Weekend Mirror 4-5 February 2023

ELECTION WATCH: LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

GECOM moves closer to LGE 2023 with approval of boundaries

T he Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has taken a decision to adopt a report from the

Chief Elections Officer (CEO) confirming changes to boundaries in some of the Local Authority Areas

(LAAs).

And GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj, contends that the move allows

GECOM to progress closer to holding Local Government Elections this year.

Notably, the AP -

NU+AFC Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioners opposed the move.

Gunraj said, “The question is why are they relying on a historic 2009 process, when half of the Commission was not there, in fact of the seven people on the Commission, five were not there in 2009. And this process was conducted in 2016 and 2018, without reference to any such guidelines… they have failed to provide any documentation to confirm the guidelines. They are relying on pieces and bits of minutes and unconfirmed documents. Now after all this back and forth and the Chairman heard all of it, the Chairman ruled that the report will be adopted and we will proceed.”

According to Gunraj, the position of the APNU+AFC Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioners is a manifestation of the latest in a series of delaying that has been employed. “At this stage, once these constituencies are approved as the Chairman has done today, the next step is to extract lists in accordance with those constituencies and by extension the entire country and then have those lists exhibited and go through the process. Once we are done with this, we can set up timelines by which we can inform the Minister that we are in a state of readiness to hold elections. And thereafter he can set the date,” Gunraj said.

CHANGES

had announced at a press conference in November 2022 that changes were made after consultations with communities and residents in the interest of democracy building. While the decision was made to revert boundaries to before they were changed in the year 2016, other communities which were previously not captured will be placed under townships and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils. In some areas, NDCs will also be merged or split.

“There are 14 areas that were affected in 2018 and we have decided that for better representation, that those areas go back to the 2016 constituency boundaries…We are aware that local democracy is essential to the overall development of communities, our people and our country,” the Minister had explained.

In Region One, there will be an extension of the boundaries of Mabaruma township to capture Wauna, putting them under an institutionalised administration. Previously, in 2018 local polls, they were left out of the township as the Minister now assured of zero discrimination.

In Region Two, where the constituency boundaries collapsed or merged, he said this decision of the previous Administration will be reversed. In the Pomeroon River, due to difficulties in service delivery, there will be a merger to form one NDC of Kitty-Providence and Moruca-Felix.

In Region Three, re -

Dharamlall

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel

Turn to page 19 →

Over 14,000 temporary staff to support LGE 2023

Some 14,500 temporary staff have been hired by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM to assist with Local Government Elections (LGE), contributing to a budgetary increase of $1 billion for that entity this year, compared to $4 billion set aside last year.

This was revealed during the examination of the budget estimates for GECOM on Monday (January 30, 2023) by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira.

“However, the money was returned, because there

was no Local Government elections. So it is expected that the $5 Billion this time will be able to cover the local government elections,” Teixeira explained.

Constitutional agencies have been allocated a lump sum of $13.8 billion from budget 2023, an over 17 per cent increase compared to last year.

Leading the way in allocations was GECOM, which was allocated $5 billion in net current funds and $150 million in capital funds, a total of $5.1 billion.

President’s Office “to bring essential Govt services directly to the people”

– Different region to be targeted for two days every month

President Dr Irfaan Ali launched the Office of the President (OP) Direct in New Amsterdam, Berbice, today with an aim of bringing essential Government services directly to citizens.

The Head of State, who delivered brief remarks at the opening ceremony of the operations at State House in New Amsterdam, Berbice, said that the initiative stems from his Government being people-centred and focused on the growth and development of all Guyanese. “Since we assumed office, we have been working in every community. We have been going to you and not waiting for you to come. The ministers and the Cabinet have been out in every community,” he said.

The President said that the initiative will see the Office of the President and other Government ministries and agencies working centrally in a different region two days per month. “The

President’s office will be situated here at State House in Region Six for the next two days, operating from here; so that we can be in touch with you, so that you can feel the highest office at your disposal, and have easy access to the highest office.”

President Ali said that the initiative will strengthen governance, improve its efficiency, and enhance the delivery of services to citizens. He said, “We believe strongly in serving the people. We are not a Government that is distant from the people or a Government that operates in a vacuum or in a locked compartment. That is not how we operate. We operate with you, taking your concerns and your realities into consideration.”

President Ali also explained that in addition to having essential ministries and agencies present, there will be established video and audio connections to every office in Georgetown so that

GECOM records over 6,000 transactions recorded to date

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is moving ahead with its continuous registration exercise, which started earlier this month.

can apply for registration, providing he/she was never registered.

all issues can be dealt with at the venue. He said, “This is the level of seriousness that we’re taking in dealing with our issues. It is not passing the buck, but it’s bringing the heads, and the agency heads here so that they can work with you.”

Technical teams from the Ministry of Housing and Water; the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security; the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development; the Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Agriculture; the National Insurance Scheme; the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest); the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA); the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission; the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) all have booths at State House in New Amsterdam where the President will be based until Friday afternoon.

The registration, as at Tuesday (February 1, 2023), has seen:

• 4,711 first-time applicants (Category A) between the ages of 14-years-old to 17-years-old and applicants (Category B) who are 18-years-old and older;

• 736 applicants sought changes and corrections;

• 613 requested transfers, and

• Others who sought replacements for identification cards, along with 94 photograph retakes.

During this registration exercise, any person who will be 14 years and older by the 30th June, 2023, and is a Guyanese citizen by birth, descent, naturalization, or is a citizen from a Commonwealth country living in Guyana for one year or more,

Existing registrants who are desirous of updating their records such as a request to correct or change their names, date of birth, occupation and update their addresses are advised that those transactions would also be facilitated during this exercise.

Persons desirous of conducting any registration transaction whether new registration or changes/corrections to their particulars are required to visit the GECOM Registration Office responsible for their area of residence with the relevant source documents which are:

• Original Birth Certificate, valid Passport, Adoption Certificate, Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Registration, and Deed Poll along with original Birth Certificate (if applicable) in the case of making applications for new registration.

• Original Marriage Certificate, Marriage Certificate with Decree Absolute for divorced women, Deed Poll with Birth Certificate, or a new original Birth Certificate reflecting the new name in the case of an application for change/correction of name and other particulars.

Registration transactions can be done during the official working hours outlined below:

• Mondays to Thursdays 08:00hrs – 12:00hrs and 13:00hrs – 16:30hrs

• Fridays 08:00hrs –12:00hrs and 13:00hrs –15:30hrs

For further information, persons are advised to visit GECOM’s website at www. gecom.org.gy follow us on Facebook at Guyana Elections Commission, or call 225-0277-9, 223-9653, or 223-1300.

The registration exercise will conclude on May 31, 2023.

Budget 2023

demonstrates defiance of Coalition in face of facts

Any thoughts of self-reproach or a mea culpa (admission of wrongdoing) from the APNU+AFC Coalition – save from those who have resigned or parted ways with the embattled party – remain out of sight, after over seven months since the results of the March 2, 2020 General Elections were finalised and a PPP/C victory declared.

Instead what persist is an inexplicable defiance in the face of facts. And this was parroted repeatedly during the Budget 2023 debates.

On the March 2020 Elections, the Coalition on March 3, 2020 claimed that it won the Elections. Less than a month later, its dossier, which was sent to the international community, on page 11 said: “The various comments from the observer missions convey that the voting process in the elections was well managed, peaceful, proceeded largely without incident and was free, fair and transparent. It is therefore, reasonable to conclude then that the voting process was not fraudulent.” In the face of acknowledging the elections as free and fair, the Coalition would later flip-flop to claim that there were irregularities in the voting process, when the counting of the votes placed the PPP/C in the lead – a contradictory narrative. How can you claim victory at a free and fair election and then claim you lost because of irregularities at the same time?

Within days the counting of ballots and verification of the results was completed in nine of Guyana’s 10 Regions. The remaining area was Region 4, considered a critical battleground area in any election. By March 4, 2020, the machinations of the Coalition, aided by elements with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), including embattled Region 4 Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, to manipulate Region 4 results were exposed in full view of Guyanese and the world. Mingo, twice, put forward fraudulent results – on March 5 and March 13 – for Region 4. This was resisted and after court challenges and much struggle, a recount was proceeded with. In the face of public exposure of the election mischief – including by PNCR Chairperson, Volda Lawrence, and PNCR member Carol Joseph, whose signatures were on both fraudulent declarations made by Mingo – the Coalition would resist a national recount still claiming an election win – a contradictory narrative. How can you claim an election win, but resist a national recount to prove the so-called ‘win’?

The Coalition’s then Attorney General, Basil Williams, on May 16, 2020, claimed that the recount does not alter previous 10 declarations made, including the fraudulent declaration made by Mingo on results for Region 4. He had said: “The law remains the law, so, at the end of the day, the law will determine what happens. As I said, the electoral laws state that 10 legitimate declarations have been made, they have been laid over to the CEO [Chief Election Officer]. The national recount falls under a constitutional provision and the purpose that it is serving is to examine what happened on that day.” Even as the national recount proceeded, the Coalition tried to hold on to the 10 declarations that were made, including the fraudulent one for Region 4. They also tried to make claims about dead voters, etc. – claims that were exposed as false by the local media corps. The Coalition also moved to the court to block the use of the recount results as the final election results. Under pressure, the Coalition had to accept the Statements of Recount, which showed that the PPP/C secured more votes at the elections. In the face of the Coalition’s refusal to accept the legality of the elected PPP/C government, there is no move to release the so-called ‘evidence’ to support its victory – its copies of the GECOM-issued Statements of Poll (SOPs) – a contradictory narrative. How can you claim election victory and say you have evidence and still, after a year, the so-called ‘evidence’ remains secret?

Of note is that the PPP/C wasted no time in releasing its GECOM-issued SOPs, within hours of the debacle that was Mingo’s actions. And the recount, the Statements of Recount, closely matches these Statements of Poll. The Coalition has since filed two elections petitions. While one has been thrown out, it is currently the subject of appeal. The second is proceeding in court.

The reality of the day is clear for all Guyanese, as well as the international community. However, the Coalition seems content to hunker down in its alternate reality, while peddling contradictory narratives.

The danger here is that the Coalition’s actions are not self-regarding, the affect all Guyanese.

Instead, those who have engaged in profligacy and corruption, and were the most ardent advocates for democratic subversion are now busy trying to reinvent their public images, presenting a façade of piousness. To them we say the memories of Guyanese are not short and there will be no success in manipulating this façade into truth.

Guyana has made significant progress

Dear Editor,

The most recent Oxfam study found that the income gap between the rich and the poor is increasing. The richest 1% grabbed nearly two-thirds of all new wealth created since 2020 amounting to some 42 trillion US dollars, almost twice the amount of the 99% at the bottom of the economic ladder.

Something must be fundamentally wrong when there is so much concentration of wealth in the hands of such a tiny fraction of the population. Poverty is structural and can only be remedied by a new global human order based on

a more equitable and fair distribution of the world’s resources. I have always held the view that there is more than an enough food to feed the world’s population but there are still millions of people who go to bed hungry and who do not know where their next meal is coming from. In fact, roughly one-fifth of the population lives below the poverty line, calculated by the United Nations to be below two US dollars a day.

In Guyana, we have come a long way in terms of poverty alleviation, thanks to the several pro-poor measures taken by the PPP/C administration over the years. I believe that as the oil

revenues begin kick in the economic fortunes of the country will continue to get better.

Fortunately, Guyana has now advanced beyond the status of a poor, highly indebted country, thanks to twenty-eight years of PNC undemocratic rule. The records will show that during the early 1960’s Guyana was ranked among the more developed countries but was reduced by the end of the 1980’s to one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere. Regards,

Budget 2023 is a step in this direction

Dear Editor,

More than half a century ago, the distinguished French historian Fernand Braudel developed a temporal model of the world capitalist economy. In so doing, he specified three temporal rhythms; namely, the histoire événementielle, the conjuncture, and the longue durée. These translate into the short term, the medium term, and the long term.

I contend that the APNU+ AFC are focused on the short term, something if adopted and operationalised, would be disastrous for Guyana, oil or no oil. As Braudel was fond to point out, the short term is that of the journalist, meaning a focus on recent events rather than the dynamics of structural change. For Guyana to lift itself out of the punishing injuries of poverty, it must adopt policies mindful of the longue durée, but articulated around the opportunities and constraints emanating from the world system above, and from the balances of social forces below.

