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In a surprising turn of events, a well-known 24-year-old ‘cotton candy’ vendor has been arrested in connection with an incident that occurred at Marian Academy in Georgetown on Friday last.

The arrest followed a report made by a 12-year-old student and an 11-year-old student of the school who both encountered the vendor’s vehicle on the school premises.

According to a statement from the Guyana Police Force, the two students were waiting in the northern section of the Marian Academy compound around 15:15 hrs when they noticed a silver-coloured Toyota Fielder wagon with heavily tinted windows parked nearby.

The vehicle, driven by a male of African descent with braided hair, was accompanied by an unidentified female in the front passenger seat.

The 12-year-old student later told police that he saw the rear left window of the vehicle go down, and the male driver called him over.

The driver allegedly offered the boy cotton candy, but he declined.

The student also observed that cotton candy was visible in the back seat of the car.

The driver then reportedly asked the 12-year-old to ask the 11-year-old boy if he would like to buy cotton candy, to which the younger student also refused. Afterward, the vehicle left the area.

The boys took note of the vehicle’s number plate. Following the incident, the police launched an investigation, interviewing witnesses and gathering statements.

They were able to trace the vehicle’s registration.

Despite conducting checks at the listed address, neither the owner nor the vehicle was found. The police subsequently issued an all-station message requesting the vehicle and driver to be detained if located.

The situation came to a head on the evening of Thursday, November 7, when the 24-year-old cotton candy vendor, was arrested at the La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station.

He admitted to being the driver of the vehicle involved in the incident. He confirmed that the car belonged to his sister.

Police said he explained that he was visiting Marian Academy on the afternoon of November 1 to sell cotton candy to students waiting to be picked up by their parents.

However, he claimed that he did not stop the car or exit the vehicle because the school prohibits vendors from entering the compound. He stated that he had offered cotton candy to several children but made no sales before leaving the school and heading to another location to continue his vending activities.

The man’s girlfriend, a 22-year-old, was also in the vehicle at the time of the incident.

Following his arrest, police conducted a search of his home, where they discovered a quantity of cotton candy and equipment used for vending. Both the man and his girlfriend were taken into custody, and the vehicle was impounded.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and both individuals remain in police custody while further inquiries are made.

This report is based on a press release issued by the Guyana Police Force.

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General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said Nigel Hughes is utilising his position as leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC) to shield his fellow party members involved in their attempt to derail the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

“It’s a dishonest policy of the AFC (Alliance for Change) to go around pretending that they are decent. They are riggers just like the PNC (People National Congress).

“‘If you can’t find it in your heart to come clean with the Guyanese public now. How can you advocate decency?” Dr Jagdeo said at his weekly press conference.

Jagdeo’s statements came days after Hughes distanced himself from questions about the Statements of Poll (SOPs) that would purportedly show that the APNU+ AFC coalition won the 2020 General and Regional Elections

Hughes will not disclose if he has seen winning 2020 SOPs

As the lawyer defending some of the accused persons, Hughes may have already seen the SOPs. He, however, implied if that was the case, he would not be obligated to disclose information as part of attorney/ client privileges.

Despite this, Dr Jagdeo raised concerns that Hughes has refused to offer an apology.

“He (Hughes) couldn’t find a single thing to apologise for. He wants specifics as to what to apologise for. We can find hundreds of things for which they should apologise for but the key thing is their role in stealing the election.

“If he doesn’t see this …as unconstitutional or behaviours to condemn then he is not fit to lead a political party,” Dr Jagdeo said.

The General Secretary, who is also Guyana’s Vice President, said Hughes shows up surrounded by his party members including his wife, Cathy Hughes, and Khemraj Ramrattan at press conferences, evidentially shielding them.

“They fabricated a bunch of lies to support the stealing of the elections.

“They spoke about dead people voting…they had a list of people that they claimed that left the country and others impersonated them at polling places that they can’t verify.

“That is why today he finds it very hard to answer the question of whether they stole the SOPs or not,” Dr Jagdeo said.

The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) released their SoPs days after the March 02, 2020 elections which showed a victory for Irfaan Ali and the PPP/C.

A recount of the votes several weeks later also confirmed that the PPP/C had won the elections.

Hughes is currently representing several key party representatives, who are currently being the court on charges of electoral fraud.

