President says committed to setting up CoI into Mahdia tragedy

the Guyanese population…. We present a platform of trustworthiness, a more than 60% increase in all these pensions since we took office, the removal of more than 100 taxes, the granting of cash grants, the return of more than 2000 CSO (Community Service Officers) jobs in our Amerindian communities, our Amerindian brothers and sisters directly benefit from 15% of the first-ever user agreement for our forest carbon credit in the amount of G$4.6b.”

Ali continued by insisting that his government was delivering on promises made on new hospitals and health centres, better health services, training of nurses and the training of community health officers and more than 20,000 scholarships, adding “…we have delivered in housing, agriculture, food security”.

The president also recognised the successful Guyana athletes competing at the South American Games, the CARIFTA

Games – the national football team, national cricket teams and students – all of whom, he said, earned Guyana glory regionally. He also recognized, “those who toil every day for the health, safety, upward mobility, and edification of our people.”

The significance of the Mahdia tragedy was not lost on the president as he asked the nation to, “… forgive me tonight for not delivering a traditional Independence speech, one extolling the virtues of our people’s historic struggle for self-determination and an end to colonial rule. You will forgive us also if our Independence observances of this year are subdued. This is done out of respect for the victims of the recent tragedy and out of sensitivity for their grieving families.” To the children of Mahdia Secondary and the dorms, he said, “you must have many thoughts and questions but know that our collective shoulders as a nation are yours. Your sorrow is ours and your pain we share.”