Black Immigrant Daily News

Work is expected to commence on the construction of the much-anticipated 2.4 miles (3.9 kilometres) four-lane highway from Schoonord to Crane, Region Three (Essequibo Island – West Demerara), by the end of August 2022.

The thoroughfare is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion along the West Bank and West Coast of Demerara upon completion.

President Dr Irfaan Ali made the announcement at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Demerara Bank Limited Branch at Leonora recently.

“That project, the tender process went out and tendering is closed so, before the end of maybe August, you will see mobilisation to get this highway going,” the Head-of-State said.

In April, the President announced plans for the construction of the new highway, and in June, the Ministry of Housing and Water requested bids for the project which will be divided into eight lots.

The road construction is expected to be completed ahead of the $52 billion (US$260 million) new Demerara River Bridge which has a construction time span of two years.

These massive infrastructural projects will add to the Diamond to Mandela, East Bank Demerara (EBD) road which will be completed soon, the Eccles, EBD to Ogle East Coast Demerara (ECD) road, and the widening and expansion of the ECD Railway Embankment Road.

President Ali also spoke of plans for the expansion of the New Berbice Highway, and a new major highway road from Conversation Tree to Georgetown.

The President said the thoroughfares will improve the flow of traffic along the coast, open up more areas for housing development and expansion of existing housing schemes.

It will also see the establishment of commercial hubs.

“In the process of economic growth, particularly in urbanised area, there is what you call de-urbanisation. So, in Georgetown, along the East Coast and East Bank, you are seeing a ballooning of economic activity.

What comes with that ballooning of economic activity, is that an outward push of the boundaries may not be a legal push, but it’s an economic and social push of the boundaries of the concentrated areas.

So, Houston started with the shore base, you see how that push has taken place there and it goes beyond Providence all the way to Diamond.”

With this major economic growth comes the demand and increase cost for construction materials, rental, as well as skilled labour.

President Ali said that these challenges are is being addressed in collaboration with the private sector.

“So, the people who will work in jobs to support the development, they are expanding further on the East Coast, because they’re looking also for better housing facilities in terms of costs and actually, it is pushing on the west coast. That is why you are seeing the bottleneck of traffic now expanding from Crane when you go in the morning, in the evening and you will notice that there is an increase in rent on the west side and that is a consequence,” the President further explained. The PPP/C government announced a whopping $552.9 billion national budget this year, with a large portion allocated to the Ministry of Public works for major road projects. It includes $8.3 billion for the rehabilitation of the Corentyne Main Road from Palmyra to Crabwood Creek; $2.6 billion for the rehabilitation of the entire Soesdyke-Linden Highway and $1.1 billion to complete the Sheriff Street – Mandela Road Network and Expansion Project.

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The St Lucia Athletics Association wishes to place on record the following re the participation of National athlete Julien Alfred at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

In the past few days, Julien’s accomplishments have been overshadowed by allegations that the Association failed to supply her with competition apparel and that the President was conspicuously taciturn on the matter.

As it concerns Team St Lucia’s competition uniforms, the St. Lucia Athletics Association has never and will never send any athlete to represent our beautiful island without bearing the colours of our national flag which we cherish so much.

The athlete in question was provided with a competition kit from a local supplier ahead of the Caribbean Games in Guadeloupe two-weeks prior to her competing in the World Championship in Eugene Oregon,  which was amended to the comfort of the athlete (Julien).

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Following the Caribbean Games, another kit was procured for her, this time for the World Championship.  When she was presented with the other kit she intimated that she was not comfortable with it.

To solve this untimely situation, she was taken to a supplier where the St. Lucia Athletics Association was able to procure apparel which she said she was comfortable with.

Moving forward, persons must not jump to hasty conclusions. Firstly, they should find out and clear the facts from the relevant governing body of the sport before posting or presenting news articles.

 Source: St Lucia Athletics Association

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Sophia Lug, the mother of 24-year-old social media influencer Donna-Lee Donaldson, wailed as she appealed for the return of her daughter who has now been missing for five days in Jamaica.

