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The government will be allocating more than 15,000 house lots to Guyanese by June 2025, signifying its robust commitment to empowering families through homeownership.

“We will allocate an additional – a minimum of 25,000 house lots this year of which over 15,000 will be accomplished before June of this year… Every house lot distributed represents the hope for a family,” Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal announced during his recent presentation at the 2025 budget debate in the National Assembly.

Additionally, over 20 new housing areas will be developed across the country during this period.

These housing areas will be established in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Nine and Ten, each equipped with the relevant amenities including roads, recreational spaces, drainage and electricity.

This undertaking forms part of the government’s ambitious agenda to addressing the high demand for house lots.

For example, housing allocations in Region Four will focus on areas on the East Coast of Demerara this year.

The government plans to construct a minimum of 1,000 houses.

Guyana’s housing sector has seen an investment of $240 billion in four years.

Minister Croal pointed out, “We have laid a solid foundation from 2020 to 2024 by being prudent stewards of the budgetary allocations made to the ministry of housing and water.”

Since August 2020, 40,808 residential house lots have been distributed to families from various income brackets.

Already, over 500 lots have been allocated for 2025.

The government is well on its way to surpassing its 50,000-house lot target by the end of 2025.

Since 2025, 85 new and existing housing areas have been developed in several areas including Balthyock, Amelia’s Ward, Charity, Yarrowkabra, and Palmyra.

The PPP/C government is working tirelessly to ensure that every Guyanese has access to affordable and sustainable housing.

Funds totalling $112.6 billion have been earmarked to advance developments in the housing sector (Republished from the Department of Public Information) 

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A total of 40 persons have completed a one-week course on strategy and defence policy, led by the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies in collaboration with Guyana’s National Defence Institute.

The graduates received their certificates of completion during a simple ceremony at the Guyana Police Force Training Centre on Camp Road, Georgetown on Friday.

Director of the National Defence Instititute, Dr. Randolph Persaud

Director of the National Defence Instititute, Dr Randolph Persaud said that the training covered various elements of strategic thought, including command and control, and defence planning.

“We also covered crisis decision-making during the week. We covered human rights. We did things like human security, small arms and light weapons proliferation,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony.

He explained that the participants were nominated by their respective organisations, and included persons from the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Environmental Protection Agency, Guyana Revenue Authority, and Office of the President.

A graduate receiving their certificate

“The quality of questions that came from them impressed the visiting faculty and of course the leadership of the National Defence Institute,” Dr Persaud added, dubbing the course an “overwhelming success”.

The training aimed to enhance the participants’ knowledge in the areas of strategy and defence policy, especially with regards to international security.

“The funding is internal. We did not receive any funding from outside. The Perry faculty did this pro bono through our Memorandum of Understanding. They are related as a knowledge producing and research institution to the United States government,” he further explained.

The Perry Centre faculty include Professors Celina Realuyo, Col. (Ret′d) Glyne Grannum (Barbados), and Dr Román D. Ortiz.

Dr Persaud further pointed to the Institute’s CEO Cybersecurity Workshop, which was conducted in November 2024. He explained that this training aligns with the Strategy and Defence Policy course in the NDI’s bid to strengthen the country’s defence infrastructure.

A graduate receiving their certificate

“By next September, we expect to have our enrollment system up, and once that is up, we expect to run a short course in strategic studies and development. And then we begin to we expect to begin degree programs, hopefully by September of 2025,” he said.

The NDI, a brainchild of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali was launched in September 2024 with the aim of establishing the institute as a ‘centre of excellence’ in defence, security, and development studies in Guyana and the Americas.

It helps to build capacity and expertise within the nation’s security architecture, offering world-class training to stakeholders locally and regionally.

The NDI is linked to the Regional Security System (RSS), the National Defence University in Washington D.C. and the William J. Perry Centre for Defense and Atmospheric Studies (Republished from the Department of Public Information)

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A remarkable captain’s knock from Tevin Imlach and a belligerent half-century from Ronaldo AliMohamed powered Guyana Harpy Eagles’ reply to the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) on Day Three of the second round match of the West Indies Four-Day Championship at the National Stadium, Providence, on Friday.