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General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday blazed the former Minister of National Security, Khemraj Ramjattan for “disrespectful” claims that Jagdeo spoke to alleged Russian hackers in their language during the March 2020 elections.

At a press conference last week, Ramjattan, who was also the APNU+AFC coalition candidate for Prime Minister, said Friday that there were four Russians speaking to Jagdeo in 2020 as reported to him by members of the Guyana Police Force’s Special Branch.

The AFC member, reflecting on what he said were engagements with Jagdeo and four unidentified Russians claimed that the discussions centered on “certain things rather suspect that had to do with elections.”

Ramjattan says Jagdeo spoke Russian to alleged elections hackers

He said Jagdeo and the Russians were not speaking in English but in Russian. Because of fears, Ramjattan said four Russians were later deported.

Jagdeo, who is now Vice President, expressed concerns over these utterances at a PPP press conference on Thursday.

“It is disrespectful to think that we will buy this stupid excuse that they will give,” he said.

And he said, “First of all, I never spoke with anyone in Russian or with Russians in Russian at the Marriott… and secondly, assuming there was a conspiracy to do this, would I be doing it in the lobby of a hotel?”

That wasn’t the only loophole he highlighted in Ramjattan’s utterances. Jagdeo reminded the public that Guyana’s elections are conducted via pencil and paper so it is unclear how the Russians could’ve hacked the elections.

He questioned also which rank of the Special Branch is proficient in Russian to discern what was allegedly discussed.

Because of these reasons, Jagdeo wondered why really the Russians were deported and what concerns the former administration really acted on.

“They deported four, maybe unsuspecting persons. They just picked them up and sent them off, that may be malfeasance in public office

“How can you be so silly?” Jagdeo said incredulously.

The post ‘Disrespectful, silly’ – Jagdeo blazes Ramjattan over allegations that he spoke Russian to alleged election hackers appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Press Release from the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League

The much-anticipated ticket sales for the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League T20 matches in Guyana are set to begin on Saturday, November 9^th, 2024 at the local box office from 09:00h.

Cricket enthusiasts can secure their seats for the action-packed tournament, starting from 08:30h to 16:30h on weekdays and 09:00h to 13:00h on Saturdays at the box office located at 233-234 Camp Street, Georgetown.

Ticket prices range from G$1,000 to G$7,000 and are available for all stands.

The inaugural ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League runs from November 26 to December 7 and will see five teams from around the world compete for a US$1million prize pool at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The five teams who will be taking part are Hampshire Hawks, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Lahore Qalandars, Rangpur Riders and Victoria. The ultimate global cricket showdown is coming to Guyana.

Here is the line-up of matches and ticket availability:

Tuesday, November 26- Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Lahore Qalandars (19:00h)

Wednesday, November 27- Hampshire Hawks vs Rangur Riders (19:00h)

Friday, November 29- Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Victoria (19:00h)

Saturday, November 30- Hampshire Hawks vs Lahore Qalandars (10:00h)

Sunday, December 1- Rangpur Riders vs Victoria (10:00h)

Sunday, December 1- Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Hampshire Hawks (19:00h)

Tuesday, December 3- Victoria vs Lahore Qalandars (19:00h)

Wednesday, December 4- Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Rangpur Riders (19:00h)

Thursday, December 5- Lahore Qalandars vs Rangpur Riders (19:00h)

Friday, December 6- Hampshire Hawks vs Victoria (19:00h)

Saturday, December 7- GSLT20 Final (19:00h)

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Statement by Cricket West Indies

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has imposed a two-match suspension on fast bowler Alzarri Joseph following an on-field incident during the third CG United ODI at the Kensington Oval, Barbados.

As part of CWI’s ongoing commitment to upholding the highest levels of professionalism and integrity in the game, the incident, which involved conduct falling short of CWI’s standards of professionalism, was reviewed in consultation with the Senior Men’s coaching staff.

Miles Bascombe, CWI Director of Cricket, addressed the decision, stating, “Alzarri’s behaviour did not align with the core values that Cricket West Indies upholds. Such conduct cannot be overlooked, and we have taken decisive action to ensure the gravity of the situation is fully acknowledged.”

Joseph also issued a public apology, acknowledging the incident and expressing regret.

