Former Santa Rosa Secondary School (SRSS) football captain and standout defender, Roy Vansluytman, has made a generous donation to his alma mater, providing football kits to the players as they prepare for the upcoming 2025 MILO Schools Football Tournament.
Vansluytman, who led SRSS to their historic MILO Schools Football Tournament victory in 2023, was a key figure in the team’s success.
As captain, his leadership and solid defensive skills helped guide the team to championship glory.
His outstanding performances throughout the competition also earned him the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Reflecting on his decision to give back, Vansluytman stated, “During my time as a student-athlete, we didn’t have adequate equipment, yet we were still able to succeed. I hope that by making this contribution, it helps the team excel even more than we did.”
The donation comes at a crucial time, as the team intensifies its preparations for one of the most competitive school football events in the country.
Vansluytman’s gesture not only provides much-needed resources, but also serves as motivation for the young players who aspire to follow in his footsteps.
With their 2023 championship win still fresh in memory, Santa Rosa Secondary remains a strong contender in this year’s tournament.
The school has built a solid reputation for producing talented footballers, and Vansluytman’s continued support ensures that the tradition of excellence carries on for the next generation of players.
Santa Rosa Secondary will kick off their 2025 MILO campaign against Brickdam Secondary on March 16, 2025, at the Ministry of Education Ground. The match is scheduled to start at 18:30h.
I-CEE Soft Drinks, a product of Banks DIH, is a proud sponsor of the 2025 National Rapid Chess Championships.
After a multi-year absence, the highly anticipated nine-round chess competition returns on Saturday, March 15, at the Pegasus Hotel and Suites’ Exhibition Centre, promising fierce competition among enthusiastic players of all ages.
Favoured by chess players for its fast-paced nature, the Swiss format tournament will feature a 15-minute time control with five-second increments added to the clock after each move.
This popular rapid chess format promises an exciting and dynamic tournament experience for the players.
Strong competition is expected from Candidate Master Taffin Khan, FIDE Master Anthony Drayton, CM Sachin Pitamber, Junior Champion Ricardo Narine, Kyle Couchman, and Keron Sandiford for the 2025 National Rapid Chess Championship Title.
Cash prizes amounting to G$185,000 are up for grabs in the top five positions. Considering the historic results of rapid chess, it’s anyone’s guess who will emerge as the rapid champion for 2025.
Additionally, the Guyana Chess Federation is offering one-month free membership to the Pegasus Chess Club for the sixth to eighth place positions in the tournament.
The top twelve boards will be live-streamed on livechesscloud.com under the supervision of FIDE Arbiter John Lee, enabling viewers to follow the games online.
The GCF is thrilled to have I-CEE Soft Drinks on board as a sponsor and expresses its heartfelt thanks to the company for its sponsorship.
The GCF looks forward to a fruitful and successful partnership in the future. Deepest gratitude to the Guyana Pegasus Hotel for providing the space for the tournament.
With a series of tournaments launched in the new year, the GCF has offered competitive play in both the open and female categories, keeping up the tempo of competitive play and the development of chess among junior players.
The National Blitz Championship will follow closely on Sunday, March 16. For more information on the tournament, check us out on guyanachess.gy.
The Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) is gearing up to launch the highly anticipated Vitz Cup Championship, set to debut on April 27, 2025, at the South Dakota Circuit.
This new racing series aims to lower the cost of entry into circuit racing by keeping vehicles close to their stock performance, ensuring a competitive and budget-friendly environment for drivers.
With affordability and accessibility as its core principles, the Vitz Cup Championship has attracted fresh talent and experienced racers eager to compete in the inaugural season.
Ten drivers have officially confirmed their participation, with even more expected to join in the coming weeks.
Confirmed Drivers for the 2025 Vitz Cup Championship:
Reeyaz Hamid
Kunal Persaud
Luis Kumar
Sudesh Rajaram
Aaqib Ali
Ritish Singh
Raymond Seebarran
Steven Nobrega
Ravin Ramoutar
Nyron Maraj
The introduction of the Vitz Cup Championship is a significant step for Guyana’s motorsport community.
