A father of two was killed in a three-vehicle collision along the Manchester Public Road, Corentyne, on Friday evening leaving a father of two dead.

The dead man has been identified as 27-year-old Chatram Bridgbasie, also known as “Tony,” of Lesbeholden North, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The accident occurred at about 19:45H and involved a motorcycle, CH 298, which was at the time being driven by the now deceased and two motorcars, PAN 7003 and PAH 1597.

Police said PAN 7003 was proceeding along the Manchester Public Road when Bridgbasie, who was proceeding in the same direction with a 33-year-old pillion rider, allegedly attempted to overtake the vehicle.

As such, the motorcyclist lost control collided with the right rear portion of PAN 7003. The motorcycle then swerved and collided with the right side of PAH 1597, which was travelling in the opposite direction.

Bridgbasie and the pillion rider fell onto the roadway and sustained injuries. They were picked up and taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, where Bridgbasie was pronounced dead.

The pillion rider was treated for lacerations before being transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. Police said his condition was stable.

Police alleged that the motorcycle had been travelling at a fast rate before the collision and said Bridgbasie was not licensed to operate it. According to the Police statement, neither Bridgbasie nor Satram was wearing a safety helmet.

The driver of PAN 7003 is a member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), while the 29-year-old Whim Village man who was driving PAH 1597 is a member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

Both drivers were contacted at the scene and escorted to the Whim Police Station, where breathalyser tests returned zero readings. Police said they were in custody assisting with the investigation.

Meanwhile, Bridgbasie’s mother-in-law, Kavita Sookram, said his death has left the family devastated, particularly her pregnant daughter.
Sookram estimated that her daughter is about four or five months pregnant. Bridgbasie and her daughter had been together for approximately 11 years and already have two children.

The aggrieved woman related that she was returning from work at around 21:00h on Friday evening when a friend stopped her and asked whether she had heard anything. She knew nothing about the accident at the time.

She was subsequently told that her son-in-law had been involved in an accident, but initially did not know which son-in-law the person was referring to. Then she was shown a photograph.

“When she show me picture, then me say me sure that he’s dead,” Sookram recalled.

Family members subsequently made their way to the mortuary and police station as they tried to come to grips with what had happened.
For Sookram’s pregnant daughter, the loss of the man with whom she had spent approximately a decade and raised two children has been particularly difficult.

“Well, she’s sad. Everybody talking to her because she pregnant. Everybody tells her she got to live.”

Sookram said Bridgbasie and her daughter had their “little ups and downs,” but nothing she regarded as serious. “Very good they living,” she said.

For Sookram, the suddenness of the tragedy has also been difficult to comprehend. “I never expect. I never expect.”
She described the relationship she shared with her son-in-law simply as “very good.”

Sookram said she could shed little light on Bridgbasie’s movements before the crash because she had been at work.

Asked whether she knew where he was going or coming from, she replied: “No, no. Because me went there. Me know nothing of him. Me leave here, me have to reach work till one o’clock and come home nine o’clock.”

His death now leaves his longtime partner preparing for the birth of their third child while raising the couple’s two young children.

Police said Bridgbasie’s body was taken to a funeral home where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination (PME). Investigations into the accident are continuing.

Source: INews Guyana

King Charles III will make a two-day State Visit to Guyana from October 29 to 30, 2026, as part of an Autumn Tour that will also take him to The Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda, where he will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The Guyana visit is being made at the invitation of President Irfaan Ali and at the request of the United Kingdom (UK) Government. It will mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between Guyana and the UK according to the Royal Communications announcement.

The King is expected to meet President Ali at State House before attending a State Reception involving representatives of Guyana’s communities. The programme will also highlight the longstanding relationship between the two countries and their economic ties.

According to the release, a separate reception involving British businesses and local stakeholders will focus on the economic relationship between the United Kingdom and Guyana, described as being “one of fastest growing economies in the world.”

