Blog

A new Caribbean Pageant franchise was birthed.

The Miss Caribbean Beauty and Intelligence Pageant under the theme, “Caribbean Beauties, breaking barriers through inclusion,” came into existence after months of discussion about networking between Essence and Minds from St.Marteen and the Miss Caribbean Carnival Pageant committee from Guyana.

The coordinators said that “this pageant is set to celebrate Caribbean women without discrimination while encouraging them to showcase their talent, beauty and intelligence.”

The pageant is set to be hosted in Guyana on August 23, 2025. A total of 13 countries, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Suriname, Grenada, St. Lucia, Dutch St.Marteen, Guyana, Dominica, Nevis, St. Vincent and Anguilla are expected to participate in the competition.

The contestants will compete in the interview segment, the national wear segment, the talent segment, the evening gown segment and the final question segment. There will be a series of events leading up to coronation night that will see the contestants fiercely representing their countries.

When asked about the judges, the coordinators indicated that there will be a table of competent judges from all across the Caribbean that will be present in Guyana to ensure that the competition is judged fairly.  For more information the public can follow the journey through the pageant’s Facebook page Miss Caribbean Beauty and Intelligence Pageant .

The post New Caribbean pageant to host first production in Guyana appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has received a significant boost with both World Athletics and Atletismo Sudamericano (South American Athletics) officially recognising the legitimacy of its recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the subsequent election of its new executive.

A letter seen by News Room Sport confirmed the global and regional governing bodies’ endorsement of the AGM held on March 16, 2025, and its resulting elections.

James Cole, re-appointed as General Secretary following the elections, expressed vindication in an invited comment on Wednesday.

He emphasised that the global bodies’ support confirms the validity of their procedures in conducting the overdue elections.

Cole further stated that the AAG’s focus is now firmly on prioritising athletes and charting a course for the continued development of athletics in Guyana, capitalising on the strong support from the government and other stakeholders.

The AGM saw Sheryl Hermonstine elected as President, securing five votes, while Dr. Ariane Mangar received one. The absence of incumbent Aubrey Hutson, who was also nominated, was a key point of contention.

The AAG’s constitution mandates that any nominated candidate absent from the AGM must submit a letter of intent to the Returning Officer. As Hutson was not present and failed to submit such a letter, the election proceeded without his participation.

The newly elected executive team comprises Mark Scott (First Vice President), Mayfield Taylor-Trim (Second Vice President), Dwayne Carter (Treasurer), Niall Stanton (Assistant Treasurer), and committee members Dr. Ariane Mangar, Thelson Williams, Tyrone Smith, Osafo Dos Santos, and Towanna McAlmon. Kenisha Headley was appointed Assistant Secretary.

The election of Sheryl Hermonstine has been met with resounding approval from a group of esteemed Guyanese Olympians, including Marian Burnett, Chelsea Edghill, Aliann Pompey, James Wren-Gilkes, June Collison neè Griffith, and Adam Harris.

In a joint statement, these Olympians hailed Hermonstine’s ascension to the AAG presidency as “a significant and transformative moment for sports governance in our country,” expressing optimism for a new era of progress and development in Guyanese athletics.

The endorsement from World Athletics and Atletismo Sudamericano provides a strong foundation for the new AAG executive as they look to unite the athletics community and drive the sport forward.

The post World Athletics backs new AAG Executive appeared first on News Room Guyana.

On Saturday last, Police in Wismar, Linden, began investigating the mistreatment of a one-year-old child, an incident that has raised alarm across the country.

The alleged abuse, which took place at approximately 22:26 hrs, has led to the arrest of Kester Johnson, a man with a decade-long relationship to the child’s mother, Sawdia Bobb.

Bobb, an unemployed woman residing in Blueberry Hill, Wismar has three children with Johnson, aged three, two, and one.

However, their relationship has been marred by repeated incidents of physical violence, with the first reported occurrence in February 2025.

During a heated argument over a ‘voice note,’ Kester allegedly slapped Sawdia, prompting her to leave their home and stay with a friend for several days.

The situation escalated once again on Saturday, when Sawdia became involved in another physical altercation with Kester at their home. The argument led Sawdia to seek help at the Wismar Police Station, where she reported that Kester had assaulted her.

However, she refrained from providing a written statement, saying she would return later to do so—but never did.

Three days later, on Tuesday, the investigation took a chilling turn.

Police received information regarding a disturbing video that allegedly showed Sawdia’s one-year-old daughter being ill-treated.

The footage, which showed the child hanging from a bed sheet, was said to have been filmed by Johnson and sent to Sawdia’s phone.

When confronted by police, Sawdia initially denied the existence of the video but later admitted to having deleted it, fearing that its contents might cause further harm to her child’s reputation. After further prompting, she was able to retrieve the video from her phone’s ‘trash’ folder and presented it to the police.

