PNCR back-bencher Ernest Elliot while focusing on matters affecting regional development in Region Four contended last week that over the years funds allocated to the administration had been inadequate and remains that way this year.
He told the National Assembly the region had requested some $943M for works to fulfill its mandate. He said for bridges the region requested $56M but was only awarded $9M. The regional administration also requested a greenheart base for an East Coast Housing Scheme bridge that was a risk to life and limb but this was not done, and funds for the completion of bridges in Bare Root were not granted.
Elliot said of $404M required for Regional Education only $26M was allocated. He recalled a colleague in the course of the 2006 budget debate questioning the non-approval of funds for secondary school construction at Hope, East Coast Demerara to replace the Swami Purnananda Secondary School which is still on a shift system. The parents, teachers and students are as a result under pressure.
With regard to the purchase of furniture the regional representative said of $76M requested only $6M was approved and that is only a drop in the ocean to deal with the furniture shortage in many schools. The school population has increased two-fold and starts at 35,760 students on the East Coast, East Bank and along the highway, with 1,597 teachers and 130 schools. Of these numbers there are some 14 overcrowded institutions, for instance the Grove Primary School, EBD, the Enterprise Primary School on the ECD and at Helena also on the ECD.
Elliot also pointed out that the Regional Department of the Ministry of Education was grossly understaffed and cannot carry out its functions efficiently, with one Regional Education Officer and one Technical Regional Education Officer who is retiring at the end of the year.
He referred to the non-allocation of funds for a nursery school at Dazzell Housing Scheme where land was allocated by the co-op group there, extension of Paradise Primary School that is heavily overcrowded and has been providing top students for the last five years, extension of Golden Grove High, construction of a school at Yarrowkabra, Linden High- way where funds have not been allocated. He pointed out also that no funds were allocated for the third phase of the Buxton TIC although the Government Information Agency had stated that $6M was provided to complete the building.
He went on to say that some 2,000 children who could not be placed in schools following the secondary schools entrance examination had to be forced into many schools with the help of the RDC.
Turning to agricultural development, Elliot informed the House that farmers on the ECD and EBD have a difficulty with regard to the state of the roads. There are no proper farm-to-market roads which is a problem for farmers, the PNCR-1G MP added.
