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标签： Guyana

圭亚那

  • Three cows perish “excellent” forecast for majority of others

    Three cows perish “excellent” forecast for majority of others

    On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, a senior official from Guyana’s Ministry of Agriculture pushed back on opposition misinformation surrounding the transport of 1,000 pregnant Brazilian heifers imported to boost the South American nation’s domestic beef and milk production, confirming only three animals died en route to the Ebini research station in East Bank Berbice.

    Dwight Walrond, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), told local outlet Demerara Waves Online News that the latest on-the-ground report from his team recorded just three mortalities, contradicting a claim from main opposition party We Invest in Nation (WIN) that as many as 15 heifers had died. Walrond added that while four other animals were experiencing significant cramping, and one remained severely distressed as of Tuesday morning, most of the remaining imported cattle are in stable condition. The mortality count, he emphasized, falls well below the 5% acceptable benchmark for long-distance cattle transport – a journey that covered more than 1,000 kilometers from Brazil’s Roraima State to the Ebini facility.

    Walrond expressed cautious optimism that the four animals experiencing cramps will recover, noting that a humane decision will be made to euthanize the severely distressed heifer if its condition does not improve. Per the procurement agreement, any animals lost during the journey will be replaced at no additional cost to Guyana by the Brazilian supplier, with each heifer originally valued at GY$245,000. As for the surviving herd, Walrond reported that most have already acclimated to their new location: “Those animals are already running around in the pastures. They are feeding and they’re resting. They were drinking water last Monday night.”

    The GLDA CEO openly acknowledged one planning misstep that delayed the journey: the team failed to account for Berbice River tidal flows, which slowed the crossing of the herd even with three pontoons available. “I would say that we dropped the ball with respect to the tide. That was something that no consideration was given to,” Walrond admitted.

    The imported heifers are part of a long-term government initiative to grow Guyana’s national cattle herd and expand livestock output. Officials project each mature heifer will produce one calf per year, with low-performing animals culled and high-yielding individuals retained to grow the national herd. The tropical Brazilian breed was specifically selected for its proven resilience to Guyana’s wet and dry seasonal cycles, as well as its natural resistance to ticks and tick-borne diseases that commonly impact local cattle.

    Walrond also addressed public concern over social media claims that some of the 14- to 26-week-old heifers appeared underweight. He explained that reduced forage rations during transport were an intentional, precautionary veterinary measure, not a sign of neglect or poor care. As long-distance transport experts and an experienced veterinarian himself, Walrond noted that overfeeding ruminant animals during multi-day journeys leads to life-threatening complications including bowel impaction, rumen dysfunction, excess bloating, and severe diarrhea. Restricted forage intake keeps animals hydrated and nutrient-stable without putting their digestive systems at risk. “When you have animals being transported on these long distances for so long, this is not something that is outside of the norm but within the next few days when you see those animals, you won’t even recognise them,” he said.

    Finally, Walrond refuted opposition speculation that the herd was originally meant for a private farm along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, and only diverted to Ebini after opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed publicly posted about the cattle’s arrival from Brazil. He confirmed that the official inter-regional transport permit clearly routed the herd through Lethem, Linden, and the bauxite mines directly to Ebini, with no plan to stop or rehome the cattle along the highway. “There was no need for them to come to Linden whatsoever,” he added.

  • Pregnant Brazilian cows on scheduled journey to Ebini research station

    Pregnant Brazilian cows on scheduled journey to Ebini research station

    As of Monday, July 13 2026, 300 pregnant Brazilian dairy and beef heifers continued their overland and river crossing journey to Guyana’s Ebini Livestock Research Station in East Berbice, facing only minor scheduling delays that have not derailed the national agricultural initiative, according to senior leadership of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA).

    Dr. Dwight Walrond, GLDA’s Chief Executive Officer, confirmed in an interview with Demerara Waves Online News that a portion of the imported cattle had already arrived at the research facility by midday Monday, with the remaining head expected to reach the destination by 2:00 PM local time. He clarified that the shipment aligned with its overall projected timeline, with the only unplanned hold being an overnight delay at the Berbice River crossing, where low tide created operational challenges for the pontoon ferry carrying the trucked cattle.

