NEWS
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Regions 8 & 9 road link to alleviate high Region 3 records 17% increase in armed transportation cost when completed – contracts signed for road maintenance projects in several villages
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inister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill recently stated that the construction of a hinterland road link that connects Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) is underway and when completed will alleviate the high cost of transportation. The Minister made this announcement during a road maintenance contract signing in Kato, Region Eight. “Apart from the connectivity among the villages, your Government is continuing to ensure the connection between Regions 9 and Region 8.” He added that once the road link between the two regions is completed, it will alleviate transportation woes, thus creating social and economic benefits. “Once trucks can traverse the road, the cost of supplies, building materials, and food “will go down” since it will cut the cost of flying materials in and out of the regions,” the Minister stated. “So that those of you who want to get to Region 9 and then get to Brazil and make your vacation…you must be able to get that connectivity. And if when we get that road completed and trucks can come through for us to buy and get down from all the way from Monkey
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill
Mountain. If trucks can come through that road, the cost of supplies, building materials, food, everything will go down because you don’t have to fly it in. It will be able to come through by the way of trucks. So, that’s what we’re working on.” The 72-mile hinterland road link starts at Meritizero North, Rupununi in Region Nine, and will connect Region Eight at Monkey Mountain. The construction of the road link which began more than 10 years ago will cost $600 million. But after the APNU/AFC took office, that project was allegedly halted. Meanwhile, during the Minister’s visit, a number of contracts, totalling $290 million to improve transpor-
tation networks in Region Eight were signed. The road maintenance project will benefit some 15,000 residents from 28 villages in the region. Under the agreements signed, a total of 917 kilometres of road maintenance, including filling of laterite, and repairs to 31 timber bridges will be completed over a six-month period. Edghill reiterated the Government’s commitment to supporting the development of local village economies through the creation of job opportunities. Under the contracts signed, local contractors and workers from Region 8 are expected to execute all works outlined. “Our development agenda is not just to devel-
op Georgetown and make it bright and put up lights and nice fancy buildings. So, when you come to town you look and say Georgetown looking nice. Our development agenda is that you must be in Kato or in Itabac or in Kanapang or in Tuschen or wherever you must be able to look at your community and say my community looking nice as well,” he said. Contracts were signed by the Monkey Mountain, Bamboo Creek, Paramakatoi, and Kato Village Councils. Red Creek, Karisparu, Taruka, Yawong, Maiwak CDC, Arasawa, along with 19 other villages also signed contracts. Lauding the Government’s initiative, Toshao Candace Evans of Karisparu said she is grateful for the upgrade, adding that her community will enjoy easier access to other communities once the project is completed. “Currently our airstrip is shut down and we don’t have any access to Mahdia or elsewhere so I am very grateful for this contract because once we fix the road, we will get access to Paramakatoi and people would be able to buy their ration from there and also for the patients we would transport them to Paramakatoi from Karisparu at this moment,” she said.
robberies – Commander
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egion Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) has recorded a 17 per cent increase in armed robberies, according to the Divisional Commander, Mahendra Siwnarine. “For the latter part of last month, we would have seen a slight increase in robbery under arms, we had a 17 per cent increase in terms of robbery under arms…but the positive thing from that is that all those robberies were solved, persons were arrested and are currently before the court in all instances,” the Commander noted. He was at the time speaking during a recent programme produced by the Guyana Police Force (GPF). While he did not divulge any more information on this matter, the Commander noted that in order to improve on policing in the division, he has taken advice some citizens. It was only two months ago that Siwnarine assumed the post of Commander for Region Three. “Following those feedback [from citizens], we would have made some adjustment in terms of rotating ranks among the station. The idea behind for ranks to not get too familiar at one location but to have a constant rotation so they can always be interactive with members of the public,” he explained. For areas like Bonasika, which is the most remote outpost, according to the Commander, ranks are rotated every six weeks.
Divisional Commander Mahendra Siwnarine
Commander Siwnarine also noted that the they will continue to work with members of the public in order to continue improving the work of the GPF. “Based on the feedback that we’re getting from members of the public, indeed the support is there, but there is huge room for improvement in our performance,” he explained. As such, the Commander is continuing to implement community policing groups, youth groups, and scout groups in all areas of the division. “Currently, other than Parfaite (La Parfaite Harmonie) we have youth groups on both Leguan, Wakenaam, both on the West Coast and West Bank, and in addition to the youth groups, we’ve had new members showing interest joining the scout from those youth groups. It’s a continuous process and persons keep coming forward and showing their interest,” he added.