Braudel also employed the concept of mentalities which designated the cultural outlook of elites. Elite culture, of course, has a huge influence on mass culture. This issue is of special significance to Guyana. The APNU+AFC, with their focus on consumption and on sharing out all the revenues earned from oil and gas, could infect the general population with this ideology of ‘spend-today-go-bankrupt-tomorrow.’

Thus far, the Guyanese people have resisted this crash-course in wild spending. In fact, feedback from across the country indicates serious commitment to long term investments in infrastructure. Everywhere you go, people want a balance between high incomes today and investments in education, healthcare, security, and transportation, all of which would produce results for generations to come.

Guyanese writers are fond of likening our chances to those of Singapore and the Gulf States. I can assure we are not going there anytime soon, because those are special cases. More on this

later. What we do know, however, is that countries such as Malaysia, which invested heavily in education and other kinds of infrastructure, were able to leapfrog at least one of W.W. Rostow’s stages of economic growth, based on a theory with the same name.

It might be instructive to know that the New Economic Policy in Malaysia from 1971-1990 was partially in response to ethnic conflicts there in 1969. The state committed substantial portions of the budget to education, with heavy emphasis on greater inclusion for the native Malays, who had hitherto not been fully ‘assimilated’ into the national development plans.

Similarly, today, the PPP/C’s 2023 budget is placing heavy emphasis on access to building out the infrastructure for Indigenous students as well as students in rural areas. Note that 70% of our population live in rural and hinterland areas.

The myopia of AFC economic thinking was clearly expressed in the speech of leader Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan. Early in his speech, Ramjattan used the word “paradigm” to describe the new revenues from oil. The word was misused, or at best it was not used in the conceptual sense intended by Thomas Kuhn in The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962). Kuhn described the traditional, customary, expected and institutionally protected knowledges or ways of doing things (methods) as “normal science”. A scientific revolution occurs when those established ways are jettisoned and replaced by new ways of thinking; which is to say, when there is a structural movement resembling a shift in tectonic plates, RATHER than mere quantitative changes within the extant system.

A new paradigm implies abandonment of the old ways, old questions, and old answers. Instead of mere quantitative changes, there are qualitative changes, these last being more about the longue durée, pace Braudel.

In typical normal science fashion, Mr Ramjattan and APNU leader Mr Aubrey Norton see the new oil revenues in the same old ways, excepting for alteration of volume, of quantity. Put

differently, they see more money, but want to do the same old thing, which is to spend it all out today, without concern for what comes next year, or in the next generation.

Both President Ali and Vice President Jagdeo, as well as Dr Ashni Singh, have been tireless in trying to get not only the Guyanese people, but the Opposition to understand that new and more money does not necessarily guarantee prosperity. Their efforts go beyond explaining the dangers of Dutch disease or the resource curse. They ask different questions, the primary one being: How do we, as a people, use the oil and gas resources to chart a different, long-term course of socio-economic development that would be both economically and environmentally sustainable?

Their answer is one that might be best described as responsible pragmatism. Here the emphasis is on improving the human security of individuals and communities by investing in those salient dimensions of personal and community wellbeing that are self-reproducing.

The current world system is such that our resources are not necessarily at our full disposal. There are national governments, multilateral organisations, and social forces often in the form of NGOs that seek to manage our affairs from afar. We live in a world system grounded in, and governed by, hegemonic practices where national sovereignty can be severely compromised. This is why a big part of the new paradigm is us standing as one.

The limits of the possible are not of our own choosing, yet we must navigate this same system of economic and political power through the excellent quality of leadership at our disposal, combined with the resolve of a nation that stands together. Now, that is a new paradigm. Budget 2023 is a step in this direction. Oil is not merely an event; it must bring forth, and has brought forth, innovative ideas in this current conjuncture.

Sincerely, R. Persaud

Ludicrous concoctions, conflict cannot be allowed to undermine GECOM’s functions

Dear Editor,

In an unjustified attack on Justice (retired) Claudette Singh, Chairperson of the Guyana Election Commission (GECOM), Commissioner Vincent Alexander recently published an outburst deserving of full condemnation. His rants served only to reinforce the litany of constitutional and other failures that he is now known to be associated with, particularly the continuous undermining role of the Commission of his employ.

The matter relates to the Commission’s consideration and approval of a petition for the temporary secondment of the GECOM

IT Manager to the Operations Department of the Commission’s Secretariat. In this respect, Alexander seems to be objecting to the particular staff rendering interim assistance to the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) with the regularisation of some day–to–day organisational work, and this was indeed petty and infantile.

Alexander is fully aware that Local Government Elections are overdue, and it is imperative that GECOM put all systems in place to hold LGEs immediately. It is, however, not surprising that he sought to prematurely throw another tantrum of convenience targeted at slowing down the GECOM hosting of the LGEs.

These intermittent acts of defiance run contrary to the level of objectivity required of the Commission concerning its function, defined under the spirit and intent of Article 162 of our Constitution. In particular, Section 162 (1) (b) states: “The Commission – shall issue such instructions and take such action as appear to it necessary or expedient to ensure impartiality, fairness, and compliance with the provisions of this Constitution or of any Act of Parliament on the part of persons exercising powers or performing duties connected with or relating to the matters aforesaid.”

There appears to be only very little consideration, if any, of the meaning of impartiality, fairness, and expedient in the dictionary of Alexander. He was conveniently and conflictingly silent when the brutal assault of certain persons was launched on the true results of the March 2020 elections results, disenfranchising the votes of thousands of electors. On numerous occasions, when a certain senior staff usurped the authority of the Commission in an attempt to execute heinous acts against our nation, he seemingly lost his voice.

It would be recalled that when the shoes were on the other foot, Alexander hypocritically penned a letter accusing the then PPPC commissioners of grandstanding. Concerning “the preparedness of GECOM for the local government elections,” he stated, “I will lend my effort to GECOM being prepared and allow history to determine the correctness of the Benn, Shadick and Gunraj contention.” This situation allows one to pose questions about why his concerns have now changed.

Alexander continues to bury his head in the sand

Dear Editor, GECOM Commissioner Mr. Vincent Alexander has tried, without success, to refute what I said in a previous commentary. The Commissioner claimed, rather cynically, that I “embrace double standards aimed at serving my purpose.”

As is the norm, Mr. Alexander’s views and conclusions in respect to what he considers “the illicit creation of a post and an irregular appointment to that post” at GECOM are not only misinformed, but woefully misplaced.

In his letter, Mr Alexander sought to link to the situation currently at hand, and at the same time justify, a misdeed carried out under his watch in 2014. In case he missed it, Mr. Alexander failed to realise that the misdeed he was party to, and the one he now claims to be ultra vires nine years after, places him in the realm of hypocrisy and practitioner of the same double standards he accuses others of practising.

In retrospect, the self-serving double standard of which Mr Alexander is unquestionably guilty is perhaps an extension of the uncivil behaviour that was displayed by his comrades at the Ashmins Building at Hadfield and High streets, Georgetown on Thursday, March 5th, 2020.

The stand Mr Alexander has adopted now in relation to the matter currently under consideration at GECOM is precisely the stand he should have adopted at the time when he sat approvingly in support of the misdeed committed at GECOM in August of 2014.

Minutes of a GECOM meeting held in August 2014 show that Mr Alexander was totally involved in the discussions which led to Vishnu Persaud being shortlisted for interviews for the position of DCEO. The professed Mr. ‘Clean’ Alexander did not oppose Persaud’s candidacy for the position then. However, subsequently, he foolishly chose to oppose Persaud’s candidacy, which cost him a substantial sum of money. Apparently, he has not learnt that overreaching comes at a cost.

Mr Alexander purposely overlooks the

point that Persaud’s rival was given an unfair advantage when appointed to act as Voter Registration Manager (VRM). It was on the basis of that unfair advantage that the much-favoured individual was confirmed in the position, since she was seen as the ‘only one with the required experience.’

It is quite obvious to many that all the noise being orchestrated by Alexander and company on this matter is aimed at achieving a specific objective with another of their favoured candidates in mind to fill the vacancy for a substantive DCEO.

From all he has written, it is clear that Mr Alexander represents those who (often vehemently) profess to be supportive of transparency and accountability, but simultaneously consider them useless in pursuit of their partisan political and anti-democratic objectives.

And just in case Mr Alexander is not aware of it, Guyanese who uphold the fundamental tenets of a modern democracy, including transparency and accountability, far outnumber those who choose to engage in illicit activities aimed at thwarting the will of the people. The Latin name for humans is Homo sapiens, which means, “man intelligent.” Since this may not be an appropriate appellation for Mr Alexander, we might instead refer him as “Homo struthio,” the Latin for “man ostrich.”

My point here is not to get personal, but to point out that there are in our midst individuals like Mr Alexander, who are so insulated in their thinking that they tend to assume that anything or anyone outside their political/ideological universe is suspect, if not downright undesirable. This is precisely Alexander’s disposition in respect to the matter currently under consideration at the Commission.

Experience teaches that whenever individuals adopt a stubborn stand against a particular matter, it’s probably because they simply do not want to confront the facts. As a result, these individuals are likely to find themselves facing similar situations in future.

Mr Alexander refuses to admit that his views are misplaced and the position he has

adopted on the matter at GECOM is extremely foolish and shortsighted. His escape route is to justify his action by discrediting the solution.

The bulk of Mr Alexander’s response to my missive I consider as fluff and the regurgitation of his opinion, to which he is entitled, but he must bear in mind that “no man has a right to be wrong in his facts.”

As for his performance as a PNC representative on GECOM, most persons do not appreciate his obstructionist approach to the work of the Commission. The negativity of Alexander suggested a tacit role as part of the cabal that witnessed the PNC’s desperate effort to rig the 2020 National and Regional Elections. As he boasts of being the longest-serving commissioner, his overzealous and conveniently biased disposition has been uncompromising in diminishing GECOM’s neutral mandate and goals, unless it benefits the PNC.

The fact is that GECOM must be able to produce free and fair elections, hence all the rogue elements must be removed. Consequently, GECOM must produce a list of its staff strength. Those that were involved in the skullduggery on the East Coast of Demerara, who cannot give an explanation of what took place concerning documents that were not in the ‘boxes’, must face the consequences.

Guyanese must not accept the clandestine cleaning of the computers and no trace of the records at GECOM. The gerrymandering and changing of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council boundaries in 2016 and 2018 was done without any consultation with the PPP/C or any other civic group. Efforts by persons to frustrate the holding of LGEs must stop. The ludicrous concoctions and conflict from the likes of Vincent Alexander cannot be condoned in the search for justice and the building of democracy.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

As regards my “warped experiential background”, I would like Mr Alexander to consider his judgmental assessment in relation to his association with a party that, time and again, either wholly or partially, sought to deprive Guyanese of their right to elect a Government of their choice. Mr Alexander can do nothing but live with that badge of dishonour forever and ever, Amen.

Sincerely, Clement Rohee

Intellectual opportunism, bankruptcy characterizes APNU+AFC Coalition – Teixeira

The PPP/C Government in 2023 will roll out its transformational agenda, coming after the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition’s incompetence from 2015 to 2020 and an emergency budget in 2020, according to Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira.

She made it clear that, unlike the previous APNU+AFC Government, the PPP/C Administration understands the needs of the people and stands ready to meet those needs. Teixeira said, “You come to the house with tainted glasses… because street lights are going up where there weren’t any, roads are going up where there weren’t any, bridges, houses are going up,” the minister pointed out…we have a long way to go, we are a small developing country but we are making progress, and this is under the PPP/C because you took us back in the five years, you took hundreds of thousands from each family with all those taxations you brought to the people.”

In contrast, the Guyanese are treated to “intellectual opportunism” and “intellectual bankruptcy” that characters the PNCR-led Coalition. The minister highlight -

ed the $13 billion worth of gold reserve that the PPP/C Administration left, and by 2020 the reserve was less than $200 million. Disappointedly too, the gold was sold when the market price was at the lowest, the minister disclosed. “Mr. Speaker, this is the height of incompetence, the height of irresponsible leadership. You [APNU+AFC] took the two pillars that we have in case of instability… that you can fall back on and they exploited it.”

