Blog

The President of Barbados Dame Sandra Mason presented Eddy Grant with the Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados at the 58th Anniversary of Independence Ceremony at the Kensington Oval on Saturday 30th November 2024.

The Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados was awarded to prominent
entrepreneur Richard Edghill and two other global icons in an honorary capacity.

This honour acknowledges a distinguished person who is not a citizen of Barbados
but whose contributions make it desirable for the nation to confer such recognition.

The recipients are Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and musical doyen
Edmond Eddy Grant.

Prime Minister Modi is being honoured for his “leading role and reputation for
responsiveness and care. Under his strategic leadership, the Government of the
Republic of India took urgent action to assist countries like Barbados with
Covishield vaccines, which changed the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and
minimised its social and economic impacts”.

Eddy Grant is being cited for his exceptional achievements as a global cultural icon, innovator of unique music genres including soca and Ringbang, vociferous
promoter of indigenous music, socio-political commentator, and matchless talent as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.

The OFB also honours Grant’s excellent contributions to the development of local,
regional, and international recording artistes (Press release)

READ MORE: https://barbadostoday.bb/2024/11/30/prominent-bajans-recognised-in-independence-day-honours/ 

The post ‘Cultural icon’ Eddy Grant gets Barbados’ Order of Freedom appeared first on News Room Guyana.

A 26-year-old rancher was arrested on Sunday during an investigation for stolen cattle in Lethem, Region Nine.

Ronny Joseph was arrested at his father’s ranch at Sapika Creek, in Parikawaarnau Village, Central Lethem.

Police Headquarters reported that a team of investigators were in search of a wanted man identified as Carlton Jones. Investigators were also in search of the stolen cattle.

Police said two vaqueros reported that they saw Jones at the ranch on Saturday.
Joseph has since denied seeing Jones and also denied stealing any cattle. Police further stated that neither Jones nor the stolen animals were found on the ranch.

“However, two hammocks were seen tied underneath some trees next to the Ranch. Also, ten cow heads (skeletal remains) and three dry cow skins without brands were found on the Ranch.

“Ronny Joseph was questioned as it relates to the cow heads and skins and he claimed he would normally buy cows from Sand Creek, slaughter them at his father’s ranch and sell them to business owners in Lethem,” Police stated.

Joseph was confronted by the two vaqueros about Jones hiding out on the ranch but he again denied those claims. The man was then arrested.

He remains in custody as the investigations continue.

The post Rancher arrested during stolen cattle probe appeared first on News Room Guyana.

See below the full release from A New and United Guyana (ANUG): 

The post ANUG elects 2024 to 2026 executive body appeared first on News Room Guyana.

(Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden said on Sunday he had pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, a reversal after pledging to stay out of legal proceedings against the younger Biden who pleaded guilty to tax violations and was convicted on firearms-related charges.

“Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,” the president said in a statement.

The White House had said repeatedly that Biden would not pardon or commute sentences for Hunter, a recovering drug addict who became a target of Republicans, including President-elect Donald Trump.

“No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son,” Biden said in a statement released shortly before leaving for a trip to Africa.

The grant of clemency said Biden had granted “a full and unconditional” pardon to Hunter Biden for any offenses in a window from Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 1, 2024.
Hunter Biden faced sentencing for the false statements and gun convictions this month. In September he pleaded guilty to federal charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes while spending lavishly on drugs, sex workers and luxury items. He was scheduled for sentencing in that case on Dec. 16.

“I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction – mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport,” Hunter Biden said in a statement on Sunday, adding he had remained sober for more than five years.

“In the throes of addiction, I squandered many opportunities and advantages … I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering.”

Republicans criticized the president’s move.

“Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice!” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site, referring to those convicted for storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, after Trump claimed falsely that he had won the 2020 election.

“Joe Biden has lied from start to finish about his family’s corrupt influence peddling activities,” said Representative James Comer, chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

The president, whose son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015, said his opponents had sought to break Hunter with selective prosecution.

He said people were almost never brought to trial for felony charges for how they filled out a gun form, and said others who were late in paying taxes because of addiction but paid them back with interest and penalties, as his son had, typically received non-criminal resolutions to their cases.

