NEWS
WASA officials promise Mayaro better supply
Mayaro residents are looking forward to an improved water supply after MP Nicholas Morris led a delegation on a tour of his constituency on October 4 to identify areas lacking a consistent water supply. Accompanying him were Raymond Cozier, chairman of the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation, WASA chairman Roshan Babwah, acting CEO Jeevan Joseph and members of the Executive Evolution Team. According to a WASA media release on October 5, the group visited several locations to hear firsthand about the challenges faced. Beginning at La Salle Road and Bhagratte Trace, Biche, the delegation heard from residents who complained of not having a pipe-borne water supply. One resident of La Salle Road, 67-year-old Vishnu Timal, said he and his family depended on an old well to provide them with water to meet their daily needs. Read more here
Public servants will get 10% wage hike, predicts labour expert
Despite an upcoming deficit budget and the economic challenges that the country faces, industrial relations consultant who is also a former chief labour relations officer at the Ministry of Labour Sabina Gomez believes that the Public Services Association (PSA) will receive a 10 per cent wage settlement in the next fiscal year. While Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has admitted that it will be another deficit budget in early October, she qualified that statement by saying that it will be a “very good budget” with elements to generate revenue. In an interview with the Business Guardian, Gomez who has had decades of experience in industrial relations and dealing with trade unions spoke about possible wage increases and other labour-related topics that will arise and should be addressed in the upcoming budget and in the current fiscal year. Read more here
POLITICS
Criminologist opposes Alexander: Minors tried as adults 'scarred for life'
Criminologist Darius Figuera has said the suggestion by Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander to try minors as adults in the court of law will leave them scarred for life. Alexander’s comment was made on October 5 after a 13-year-old was arrested along with a 26-year-old for attempting to smuggle contraband via drones into the Maximum Security Prison in Arouca on October 3. Alexander told the Guardian that it is a practice worldwide and could result in positive behaviour change among youths. But Figuera said trying minors as aduts does harm on multiple levels, especially if they are put in adult jails. “You immediately expose that child to adult, hardened criminals, where they are easily abused, sexually and otherwise. They are also exposed to hard criminality, which makes it immensely difficult to rehabilitate them," he said. Read more here
Major changes for 18 ministers as PM adjusts Cabinet portfolios
Changes in ministers’ responsibilities have been made to most of the Cabinet, with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar now handling certain public assistance programmes, Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander overseeing the prison system, and various frontline ministers’ responsibilities shifted to their colleagues. Ahead of the upcoming 2026 budget presentation, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar last week assigned and reassigned certain responsibilities to various ministers. It has expanded and reduced some ministers’ portfolios. The exercise has also reclassified and renamed two ministries. The Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries Ministry held by Ravi Ratiram is now the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, after all land aspects were moved to Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hosein, now heading the Ministry of Legal Affairs and Lands. Read more here
BUSINESS
Central Bank and BIGWU settle on 6% salary increase
Central Bank employees are set to receive a 6% pay hike and improved paternity leave under a new collective agreement between the bank and the Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union (BIGWU). A release from the Central bank announced that it reached a successful agreement with BIGWU for Bargaining Units 1 and 3. The negotiations, which covered the period from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023, officially concluded on Thursday with the signing of the relevant collective agreements by both parties, the release stated. Read more here
REGIONAL
New Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge opens to commuters from today
Guyana’s largest and most advanced thoroughfare to date was officially commissioned on Sunday and named in honour of former President and current Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo. The official name, the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, was announced by President Dr. Irfaan Ali as he addressed a large gathering at a ceremony held on the eastern end of the bridge. In his remarks, President Ali paid tribute to Dr. Jagdeo, describing him as a confidant, a visionary leader, and a tireless champion for democracy, sustainable development, and global climate action. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigns after less than a month
France's Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has resigned, less than a day after his cabinet was unveiled. "The conditions were not fulfilled for me to carry on as prime minister," Lecornu said on Monday morning, and criticised the unwillingness by political parties to reach compromises. The Elysée palace made the announcement after Lecornu met President Emmanuel Macron for an hour on Monday morning. The shock move comes only 26 days after Lecornu was appointed prime minister following the collapse of the previous government of François Bayrou. Read more here
6th October 2025