New Nation, January 2023

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Dawn Hastings-Williams is the new PNCR General Secretary

Budget 2023 is amazingly uninspiring and profoundly disappointing

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Delivery of Education in peril due to incompetence at the Ministry of Education

This opportunity is taken to inform the people of Guyana that Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams, MP, has been appointed General Secretary of the People's National Congress Reform. Mrs. Hastings-Williams is a long-standing member of our Party who is eminently qualified to serve as General Secretary. We wish Mrs. HastingsWilliams all the best as she performs the functions of the General Secretary.

Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams is from the Akawaio Village of Kako, Upper Mazaruni and is a

trained teacher who holds a Bachelor's Degree in Education Administration from the University of Guyana. She has been a teacher for many years in the Upper Mazaruni area and also held the position of Headmistress of the Jawalla Primary School.

Mrs. Hastings-Williams is very fluent in speaking and writing the Akawaio language and brings a wealth of experience from her service to the indigenous people of Guyana in the area of education and social welfare.

PPP fails Guyanese again with the 2023 National Budget

PNCR welcomes Actress Letitia Wright to Guyana

PPP/C manages states lands as if it is the estate of that party

Budget 2023 ignores input from Local Governance perspective – RDC Region #10

Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Aubrey C. Norton, MP, arriving at Parliament on Day 1 of the Budget Debates, Monday 23rd January.

On Monday, 16th January, the government presented the national budget for 2023. It informed the nation that it again plans to spend the country's oil revenues in various ways. And, again, most Guyanese still hold out little to no hope that their livelihoods will improve.

The reality we, as Guyanese, face is clear. The PPP has been in government now for 25 of the last 30 years --a long spell since 1992 broken only by the five years of relief between 2015 and 2020 when the Coalition held office. Let us ask ourselves as citizens: have our living standards and those of our families improved much or at all? Are we more comfortable, more prosperous, less stressed?

In those 25 long years under the PPP, the quality of life of Guyanese has either stagnated or markedly declined. Not surprising, Guyana ranks among the worst countries in the Latin AmericaCaribbean region on numerous human development or quality of life indicators. Guyana has, for instance, one of the highest rates of poverty and inequality, infant mortality, maternal mortality, suicide, child malnutrition, and preventable deaths. Our country has one of the lowest levels of life expectancy, numeracy and literacy, education performance, and access to quality health care. These indicators are not abstract statistics. We Guyanese experience and suffer these pains. Even now with our vast oil wealth, most of us expect our living standards will remain the same or get worse under a clueless and incompetent PPP government. As Stabroek News remarked in its Editorial of 7th January 2023, the PPP "aren't that good at running a country. When one looks back since [1992] - going on [30] years minus the five-year coalition interregnum - it is hard to detect any significant progress." The SN Editorial added: "Now that they have more money the mistakes may in fact be even worse."

This is the reality we, Guyanese, face today. It is a reality we can change with our voices and our votes.

Analysis and Opinions

The 2023 Budget was overwhelming in the length and delivery but underwhelming in substance. The budget, despite being 41.6 percent larger than last year, is absent on meaningful measures to arrest the rapid decline and deterioration in the quality of life of the Guyanese people.

The Budget is amazingly uninspiring and profoundly disappointing. One clear message in the Budget is that people do not matter; things do. With an abundance of oil money the Government has not put in place systems to ease the burden of the high cost of living on the people. The PPP/C Government is uncaring and unresponsive to the felt needs of the people.

This Budget is a poverty trap in the oil and gas economy. This year Guyana's economy is expected to grow by 100 per cent when compared to 2022 and 2021 but the majority of Guyanese are left out from the Budget. The People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government thinks it would be able to fool all Guyana into believing the Budget caters for them. The 41.6 increase in spending is not designed to address the 48 per cent of Guyanese who live on less than $1200 per day, the 49 per cent of Guyanese who are poor, the Public Servants finding it increasingly difficult to have three square meals on the table, and keep a roof over their heads when inflation has outstripped salary increase.

In 2022 the Government gave Public Servants a paltry increase of 8 per cent and Teachers were paid not one cent. The PPP/C continues to refuse to negotiate with the Trade Unions in keeping with those workers' right to collective bargaining. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reports that in 2022, inflation in Guyana rose to 9.4 per cent. Workers who receive pay raises only got 8 per cent.

At the most basic, the Budget leaves the poor and vulnerable in a worse state as the pittance offered as increases cannot allow the majority to withstand the rate of inflation unleashed on Guyanese. The economic situation is worse for Pensioners and the Young Unemployed.

Public sector pay increase - the Government has budgeted $3 Billion in salary adjustment for healthcare workers and members of the disciplined services. The allocation is insufficient even for the identified categories. The Public Sector workers go beyond the identified workers but they were not catered for. Taxation- Increasing the tax threshold by $12,000 is negligible when compared to the President and Ministers who continue to pay themselves increases when they pay ordinary workers, but their income remains tax free.

Agricultural sector - The sum allocated to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and agricultural sector is not for the development of ordinary farmers, fisherfolk and sugar workers but an avenue for Government to channel money to the 'One Guyana' beneficiaries, i.e. the nouveau riche and political elites. GuySuCo continues to be plagued by ineffectiveness and inefficiency. President Ifraan Ali must address his mind to fixing the ailing industry. Throwing money behind it without a proper plan and allowing for poor management will not deliver successful results.

Education - Education is a gateway to escape poverty but many are being deprived. The allocated $3.7 Billion to the University of Guyana (UG) and $1.8

Billion to the GOAL programme, which represents half of UG's sum, is misdirected. The money given to GOAL should have been directed to the university and local educational institutions like the Critchlow Labour College, the Technical Institutes, and Trade Schools, recruiting local Educators and paying them more. 2023 is another year when Guyanese are being denied free university education when Article 27 of the Constitution of Guyana stipulated this as a right and the country can more than afford to pay for its citizens' education. A child grant and uniform grant could never be a substitution for quality education.

Guyanese know, like the World Bank, the standard of education is subpar to our colleagues. It's the same for health. The World Bank in its October 6, 2022 Report on Guyana stated learning and health outcomes remain low in Guyana when compared with their Latin American Caribbean counterparts.