The King is also scheduled to visit the Rabbit Walk Memorial in Georgetown, where he will meet veterans and lay a wreath commemorating British, Guyanese and other Commonwealth forces. He will meet members of the National Toshaos Council, representing more than 200 Amerindian communities across Guyana’s 10 regions.

Environmental conservation will form another major part of the visit. The King is expected to engage with scientists, Indigenous community members and innovators working in biodiversity conservation and restoration, including those associated with the Iwokrama International Centre, which manages approximately 371,000 hectares of tropical forest. He has served as Iwokrama’s patron since 2000.

His programme will conclude with an engagement at the Georgetown seawall involving the Wilton Park Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative Dialogue, with a focus on mangrove restoration.

A relationship shaped by colonial history

The visit also comes against the backdrop of Guyana’s long and complex history with Britain.

Guyana was under more than three centuries of Dutch and British colonial rule. The three colonies of Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice were united as British Guiana in 1831, and British Guiana became a British Crown Colony in 1928.

Guyana attained independence from Britain on May 26, 1966, ending British colonial rule and changing the country’s name from British Guiana to Guyana. On the same diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom were established, making the October visit particularly significant as the countries mark six decades of formal diplomatic relations.

The King’s visit will also reconnect him with a country he previously visited as Prince of Wales in February 2000.

Following Guyana, the King and Queen will travel to Antigua and Barbuda from November 1–4 for CHOGM 2026. The meeting will bring together leaders from the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries under the theme “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth.”

Source: Village Voice News

President Irfaan Ali has spoken of Guyana experiencing a movement of people that could bring the country’s population to about three million by 2030. That statement must place migration squarely within the national conversation.

Migration itself is not the problem. The concern is what happens when large numbers of people enter the country while Guyanese continue to leave in search of better wages, education, healthcare and opportunities elsewhere—and whether Guyanese will retain a meaningful economic, political and social stake in the country they built.

We cannot be indifferent to the possibility that Guyanese could become a smaller proportion of the population while simultaneously being pushed to the margins of their own country’s economic and political life. In a society already struggling with division and questions about inclusion, such a demographic and economic shift demands serious national discussion rather than political silence.

Guyana cannot pretend that all is well while the country’s wealth expands, its population changes and its people remain divided along political, ethnic and economic lines. A nation cannot call itself developed while its own citizens increasingly question whether they have a meaningful stake in the wealth beneath their feet, the opportunities created by that wealth and the decisions determining their future.

Our history of ethnic rivalry and political tension should have taught us that exclusion breeds resentment, destroys trust and weakens the bonds that hold a society together. Instead of confronting these dangers honestly, Guyana risks allowing economic inequality, political division and unequal access to opportunity to deepen.

Guyana’s oil wealth and other natural resources must not produce a country in which citizens are spectators to prosperity. Development must mean more than impressive economic statistics, large infrastructure projects and rising national revenues. It must mean Guyanese having access to decent work, owning businesses, participating in decision-making, securing opportunities for their children and having confidence that their country has a place for them.

If these matters are not confronted now, the consequences could become far more difficult to reverse.

The trade union movement therefore places renewed emphasis on advancing international charters, conventions and laws and putting programmes in place that make social cohesion meaningful through greater inclusion, civic participation and opportunities for upward mobility.

The United Nations describes social cohesion as “the glue that holds society together.” Its analysis rests on three important values: social inclusion, social capital and social mobility. It is a condition for Guyana’s survival as a stable and democratic society.

Social inclusion means every citizen and group has a genuine opportunity to participate in the economic, social and political life of the country. Guyana’s Constitution calls on us to “Celebrate our cultural and racial diversity and strengthen our unity by eliminating any and every form of discrimination.”

Inclusion must be visible in who gets jobs, who benefits from national resources, who participates in decision-making and who has access to opportunity.

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is on record repeatedly calling for constitutional protections covering inclusionary democracy, economic development, freedom of association, protection from discrimination and trade union participation in State decision-making. These obligations are reinforced by Guyana’s international commitments on human and labour rights.

