line with the law.

Lindeners have demonstrated strength and resolve during vigils and protests, seeking truth and accountability while preserving peace within our community and ensuring constant updates with all stakeholders.

However, the situation has since escalated in and beyond our town’s borders, with growing civil unrest now affecting the national landscape. The murder of Adrianna Younge—and the public’s response to the initial narrative issued by the Guyana Police Force—has sparked countrywide outcry. This heightened tension, coupled with increased reports of violence, looting, and the destruction of both public and private property, compels us to act decisively.

As we commemorated Linden’s 55th anniversary as a town, yesterday (April 29th), we did so with a sense of pride and unity, that Linden is the Heart of Guyana. But we must also acknowledge the responsibility we bear to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents, especially at a time when legitimate expressions of grief risk being manipulated by those who seek to exploit public emotions.

The Government of Guyana’s implementation of a national curfew reinforces the need for us to act with urgency. We have received reports of residents encountering dangerous obstructions on roads while returning home from Town Week events, are clear indicators that the current environment is not conducive to large public gatherings.

In a prior joint statement, Linden’s elected leaders emphasized:
“Peaceful protest is a fundamental right in any democracy, but looting, damage to public property, and acts of violence threaten to derail our pursuit of justice and risk provoking confrontations that place more lives in danger. If these disruptions continue, they will not only delay justice but also severely affect the daily lives of Lindeners, interrupt access to healthcare, education, transportation, and essential public services, as well as severely affect our own children who are preparing to, or are writing, CXC and CAPE examinations.”

The Mayor and Councilors will convene an upcoming statutory and committee meetings to deliberate on the potential rescheduling or reimagining of halted events later in the year, should circumstances permit. Further updates will be shared accordingly.

We thank all the promoters who we have already spoken with and who have already expressed their support for this decision and we appeal for the continued understanding of others in the entertainment, hospitality, and tourism sectors, as well as the general public, and our many overseas visitors, as we prioritize the safety and unity of our town.

Let us remain focused on the path to justice.

[Linden Town Week Press Release]

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Statement from the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand on the commencement of written CSEC examinations.

“The first written CXC exams for CSEC and CAPE commence tomorrow, marking an important milestone for thousands of our students across the country.

On Monday, May 5th, nearly 10,000 candidates will sit the English paper 2 exam, one of the largest exams on the CSEC calendar followed by Mathematics on Friday, May 9th, 2025. We at the Ministry of Education recognize the tremendous effort that has gone into preparing for these exams, by both parents and educators who have supported our children along the way.

The Ministry of Education takes this opportunity to extend our very best wishes to all students undertaking their exams in the coming weeks. Your hard work and resilience have brought you to this point and we are confident that you will make yourselves, your families and your schools proud.

To our parents, guardians and communities, I urge you all to remain actively engaged; ensure that our students are well-rested, properly nourished and arrive at their examination centres on time and in good spirits. Your support is essential.

May every student walk into their exams with confidence and walk out with pride.”

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As Guyana prepares to celebrate Labour Day on Thursday, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo extended warm wishes to all workers across the country and used the occasion to highlight the progress made in the labour sector under the PPP/C since 2020.

In his remarks, Dr. Jagdeo called for a deeper reflection on the significance of Labour Day, rather than limiting it to what he described as “routine, perfunctory celebrations” involving marches, speeches, and a return to everyday life.

“This day should be used not only to celebrate, but to track the progress the country has made in relation to labour,” the Vice President said.

Comparing Guyana’s labour landscape today with that of 2020, Dr. Jagdeo pointed to significant improvements under the current administration.

“Today, we have 60,000 more people working than we did under the APNU+AFC government,” he stated.

“The dignity of work is essential—it transforms people’s outlook on life. While not everyone may have their dream job, they are at least working now.”

He credited various government initiatives for the employment surge, including the part-time workers’ programme, which he said has created income opportunities for thousands. He also noted the re-employment of 3,000 Community Support Officers (CSOs) in Amerindian communities, many of whom had lost their jobs under the previous administration.

“On Labour Day, we should be discussing which government is actually creating jobs,” Dr. Jagdeo asserted.

“The opposition doesn’t generate employment; they focus on distributing money the country doesn’t have.”

Highlighting key achievements in workforce development, the Vice President pointed to the training of 2,000 teachers and the enrolment of 4,000 others in the GOAL scholarship programme. “Once completed, these individuals will be able to earn higher incomes,” he said.

He also referenced the signing of multi-year agreements with major unions, noting that collective bargaining was restored after being “violated” by the APNU+AFC administration.

“We negotiated wages through negotiations not by imposing them,” he emphasised.

Dr. Jagdeo outlined several tax measures designed to benefit workers, including increased income tax thresholds and the introduction of tax-free overtime allowances, allowing hardworking employees to retain more of their earnings.

He also spoke about addressing long-standing issues with the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), noting that 10,000 pensioners and 25,000 contributors who previously could not access benefits will now receive support.

Other improvements cited include subsidies on electricity and water, better access to housing and healthcare, and increased workplace inspections.

“Public servants are now receiving $105 billion more annually than they did in 2020 [equivalent to an additional US$500 million] in wages, salaries, and benefits,” Dr. Jagdeo reported. He also mentioned the reinstatement of the one-month bonus for the Joint Services, which was previously removed.

Anticipating criticisms from the opposition, the Vice President dismissed expected claims of discrimination and racism as “nonsense,” urging citizens to focus on the tangible progress made.

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See below the full release from the Chinese Association of Guyana: 

The Chinese Association of Guyana takes note of an upload of a music video, titled ‘Chiney’, that is trending on social media. After reviewing the video, the Chinese Association wishes to express its concern for the content and portrayal of the music video, especially at the current time, just following widespread unrest which resulted in the robberies of Chinese-owned business establishments nationwide.

The Chinese Association of Guyana also notes the public statement by the producer of the music video, which included the following clarification:

1. That the music video is created as a work of artistic expression and does not intend to promote violence or encourage crime against the Chinese community.

2. That although the video was only uploaded in recent hours following the widespread unrest, the video is not a new piece of work, and the video has been trending since January 2025.

3. That the producer of the video stands against forms of discrimination and criminal behaviour.

The Chinese Association of Guyana notes and appreciates artistic expressions of all kinds, but urges artists to use better discretion in considering the impact of their works, especially if it involves the security of real human lives. The Association hopes that future works by any artist will use better judgment when constructing the content of their work and, in this case, the contextual timing in which they are released.

At the time of this release, many persons in the Chinese community are attending to injuries and loss, some of which are life-threatening and life-altering for the victims and their families. The Chinese Association is concerned that some interpretations of this music video may lead to further harm.

Finally, the Chinese Association wishes to note, with understanding, the developments which led to the recent unrest involving the pursuit of justice. Our community stands with the pursuit of social justice in Guyana and mourns with the families of Adrianna Young. However, we categorically condemn the resultant acts of crime and robberies, which are misguided and misdirected, resulting in harm to countless innocent persons in not only the Chinese community but also the wider community across Guyana.

The Chinese Association of Guyana remains committed to opportunities to cooperate and contribute to the development of Guyana for a bright future shared by all.

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