Democracy gave Guyana an opportunity to rebuild its economy, expand prosperity – VP Jagdeo

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October 5, 2026

Full statement from Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo:

October 5, 1992, remains one of the most consequential dates in Guyana’s political history. Through free and fair elections, Guyana reclaimed its democracy, as the victory of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) ended 28 years of undemocratic retrograde rule by the People’s National Congress (PNC).

That victory represented more than a change of government. It paved the way for an independent judiciary, a stronger Parliament, a free press and a new Constitution that enshrined fundamental protections. Even with all of their imperfections, these institutions are hard-won gains and remain essential to a society where every citizen can live freely, pursue opportunity and shape their future.

Democracy also gave Guyana the opportunity to rebuild its economy and expand prosperity. Debt reduction, sound economic management and long-term planning helped create the foundation for growth and unprecedented advancements in health, education, housing and other social services.

But democracy must never be taken for granted. Not long ago, Guyanese saw political actors attempt to overturn the will of the people. The APNU+AFC’s efforts to rig the 2020 General and Regional Elections failed because the PPP/C stood in firm defence of our country and the right of our people to choose their government.

On the road ahead, we will remain vigilant in protecting our democratic freedoms. We will also ensure development reaches every family and every region. We will continue to prioritise job creation, housing, education, health and the wellbeing of our children, young people and the elderly.

This requires time for initiatives to be implemented, fiscal discipline and the transparent management of public resources. We will continue to deliver on our commitments and fight corruption in all of its manifestations. Our promise is to build a Guyana where prosperity touches every community and every citizen regardless of race, religion or creed. That is what we fought for in 1992. It is what we will continue to deliver.

Source: INews Guyana

TIGI TO PRESIDENT ALI: ‘YOU CANNOT REMAIN A SPECTATOR’ IN KARIMBAKSH PROBE – HGPTV – Guyana’s Nightly News and Entertainment Channel

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October 5, 2026

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HGP NIGHTLY NEWS – Transparency International Guyana Inc. (TIGI) has placed responsibility directly at the feet of President Irfaan Ali over the handling of serious allegations against Deputy Police Commissioner and SOCU Head Fazil Karimbaksh, declaring that “the President cannot remain a spectator.”

The transparency watchdog made the statement as it called for Karimbaksh to be removed from operational duties and placed on administrative leave while allegations of rape and threatening behaviour are investigated.

The allegations have not been proven, and TIGI acknowledged that Karimbaksh is entitled to due process. However, the organisation argued that his senior position within the Guyana Police Force, coupled with reports that the complainant is herself a serving police officer, raises questions about whether an internal police investigation can operate independently.

TIGI said it has “no confidence” in an unnamed internal police team investigating one of the Force’s most senior officers while he remains on active duty.

The organisation questioned who is conducting the investigation, whether those investigators are junior in rank to Karimbaksh, who they report to and what measures have been implemented to protect the complainant and potential witnesses from interference.

TIGI maintained that placing Karimbaksh on administrative leave would not constitute punishment or a finding of guilt, but would instead protect the integrity of the investigation.

The organisation also raised concerns over Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond’s reference to a possible “formal confrontation” between the complainant and the accused.

TIGI contended that such a process could conflict with protections provided under Section 42 of the Sexual Offences Act, which it says protects a complainant from being required to recount an allegation in the presence of the accused unless the complainant wishes to do so.

It is now seeking clarification on whether any face-to-face encounter has been proposed, whether the complainant voluntarily agreed to it and what legal, psychological and protective safeguards would be provided.

TIGI also pointed to the current absence of a constituted Police Service Commission, arguing that the situation cannot be used to justify inaction.

It called for the Commission to be urgently reconstituted and for the government to publicly identify a lawful interim mechanism through which Karimbaksh could be relieved of operational duties.

The organisation is further demanding that the investigation be conducted by persons outside the operational structure and influence of the Police Force, along with independent legal and psychosocial support for the complainant and protection for potential witnesses.

TIGI also wants the immediate preservation of relevant communications, electronic data, CCTV footage, duty rosters and access logs.

“This matter will test whether Guyana’s institutions can investigate serious allegations against the powerful without fear, favour, opacity or delay,” TIGI said.

Source: HGP Nightly News / HGPTV

DISCIPLINARY RECORDS TO DECIDE POLICE PROMOTIONS – WALROND – HGPTV – Guyana’s Nightly News and Entertainment Channel

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October 5, 2026

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HGP NIGHTLY NEWS – Police officers with disciplinary infractions could find their chances of promotion affected as the government moves towards a merit-based system that places greater weight on conduct, performance and professional skills, according to Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond.