Social capital is about trust between citizens and trust in institutions. That trust cannot survive if Guyanese believe that political connections, ethnicity or privilege determine who benefits from the country’s transformation. The GTUC has in the public domain a Labour’s Platform for Guyana that advances sustainable development, decent jobs and full employment, stronger democracy and governance, and social and labour rights.

Social mobility means having a real opportunity to improve one’s circumstances. Migration exposes this challenge. Guyanese continue to leave because of wages, limitations in health and education and the search for professional opportunities. The loss of graduates and skilled workers is a national development issue. Guyana must create conditions that retain its human capital and encourage those abroad to return.

Gender equality is part of that equation. Women are performing strongly in education, yet qualified women remain underrepresented in decision-making. At the same time, declining educational outcomes among Guyanese boys require urgent attention. A country cannot afford to leave either half of its population behind.

Guyana must also modernise its data systems so decisions are driven by evidence rather than convenience, and establish an equitable tax system in which the privileged few cannot avoid their fair contribution to national development.

Guyana is becoming richer, but that does not automatically mean Guyanese are becoming more secure, included or empowered. Oil wealth gives us an opportunity to break from the failures of the past. But if wealth is concentrated, opportunity restricted and citizens excluded from decisions affecting their future, economic growth could intensify the very divisions social cohesion is meant to overcome.

Guyana therefore needs more than development; it needs inclusive development. The nation’s wealth must create decent work, broaden opportunity, strengthen institutions and give every Guyanese a reason to believe they belong in the future being built.

Source: Village Voice News

The lights were bright. The anticipation was electric. And as the names were called on the final night of the Miss Den Amstel Pageant, Kayla Shelly-Ann Lanferman stood poised, composed and ready to hear her fate.

When her name was announced as First Runner-Up, the moment brought a rush of emotion.

It was not the crown she had dreamed of wearing, but it was a moment that represented something far greater: months of preparation, sacrifice, courage, personal growth and the determination to keep showing up, even when doubt tried to creep in.

“I was proud of myself because I knew how much work, dedication, and growth went into the journey,” Kayla reflects.

And perhaps that is the best way to understand Kayla’s pageant experience. For this young woman, the journey was never solely about winning.

It was about becoming.

A Queen in the Making

With a passion for personal growth, community and service, Kayla entered the pageant carrying ambitions that extended far beyond the stage.

Her heart is drawn to the medical field, particularly nursing, where she hopes to build a career dedicated to helping others. But there is another side to Kayla, the creative, expressive young woman who finds joy in dancing, painting and using her talents to express herself.

The pageant brought these different parts of her personality together.

It challenged her to speak with confidence, embrace her individuality and discover the strength that existed within her all along.

“The pageant taught me that I am more capable and resilient than I sometimes give myself credit for,” she says.

That realisation became one of the most valuable prizes she took home.

When Preparation Meets the Spotlight:

Behind every polished pageant appearance are hours of preparation, rehearsals, nerves and sacrifice. For Kayla, balancing the demands of pageant preparation with everything else happening in her life proved to be one of the biggest challenges.

There were moments when exhaustion and nervousness threatened to take over, but she kept going.

She learned discipline and effective time management. And most importantly, she learned that perseverance often means continuing even when the journey becomes uncomfortable.

Then came the moment she had been preparing for, the stage.

“One of my most memorable moments was stepping onto the stage and realizing how far I had come,” she recalls.

In that instant, the rehearsals, preparation and long hours seemed to come together.

It was no longer about perfecting a routine or preparing for a competition. It was about looking at herself and realizing: I made it this far.

Authenticity Was Her Crown:

In a world where pageantry can sometimes be associated with glamour, gowns and competition, Kayla wanted her experience to stand for something deeper.

She wanted to be authentic.

“I did not want to simply compete; I wanted to genuinely connect with the meaning behind the pageant and use my voice to represent something bigger than myself,” she explains.

