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标签： Guyana

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  • Permanent training of police needed, amid numerous constitutional rights lawsuits

    Permanent training of police needed, amid numerous constitutional rights lawsuits

    GEORGETOWN, GUYANA – 11 June 2026 – As Guyana grapples with a steep rise in civil lawsuits alleging constitutional rights violations by law enforcement, the country’s top legal leadership is pushing to establish a permanent, mandatory training program for all ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to strengthen legal compliance and operational accountability.

    The announcement was delivered Thursday by Deputy Solicitor General Shoshanna Lall during the opening ceremony of a specialized joint training initiative between the GPF and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). This event falls under the Partnership of the Caribbean and European Union (PACE) Justice Project, a regional development effort co-funded by the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

    Lall told attendees that Attorney General Anil Nandlall has already initiated preliminary discussions with DPP Director Shalimar Hack and senior UNDP representatives to formalize the permanent training framework. Unlike one-off workshops, the proposed program will focus exclusively on practical legal topics critical to daily police work: core criminal practice and procedure, constitutional law principles, updates to existing and newly enacted statutes, legislative amendments, proper protocols for traffic offense ticketing, the balance of civilian constitutional rights and freedoms during police operations, identification of repealed legislation, and analysis of binding case law precedents.

    Lall emphasized that this targeted training fills a long-unaddressed gap in local law enforcement capacity building. While she publicly acknowledged the invaluable, wide-ranging “yeoman service” the GPF provides to Guyanese communities, she underlined that consistent, up-to-date legal knowledge is non-negotiable for ethical and effective policing.

    Citing official data from the Attorney General’s Chambers, Lall confirmed that lawsuits against the GPF for alleged constitutional rights breaches have become one of the most frequent legal matters the chambers handles. “From my personal vantage point at the AG Chambers, when police – not all officers, by any means – fail to uphold these protected rights and freedoms, civil proceedings are immediately filed,” she explained. “Defending these police actions makes up the single largest portion of our court work. Constitutional challenge claims are filed almost every other day, requiring our team to continuously respond to litigation tied to police operations.”

    Looking ahead, Lall noted that additional cross-sector training will be required later this year, when the judiciary formally launches new criminal code rules. This upcoming regulatory shift will require updated training not only for police officers, but also for prosecutors, judges, and practicing defense attorneys across the country to ensure uniform implementation of the new legal framework.

    The push for permanent training comes as Guyana’s legal system continues to adapt to growing public demand for greater law enforcement accountability, with international development partners backing efforts to strengthen judicial and policing capacity across the Caribbean region.

  • Police-DPP collaboration helped secure murder conviction for Henry boys’ killers

    Police-DPP collaboration helped secure murder conviction for Henry boys’ killers

    Nearly six years after the brutal killings of cousins Joel and Isaiah Henry in Guyana’s remote West Berbice backlands, a jury has returned guilty verdicts against two accused murderers — a outcome law enforcement officials attribute to unprecedented close coordination between national investigative and prosecutorial bodies. On Thursday, Deputy Police Commissioner Wendell Blanhum, head of the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Criminal Investigations Department, framed the conviction of Anil Sancharra (also known by aliases “Dan Pole” and “Rasta”) and Vinod Gopaul (known as “Magga”) as a landmark example of productive collaboration between the GPF and the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    The case dates back to September 6, 2020, when the mutilated bodies of 16-year-old Joel and 18-year-old Isaiah Henry were discovered in the Cotton Tree backlands. The state’s star witness was Akash Singh, a former murder co-accused who turned state evidence. During the trial, Singh told the court the two teenage cousins had been targeted after being accused of damaging multiple illegal marijuana plants growing in the backlands area. Singh admitted he assisted the convicted pair in disposing of the cutlasses used in the killing, though investigators never recovered the weapons from the canal where Singh stated they were dumped. He has repeatedly rejected claims he was offered leniency in exchange for false testimony against Sancharra and Gopaul.