“It is clear that Hunter was treated differently. The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election,” Biden said. “In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me – and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough.

“In August 2023, lawyers for Hunter Biden said prosecutors had reneged on a plea deal that would have resolved the tax and firearms charges. The president said in his statement on Sunday that the plea deal “would have been a fair, reasonable resolution of Hunter’s cases.”

Biden said he had made his decision to pardon over the weekend. The president, his wife, Jill Biden, and their family including Hunter, spent the Thanksgiving holiday in Nantucket, Massachusetts, and returned to Washington on Saturday night.

“Here’s the truth: I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice – and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further,” Biden said.

“I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision.”

The post Biden pardons his son, Hunter, after repeatedly saying he would not appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Promising squash talent Ethan Bulkan went back-to-back in Under-13 title success at the Barbados Squash Association Junior Squash Open over the weekend.

Champion in 2023, Bulkan won the 2024 final in straight sets (11-2, 11-2, 11-2) against Finn Graham, while he got bronze in the U-15 category.

His bronze medallist success also came against Graham as he won 11-5, 11-5, 11-3.

For the 2024 Caribbean Under-13 silver medallist, the Barbados Open was used as added preparation as he heads to the US Junior Open later this month.

According to the Queen’s College student, he is overjoyed with his success and plans to work even harder to achieve the higher goals he has set for himself in both sport and academics.

The post Guyana’s Ethan Bulkan cops another U-13 title at Barbados Junior Squash open appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) T10 Tapeball Harmony League has reached its quarter-final stage, with several teams vying for the championship title.

Notable upsets have occurred, with strong contenders like Eccles All-Stars and Village Rams being eliminated.

Teams like CJIA Warriors, Lil Rams, Movements Family, and The Guards have emerged as strong contenders.

Two more match days remain, and all signs point towards a thrilling finale at the Everest Cricket Club on Sunday, December 8.

The day before the quarterfinals will be at Queen’s College Ground from 09:30h.

Those fixtures are Strike Panthers v The Guards (09:30h), Kings v Lil Rams (11:30h), Mahdia v CJIA Warriors (13:30h) and at 15:30h, The Orgnisation will face the winner of the first quarter-final.

Each match will hold significant interest, as despite losing, one of the three remaining teams will still be within a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals based on a superior net run rate in the tournament.

Part of the action at Queen’s College Ground

On Sunday (December 1), formidable sides such as Eccles All-Stars and Village Rams were eliminated, leaving the tournament wide open to who could lift the inaugural title.

At Queen’s College, Jonte Thomas (80) and Akeim Vieira (56) led Eccles to 173-1 from their ten overs, and it proved way out of reach for Village Rams, who reached 131-6, despite 47 from 19 balls by Antony Adams.

Eccles then progressed to play CJIA Warriors, who batted Eccles out of the match as they made 141-4, led by a brutal 31-ball 78 (3x4s;7x6s) by Avinash Mohabir. Tight bowling then limited Eccles to 79-7.

More so, Lil Rams edged Pure Entertainers in a thrilling comeback. Lil Rams posted 82-8, which looked insufficient at the halfway stage, but it was more than enough as Entertainers limped to 71-7.

Alvin Mohabir (51) made the difference with the bat for Lil Rams.

More so, Movements Family (Mahdia) got two wins to progress and join the tags of title favorites.

Against Zeeburg Vipers, they posted a mammoth 197-1, led by Martin Singh (94; 4x4s; 11x6s) and Ershaad Ali (77). They then restricted Zeeburg to 46-6 at Meten-Meer-Zorg Ground.

There was a tricky match against the Vikings, but their 107-8 proved more than enough as they limited them to 66-6.

Despite not fielding their full-strength side, The Guards, Kings, and The Organisation progressed to the next round. Strike Panthers is the other team set to play on December 7.

The tournament boasts exciting rewards, including a $500,000 prize for the champions, $250,000 for the runners-up, and $100,000 for each of the two semi-finalists.

