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As the demand for house lots continues to rise, the Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, said that pending allocations are currently being “comprehensively” addressed.

This, she said, is being done in all of the administrative regions except Region Four.

“We have come up with a plan, led of course by His Excellency (President Irfaan Ali) to address all of the backlog in 9 of the 10 administrative regions.

“So all of our people in those regions can expect their house lots in the coming year,” Rodrigues said on Friday while addressing a ‘Dream Realised’ Housing drive in Region Two.

Region Four currently has the highest demand for house lots.

So, Rodrigues said the plan is to “significantly” reduce the backlog in this region also.

However, to do this, she said applications from 2020 to 2021 and prior will be addressed.

Citizens gathered at the Dream Realized event in Essequibo. [Photo: Sharda Bacchus/ News Room – February 28, 2025]

This will bring forward the date as the Ministry of Housing and Water is currently working to clear applications pending from 2019 and prior.

“But we plan to reduce significantly all of the backlog there, but you know it’s our most populated region”

“To reduce the backlog there and maybe move the application beyond 2019 to a more current year, maybe 2020, 2021,” Rodrigues said.

The PPP/C Government has promised to distribute 50,000 house lots by the end of 2025. With more than 41,000 lots already allocated over the past four years, they are likely to exceed the target.

Citizens gathered at the Dream Realized event in Essequibo. [Photo: Sharda Bacchus/ News Room – February 28, 2025]

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Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday said he received complaints about “delinquent” cement suppliers and the government will sanction any errant supplier.

The Vice President, speaking at his weekly press conference, said that small contractors engaged in road works along the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) complained of challenges encountered with cement suppliers. Those challenges include providing smaller quantities of cement and cement with lower-than-needed pounds per square inch (psi).

Psi measures the compressive strength of concrete, which is made from cement. A higher psi means the concrete mixture is stronger.

“That means they are cheaping (out) on the quality of the concrete,” Jagdeo said, explaining that the roads built with concrete that has a lower psi will be less durable.

The Vice President, however, noted that the Ministry of Public Works has been engaged on the matter. The ministry is expected to issue a warning to suppliers soon.

“If it is true, they would lose the right to supply to any government project,” he emphasised.

Jagdeo spoke about this situation as he delved into the government’s major infrastructure plan. According to him, the largest-ever expansion of infrastructure is unfolding in Guyana under the current People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration. And with that, he said, there have been some implementation challenges.

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Guyana’s Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo emphasised on Thursday that the tiny South American nation voted for peace in Ukraine by supporting a United States-drafted resolution at the United Nations Security Council.

“The United States put forward a resolution to the Security Council, it was a simple resolution, it spoke about peace in Ukraine and attempts to change that were vetoed, it was the only resolution that called for peace.

“Several countries tried to change that to include other language and those attempts were vetoed so at the end of the day, there was just one resolution- the original resolution- to vote for.

“That resolution called for peace and we voted for peace,” Jagdeo said at his weekly press conference at the People’s Progressive Party Civic headquarters, Freedom House.

The 15-member UN Security Council was deadlocked throughout the now three-year war and could not take any actions as Russia has veto power on the council. The resolution from the US, seen as one that takes a more neutral stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has been viewed as part of the new Donald Trump administration’s plans to find a way to finally end the war.

Reuters reported that the resolution mourns the loss of life in the “Russia-Ukraine conflict”, reiterates the UN’s purpose is to maintain international peace and security and peacefully settle disputes, urges a swift end to the conflict, and calls for lasting peace.

The Security Council adopted the US resolution with 10 votes (including Guyana’s) in favor, while France, Britain, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia abstained. Russia voted in favor after failing to amend it and vetoing European bids to add language supporting Ukraine.

Jagdeo said the approach of the US and countries in Europe may differ but all countries want the war to end.

“We’re all unified around that: the war is senseless, too many get killed (and) it has a devastating impact on Ukraine and on Russia too,” he said.

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General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said better-paying, investment opportunities for citizens and further cushioning the rising cost of living will be part of the party’s development plan for the country if re-elected.

Dr. Jagdeo, who is Guyana’s Vice President, shared some details from the party’s manifesto at his weekly press conference on Thursday.

He said the manifesto will be shared shortly but ahead of that document being made public, he vowed that the PPP/C will continue the work it has been pursuing since in government from 2020.

“We will focus heavily on better paying jobs for people (and) the quality of our labour by better education and higher paying jobs,” he revealed.

Part of the party’s plans too, Jagdeo said, would be to create “investment vehicles” that would allow Guyanese, especially Guyanese youth, to have a stake in national projects.

“We want to create more investment vehicles that can give guaranteed returns… we can easily borrow cheaper but we can give people a return on investment than parking their money in the bank,” he said.

Qualitative issues, Jagdeo said, are a huge focus of the party going forward.

“This issue of domestic violence is a major one. We’ve signed onto all the conventions, we passed all the laws but we have to get hold of that. That and traffic… while serious crime has come down, domestic violence and extreme ones have not grown but are still very very prevalent. We have to think about that,” Jagdeo said.