That “something bigger” includes her passion for African heritage, young people and personal development.

For Kayla, representation matters.

She believes young people, particularly young women, should be reminded that their circumstances do not have to define their future.

Her message is one possibility: your background may shape your story, but it does not have to determine how your story ends.

She hopes to continue using her voice to encourage young people to embrace their identities, understand their heritage, pursue education, build confidence and become actively involved in their communities.

Beauty with a Mission:

For Kayla, confidence is not about believing you are flawless.

It is about having the courage to stand in front of the world without apologizing for who you are.

“Confidence is not about believing you are perfect; it is about being comfortable enough to stand in front of others and own who you are.”

That lesson may be one of the most significant things the pageant gave her.

The young woman who entered the competition walked onto the stage with expectations.

The young woman who walked away as First Runner-Up left with something more powerful, a  deeper belief in herself.

From Competition to Sisterhood:

While the pageant was a competition, Kayla discovered that it was also an opportunity to build meaningful relationships.

Getting to know the other contestants reminded her that every woman had her own story, strengths, dreams and reasons for being there.

Rather than seeing only competitors, Kayla saw young women who were also navigating their own journeys.

The experience taught her that a competition can create something unexpected: sisterhood.

Friendships, encouragement and shared experiences became part of the memories she will carry with her long after the lights of the pageant stage have dimmed.

A Future in Nursing and a Life of Service:

The sash may be a reminder of her pageant achievement, but Kayla’s ambitions reach far beyond pageantry.

One of her biggest goals is to pursue a career in nursing.

She hopes to continue her education, grow professionally and ultimately make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people she encounters.

Her aspirations also extend to youth empowerment.

She wants young people to recognize their potential, understand the value of their identity and have the courage to dream beyond their circumstances.

Her vision is simple but powerful: education, confidence and opportunity can help young people create better futures.

Her Message to the Next Girl:

For the young woman sitting somewhere in Guyana wondering whether she is ready to step outside her comfort zone, Kayla has a message.

Believe in yourself.

Prepare yourself.

Stay true to who you are.

And do not be afraid to take the leap.

“Remember that the experience is about more than winning a crown. It is about growth, confidence, and discovering what you are capable of.”

Those words perhaps capture Kayla’s journey better than any title ever could.

Because on pageant night, she may not have heard her name called as the winner.

But she gained something that cannot be measured by a crown, sash or trophy.

She gained confidence.

She gained purpose.

She found her voice.

And she discovered a stronger version of herself.

The Journey Continues:

Kayla acknowledges her support system, the people who stood beside her throughout the journey, those who encouraged her, believed in her and reminded her to keep going during moments of self-doubt.

Their support became part of her story.

Now, as she looks ahead, she carries the lessons of the Miss Den Amstel Pageant with her.

The First Runner-Up title is certainly an achievement, but for Kayla, it represents only one chapter in a much bigger story.

A story that includes nursing.

A story that includes youth empowerment.

A story rooted in identity, heritage, education and service.

And above all, a story about a young Guyanese woman discovering that sometimes the most beautiful thing you can take home from a pageant isn’t the crown. It’s the woman you become along the way.

Source: Village Voice News

Dear Editor,

APNU’s Agriculture Month statement rests on the charge: “More Money, But Where Is the Production?” Its argument relies heavily on the first-half 2026 result and treats that six-month movement as proof of a sustained decline in agriculture. The official data do not support that conclusion.

Sector growth moved from 11.1 per cent in the first half of 2025 to a contraction of 0.5 per cent in the first half of 2026, a deterioration of 11.6 percentage points. This was a sharp slowdown. It was not, however, evidence of a multi-year collapse, nor does it establish that agricultural investment has failed. A half-year comparison cannot substitute for a longitudinal assessment of production and sector value.

