NEWS
Tabaquite man gunned down in orange field
Even as the circumstances leading to the shooting death of a 33-year-old man in an orange field in Tabaquite remained unclear, relatives insisted that he was not attempting to steal. The victim, Rajindra “Syo” Ramcharan, 33, a construction worker from Devinesh Hill in Tabaquite, was a father of one and had been planning to marry his fiancée, Oniosa Corbin, of Guyana, later this year. According to the police, shortly after 8 am on February 26, the Gran Couva Police Station received information about a body found at Sand Hill Trace. Among the first responders were PCs Singh and Sanawor, who discovered the body with gunshot wounds to the back of the head and back. Three spent shell casings were found nearby, along with several oranges. Read more here
March 3 deadline for Citi Foundation's 2025 Global Innovation Challenge proposals
The New York-based Citi Foundation's Request for Proposals (RFP) deadline for its 2025 Global Innovation Challenge is fast approaching. The initiative provides philanthropic support for community organisations to pilot or scale solutions to social and economic issues around the world. The deadline for eligible organisations to register is 12 pm New York Time (Eastern Time) on March 4 and recipients will be announced later this year. In a release, the Citi Foundation said despite recent progress, young people globally continue to experience challenges in their pursuit of employment. Read more here
POLITICS
Prime Minister to resign on March 16
On March 16, the Prime Minister will step down, paving the way for Energy Minister Stuart Young to assume office as the new Prime Minister. Dr Rowley had previously delivered his swan song, but he made the official announcement during a speech on February 26 at the Ministry of Works and Transport in Arima commissioning of the O’Meara Road upgrade project, which has now been renamed the Lisa Morris-Julian Boulevard. “I too am ending my tenure in public service, thankfully not with sadness but with a certain amount of satisfaction. Many people in public life do not believe or forget your service in public life is for a period. It doesn’t matter how good or how important you think you are: it’s all about a specific period.” Read more here
BUSINESS
Coming home for Carnival
Every year, thousands of people travel to TT to take part in the cultural phenomenon that is Carnival. People come, not only for the two-day street festival celebrated in Port of Spain, San Fernando and several towns, but for the events surrounding it. Numbers from the Central Statistical Office (CSO) survey of 3,134 visitors in 2024 said people visited TT for an average of 13 days during the Carnival period. From as early as January, fetes and cultural events like Panorama fill the TT calendar making it a destination, not just for tourists but for returning visitors like, as the song says, “Lorraine,” who comes home for Carnival. Read more here
Chambers thank Rowley
Business groups in the country yesterday acknowledged Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s contributions and urged the incoming leader to prioritise economic stability, security, and business growth amidst financial challenges. Read more here
REGIONAL
‘People must view you and your uniform as safety’
Urging a forward-thinking and balanced approach to policing in Guyana, President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Wednesday emphasised the need for a strategy that blends strong law enforcement with community engagement and the development of softer skills. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the annual Police Officer’s Conference, the Commander-in-Chief noted that a strategy that promotes shared accountability and partnership within the Guyana Police Force, emphasising the importance of balancing enforcement with addressing underlying issues. “As we think forward, how do we ensure that we develop a strategy that is balanced—that promotes the shared accountability, and the shared partnership…one that balances the need for strong enforcement but also looks at the soft issues.” Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump foreign aid freeze to stay for now, US Supreme Court chief rules
The top judge in the United States has given temporary backing to the Trump administration's freeze on foreign aid payments. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts' intervention came as the administration faced a midnight deadline (05:00 GMT on Thursday) to pay contractors. Officials had argued that they could not process the payments within the timeframe set by a lower court judge. Since coming to power in January, US President Donald Trump has taken quick action to end many aid programmes, largely run by the US Agency for International Development, USAID, and placed most of its staff on administrative leave or sacked them. Read more here
27th February 2025