Imlach’s fourth First-Class ton was the foundation of Harpy Eagles’ 343, falling short of CCC’s first innings total of 375 by 32 runs.

By stumps, CCC had stumbled to 32-3, an overall lead of 64 with one day remaining.

Resuming on 166-6, Harpy Eagles were led by a spectacular 126 not out from skipper Imlach and a whirlwind career-best knock from AliMohamed.

After overnight batsman Richie Looknauth was dismissed for 24, ending a seventh-wicket stand of 58 with Imlach, the skipper and AliMohamed put on 120 for the eighth wicket to ensure Harpy Eagles passed the follow-on target of 225.

Imlach anchored the innings and brought up hundred with a sweep for four, while AliMohamed took the attack to the bowlers, blasting seven sixes and four fours in a rapid 77 off 66 balls.

Imlach was left not out, having faced 239 balls and hitting 12 fours.

And in a display of his tremendous fitness, the 28-year-old then strapped on his pads and kept wicket as the CCC batted 13 eventful overs before bad light stopped play.

With Day Three affected by rain and more bad weather forecast for Saturday, the Harpy Eagles are in a race against time to secure their second win this season.

Below are the summarised scores of the other Round Two matches:

At Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua: Jamaica Scorpions 320 all out from 94.4 overs (John Campbell 126, Brad Barnes 56*, Kirk McKenzie 33; Jeremiah Louis 3-44, Rahkeem Cornwall 3-71, Hayden Walsh Jr 2-78) and 170 all out from 58.5 overs (John Campbell 53; Oshane Thomas 3-55, Rahkeem Cornwall 3-54) v Leeward Islands Hurricanes 335 all out from 87.4 overs (Jahmar Hamilton 93, Karima Gore 76; Marquino Mindley 4-44) and 44-1 from 9.1 overs. Hurricanes need 112 runs more for victory

At Kensington Oval, Barbados: Barbados Pride 581-9 declared from 138.3 overs (Kraigg Brathwaite 212, Jonathan Drakes 117, Leniko Boucher 65, Zachary McCaskie 49; Johann Layne 4-85, Joshua Bishop 4-137) v West Indies Academy 239 all out from 64.5 overs (Rivaldo Clarke 78, Joshua Bishop 57*; Chaim Holder 6-70) and 211-6 from 64 overs (Carlon Bowen-Tuckett 71*, Teddy Bishop 58; Ramon Simmonds 3-29, Jomel Warrican 3-72). West Indies Academy trail by 131 runs

At Arnos Vale, St. Vincent: Windward Volcanoes 166 all out from 51.1 overs (Kavem Hodge 126, Stephan Pascal 9,  Sunil Ambris 9; Khary Pierre 4-17, Yannic Cariah 4-30) and 114 all out from 35.4 overs (Jeremy Solozano 36; Khary Pierre 8-27) v Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 456 all out from 132.5 overs (Cephas Cooper 117, Jason Mohammed 103, Yannic Cariah 95, Amir Jangoo 84; Darel Cyrus 4-105). Red Force won by an innings and 176 runs

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Deol Narayen, a 35-year-old hire car driver was remanded to prison on Friday after he was charged with the recent robbery at a Chinese restaurant located in No. 67 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Narayen made his appearance at the Whim Magistrates Court before Magistrate Tuanna Hardy. Narayen was denied bail after Magistrate Hardy considered the nature of the crime.

Narayen was not required to plead to the charge.

Consequently, he was remanded to prison and is scheduled to return to court on February 21, 2025.

Businessman Lakraj Singh (left) and fisherman Virvash Ramdharry (right) were robbed at gunpoint while dining at a Chinese restaurant at Number 67 Village, Corentyne Berbice

In a harrowing incident that transpired late Wednesday night, a businessman Lakraj Singh and fisherman Virvash Ramdharry were robbed at gunpoint while dining at the Chinese restaurant.

Singh had told reporters that a masked assailant armed with a gun commanded him and Ramdharry to lie flat on the ground during the robbery. A quantity of jewelry which amounted to $4,595,000 was stolen from Singh.

The assailants also seized cash totaling $244,000 in Guyanese currency.

Ramdharry’s wallet, which contained $223,000 was also taken.

