A Corriverton contractor was fined $80,000 on Thursday after admitting in court that he assaulted an off-duty police officer following a confrontation in a supermarket.

Nicholas Matthews, 33, of Number 77 Housing Scheme, Corriverton, Corentyne, appeared before Magistrate Tuanna Hardy at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court, where he changed his plea from not guilty to guilty.

Matthews admitted that on June 1, 2026, at Number 79 Village, Corriverton, he unlawfully assaulted 25-year-old Police Lance Corporal Odeal Cort.

The matter had initially been called on June 5, when Matthews pleaded not guilty and was subsequently remanded. Bail was later granted following several hearings.

During an earlier hearing, Matthews’ attorney, Ryan Crawford, had told the court that his client and Cort were involved in a physical altercation and were separated by members of the public.

However, the prosecution had alleged that Matthews initiated the confrontation and attacked Cort with a baseball bat.
The prosecution had also told the court that a video recording of the incident at the supermarket was presented as evidence and that Matthews attempted to evade arrest.

The prosecution had also raised concerns about Cort’s safety, noting that the two men live in the same community and were previously known to each other.

Cort, who was off-duty at the time, reportedly sustained swelling to his left elbow and an injury to his index finger.

His attorney, Vinay Punwa, had previously told the court that Cort was grocery shopping with his wife when Matthews confronted him with a baseball bat and struck him several times.

Punwa said his client had suffered physical and emotional trauma following the incident and was experiencing persistent severe migraines for which medical examinations had been scheduled.

On Thursday, when the matter was expected to proceed to trial, Matthews surprised the court by indicating that he wished to change his plea.

Addressing the Magistrate, Matthews said he was sorry and maintained that he was not a bad person. He told the court that Cort, who is a traffic officer, had stopped him several times for traffic violations and allegedly pushed a finger into his face during one of those encounters.
Matthews said he became upset by the alleged action and went to the supermarket looking for Cort, where he assaulted him.

Following Matthews’ guilty plea and address to the court, Magistrate Hardy fined him $80,000.
Matthews was ordered to pay the fine by October 31, 2026, or face two weeks imprisonment.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

Thirty-five runners will take on Guyana’s first SOCA Heart Half Marathon on Sunday as STRIDE592 brings its third annual national heart-health campaign to a close.

The inaugural 21-kilometre race is scheduled to start at 4:30 AM at the National Park, one hour before the 5K and 10K Run/Walk events begin at 5:30 AM.

Among those taking part are local long-distance runners Jonathon de Groot, Tanika Jones and Hicks Mittelholzer.

The event is being held ahead of World Heart Day on September 29 and is intended to raise funds for heart-health research while encouraging greater participation in physical activity.

The half marathon is the flagship event of this year’s SOCA Heart Project, which also includes the 5K and 10K, a Kids Fun Run and a Wellness Festival at the National Park.

STRIDE592 founder Onika Jervis said the runners represent the message behind the campaign: “Move with purpose. Live with power. Lead with heart.”

“This event is not just a race but a powerful statement of our community’s commitment to fighting heart disease and building a healthier future for all Guyanese,” Jervis said.

The SOCA Heart Project was conducted from July through September in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Woodlands Hospital Limited and the Heart Foundation, Guyana.

The organisers said the campaign has focused on prevention, cardiovascular health, physical activity and community fundraising.

Heart disease remains a major public health concern in Guyana, with the campaign seeking to promote lifestyle changes that can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The Sunday event will cater to different age groups and fitness levels, with the 5K and 10K open to the wider public and a separate Kids Fun Run for children.

A wellness festival will also be held at the National Park, featuring health-focused activities and resources.

The half marathon is sponsored by Beepat and Chung’s Global Inc.

Those interested in supporting a runner or registering for the 5K or 10K can visit STRIDE592.com or contact the organisers on 592-640-2444.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

Team CAMS (Caribbean American Motor Sports) have confirmed their entry for this weekend’s opening round of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) National Championships, treating the event as a key benchmark ahead of November’s season finale.

The two-day event in Georgetown kicks off on Saturday with qualifying, followed by race day on Sunday starting at 10:00 local time.

Team leader Afraz Allie highlighted that CAMS will approach the September 26–27 meeting with full intensity to test their vehicles under genuine competitive conditions before the championship climax on November 1.

Allie explained that the team aims to push their setups to the limit to discover how they compare and iron out any potential technical issues early.

Allie is set for a busy schedule, driving a Honda Civic in Group 2 alongside a Toyota Starlet in both Group 3 and the Starlet Cup.

The rest of the CAMS driver lineup includes Neil Persaud—steering a Honda Civic in Group 2 and a Honda CRX in Group 3—as well as Kemal Rahaman, who competes in the Sport Tuner (1600cc) Class, Group 2, and Group 3. Damian Singh completes the team roster across Groups 2 and 3.

