𝔾𝕦𝕪𝕒𝕟𝕒 𝕌𝕟𝕔𝕦𝕥 ℕ𝕖𝕨𝕤 📰

Government to evaluate bids for MV Barima salvage operation The Government of Guyana is now weighing its options for the recovery of the sunken MV Barima, with the deadline for marine salvage companies to submit Expressions of Interest passing on Friday, August 14, 2026.Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips said the Government must first assess the bids before deciding which company will be invited to undertake the operation, followed by negotiations on the final contract.“Then you have to go through the bids, do the evaluation, and then determine who will get the contract,” Phillips said at a press conference held at his office on Friday.He said the selection process would not end with the evaluation, noting that negotiations with the preferred contractor would follow.“So, it’s a process that has started, and the process is ongoing to this finality,” he added.The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) launched the process as ...

Sergeant allegedly implicates senior police officers in licence fraud probe A police sergeant attached to the Licensing and Certifying Office at the Springlands Police Station in Corentyne, Berbice, has reportedly implicated senior police officers in an alleged driver’s licence fraud scheme currently being investigated by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).The sergeant, identified as Sergeant Travis Witrite, was placed under close arrest after SOCU ranks intercepted motorcar PAG 3344, which he was driving.A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered a haversack containing 94 competency letters for various classes of vehicles, bearing the names of different individuals, none of whom were from the Springlands area.Police also reportedly found $564,000 in cash and US$40 in the vehicle.According to reports, the sergeant was unable to provide a reasonable explanation for possessing the items and was taken to the Springlands Licensing and Certifying Offi...

Alexi Ponce discharged of murder charge after magistrate upholds no-case submission Alexi Ponce, who was charged with murder in connection with the death of Yoel Valenzuela, was on Friday discharged after a magistrate upheld a no-case submission made on his behalf.Ponce was the number two accused in the murder matter before Magistrate Tameika Clarke at the Friendship Magistrate’s Court.The charge alleged that on July 16, 2026, at Soesdyke Junction, East Bank Demerara, Ponce murdered Valenzuela.During the preliminary proceedings, several witness statements were tendered by the prosecution, along with video footage which was not contested.However, Attorney-at-Law Benard Davila  who represented Ponce throughout the preliminary inquiry/paper committal, submitted that the prosecution had failed to establish a sufficient case against his client.In the no-case submission, the defence relied on the legal principles established in R v Galbraith [1981] 2 All...

GPL to spend US$4.869B transforming Guyana’s electricity system through 2030 Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), with support from the Government, plans to undertake a US$4.869 billion capital programme over the next five years as the utility prepares to significantly expand and modernise Guyana’s electricity system.The investment is outlined in GPL’s Development and Expansion Programme 2026-2030, which sets out plans to increase generation capacity, strengthen the transmission and distribution network, introduce smart grid technologies and reduce electricity losses.The programme comes as Guyana faces rapidly growing electricity demand, driven by continued economic expansion, housing development and increased industrial and commercial activity.GPL projects that electricity requirements will increase significantly over the period, with total energy demand expected to move from approximately 2,000 GWh in 2026 to about 10,441 GWh by 2030. Peak demand is...

CCJ President issues statement about recent allegations Last Updated on Friday, 14 August 2026, 15:13 by Denis Chabrol Recent press reports and publications concerning the internal affairs of this Court have understandably caused concern, anxiety and profound sadness, both within the institution and across the region. This has been particularly distressing because the Caribbean Court of Justice is far more than a […]

Power demand hits record 242.6MW as Government moves to boost generation Guyana’s electricity demand has reached a record 242.64 megawatts (MW), with the Government projecting that consumption could climb even further during the August-to-October hot season.Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar made the statement while speaking at a press conference hosted by Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips on Friday. He said the latest peak represents the highest demand recorded in the history of the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS). Indar said peak demand has increased significantly over the past year, rising from 221MW to 242.64MW—a growth of 21.6MW. The increase is even more pronounced when compared with 2020, when peak demand stood at approximately 125MW.The current figure therefore represents an increase of more than 117MW in six years, with demand now almost twice what it was in 2020. Indar attributed the sharp inc...

GPL projects Guyana’s electricity demand to surge more than five-fold by 2030 Guyana’s electricity requirements are projected to increase dramatically over the next five years, with total energy generation expected to rise more than five-fold by 2030, according to the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL).The projection is contained in GPL’s Development and Expansion Programme 2026-2030, which outlines plans to transform the electricity sector to meet rapidly increasing demand while improving reliability, affordability and sustainability.According to the document, total energy generation is projected to climb from approximately 2,000 GWh in 2026 to about 10,441 GWh by 2030.Peak demand is also expected to increase sharply, moving from 318 MW in 2026 to approximately 1,671 MW by 2030, an increase of more than 1,350 MW within five years.GPL described the projected increase as “explosive growth,” averaging approximately 45 to 50 per cent annually.The ut...