    Citing safety for both the animals and transport staff, Dr. Walrond explained that GLDA officials made the proactive decision to postpone the river crossing until daylight on Monday, rather than attempting to navigate the risky nighttime crossing. A second minor delay of approximately one hour also occurred at the Kurupukari crossing on the Essequibo River, as the operation adjusted schedules to accommodate all cattle shipments.

    While Dr. Walrond confirmed reports of some mortalities during transit, he noted that the total number of lost cattle and unborn calves could not be immediately confirmed, and the exact cause of death will only be determined following official post-mortem examinations.

    The shipment has drawn scrutiny from opposition Members of Parliament belonging to the APNU alliance, who visited the Berbice River crossing site to observe the operation. Parliamentarians Sherod Duncan, Saiku Andrews, and Dr. Terrence Campbell released observations that many of the heifers appeared undernourished, fatigued, and severely stressed by the long journey. Dr. Campbell emphasized that the multi-day overland trip is already physically draining for healthy, non-pregnant cattle, posing far greater risk to pregnant heifers. Andrews added that the conditions on site suggested insufficient pre-transport preparation, raising unaddressed questions about whether the cattle are actually destined for the Ebini research station as officially stated.

    In response to these concerns, Dr. Walrond outlined the comprehensive care protocols GLDA has implemented throughout the journey, which begins in northern Brazil and travels over the Lethem-Linden trail to Ebini. Every four to six hours, transport stops are scheduled to provide the heifers with fresh water, feed, electrolyte supplements, and veterinary care as needed. A dedicated GLDA escort team, including two livestock production specialists, a licensed veterinarian, and a veterinary technician, accompanied the entire shipment, carrying emergency medical kits, rehydration supplies, and other critical resources. Vehicles were also intentionally not loaded to full capacity, giving each animal enough space to move and rest during transit, eliminating the need to unload cattle for feeding during scheduled stops.

    The current movement of 300 heifers is part of a larger government import initiative: Guyana’s administration is purchasing a total of 1,000 pregnant heifers from Brazil for a total cost of 245 million Guyanese dollars, with the core goal of expanding domestic beef and dairy production. “This investment reflects the Government’s continued commitment to building a modern and resilient livestock industry,” Dr. Walrond said of the program. “By expanding the national herd with quality breeding animals, the initiative will support increased livestock production, improve income and market opportunities for local smallholder and commercial farmers, reduce Guyana’s longstanding dependence on imported breeding stock, and directly contribute to advancing the country’s national food security objectives.”

  • APNU-backed election commissioners “not morally entitled” to remain in office- Ramkarran

    APNU-backed election commissioners “not morally entitled” to remain in office- Ramkarran

    A brewing constitutional dispute over three Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) seats aligned with the former APNU+AFC coalition has intensified, with former National Assembly Speaker Ralph Ramkarran calling for the commissioners’ immediate resignation following the 2025 general and regional elections. In his weekly Conversation Tree column published Saturday, Ramkarran argued that the three commissioners – Desmond Trotman, Vincent Alexander, and Charles Corbin – appointed on the recommendation of a previous opposition leader no longer hold any moral or legitimate claim to their posts after the 2025 vote reshaped Guyana’s political opposition landscape.

    The 2025 general election installed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), a new 16-seat opposition party founded by Azruddin Mohamed and his father Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, as the official main opposition, replacing the 12-seat APNU bloc that originally backed the three sitting commissioners. Ramkarran, a senior counsel and former executive member of the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC), noted that while the principle that an opposition leader should be able to recommend their own representatives to the election commission is widely undisputed, Guyana’s constitution contains no clear framework for removing sitting commissioners outside of cases of death, incapacity, misconduct findings by a tribunal, or voluntary resignation. The three incumbents have so far refused to step down, creating an immediate deadlock.

    The standoff has been further complicated by long-running political tensions between the PPPC administration and WIN. The Mohameds, once close allies of President Irfaan Ali and prominent PPPC supporters, broke ranks to form WIN in 2024 after the United States imposed sanctions on them over alleged financial crimes tied to their gold trading operations. Shortly after the sanctions were announced, the Guyanese government revoked the pair’s foreign exchange dealer licenses and gold sector operating permits, and forced all domestic commercial banks to close their company accounts. Relations deteriorated further when WIN contested the 2025 general elections to become the largest opposition bloc.

    Ramkarran warned that the PPPC’s deep-seated hostility toward WIN will likely block any path to constitutional amendment to resolve the vacancy issue. “The government’s hostility to WIN is so deep-seated that it might prefer to have the three Commissioners retain their positions rather than amend the Constitution to have the three Commissioners unseated,” he wrote. Well-placed government sources confirmed that Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed’s formal request to President Ali to appoint three new nominees – Roysdale Forde, Damien Da Silva, and Siand Dhurjon – to replace the sitting commissioners has been rejected on the grounds that no official vacancies exist on the commission.

    According to Ramkarran, the only remaining path for WIN to resolve the deadlock is to bring the dispute before Guyana’s judiciary. The former speaker, who specializes in constitutional and electoral law, expressed cautious optimism that courts would rule in WIN’s favor. He argued that under Article 161(3) of Guyana’s constitution, GECOM commissioners nominated by the opposition leader are required to hold the confidence of the sitting opposition leader. Since Mohamed has formally submitted new nominations, the court could find that the incumbents no longer hold that confidence and could even rule their continued occupation of the seats unlawful. At the same time, Ramkarran cautioned that the absence of explicit constitutional language for removal may lead courts to stop short of formally declaring the seats vacant, prolonging the impasse.

    The ongoing stalemate already threatens to derail planned 2026 local government elections, sources familiar with GECOM operations confirmed. Retired Justice Claudette Singh, GECOM’s chair, has not convened a full commission meeting for months. While technical staff have drafted and updated a detailed workplan for the upcoming local polls, the inability of the commission to convene and make formal decisions puts the timeline for the elections at serious risk.

    The sitting APNU-aligned commissioners have echoed the government’s position, stating that no vacancy exists and the deadlock can only be resolved either by a court ruling or a formal constitutional amendment. Ramkarran noted that prior to the 1992 democratic transition, Guyana’s electoral laws explicitly required the entire election commission to resign within three months of a general and regional election, a provision that was not carried forward into the current constitutional framework.

  • Pregnant cows from Brazil to expand Guyana’s cattle production

    Pregnant cows from Brazil to expand Guyana’s cattle production

    In a strategic move to strengthen domestic agricultural output and advance national food security goals, the South American nation of Guyana has acquired 1,000 pregnant heifers from neighboring Brazil, the country’s Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed. The procurement project, valued at a total of 245 million Guyanese dollars, represents a key government investment to expand both beef and dairy production across the country.

    As of the latest update dated 12 July 2026, 300 of the imported cattle have already cleared entry protocols and are en route to a dedicated facility in Ebini, located along Guyana’s Berbice River. Once settled, these animals will be integrated into a state-led national breeding program crafted to upgrade the country’s cattle genetic stock and scale up overall national cattle production capacity.

    All imported heifers have met strict biosecurity and health standards required by Guyana’s regulatory framework, according to official statements from the ministry. The animals completed full veterinary inspections, diagnostic testing, and pre-export quarantine protocols before leaving Brazil, confirming they comply with all the country’s animal health import requirements.

    The procurement process followed all national public tender regulations outlined in Guyana’s Procurement Act. In total, four bids – one from a domestic supplier and three from international operators – were submitted and reviewed by regulatory authorities. After a transparent evaluation process, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) awarded the contract to Brazilian supplier Coopera, which secured the deal with a price of 245,000 Guyanese dollars per pregnant heifer.

    Government officials framed the purchase as a reflection of the administration’s ongoing commitment to developing a modern, shock-resistant livestock sector for Guyana. By expanding the national cattle herd with high-quality breeding animals, the initiative is expected to drive growth in domestic livestock output, create expanded economic opportunities for local cattle farmers, cut the country’s reliance on imported breeding cattle, and advance core national food security targets.

  • APNU proposes Integrity Act amendment to allow for disclosure of asset declarations

    APNU proposes Integrity Act amendment to allow for disclosure of asset declarations

    As public debate continues to swirl around President Irfaan Ali’s technology-focused agricultural project along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, Guyana’s main opposition bloc A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has tabled a legislative proposal to amend the country’s Integrity Act, mandating public release of asset declaration summaries for the President, cabinet ministers and other senior public officials.

    In a formal letter submitted to Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs alongside the draft bill, APNU parliamentary leader Dr. Terrence Campbell outlined that the proposed reform is designed to reinforce transparency, accountability and public trust in government. The amendment would require the Integrity Commission to publish summaries of statutory asset declarations held by top elected and executive officeholders, while retaining confidentiality for sensitive information that does not require public disclosure. Under the plan, these summaries would be officially circulated via the country’s Official Gazette.

    Campbell argued that any lawmaker or political party that rejects the broad framework of the bill would send a clear signal they have something to conceal from the Guyanese public. “I want the public to know that anybody who does not support this generally — there might be some changes that they may require — but anybody in Parliament, any parliamentarian, any party that does not support this, has something to hide,” Campbell stated in a public address accompanying the bill.

    Drawing on a regional precedent, Campbell noted that Jamaica’s Integrity Commission already publishes asset declaration summaries for the country’s Prime Minister and Opposition Leader, and proposed extending the same level of transparency to a broad range of senior positions across Guyana’s public sector. The bill would require public summaries for positions including parliamentary secretaries, permanent secretaries, the commissioners of Land Surveys, Geology and Mines, and Forestry, the Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police, chairs and managing directors of state agencies and state-owned corporations, as well as municipal mayors and deputy mayors.

    If the National Assembly declines to convene to debate the proposed amendment, Campbell has called on President Ali and leaders of all parliamentary parties to set an immediate example by voluntarily publishing their full 2025 asset declarations. The opposition leader also offered to lead by example, confirming he would release his own complete asset declaration first thing Monday morning if a cross-party agreement to do so is reached.

    The legislative push comes amid ongoing public uncertainty over the size and financing of President Ali’s Long Creek farm project. Campbell acknowledged that he had prior knowledge of the President’s agricultural venture, but had no idea it spanned as much as 150 acres — a figure first claimed by Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed. President Ali has only stated the holding is smaller than 75 acres, refusing to release an exact acreage, and no independent, documented verification of the property’s size has been made public to date.

    President Ali has thus far rejected calls to release public financial records for his business, which includes poultry and livestock operations. He has maintained that he funded the farm through commercial bank lending, that all required asset disclosures have been submitted to the Integrity Commission, and that he has never used his presidential authority to secure improper favors or preferential treatment for the venture. Campbell also confirmed that he has no knowledge of the Integrity Commission launching a formal investigation into the assets submitted by senior officeholders to date.

  • East Ruimveldt Market reconstruction plan unveiled

    East Ruimveldt Market reconstruction plan unveiled

    On Saturday, July 11, 2026, Guyanese officials announced a major GY$528.3 million infrastructure project to completely reconstruct the aging East Ruimveldt Market, a decades-old community hub that has fallen into significant disrepair in recent years.

    Ahead of the official sod-turning ceremony that marked the start of pre-construction preparations, Local Government Minister Priya Manickchand conducted a walkthrough of the existing wooden and concrete market, speaking directly to current vendors to address their concerns about displacement during construction. She stressed that no local small business would be forced to shut down throughout the rebuilding process, outlining three alternative accommodation options to keep vendors operating: temporary sales spaces built from prefabricated containers, relocation to currently unused stalls at nearby markets, or phased construction that would allow half the market to remain operational while the other half is rebuilt – an approach that would extend the total project timeline by eight months.

    Once reconstruction is completed, the upgraded market will feature 237 modern stalls, up from the current count that is far smaller and more cramped. Every new stall will be expanded by six feet in length and built to a higher clearance, giving vendors more space to display goods and serve customers. A democratically elected market committee will also be established to oversee daily operations, including sanitation management and setting standardized opening hours for different vendor categories, from fresh produce to prepared foods.

    Minister of Labour Keoma Griffith, who is a native of the East Ruimveldt community, emphasized that the market rebuild and an adjacent new community centre are flagship development projects designed to raise quality of life for local residents. The existing market has long suffered from neglect: key sections including the meat and fish vending area are structurally degraded, and critical safety infrastructure such as the market’s fire fighting hose has been non-functional for years, leaving only a rusted, broken reel behind.

    Beyond the market itself, the project scope includes complementary infrastructure upgrades for the surrounding neighborhood. Contracts have already been awarded to five local construction firms – A.M.I.C General Contracting, Khan Contracting Services, MAEC Enterprises, Terraform Solutions and Lispen Enterprises – to carry out full cleaning of local drains and trenches, install new street lighting along surrounding access roads, rehabilitate damaged paved roadways, and construct a new pedestrian bridge connecting the market area to nearby residential blocks.