    The 2020 killings sparked widespread public fury across Guyana. For days following the discovery of the bodies, violent protests erupted along the West Berbice public road and other key routes along the country’s east-west corridor, leaving vehicles and private properties burned, and leaving multiple commuters robbed and assaulted. Political opposition leaders and human rights activists amplified public calls for justice, demanding that highly trained independent forensic experts be brought in to support the investigation, amid widespread distrust in local law enforcement’s ability to resolve the high-profile case. In response, Guyana’s government invited a five-member team of senior investigators from the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) to review the GPF’s work. The RSS team ultimately concluded the local police force had conducted adequate preliminary work and retained the capacity to solve the triple homicide that also included the death of Haresh Singh, who was killed and his motorcycle burned in the chaotic aftermath of the Henry boys’ murder.

    Speaking at the opening of a joint GPF-DPP training program — sponsored by the Partnership of the Caribbean and European Union (PACE) Justice Project, co-funded by the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme — Blanhum highlighted that the investigation unfolded against the backdrop of intense national pressure for accountability. “That investigation was conducted under incredibly difficult, high-pressure circumstances, where a national public outcry for justice was palpable. Yet, our investigators stayed focused on their core functions of evidence-gathering and case-building,” Blanhum told attendees. He emphasized that the guilty verdict would not have been possible without the DPP’s seamless support across every stage of the probe and prosecution, noting that the combined effort produced a case so strong that the 12-member jury returned a conviction after finding the pair guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    Sentencing for Sancharra and Gopaul is scheduled for June 26, when Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall will issue her ruling after reviewing ordered probation and psychological assessment reports. The convicted men were represented throughout the trial by defense attorney Dexter Todd. For communities still reeling from the 2020 violence, the guilty verdict brings a long-awaited step toward closure six years after the tragedy that shook the nation.

  • Huawei, govt in talks about technology to catch illegal garbage dumpers

    Huawei, govt in talks about technology to catch illegal garbage dumpers

    On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, a high-level meeting between representatives of Chinese global tech giant Huawei and Guyana’s Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development marked a new step forward in the Caribbean nation’s fight against pervasive illegal waste dumping and poor waste management.

    The meeting, which came on the heels of a series of inter-agency consultations led by Local Government Minister Priya Manickchand, brought together Huawei Guyana’s delegation — led by Country Manager Ji Shilei and including team members Keoma Pearson, Lian Yikang, and Leeky Liu — and a cross-functional government team. The ministry side was headed by IT head Godfrey Munroe, acting on behalf of Minister Manickchand, and included Senior IT Officer Kishana Chang, Sanitation Director Satrohan Nauth, and Legal Officer Murtland Haley.

    According to an official statement released by the ministry after the talks, Huawei presented a full suite of innovative potential solutions tailored to Guyana’s waste management challenges. These tools focus on enhanced surveillance, real-time monitoring, and data-backed enforcement frameworks designed to deter bad actors and effectively respond to ongoing illegal dumping activities. Discussions centered on how these cutting-edge technologies can be seamlessly integrated into Guyana’s existing environmental governance infrastructure to boost both regulatory compliance and overall management outcomes.

    This collaborative exploration is part of a broader, coordinated national strategy rolled out by the ministry to address the long-standing problem of unregulated waste disposal. Prior to this meeting, Minister Manickchand had convened high-level discussions with core national stakeholders, including the Guyana Police Force, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and representatives of the municipal court system, to align on a multi-agency approach. The government’s end goal is to deploy a comprehensive smart technology ecosystem, backed by updated, robust legal frameworks, that can accurately detect, track, and penalize individuals and entities that engage in illegal garbage dumping.

    The push for urgent action follows a recent site tour by Minister Manickchand, where she encountered a massive illegal mound of construction waste. Following the visit, she publicly vowed zero tolerance for unregulated waste disposal, pledging strict enforcement action to crack down on repeat offenders.

    For Huawei, this discussion represents another entry point for the company to support national development initiatives in Guyana, where it has already established a strong operational footprint. As a leading global provider of ICT infrastructure and smart devices, Huawei operates in more than 170 countries worldwide, and has previously delivered key components for Guyana’s Safe City Programme and deployed national speed radar camera detection systems. Major local telecommunications providers including Digicel Guyana and One Communications Guyana also rely on Huawei equipment for their network operations.

