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US$161M contract signed for new Linden Highway Aug 29, 2024 News Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Works, Vladim Persaud (center) signing the US$161million contract with the contractors for the Linden-Soesdyke Highway project on Wednesday. – project includes 2,900 street lights, reflective road markings, lay-bys for trucks Kaieteur News – The government of Guyana on Wednesday signed a US$161M contract with Trinidadian firm Namalco Construction Services (from Trinidad & Tobago) in joint venture with Guyamerica Construction Inc. (Guyana) to reconstruct the Linden- Soesdyke Highway. The reconstructed highway is aimed at accommodating the increasing tonnage that traverses the Highway daily. The project will include the installation of some 2,900 street lights, reflective road markings and lay-bys for trucks. Kaieteur News reported that the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) published on its website that Namalco and Guyamerica were awarded the US$161,369,374 contract on June 26, 2024. Kaieteur News also reported that the joint venture companies were among four bidders vying for the contract when it was opened in January 2024 at NPTAB. The project was estimated to cost US$183,567,095 according to the Ministry of Public Works’ engineer’s figure. The upgrade to the Soesdyke-Linden Highway is being funded by a loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and is the first developmental project that is being funded by Bank in Guyana. It was reported in May 2023 that the Government of Guyana and the Islamic Development Bank, signed a US$200M Framework Agreement for the reconstruction of the highway. The project will see the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 73 kilometres of the highway. Speaking of the scope of works at the signing ceremony, which was held at the Mighty Enchanter Creek on the highway, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill said that the project will see the construction of three roundabouts, one at the Soesdyke-Linden junction, one at Millie’s Hide Out and the other at Five Corner in Linden. “This project will bring job to a lot of people because when this highway is rehabilitated there will be 2,900 street lights along the entire highway. For the persons living on the highway let me tell you about this project, all the bridges will be done, and you no longer have to walk on the bridge in the middle of the traffic when  you moving from one section, there will be pedestrian bridges at the side of the major bridges,” he detailed. A section of the Linden- Soesdyke Highway. In addition to that, the Public Works Minister stated that in relation to the dangers of trucks parked on the highway and not being properly lit at night, they will be introducing lay-bys so there will be more places for trucks to park on the side of the road and not to obstruct traffic. “Those of you who live and traverse this thoroughfare know that we’ve been having significant breakaways or what we call washouts. This project entails improving the drainage of the entire highway…The road markings that will be on the road, it will be high quality marking that will provided for reflective view in the night, so when you are driving and the light get to the marking and signs it will be bright to help you navigate the turns, it will be of reflective nature,” he further explained. This publication understands that there will be emergency stopping and resting areas placed at specific locations along the highway. During his speech, Minister Edghill mentioned too that the entire highway will be dug up and will see new bases and new surfaces being put in place. According to him, the Soesdyke –Linden Highway was built between 1966 and 1968 and sank in some sections over the years given the number of vehicles that traverses it. To this end, he said one of the main objectives of the project is “to cater for the new level of tonnage that is coming through the highway. The objective of getting this highway going is that we have to improve and meet the current transportation demand, there are thousands of vehicle on this road every single day so we have to improve that.” Meanwhile, President Irfaan Ali in his feature address said that the reconstruction of the highway will take two years and some 300 persons are to be employed to execute the works. The President urged the residents of Linden and communities along the Highway to maximize on the job opportunities that will be available. The President further said that this project is part of a wider menu of investment that is aimed at the transformation of the country, the opening of opportunities, the rebuilding and expansion of the economy and the integration of different regions within the country. “This highway is integral, not only for the connectivity between Regions 4 and 10 but importantly it is important because it is one of the main artery that support the development in the hinterland communities and wider afield. But more importantly this highway will be linked to other key and critical infrastructure that would expand the productive capacity of our country that would expand the land availability and open new areas for a multifaceted investment portfolio,” he explained. Kaieteur News reported that in October last year that the NPTAB had awarded a contract to Kuwaiti firm, Al-Habshi Engineering Consultants in joint venture with Guyanese company – CB & Associates Inc. to provide supervision services for the project. The contract cost is US$ 1,775,000. The Linden-Soesdyke Highway was in dire need of repairs and the Government has spent millions over the years repairing the roadway due to exhaustive use. Related Similar Articles

