标签： Guyana

A violent attempted robbery targeting two elderly brothers culminated in the shooting of a 13-year-old suspect in Georgetown on Wednesday morning, according to official police reports. The incident unfolded at approximately 10:15 AM near the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Brickdam, a prominent location in the city center.

Preliminary investigation details indicate that two octogenarian brothers, aged 81 and 79 respectively, were en route to conduct official business when they were suddenly accosted by two assailants arriving by bicycle. One of the perpetrators, allegedly brandishing a knife, attempted to forcibly seize a haversack carried by the older sibling.

The attempted theft was thwarted when the elderly victim raised an alarm that alerted nearby civilians. During the ensuing commotion, a 25-year-old licensed firearm holder who witnessed the altercation discharged his weapon toward the fleeing suspects. Law enforcement authorities have confirmed the weapon has been secured as evidence pending formal investigation.

The teenage suspect from Albouystown sustained a gunshot wound to the gluteal region and was promptly transported to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for emergency medical treatment. His accomplice managed to evade capture and remains at large. Police forensic teams have identified relevant CCTV footage from the area and are conducting thorough reviews of the digital evidence.

The Guyana Police Force declined to specify whether the armed responder was a private citizen or a police officer assigned to ministerial security detail. The investigation remains active as authorities work to reconstruct the precise sequence of events.

A shocking incident unfolded at a Georgetown guest house early Tuesday morning, resulting in the deaths of two employees in what authorities are investigating as a murder-suicide. The tragedy occurred at an establishment on Lime Street between approximately 5:00 AM and 8:15 AM, according to the Guyana Police Force.

The victims have been identified as 31-year-old Loriann, who worked as a housekeeper, and 36-year-old Cyril Saul, employed as a security guard at the same facility. Police investigations revealed that both individuals were the sole staff members on duty during the overnight shift when the incident occurred.

Law enforcement officials disclosed that the two had previously been involved in a romantic relationship that reportedly ended approximately two months prior to the tragic event. Responding officers discovered the woman lying motionless in one of the rooms with visible injuries, while the man was found unresponsive in a separate area of the premises.

A medical professional from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation pronounced both victims dead at the scene. Investigators have secured multiple items as evidence, including a firearm, ammunition, a knife, and a quantity of suspected controlled substances. CCTV footage from the property has been reviewed and forms a crucial component of the ongoing investigation.

The police statement noted that several individuals have been contacted and questioned as part of the investigative process. The bodies have been transported to the Memorial Funeral Parlour Mortuary where they await post-mortem examinations to determine the exact causes of death.

In a significant move to modernize its judicial system, Guyana has launched a comprehensive initiative to overhaul the regulation of its legal profession. The proposed reforms, announced during the opening of the 2026 Law Year, center on establishing mandatory continuing legal education and strengthening disciplinary mechanisms for both lawyers and judges.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall emphasized the urgent need for “a system of rigid and accountable continuing education” during his address. He revealed plans to collaborate with Guyana Bar Association President Kamal Ramkarran later this month to restructure the regulatory framework, responding to growing public concerns about professional conduct within the legal community.

Mr. Ramkarran expressed serious concerns about the current state of professional regulation, noting the complete absence of continuing education requirements. “If a lawyer never wanted to read another law book or judgment after law school, it would be completely open for that lawyer to do so,” he stated. The Bar Association president also proposed a graduated induction system for new lawyers rather than burdening recently graduated counsel with full responsibilities immediately.

The judiciary leadership strongly endorsed these reform efforts. Chancellor of the Judiciary Roxane George-Wiltshire recommended amending the Legal Practitioners Act—originally drafted in 1897 and last updated in 2010—to require annual registration contingent on completing minimum hours of continuing education. “An educated and regulated legal profession will increase the efficiency and integrity of the administration of justice,” she asserted, offering the judiciary’s collaboration in developing legislative reforms.

Chief Justice Navindra Singh welcomed the newfound consensus on continuing education, recalling his unsuccessful attempt to introduce similar measures a decade ago that faced resistance from the legal community. “I’m glad that they now recognize that continuing legal education is not for us. It is for all. It is for the judges and the lawyers and it is for the litigants to enjoy proper representation,” he remarked.

The reform discussions also addressed significant gaps in disciplinary processes. Mr. Ramkarran revealed that no lawyer has faced suspension or removal proceedings in over 25 years, despite persistent complaints about case delays caused by unprepared attorneys frequently seeking adjournments. He called for “open and transparent systems to deal with misbehavior of judges and lawyers in a proper and fair manner.”

While Attorney General Nandlall acknowledged the possibility of maintaining self-regulation for the profession, he emphasized that this privilege must be matched by responsibility and accountability. The proposed reforms represent the most substantial potential changes to Guyana’s legal governance structure since the country’s independence in 1966.