The audit reports of 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, Minister Teixeira cited, are filled with cases of breaches of the Procurement Act and financial regulations during the APNU+AFC’s tenure. The Public Procurement Commission’s report on the Demerara Harbour Bridge exposed the collusion of a former minister, who cancelled tenders to over 20 foreign companies and awarded the contracts to persons who did not participate in the bidding process, the minister revealed to the house.

Pointing out more “executive lawlessness,” the minister referenced the special Auditor General’s Report tabled in the house titled COVID-19 Pan-

demic Assistance Voucher Programme. She highlighted, among other things, the audit report found that persons who needed assistance were denied. Over 9,000 of the 11,000 qualified applicants never received the vouchers and the programme excluded hinterland residents.

Accordingly, the minister made it clear that despite the APNU+AFC repeatedly claiming it met an empty trea-

sury, after assuming office in 2015, the PPP/C Government left some $780 million of foreign currency reserves and in 2020 August only US $200 million was available.

She added that the APNU+AFC Coalition persists in its failure to articulate anything that is substantial; rather spews vitriol and misinformation. “It is bad enough that they seem unable to imagine or foresee a better Guyana,

but worse yet, they try to undermine efforts,” the Minister said. Teixeira added, “People want to move forward. They

don’t want to be dragged into this cauldron into venom and toxicity…but race is all you have.”

APNU+AFC Coalition ‘primary chaos agents’ in political arena – Deputy Speaker

Theactions of the APNU+AFC Coalition’s Parliamentarians fails to give justice to their position as representatives of the people, according to Deputy Speaker and former Vice Chairman of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), Lennon Shuman, who said he is “disappointed” at the conduct by members of the Opposition during the Budget 2023 debates.

He said, “I hope the Guyana Elections Commission and the country at large, pays attention…we have sat in this House and listened to a political party that sat in breach of the Constitution for how many years and how many months, continue to trample on that very Constitution…I would have thought that a party that would have exhausted every single constitutional mean to hold onto power would have educated themselves and read the constitution and know what their obligations are as written in this book (the Constitution of Guyana).

Shuman called on his colleagues in the Opposition to do better. He said, “You

cannot come to this House and speak about this House… when there is a Parliament some of them don’t even bother to log in. They don’t even show up. I think that the taxpayers need to tie performance and attendance to the pay of every parliamentarian.”

Tackling the issue of race-baiting, Shuman referred to members of the PNCR-led Coalition as the country’s

“primary chaos” agents. He said, “…on day one, our very first Speaker came into this House and started speaking about an apartheid state, about inherent racism and racist policies…I have asked on several occasions for all of us, my colleagues, to not revert to race baiting. We are going to come in here and put sound bites that will reach the far end of his globe. Why? Because it makes us look

good?”

He added, “When you come to this House, you have an obligation to tell the truth to the people and that truth means that sometimes we have to swallow the bitter pills of our under-achieve-

ments.”

Focusing on the PPP/C government’s plans for 2023, the Deputy Speaker charged that the allocations will support further development that will benefit Amerindians across the country.

The government has allocated $4.7 billion towards development of indigenous communities with millions more set aside to advance the health, education, infrastructure and social services sectors.

Prices of livestock, non-traditional agricultural items remain stable, available countrywide − GMC

Average market prices over the three-week period, January 4 to 24, 2023, for selected livestock and non-traditional agricultural commodities, projected by the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), show an easing in prices at some of the major markets across the country.

GMC carried out checks at Kumaka, Anna Regina, Parika, Vreed-en-Hoop, Diamond, Stabroek, Bourda, Mon Repos, Mackenzie, Rosignol, and Skeldon markets.

Price checks on beef saw a reduction of 20 per cent in Regions One and Six, while in Region Ten, the price of beef decreased on average by 11 per cent for the corre-

sponding period.

In addition, the price for pork again was reduced by 20 per cent in Region One, while in Region Ten it was 14 per cent lower and 29 per cent lower in Region Six.

Meanwhile, chicken notably was reduced by 26 per cent in Region Four; 30 per cent in Region One, and 20 per cent in Region Six.

Staple produce such as cassava, eddoes, plantains, potatoes, and yams remain unchanged or have reduced significantly at the markets.

Notably, seasonal vegetables such as bora saw a 43 per cent reduction in cost per bundle on average compared to what it was in December 2022.

Overall other vegetables remained under $500 per parcel and/or lb; for example, cabbage is 4 per cent less, while pumpkin dropped by 8 per cent and carrots by 5 per cent respectively at the various markets.

In the recent 2023 budget presentation government allocated $2 billion towards food security as it moves ahead with plans to increase food production to become a regional food hub.

In addition, $200 million has been earmarked for innovative agriculture that will improve food production – a correlation can be drawn that improved food production is having a marked positive impact on price reduction at

the markets.

Guyanese can look forward to the continuation of this stable trend as farmers encounter more favourable weather conditions and improved policy execution in the coming months, which is expected to incentivise production.

In 2022, food production received some $38 billion which saw an increase in climate-smart agriculture, as well as an increase in agro-processing facilities and training.

Moreover, food security continues to be a paramount policy initiative for the Government of Guyana, which holds lead responsibility for agriculture, agricultural diversification, and food security in CARICOM – spearheading the regional body’s quest to reduce its food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

According to the World Bank, “Guyana’s economy is expanding at an extraordinary rate, … and is expected to remain one of the world’s fastest-growing economies in the medium term.”

Head of State leads outreach to Region 6

POSITIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Agricultural development, infrastructure upgrades and housing for Region 10 – Ali

The PPP/C Government intends to enhance the productive capacity of Region 10, especially in the areas of agriculture and food production, according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali.

The Head of State, who held a community outreach to Christianburg, Linden, recently noted that the region would play its part in the agriculture development and that Government officials would work out an “Agricultural Development Plan”.

In addition, the President said that the aim is to ensure that Linden is the hub for mechanical services

and engineering services, primarily due to its strategic location to Lethem.

Numerous infrastructural works have also been earmarked, and they will be done through consultation.

President Ali explained that in the short term, the Government will repair priority roads and footpaths, such as those that lead to public places. The work, he said, will be done by the residents of the region.

Measures will also be put in place to upgrade the highway and build a new bridge at Wismar. “This is an important part of the

transformation. We can’t be building the road going on to Lethem, and then the crossing is a one-way crossing.”

The residents will also benefit from numerous jobs when the Government constructs 1000 homes in the region.

The President reminded that the Government is people-centred and will continue to travel to all communities within the country.

He said that for too long political agendas have worked against development and have looked to divide rather than unite. “We have

Guyana, India to create a regional agri-tech campus to expand the agriculture sector

President, Dr Mohamed

Irfaan Ali said the strong bilateral relationship between India and Guyana will continue to produce fruitful outcomes.

As part of its efforts to expand the agriculture sector, President Ali noted that a regional agri-tech campus will be created to support the regional food hub. This is in keeping with the government’s commitment to advance the region’s food security strategy.

This was highlighted by the president during his address at the 74th anniversary of the Republic of India, hosted by the Indian High Commission in Guyana, recently.

He highlighted the discussions were comprehensive and covered areas related to the oil and gas sector.

Dr Ali underscored the discussions with Bangalore Bio-Innovation Centre will help to build Guyana’s agriculture sector with an ecosystem that includes a regional food hub.

This forms part of an ambitious strategy to stimulate a biotech ecosystem to expand the agriculture sector.

Additionally, this will help to create an agri-tech campus that will deal with

the technological aspect, research and development, technology, human resource training, and improvement in policies that will lead to greater yield and productivity.

Over the next few months, President Ali noted a plethora of measures aimed at creating a new ecosystem centred around agriculture, which will focus on high-value, new areas, and innovation.

He added that technological innovation plays an integral role in nation-building.

The head of state underlined that Guyana is building a food production and agriculture system on a platform that will make it competitive and resilient to operate in an economy in 2023 and beyond.

The president noted that his administration will continue to position Guyana to be a strong, responsible leader, regionally and internationally, on the environment, climate, energy, and food security, among other areas. “We must find strategic partners bilaterally, to work with us on a government-to-government relationship, and basis to advance the energy sector.

This is a policy position of

a country and communities to build. What I can say to you is you can rely on us to be with you….We don’t profess only to love the people; we work to show we love you. We labour to show we love you, and that won’t change.”

During discussions with the residents, the President announced that the Government would ensure that sporting facilities and playgrounds in schools in the region are repaired and renovated.

He said the Government is also examining a number of other sporting facilities

that will be upgraded and the building of “a new stadium”.

It was also announced that an assessment will be done to determine where smart televisions can be set up in classrooms to enhance education delivery.

In addition to the infrastructure, agriculture and other major projects that will be done in the region, the President noted that creating a mindset that is positive, families and communities that are strong and communities and people that are respectful to each other are also equally important.

“When we understand that all of us must be a collective whole in presenting the solution to our problems, then is when we will achieve fulness of development and fulness of happiness,” he stressed.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Honourable Hugh Todd; the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, the Honourable Nigel Dharamlall; National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia and other Government officials were also at the meeting.

Caribbean financial sector urged to be more involved in regional development – President

the government. I am very pleased with the discussions we had at the highest level in India. And their overall deep interests in being a part of the entire ecosystem of our energy sector,” the president asserted.

India’s support to Guyana has been outstanding, President Ali acknowledged while stating that their collaboration has touched nearly every facet of national development “through education, scholarships, training, technology transfers, and evolution of cultural development.”

President Ali also lauded India for its technological innovations which include the metro stations and harnessing the water source for electrical consumption. “I look forward to India playing a key role in developing and helping economies, especially in transforming themselves from technological and human resource perspectives,” President Ali underlined.

The president was joined by Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, and Former President, Donald Ramotar.

Financial players in the Caribbean region were on Thursday morning encouraged to be part of transformational development as capital is needed for continued growth. This was the position of President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who delivered a virtual keynote address at the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) Regional Capital Market Conference 2023.

President Ali said this transformation, though the opportunities are present, can only come to fruition if access to finance is easily mobilised. “The Caribbean financial sector needs to play a more instrumental role in mobilising capital to fill the region’s financial gap,” he posited.

Pointing out that the Caribbean’s financial need as far back as 2020 was more than US $10 billion, the president underscored the key role of partnership in

fostering growth and development for Guyana and other Caribbean countries. “We know that this cannot be done from the savings within the region, and therefore the challenge will have to involve partnership with others,” he explained.

To strike a balance, however, the head of state said the mobilisation of finance must be met by what he described as “strong regulation and oversight” for it to be a successful venture. “Financial markets are not without risk. The deeper the region becomes integrated into the global financial markets, the higher the risk of global problems…securities and capital markets need strong regulation and oversight in order to protect investors,” the president asserted.

President Ali encouraged investors to come on board with Guyana’s development, as several improvements are

being made to the technological, agricultural, infrastructural, and educational industries. “Transformation is not only due to the discovery of oil alone, but also the use to which the oil revenues will be put and the trigger which the industry is already playing in boosting the economy. Guyana will become an economic powerhouse,” the head of state affirmed.

On July 22, President Ali supported the launch of the Guyanese-owned New Haven Merchant Bank.

The bank, which provides several services such as asset management, and investment banking, among others, has begun to play a crucial role in bringing the much-needed finance and capital to develop small businesses and advance infrastructural development in keeping with the government’s developmental agenda.

CARICOM must exploit natural gas resources for energy security – Ali

President Dr. Irfaan Ali has emphasised the importance of the use of natural gas as a solution for energy security in the Caribbean region.

Addressing the Trinidad and Tobago Energy Conference, last week, Dr Ali urged member states of the Caribbean Community (CAR-

ICOM) to actively explore their natural gas resources to meet the region’s growing energy demands. “Here in Trinidad and Tobago, that opportunity exists and that opportunity should be allowed to blossom for the benefit of the people of this region and the globe,” President Ali told

the audience at the four-day conference underway at Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain.

The head of state highlighted the global energy and food crises, the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine which have further

Turn to page 19 →

IMPROVING LIVES TODAY, BUILDING PROSPERITY TOMORROW

Budget 2023 approved by National Assembly

Constitutional Agencies’ Budgets get the nod from Parliament

– process continuing to go smoothly after strengthened and streamlined through FMAA Amendment in 2021

The Budgets for all Constitutional Agencies were on Monday (January 30, 2023) approved in the National Assembly after examination of the Estimates of Expenditure and queries by Opposition Members with responses provided by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira during the 59th Sitting of the Twelfth Parliament. The Agencies comprise the Parliament Office, Audit Office of Guyana, Public and Police Service Commissions, Teaching Service Commission, the Guyana Elections Commission, the Supreme Court of Judicature, Public Prosecutions, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Public Service Appellate Tribunal, the Ethnic Relations Com-

mission, the Judicial Service Commission, the Rights Commissions of Guyana and the Public Procurement Commission.

