The $7.2B concessional loan agreement between Guyana and Japan will see the upgrade of the water system in Diamond, East Bank Demerara Residents in Diamond and surrounding communities on the East Bank of Demerara will soon benefit from safe drinking water following a $7.2 billion loan agreement between the Governments of Guyana and Japan to upgrade the infrastructure there. The concessional loan document was signed on Thursday by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, and Japanese Ambassador to Guyana, Dr Umezawa Akima, during a simple ceremony in Georgetown. This paves the way for the development of a state-of-the-art Surface Water Treatment Plant at Diamond. The project will be executed under the Guyana Climate Resilient Water Supply Improvement Programme – an initiative being carried out by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). During his remarks at...

GUYANA’S aviation sector has achieved a significant milestone with the appointment of two of its most senior aviation leaders to serve on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Global Ambassadors Programme. Following a nomination by the Government of Guyana to the ICAO, Lt. Col. (ret’d) Egbert Field, A.A., Director General of the GCAA, has been appointed as an ICAO Champion for the ICAO South American Region, while Dr Saheed Sulaman, Deputy Director General of the GCAA, has been appointed as an ICAO Global Ambassador for Guyana. The appointment is for two years and commenced on January 1, 2026. Deputy Director General of the GCAA, Dr Saheed Sulaman Lt. Col. (ret’d) Egbert Field, with over 50 years of experience in military and civil aviation as both a pilot and an administrator, has led Guyana’s GCAA as Director General for the past decade, strengthening its institutions and boosting international credibility. He also...

…44 arrested, charged The Natural Resources Ministry has intensified its enforcement drive against illegal mining, resulting in the seizure of more than 50 pieces of mining equipment from unlicensed operations in the Northwest District, Region One (Barima-Waini). The seizures were made during recent compliance and enforcement exercises conducted jointly by the Ministry and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) in the Eclipse Falls–North West area. According to the Ministry, the confiscated items included mining engines, generators, water pumps, hoses, and gold detection equipment. Officials said the equipment was being used in violation of Guyana’s mining laws and regulations. All seized items have been detained and lodged at the Mines Station, pending further action. The Ministry reiterated that illegal and unregulated mining poses significant environmental, economic, and safety risks and stressed that such activities will not be tolerated. The enforcement exercises form part of a broader strategy aimed at ensuring...

— Group says choice must reflect national interest, not party preference See Full Statement from Upliftment Alliance for Black Communities Opposition Members of Parliament are constitutionally entrusted with the responsibility to act in the supreme interest of the State and the people of Guyana. The selection of the Leader of the Opposition is therefore not a matter of internal party preference, but a decision with profound constitutional, institutional, and national implications. As Opposition Members convene on Monday to elect the Leader of the Opposition for Guyana’s 13th Parliament, our organisation wishes to formally register its concern regarding the possible elevation of Azruddin Mohamed to this office. Under Guyana’s constitutional framework, the Leader of the Opposition occupies a uniquely powerful role. The officeholder is a central figure in several constitutional appointments, participates directly in safeguarding democratic checks and balances, and represents the State in engagements that demand credibility, sound judgment, and...

…as local Police partner with INTERPOL, neighbouring countries to crack down on illegal mining …198 arrested, cash, gold, mercury, guns, drugs seized At least three persons believed to be linked to a major regional organised crime group were arrested in Guyana during a joint operation involving several South American nations and led by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) last month. Ranks of the Guyana Police Force with their Brazilian counterparts at the Takatu International Bridge that connects the two countries In a statement on Thursday, INTERPOL said it partnered with the Police and prosecutors in Guyana, Brazil, French Guiana and Suriname in the first-ever transnational operation to combat illegal gold mining. During the cross-border operation carried out in December 2025, over 24,500 checks were conducted on vehicles and individuals, which led to some 198 arrests. These include the detention of three men in Guyana on suspicion of gold smuggling...

