Guyana’s population now has 98.3 percent access to potable water, marking a remarkable achievement for Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) in 2024. At a year-end press conference held at State House on Tuesday, President Dr Irfaan Ali highlighted that this success is the direct outcome of substantial investments in the water sector, which included the development of water wells and treatment plants throughout the past year.

“The hinterland and riverain communities have seen an increase in access to water from 46 per cent in 2020 to 91 per cent by the end of 2024. During the year, we also saw the construction of seven large water treatment plants,” the president remarked. President Ali further revealed that six of these seven treatment plants are currently being tested and are expected to become fully operational by the end of January 2025. Together, these plants will supply treated water to over 134,000 residents. In 2024, the expansion and upgrading of 12 additional water treatment plants were planned. Four of these upgrades have already been completed, with the remaining plants set to finish by mid-February 2025. These improvements will provide enhanced water quality to more than 34,000 residents.

The president also noted that the construction of 15 small inline treatment plants is underway. These plants will serve over 70,000 residents in smaller communities along the coast. Two of these plants are already being installed and are expected to be finished before the first half of 2025. Altogether, these new treatment plants will benefit over 250,000 residents with access to treated water. “More than 126 new wells were drilled. Seventy new wells are projected to be completed in the first half of 2025,” President Ali added.

The government’s significant investment in the water sector is part of its commitment to providing 100 percent access to treated water for all Guyanese by the end of 2025. This initiative aligns with the country’s broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). (Newsroom/DPI)

Representatives of local youth organizations recently condemned excessive alcohol consumption and the many brawls that take place during and after parties especially amongst the nation’s youths. Youth Counselor Dwight Samuel deemed it regrettable that youths can’t co trol themselves. He also disapproved of the videos that are shotmof fights and which go viral on social media. “I urged the youths in particular to have fun but to refrain from acting macho because they will regret it after many years,” said Samuel who urged parents to have a serious talk with their children. The youth counselors urged revelers and in particular the youths to choose their friends wisely especially if they plan on going to parties with them. Anouskha Plet urged young girls not to lose control while partying. “Keep an eye out and do not accept drinks from strangers,” said Plet who added that the drinks could be laced with a rape drug. Plet also issued a warning to the people who resort to using drinks that are laced with a rape drug to stop it because “you could bring yourself in serious trouble.” Plet and Samuel also urged drivers who are intoxicated to steer clear from the driver’s seat and toilet somebody else drive them to their destinations. “Do not take any risks.”

Police Commissioner Bryan Isaacs recently announced that there has been a slight drop in the number of various crimes. There has been a huge drop in thefts, break-ins and robberies. The number of murders and manslaughters has also gone down in 2024. Commissioner Isaacs emphasized the tireless efforts of the Police Force Suriname (KPS) and thanked all of the police officers who are committed to getting the job done even under difficult circumstances in order to protect  and serve the people of the republic of Suriname. The Cold Case Unit has also done a great job in 2024 as it solved 14 cases and arrested 16 suspects. 7 suspects who were identified are still at large.In 2024 the police investigated 22,928 cases, handed in 5,935 files and arrested 4,337. The commissioner made it clear that the police force will also keep up the good work in 2025. 

While many people are still celebrating the new year farmers are dealing with a lot of stress because the water level has dropped drastically these past few days thereby making it very difficult to pump water to their fields. The farmers assembled on Tuesday morning to discuss the water issue. They made it clear that they urgently need water for their crops. The farmers were told that the Wakay pumps are offline which is why there is no water. They disapproved of the fact that the Ministry of Agriculture, Stock Breeding and Fisheries (LVV) has not addressed the situation. Nobody from the ministry is reportedly willing to talk. The farmers explained that the people who operate the Wakay pumps but home to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve which is why the pumps are offline. They slept on their fields to pump water. “We can’t party because we are facing huge problems”

ZIMBABWE – Zimbabwe abolishes death penalty almost 20-years after the last capital punishment was carried out. Zimbabwe has officially abolished the death penalty after President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed into law a bill on Tuesday which will commute sentences of around 60 prisoners on death row to jail time. The last execution was carried out almost two-decades ago in 2005, partly because at one point no one was willing to take up the job of state executioner. President Mnangagwa faced the death penalty himself in the 1960s during Zimbabwe’s war of independence. Amnesty International hailed the new law on Tuesday. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the human rights organisation labelled the move as great progress for the country, and a major milestone in ending “cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment”. They also described it as a “beacon of hope for the abolitionist movement in the region”. (Euronews)