GEORGETOWN – A section of Hogg Street in the Pont Trench area, Albouystown has been without water for about a month, leaving residents frustrated and struggling to cope.

Despite assurances from Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) that water distribution issues in Central Georgetown were being addressed, a few residents remain without water.

Ms. Hubbard, a resident of the affected area, described how the lack of water has severely disrupted her daily life. “It’s been extremely challenging…with hardly any rainfall, we’re hoping for a quick resolution. It’s frustrating to be without water while others around us have their supply restored,” she said.

Another resident, Crystal Allicock who returned from a trip to find the water situation unchanged, shared her struggles. “There was a guy down the street who used to help by running his hose and filling up the tanks for us. I’ve had to purchase bottles of water daily. Not a single drop of water is coming out of the pipes, even in the yard,” the woman shared.

The prolonged dry spell has only worsened the situation, with residents noting that the lack of rain has left them without alternative water sources. “It’s been two weeks now that I’ve had to send my clothes to the laundromat because I can’t wash them at home,” Allicock lamented.

Notably, the issue was brought to the attention of GWI, who acknowledged that a blockage in the system is preventing water from reaching the affected residents. It was stated too that the water situation is expected to be fixed sometime this week. However, the residents expressed their disappointment with what they perceived as the slow response from the utility company.

“We haven’t even heard from them about distributing water to us or offering any assistance while they work to fix the issue,” Ms. Hubbard said.

The residents are now calling on GWI to expedite their efforts and provide immediate relief as the water shortage continues to impact their daily lives. (Kaieteur News)…[+]

BEIJING – Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized the need to actively respond to population aging and promote the high-quality development of elderly care services.

Li made the remarks at a study session held by the State Council.

Noting that population aging will be a basic part of the Chinese situation for quite some time to come, Li said it is not only necessary to attach great importance to the challenges brought about by aging, but also to recognize the new development opportunities that aging presents.

Li stressed the need to develop home and community-based elderly care services, improve the rural elderly care services network, and support local governments in providing mutual-aid elderly care based on actual local conditions.

To respond to the care needs of elderly people with disabilities, Li called for efforts to promote the integration of medical and health care with elderly care, increase the supply of nursing home beds, and develop long-term care services.

The government will strengthen financial security to support the elderly, improve the unified national management system for basic old-age insurance funds, and develop a multi-tiered and multi-pillar old-age insurance system, he said.

He called for active efforts to tap into elderly human resources and create diverse jobs that are tailored to the population group.

He also stressed the importance of expanding and improving the silver economy to meet the needs of the elderly in an improved manner.

Wu Yushao, a professor at Fudan University, gave a lecture at the session. Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, State Councilor Wang Xiaohong and State Councilor Shen Yiqin participated in discussions.

China, like many other nations, is undergoing a demographic shift. By the end of 2023, the population aged 60 or above had reached 297 million, including 217 million people aged 65 or above, which accounted for 15.4 percent of the total population. (Xinhua)

Photo: Chinese Premier Li Qiang presides over a study session held by the State Council in Beijing. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)…[+]

PARIS   –  France’s left-wing leaders have backed protests against President Emmanuel Macron, after he refused to nominate a government led by the left-wing New Popular Front alliance (NFP).

The four-party coalition won the most seats in last month’s parliamentary elections and said its candidate, Paris civil servant Lucie Castets, should be named prime minister, even though they fell far short of a majority. President Macron said France needed institutional stability and the left could not win a confidence vote that would come immediately from its opponents in parliament.

Mr Macron, whose centrist Ensemble alliance came second in the election, began new consultations with party leaders on Tuesday. President Macron said France needed institutional stability and the left could not win a confidence vote that would come immediately from its opponents in parliament. He appealed to three of the four left-wing parties – the Socialists, Greens and Communists – to work with “other political forces” to find a way out of the impasse, without mentioning the radical left France Unbowed, which won the most seats of the four.

However, the three parties refused to take up his offer. Socialist leader Olivier Faure said he would not be an “accomplice in a parody of democracy”. Marine Tondelier of the Greens said her party would not “continue this circus, this sham consultation”.

No one group was able to win a majority in the elections, with the NFP gaining more than 190 seats, Mr Macron’s centrist Ensemble alliance about 160 and the far-right National Rally (RN) 140.

Mr Macron’s term in office continues until 2027, and the French government tends to be formed from the president’s party as parliamentary elections usually follow soon after the presidential vote. But that changed when he called snap parliamentary elections this summer.

A caretaker government has led France since the 7 July vote, including during the Paris Olympics, to the anger of the NFP alliance. “My responsibility is that the country is not blocked nor weakened,” Mr Macron said after a first round of talks on Monday evening. “The Socialist Party, the Greens and the Communists have not yet proposed ways to co-operate with other political forces. It is now up to them to do so,” he added.

France Unbowed (LFI) reacted angrily to the president’s words, with national coordinator Manuel Bompard complaining of an “unacceptable anti-democratic coup”. LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon went further, with a threat to impeach the president.

The party called on youth organisations and other groups to take part in a “big mobilisation” on 7 September, accusing the president of seriously endangering democracy. Communist leader Fabien Roussel urged the French people to protest wherever they were, “in town centres and in front of prefectures”. (BBC)

Photo: President Emmanuel Macron. (EPA) …[+]