The process for approval of the Estimates of Expenditure of these Agencies continued smoothly, as it had in 2022 following the December 29, 2021 Parliamentary approval of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Amendment (FMAA) Act which was successfully piloted at the time by Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh during the 34th Sitting of the Twelfth Parliament. The legislation was amended from what it was previously during the tenure of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC)

Administration and has since strengthened and streamlined the Budget process for these Constitutional Agencies while also preserving their independence. Amendments made to the former legislation include those that were made to ensure better accountability and set out the practice and procedure to which these Constitutional Agencies must conform in terms of the management of their subventions for the efficient discharge of their functions.

Last week, both sides of the House participated in five days of debates on the 2023 Budget which was presented to the National Assembly on January 16 by Senior Minister in the Office of the

BUDGET 2023: Allocations to Constitutional Agencies

BUDGET 2023: Allocations to Constitutional Agencies

BUDGET 2023: IMPROVING LIVES TODAY,

Budget 2023: Regional Allocations

Transportation, first-time electricity, improved education and health services for Region One

Withsome $546 million allocated for the development of healthcare and education in Region One, residents will continue to benefit from improved public services.

This assurance was given by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall during the Consideration of Estimates on Wednesday (February 1, 2023) in the Parliamentary Committee of Supply.

The minister highlighted several interventions the residents of region can anticipate, including the distribution of boats and outboard engines to assist with the transportation of students to and from schools.

Some of the areas to benefit include St. Nicholas, Santa Cruz, Kwebanna, St. Bede’s Mission, Kariakau and areas along the Barama river. “We are practically providing transportation for all of the school children in the riverain areas of Region One. That’s a commitment of President Ali,” the minister underscored.

To ensure students and teachers have a comfortable learning environment, a number of infrastructural works will also be undertaken in the Barima- Waini region.

122 roads under construction in Region Two

Region Two residents can soon look forward to improved connectivity, enhanced safety, increased mobility and an improved quality of life, as 122 priority roads are currently being constructed in the region.

The roads span a number of areas across the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and the Anna Regina Municipality.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, provided this information to the Committee of Supply on Wednesday afternoon, in his response to Opposition Member of Par-

liament (MP), Shurwayne Holder.

He reminded the committee that Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, had gone at length to explain that some 1,084 roads on Guyana’s coast will be constructed.

Of that number, 261 were identified in Region Two, of which 122 are being built.

These roads will be done in asphalted or reinforced concrete.

Charity, Bounty Hall and Dunkeld are among the communities that will immediately benefit from these roads.

The Ministry of Local

Government and Regional Development has allotted some $108 million in the 2023 National Budget for the construction of community roads in Region Two.

The construction of priority roads is part of an overarching project fostered by collaboration among the ministries of Public Works, Local Government and Regional Development, and Housing and Water.

The project will see a number of important roads across the country being identified for construction, as part of the government’s wide-reaching and inclusive transformative agenda.

The villages of Morawhanna, Smith creek, Oronoque, St. Peter and St. Paul will benefit from the construction of new schools. With this intervention, students within these communities will no longer have to travel long distances to get to school.

The rehabilitation of the Santa Rosa Primary school is expected to be completed, along with the extension of the Kamwatta, Waramuri and Kwebanna primary schools.

Some $150 million was also budgeted for the completion of the education office at Oronoque and Santa Rosa Primary School.

To further enhance the health sector within the region, Minister Dharamlall outlined the plans for several health centres and hospitals.

Notably, the completion of Arakaka, Assakata and Kariakau health centres and the maternal waiting home at the Mabaruma Hospital.

Construction of health huts at St. Anselm, Hosororo and Chinese Landing.

A living quarters will also be constructed at Chinese Landing, White Water, Koriabo and the Mabaruma Hospital.

In addition, $80 million was budgeted for the purchase of medical equipment

within the region to cater for more patients and a further $23 million for water ambulances, buses and ATVs for emergency care. “I’d like to report that we are now doing surgeries, not outreach surgeries but in house theatre surgeries at both the Kumaka District Hospital and the Mabaruma District Hospital,” Minister Dharamlall disclosed to the committee.

Over 60 persons were able to have their surgeries successfully done.

Complementing the developments in the health and education sectors, will be the construction of new roads and improved electricity distribution.

“For the first time, we will have roads heading from Mabaruma to Wauna… concrete roads from Kumaka Waterfront in Moruca to Kwebanna,” the minister said.

The construction of these roads will also lead to the employment of over 100 residents.

The minister said $80 million was budgeted for the upgrading of electricity distribution networks at Mabaruma, Barabina and Kumaka.

Notably, villages such as Yarakita will now benefit from electricity for the first time.

Construction of farm-to-market roads, other interventions for Region Five

Residents and farmers of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) can expect major infrastructural upgrades and construction of farm-to-market roads within their communities.

This is in keeping with the government’s objective of boosting agricultural production in the region.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, during the consider -

ation of the 2023 budget estimates on Wednesday, highlighted that some of the farm-to-market roads will be upgraded to asphaltic concrete.

The project is the fulfillment of a commitment by the PPP/C Government to Guyanese.

Further, more than $100 million will be expended to address drainage and irrigation challenges in the region, while $144.9

million will be utilised to construct bridges and roads, among other interventions.

Also, $178.5 million was approved to boost education delivery. Government remains committed to providing equitable access to health services across the region, as such some $236.5 million has been budgeted for health sector development in Region Five.

$11.9B budgetary allocation

Residents of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) will benefit from agriculture, health, education and infrastructure projects as the Committee of Supply approved the region’s $11.9 billion budgetary allocation on Wednesday (February 1, 2023).

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall said $71.5 million will be expended

for the rehabilitation of bridges and revetments at Rotterdam, Razack Dam, Moleson Creek and other areas.

This will improve access and irrigation systems for farmers in Region Six, the minister told the committee during the consideration of the 2023 budget estimates.

Some $8 million is earmarked for the provision of a tractor that will improve oper-

ational efficiency for farmers. In total, $79.5 million was approved for the agriculture sector.

Meanwhile, for infrastructural projects, $359.8 million will be expended for the construction of new bridges and roads, as well as the provision of land and water transportation. Currently, over 500 new roads are being constructed and 17 new roads have been iden-

PROSPERITY

Improved access to potable water, infrastructural advancements for Region Seven

Residents of Kako, a village in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) will soon see improved access to potable water, as works will be conducted to facilitate development of the water distribution system.

The Committee of Supply on Wednesday (February 1, 2023) approved the $16 million budgetary allocation under the heading Regional Administration and Finance for Region Seven, which includes maintenance and repairs of several administrative buildings

to improve the delivery of services in the region.

The minister noted that little was done by the previous administration in relation to water access in the village.

Moreover, about three sub-regions of the Mazaruni will see the washing and cleaning of water tanks and reservoirs, as some $89 million has been budgeted for these and other works.

Minister Dharamlall also noted that the budget provides for the improvements to the Kamarang Com -

munity Centre Ground, in keeping with a commitment made by His Excellency, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali during a previous visit there. President Ali had promised that the ground will be upgraded into a FIFA-standard facility.

Meanwhile, as it relates to infrastructural development, Minister Dharamlall highlighted a number of villages set to benefit from road maintenance, including the Kako/Waramadong farm to market road, and the Kamarang to Waramadong

approved for Region Nine

The Committee of Supply

on Wednesday (February 1, 2023) approved $4.8 billion for improvements in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, said Region Nine will not be left out of the country’s development, as the budget allocates sums for agriculture development initiatives, upgrading of electrical systems, and health facilities and quarters, to name a few. He was speaking during the Consideration of Estimates in the Parliamentary Committee of Supply.

Meanwhile, in setting the record straight in relation to the agricultural challenges faced by the region, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, disclosed that

farmers in all regions will receive their planting supplies by mid-February. The agriculture minister said, “We did an analysis and a survey, and all the areas will receive their materials. Region nine is slated for massive development in the agriculture sector to make a contribution to food security in Guyana.” He highlighted that there are three agro-processing facilities in the region to address these challenges faced by the farmers.

Minister Dharamlall also emphasised that investments in the agriculture sector match those injected in the other sectors. “We have agencies of government that provide direct support [to the farmers] … This government does not operate in silos,” the minister told the committee.

Further, $530 million has been allocated for the construction of roads, bridges and culverts and the upgrading of electrical and water supply systems, as part of the public works programme for the region.

The local government minister said, “We’re building roads where roads were never built. That is the mark of our government. We are also repairing roads that were left dilapidated for many years.”

To improve access to health services in the region, the minister disclosed that two ambulances will be procured for the Lethem and Aishalton hospitals, as well as a lorry to assist in the distribution of drugs and medical supplies. Some $36 million has been allocated for this purpose.

allocation for Region Six approved

tified for 2023. “We are doing construction of all 500 roads in all 18 NDC areas and in the three municipalities,” Minister Dharamlall stated.

To improve education delivery, $289.8 million was greenlighted by the committee for the provision of educational facilities, purchase of buses and furniture and equipment for schools.

Meanwhile, as part of gov-

ernment’s commitment to improving the health care system nationwide, $294 million was approved for hospitals, health centres and health posts in the region.

Also, a new living quarters for the Assistant Regional Executive Officer will be constructed in New Amsterdam, to the tune of $30 million. The local government minister pointed out that the previous

farm market road.

Region Seven will also see improvements made at a number of schools, including Kamarang nursery, Future Builders Nursery, St. Anthony’s Primary, St. John Baptiste Primary, Kaikan Primary, Agatash Primary, Isseneru Primary, Bartica Secondary, and Three Miles Secondary.

The local government minister said the contracts for these works will be awarded to Amerindian residents in the villages.

“This is also part of the

position of our government, stated in our manifesto-that we are going to create wealth in some of these areas. We are going to provide opportunities, we are going to create employment,” the minister told the committee.

He added that, during the tenure of the previous administration, there were only 97 female contractors for such works, while the PPP/C administration has fostered a drastic 181 per cent increase to some 273 female contractors across the ten administrative re -

gions.

The minister highlighted that the new hospital in Bartica will bring massive developments in the delivery of health services there. Additional maintenance works will be conducted at a number of health facilities in the region. “These facilities have been left to rot for a long time, and we have also been maintaining and building new health quarters to ensure that our doctors are able to travel to the villages,” Minister Dharamlall said.

Advanced infrastructure, agricultural projects slated for Region 10

− $5.9B budgetary allocation approved

The sum of $93.2 million will be expended in Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) for 2023 to improve roadways.

Residents of South Amelia’s Ward, Retrieve, Coomacka and Nottinghamshire are slated to benefit from this allocation.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall made the disclosure on Wednesday (February 1, 2023) in the Parliamentary Committee of Supply during the consideration of the 2023 budget estimates.

10 and our track record in Region 10 is proud in terms of the development of people in the region …. We will build the roads; we will also build the drains…. the priority now is to build the roads…. these roadways and carriageways will be constructed for the first time, using asphaltic concrete” the minister pointed out while responding to questions posed by the opposition.

and I can assure you, as we have been doing, that any contractor who is gone behind the contract period especially these massive and sensitive projects, they will have to pay liquidated damages,” he underscored. Additionally, a boat and engine, as well as school furniture will be purchased to improve the delivery of education.

In the agriculture sector, $40.2 million was approved for several agricultural initiatives.

living quarters was destroyed by a fire in 2022.

In addition, $9.5 million has been budgeted for the purchasing of a boat and engine for fisherfolk in Orealla-Siparuta.

Minister Dharamlall noted, “This is a commitment President Ali made on his visit to Orealla-Siparuta …. It will aid the fishermen of Orealla-Siparuta in transporting their fish catch to the markets.”

These roads are in addition to the 30 roads that will be undertaken by the Ministry of Public Works, the minister explained. “Most of which, if not all, will be in the town of Linden. This has never happened before, Mr Chairman, never happened before and a lot of these projects are built by the community, people get employed,” he highlighted.

