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An overseas-based Guyanese man is among two families who suffered significant losses in a destructive fire that occurred on Sunday.

Joseph Woodee, 72, residing at Lot 295 Fourth Street in Rose Hall Town, stated that around 11:00 hrs, while watching television, he detected the smell of smoke. Hearing neighbors shouting alerted him to the unfolding crisis. Despite his arthritis hindering swift movement, Woodee managed to evacuate the upper flat of his home.

The wooden building, consisting of three bedrooms, housed a tenant couple in the lower flat.

Unfortunately, Woodee was unable to save any belongings; the fire consumed all his documents and cash.

The Rose Hall Town Fire Station, conveniently located nearby, was contacted, and firefighters quickly responded to the scene.

Woodee, who has been living in the United States came to Guyana in January 2025 and had intended to return on March 30.

Reflecting on the incident, he stated,

“It is my worst vacation I have had.”

Neighboring him, Paster Jerry Alexander, 68, also experienced profound loss. He and his wife, Rosaline Alexander, 75, along with their daughter and granddaughter, lef their home at Lot 294 to attend church service before 09:00 hrs.

Just a few hours later, Pastor Jerry received devastating news that his house was engulfed in flames. Upon arrival, he witnessed his property, a combination of wood and concrete with three bedrooms, completely ablaze.

He estimates their losses at $20 million.

The Alexander family is currently navigating their next steps.

“So far we are just trusting God because we serving a mighty God; a God who hears and answers prayers; a God who supplies our needs according to the riches of his glory. So, we trust in him,” Pastor Jerry said.

Having occupied the property for over 40 years, Pastor Jerry expressed the emotional toll.

“It’s hard, devastating. But God will come through for us. It’s better you lose material things than life. Thank God and that is what he said in his world in everything, give thanks. We thanking him for life,” Pastor Jerry said.

Divisional Fire Officer Clive McDonald confirmed to the News Room that the fire originated from Pastor Jerry’s property. Investigations indicate that the cause was electrical in nature.

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In a feisty presentation at Babu Jaan Sunday, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, leader of the ruling Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), declared that the party will win the upcoming general elections in a “glorious” new era in Guyana.

He said Dr Irfaan Ali will be leading the party in the next elections, describing him as a “giant” while the others seeking to challenge him are nothing and come with a “sour face”. He added that Dr Ali can do much more than others who can’t string two sentences together.

Dr Jagdeo said there is no party that can unseat the government.

“Anybody else except God we can beat,” Jagdeo stated at the annual event to celebrate the life of party founder Dr Cheddi Jagan, who with his wife Janet, started the party 75 years ago.

He said other parties seeking to form a coalition against the PPP are but monkeying around, saying perhaps if they repented from trying to rig the elections in 2020, people may have considered them.

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo at Babu Jaan on Sunday

He hailed Dr Ali as “proficient in every area”, furthering describing him as a “people person.”

He said the PPP is now a different party and is functioning under the “instruction” of Dr Jagan that the party should be one that represents all parties.

Dr Jagdeo said the elections are going to be clearly about who people can trust, dismissing promises being made by opposition forces.

For example, he pointed to promises of the opposition to increase the wages and salaries of public servants by 200%. This, he said, is unsustainable and stupid, saying if all the revenues from oil would be used it would not be enough to meet that increase.

Dr Jagdeo said what the PPP represents is “people-centered development in practice.”

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Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo announced on Sunday afternoon that there will be cash grants once Irfaan Ali is elected for a second term in general elections planned for later this year.

Citizens have been able to benefit from several cash grants, including $100,000 to every Guyanese over the age of 18.

Distribution of this grant started late last year and is continuing until all who are eligible receive their cheques.

Dr Jagdeo is confident the party will win the elections, describing this year as pivotal for the development of the country.

President Dr Irfaan Ali pointed to an “amazing” future for Guyana but said this would depend on the support of the PPP, urging them not to put that future at risk.

He spoke of key developments for Region Six. These include a four-lane bridge across the Berbice River, a deep water port with a development centre, a bridge across the Corentyne River to connect with Suriname and an economic centre near to it, and new hospitals on the Corentyne Coast and in New Amsterdam.

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President Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday announced that all tolls to cross bridges across the country will removed as of August 1.

The announcement was made in Berbice, where the bridge toll is the highest across the country.

Currently, the toll to cross the Berbice River bridge using a car is $1900 while the toll to cross the Demerara River is $200. The tolls are higher for other classes of vehicle.

The cost for crossing the Wismar Bridge in Linden is $60 for cars while tolls are higher for other vehicles.

