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Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, has expressed his full support for a recent directive issued by Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken.

The directive, aimed at curbing arbitrary vehicle stops, instructs members of the Guyana Police Force to cease randomly halting vehicles and demanding drivers produce their licences without just cause.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony for the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court in Region Eight on Friday, Minister Nandlall highlighted that the directive marks a significant step forward in the police force’s approach. He pointed out that such arbitrary stops are not only illegal but outdated, emphasizing that this practice has long been unlawful.

Nandlall also reiterated that the public should not be subjected to unnecessary stops and inspections unless there is a legitimate reason. He shared his concerns over instances where drivers are asked to show their licences only to face additional checks that seem to be part of a “fishing expedition.”

The Minister criticized this practice, stressing that the mere act of requesting a driver’s licence should not lead to further arbitrary searches or inspections, such as checking brakes, blinkers, or spare tires, unless there is valid cause.

He commended the Police Commissioner’s decision to require officers to activate their body cameras during such interactions, underscoring that transparency and accountability are essential. Nandlall further remarked that as public awareness grows, individuals are more informed about their rights, and they expect police conduct to meet higher standards of fairness and legality.

The Attorney General also acknowledged that the broader legal sector must evolve alongside the public’s growing legal knowledge. He emphasized the need for more efficient and transparent mechanisms to address complaints about professional misconduct among lawyers.

Minister Nandlall stressed the importance of reforming systems to ensure accountability, noting that while such systems may have worked in the past, changes in society and technology demand an overhaul to keep up with public expectations.

“We owe it to the public to ensure that the decisions we make are not only lawful but also transparent and able to withstand public scrutiny,” he concluded.

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Stanley Scarder, a 76-year-old resident from Friendship, East Bank Demerara, was arrested last evening after Police searched his home and found an unlicenced firearm in his bedroom.

Police, during an intelligence-led operation, contacted Scarder at his residence, informed him of the reason for their presence and requested permission to conduct a search of his home for arms, ammunition, and drugs.

He did not object and allowed the ranks to enter and search.

During the search, Police found a Smith & Wesson PK380 firearm in Scarder’s bedroom, on a shelf next to his bed. Police asked Scarder if he was a licensed firearm holder. He replied in the negative. He was informed of the offence, cautioned and arrested.

He was escorted to the Grove Police Station where he was placed into custody pending further investigations.

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Education Minister Priya Manickchand revealed on Friday that the teaching profession’s workforce has grown from about 10,000 in 2020 to 115,000.

Minister Manickchand, during a review of the education sector for 2024, shared some positive trends in teaching , such as a growing interest in the profession.

“We don’t have as a record any mass movement of teachers. Every year teachers retire, every year teachers resign and every years teachers unfortunately die, and we are not seeing any rise in those numbers,” Manickchand said as she responded to questions about teachers migrating to overseas countries.

Instead, the minister noted that some teachers had migrated to countries like the Bahamas for better opportunities but have since returned to work in the education system in Guyana.

“What we are finding is that people actually broke their contracts and so on to go and teach and they are [overseas] because they offered better conditions and so on. And then they come back and say, ‘look we are sorry we left we want to connect back our service, how can we do that, we are seeing that,” Manickchand stated.

With the successful growth in the teaching sector, Minister Manickchand said this reflects positive changes in the sector.

“I also have people from health who want to come over to teaching, we have people who want to leave other administrative public servants post to come over to teach, and now they can train online while they work, they are actually doing that,” she explained.

One major incentive she said, is the significant increase in trainee teacher stipends. Previously, trainees received less than $10,000 monthly, but now they earn the salary of a starter teacher, which is about $100,000.

“This is very attractive for people,” Manickchand said.

Manickchand also added that less than 100 non-graduate teachers resigned in 2024.

Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussein revealed that more than the majority of the schools on the coast are overstaffed.

“On the coast, more than 75 per cent of the schools that we have are currently overstaffed. So, the Ministry of Education over the last two months have had to engage in a significant rationalization of staffing on the coast,” Hussein said.

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By Sharda Bacchus

Shardabacchus@newsroom.gy

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) financing of US$526 million to support the transformative gas-to-energy project is a “game changer” as the country builds out a competitive non-oil economy, President and Chair of EXIM, Reta Jo Lewis said.

