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Orealla Village to get $198M secondary school Sep 08, 2024 News Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and the contractor among other officials turning the sod for the construction of the new Orealla Secondary School on Saturday. Kaieteur News – Orealla/ Siparuta, the only Amerindian village in Region Six will soon get a secondary school building, which will be constructed to the tune of $198,866,010. The sod was turned on Saturday to mark the start of the school’s construction. Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand was joined by other officials for the ceremonial activity. According to information provided by the Ministry of Education, the new Orealla Secondary School which will be constructed by 4S Security & Building Enterprise and will feature six modern classrooms, four specialized laboratories, and a well-equipped library, aimed at providing high-quality learning environment for approximately 180 students. The facility will serve the educational needs of students from both Orealla and the nearby Siparuta area thereby addressing a critical gap in educational resources. The supervision of the project will be conducted by CEMCO Incorporated. It was reported by the ministry that already the contractor was given an initial mobilization amount of $59,659,803 and that the project is anticipated to be completed within six months. The Minister in her brief remarks highlighted the government’s ongoing commitment to advancing educational opportunities and infrastructure across Guyana. She noted that this project is part of a broader initiative to enhance the quality of education and provide students with the necessary resources for academic excellence. The new Orealla Secondary School is poised to make a substantial impact on the local community, ensuring that students in this riverain village and the surrounding areas benefit from improved educational facilities. The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Six in a statement reported that the school will not only benefit students by eliminating the need for them to travel to the coast for secondary schooling but will also ease the financial burden on parents who previously had to pay for accommodation and other expenses. The establishment of this school will ensure that students in these remote communities have access to education like those in more urbanized area, the region said. Regional Executive Officer, Narindra Persaud at the ceremony had applauded the Orealla and Siparuta Village Council for their continuous advocacy and support, which played a key role in the realization of the project. He noted that the commencement of construction signifies a major milestone for the region, with the school serving as a beacon of progress and opportunity. This publication understands that Orealla Village is just one of many hinterland areas which have been targeted to get new secondary schools built. It was reported that the building of the schools all forms part of the government’s goal of achieving universal secondary education by 2025. Related Similar Articles

Prison escapee recaptured in Sophia Sep 08, 2024 News Kaieteur News – An inmate of the Lusignan Prison who escaped while attending clinic at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), was recaptured on Friday night at Sophia, Georgetown. Isiah Daniels also known as Isiah Greaves The recaptured prisoner, Isiah Daniels also known as Isiah Greaves was recaptured at 23:30hrs. The prisoner escaped on Friday morning at about 11:30hrs. The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) in a press release expressed appreciation to members of the public and the Joint Service for the swift response in recapturing the prison escapee. Related Similar Articles

GUYEXPO 2024 expected to attract large crowds Sep 08, 2024 News Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond DPI – This year GUYEXPO, the largest trade show in Guyana and the longest sustained exhibition in the Caribbean, is expected to attract some 100,000 patrons and 250 booths. This is a notable increase from last year’s 80,000 attendees and 200 exhibitors. Pointing out that Guyana has been on an impressive economic trajectory, with over 49 per cent growth recorded this year alone, Minister Walrond expressed that it also spans multiple industries. The theme of GUYEXPO aims to reflect this with the variety of businesses anticipated to participate in this year’s exposition. Highlighting the Government’s steadfast commitment to supporting small businesses and investing heavily in their growth and development, Minister Walrond added that the once, small and emerging enterprises have now evolved into viable, thriving entities. GUYEXPO offers these businesses a platform to showcase their achievements, one that, the minister, is proud of. Minister also stated, “We are excited about the range of products and services that will be on display…we are committed to creating an event that reflects both, the growth and the global competitiveness of the Guyanese businesses.” Several sponsors are on board reflecting strong enthusiasm for this year’s event. The dedicated staff of the Ministry of Tourism have begun the groundwork to ensure that GUYEXPO 2024 lives up to the expectations of international standards. Apart from the businesses on display, patrons can look forward to a family-friendly experience with a fun game section for children. The registration period for businesses is from 1st to 30th October 2024. Related Similar Articles

