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Although possessing several amateur boxers of international ranking and repute, Guyana’s lone world-ranked professional pugilist, Elton ‘Coolie Bully’ Dharry, has moved one step closer to acquiring a world title fight as he was ranked number four in the super-flyweight division by renowned sanctioning entity, the World Boxing Association (WBA).

Dharry, 38, sports a record of 28 wins (15 knockouts), six losses and one no-contest.

Guyanese boxer Elton Dharry (centre) with Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. (left) and Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle

In his most recent encounter, Dharry defeated local prized fighter Dexter Marques on local soil via technical knockout in the third round. Dharry is undefeated in his last four bouts.

The Enterprise native fought for the WBA Super Flyweight title in 2019, but suffered a controversial ninth-round stoppage defeat to Australian Andrew Maloney in Melbourne.

Given his recent elevation, Dharry is expected to challenge once again for a world title.

If a world title fight and eventual victory are realised, the extraordinary feat will solidify his status in the annals of time and place him amongst revered company such as the late Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis, Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Brathwaite, Vivian Harris, Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil and Gary St. Clair.

Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle said, “This is a significant development for Elton Dharry and the nation as a whole. We believe that Dharry, who is a student of the game, is now worthy of another crack at a world title.”

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A devastating fire broke out on Wednesday at approximately 10:40 hrs, destroying fifteen buildings in Puruni Landing, Region Seven.

This incident mirrors a similar fire that occurred in the same area just one year ago.

The latest blaze had completely engulfed properties owned by prominent local businessmen, including Yvette McDonald, Floyd Elcock, Otis McKenzie, and Williams Cozier. Altogether a total of 15 buildings were destroyed along with several vehicles.

McDonald’s establishment, ‘Miners Choice’, was particularly affected, consisting of three hotel buildings, a restaurant, and living quarters for workers.

Elcock also lost a grocery store and hotel, while McKenzie operated a drug store and Cozier’s building served as a residential building.

Aftermath of the massive fire at Puruni Landing (Photo: Erwin Ward/October 2024)

Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire began during a fuel sale at ‘Miners Choice’, where a spill ignited and quickly spread.

At the time, several rooms were occupied, and while it is feared that two individuals may have perished, this has yet to be confirmed due to the extent of the damage.

Local authorities, including Police Commander Senior Superintendent Dion Moore, visited the scene later in the afternoon.

Efforts to contain the fire were aided by community members who employed a dredge engine from the Puruni River.

The loss is significant, with none of the affected buildings reported to be insured.

The total cost of damages remains undetermined. Tragically, police ATV 3129, used by local officers, was also lost in the inferno.

An eyewitness told the News Room that two persons, a man and a woman were unaccounted for. He said there were unconfirmed reports that they were trapped in their room when the fire started.

“Several rooms at Miners Choice were reportedly occupied at the time of the fire. It is currently unknown whether all occupants were able to evacuate safely. It is suspected that two persons may have perished, but this cannot be confirmed due to the extent of the rubble and debris,” Police reported.

This incident comes just a year after a similar fire in Puruni Landing that caused extensive damage to a Chinese supermarket and adjacent structures.

In that case, the fire was traced to a generator room, prompting an immediate response from the police and fire prevention officers to manage the situation.

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The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has announced the squads for the upcoming Senior Men’s Super50 Inter-county tournament, which will start on October 13.

The opening rounds feature Essequibo hosting Berbice at Pomona Ground while Demerara faces Select XI at the Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda.

Both matches are scheduled to commence at 09:30h.

Essequibo Squad:

• Captain: Antony Adams
• Vice-Captain: Kemol Savory
• Players: Keanu Harry, Ronsford Beaton, Quinton Sampson, Ricardo Peters, Ricardo Adams, Kevon Boodie, Kanhaiya Ramkarran, Ronaldo Renee, Joshua Jones, Neiland Cadogan, Garfield Phillips, Thaddeus Lovell, Malcolm Hubbard
• Standbys: Dexter George, Jadon Campbell, Kevon Stephens, Shahid Viera
• Manager: Andy Ramnarine
• Coach: Rayon De Costa

Berbice Squad:

• Captain: Veerasammy Permaul
• Vice-Captain: Kevin Sinclair
• Players: Junior Sinclair, Rampertab Ramnauth, Tomani Caesar (WK), Kevlon Anderson, Jonathon Foo, Rajiv Ivan, Zainul Ramsammy, Seon Glasgow, Nigel Deodat, Nial Smith, Clinton Pestano, Sylus Tyndall, Joemal La Fleur
• Standbys: Shamal Angel, Demetri Cameron, Javed Karim, Rampersaud Ramnauth, Adrian Sukwah
• Manager: Winston Smith
• Coach: Julian Moore