Infrastructure - The allocated sum represents a significant portion of the budget, but this is done with deliberate intent. Infrastructure presents avenues for corruption and Guyanese have not forgotten VICE News investigate reports that revealed the ugly underbelly of corruption and money laundering between Government officials and Chinese businesses in return for lucrative contracts. People haven't forgotten Mr. Su Zhirong, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo's tenant and friend, the wealth he amassed through association, what he told VICE News journalists, their meeting with Mr. Jagdeo at his house, and what Mr. Jagdeo told them.

Corruption - Corruption has increased under the Ali government, according to the Transparency International Corruption Index. President Ali has reversed the hard work to reduce corruption put in by President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and other Ministers in the APNU+AFC Government. Guyana's image is once again being tarnished. There is every reason for Guyanese to feel this budget, the largest ever in the country's history, could create possibilities for increasing corruption if President Ali does not return to the anti-corruption policy of the Coalition government.

Exclusion not inclusion - Guyanese do not begrudge their fellow Guyanese prospering but Guyanese want to see fairness by Government and many do not feel they are getting their fair share. Their views are not without justification. The Budget was not about All Guyana, only about President Ali's 'One Guyana'. Mr. Ali has ignored the calls of United States Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ambassador Sarah Ann Lynch to be inclusive and ensure shared prosperity. He has ignored the inclusionary requirement of the Constitution. He has ignored the input from the political opposition and many stakeholders in society.

After 25 years of PPP in government, life for many is not good

Budget 2023 is amazingly uninspiring and profoundly disappointing

I refer to a letter written by Joel Bhagwandin entitled: `Financing of the gas pipeline falls under the PSA, section 2.2 (d)’ in SN on January 10th.

In this letter the writer claims that the pipeline in question is the same as the FPSOs which produce Guyana’s oil, in that they can both be cost recovered. The writer seems, however, to be unaware that the Government of Guyana does not own the FPSOs that reside offshore. Per the reported contracts signed with the companies that have built them, they are to be owned (if at times eventually) by the operator.

On the other hand, if the government of Guyana were to purchase FPSOs for itself it would require parliamentary approval (in exactly the same way parliament must approve funding for the purchase of police vehicles, as has been cited by Ramon Gaskin). Since the Government of Guyana has stated an intention to own the pipeline in question, it must therefore approach parliament for funding. It is perfectly within the terms of the PSA for Exxon and its partners to own a natural gas pipeline, and for them to cost recover it, in the course of natural gas production. The Government of Guyana and Exxon, however, are to my knowledge not the same entity.

Further, I will point out a few of the worrying consequences that come from dismissing the alarming arrangement the government may have tied itself to. Mr. Bhagwandin cites that Exxon can under the PSA build and cost recover roads and various port facilities. Could it not then be conceivable that a wide range of national

infrastructure projects could be subject to this scheme? Could we not see billions of dollars extracted from cost oil before they even touch the Natural Resource Fund or parliament?

This, of course, is exactly what Hugo Chavez did in Venezuela, asking PDVSA, the state-owned oil company, to fund a wide range of programmes, in order to avoid parliamentary scrutiny. It is thus no surprise that that country’s finances imploded spectacularly.

I always find the Washington Post’s motto, “democracy dies in darkness,” quite instructive.

PDVSA is notorious for not publishing financial reports and as it stands not only are we yet to see the audit of Exxon’s $7 billion USD costs-recovery bill, we are still to lay eyes on the audit of its over $400 million USD pre-contract costs. Any government which conceals these audits, while simultaneously bypassing parliament for potentially billions of US dollars in spending, is leading us down the same path as Venezuela.

Parliaments exist for a reason, and that reason is to ensure citizens’ interests, whether financial or otherwise, are represented at the highest levels. No matter how convoluted the scheme to bypass it, we must not forget the basic value of this treasured institution.

Finally, let us recall that the agreement the government has with Exxon to build and operate this pipeline is not public. We don’t even know the agreed price that the natural gas in the pipeline will be supplied at. That these vital agreements are secret is a troubling thought indeed.

Kindly allow me to respond to Mr. Colin Croal's letter, published in the Letters column of the Stabroek News, January 5th, 2023, where he attempts to repudiate the facts stated in my letter published on December 31st, 2022.

My first observation from Mr. Croal's letter is the issue of the number of house lot applications he claimed to have inherited from the Coalition Government. Mr. Croal ought to be reminded that the PPP/C regime held the reins of Government from October 5, 1992 to May 11, 2015, a total of twentythree (23) consecutive years. When the Coalition assumed office in 2015 there were 56,000 pending applications for house lots. Mr. Croal has stated that when the PPP/C returned to office in 2020 they found 75,509. The allocations purportedly made by the current administration since 2020, as stated in Mr. Croal's letter, are not factual. I, therefore, call on Mr. Croal to make available to the people of Guyana, the chronological disaggregation of land sold/lots distributed in each area by name and category; how many houses have been built and how many are occupied.

No doubt, Mr. Croal, in an effort to further mislead the public has captured in his statistics the prime lands sold by the PPP/C to friends and supporters of the PPP/C in May 2015. On May 6, 2015, a total acreage of 12.5, in the Golden Grove EBD area, approximately sixty house lots were sold for $7M per acre to Queensway Housing Development. Many are cognizant who Queensway is associated with. The other Company,

Navigant Buildings Inc, was sold 15 acres of land for $9M per acre. This transaction was done on May 15, 2015, four days after the May 2015 General and Regional Elections and one day before the inauguration ceremony for President David Granger. It was under the watch of Mr. Ifraan Ali, then Minister of Housing and Water, that these transactions were done. These egregious acts are captured in the 'Forensic Report', for CHPA, dated May 12, 2017, a public document.

As I intimated earlier, the PPP/C managed the sale of land and house lots as though state lands were the "estate of the PPP/C." Many other huge swathes of land were sold to the rich under the guise of housing development and in the few instances where houses were built/lots allocated, they were outside the reach of the working class. Many lots in housing schemes are also owned by one family, denying low-income earners, vulnerable groups, youths the opportunity to own their own land, as accorded to them in Article 26 of the Constitution of Guyana. CHPA was intentionally mismanaged being by an uncaring and scrupulous PPP/C Government.

I reiterate that the purpose for the establishment of Central Housing and Planning Authority was to "address housing needs of the working class." I repeat my call for Mr. Croal to make available to the people of Guyana, the chronological disaggregation of lands sold/lots distributed in each area by name and category; how many houses have been built and how many are occupied.