400 million students affected globally by climate related school closures since 2022 – World Bank Report Sep 08, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Climate related school closures have affected 400 million students globally between 2022 and 2024, a new World Bank report has said. The report published on Wednesday ‘Choosing Our Future: Education for Climate Action’ described the ongoing disruptions to learning as a crisis which remain invisible since they are not being tracked. It said there was no official data on the frequency and severity of school closures due to extreme climate events. Consequently, this crisis is going largely unnoticed. For this report, the World Bank relied on extensive literature reviews, supplemented with novel data. It said it not only assessed media reports on climate-related school closures between January 2022 to June 2024 from 81 countries, but also a number of other surveys such as a youth survey (ages 17-35 years) on climate and education from eight countries (Angola, Bangladesh, China, Columbia, India, Kazakhstan, Senegal, and Tanzania). The World Bank’s analysis shows that over the past 20 years, schools were closed in at least 75% of the climate-related extreme weather events impacting 5 million people or more. “Most worryingly, the frequency and severity of school closures continues to grow due to climate change. Between January 2022 and June 2024, an estimated 404 million students faced school closures due to extreme weather events. This was the result of at least 81 countries shutting down schools temporarily due to floods, storms, and heatwaves,” the Institution said. Notably, these school closures can cause big learning losses. Between January 2022 and June 2024, countries that closed schools to respond to climate shocks lost on average 28 days of instruction in affected schools, the report stated. “Affected schools in low-income countries during the same period lost about 45 days, while those in high-income countries lost only 6 days. In some contexts, climate-related school closures are frequent or of long duration,” the World Bank said. For instance, between January 2022 and June 2024, students in Philippines experienced 23 episodes of school closures. In Pakistan, they lost 97 days of school (nearly 54 percent of a typical academic year). Rising temperatures are also having a negative impact on student learning, the Institution reported. In fact an average student in the poorest 50% of Brazilian municipalities could lose up to 0.5 years of learning overall due to rising temperatures. Do more According to the World Bank, schools can do much more for pro-climate behaviour change. Across low- and middle-income countries most students, parents, teachers, and even policymakers want schools to better prepare students for climate action, however, this is currently not happening. The biggest obstacles to this goal are low foundational skills; lack of climate education within already overloaded curricula and lack of teacher capacity. The World Bank said across 100 countries, nearly 47% of frameworks have no mention of climate change.  In a youth survey across eight low- and middle-income countries, nearly 65% feel they did not learn enough about climate in school. But adding climate topics to an already overloaded school curricula is not easy. If done without careful consideration, it could backfire by further crowding-out the much-needed focus on foundational skills, the institution pointed out. Additionally, the World Bank noted that most teachers currently do not have the capacity to teach on climate. Across six low- and middle-income countries, 87% of teachers claim to include climate themes in their lessons, and yet 71% answered at least one basic climate related question incorrectly. Rising temperatures in Guyana The World Bank Report on the impacts of climate on education comes at a time when Guyana, like other countries, has been experiencing higher temperatures. Recently the Hydrometeorological Service of the Ministry of Agriculture issued a public advisory due to the predicted above-normal temperatures across Guyana from September to November 2024. This