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The ruling Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) is stronger than it has ever been before and “cannot be bought, sold or traded,” President Irfaan Ali said Sunday afternoon as he urged party supporters to be wary of those who have contributed to the party but now feel their wrongdoings must be defended.

Without naming names, he said there is a coalition of forces that would try to mislead them, including forces that were “nourished from within” the party.

“This party cannot be bought or sold or traded,” he declared.

“That is not the philosophy of this party. We are connected to the people of the country.,” he added.

A section of the crowd at Babu Jaan on Sunday

Dr Ali was speaking at the annual observance to celebrate the life of Dr Cheddi Jagan, who with his wife Janet, founded the PPP 75 years ago.

He said those who support and join the party are volunteering their “labour of love to country and party.”

“We must be conscious of our political environment,” Dr Ali said, warning about those who believe they can make a contribution to the PPP “and by making such a contribution, the PPP must defend any and every wrongdoing.”

He further urged the thousands of supporters gathered at Babu Jaan on the Corentyne Coast to be wary of those who would appeal to their emotions.

Dr Ali is seeking re-election this year for another five-year term.

At Port Mourant, where Dr Jagan’s parents once toiled on sugar plantations, today’s leaders of the PPP are now leading Guyana into unprecedented development, and Dr Ali spoke of how they are doing so on the legacy and the ideals Dr Jagan championed.

He hailed leaders of the PPP including its current General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jagdeo.

“Today, all of us must be conscious and aware that we have a General Secretary today that has taken our party to higher heights.”

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Briton John has triumphed in the 2025 Cheddi Jagan Memorial Cycle Road Race, delivering a dominant performance to claim victory.

John, a familiar competitor in the annual event, crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 32 minutes, and 37 seconds (2:32:37).

The race commenced outside Freedom House in New Amsterdam and took cyclists along the Corentyne.

Its turnaround point was Number 63 Village, and it concluded at Babu John, Port Mourant.

Phillip Clark secured second place, followed by Jamal John in third. Christopher Griffith, Sequn Sandy, and Alexander Leung completed the top six.

The respective winners, along with executive members of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)

Category Winners:

• Juniors: Alexander Leung emerged victorious, with Alex Newton and Sidwell Sandy finishing second and third, respectively.
• Veterans (Open): Phillip Clark claimed the title, followed by Husband and Robin Persaud.
• Veterans (Over 50): Junior Niles took top honours, with Talim Shaw and Ian Jackson completing the podium.
• Juveniles: Chris Hector won the category, with Dickwan Rutherford finishing second.

33 riders participated in the event, which serves not only as a test of endurance but also as a tribute to the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan.

The race featured two route variations. Veteran cyclists completed a shorter route to Babu John, while others continued to Number 63 Village.

Zulfikar Mustapha, Executive Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), addressed the cyclists before the start, emphasising the race’s significance as a tribute to Dr. Jagan.

“Every turn of your wheels and every pedal of your cycle is a turn of the wheel and the pedal to progress,” Mustapha stated, highlighting Dr. Jagan’s dedication to Guyana’s advancement.

He reminded participants that the race was more than just a competition; it was a tribute to Dr. Jagan, whom he described as “the father of the nation.”

He conveyed best wishes from President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and PPP/C General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and urged cyclists to adhere to the rules.

This year’s race marked the 28th anniversary of Dr. Jagan’s passing, whose legacy continues to inspire Guyanese.

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Early Sunday morning a man was apprehended in Georgetown by a police team following a loud explosion near Leopold and Cross Streets, Werk-en-Rust.

The incident, which occurred around 01:30hrs, prompted swift action from a Cadet Officer and officers from the Anti-Terrorism Unit on mobile patrol.

The team, who were travelling in three police vehicles, heard what sounded like a gunshot and immediately spotted a male , dressed in blue jeans and a coloured hoodie, fleeing the scene while brandishing what appeared to be a firearm. The officers chased the suspect, who ran into a fenced yard, where he was captured.

Upon searching him, police discovered a 9mm Beretta pistol tucked in his waistband, along with a magazine containing ten rounds of matching ammunition. The man, who could be clearly identified, was questioned but denied holding a valid firearm licence. He was arrested but remained tight-lipped, refusing to provide his name or details.

The suspect, along with the weapon, was taken to Ruimveldt Police Station, where forensic officers dusted the firearm for fingerprints. Further investigations continued at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, where his hands were swabbed for gunpowder residue. The man remains in custody as authorities work to uncover the full details of the incident.

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