– honours road crash victims among fallen heroes
In what could be seen as a signal of the government’s concern over the burgeoning road carnage, President Irfaan Ali on Saturday night highlighted the deaths of two Region Ten teachers in a recent crash on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway in his address at Guyana’s 58th independence flag-raising ceremony at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground in Linden.
Commiserating with Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) over the loss, President Ali included the late teachers among the country’s heroes who had fallen since the last independence celebration. He led the gathering in a moment’s silence.
Spotlighting Region Ten as an imminent major investment centre and “centrepiece for development”, the President said that it was being positioned to become a link with the interior and northern Brazil. Infrastructural development currently underway, he said, would result in the region emerging as “an integral part in the transport, logistics, shipping hub, that container transhipment point in this whole ecosystem that we are building where the food capital, the regional food hub will be located…”
He added, “Your region will be the region that will be producing all the corn and soya for us nationally and to satisfy Caricom’s needs. Your region will soon produce the black eye and red beans to satisfy national demand and by the end of next year to satisfy regional demand.”
Issuing a call for all Guyanese to work together toward building a better future for themselves and their children, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating a nation where every child has the opportunity to pursue their aspirations and realise their dreams. Policies, initiatives, and investments, he said, were being directed towards achieving this goal.
The President highlighted the progress made in various sectors, including education, healthcare, and infrastructure. He emphasised that the government is committed to building a strong and sustainable Guyana, where every citizen can live in dignity and prosperity.
With regard to the healthcare sector, Ali pointed to significant investments that have been made recently, which he said have resulted in improved life expectancy and a reduction in child mortality. He underscored that free CT scans are now available at the George-town Public Hospital and indicated the construction of new health facilities as well as two new nursing schools where those in training will receive a stipend and be guaranteed employment on graduating.
The President emphasised that the government is committed to ensuring every child has access to a quality education. On this note, he announced plans to establish a digital school to provide online education. The government is also investing in training more teachers and has increased funding for education from $300,000 to $700,000 per child.
The President also highlighted the government’s efforts to improve infrastructure, including the construction of new roads and bridges. He stressed that the ongoing development would reach every region. “We don’t want any community, any region or any section of our population to be left behind. There is no place for that,” he said.
To that end, he said the government was committed to supporting national prosperity for all and was working to create a society where every citizen can live with dignity and security, and where every family can enjoy prosperity.
Ali stated that Guyana was poised to become a major player in global development, particularly in areas such as forestry management, climate change, and biodiversity. He said Guyana was committed to being a responsible member of the global community.
The ceremony, which was also attended by members of the diplomatic corps, included displays of culture by local performers.
