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In a development that has sparked mixed reactions, the Ministry of Natural Resources has suspended a mining permit granted to the Arnaputa Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) in the North Rupununi.

The decision follows rising concerns from regional officials, residents, and environmental groups about the potential impact of the mining operation on the local environment.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, addressed the confusion surrounding the permit, clarifying what many had assumed to be a special concession for a Brazilian company.

“There is a misconception that a special mining permit was granted to a Brazilian investor or company.

“I want to make it clear that our Mining Acts prohibit medium and small-scale mining operations by non-nationals,” Bharrat stated.

Bharrat explained that the permit had, in fact, been granted to the Arnaputa NDC itself, which had partnered with a Brazilian investor. However, this partnership was in accordance with local laws, which allow Guyanese miners to team up with foreign investors in the small and medium-scale sector, as long as the permit holder is a local entity.

The controversy surrounding the mining permit first came to light after the Arnaputa NDC wrote directly to Bharrat, requesting approval for a mining operation. The council, led by its chairwoman, expressed a desire to generate economic opportunities for the community. In response, Bharrat visited the village and engaged with local villagers and leaders, where, according to the minister, “most, if not all, of the persons present were in favour of the mining operation.”

However, the situation took a turn when nearby villages, upon learning of the permit, voiced their strong objections. The communities in the surrounding areas of North Rupununi were particularly concerned about the potential damage to the environment, particularly the impact on freshwater sources and wetlands vital to local livelihoods. Bharrat acknowledged that the overwhelming opposition from these surrounding villages played a significant role in the decision to halt the mining activities.

“Almost everyone that spoke at the meeting was against the mining in the North Rupununi, citing concerns about freshwater, fishing, and preserving the vital wetlands,” Bharrat said, noting that the government respects these concerns. The minister added that President Ali had instructed him to meet with the wider community in the region, which ultimately led to the suspension of the mining permit.

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Rajendra Prabhulall, a pastor who spent many years as an information officer in Region Two before serving two terms as Mayor of the town of Anna Regina, has died.

Prabhulall attended the St Laurence Anglican School in Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast. After secondary school, at the age of 17, he entered the teaching profession.

Rajendra Prabhulall, a pastor who spent many years as an information officer in Region Two before serving two terms as Mayor of the town of Anna Regina, has died.

His first job as a teacher was at the Fisher Primary School in Golden Fleece in 1976.

In 1980,  he transferred to the Port Kaituma Primary School when his father, an agricultural officer, was transferred to Region One.

Five years later, he returned to the Essequibo Coast and started a family. He continued teaching at the Sparta Primary School then the St Laurence Anglican Primary School, now named the Hampton Court Primary School.

Wanting better wages, he quit teaching in 1992 and started work as a manager of the Lima Fish Port Complex.

He stayed with that job for five years after which he was appointed Regional Information Officer with the Regional Democratic Council, where he continued until his retirement in 2015.

But he was not really retired. He decided to run for the mayorship of the town of Anna Regina in 2018, and when his two-year stint ended, he ran again and won.

He has served as pastor of the Voice of Faith Ministries.

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FIDE Master Anthony Drayton easily edged out his opponents on March 15 at the Exhibition Centre of the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre to win the Banks DIH ICEE Soft Drinks-sponsored 2025 National Rapid Chess Championship title.

Drayton, Guyana’s only FIDE Master, played unbeaten in the nine-round exhilarating Swiss format competition to secure first place with 8.5 points, his only draw coming against National Junior Champion Ricardo Narine.

Almost 40 chess players of all ages competed for a chance to win in the Open division with a time control of 15 minutes, plus five-second increments after each move per player.

Nineteen-year-old Narine, no stranger to the podium in rapid chess, earned the second spot with seven points after losing to Aravinda Singh in the second round.

Narine bounced back with continuous victories and two draws with Sachin Pitamber and the tournament champion.

President of the Guyana Chess Federation Anand Raghunauth presents prizes to Ricardo Narine (top left), Taffin Khan (top right), Saeed Ali (bottom left) and Keron Sandiford (bottom right)

Candidate Master Taffin Khan placed third with 6.5 points after drawing with Keron Sandiford and losing his matches with Saeed Ali and Drayton. Ali, a chess player for many years, came in fourth with 6.5 points.

His losses came against Drayton and young CM Sachin Pitamber and a draw with Singh. Sandiford also gained 6.5 points, earning him the fifth-place prize.

A free month’s membership at the Pegasus Chess Club was awarded to CM Loris Nathoo and Leslie Campbell, who each gained six points to place sixth and seventh, and to Aravinda Singh, who finished eighth with 5.5 points.

Notable performances in the tournament came from Pitamber, Kyle Couchman and Krishna Singh, who finished the tournament with 5.5 points each.

FIDE Arbiter and Technical Manager John Lee conducted the FIDE-rated tournament and was instrumental in producing the live feed for the top 12 boards.