Lewis, who is currently visiting Guyana, signed the agreement with Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh at the project’s site in Wales, West Bank Demerara on Friday.

The signing follows EXIM approval on the loan on December 26, 2024.

In her remarks, Lewis highlighted the important role the project will play in reducing electricity costs while enhancing energy security.

“This deal is a game changer. Not just for Guyana and the United States. But for the people, businesses and shared aspirations that united our two nations.

“Together we are making bold steps to strengthen energy security, enhance environmental sustainability and unlock economic opportunity,” she said.

Through the financing, she noted that the US is helping to sustain an estimated 1,500 American jobs across 11 states and territories while empowering more than a dozen US companies to contribute their expertise to Guyana’s energy future.

She also called on Guyanese businesses to explore more opportunities with EXIM.

The Gas-to-Energy project aims to harness natural gas from offshore oil operations, channeling it through a state-of-the-art pipeline to an onshore processing facility.

This facility will convert the gas into reliable electricity, significantly reducing the cost of energy for households and businesses. Additionally, the project is expected to curtail Guyana’s reliance on imported fuel, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide a platform for economic growth and industrial development.

According to Dr Singh, the project is a direct reflection of the government’s efforts to diversify the economy and to build a competitive non-oil economy.

“This represents a good example of what can be achieved and we want to see much more business with EXIM. We want to see big, medium and small-size projects. We look forward to doing much more with EXIM on every size point along the spectrum.

“Guyana is open for business. This is an incredibly exciting time in our economic history. We want to see more American companies investing in Guyana, doing business with Guyana and in Guyana and EXIM have an important role in this,” Dr Singh said.

Meanwhile, according to Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, the signing is a declaration of the trust in Guyana’s potential and a commitment to sharing the country’s future.

“The US$526 in financing provided by EXIM bank will breathe life into Guyana’s gas-to-energy project. This will allow us to double Guyana’s installed electric capacity, modernised our energy infrastructure and position us to meet the growing demands of an increasingly dynamic economy,” Brigadier (ret’d) Phillips said.

In fact, he pointed out that the project will be the backbone of a stronger economy that is prepared to compete in the global economy.

“The financing from this transaction paves the way for constructing of a state-of-the-art natural gas separation plant, a 300 megawatt combined gas turbine power plant and supplying infrastructure for the gas supply pipeline,” the Prime Minister said.

The gas-to-energy project will cut over 460,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, which is equivalent which is equivalent to consuming more than 1 million barrels of oil.

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Seventy-two-year-old Alwayne Barrat died on Friday while preparing to board a flight at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Timehri.

In a release, the airport said Barrat was an outgoing passenger on American Airlines flight AA2694 destined for New York.

The deceased woman’s family related that she was discharged from the Balwant Singh Hospital on Thursday and was travelling with her son to seek further medical treatment in the United States.

She was suffering from a range of medical conditions including diabetes and hypertension.

“While waiting to board, Ms. Barratt appeared unwell. Airline personnel directed her to Port Health for a medical clearance. At Port Health, it was determined that she had no pulse,” the airport said in the release.

The ambulance was immediately summoned and Barratt was transported to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where she was pronounced dead.

The management of CJIA extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Barratt during this difficult time

The post Elderly passenger dies while boarding flight at CJIA appeared first on News Room Guyana.

In a surprising yet compelling move, prominent Guyanese-Canadian civil rights lawyer Selwyn Pieters has publicly thrown his support behind President Irfaan Ali, endorsing the incumbent leader for a second term.

Pieters, known for his staunch advocacy for human rights and his past legal representation of trade unions and political opposition figures, took to Facebook just hours after businessman and former parliamentarian James Bond made his own endorsement.

In his post, Pieters made it clear that he shares the same sentiment as Bond, who, in a heartfelt public statement, declared his backing for President Ali on Thursday.

Pieters wrote: “James Anthony-Bond and Selwyn Pieters share the same view that President Irfaan Ali and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic will be back for a second term. President Ali is as real as they come and I like him. He is also working very hard on both the domestic and international spheres. He may not be perfect for all, but no one is perfect. ‘He who is without sin cast the first stone’ (John 8:7).”

This endorsement from Pieters, a prominent figure within the diaspora community and a former critic of the government, marks a significant shift in political dynamics.

