5-year-old girl gets much-needed surgery under FFTP’s Benevolence Initiative

together completely during pregnancy. For some babies, both the front and back parts of the palate are open. For other babies, only part of the palate is open.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times on Thursday, the Chief Executive Officer of FFTP Guyana, Kent Vincent shared that the organisation fully funded Daniels’ first surgery which was done at the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital.

Five-year-old Aneeza Daniels, who was born with a cleft palate, has benefited from much-needed surgical intervention under a Benevolence Programme offered by Food For The Poor (FFTP) Guyana.

The healthcare initiative, which was established in May last year, provides assistance to persons who need medical assistance but lack the necessary finance. More specifically, it caters to persons who need to undergo medical procedures that the public health sector is unable to provide.

A cleft palate is an opening or split in the roof of the mouth; this happens if the tissue that makes up the roof of the mouth does not join the execution of its mandate.

One of the most pressing challenges is reaching vulnerable persons in remote areas such as Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine. Other challenges include the increase in shipping costs and cost of living.

“Everything is going up as you know…so we’re looking at ways of improving efficiency, of how we clear contain- ers, how we can accelerate our distribution, and then, of course, we continue to negotiate with shipping companies so that we can keep our cost as low as possible,” Vincent outlined.

Despite the challenges, the organisation aims to make 2023 a successful year.

“This year, we’re going to continue to work on community development projects in

The child, who hails from Region One (Barima-Waini), is scheduled to undergo a second surgery in March.

In addition to the healthcare programme, FFTP Guyana offers help to vulnerable persons across the country in other areas such as housing and meals, among other things.

The CEO noted that the organisation – just like any other – faced challenges in those (interior) regions and continue to provide support for food security to a number of those hinterland communities,” Vincent posited.

FFTP began working in Guyana in 1991, delivering food and other basic items.

Since then, the Florida-based non-profit has expanded its services to meet the growing needs of the country’s disadvantaged residents.

Wife concerned at lack of...

Police had issued a statement saying that a breathalyzer test conducted on the driver of motor lorry GWW 9178 had read 13 micrograms.

“March 23 will be one year for my husband, and I can’t seem to be hearing anything about the case, or where the case stands at this moment,” the grieving woman expressed. She said she had visited the Office of the Police Commissioner in November last in her quest for answers.

“And I met with the Commissioner and he called in someone…He said that the file was sent to the DPP and the DPP ordered an inquest, and the inquest was completed and the case was sent to court.”

However, Inshanally said she subsequently learned that the information might not have been accurate. One of the first things she did after returning to Berbice was to contact the New Amsterdam Court, where she learnt that the matter had never been filed there.

She said that visits to the regional Police Headquarters revealed that the file was still there, and had not gone to the court. She said it was while she was meeting with a senior officer at Central Police Station that the file on the said matter was sent.

“So, I asked why I was told that the file went to court already when you guys still have it here. He said one more signature is need- ed and then the file will be sent to court,” she recounted. Two months later, the widow has not heard anything.

An autopsy revealed that Ramdeen had multiple fractures to his skull, and broken ribs which punctured his lung. Additionally, his neck was broken. The woman has argued that the injuries indicate the force at which the Canter was travelling when it collided with the motorcycle.

Meanwhile, according to a source from the Chambers of the DPP, the file was received for legal advice, and based on the evidence contained therein, an Inquest has been ordered. This will commence shortly. (Andrew Carmichael).