Speaking on the Starting Point podcast, Walrond said infractions committed by ranks should be formally documented and placed on their records, allowing conduct to be considered when decisions are made about advancement within the Guyana Police Force.

“I believe that if there is any infraction from any police officer, it should be written up and put in their file,” Walrond said. She argued that promotion should not automatically follow years of service but should instead depend on an officer’s quality of service, disciplinary record and skills.

“There has to be an understanding that bad behaviour is not rewarded, that misconduct is not rewarded,” the minister said. Walrond said the aim is to establish a clear standard that applies across the force rather than allowing advancement to depend on personal connections.

“The idea now is to keep a standard that is clear, that is not based on who you know, and who knows you,” she said. The minister also disclosed that more police officers have appeared before the courts this year than in previous years, although she noted that some of those cases involve conduct outside of their official duties.

Despite those cases, Walrond cautioned against allowing allegations of misconduct involving individual ranks to define the wider force, saying there are thousands of officers who continue to perform their duties professionally.

She also rejected the argument that low salaries can explain officers accepting bribes, maintaining that corruption is fundamentally an issue of integrity and professionalism.

The government has increased salaries and expanded benefits across the Joint Services in recent years, while also introducing changes to promotion opportunities.

In August 2025, approximately 2,800 police ranks were promoted as part of an exercise aimed particularly at long-serving officers at the lower and middle levels.

Walrond said improved salaries, promotion opportunities, housing and other welfare benefits are also making careers in law enforcement more attractive, with the Guyana Police Force now approaching a complement of 8,000 ranks.

But she maintained that increased opportunities must be accompanied by accountability, with advancement tied to an officer’s performance and conduct.

Source: HGP Nightly News / HGPTV

FERRIER ORDERED TO STAY AWAY FROM GAS STATION ATTENDANT IN ASSAULT CASE – HGPTV – Guyana’s Nightly News and Entertainment Channel

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October 5, 2026

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HGP NIGHTLY NEWS – Andika Ferrier has been ordered to stay away from the female gas station attendant he is accused of assaulting, after appearing in court on Monday to face an assault causing bodily harm charge.

Ferrier was granted $100,000 bail, with additional conditions requiring him to report to a police station while the matter remains before the court.

The charge stems from an incident at the Rubis gas station at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara. Ferrier is accused of striking the female attendant after she reportedly declined to assist him with loading cooking-gas cylinders onto his truck.

The incident had previously drawn the attention of Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond, who publicly indicated that criminal charges would follow.

Walrond had also recommended that Ferrier’s employment with the Ministry of Home Affairs be terminated over the incident.

Ferrier is expected to return to court on October 26, 2026.

Source: HGP Nightly News / HGPTV

JORDAN: GUYANA SHOULD HAVE EXITED SUGAR BUSINESS ‘A LONG TIME AGO’ – HGPTV – Guyana’s Nightly News and Entertainment Channel

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October 5, 2026

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HGP NIGHTLY NEWS – Former Finance Minister Winston Jordan says Guyana should have exited the sugar business years ago, arguing that the industry has historically survived on preferential prices and government support rather than its ability to compete internationally.

Speaking on News Source, Sources on Sunday, Jordan said the preferential prices Guyana once received for sugar exported to Europe played a major role in keeping the industry afloat.

“Without the European price, we should have been out of the business of sugar a long time ago,” Jordan said. He argued that sugar, like rice, has struggled to remain competitive without secured international markets or favourable prices.

According to Jordan, the loss of those preferential conditions left the industry increasingly dependent on government support, including expenditure on drainage and irrigation and other subsidies.

Jordan said efforts to make the industry competitive under current conditions will be difficult, particularly as substantial public resources continue to be injected into sugar without the level of production he believes should accompany that spending.

He contended that the government will eventually have to confront the question of whether maintaining the industry in its current form remains financially sustainable.

“Sooner than later, as we can see already with the massive resources that sugar has got without any return, a decision is going to have to be made, politically painful as it would be,” he said.

Jordan defended the former APNU+AFC administration’s decision to reduce the size of the industry, saying its approach was intended to concentrate operations on the three most productive estates and eventually achieve annual production of approximately 150,000 tonnes.

That restructuring resulted in the closure or reduction of operations at several estates and the retrenchment of thousands of workers. Jordan maintained that the plan could have placed the industry on a more sustainable footing within approximately five years.

He argued that reopening estates has since required significant spending without delivering a corresponding increase in production.The former finance minister said the latest production figures should therefore be considered alongside the amount of public money being committed to keeping the industry operating.