Cash prizes amounting to G$185,000 were distributed to the top five players.

President of the Guyana Chess Federation Anand Raghunauth was on hand to present the cash prizes and trophy, compliments of Banks DIH ICEE Soft Drinks.

Raghunauth expressed gratitude to BANKS DIH I-CEE Soft Drinks for its generous support and the Guyana Pegasus Hotel for graciously providing the tournament venue.

The 2025 National Women’s Chess Championship, commencing on March 22, will see the top nine qualifiers compete against WCM Jessica Callender for the 2025 Women’s title.

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Ralph Thomas, an 18-year-old bus conductor of Mabaruma Settlement, North West District, Region One, was charged for raping a 13-year-old girl earlier this month.

Police Headquarters said Thomas was arrested by a rank from the Mabaruma Police Station’s Criminal Investigation Department and charged on Monday. He was charged with the offence of rape of a child under 16 years, contrary to Section 10(3) of the Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 8:03.

He is accused of committing the offence on a 13-year-old female student on March 4 in Region One.

The accused appeared at the Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, before Magistrate Clive Nurse (via Zoom), where the charge was read to him.

He was placed on $400,000 bail. The case was adjourned to March 21.

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(Reuters) – Leaders from across the Caribbean are seeking clarity after a draft of a U.S. government list of over 40 countries which could face sweeping travel restrictions was made public, a move which could mark the latest in President Donald Trump’s crackdown on migration.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce disavowed the list on Monday, but stipulated “there is a review through the president’s executive order for us to look at the nature of what’s going on to keep America safer and dealing with the issue of visas and who’s allowed into the country.”

President Trump’s administration has vowed mass deportations of migrants in the U.S. illegally. Half of the countries on the list in circulation are African, while seven more are located around the Caribbean.

The small island nations of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia were also listed in the draft for partial travel suspensions if their respective governments do not address unspecified “deficiencies” within 60 days.

Leaders from those nations have responded saying they have received no communication from the United States on the potential ban, nor on concerns raised about their governance.
In a Saturday letter seen by Reuters, Antigua and Barbuda’s embassy in Washington expressed its “deep concern” and requested the U.S. clarify the potential travel bans and “details of any ‘deficiencies’ perceived by agencies of the United States so that they may be promptly discussed and remedied.”

“A review is not a ban,” its ambassador to the United States, Ronald Sanders, told Reuters. “A review can lead to satisfaction as much as anything else.”

Dominica’s prime minister said he was making the necessary enquiries, while Saint Kitts and Nevis said it “has maintained consistent and open dialogue” with the U.S. and would provide updates should it receive any official communication.
According to the list, Haiti – which is facing a devastating gang conflict that has forced over 1 million from their homes and which the U.N. has warned is being fueled by guns shipped from Florida – would be subject to partial suspensions, including for students and tourists.

The U.S. government last month decided to speed up the expiration of deportation protections and work permits for 521,000 Haitians covered by a temporary program by some six months.

Meanwhile, Cuba and Venezuela would face a complete visa suspension. Both leftist-run countries have tense relations with the Trump administration and are facing deep economic crises that have caused many to seek migration to the United States.

The Cuban, Venezuelan and Haitian governments did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

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Attorney General Anil Nandlall has made it clear that the arrest and detention of Melissa Atwell in the United States of America was largely due to immigration issues and has nothing to do with the Government of Guyana.

Speaking during his weekly commentary on Tuesday night, Nandlall firmly stated that U.S. authorities, not the Guyanese government, are responsible for Atwell’s detention.

“It has nothing to do with the Government of Guyana,” Nandlall said, clarifying that the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is enforcing laws against individuals who violate U.S. immigration regulations.

“This is a matter of U.S. law enforcement handling immigration violations, not anything related to Guyana’s government,” he explained.

Atwell, who also goes by the name Melissa Holder following her marriage, has been detained in Louisiana by ICE. Reports suggest that her arrest is linked to her legal status in the U.S., as well as complaints about fraudulent transactions tied to her name.

Despite her claims on social media, it appears Atwell’s legal status may not align with her assertions, including that she is a U.S. citizen, which is now in question following her arrest.

The arrest saw a protest in Guyana on Tuesday at the Square of the Revolution, where a group of demonstrators called for her release. Opposition leaders, including Aubrey Norton and Nigel Hughes of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and Alliance for Change (AFC), were present at the rally, showing solidarity with Atwell.

However, Nandlall made it clear that those protesting in Guyana should be directing their frustrations towards the United States government, not the Guyana Government.

“It’s the U.S. government enforcing their immigration laws, not us. They should be protesting the U.S. government, not us,” Nandlall stated.

He added that the arrest was part of the broader U.S. effort to crack down on immigration violations, a policy vigorously pursued since President Donald Trump’s return to office.

Nandlall further addressed the issue of Atwell’s online activities, including accusations and false claims she had made about various individuals, including himself. He recalled being a victim of her defamatory posts, describing her allegations as “fabricated” and “vulgar.”

