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The President said, “To add to this, we will have to develop, redesign, in many cases, and rehabilitate internal drainage systems. As we get more revenue coming in, we are changing a lot of these drainage systems to concrete drainage so we don’t have the siltation, and so that drainage is improved.”

President Ali highlighted that Region Three is slated for tremendous development, highlighting the massive impact that will be had on the region’s economic development upon completion of several large-scale projects, such as the Schoonord to Crane highway and the gas-to-energy project.

The President stated that government is focusing on community development, which, he added, requires the engagement of residents and regional leaders.

“One of the things we pride ourselves on as a government is our ability to connect with people, listen to people, analyse their concerns, and then act on them. We don’t want communities to miss out on these opportunities. We want communities to also develop,” he noted.

As part of this agenda for community development, President Ali also noted that next year will see the implementation of a national plan to place streetlights in all community streets across the country to improve security. (DPI)

The Indian Premier League final between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans has been postponed until Monday because of heavy rain in Ahmedabad.

The rain briefly stopped at about 16:30h (India time) on Sunday, with the covers taken off and the players coming out to warm up, but it returned within 15 minutes.

Chennai are looking to equal Mumbai’s record tally of five IPL titles.

Gujarat are aiming to retain the title they won in their inaugural season in 2022.

If no play is possible on Monday, Gujarat will win the title after topping the league table with 20 points – three more than Chennai in second.

Chennai beat Gujarat in Qualifier One to become the first side to qualify for the final, with Gujarat then seeing off Mumbai Indians to earn the second final spot. (BBC Sport)

“It is important that we invest, in a holistic manner, in the development of your region, just as we are doing in other regions of Guyana. As we plan to build out the health infrastructure in Region Nine, we decided that we must have an infectious disease centre. This is just part of a plan to develop the health facilities and the delivery of health care here, ” he noted.

The Prime Minister said the need for a facility of this kind in the region was highlighted during the COVID-19 period, when close supervision of border communities was necessary to contain the spread of the disease.

“We share a border with a country that was most affected by COVID-19. We had to close the border. All of this occurred during a time when we had no infectious disease centre. I think we have learned from that experience,” the prime minister explained.

Importantly, he noted that as these new facilities are opened, it remains critical that people are trained to manage them.

“We can’t have new facilities and equipment if we do not also spend money on you – persons to keep things running, to make things operational,” he underscored.

To this end, the pharmacy assistant and nursing assistant courses are expected to begin shortly in the region, to upskill persons and equip them with the qualifications to work in the new and upgraded facilities.

“These are all aimed at educating the people who live and work in Region Nine to be the ones to manage the health facility in the region, to lead the development of health in the region,” he added.

Government has taken a rigorous approach to upskilling persons in the hinterland communities to be employed in the health centres there, as opposed to outsourcing trained personnel from the coastland.

“With our administration we want to be more aggressive on having people here, in the hinterland, trained in all aspects of healthcare. We want to see more doctors being trained here,” PM Phillips explained.

Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, said the new centre will help to boost tourism as visitors can rest assured that they will be able to access health services across Guyana.

“In a case of someone coming and wondering how fast they can be treated if they get an infection, the fact that there is some place nearby for that helps to boost tourism,” she noted.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, said that the facility now enables health workers in the region to identify and treat diseases.

“It speaks to our government’s policy of expanding healthcare across the country and ensuring there is decentralisation of health services. An infectious centre is timely, as previously, many people would have to come to the hospitals in Region Four to determine what types of infections there were, and how to treat them. Now, with your own centre, you can do this right here. You can also determine new infections,” Minister Persaud said.

She added that the government’s dedication to fostering development in the health sector is further highlighted through the continued training and upskilling of persons to complement the building of health infrastructure. (DPI) 

Barbados completed the ‘double’ by capturing the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Women’s T20 Blaze, defeating Leeward Islands by eight wickets on the final day of the competition on Saturday.

Entering the match at Warner Park level with Guyana on 12 points and needing a victory to secure the title, Barbados chased down 122 to complete their all-important fourth victory of the tournament, with 15 balls to spare.

Last week they won the CG United Super50 title.

At St Paul’s Sports Complex, Guyana sensationally defended a score of just 39 to come away with a nailbiting one-run victory over Trinidad and Tobago, and finish level on points with Barbados.

However, Barbados were adjudged winners, having won the head-to-head clash by three wickets in the second round last Sunday.

“We were expected to win. Obviously last year we missed out narrowly in the T20s but we’re really happy to have taken both” said Barbados captain, Shakera Selman.

In the other game played at Conaree, Windward Islands ended the tournament on a high with a six-wicket take down of deposed champions Jamaica.

Aware Guyana had already secured the points they needed, Barbados knew a slip up would be costly and produced a clinical performance.

Asked to bowl first, they restricted Leewards to 121-5 off their 20 overs with Divya Saxena top-scoring with 33 not out.

She struck a four and faced 50 balls, and held the innings together with a string of partnerships, adding 24 for the second wicket with Melicia Clarke (13), 23 for the third with Amanda Edwards (15), 30 for the fourth with Jahzara Claxton (13) and 30 for the fifth with Rozel Liburd (20).

In reply, left-hander Kycia Knight took responsibility for the run chase with an unbeaten 63 off 51 balls with nine fours.

She put on 80 for the first wicket with all-rounder Aaliyah Alleyne who made 32 from 26 balls with five fours, before adding a further 37 in an unbroken third wicket stand with Trishan Holder (13 not out).

RESULTS

Round 1: Saturday 20 May (all matches played at Warner Park)

Windward Islands vs Guyana – Guyana won by 4 runs

Leeward Islands vs Jamaica – Jamaica won by 8 wickets

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Divas vs Barbados – T&T Red Force Divas won by 5 wickets

Round 2: Sunday 21 May (all matches played at Warner Park)

Windward Islands vs Leeward Islands – Windwards won by 46 runs

Guyana vs Barbados – Barbados won by 3 wickets

Jamaica vs Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Divas – Jamaica won by 6 runs

Round 3: Tuesday 23 May (all matches played at Warner Park)

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Divas vs Windward Islands – Windwards won by 7 wickets

Jamaica vs Barbados – Barbados won by 9 wickets

Guyana vs Leeward Islands – Guyana won by 5 wickets

Round 4: Thursday 25 May (all matches played at Warner Park)

Jamaica vs Guyana – Guyana won by 8 wickets

Leeward Islands vs Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Divas – T&T Red Force Divas won by 6 wickets

Barbados vs Windward Islands – Barbados won by 4 wickets

Round 5: Saturday 27 May

Leeward Islands vs Barbados – Warner Park- Barbados won by 8 wickets

Trinidad & Tobago Red Force Divas vs Guyana – St Paul’s- Guyana won by 1 run

Jamaica vs Windward Islands – Conaree- Windwards won by 6 wickets