Demerara Squad:

• Players: Tevin Imlach, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shamar Yearwood, Akshaya Persaud, Raymon Perez, Ronaldo Alimohamed, Richie Looknauth, Steven Sankar, Chris Harry, Qumar Torrington, Ashmead Nedd, Sachin Singh, Chetram Balgobin, Devon Lord
• Standbys: Nehemiah Hohenkirk, Riyad Latiff, Neeran Bani, Chanderpaul Ramraj
• Manager: Surendra Hiralal
• Coach: Garvin Nedd

GCB Select XI:

• Captain: Johnathan Rampersaud
• Players: Rivaldo Phillips, Navindra Persaud, Carlos Larose, Bernard Bailey, Jeremiah Scott, Brandon Jaikaran, Floy Joseph, Johnathan Van Lange, Ushardeva Balgobin, Aryan Persaud, Shamar Angel, Golcharran Chulai, Gaurav Ramesh, Kwesi Mickle, Javed Karim, Rajendra Ramballi, Krsna Singh, Ronaldo Jeffery
• Manager: Puneet Jaigopaul
• Coach: Quasen Nedd

Notably, Romario Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie are unavailable due to their commitments with the West Indies in Sri Lanka, while the reasons for the absence of other players like Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul, and Matthew Nandu were not disclosed.

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Wind blows over palm trees, as the Sanibel Island bridge is seen in the background, as Hurricane Milton approaches Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. October 9, 2024. REUTERS/Ricardo Arduengo

Broken utility poles downed by strong wind gusts are seen as Hurricane Milton approaches Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. October 9, 2024. REUTERS/Ricardo Arduengo

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St. Stanislaus College in Georgetown unveiled its new Physics and Chemistry Lab on Tuesday night, honouring former teacher Father Herbert Feeny, alongside the renovated Richard Harford Staff Room.

Father Feeny taught at the school for many years, from 1946 to 1970. Harford, a former student who went on to become a successful businessman, made significant donations to the school.

The $51 million rehabilitative project is seen as a transformative step towards advancing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education at the college.

The project was made possible by donations from the school’s alumni, the Government of Guyana, and families such as the Feenys and Harfords.

During the ceremony, Dr. Kofi Dalrymple, another distinguished alumnus, emphasised the importance of STEAM in shaping the future. He noted that 60% of the school’s students now choose to pursue science subjects. Dr. Dalrymple hailed the college as a beacon of scientific excellence.

“In today’s world and especially in our beloved Guyana, Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths are at the heart of our progress; they are the foundations of innovation, the engine driving the economy, and the key to solving the most pressing challenges of our time. At Saints, we understand,” Dr. Dalrymple said.

He added that the modern labs will foster hands-on learning and equip students with critical thinking and problem-solving skills, essential for success.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who also attended St. Stanislaus College, delivered the keynote address. Reflecting on his own experience as a student, President Ali attributed much of his success to the well-rounded education he received at the institution.

“These corridors, these classrooms, these laboratories moulded me; they shaped me not just by knowledge of the world but by teaching me how to think, how to question, and ultimately how to lead,” the Head of State said.

He stressed the importance of linking education to national development, particularly in growing sectors such as eco-tourism, oil and gas, and hospitality.

The new lab, President Ali noted, also symbolises the school’s dedication to preparing students to contribute meaningfully to Guyana’s evolving economy and development.

The President then challenged the board and teachers to ensure St. Stanislaus remains at the forefront of education and national progress.

“Education, especially in STEAM, is needed to boost an economy that is now on a transformative path of development,” he said.

“We don’t want this institution to only focus on academics. The strength of this institution lies in creating well-rounded individuals, fostering well-rounded citizens, understanding the talent of everyone who passes through here, and building on that talent to give them the best opportunity to contribute to the population,” the President added.

The President also committed to donating $500,000 annually to the school in honour of outstanding teacher Lorraine Meratins, for the creation of the Lorraine Meratins Debating and Impromptu Speech Awards.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand commended the school’s progress and highlighted its leadership in delivering hybrid education, a model that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A three-storey addition to the school, which will include more classrooms, labs, and staff spaces, is expected to be completed soon.

“It is not just about the physical building; it’s about ensuring every student leaves here with competencies in at least one foreign language, one TVET area, one sport, one musical instrument, and a strong sense of volunteerism,” Manickchand said.

