Ali calls for a new standard of performance,

professionalism – commends GPF for remarkable performance in past year opment. offers a higher standard of living,” he told the senior ranks.

“Let us, therefore, urge a new era of relations bereft of risks and disgorge. Let us establish platforms of cooperation, predicated on respect and civility and characterised by cooperation,” the head of state urged.

Meanwhile, he is reminding workers that economic and social transformation will not be successful without their contributions.

“I assure all the workers of Guyana, that not only will they benefit significantly from the country’s economic and social transformation, but that they will be one of the principal forces driving this process,” he highlighted.

Labour Day is observed annually on May 1 and is intended to celebrate the achievements of workers.

Acall for a new standard of performance and professionalism was issued by Commander-in-Chief, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, as he commended the remarkable performance of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in the past year, praising the leadership for achieving this success.

Policing And National Development

professionalism.’

We Must End Road Carnage

AsGuyana hurdles towards massive expansion and development, President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has assured that Region Three will also benefit tremendously from the advancements.

To this end, he said that the $11.8 billion Schoonord to Crane four-lane highway will be completed before the end of the year. The four-lane road project, which had an expected completion date of June 2024, will feature an emergency lane, medians, roundabouts, reinforced concrete culverts, and pre-stressed bridges to alleviate traffic congestion along the West Bank and West Coast of Demerara.

A new roundabout will also connect the West Coast Demerara Highway to the new Schoonord to Crane Highway.

Further, the project is expected to open avenues for improvement in economic activities.

The Head of State said, “We will deliver, long before the end of this year, the new four-lane highway from Schoonord to Crane in record-breaking time. While all of that is going on, more than $25 billion is being expended on the housing sector. Housing, health and education are integrated in such a way that there must be a seamless development if we are to have sustainable development in these three areas.”

He added that, from the government and the private sector, more than US$1 billion has been invested in Region Three.

Highlighting the gamut of investments being made in the region, the head of state noted that some $200 billion in ongoing works are being conducted in the region, as the government continues to mould the region, and by extension, the country, to become a hub for investment. “This government is delivering better education, better housing, better infrastructure, better health, a better country, not for People’s Progressive Party Civic supporters, not for any particular group, but for all the people of Guyana,” he reassured.

Moreover, in improving infrastructure, the government has also endeavoured to enhance human capacity.

President Ali reminded that the government’s partnership with Cuba has seen doctors across the country receiving specialised medical training at first-class international entities, such as the Mayo Clinic, John Hopkins, Harvard, York University and Mount Sinai. “Our aim is to train as much as possible. We collectively are aware of the scale of investment that is necessary. Every community is being transformed at an unimaginable pace,” the head of state noted.

President Ali also assured that the region will see the government honing in on enhancing security. “This region will see massive investment in technology-aided security systems that will help the law enforcement officers in their work. A lot of focus will be placed on community and intelligence-laid security systems, supported by the most tested of technology so that in the path of development, we can build a safe and secure society and community.”

He added that the government’s message and agenda are enshrined in a collective desire to improve the lives of all the people in Guyana. “People-centred development is crucial for this country. That is what the PPP/C is about, putting people at the centre and working from behind to advance those in centre and in front,”Dr. Ali reiterated.

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, as well as other government officials and members of the diplomatic corps were in attendance at the opening ceremony.

Addressing the Annual Police Officers’ Conference at the Police Officers Mess Annexe, Georgetown, on April 27, 2023, Ali acknowledged the significant role the police force has played in addressing social issues in various communities. “I must accord credit where credit is due. The Guyana Police Force has been working with my administration to fashion a modern, diversified, and accountable organisation. It has made significant strides over the past year. To see officers and their ranks cleaning medians, painting roadways, building houses, delivering hampers, cleaning drains, walking in the community, talking to every section of the Guyanese people is most admirable,” the president underscored.

He noted that policing involves much more than simply ‘walking around with guns’, and patrolling the streets. “You are not just officers representing the Guyana Police Force. You are officers leading other ranks to deliver an environment that is secure, comfortable, and…importantly, one that

Speaking on the dynamics of policing, President Ali noted the importance of understanding the level of duty that policing calls for in national development.

He explained that the complexity of the global, regional, and national architecture has drastically changed due to advancements in technology, and therefore, the dynamics of policing have also changed. “Policing is not isolated from development and development is not isolated from policing… The security architecture of a country is a bedrock through which development, sustainability, resilience, and progress can be achieved,” the head of state pointed out.

With over 2000 officers already trained or in training, President Ali has challenged the GPF to overcome the many challenges in building a stronger and safer future for the country.

To confront those challenges, President Ali emphasised the need for a proactive thinking organisation that can anticipate and address security issues, rather than a reactive and passive one.

He also called for a new standard of performance and professionalism within the force, emphasising the need for a force that is, ‘driven by performance and fuelled by

Meanwhile, the head of state expressed his distress regarding the current situation on Guyana’s roadways. He said the issues stemmed from the country’s infrastructure capacity and an increasing number of vehicles as well as ‘recklessness and stupidity’ on the part of some drivers, who endanger their own lives and families and put other persons at risk.

President Ali said the issue must receive special attention at the conference and suggested a large-scale educational campaign to address these matters. “This must stop… We passed legislation to make bar owners and bartenders accountable also, not just the drivers…we must implement this legislation, this guideline.”

Attending the opening ceremony were Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, and other senior ranks of the Guyana Police Force, Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Acting Chief Justice, Justice Roxane George and members of the diplomatic corps. The conference is being held under the theme ‘Improve Partnership, Human Development and Accountability to Enhance Service Delivery.’

Opening of new hospital demonstrates investor confidence in economy – Ali

Residents of Region Three are witnessing and will benefit from an exciting new development with the official opening of the region’s first private hospital, Sheriff General Hospital at Leonora on Saturday (April 29, 2023).

President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali said this investment and many others are demonstrative of the government’s efforts to create an enabling environment for investment. “Rest assured that, as time progresses, this government remains committed, in the exercise of our oath, to ensuring that all is done in the interest of all our people,” the head of state reiterated.

He welcomed the investment by the Sheriff Group of Companies, stating that it is a sign of confidence by the private sector in the way Guyana is rapidly moving forward. The president noted that the service delivery by the facility must match the massive advancements already taking place in the region. “We are building and investing in a health infrastructure and architecture that will be cutting-edge and leading. We are going to do all it takes to build our capacity for this region, and Guyanese people. We are not playing to be second best; we are playing for once in Guyana to be the best at what we want to do,” Dr Ali added.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony expressed that the opening of the hospital represents a level of trust in the health sector, which is undergoing major transfor - mation through modernisation. “President Ali has given us a mandate that we should develop a world-class health sector in Guyana, and that is a very big task. We cannot do that by ourselves in the public sector. We have to do it in combination with partners in the private sector. And what you see here today is a representation of that belief that this world-class health sector can be achieved,” he posited.

Meanwhile, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, while highlighting the journey to this stage of development in the region, said it speaks to the impact that private investment has on advancing transformation. “For years, it was