Our diversity holds us together - Minister Anthony
-addresses opening ceremony of Cultural Cricket Club ground
Georgetown, GINA, March 9, 2008
“Our diversity is not a threat to us. It should be marketed, since it holds us together as Guyanese,” was the advice of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony when he addressed the members of the Canal Number 2 Polder, West Bank Demerara, Cultural Cricket Club at the opening of their cricket ground and 2008 award ceremony.
Dr Anthony told the gathering which included: Regional Chairman, Region Three Julius Faerber, PPPC Members of Parliament Philomena Sahoye-Shury and Komal Chand, PNCR Member of Parliament Mervin Williams and Guyana Cricket Board President Chetram Singh, that sports should be considered as more than just recreation but as a means to develop a healthy lifestyle, discipline and social cohesion. 
He encouraged the management to organize sports days where villages compete against each other as they seek to be examples to other communities. He advised them to use the club as an avenue for social change as they seek to widen the range of activities in which they are involved.
Giving a background to the club, Club Secretary Alim Azeez said that the club was established in 1940 as the Progressive Cricket Club and played on a ground which became inadequate by the 1950s. The ground is at present being used was subsequently acquired and developed by members of the community
During the 1990s the club became dormant as several of its members migrated. In 2006 three youths from the community began to collect money to develop the ground to make it usable. They later approached a member of the community Salim Azeez to assist with the rehabilitation of the ground.
The ground has since been raised and levelled and fenced. There are also plans to have lights installed for night cricket and the construction of a $15M multi-purpose pavilion.
Guyana Cricket Board President, Chetram Singh, pledged the Board’s support for the development of the club. He also gave a personal donation of $50,000 to the development of the pavilion.
A number of the members and players of the club were also honoured at the ceremony for their performance and contribution to the club’s development.
Club President Alim Azeez made an appeal to interested persons who wish to contribute to the development of the club to contact telephone numbers 263-5861; 263-5875; 668-6097; 263-5891.
PM Hinds commissions State-of-the-art water treatment plant at Corentyne
-to benefit 15,000 people
Georgetown, GINA, March 9, 2008
As part of a collaborative effort between the Governments of Guyana and Japan, the Number 56 Village Water Treatment Plant at Corriverton, Region Six was commissioned today by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Japan’s Ambassador to Guyana, Koichiro Seki
Minister of Housing and Water, Harry Narine Nawbatt and many of the beneficiaries and stakeholders of the water sector also witnessed the commissioning.
The Prime Minister said over 23 villages from No. 51 through 73 are now benefiting from improved water supply as part of Government’s dedication towards modernizing the water sector and providing residents with safe, potable water.10.JPG)
Seated at the commissioning ceremony for the state-of-the-art water treatment facility are from right Minister of Housing and Water Harry Narine Nawbatt, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Japanese Ambassador to Guyana Koichiro Seki and another Japanese official.
He added that the construction of the plant is yet another excellent example of good relations and cooperation between the Governments of Guyana and Japan.
Japan’s Ambassador Seki said the provision of potable water is fundamental and now the communities will receive a safe supply of water at an efficient level.
He said the Government of Japan is pleased to contribute towards the development of the water sector and looks forward to assist in the second phase of the project.
The Government, in 2004, in recognizing the need to upgrade the quality of potable water supply, indicated its plans to the Japanese Government and it was decided that two water treatment plants would be constructed between Number 51 Village and Moleson Creek to alleviate the water problems in the areas. 14.JPG)
Subsequently, the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) provided a grant of US$12M to facilitate the two projects. Of that amount, $1.1B was invested to facilitate phase one of the project which catered for the construction of the treatment plant, transmission and conduction mains, and procurement of 8,400 water meters and rehabilitation of the Number 57 village well.
Similarly, works will be conducted under phase two of the project to complete the construction of the water treatment plant at Queenstown, Corriverton. When that project is completed, the two plants will provide over 33,000 residents with improved water supply.
Minister of Housing and Water Harry Narine Nawbatt explained that before 1992 the infrastructure in Guyana was in a deplorable state. However, Government has invested tremendously towards the development of this area, especially in the water sector, and today’s commissioning is evidence of this. 2.JPG)
Residents were encouraged to conserve potable water since it is costly to treat and maintain supply.
Minister Nawbatt commended the Japanese consultants and contractors for their splendid job of completing the project on time.
He said the project will be a flagstaff for the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) in its turn-around plan to enhance water facilities countrywide and ultimately, to improve the quality of water for all of its beneficiaries.
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