Individual accolades of $60,000 each will be awarded for the Man of the Final, Most Runs, and Most Wickets, with trophies generously sponsored by Trophy Stall.

Through this initiative, the ERC aims to build lasting connections among participants, promote mutual respect, and strengthen community ties across Guyana.

FULL SCORECARDS: https://cricheroes.com/tournament/1188839/erc-harmony-league-t10-tapeball-tournament/matches/past-matches?type=m

The post Eccles, Village Rams knocked out as ERC T10 Tapeball heads for exciting finish appeared first on News Room Guyana.

InterCaribbean Airlines launched a direct flight between Guyana and Grenada on Sunday, aiming to create business opportunities and connect Caribbean people.

There will be twice weekly between the Maurice Bishop International Airport in Grenada and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri.

All flights will be operated by interCaribbean ERJ 145 jet.

The inaugural flight landed at the CJIA on Sunday afternoon.

On that flight was a delegation from Grenada led by the country’s Minister for Mobilisation, Implementation and Transformation, Andy Williams.

Addressing a welcome ceremony, Williams described the connection as a “game changer” for both Grenada and Guyana.

He said with the flight travelling has been made easier and accessible more than ever whether it’s for business or just leisure.

Guyanese media professionals and influencers part of the familiarisation trip

“This is more than a new route. It is a bridge that connects two vibrant nations, rich in culture, commerce and connectivity.

“This new route simplifies journeys, strengthens relationships and opens doors of countless opportunities for all people,” Williams said.

For the business community, Williams said the route creates a easier pathway to explore investments, partnerships and trade.

“The connection is an invitation to experience the best of what we have to offer.

“The direct flight between Grenada and Guyana is more than just a route. It is a symbol of what we can achieve when we come together with vision,” he said.

The duration of a flight between the two countries is approximately one and a half hours.

Chief Executive Officer of interCaribbean Airlines, Trevor Sadler hinted at further expanding the airline with new connections likely for Guyana in the future.

“There are bigger things coming…what that does for us as a company is even giving us bigger range capacity as to where we can fly,” Sadler.

Meanwhile, in this remarks, Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Kamrul Baksh said the addition of the route is pivotal in Guyana’s history.

Prior to this, passengers were required to take a connecting flight to get to Grenada from Guyana.

“The Caribbean region is incredibly open to Guyana’s tourism product and interCaribbean is going to play a very fundamental role in connecting and bridging the divide,” Baksh said.

Also on the flights were influencers and media professionals from both countries.
They will be participating in a familiarisation trip, organised by the Guyana Tourism Authority in collaboration with interCaribbean airlines, over the next few days.

The purpose of the trip is to highlight the various sites and exchange culture and cuisine. It is aimed at promoting Guyana and Grenada as must-visit destinations.

The post ‘More than a new route’ – interCaribbean Airlines launches direct flight between Guyana and Grenada appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The Ministry of Education proudly celebrated the success of over 600 students who graduated from the Secondary Competency Certificate Program (SCCP) during a grand ceremony that marked a significant milestone for technical and vocational education in Guyana.

The ceremony, held under the theme of transformation and opportunity, highlighted the remarkable achievements of the 2022–2023 cohort, whose journey exemplifies resilience, hard work, and a commitment to excellence.

This year’s graduation marks a tremendous leap in the SCCP’s impact. Recovering from the challenges of the pandemic, the program expanded its reach, increasing the number of participating schools from seven in 2022 to fourteen in 2023. As a result, the number of graduates soared from 206 to an impressive 611 students.

The schools presenting graduates this year include St. Winefride’s Secondary, 8th of May Secondary, Johanna Cecilia Secondary, Parika Salem Secondary, Vergenoegen Secondary, Plaisance Secondary School, Soesdyke Secondary, Buxton Practical Instruction Centre (PIC), Fort Wellington Secondary, Canje Secondary, Manchester Secondary, Skeldon High, Kingston Secondary, and Dora Secondary.

