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President Dr. Irfaan Ali pose with members of the Georgetown Rotary Club at the World Understanding Dinner held at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown. (Photo: Office of the President/ March 25, 2023)

Altogether, the rotary foundation is seeking to finance the continuation of global humanitarian projects to end polio, promote peace, fight other diseases, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children, grow the local economy, protect the environment and respond to disasters.

Additionally, the president spoke of the importance of compassion and humility and said many times people do not show compassion. He, nonetheless, praised the organisation for its continued work in showing compassion for the people of the world.

“We have to understand that there are challenges in life, we have to understand that there are difficulties in life, we have to understand that there are storms that will come our way but in understanding that we have to develop the elements that will allow us to overcome these difficulties.

“That is a core part of one Guyana. The elements of understanding are captured in two words- compassion and humility- if we cannot have compassion for each other and if we cannot see each other as equal if we cannot position ourselves in the difficult circumstances of someone else you can never have an understanding of their situation,” President Ali said.

The foundation was formed more than 100 years ago and the foundation has spent more than US$4 billion on life changing sustainable projects worldwide. The aim of the Rotary Foundation is to transform lives around the world and in Guyana.

Ambassador Safraaz Shadood (blue and black) in action against his Croatian opponent in the final

Al Mohannadi, who is also President of the Arab and Asian Table Tennis Unions and First Vice-President of the International Table Tennis Federation, told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the QTTA decided to organise the tournament after the ambassadors welcomed the idea to be added to the QTTA’s annual Ramadan tournaments.

“The participation of 24 ambassadors in the first edition is wonderful, and everyone witnessed the distinguished atmosphere during the competitions,” Al Mohannadi said, voicing hopes that the tournament would be organised in all Ramadan seasons.

Assistant Secretary of the QTTA, Ali Sultan Al Muftah hailed the competitiveness of the tournament, adding that the great interest of the ambassadors in the international and professional tournaments organised in Qatar prompted the QTTA to organise this Ramadan tournament. (Gulf Times)

Editor’s Note: On his way to championship success, Ambassador Shadood, a former national junior player for Guyana, won games against Ambassadors to Qatar from Mozambique, Croatia (twice), Peru and Djibouti.

Guyana Boxing Association President, Steve Ninvalle

It is essentially high-performance training which will be conducted weekly for the remainder of the year, and it will also ensure that our U16 programme which is a critical transitionary age group of our nursery programme, remains vibrant.”

Ninvalle further stated that pugilists in particular from the Mining town of Linden, have been failed by their respective coaches and that their participation in this initiative is critical if they are to ascertain quality training.

Lazeena@newsroom.gy

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Saturday commissioned a multi-million-dollar warehouse facility for Suri Trading, a well-known local distributor, at Plantation Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

The President, in his feature address, said this facility, owned by Frank Sanichara, adds value to the developing area, highlighting that Guyana is undergoing a massive transformation and private sector investment is very much needed.

The Head of State said the company’s new warehouse paves the way for the country’s supply chain to increase with Suri Trading being able to purchase more.

Businessman, Frank Sanichara (fourth from left), his children, President Irfaan Ali and others cut the ribbon to the new warehouse (Photo: DPI/March 25, 2023)

“These individual investments collectively integrate into that macro vision that will transform our country and transform our business ecosystem.

“You have added now to the value of this entire area with this building…we are now advancing development because developments spur development,” the Head of State said.

The new location is an upgrade from the facility at Eccles where the products distributed were previously stored. Suri Trading is a distributor of Sleepy’s and Predo diapers, Mogu Mogu beverages, Basil seed drinks and many other beverages locally and to other countries including Trinidad, Grenada and Suriname.

Sanichara, while reflecting on his journey to creating the business, said that he faced many challenges.

Inside the new warehouse (Photo: DPI/March 25, 2023)

He explained that his search for land began due to a need for storage for his products. But getting the land was not an easy task and when he first applied for the land at Little Diamond, he was told none was available.

But he was persistent and continued his quest to secure two acres which he committed to building a warehouse.

“We were told that all the lands at the back here were done completely…

“We were able to squeeze in two acres which took a little longer than expected but we fulfilled all the obligations that we promised to do. We promised that if we were given the opportunity to purchase this land, we will build a warehouse and today we completed our task,” the businessman said.

Frank Sanichara

But in order to accomplish this achievement, Sanichara had to invest heavily in building the land. He called on the government to intervene by providing access to finance and land development programmes so that future buyers do not suffer the same fate.

“It is an extremely, extremely expensive investment. We all know these were cane fields…So the sand filling per acre at the back here alone to bring these lands up to a level where we could start construction is about 1,500 truckloads of sand…We should have some sort of system in place to help so that people can be able to complete their project,” the businessman highlighted.

Meanwhile, the President of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Paul Cheong, said this expansion will add to the country’s economy, noting that the company’s commitment to innovation and investments to keep up with the country’s market demands is commendable.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues; Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar; Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, and President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Timothy Tucker were among the special invitees at the launching.

The new Suri Trading warehouse at Plantation Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara (Photo: DPI/March 25, 2023)

A section of the gathering at the community meeting in Victoria Village, ECD (Photo: Ministry of Agricultue/March 25, 2023)

“We’ll do one mile of all-weather road on the Victoria middle walk that stretches from the end of the housing area all the way up to the farming area,” he noted.