Supported by partners including the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, One Guyana, GUYOIL, Enet, KFC, and Tropical Shipping, the 2026 championship event has admission set at $4,000 for adults and $2,000 for children. (Modified Press Release) 

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

As she addressed the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, expressed her support for Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues- Birkett as the next UN Secretary-General.

“At a moment when the international community is being called upon to renew its faith in multilateralism, we believe that Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett brings to this task the experience, the skills and the understanding to serve the entire membership of this organisation,” Prime Minister Mottley told the UN.

Barbados, like the rest of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), has endorsed Ambassador Rodrigues- Birkett for the role. Ambassador Rodrigues- Birkett currently serves as Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN and is a frontrunner to replace the current SG, António Guterres, whose term in office will wrap up this year.

If selected, Rodrigues-Birkett would become the first Caribbean national and the first woman to serve as UN Secretary-General. However, her selection rests upon the decision of the UN Security Council, where any of the five permanent members — the United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom — can block a candidate.

Earlier Thursday, Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali called on countries to support the Ambassador.

“I know personally, and many of you know this too, of the Permanent Representative sitting here in New York. You know her character, her will, her commitment, her love for this world.

“I know this world will be a better place with Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett as the Secretary-General of the UN,” he said.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

GuyExpo is entering its next chapter with a focus not only on what Guyanese businesses have built over the past three decades, but on where they can go next.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, on Thursday officially launched GuyExpo 2026 under the theme: “Creating Tomorrow’s Opportunities Through Today’s Investments.” It will be held from November 12-15 at the National Exhibition Center at Sophia.

The minister said last year marked GuyExpo’s 30th anniversary, the largest edition in the expo’s history but emphasised that this year’s event is about what businesses can build in the years ahead.

“This year, we are looking ahead. We are looking on the businesses that will emerge. The products that will be developed. The markets that will be opened and the opportunities that will be created for the next generation,” Rodrigues said.

The expo, which began in 1995 as a local exhibition, has grown alongside Guyana’s private sector and is now being positioned as a platform for businesses to develop partnerships, reach new customers and explore markets beyond their traditional base.

According to Rodrigues, a forward-looking approach is particularly relevant for micro, small and medium-sized businesses seeking to expand beyond Guyana.

Rodrigues urged exhibitors to use the event to make connections with potential partners, investors and suppliers.

“We want businesses to use this platform, to meet potential partners, investors, and suppliers. 
And to explore opportunities that can take them into new markets,” Rodrigues said.

Making the question for GuyExpo’s next decade, less about how large the exhibition can become and more about how many businesses can use the platform to grow beyond it.

For young entrepreneurs, she said, the starting point should not determine the ambition.

“Starting small does not mean thinking small,” Rodrigues said.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE

China is encouraging Guyana to focus not only on acquiring new technology for its healthcare system, but also on building the skills needed to effectively use and manage that technology.

The message came from the Chinese Embassy in Guyana as a seminar on the digital development of Guyana’s healthcare sector concluded, bringing together health officials, experts and participants involved in the programme.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, a representative of the Chinese Embassy said Guyana’s healthcare sector is developing rapidly, with digitalisation and smart technologies expected to play an increasingly important role in improving services and strengthening the management of the sector.

But the Embassy stressed that digital transformation goes beyond purchasing new equipment.

“Digital transformation is not simply about new equipment or new technology. It is about new ideas, better processes, and more effective management,” the representative said.

The Embassy argued that the success of Guyana’s digital healthcare transformation will ultimately depend on having professionals who understand the technology, know how to apply it and can manage it effectively.

The seminar was organised with the involvement of Guyana’s Ministry of Health and China Sinopharm International Corporation, with the programme focused on knowledge-sharing and capacity building.

The Chinese Embassy said the training is intended to help Guyanese professionals translate what they have learned into practical skills that can be applied within the healthcare system.

The Embassy described training and capacity building as an important part of China-Guyana cooperation, saying such programmes can help create longer-term technical capacity rather than simply providing equipment.

“This is also the value of training and capacity building,” the representative said, invoking the Chinese saying: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

The Embassy said the objective is to turn the knowledge gained through programmes such as the seminar into professional competence and stronger institutional capacity.

It also linked the training to broader China-Guyana cooperation under the Belt and Road framework.

The closing ceremony was attended by Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Dr Cerdel McWatt, Sinopharm International Corporation representative Si Yu, health professionals, experts and other participants.

The Chinese Embassy said it hopes the participants will put their training into practice and contribute to the continued development of Guyana’s healthcare system.

The programme also comes as Guyana continues to expand its use of technology across public services, including efforts to modernise healthcare delivery and improve the management of health services.

The Embassy said strengthening the skills of local professionals will be critical to ensuring that digital investments translate into practical improvements in healthcare.

The Chinese side also used the occasion to highlight the people-to-people dimension of the relationship, noting that some participants have travelled to China for training while others took part in programmes in Guyana.

The Embassy said these exchanges form part of the broader China-Guyana relationship and provide opportunities for professionals from both countries to share knowledge and experience.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE