Jones cannot hide from the...

According to him, Guyanese must use the opportunity on June 12, 2023 at the polls to “send an unequivocal message” that municipalities are terminating the disastrous policies of the PNCR-led Coalition which has led to dilapidated community infrastructure such as roads, bridges, community centres and grounds.

Land Grab

The PNCR-led Coalition’s record show that there were:

• 45 Orders for land transfers (Orders 4 to 49), which including land to the Coalition’s Jermaine Figueira, his brother and others. The orders were signed on February 28, 2020, and published in the Official Gazette on March 23, 2020.

• 18 Orders for land transfers (Orders 50 to 67), which including land to the Coalition’s Amanza Walton-Desir and others. The orders were signed on August 23, 2019, and published in the Official Gazette on August 31, 2019.

• 6 Orders for land transfers (Orders 75 to 80), which including land to the Coalition’s Valerie Patterson-Adams and others. The orders were signed on September 13, 2023, and published in the Official Gazette on October 19, 2019

Further, among the most prominent giveaways were those that took place in June 2019. These included:

1. Marlon Bristol, Head of the Project Management Office within the Ministry of the Presidency received:

• 1 acre in Mocha, Region

4 - February 2019

• 12 acres in Linden (at Dallawalla, the proposed site for Deep Water Harbour), Region 10 - June 2019

• 80 acres in Bohemia, Region 6 (the proposed site for Deep Water Harbour) – February 2019

2. Great Wall Inc. – of which Saratu Phillips is a Director, received:

• 20 acres at Schoonard Foreshore, Region 3 (in the Demerara River – proposed site for shore-based facility)

– File Number 332242/3

• 20 acres at Good Fortuin, Region 3 (in the Demerara River – proposed site for shore-based facility) – File number 3322421/3

• 50 acres at Best Foreshore, Region 3 – File Number 332231/38

3. Aubrey Heath-Retemeyer, Deputy Head of SARA, which falls under the Ministry of the Presidency received:

• 10 acres on the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway, Region 4, in 2019 – File number 411412/522b

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• 1 acre Mocha, Region 4, in 2019

4. Eric Phillips, SARA Special Assistant, within the Ministry of the Presidency - received:

• 1000 acres in the Essequibo River - April 2019 – File Number 321132/1604

• 1000 acres in the Demerara River in 2019 – File Number 331231/7

Another official who recently received land was the now sacked former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) at the Guyana Elections Commission, Keith Lowenfield. Lowenfield received: 216 acres at Millie’s Hideout, Region 10 – June 2019; and 2 acres at Mocha, Region 4.

In addition to these transactions, handled by National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Comission (GLSC), lands were also given away in the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/ Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) scheme.

Meanwhile, Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, has said that the PPP/C Government has not wavered from its commitment to investigate suspicious land giveaways by the former APNU+AFC Coalition.

President Ali hosts Saudi Fund...

orandum of Understanding

(MOU) between the finance minister on behalf of Government and the Saudi Fund for Development’s CEO regarding the Saudi Fund’s Participation in the Financing of these Development Projects totalling US$150 Million. The MOU was signed on the sidelines of the 2023 Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group’s Annual Meetings in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Singh led Guyana’s delegation at those meetings.

The Government of Guyana has been continuing its aggressive drive to transform the country’s landscape and this transformation is particularly visible in the area of transport infrastructure.

Work has advanced on several key projects including the new US$261 Million High Span Bridge across the Demerara River, the US$190 Million Linden to Mabura Road, and a bridge across the Corentyne River. In Budget 2023, $136.1 Billion was allocated for the enhancement of the roads and bridges network across the country.

As regards to Housing and Urban Development, Government has been working assiduously to fulfill its Manifesto promise of providing 10,000 house lots to citizens each year and it has been well on the way to achieving its 50,000 target this term, with over 20,000 delivered in its first two years in office. In Budget 2023, $54.5 Billion was allocated for housing development in new and existing areas.

The Saudi Fund for Development finances development projects in developing countries by granting them loans, the technical aids necessary for financing studies and institutional support. The Saudi team is on a threeday visit here.