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“Each lot will have different outstanding. For example, the two that are more advanced, all that is required is some backfilling, the edge of the road, etc and then we will have to put the road markings. So that is like a completion.

“The others behind, some will still have to do the paving…so those are the type of works that are required. But we have done a bit of concrete work already on some of the lots,” Croal explained.

Despite the minor issues, Croal told the News Room that the highway is expected to be completed by the end of May this year.

The project will see the construction of 4.1 kilometers of a dual carriageway reinforced concrete road with an emergency lane as well as 2.4 kilometers of road rehabilitation and upgrade.

It will also feature two roundabouts, 11 reinforced concrete box culverts, 36 pre-stressed bridges, and road signage and markings.

The contract for the highway was awarded to eight contractors– VR Construction Inc., Avinash Contracting & Scrap Metal Inc., L-Heureuse Construction and Services Inc., Guyamerica Construction Inc., AJM Enterprise, Vals Construction, Puran Bros Disposal Inc., and JS Guyana Inc.

During her address, Minister Persaud reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to serving the people and outlined the initiatives slated for inclusion in the 2024 Budget. The emphasis was placed on empowering individuals through access to education, skills training, and support services, thereby fostering inclusive growth and development.

Following the successful engagement in Riverview, the team proceeded to Yarrowdam, where they embarked on a house-to-house visitation campaign. This approach allowed the team to assess the unique needs and aspirations of Yarrowdam residents firsthand, ensuring a targeted and personalized approach to addressing community challenges.

The house-to-house visits facilitated meaningful interactions with residents, enabling the team to gain valuable insights into the specific issues facing the community. By engaging directly with residents in their homes, the Ministry aims to foster a sense of inclusivity and ensure that no voice goes unheard in the development process.

Minister Persaud expressed her gratitude to the residents of Riverview and Yarrowdam for their active participation and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working tirelessly to address their needs and concerns. She encouraged residents to continue engaging with the Ministry and to take advantage of the various support programs and services available to them.

One resident, Amanda Walters, expressed satisfaction with the Minister bringing the services to the community, noting that it was a much-needed intervention.

Pensioners also highlighted appreciation in the several new ways in which pensioners can collect their pension while praising Minister Persaud for her work in providing free assistive aids to persons living with disabilities.

He said his journey with the prosthetic was frustrating at times, especially after he was told that he had to undergo training to use the support.

“The exercises, to me it wasn’t hard and like I said I have my mind poised to do it. I didn’t know they had all of this here. That was a plus for me,” Olutunde said.

He said this recent training helped him to improve his ability to walk up ramps and steps. He hopes to invent a type of technology that supports prosthetic users.

Meanwhile, Selena Ali has used prosthetics for 26 years since her right leg, from the knee to the foot, was amputated following a motor vehicular accident. Ali believes that because of her disability, she has to put in 110 per cent of the average person’s efforts and she is constantly trying to encourage other amputees to look at it as a glass-half-full situation.

“They give us another chance at life and it doesn’t stop at just giving us a limb, the physiotherapists do a great job in ensuring that we know how to use it properly.

“In Guyana, we are stigmatized for having a disability but like I say, we are no longer disabled, we are differently abled, we can work,” Ali said.

She works a full-time job, drives and does most of her daily activities.

She encourages people to remember that acceptance is key to regaining independence after amputation.

As a show of strength and unity, Lyte said large numbers of teachers are expected to take to the streets on Friday even as he called on parents to come out and support the teachers.

“We will be outside today, day number 10 and we hope that good sense will prevail and the PS [Permanent Secretary] will write the union inviting us to attend a meaningful dialogue as it relates to the terms of resumptions and also timelines for discussions on the financial benefits for our teachers,” Lyte said as he insisted on collective bargaining.

“We are not buying the saying that there is no money to pay wages and salaries… this is the biggest budget… we are not buying that, not at all.”

The GTU President also sought to enlist the support of the private sector. “The Private Sector is vocal on a lot of areas. It is time that the Chair of the Private Sector engage the government to let good sense prevail,” he added.

Several government officials including President Irfaan Ali, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, and Attorney General Anil Nandlall have all said over the last two weeks that they are willing to engage with teachers.

“We want to work with the unions but we will not do so in bad faith, under duress, under any form of undue influence…we want to bargain fairly and that is what the law provides for and we are not in any way reeling from that obligation,” Nandlall said on Tuesday.

“I am delighted to be in Guyana. This is my first visit, and I would like to thank President Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Finance Minister Ashni Singh, as well as other ministers and senior officials for their warm hospitality and for the productive meetings. I would also like to thank the representatives from the health and housing sectors for the site visits arranged, and the Amerindian community of Moraikobai, and the private sector, for their welcome and useful discussions.

“I congratulated the authorities on the unparalleled economic expansion. Guyana today is in the position to reap the benefits of rapidly increasing oil revenues due to the hard-won gains from implementing reforms and adjustment over the years. The plans put in place by the authorities and the strong progress are benefiting the entire population through better healthcare and educational programs, housing policies, energy, and transportation infrastructure. Most importantly, these plans are also providing current and future generations with entrepreneurial and work opportunities through very strong economic growth, and a more diversified and climate resilient economy.

“I commended the authorities for the visionary Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030. The sale of carbon credits and use of these funds supports the Amerindian population, finances climate adaptation needs, and fosters renewable and cleaner energy needed for development. The strategy, which includes marine conservancy and increased biodiversity goals, is ambitious.

“Notwithstanding the recent economic boom, Guyana still faces significant human and infrastructure development needs. I strongly support the authorities’ efforts to improve economic welfare through public investment, while avoiding the non-trivial risk of economic overheating. The authorities have managed this transformation successfully thus far, and we agreed that continuing to maintain macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability are paramount.

“In addition, we discussed the authorities’ efforts to develop a large skilled labor force to ensure a balanced growth path with low inflation and opportunities for well-paying jobs throughout the country.

“The across the board figure is lower than that…we hired [2,000] more [teachers] and adjusted graduate levels significantly.

“These are figures you can verify, that represent a commitment… these are facts that you cannot hide from… teachers are receiving $15 billion more than they got in 2019,” Jagdeo explained.

He insisted that the ongoing strike is political and explained that his call for teachers to get a 50 per cent increase while he was opposition leader, was because the government had raised minister’s salaries by 50 per cent.

“If you could find money for minister, you can find for teachers… that is what I was saying.

“They changed the per diem policy, policy for ministers to get security and drivers… spent more on health insurance for ministers and their families…if you can do all those things for ministers why can’t you find more for teachers?” Jagdeo reminded of the reason for his comment.

But altogether, he maintained that teachers were getting more, pointing out that in this integrate society, investments in other sectors like health and infrastructure were also to the benefit of teachers.