“I have never met her, communicated with her, or interacted with her in any way. Yet she posted about me, making false claims about what I supposedly said about my colleagues in government,” Nandlall recalled.

He pointed out that while he had taken legal action against Atwell for defamation, it was not to stifle her right to free speech, but to seek redress for the damage to his reputation.

“It is not about freedom of speech, but rather about protecting individuals from lies, defamation, and personal attacks,” Nandlall said, emphasising that while he respects the right to free speech, there is a limit when it comes to false and damaging allegations.

Since Atwell’s arrest, a GoFundMe page was set up to raise legal funds for her case. The fund’s success suggested that some of her supporters believe her arrest is linked to her outspoken activism against the Guyanese government. However, as Nandlall pointed out, ICE’s role in law enforcement is unrelated to political activism or free speech.

“ICE is responsible for enforcing U.S. immigration laws, not policing individuals’ political opinions,” he stressed.

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There was a low turnout on Tuesday for a protest supported by the political opposition that was meant to show support for activist Melissa Ann Holder, known on social media as Melissa “Melly Mel” Atwell.

The protest was organised at the Square of the Revolution, Brickdam, Georgetown. Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform and Guyana’s Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton and leader of the Alliance for Change, Nigel Hughes attended the activity.

Some of the individuals at the protest

Despite their mobilisation efforts, there was a low turnout for the protest.

Members of the opposition opined that Melly Mel’s arrest is related to her activism against the Guyana government, however the protests are effectively against Trumps Immigration Policy. Arrests made by ICE are unrelated to matters of freedom of speech and activism. ICE handles matters related to enforcing US federal laws, including criminal investigations and the removal of individuals who violate immigration laws. ICE also investigates a wide array of transnational crimes, including financial fraud and scams; worksite and employment crimes; cybercrime; intellectual property theft and trade fraud; and identity and benefit fraud.

Some of the individuals at the protest

And since Donald Trump took office, there has been an intense focus on US immigration policies. Trump’s administration has been cracking down on illegal immigrants.

The News Room understands that Melly Mel went to the US on a visitor’s visa and it is unclear if her legal status in the United States was changed. She had claimed in one of her social media posts that she is a U.S. citizen but her arrest by ICE suggests that she is not.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise funds for Melly Mel’s legal fees, and has raised thousands of US dollars. But it suggests that she was arrested for her activism against the Guyana Government.

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Ryan Sugrim, the man who murdered his ex-wife Zalia Sugrim in 2019 was Tuesday sentenced to 24 years imprisonment.

Sugrim appeared before Justice Damone Young at the Demerara High Court. Last month, he pleaded guilty to the crime.

The body of 37-year-old Zaila Sugrim was found in a garden inside the compound of the Shell Gas Station at Crane on the West Coast of Demerara where Sugrim worked.

The woman was shot to the head, burnt and then buried in the shallow grave.

Before she was found, relatives had reported her missing.

Husband confesses: Zaila Sugrim was shot to head, burnt, and then buried in shallow grave

She was last seen with her ex-husband, Ryan Sugrim on Saturday, May 11. He was subseqently arrested.

A year before, relatives said then, the woman finally broke free from an abusive relationship she shared with Sugrim for 15 years. Together, they had five children.

Zaila’s sister-in-law Nazeema Bacchus, speaking with the News Room in 2019, said the man kept her away from her family and it was up until eight months ago that she escaped from his grips with three of their children from their La Grange, West Bank Demerara home.

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The Ministry of Education on Tuesday officially launched “Projects Map,” a technology-driven initiative aimed at increasing transparency and public engagement regarding school construction projects across Guyana.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand during her remarks highlighted the extensive efforts in building and upgrading educational facilities such as schools and dormitories.

“Because we have been building an enormous of schools, primary, nursery, secondary, dorms, building rebuilding of extending significantly, all across Guyana and intermittently, you, your colleagues and the press, members of the public, parents, call us to find out whether something is being built, when it is supposed to be finished, who is the contractor and things that you should know, things that have been made public but not made public in one space,” Manickchand explained.

Projects Map provides key project details, including the contractor’s name, the contract award date, the project cost, when the tender was advertised and the closing date for the tender, the construction start date, and the expected completion date.

Manickchand emphasised that while there is no obligation to provide this information, the ministry is happy to do so as it benefits both the government and the public.

“While we don’t have necessarily a duty to do it, we are very happy to be able to do this because it also helps us.”

“Let me be clear, every single school in this country has had significant repairs, rehabilitation and other works done,” Manickchand said.

Head of Information Systems, Phil Mingo, demonstrated how the website functions at the launch on Tuesday and said, “It is by regions and then schools and then of course construction and reconstruction and the rightmost column you can see the total.”

The website is expected to be fully up and running by Wednesday with information on all schools and dorms being built or rehabilitated across the country.

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