See below the full release from the Ministry of Natural Resources: 

The Ministry of Natural Resources wishes to advise the media that on September 28, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission’s (GGMC) Enforcement Team suspended the operations of a shop at Tamakay Landing in the Mazaruni Mining District. The shop was found trading gold without the required approvals and licences.

During its inspection, the team seized a quantity of gold, equipment and cash. Two persons were detained by the Guyana Police Force as investigations continue.

This action forms part of the ministry’s ongoing crackdown on illegal mining and related activities, with monitoring and enforcement operations continuing across all mining districts.

The ministry urges all stakeholders to ensure that their operations comply with the laws and licensing requirements governing the mining sector.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

(Trinidad and Tobago Express) The Trinidad and Tobago government is proposing to raise the legal age for alcohol and tobacco from 18 to 21, while the minimum age for cannabis and gambling would rise to 25.

T&T Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced the proposed changes in a social media post ahead of legislation expected to be brought to Parliament on Wednesday.

The proposed amendments would affect the Dangerous Drugs Act, Registration of Clubs Act, Tobacco Control Act, Children Act, Liquor Licences Act, Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Act and Cannabis Control Act.

Under the proposal, the minimum legal age for the sale, purchase, possession or consumption of alcohol and tobacco would increase from 18 to 21.

For cannabis, the proposed minimum age would increase from 18 to 25.

The minimum permissible age for gambling would also be raised to 25.

Persad-Bissessar said the measures were intended to strengthen protections for young people from the effects of substance use and gambling.

She said the Government was seeking to “strengthen the framework of protection” afforded to young people and described the proposed increases as deliberate measures aimed at reducing exposure to substances and gambling at younger ages.

The proposed cannabis and gambling age limits represent a change from the position outlined by the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives in January.

At that time, Persad-Bissessar said the Government intended to increase the legal age for alcohol and tobacco from 18 to 21, cannabis from 18 to 21, and gambling from 21 to 25.

In June, she again told Parliament that legislation providing for increases in the age limits for ganja, alcohol and gambling was among the Government’s planned legislative measures.

The Government’s latest proposal would therefore take the cannabis age five years above the current 18-year threshold, while the gambling proposal would establish 25 as the minimum age.

The proposed changes would have to go through the parliamentary process before becoming law.

The Prime Minister said the Government’s intention was to safeguard the health, welfare and future of young people and to reduce the potential harms associated with early exposure to alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and gambling.

The proposed legislation is expected to be introduced in the House on Wednesday.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

After Thiruvananthapuram, the India-West Indies ODI series moves to Guwahati, and while this is a dramatic shift in landscape- from the south-western tip of India to the north-east- the objectives for the two teams don’t change that much.

Both teams, first of all, will want to win- India to seal the series, West Indies to stay alive.

The next priority, for India, is about getting another step closer to figuring out their best 15 for the 2027 World Cup in southern Africa. They began this series with an interesting combination featuring three all-rounders and only three specialist bowlers, and look set to continue with that set-up in Guwahati.

Will Nitish Kumar Reddy continue to get the new ball? How will Naman Dhir’s offbreaks hold up for a second successive ODI? And with Axar Patel away at the Asian Games, can Ravindra Jadeja make a big push to stay in the World Cup conversation?

For West Indies, there is a World Cup Qualifier in February-March to build towards. And to that end, they will want to build on the positives from Thiruvananthapuram, and put in more rounded performances over the rest of this series.

They showed great promise with the bat in that first ODI, but they’ll want to show they can do it again, and do it across all phases of an innings.

And they’ll definitely want to show more wicket-taking teeth with the ball – to this end they could look at sacrificing some of their batting depth to bring in either Shamar Joseph or the left-arm wrist-spinner Vitel Lawes.

In the spotlight

Since his debut in May 2022, Keacy Carty is the second-highest ODI run-getter for West Indies behind his captain Shai Hope, and his 1,827 runs have come at an impressive average of 40.60.

His strike rate of 75.12, however, is the third-worst of all batters with 1,500-plus runs in this period, and his slow start in Thiruvananthapuram, where he made 13 off 31 balls, contributed to India’s fightback after Greaves and John Campbell had put on 135 at more than seven an over.

Carty’s talent – as shown by twin hundreds against England and a match-winning 95 earlier this year against New Zealand – isn’t in question, but he will want to add more gears to his game to help West Indies step up to the next level as an ODI team.

Nitish Kumar Reddy began the first ODI with a 17-run over, overpitching frequently and getting hit for four fours by Justin Greaves. This was the second over of the match, and India didn’t use him again in the first powerplay.

He came back later, however, and pulled things back fairly well in his last four overs, including giving away just seven runs and taking a wicket in the final over of the innings.

Given the questions around Hardik Pandya’s fitness, Reddy becomes a vital player in the lead-up to the 2027 World Cup.

He has added a yard of pace in recent months, and India will hope his bowling continues to grow as they try and mould him into a world-class seam-bowling allrounder across formats.

Team news

Sherfane Rutherford is expected to rejoin the West Indies squad after missing the first ODI for personal reasons. If he slots into the XI, Jewel Andrew is the likely batter to make way.