“I just want my daughter back,” the woman wept.

Donaldson, a cast member on the Jamaican reality show 876 Roommates, was last seen with her boyfriend who is a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

“My throat hurts, I can hardly talk. I can’t hold up,” she cried bitterly when Loop News spoke with her Monday morning.

The police said they have initiated a high-level probe into the disappearance of the missing woman.

According to the police, Donaldson was reported missing on the evening of Wednesday, July 13.

Senior investigators from the St Andrew Central Police Division with the oversight of CIB HQ, along with members of the Communication Forensic and Cybercrime Division (CFCD) are said to be a part of the missing person probe.

Consequent to reports that a serving member was among the last persons known to have been with Donaldson, a Senior Gazetted Officer from the St Andrew Central Division has been assigned to lead the investigation, according to the police report.

Investigators have been in contact with Donaldson’s family members, assuring them of the seriousness with which the police are treating the investigation.

Meanwhile, the police are asking anyone with information that they believe might be useful to this investigation to contact the Half-Way Tree CIB at 876-926-8184, Crime Stop 311 or Police Emergency at 119.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Tobago

Students of schools around Tobago learn the basics of computer coding and programing, on a chart using a mouse, while Chief Secretary Farley Augustine seems also intrigued at Digicel Foundation and We Code Caribbean’s launch of the five-week programme at Tobago Information Technology Ltd, at Signal Hill on Monday. Photo by David Reid

Two hundred students from 13 primary schools, including one special-needs school, across the island will, over the next five weeks, be taught coding.

On Monday, the Digicel Foundation and We Code Caribbean launched its Tobago leg of the Caribbean Code + programme at the Tobago Information Technology Ltd in Signal Hill.

The students will be taught how to write codes, making them think like a computer programmer.

Founder and CEO of We Code Caribbean Safiya Olugbala said the registered non-governmental organisation exists to introduce youth, particularly those in rural communities, to code and other computer programming languages.

She said the organistion is fully committed to ensuring equitable access to 21st-century education.

“Our targets are girls, migrant women, the dynamically able, and youths within rural communities.”

In his address, THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said Tobago’s development is dependent not only on infrastructural advancements but on the development of young people and making young people self-sufficient.

The development of the island’s people, he said, is securely fastened to Tobago’s economic fortunes.

“The pandemic underscores the importance of exploiting technology to advance the economy. As like it is done across the globe, the pandemic has brought momentum to the island’s thrust towards technological advancements.

“What is stopping our young people from becoming the next Bill Gates, the next Mark Zuckerberg – who says that the next best thing to replace Facebook cannot come out of Tobago? Who says that the next big app cannot come out of little Tobago? It actually can, and how we do that is to start teaching those who are very young among us how to code, how to create games, how to create new opportunities online, how to create solutions to work problems online.”

Augustine said whatever the solution, the island’s young people can create those solutions.

He said parents should not be fearful of their young charges getting involved with technology, and urged them to get involved themselves.

“Teaching in 2022 must go beyond the manual mode that you’ve grown accustomed to. Parenting in 2022 means that you also have to learn how to parent virtually. So if you are a parent in 2022, and you are yet to understand the text lingo associated with technology, then parents you’re outdated and your parenting modes are outdated.

Digicel Foundation director Georgina Peterkin speaks at the launch of the Caribbean Code + programme at the Tobago Information Technology Ltd, Signal Hill on Monday. Photo by David Reid

“You cannot in 2022 not know what LOL and BRB mean. Parents in 2022, your parenting skills must transcend the physical space and must also exist in the virtual world. To be a responsible parent, it means that you have to be able to responsibly monitor what they do on the devices that they have.”

The programme, Augustine said, shouldn’t just be seen as a vacation camp or programme.

“Let’s begin to see how far we can take this, how far we can go with this. Open up your minds young people.

“The world of careers has gone past being a doctor or a lawyer and a teacher or even a politician. The world of careers is so advanced, so many opportunities await you – wealth creation awaits you from these new career opportunities that are available.

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