    According to official project profiles, the redesigned market’s expanded layout of 237 stalls is purpose-built to address growing demand from vendors and shoppers alike. The overhaul will not only modernize vending conditions but also boost the market’s long-term capacity to serve the rapidly growing East Ruimveldt population for decades to come.

  • Ali shows off young professionals saying govt backed their high-tech poultry farm

    Ali shows off young professionals saying govt backed their high-tech poultry farm

    On Saturday, 11 July 2026, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali moved to reframe public discourse around ongoing questions about his personal 75-acre farm along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway by showcasing a government-backed high-tech poultry initiative led by young Guyanese entrepreneurs in Region Three (West Demerara-Essequibo Islands).

    In a public Facebook post accompanying a video of the new project, President Ali explained that the cutting-edge tunnel-house poultry farm was developed through a public-private partnership: the cohort of young professionals contributed 10% of the total project cost, with the government providing targeted support and direct guidance from the President himself. The project aligns with the administration’s stated core priorities: empowering youth-led entrepreneurship, bolstering national food security, and expanding inclusive economic opportunity through modernized agricultural practices.

    The project video includes testimonials from two participating entrepreneurs, who described how the President’s encouragement and formal government support made their investment in the innovative farming venture possible. Starting from an initial flock of 20,000 birds, the operation has already begun rapidly scaling its production, with President Ali framing the model as a blueprint for innovative, efficient, and sustainable poultry production across Guyana.

    Even as the President highlights the new youth agriculture initiative, persistent public scrutiny continues to surround his personal private farm at Long Creek on the same Linden-Soesdyke Highway. While Ali has repeatedly denied that his private farm received any preferential treatment or special government exemptions due to his position as head of state, hundreds of commenters on his Saturday Facebook post renewed calls for full transparency around the land acquisition process, financing for the farm’s developed infrastructure, which includes a paved earthen access road and upgraded electricity distribution directly to the property.

    Many commenters pressed for immediate public disclosure, with local resident Robert Bacchus Bynoe asking, “Sir when can Guyanese see and access all of the ‘Public Information’ about your farm? Tell us where to look?” Another commenter, Patrick Ali, emphasized that the public would not drop the issue, writing: “WE WANT THIS ISSUE .. THE FARM GATE MATTER .. ALL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO SHOW HOW ALI OWN THE FARM ? WE WILL NOT TURN OUR BACK ON THIS MATTER.”

    Not all public reaction focused on the controversy, however. A number of commenters offered praise for the new youth poultry project. Rhonda Samuels Benjamin noted, “The idea is great I’m interested in having same. The technology is excellent and a great business venture,” while Fato Sharma commented, “Great to know that His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfan Ali was always working with young professionals and will continue doing so.”

    The scrutiny of the President’s farm first emerged after opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed publicly revealed details of the property. Two days after his initial revelation, Mohamed visited the neighboring Long Creek community overnight to highlight a stark equity issue: the community adjacent to the President’s farm still lacks access to consistent electricity supply.

    Earlier on the same Saturday that he showcased the youth poultry project, President Ali posted separately about infrastructure development in the Waiakabra community along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. He highlighted that his administration has directed significant investment to the area, including funding through Guyana’s national Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), to upgrade public infrastructure, improve community facilities, generate local economic opportunity, and raise resident quality of life.

    Mohamed has alleged that developing the President’s private farm — which includes poultry, cattle, sheep, goat and fish operations alongside a personal farmhouse — cost an estimated 2.2 billion Guyanese dollars. President Ali has yet to publicly confirm the development cost, exact acreage of the property, or any additional personal financial details, noting that all required asset disclosures have already been submitted confidentially to the country’s Integrity Commission. Under Guyana’s constitution, the sitting President is protected from civil or criminal legal action during their time in office, a provision that has added to public debate around accountability for the personal property.

