Esteemed Guyanese educator shot and killed

Guyana’s prominent educator and former Chief Education Officer, Dr Olato Sam has been shot and killed The incident has been confirmed by the Ministry of Education

In a statement, the ministry said that Dr Sam, a respected figure in education, served the Ministry of Education as an Education Specialist at the time of his untimely death

In the wake of this shocking incident, the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, along with the entire Ministry of Education are mourning the loss and are extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, friends, and colleagues

“He was working on several things but particularly a holistic national plan for addressing violence in schools is what he was finalizing to present again to me,” Minister of Education Priya Manickchand said in a statement posted on her Facebook page

According to reports, it is believed that Dr Sam was hit by a stray bullet during a fight at the Plaisance Railway Embankment (Line Top), East Coast Demerara (ECD)

Reports are that he was in the company of

Sam friends when the incident took place, following which he was quickly transported to Georgetown Public Hospital

He was pronounced dead upon arrival

Dr Sam’s previous roles included a tenure as Chief Education Officer from 2011 to 2016

In addition to his key roles within the Ministry of Education, Dr Sam lectured at the University of Guyana in the Masters and Bachelors of Education programs

The statement from the Education ministry stated that he held various prestigious roles such as the chairman of the Guyana School of Agriculture; Commissioner on the Teaching Service Commission, Guyana; a member of the Caribbean Examinations Council’s Final Awards Committee; Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Cyril Potter College of Education; and member of the CARICOM Taskforce on Teacher Education and Training and the CARICOM Task Force on the Establishment of Teaching Councils

Dr Sam was recognized for his commitment to educational innovations and program management As a stellar team player and motivator, he utilized a developmental approach to improving educational outcomes

He was instrumental in shaping education policies in partnership with the Minister of Education, Education Officers, and other stakeholders, contributing his technical expertise to policy implementation across learning institutions

Moreover, he championed the Ministry’s interests in multiple regional and global platforms His loss is indeed a significant setback for the educational community

(CARICOM) countries –

Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname

From the get-go, Afreximbank asserted that the forum would serve as a platform to usher in a fresh chapter of economic relations During the pandemic, the bank had already strengthened its bond with the Caribbean by facilitating the African Medical Supplies Platform, which procured personal protective equipment, testing kits, and other essentials required by African and Caribbean nations

Following the forum, Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, has been unwavering in his pursuit of deepening these relations with Caribbean partners further At the 44th Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Nassau, The Bahamas, in February, Oramah expressed a sentiment of optimism about the ability of Africans to leverage the global capitalist economy that was originally built upon their suffering

In less than half a year since the Partnership Agreement’s inception, Afreximbank initiated plans to establish a Caribbean Regional Office, intending to spearhead its initiatives across the CARICOM States

Guyana progresses with over 200 modern professional homes under construction

In a major step towards addressing housing needs, Guyana has started construction on 210 homes aimed at young professionals in the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara

This move is demonstrating Guyana’s commitment to providing affordable housing Information from the Department of Public Information (DPI) indicates that these new homes will be offered in two distinct styles – the single-level bungalow and a two-story model, both reminiscent of the structures previously built at Prospect and Providence on the East Bank of Demerara

In an update on the project, Susan Rodrigues, the Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, disclosed that the construction comprises more than 100 singlestory homes and approximately 100 two-story dwellings

Affordable housing initiative: Empowering citizens to become homeowners

Speaking to DPI, Minister Rodrigues revealed that the ongoing project is progressing well, and it forms a crucial part of the government’s affordable housing initiative This initiative enables citizens to become homeowners in well-rounded communities

In addition to this, Minister Rodrigues shared that the government is exploring avenues to construct homes for those on lower incomes, specifically on the East Coast

An appropriate site for this housing project is currently being sought

The housing initiatives, as Rodrigues explained, are anticipated to enhance the occupancy rates in housing developments and motivate those who have been allocated house lots in these communities to take up residence including LBI, Providence, Prospect, Great i a m o n d , C u m m i n g s L o d g e , e / W

P.O.Box 551712 Davie, FL 33355 advertising@cnweeklynews.com www.cnweeklynews.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EMERITUS