“I recognize that my passion got the best of me,” he said.

“I have personally apologized to Captain Shai Hope, my teammates and management. I also extend my sincerest apologies to the West Indies fans- I understand that even a brief lapse in judgment can have a far-reaching impact, and I deeply regret any disappointment caused.”

Cricket West Indies remains committed to fostering a culture of respect, integrity, and discipline both on and off the field. (CWI)

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Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday said that the Irfaan Ali-led administration is keen to continue working alongside the United States of America (USA) and the incoming Donald Trump administration.

The Vice President, who is the General Secretary of the governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), also emphasised that a key focus of the government will be to debunk lies continuously told to us authorities by opposition operatives.

“Every [US] mission that comes to Guyana, they have a standard mantra. That is, the PPP is racist, the PPP is corrupt, the PPP is incompetent, the PPP squanders oil money and the PPP doesn’t like the US (because) we are in bed with the Chinese.

“Of course, the facts are very different and we have been meeting with those officials to set the record straight,” Jagdeo said on Thursday at his weekly press conference.

Jagdeo opined that such notions are shared by detractors of the party and the government, including members of the opposition. He also said known social media critic, Rickford Burke has consistently fed US authorities with untrue information.

But he emphasised that the government will pushback against those untrue notions and intends to work closely with the Trump administration to set the record straight.

“We believe the USA is a very close partner of Guyana and therefore we have to work to build this partnership continuously,” he said, later adding, “We are looking forward to continue debunking all the lies, particularly with the new administration that will take office next January in the USA.”

Of particular note, Jagdeo said the government will engage the US administration on Burke’s modus operandi and transgressions including his alleged extortion of Guyanese.

Outside of expressing intentions to engage the US administration, Jagdeo highlighted some of the improvements that have been made locally to guarantee greater accountability and transparency in governance.

Those gains include improvements at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

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President Dr. Irfaan Ali congratulated seasoned politician and current Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira on her Commonwealth Parliamentarian Lifetime Achievement Award.

Teixeira was bestowed with the award on Thursday in Sydney, Australia.

“You have dedicated all of your adult life to Guyana and in Service of every Guyanese. You have been nothing short of exceptional in the execution of every task you undertook.

“You are an outstanding citizen and an asset to Guyana. I am privileged to see in close proximity your selfless service, remarkable commitment, humility, and sacrifices for this land of ours,” the President said.

The Head of State acknowledged that she continues to serve the government and the nation, and assured her that her service is invaluable.

“Continue to shine in beauty, intellect, success and service of the people of our country,” he said.

The Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year Awards celebrate active and inspiring Parliamentarians excelling in their fields. To receive the Parliamentarian Lifetime Achievement Award, the following criteria must be fulfilled:

The nominee must have been a parliamentarian for over 20 years, and over that time must have:

• demonstrated an impressive record of achievement as a parliamentarian in their contribution to their Parliament and to their country;
• promoted democracy and good governance within their jurisdiction; and
• achieved notable and sustainable positive change over the course of their career

Teixeira was nominated for this prestigious award by the Parliament of Guyana in September 2024. Following her nomination, she was selected as this year’s recipient after meeting all outlined criteria of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).

Minister Teixeira’s distinguished parliamentary service spans more than three decades, marked by her commitment to principled leadership, her leadership in the areas of Governance, accountability and consultation.

The Minister’s dedication to serving her constituents and the public has been exemplar, and she has earned the respect and trust of her colleagues while demonstrating an unwavering dedication to country, duty, skillfully leading her teams, and fostering collaboration among parliamentary members.

Although she humbly avoids praise, Minister Teixeira’s record of leadership is inspiring. She has served in four ministerial roles since 1992:
– Minister of Health (1992-1997)
– Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports (1998-2005)
– Minister of Home Affairs (2005-2006)
– Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance (2020-present)

In addition to her roles as Minister, Ms. Teixeira served as the Presidential Advisor on Governance (2006-2015), where she established and led the Governance Unit within the Office of the President. Her current portfolio builds upon this foundation, and she continues to demonstrate a deep commitment to governance and public service.

Minister Teixeira’s leadership within Parliament has been exemplary. She has served as both Government Chief Whip and Opposition Chief Whip, holding these key roles during critical periods from 2012 to 2015, 2015 to 2019, and from 2020 to present.