  • Guyanese man admits to firebombing houses of worship in Queens, New York

    Guyanese man admits to firebombing houses of worship in Queens, New York

    A 36-year-old Guyanese national residing in the U.S. has pleaded responsible to orchestrating a coordinated series of Molotov cocktail attacks that targeted religious sites and commercial businesses across New York City, court documents and law enforcement officials confirm. The suspect, Yogesh Sayrange, already had an open arrest warrant for an unrelated prior charge of threatening to behead another person at the time of his capture, local outlet ABC7 New York first reported.

    Sayrange made his first formal appearance before a federal court Thursday, where he was arraigned in connection with the June 25 firebombing of a Brooklyn smoke shop located on Fulton Street. Federal prosecutors have laid out that Sayrange has been living in the United States unlawfully after immigration protections granted to him when he entered the country as a minor expired. He told investigators he currently has a pending application to renew his status under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the program that offers temporary protection from deportation for eligible people who arrived in the U.S. as children.

    During questioning, Sayrange openly confessed to carrying out the targeted attacks, explicitly stating to law enforcement: “Yes, I f-ing firebombed them. They’re Muslims, scum and terrorists.” This admission has confirmed authorities’ working theory that the attacks were driven by religious bigotry.

    Investigators now link Sayrange to a total of seven separate arson incidents dating back to late June, with the vast majority of the attacks targeting houses of worship representing multiple faiths, alongside a small number of commercial properties. The final trio of attacks unfolded late Wednesday night in Queens, just hours before Sayrange’s arrest.

    According to police accounts, at approximately 11:35 p.m., Sayrange allegedly threw a homemade Molotov cocktail at the main entrance of Iglesia Bautista El Mesias, a Baptist church located on 75th Street in the Ozone Park neighborhood. Surveillance footage obtained by investigators captures Sayrange speaking with a group of men standing outside the church moments before he ignited and threw the incendiary device. Prosecutors say that prior to launching the attack, Sayrange asked the assembled men: “Do you want this institution to be turned into a mosque?”

    The homemade incendiary bounced off the solid wood church door before detonating on the adjacent pavement, leaving the church building completely undamaged. No people inside or outside the church were harmed in the attempt.

    Immediately after the first attack, investigators say Sayrange traveled less than a mile to a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses on 78th Street in Woodhaven, where he threw a second Molotov cocktail at the building. Similar to the first attack, this device also bounced off the exterior wall and exploded on the ground, causing no structural damage or injuries.

    A third attack was reported shortly after at a nearby ambulette company located on Rockaway Boulevard in Cypress Hills. Late-shift mechanics working at the facility told police they saw a firebomb land in the company’s parking lot. One mechanic who witnessed the event recounted, “We heard like a little bang. I go outside. The floor was on fire.”

    Remarkably, none of the seven linked attacks resulted in any injuries to civilians, law enforcement or bystanders. Law enforcement apprehended Sayrange within minutes of the final Queens attack, and officers recovered two unused, fully assembled Molotov cocktails from his personal bag when he was taken into custody. When prosecutors asked about the unused devices following his arrest, Sayrange again openly admitted his plans, responding: “I had two more in my bag. I was going to finish the job.”

  • Para-social workers being trained in hinterland communities

    Para-social workers being trained in hinterland communities

    On Friday, Guyana’s Ministry of Human Services and Social Security officially launched a groundbreaking free training initiative to cultivate paraprofessional social workers, a response to the decades-long shortage of fully qualified social work professionals in the country’s remote interior, or hinterland, communities.

    The Certificate in Paraprofessional Social Services (CPSS) program, launched in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), aims to close a critical service gap that has left marginalized interior communities underserved for years. Speaking at the launch, Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud framed the program’s first cohort of trainees as pioneers trailblazing a new model of accessible social care for Guyana’s most remote regions.

    For generations, key hinterland regions including Barima-Waini (Region One), Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven), Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight) and Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) have lacked consistent access to specialized social services, a gap that has harmed outcomes for vulnerable groups across these areas. The new initiative directly advances the Guyanese government’s public commitment to expanding qualified social care coverage across the entire country, where demand for these critical services remains highest in remote interior zones.

    Developed as a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, the Guyana Association of Professional Social Workers (GAPSW), and the accredited University of Guyana, the program delivers no-cost foundational social work training that carries formal academic accreditation. Unlike ad-hoc community outreach, the initiative is designed to create long-term, meaningful career pathways for local hinterland residents, while simultaneously strengthening the country’s overall social services infrastructure. Upon successful completion of the course, graduates will be prioritized for open social services roles across government agencies, including the Childcare and Protection Agency, the central Social Services Department, and the Survivor Advocate Programme.

