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Erizangela Regia De Oliveira Almeida was on Monday placed on $75,000 bail after being charged with attempting to smuggle millions of dollars’ worth of gold.

Almeida, a Brazilian, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. She is accused of purchasing gold from Inspector of Police, Munilall Persaud, a person other than the Gold Board, on March 5, 2025, at Lethem.

Almeida was represented by attorney Bernard DaSilva. Bail was granted in the sum of $75,000, with the condition that she reports to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) every third Wednesday.

The matter was adjourned to March 19 for report and disclosure.

Almeida’s accomplice, 42-year-old Albina Filho Alves Viera, who was arrested with her, was released on $1 million station bail. He was not charged.

Two Brazilians attempting to smuggle gold nabbed by SOCU; $26M seized

In a press release, SOCU stated that the two were arrested after a “large quantity of gold” and over $26 million in cash were seized.

Head of SOCU, Deputy Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh, was quoted as saying that SOCU officers were able to disrupt the smuggling operation before the gold could be moved across the border, underscoring the government’s unwavering commitment to tackling transnational crimes and protecting the nation’s valuable resources.

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Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation, Albert Ramdin, was Monday elected as the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS).

Mr. Ramdin’s appointment was confirmed during the 56th General Assembly of the OAS. It is the first time in history that a Surinamese will hold this position. He was supported by Guyana and other member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Ramdin succeeds Paraguayan diplomat Luis Almagro.

Ramdin, who has headed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation since 2020, was unanimously supported by OAS member states.

It was reported that Paraguay decided to withdraw the candidacy of its Foreign Minister, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, for the position of Secretary General of the OAS.

With his appointment, Ramdin will assume the task of leading the OAS from 2025 to 2030, with the organisation playing a crucial role in promoting democracy, human rights, and social and economic development in the Western Hemisphere.

Guyana’s Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud described Ramdin’s appointment as “a proud and historic moment for the Caribbean.”

“Guyana looks forward to working closely with you in upholding the principles of the OAS Charter and in ensuring the stability and prosperity of our hemisphere,” Persaud said on Facebook.

In a social media post, Suriname’s Ambassador to Guyana Liselle Blankendal said, “This is a groundbreaking moment, not just for the Caribbean, but for the entire hemisphere. It signals a shift towards greater inclusivity and recognition of the vital role that CARICOM nations play in regional and global affairs.”

“This milestone reflects the strength, leadership, and diplomatic excellence of our region, and we look forward to the positive impact this leadership will bring to the OAS and beyond.”

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Lomar Seecharran continued to stamp his name on the ongoing Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) Inter-Association Under-17, 50-over competition, while Georgetown extended its unbeaten run with a commanding win in the fourth and penultimate round on Sunday.

At the LBI ground, the left-handed Seecharran stroked a match-winning 89 not out, an innings that included 13 fours to lead Upper Demerara to a six-wicket win, chasing 163.

Points standing heading into the final round

Seecharran’s second fifty of the tournament allowed Upper Demerara to achieve victory in 34.5 of the allotted 35 overs after rain forced a reduction in the overs.

It was Upper Demerara’s first win of the competition.

Nathan Bishop followed up his unbeaten 54 in the last game with 30 (3x4s), as Joshua Bhudram took 2-26 (6.5 overs) and Navindra Singh 1-16 (7) for East Bank.

East Bank’s 162-6 was built on 39 each from Shane Shivbarran (4x4s) and Vinesh Kalpoo (2x4s, 3x6s), but that total could not inspire victory, and they have now lost all three games.

Andy Ramgolam with 2-25 (3) and Nicholas Simon with 2-35 (4) were the top bowlers for Upper Demerara, with Seecharran and Rusco Anderson picking up one each.

Dave Mohabir (right) collects the Player-of-the-Match trophy from Shaun Massiah

At the Queen’s College ground, Georgetown remained unbeaten and top of the table heading into the final round with an impressive 10-wicket victory over East Coast.

Set a small target of 70, Georgetown raced to the win in 9.2 overs with Danvir Seegobin unbeaten on 36 (5x4s, 2x6s) and Kishawn Silas not out on 28 (4x4s).

Dave Mohabir, with splendid figures of 4-3 off five overs, and Emmanuel Lewis with 3-17 off four overs had combined to dismiss East Coast for 69 in 19.2 overs.

Kaylon Calendar and Stephon Seymour picked up a wicket each.

