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Air travel to the Amerindian village of Karisparu in Region Eight is now safer and more dependable following a $314.4 million upgrade to the community’s airstrip.

The investment transformed the once uneven, sand-gravel runway, which was prone to waterlogging during heavy rainfall and poor aircraft performance in dry conditions, into a fully functional concrete surface.

According to the Ministry of Public Works, the upgraded airstrip retains its original alignment and now measures 720 metres in length and 15.24 metres in width, featuring a 125mm thick concrete surface, along with a 30-metre by 30-metre aircraft apron.

The apron is a vital component of the airstrip, which provides an area for an aircraft to be serviced or readied for subsequent flights.

The key elements of the rehabilitation work include topographic and engineering surveys, the application of a 150mm sand-gravel levelling course, followed by a 150mm sand-gravel base course, and finally the placement of the 125mm concrete surface.

Ideal Engineering Services finished these works by the June 4, 2025 deadline.

The new upgraded $314.4 million Karisparu Airstrip

This major upgrade will provide improved connectivity for hundreds of residents, lowering travel costs and boosting economic development.

It will also increase tourism in the area, boosting the economy by highlighting its beautiful scenery, mountains, waterfalls, and diverse attractions.

Moreover, this investment by the government forms part of a broader effort to improve connectivity and access in hinterland communities.

Similarly, air travel to the neighbouring community of Paramakatoi will also become easier, as the government injected $799 million for the reconstruction of its airstrip.

The upgraded airstrip will span 2,500 feet in length and 50 feet in width.

The structure will be fortified using six inches of rigid paved concrete, BRC mesh and steel joints to ensure durability and efficient load transfer between slabs.

In addition to the main runway, a 100 x 100 feet tarmac will serve as a designated parking area for aircraft.

When completed, the airstrip is expected to improve air connectivity and safety in the North Pakaraimas, offering enhanced access for emergency and regular flights.

These airstrips are not stand-alone projects, as the government has allocated $2.5 billion for the development of hinterland airstrips.

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Community wealth-building, regional development, and national productivity are the cornerstones of the PPP/C administration’s economic expansion strategy for the next five years, President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced during a live address on Sunday.

At the core of the plan is support for small businesses, agriculture and community industries, alongside major investments in infrastructure and education.

Key pillars of the economic strategy include:

• Co-investment and grants for small and medium-sized enterprises
• Expanded part-time job programmes with skills training
• Incentivised lending through lower interest rates and reduced collateral requirements
• Community housing subsidies for low-income families
• Direct support to the arts, forestry, fishing and mining sectors

President Dr. Irfaan Ali

“We are not just investing in roads and ports—we are investing in people, in families, in dreams,” Dr. Ali declared.

The strategy also includes the development of agro-processing and cold storage hubs in every region, expansion of the rice and sugar industries, and support for community forestry groups. The President promised improved farm-to-market access, reduced spoilage, and better packaging facilities to boost rural economies.

To bolster these efforts, Guyana’s transport infrastructure will see continued upgrades, including roads, bridges, and regional ports, aimed at unlocking regional markets and facilitating direct export from the hinterland.

“This is how we move from growth to transformation,” the President said. “And this transformation must be felt equally in Charity, Lethem, Linden, Albion, and every other community in Guyana.”

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President Dr. Irfaan Ali pledged significant interventions to tackle the cost of living over the next five years, with a focus on essential services such as energy, water, transport, food, and housing.

He was addressing the country in a live broadcast on Facebook on Sunday.

With a clear priority on affordability, the President announced:

• A 50% reduction in the cost of electricity and cooking gas
• No new taxes or tax increases in the next term
• Free water and healthcare services, especially for the vulnerable
• Expansion of free education and removal of all associated school costs
• Free transportation support for pensioners, schoolchildren, and hinterland residents

President Dr. Irfaan Ali

“Cooking gas is not a luxury—it’s an essential service,” Dr. Ali said, revealing plans to reduce a cylinder of cooking gas to $1,000.

Transportation costs will be tackled through new ferries and cargo boats, subsidies for farmers, and regional ferry infrastructure. Free transport for students and the elderly, and new market access routes, are also part of the national plan.

He reiterated that the reduction of these essential living costs is not just a welfare matter, but a long-term economic strategy: “When we cut these costs, we lift families. When we lift families, we grow the nation.”