Schools will close for July-August break – Min Manickchand Norton proposes...
FROM PAGE 11
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chools across Guyana will close during the July-August holiday season and will open in September as normal, according to Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand. This comes after many discussions were had between the Ministry and teachers over the possibility of schools being opened during the July-August holiday season to help educators recoup some of the learning loss recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Back in May, Manickchand had entertained the possibility of schools across Guyana remaining open to ease learning loss recorded by the Ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, following a consensus among teachers, the majority were not in favour of schools remaining open during the July-August break since they were engaged in schoolroom activities during the pandemic. Minister Manickchand noted that the Ministry was exploring the possibility of extending the current school year to recover the learning loss incurred by the pandemic, but the Ministry and its stakeholders have decided to have the schools closed as usual. “We believe that it is the best at this point, to have everyone close for the July-August holidays, as usual, return to school in September, refreshed, teachers feel particularly tired because while it is true that we were home they were still working and so they feel like they need the break,” the Minister said. Manickchand noted that there are
Education Minister Priya Manickchand
some teachers who have voiced their opinions on schools remaining open. “While there are some teachers who are telling us very strongly that we need to do this [keep schools open] because we need to recapture the time, to get back some time. There are enough teachers telling us that they don’t want to do it and we respect that, and we’re going to try to make sure that we comply with and do what is best for all the stakeholders involved, particularly the students and the teachers,” she explained.
The Minister also indicated that some teachers have expressed their willingness to work with students during the holiday season, especially those preparing for major examinations. “What we will do in an organised way that we are going to announce shortly is publish on the learning channel and on our new radio station EDUU, we’re going to publish in an organised way, courses, studies in different areas, so if parents want their children to get reinforcement, or what we call in Guyana, lessons, for free they can tune into the channel at different points,” Minister Manickchand noted. While schools were closed, the Ministry embarked on a number of initiatives to ensure that students remained engaged. However, with disparities in the system, the outcome was far from what would have been achieved by face-to-face learning. Studies have also shown that the longer schools are closed, the greater students will be affected. The Education Ministry had printed thousands of worksheets for each grade that corresponded with the curriculum and what each child should have been learning if they were in the classroom. The Guyana Learning Channel undertook the production of recorded lessons done by local teachers on the various topics outlined in the curriculum. In April, the Education Ministry announced that schools would reopen fully - almost two years after they were closed completely due to the pandemic.
The Opposition Leader noted that the ball is now in the President’s court when it comes to confirming acting Chancellor, Yonnette Cummings-Edwards and acting Chief Justice Roxane George. Article 127 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana states: “The Chancellor and the Chief Justice shall each be appointed by the President, acting after obtaining the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition.” President Dr Irfaan Ali has already said that he has no issue appointing a Chancellor and Chief Justice. However, he had indicated that he would consult with the Opposition Leader on the issue after the service commissions are appointed. President Ali had said that consultations are currently ongoing for the service commissions, after which he would engage the Opposition Leader on the judicial appointments. “We have no issues appointing (the Chancellor and Chief Justice), but when the right time comes, we will have the consultations on the Chancellor and the Chief Justice. The consultation (with the Opposition Leader so
far) was on the Commissions,” the President has said. “The President asked for consultations on those commissions (specifically),” the Head of State told reporters at State House last week. On May 13, President Ali and Opposition Leader Norton met for the first time to consult on the appointments of the various service commissions, including the Judicial Service Commission, Police Service Commission, Teaching Service Commission and the Integrity Commission. At the time, the two leaders had agreed to consult, in keeping with the Constitution, which stipulates that meaningful consultation be held on the appointments of these Service Commissions. In fact, Norton had requested additional information on the nominees, and this was provided to him. However, when the Head of State invited the Opposition Leader last week Monday for a second meeting, Norton failed to show, citing that he was busy. As a result, President Ali went ahead and appointed the Police Service Commission and the Integrity Commission the following day, when the members were sworn-in.
