Tag: sod

Sod turned for $708.6M polyclinic at Industry

Posted on by Kayleigh Carter

The sod was turned today for the construction of a $708.6 million polyclinic at Industry, East Coast Demerara, that will serve not only Industry but also surrounding communities.

The modern facility will replace the existing Industry Health Centre and is expected to serve thousands of residents from the community and neighbouring villages when completed in July 2026.

The project will be executed by Satar Mohamed and Sons Construction and Hardware Supplies, with Innovative Engineering Consultancy Services as the consultancy firm. It forms part of the government’s broader efforts to expand and modernise Guyana’s healthcare sector.

Doctor-in-charge of the Industry Health Centre, Dr Saskia Sertimer, said the new facility will significantly expand the range of primary healthcare services offered in the area. Planned services include X-ray, ultrasound, dentistry and physiotherapy, providing residents with access to diagnostics and treatments that previously required travel to larger facilities.

Chief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Robbie Rambarran, under whose management the current facility falls, noted that specialised lung care services may also be introduced. He explained that the existing health centre sees about 2,100 patients every month and has undergone several expansions over the years to cope with growing demand. However, the limitations of the current infrastructure made the construction of a new polyclinic necessary.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, who attended the ceremony, said the project reflects the government’s commitment to improving access to quality healthcare nationwide. He highlighted that significant investments are being made in new health facilities, such as the Paediatric and Maternal Hospital being constructed along the Ogle Corridor, the digitalisation of patient health records, training, and medical equipment to ensure services are available closer to where people live.

Construction is expected to proceed swiftly, with the facility scheduled to be operational by July 2026, providing a modern hub for healthcare delivery on the East Coast corridor.

Sod turned for $350M secondary school in Shulinab

Posted on by Kayleigh Carter

Students of Shulinab and surrounding communities are set to benefit from the construction of a new $350M secondary school, following a sod-turning exercise on Tuesday.

This is a major educational boost for students living in the hinterland village located in South Central Rupununi, as previously, students had to travel long distances or relocate to pursue a secondary education.

The new school is expected to reduce the burden on families and improve attendance and performance.

The sod was officially turned by Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, marking the start of construction on the modern facility.

The school will include dormitories, teachers’ quarters, sanitary blocks, dining and kitchen areas, electrical systems, water storage, a tarmac, perimeter fencing, and dedicated school buildings—all built to modern standards.

Manickchand said the project is not just about buildings, but ensuring that children in remote areas like Shulinab have the same opportunities as their peers.

“Every child, regardless of where they’re born, deserves access to secondary education,” she noted.

Construction is expected to take between six to eight months and will be executed by multiple local contractors selected through a national competitive bidding process.

Shulinab Toshao Nicholas Fredericks, who participated in the sod-turning exercise, expressed satisfaction with the plans for the new school, as he noted that it has been long-anticipated.

“It is something we’ve been asking for a very long time, and thank you to our government. This is history in the making in Shulinab, and we are very honoured, we are very proud,” he said.

The Shulinab school is part of a broader national initiative by the Ministry of Education to build more than 40 new secondary schools across Guyana.

The government has said its goal is to achieve Universal Secondary Education, especially in hinterland and Indigenous communities which have long been underserved.

Sod turned for $831M polyclinic in Campbellville

Posted on by Kayleigh Carter

President Dr Irfaan Ali, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, and several other government officials this morning turned the sod for the construction of a GY$831 million state-of-the-art polyclinic in Campbellville, Georgetown.

This modern facility will provide essential medical services and serve as a hub for health education for residents of the Kitty/Campbellville community and surrounding areas.

Among the services to be offered are ultrasound, ECG, X-rays, physiotherapy, spirometry, dietary counselling, diabetic retinopathy screening, and comprehensive primary healthcare.

The facility will also feature a dental suite and an asthma bay to cater to the growing needs of the community.

The two-storey facility is expected to be completed by mid-2026.

President Ali speaking at the sod-turning ceremony