period, traditionally the warmest months of the year, particularly in September and October, is expected to experience even higher-than-average temperatures, raising concerns for public health, agriculture, and livestock. The Hydrometeorological Service warns that the increased likelihood of extreme heat and heat wave days could significantly impact vulnerable groups, including the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions. “During this time, heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke become significant risks… with the potential for an above average number of heat wave days this year, the Hydrometeorological Service urges the public to take preventive measures,” the Hydromet office cautioned. The public was urged to take preventive measures, such as staying hydrated, limiting outdoor activities during peak heat hours, and ensuring that living and working spaces are well-ventilated. The discussions on climate change- the long-term shift in temperatures and weather conditions- has taken on global importance as rising temperatures continue to take a detrimental toll on the environment and human life. It is however, human activities, that have been the main driver of climate change, primarily the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil and gas), which produces heat-trapping gases. The United Nations explains that burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures. The main greenhouse gases that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane. These come from using gasoline for driving a car or coal for heating a building, for example. Following the discovery of oil off this country’s coast in 2015, ExxonMobil began producing oil in December 2019.  With three Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels in operation, producing an average 645,000 barrel per day, Guyana maintains that emissions from the sector are offset from its huge forest cover that acts as a carbon sink- meaning that the country removes more carbon than it emits into the environment. Forest accounts for about 85% of Guyana’s total land area. Related Similar Articles

New regional hospital to be constructed in West Demerara Sep 08, 2024 News President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali DPI – President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has announced plans to construct a new, modern regional hospital in West Demerara, Region Three aimed at providing world-class healthcare services. The president made this announcement during the commissioning of the Zeelugt Primary School on Friday. He noted that the existing West Demerara Regional Hospital has seen significant growth and improvement over the past four years. “In the first four months of 2021, they did 16 surgeries. In the first four months of 2024, they did 585 surgeries. It is easy to post one bad story or two bad stories on Facebook. But what about this? 585 surgeries that were completed, compared to 16 in 2021,” he said. This expansion of services has also led to a notable reduction in referrals to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). According to President Ali within the last four years, referrals to the GPHC have decreased by almost 100 per cent. “[The number of] referrals to Georgetown Hospital in the first four months of 2020 was 208. The referrals to Georgetown in the first four months of 2024, is 106. That tells you of the qualitative care[and] the difference in the qualitative care,” the head of state pointed out. Similar improvements have also been recorded in clinic attendance. The West Demerara Regional Hospital is currently undergoing significant upgrades including the construction of a new mortuary, and the acquisition of equipment for laparoscopic surgeries. Additionally, surgical services have expanded from limited hours to round-the-clock availability. While these improvements are tremendous, President Ali acknowledged that the hospital can no longer meet the demands of the growing regional economy, or provide the level of healthcare that is necessary at this stage of its development. “Now with this growth, we know that the West Demerara Hospital has now outgrown its time. It has outgrown what it was built for. It does not meet the modern, efficient, reliable needs of the citizens of Region Three,” the president noted. That is why the government is taking action to address this deficiency, and the president added that tenders for the new facility will be launched in the week. “Every day, we wake up with a new mission…[and] a new drive. And that mission and drive is to make your life better. That mission and drive is to dedicate a bit more energy in getting the work done,” he asserted. Related Similar Articles

