MPs split on gov’t plans for Region Two

-Damon blames suicide rate on unemployment

APNU+AFC regional representative Hemraj Rajkumar says government’s promised “good life for all” budget would see multi-million-dollar development and improvements in education, health and agriculture in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

However, PPP/C parliamentarian Cornel Damon argues that the region is being deliberately neglected and wants government to take the blame for the suicide rate there, which he tried to link to unemployment.

Rajkumar and Damon offered their differing takes on the plans for the region during the debate on this year’s proposed $230B national budget on Monday night in the National Assembly.

Rajkumar noted that over $233 million will be spent on improving the learning environment in region, as the government remains keen on the view that “education leads to prosperity, hence a good life.”

As a result, the students at the Aurora Secondary School on the Essequibo Coast are expected to benefit from the construction of a $114 million new building for accommodation, while provisions are also in place for the construction of a new nursey school in Akawini.

Additionally, rehabilitation works are expected to be carried out on the Anna Regina Multilateral School and Cotton Field Secondary School.

Rajkumar noted that a total of $18.5 million will be used to purchase furniture and other equipment in the region, while classrooms are also expected to be upgraded as government is committed to improving the accommodation at schools for students to learn and excel.

“Our children must also enjoy the good life too,” he said.

Meanwhile, the improvement of health services in the region was also highlighted by Rajkumar, who revealed plans to establish an Accident and Emergency (A&E) unit at the Oscar Joseph District Hospital, a maternity waiting room at the Suddie Hospital and the “long overdue” health post at Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast. This, he said, would come at a total cost of $92 million.

Further, the region can expect in excess of $176 million being spent on acquiring pharmaceuticals and other supplies to be used in the health sector.

Not forgetting the recent increase of reported suicides in the region, Rajkumar noted that the government has recognised the negative impact of suicide on society and intends on having counsellors, secondary school teachers and even students trained so that they would be equipped with the ability of identifying persons with the “propensity to harm themselves.”

Rajkumar also highlighted that apart from the construction and rehab of schools, hospitals and other health facilities, the region will also benefit from the construction of bridges, upgrading of roads, and the construction and rehabilitation of rivers and sea defence.

He noted that a total of $67 million will be spent on the construction and upgrade of roads at Anna Regina, Adventure, Henrietta and Dartmouth.

“The good life not only includes improved health services, better schools, learning facilities, better roads and better salaries, it is also about leisure, recreation and relaxation,” he added, before explaining that a total of $10.5 million has been allocated for the establishment of recreational parks.

Such an initiative would be undertaken to create spaces for people to “spend their leisure and enjoy relaxation,” since recreation plays an integral part in human development, he said.

Speaking on the status of agricultural improvements to be undertaken, Rajkumar explained that the region is heavily dependent on agriculture, with the majority of the masses being rice farmers.

He stated that despite challenges faced by rice farmers in the region, they were able to increase their yields. However, he acknowledged that the drop in the price of paddy has placed farmers in some “serious financial situations” as they were being paid between $1,000 and $1,700 per bag of paddy.

In addition to that, the industry remains under threat from the prolonged dry spell, with farmers experiencing a shortage of fresh water to irrigate the fields.

Nevertheless, Rajkumar explained that the government remains resolute in alleviating issues affecting the rice industry in the region.

He said, “We are concerned about the situation that farmers find themselves [in]. This government will continue to access markets for the rice farmers and actively pursue markets with good prices hence bettering the prices being offered presently to the farmers.”

Further, works are expected to be undertaken in an effort to improve other agricultural yields, including the drainage and irrigation capacity and access to farmlands and providing a better cultivation environment. According to Rajkumar, this would see the allocation of more than $102 million to construct revetments, sluices, irrigation chests and culverts throughout the region.

“In January this year, we, in the government, commissioned a drainage pump at Lima at a cost of $191 million. As a result, over 3,000 acres of land will be drained and residents will no longer be affected by floods,” he told the National Assembly.

“These are things, these are the good things that we in Region Two are experiencing, these are the things that we expect to be a part of our good life,” he added.

Marginalised

PPP/C regional representative Damon expressed shock over Rajkumar’s statements, while accusing him of “imagining” development in the region.

“I am shocked. I want to know where all this development in Region Two is,” he said before going on to describe the 2016 budget as one that will have a “negative outlook on the masses of this country.”

“Honourable Minister of Finance, what you have presented as a budget is a bundle of papers that are telling the masses that they must live in hope,” he said.

Additionally, the PPP/C backbencher made the claim that there is no major project slated for Region Two before alluding to the status of the Mainstay/Tapakuma asphalted road, and the Lima Sands Road.

“What about drinking water for the residents of Wakapoa and many more areas in the Pomeroon?” he questioned.

Damon also accused the government of only “spending in the APNU+AFC strongholds,” while charging that other areas are marginalised.

Damon also made calls for the removal of the current Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rupert Hopkinson, after accusing him of being responsible for the failure of 75% of rice cultivation in the region.

“In Region Two we are blessed to have the worst REO. The masses of Region Two have agreed that he must be sent to Region Three and we will do very well with the REO from Region Three. This REO is nothing but a waste of time,” he said.

Unemployment rates in the region were also highlighted by Damon, who questioned the government on its promise to provide jobs for young people before offering the theory that the unemployment rate in the region is responsible for its high suicide rate.

“Our children and other people are losing faith and suicide is rampant in Region Two under this APNU+AFC administration. We need jobs for our young people in Region Two to help stop this suicide epidemic that the APNU+AFC government should take blame for,” he said.