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He is expected to make a full announcement on his decision and the way forward at a later date.

The former Presidents of Guyana are Arthur Chung, Forbes Burnham, Desmond Hoyte, Cheddi Jagan, Sam Hinds, Janet Jagan, Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar and David Granger.

And while four of those former Presidents are still alive, many believe not much was done to honour them.

Guyana has a conference centre named after Arthur Chung, an airport after Cheddi Jagan, streets and other recreational facilities after Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte.

But as Ron articulates, more can be done and Dr. Ali has committed to doing just that.

See below the full statement from the Ministry of Finance:  

Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni K. Singh and the Ministry of Finance Saturday (in conjunction with the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) hosted a Hinterland Stakeholder Consultation on the Presentation of Guyana’s second Voluntary National Review (VNR) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in St. Ignatius Village, Lethem, Region Nine. There, 24 Village Leaders and approximately 150 persons were able to meet and review Guyana’s progress in effecting its Sustainable Development Agenda.

The VNR allows for the input of all stakeholders including persons in riverain and hinterland communities and today’s consultation saw presentations made by various sectors. It allowed for discussion on the current position in terms of objectives and perspectives looking ahead while also presenting an opportunity for interaction with the wide cross section of stakeholder groups in attendance as they examined mainly five of the SDGs, namely Goal 6 – Potable Water, Water Sanitation and Harvesting Water, Goal 7 – Renewable Energy and Access to Energy, Goal 9 – Infrastructure Industry and Innovation, Goal 11 – Cities and Municipalities, Housing, Disaster Risk Management and Preparedness and Goal 17-Means and Implementation of the SDGs.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development outlines a transformative vision for economic, social and environmental development. Government has continuously reaffirmed its commitment to advancing implementation the Agenda, aimed at achieving the SDGs, despite the challenging global economic context. Under the leadership of His Excellency Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the current administration has been, as mandated preparing its review with focus placed on five of the SDGs in preparation for the upcoming SDG Summit to be held in September 2023. At that Summit many more countries from around the world currently conducting reviews of their implementation as well, will also be reporting on their progress in keeping with the United Nations resolution.

Addressing those gathered today for discussion, Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh said the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government led by President Ali, is people-centered and people-driven as he noted that the engagement is not to be seen as an isolated activity but one in   which Government prides itself in terms of its consultative approach to governance. Minister Singh also highlighted the key interventions made by Government in various sectors in pursuit of the achievement of the SDG goals.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai who also addressed the gathering said Guyana is the only country in the world where whenever there are new issues on the table that Government brings the people together to sit down, inform and discuss as well as garner their contributions and have them participate in the process.

Meanwhile, Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill told participants that the presence of the Government Ministers was not due to the absence of other engagements at this time but is a clear symbol of the priorities of the Irfaan-Ali led Administration and how it engages the Indigenous people.

During the engagement, persons in attendance were able to seek answers. At the same time, the forum also sought to provide an opportunity for active discussion on longstanding challenges and the country’s vulnerability in terms of fighting climate change as well as external shocks.

On Saturday, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha along with a team of officials from the Ministry, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and several PPP/C constituency representatives visited a number of villages along the Corentyne Coast in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and engaged residents on some of the issues faced in the communities.

Convicted mass murderer and death row inmate, Mark Royden Williams was shackled at the time of his escape and is believed to be aided by three accomplices who are all still likely in the Bartica Triangle area.

These were among the new revelations made by Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn during a press conference on Saturday, one day after Williams escaped the maximum security Mazaruni Prison, located in Region Seven on the bank of the Essequibo River.

Benn told reporters at his Brickdam office that the general area has been isolated and is being combed by scores of joint services ranks by land, river and air.

“We are checking vehicles and persons coming in and out of area. There will be restrictions overnight in relation to movement to various locations in the area,” Benn said as he reminded of a $10 million reward for the recapture of Williams.

Twenty-four hours later, Benn is convinced that Williams and his accomplices are still in Guyana. He could not confirm any sighting of the men since the escape at around 14:30 hrs on Friday.

The boat used in the escape has since been recovered, roughly four miles upriver and its captain arrested. The captain claims to have been forced and only managed to separate from the bandits following an engine failure.

“The boat was found on the right bank of the Cuyuni River in the vicinity of the quarries.”

The Security Minister said the government was upset that such a serious and unfortunate incident occurred, putting the safety of people at risk. And to demonstrate that seriousness, he reminded of Williams’ involvement in the attack of the Bartica Police Station and the Lusignan massacre.

A file photo of Mark Royden Williams

No one can confirm if there were any lapses or violations on the part of prison officials although Prison Director (ag) Nicklon Elliott joined Benn for the press briefing.

But what is known is that two prison officers are among the four persons in custody. It also includes the woman who went to visit Williams minutes before the escape.

While she is believed to be a foreigner, the men who led the gun assault are all Guyanese from the criminal underworld, Benn said.

“This was well planned…there maybe persons in the prison system and otherwise who may be involved,” Benn said.

The Police advised that persons with any information on the whereabouts of Williams can contact them on telephone numbers: 225-6940, 225-8196, 225-2317, 227-1149 or the nearest Police Station.

And Benn reminded on Saturday of prosecution and charges for persons found to be shielding these criminals.

The convicted mass murderer escaped while being escorted back from a visit with the aid of heavily armed accomplices in a speedboat. The escort party was fired upon with AK-47 automatic rifles by men inside boat alongside the Mazaruni River.

The boat and its occupants, including Williams, proceeded upstream, past Itaballi landing, while Prison guards and Police in support undertook pursuit.

Williams was convicted of murders stemming from the Bartica massacre in 2008, when he, along with other gunmen, ambushed and killed twelve (12) persons, including three (3) policemen. Additionally, he had been sentenced to death in September last year over the killing on January 23rd, 2008, of Guyana Defence Force member Corporal Ivor Williams.

Royden Williams had previously escaped from the Camp Street Prison on July 09, 2017 but was recaptured on October 10, 2017, on the Weldaad Public Road, West Coast Berbice.