Yannick Newton with 23 (1×4, 1×6) and Marcel Nandu 13 (2x4s) were the leading scorers for East Coast, who have completed their four matches and are third on the table with two wins and two losses.

The final round is slated for Tuesday (March 11) with Georgetown and Upper Demerara squaring off at Transport and West Demerara having home advantage against East Bank at Meten-Meer-Zorg.

All matches will start at 09:30h.

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Assistant Superintendent of Police, Keith Williams, was on Monday charged for harbouring a quantity of uncustomed goods, including alcohol and cigarettes.

When the matter was called at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Wanda Fortune, Williams was absent.

As a result, the court ordered that Williams be summoned to appear and plead in court on April 4.

Williams was charged contrary to Section 218 (c) of the Customs Act 82:01.

The offence was allegedly committed on August 30, 2024, at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

According to information reaching the News Room, Williams is accused of harbouring a quantity of uncustomed goods with intent to defraud the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Specifically, Williams allegedly harboured 560 bales of GT Smart cigarettes, 2,975 cases of assorted beer, and 87 cases of assorted foreign alcohol.

Williams was previously charged in 2017 in connection with a quantity of fuel markers, which he handed over to an undercover Guyana Energy Agency officer during a sting operation.

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The Small Business Bureau (SBB), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has launched the 2025 edition of the Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP), reaffirming its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship among young Guyanese.

The initiative began with an awareness session hosted by the SBB, where teachers from participating schools were trained in business plan development, ensuring they can effectively guide students in crafting strong and viable proposals.

This year, 12 secondary schools across Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10 will participate in the program, which equips students with the skills, knowledge, and financial support needed to launch and sustain their own businesses.

YEP 2025 will provide monetary rewards to 60 selected students, helping them turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality. Beyond financial assistance, the program offers comprehensive training and mentorship, covering business planning, marketing strategies, and financial management.

Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Bureau, Mr. Shazim Ibrahim, highlighted the program’s lasting impact:

“We recognize the potential of young entrepreneurs and the importance of equipping them with the right tools. YEP 2025 goes beyond providing monetary rewards to help students launch their businesses, it fosters innovation, resilience, and an entrepreneurial mindset that will empower them both in the classroom and throughout their lives.”

The Small Business Bureau, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, remains dedicated to developing the next generation of business leaders. Through initiatives like YEP, the government continues to invest in youth development, economic empowerment, and a culture of innovation and self-sufficiency.

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Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, has vowed to conduct a thorough investigation into the tragic loss of Fireman Voshaun Manbodh, who succumbed to injuries sustained during a fire at Mae’s Schools in Subryanville on Wednesday last.

Benn’s statement comes as the family of the 27-year-old firefighter raises serious concerns over the medical care that followed his hospitalisation.

The brave firefighter, who had been with the Guyana Fire Service for just over a year, was gravely injured when a wall collapsed on him while battling the intense blaze. He suffered two fractures to his neck, impaired motor function, and an ear impediment. He was rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital, where he initially showed signs of improvement but later deteriorated due to what his family describes as critical lapses in medical care.

In a statement released on behalf of the family, they expressed deep sorrow over his untimely passing and raised grave concerns about the care he received while under medical treatment. They explained that although an MRI scan conducted on March 6 showed no immediate abnormalities, Manbodh’s condition worsened in the following days due to delayed interventions and inadequate medical monitoring. His family accuses the hospital of failing to provide necessary neurological care and points to a catalogue of mistakes, including the delay of an MRI and mishandling of his physical restraints.

“Despite his need for urgent neurological evaluation, there were extensive delays, including a failure to sedate him properly before his MRI scan,” the family’s statement reads. “Instead of ensuring his safety, hospital staff used only two pieces of string to restrain him, a method entirely insufficient for someone in his condition.”

The family also claims that Manbodh suffered a fall from his hospital bed, an incident that was not disclosed to them by hospital staff. His mother learned of the fall only after being informed by a fellow patient, and when she arrived at the hospital, staff allegedly downplayed the severity of the situation, attributing his distress to his behaviour rather than to the worsening of his injuries.

“This is a blatant failure in basic medical care,” the family stated. “He was not given proper restraints, hydration, or medical oversight. When we raised concerns, they were ignored or inadequately addressed.”