It offers a cost-effective entry point for new competitors while maintaining the excitement and intensity of circuit racing.
By focusing on vehicles close to stock specifications, the series ensures a level playing field, putting driver skill at the forefront of competition.
Interest in the Vitz Cup continues to grow, and the GMR&SC anticipates an expanding grid as more drivers recognise the opportunities this exciting new class provides.
With the increasing demand for affordable racing, the series is expected to attract more cars to the starting lineup throughout the season.
As the Vitz Cup Championship debut, fans can look forward to close battles, intense rivalries and thrilling on-track action.
The countdown to April 27 is officially on, and all eyes will be on South Dakota as a new era in Guyana’s circuit racing begins.
Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo said Thursday afternoon that he was not informed of the arrest of social media activist, Melissa ‘Melly Mel’ Atwell.
“I don’t know if any government agency has been informed. It won’t come to me, if that has happened it would come to the law enforcement agencies,” Jagdeo said at this weekly press conference.
However, he added, “We don’t everyday obsess over Ms. Atwell…. There are many others far more extreme than her like a Rickford Burke and we don’t obsess about them. They’ve not made an iota of difference and the fact is people are moving away from this form of extremism.”
The Guyana government has accused Atwell of several cyber crimes due to her Facebook posts about alleged acts of corruption by government officials. In at least one instance, she is being sought for a defamation lawsuit.
It was reported earlier Thursday that the social media activist was detained for questioning by US authorities; she is reportedly cooperating.
General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo Thursday said the party is at its strongest, evidenced by widespread support across the country.
Jagdeo responded to questions about party support possibly diverting to new political entrants, or because more Indo-Guyanese who have traditionally been the party’s support base may have migrated.
The General Secretary, who is Guyana’s Vice President, said such concerns are usually commonplace leading up to elections. However, he believes the PPP has consistently defied analyses and garnered widespread support.
“Look at the local government elections and results… If you look at the results across the country, you will see that the PPP now is probably stronger than it ever was before,” he said.
The PPP managed to pick up more votes in Linden and Georgetown- two areas seen as major support bases for the PNC opposition- at the last Local Government Elections. Jagdeo believes more people are embracing the party as a multiethnic one.
Even so, Jagdeo vowed that the party will not become complacent.
“You’re going see us campaigning harder than before,” he stressed.
As Caribbean leaders continue to express their disappointment at a recent United States decision to place visa restrictions on officials believed to be involved in the export of Cuban workers, Guyana’s Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said the Donald Trump administration will soon be engaged on the matter.
And Jagdeo believes the matter will be favourable resolved for all parties.
“I can assure you that there is a regional as well as a national engagement with the US State Department on these maters.
“We want to have Cuban professionals working in our health system, they are an invaluable support in our health system, but we also want to ensure that they have free choice,” Jagdeo said at his weekly press conference on Thursday.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced the restrictions. As articulated in a statement from Mr. Rubio, the administration believes that Cuba nets much income from a “forced labour” programme. Doctors and other health workers, in particular, are believed to be part of this programme.
Previously, Jagdeo noted that Cuban healthcare workers have been supporting countries for decades, an arrangement that transcends multiple US administrations. And he believes that the Cuban medical presence has supported Guyana’s and the Caribbean’s healthcare systems.
Caribbean countries, including Guyana, have maintained good relations with Cuba and advocate for an improved US/ Cuba relationship. The US and Cuba have maintained a strained relationship for decades now, following the Cuban revolution in the 1950s.
Jagdeo, however, noted that leaders of the Cairbbean Community (CARICOM) are hoping to engage Mr. Rubio or President Donald Trump directly on this issue and other matters like trade.
Amid strong statements of dissatisfaction from other Caribbean leaders, Jagdeo Thursday noted that the Guyana Government is keen on pursuing diplomatic solutions.