The trickier question is how West Indies could potentially bring in Shamar or Lawes without giving up too much of their batting strength.

West Indies (probable): 1 John Campbell, 2 Justin Greaves, 3 Keacy Carty, 4 Shai Hope (capt & wk), 5 Amir Jangoo, 6 Sherfane Rutherford/Jewel Andrew, 7 Roston Chase, 8 Matthew Forde, 9 Gudakesh Motie, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Jayden Seales.

It seems unlikely India will abandon the three all-rounders combination of Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja and Naman Dhir after just one match, which means Mohammed Siraj remains on the bench unless India rotate out one of their frontline quicks.

India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill (capt), 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Naman Dhir, 7 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 8 Ravindra Jadeja, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Gurnoor Brar, 11 Prasidh Krishna. (Cricinfo)

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

A 21-year-old man tragically died after the car he was driving lost control and overturned several times along the 35 KM Puruni Trail in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) on Monday night.

Dead is Anthony Allen, of Mongrippa Hill, Bartica.

According to Police Headquarters, the accident occurred at about 18:20 hrs and involved motor car PAR 6448, which Allen was driving. An 18-year-old gold miner of Potaro Road, Bartica, was also in the car.

Initial investigations revealed that Allen was negotiating a right-hand bend when he reportedly lost control of the vehicle. The car then overturned several times before coming to a stop in a ditch on the northern side of the trail.

Public-spirited citizens pulled both occupants from the car and transported them to the Bartica Regional Hospital.

Allen was pronounced dead while the 18-year-old passenger sustained injuries and was admitted to the hospital. Police said his condition is stable.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

Police have launched an investigation following the fatal chopping of a 23-year-old labourer at Friendship Village, Corentyne, Berbice, late Monday night. Dead is Chittesh Sukhai, also known as “Rohan” and “Marsho,” of Friendship Village.

According to preliminary investigations, the incident occurred at about 23:40hrs after Sukhai became involved in an argument with a female relative.

Police said several men allegedly arrived at the location armed with cutlasses shortly afterwards. Sukhai was reportedly chopped multiple times about his body before fleeing the scene. He later collapsed in a nearby yard.

He was rushed to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, where he died while receiving treatment.

During investigations, Police recovered two cutlasses in the vicinity that are suspected to have been used in the attack.

Two men, aged 27 and 23, of Friendship and Limlair Villages, Corentyne, Berbice, have since been arrested in connection with the incident.

Both suspects remain in Police custody as investigations continue.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

An 18-year-old from Samaroo Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara is in Police custody after ranks recovered a Glock 19 pistol and 13 matching rounds of ammunition during a late-night patrol in Bourda, Georgetown.

According to Police, the discovery was made at about 23:30 hrs on Monday in the vicinity of Robb and Bourda Streets.

Preliminary investigations revealed that ranks were conducting a mobile patrol along Robb Street when they heard what was suspected to be a gunshot and noticed a small gathering of people near the intersection.

As officers approached the area, they observed a man running south along Bourda Street. The suspect was pursued and apprehended.

A search of the 18-year-old led to the discovery of a Glock 19 pistol along with 13 matching live rounds of ammunition.

The suspect was arrested and remains in Police custody.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

HGP Nightly News – A female police inspector has accused Deputy Commissioner Fizal Karimbaksh of sexually assaulting her on two occasions and repeatedly threatening to shoot her if she ended their relationship. She says fear for her life kept her from reporting the allegations earlier.

The inspector told Nightly News that she first met Karimbaksh in April 2019 after seeking help with her application to join the Guyana Police Force. She had written the entrance examination in 2017 but had received no response, she said. A relative who was a police officer arranged for her to meet Karimbaksh at the Felix Austin Police College.

According to her account, Karimbaksh later contacted her and told her he liked her. She alleged that, during a subsequent visit to his quarters at Eve Leary, he had sexual intercourse with her despite her telling him to stop.

The inspector alleged that a second sexual assault occurred in April 2023, when Karimbaksh entered her hotel room during an official training programme in Argentina. She said she subsequently told him she wanted to end their relationship, but he threatened to shoot her.

She also described a confrontation outside the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission on September 6, 2024. The inspector alleged that Karimbaksh followed her vehicle and pointed a firearm at her. She said she drew her service weapon, after which he lowered his gun and drove away.

The inspector said she made several unsuccessful requests for a transfer before disclosing her allegations to the Home Affairs Minister on September 20, 2026. She said she was transferred three days later.

Karimbaksh faced separate sexual harassment complaints from three female police recruits in 2021. A former Police Service Commission member said at the time that an investigation had led to a recommendation for disciplinary charges. Karimbaksh denied those earlier accusations, calling them “trumped up.” They are separate from the inspector’s current allegations.

Nightly News contacted Karimbaksh for a response to the latest allegations but had received none. It has not been confirmed whether a criminal or disciplinary investigation has been opened. The inspector’s allegations remain unproven.

Source: HGP Nightly News / HGPTV

Ministry of Agriculture (Hydrometeorological Service) – Vacancy – Meteorologist, Agrometeorologist,Hydrologist, Engineer, Telecommunication Technician