Despite the family’s repeated efforts to ensure Manbodh received appropriate care, his condition continued to deteriorate. They emphasised that at no point was he placed in a specialized ward or provided with the necessary neurological care. They demand a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his treatment, stating, “His death was entirely preventable, and the negligence in his care needs to be addressed.”

Minister Robeson Benn has offered his condolences to Fireman Manbodh’s family, friends, and colleagues, acknowledging the loss of a dedicated and courageous public servant. He reiterated that an investigation into both the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding Manbodh’s passing, including the alleged medical negligence, would be launched immediately.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs, in collaboration with the Guyana Fire Service, will offer full support to Fireman Manbodh’s family during this difficult time,” said Minister Benn. “We are committed to getting to the bottom of the cause of the fire and the tragic consequences that followed.”

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In a ground-breaking move for basketball officiating in Guyana, the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF), in collaboration with FIBA, will host a 3×3 Referees Certification Clinic on April 5-6.

The certification clinic will take place during the highly anticipated One Guyana 3×3 Quest tournament, bringing together elite 3×3 referees from across the Americas, the Caribbean and Guyana in their bid to join the prestigious ranks of FIBA-certified 3×3 referees.

General Secretary of the GBF, Patrick Haynes, who also serves on the FIBA 3×3 Commission, highlighted the historical significance of the event, noting that it will be the first time a FIBA certification course is held in Guyana.

General Secretary of the GBF, Patrick Haynes

“This is a monumental achievement for Guyana,” Haynes stated.

“We would like to extend our gratitude to FIBA and their Americas Zone office for investing in this clinic, as well as to the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, for their support in making Guyana one of the hot spots for 3×3 basketball in the Americas this year.”

Haynes highlighted that the GBF is making a concerted effort to elevate Guyana’s standing in the international basketball community, adding, “We are placing great emphasis on hosting the first-ever 3×3 Quest in the English-speaking Caribbean. The clinic aligns perfectly with our mandate to develop basketball in Guyana and push our 3×3 programme onto both the regional and global stage.”

The clinic is open to referees between the ages of 21 and 40, and Haynes strongly encouraged local 3×3 referees to seize this opportunity, as Guyana currently lacks any certified FIBA 3×3 referees.

“Having certified referees is crucial for the continued development of 3×3 basketball in Guyana,” Haynes added.

“This clinic will provide our referees with top-tier training and practical experience under the guidance of one of FIBA’s leading 3×3 instructors.”

The two-day clinic will comprise theoretical sessions and practical assessments, with the One Guyana 3×3 Quest tournament serving as a live evaluation platform for aspiring referees.

Meanwhile, preparations for the One Guyana 3×3 Quest are well underway, with teams from Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, the USA, St. Maarten, and other nations across the Americas already registered.

The tournament winner will earn the opportunity to represent the Americas at the FIBA 3×3 World Tour in Edmonton, Canada, in August.

Haynes noted that the hosting of the One Guyana 3×3 Quest, the first FIBA 3×3 Quest tournament in the English-speaking Caribbean, along with the referee certification clinic, further solidifies Guyana’s growing reputation in the 3×3 basketball scene. (Press Release)

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Harry Brook has pulled out of his IPL deal with Delhi Capitals for the second season running, and as a consequence could face a two-year ban from future editions of the competition.

ESPNcricinfo has learned that Brook’s decision to pull out was conveyed by ECB officials to the BCCI last week, and then relayed to Delhi Capitals, who bought Brook for INR 6.25 crore at the IPL mega auction last November.

There is no official line on the development yet from IPL, and Brook himself has not cited any reason behind him opting out.

However, he is considered a front-runner to replace Jos Buttler as England’s white-ball captain following their group-stage elimination at the Champions Trophy, and, as an all-formats player with 18 months yet to run on his ECB central contract, workload management could prove to be a factor in the withdrawal.

The ECB has been contacted for comment.

Either way, the decision leaves him vulnerable to a two-year ban from the IPL.

The new rule was put in place ahead of the 2025 auction, and is based on feedback from all 10 franchises who expressed frustration at a history of late pullouts by overseas players.

In a note to franchises last September, the IPL said: “Any [overseas] player who registers for [an] auction and, after getting picked at the auction, makes himself unavailable before the start of the season will get banned from participating in the IPL/IPL auction for two seasons.”

The only exception, the governing council said, will be for “an injury/medical condition, which will have to be confirmed by the [player’s] home board”.