Bypassing Parliament on the pipeline deal is unconstitutional and dangerous

PPP/C manages states lands as if it is the estate of that party

BUDGET 2023

PPP fails Guyanese again with the 2023 National Budget

Many Guyanese are familiar with the saying empty vessels make the most noise. While the Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, spoke for over six hours, this budget is as vacuous as his speech was long. Budget 2023 presented an opportunity for the government to change course, to show the world that it had the people of Guyana at heart. Sadly, it has heaped disappointment after disappointment on the Guyanese people. Budget 2023 confirms that the government is clueless, incompetent, uncaring, and anti-poor. Budget 2023 confirms that the government has no national development plan. Budget 2023 confirms that the government is more interested in serving its business cronies than in lifting the quality of life of the Guyanese masses. Budget 2023 confirms that the PPP will not eliminate poverty, will not ensure that families can live comfortable and happy lives and will not build world-class social services in health, education, public utilities, public safety, justice, and a clean environment. Budget 2023 confirms that the PPP is incapable of using our vast oil wealth to transform the lives of the Guyanese people. The Guyanese people demand and deserve more than just pronouncements on large projects and expenditures. They demand and deserve concrete and adequate measures that directly lift our living standards in the short, medium, and long term. Where are those measures to address runaway cost of living? No longer can the people accept a paltry $5 billion towards cost-of-living mitigation - a number which has remained the same

as last year, despite this year’s budget being 41% larger than the budget of 2022 and the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) has over US$1 billion. People are offered the same $5 billion. Where are those measures to ensure social protection and assistance for those in need? Old age pension, public assistance, and “Because we care” cash grant increases are shameful at a time when our country’s oil industry is booming. The poverty Guyanese endure today is not artificial, it is real. It is a product of a government that refuses to even contemplate the harsh realities we see every day. Social support for families could easily be doubled this year. The PPP, however, is only content to offer a heartless pittance. This is even while the real wages and salaries of the people continue to decline.

Where are those measures to transform the education system? In September of 2022, President Ali told the United Nations that education spending would be increased to 20% of the national budget. Last year only 13% of the budget went to the Ministry of Education, and this year only 12% will be spent on education. President Ali

fails to honour his words and rather than increasing the share of the budget spent on education, the PPP has been shrinking it. One would have thought that since human resource development is critical to national development then more resources would have been allocated to education.

Where are the salary increases for public servants and teachers? Where is the decision to make the University of Guyana free? Where are the plans to ensure all our schools across all communities and regions have the human, financial, and other resources to deliver quality education to our students? There are none!

Where are the measures to expand small businesses, to transform communities, to transition to value-added production, to re-imagine GuySuco and agriculture, to create employment, and to generally give hope to the people? Budget 2023 flops in all these regards.

The government continues to speak not in terms of outcomes and direct benefits on the livelihoods of people, but in terms of dollars to be spent. This practice is deliberately deceptive and must change, starting with a commit-

ment to eradicate poverty in the shortest possible time. Similarly, Budget 2023 fails to speak in terms of qualityof-life indicators, such as life expectancy, literacy and numeracy levels, infant and maternal mortality rates, doctorsto-patients ratios, teachers-to-students ratios, crime rates, and access to adequate food and nutrition--with the goal of lifting Guyana far beyond its historic underperformance. The budget is mere platitudes with no specific targets to be achieved in terms of improving the quality of life of our people.

The people of Guyana awaited 2023’s budget with a great deal of anxiety. They saw the government ignore them throughout 2022. They saw the PPP pretend that the nation was impoverished while huge windfall revenues abounded from the high oil price. Now that the 2023 budget has been revealed it has only led to despondency.

This year will see Guyana’s GDP per capita surpass Trinidad and Tobago, see yet another FPSO push Guyana’s oil production to nearly 600,000 barrels of oil per day, and see the NRF reach US$2 Billion. Under this government, Guyana is experiencing what economists refer to as the “PARADOX OF PLENTY” where countries with abundant natural resources have poor economic outcomes and living standards.

Guyana can be one of the best places in the world to live! Our people-centered vision, which can deliver on this promise swiftly, stands in stark contrast to the PPP’s focus on cronies. For Guyana to truly grow, clearly, the PPP must go.

BUDGET 2023

Budget 2023 ignores input from Local Governance perspective – RDC Region #10

Linden, Guyana, 21 January, 2023The Regional Democratic Council of Region 10 categorically refutes the government’s claim that the 2023 budget intends to help this Region, and calls for the reinstatement and approval of the projects requested by the people of this Region through their elected representatives on the Regional Democratic Council. The Minister of Finance’s 2023 budget presentation contained serious inaccuracies and omissions that will present severe hardship to the people of Region 10 even after extensive consultation with our residents and proactive submissions of developmental projects by the RDC were done to prevent this. A visible and irrefutable case in point is the Minister of Finance’s claim, at item 4.162 in his budget presentation that the government has quote, “completed the synthetic tracks in Regions 6 and 10.” This could not be further from the truth, since our constituents have clamored for the continuation of the project to complete our synthetic track for the past three years, to no avail. As of today, January 20th, 2023, the synthetic track at Linden remains incomplete and unavailable to the athletes in Linden and Region 10.

Indeed, the athletes of District 10, who have won the National School’s Athletics championships more times than any other Region and for the past six years in succession, are now without even the use of the Mackenzie Sports Club, their traditional preparation arena. One would have thought that it would make sense to complete the track before embarking on improvements to the Mackenzie Sports Club so that an alternate venue would be available, but this type of reasoned thinking either escapes

this government, or this situation is deliberately engineered to derail the fortunes of sports in Region 10 in 2023. Fortunately however, our people are accustomed to battling against these imposed hardships and will continue to rise to and surmount these challenges until we are positioned to ensure they are no longer imposed.

The 2023 Budget also represents another year of imposition of projects NOT proposed by the RDC at the expense of the removal and non-approval of projects requested by the Council on behalf of our residents. Our budgetary process allows for the inclusion of projects that the government wishes to undertake under various Ministries and agencies, without having to remove projects from the RDC’s budget, but this government continues to pursue a policy of not only refusing to fund projects proposed by the Council, but to remove projects proposed by the Council on behalf of our residents from our proposals, effectively ensuring that they are not even considered for funding.

To this end, our approach to secure funding under the agriculture programme to resources for farmers in several areas in sub-region 1 and the Kwakwani and Berbice River areas was not even considered and so has not been approved, even as we continue to grapple with means of improving agricultural production in Region 10.