    Minister Persaud emphasized that the program is far more than a short-term training course: it serves as a permanent launchpad for a lifelong career in social work, empowering local trainees to drive tangible, lasting change within their own communities. “This is more than free training. It is a launchpad into a career in Social Work. So, think about this as a lifelong path, where you will make a tangible impact on the future of the people of your community, your region, and your country,” she told participating trainees.

    The minister also outlined the critical, multifaceted role that social workers play in advancing community well-being, from addressing child protection and family welfare to supporting survivors of gender-based and domestic violence and expanding access to mental health support. Strengthening these frontline services, she noted, is a non-negotiable foundation for building safer, healthier, more cohesive communities across Guyana.

    She further stressed the importance of rigorous professional standards for the new cohort of paraprofessional social workers, including accurate case documentation, adherence to national standard operating procedures, and unwavering ethical conduct. Because social workers often serve as key stakeholders in the national justice system, contributing evidence and support during court proceedings and ongoing case management, upholding principles of integrity, transparency, and accountability is central to the role. “Justice must always be served, and as a social worker, you become part of that wheel of justice. So when you get into this profession, integrity, transparency and accountability is what will drive you further,” Persaud said.

    Framed as a aligned investment paired with Guyana’s ongoing rapid economic expansion, the program reflects the government’s strategy to grow human capital in lockstep with national development. As Guyana experiences unprecedented economic growth driven largely by new offshore oil discoveries, the administration has prioritized ensuring that all communities — including remote interior regions left behind in past development cycles — gain access to the professional services and opportunities they deserve. “This programme is an investment in the education of the people of Guyana. As our country develops, we must ensure our human capacity develops alongside it, so that every community has access to the support and professional services it deserves,” the minister added.

  • Banks DIH Ltd hands over grand prize in “Crown the Road” promotion

    Banks DIH Ltd hands over grand prize in “Crown the Road” promotion

    Guyana’s leading beverage and consumer goods manufacturer Banks DIH Limited has formally concluded its highly anticipated ‘Crown the Road’ customer loyalty promotion, awarding the campaign’s top prize – a brand-new SWM SUV valued at $5.5 million – to Vijay Latchminarine, a resident of East Canefield, Canje, Berbice.

    Running over 10 consecutive weeks from April 10 to June 19 this year, the promotion was structured to reward regular patrons of Banks Beer at 15 participating bars scattered across Guyana. Throughout the campaign, organizers held regular draws that delivered instant $350,000 cash prizes to 15 lucky winners, bringing the total value of secondary consolation rewards to $5.25 million, before the much-awaited grand prize draw for the SUV that served as the event’s centerpiece.

    The awarding of the SUV to Latchminarine marks the successful completion of a campaign crafted specifically to celebrate and acknowledge the long-term loyalty of Banks Beer consumers across the country. Speaking on the wrap-up of the promotion, Lee Baptiste, Sales and Marketing Executive at Banks DIH, emphasized that the initiative was rooted in meeting customers where they already connect with the brand.

    “Crown the Road was about putting Banks Beer where our customers already are, at their favourite bars, enjoying time with friends and giving them a real chance to be rewarded for their loyalty,” Baptiste explained. “Seeing Mr. Latchminarine drive away in the grand prize SUV is exactly the kind of moment we hoped this promotion would create.”

    Banks Beer, the flagship product at the center of the campaign, holds a Monde Selection Gold Quality award and has maintained its position as one of the most popular beer choices among Guyanese consumers. The brand is backed by its parent company’s more than seven decades of proven manufacturing excellence in the region.

    As a cornerstone of Guyana’s consumer goods sector, Banks DIH Limited employs more than 1,600 local workers and holds a dominant position as a manufacturer and distributor of beverages, food items, and household products across the country. Beyond Banks Beer, the company’s extensive brand portfolio includes other well-known local favorites such as GT Beer, Guinness, XM Rum, Coca-Cola, Malta, Icee, and Qik Serv, alongside a wide range of other everyday consumer products. For decades, the firm has anchored its operations in three core priorities: delivering consistent high-quality products, investing in local community development, and supporting the long-term economic growth of Guyana.