This is the second year in a row in which Brook has pulled out just before the IPL season starts and both times from the Capitals.

Last March, 10 days before their opening match of the season, Brook informed Capitals he was withdrawing from the 2024 IPL to be with his family after the death of his grandmother.

The bereavement had already caused him to pull out of England’s Test tour of India in February.

The 2025 IPL will start from March 22 with Capitals’ opening fixture coming against Lucknow Super Giants in Visakhapatnam on March 24.

In addition to finding a replacement for Brook, Capitals also are yet to announce their captain.

Brook has played one IPL season to date, in 2023, when he endured a difficult campaign with Sunrisers Hyderabad.

He made 190 runs at 22.11 in 11 matches, but more than half of those came in a single remarkable innings, 100 not out from 55 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. (ESPNcricinfo)

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India survived a New Zealand fightback to win the Champions Trophy with a four-wicket victory in Dubai.

India, dominant throughout the tournament, made a rampant start in pursuit of 252 only to lose three wickets for 17 runs, including captain Rohit Sharma for 76 and Virat Kohli for one.

Shreyas Iyer followed for 48 and Axar Patel holed out on 29 to leave 49 runs to get from 51 balls.

Hardik Pandya took India closer and, after he fell for 18, KL Rahul finished 34 not out as Ravindra Jadeja hit the winning runs with an over to spare.

From left: Harshit Rana, Ravindra Jadeja and Arshdeep Singh of India celebrate following the team’s victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final between India and New Zealand at Dubai International Stadium on March 09, 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

That India always still felt ahead of the game was thanks to their spinners once again impressing by limiting New Zealand to 251-7.

Victory confirms India’s place as the world’s premier white-ball side.

Since being beaten in the final of the 2023 World Cup they have won the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy- a record third time they have won this event.

They were loudly supported by a partisan crowd in Dubai, fireworks erupting into the night sky as the players rushed onto the field at the final moment, but disappointment remained that this final was not played in Lahore, which would have been the case had India not refused to travel to Pakistan. (BBC)

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President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, has extended heartfelt congratulations to boxers Desmond Amsterdam and Colin Lewis on their recent promotions within the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

The promotion serves as recognition of their outstanding performances at the recently concluded Caribbean Boxing Championship in St. Lucia.

Amsterdam, previously a Sergeant, has been promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant, while Lewis, formerly a Petty Officer, has been elevated to Senior Petty Officer.

Their advancement was approved by Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, upon the recommendations of their respective Branch Heads, underscoring the GDF’s commitment to recognising and rewarding excellence and dedication.

At the Caribbean Championship, Amsterdam showcased his skill in the 75kg division, picking up a hard-fought split decision victory over Trinidadian Olympian Arron Prince in the final.

Meanwhile, the gangly Lewis dominated his opponent, St. Lucia’s Justice Surage, in the 67kg category final, securing a commanding points victory to assist in Guyana being crowned Caribbean champions.

Ninvalle expressed his delight at the GDF’s decision to reward the two athletes, emphasising that their hard work and dedication are paying off.

He noted that the GDF is setting a precedent that should be emulated by other organisations, advocating for greater recognition of athletes who excel while representing Guyana on the regional and international stage.

“The GDF has always been supportive of its boxers, and this latest show of appreciation is yet another testament to that commitment,” Ninvalle stated.

He pointed to Amsterdam’s 2022 promotion, which followed his bronze medal performance at the American Boxing Confederation (AMBC) Elite Continental Championship in Ecuador.

Furthermore, Ninvalle assured that the GBA remains committed to providing not just Amsterdam and Lewis, but all of its boxers with opportunities to compete and gain exposure on regional and global platforms.

Meanwhile, in a statement from the GDF, Brigadier Khan congratulated the two boxers for their continued excellence, highlighting that their achievements bring pride not only to the Force but to the nation as a whole.

He also commended the GDF’s Sports Department for its role in fostering athletic success within the military.

“This is another historic moment for the Force,” he stated.

“While we are tasked with defending our nation, we are also leaders in every field possible. Your conduct, professionalism and ability to excel in everything you do, set a standard for others to follow.”

In St. Lucia, Guyana’s 16-man team picked up 35 points, which consisted of nine gold, three silver and two bronze medals to take the Caribbean title.

Other regional powerhouse Trinidad and Tobago was second with 28 points and the host country third.

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