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In a Sunday afternoon address live on Facebook, President Dr. Irfaan Ali laid out what he described as a “deliberate and clear strategy” to reduce poverty across Guyana, committing to a multi-pronged approach that targets every layer of vulnerability in society—from the unemployed to pensioners, schoolchildren, and indigenous communities.

The President stated that the next five years will see expanded social welfare programs and strengthened safety nets to move vulnerable groups toward economic empowerment.

“We have to build systems that don’t just address short-term challenges, but holistically tackle the long-term issues linked to poverty,” he stated.

Among the key poverty alleviation measures to be expanded or introduced are:

• Higher old-age pensions and public assistance grants
• Targeted financial aid to single parents and persons living with disabilities
• Increased cash transfers and salaries for public servants
• Access to free education—including textbooks, transportation, and digital learning tools
• Healthcare subsidies covering treatments like dialysis, cancer care, and maternal services

Dr. Ali emphasised the importance of reaching families “where they are” by continuing programmes such as school feeding, free spectacles and dental care for those in need, and support for home construction.

Notably, the government also intends to reduce taxes on low-income earners and simplify the tax system to increase disposable income. The President said this holistic system will “empower the poorest segments of our communities” and bring them into the productive economy.

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Politician and attorney-at-law James Bond joined the PPP/C’s campaign in Region One over the weekend, speaking to the business community in Kumaka and later addressing residents of the Indigenous village of Tobago.

In a familiar return to his roots, Bond recalled spending his formative years in Mabaruma and proudly acknowledged that his first scholarship was an Indigenous Peoples’ Scholarship — a gesture he said solidified his deep connection to the hinterland and its people.

Addressing the gathering, Bond made his position clear: Region One has only one choice — the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C).

“We’ve seen in just five years more opportunities for our young people through the Pathway Programme, the hiring of CSOs, and the training of teachers and nurses,” Bond said. “There’s been real transformation — new roads, new schools, upgraded health facilities, ICT hubs — all across this region.”

He pointed to what he described as historic empowerment of Indigenous communities under the PPP/C government, including the return of land titles and significant direct cash transfers under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). He credited the Ali administration with not just policy, but action.

Referencing the community of Tobago — formed by residents displaced by flooding in Sweet Water Creek and Sumotoo Creek — Bond said the government had done more than just relocate people. “They helped them build a modern community,” he said, noting that the government constructed a nursery school, a primary school, a community centre, an ICT hub, and a health centre — all in five years. Tobago, he added, now boasts its own tractor, minibus, and will soon benefit from new internal concrete roads.

“This didn’t happen by chance. It’s because there is a PPP/C government that cares,” Bond declared.

But he wasn’t shy about calling out the political bandwagoners.

“Some only show up when it’s election time. Where were they when Region One needed them?” he asked. “It is only the PPP/C that has stood consistently with the people of Region One. And on September 1, the people must stand with the PPP/C.”

Bond also shared President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s vision for equal development across Guyana, saying the goal is for residents of Region One to enjoy the same amenities and opportunities as their coastal counterparts. He highlighted the President’s leadership in food security and said plans are in place for large-scale cultivation of breadfruit, coconuts, citrus, and other crops in the region.

When asked for a final comment, Bond was effusive in his praise for the PPP/C leadership.

“The People’s Progressive Party Civic’s vision is unmatched. Their leadership is unparalleled. Their political will is unstoppable. They have exceeded their own expectations in every sector.

“There remains in Guyana only one choice — and it’s the People’s Progressive Party Civic, led by Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, and the greatest politician in the Caribbean, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.”

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Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton on Saturday night urged his supporters to accept assistance from any political source — “whether they are government or leopard” — referring to both the incumbent PPP/C and businessman Azruddin Mohamed’s emerging WIN party, while rehashing key elements of APNU’s promises.

In a sparsely attended public meeting at Bagotsville, Norton said the APNU+AFC coalition is focused on delivering real solutions for the country, not handouts and theatrics.

“Take what they have to offer… that is your money,” he declared.

“But don’t let it blind you to the fact that we need change. A leopard can’t change its spots.”

Norton outlined a promise to establish dialysis centres across the country, a policy he claimed was “copied” by others after he first proposed it during a previous public address.

“We will ensure that people suffering from kidney problems, especially children, are not left to die simply because they can’t afford treatment,” he said.

Norton criticised the current healthcare system, saying it is overly focused on infrastructure rather than service.