    Government officials emphasized that the exploratory talks with Huawei mark a meaningful milestone in Guyana’s efforts to modernize its environmental management systems. If advanced, the partnership is expected to strengthen regulatory enforcement capacity, reduce the public health risks associated with unregulated waste, and improve overall community well-being across the country.

  • Attempted robbery suspect shot dead

    Attempted robbery suspect shot dead

    A would-be armed robber is dead after a violent exchange of gunfire with responding law enforcement during an attempted supermarket robbery in Georgetown, Guyana, late Wednesday, local police confirmed in an official statement updated Thursday. The incident unfolded shortly before 9 p.m. on Mandela Avenue, where three male suspects had already taken two unarmed security guards hostage at gunpoint, forcing the guards to the ground, when an off-patrol police officer stumbled upon the ongoing crime.

    When the uniformed officer stepped in to halt the robbery, one of the three suspects immediately opened fire in the officer’s direction, according to details released by the Guyana Police Force. In self-defense and to stop the armed attacker, the officer returned fire using his issued service weapon. Following the shootout, the two unhit suspects fled the scene in separate directions, while the gun-wielding suspect who had shot at the officer collapsed into a roadside drain adjacent to the supermarket.

    Law enforcement personnel who responded to the scene recovered a .38 caliber revolver from the suspect, along with three remaining live ammunition rounds and multiple spent bullet casings. Emergency medical personnel and an on-duty doctor were called to the site, where the suspect was examined and officially pronounced dead. The remaining two suspects remain at large as of Thursday’s update, with a manhunt currently underway to locate and apprehend them. Local authorities have not released the identity of the deceased suspect pending notification of next of kin.

  • Govt says explicitly supports open sex offenders register, after push-back against Bill for closed register

    Govt says explicitly supports open sex offenders register, after push-back against Bill for closed register

    On June 10, 2026, a fierce public and political debate over Guyana’s proposed amendment to the Sexual Offences Act took a sharp turn after the country’s president and vice president publicly broke ranks with the initial draft of the bill that would have created a closed, non-public sex offender registry.

    The controversy erupted after the amendment, which was tabled in the National Assembly on June 5, drew widespread criticism from the public and opposition groups, who questioned the lack of transparent public consultation and the decision to keep the registry off-limits to ordinary residents. In the hours before the government’s reversal, Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud defended the closed register provision in a 3:19 PM Facebook post, arguing that the bill had been drafted in line with results from public consultations that overwhelmingly favored a non-public system.

    Just one minute before Dr. Persaud’s post went live, however, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo made a surprise announcement that upended the government’s initial position. Jagdeo revealed that President Irfaan Ali had issued a formal instruction to refer the pending Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill to a bipartisan parliamentary Select Committee for expanded review and debate. Crucially, Jagdeo confirmed that both the president and the full Cabinet hold an unwavering position that any national sex offender registry must be open and accessible to the public. “I strongly share this view,” Jagdeo added, aligning himself firmly with the president’s stance.

    Shortly after Jagdeo’s statement, Dr. Persaud backed the move to send the bill for further scrutiny, confirming that the bipartisan committee process would allow for broader input from parliamentarians. “My intention as subject Minister is to propose to have the Bill taken to Select Committee in Parliament to have it further discussed by members. It will benefit from more scrutiny and views at that Committee,” she said.

    The announcement followed widespread pushback from members of the public who challenged Dr. Persaud’s claim that the closed register was backed by public consultation. Multiple commenters, including Jaya Manickchand, sister of sitting government minister Priya Manickchand, publicly questioned when and where these consultations were held, and how they were advertised to the general public. Dr. Persaud did not directly respond to these questions, but noted that the consultations had been led by consultant Dr. Kim Kyte through the Ministry of Legal Affairs. One public commenter called for the consultation process to be restarted with proper public advertising, with a full breakdown of stakeholder input shared publicly to justify any final decision on an open or closed register.

    Beyond questions of process, the debate has exposed deep public divisions over the core policy question of whether a public or private registry better serves Guyana. Supporters of a closed register argue that an open system permanently stigmatizes offenders, blocking their path to rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Critics of open registries also note that the system harms people wrongfully accused of sexual offenses, destroying their personal and professional reputations before they can prove their innocence. They point to the case of young people who committed offenses as teenagers under the influence of drugs, alcohol or immaturity, arguing that if murderers can access rehabilitation and privacy after completing their sentences, sex offenders deserve the same second chance.