Minister Dharamlall also informed the committee that this is in addition to the roads that will be rehabilitated in keeping with commitments made by President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali during a visit to the region recently. “We are working to complete the development of Region

According to the 2023 Budget Estimates, $11 million will also be expended for the rehabilitation of a bridge at Hururu. Also, $36 million is earmarked to upgrade drainage systems at Mackenzie, providing improved access and drainage systems.

To improve education services, $55 million will be spent to procure equipment for primary and nursery schools in this region.

Fifty (50) laptops will be purchased and provided to 20 primary schools and 18 nursery schools in the region.

A further sum of $391 million has been approved to complete construction of Bamia/Amelia’s Ward Primary School. It is expected to be completed by July 2023. “Mr. Chairman, we would like the school to be completed on time

The farm to market road will be upgraded and, “Shade houses in Ituni, Kwakwani and Rockstone …construction of aquaponic farms in Linden and in Kwakwani, the rural agriculture relief initiatives in Rockstone, Hururu, Nottinghamshire, Speightland and the acquiring of agricultural tools,” will also be catered for, the minister revealed.

Meanwhile, to ensure health care is being delivered equitably, $29 million will be expended to procure ambulances and outboard engines to benefit hundreds of residents.

“Mr Chairman, this budget of Region 10, in excess of $5.9 billion, is the most that Region 10 has received through the RDC since the establishment of the Regional Democratic Council,” Minister Dharamlall highlighted.

$4.8B

‒ farmers to receive planting materials by mid-February

FOCUS ON GUYANA’S FIRST PEOPLE

Solar electricity for 30,000 hinterland communities this year

10,000 expected in first quarter

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has reiterated that Guyana will this year receive some 30,000 solar panel systems, to distribute to households across 200 hinterland communities.

PM Phillips told the Parliamentary Committee of Supply Monday evening, that 10,000 solar panels are expected to arrive in the first quarter of this year, while 10,000 of the systems will meet in the second quarter and another 10,000 by year end.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips on Monday in the Commit-

tee of Supply

“So, it is our expectation that by the end of this year all 30,000 of the solar panel systems will be in the country and they will be distributed in 200 hinterland communities,” the prime minister stated.

He said the overall aim is to bridge the energy divide, citing that it is his agency’s responsibility to bridge the internet and electricity gaps.

“I assure you that the Office of the Prime Minister will be working with the other ministries including the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs to distribute the

$2.7B approved for ADF to benefit Amerindian, hinterland communities

30,000 solar panels based on a needs basis.

“Mr. Speaker, we are committed to transparency, and as the information becomes available, we will communicate with the general Guyanese public and certainly the opposition side of the house…This project will benefit all of us,” the prime minister added.

The hinterland solar project follows the signing of a US $7.2 million Line of Credit agreement between the Governments of Guyana and India, back in September 2021.

The signing coincided with the 57th anniversary celebration of Indian Technical Economic Cooperation (ITEC) day.

Work continues to expand ICT services to hinterland

Efforts continue to move apace to complete ICT hubs in hinterland villages to expand access.

Commencing in 2021, the reintroduction of the Government’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) programme is expected to see some 200 hinterland and riverine communities benefiting from fully equipped ICT hubs.

The ICT programme will be executed by the Office of the Prime Minister Project Management Unit under the ICT Access and eServices for Hinterland,

Poor and Remote Communities project.

Funds will be provided for villages with existing hubs to refurbish and equip those facilities. Village Councils will be tasked with identifying areas or buildings to establish hubs in villages that do not have those facilities.

Minister Sukhai said 20 internet-ready computers would be installed in the hubs and be accessible to all residents. “We are training the CSOs (Community Support Officers) so that they can be able to come

Amerindian and hinterland communities are set to benefit from numerous economic empowerment programmes, as the Committee of Supply on Monday (January 30, 2023) approved $2.7 billion earmarked in Budget 2023 for the Amerindian Development Fund (ADF).

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai while responding to questions posed by the opposition highlighted some of the projects that will be undertaken in these communities.

Monies have been set aside to promote entrepreneurship in Amerindian and hinterland communities.

These include, $30 million for the establishment of bakeries, $96 million for sewing centres, $43 million for saw milling enterprises and $18 million for wood working enterprises. “We have $10 million for enterprises to do with fishing, $13 million, cattle rearing and livestock, $18 million meat centres, $15 million guest houses relating to tourism. $56.5 million inclusive of $10 million to address lake front development,

back and teach persons in the village how to use the computers,” she added.

The Minister said the overall aim of the programme is to accelerate economic and social development across the hinterland.

Before 2015, the PPP/C Government had started a programme aimed at modernising Guyana through ICT which saw ICT labs being constructed and equipped in several communities and schools in the hinterland. This programme was altered under the APNU+AFC Administration.

solar processing projects – $20 million, shade houses which will support our agriculture drive and contribute to our country’s food security and the indigenous communities,” Minister Sukhai relayed to the committee.

Preservation of Amerindian culture is key as $123 million has been approved for preservation of Amerindian languages and heritage sites, archaeology study in indigenous culture items among other initiatives.

In keeping with its manifesto promise, the presidential grants for Amerindian communities have been increased by 30 per cent in 2023. “The presidential grant is not a new initiative; however, our manifesto spoke to an increase of the grant for the villages. So, villages have received increased in grants,” the Amerindian affairs minister pointed out.

A number of communities will receive ATVS, boats and outboard engines and other vehicles to improve access.

Minister Sukhai also told the committee that a sum of

$80 million has been budgeted to carry out consultations with communities on the revision of the Amerindian Act of 2009.

In addition, $1.4 billion is catered for in budget 2023 to support the Community Service Officers under the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP). Some 400 CSOs are set to be trained in various skillsets that are needed in their communities. “The areas we will be training in is to build skillsets in tourism and hospitality, small engine repairs, garment construction, tractor repairs……these are relevant skillsets which are required in the village currently,” the minister noted.

Minister Sukhai alluded to the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships and the Labour Ministry’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT) that will also allow Amerindian youths to be certified in various skillsets.

Overall, $4.7 billion has been approved for Amerindian development programmes for 2023.

$24M expended for rehabilitation of Achiwuib, Awaruwaunau bridges

The government through the Public Works Ministry’s Capital Works Programme has expended some $24 million for the construction of bridges in the communities of Achiwuib and Awaruwaunau, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

The execution of this major project will significantly improve the lives of 597 residents of the Achiwuib Village, and some 1,919 residents of Awaruwaunau and surrounding areas.

This noteworthy feat is a representation of the PPP/C Administration’s efforts to improve the lives of Guyanese while bridging the gap that exists between the coastal and hinterland areas.

It also forms part of the government’s manifesto commitment to improve hinterland infrastructure.

Of the $24 million, some $14 million was expended for the rehabilitation of the Achiwuib bridge that travels along the main access connecting to the village of Karaudarnau.

The substructure was

fortified with reinforced concrete and timber decking to ensure the longevity of the structure.

The contractor of the project was Clyve King. The duration of the project was four months.

Similarly, the Awaruwaunau bridge which was severely damaged was rehabilitated at a cost of some $10 million.

The project was executed by Cyril King and was completed within two months.

The Surama Village, Region 9, ICT hub

The Crash Water Village, Region 9, ICT hub

Major road maintenance, bridge construction projects for Region Three

TheMinistry of Local Government and Regional Development will be executing a number of major road maintenance and bridge construction projects in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) this year.

Minister, Nigel Dharamlall said residents can expect new and improved road infrastructure in various areas, including the Leonora Old Housing Scheme, Zeelugt North, Uitvlugt, MetenMeer-Zorg, Anna Catherina, Vergenoegen, Crane, and Goed Fortuin.

He said the fund will also go towards procuring road building materials to ensure the success of the projects.

One of the significant developments residents can expect is the construction of a reinforced concrete bridge at the Leonora Hospital, which will provide a new access to the health facility.

Bridges will also be established at Centre Street, Uitvlugt; La Bagatelle, Leguan; and Belle Vue Squatting Area.

In addition to road construction, the ministry is also procuring four 25 horse power outboard engines for the primary schools at Fort Island, Saxacalli Primary, and Hogg Island. Students from Bonasika are also expected to benefit from the initiative.

The government is also

Over 1,000 roads to be rehabilitated countrywide

purchasing two 32-seater buses to help with transporting of school children along the west coast and west bank.

President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has committed to purchasing another bus specifically for special needs school children and according to the minister, the vehicle will also be procured.

“We are a caring government, we know what is required to run the country and how to take care of our children,” the minister stated.

The ministry’s extensive road construction and infrastructure improvement programme is proof of the government’s commitment to its citizens, Minister Dharamlall stated.

Over $1.1B injected to aid Rose Hall Estate’s reopening

The Rose Hall Sugar Estate is poised to make a grand comeback in 2023, with the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government dedicating some $1.195 billion towards aiding its reopening in the second crop of this year.The iconic property is among the sugar factories closed under the previous APNU+AFC Government.

The fund will go towards the purchasing of one semi mechanical plant trailer, four fix spray tractors, fertiliser applicator, boom sprayers, 200 drainage tubes and 260 cane punts, among other necessary equipment.

This detail was provided to the Parliamentary Committee of Supply Tuesday (January 31, 2023), by Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha.

He was at the time responding to a question posed by Opposition Member of Parliament Vinceroy Jordan on the $2 billion stipulated for the Guyana Sugar Cooperation (GuySuCo). “We could have saved some of the money, but they left some of the punts to rot when they left office, and now we have to build back the punts,” Minister Mustapha said.

From the amount, the minister stated that a total of $539 million will go towards completing major works on the Rose Hall factory alone.

The investment will see the rehabilitation of millers, cane gantry component, cane carrier, broiler component and scales.

Another $50 million will be injected into the construction of buildings and roads around the factory.

The government has successfully completed 75 per cent of major works at the East Canje plant, in its ardent quest to returning “smoke to its chimney,” the agriculture minister noted. “We have almost 3,000 hectares of cane that is ready for the second crop 2022 that will be harvested, that will give us approximately eight to 10 weeks of grinding,” he underscored.

Meanwhile, another $452 million is allocated to the Albion estate to purchase tractors, fertiliser applicator and boom sprayer. Some $300 million is also set aside to begin constructing the packaging plant there.

Further, a sum of $287 million was approved by the supply committee to advance

Contracts were signed which will see the rehabilitation of over 1,000 roads as the government presses the accelerator on the country’s infrastructural development.

Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, made the disclosure during day two of the consideration of the 2023 budget estimates.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill on day two of the Consideration of Estimates

In the supplementary allocations for 2022, some $18.2 billion was provided under the Public Works Ministry for the provision of additional resources to facilitate the upgrading of roads and drains in various communities.

The roll-over amount for the continuance of these works is approximately $14.7 billion.

cation, thereby improving on the delivery of services. “Our ministries and agencies are scattered in several buildings at different places. The intent, based on what we’re looking at, these office complexes should be able to accommodate about 6000 persons,” minister Edghill said.

The sum of $2.6 billion, which was approved in the 2022 budget, was paid to the contractor – Caribbean Green Building Inc – to be used as mobilisation advance for the office towers.

Along with these complexes, the budget provides for the construction of two buildings at Coldingen and Wakenaam.

intend to be able to allow and facilitate local food… and we are rehabilitating and putting that at a prime tourist spot. The intent is that the old train and the engine that is there will be rehabilitated so that people will be able to go and see what the train used to look like,” the minister stated.

The creation of this safe space along the Lamaha stretch was conceptualised by His Excellency, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali.

NEW DEMERARA RIVER CROSSING

works at the Blairmont factory, with $200 million budgeted to expand the packaging plant’s operation.

Accordingly, a total of $56 million will be injected to enhance the Uitvlugt estate.

The minister posited that GuySuCo has made significant contributions towards the development of the country’s economy, noting that the industry will become profitable again. “GuySuCo has never failed and it will never fail… GuySuCo is supporting almost half of the population in certain areas, and we will continue to support GuySuCo, because the agency is making a big difference in our country,” the agriculture minister asserted.

The minister restated the government’s efforts to modernise the agriculture sector of which the sugar industry is a vital part. “Let me say this, Mr. Chairman, GuySuCo is responsible for all or most of the wealth that we own today. Even the National Cultural Centre we had money taken from GuySuCo to build… it is making a valuable contribution for our country’s economy,” the minister posited.