The welfare of the very people who are expected to execute the various programmes and projects of the RDC to bring development to our communities and people is completely disregarded in this 2023 Budget, with the non-approval of funding to complete the Regional Democratic Council’s new headquarters.

It is by now common knowledge that the building that the Council and its staff occupies is unsafe structurally and has several identifiable electrical and fire safety hazards. The ground floor floods every day as a result of plumbing deficiencies and on several occasions the operations here have been brought to a halt and staff sent home as a result of sewerage backing up and overflowing into office spaces.

The refusal of the government to pursue the completion of new accommodations for the staff of the RDC speaks volumes of the Administration’s disregard and lack of care for our people. The Administration building at Kwakwani is in a similar state of disrepair and begs the question why would any administration that cares for the persons in its direct employ, refuse to allocate resources to make their work environment safe and comfortable. The Council will step up its efforts to ensure that our staff are treated more humanely as we call for a revision of this particular omission of funding in the 2023 budget currently before the Parliament.

The Government would also have us believe that they have significantly increased the budget, but in reality they have masked the increased cost of living by claiming that they are providing increased funding. This has a net effect of ensuring that the Council is forced to do less, even as they claim more is given in allocations this year.

An example of this would be the budget for the office of the Regional Chairman, where in 2022, this sum was approved at G$40.5 million, and in 2023 is proposed to be capped at G$47 million. A cursory look at these figures would seem to indicate that the budget has

increased. However, when statutory payments made under this budget head, such as payments of stipends to Amerindian Toshaos and Councilors are taken out, the realisation sets in that the government has actually REDUCED the budget for the Office of the Regional Chairman by nearly G$1 million for 2023.

To compound this, when cost of living increases are factored in, you can see that the RDC is being forced to do less work in Region 10 due to a net reduction in its funding. Fuel, spares and maintenance costs to facilitate our interaction with residents across the 6,555 square miles of this Region, from the Berbice River to the upper reaches of the Demerara and the Essequibo River communities as well, are much higher today than they were in 2022, yet our budget has been slashed. Again, we call on the government to replace and indeed to improve on this funding to ensure that the work necessary to advance the development of our people in Region 10 could be done effectively and efficiently.

While the RDC has chosen to put the spotlight on these particular issues, the situation outlined in this statement with respect to removal of projects from the Council’s proposals, the reduction of funding and removal of facilities needed by our residents without providing alternatives are factual and demonstrable and also extends to many other areas and across the various work programmes of the RDC. Your Regional Democratic Council will continue to call out the imposition of these measures to slow development efforts in Region 10, even as we pledge to continue to represent the interests of all of the people of this Region as they have elected us to do.

OUTREACH

Mayor Narine donates supplies to boost entrepreneurship

His Worship Pt Ubraj Narine on Saturday morning, 28th January, delivered a quantity of chicken and feed to entrepreneurs in Sophia as part of his initiative to provide support to citizens in Georgetown. Mayor Narine indicated that the council will continue to support its citizens despite its limited resources.

Guyana Foundation donates school supplies to the children of Mocha

On Wednesday morning, 18th January, the Founder of the Guyana Foundation, Mrs. Supriya SinghBodden, CCH, visited the Mocha residents whose homes were demolished to distribute a number of school supplies to the children affected. She was accompanied by the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the PNCR Mr. Aubrey C. Norton, MP, Member of Parliament Ms. Nima FlueBess and CEC Member, Mr. Mervyn Williams. Household items and clothing were also distributed by the Party.

Sharing her sentiments on the matter, Mrs. Singh-Bodden, "If this is going to be the blueprint, we follow to develop Guyana this does not augur

well for our people. The situation should never have been allowed to escalate and develop to this extent where even children are traumatized that something terrible will happen again.

Let us remember that the black gold we have discovered offshore belongs to all of the people of Guyana. It is understood that we must use this wealth to develop our infrastructure at a rapid pace, we must develop all sectors of the country as fast as we can, the time clock is ticking on fossil fuels. But let us not get beside ourselves to treat our citizens with this level of indignity in the process of change, ever again”

Donation of household/hygiene items by the PNCR Brooklyn Chapter to Mocha residents

In response to the inhumane actions taken by the PPP/C Government of Guyana, towards the residents of Mocha Arcadia, the First Vice Chairperson of the PNCR and Chairperson of the Party’s Welfare Committee, Mrs. Elizabeth WilliamsNiles secured a quantity of items donated by the PNCR Brooklyn Chapter towards this crisis. The visit was executed on January 8th, 2022. To assist in the presentations were volunteers and Member of Parliament, Ms. Nima Flue-Bess. An assessment was done on the ground which revealed several young mothers remain displaced with young babies and children not forgetting the men, the elderly and livestock rescued. The traumatized citizens were in tears, shocked and in disbelief at the treatment meted out to them by the Government. Some residents indicated after decades of being on this ancestral

land they are thrown off without any regards for their survival and livestock. Many animals were buried alive by the heavy duty machinery sent in the area to destroy/disrupt their peaceful living, accompanied by strong police presence and hostile engagement with the residents. Business establishments were destroyed as residents remained in the rainy weather, relying on faith and the day-to-day support to get through this.

Immediate needs are personal hygiene items, socks, clothes, safe spaces to stay and medical supplies due to the harsh weather conditions and the COVID-19/Flu season they are overly exposed to. A call on United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Rights of the Child and other international bodies is made to ensure the affected citizens/families have access to shelter, food, education, and health care.

Mrs. Supriya Singh-Bodden presenting a brand new phone to one of the residents.

Mrs. Supriya Singh-Bodden and some of the residents whose homes were demoliched.

OUTREACH: LEADERSHIP IN ACTION

Opposition Leader Visits Roxanne Burnham Gardens/Rasville - pledges to address community concerns

The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the PNCR, Mr. Aubrey C. Norton, MP, and his team visited the residents of Roxanne Burnham Gardens/Rasville on Thursday 12th January, where they received a warm welcome from the youth and community members. The visit was an opportunity for the Leader to hear firsthand the concerns of the people and to see the issues affecting their daily lives.

During the visit, the residents expressed their concerns about the state of infrastructure in their community, a problem that is all too familiar in Constituency #14. The Leader of the Opposition listened attentively and pledged to make representation on behalf of the community and work towards bringing relief to the residents

Outreach in the community of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown

of Roxanne Burnham Gardens.