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In defence of President Irfaan Ali’s decision to appoint Clifton Hicken as the substantive Commissioner of Police, Attorney General Anil Nandlall has dismissed objections from Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, describing them as unfounded and legally flawed.

Speaking on his weekly programme ‘Issues in the News’ Tuesday night, Nandlall rejected Norton’s claim that the President had failed to consult him in line with constitutional requirements.

The Opposition Leader has indicated his intent to challenge the appointment in court, citing alleged breaches of the Constitution.

“There is nothing improper, nothing illegal, and nothing unconstitutional about the President’s actions thus far,” Nandlall said as he stressed that President Ali followed the constitutional provisions when engaging in the appointment process.

Norton claims the process did not adhere to the constitutionally mandated consultation process, which, according to him, should have included a face-to-face meeting.

But Nandlall was adamant, explaining that the Constitution of Guyana, specifically Article 211, outlines how the Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioners of Police should be appointed.

He pointed out that the President alone holds the authority for these appointments, but must engage in “meaningful consultation” with both the Leader of the Opposition and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, following which a decision is made.

Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken and President Irfaan Ali during an outreach in Buxton, East Coast Demerara

“The President is required to write, engage in written dialogue, and keep a record of the consultations. There is no obligation for a face-to-face meeting,” Nandlall clarified.

“The Constitution does not require agreement from the Opposition Leader, nor does it mandate a personal meeting. What it ensures is that the Leader of the Opposition is given a reasonable opportunity to provide considered feedback,” he added.

According to Nandlall, In early September, the President wrote to Norton, informing him of the proposed appointment of Clifton Hicken as the Commissioner of Police, and requested his input.

The letter, which was sent alongside the CV of Hicken and those of five Deputy Commissioners, set a deadline for Norton’s response by September 18.

Further, Nandlall revealed that President Ali had responded to Norton’s objections on October 2, addressing each point raised by the Opposition Leader.

“The President’s letter was a detailed response, countering each contention raised by Mr Norton,” Nandlall said.

“Many of Mr Norton’s concerns were found to be factually incorrect, and the President’s reply provided ample clarification.”

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall addressing the First Legal Conference on Criminal Justice Reform – Advancing the Needham’s Point Declaration

The Attorney General reminded that this is not the first time Norton has challenged Hicken’s appointment.

When Hicken was first appointed as acting Commissioner in March 2022, following the pre-retirement leave of Nigel Hoppie, Norton had previously taken issue with the process.

However, as Nandlall highlighted, there was no opposition leader at that time, nor was there a functioning Police Service Commission, making the President’s action legally valid.

In March 2023, as Hicken’s 55th birthday approached — the mandatory retirement age — he continued to serve in an acting capacity.

Now, as the President seeks to confirm Hicken’s substantive appointment, Norton’s objections have resurfaced.

Hicken, a seasoned law enforcement professional, had previously headed the Police Force’s Operations before stepping into the role of Acting Commissioner.

The post ‘Nothing improper or illegal’ – Nandlall says objections to Hicken’s appointment ‘factually incorrect, flawed’ appeared first on News Room Guyana.

As Guyana stands at the cusp of a golden era in its economic history, the stage was set for a high-stakes conversation about the country’s future on Tuesday evening.

The second annual Regional Investments and Capital Markets Conference kicked off at the Pegasus Suites in Kingston, bringing together some of the Caribbean’s brightest business minds and policymakers.

It wasn’t just the glitter of Guyana’s newfound oil wealth that had everyone talking.

In a frank and passionate address, Chairman of the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE), Steven Whittingham urged Guyana not to fall into the same economic traps that once nearly sank Jamaica.

While he praised Guyana’s rapid economic growth, driven largely by its oil sector, he also spoke about the risks of sudden prosperity.

He recalled how Jamaica, decades ago, stood on the precipice of disaster.

“There was a time when Jamaica was seen as the sick man of the Caribbean.

“Our currency depreciated faster than we could count, and the preferential treatment for sugar, once our lifeblood, was removed. Jamaica was left vulnerable,” Whittingham recalled.

“Look at us now,” he said, adding, “Jamaica has become a beacon of financial stability. Our GDP is up, unemployment is down to historic lows, and our stock exchange is thriving.”

Whittingham took time to outline the success of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, which now boasts over 100 listed companies and a market capitalisation of $11 billion.

“We’ve built a platform for wealth generation and capital raising that is internationally recognised. But it wasn’t always this way,” he reasoned.

And then came his message for Guyana, the fastest-growing economy in the world.

Chairman of the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE), Steven Whittingham

“…successful economies are not built solely on natural resources. They are built by successful companies and successful companies need capital. Guyana is at a crossroads. It’s a land of opportunity, but you must tread carefully,” he said.