Minister Mustapha explained that the project was tendered and that the contract will be awarded soon. Once completed, he added, approximately 300 cash crop and other farmers will benefit.

Minister Mustapha also said that farmers from villages like Victoria along the East Coast have an important role to play in the government’s food security agenda.

With Guyana playing that leading role in CARICOM’s food security agenda, Minister Mustapha said that efforts will be made to ensure farmers are empowered to be productive.

“We are working to become food secure, and you the farmers on the East Coast of Demerara have to play a big part. We know, for a fact, that the East Coast (of Demerara) was once a very productive area in our country and we will empower you so that you can once again become productive,” he added.

During an outreach to the community shortly after assuming office, Minister Mustapha engaged farmers and conducted an assessment of many of the affected areas in Victoria.

During the visit, farmers sought the government’s assistance with the restoration of agriculture-related activities citing years of neglect of critical drainage and irrigation infrastructure. The minister committed to having emergency work done in the area.

Additional works were also done after engineers from the NDIA and extension officers from the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) conducted a needs assessment in the farming communities.

“When I became minister, Victoria was one of the first villages I visited because I know the agricultural history of the area. Farmers met with me and made requests for better drainage. Our engineers from the NDIA came and did an evaluation and we then desilted all the drainage canals in the community.

“Farmers also said that the sluice here needed rehabilitation. We have since built a brand-new stainless-steel door at a cost of $22 million to install at the Victoria sluice. Today, that sluice is operable and you are getting drainage. We also, from the NDIA, allocate $17.6 million annually to the Golden Grove – Victoria Water Users’ Association for the maintenance of drainage and irrigation canals. So, you can see that we’ve been making resources available and we’ll continue to do so,” Minister Mustapha noted. (Ministry of Agriculture press release)

Minister Persaud and Ivan Bennet

Ivan noted, “For me, I am happy, we used to get visit from the doctors and they didn’t come in a very long time, then was the first time I got my eyes checked and I got spectacles that didn’t last very long and I am happy the Ministry came in because we had to travel out two or three times if we wanted to get. I must thank the Ministry of Human Services for these spectacles, I am happy to be able to see very clear.”

Minister Persaud said, “It is all about making sure that you have good vision, so you are able to study harder and better and be able to do all the work you want to do, especially if it involves reading.”

Samantha Matthews, a teacher from the Santa Rosa Primary School where over 50 students benefitted from the programme said, “We are very happy for this initiative, I know the parents would be very happy because it is very costly to go on the coastland to get these things done and now they get it right in their own area.

“First of all, some of the children have problem with their eyes and when they do tests and in school they would complain about the pain in their eyes, and I think now they will have better results and see better.”

Through the DCU, several assistive aids were also distributed in these communities to help persons with permanent disabilities to improve their quality of life.

Ivan Bennet

“In line with our policy as a ministry to ensure persons with permanent disabilities have a better quality of life, we are directly contributing through government’s budgetary allocation in bringing these aids to you in the form of wheelchairs, walkers, white canes and more.

“When I first came here as a Minister, people were wondering how can they afford a wheelchair or walker, it was a lot of difficulty to access this and I can say from 2020, people do not have to wonder, you can request it and it is brought to you and if you live in close proximity to the Ministry, you can uplift it,” Minister Persaud said.

Head of DCU, Jashudra Seeram explained, “We are elated to see how our programmes positively impacts the lives of our citizens. This is in keeping with fulfilling the Ministry’s mandate of service to the people, we were here a few weeks ago to do the testing and assessment in the shortest possible time, we are back to fulfill our commitment to ensure persons get the much-needed assistance. As a Ministry, we are happy to be able to see the lives of people improved.”

Meanwhile, over 500 persons across the two locations benefitted from sessions that enlightened them about the services offered by the Ministry such as childcare and protection, trafficking in persons, sexual offences and domestic violence and gender affairs.

Persons also utilized the opportunity to seek out advice and clarification on their old age pension and public assistance. (Ministry of Human Services and Social Security press release)

High Court Judge, Gino Persaud’s decision that the Police Service Commission was unlawfully suspended.

“Well, the Judge has ordered that the parties begin discussions in relation to costs so we will do that in compliance with the Judge’s direction but significantly, we will appeal the Judge’s decision and we will see how we move from there,” the Attorney General said.

Earlier on Friday, Justice Persaud ruled in favour of an application filed by former Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Paul Slowe, that the commission was unlawfully suspended in 2021.

Slowe wanted a declaration that the suspension of the Chairman and members of the PSC by President Dr Irfaan Ali was contrary to and in violation of the Constitution of Guyana, in particular articles 225 (6) and 210 (3).

Justice Persaud, in his ruling, reasoned that the issue should have been put to the tribunal of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for ventilation but there is no JSC in place.

In this instance, the Judge said that the doctrine of necessity would have to be invoked to validate the President’s actions.

Slowe and the former PSC members were represented by attorneys Selwyn Pieters, Dexter Todd and Dexter Smartt.

Among other things, the Judge found that the President breached Slowe’s constitutional right for protection and due process.

The parties will have to file submissions on costs by April 14, 2023. In March last year, several persons recently nominated by the Parliamentary Committee of Appointments to sit on the new Police Service Commission, were sworn in by President Ali.

The four new members of the Police Service Commission are Bishop Patrick Findlay (chairman), attorney Lloyd Mark Conway, businessmen Hakeem Mohammed and Ernesto Choo-a-Fat.