The visit was a clear demonstration of the Leader of the Opposition's commitment to leadership in action. He and his team are fully committed to working for the people and fighting for their rights and interests.

The outreach is a part of a series which has been taking place throughout Guyana by the Leader of the Opposition to bring about real change for the people of all communities.

The Leader was accompanied by Deputy Mayor of Georgetown Mr. Alfred Mentore, GYSM Chairman (ag) Mr. Kibwe Copland, PNCR Georgetown District Chairman Mr. Troy Garraway, Mr. Aubrey Retemyer, Councillors of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, local party representatives and staff.

The Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the PNCR, Mr. Aubrey C. Norton, MP, on Tuesday January 11th, 2023 with a team visited South Ruimveldt, where they met with residents and heard firsthand about the community's needs and concerns. The visit is part of a series of outreaches across the country to stay in contact with citizen and be familiar with the community’s needs.

During the visit, residents spoke about the lack of infrastructure, poor drainage, and the general disrepair that plagues the area. The Leader of the Opposition listened attentively to the

residents’ concerns and vowed to hold the PPP regime accountable for its neglect of the community and raise their concerns.

The Leader was accompanied by Members of Parliament Ms. Nima FlueBess and Coretta McDonald, Deputy Mayor of Georgetown Mr. Alfred Mentore, Vice-Chairperson of the PNCR Mrs. Elizabeth Williams-Niles, GYSM Chairman (ag) Mr. Kibwe Copland, PNCR Georgetown District Chairman Mr. Troy Garraway, Mr. Aubrey Retemyer, Councillors of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, local party representatives and staff.

Party Leader, Mr. Aubrey C. Norton, interacting with residents of Roxanne Burnham Gardens/Rasville

Party Leader, Mr. Aubrey C. Norton speaking to residents of South Ruimveldt.

Party Leader, Mr. Aubrey C. Norton and Team on a walkabout in the Roxanne Burnham Gardens community on Thursday 12th January.

SOCIETY

PNCR message on Chinese Arrival Day 2023

Congratulations to the new General Secretary of the PNCR

Executive Members of the National Congress of Women (NCW) paid a courtesy call to the General Secretary, Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams, Tuesday morning (24th January) at her office at Congress Place and pledged their full support. She was presented with a bouquet of flowers by First Vice Chairperson of the NCW, Ms. Carol Smith-Joseph.

Thursday 12th January 2023 marked a significant milestone in Guyana's history as we celebrated the 170th anniversary of the arrival of the first Chinese immigrants. These pioneering individuals came to Guyana in search of a better life and have since made invaluable contributions to the development and growth of our country.

Their hard work and determination have been instrumental in shaping our economy, particularly in the areas of agriculture, commerce, and infrastructure development. Their entrepreneurial spirit has created jobs and opportunities for countless Guyanese, and their commitment to excellence has been an inspiration to us all.

The Chinese community in Guyana has

also made significant contributions to our culture, through the introduction of new foods, customs, and festivals, which have become an integral part of our national identity.

As we celebrated this historic milestone, the Parliamentary Opposition, APNU+AFC and PNCR extended our warmest greetings and congratulations to our Chinese brothers and sisters. We took the opportunity to express our deep appreciation for their contributions to our country and to reaffirm our commitment to fostering a strong, inclusive, and harmonious society for all.

On this 170th Arrival Day, we reaffirm our belief that together, as one nation, we can overcome any obstacle and build a better Guyana for all.

HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE!

Executive members of the Georgetown District of the PNCR, this morning (25-01-2023), presented the General Secretary of the Party, Mrs. Dawn Hastings-Williams, with a bouquet of flowers and a gift set, congratulating her on her appointment to the PNCR. Those persons present were Georgetown District Vice Chairman and Deputy Mayor Mr. Alfred Mentore, Georgetown District Chairman Mr. Troy Garraway and Georgetown District Executive Committee Member Mr. Robert Wayne Maison.

We in Guyana celebrate the ongoing visit to her homeland of Guyaneseborn British actress Letitia Wright. Letitia, as we know, has achieved international fame for her central role as Shuri in the blockbuster Black Panther movies. Her rising fame thrills and heartens us. We swell with pride when we read critical reviews that describe her performance as “amazing”, “unbelievable”, and as proving she can be the future face of the franchise. Congratulations to her for her accolades and achievements.

Letitia joins several other Guyanese-

born international stars who embrace their Guyanese roots. Just last month, we also welcomed home CCH Pounder whose movie credits include Avatar and NCIS: New Orleans.

We will forever remain fans of Letitia, CCH, and the other highlytalented Guyanese-born performers making a name for themselves on international concert stages, theatres, and movie sets. They prove that we are a talented and creative people once provided the right opportunities.

Government still eye-passing the City Council

Statement by the Mayor of Georgetown, Pt. Ubraj Narine Saturday, January 21, 2023, Georgetown, Guyana

FELLOW CITIZENS,

This is my first official press statement for 2023 on the certain challenges and issues facing the City of Georgetown.

As your Mayor, it is both necessary and important for me to bring to your attention an issue that has been affecting the welfare of citizens, the wellbeing of local communities and the city as a whole. The issue to which I referred is the crass attitude and worrying action of Central Government against the Georgetown City Council and by extension all citizens, who voted for me and other Councillors to represent your interests, at the local level. Indeed, Central Government continues to show zero regards to the importance of local government and local democratic organs in this beloved country of ours. Yet, local government and the establishment and recognition of local democratic organs are pillars upon which a good- intending government would build its democratic credentials and enhance its practice of good governance.

According to PART II - CONSTITUTION OF COUNCILS, in the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, that the City Council has been established as one body politic and corporate by the Georgetown Town council Ordinance, 1860, by the name and style of “The Mayor and Town Council of Georgetown” and continued by the Georgetown Town Council ordinance 1918, is hereby continues. Encrusted in this constitution are the responsibilities and powers of the city council. Under section 8 (1) “The City Council shall consist of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and councillors and shall have such functions as are vested in it by or under this act or any other law.”

Nevertheless, the Central Government has been doing all within its powers to show the City Council in a bad light and to give the impression to the public that we are incapable of honouring our statutory obligations as set out in the Act.

One way by which the government is attempting to do this is by rushing to do municipal works in different areas. These include: roads work [construction and repairs], desilting drainage and associate appurtenances, community bridges, cleaning parapets, and repairs to recreational facilities. However, in its indecent haste to willfully embarrass and wrong the council the government has been making very serious mistakes and missteps that are negatively affecting the lives, and compromising the value of properties of residents in the city.