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In a landmark development for international cooperation, Guyana has successfully extradited fugitive Harry Narine Rajkumar to Canada, marking a major step forward in bilateral efforts to combat transnational crime.

On Thursday, Rajkumar was handed over to Canadian authorities to face a series of serious criminal charges. This marks the first-ever extradition between the two nations, underscoring their growing commitment to upholding justice on a global scale.

Rajkumar, who had been on the run since May 2019 after fleeing Canada to evade law enforcement, was arrested in Guyana following an INTERPOL Red Notice. He had been wanted for attempted murder and aggravated assault, both serious offences under the Canadian Criminal Code. After his capture by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Rajkumar waived his right to an extradition hearing and agreed to return to Canada voluntarily.

His case was brought before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, where Rajkumar formally consented to the extradition request, paving the way for his transfer to Canadian authorities.

Leading the prosecution in Guyana were Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms. Lisa Cave, Treaty Officer Ms. Ormella Gladstone from the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Sergeant Stephan Hinds from the Major Crimes Unit, with assistance from other law enforcement personnel.

This historic extradition marks a significant achievement in Guyana’s ongoing commitment to international law enforcement collaboration, ensuring that criminals cannot evade justice simply by crossing borders. It also lays the groundwork for further cooperation between Guyana and Canada in tackling cross-border criminal activity.

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Over the years, cancer in the breast along with cervical and prostate cancer have proven to be among the most prevalent types of this disease among the country’s population.

“These have been affecting Guyanese citizens overtime and a lot of it has come from a lack of education and screening… and persons not understanding how they can be bale to make their health a priority,” Coordinator of Cancer Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr Shanique Greaves told the News Room during an interview on Friday.

So to provide the necessary support and services, Dr Greaves said the Ministry of Health has rolled out a number of initiatives.

These include the provision of HPV vouchers- to facilitate screening.  Though closed for last year, Dr Greaves said the programme is expected to continue in March 2025.

Also, there is the ongoing installation of mammogram machines at health facilities in regions 2, 6, 9 and 10, expanding access and to allow for early screening.

“That is our hope to encourage early diagnosis and screening,” Dr Greaves said.

Meanwhile a mental health unit is available to provide support for persons battling cancer and their family members.

“We do encourage persons to stay informed…I always like to say prevention is also better than cure.

“With early screening and early detection, it decreases mortality rate and also increases your survival rate,” Dr Greaves said.

Every year, World Cancer Day is observed in February 4. This year the theme is “United by Unique” with key focus on trying to address individual needs of cancer patient so they can have quality care.

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A multi-agency task force comprising the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), Guyana Fire Service (GFS), Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC), and the Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health Department (OSH) has convened three meetings to investigate recent incidents involving cooking gas cylinders.

In their most recent session, the group reviewed interim reports from the various agencies and agreed to extend the investigation to include more in-depth assessments at both the retailer and consumer levels. Key areas of focus include the transportation, storage, and usage of the cylinders. Each incident will be investigated separately to determine the likely causes, with the aim of implementing preventive measures to avoid future occurrences.

The GNBS and CCAC, in line with their mandates, will spearhead the next phase of the investigation, with ongoing support from the GFS, EPA, GEA, and OSH.

In recognition of the critical need for public awareness, the agencies have stressed the importance of educating the public on the safe handling, transportation, storage, installation, and usage of cooking gas cylinders. Efforts to increase awareness through targeted information campaigns will continue, aimed at engaging all relevant stakeholders across the country.

Authorities remain committed to addressing safety concerns and ensuring that similar incidents do not recur.

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The 2025 edition of the Guyana Monaco Mousetrap Car Grand Prix, held Thursday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, saw 12 secondary schools compete in a thrilling engineering and creativity challenge. Students were tasked with designing and building their own model cars powered by a mousetrap engine. The event was organized by SBM Offshore, with the support of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, providing students with an opportunity to showcase their skills in engineering, creativity, and innovation.

The students competed in three categories: Acceleration, Advance, and Innovation and Creativity. Each team battled for the prestigious first prize in their respective categories, which included a cash award of $350,000 to support the development of their school’s science laboratory, as well as a trip to Monaco to compete in the international meet.