Guyana is experiencing its most significant demographic surge since World War II, with new census data revealing a nation on the cusp of a major population milestone. According to preliminary findings from the 2022 Population and Housing Census released by the Bureau of Statistics, the country’s official population stood at 878,674 as of September 2022, with estimates projecting growth to approximately 956,044 by the end of 2024.

The comprehensive survey, presented by Chief Statistician Errol La Cruez and Deputy Chief Statistician Vanessa Profitt, indicates an 89% household coverage rate despite challenges in reaching certain segments of the population. La Cruez attributed the coverage success to sophisticated statistical methods while acknowledging difficulties in accessing some migrant communities, particularly undocumented individuals who may avoid official engagement.

This demographic expansion represents a dramatic increase from the 746,955 residents recorded in the 2012 census, marking the highest population growth rate in over seven decades. Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh highlighted how regional migration patterns, particularly from neighboring countries, have substantially altered the nation’s demographic composition. The foreign-born population has increased to approximately 3%, while the percentage of locally-born citizens has experienced a corresponding slight decrease.

Region Three (West Demerara-Essequibo Islands) has emerged as a particular growth hotspot, with its population now surpassing that of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) due to extensive new housing developments and land openings. This residential expansion is reflected in a 42% increase in building stock in recent years, signaling a nationwide construction boom.

The census also revealed evolving household dynamics, with average family size decreasing significantly from 4.7 persons in 1991 to 3.23 in 2022. Minister Singh credited this shift to increased home ownership stimulated by government incentives, including the removal of Value Added Tax on certain building materials.

While the political opposition has called for more immediate and comprehensive data release, government officials emphasized that both private sector stakeholders and public infrastructure planners will find the census information invaluable for future development strategies. A more detailed preliminary report is scheduled for publication on the Bureau of Statistics website, with a final comprehensive analysis to follow in due course.

A violent altercation at Barakat Landing on the Cuyuni River has resulted in a tragic outcome, with one man deceased and his brother critically wounded. The incident, which transpired on the evening of Sunday, January 11, 2026, is now under active investigation by police from Regional Division #7.

According to initial reports from the Guyana Police Force, the two victims, both employed as pork knockers in the local mining area, became engaged in a heated dispute with another male individual. The confrontation escalated dramatically when the alleged assailant reportedly seized a pair of scissors and launched a brutal attack, stabbing both brothers multiple times across their bodies.

Following the violent assault, the suspect immediately fled the scene and has successfully evaded capture thus far. Law enforcement authorities have confirmed that intensive efforts are currently underway to locate and apprehend the individual responsible for this deadly attack.

The remote location of Barakat Landing presents unique challenges for investigators operating in the Region #7 jurisdiction. The community, situated along the Cuyuni River, represents one of many mining areas where such violent incidents occasionally occur, highlighting ongoing security concerns in Guyana’s interior regions.

Police have not yet released the identities of the victims pending notification of their families, nor have they disclosed potential motives behind the altercation that turned fatal. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to piece together the precise sequence of events that led to this tragic outcome.

Guyana’s Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) has activated a nationwide emergency alert system following the successful prosecution of a significant ecstasy trafficking case. The alert targets public awareness, law enforcement agencies, and healthcare providers in response to the confirmed presence of high-risk MDMA tablets in circulation.

The agency confirmed the conviction of Devon Grant, who received a 12-month prison sentence and a GY$300,000 fine after pleading guilty to trafficking 164 grams of ecstasy. Co-defendant Lily Wills maintained her innocence and was released on GY$100,000 bail pending her February 2 court appearance. A third suspect was released due to insufficient evidence.

According to CANU’s operational report, the arrests resulted from intelligence-driven surveillance that led to the interception of a vehicle at Movietowne, Turkeyen in Greater Georgetown. Officers discovered multiple ziplock bags containing brightly colored pills that were subsequently confirmed by the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory to contain MDMA.

Health authorities have been instructed to monitor for ecstasy-related medical emergencies, particularly symptoms including severe dehydration, hyperthermia, tachycardia, confusion, agitation, and collapse. CANU emphasized that seized tablets showed significant variation in potency and likely contained dangerous adulterants.

The agency specifically warned young adults about the elevated risks of combining MDMA with alcohol or other substances, noting that most emergencies occur in nightlife environments. CANU has implemented enhanced monitoring of entertainment districts, improved surveillance of micro-distribution networks, and strengthened collaboration with venue security teams.

Public cooperation is actively sought, with CANU urging parents, nightlife operators, and community leaders to report any suspicious activities or unfamiliar pills circulating among youth populations.