Whilst, we welcome and appreciate the assistance from Central Government we could not encourage the government to operate as if there

is no council, or laws, by- laws and regulations governing the management of the nation’s capital. the government is impinging on the authority and powers of the council by overreaching into council area- the area administered by the council.

A few days ago, Charlestown, Albouystown, and other contiguous communities woke up to massive flood waters in their homes and yards. We learnt, after the incident, that the flooding of communities, in that section of the city, was caused by a faulty Koker door at Princess Street. Subsequently, we heard that Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha had inspected the sluice to determine the cause. [I am not sure about the Minister’s engineering skills or qualifications] But, the Minister, not the City Engineer, inspected that council facility.

According to reports, in certain sections of the media, the Minister said that after speaking with Engineers on the ground, it was revealed that the issues faced at the koker were a result of faulty work by the Contractor. We, the council, learnt, for the first time, that, last August, 2022, Square Commodities signed a contract for just over $11.6 million with the NDIA for the fabrication and installation of a stainless-steel door at the Princess Street Sluice. The contract was tendered and awarded to the company following a public bidding process in keeping with legal stipulations set out by the Government of Guyana through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

The reports said that Minister Mustapha expressed disappointment. He said situations like these should never occur. Then he went on to state the following:

“We went through a very transparent process with these contracts. The company submitted bids and was

awarded the contract based on their submission. Today, when we are having very good weather, people are being affected because of faulty work by the Contractor. The Government is now put in a position to create a solution because we have been entrusted with taking care of the welfare of all citizens of the country. This is the first time we’ve worked with this company, and as Minister, I am very dissatisfied. When we took office, we made it clear that we want everyone to be given a fair chance to work with the Government and receive contracts but if you are not experienced or have experienced people working with you, you may find yourself in a similar situation and we do not take these situations lightly.”

Neither I, as your Mayor, nor your representatives- Councillors- was informed about the award of that contract to Square Commodities and the government's intent to change that Koker door; It is a council facility. It is wrong and unfair not only to the council but also to all citizens of Georgetown.

If the government really wanted to help, then its approach would have been vastly different from what was obtained in this and similar situations.

Further, if the government had valued the importance of local government as part of good governance and democracy then not only would they have consulted with the Mayor but involved the council in the decisionmaking process, and the planning stage to change a vital part of a council facility. This was not done. In that context, the action of the government goes against sections of the Act, Chapter 28:01, and basic governmental relations and protocols.

In media reports, on the issue, there was no mention of the Mayor and City Council. The Council was not even

accorded the courtesy of being informed. Still, the council is the body that possesses institutional knowledge about the drainage system and roads in Georgetown. But the government and its operatives have been sidelining the council and pouring money into the pockets of its friends who have little to no experience and knowledge in dealing with the vital municipal facilities.

Another area is roads: the construction of new roads and the repair of existing ones. Freshly done roads are already showing signs of fatigue and deterioration; poor work. In addition, it does appear that the construction of certain roads is compromising drainage in different sections. Imagine the government has constructed a road- Nelson Mandela Avenue to Diamond- without any consultation with the council. The road runs through the city and has implications for a number of communities in the city, but the municipality was never invited to participate in the planning and execution stages of that project. There is also the attempt by government to establish parking lots [an application for injunction has been filed against this project], building new walk ways and bridges, and the redesigning of avenues under the control and management of the council.

In so far as redesigning these council facilities- avenues- are concerned there are certain environmental problems associated with what the government is doing to our avenues.

We, at the City Council, understand that the government are looking after its supporters by awarding them contracts to do works in areas where the government has no powers to cause works to be done to council facilities. We are not asking central government for any monies [other than their fair share of taxes and subventions]; we seek respect, fairness and that they respect the Constitution of the Council. In 2023, we would neither accept or tolerate government’s unprincipled behaviour and attitudes towards the Georgetown City Council.

I am aware that some of my detractors would point to current condition of the city but our efforts to do better has been stymied by the government. We are still waiting on the appropriate response from the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development on the City Litter bylaws. We are still waiting to engage government on new valuation of properties in the city. Many injustices have been committed against the city. Nevertheless, we are determined to do our best to improve condition in Georgetown.

In the end, it is the City Council that has the statutory responsible for all those facilities, which the government is attempting to repair, remove, change or rebuilt. For us, the Act is clear and we are sure about our responsibilities, duties and powers. These things we are not willing to compromise.

Peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy develops when nerves in the body's extremities, such as the hands, feet and arms, are damaged. The symptoms depend on which nerves are affected.

The peripheral nervous system

The peripheral nervous system is the network of nerves that lie outside the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord).

It includes different types of nerves with their own specific functions, including:

- sensory nerves – responsible for transmitting sensations, such as pain and touch

- motor nerves – responsible for controlling muscles

- autonomic nerves – responsible for regulating automatic functions of the body, such as blood pressure and bladder function

Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy

The main symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can include:

- numbness and tingling in the feet or hands

- burning, stabbing or shooting pain in affected areas

- loss of balance and co-ordination

- muscle weakness, especially in the feet

These symptoms are usually constant, but may come and go.

When to see a GP

It's important to see a GP if you experience the early symptoms of peripheral neuropathy.

These include:

- pain, tingling or loss of sensation in the feet

- loss of balance or weakness

- a cut or ulcer on your foot that's not getting better

It's also recommended that people at highest risk of peripheral neuropathy, such as people with diabetes, have regular check-ups.

A GP will ask about your symptoms and may arrange some tests to help identify the underlying cause.

You may be referred to hospital to see a neurologist, a specialist in health problems affecting the nervous system.

Generally, the sooner peripheral neuropathy is diagnosed, the better the chance of limiting the damage and preventing further complications.

Causes of peripheral neuropathy

In the UK diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy.

Over time, the high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes can damage the nerves.

This type of nerve damage is known as diabetic polyneuropathy.

Peripheral neuropathy can also have a wide range of other causes.

For example, it can be caused by:

- physical injury to the nerves

- a viral infection, such as shingles

- a side effect of certain medicines or drinking too much alcohol

People who are known to be at an increased risk of peripheral neuropathy may have regular check-ups so their nerve function can be assessed.

Treating peripheral neuropathy

Treatment for peripheral neuropathy depends on the symptoms and underlying cause.