Abram Zuil Secondary School took home first place in the Acceleration category with their mousetrap-powered car that drove the farthest in the shortest amount of time. The school’s innovative design outpaced the competition, demonstrating their engineering prowess.

In the Advance category, St. Roses High School claimed the top spot with their impressive car, which not only raced along the track but also autonomously reversed back to the starting line after completing the course. Their success highlighted the students’ advanced engineering and programming skills.

Paramakatoi Secondary School, a first-time competitor and the only hinterland school in the competition, clinched the first-place prize in the Innovation and Creativity category. Their car was built using an indigenous material traditionally used to craft arrows for hunting and fishing. The plant material, both lightweight and strong, gave the car a unique advantage, showcasing the students’ creativity and resourcefulness.

This year’s event marks the third edition of the Guyana Monaco Mousetrap Car Grand Prix, which continues to grow in both popularity and participation. Open to all secondary schools across the country, the event saw registrations conducted online, providing an accessible platform for young minds to engage in practical science and engineering projects.

The successful competition highlights the importance of fostering creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork among students. It also underscores the role of corporate and governmental partnerships in providing valuable learning opportunities for the next generation of innovators and engineers.

[Ministry of Education Press Release]

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The distribution schedules of the $100,000 one-off cash grant for regions two, three, four, five, six, and ten will be published within a week.

Finance Secretary, Sukrishnalall Pasha has told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the ministry is currently preparing these schedules, and simultaneously working on completing the verification process for persons who have already registered.

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

This effort has seen tremendous results, especially against the backdrop of the relatively small team undertaking this initiative.

In fact, within one month, the ministry has been able to verify over 240,000 persons.

“We registered about 271,000 since the beginning of the year, and verified 242,000. Last year, about 390,000 persons were registered and verified. We also substantially completed distribution in regions one, seven, eight and nine,” Pasha said, emphasising the magnitude of this achievement.

Pasha’s disclosure comes on the heels of General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo’s assurance that all Guyanese will receive the cash grant, and that the government is bent on ensuring that the process is as smooth and efficient as possible.

Now that the government’s $1.138 trillion budget has been passed, Dr Jagdeo said the necessary funds are available to resume distribution of the grant.

“[Before], even if the cheques were cut, you could not deliver them or get them cashed because the resources were not available,” he explained to reporters at the weekly Freedom House press conference.

He underscored that this is a monumental project, recognising the hard work of the staff at the Ministry of Finance.

“It takes time. It has to be done diligently and people will get their money. We’re not going to be rushed to do it,” he added.

Last week, the Committee of Supply approved the over $40 billion allocation to support the distribution, of which $30 billion will be disseminated to the 300,000 additional citizens aged 18 and older.

Approximately 121,000 Guyanese have already received their grants. [DPI]

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The Vurlon Mills Football Academy Inc. (VMFA) has teamed up with KFC Guyana for the KFC U-8 and U-10 Challenge Series, slated for March 1, 2025 at the Saints Ground Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown.

The KFC Under-8 and Under-10 Challenge Series presents a unique opportunity your young footballers to be introduced to organised football.

This initiative will see a total of 16 teams from various clubs, schools and the VMFA participating in a round-robin tournament style day of football.

Action kicks off at 08:00h.

“We believe that not enough attention is placed on this age group in Guyana. This is the age group that youths should be exposed to an organised environment, organised training, coaching and tournament. This age group has tremendous talent and they are often missed because of the lack of attention, VMFA will continue to focus on these age groups,” said Vurlon Mills, Founder and Director of the Vurlon Mills Football Academy.

Sadia Strand, Director of Marketing at KFC Guyana, said: “It’s an honour to be partnering with Mr. Vurlon Mills and the Vurlon Mills Football Academy. Children are not only given the opportunity to learn football, but they are also learning social skills, a lot about teamwork and how to develop asindividuals. We are very excited for the Under-8 and Under-10 Challenge Series.”

The VMFA added, “The Vurlon Mills Football Academy would like to express our gratitude to KFC Guyana for their unwavering support, enabling us to continue to coordinate and create an enabling environment for youths to develop their football skills and be rounded sports men and women.”

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