The miscellaneous roads programme will see communities in the ten administrative regions benefitting from improved roadways and drainage, and was intended to foster development on a community level.

Meanwhile, the minister highlighted that the budget provides for the construction of new office complexes on lands at Houston, Greater Georgetown.

These complexes are intended to increase efficiency by consolidating these government agencies into one lo-

Further, the minister shared that this year’s budget allocates for the rehabilitation and beautification of the Lamaha corridor to create a safe space for residents. “I think every Guyanese who traverses the Lamaha embankment area will see the transformation that is taking place…that we are moving that corridor from a graveyard of old excavators, junk, old trucks and vessels, and we are doing it as part of the beautification of our urban rehabilitation and renewal programme. With Guyana going towards becoming a tourist destination, part of the vision of Lamaha street where the old train station was located, we intend to put in place an art gallery. We

Meanwhile, in relation to the ongoing preparatory works on the construction of the new Demerara River Bridge, the Public Works minister said, “As it relates to land acquisition, the Ministry of Housing has successfully negotiated and handled all the properties that are in the path of the bridge, and we have no resistance from anyone not wanting to move,”

The company tasked with the construction of the new bridge is the China Railway Construction Company Limited (CRCCL).

The bridge will have a length of 2.65 kilometres, and will not require opening or retraction to allow for maritime traffic and will be built with a life span of at least 50 years.

Construction is expected to last two years.

Gov’t eyeing data repository for oil and gas sector – Min Bharrat – Initiative financially viable

Goodnews may be on the horizon for Guyana’s economic expansion, as the government announced plans for the establishment of an oil and gas data repository.

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat on Tuesday (January 31, 2023) during the consideration of the National Budgetary Estimates, explained that data in relation to Guyana’s oil and gas operations can be sold, and provide financial benefit for the country.

Discussions have commenced in relation to the establishment of a repository to house this valuable data in Guyana. “The disadvantage being faced right now is that our oil and gas data is not stored in Guyana. The issue is that we could make a lot of revenue by selling that data, by having that data in the country, and by being responsible for it,” minister Bharrat expressed.

Currently, the country’s oil and gas data is stored in a company in Houston, Texas that has the capacity to securely store it.

As such, companies in need of additional information related to prospects for Guyana’s oil industry will need to make a special appeal to the overseas facility in order to access that information.

“So, we’re moving to change that, so that we can have our data stored in Guyana, and we are able to manage that efficiently and earn revenue,” minister Bharrat emphasised.

As Guyana’s oil and gas industry expands, minister Bharrat explained that information related not only the prolific Stabroek Block, but all the oil blocks offshore Guyana, will be in demand.

Data repositories are enterprise data storage entities into which data has been specifically divided for analytical or reporting purposes.

Meanwhile, funds have been allocated in the 2023 budget for the hiring of a consultant to conduct a series of assessments.

These assessments will determine the type of data that will be stored, the hardware and software needed to house the data, and specifications for a suitable facility to house the data.

These will help the government to move forward with the planning for, and eventual construction of the data storage facility.

“If any company, take for example Exxon, that they need additional data on Guyana, seismic data or any other data, then they have to go to this third party in Huston and pay for the data of course 50% will come to us, but it is because we don’t have our own repository in Guyana that we have to take 50% and not 100%,” the minister added.

Six more solid waste sites to be established − Dharamlall

Some $1 billion has been allocated in this year’s budget specifically for solid waste management interventions, while another $885 million is set aside to upgrade and expand the solid waste management system this year.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, who made the disclosure on Wednesday, also announced that an additional six landfill sites will be established at strategic areas in 2023.

The minister told the Committee of Supply that almost $300 million of the $885 million has been allotted for the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill Site.

He explained that the management of solid waste

is one of Guyana’s biggest challenges, adding that the current disposable sites cannot resolve the nationwide issues.

The government has made significant investments to enhance awareness on sanitation practices and solid waste management countrywide, since assuming office in August 2020.

The approach is in keeping with the administration’s commitment to promoting integrated sanitation management to safeguard human health and the environment.

“We have started expanding on some of these, we have also included additional areas for operations,” he stated.

Already, the government has held a number of con-

Gov’t taking legal action against Chung’s Global for substandard work – Dr Anthony

sultations to create a strategic plan to strengthen and develop the country’s solid waste management system.

Minister Dharamlall urged the Opposition Members of Parliament to join the government in advocating for proper disposal of garbage across the country.

He stressed that the national clean up exercise which is being spearheaded by President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali in all regions, has not received any support from the opposition.

“This is a as national issue. And so, Mr. Chairman if you can use your office to encourage the opposition to join this effort as we move towards transforming the aesthetics of Guyana including the city Georgetown,” the minister urged.

The government has started legal proceedings against Chung’s Global Enterprise for a series of issues regarding the contract to build the new Ministry of Health’s Office at Brickdam, Georgetown.

Minister, Dr Frank Anthony made the disclosure on Tuesday (January 31, 2023) in the National Assembly, while responding to questions by Opposition Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira regarding the termination of the contract by the PPP/C Government on October 31, 2020.

He noted that the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, SC, has already taken the necessary legal steps against the contractor.

Dr Anthony said the original cost of the project was $365 million and the contract was signed on November 28, 2020.

It was intended to be completed in 12 months and should have commenced some 14 days after the contract signing.

However, according to the Auditor General’s report, at the end of December 2018 little work was done. “Twenty-one months after the signing of the contract, only foundation work was completed and some work was started on the erection of steel frame, and when they visited the site there were three workers on the site, three workers were working,” minister Anthony said.

In fact, the company contracted to supervise the work said there were “many instances” of substandard work.

Minister Anthony noted that on February 11, 2019 ground beams were found to be substandard and these defects were pointed out. Some of the work had to be redone which also added to the cost.

ommended that the head of budget agency take immediate actions to activate the stipulations of the contract including termination of the contract and recovery of the sums paid.

At that point, it was estimated that for the work to be completed the contract had to be increased to about $870 million.

This represented an additional $513.3 million to be added to the $304.5 million that was already paid.

When the performance bond was checked it was already expired one year prior.

The current administration took office in August 2020 and terminated the contract soon after and a new contract was awarded to the tune of $436 million to complete the work.

The Labour Ministry through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) will continue in its efforts to build a skilled workforce across the country by expending close to $139 million to construct and rehabilitate several training centres.

The ministry plans on constructing an office and training centres at New Amsterdam and Corriverton.

The plot of land at New Amsterdam was provided by the Town Council. This training centre will be constructed to the tune of some $39.9 million.

Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton while responding to questions posed by the Opposition during the bud-

get estimates on Tuesday said the land at Corriverton was gifted to the ministry.

“We plan to execute a project there to build an office and training centre to service the Upper Corentyne,” the minister underlined.

Also, in Region Nine, the minister said, “We have started to use a building that was built and left useless. We are now doing training programmes there”.

He stated that the ministry plans to inject funds at a cost of some $20 million into the building for development and training for North Rupununi.

Rehabilitation works to the tune of $25 million will be injected to complete

the Learning and Resource Centre for BIT at Unity.

“The intention for the Unity building is to utilise it as a training centre to certify and accredit persons who already have a skill. So, we have persons who are carpenters, masons, and electricians who don’t have the requisite certification and qualifications,” the Minister said.

Some $10 million will also be injected to complete rehabilitation works at the Bartica Learning Resource Centre for the training of BIT students.

This initiative aligns with the government’s policy of delivering technical and vocational training pro-

Turn to page 20 →

25 smart classrooms to be established in 2023 – Education Minister

In keeping with the Education Ministry’s vision of incorporating technology to transform the education sector, 25 smart classrooms are expected to be established or enhanced at secondary schools across the country in 2023.

The implementation of

smart classrooms continues to play a pivotal role to create equity and access to education for all students.

Minister, Priya Manickchand made the disclosure while responding to questions posed by the Opposition on Tuesday (January 31, 2023) in the Parliamentary

Committee of Supply.

The ministry’s efforts to reduce the access gap between students on the coast and those in the hinterland so that quality education could be enjoyed by all, would be aided by the establishment of the smart

Turn to page 20 →

The minister said the contractor received an advance payment of $71.2 million which represented some 20 per cent of the contract sum.

In April 2018, the Ministry of Public Health, as it was called at the time under the APNU+AFC Administration, contracted a supervisory firm to look over the construction of the building.

Also, in 2018, two additional payments were made to Chung’s Global Enterprise.

According to Dr Anthony, the first and second payments were made in the sums of $34.5 million and $48.8 million, respectively.

Public Service Minister, Sonia Parag has reminded that the public sector will see efforts being made to facilitate modernisation, as government is looking to implement an e-governance structure.

She was at the time responding to Opposition Member, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley in relation to the modernisation of the sector. “We are looking at an e-governance structure throughout the public service. In the meanwhile, the ministry is looking to have a software be installed that will be compatible with that when

“The Auditor General recommended that liquidated damages should have been instituted, but there was no evidence that the ministry liquidated any damages. At the end of 2019 the contractor received $304.5 million or about 85 per cent of the contract sum, and payments were made without valuation of six payment certificates, which totaled about $233.1 million, there was no valuation certificate, and works remained incomplete,” the health minister pointed out.

Dr Anthony added that among some of the works to be completed were the ceiling works, painting of the internal and external walls, electrical and AC unit installations, installation the lifts, tiling works, plumbing works and additional furnishing.

He noted that in 2019, the Auditor General rec -

it comes onboard,” Minister Parag said.

She noted that this new software will foster interconnectivity among the agencies.

Electronic governance, or e-governance, is the use of electronic software and information technology to deliver government services to the public. The aim is to ensure that personnel of the public service are equipped with the skills to undertake the training programmes which are also slated for this year being facilitated by the Centre for Excellence in Information

“One of the things we are discovering as work is continuing on the building is that the external wall of this facility is porous, in the last rains that we had the building was leaking, water was coming through the supposedly concrete walls, not only is water coming through, mold is now on the walls,” minister Anthony said.

A structural analysis shows that the lifts cannot be accommodated because it could collapse, therefore a new engineering solution is needed.

“With the new contract at the 31st of October,2022, 91 per cent of the works were completed and the project is going to come to an end hopefully at the end of February, so that the staff of the ministry can move into that building, after all that lengthy correction that we had to do” minister Anthony said.

Technology (CEIT).

Meanwhile, the minister disclosed that based on the national needs assessment, the thousands of Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships slated for this year will address the needs of the public service and the country as a whole.

The opposition MP had questioned whether the GOAL and Government of Guyana scholarships are meeting the needs of the people, pointing out that many scholarship recipients are

Close to $139M to complete training centres, certify persons through BIT – Min Hamilton

New software to be developed to modernise the public sector

PPP/C DELIVERING ON ‘PLAN FOR PROSPERITY’

City Hall restoration project on track for year-end completion – Dharamlall

Therestoration of the iconic City Hall building in central Georgetown is well on track for completion by the stipulated deadline.

The restoration, for which some $263.1 million was allocated in the 2023 National Budget, will see the reconstruction and enhancement of the historic building.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, told the Committee of Supply on Wednesday (February 1, 2023) that the restoration is part of the government’s effort geared towards the restoration and beautification of the capital city.

That broader initiative is one in a series of projects conceptualised by President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali since he assumed office in August 2020. “This building has been under the administration of the City Council for all of the years that the council has been in

existence. And it is quite alarming… that the City Council of Georgetown… has left this building to rot over a number of years, and it is quite unfortunate that the office of the city, at one time, was in the City Hall. It became a national embarrassment for our country,” Minister Dharamlall told the committee.

He stated, however, that the wellbeing of the city takes priority over the politics of the country, and as such, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government will see to it that Georgetown continues to be improved, and restored to its original glory. “Since this contract was signed, we have been steadfastly working. The restoration is quite an intricate exercise. And as we are working, we are finding many other things that need to be fixed, or restored as well. So, we will not fast track this process, and com-

Sophia Exhibition Centre to get extensive facelift as GuyExpo returns this year

promise the quality of the work. But we have done tremendous work already, and so far, we are on time to complete the work by the end of the contract period,” the minister emphasised.

In December, during an interview, Minister Dharamlall had outlined plans for the modernisation of City Hall.