Not all of the underlying causes of neuropathy can be treated.

For example, if you have diabetes, it may help to gain better control of your blood sugar level, stop smoking and cut down on alcohol.

Nerve pain may be treated with prescribed medicines called neuropathic pain agents, as standard painkillers often do not work.

If you have other symptoms associated with peripheral neuropathy, these may need to be treated individually.

For example, treatment for muscle weakness may involve physiotherapy and walking aids.

(https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/)

What To Know About the

Coronavirus Variants

One thing we know for sure about SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is that it is changing constantly. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve seen a number of prominent variants, including Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron.

Although new variants are an expected part of the evolution of viruses, monitoring each one that surfaces is essential in ensuring we— in the U.S. and globally—are prepared. This is especially true if a new variant is more aggressive, highly transmissible, vaccine-resistant, able to cause more severe disease—or all of the above, compared with the original strain of the virus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) names new coronavirus variants using the letters of the Greek alphabet, starting with the Alpha variant, which emerged in 2020.

Omicron and its subvariants

Omicron and its subvariants have ranked as the predominant SARS CoV-2 strains in the U.S for over a year now. The original Omicron strain (BA.1) was first identified in Botswana and South Africa in late November 2021, and cases quickly began to surface and multiply in other countries. By December of that year, Omicron was causing daily case numbers in the U.S. to skyrocket to over a million, and it began to spawn subvariants. One of those was BA.5, which became the predominant virus strain in the U.S., only to be replaced in November 2022 by two new subvariants known as BQ.1 and BQ.1.1. At the beginning of 2023, a new subvariant called XBB.1.5 was on the rise.

Meanwhile, experts are still learning about several newer Omicron strains circulating in the U.S., each of which, as of mid-December, were causing less than 6% of infections. They include BF.7, XBB, BN.1, BF.11, and others.

How contagious is it?

Omicron’s subvariants are considered to be especially efficient spreaders of the disease, and while scientists are still learning about XBB.1.5, they say it is the most transmissible strain of the virus so far. The original strain of Omicron was more transmissible than Delta was. One explanation was that more than 30 of Omicron’s mutations are on the virus’s spike protein, the part that attaches to human cells, and several of those are believed to increase the probability of infection.

Severity: Scientists are still working to learn more about whether the current Omicron strains cause more severe disease than their predecessors. Data has suggested that the original Omicron strain was less severe, in general, than previous variants, according to the CDC. But it has also noted that surges in cases may lead to significant increases in hospitalizations and deaths, as they did during the variant’s spread in the beginning of 2022, when the estimated death rates went as high or higher than they were at the time of the Delta variant surge in the previous autumn.

Can vaccination prevent it? The CDC says that while breakthrough infections in vaccinated people are

expected, getting vaccinated and staying up to date with your vaccine and the latest booster shot is the best protection against Omicron. In 2022, the FDA authorized PfizerBioNTech and Moderna bivalent booster shots for everyone 6 months of age and older. These boosters are designed to protect against disease caused by the original strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 (although experts are still learning about their effectiveness against the latest Omicron subvariants).

Delta Delta (B.1.617.2) was first identified in India in late 2020; it soon spread throughout the world, becoming what was the predominant version of the coronavirus—until Omicron took its place in mid-December. How contagious is it? It’s estimated that Delta caused more than twice as many infections as previous variants—in Connecticut, it was estimated to have been 80 to 90% more transmissible than the Alpha variant. In the U.S., in June 2021, after a steady decline in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the arrival of Delta coincided with a rapid reversal of that trend. In the fall of 2021, there were surges even in the most vaccinated states, prompting experts to urge people to get their booster shots.

Severity: Delta caused more severe disease than other variants in people who weren’t vaccinated. Early studies from Scotland and Canada, both cited by the CDC, suggested Delta was more likely to result in hospitalization in the unvaccinated. A report in the Lancet this past summer found that people in England had double the hospitalization risk with Delta than they did with Alpha, the previously dominant variant in that country. Can vaccination prevent it? All three vaccines in the U.S. were considered highly effective against severe illness, hospitalizations, and death from Delta. No vaccine is 100% effective, and Delta caused breakthrough infections in some fully vaccinated people. Also, infected vaccinated people could spread the virus to others, although likely they were infectious for a shorter time.

Delta also prompted the CDC to recommend “layered prevention strategies” for both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. That means that, in addition to staying up-to-date with their vaccines, people were advised to practice such strategies as washing hands, wearing masks, and maintaining a physical distance from one another, especially when indoors in places where there was substantial or high transmission.

Delta AY.4.2*

Delta AY.4.2, sometimes referred to—incorrectly—as Delta Plus, was actually the most prominent of a number of Delta offshoots, some of which had mutations new to Delta but that were found in other variants. AY.4.2 had two mutations to its spike protein, AY145H and A222V, that were considered to be key, but they were not located in a place

where they would inhibit vaccines or treatments. This variant was thought to be slightly more contagious than Delta itself, but while Great Britain was tracking a steady rise of AY4.2, it did not rise as quickly in the U.S. How contagious is it? While the data is limited, it was thought to be 10 to 20% more transmissible than Delta. Severity: It did not appear to pose a greater chance of hospitalization or death.

Can vaccination prevent it? There was some evidence to show vaccines were effective against AY.4.2. Experts also recommended masking, physical distancing, and other mitigation strategies.

*AY.4.2 is technically an offshoot of Delta and not itself a coronavirus variant.

Beta

This variant, or B.1.351, was identified in South Africa at the end of 2020 and spread to other countries. Experts had been concerned about its several mutations and its potential to evade antibodies. Beta was not common in the U.S. How contagious is it? The CDC said Beta was about 50% more contagious than the original coronavirus strain.

Severity: There was evidence to suggest that Beta may have been more likely than other variants to lead to hospitalization and death.

Can vaccination prevent it? South Africa stopped offering the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine (which is not available in the U.S.) early in 2021 after clinical trials showed it did not provide strong protection against mild and moderate disease from the Beta variant. PfizerBioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson also reported less protection against Beta.

Alpha Alpha (B.1.1.7) was the first of the highly publicized variants. Alpha first appeared in Great Britain in November 2020 and infections surged in December of that year. It soon surfaced around the world and became the dominant variant in the U.S., where the CDC classified it as a variant of concern. Then, Alpha faded away with the rise of the more aggressive Delta variant.

