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The body of Zaheer Karim Bacchus, a 49-year-old unemployed man, was found midday Monday at Montrose, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Police Headquarters said the man’s body was found at about 12:40 hrs.

An anonymous caller contacted Police in Regional Division 4 ‘C’ and said the body of a male was seen laying motionless at Fourth Street Montrose. A

A Police patrol responded and found the body of a male later identified as Bacchus. The man was found laying motionless clad in black shorts.

A physical check was done on the body, and no marks of violence were seen. The Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) were summoned, and a doctor pronounced Bacchus dead .

The body was then escorted to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home awaiting post-mortem examination. Investigations are ongoing.

Leroy Goriah, a 46-year-old Albouystown, Georgetown resident, and Alonzo McLean, a 48-year-old Independence Boulevard, Georgetown resident, were stabbed on Saturday night by a man who they witnessed beating his girlfriend.

Jason Lespor, a 34-year-old porter of Albouystown, attacked the men at about 21:00 hrs Saturday in the vicinity of the GT Bar at La Penitence, Georgetown.

Police Headquarters reported that Goriah and McLean were at the bar drinking when they observed Lespor hitting his girlfriend, a 29-year-old security guard, outside.

The men intervened to help the woman but the suspect then drew a knife from his pants waist and dealt the victims several stabs about their body before making good his escape on foot in an eastern direction.

The victims were later picked up by public-spirited citizens and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where they were seen, examined, and admitted. Goriah’s condition is listed as critical and Alonzo’s condition is stable; both men are still receiving medical attention.

Goriah reportedly received five stabs to his back measuring about six inches each, one to his right side chest causing his right side lungs to collapse, and several stabs to his right hand.

McLean was stabbed once to his left side upper back in the vicinity of his shoulder.

Meanwhile, Police said checks were made in the area and at the suspects home for him and the weapon that was used to commit the act. He nor the weapon have been located yet. Investigations are ongoing.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, during remarks at the memorial service in Karisparu Village

He explained that a total of $60 million is being invested to the execute overall works, thereby boosting the water coverage in the community and region.

Since last year, he explained that the government had planned to drill a well in Karisparu, but access to the area to transport a rig there was one of the logistical obstacles.

He then pointed out, “We then put in the trestle system where we are investing about $60 million overall…We are putting in a catchment to catch the water from your creek and then, we will run the distribution system. We are about 60 per cent works completed…By the mid-June, we will implement that completely.”

Residents were informed that more water tanks will be added to the two tanks currently in the system.

Now that the airstrip has reopened, access has been enhanced and the contractor will be able to transport more materials to the area.

Government is aggressively pursuing its agenda in ensuring that every hinterland community has access to potable water by the end of 2025.

Minister Croal further committed, “It is still my intention that we will, at some point, come back to drill a well.”

Over the three and half a year, $526 million has been spent to advance water access in the region. The investment is expected to increase to some $650 million by the end of this year.

With these investments, the region’s water coverage will move to about 90 per cent by year-end.

The water system in Karisparu

Overall, a total of $1.5 billion has been budgeted to improve water services in the hinterland regions for 2024.

“We are drilling a number of wells in Region Eight starting with first-time access and then we will branch off…We are therefore investing to ensure that all communities have access,” he emphasised.

Some 361 residents from Kamana and Sand Hill are benefitting from new water supply systems worth $84 million.

Meanwhile, in the housing sector, ten Karisparu families will benefit from the construction of ten elevated houses under the hinterland housing programme.

Through this framework, the village council and the residents will identify the most vulnerable families in the village to receive a house.

Additionally, another village in the region will also benefit from this programme by the latter half of this year.

Joining the minister was Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai and GWI’s Hinterland Services Director, Ramchand Jailal. (DPI)

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali addressing the audience at the flag-raising ceremony on Saturday evening

In his lengthy but comprehensive address to the nation Saturday night at the Mackenzie Stadium in Linden, President Ali highlighted the government’s strategic investments in the region, positioning it as a major investment centre by establishing a manufacturing ecosystem, enhancing transport and logistics, engineering services, and expanding housing.

“Make no mistake; this region that we are in tonight is going to be the centrepiece for development. It is going to be the critical link between the investment we are making towards the Guiana Shield, connecting northern Brazil, building out in the interior, connecting into Bartica, building your roads, opening up new lands, creating new opportunities,” the Head of State detailed.

With Guyana taking a lead role in agriculture in the Caribbean, the administration has taken bold steps to build out the infrastructure so that the mining town can contribute to the regional food security and sustainability plans.

A showcase of rich Guyanese culture and talent at the 58th flag raising ceremony held at Linden, Region Ten on Saturday night

It is this same region that will be supplying all the soya and corn needs locally and regionally and undertake large-scale production of black eye and red beans to meet the regional market demand.

“We are now working on building a first-class food hub, a regional food hub, right here in Guyana and Region 10 will be critically connected,” President Ali went on to add.

The region is poised to become the central transport and logistics hub, linking Brazil with the Caribbean and surrounding regions.

And major infrastructure projects including the construction of 45 bridges from Mabura to Kurupukari and Lethem, the US$190 million Linden-Mabura Hill Road, the US$35 million Wismar Bridge, and the upgrading of the Linden-Soesdyke Highway at a cost of US$120 million, are being undertaken to facilitate this.

“These are the investments that are transformative, that will raise your region that will lift your region every single village in the river, every single community here in Region 10, you will be lifted with this tide of development,” Dr. Ali emphasised. 

President Ali also highlighted investments in housing that saw a $3B in injection into the housing programme while $1 billion is being expended to improve the quality of water for residents.

The audience at this year’s 58th Independence Flag Raising Ceremony held in Linden, Region Ten on Saturday evening

In sports, the government has invested a staggering $1.4 billion in building back sports facilities in less than three years; they are being built to accommodate international FIFA standard football.

“You’re going to see a major push to ensure that your region becomes an important region in tourism and development. Silica City, the new Silica City will be connected to your region. The new highway that will come from Mandela and connect to the Linden- Soesdyke highway will reduce your transport time [and] bring greater efficiency.”

The President assured the residents of Region 10 that their region has received significant investments and will continue to be a priority, acknowledging its potential for development.

“When you look at per capita investment, we have invested in your region higher than any other region per capita because we understand the potential of this region. We believe in the potential of this region as we believe in the potential of Guyana,” Guyana’s President underscored.

Billions of dollars are also being invested to improve infrastructure, healthcare, education and the standard of living for residents living in the ten administrative regions of Guyana. (DPI)