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In a landmark ruling on Wednesday, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has overturned previous decisions by the Guyana High Court and Court of Appeal, affirming the lawful appointments of Vikash Ramkissoon and Sarah Browne as Parliamentary Secretaries in the National Assembly.

This decision allows the two members of the governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) to resume their roles in government.

The CCJ’s ruling comes months after Guyana’s Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George declared that Members of Parliament (MPs) cannot hold both elected and non-elected positions simultaneously.

This ruling, upheld by the Appeal Court, had previously deemed the appointments of Ramkissoon and Browne as unlawful.

Following the Appeal Court’s decision, which was delivered on a Tuesday, Attorney General Anil Nandlall expressed the government’s intention to appeal to the CCJ, emphasizing the need for clarity on this critical constitutional matter.

The controversy began when Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones challenged the legality of Browne and Ramkissoon’s appointments on December 22, 2022.

He argued that, as election candidates, they were disqualified from serving as Parliamentary Secretaries, positions intended for “technocrats” who are not involved in electoral politics. Both Browne and Ramkissoon were sworn in on September 15, 2020, with Browne serving in the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and Ramkissoon in the Ministry of Agriculture.

Jones’s case referenced prior judgments, including a notable decision by Chief Justice Ian Chang in the matter of Desmond Morian vs. The Attorney General and the Speaker of the National Assembly, which similarly ruled against political candidates holding non-elected ministerial positions.

In a twist, Nandlall, who represented Morian in that case while in opposition, is now defending the legality of the current appointments.

He argued that the earlier Court of Appeal ruling was not binding due to procedural issues in the case and insisted that the ratio decidendi – the legal principle or reasoning behind the decision – did not apply to the merits of the appeal.

With the CCJ’s ruling, Ramkissoon and Browne can continue their work in the National Assembly, marking a significant turn in this ongoing legal and political saga in Guyana.

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The Atikali Learning Lab, a space dedicated to nurturing learning for kids aged 15 months to five years, formally opened its doors at Lot 6 Temple Street, Ogle, East Coast Demerara, on Wednesday.

The founder is Quenita Walrond, an education professional with 25 years of experience and former head of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

‘Atikali’ is a verb meaning to understand, which Quenita Walrond said is the essence of true learning and stems from her own personal experiences of raising her children as a single parent, worrying about their safety and care while she was at work.

The lab offers a developmentally appropriate full-day engagement programme where the whole child is said to be nurtured in an environment of fun, care, and knowledge building and sharing.

“At Atikali Learning Lab, we believe that learning is a treasure that stays with your child forever. Our programmes are designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and confidence in young minds. Whether it’s reading, maths, or STEM activities, we help children explore their passions and build a strong foundation for the future,” Oneidge Walrond, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce shared.

With her office having to be where her child would be for the second part of the day once school dismissed at noon, Walrond understood how practical it would be to open the space all day, from 8 am to 4 pm.

With a student-teacher ratio of one to nine, Walrond said Atikali offers the gift of guilt-free time for parents, with a curriculum that includes intention, purpose, and balance.

Minister Walrond was high in praise, assuring of support both in a personal capacity and from the standpoint of government. She pointed out that it is a plus for the government to have someone like Quenita who is highly qualified and was working overseas but chose to come back and work in Guyana.

She noted that the businesswoman had the tenacity to step out and take advantage of the opportunities available to her and encouraged other skilled persons in the diaspora to come back and benefit from the enabling environment that the government has created.

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Organised by the Guyana Fitness Games, the eighth KFC Fitness Expo will be held on Sunday, November 3, from noon at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue.

There will be both scaled and elite competitions, but this year, the teams will be formed differently—two females and one male.

Tuesday’s launch at Genesis Fitness Gym also revealed a record number of registrants for the scaled events.

The pioneer behind the Fitness Expo, Noshavayah King, explained that the scaled fitness challenge is tailored to display the skill and grit of athletes, and then attention turns to the high-intensity team elite fitness challenge.

King indicated there would be lucrative cash payouts for overall positions and for winning each event.

The RX Teams will receive $450,000 (first), $300,000 (second), and $150,000 (third) as overall prizes.

While the team event wins, each team will receive $120,000, and a bonus prize will be announced on the day.

For the Scaled event – $100,000 (first), $80,000 (second) and third ($50,000) – while each event win gets them $25,000.

Beyond the competition, there will be a high-energy Zumba display, an interactive fitness exhibition, and games designed specifically for spectators.

There will also be a team school challenge.

Both Feroz Mohamed of Fit Fusion and Ayanna Watson, Commercial Manager (Guyana) of Sol Petroleum, expressed their happiness at participating in an event that promotes a healthy lifestyle.

Other sponsors include Demerara Mutual and Star Party Rentals.

Tickets cost $2,000.

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Sareef Khan, his wife Yoneika Ramjeet and their infant daughter were severely burned with hot oil during a heated altercation involving Khan’s brother last Wednesday.

The ordeal began when Yoneika and Sareef returned home from a nearby shop.