The footage, now central to the investigation, prompted immediate action. Johnson was arrested, and both Sawdia’s and her mother’s phones were seized to extract further evidence from the video. Investigators have been working tirelessly to piece together the full extent of the abuse, and a charge of assault has been filed against Johnson.

A file is also being prepared for child abuse charges, and he is scheduled for court proceedings on Thursday.

A medical examination of the child showed no visible marks of violence. Fortunately, the toddler is reportedly in good health and safe following the incident.

The post Father arrested after video shows abuse of toddler following fallout with mother appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The partially decomposed body of Ramesh Sugrim called “Dolay,” a 43-year-old labourer from Bee Hive, East Coast Demerara, was discovered on Tuesday morning.

A statement from Police Headquarters revealed that the discovery was made at about 06:30hrs in a canal at Bee Hive.

Police said Sugrim was an alcoholic and lived with his mother, Nazmoon Shaw.

“Reports indicate that he suffered from ‘nerve issues’,” the police stated.

Shaw told investigators that Sugrim left home on Sunday and never returned.
On Monday, relatives made checks but did not find Sugrim.

On Tuesday, a missing person’s report was made at the Clonbrook Police Outpost.

Sugrim’s body is now at the Memorial Gardens Mortuary, awaiting a post mortem. Police said several persons were questioned in the area, but no useful information was received.

The post Missing man found dead in canal at Bee Hive appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Guyana is set to transform its healthcare landscape under an extended national initiative. In an announcement Tuesday, key partners, including Mount Sinai, the Ministry of Health, and Hess Corporation, outlined ambitious plans to modernise the country’s health system.

An agreement was signed for Vision 2030, a five-year plan aimed at achieving world-class healthcare in Guyana. This includes developing community-based care, establishing a national cancer treatment centre focusing on cervical, breast, and prostate cancers, and operationalising the new national women’s and children’s hospital. Enhancements in digital health infrastructure, human resource training, and sustainability are also part of the five-year plan.

President Dr Irfaan Ali addressing the audience on Tuesday (Photo: Office of the President)

The agreement, initially signed three years ago, has already led to substantial advancements in healthcare. Notably, a school-based programme has screened over 35,000 children for vision, dental, developmental, hearing, and speech issues. The initiative also saw the creation of a new pathology laboratory at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Additionally, in response to a shortage of nurses, nearly 900 new nursing assistants have been trained.

“I am confident that with the investment we are making—whether in research, education, infrastructure, human capital development, enhancing our diagnostic capabilities, transitioning from clinics to polyclinics, or investing in equipment—all of this will allow us to achieve world-class healthcare,” President Dr Irfaan Ali said during the signing of the extension on Tuesday at State House.

(Photo: Office of the President)

President Ali emphasised that healthcare excellence should have no borders, stating the government’s goal is equitable healthcare access in every region, providing all Guyanese with timely, quality, and effective care. This vision also extends to the wider Caribbean region.

“By the end of 2030, quality healthcare will be every Guyanese’s birthright,” President Ali asserted. He added, “Our prosperity must lead to regional prosperity, and our healthcare system is being built to support regional citizens.”

Executive Director of Mount Sinai Guyana, Dr Rachel Vreeman, affirmed her organisation’s ongoing commitment to further invest in the country’s healthcare development.

“By 2030, we anticipate that Guyana will transform its public health system to have a continuum of high-quality healthcare services across each region,” Dr Vreeman said.

Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony added that the goal is not only to extend the lifespan of every Guyanese but also to enhance their quality of life through accessible and high-quality care. He highlighted that the partnership has been pivotal in designing a secure electronic medical records system.

“Over the past three years, our partnership with Mount Sinai has significantly improved patient care at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. We have made notable advancements in pathology services, where we have expedited turnaround times for test results, reducing them from three months to literally three days,” the Health Minister said.

The post Guyana launches five-year national health care initiative with Mount Sinai, Hess appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Weeks after he broke into the Ministry of Housing Annex and stole a bag, 39-year-old Devon Hubbard was arrested on Tuesday.

Police Headquarters reported that Hubbard was captured on CCTV footage entering the building on March 02, 2025.

“Detectives, acting on information received today (25/03/2025), arrested Devon Hubbard, a 39-year-old from Garnett Street, Georgetown,” Police reported.

Police reported that Hubbard admitted to entering the building through a southern window on the second flat which was opened.

He said he picked up a bag and exited using the same window. He claimed that nothing was in the bag that he stole.

He expected to be charged on Wednesday.

The post Man who ‘ransacked’ Housing Ministry’s Annex arrested appeared first on News Room Guyana.

