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The News Room last month reported that Husbands 46, of Carmichael Street, Georgetown, died after his motorcycle collided with Holder’s car at the intersection of Cummings and Church Streets.

Husbands, who worked at Atlas Security Services Inc, was the driver of motorcycle #CM 2986, while Holder was the driver of motorcar PAF 3166.

Based on the investigation, police said the car was proceeding north along the western lane of Cummings Street while the motorcycle was proceeding east of Church Street.

As the car and motorcycle approached the intersection, Holder allegedly failed to stop at the ‘stop sign’ and collided with the motorcycle.

As a result of the collision, the motorcyclist was flung some distance onto the northern parapet of Church Street and sustained severe injuries.

Emergency Medical Technicians picked him up in a semi-conscious condition and transported him to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Focus on cervical cancer is necessary as it is the second most prevalent cancer that causes over 34,000 deaths in the Americas. Over the yeas there were several challenges in finalising such a strategy.

HPV is the leading cause for cervical cancer. Other causes are immunodeficiency and smoking.

“If we screen people, and you’re able to detect abnormal cells early, then we can prevent any of the complications from happening… but if we wait until people get all kinds of complications, of course it’s going to be more difficult.

“We want to achieve 70 per cent of persons being screened, of this 70 per cent, we want to ensure those who we detect cancer cells, we want to make sure that 90% of them will have access to treatment,” Dr Anthony said.

The ministry will also distribute testing kits as it tackles the detrimental disease. It is also considering ways to establish plan to offer branchy-therapy which is another form of treatment for the cancer.

Ensuring that at least 70 per cent of women within the reproductive age of 21 – 60 undergo screening will require massive collaboration. The ministry is collaborating with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and non-governmental organisations to ensure nationwide awareness is attained.

The HPV vaccine is available for children ages nine to 17 and adults ages 18 to 45. Going forward, the ministry will ramp up its vaccination programme. The vaccination uptake for children under five years old is considerably high but targets set for the costly HPV vaccine is relatively low at 40 per cent.

The plan of action is to go to schools and communities to spread awareness and vaccinate persons.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues said the subsidy, one of several offered by the ministry, is significantly reducing building cost for individuals.

Another similar programme persons can utilise to help them acquire home ownership is the mortgage interest relief scheme.

“Ultimately our goal is not just to allocate land but to help people to acquire home ownership.

“So in response to that we have introduce programmes such as the steel and cement subsidy and the mortgage interest relief through which we have been able to control prices and working with the banks to reduce interest rates,” Rodrigues explained.

One of the beneficiaries, Basmattie Seenarine applauded the government initiative. She applied for the subsidy more than a year ago.

“I feel very happy. It’s been over a year I applied for it and I finally got it.

“Now I can start my home and it’s a very big help for me to start my home,” Seenarine said.

The vouchers are redeemable at Gafson’s Industries Limited, National Hardware, Cemmax Procurement and Contracting Inc, David Persaud Investments Limited, and Eddie’s Managerial and General Service.

The new housing scheme consists of a total of 5,000 house lots and it will feature a magistrate’s court, schools, day care, and other amenities.

Delivering remarks at the ceremony, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal reflected on the investment made by the government to develop these housing schemes.

“This development coupled with commercial activities in this region is a testimony of economic growth and development for the people.

“Today we will continue to bring relief through the allocation of house lots,” Croal said.

Region Three has the second highest demand for house lots in the country, with a backlog of 11,656 applicants.

Since assuming office in 2020, Croal said a total of 7,300 house lots were allocated in the region.

Meanwhile, in her remarks, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues issued a stern reminder to persons interested in acquiring a house lot, not to engage in illegitimate activities.

“So please understand that nobody should be frustrating you, nobody should be approaching you to do you a favour by helping you for some financial gain to them personally for your house lot.

“You application can and will be addressed legitimately by the Central Housing and Planning Authority,” Rodrigues said.

From 2020 to now, the government has allocated over 31,000 house hots. Region Three has seen 20 per cent of the total allocation.