The room became quiet as Whittingham told the story of Jamaica’s bauxite levy.

The Jamaican government, back in the 1970s, had introduced a capital development fund, similar to Guyana’s Natural Resource Fund that was supposed to act as a safety net for the economy.

The plan? To save the proceeds from bauxite to support social enterprise and bolster the country’s reserves.

Instead, the fund was mismanaged, and the capital vanished.

“It became a cautionary tale.

“…about what happens when economic decisions are not made with foresight or prudence,” he noted.

And with that, he offered his warning to Guyana, to avoid the same pitfalls.

While the country’s oil wealth has put it on the map, Whittingham urged Guyana to not become seduced by short-term gains.

And that is exactly what the Guyana government has set out to do, to spend now on transforming the country in all sectors but also to save for the future.

Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo is on record repeatedly stating and explaining that Guyana will not splurge its windfall revenues and have nothing to show for it in the end.

There has been advocacy in Guyana for the government to issue millions in cash grants from oil revenues to the citizenry on the basis that the people are the owners of the oil and gas resources. But Jagdeo said that this mentality threatens to return Guyana to the days when it was a poor country before the change of administration in the early 90s.

As the conference continues to conclude on Wednesday, government officials including Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance in the Office of the President, Dr. Ashni Singh, and Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bahrrat are set to address the gathering.

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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) of Guyana on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which aims at enhancing the knowledge base surrounding hate speech and fostering institutional resilience in the face of this growing challenge.

This partnership comes when Guyana prepares for the 2025 General Elections, a period that historically witnesses a surge in ethnic and racial hate speech. 

In an age of unprecedented information access, a click, a swipe, or a scroll can open a constant stream of news, articles and social media posts competing for our attention. However, within this ocean of data lies a hidden danger: hate speech from information pollution. Understood as the spread of false, misleading, manipulated and otherwise harmful messages, information pollution can quietly shape opinions, instigate conflict, and erode trust in reliable information. 

As experienced during the pandemic and now with the multiple crises worldwide, information pollution is threatening our ability to make informed decisions, participate in democratic processes, and contribute to the building of inclusive, peaceful and just societies. In fact, the United Nations Secretary-General has identified this phenomenon as a major contemporary threat, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to combat it. 

In this scenario, UNDP, as the largest United Nations provider of electoral assistance and with extensive experience in the field of democratic strengthening, is developing a series of innovative tools to support national, regional, and global efforts to promote information integrity and the resilience of information systems. Similarly, the ERC, being a constitutional entity mandated to promote the elimination of all forms of discrimination, has long recognized the impact of hate speech on societal divisions and is committed to proactive measures to counteract it. As part of the MoU, UNDP will provide comprehensive support to the ERC, including: 

1. Technical assistance to strengthen ERC’s existing methodologies for mapping and countering disinformation and hate speech.
2. Strengthen ERC’s capacities to access social media data, providing crucial insights into information pollution.
3. Enhancing the ERC’s technological infrastructure to better respond to these challenges.

Central to this initiative is the ‘Digital Kit for Democracy,’ which includes the powerful eMonitor+ system—a state-of-the-art social media monitoring and analysis tool that leverages artificial intelligence to track and analyse harmful content across various platforms.

eMonitor+ facilitates the extraction and analysis of thousands of pieces of information from platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and others. This information increases knowledge of pernicious phenomena in the information ecosystems of countries and regions. 

Furthermore, as it is deployed simultaneously in various countries with different information dynamics, eMonitor+ is helping establish a standardized language and comparative data collection, analysis, and dissemination methodologies, so that cross-border dialogue, learning and cooperation can be facilitated. This makes eMonitor+ particularly usefulin contexts with little research or data available on these topics. Only in 2024, six countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have started implementing eMonitor+ (Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Venezuela), and have since accessed a portfolio of good practices, innovative approaches, and partnership possibilities to tackle electoral mis/disinformation and hate speech. 

The UNDP Resident Representative for Guyana and Surinam, Mr. Gerardo Noto said, “By equipping the ERC with the tools and methodologies to combat hate speech and misinformation, we are taking proactive measures to strengthen democracy and promote social cohesion.” ‘ 

The Chairman of the ERC, Shaikh Moeenul Hack, noted that “the ERC launched a proactive Countering Hate Speech campaign aimed at reducing racial and ethnic violations in the lead-up to the elections. The E-Monitoring Tool will be instrumental in enhancing our capacity to capture a wider reach of content. This innovative, automated system will efficiently identify key words and phrases that are racially and ethnically offensive, allowing us to respond more swiftly and effectively.” 