As they approached their residence, a shared family yard, they spotted Khan’s brother enjoying drinks with two men on the front veranda, one of whom was a long-time friend reportedly known to be gay.

Yoneika recounted how her husband and his brother had exchanged playful banter with the friend earlier in the day.

However, what seemed like harmless teasing quickly spiraled into chaos. After making what he considered a light-hearted joke, Sareef and Yoneika retreated to their home at the back of the yard.

The friend, feeling offended, reported the joke to Khan’s brother, igniting a series of escalating arguments throughout the evening.

Yoneika, caught in the crossfire, later ventured out to retrieve some cooking supplies. On her way back, she was taken aback to find the friend urinating on the pathway leading to their home.

“I told him that he can’t pee there, cause that is where we does gotta walk,” she explained, hoping to de-escalate tensions.

Upon returning home, Yoneika shared the incident with Sareef.

But the situation took a turn for the worse when the friend once again complained to Khan’s brother, who retaliated by cutting off their electricity.

Though the power was restored shortly after, it only added fuel to the fire. When the lights went out again, Sareef went to investigate, sparking yet another heated confrontation with his brother.

Things took a violent turn when Khan’s brother’s wife joined the fray, attacking Sareef with a piece of wood.

In an escalation, the brother stormed into the kitchen, returned with hot oil, and hurled it at the family.

“After he throw the hot oil, me run and start holler for my husband that the baby get burn,” Yoneika recalled, her voice filled with distress.

But the nightmare didn’t end there. As they rushed to the hospital with their injured baby, Yoneika claimed her brother-in-law continued to hurl cups at them.

The chaos attracted the attention of a police van, but even as officers arrived, Khan’s brother allegedly launched another attack on Sareef right in front of them.

Regional Commander Khalid Mandal disputed Yoneika’s claims, stating that both brothers were arrested to prevent further harm.

“They arrested both brothers and prevented them from further harming each other,” he reported.

Khan was left with severe burns on his stomach as he attempted to shield his family, while their five-month-old daughter suffered burns to her head, leg, chest, and back. Yoneika also sustained injuries to her stomach.

Since the attack, Khan has been plagued by fever and excruciating pain, rendering him unable to work.

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The much-anticipated trial concerning alleged election fraud during the March 2020 General and Regional elections is set to resume on Friday November 01, following a series of delays caused in part by the ill health of the presiding magistrate, Leron Daly.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall addressed the ongoing situation during his “Issues in the News” commentary Tuesday night, confirming that should Magistrate Daly remain unwell, a new magistrate will be appointed to oversee the case.

This change, however, will necessitate starting the trial anew.

“The last information we received indicated that Magistrate Daly is still unwell, which has contributed to the postponement of these important proceedings,” Nandlall explained.

He called for the judiciary to act decisively, urging the new magistrate to establish firm timelines for the trial’s progression.

Nandlall emphasised that, as per legal practice, the trial must commence afresh if a new magistrate is assigned.

He expressed hope that this fresh start would occur promptly, allowing for the trial to be conducted without further undue delay.

The trial had originally been slated to continue on October 31, but due to the public holiday for Diwali, it has been pushed back to November 01. If the situation remains unchanged, the judiciary will have to take immediate action to ensure the trial can advance efficiently.

On September 17 when Magistrate Daly was reported ill, the case was adjourned.

The acting Chief Magistrate, Faith McGusty, had indicated then that if Daly’s condition did not improve, alternative arrangements would need to be made for the continuation of the trial.

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Attorney General Anil Nandlall has once again rejected repeated and “bizarre” allegations surrounding the integrity of the March 2020 elections in Guyana.

The claims, which have been repeatedly asserted over the past four years by Vincent Alexander, a prominent member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), suggest that ballots were cast for individuals who were absent on polling day.

During his Tuesday night ‘Issues in the News’, Nandlall articulated the implausibility of these assertions, stating, “It is impossible for a ballot to be cast in the name of someone who is not present.”

He explained that for a vote to count, a voter must not only be present at the polling station but must also provide valid identification, either an ID card or a passport with a photograph.

This process includes thorough checks by election officials and party agents, ensuring that each voter’s identity is verified against the official voters’ list.

He detailed that voters’ names are specific to their locality and that identification checks are conducted meticulously at polling stations, with election officials and party agents verifying each voter’s identity against official lists.

Nandlall further emphasised that any suggestion of fraudulent activity undermines the comprehensive oversight exercised during the electoral process.

He noted the presence of multiple observers, including international agencies such as the Commonwealth and the Organisation of American States, as well as local entities, all of whom monitored the elections closely.

Nandlall further emphasised that the claims of a “bloated list” and the need for biometric verification lack credible evidence.

Despite repeated assertions from Alexander regarding a “bloated list” of voters, Nandlall reminded that it was the same list used in the last two elections one that delivered victory to the PNC led APNU/AFC Coalition and another that was only rejected after the lost the 2020 elections.

“It is essential to reject these narratives, especially when they are not backed by any credible evidence,” Nandlall remarked

The Attorney General’s comments come amid heightened scrutiny over the electoral processes as the 2025 polls approach.