APNU states: “In the first half of 2025, agriculture, fishing and forestry grew by 9%. One year later, in the first half of 2026, the sector contracted by 0.5%.” The official comparison is 11.1 per cent growth in the first half of 2025 and a 0.5 per cent contraction in the first half of 2026.

The 11.6 percentage-point deterioration was driven principally by Other Crops, which moved from growth of 10.0 per cent to a contraction of 6.4 per cent. Sugar, rice and fishing did not contract; they grew by 19.3 per cent, 4.4 per cent and 4.1 per cent, respectively, although at slower rates than one year earlier. Livestock and forestry accelerated by 5.8 and 9.2 percentage points.

The factual record therefore shows a weak aggregate half-year result concentrated in Other Crops, alongside continued growth in several major subsectors. It does not show a sector-wide loss of production.

THE LONGER-TERM PICTURE

APNU asks: “If the country is spending more, why are significant areas of agricultural production performing worse?” The premise is incomplete because it places one budget allocation beside one half-year growth rate and treats the two as directly equivalent. Agricultural capital expenditure moves through design, procurement, construction, commissioning and production cycles before its full effect appears in output.

Drainage and irrigation works, farm roads, planting material, technology, storage and market access must therefore be assessed against completed works and measurable outcomes over an appropriate period.

Weather, flooding, drought, commodity prices, biological cycles and base effects also influence short-term production. The relevant test is the sector’s performance over time, supported by data on output, yields, productivity, farmer incomes, market access and resilience.

• APNU says: “The trend is a downward loss in production.” The official annual series contradicts that claim. At constant 2012 prices, agriculture, forestry and fishing recorded compound annual real growth of approximately 2.1 per cent in 2015–2020 and approximately 6.1 per cent in 2020–2025.
• APNU says: “The issue is whether the money is producing the required results.” Expenditure is being assessed against the purpose, completion status and measurable outputs of each programme—not against the assumption that every capital dollar must generate production within the same six-month period.
• APNU says agriculture must be judged by whether farmers can “plant more, produce more, earn more and sell food at prices ordinary Guyanese can afford.” Those outcomes are measured through acreage, yields, production volumes, farm incomes, losses, market access and prices. An aggregate half-year GDP result alone cannot establish performance across all of those indicators.
• APNU says expenditure is not performance. The same evidentiary standard applies to APNU’s claim: one weak half-year is not proof of long-term sectoral failure.
• APNU links the production result directly to rising food prices. That assertion omits other material drivers, including weather, import costs, transport costs, distribution margins and international prices. The claimed causal link is not established by the data presented.
• The full record is the proper test. The relevant assessment is what was spent, what was completed and what measurable results followed over a period long enough for capital investments and agricultural programmes to take effect.

APNU’s claim of a “downward loss in production” is contradicted by the official annual data series. At constant 2012 prices, agriculture, forestry and fishing grew at a compound annual rate of approximately 2.1 per cent between 2015 and 2020.

Between 2020 and 2025, the sector’s compound annual growth rate increased to approximately 6.1 per cent. The pace of real sector growth was therefore almost three times as high under the PPP/C Government period. The first-half 2026 contraction requires a targeted response, particularly in Other Crops, but it does not overturn the stronger preceding five-year record.

The subsector record reinforces this conclusion. Livestock growth accelerated from a compound annual growth rate of 2.8 per cent in 2015–2020 to 12.6 per cent in 2020–2025. Forestry moved from a compound annual contraction of 6.5 per cent to compound annual growth of 8.0 per cent, while fishing moved from a compound annual contraction of 1.8 per cent to compound annual growth of 10.7 per cent.

Rice shifted from a compound annual contraction of 1.1 per cent to compound annual growth of 2.7 per cent. Other Crops expanded in both periods, at compound annual growth rates of approximately 6.1 per cent and 5.9 per cent, respectively. Sugar remains the principal structural challenge, notwithstanding the first-half 2026 recovery.

