MASHRAMANI

More than 1,400 years later, the message remains powerful: faith, compassion, justice and service to humanity.

As we observe Youman Nabi, commemorating the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), I extend warm greetings to Muslims across Guyana.

His life reminds us to care for the vulnerable, respect human dignity, act justly and live peacefully with one another.

In our diverse Guyana, these values strengthen the bonds that unite us across faiths, cultures and communities.

The greatest tribute to Prophet Muhammad is not simply to remember his teachings, but to live them.

Youman Nabi Mubarak!

Sometimes, saving a life begins by making a lethal means harder to reach.

I spoke at the Regional Intersectoral Dialogue on Su***de Means Restriction and the Prevention of Pesticide-Related Deaths, organised by PAHO/WHO in Georgetown.

Representatives from Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, FAO, UNEP, CPSP and ANVISA of Brazil came together to turn evidence into action.

The evidence is compelling: restricting access to highly hazardous pesticides is one of the most effective ways to reduce pesticide-related su***des. It saves lives while supporting safer, more sustainable agriculture.

We were pleased to have Dr Renato Oliveira e Souza, PAHO/WHO Chief of Mental Health and Substance Use, participating in the dialogue. We are grateful to PAHO/WHO for its continued leadership in advancing mental health and su***de prevention, and to CPSP – University of Edinburgh for its financial and technical support.

Su***de prevention requires more than the health sector. It demands coordinated action across health, agriculture, environment and chemical safety.

When we know what can save lives, the next step is clear: act on the evidence.

The true test of healthcare is what happens when no one knows you are coming.

Recently, I made an unannounced visit to Bath Regional Hospital to see firsthand how patients are being served.

I spoke with patients and staff, reviewed services, and identified areas that need improvement.

We are investing in better facilities, equipment, medicines and training—but these investments must translate into better care for every patient, every day.

Unannounced visits will continue.

Our standard is simple: wherever you live in Guyana, when you enter a public health facility, you must receive timely, respectful and high-quality care. ,

Ancient wisdom still has much to teach our modern world.

I was pleased to meet His Holiness S.B. Keshava Swami (Svayam Bhagavan Keshava Swami), a British Hindu monk, spiritual teacher, author and educator in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition.

A graduate of University College London, he entered monastic life at 21 and has dedicated more than two decades to studying and teaching the Bhagavad Gita, Vedic philosophy and bhakti. He has authored more than ten books and recently served as a Resident Monastic Fellow at Harvard Divinity School.

We had a thoughtful conversation on service, compassion, discipline and the importance of spiritual values in strengthening our communities.

Progress is not only about what we build around us, but also what we build within us.

Healthcare is rising in the Rupununi. 🇬🇾

Yesterday, I visited the construction site of the new Lethem Regional Hospital, joined by Ministers Pauline Sukhai and Zulfikar Ally, Regional Chairperson Vania Albert, and Regional Executive Officer Karl Singh.

We reviewed the progress of this major investment, which will bring expanded emergency care, surgery, modern diagnostics, maternal and child health, and specialist services closer to the people of Region Nine.

Distance should never determine the quality of healthcare you receive. The new Lethem Regional Hospital will change that.

Better hospitals. Better care. A healthier Rupununi. 🇬🇾

The future of Guyana is built one village at a time.

It was a pleasure meeting the Toshao, Deputy Toshao, and residents of Hobodeia Village, Region One. We discussed the community’s priorities, future, and upcoming work.

Solutions come from listening to those who live the daily reality.

Thank you for your warmth, ideas, and partnership. As each village advances, Guyana advances.

Healthcare should reach people wherever they live.

Yesterday, I met with the Health and Education Relief Organisation (HERO), whose health professionals travel from North America to volunteer in communities across Guyana.

Their service shows what partnership and compassion can achieve: more patients seen, more communities supported, and more lives touched.

HERO deserves our gratitude and our support. Together, we can help quality healthcare reach every community in Guyana.

Emancipation is not only celebrated in the rhythm of the drum, but it also lives in the power of a story.

One of the most meaningful ways to honour 1st August is by passing our heritage to the next generation.

I had the pleasure of joining the students of Paradise Primary School for a storytelling session organised by Member of Parliament, James Bond, where we shared the timeless tales of Anansi the Spider. Brought across the Atlantic by our African ancestors, Anansi survived slavery because stories survived slavery. Through wit, courage, and resilience, these tales preserved values, identity, and hope when so much else was taken away.

The bright eyes, laughter, and thoughtful questions of the children were a reminder that our heritage remains alive every time it is shared.

Freedom gave us a future. Storytelling ensures we never lose our past. As long as our children know these stories, the spirit of Emancipation will never fade.

Freedom was never given. It was won by courage.

Today, we honour those who refused to accept that any human being was born to live in chains. We remember Cuffy, whose leadership in the 1763 Berbice Revolution ignited the flame of freedom. We remember Quamina and Jack Gladstone, whose sacrifice in 1823 helped shake the conscience of an empire. We remember Damon of Essequibo, who stood for true freedom and paid the ultimate price because he believed that liberty delayed was liberty denied.

And we honour the countless unnamed men and women whose labour built our sea defences, canals, villages and ultimately the foundations of modern Guyana. They were denied freedom, but they never surrendered their dignity. Their legacy is not confined to history; it lives in our resilience, our culture and our nation.

As we celebrate Emancipation Day, let us do more than remember. Let us honour our ancestors by building a Guyana where opportunity defeats poverty, and unity is stronger than division.

The chains were broken. The responsibility to protect freedom now rests with us.

Happy Emancipation Day, Guyana.

The Stakeholder Validation Workshop marked another important step in advancing the EU HealthNext Programme in Guyana.

Thank you to all participants for your valuable ideas and commitment. We also express our sincere appreciation to the European Union and Expertise France for their support in implementing this important initiative.

Through HealthNext, we look forward to sending Guyanese health professionals for advanced training in Europe and building stronger partnerships with European universities and research institutions to drive research, innovation, and better healthcare.

Together, we are building a stronger, smarter, and more innovative health system for Guyana.