His support signals an unexpected but growing backing for Dr. Ali within both the domestic and international spheres. Pieters currently resides in Canada and has previously represented unions and political entities in legal challenges against the government.

Bond’s endorsement of President Ali has already made waves within Guyana’s political scene.

Bond, a member of the opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) and a former parliamentarian, publicly threw his weight behind the President during an ongoing community outreach tour in Melanie, East Coast Demerara, on Thursday.

Prominent opposition figures have already taken to social media to condemn the endorsements by members of its ranks with Carol Smith Joseph saying: “Look! Stop going one by one. Please go together and have one big WELCOME CEREMONY.”

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By Italy Ton-Chung

At the Johanna Cecilia Secondary School, a pioneering agricultural project is empowering students with practical business skills, helping them to create value-added products such as pepper sauce and green seasoning, which sold to the community.

Launched in late 2023, the project was designed by Agricultural Science teacher Davin Misir. The initiative, which aims to make agriculture more than just a subject, teaches students not only how to grow food but also how to cultivate business acumen and entrepreneurship.

“Our goal is to show students that agriculture isn’t just about planting seeds—it’s about building a future,” Misir, who has been teaching for over a decade, said.

The project, which began with a focus on growing peppers, lettuce, and celery, has expanded to include value-added products like pepper sauce and green seasoning.

The students are fully involved in all aspects of the business, from planting and harvesting to production and selling.

“The students are the ones doing everything. They grow the crops, harvest them, and even sell the products. We’re here to guide them, but this is their project,” Davin explains.

“It’s their hard work that’s making it successful, and they’re taking ownership of it.”

This hands-on approach is providing students with more than just agricultural knowledge. They’re learning valuable business and life skills that will serve them long after they graduate.

According to Misir, “We’re teaching them how to manage a business, how to work as a team, and how to take responsibility for something important. These are the skills that will make them successful in life, no matter what path they take.”

While the students are building their own future, their work is already having a positive impact on the local community. Starlight Restaurant, a local eatery owned by a community resident, has become a key partner in the project by purchasing fresh produce for its dishes.

“We supply him with everything from lettuce to peppers,” Davin says.

“It’s a great partnership because it connects the school’s efforts to the local economy and gives students a sense of how their work can contribute to the community.”

Other local caterers have also reached out to the school for produce, further embedding the project into the community and helping students see the real-world application of their efforts. “The fact that local businesses are supporting us is really motivating for the students. It’s proof that their work is valuable, and it’s helping to build their confidence,” Mr. Misir adds.

Beyond the classroom and the local community, the project is investing in the students’ futures by using the funds generated to provide educational opportunities.

Some of the profits are being used to help students pursue further studies in agriculture, including sending them to the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) for food processing certification.

“We’re hoping to give students the tools they need to start their own businesses or enter the workforce with valuable skills,” says Davin. “It’s about giving them a leg up, so they can succeed in a growing industry.”

Additionally, funds from the project have been used to subsidise CXC exam fees for students who need financial assistance, ensuring that their education remains a priority.

Despite the success, the project hasn’t come without challenges. “Funding is always a concern, but we’re making it work,” Davin admits.

“We’ve had support from local and international sponsors, including a Canadian NGO from Tana Yussuff’s community, that helped us repair our poultry unit and expand our farming capacity.”

Looking ahead, Johanna Cecilia Secondary School’s agricultural project has big plans to expand its operations and reach new markets.

The students are already working towards this future. “They’re excited about the idea of seeing their products on supermarket shelves,” says Davin.

“They know this could be a long-term career opportunity for them, and it’s helping them see agriculture in a whole new light.”

At Johanna Cecilia Secondary, the agricultural project is more than just a lesson in farming—it’s a lesson in entrepreneurship, community-building, and personal growth. “These students have worked incredibly hard,” Davin reflects. “It’s been a journey, and they’ve come so far. But we’re just getting started.”

For the students at Johanna Cecilia Secondary School, agriculture is no longer just a subject in the classroom. It’s a gateway to new opportunities—a future they can cultivate with their own hands.

And with the support of their teacher and community, these young entrepreneurs are ready to take their next steps towards a successful future.

The post Sowing the Seeds of Success: Johanna Cecilia Secondary’s agricultural project empowers young entrepreneurs appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Source: BBC News

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