The SCCP aims to reduce dropout rates, improve student attendance, and enhance the relevance and quality of technical and vocational education (TVET) for Grades 9 and 10 students. The program, competency-based in nature, equips students with practical skills tailored to the needs of the industry at the entry level. Students pursue core subjects—Mathematics, English, Science, and General Studies—alongside electives such as Catering, Joinery, Crops and Soil Fabric Decoration, Commercial Food Preparation, Furniture Making, Crop Production, and Garment Production.

Deputy Chief Education Officer – Technical Dr. Ritesh Tularam emphasized the Ministry’s Strategic Plan (2021–2025) and Vision 2030, which aims for every child to graduate secondary school with dual certification- a Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) and a CSEC qualification. This dual certification prepares students for seamless transitions into further education or the workforce, ensuring they are equipped to meet the demands of Guyana’s evolving economy.

The event paid tribute to the unwavering dedication of educators, internal and external verifiers, and the Ministry’s TVET Unit for their tireless efforts in guiding students. Acknowledging the pivotal role of families, the ceremony celebrated the support systems that contributed to the graduates’ success.

Graduates were reminded of the numerous pathways available to them. With an SCCP certificate, students can seamlessly transition into TVET institutions to pursue CVQ Levels 1, 2, or 3, further enhancing their career prospects.

Additionally, the program opens doors to entrepreneurial ventures, equipping graduates with the skills and confidence needed to establish their own businesses in fields such as catering, garment production, and furniture making. These qualifications also position graduates to contribute meaningfully to Guyana’s rapidly evolving industries, ensuring they remain competitive in the global marketplace while fostering economic growth within their communities (Ministry of Education press release)

The post Over 600 graduates shine at Secondary Competency Certificate Programme graduation appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Sunday’s second match in the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) saw English outfit Hampshire Hawks take on home favourites Guyana Amazon Warriors with both sides having won and lost a match so far in the tournament.

Some remarkable hitting from Warriors at the last saw the home side boss the end of a tricky run chase and run out eventual winners by four wickets with 10 balls remaining in front of an appreciative crowd in Providence.

The match had been a tussle and remained very much in the balance up until the 18^th over of Warriors’ chase, with Gudakesh Motie falling for 16 the Warriors  were left with 24 runs to get off the final 18 balls.

Shimron Hetmyer of Guyana Amazon Warriors bats during the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League T20 match between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Hampshire Hawks at Providence Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Georgetown, Guyana. (Photo by Ashley Allen – GSLT20/Global Super League via Getty Images)

Hawks skipper Chris Wood stepped up for his side but six balls later the match was all but over, Hassan Khan pummelling him for six over the ropes before Romario Shepherd closed out the over with consecutive boundaries.

With just five runs then needed for a crucial win, Hassan hit Benny Howell for another boundary four and then collected the single needed to secure victory for his side.

The win sees the home side keep their tournament hopes alive as they go to four points and second in the standings with one further match against bottom-of-the-table Rangpur Riders to come in the group stages as the inaugural GSL heads towards the business end matches.

Warriors captain Imran Tahir enjoyed a fruitful evening, after winning the toss and choosing to field first he put in a Player-of-the-Match performance with his impressive command of spin bowling, using all his flight, guile and experience to pick up 3-18 from his four overs.

Imran Tahir of Guyana Amazon Warriors celebrates after getting the wicket of Benny Howell of Hampshire Hawks during the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League T20 match between Guyana Amazon Warriors and Hampshire Hawks at Providence Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Georgetown, Guyana. (Photo by Ashley Allen – GSLT20/Global Super League via Getty Images)

Tahir had Shan Masood stumped when the Pakistani ace was motoring along on 79 runs from 53 balls and then kept the pressure on the Hawks by pocketing both Howell and the dangerous Liam Dawson in quick succession.

Hampshire eventually made 146-6 off their 20 overs, but the total proved a few short against a confident Warriors batting card that saw decent contributions from the middle order engine room of Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase and the impressive Hassan Khan seeing them home in style.

Hawks now need to pick up points in their final fixture against top-of-the-table Victoria in order to reach the latter stages of the tournament. (GSL)

The post Warriors beat Hawks to stay in contention for Super League final appeared first on News Room Guyana.