$54M primary school for Hogg Island, Region Three

They have literature not only opportunities but also the incentives regime that obtain in all of the key sectors,” he related.

Further, the local content legislation has provided the incentive for investors to partner with Guyanese companies. Dr Singh explained that, “It creates also an incentive for partnerships between international and Guyanese companies. And what we are seeing already is a number of international companies wanting to take advantage of the growth and business opportunities in Guyana, entering into strategic partnerships with their Guyanese counterparts…and indeed be able to optimise the incentive structure that is created by the local content legislation.” Over the next three to four years, Guyana is projected to grow at a rate in excess of 25 per cent per annum in real terms.

Preparation works begin for new health centres in Berbice

Residents of Berbice will soon be able to access additional health services, as preparatory works have commenced for the construction of two health centres in Region Six.

The centres will be built at Chesney and New Area Cane-field Settlement.

With these health centres, residents of the two villages and neighbouring communities will be able to easily access primary healthcare, which will reduce barriers such as distance and cost.

The centres will also bring great ease to the New Amsterdam, Skeldon and Port Mourant Hospitals since some of the clinics will move to the centres.

This will add to the easy monitoring of diseases countrywide, thus, generally improving the country’s health system.

Additionally, the centres will bring about major employment opportunities for the residents, since there will be a need for health workers.

The health centre at Chesney is being constructed at the cost of over $39.3 million, while more than $50.2 million will be injected at the New Area Cane-Field Settlement facility. The time frame for both projects is May 22 to September 30, 2023.

The two centres will consist of an outpatient area, an observation and

Gov’t advancing efforts to...

ana Rice Development Board (GRDB), and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), conducted a two-day workshop. This event was tailored to equip farmers with knowledge on new and cost-effective feed and fertilizer alternatives, thereby boosting production and productivity. The workshop was attended by approximately 19 farmers from 17 communities and 23 extension officers from five coastal regions supporting consulting room, a small storage bond, along with a washroom area. The construction of these new health centres will form part of the government’s commitment to ensuring equal healthcare countrywide.

Recently, a tobacco concession clinic was opened at the Industry Health Centre, East Coast of Demerara (ECD), while a brand-new infectious disease centre was commissioned in Region Nine.

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has also announced that several health centres in Region Nine will be upgraded to smart facilities soon.

← FROM PAGE 16 livestock, rice, cash crops, and roots and tubers farmers.

FAO remains committed to supporting vulnerable populations, including youth and women. The majority of participants at the workshop were female farmers and extension officers, followed by young farmers.

Moving forward, farmers are also set to benefit from input supplies provided by the FAO. The government, on its part, persists in its commitment to expand social pro-

Students of Hogg Island, Region Three will benefit from the construction of a primary school to the tune of $54 million, as the government continues to ensure equal access to education countrywide.

The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Three is inviting bids from eligible persons to execute the work.

Bids are also invited for extension works to be executed on Bagotville Primary School at a cost of $54 million and the Leonora Secondary School to the tune of $28 million.

Interested bidders may inspect the bidding document/s and obtain further information from the regional engineer.

Bids must be addressed to the Chairman, National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, Ministry of Finance, Main and Urquhart Streets, Georgetown, no later than 9:00 am on June 15, 2023, Some $12.4 billion was allocated in 2023 to improve education infrastructure across the country.

By ensuring that there are adequate schools to accommodate all students, the administration, led by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, remains committed to improving access to education.

The government has embarked on a slew of initiatives to improve the sector since taking office in August 2020, including the introduction of smart classrooms, cash grants, the breakfast programme, construction of educational facilities, the distribution of textbooks, and the incorporation of information and communication technology into the curriculum.

Major infrastructural development outlined for Craig, Friendship

Craig and Friendship, East Bank Demerara are set to undergo significant infrastructural development, according to Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill.

Minister Edghill, along with Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, held a walkthrough in the communities, where they engaged several community members.

Residents expressed their concerns and highlighted several areas that require attention.

In response, the minister assured them of the timely delivery of their requests.

A major focus is the rehabilitation of roads in Second Street Craig and Church Street Friendship, which are in need of repairs.

Drainage works are also scheduled to be carried out in First Street Craig, to improve the community’s drainage system and mitigate flooding.

The Ministry of Agricul- ture’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will be executing drainage and irrigation works in Poncho Street, Friendship.

The project is valued at approximately $10 million and has already been awarded. Work is expected to commence by the weekend.

Additionally, engineers from the sea and river defence department inspected the sea dam and surrounding trenches in the community to identify solutions to eradicate flooding.

Similarly, while addressing residents’ concerns, Minister McCoy emphasised the government’s commitment to immediate intervention.

In addition, to the infrastructural improvements for the communities, the PPP/C Administration envisions a comprehensive transformation of communities across Guyana.

These include the rehabilitation and construction of roads and streets, installation of streetlights, development of parapets and roadsides, construction of concrete sidewalks and footbridges.

The government also aims to enhance drainage systems, ensuring proper maintenance and weekly garbage pickups, as well as the responsible disposal of waste.

Efforts will be made to remove derelict vehicles and equipment, clear bushes along roadsides, empty spaces, and cemeteries, and rehabilitate all community centres.

The plan also includes the creation of playgrounds, recreational spaces, and green areas in communities.

Recognising the importance of education and support for vulnerable groups, the government intends to increase skills training opportunities for youth and improve access to daycare facilities. Programmes focusing on children and elderly welfare will also be prioritised.

Region Five residents benefitting from more TVET programmes

tection by widening the reach and enhancing the benefits of existing social assistance programs while introducing new labour market strategies.

About The Joint Sdg Fund

The Joint SDG Fund supports countries to accelerate their progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to deliver on the commitment of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind.

More Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) programmes were rolled out on Tuesday through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) in Moraikobai village, Region Five.

The new courses include electrical installation and joinery. Some 15 persons have registered for the electrical installation classes, while another 25 signed up for joinery.

Additionally, a new batch of 17 persons was enrolled in the commercial food preparation programme which was being offered previously.

The programmes will help residents to enhance and develop their technical skills and take up employment at various entities. In some cases, persons will be able to establish or expand their businesses.

The new programmes were agreed upon by the village Toshao and other representatives after carefully assessing the needs of residents there.

Recently, 32 persons from the village graduated from similar programmes which include boat building and garment construction. From that batch , a total of 14 persons received certificates in commercial food preparation and nine graduated in garment construction and boat building collectively. The rolling out of these programmes by the ministry serves as a way of improving the lives of persons in far reached communities.

The Ministry of Labour has disclosed a total of 312 persons from Region Five benefitted from these programmes in 2022. These programmes were implemented by the government to ensure that everyone has access to training opportunities to gain life skills.