A local election observer testified on Tuesday that police were summoned to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Command Centre during the contentious March 2020 elections, but only intervened against representatives of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

Rosalinda Rasul, who observed the elections on behalf of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), told the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court that although there was widespread unrest involving multiple political factions at the Ashmins Building, police action exclusively targeted PPP agents protesting alleged irregularities.

Rasul described the atmosphere as chaotic, particularly over disputes concerning a false declaration and the use of a spreadsheet containing incorrect vote counts.

Elections fraud trial: Local observer grilled about SOPs, declaration during cross-examination

Rasul noted during cross-examination that heavily armed police prevented some observers, including herself, from entering the building. Despite the involvement of other political party agents, notably from APNU+AFC, no similar police intervention occurred against them, she said.

The trial, presided over by Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, involves nine individuals charged with conspiring to manipulate election results in favour of APNU+AFC and denying victory to the PPP.

Those charged include former government minister Volda Lawrence, former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, former Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, and former Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers, among others.

The March 2020 election controversy delayed results for five months until PPP candidate Irfaan Ali was sworn in as president in August 2020. Rasul’s testimony continues when the trial resumes on Wednesday, 26 March.

The post Election Fraud Trial: Local Observer says Police targeted only PPP agents appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Press Release from the Guyana Olympic Association

The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) extends its heartfelt congratulations to Kirsty Coventry on her election as the new President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a historic achievement as she becomes both the first woman and the first African to lead the Olympic Movement.

As a proud National Olympic Committee, the GOA is excited about the future and looks forward to strengthening its collaboration with President-elect Coventry, supporting the Olympic Movement, and working hand-in-hand with the IOC to further promote the values of excellence, respect, and friendship through sport.

READ MORE: Kirsty Coventry becomes first woman and African to be elected IOC president 

“We were deeply honoured to witness this milestone moment at the 144th IOC Session, where history was made with the election of President-elect Kirsty Coventry. Her leadership symbolises the continued evolution of sport towards greater inclusivity and representation on the global stage,” stated a representative from the Guyana Olympic Association.

The GOA also takes this opportunity to express its sincere gratitude to Thomas Bach, the outgoing IOC President, for his exemplary leadership over the past 12 years.

Under his guidance, the IOC implemented Olympic Agenda 2020, introduced the New Norm, and successfully navigated unprecedented global challenges while driving innovation and fostering closer collaboration with International Federations.

“Thomas Bach’s vision and dedication to the Olympic Movement have strengthened the foundations of the Olympic Games. His leadership has had a lasting impact on the Olympic Movement, ensuring its continued success and growth on the global stage,” the GOA representative added.

With the election of President-elect Coventry, the GOA looks forward to an exciting new chapter of collaboration with the IOC.

The Association is committed to advancing the development of Guyana’s sports participation and excellence on the Olympic stage while contributing to the future success of the Olympic Movement.

Best wishes to President-elect Kirsty Coventry for a successful tenure!

The post Historic achievement! GOA hails Kirsty Coventry’s rise to helm of IOC appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Following a “comprehensive” assessment, Guyana and Panama have agreed to eliminate the requirement of re-screening of persons travelling between the two countries.

This announcement was made by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority in a statement Monday. A delegation from Panama Aviation Authority conducted the aviation security assessment at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

During the assessment, GCAA said various critical areas including passenger and carry-on baggage screening, access control measures for individuals and vehicles, hold baggage screening, aircraft security, onboard security, and security measures at the terminal and boarding gates were examined.

Following a “comprehensive” assessment, Guyana and Panama have agreed to eliminate the requirement of re-screening of persons travelling between the two countries (Photo: GCAA/ March 25, 2025)

The decision come years after Panama has advocated for the removal of the restriction in order to ease passengers travel.

“In this contemporary era, the ease of travel and the hassle-free experience for passengers are now best facilitated through mechanisms such as the One Stop Security (OSS) arrangement, for which Panama has considered and commenced a path of implementation at their Tocumen International Airport,” GCAA said in the statement.

According to the statement, the Panamanian delegation has presented a preliminary report to the GCAA, concluding that the security measures in place are effective and equivalent to those mandated by the Panama Civil Aviation Authority and implemented at Tocumen International Airport in Panama.

“This favourable assessment signifies a significant step towards establishing a One Stop Security (OSS) arrangement between the two countries.

“The successful implementation of OSS will greatly enhance the travel experience for passengers flying between Guyana and Panama, particularly on COPA Airlines flights, by eliminating the need for redundant security checks and streamlining the overall process,” the statement said.

The agreement, GCAA said is expected to be finalised with the submission of a comprehensive assessment report to Guyana, accompanied by a ‘Letter of Commitment’ acknowledging Guyana’s participation in the OSS arrangement and its obligation to maintain the highest standards of aviation security measures.

The post Guyana and Panama to eliminate re-screening of passengers- GCAA appeared first on News Room Guyana.