These included an elevator system for increased accessibility, and a vision for the new building to be utilised as a town hall, where public activities could be hosted.

He also suggested that the building can become one of Guyana’s many tourist sites. “We would like everyone to get an opportunity, on completion of the restoration, to own City Hall as part of the identity of our country,’ he had said.

The City Hall restoration project is scheduled for completion before the end of this year.

The Sophia Exhibition Complex is set to undergo major rehabilitation works in preparation for the hosting of Guyana’s largest trade expo, GuyExpo 2023.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, while defending the $6.53 billion allocated to the ministry for its capital projects, noted that $14.5 million will go towards the refurbishment works at the complex.

The works will entail repairs and recapping of

staff quarters, repairs to the fuel bond, installation of storage shelves, refurbishing of the GuyExpo secretariat, repairs to the roof shed, and main stage area at the main auditorium.

The floors, walls and stage of the main auditorium will also be repaired and repainted while defective outlets and lighting fixtures in the office building will be replaced.

Also, a fence will be constructed at a cost of $13.847 million, while $5

million was allocated for the hosting of the activity this year.

GuyExpo was first held in 1995 and was an annual event. It grew to attract hundreds of local and international businesses, creating a platform for producers to showcase and promote their products, and create opportunities for businesses locally and internationally. The event was downsized under the previous APNU+AFC Administration.

Massive development plans for LBI housing scheme

While conducting several site visits along the East Coast of Demerara on Saturday, Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal laid out the infrastructural framework that will see massive development in the La Bonne Intention housing scheme.

lots. The second zone consists of young professional homes. The minister said infrastructural works are being prepared for close to 600 of these homes.

Eastern side is where private investors will be conducting infrastructural works… for high-end housing, hotel type activities and so forth.

More than $3.9 million in contracts were presented to the Kwebanna Village Council for works on the Kwebanna Water Supply System, at Moruca, Region One.

Minister of Housing and Water, Hon. Collin Croal, handed over the contract to the Toshao, Mr. Troy Peters in the presence of the Regional Chairman, Mr. Brentnol Ashley; the Vice-Chairperson, Ms. Annansha Peters; the Director of Hinterland Services at the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Mr. Ramchand Jailal and residents during a village meeting on Saturday.

The drilling of the well for the water supply project has already been completed. The contracts, therefore, provide for the construction of the storage facility and the installation of distribution systems to complete the project; while also providing employment opportunities for villagers.

Minister Croal told

residents that the PPP/C Government will continue to make the necessary investments to ensure all Guyanese have access to potable water, in keeping with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The works in the contracts will include: the construction of storage tanks concrete slab; construction of a 25×25 feet perimeter chain link fence around the well site; installation of 720 lengths of 50mm and 300 lengths of 100mm PVC pipelines from the well to the storage tanks and along the distribution network; installation of 220 lengths of 19mm pipelines to accommodate service connections to each resident; installation of PVC pipe fittings; and the provision for a tractor or truck to transport pipes and materials to the project sites from the point of storage.

GWI will be supervising the construction of the storage facility and the

installation of the distribution system. Overall, the Kwebanna Water Supply System is pegged at $20 million and will bring firsttime potable water access to residents.

During the meeting residents also raised several issues regarding agriculture, security, infrastructure development and education.

Minister Croal committed to the installation of ten street lights within the next month, at strategic points along the community’s main roadway to enhance their security. More security measures for the community are also in-line.

Meanwhile, the Regional Chairman, Mr. Brentnol Ashley spoke about the extension of the Kwebanna Primary School, rehabilitation of the nursery school, incoming training programmes for nurses at Moruca and other interventions. The matters raised will also be forwarded to the relevant subject Ministers.

He noted that persons who have been allocated lots in the residential areas have been shown their lots and are now able to apply for a mortgage. “All those persons have already started to sign their letters of agreement of sale. We have also sorted out the ownership, because, when we take over, they did not have ownership. So, that is now taken care of,” the minister said.

Some 450 persons were allocated residential lots in the LBI housing scheme.

The area is separated by a series of zones, beginning with the residential house

He highlighted that, similar to the issues in La Reconnaissance, accessibility poses a challenge with the ongoing works. “So, you may see the front of the scheme developing, but then to get access to go inwards is difficult, because sometimes a contractor is waiting on the contractor in front of them, or in another case, we would need to get the access road done in order to have the infrastructure,” he explained.

Meanwhile, minister Croal stated that LBI is being developed to attract private investment, and that road interconnectivity is also a priority in this process.

“The other development that is happening on the

We will also be seeing a commercial zone, which will run close to the road connecting Aubrey Barker to Enmore-Foulis. So, you can see how interconnected all the areas on the East Coast are,” the housing and water minister stated.

The minister assured that this level of development will be duplicated in all regions across the country. “We have to develop all regions, and if we are talking about One Guyana, it means that we will develop all regions,”

He said the allocation of house lots in Region Four is based on availability, pointing out that there is a scarcity of available plots for residential purposes on the East Bank of Demerara.

Nursery schools to be constructed in Swan Village, Non Pareil

As the government continues to ensure accessible education for all, two new nursery schools will be built this year at Swan Village and Non Pareil in Region Four.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, while responding to questions in the National

Assembly’s Committee of Supply, announced that some $355 million will be allocated towards the construction of the schools, among other programmes to enhance education delivery.

The minister also identified other schools that will benefit from rehabilitation, including those at Soesdyke,

Diamond, and Grove. Roads and bridges will also be done in these areas to complement the schools.

In September last, an $89 million nursery school was officially commissioned Martyrs’ Ville, with others commissioned in Abram Zuil, Queenstown, and Sebai in 2022.

Over $3.9M in contracts handed over for installation of distribution system & storage facility for Kwebanna water supply system

GECOM moves closer to LGE...

verted boundaries will also follow for some NDCs to allow for better representation. Meanwhile the Toevlugt-Patentia constituency will be extended to Free and Easy, capturing hundreds of residents.

In Region Four, reverting the boundaries will also be done for some areas where there was a consolidation of NDCs. In Region Five, Woodlands Farm had been expanded to include De Hoop access road residents who were left out of an administrative area.

Other areas such as Mahdia, Lethem, Linden and Georgetown will remain the same. No boundaries have been contracted nor have the number of constituencies reduced, Dharamlall had further explained.

The complement of councillors will also in -

crease in the 80 Local Authority Areas. In 2018, this number was 1192 councillors in 596 constituencies. For the 2023 polls, there will be 1220 councillors in 610 constituencies.

DATE FOR LGE 2023

March 13, 2023 was initially set as the date for Local Government Elections. However, Gunraj confirmed that this date will no longer be possible.

GECOM was allocated $5.217 billion, which represented an increase from the 2022 allocation of $4.04 billion.

LGE is constitutionally due every two years in Guyana and was last held in 2018.

While the polls were due in 2020, the elections fiasco that played out following the March 2 General

and Regional Elections that year resulted in LGE being deferred.

Local Government Elections were further deferred, among other challenges, because of the absence of key senior GECOM staffers, including a Chief Elections Officer, given that the former CEO, Keith Lowenfield, was fired and placed before the courts on changes related to public misconduct and electoral fraud. LGE, which are usually due every two years, was last held in 2018. At the last LGE in November 2018, the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Opposition had secured 52 of the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs). This followed the holding of the LGE in 2016, during which the PPP/C also claimed the majority of the LAAs.

CARICOM must exploit...

compounded the issues. He pointed out that these have contributed to the high cost of energy, which has led to increased costs for electricity, transportation, and consumer goods, contributing to inflation in developed and developing states. “Much of our inflation is imported. As political leaders and policy makers, we have to face the reality of inflation that is not as a result of bad policies or measures…This has pushed many families into poverty and food insecurity,” the president said.

According to the World Energy and Consumption Yearbook for 2021, global energy consumption rebounded

by 5 per cent in 2021 compared to the 4.5 per cent fall in 2020.

The global primary energy consumption for the year 2021 was 176,431 terawatt hours. The four main sources of power consumed were oil, 29 per cent, coal, 24 per cent, natural gas, 22 per cent, and hydropower, six per cent.

“This is the reality. This is not guesswork; this is the data. So, let’s have the conversation as to how we first moved away from coal, the 25 per cent. Why isn’t that conversation the priority? “If coal is the worst form of energy, how do we transition? What is needed to make that first and immediate transition from

coal, which is 25 per cent? Where is that conversation?” President Ali questioned.

Dr Ali stated that the region’s reliance on fossil fuels and natural gas will continue for the foreseeable future, stating “It’s not a big scientific analysis that is required. It is based on what is before us.”

He said to achieve a net-zero global system, countries must invest in clean energy and green technology, reduce their carbon footprint, and create new economic opportunities in the clean energy sector.

The president also highlighted the importance of ensuring that the transition to a net-zero world is equi-

Constitutional Agencies’ Budgets...

← From page 11 President with Responsibility for Finance Dr.Ashni Singh.

During his presentation Dr. Singh reminded that key and critical Constitutional bodies that are part of the architecture of constitutional governance are appointed and functioning, such as the Audit Office of Guyana, the Supreme Court, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Public Service Appellate Tribunal, the Ombudsman, and the Guyana Elections Commission. He added that ‘In 2022, Constitutional agencies inclusive of the Public Procurement Commission, Police Service Commission, and most recently in January 2023, the Teaching Service Commission have been appointed. He pointed out further that ‘Notably, the consultative process with civil society organisations for nominations to the Ethnic Relations Commission

and the Women and Gender Equality Commission has been completed’. He added further that the approval of the National Assembly is anticipated shortly after the budget is adopted.

Dr. Singh emphasized during his presentation as well on January 16 last that ‘the work to complete the Rights of the Child Commission and the Indigenous People’s Commission should be completed by mid-year while Issues surrounding the appointment of the long-overdue Judicial Service Commission are on public record despite efforts by His Excellency the President to bring this to conclusion in 2022. He added further then that ‘the process for concluding the nominees to the Public Service Commission is in progress at the Committee of Appointment’.

In relation to the Guyana Elections Commission

(GECOM), this year’s Budget provides for an additional sum to cater for Local Government Elections and this was explained by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira following queries today about the additional allocation for the Constitutional body. During his presentation on Budget Day, Dr. Singh had also alluded to this during his 2023 Budget presentation: “…the upcoming local government elections will serve as a reminder of our Government’s commitment to good governance and transparency across every community, and will provide much needed renewal to the local government system,” he said.

The $781.9 Billion Budget was presented under the theme “Improving Lives Today, Building Prosperity for Tomorrow’.

table and beneficial for all people. “So, while still quite capital intensive, renewable energy will and must be pursued. This is not an argument against renewable energy. We must pursue every opportunity of renewable energy and we have a tremendous opportunity,” he noted.

He said coming out of the conference should be an outcome document that contributes to the global system, and provides insight into how the region is approaching the transition to a net-zero world, specifically how the investors in the energy sector in the region are viewing the transition and potential opportunities in clean energy.

Close to $139M to complete...

Minister Hamilton said currently, BIT offers many skills training programmes that are accessible to citizens countrywide.

He said these programmes were mostly centred on the coastland and its environs, and were not available to persons elsewhere. This, he noted, changed when the PPP/C Administration assumed office in

← From page 16

August 2020 to ensure the programmes are more inclusive, and accessible to all citizens. “BIT is available in every region and sub-region of this country. Every hinterland region, river, every creek, and so the expansion

you talk about has already happened…the expansion started in August 2020” he relayed.

In relation to training, Minister Hamilton highlighted that some 5,600 persons graduated from BIT programmes in 2022.

He said government remains committed to providing the necessary support for persons to be employed or become entrepreneurs.

Some 40 persons are being trained in Region Ten for the heavy-duty operator programme. This year, BIT intends to train almost 8,000 persons countrywide.

classrooms.

The smart classroom will not only enhance the way teachers deliver their instructions but also how students learn since there are unlimited possibilities.

Although lessons can be recorded in advance and viewed later, the objective of smart classrooms is to offer a setting that encourages greater teacher-student interaction.

The smart classrooms are equipped with an interactive board, audio system, smart cameras, a wireless television for remote access, and motion and voice-activated cameras complete with

a face recognition feature.

← From page 16 grammes with the view of addressing the demand for skills in various sectors.