    On the other side, advocates for an open register say a closed system offers no practical benefit to communities, who have a right to know if convicted sex offenders are living near them. “How would a closed register help anyone? Residents need to know who is living around them. It’s unfortunate that it took Guyana until 2026 to get this done and it’s of no use to anyone,” public commenter Harry Chowbey said.

    The small non-parliamentary opposition Alliance For Change (AFC) has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the original proposed amendment, arguing that the bill is unfit for parliamentary consideration and represents an insult to survivors of sexual abuse. “It sends a troubling message that the concerns of victims are secondary to the interests of offenders,” the party said in a formal statement.

    The AFC also raised a series of procedural and policy objections to the original bill, questioning how the government expects offenders to comply with mandatory reporting requirements to Indigenous village chiefs (known as Toshaos) in remote communities that lack regular police presence. The party also criticized provisions in the bill that allow certain offenders to be exempted from the registry entirely. While the AFC acknowledged that it is reasonable to seal records for minor offenses committed by minors in appropriate cases, the party questioned who would be given the power to grant exemptions for offenders claimed to be mentally disabled. “If a court has convicted an individual of a sexual offence, it suggests that any defence based on mental incapacity was either unsuccessful or insufficient to prevent a finding of guilt,” the party noted.

  • Canadian cargo airline begins serving Guyana this week

    Canadian cargo airline begins serving Guyana this week

    Georgetown, Guyana – In a move that underscores the South American nation’s rapidly expanding trade and economic footprint, Canadian air cargo carrier Cargojet Airways Limited is set to launch new weekly non-scheduled cargo services to Guyana this Friday, operating on behalf of DHL Express USA, Guyana’s Aviation Minister Deodat Indar confirmed in an announcement Wednesday evening.

    The new route will see Cargojet aircraft operate a circular itinerary connecting Miami International Airport (MIA) in the United States, Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS) in Caracas, Venezuela, Cheddi Jagan International Airport (GEO) in Georgetown, Guyana, José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) in Medellin, Colombia, before returning to Miami, Indar detailed. This routing will open a consistent new air freight link between Guyana and key North, South, and Central American trade hubs.

    In his announcement, Indar extended official congratulations to Maurice John, Executive Director of DHL, and Xavier Cerruto, Director of Business Development and ACS Strategy for DHL Aviation Americas, on the launch of the upgraded service, which marks another milestone in Guyana’s growing air cargo ecosystem.

    The launch of Cargojet’s new service comes at a pivotal moment for Guyana’s air freight sector, which has seen nearly a decade of unprecedented expansion. Since 2020, the country has recorded steep growth in international air cargo volumes, a trend that closely tracks its fast-growing economy, surging cross-border trade activity, and steadily improving global connectivity, Indar explained. For carriers, this expansion has opened significant untapped market opportunities that Cargojet is now positioned to leverage.

    Official sector data bears out this remarkable growth: total annual air cargo volumes in Guyana jumped from 7.6 million kilograms in 2020 to 14.4 million kilograms in 2025, marking an 88.5% increase across the five-year period. This sustained surge has been fueled by two key drivers. First, the rapid expansion of Guyana’s emergent oil and gas sector has driven massive demand for imports of heavy industrial equipment and specialty supplies, most of which arrive via air freight. Second, the ongoing boom in regional e-commerce has pushed up consumer demand for fast, reliable air delivery of cross-border goods.

    This upward growth trajectory has continued into 2026, with year-to-date cargo volumes already recording a 21% increase compared to the same period last year. This consistent growth highlights the increasingly critical role that air freight plays in underpinning Guyana’s national development, supporting expanded trade, and enabling local and international business activity across sectors.

    The sector has received a significant boost from the entry and expansion of global cargo operators over the past six years. These new entrants have expanded total air cargo capacity in Guyana, while also strengthening the country’s access to key regional and global supply chains. Since 2020, major international carriers including LATAM Cargo and Avianca Cargo have established operations in Guyana, contributing to the ongoing development and diversification of the country’s air freight network.

