Black Immigrant Daily News

President Dr Irfaan Ali told residents of Wakenaam that while the newly commissioned well at Noitgedacht will bring 24 hour access to water, the investment in the infrastructure will also lead to the economic prosperity of families.

He stated at the commissioning of the new facility that in order to get Wakenaam and the rest of Guyana equipped for the food production revolution, infrastructural upgrades are imperative.

These upgrades are necessary, according to the Head of State, to improve the production and productive capacity of the country and to reduce the cost of production, while building and maintaining standards to enter regional and international markets.

“It is for this reason that we are making investments in every single region, targeting the economic output that will bring prosperity to every single family. And we see Wakenaam as an important island that will play a critical part in the development of our food production system for the Caribbean. Therefore, we cannot look at the infrastructure investment and development in isolation of the macro plan.”

The well, the President added, is a positive start and will benefit approximately 3500 residents.

“This water facility here must be linked to something bigger, something that would not only give you a good supply of water but lead to the eventual economic prosperity of families. You must be excited to be part of the development and expansion growth of this Island.”

“These are the investments that will transform lives, that will improve your quality of life. These are the investments your Government is willing to make on your behalf so you can enjoy that life.”

The $50m well is part of the Government’s wider developmental plan; additional investments in infrastructure include the rehabilitation of roads, sea defences and provision of drainage and irrigation equipment.

The construction of the well by the staff of GWI, the President added, has resulted in a 50 per cent reduction in cost, with a design life cycle of 30 years.

President Ali announced that a US$6.3m water treatment plant will also be constructed in Noitgedacht to provide 100 per cent treated water to residents.

“If you look at the rate of return from a truly financial modelling, you will say don’t make the investment because the population is too small. And many countries in the world would make a decision based on that. But I want to tell you that we have already made the decision that we are going to make this investment on your behalf because we believe in equitable development… for all of you.”

President Ali, while outlining the massive investments expected in Wakenaam, announced that the Government will also be investing in a 750-kilowatt solar power system at a cost $2.3m to provide clean and reliable energy to the residents. This system, he added, is expected to commence within two months. He further explained that in the next three years, the entire road network on the Island will be done in phases. Already, $500m has been expended on drainage, irrigation, and sea defence.

While pointing to the investments already made as well as the developmental plans in the pipeline, the President emphasised that every intervention made is to ensure that the lives of the citizens across Guyana are transformed.

“These are the investments that will transform lives.”

President Ali reiterated that this drive fits into the ‘One Guyana’ mission to ensure prosperity for all of Guyana.

The Minister of Housing and Water, the Honourable Collin Croal, stated that in keeping with the massive housing drive underway in Region Three, a number of wells are being rehabilitated at Fellowship and Vergenoegen on the West Coast of Demerara and in Free and Easy in Wakenaam.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of GWI, Shaik Baksh explained that the current production of the well is more than 200 per cent of the total daily water demand of the Island.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

El Servicio Nacional de Meteorología (SNM) en San Juan emitió el martes, una advertencia de inundaciones repentinas para el municipio de San Juan hasta las 2:00 de la tarde.

Inundaciones menores en áreas bajas y de drenaje deficiente. Flujos peligrosos sobre cruces de aguas bajas. Agua sobre calzadas. Desbordamiento de zonas de mal drenaje. Algunos cruces con aguas bajas pueden volverse intransitable.

A las 10:58 de la mañana, el radar Doppler detectó lluvia intensa. El desarrollo de tormentas eléctricas puede producir fuertes lluvias adicionales. Esto provocará inundaciones urbanas y de pequeños arroyos. hasta 1 pulgada de lluvia ha caído.

Se esperan cantidades adicionales de lluvia de hasta 2 pulgadas durante la zona. Esta lluvia adicional resultará en inundaciones menores.

El SNM exhortó a mantener precaución.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Special investigative report by Real News.

One week after Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) is offering world-class care, hospital employees are saying the health-care system is on the verge of collapse.