Through this collaboration, the ERC will enhance its Media Monitoring Unit’s capacity to identify and address racially- and ethnically-motivated hate speech, disinformation, and technology facilitated gender-based violence. The implementation of eMonitor+ will provide ERC with the necessary tools to extract and analyse large volumes of data, fostering a deeper understanding of the challenges posed by information pollution. 

The signing of the MOU forms part of the wider ERC-UN System campaign to ‘Counter Hate Speech’, which was launched in June 2024. This campaign is an element of UN Guyana’s national implementation of the global United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, which highlights the UN’s ongoing commitment to promote peaceful, inclusive and just societies 

As this initiative unfolds, both UNDP and ERC look forward to setting a benchmark for collaboration against information pollution in the region, ultimately working toward a more equitable and democratic future for all Guyanese citizens (ERC press release)

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Tirishatha Semple was sworn in on Monday as President of the University of Guyana’s Students’ Society for the academic year 2024/2025, along with the rest of the members making up the Executive Council.

The formal installation ceremony was held at UG’s Education Lecture Theatre at Turkeyen Campus, East Coast Demerara.

The election for the president and three representatives for each faculty to form the executive council was held last September 25 for students of all UG campuses.

Replacing outgoing president Shaquawn Gill, Semple is the third woman to take the oath of office in the history of the university.

Semple is hoping to contribute towards the establishment of a universal prayer room for students of all religious backgrounds, better food options, discount cards, and a UG Steel Orchestra, among other initiatives.

“I never saw myself as merely a candidate. I saw myself as a representative of your hopes and dreams; as someone who can lead with authenticity, empathy, and purpose,” she expressed after taking the oath of office.

UG Vice Chancellor, Dr Paloma Mohamed-Martin urged the students to rethink their decision to be on the executive body if their only intentions are to have access to power and resources and to be able to order people around.

“The job of representing the number of students in the university, their interest and the number of things that have to be done, the number of complaints you get, the number of navigations that you have to help students to do, the number of events, so many things that you would have to do, is going to undermine this idea that any kind of resources that you will get in return is going to be worth the effort,” she said.

“This is about work and service,” she reminded them, as she encouraged them to balance the duties that they have to perform as representatives and their school work. “We don’t want people to be failing because they are taking on student work,” she said.

Addressing the new president, she observed: “When you are a woman who is leading, you have to be careful not to lead only for women. You are a leader for everyone, for the good of everyone. And that fairness, balance and focus needs to stay with you. Otherwise, you are not going to be very effective.”

Registrar Dr. Nigel Gravesande urged the students to build confidence with the student population which he said requires self-belief and positive thinking. “Good leaders should be good orators,” he said, as he encouraged them to improve their communication skills.

“Seek intentionally to understand the perspectives of others, even if they are diametrically opposed to yours. Strive to be truthful in your dealings with the administration and with your fellow students. Build trust. Trust is earned by people through constant, honest conduct. Consider the ethical ramifications for the choices you make,” he advised.

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A total of 389 contracts for small contractors in Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne) were inked on Tuesday. Altogether, these contracts are worth about $6.9 billion.

The contracts were inked as Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo visited the region on Tuesday. The contracts are for various road upgrades.

Importantly, the Vice President told residents that a new rating system has been developed to allow more persons- especially smaller contractors- to secure work contracts needed. This system will allow small contractors to get deals without getting involved in the standard bidding process.

Meanwhile, an additional $7 billion in contracts will be tendered for larger contractors to undertake more extensive projects shortly.

The Vice President, however, noted that while newer or smaller contractors benefit from the non-bidding allocation process, larger projects will follow a competitive tendering system. Contractors with experience handling projects worth $20 to $30 million or more will have the opportunity to bid.

And Jagdeo made his expectations of contractors very clear as he advised contractors to not engage in any form of bribery.

“The government wants this to happen. Secondly, if anyone accepts a bribe from you for doing shoddy work, any engineer or anyone, you let us know. You are clear what we want to achieve here”, he said.

He also stressed that contractors are expected to deliver high-quality work and that poor performance will result in being blacklisted from future projects.

“We will just put you on a list that you didn’t do well on a project.

“… the work you do here leaves room for you to make money but don’t think it’s a one-off thing. If you want to grow we will provide you with the opportunities for growth and I expect you to do proper work.”

The VP reiterated that the government’s approach aims to foster a transparent and inclusive environment for contractors of all sizes and by doing so ensures fairness, accountability, and quality.

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