The current-price series shows an equally clear difference between the two periods. The nominal value of agriculture, forestry and fishing declined from G$224.9 billion in 2015 to G$192.2 billion in 2020, equivalent to a compound annual contraction of approximately 3.1 per cent. From 2020 to 2025, the sector’s nominal value increased from G$192.2 billion to G$437.0 billion, equivalent to compound annual growth of approximately 17.9 per cent.

In absolute terms, the sector lost approximately G$32.7 billion in nominal value during 2015–2020 and gained approximately G$244.8 billion during 2020–2025. Nominal value is distinct from real output because it also reflects price movements, but the period comparison plainly does not support APNU’s claim of a continuing downward trend.

So, where is the production? The official record shows a sharp 11.6 percentage-point slowdown in the first half of 2026, concentrated mainly in Other Crops. It also shows materially stronger performance over the complete five-year period under the PPP/C Government: real agricultural GDP grew at a compound annual rate of approximately 6.1 per cent in 2020–2025, compared with 2.1 per cent in 2015–2020 under APNU.

At current prices, sector value rose by approximately G$244.8 billion in 2020–2025 after declining by approximately G$32.7 billion in 2015–2020. These facts support continued intervention where performance weakened; they do not support APNU’s claim that agriculture is broadly or persistently collapsing.

Yours truly,
Ministry of Agriculture

Source: Village Voice News

Source: Village Voice News

The government is investing billions of dollars in dedicated truck parking facilities and auto zones at Golden Grove and Enmore as it moves to take heavy-duty vehicles and commercial activities off public roads and away from residential communities.

Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal said the facilities are intended to provide truck operators with designated spaces to park, service and repair their vehicles, while allowing activities such as bodywork and spray painting to be conducted away from homes.

The first phase of the Golden Grove truck parking facility on the East Bank Demerara has been completed following the development of approximately 12 acres of land, at an estimated cost of $500 million.

Croal said the facility is intended to provide a more organised environment for commercial operators.

“This is part of providing an access and avenue, from government, with commercial aspect, to be able to have an area that they can come and be able to service or repair your vehicle,”

The initiative comes against a backdrop of recurring complaints from residents about the impact of heavy vehicles operating and being serviced along public roads and within residential communities.

Residents have raised concerns about trucks obstructing roadways, damaging road shoulders and creating difficulties for other road users. The practice of repairing heavy vehicles and carrying out spray-painting and other commercial activities in residential areas has also generated complaints.

Government says the designated facilities are expected to help address some of these problems while reducing environmental and drainage concerns associated with servicing heavy-duty vehicles on public roads, including oil leakage.

A substantially larger facility is being developed at Enmore, where a 30-acre truck parking and auto zone is being constructed in six lots.

The Enmore project is approximately 50 percent complete and is expected to be finished before the end of November. The facility is projected to accommodate at least 500 trucks, with approximately $1.7 billion being invested in its development.

Together, the Golden Grove and Enmore developments represent a significant government investment in creating dedicated locations for the growing commercial transport sector.

Croal said operational arrangements for both facilities, including rules governing access and the services that will be available, are expected to be announced shortly.

The government has also indicated that the development of designated truck zones could create opportunities for private-sector investment. According to Croal, private operators could establish similar truck stops and auto zones along major highways, providing commercial drivers with dedicated locations for parking, maintenance and related services.

The projects form part of a broader effort to organise commercial and industrial activities while responding to the impact of heavy-duty vehicles on communities and public infrastructure.

The move also comes as Guyana’s rapidly expanding economy continues to drive demand for transportation, construction and logistics services, increasing the number of heavy vehicles using the country’s road network.

The effectiveness of the new facilities will ultimately depend on whether truck operators use the designated locations and whether appropriate enforcement is implemented to discourage heavy vehicles from continuing to park, repair and conduct commercial activities along residential roads and other unauthorised areas.

Source: Village Voice News

Source: Village Voice News

https://kiskadeewatch.com/world/caribbean/trinidad-teenaged-home-invader-died-from-bullet-to-back/