How contagious is it? Some mutations in Alpha’s spike protein were thought to make it more infectious. The B.1.1.7 lineage was believed to be 30 to 50% more contagious than the original SARS-CoV-2 strain. In the U.S., in mid-April 2021—before Delta became predominant—Alpha comprised 66% of cases, according to a study released in June by the CDC.

Severity: Studies have suggested the B.1.1.7 lineage was more likely to land infected people in the hospital and was deadlier than the original virus.

Can vaccinations prevent it?

Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson all said their vaccines were effective in preventing severe disease and hospitalization in Alpha cases.

(https://www.yalemedicine.org/ne ws/covid-19-variants-of-concernomicron)

EDUCATION

Delivery

of Education in peril due to incompetence at the Ministry of Education

By Natasha Singh-Lewis, MP Shadow Minister of Education

I am deeply concerned by the reports that have come to my attention regarding the abuse of teachers in our schools. The initial feedback I have received indicated that the lack of security officers in schools within our regions is one of the contributing factors in relation to the issue. I wish to note here for the public that approval was given for all schools and government buildings to have 24/7 security coverage and significant sums of money were allocated in the National Assembly for this purpose. Despite these allocations, it appears that the Education Delivery Programme in several regions is failing to provide adequate security for our schools.

I call upon the Regional Executive Officers, who are all Accounting Officers in their respective regions, and the Regional Education Officers, who are the Programme Managers of the Education Delivery Programme in their respective regions, to provide answers as to why schools across Guyana are without adequate security officers, particularly during working hours. This is a serious issue, and one that cannot be ignored.

Region One has an approved budgetary sum of $75.579M for the Education Delivery Programme in 2022. Region Two has an approved budgetary sum of $443.396M. Region Three has an approved budgetary sum of $456.029M.

Region Four has an approved budgetary sum of $860.295M. Region Five has an approved budgetary sum of $307.581M. Region Six has an approved budgetary sum of $532.562M. Region Seven has an approved budgetary sum of $113.441M. Region Eight has an approved sum of $54.401M. Region Nine has an approved sum of $72.585M and Region Ten has an approved sum of $349.956M. Schools in Georgetown fall

directly under the Ministry of Education and were catered there for security officers.

The delivery of Education at all levels in this country is in Peril because of the incompetence at the Ministry of Education.

The Minister of Education should explain to this nation how and why the most senior Administrators of this Ministry have no experience and why were school teachers without the requisite qualifications in Education Management and related experience hand picked to serve at the most senior levels of the Ministry. It is these decisions that contribute to the lawlessness we are experiencing in our schools where the safety and security of our teachers and students are at risk.

I would also like to bring attention to a video circulating on Facebook in which a teacher from Belvedere Primary School in Region Six expresses her frustration and anger at the lack of security at her school and the prevalence of violence against teachers in her region. More recently a teacher in Region 4 was beaten by a parent in the presence of students, his colleagues and other parents and today another incident occurred in a school in the Georgetown District . It is unacceptable and must be addressed immediately.

Ministers of Education and Local Government must take responsibility for the mismanagement of their ministries as we hold them accountable to the Guyanese people for the effective use of the funds allocated for the Education Delivery Programme. The question remains, where are the monies going? The safety and security of our schools and teachers must be a top priority, and I call on the government to take immediate action to address this issue.

Government continues to appoint State Boards without inviting Reps from the Opposition parties

In our Press Statement of 22nd November 2022, we noted that as regards State Boards, "the current Leader of the Opposition has received no request from the government for an opposition representative, though several boards were recently appointed. This breach extends to boards on which the Opposition is a statutory member, such as the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority."

We also observed: "Were the PPP government genuine about inclusion, one would have expected that

it would have followed the practice of inviting the Opposition to be represented on a wide range of state boards, authorities, and commissions – whether or not the relevant statutes so dictated. It has completely ignored to do so. Instead, it has sneakily appointed and reappointed boards in several sectors."

The fact that the government continues to sneak through these appointments further exposes its disdain for scrutiny and accountability.

#OneGuyana #IStandWithOurTeachers

Rajcoomarie ‘Gloria’ Bancroft: Died 19th January 2023.

The PNCR is saddened by the passing of former Member of Parliament of the Party and the Coalition, Ms. Rajcoomarie Bancroft also known as Gloria Bancroft who died on Thursday 19th January 2023, after a period of illness. She was the Regional MP for Region #8 and a member of the National Congress of Women (NCW). Ms. Bancroft was cremated on Sunday 22nd January 2023 at the Memorial Gardens Crematorium.

The Party wishes to express its sincere condolences to her children and other relatives at this time of their grief. May her soul be at Eternal Peace!

NEW NATION

Obituaries

Lila Bishwah: Died 17th January 2023.

The People’s National Congress Reform and the PNCR Region #3 wishes to extend heartfelt condolences to the children, grandchildren and other sorrowing relatives and friends of the Late Lila Bishwah who passed away on Tuesday 17th January. The funeral service for the late Ms. Bishwah was held today Sunday 22nd January at the Sandy’s Funeral Chapel. May her soul be at Eternal Peace!

Pamela Chance: Born 7th August 1977; Died 2nd January 2023. When we lose someone we love we must learn not to live without them but to live with the love that they have left behind.

The PNCR is saddened to announce the passing of our beloved Party Stalwart, Mrs. Pamela Chance known to us as Aunty Pam of Ann's Grove, East Coast Demerara. Mrs. Chance was born on 7th August 1951 and passed away on the 2nd of January 2023. Aunty Pam was a stalwart for the PNCR and worked for a number of years for the Party in her community. She will be greatly missed. The Funeral Service for the late Mrs. Pamela Chance was held on Thursday January 12th, 2023, at Ann's Grove Methodist Church. May her soul Rest in Peace and Rise in Eternal Glory!

Orrin Mitchell: Born 15th December 1996; Died 14th January 2023.

The PNCR wishes to extend heartfelt condolences to the family, relatives and friends of the Late Orrin Mitchell, another stalwart and member of the Party, who passed away on Saturday 14th January.

The funeral service for the late Orrin Mitchell was held on Monday 23rd January at the Kitty Wesleyan Church. May his soul be at Eternal Peace!

Party Leader Aubrey C. Norton (right) attending the funeral of Gloria Bancroft.

A section of the gathering at the funeral.

The casket of the late Lila Bishwah draped with the Party flag.