HEADLINE NEWS UPDATE 7TH JANUARY, 2026

1...FIRST, a life sentence in all but name. A West Coast Berbice man is handed 35 years behind bars for the brutal 2021 murder of his own mother, as the High Court delivers a strong message on domestic violence and family protection. 2...Plus, cleaning up the country. Government moves to identify modern sanitary landfill sites nationwide, part of a wider plan to overhaul waste management, protect communities, and create a cleaner, more orderly Guyana. 3...Also, opening the hinterland. A newly upgraded concrete airstrip at Paramakatoi promises safer travel, lower costs, and new economic opportunities, as nearly $800 million in investment boosts connectivity in Region Eight. 4...Meanwhile, more schools, more access. Eighteen new schools set to open by early 2026, with Bamia Primary already welcoming students, expanding classrooms and easing overcrowding across multiple regions. 5...And in the region, tension rises in the Caribbean as US President Donald Trump warns Cuba could collapse without Venezuelan oil, raising fresh concerns over fuel shortages and regional stability.