    The new Cargojet service follows high-level diplomatic and business engagement between Guyana and the Canadian carrier earlier this year. President Dr. Irfaan Ali met with Cargojet Airways leadership during a visit to Canada earlier in 2026, after which Minister Indar held follow-up discussions with the airline’s representatives as the carrier finalized preparations to launch its Guyana operations.

  • Electrician fined for trespassing on Lethem aerodrome

    Electrician fined for trespassing on Lethem aerodrome

    Updated Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 7:22 a.m. by Denis Chabrol

    In a landmark enforcement of Guyana’s civil aviation safety rules, a local man has become the first person convicted of unauthorized trespassing on a hinterland aerodrome, just 10 days after national aviation regulators issued urgent public warnings about unsafe activity around the country’s remote airstrips.

    Forty-three-year-old Leonard Pompey, an electrician residing in Culvert City, Lethem, Central Rupununi, entered a guilty plea to one count of trespassing on the Lethem Aerodrome, a violation of Section 83(1) of Guyana’s Civil Aviation Act. Presiding over the case at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court, Magistrate Omadatt Chandan imposed a fine of GY$300,000. Pompey will face three months of imprisonment if he fails to pay the penalty within the required timeframe. The charge carries a maximum penalty of GY$1 million in fines and six months behind bars, underscoring the severity of aviation safety violations under Guyanese law.

    The conviction comes on the heels of a joint public appeal from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the Aviation Operators Association of Guyana (AOAG) calling for heightened public accountability around all national airstrips and runways. The warnings were triggered by a disturbing incident reported in late May, when unidentified actors deliberately placed large rocks across the entire length of the Lethem Aerodrome runway. Regulators labeled the act as an unacceptable threat to aviation operations and the lives of passengers, crew, and remote communities that rely on Lethem’s air link for essential access to goods and services.

    Despite the urgent push for improved public safety awareness, a long-standing administrative gap has left required aerodrome warning signs gathering dust in the compound of the former Ministry of Public Works in Kingston’s Wight’s Lane for multiple years. The oversight comes amid a recent government restructuring that moved aviation oversight from the Ministry of Public Works to the newly created Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation.

    In the wake of the conviction, the GCAA reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public safety, urging all Guyanese to treat every aerodrome as critical safety infrastructure. The authority asked community members to report any suspicious activity or threats to aerodrome operations directly to regulators, including anonymous reports via the GCAA’s dedicated safety hotline at 608-4222. “The safety of the travelling public remains our highest priority,” the agency stated.

    AOAG officials have emphasized that hinterland airstrips face far greater safety risks than major international hubs, making unauthorized activity especially dangerous. Most of Guyana’s remote runways are short, narrow, and unpaved, meaning pilots already operate with extremely limited safety margins, particularly during periods of heavy rain or poor visibility. Every foot of usable runway is critical for safe takeoffs and landings, and even small hazards can drastically increase the risk of a catastrophic crash.

    The association says it continues to receive frequent reports of reckless and dangerous behavior across airstrips nationwide. Common violations include motor vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians crossing active runways while aircraft are approaching or departing; leaving debris, glass bottles, and other foreign objects on runway surfaces; deliberately or accidentally placing stones and other obstacles on landing strips; using active runways as public thoroughfares or shortcuts; causing permanent damage to runway surfaces and shoulders from repeated vehicle traffic, which creates ruts, erosion, and narrows the usable landing area; and even law enforcement personnel using active runways for recreational games.

    “While these actions may seem trivial to people who do not work in aviation, they create life-threatening hazards for pilots, passengers, and entire remote communities,” the AOAG noted in its public warning. “A single discarded bottle, loose stone, uneven rut, or unexpected vehicle crossing can cause a pilot to lose control of an aircraft, trigger a propeller strike, blow a landing gear tire, cause irreparable structural damage, or result in a deadly crash. The consequences of these irresponsible acts are often irreversible.”

    Beyond the immediate risk of injury and death, such incidents can destroy aircraft valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, disrupt critical regional services, and leave long-lasting economic and social impacts on communities that depend on air travel for access to healthcare, education, and supplies. Irresponsible runway use also drives up operational costs across the entire Guyanese aviation sector: aircraft repairs, unplanned maintenance, flight delays and cancellations, insurance claims, and infrastructure repairs all ultimately raise the cost of air services for the hinterland residents who rely on them most.