ANDERSON CONFIRMS TALKS WITH ALI, NORTON OVER TOP JUDICIAL POSTS HGP NIGHTLY NEWS – Caribbean Court of Justice President Justice Winston Anderson has confirmed that he personally held talks with President Irfaan Ali and then Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton over Guyana’s two highest judicial posts. The discussions took place separately in October 2025. Anderson said he travelled to Guyana hoping to help break the longstanding […]

Linden sawmillers told to schedule operations to ease pressure on generators Last Updated on Friday, 14 August 2026, 14:48 by Denis Chabrol Sawmillers in Linden have been asked by the Guyana government to schedule their operations within a specific time-frame to ease pressure on the BOSAI Minerals’ bauxite company generators, amid rising demand largely due to the El Nino hot weather phenomenon, officials said. Public Utilities […]

ACCOUNTABILITY CANNOT STOP WITH MV BARIMA WORKERS — APNU HGP Nightly News – A Partnership for National Unity says accountability for the MV Barima tragedy must extend beyond the three workers facing murder charges to the ministers, senior officials and regulatory agencies responsible for Guyana’s maritime system. In a statement, APNU argued that criminal liability, administrative failure and ministerial responsibility are separate issues that […]

Electricity conservation measures kick in due to hot weather, increased demand Last Updated on Friday, 14 August 2026, 12:17 by Denis Chabrol There will be electricity conservation in the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) due to a spike in demand as a result of the extremely dry weather and increased demand, officials said Friday. Public Utilities Minister Deodat Indar said the DBIS has recorded a peak demand […]

Silence Over Lacon’s Murder, Friends Say Police Charged The Wrong Man By Travis Chase | HGP Nightly News| GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — Weeks after Shawn Lacon was allegedly abducted and brutally beaten in Queenstown, Georgetown, before succumbing to his injuries in hospital, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has yet to provide the public with a comprehensive explanation regarding the circumstances surrounding his murder. While several suspects have […]

Tiffany Jeffrey-Durant: Championing Property Rights And Legal Empowerment, To Host First Landlord Summit On Saturday By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News| GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — Few would have predicted years ago that Tiffany Jeffrey-Durant would emerge as one of the country’s foremost legal champions for property rights, landlord-tenant relations, and real estate governance. Today, the Albertown-bred attorney-at-law stands at the forefront of property law in Guyana, guiding everyday citizens, investors, […]

CANAWAIMA CLEARED TO SAIL AFTER AUGUST 13 REINSPECTION HGP Nightly News – The MV Canawaima has been cleared to continue operating between Guyana and Suriname after passing a reinspection on Thursday, although its operators say further technical follow-up will be required. Canawaima Ferry Service Inc. and Canawaima Management Company N.V. announced that the restriction was lifted following the August 13 inspection. The operators […]

STRUCTURAL DEFECTS BLAMED FOR BUCKET USE AT FIRE SERVICE HEADQUARTERS HGP Nightly News – Acting Fire Chief Gregory Wickham says longstanding structural and plumbing defects at the Guyana Fire Service headquarters led to the situation in which firefighters were reportedly forced to use buckets of water, but remedial works are now underway. Wickham addressed the controversy on Thursday night following criticism on Facebook about conditions […]

GUYANA HAS “HUGE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE” TO UNITED STATES — LANDAU HGP Nightly News – The United States has identified Guyana as a key strategic partner in its push for a safer and more prosperous Caribbean, with Washington seeking deeper cooperation on investment, infrastructure, organised crime and regional security. United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau outlined the position during a visit to Georgetown, declaring […]

MV BARIMA TRAGEDY DID NOT TRIGGER GOVERNMENT OUTREACH — NANDLALL HGP Nightly News – Attorney General Anil Nandlall has rejected suggestions that the government’s community outreaches are being used to divert public attention from the MV Barima tragedy. Speaking on Issues in the News, Nandlall was responding to a Kiskadee Watch report which raised questions about the timing of government engagements being held across the […]

Government to Construct Proper Wharf for Riverview Fisherfolk Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha has announced plans for the construction of a “proper” wharf at Riverview, following concerns raised by fisherfolk during President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s walkabout in the community on Wednesday.Additionally, the government will purchase catches from fisherfolk in Riverview as part of efforts to address concerns over marketing.Minister Mustapha visited the community on Thursday to follow up on the issues raised with the President. He said the main concerns raised by fisherfolk included the absence of a proper landing facility and difficulties in marketing their catches.“I asked NDIA head Lionel, who is our engineer, to go there and do a proper design. We will make a proper wharf for them,” the minister said.He explained that fisherfolk currently operate from individual and small landing sites, where they face challenges accessing and storing ...

COI into MV Barima sinking finalising arrangements for public hearings The Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the July 18 sinking of the MV Barima is finalising arrangements for the commencement of public hearings, with the public and media expected to be formally notified once the necessary procedures are completed.Attorney Javid Shadick, Secretary to the Commission, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Thursday that the secretariat is currently addressing the legal and administrative requirements that will guide the proceedings.“They’re working on checking the legal aspects,” Shadick said, explaining that the Commission is considering the various scenarios that may arise during the hearings.He said that once the arrangements are completed, a public notice will be issued outlining the details and informing the public and media on how the hearings will be conducted.The five-member Commission was sworn in by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Al...

Improving mathematics performance, micro-credentials take centre stage at 52nd COHSOD Meeting Last Updated on Thursday, 13 August 2026, 21:46 by Denis Chabrol Improving mathematics performance and strengthening pathways for skills development emerged as key priorities as education ministers and senior officials from across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) met in Georgetown for the 52nd Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD)-Education, the Ministry of […]