Inside sources tell REAL News that everything needed to deliver timely treatment and effective care is either in short supply or out of stock altogether.

Of greatest concern, says one nurse, is that only emergency surgeries can be undertaken at this time, because there are not enough supplies – including anesthesia – to stock the Operation Rooms (OR).

Accordingly, she says, persons whose elective surgeries were delayed for the past two-three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic are still unable to have their operations done.

The sources allege that “basic equipment to perform special surgeries is not available,” which has forced staff to improvise, even with pieces brought over from the old Holberton Hospital.

In terms of customer service, many residents have accused the Medical Centre of being callous when it comes to wait times. But the staff say they, too, are perturbed by this shortcoming.

With embarrassment, they acknowledge that, “most times, admissions are untimely due to lack of beds” and this sometimes results in persons having to be sent back home.

While this is happening, both staff and the public are aware that the Ministry of Health appropriated the Nugent Avenue technical-school building over a year ago to create a satellite hospital.

But although the ribbon-cutting and naming ceremony took place since 2021, the facility has never been commissioned, and reports say its refurbishment remains incomplete.

Another challenge – that is affecting the community clinics, as well – is the reported severe shortage of staple vaccines.  Sources tell REAL News that the Ministry of Health recently “borrowed” some of these drugs from St. Kitts, with the understanding that they would be replaced.

However, Antigua and Barbuda has not received any vaccines from its distributors, to date, the sources say.  Reportedly, this is because the suppliers are owed by the Government and are refusing to ship more drugs until they have been paid.

About two weeks ago, news broke that the local Pharmacy Council was unable to issue licenses to the companies importing prescription drugs and other pharmaceuticals.

Reports said that a request for a mere $2,000 for printing supplies had not been honoured, and that members of the Council were also owed for their services since 2019.

“It’s bad, bad, bad. Shameful. The hospital needs help – from the Emergency Room to the OR to the ICU,” a nurse says.  “Doctors and nurses are getting frustrated and are leaving.  Right now, another 10 nurses are planning to resign,” another one claims.

Ironically, PM Browne told the public, last week, that he and his wife, MP Maria Bird Browne, had just undergone their annual medical checks in the United States.

One source is not surprised by their decision, since he alleges that the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre is not up to the standard required by the US-based Joint Commission, which undertakes international accreditation.

In its defence, however, an official tells REAL News that SLBMC is not “immune to the challenges being faced by other hospitals – or by other organisations, generally, for that matter.”

“Some of the challenges we’re experiencing have more to do with delays in manufacturing, shipping, and shortages on the market and less to do with ability to purchase,” the hospital official asserts.

Countering this, the inside sources say they are aware that the Browne Administration withdrew funds from the Medical Benefits Scheme – said to be $37 million – shortly after assuming office.  And they believe this massive withdrawal is partly responsible for the state in which the public healthcare system now finds itself.

When questioned on this matter recently in Parliament, PM Browne, the Minister of Finance, claimed the monies will not be replaced, since these trust funds were “a grant” to the Government.

… In other system-wide woes, yesterday, August 22, REAL News reported that the lack of pipe-borne water at the Pathology Department had caused the suspension of autopsies – even as some families allegedly have been waiting for weeks on end to bury their dead.

On Monday, too, the Ministry of Health was forced to close the Glanvilles Polyclinic “due to unforeseen circumstances” – which persons claim, again, was the lack of running water.

The insiders report that the All Saints Clinic was also closed that day on account of a leaking roof, while the Villa facility allegedly had a shut-down one day last week.

Meanwhile, the Rural East Branch of the United Progressive Party is currently engaged in a supplies-drive for the Clare Hall Clinic.  The list of items solicited includes things as basic as scissors, folders, toilet paper, and garbage bags.

Despite the seriousness of the public-health situation, the sources say that Minister of Health Sir Molwyn Joseph has been remarkably silent and is absent from duty.

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