“We don’t do diplomacy in the public and I believe that we have a strong engagement with the Trump administration and the State Department that will allow this matter to be resolved with the satisfaction of all parties,’ he said.
A Rupununi mother who allegedly beat her four-year-old daughter to death was arrested. Dead is Rianna Ambrose from Karaudarnau Village, South Rupununi. The child was killed sometime around 01:00hrs today (Thursday March 13th, 2025). The suspect is her mother Lucinda Stephen, a 24-year-old housewife.
Police said that about 20:00hrs Wednesday, Stephen and her reputed husband Regan Ambrose were consuming alcohol at their home in Karaudarnau Village. At about 01:00hrs Thursday, an argument broke out between them which escalated into a scuffle.
As a result, Regan Ambrose left the home and went over to the home of his reputed wife’s sister, Joyce Stephen, and he told her of the fight between him and Lucinda Stephen.
Joyce then gave Regan Ambrose a hammock to sleep in, and at about 03:00 this morning, she went over to Lucinda’s home and met her hitting her four-year-old daughter (Rianna Ambrose) five times to the head with a piece of wood, causing her to receive multiple injuries to the head.
The child was rushed to Aishalton District Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The suspect was arrested and is presently in custody at the Aishalton Police Station pending investigation. The wood that was allegedly used to commit the act was also recovered at the scene.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro recently called for a face-to-face meeting with Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali. However, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo told reporters on Thursday that there are no current plans to accept this request.
“At this point in time, no such plans have been made
“That has to be assessed against what he wants to meet on and also whether it is good for our country and our national security interest. The President will make that assessment,” the Guyanese Vice President said at his weekly press conference at the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Headquarters, Freedom House.
Mr. Maduro made the call only days after a Venezuelan naval incursion and Venezuela’s continued aggression towards Guyana’s Essequibo region.
The incursion on March 1, 2025, had drawn widespread condemnation from Guyana’s regional and international partners.
In response to escalating tensions, Guyana has filed a request for provisional measures at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) following Venezuela’s announcement to hold elections on May 25, just one day before Guyana’s 59th Independence celebrations. The elections aim to appoint a governor and other officials for the Essequibo region, a move widely viewed as a direct challenge to Guyana’s territorial claims.
Guyana has signalled its readiness to partner with Spanish satellite operator Hispasat, leveraging cutting-edge space technology to bolster data sovereignty and enhance digital connectivity across the country. The initiative forms part of a broader regional effort to bridge the digital divide in the Caribbean.
The technology offered by HISPASAT is important for critical sectors, including public administration, banking, national security, and election management.
“Guyana stands ready to engage in meaningful partnerships that drive progress and uplift communities through innovation and technology,” said Brigadier (Retd) Mark Phillips said Thursday at the first meeting that will lead to the design of a project for member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips
The Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU), of which Guyana is a founding member, and HISPASAT signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Barbados on February 25. The MoU aims to facilitate collaborations to expand satellite connectivity across CARICOM member states, with the ultimate goal of providing a high-tech satellite infrastructure under the project, which is named CONDOSAT (CARISAT).
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips described the agreement as “a pivotal step towards closing the digital gap, ensuring that all have equitable access to technology” and underscored Guyana’s commitment to the project.
Strengthening Digital Sovereignty
HISPASAT, a leader in satellite telecommunications, offers broadband and satellite connectivity solutions, including internet access, mobility, and the extension of cellular networks. The company is also a key player in the dissemination of audiovisual content in Spanish and Portuguese, as well as the management of digital platforms.
Pedro Duque, President of HISPASAT, noted that the company’s proposal aligns with the region’s need for secure and sovereign digital infrastructure.
“We will use the highest performance satellite technology existing,” he stated.
“We will also include ground infrastructure that will be located as needed within the CARICOM area to ensure data integrity in all cases.”