At least 10 killed as Israel launches major raid on occupied West Bank Aug 29, 2024 News The health ministry said Israeli forces had surrounded two hospitals in Jenin (EPA) Israeli military deploys hundreds of soldiers, backed by jets and drones, targeting three areas simultaneously. Aljazeera – At least 10 Palestinians have been killed after Israel launched a large-scale ground and air attack on the northern part of the occupied West Bank, according to health officials in the territory. The incursion, which began early on Wednesday, involved hundreds of ground soldiers supported by fighter aircraft, drones and bulldozers, targeting three areas simultaneously – Jenin, Tulkarem and Tubas – in the largest assault in two decades. The director of the ambulance department at the Palestine Red Crescent Society told Al Jazeera that Israeli forces killed four people in the Far’a refugee camp in Tubas. The Red Crescent said its teams were having trouble reaching the injured because Israeli forces were preventing ambulances from entering the area. The Palestinian Health Ministry said two people were killed in Jenin, while three others were slain when an Israeli drone struck their vehicle in the nearby village of Seir. Another Palestinian was later reported to have been shot and killed in the village of Kafr Dan, west of Jenin, according to the Wafa news agency. Reporting from Nablus in the West Bank, Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim said that Israeli forces had described the operation in the north of the occupied territory as the biggest of its kind since 2002. There are an estimated 80,000 Palestinians in the areas where the military operations are continuing. The number of raids on the West Bank has “more than tripled” since the outbreak of Israel’s war on Gaza in October, she said, adding that locals across cities and towns confirmed to Al Jazeera that three strikes took place in three different locations overnight. “In the past few weeks, we’ve seen an intensification in the use of aerial strikes against Palestine fighters … the Israeli military claiming they are combatting the use of IEDs [improvised explosive devices],” Ibrahim said. Omar Baddar, a Middle East political analyst, said that the incursion appeared to be part of a longer-term Israeli strategy to “ethnically cleanse” the Palestinian territory. “I think the context of it is worth noting, which is the fact that Israel has been intending to annex and ethnically cleanse huge parts of the West Bank for a very, very long time,” Baddar told Al Jazeera. Israel’s military described the nine people killed as “armed terrorists who posed a threat to security forces”. In a post on Telegram, it also claimed to have arrested more “wanted suspects” in Jenin and Tulkarem, while confiscating explosives “planted under roads” in the Far’a camp. Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz called for the army to evacuate Palestinians from the West Bank, in a post on X. “We must deal with the threat in the West Bank as we are doing in Gaza, including the temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents and whatever other steps are required. This is a war for everything and we must win it,” he wrote on Wednesday. Israeli forces have been closing down roads leading to Jenin, Tulkarem and the Far’a camp. According to residents at the Nur Shams camp, in Tulkarem, they were given three hours to leave if they wanted to. “There’s no direct evacuation order, but this suggests a potential escalation,” Ibrahim reported. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for the Palestinian Authority (PA) presidency, said Israel’s escalating war in the West Bank in addition to the war in the Gaza Strip will lead to “dire and dangerous” results. “Israel’s objective number one is not Gaza, it is the West Bank. This is the heart of what they say is the Biblical land,” Hassan Barari, a professor of international affairs at Qatar University, told Al Jazeera, adding that Israel aims to expel even more Palestinians. But the Israeli military is likely to continue facing fierce resistance from a new generation of hardened fighters that are just as committed to protecting their homeland, without putting their hopes in the PA, Barari added. Quoting Israeli military sources, Israeli media reported that the army was expected to continue the raids for several days. Baddar said: “I think that they [Israeli forces] saw an opportunity given that the world is distracted by the horror that Israel is unleashing on Gaza to kind of escalate in the West Bank.” In Jenin, the director of one of the city’s hospitals was told the Israeli army intended to raid the medical facility and ordered them to evacuate. The hospital has 200 employees and 150 patients. Palestinian armed groups said they were fighting Israeli forces in the Nur Shams and Jenin refugee camps. The al-Quds Brigades said its “fighters targeted an enemy infantry force with a highly explosive device in Nur Shams”. The Qassam Brigades said it “detonated locally made and highly explosive devices in Jenin against the invading military vehicles” and that its fighters were “engaged in violent clashes with the occupation forces”. ‘Under threat’ Since Israel launched its war on Gaza, Israeli army raids have become a nightly occurrence in towns and villages in the West Bank, with Israeli soldiers and settlers killing at least 646 Palestinians, including 148 children, and injuring more than 5,400, Palestinian health officials have said. During this time, Israeli soldiers have arrested at least 10,200 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society and the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs. The same groups report that at least 3,432 Palestinians are being held in Israeli military prisons without charge under “administrative detention”. At least 1,432 Palestinian homes, and other structures, have been demolished, displacing 3,270 Palestinians, according to the United Nations. There has also been an uptick in violence by settlers – Israeli citizens who live illegally on private Palestinian land in both the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem. Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, called the Israeli operation “an act of war”. The amount of damage Israeli forces inflicted on the Palestinian territory’s infrastructure also indicates their goal to make it uninhabitable for its citizens, Barghouti told Al Jazeera. “They destroyed water pipelines, electricity lines, houses, schools – what do they want? They want to create a situation where we cannot live in our country and that is exactly what the settlers’ plans are about.” Related Similar Articles