Over the last two years, the government has established smart classrooms at President’s College, Queen’s College, Leonora, Moraikobai, Christianburg, Charity, New Amsterdam, Brickdam and East Ruimveldt Secondary schools and St Stanislaus College.

The second smart classroom was launched at Queen’s College in 2021 while the first was commissioned in 2014 at North Ruimveldt Secondary.

Another is located at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

New software to be developed to...

unable to gain employment in the public service following completion of their programme.

Minister Parag highlighted that this was a feature of scholarship recipients under the previous administration. Referring to the scholarship options made available under the previous administration, she said, “The relevant and priority areas were not selected. It was done on an ad hoc basis. So, you had persons coming out when there were no vacancies available for their skillset, and a lot of those persons were also overtrained. So, the people who are coming out now were not from this particular administration.”

She added that when areas that could not facilitate placement were identified, they were removed from the list of scholarship options. These areas include Agriculture, Forestry and International Relations.

Further, Minister Parag highlighted that government continues to develop the Guyana School of Agriculture, and offer scholarships in specialty areas such as Food Science and Food Technology, as part of efforts to promote advancements in food security and involvement in Agriculture. “We are catering for where the areas are going to advance in Agriculture,” the Public Service minister added.

The government’s 20,000 online scholarship programme is the fulfilment of a pledge made to provide opportunities for educational development nationwide, in recognition of the challenges faced by many Guyanese with regards to tertiary education. GOAL is set to offer 187 programmes that can be accessed from 15 reputable academic institutions across the world, including India, Africa, the United Kingdom and Germany. The programmes, which are being financed by the Government, range from certificate-level to PhDs.

Some $1.8 billion has been allocated in the 2023 budget for the advancement of the GOAL programme.

COMMENTARY

Budget 2023 advances the transformational agenda

By Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

Noone would have believed how rapidly the economic and social development trajectory would have occurred in Guyana when the people decided on March 2, 2020 that they had had enough of David Granger and his PNC-led APNU/AFC’s hapless, incompetent, clueless cabinet and government. When five months after the election, on August 2, 2020, President Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharat Jagdeo and the PPP government took over, few people, including staunch PPP supporters, believed that the government would have been able to so quickly take control and change the direction Guyana was moving. Oil money was already flowing then, but the David Granger -led APNU/AFC (PNC) government had no vision and was more interested in their own welfare.

Fast forward to January 2023. Guyana is now the envy of the whole of CARICOM. Our little country is presently being paid attention to by the whole world. Every investor, every international organization, every country is interested in Guyana today. Guyana has the fastest growing economy in the world for the third year in a row and is projected to retain this position in 2024. In 2023, Guyana’s economy grew by a phenomenal 62.3%, way in front of any other country in the world by a whopping greater than 50 percentage points above its closest rival. Leaving out the contributions of oil, Guyana’s GDP spurt was carried by the traditional economy, such as agriculture, mining and the service industries, with a non-OIL economic boom of greater than 11%. This too was the largest GDP growth in the world in 2023.

The naysayers said that it has nothing to do with President Ali and his government, that the economic growth was driven by EXXON and oil. No doubt, EXXON and oil have much to do with the rapid economic growth. But leaving out OIL’s contribution, the non-oil economic spurt measured by GDP also is among the lead GDP growth for the last three years and projected to also be the leading GDP growth for 2024. The same people who could not have maintained the pre-2014 economic development today want to diminish the accomplishments of the PPP government. But it is precisely because our government led by President Ali and VP Bharat Jagdeo has led with vision and competence that Guyana established an economic tra-

jectory that makes Guyana the rocket ship of GDP growth in the world.

Once we remind the naysayers, such as the PNC-led opposition, they counter that the present economic boom is just a paper thing and that the people do not benefit. This is pure, unadulterated nonsense. To put it bluntly, this argument is sheer “BS”. The infrastructural development across Guyana is what we could have expected over a period of more than twenty years with the economy President Irfaan Ali’s PPP government inherited in 2020. If that economy had continued to grow at about 5% GDP growth, the 2023 infrastructural development would only have occurred in about 2040 and beyond. But because of the rapid economic growth, the infrastructure is being developed by the proverbial “leaps and bounds”.

The infrastructural transformation is being propelled by the building of the new Demerara River Bridge to replace the old one, the new Corentyne Bridge to connect Guyana and Suriname for the first time ever, the highway from Georgetown to Lethem, new highways or improved existing ones in Regions 2,3,4,5, and 6, new or upgraded existing roads in Regions 1,7,8,9, and 10, new schools, new hospitals, dozens of new housing schemes etc. These projects and others are not just things that change the landscape of our country, these projects have social benefits for every single Guyanese citizen. As an example, the Demerara River Bridge will not merely make the Demerara landscape look like a high middle income country, it will help tens of thousands of people who today simply suffer the inadequacy of the transport infrastructure. The new housing schemes will provide homes for tens of thousands of families quicker.

The improved economy also adds to the improved social welfare needs of our people. While many have only paid interest to the increased spending on infrastructure (more than $136B in 2023 alone), the government has directed resources to directly assist people. The cash grants, the Because We Care grants, the increases in salaries and wages, increases in pension and public assistance, the subsidies for electricity and water, direct cash grants for dialysis, the increasing medicine availability for heart diseases and cancer etc., the thousands of scholarships and many other programs directly impact on the lives of thousands of people.

Every community, every region is being transformed before our very eyes, not slowly, but rapidly. This week we highlight the tremendous amount of development that is transforming Region 6. Region 6 – Corentyne/East Berbice is an example of how Guyana is being transformed such that its landscape will no longer be recognized by those who do not visit in the next five years. President Ali and Budget 2023 have outlined the massive development taking place in Region 6. For example, in 2022, more than 500 community streets were improved or reconstructed. In 2023, this number will be exceeded. Soon all community streets in Region 6, in every single community will be upgraded.

The new Corentyne River bridge that will connect Guyana and Suriname will begin design and preparatory work in 2023. This will bring the two countries closer together, but will further ignite the economy. A new Berbice high-span bridge is also in the works for Region 6. The Corentyne and East Berbice highway is being reconstructed to create a four-lane highway. New roads are opening up in what has been known as the “backdam”. These new roads will open up new lands for agriculture and housing and other development. More than 500,000 acres will be opened up as a new Corentyne transport road will directly connect the Corentyne from Orealla to the Berbice River and Kwakwani, with a new bridge across the Canje River behind Gangaram.

In the meanwhile, under government pressure, CGX is completing the deepwater harbor that will not only add to the changing landscape, but create a new economic base for Regions 6 and 5. For rice farmers this new deep water port will mean that transportation cost for rice export will be reduced, leading to greater rice-profits. But other farmers will also benefit. With imports also coming in through Berbice, this will create more business and job opportunities in Regions 6 and 5. The deep water harbor will also facilitate the oil industry. In fact, President Ali has already announced and government’s advertisement for expression of interest has already been out for oil refineries to be developed in Region 6. With new oil refineries, Regions 6 and 5 are likely to see a once-again growing population.

The Government has already been working with the private sector to transform the Palmyra area. A

new municipal airport will be built in this area. In addition, a new national stadium, adding to the Providence Stadium, will be built in Palmyra. A new international hotel will also be built in this new development. A private hospital has already been designed for Palmyra. New housing schemes are being developed also to go along with banks and shopping malls. What was once cane fields will now become a booming new town.

Already a new hospital is being built in #75 Village. The New Amsterdam Hospital will be redeveloped. The National Psychiatric Hospital will also be redeveloped. The health sector will see major new developments. In fact, the new New Amsterdam Hospital will include a surgical unit for heart surgeries. Upgrades of Port Mourant Hospital, Mibikuri Hospital and a Polyclinic in Orealla will change the health sector in Region 6. Every health center will continue to be upgraded. CT scans will be available in the new hospital at #75 Village and in the new New Amsterdam Hospital. Dialysis centers will open up in both of these hospitals.

In the meanwhile, Government has already begun work for the new Technical and Vocational Training Institute in Port Mourant that will become an international institute to train both technicians for the Oil industry and other industries and train hospitality workers for the service industry. Indeed, these developments and the provisions made in Budget 2023 will catapult Region 6 into a place that none of us would have imagined possible before 2050. But the development in Region 6 is also happening everywhere in the country.

Guyana’s economic story –leading the world in GDP growth over multiple years – is one that is also seeing the social welfare needs of our people are being met. This generation of Guyanese citizens will be inheriting a country that none of their grandparents could have imagined. Before the 200th anniversary of the freedom of slaves and the beginning of indentureship in Guyana, a new Guyana is rising. Ralieigh’s Eldorado has been finally realized, not by the colonials, but by the descendants of slaves and indentured laborers.

PPP/C has demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusivity – PM Phillips

Dialogue creates a platform for cohesiveness and forms the foundation for the creation of positive social and cultural development, according to Prime Minister, (rtd) Brigadier, Mark Phillips.

“Peace and harmony ultimately promote prosperity, a commitment that our Government has also made to the people of Guyana. So we recognise the need to ensure

that all stakeholders are included so that we can receive their contributions on how to continue to build a harmonious nation,” he charged at a recent forum.

The Senior Government Official reiterated Government’s commitment to inclusion and its vision of One Guyana. Peace and harmony, he explained, ultimately promote prosperity, a commitment that the Government

has also made to the people of Guyana. Phillips said, “So we recognise the need to ensure that all stakeholders are included so that we can receive their contributions on how to continue to build a harmonious nation…Our Government is guided by the vision of ONE GUYANA as set out by His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali. This vision speaks of peace and harmony among our people

which are necessary for our existence.”

The Prime Minister stressed, “We have committed to ensuring that there is no discrimination based on race, religion, gender or sexual orientation in our society. We have committed to fostering diversity and inclusiveness by sensitising our people about their importance.”

The past several months have seen incidents where

persons have spewed unfounded claims of racism by the current Administration. Unsubstantiated and wildly irresponsible claims – all worded along lines to stir tensions among Guyanese continue to be peddled by leaders of the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition. The issue of racist rhetoric by the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition to stir tensions has been condemned repeatedly over the past several months by PPP/C leaders.

The PNC-led APNU+AFC Coalition’s expressed intentions to “undermine” the Dr. Irfaan Aliled PPP/C Administration, according to PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, in prior comments, has not gone unnoticed. Jagdeo, in prior comments, had said, “People like David Hinds, who for decades misled people into thinking they represent Afro-Guyanese, had no interest in development for Guyana, much less development in the interest of Afro-Guyanese…they are parasitic… when they came into office, they had no intention of supporting Afro-Guyanese…he is smarting from the person loss of privileges that he and his family enjoyed…the bitterness stems from there.” Moving forward, Jagdeo noted that the APNU+AFC Coalition must drop racism as a tool and get on board with a national development agenda – all in the interest of all Guyanese across the entire country. “It is a dead end if they don’t drop the racism… there is room for inclusion, providing that you work for the people…you can’t bully people and you can’t lie to people….currently, we have an ineffective Opposition Leader…more often than not, he has a shallow understanding of crucial sectors,” he stressed.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Government,

Gail Teixeira, who took aim at the APNU+AFC Coalition, recently. She said, “At a time when we are taking the trajectory of our country forward; when we are seeing transformation; when the government has given COVID relief; help in the hampers; flood relief; the removal of taxes; the purchase of vaccines for our people; the PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment)…drugs that were not there; the opening up of housing; and the fixing of roads and bridges. All of this is taking place and all you can do is drag it down to race. That is the only flag you have. The only flag you wave is race…you have stuck loyally to your history from 1954 and onwards - of divide and rule in Guyana. That is unfortunate. I don’t accept that the youth don’t know about these things. They are not obtuse…whether the PNC/ RIG/ APNU/ AFC comes to term with past and steps on the road to national unity, you will be found, if you don’t join, left alone…. you have a choice.” Teixeira charged that the PPP/C will push forward with President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s announced One Guyana initiative, despite the naysayers in the Coalition camp. She said, “The attempt to weaken any embryonic efforts at building a One Guyana will not succeed…efforts at building a ‘One Guyana’- a ‘One Guyana’ for all of us as a people where we will work towards equitable distribution of goods and services; where we will work for the development of the regions of our country…that is our goal and if you don’t agree with it, I’m sorry. You’re lost.”

In February 2021, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced the establishment of a ‘One Guyana Commission’, which will be spearheaded by Prime Minister Phillips.