As a longstanding member of the Parliamentary Management Committee, Minister Teixeira has provided valuable guidance, helping to foster consensus on complex issues, and encouraging a spirit of cordiality in the House. Her influence extends regionally and internationally, where she continues to mentor Parliamentarians.

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The Ministry of Education marked a significant milestone with the official sod-turning ceremony for a new Nismes Secondary School on Thursday.

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, led the ceremony, celebrating the start of this project, which will serve 800 students and provide much-needed educational infrastructure for the community.

The school project, with a total investment of G$1,336,166,784, is an essential part of the Government’s commitment to enhancing educational facilities and expanding access to quality learning environments across Guyana.

Located in the La Grange–Nismes district, the school will be equipped to meet the needs of students, supporting the region’s dedication to educational excellence, and a further step towards achieving Universal Secondary Education.

The construction work has been divided into five lots, awarded to trusted contractors with a range of completion timelines. ECS Construction & General Supplies has been awarded Lot 1, with a contract sum of G$237,050,110, and Lot 2, valued at G$237,427,608. Both are scheduled to be completed in eight months. JK Enterprise Inc. is overseeing Lot 3, valued at G$392,372,526, also with an eight-month timeline. Mason’s Innovative Construction will manage Lot 4, valued at G$154,448,800, with an expedited three-month schedule. Finally, R&R General Construction & Supplies has been awarded Lot 5, valued at G$314,867,740, with an eight-month completion timeline.

The Minister of Education shared her thoughts on the importance of this new facility for the community, emphasizing the Government’s dedication to education, regardless of location.

“We set about immediately looking to see how we can build secondary schools with the view that every single child in this country – whether you’re from Georgetown or you’re from here on the West Bank, or you’re from the deep hinterland or you live on a mountaintop – you must be able to access a secondary education”, she explained.

Further, the Minister expressed appreciation towards the corporation of One Communications regarding donating a portion of land that was initially theirs to the school.

“I have to say that after negotiations, they’ve been very kind to say they’re going to give us that piece of land, and I so want to recognize One Communications for donating a piece of land to the secondary education of the children of the West Bank”, she acknowledged.

This new school is expected to play a crucial role in empowering students with the resources they need to succeed and in fostering a supportive and conducive learning environment.

The Ministry of Education is proud to spearhead this project, as it continues to invest in the future of education in Guyana (Ministry of Education press release)

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Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand has emphasised the crucial role of parents in ensuring their children utilise the available resources, attend school regularly, and actively practice to boost Mathematics scores countrywide.

This was the overarching encouragement on Wednesday as the ministry kicked off its Mathematics Intervention Awareness Campaign with visits to schools in Pomeroon-Supenaam.

The campaign brought together ministry officials, parents, teachers, and students from several schools, including Charity Secondary, Cotton Field Secondary, Joanna Cecilia Secondary, Abram Zuil Secondary, and Aurora Secondary School.

The campaign aims to promote the National Mathematics Intervention Programme, which was launched in September.

The programme targets some 50 schools nationwide and seeks to enhance the performance of teachers and students in Mathematics, through the introduction of Math monitors.

“The whole aim was to let them know that they can pass Mathematics once they use the resources we have. We believe that once they have the resources and they are supervised in their usage of them, we can make sure our children do better than they are doing now,” the minister said during a live recap.

The ministry provides resources such as past paper booklets, geometry sets, scientific calculators, graph books, and textbooks to every child nationwide.

The minister has expressed confidence that these measures will boost the national pass rate for Mathematics in 2025 to at least 40 per cent, compared to 34 per cent in 2023 and 31 per cent in 2024.

Coordinator for the Mathematics Intervention and Education Officer at the National Centre for Research and Development, Sir Leon Beaton also accompanied the minister on this visit.

He pointed to several interactive programmes under his gamut, such as ‘Beating Da Maths’, a series where students are challenged with fun and tricky math questions. This series makes math enjoyable, as well as deepens students’ understanding of the subject.

Additionally, to address any concerns or request additional assistance, a hotline number 736-MATH is available for teachers and others involved.

The rollout of this initiative follows an instruction from President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali to implement immediate remedial measures in schools (Republished from the Department of Public Information)

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