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The event features a variety of cultural performances, spiritual services, the display of traditional Indian cuisines and clothing among other Diwali-related activities.

According to President Ali, the initiative seeks to bring together families to share and understand their cultural and religious heritage.

As such, the Head of State said the celebration will continue in the coming years so that families from the diaspora can plan their activities during Diwali celebration to be present in Guyana.

“In the next five days, I want families to come out…enjoy the spirituality…Uplift each other, support each other and when we do so we will continue to build a stronger and stronger Guyana,” President Ali urged.

The Head of State said every community throughout the country benefits from the investments the government has been making in the various sectors.

But all of this, he said “adds to the economic prosperity of the people in the region.”

The ‘One Guyana Diwali Jalsa’ will be held from November 7 to 11.

The event is being hosted by the Office of the First Lady, the Ministries of Tourism, Industry and Commerce; and Culture, Youth, and Sport.

“As such, as we are behind the contractors to get this road completed, we also want to ensure that the quality is up to standard,” Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water Susan Rodrigues told the News Room.

Rodrigues made this disclosure as she provided the News Room with an update on the project during a site visit on Tuesday.

The contract for the $13 billion project was awarded to 12 contractors in December 2021. The project was slated to be completed within 18 months, which would have been by April 2023.

However, by then, a number of issues arose. The contractor for one of the lots was terminated and some settlers from Mocha had to be relocated, hence the delay.

“This is Lot 2 and 4 of the Eccles to Diamond four-lane highway project…This is the second phase. A lot of this carriageway has been completed already.

“The reason we are behind with these two lots, is that one, we had to terminate and we had to retender one of the lots and the second lot – lot 4 – that was delayed because of the informal settlers we had to remove in the Mocha area…That’s why these contractors are now trying to catch up but we expect them to finish before the end of the year,” Rodrigues explained to the News Room.

Rodrigues said contractors are at a “critical” juncture of the project which has seen the closure of the Providence Access Road also known as ‘Red Road’ and Mocha Access Road.

The closure is to allow for the linkage of the two roads to the four-lane highway. This aspect is expected to be completed by November 17.

“This is a critical juncture that we are at right now. Most of the highway has been paved already. It’s just this connection that has to be done now,” Rodrigues said.

She added, “There is no break in between this. We are working through for these two weeks so that we can complete this link and get this road commissioned as soon as possible”.

The four-lane highway forms part of the alternative East Bank Demerara road link which is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion on the East Bank corridor.

“This will be a tremendous relief to those on the East Bank corridor…With this link now, you have an alternative to the East Bank road from Mandela all the way to Eccles and we already tendered and awarded the third phase which will go beyond Grove.

“So, you will be able to have an alternative route from Georgetown all the way out to Grove by the time this entire project is completed,” Rodrigues said.

These refrigerators will provide consistent access to vital immunizations, improving equitable healthcare access, and significantly reducing the risk of preventable disease outbreaks.

This donation underscores the importance of reliable vaccine storage and will provide a significant cost savings by maintaining the viability of vaccines.

Ambassador Theriot said, “These solar-powered refrigerators symbolize our shared vision of reaching every corner of Guyana with essential healthcare services.  Together, we continue to work towards a brighter, healthier future for the people of Guyana.” (U.S. Embassy press release)

In the past two months, the government has advertised the rehabilitation of some 700 roads in Regions Four, Five, and Six, benefitting hundreds of contractors.

To date, 287 contracts have been signed in Region Six, with 201 contractors benefitting. Another 62 contracts were awarded to 61 contractors in Region Ten, with another signing scheduled for Thursday, November 9, in the region.

Added to this, some 222 contracts were awarded for the rehabilitation of roads along the East Coast Corridor with an additional 78 contracts to be signed, fulfilling the promise of completing 300 roads.

Minister Edghill noted that these projects will be executed simultaneously in keeping with President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s instruction “that in every single Region, the same thing is happening.”

The projects will be carried out in either rigid pavement concrete or traditional asphaltic concrete.

Meanwhile, Minister Edghill urged contractors to “give good diligence to quality” when executing works. To ensure this is achieved the ministry had dispatched its engineers to lend assistance to all contractors.

Contractors are also given two weeks to notify the ministry of any issues that will result in the delay of the project. (DPI)

President Dr Irfaan Ali and Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand commissioned the $84 million modernised structure in the presence of students, parents and teachers.

Due to the deteriorated condition of the school, a decision was taken in May 2022 to demolish the structure and build a new one.

During that time, teachers and pupils were relocated to the lower flat of the Sans Souci Primary School.

Construction on the new structure commenced in January 2023 by Mohammed Sidique Ramson Contracting Services.

In delivering the feature address, President Ali said the government has been making significant investments in the education sector to ensure that every child receives a high-quality education.

And because of the investment, President Ali said more teachers are being trained and they can now stay on the island and earn a degree and master’s, enhancing their career.

“If your children are comfortable, they are more receptible.

“You see education is not a school building. Education is a system and every aspect of the system must work in order to deliver better equality education,” President Ali said.

The Head of State noted that coming out of a study launched by the government, Cabinet is currently working on a programme to enhance more than 20 teachers’ quarters and dormitories.

“This school today gives this generation of children a better opportunity…That is why the country we are building tomorrow must be critically connected to the education we are delivering today,” he said.