Earlier in his press conference, he highlighted that the largest-ever expansion of infrastructure is unfolding in Guyana under the current PPP/C administration.

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Guyana’s boxing team departed Thursday for Castries, St. Lucia, ready to trade leather in the highly anticipated 2025 Caribbean Boxing Championship. The tournament, which runs until March 3, marks the return of the prestigious regional event after a four-year hiatus.

The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) sent off the largest contingent in the country’s history, a squad of 16 elite and emerging pugilists, with high hopes of reclaiming regional dominance.

Before their departure, the team gathered at the Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis Gym, where they were encouraged by GBA President Steve Ninvalle.

“I want you to go out there and do your best; leave everything in the ring,” Ninvalle told the boxers.

“We want to win, but remember, whatever the judges decide, that’s what we have to accept. But I believe in each of you, and I know you will go out there and make us all proud.”

President Steve Ninvalle (in blazer) with members of the Guyana contingent

At the helm of Guyana’s squad is Olympian Keevin Allicock (57kg), a three-time gold medallist in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Caribbean Championships. Allicock remains undefeated in this regional showdown and is determined to extend his dominance in St. Lucia.

Backing him is a star-studded line-up, including seasoned warriors like Colin Lewis (67kg), Travis Inverary (71kg), Emanuel Pompey (92kg), and Aluko Bess (86kg).

The Jackman sisters, Alesha and Abiola Jackman, along with Zidnan Wray (91+kg) add firepower to the squad, ensuring Guyana brings a formidable presence across multiple weight classes.

Middleweight standout Desmond Amsterdam (75kg), a silver medallist at the 2023 Elite Championship, is another key puncher in Guyana’s pursuit of regional glory.

He will be joined by Ronalo Sutton (51kg), Joel Williamson (63.5kg), and Leon Albert (60kg), each aiming to showcase the high-level skills honed on home soil.

The Junior division features rising stars Ken Harvey (57-60kg), Keyon Britton (48-50kg), and Lennox Lawrence (54-57kg), all of whom are looking to gain invaluable experience in their young careers.

Meanwhile, the Youth division is stacked with emerging talents, including Tofina Barker (54kg), Simeon Haymer (63-66kg), Joshua Tambaran (52kg), and Terroz Wintz (66-70kg).

A seasoned coaching unit will guide the team from the corner, featuring National Coach Lennox Daniels, esteemed Cuban trainer Francisco Roldan, Clifton Moore and Jeff Roberts.

The Caribbean Boxing Championship has long been the proving ground for the region’s top amateur fighters, and Guyana has consistently been a force to be reckoned with.

“The only reason we didn’t win in 2019, is because we didn’t have a large contingent,” Ninvalle told the boxers, “but this time around, we know that you will bring back the title to Guyana.”

The nation last won the overall championship title on home soil in 2018 and delivered a strong performance in 2019 in Trinidad and Tobago.

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The current People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration will not support or greenlight any land revaluation exercises, according to Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo.

The Vice President addressed statements made recently by City Mayor Alfred Mentore during his weekly press conference at Freedom House, Georgetown.

It was recently reported that Mr. Mentore is keen on engaging the Ministry of Finance to explore the valuation and revaluation of properties in Georgetown. Jagdeo said the government is against this.

“Why would you want to do a revaluation of properties in Georgetown, in this year?

“We have made it very clear that there will be no revaluation of any property which means higher taxes for people in Georgetown or any other part of the country,” Jagdeo emphasised.

He later added, “If they approach the Ministry of Finance for that, the answer will be no.”

Jagdeo opined that such efforts are being pursued as Guyana is gearing up for General and Regional Elections this year, and the APNU-controlled City Council is trying to stir up “dissatisfaction” and “unease” among citizens.

Beyond property valuation exercises, the Vice President spoke out against what he believes are moves to increase other rates and taxes. Religious groups, he said, are being saddled with substantial tax increases while Mr. Mentore’s party, the People’s National Congress (PNC), is seemingly getting away with its more than $6 billion tax debt.

Jagdeo also flagged Mr. Mentore’s intentions to engage people directly on taxes owed.

“That is a recipe for corruption,” he contended, noting that taxpayers could negotiate deals with the City Council through this private engagement.

“I would urge citizens to not go in there and negotiate any payments with the Mayor or any of his officers.”

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Police are investigating a tragic incident that occurred at approximately 08:00 hours on Thursday on the Haags Bosch main access road (Dump Site Road) in Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

The fatal crash involved a motorcar, registration number PAJ 375, which was being driven by 39-year-old Shane Tyndall.

Accompanying him in the vehicle was 35-year-old Shabeca Gordon, the car’s owner, both of whom resided at Lot 609, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

According to initial investigations, the vehicle was travelling eastwards along the northern lane of the Dump Site Road at high speed when the driver reportedly lost control. The car collided with a concrete rail along the roadside, causing it to flip multiple times before landing 130 feet further east in a trench on the northern side of the road, where it became submerged.

