We Invest In Nationhood

02/06/2026

Ahead of Eid al-Adha, the Office of the Leader of the Opposition conducted a community outreach in Bath Settlement, Berbice, to listen to concerns of the residents. WIN Councillor Waheed Ishak joined the initiative and engaged with members of the community in a hamper distribution from the Opposition Leader.

During the outreach, residents raised several pressing concerns affecting their daily lives.

Foremost among them was the high cost of living, with families struggling to keep up with rising prices for food, transportation, utilities, and other essentials. The Office of the Leader of the Opposition calls on President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Minister Dr. Ashni Singh to explain how Guyanese are benefiting from the country's economic growth.

Residents also highlighted ongoing drainage and flooding issues. Farmers spoke about the rising cost of feed, fertilizer, and other agricultural inputs, placing increasing pressure on their livelihoods. We call on Zulfikar Mustapha to provide greater support to farmers in the area and address these concerns urgently.

Residents also raised concerns about the lack of job opportunities, especially for young people. We call on Minister Keoma Griffith to outline what is being done to create employment and training opportunities in West Coast Berbice.

Finally, concerns were raised about community infrastructure, including roads, drains, and public facilities. We call on Minister Juan Edghill to ensure these longstanding issues are addressed.
Residents expressed their sincere gratitude to Opposition Leader Hon. Azruddin Mohamed, M.P., for his continued support and commitment to serving the people.

02/06/2026

Ahead of Eid al-Adha, the Office of the Leader of the Opposition conducted a community outreach in Bath Settlement, Berbice, to listen to concerns of the residents. WIN Councillor Waheed Ishak joined the initiative and engaged with members of the community in a hamper distribution from the Opposition Leader.

During the outreach, residents raised several pressing concerns affecting their daily lives.

Foremost among them was the high cost of living, with families struggling to keep up with rising prices for food, transportation, utilities, and other essentials. The Office of the Leader of the Opposition calls on President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Minister Dr. Ashni Singh to explain how Guyanese are benefiting from the country's economic growth.

Residents also highlighted ongoing drainage and flooding issues. Farmers spoke about the rising cost of feed, fertilizer, and other agricultural inputs, placing increasing pressure on their livelihoods. We call on Zulfikar Mustapha to provide greater support to farmers in the area and address these concerns urgently.

Residents also raised concerns about the lack of job opportunities, especially for young people. We call on Minister Keoma Griffith to outline what is being done to create employment and training opportunities in West Coast Berbice.

Finally, concerns were raised about community infrastructure, including roads, drains, and public facilities. We call on Minister Juan Edghill to ensure these longstanding issues are addressed.

Residents expressed their sincere gratitude to Opposition Leader Hon. Azruddin Mohamed, M.P., for his continued support and commitment to serving the people.

29/05/2026

29/05/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

I am deeply concerned by reports of a recent incident involving a child allegedly being beaten by individuals reported to be members of the teaching staff.

Every child has the right to be treated with dignity, respect, and protection from harm.

There can be no justification for the ill-treatment of a child.
However, this incident raises serious systemic concerns that must be urgently addressed:
1. Continuous professional development and specialized training for Special Education Needs (SEN) teachers must be prioritized to ensure that they are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to effectively support students with diverse learning and behavioural needs.
2. SEN schools must be adequately staffed with qualified teachers, teacher aides, counsellors, psychologists, and other support personnel to ensure that students receive the individualized attention and care they require.
3. Greater supervision and oversight must be implemented within SEN schools. To facilitate effective monitoring and support, supervisory personnel should be assigned reduced teaching loads, allowing them sufficient time to observe classrooms, mentor staff, and address emerging concerns in a timely manner.
4. Comprehensive mental health and wellness support systems must be established for teachers and other education professionals. Given the demanding nature of the profession, educators may experience stress, burnout, emotional fatigue, and frustration. Access to counselling, employee assistance programmes, and other support services is therefore essential.

With that being said, I wish to caution against addressing this incident in a manner similar to the incident at Tuschen Secondary School, where the teacher reportedly involved was transferred to another school. If these reports are accurate, consideration must also be given to ensuring that educators who may be experiencing personal, emotional, behavioural, or professional challenges receive the appropriate support, intervention, rehabilitation, and monitoring necessary to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents and to safeguard the well-being of students.

The safety and welfare of our nation's children must remain a national priority. Parents must be assured that when they entrust their children to educational institutions, every reasonable measure is being taken to protect them from harm.

I will continue to advocate for stronger safeguards, greater accountability, and the implementation of measures that place the best interests of our children at the forefront of educational policy and practice.

Gordon Barker, PhD
Shadow Minister of Education
Member of Parliament
Committed to Quality Education and Student Achievement

28/05/2026