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See below full release from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC): 

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) wishes to inform the public that there are currently 25 unclaimed bodies at our mortuary. These bodies have remained unclaimed despite our efforts to locate the next of kin.

In accordance with our protocol, GPHC will proceed with the final disposition of these bodies if they remain unclaimed within the next 14 days. Family members or other individuals who may have a connection to any of the deceased are urged to come forward promptly.

For inquiries or to claim a body, please contact the GPHC Mortuary at 225-3359.

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See below the full statement issued:

Foreign Secretary Mr. Robert Persaud, accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, met with a visiting delegation from the United States Foreign Relations Committee.

The delegation comprised Senior Foreign Policy Advisor for Senator Tim Kaine, Mr. J.C. Jain, Senior Advisor on Western Hemisphere and International Law Enforcement Mr. Victor Cervino, and Deputy Staff Director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Mr. Andy Olson.

The delegation is currently in Guyana to garner a better understanding of Guyana- US bilateral relations through engagements with local authorities on investment, governance and security matters.

The Foreign Secretary provided an overview of the status of Guyana-US bilateral relations which have intensified over the past four to five years through active and structured engagements on all fronts of cooperation.

These include recent high- level visits between the two countries from both the government and commercial sectors, as well as the establishment of the Guyana- USA Strategic Dialogue held in July 2024. He noted that the US is Guyana’ s highest investor and a key trading partner in the Western Hemisphere.

The delegation comprised Senior Foreign Policy Advisor for Senator Tim Kaine, Mr. J.C. Jain, Senior Advisor on Western Hemisphere and International Law Enforcement Mr. Victor Cervino, and Deputy Staff Director for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Mr. Andy Olson.

Guyana and the United States also collaborate closely within the United Nations Security Council on peace and security matters, including the establishment of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) in Haiti. The Foreign Secretary acknowledged and commended the United States’ support for Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The US representatives assured of Congress’ bipartisan support for the US- Guyana bilateral relations. In this regard, the US undertakes a long- term collaborative approach to support Guyana’s development based on trust and mutual respect. The representatives underscored the importance of democratic institutions and legislation to counter money laundering and corruption, which are key to enhancing investment and commercial activities in the country. In addition to partnering with Guyana in these areas, the representatives affirmed the US’ commitment to working with countries in the region to enhance hemispheric security through information sharing, and enhanced interoperability and compatibility.

Both sides agreed to remain engaged and to work on future areas of cooperation which would seek to further enhance the Guyana- US bilateral relations.

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After the successful hosting of the inaugural job fair in New York in July this year, the Government of Guyana is currently finalising plans to host its second diaspora job fair in Suriname.

This event is slated for Saturday November 2nd in Nickerie, where the vast majority of the diaspora has settled over the decades.

The second job fair will once again see the collaboration between the Government of Guyana and the Private Sector to host several companies in Nickerie interested in tapping into the diaspora to fill critical labour gaps in Guyana. Most notably, businesses in the Berbice region will be involved in the event.

Supplementing the job fair will be major government ministries who will present various transformative projects undertaken by the Government and how the diaspora can take up opportunities in the public sector created as a result of these projects. The construction of 6 new hospitals, for example, will require various skills to fill numerous jobs to be created as a result.

As a result of requests emanating from the diaspora, supporting agencies such as the Central Immigration and Passport Office, General Registrar Office, the Board of Industrial Training and the National Insurance Scheme, are among agencies who will be offering their services and provide information at the event.

Foreign Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Robert Persaud reiterated, “This second job fair represents a pivotal moment for our nation as we seek to harness the skills and expertise of our diaspora community. It is very clear to all that Guyana’s unprecedented growth is posing a massive challenge to fill the labour gaps as quickly as they are being created. That is why the government is keen on encouraging our Guyanese diaspora to understand the development taking place, the opportunities created as a result and return to grasp those opportunities.

Whether they are considering returning to Guyana or seeking to make a meaningful impact from abroad, the Diaspora Job Fair promises to be an invaluable networking and career advancement opportunity.”

As was the case in the inaugural job fair, this event, marks a crucial initiative aimed at showcasing career opportunities across various industries. It underscores its importance as a pivotal platform for connecting returning Guyanese with prospective employers.
The job fair, a commitment by His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Ali following his recent meeting with the Guyanese diaspora, aims to harness the skills and expertise of Guyana’s diaspora community.

Attendees can anticipate direct engagement with representatives from leading companies, government agencies, and non-profit organizations, all offering a diverse range of employment opportunities and valuable insights into the remigration process. The event will include informative sessions on investment opportunities, housing options, and educational resources available to returning citizens. Representatives of over 20 companies from several sectors, 7 ministries and agencies and 4 chambers of commerce will be participating.

For more information about the Diaspora Job Fair, Guyanese in Suriname are asked to contact the Guyana Embassy in Paramaribo and the Guyana Consulate in Nickerie. The event is open to the public from 12pm to 4pm (Press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International cooperation)

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