Police seize high-powered rifles, shotgun in Region #7 raid Aug 29, 2024 News The arms and ammunition seized during the police raid in Region Seven on Wednesday Kaieteur News – Police on Wednesday seized two high-powered rifles, a shotgun and a large quantity of ammunition during a raid at Waikarai Backdam, Region #7. The operation which was led by an inspector of police was conducted between 12:05 pm and 12:45 pm and involved the search of various locations within a mining camp. During the operation, the ranks discovered: one 12-gauge shotgun and two rifles, including an AR-15 and an AM-15. Additionally, a total of 399 rounds of ammunition, including: 150 rounds of .223 ammunition and 130 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 30 rounds of .38 special ammunition and 69 12-gauge cartridges were seized. Two individuals are currently in custody and are assisting with the ongoing investigation, police said in a press release. The ranks have secured the confiscated firearms and ammunition, and efforts are underway to apprehend other individuals linked to the case. This operation is part of ongoing efforts by Police in the region to ensure public safety and combat illegal activities. Related Similar Articles

Guyana braces for heat wave Aug 29, 2024 News – as Hydromet Service warns of record-breaking temperatures in September – November Kaieteur News – The Hydrometeorological Service of the Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday predicted above-normal temperatures across Guyana from September to November 2024. (Photo credit: Yourweather.co.uk) 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 Service cautioned. The public is 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 forecast also highlights the potential challenges for agriculture and livestock during this period. September to October coincides with the driest months in Northern Guyana and the onset of the long dry season in the South. “Farmers may face challenges due to reduced water availability and increased stress on crops, leading to lower yields,” the statement noted. The prolonged exposure to high temperatures could affect the growth and productivity of key crops, with water-intensive crops being particularly vulnerable. Livestock is also at risk, as heat stress can negatively impact animals’ health and productivity. The Hydrometeorological Service advises farmers to ensure adequate water supplies, provide shaded areas, and continuously monitor livestock for signs of heat stress, such as reduced feed intake, lethargy, and increased breathing rates. Moreover, the forecast is based on observations that average daytime temperatures across Guyana from January to July 2024 have consistently exceeded historical norms of 32°C, with some months recording higher temperatures than the same period in 2023, which was a record-breaking year. Typically, up to 35 heat wave days are observed during the September to November dry season, but there is a significant chance of increase this year, posing further risks to public health, agriculture, and livestock. As such, the Hydrometeorological Service urges all stakeholders to take the necessary precautions during this period of extreme heat. “Stay informed of weather updates, implement water-saving strategies, and take measures to protect your health, crops, and livestock,” it was further stated. The Hydrometeorological Service said it will continue to provide updates to its seasonal outlook as new information becomes available and recommends that special attention be paid to its short-range forecasts and weather analyses. For more information, visit the National Weather Watch Center’s website at www.hydromet.gov.gy or contact the forecasting desk, operational 24/7, via telephone at 261-2284 or 261-2216. Related Similar Articles

Essequibo men charged for raping underaged girls Aug 29, 2024 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News Kaieteur News – Two men from the Essequibo Coast, Region Two have been charged with rape and were granted bail in separate court appearances this week. Nicolas Williams Desmond George The men were identified as Desmond George, a 35-year-old resident from Charity Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast and Nicolas Williams, an 18-year-old from Onderneeming Sand Pit, Essequibo Coast. George is accused of raping a woman from the Essequibo Coast on July 22, 2023, at Siriki, Upper Pomeroon River. He appeared on Monday at the Charity Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Tamieka Clark who read the charge to him. The Prosecutor objected to bail. However, $300,000 bail was granted on condition that the accused reports to the Station Sergeant at the Charity Police Station every last Friday of the month. George is set to return to court on September 23, 2024. Meanwhile, Williams appeared at the Anna Regina Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Clark on Tuesday. The 18-year-old is charged with raping a female student under the age of 16 between September 1, 2023, and September 30, 2023. Despite objections to bail being granted, Williams was placed on $300,000 bail on condition that he must not interfere with the victim or her family. He is scheduled to return to court on September 26, 2024 for the disclosure of statements. Related Similar Articles

