Dear Editor,
WORLD Tourism Day was observed in Guyana as visitors flocked the country to start the week in Carnival style. Cricket, lovely cricket was in the air as Guyana was grappling with gripping cricket fever. The Guyana Amazon Warriors started the week for Guyanese with a three from three wins before losing the following two games to be knocked out from the CPL. Guyana is basking in brilliant sunshine from the IMF report applauding the PPP/C government economic and transparent success.
Guyanese are worried about their relatives as Florida and the Caribbean are being bombarded with hurricanes. Hindus in Guyana join the rest of the world in observing the sacred period of Nau Ratri. Region Three housing will be boosted with the government building some 2,000 houses. The government will swiftly address the issue of shortage of judges when Parliament reconvenes. The 150th anniversary of the Devonshire Castle killings was observed. At the time of writing, as the Tallawahs and Royals battle for the CPL supremacy on the ground, hopefully, you’d be sitting with the Warriors and the Kings in the stand. Cricket hang-over is inevitable, mentally and physically. After the carnival parade and jam session, do take a break to recoup with the week’s opinions and comments:
1) Minister Susan Rodrigues remarked: “We welcome the new applications as well, because we are continuously and always in pursuit of our national target of 50,000 lots in the first five years in office.” The PPP/C government has distributed more house lots in their first two years in office than what the APNU+AFC government did in five years.
2) Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Philips, observed: “In recent weeks, Guyana has seen a vicious onslaught of claims from certain sections that have sought to malign the PPP/C Government for discriminatory policies against Afro-Guyanese.” Meanwhile, the PPP/C government is constructively engaged with Afro-Guyanese leaders, groups, and communities who were neglected under the PNC administration.
3) A young Russian said: “It is just insane. All my friends (are) in danger.” Putin’s call goes unheeded as young Russian men are fleeing the country and avoid serving in the army.
4) Prime Minister Mark Philips emphasised: “We in the government will not be distracted by false narratives peddled by certain unsavory characters, which are designed to generate racial hostility and undermine our transformational agenda which is creating historic opportunities for all Guyanese.” The PPP/C government will continue to support all logical means to punish those responsible for bringing shame and disgrace to the democratic process.
5) Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn, advised: “We must make provision where those who are in prison must have hope beyond the walls when leaving the prison.” The PPP/C government wants to give all Guyanese an equal opportunity to prosper, become better and more productive citizens. The government wants to ensure that even the inmates who deserve to be rehabilitated and to be reintegrated into society could contribute in a meaningful way also.
6) Attorney General Mr. Nandlall explained: “We are on a tight time-frame. It is our objective to start construction of the pipeline by the end of October.” The PPP/C government will compensate residents who are in the path of the gas pipeline, depending on the location and size of the property and other factors, ranging from $1 to $4 million.
7) President Dr. Irfaan Ali stressed: “This tournament has the ability to bring our people in this region together, cementing us, and fusing our culture. Giving us an opportunity to meet each other, to network and these are things you cannot attach a value to.” The CPL is more than an event and must be seen as a platform for the Caribbean region to market itself globally.
8) Dr. Ramsammy commented: “The most important aspect of health is us, and how we live; our lifestyle is critical and not just to prevent the NCD’s but other infectious diseases.” Health literacy contributes heavily to health disparities and can cause implications.
9) Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag, surmised: “We don’t discriminate against any community: every programme that has been rolled out, has been for the benefit of all Guyanese across the 10 administrative regions.” Statistics are there to prove that there is no discrimination in the programmes and projects implemented by the government related to housing, infrastructure, scholarships and agriculture.
10) As Roger Federer bows out of professional tennis, a tearful Nadal related: “Very proud to be part of his career in some way, but even happier to finish our career as friends, after everything we shared on court like rivals.” A great lesson for humanity, especially politicians.
11) Attorney General Anil Nandlall blasted Ganesh Mahipaul, saying: “So, at this preparatory level, it is almost impossible for Mahipaul to come up with this figure. This is yet another manifestation of the PNC menu of lies and APNU menu of lies being churned out.” At the appropriate time, the entire nation will become aware.
12) Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha commented: “When you look at the farm gate price, it is almost 300 per cent less, the middlemen are driving up the price.” The government is looking at a plan whereby GMC can be involved in the distribution system in order to regulate prices.
13) Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, informed the conference in Bucharest, Romania: “The Government of Guyana is seeking to provide Internet connectivity across 100 per cent of the country by 2025.” The PPP/C Government has launched a campaign to provide free Internet in public spaces with a focus of under-served communities (300 sites set up to date benefitting over 250,000 residents).
14) US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, warned: “If Russia crosses this line, there will be catastrophic consequences for Russia.” The US is poised to respond decisively and responsibly, amplifying the rest of the world’s sentiments.
15) Minister Susan Rodrigues said: “It is our plan to extend the Pouderoyen water-treatment plant to supply La Grange.” Always improving the health, welfare and lives of Guyanese, the PPP/C Government will provide five new water-treatment plants by 2025 to boost development in the region.
16) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed Dr. Ashni Singh and Guyana in his Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce message saying: “With such a strong history and such a solid foundation, the possibilities for the future are endless. I am looking forward to supporting the Chamber of Commerce as they explore these opportunities.” Canada remains one of the strongest supporters in defence of democracy for Guyana, having supported the PPP/C party’s legitimate election in 2020, and chastising and denouncing the PNC for their alleged attempts to interfere with the general and regional 2020 election.
17) It is the PPP/C Government which is ensuring that the words of Nelson Mandela are kept alive: “It is not beyond our power to create a world in which all children have access to a good education.” The PPP/C Government had to manoeuvre the complications of COVID-19 in order to manipulate the implications of online and in-school learning to produce great NGSA results for another year. The CSEC and CAPE results are also a reflection of the Ministry of Education’s contribution towards good education by the PPP/C government.