Both Tyndall and Gordon were trapped inside the vehicle for a period of time before being rescued by bystanders, who found them unconscious. Emergency services were swiftly alerted, and an ambulance, along with a team of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), arrived on the scene shortly after.

Sadly, despite efforts to revive them, both the driver and his passenger were pronounced dead at the scene. The bodies have been transported to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where post-mortem examinations will be conducted.

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It took an entire year from the time she fell ill for 61-year-old Mahadai Singh, a mother of three, to be diagnosed with stage four cancer. Just two weeks ago, Singh’s family received the devastating news – the cancer has already spread to her lungs and throat.

Her daughter, Navita, spoke with the News Room about the challenging journey leading to her mother’s diagnosis and the financial struggles her family now faces with immediate and costly treatment needed.

“In [December] 2023, she did a surgery. We don’t know what exactly the doctor did but she did the surgery to take out her uterus and after the surgery she went back to work in December and she fell sick and [couldn’t] walk.

“We carried her to every hospital, both private and public and they keep saying it was a lung infection or her lungs damage,” Navita explained.

Singh worked as a cleaner for 16 years at the Guyana National Stadium and according to her daughter, she contributed to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). However, after she fell sick and could no longer work, the family was reportedly told that Singh’s contributions were not enough to cover her medical expenses.

“They said that she did not contribute all her contribution and they would give her a $20,000 pay off,” Navita stated.

Documents provided by the family showed Singh’s contribution to NIS over an eleven-year period. While her service appointment proves that she has been employed at the National Stadium since 2009.

Since her illness, Navita said Singh is unable to do anything for herself and cannot eat or drink due to pain.

“She has a mortgage to pay, she has bills to pay and she ain’t getting no assistance from nowhere,” Navita stressed.

The woman’s husband is now disabled after a workplace incident left him with one hand and is also unable to work.

And so, the family is seeking the public’s assistance to help offset the cost for cancer treatment.

“The treatment is like 279,500 for a week but [since] she is not eating or drinking, she is too weak to take the treatment so they advise it is not a possibility she would feel good with it but it would ease the pain,” Navita explained.

“It’s been really hard. We spent over $500,000 last year, and we haven’t gotten any help,” she added.

Anyone willing to assist the family, kindly contact 683 1418 or 608 0390.

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Fifteen-year-old Kyle Couchman once again exhibited his skill on the chess board when he emerged the victor in the Mashramani Masters Rapid Chess tournament sponsored by the Guyana Chess Federation.

The seven-round Swiss competition was held at the David Rose Special School in Thomas Lands on February 22. Couchman defeated all his opponents, gaining a maximum of seven points to win the first-place cash prize.

Keron Sandiford placed second with 5.5 points after losing the battle against Couchman and drawing with Women’s Champion WCM Jessica Callender.

In an unexpected twist, young Rafael Park, who has been on the chess scene for over a year, won the third-place prize with 4.5 points. His losses came with his games with Couchman and Sandiford and a draw with Prince Dunn.

Callender took home fourth place and the best female prizes, while WCM Aditi Joshi placed fifth, with both finishing on 4.5 points.

A total of 25 players competed in the tournament

Notable performances came from Prince Dunn with 4.5 points, while Kishan Puran, Omar Shariff, Matthew Persaud, Cosmos Ikpefuran, and Abel Fernandez finished on four points each.

Cash prizes amounting to over G$70,000 were distributed to the first to fifth-place winners and the best female. President of the GCF, Anand Raghunauth, was on hand to award the prizes.

He encouraged the players to keep playing and learning the game of chess as this would only improve their game and increase their level of play.

FIDE Arbiter John Lee officiated the 25-player tournament, which featured a 15 minute time control and a five-second increment per move.

The Federation said: “The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) thanks the David Rose Special School and all participants for contributing to the event’s success. The GCF encourages young and old persons alike to discover the world of chess. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for news and events. Become a member by visiting guyanachess.gy and unlock your chess potential.”

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The management of Marian Academy has issued a statement addressing a recent article circulating about an alleged incident involving one of its former staff members and a past student.

According to the Academy, they became aware of the situation, which reportedly took place on or around February 02, 2023. Upon receiving the information, the Academy swiftly initiated an investigation, conducting interviews to understand the circumstances surrounding the matter.

As the investigation progressed, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) became involved, and the Academy has fully supported their efforts throughout the process.

The staff member in question left their position at Marian Academy in February 2023. Despite the staff member’s departure, the Academy has continued to support the ongoing investigations led by the GPF.

In its statement, Marian Academy reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safest and most conducive learning environment for its students. The Academy’s primary goal, they confirmed, is to uphold the highest standards of safety and wellbeing for both students and staff.

Marian Academy remains dedicated to maintaining a secure and positive environment for education, while fully cooperating with authorities in any investigations related to the matter.

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