  • Five arrested, guns seized after violent home invasion, robbery

    Five arrested, guns seized after violent home invasion, robbery

    Authorities in Guyana have taken five suspects into custody and recovered two unregistered .32 caliber pistols following a brazen early-morning armed home invasion and robbery in the GoodHope community, located along East Coast Demerara. Regional police made the announcement in an official statement released to the public on Wednesday, 10 June 2026.

    The incident unfolded at approximately 3:45 a.m. on Monday, when seven armed attackers targeted the residence of a 49-year-old self-employed man. Police records show the gang arrived at the property carrying an arsenal of weapons, including two firearms, cutlasses, and knives, according to witness accounts. After repeatedly striking the residence’s front door, witnesses reported hearing multiple loud blasts that investigators have classified as suspected gunfire. The attackers then forced their way inside the home, catching the sleeping family off guard.

    During the home invasion, the victim, his wife, and one of their daughters were physically assaulted by the suspects, according to preliminary investigative reports. After subduing the family, the intruders ransacked nearly every room of the property, stealing a cache of personal property including an assortment of jewelry, two mobile phones, an undisclosed amount of cash, and critical personal identification documents. As of Wednesday, the total monetary value of the stolen items has not yet been finalized.

    The victim managed to evade the attackers and alert local law enforcement shortly after the robbery. Responding police officers immediately arrived at the crime scene to secure the area and provide assistance, before escorting all three injured victims to the Enmore Regional Hospital for mandatory medical evaluations and treatment for their injuries.

    Following days of coordinated investigative work, law enforcement personnel executed a targeted search warrant at a property in Phase Two, GoodHope on Tuesday, 9 June 2026. During the search, investigators made a key discovery: the two .32 pistols were concealed inside a blue cookie tin stored at the location.

    Two suspects, a 21-year-old day laborer and a 33-year-old taxi driver, both residents of the GoodHope Squatting Area in East Coast Demerara, were taken into custody immediately following the search. Both remain in police custody as of Wednesday, helping investigators piece together details of the robbery and the gang’s broader activities. Subsequent follow-up inquiries led law enforcement to three additional co-conspirators, who have also been taken into custody. The investigation remains ongoing as police work to identify the two remaining attackers who have not yet been apprehended.

  • UG earns ACCA accreditation for Bachelor of Accountancy programme

    UG earns ACCA accreditation for Bachelor of Accountancy programme

    In a landmark step for higher education and professional training in Guyana, the University of Guyana’s (UG) School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI) announced Tuesday that its Bachelor of Accountancy Degree Programme has earned formal accreditation from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), one of the world’s most prominent global professional accounting bodies.

    The accreditation, which took effect on January 1, 2026, will remain valid through December 31, 2030. It provides official international validation that UG’s accounting education meets rigorous global quality benchmarks, elevating the degree’s standing for graduates seeking employment or professional advancement across international markets.

    While UG accounting graduates have previously been eligible for individual ACCA exam exemptions, this marks the first time the university has secured program-wide institutional accreditation. This milestone aligns UG’s academic curricula with global professional standards and solidifies the institution’s position as Guyana’s top provider of business-focused higher education.

    UG Vice-Chancellor Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin publicly recognized the contributions of Dr. Alfred Aaron, Head of the Department of Accountancy and Finance, SEBI Dean Professor Leyland Lucas, ACCA representatives, and leaders of local accounting firms for their guidance and collaborative work throughout the multi-stage accreditation preparation process. She framed the achievement as a key milestone in UG’s broader push to become a globally competitive world-class university.

    “We are delighted to celebrate another step towards making the University of Guyana into a world-class university,” Professor Mohamed Martin said in a statement. “Dr Aaron and SEBI are working with local partners and ACCA on several other initiatives which will add value to our students and accelerate their certifications for quicker entry into professional practice. This is a big win for our students.”