18) Public Service Minister Sonia Parag reflected: “Education will get you everywhere….,” while addressing NGSA performers from Mocha Arcadia and Barnwell North. The PPP/C Government is breaking glass ceilings with their “Because We Care” project by giving $30,000 to each student, providing over 7,000 GOAL scholarships and laptops to teachers in all the regions.
19) Minister Parag had good advice and a word of consolation for the students, teachers and parents, noting: “Where you’re going and your motivation to get there will get you there irrespective of any obstacle or any challenge…..” It was the PNC Government which discontinued the “Because We Care” programme during their 2015-2020 governance, thereby denying students the cash grants and placing more financial burdens on the parents to provide for their children. Luckily, the PPP/C party reversed their decision and brought immediate relief with a plan to increase the benefits up to $50,000 per child by the year 2025.
20) Attorney General Anil Nandlall stated: “This request was favourably considered, and the council made a decision to write the Government of Guyana shortly, informing of this decision and setting out the criteria and other requirements which the government will have to satisfy.” Former Attorney General Basil Williams had written to the CLE in Bridgetown but they had rejected the PNC’s proposal and now accepted the PPP/C‘s proposal.
21) To coincide with the observance of World Tourism Day and its theme “Rethinking Tourism,” President Ali had remarked: “Our objective here is to build a tourism product with activities all around Guyana, using cricket carnival, our culture, and our geographical space as advantages and making best uses of the advantages and the competitive advantage each region has.” The PPP/C Government plans to globalise Guyana’s tourism through the medium of cricket, football, squash, regatta, power boat, horse and car racing and a high-end luxury eco-resort.
22) US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch declared: “The United States is proud to be Guyana’s largest bilateral trading partner.” The PPP/C Government has revolutionised Guyana’s economy since coming into government. Guyana-US trade has surpassed US$1.4 billion in the first half of the year. Due to the PNC’s skullduggery during the attempted rigging of the general election in 2020, the US Government had moved to sanction many of the PNC’s members and their families.
23) Minister McCoy said: “The irrefutable evidence playing out before our eyes daily, in facts and figures, that the PPP/C administration is serious about transforming Guyana into a prosperous nation for all.” Despite the PNC’s resentment, Norton’s unpatriotic detraction and his enablers of stokers fanning the “racial flame,” the PPP/C Government is busy fusing a “One Guyana” in every nook and cranny of this country by building bridges, literally and metaphorically.
24) Housing Minister, Collin Croal, declared: “We will not be recognising any new ones {squatting areas}, but we recognise what we met and we will work with other areas.” The days of squatting are over in Guyana and no longer can anyone “behave as if we have a God-given right to assume what we don’t have.”
25) President Ali told Chilean Ambassador, Juan Vasquez: “Chile has been a reliable partner in Guyana’s quest for peace and progress. I offer to you the gratitude of the Guyanese people and indicate our readiness to further cement the ties that unite our two countries. We must explore ways to bring our people closer together.” Chile beats the PNC to the punch. Chile is getting closer to Guyana and Guyanese while the PNC keeps distancing itself from forming an alliance.
26) Yolanda Warde from GECOM stated: “However, notwithstanding this action having been taken, GECOM could not have taken any further action in this matter, since to do so would have been in contravention of Article 163 of the Constitution.” The PNC wants to steer the PPP/C into a trap, but, by not being crafty enough, the party has failed miserably, only to dig a hole for themselves.
27) Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond observed: “…there is an unsung story and untold script features thousands of Guyanese who have been able to derive benefits from the staging of this tournament (CPL).” The PPP/C Government is on the prowl for social and economic development, engaging the inclusiveness of tourism as it relates to many suppliers and supporters at the lower level gaining beneficial traction and not only the corporate companies.
28) Senior Minister Ashni Singh reminded the nation about the PPP/C government’s non-complacency, “….we in the PPP/C are under no illusion that our work is done…we are constantly examining the anti-corruption framework to identify areas for strengthening and areas for elaboration by way of subsidiary legislation and regulation.”
Guyanese Amel Griffith is all smiles as she is crowned the first ever Miss Cricket Carnival Queen. Sweepers and cleaners are smiling with full-time contracts with gratuity to clean schools. Residents in Region Three are smiling with the distribution of 1,200 house lots. The staff at Bank of Baroda are smiling with their 24.6 per cent pay hike. In Region Five, 805 fisherfolk are smiling with their $150,000 one-off cash grant, and in Region Four, some 1,000 fisherfolk are smiling with their cut. First Lady Arya Ali is smiling with Assuria for their 50 boxes of sanitary pads ($175,000) donation towards her nationwide Menstrual Hygiene Initiative.
The residents of St, Ignatius Village are smiling with a $5 million cheque presented by the Prime Minister on behalf of the government for the construction of a benab. Guyana-Suriname travellers are smiling as the MV Canawaima resumes its ferry service. Region Five residents are smiling with their $64 million road upgrade in Burma. A 70-year old Guyanese, Captain Stanley Jhagroo is smiling with his Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. Shannia Hoyte is smiling with her Claudette Caesar Foundation University Scholarship. Dr. and Mrs. Al Mohannadi are smiling, being the first tourists from Qatar to visit Guyana. Over 100 workers are smiling after being employed on the Linden-Mabura Hill road project. Residents from Black Bush Polder are smiling with the recommissioning of a refurbished and digitalised Mibicuri Court. As you end to begin another week, do use your smile to change the world. Don’t let the world change your smile.

Yours respectfully,
Jai Lall