Amid oil boom, Hilton heads to Guyana to set up two hotels Aug 29, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Hilton on Wednesday announced its debut in Guyana with the signing of a dual-brand project planned for the capital, Georgetown. The upcoming Hilton Georgetown and DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Georgetown owned by an affiliate of Assets Group and managed by Hilton will mark the company’s first entry into the country, bringing a combined total of 411 rooms to the city. Guyana’s rapidly expanding oil and gas sector has attracted significant international attention, leading to increased demand for high-quality hospitality services. This development is part of an oceanfront, mixed-use business and entertainment complex. The Hilton Georgetown will cater to both business and leisure travelers, offering world-class accommodations and amenities. The DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Georgetown, which will feature 158 suites, aims to provide an upscale experience for extended stays. A highlight of the project is the expansive conference center, which includes a 25,900-square-foot ballroom and additional meeting rooms covering 10,800 square feet. These facilities are expected to position Georgetown as a leading destination for business events in the region. With over 225 hotels currently open and a pipeline of more than 170 properties, Hilton plans to expand into eight new countries and territories, including Guyana, by 2027. Meanwhile, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday told reporters that the government generally provides lands for significant developments. He made reference to the government’s policy regarding incentives and said in some cases land is given to facilitate the construction of more hotels due to the shortage of rooms. Jagdeo highlighted the results of these policies, noting that seven international hotels are currently under construction, with three additional projects following. “If you want to build a hotel now anyone and it’s an international hotel… The government will give you the incentive regime. It’s not preferential. It’s not for one person. It’s across the board. Every hotel will get the same regime, and we will work with you to find the land to build it,” he said at his weekly press conference held at Freedom House, Robb Street. Related Similar Articles

Sod turned to build 6 new schools in the last three months Aug 29, 2024 News The area earmarked for the Jawalla Secondary School. – close to $2B being spent Kaieteur News – Having been allotted $74.4B to rollout its education agenda this year, the Ministry of Education has turned the sod to signal the beginning of construction for six new schools among other projects over the last three months. The construction of the schools is set to collectively cost the government approximately $2B. The new schools are mostly for the hinterland regions with five being secondary schools and one nursery school. Of the list of school projects which amounted to approximately $1,994,549,620, is the construction of a new nursery school at Rockstone, Region 10. Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and team had turned the sod earlier this month for the $52,180,950 nursery school. The school which will be built by Ele’s Trading & Hardware is set to be completed within six months. It was reported that it will benefit approximately 150 children from Rockstone and its surrounding areas. In June, the minister ventured to the Amerindian village of Jawalla in Region Seven and marked the commencement of construction of a brand new secondary school there. The school which will cater for up to 250 students will be built by Sheriff Construction Inc. to the tune of $231,959,143. Also in June, the ministry turned the sod to commence the construction of the first secondary school in Waramuri Village, Region One. The school will be constructed by Trevor David Construction Services at a cost of $326,598,400. Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and team turning the sod recently for the extension of President’s College. In Region Eight, the minister and team visited Kopinang Village last month and turned the sod for the construction of secondary school there which is set to cater for 250 students. The school will be built by Sheriff Construction Inc. to the tune of $199,376,751. Also in that region, the sod was turned for the Micobie Secondary School project. The new school, the first in the village will benefit approximately 150 students. It will be constructed by NK Engineering Services for $253,561,500. The construction of Monkey Mountain Secondary School in Region Eight will be built for $208,282,809 by contractor K’s Trucking & Construction Service. Along with the brand new school projects, the ministry also turned the sod to construct several extensions at a few secondary schools. During this month, Minister Manickchand marked the start of a new wing at the Tucville Secondary School in Georgetown. The project valued at $74,910,780, is scheduled to be completed within six months by contractor Kaiveri Procurement Logistics and Investments Inc. The new structure is said to include 16 modern classrooms. Kaiveri Procurement is also contracted by the ministry to build an annex at the New Campbellville Secondary School valued $143,921,712. The Diamond Secondary School on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) will also get a new teaching block which will be built by Simcon Engineering Inc. for $74,056,950. Meanwhile, on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), the minister turned the sod for a new $386,378,625 two-storey teaching block at President’s College. This project will be undertaken by Mohabir’s Construction and is expected to be completed in 12 months. Similarly, the Linden Technical Institute main building in Region 10 will be extended and the works will be done by Phoenix Engineering Enterprise to the tune of $43,322,000. With these school projects now under construction, the ministry is set to turn the sod for a few more new projects as those are in the tendering stage. It was reported that the ministry is building and rehabilitating schools across the country so as to create more space for students and ensuring they are learning in a comfortable environment. Related Similar Articles