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Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill meeting with regional officials and other stakeholders in Region Two. (Photo: Ministry of Public Works/ March 08, 2023)

He made the comment following inspection of a road project that was stalled, due to a resident claiming ownership and demanding compensation from the contractors before the project could proceed.

In disputed areas, where projects are to be completed, the minister said surveys will be conducted to bring speedy resolutions, so that the much-needed works are advanced.

Minister Edghill said these are clear examples of how disputes over property rights can lead to significant delays in infrastructure projects.

“We cannot allow, in Guyana, disagreements among people to hinder community development, we have to change our attitude. Neighbours who got bad blood with each other, people who got family feuds running forever should not use those instances and those things to prevent communities and a whole region from benefitting from development,” he urged.

The public works minister reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring development for all Guyanese, highlighting that significant funds are being expended in the region on these projects.

Minister Edghill also met with contractors in the region, to discuss the progress of the 122 priority roads which are currently under construction.

Minister Edghill was informed of the shortage of crusher run as a reason for some delay in projects. In this regard, he said the matter will be discussed with the engineering staff, as well as at the ministerial level, to seek a possible extension to the stipulated project deadline.

However, the minister said lengthy delays cannot be accepted.

In total, 261 roads were identified in Region Two for upgrades. (Extracted and modified from DPI.)

The move towards certification was also recognised by the government with Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal and Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh attending the event.

“Guyana is changing rapidly… you can see it in the changing city scape… this modern Guyana must not comprise of only new infrastructure.

“The point to make is that we don’t want visitors to see modernity but walk into businesses and government agencies and they feel like they are stepping back into the stone ages,” Dr. Singh posited.

He said all local agencies and commercial enterprises should now be doing business in a way that meets world class standards.

“There was a time in Guyana we didn’t think these things matter but today can’t do good business without these certifications,” Dr. Singh added.

Innovation America boasts of only stocking genuine USA and UK certified products and prides itself in bringing only quality products for the local market.

The company believes this certification is a landmark in its journey towards continuous improvement.

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Ravichandran Ashwin picked up his 32nd five-wicket haul (Photo: Getty Images)

For a large part of the first half of the Day Two, Australia threatened to get in excess of that because of an unflustered, fluent partnership. Green, who started the day on 49, was fluent throughout even as India attempted to keep things tight on a flat pitch.

He managed to cash in whenever India erred in their lengths, picking up 18 boundaries in total, en route to a maiden Test century.

At the other end, Khawaja did little to change his methods and continued to bat serenely, barely showing discomfort against any bowler. The duo had batted through the first session of the day unscathed, and stayed together for 378 balls in total to grind India down.

It helped Australia when Green partnered Khawaja earlier in the day. India’s ploy to bowl dry was kept up at one end right through but Umesh Yadav’s profligacy proved to be a deterrent to their overall strategy.

Despite his waywardness, Rohit Sharma persisted with Umesh over a six-over spell that ended up going for 37 runs in the session, adding the punch to Australia’s solidity.

Green was the beneficiary of many of these freebies and he accepted them with glee. Their 177-run stand left India searching for answers as Australia’s grind was near perfect once again.

However, just as Green was about to up the ante in the second session, starting off with well-timed drives, he fell gloving a sweep against Ashwin which was caught well by KS Bharat down the leg-side.

Ashwin topped up that breakthrough by dismissing Alex Carey for the fifth time in the series. With a tossed up ball, he lured Carey to play a big shot and had him caught at short third man for a duck.

The inspired spell continued as he had Mitchell Starc caught at short leg with one sliding on. In the space of five overs, Australia lost three for nine to stymie a lot of the good work that had been done earlier.

But despite the slip-ups at the other end, Khawaja went about unfazed in occupying the crease and became the first overseas batter in 13 years to bat 400 balls in an innings in India. His dismissal eventually came soon after Tea when Axar Patel managed to get past a shot that had been largely productive, the flick, and had him LBW on 180.

Khawaja’s departure could have signaled a quick end, but India were made to toil for their wickets again with Nathan Lyon putting on 70 with Todd Murphy.

It was only with the third new ball that the end came swiftly as Ashwin had one sliding on from round the wicket to get Murphy LBW and then had Lyon nicking a similar one to slip to bowl Australia out and finishing with a six-wicket haul.

India’s openers saw off the remaining 10 overs without much problem to give the hosts a confident end after a fighting day’s play. (cricbuzz)

 

more than 40 residents from Regions Five and Six were allocated land and housing units following an outreach last week by President Dr Irfaan Ali.

Residents meeting with officers from the Central Housing and Planning Authority

This batch of residents who benefitted from Wednesday’s exercise included low-income earners who were able to affix their names on their lands as a symbol of ownership. This means they can now move ahead with construction.

“The majority were accompanied by family members and close friends, as they stated that the activity represented a major milestone,” the agency highlighted.

Tracy Jarvis, a beneficiary, said “Getting this plot of land means a lot to me because I don’t have to think about rent anymore.”

Jarvis is currently a renter and said that renting has been strenuous. As such being able to now move forward with construction lifts a major burden off her shoulders.

Meanwhile, Marlon Semple, a father of two, said he is pleased to be a part of the process. He said the land is a “great start” for his family and he plans to construct his home as soon as possible.

The identification process is being done in phases and other allottees can expect to be called for a similar exercise in the following weeks.

The release further said that the construction of culverts, access roads, and drainage networks are all a part of the area’s first phase of infrastructure works.

Monday’s gruesome accident on the Greenwich Park Public Road, East Bank Essequibo, was charged on Thursday with four counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

The accident occurred at about 09:30 hrs on March 6, 2023, and involved the lorry (GZZ 2285) driven by Stewart and a minibus (BWW 8364), driven by 50-year-old Vernon Prowell, of Bent Street, Wortmanville, who died in the crash.

Three minibus passengers also died: Margaret Kennedy, 72, of Tuschen; Olga Reddy, 57, of Parika; and Elvis Charles, 40, of Ruby, East Bank Essequibo.

The mangled vehicles following the accident

The truck driver from Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, was also charged with driving an uninsured and an uncertified vehicle.

Police Headquarters reported that he appeared before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepersaud at Leonora Magistrate’s Court, where he was not required to plead to the first four charges of causing the death of the passengers; he was remanded to prison.

However, bail was granted in the sum of $20,000 for the summary charges. The matter was adjourned to March 27, 2023, for report.

Police had reported that the truck was speeding east along the northern side of the road while approaching a pedestrian crossing and the minibus was heading in the opposite direction.

The truck driver claimed that a car in front of him made a sudden stop at the pedestrian crossing and so he applied brakes and swerved to avoid a collision. As a result, the truck crashed into the minibus.