Dear Editor,
LAST week started on a bright note, ushering in the beginning of the season for the Hindu “Festival of Lights,” referred to as Deepavali or Diwali which means “a row of lights.” At this time, society is calling on the public to desist from the indiscriminate and illegal use of fireworks, while echoing the cause for a ban on lewd music as championed by Jamaica, the land of reggae music.
The weekend was sprinkled with various light-ups, cultural shows and motorcade parades by various organizations throughout the country. There was an unwelcoming “light up,” as fire partially destroyed Guyana Stores in Georgetown.
The CCJ led the CoA from “darkness to light” when it quashed the decision of the local appellate court. President Ali and First Lady hosted a cultural evening at the State House to usher in Diwali.
The CoA had taken jurisdiction to hear APNU+AFC’s second election petition, which was dismissed by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George. The United Kingdom has lifted the visa requirement for Guyanese with a valid passport travelling to that country up to six months, but not to the European Union.
Another boat incident occurred in the Essequibo River when some 20 passengers had to be rescued from a sinking boat off the island of Leguan.
Guyana earned its largest quarterly earnings since oil production began with a total of $102.8 billion (US$493.1 million) going into the Natural Resource Fund. World Food Day was celebrated under the theme, “Leave No One Behind,” through “Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life.”
Guyana also observed International Day of the Air Traffic Controller. Some 7.1 million people have left Venezuela since 2015 due to an ongoing economic and political crisis. Thousands have arrived in Guyana seeking shelter, food and employment.
As Scotland humiliated the West Indies in their first T20 World Cup game, and, West Indies boomeranged to whip Zimbabwe, 18 cricket academies are planned for Guyana. General Equipment Guyana Ltd and Suzuki Marine along with the Guyana Coast Guard and Sealand surveys, led a clean-up campaign along the Kingston seawall, collecting some 50 bags of plastic trash with the help of about 60 volunteers.
There has been a seven per cent increase in road fatalities this year, 85 deaths in comparison to 79 last year. “LoGo” math may explain how 213 votes were recorded when 211 ballots were cast in the PNC’s Georgetown District Election on October 2. The government has set March 13, 2023, for the next Local Government Elections.
Former President, Mrs Janet Jagan was remembered at a ceremony commemorating her 102nd birth anniversary. The United Kingdom suffered another prime ministerial loss when Liz Truss announced her resignation after only being in office for six testing weeks. The HPV vaccine will now be available to women up to 45 years of age. The jam-packed holiday weekend is filled with Diwali motorcades, concerts, fishing competitions, cricket and other sports and laughter at the theatre. Whatever you participate in, be it anything, everything or nothing, do be safe, spend a moment with this Sunday column to digest the quotes and enjoy the long holiday weekend:
1) Head of Hindu-Swayamsevak Sangh/ Hindus for Selfless Services (HSS), Ravi Dev, said at the 8th Annual National Diya Light-Up: “Dharma is that which upholds and that which sustains… ask if your action will uphold society, will it uphold our nation, will it sustain our nation? If the answer is yes, do it and if the answer is no, then, abjure from your practice.” Food for thought for many in today’s society to consider their words, deeds and actions.
2) At the Diwali Light-up at Rahaman’s Park, President Ali told the crowd: “We’re trying to uphold and sustain a society that is wedded in peace, that presents hope to its people, and that brings dignity to life that you live within that society. And this is exactly what Diwali symbolizes.” The removal of darkness has to come with the illumination of light within so that there may be outward brightness.
3) Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha told farmers at Albion: “Guyana must act now and create the environment to achieve our potential of feeding the CARICOM Region.” With the FAO’s (UN) theme, “Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life for all,” the “One Guyana” strategy is in keeping with the World Food Day goal and reducing the food-import bill by 25 by 2025.
4) President Ali told residents at Leguan: “The mission of this 1,000 Men is to work in every single community to eradicate hunger, to work in every community to uplift those who are emotionally [and] socially affected.” The programme is established to reverse the strategy used to deal with problems faced by young boys and men in society.
5) President Ali informed the nation at the Berbice Expo and Trade Fair: “Not only in fossil fuel, but also in renewable energy. The potential of the Amaila Falls Hydro project, the catalyzing of our gas field, to be an important part in the supply of energy around the Guyana Shield corridor.” Transforming Guyana into an energy leader is an important development pillar of the PPP/C Government.
6) Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said: “This is an accident that could have been avoided, had they listened to instructions… if people telling you something and you’re not responding… what does that suggest?” The minister is contemplating submitting the BoI to the Commissioner of Police for a criminal investigation. “Sabotage,” someone wrote.
7) Canadian cyclist Charles Lemieux said: “Every country I’ve been to, it was my first time. I didn’t know of Guyana, so I’m trying to get to Georgetown and stay a few days there.” On a global expedition, he is biking through Guyana and country-hopping his way back to Canada.
8) Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony, said: “If we start at the National Ophthalmology Hospital, we were able to rehabilitate the hospital. It was in a very bad state when we came back to government. The microscopes, theatres, services that were being offered were very minimal. All the microscopes in the theatre were not really working.” Again, clearly a reflection of poor management from the previous PNC administration, which did not care for the people but were only concerned about the party members’ welfare.
9) Haiti’s country director for the UN’s World Food Programme, Jean-Martin Bauer remarked, “Haiti is facing a humanitarian catastrophe. The severity and the extent of food insecurity in Haiti is getting worse.” Across Haiti, almost five million are struggling with malnutrition. The previous PNC government had once driven Guyana to a lower poverty level than Haiti. Thanks to the PPP/C government, Guyana now has one of the strongest economies per capita in this hemisphere.
10) Minister Edghill announced: “The contract was won by China Railway First Group. It is the same company that won the bid for the four-lane project on the eastern corridor.” The two-pronged project is in the mobilization stage – after a US$184 million contract was signed.
11) Captain of the 18th Chinese Medical Brigade, Dr Chu Xuehui remarked: “We checked on their well-being and if any dispense is affecting anyone, our duty is to provide help for those in need. We have travelled thousands of miles to be here and we want to do as much as we can.” In addition to eye, heart and lung tests done by the Chinese team, the 18th Brigade also donated COVID-19 supplies and gifts to the Joshua House Children Centre.
12) Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, S.C., informed global leaders at the 145th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly held in Rwanda, “Women are the source of life and the reason for our existence…. Women have repeatedly shown in almost every area of human endeavour that they are equal to men.” The PPP/C government’s policies are aligned with their theme, “Gender Equality and Gender Sensitive Parliaments as Drivers for a more Resilient and Peaceful World.”
13) Paul Kagame, Rwanda’s President, stated: “We cannot be satisfied when women perform over two-thirds of the world’s work, produce over half of the food we eat, yet just a meagre 10th of global incomes belong to them….” While one-third of Guyana’s parliamentarians are women, the Guyana constitution guarantees that every citizen is given equal treatment and protection against discrimination.
14) Popular panel discussant from the diaspora, Dr Asquith Rose, wrote: “The answer is yes; Guyana has a Populous Nationalist Leader/President in His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali.” His answer is based on the President’s positive outlook for the country, its citizens and the numerous policies he has implemented since taking office in 2020.
15) World Wildlife Fund’s Regional Director for Africa, Alice Ruhweza, appealed: “We are calling on the rich nations to provide financial support to us to protect our nature.” Deforestation, human exploitation, pollution, and climate change were the biggest drivers of the world’s populations to have declined by more than two-thirds since 1970, as forests have been cleared and oceans polluted.
16) President Ali announced at the 16th Berbice Expo and Trade Fair, “Region Six is well positioned to be the centrepiece for growth and development.” A new economic hub will be developed at Palmyra which will include a commercial zone, hotels and shopping malls, a national stadium, a municipal airport and a national training institution to equip persons in the oil and gas hospitality.
17) Minister Mustapha while celebrating World Food Day informed the nation: “The current strategies and policies of the agriculture sector are interlinked with the government’s manifesto of making agriculture attractive and thriving for everyone.” While championing “food security and leaving no one behind,” the PPP/C government has 20 ongoing projects on hand which include rice and coconut production increase and expansion, the development of corn, cattle, soya beans, lettuce, carrot, cauliflower and broccoli and the Black Belly Sheep project.
18) President Ali told the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “An increase in climate finance by at least 590 per cent is needed. Adaptation finance remains far below the scale necessary to respond to existing and future climate change.” He called on the FAO to establish a special adaptation fund for the Small Island Development States (SIDS) and the low-lying coastal areas.
19) Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo told Essequibians, “We are not the type of government that sits on our hands. We have a vision for this country. It’s being laid out a very long time ago, the vision of where we want to take Guyana and what kind of country we want it to be.” The PPP/C government had to lift this country out of the doldrums in 1992 when the PNC government ran it to bankruptcy after being in power for 28 years. Through prudent stewardship, the PPP/C government left office in 2015 with Guyana enjoying a financially sound bill of health. From 2015 to 2020, the PNC government again made a complete mess of the economy and the PPP/C government is again tasked with the job of restoring financial stability.
20) Minister within the Housing Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, informed agency heads and consultants: “What we’ve done, and which the President has put a lot of emphasis on, is in the issue of a single-window system.” The PPP/C government is moving away from a paper to an automated system in order to process all applications, permits, registration and other compliances at a single window, especially for the oil and gas industry and the CH&PA.