Tahir, Motie help Warriors crush Kings by 6 wickets Sep 08, 2024 Sports Johnson Charles of St Lucia Kings is dismissed by Keemo Paul of Guyana Amazon Warriors during their Men’s 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League match (Getty Images) Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League 2024… – Gurbaz 19-ball 47 highlights chase Kaieteur Sports – Guyana Amazon Warriors spin twins Gudakesh Motie and captain, Imran Tahir, continued their clockwork as they shared six wickets for the second straight game to help tighten the screws on the home team by 6-wickets, in their match which was slightly affected by rain. Gudakesh Motie is now the leading wicket taker in the 2024 season of the Republic Bank CPL following three consecutive 3-wicket hauls. (Getty Images) Mirroring their performances from the last game, leg-spinner Tahir (3-29) and his younger partner, left-arm spinner Motie (3-16) kept the Kings to an even 100 all out in 14.3 overs last night at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium. Only Mathew Forde (31) managed to look threatening with his three sixes with opener Johnson Charles (19), the next-best scorer. Fast-bowling all-rounders Keemo Paul (2-19) who continues to bowl himself back into form and South African fast-bowler Dwaine Pretorius (1-10), were other wicket-takers for the Warriors, who made light work of the target. The champs ended on 101-4 in 10 overs after new Warriors draftee, New Zealand’s Tim Robinson (33) provided the ideal start along with the explosive Rahmanullah Gurbaz (47). Robinson hit 3 fours and 2 sixes before wrist-spinner Noor Ahmad (3-22) broke the opening stand of 62, removing both openers; but not before the Afghan Gurbaz slammed 7 sixes. Ahmad then removed Shai Hope (11), while Azam Khan (0) fell to speedster Alzarri Joseph (1-18). Shimron Hetmyer (8*) and Paul (1*) eventually took the Warriors home without any hiccups. Related Similar Articles

Showstoppers is the new Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ National Champion Sep 08, 2024 Sports The victorious Showstoppers unit receives their prizes after winning the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ National Championship. Kaieteur Sports – Showstoppers became the first team from the East Bank/West Demerara division to be crowned the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ National Champion, defeating Laing Avenue 3-0 in the final on Friday evening at the Pouderoyen tarmac. Amos Ramsay bagged a second-half brace in the 20th and 25th minutes, while Stephon Jupiter found the back of the net in the 18th minute. With the win, Showstoppers walked away with $1,000,000 and the championship trophy, while the loser pocketed $500,000 and the respective trophy. In the third-place playoff, North Ruimveldt of Georgetown edged the Silver Bullets of Linden 1-0 via an Aeon Alleyne strike in the 16th minute. North Ruimveldt pocketed $300,000 and a trophy for their efforts, while Silver Bullets walked away with $200,000 and a trophy. In the earlier semifinal round, Showstoppers bested Silver Bullets 3-1. Marvin Josiah, Dexroy Adams, and Daren Benjamin scored in the seventh, 11th, and 17th minutes, respectively. Bevney Marks of Laing Avenue receives the second-place prize. On target in the loss was Colwyn Drakes in the eighth minute. Also, Laing Avenue edged North Ruimveldt 2-1 on penalty kicks after regulation time ended scoreless. In the quarterfinal fixture, Showstoppers defeated Mighty Ruler 1-0 via a Jupiter conversion in the eighth minute. Laing Avenue edged Hustlers 2-0 on penalty kicks after normal and extra time ended scoreless. Meanwhile, Silver Bullets defeated East Bank Gunners of Berbice, while North Ruimveldt bested Ballerz Empire of East Bank Demerara 2-1 on penalty kicks after regulation and extra time ended scoreless. In the initial playoff round, Liliendaal Hustlers bested the All-Stars of Essequibo 3-0. Raushan Ritch bagged a ‘Guinness Goal’ (GG) [a goal scored in the final three minutes of normal time counts as two] in the 20th minute. Opening the scoring in the 14th minute was Sunil Logan. Complete Results Guinness Goal – (GG) – 2 goals Final Showstoppers-3 vs. Laing Avenue-0 Amos Ramsay-20th and 25th Stephon Jupiter-18th 3rd Place North Ruimveldt-1 vs. Silver Bullets-0 Eon Alleyne-16th Semifinal-1 North Ruimveldt-0 vs. Laing Avenue-0 Laing Avenue won 2-1 on penalty kicks Semifinal-2 Showstoppers-3 vs. Silver Bullets-1 Showstoppers scorers Marvin Josiah-7th Dexroy Adams-11th Daren Benjamin-17th Silver Bullets scorer Colwyn Drakes-8th Quarterfinal-1 East Bank Gunners-0 vs. Silver Bullets-0 Silver Bullets won 2-1 on penalty kicks Quarterfinal-2 Ballerz Empire-0 vs. North Ruimveldt-0 North Ruimveldt won 2-1 on penalty kicks Quarterfinal-3 Mighty Ruler-0 vs. Showstoppers-1 Stephon Jupiter-8th Quarterfinal-4 Laing Avenue-0 vs. Hustlers-0 Laing Avenue won 2-0 on penalty kicks Playoff Hustlers-3 vs. All-Stars-0 Raushan Ritch-GG-20th Sunil Logan-14th Related Similar Articles