See full statement from the Association of People of African Descent (APAD) Opposition Members of Parliament are constitutionally entrusted with the responsibility to act in the supreme interest of the State and the people of Guyana. The selection of the Leader of the Opposition is therefore not a matter of internal party preference, but a decision with profound constitutional, institutional, and national implications. As Opposition Members convene on Monday to elect the Leader of the Opposition for Guyana’s 13th Parliament, our organisation formally registers its concern regarding the possible elevation of Azruddin Mohamed to this office. It is a matter of public record that Mr. Mohamed is the subject of criminal charges in the United States, including allegations relating to gold smuggling and tax evasion. Under Guyana’s constitutional framework, the Leader of the Opposition occupies a uniquely powerful role. The officeholder is a central figure in several constitutional appointments, participates...

Citing the registration of over 36,000 new businesses and the incorporation of more than 1500 companies last year, Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall emphasised the need to modernise the country’s corporate environment, inclusive of legislative changes. During his programme “Issues in the News” on Tuesday, Nandlall disclosed that statistics from the Deeds and Commercial Registry Authority show that 36,251 new businesses were registered last year. Regarding limited liability companies, he said 1516 were incorporated. “These statistics demonstrate the confidence that people have in the economy of our country,” Nandlall remarked. Against this backdrop, he said the Government has to bring changes to the corporate environment in the country. For instance, he said the Companies Act, which was enacted in 1991, is currently being reviewed. “35 years ago, the Guyana corporate sector was radically different than it is now; the regulatory framework that governed a 1991 commercial...

BLOSSOM Incorporated is more than a child advocacy organisation. It is dedicated to supporting children and families affected by sexual violence and exploitation.   Through collaboration with partners and stakeholders, BLOSSOM Inc. raises awareness, builds resilience, and equips communities with the necessary tools to respond effectively to these challenges.   The non-governmental organisation (NGO) operates child advocacy centres in Georgetown, Essequibo, Bartica, Linden, Kwakwani, Port Kaituma, Moruca, and Mabaruma. These centres serve as child‑friendly spaces designed to deliver justice and healing for children affected by exploitation and sexual violence. The services include forensic interviewing, evidence‑based trauma‑focused therapy, case tracking and reviews, and victim and court support.   Further, Blossom Inc. through its migrant and host community services, conducts case management and psychosocial support so that migrant families can integrate into the Guyanese society.   Alongside this, the organisation provides access to health, education, economic opportunities and access to the necessities...

…urges Opposition MPs to block out US-indicted businessman Former Chairman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) – the largest party in the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Coalition, Sherwayne Holder, has called on Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) not to appoint United States-indicated businessman Azruddin Mohamed as the new Leader of the Opposition. Former PNCR Leader Sherwayne Holder This was shortly after Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir announced via a video statement on Tuesday evening that a meeting will be held at 10:00h on Monday, January 26, to elect an Opposition Leader. At that meeting, the opposition Parliamentarians – including 16 from We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), 12 from APNU, and one from Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) – will nominate and vote for a candidate to be elected to the post. It has been presumed that Mohamed, the Leader of WIN, will be elected to as...

GUYANA’S political opposition is under immense scrutiny as the potential elevation of U.S- indicted Azruddin Mohamed raises serious concerns over reputational consequences for the country and threats to democratic institutions. The Association for Democracy and Human Rights Guyana, in a statement, made it clear that the nation is on a verge of walking into a serious reputational crisis if Mohamed is selected as Leader of the Opposition (LOO). While the process of selecting the LOO is one that is straight forward, the impending selection of Mohamed—who is facing multiple indictments by the U.S— is a test of judgment, integrity, and national responsibility. The statement read: “Let it be absolutely clear: if the Opposition were to select any other parliamentarian at this time,that would be their lawful choice and a normal exercise of democratic practice. But elevating a man who has been sanctioned and indicted by the United States on 11...