21) President Ali noted: “These are services that are externalized because we have to learn to work together. We cannot operate in a mega economy if we don’t bring together consortiums.” The PPP/C government wants to establish an association of local entrepreneurs consisting of cooks and chefs to supply food and food items to the FPSO vessels.
22) Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Oneidge Walrond said, “Our focus, as always, is to sell Guyana as a lucrative investment destination. We want to encourage investment that will allow cheaper airfares and increase travel and destinations options.” The Guyana Government participated in the World Routes Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada, to pursue more airlift agreements that will bring increased travel options for Guyanese and cheaper flights.
23) VP Jagdeo told rice farmers in Region Two, “We are here to work with the rice farmers, to genuinely improve your stocks and production. Every single day we are out there fighting for farmers; fighting for every Guyanese. So, we are in this together….” Over 1,500 rice farmers benefitted from a $275 million fertilizer voucher, which was aimed at relieving the production cost in the region.
24) President Ali declared, “This decision demonstrates the strength of our economy, signals the ease of travel, deepening of cooperation and collaboration between the UK and Guyana and will bring great value to our growing private sector.” The UK has lifted the visa requirement for Guyanese travelling to England with a valid passport up to six months for business or leisure. Guyana accounts for 21.6 per cent of all of the UK’s trade with the Caribbean, being the largest trading partner with 516 million pounds in 2021.
25) British High Commissioner Jane Miller noted, “This visa lift is a real sign of the confidence that the UK has in the growth of our relationship and together with the direct flight that will be happening at the end of March, we believe this change is going to be transformative for our really strong relationship.”  The British High Commission had banded with the ACE in the fight to uphold democracy for Guyana, during the PNC’s attempt to rig the General Elections in 2020.
26) Minister Bishop Edghill warned: “Guyana is not a country that lacks laws, our problem is in the enforcement of those laws.” Greater enforcement of the traffic laws will be implemented and clamping down on mini-buses flouting the traffic rules will be reinforced.
27) President Ali surmised, “I am of the view that the conditions are less oppressive to our Guyanese fishermen.” Some amount of progress has been made regarding Guyanese being issued fishing licences to fish in Suriname’s waters. Since being elected into power, Presidents Ali and Santokhi have knitted a closer bondage between Guyana and Suriname.
28) Minister Bishop Edghill tutored a student: “Since its [PPP/C party’s] return to office, the government has made it its duty to transform the maritime sector to ensure that it is prepared to operate in a modern economy. Ms Desir is obviously not adept with the current state of the maritime sector, or international affairs, for which she has responsibility for Opposition constituents.” Instead of trying to correct the President, the coalition needs to edify themselves first. The country formerly known as Turkey, is still Turkiye.
29) President Ali announced, “I’m very pleased to walk through the entire community [Albouystown] today (Tuesday) As I said, as far as time gives us the opportunity, we will be visiting every single community to ensure that we work with all the people of the country to uplift their lives and to bring development.” The $1.4 billion Albouystown Beautification Project was officially launched in August of this year, and also includes the upgrading of Cemetery Road to four lanes.
30) President Ali announced, “With these elections we could bring together local leadership, women, young people…. And that shows our seriousness to building and strengthening governance at every single level.” March 13, 2023 has been declared the date for the next Local Government Elections. The PPP/C government is determined to work with every community to put together a team that is reflective of the “One Guyana” agenda.
Residents in Region Six are smiling with an Entertainment Park in Corriverton and a Recreational Park in New Amsterdam, compliments of the First Lady Arya Ali. Fisherfolks in Region Two are smiling with $105 million as they received their $150,000 one-off fisherfolk cash grants.
Former Guyanese Chancellor, Justice Carl Singh, is smiling after being sworn in as a temporary Justice of the Court of Appeal of the Republic of Seychelles. Some two members are smiling after being appointed as the new Board of Directors for GuySuCo. Grade Six pupils in Region Three are smiling as the Ministry of Education launched its “Breakfast for Success” programme.
Six orphaned siblings are smiling after receiving a new house through the initiative of the First Lady. St Stanislaus College students are smiling as Education Minister Priya Manickchand commissioned a $5.5 million smart classroom. Some nine successful NGSA students are smiling after being awarded by Sterling Products. Linden residents are smiling in anticipation of another 150 job openings becoming available from Midas Business Process Outsourcing. New York students, especially of Guyanese parents, are smiling after NYC Mayor Eric Adams declared that starting next year, Diwali will be a NYC school holiday. Guyanese are smiling with folk/rock musician, Gavin Mendonca, who is representing Guyana for the first time at an Ethno World event in its 20 years of existence. As the lights flicker, bringing bright smiles to the faces, do remember Sri “Diwali means to be in the present, so drop the regrets of the past and worries of the future and live in the moment. It is a time when you throw light on the wisdom you have gained and welcome a new beginning.” Shubh Diwali, Guyana.

Yours respectfully,
Jai Lall.