“A hospital is not a building… it is the care you get inside,” Norton remarked.

He pledged that under an APNU government, healthcare would be centred on prevention and education and managed by qualified professionals.

On education, Norton promised smaller class sizes, more teacher training, and better pay to keep educators in the profession. “We will rewrite the education system,” he said.

He also proposed a national literacy campaign to bridge the digital divide, pointing out that “you cannot digitalise a population that is largely illiterate.”

Norton committed to expanding sports infrastructure, criticising the government for converting school playgrounds into construction sites.

“We will transform sport in this country. Sport is a national ambassador,” he said. He also proposed government sponsorship for athletes representing Guyana abroad and a revival of school sports on a national level.

On social services, Norton pledged to establish early childhood centres in every community.

Despite strong rhetoric against alleged corruption, Norton avoided direct criticism of the government in his call for peaceful political change.

“We are not here to oppose development — we want a modern Guyana — but it must be one that benefits all the people, not just a few.”

In a direct appeal to unity, Norton said all ethnic groups deserve an equal share of the nation’s resources. “We promise to govern without prejudice,” he said, accusing the current administration of perpetuating ethnic division to maintain political control.

He also raised concerns about abuses within the Guyana Police Force and promised reform: “We will bring back justice. Under us, the police will not raid communities and arrest people without cause.”

He concluded his address by reaffirming a promise for accountable, people-centred governance.

The post ‘A leopard can’t change its spots’ – Norton says as he rehashes APNU’s promises at Bagotsville appeared first on News Room Guyana.

The Alliance For Change (AFC) mounted what it called a comeback bid on Saturday night at a washbay in the city with just a handful of people standing by the side of the road.

It was the party’s first major public meeting for the 2025 elections, seeking to shake off claims of political irrelevance and internal decline.

“They said the AFC was dead… then this is the greatest wake they’ve ever seen,” declared presidential candidate Nigel Hughes as he launched a passionate defence of his party’s relevance and future at Front Road, Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Hughes challenged prevailing narratives that the AFC is no longer a viable political force or that it only serves the interests of the elite.

The AFC, once an emerging ‘third force’ thought to be made up of disillusioned PPP and PNC supporters that went on to form the APNU+AFC coalition government in 2015, returned solo after 2020 and has been struggling to regain traction.

Several of its members have left to campaign with the APNU. The decline was also evident with low showings on Nomination Day. Negotiations to rejoin forces with APNU reportedly fell through after what Hughes suggested was APNU’s rejection of AFC’s proposed share of power.

Throughout his wide-ranging speech, Hughes centred the plight of what he repeatedly described as “the poor of the poor” and “economically deprived Guyanese.” He painted a picture of growing inequality in an oil-rich nation where the majority are being left behind.

“We are earning $65 million an hour in this country. $1.5 billion a day. And yet, people in West Ruimveldt, like other parts of Guyana, remain jobless, landless, and poor,” Hughes said.

Asserting that the AFC is offering real solutions, Hughes promised that under an AFC-led government, every Guyanese who turns 18 would be entitled to a piece of land. He also outlined plans to establish Skills Academies in every region for youths who drop out of school, particularly to prepare them for employment in the oil and gas sector.

He argued that Guyanese are being structurally excluded from the booming oil economy due to poor education outcomes and a lack of skills.

“In Front Road, West Ruimveldt, and nearby communities, 48% of children are not completing secondary school. That means they’ll never be skilled or semi-skilled. And if they’re not skilled, they’ll never be hired in the oil and gas sector,” Hughes explained.

He said the AFC will reverse this by providing vocational training, seed funding, and business mentorship for young people.

Hughes also took aim at the Constitution, calling for urgent reform to end what he termed “structural oppression.”

Hughes urged citizens to abandon political docility and begin “demanding your stake” in the country’s wealth.

“There is enough money in Guyana for everyone to have world-class healthcare, free transportation for children, free land at 18, and the best education. The only reason it’s not happening is because we’re not fighting for it,” he said.

While Saturday night’s rally may not have drawn the largest crowd, Hughes made it clear that the AFC intends to fight, not fold.

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A message of youth empowerment and environmental activism took centre stage on Saturday as the ‘Guyana We Need’ campaign was officially launched at an event hosted at Marian Academy. More than 50 young people, including 10 Haitian migrant children, participated in the launch, which highlighted the capacity of youth to shape Guyana’s environmental and social future.