Pedro Duque, President of HISPASAT (Photo: The Daily Television)
The company is ready to support countries immediately, using systems it already has in the Caribbean.
The project has the support of the European Union (EU).
The has reinforced its commitment to supporting digital transformation in Guyana. In September 2024, Guyana became the 22nd country to join the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, which promotes cooperation on digital policy, data governance, internet security, and emerging technologies.
“This technology will really allow Guyana and CARICOM to participate in satellite technology -and to the latest state-of-the art that is there.
“And what I would like to stress is that this will provide them with sovereignty over their own digital connection,” said Rene van Nes, EU Ambassador to Guyana.
Van Nes underscored the EU’s approach through the Global Gateway initiative, which seeks to leverage private sector investments to promote sustainable development and said the collaboration between the Caribbean and HISPASAT represents is an example of how the Global Gateway should function.
Rodney Taylor, Secretary-General of the CTU, highlighted the strategic benefits of sovereign satellite infrastructure that the project with HISPASAT offers.
He said the issue of enhanced national security is important because countries would not have to rely on private, commercial agreements for critical matters of national security.
“It gives a country, and it gives CARICOM, independence. It increases our sovereignty and independence; it gives us control of our data and it gives us strategic autonomy.
Non-Resident Spanish Ambassador to Guyana, Cristina Perez, hailed the agreement as a milestone for digital transformation in the Caribbean. She noted that it addresses connectivity challenges in Guyana and the wider region, promoting digital inclusion, institutional strengthening, and economic development.
Perez added that the project aligns with Spain’s support for CARICOM.
“Reliable, secure and sovereign connectivity is essential in public administration, health and education. Digititalisaton is also a determining factor for technological sovereignty, guaranteeing autonomy of communications,” she stated.
Guyana’s involvement in CONDOSAT is expected to catalyse its ongoing digital transformation efforts.
Discussions are already underway regarding Guyana’s potential membership in RedCLARA, Latin America’s research and education network, to foster academic partnerships and expand access to advanced digital tools.
Prime Minister Phillips noted that Guyana has long recognised the transformative potential of satellite technology, particularly for underserved communities.
He said Guyana remains committed to open dialogue, regional collaboration, and advancing technological inclusion.
As the CONDOSAT project progresses, stakeholders anticipate that the high-tech satellite infrastructure will empower communities, expand economic opportunities, and bolster digital sovereignty across the Caribbean.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in a recent statement, praised the management of Guyana’s economy and Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo welcomed this, stating that the IMF is a “technically competent” body.
The Vice President spoke about the IMF statement during his weekly press conference on Thursday at the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Headquarters, Freedom House.
He said the government is intent on sharing more of what the IMF said because of how supportive the IMF has been.
“Where it concerns framework for managing the economy, they’ve made it clear that the framework we are pursuing is a sustainable one,” Jagdeo boasted, adding that the body supported several other government policies.
The IMF reported on developments in Guyana in its recently- released its Staff Concluding Statement for the 2025 Article IV Mission. The IMF commended Guyanese authorities for their commitment to macroeconomic stability, fiscal sustainability, and inclusive growth. The report noted that while signs of overheating are not yet apparent, it remains critical for the government to closely monitor macroeconomic trends and continue implementing policies to avoid any imbalances.
The IMF also recognised the positive impact of social transfer policies, which have increased disposable income and reduced poverty and recommended further targeted transfers to support Guyana’s sustainable development goals.
Jagdeo described the IMF as a globally-recognised, technically competent body and noted that the IMF sent a team of representatives, including several economists, to Guyana and that team conducted independent engagements and analyses. So, he argued that the IMF’s statement is more authoritative than any remarks made by politically-aligned economists or analysts locally.
Jagdeo also posited that the body was fair in its assessment and understands well the government’s plan for Guyana’s development.
 Mark Phillips</p>
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Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips</p>
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Pedro Duque, President of HISPASAT (Photo: The Daily Television)