    Echoing that sentiment, Dr. Aaron described the accreditation as a transformative landmark achievement for the entire institution. “This accreditation confirms that our Bachelor of Accountancy programme meets internationally recognised standards and reflects the quality of teaching, curriculum design, and assessment within the department,” he explained. “It is a significant achievement for the University and a major advantage for our students, who will now have a more direct pathway towards global professional certification.”

    The new accreditation unlocks tangible benefits for all current and future students pursuing careers in accounting, finance, auditing, and related fields. Starting in 2026, all graduates of UG’s Bachelor of Accountancy programme who go on to pursue full ACCA qualification will be eligible to waive four foundational ACCA papers: Business and Technology, Management Accounting, Financial Accounting, and Corporate and Business Law. That leaves graduates with just nine remaining papers to complete before earning the globally respected ACCA professional credential, cutting down the time and cost required to reach full certification.

    Dr. Aaron credited the cross-institutional collaboration between UG faculty, administrators, and international professional partners for the successful outcome, thanking the vice-chancellor and SEBI’s dean for their consistent leadership and support throughout the years-long accreditation process. Dr. Aaron himself led the initiative, coordinating all documentation, submissions, and stakeholder engagement required for ACCA review.

    UG also highlighted the critical support provided by ACCA’s Trinidad-based regional team, specifically singling out Senior Business Relationship Manager Anouska Sammy and Business Relationship Manager Aisha McKenna for their consistent guidance throughout the accreditation journey.

    The new program accreditation reflects UG’s long-term commitment to delivering academically excellent, professionally relevant education that prepares graduates to compete in the global workforce and contribute to Guyana’s fast-growing economy. “As the country continues its unprecedented growth and development, UG remains committed to producing highly skilled accounting and finance professionals equipped with academic knowledge and internationally recognised professional credentials,” the university said in its official announcement.

    This milestone builds on a series of recent expansions to SEBI’s industry-aligned program offerings. Just months prior, the school launched two new specialized credentials focused on the country’s booming energy sector: an Associate Degree in Oil and Gas Accounting, Taxation and Audit, and a Graduate Executive Diploma in the same specialization.

    The ACCA accreditation also comes on the heels of another major milestone for UG: in 2025, the university earned its first-ever institutional accreditation from Guyana’s National Accreditation Council (NAC), 62 years after it was founded in 1963. That institutional accreditation confirmed UG meets consistent high standards across academics, administration, and student support services, boosting confidence in the quality of a UG degree both locally and around the world.

  • Suspected killer of 7-year old boy charged with murder

    Suspected killer of 7-year old boy charged with murder

    Guyana’s law enforcement officials have confirmed that a 23-year-old farmer has made his first court appearance this Tuesday, facing a murder charge connected to the brutal killing of a 7-year-old child and a violent assault on an elderly woman in the Zeelugt New Scheme community, East Bank Essequibo.

    Identified by authorities as Shaheed Mohamed, who maintains residences in both Zeelugt New Scheme and Providence on East Bank Demerara, the defendant was not required to enter a plea to the indictable murder charge during Tuesday’s hearing. The charge accuses Mohamed of the killing of 7-year-old Adriel Aftab Mohamed.

    Following the brief hearing, Alisha George, the sitting magistrate at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court, ordered that Mohamed be remanded in state custody ahead of his next scheduled court appearance, set for July 20, 2026.

    The timeline of the incident dates back to Friday, June 5, 2026, when the attack is alleged to have occurred at the victims’ home in Phase 3 of the Zeelugt New Housing Scheme. Mohamed was taken into police custody two days later on Saturday, June 6, 2026. Investigative records indicate that the violence left the 7-year-old boy dead from a slit throat, while the child’s 72-year-old grandmother suffered severe, non-life-threatening injuries in the assault.

    It was a visiting relative who first discovered the scene at approximately 5:05 a.m. on June 6, finding the injured elderly woman and the motionless body of the young boy. The grandmother was immediately transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment, and hospital officials have confirmed her condition remains listed as stable as of the latest update.

    Police investigators have noted a key detail emerging from early probes into the attack: Mohamed has no known family connection to either the young victim or the injured grandmother, and no evidence has been uncovered to suggest theft was a motive for the violence. The case remains active as law enforcement continues to piece together details surrounding the attack that has shaken the small coastal community.