The campaign is a collaborative initiative between Policy Forum Guyana (PFG) and the Sixth Form Department of Marian Academy, aimed at promoting national environmental advocacy rooted in youth leadership and civic engagement.

The movement was born from a series of Social Teachings classes at Marian Academy, led by Mr. Mike McCormack and Ms. Benita Davis. These sessions provided a space for students to explore pressing national concerns such as waste pollution, climate change, inequality, and public health, and to propose creative, youth-led solutions to address them.

At the heart of the campaign are seven guiding goals: a climate and environmentally resilient Guyana, a financially secure Guyana, cohesive communities, vibrant culture and languages, fairness, better health outcomes, and a globally responsible nation.

Saturday’s launch was anything but conventional. It featured educational games, dynamic presentations, and a Sip & Create session where participants decorated T-shirts with personal messages and the campaign hashtag #TheGuyanaWeNeed. The event was steered by Marian Academy Sixth Form students Ajala Maharaj and Aurelia Ibrahim, who both played key roles in ensuring its success.

“We want to help shape the Guyana we inherit,” said Ajala Maharaj, who helped coordinate the day’s programme. “This campaign is our chance to say what kind of country we want to live in — and do something about it.”

“This isn’t just a school project,” added Ibrahim. “We’re building a movement where every young person can feel empowered to speak up and take action.”

The launch also featured a striking exhibition of artworks by Artísticas Mentes, a student group from St. Winefride’s Secondary School, adding colour and emotion to the event. Youth-led businesses including Crocheted Dream and Arrosa Cutters and Pieces were also spotlighted, demonstrating how creativity and sustainability can go hand in hand.

As the campaign gains momentum, it aims to engage more young people across the country in reshaping Guyana’s development path — one idea, one voice, and one action at a time.

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The air on the Essequibo Coast is thick with anticipation as cricket fans ponder the burning question: which team will emerge victorious from the Essequibo zone of the Kares One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast and secure the final coveted spot in the national playoffs?

Sixteen teams are set to clash today, but only one will be crowned champion under the lights at the Anna Regina Ground.

The battle for Essequibo supremacy features a diverse lineup of teams, including Aurora Knight Riders, Team Evolution, Team Royals, Renegades Cricket Club, The United Crew, Mahdia (Movements Family), Matarkai CPG, Bartica Royals, Moruca Super Strikers, Queenstown (Ariel XI), Inevitable XI, Avinash All-Stars, and Essequibo Jaguars. Adding to the intrigue, the tournament will showcase a blend of local talent alongside prominent West Indies players like Shamar Joseph, Kyle Mayers, and Ronsford Beaton.

Matches are slated to be played across multiple venues including Pomona Ground, Richmond Ballfield, Hampton Court, and the Anna Regina Ground, which will host the grand finale under lights.

With Montra Jaguars (Berbice), Eccles All-Stars (East Bank Demerara/West Demerara), and Titans All-Stars (East Coast/Georgetown) already through, the focus now squarely rests on who will join them in the national finals.

The excitement is palpable, especially with free admission to all venues, making it accessible for everyone to witness the explosive T10 action, which kicks off at 09:00h.

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Another composed unbeaten half-century from Cameron Green and some stunning hitting and catching from Glenn Maxwell helped Australia post a fourth straight win over a deflated West Indies in Basseterre.

Green made an unbeaten 55 from 35 to steer Australia home to a target of 206 with three wickets and four balls to spare following a middle-order collapse.

The chase had earlier been set up by 51 off 30 from Josh Inglis while Player-of-the-Match Maxwell smashed 47 off 18 at the top of the order.

Second-gamer Jediah Blades briefly threatened to be the hero with an outstanding spell of 3 for 29 but West Indies’ fielding once again let them down.

Australia, by contrast, were flawless in the field with Maxwell taking two catches and combining with Green to complete a stunning catch on the rope to back up an excellent bowling performance.

With Ben Dwarshuis and Tim David rested, Aaron Hardie and Xavier Bartlett grabbed their chance, taking 2 for 24 and 2 for 39 respectively, including three powerplay wickets to restrict West Indies.

Nathan Ellis was sensational again bowling four overs for 21 runs while Adam Zampa and Sean Abbott also took five wickets between them.

West Indies became the first team in T20I history to score 200 without anyone scoring more than 34, with Sherfane Rutherford top-scoring with 31. (ESPNcrcinfo)

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