Jordan maintained that, despite having significantly more financial resources available today, Guyana’s sugar output remains below the levels the former administration had targeted for a smaller industry.

Source: HGP Nightly News / HGPTV

Guyana Development Bank online portal goes live

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October 5, 2026

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Guyana Development Bank online portal goes live

October 5, 2026

– help desk locations to be announced this week

The Guyana Development Bank (GDB) is moving into operation with its online portal going live as of October 5, while locations for physical help desks and the staff who will assist prospective applicants are expected to be announced later this week.

Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally, said the development marks an exciting time for Guyanese, noting that the bank’s board is now in place and work has commenced to ensure citizens can easily access its services.

Minister Ally is encouraging persons interested in accessing financing to visit the bank’s online platform, sign up and provide their relevant information.

He explained that the application process has been designed to be simple and accessible, particularly for persons seeking loans between $50,000 and $300,000.

Applicants will be required to provide their name and E-ID or passport number. Persons using their E-ID number will have several fields automatically populated, making the Know Your Customer (KYC) process easier.

For loans above $300,000 and up to $3 million, applicants will be required to provide more detailed information on how the financing will be used, including relevant business proposals and plans.

Minister Ally said the digital process is designed to accommodate persons regardless of their level of technological experience. Physical assistance will also be available to persons who may require help.

GDB help desks will be established at selected service centres and commercial banks, with staff available to assist persons with their applications.

A list of the locations and the staff assigned to the help desks is expected to be made public by the end of this week.

The GDB online platform is accessible at gdb.gov.gy.

HUGHES HEADING TO COURT OF APPEAL AFTER HIGH COURT REFUSES SEERAM BAIL BID – HGPTV – Guyana’s Nightly News and Entertainment Channel

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October 5, 2026

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HGP NIGHTLY NEWS – Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes says he will turn to the Court of Appeal after failing to secure pre-sentencing bail for convicted former Region Four Chairman Daniel Seeram in the High Court.

Justice Joy Persaud refused Hughes’ application for judicial review and upheld Magistrate Abigail Gibbs’ decision to remand Seeram to prison pending sentencing on November 2.

Following the ruling, Hughes confirmed to the media that he intends to challenge the decision before the Court of Appeal.

As part of his arguments, Hughes contended that Magistrate Gibbs erred in relying on Section 9 of the Bail Act when she ordered Seeram into custody.

He also challenged the decision to remand Seeram before the court had received and considered all of the material requested ahead of sentencing.

According to Hughes, those materials include a probation report and victim impact statement, along with mitigating factors from the defence and aggravating factors from the prosecution.

Seeram was remanded on Friday after being found guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm to his former wife, Farzana Hamid.

Magistrate Gibbs handed down the conviction at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court following a trial stemming from a complaint made by Hamid.

Seeram is expected to remain in custody pending any further court intervention and his scheduled sentencing on November 2.

Source: HGP Nightly News / HGPTV

President Ali: GDB loans a pathway to creditworthiness for Guyanese entrepreneurs

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October 5, 2026

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President Ali: GDB loans a pathway to creditworthiness for Guyanese entrepreneurs

October 5, 2026

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has urged prospective borrowers of the newly launched Guyana Development Bank (GDB) to treat its financing as a responsibility, stressing that disciplined repayment will position them for bigger opportunities within the financial system.

Speaking in a video broadcast on his Facebook page, the president said the institution was created to turn ideas of ordinary Guyanese into viable businesses, but its success depends on the commitment of those it serves.

“With this opportunity comes responsibility. You must understand [that] this is a loan. You’re going to be entrepreneurs,” President Ali said.

He said borrowers must commit to hard work, discipline, financial management and mentorship. There is a clear reward for those who do.

The president said, “Commit to building yourself a credit rating that will take you to the next level. That will demonstrate to the financial system that you are ready. You are capable. And once given the opportunity, you are built for success.”

The head of state said the bank is meant to “reach the unreached,” naming women, persons living with disabilities, young people and farmers among its priority groups.

Access to the GDB will be digital, and the president encouraged citizens to prepare now.

“We encourage you to get your bank account. Get your digital ID card. Because our country is moving towards a digital future,” he said.

Beyond financing, borrowers will have access to mentorship, training in financial stewardship and entrepreneurial skills, and extension services.

The president described this support as a comprehensive ecosystem for personal, business and societal development.

He called on interested persons to prepare their business plans, complete the application forms online and register for the training programme.

“The Guyana Development Bank is an investment in your potential. It is an investment in your future. An investment in your idea,” President Ali said. “Make this investment worth it for you.”

The bank can be accessed at gdb.gov.gy.

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