President Bharrat Jagdeo told Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo residents on Wednesday that $3.7B is being spent in Region Three this year on drainage and irrigation, roads and the construction of recreational facilities.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release Jagdeo said about 60 roads are earmarked for repairs by the end of the year, at a Cabinet outreach exercise hosted at the Tuschen market tarmac. He said too an athletics track and a technical vocational institute will also be built. Jagdeo urged residents to commit to working with government to develop Guyana.
At an outreach exercise at the New Tuschen Housing Scheme a team comprising Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali, Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy and PPP General Secretary Donald Ramotar engaged residents on issues such as drainage, security and roads.
Ali told the meeting that poor drainage resulted from persons not occupying their house lots and as such government has resorted to repossessing the lots through the court. The minister also said he observed persons mixing cement on the road and this is another practice that damages the roadways. He encouraged residents to ensure that they adhere to the stipulated regulations in the community as they are the ones that are inconvenienced as a result of irresponsible behaviour. Ali also said maintenance work on the main road leading through Tuschen has been given priority and works will be ongoing until expansion works in the Scheme are completed.
As regard security, he urged residents to participate in community policing which he said has proved successful in Enmore, East Coast Demerara. However, he also gave assurances that he would engage Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee on the issue with the aim of providing additional security and reactivating the police outpost. Ali also said many other community issues would be resolved when Local Government elections are held. Additionally, Ramotar highlighted government’s efforts to better the lives of citizens through boosting social services.
Meanwhile, at an outreach exercise hosted at Farm, Region Three, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon told the agriculture community that if they take steps to formalise their activities and continue to cooperate government could be persuaded to put measures in place to give municipal status to the Good Hope-Parika district.
GINA said Labour minister Manzoor Nadir, Neighbourhood Democratic Council Chairman Milton Dookie and technical staff from the agriculture and human services ministries as well as the Guyana Water Inc and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority also attended the meeting.
Also, Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo residents told Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Anthony that the area was plagued with pot-holed roads which makes traversing to and from rice farms very difficult.
Imaam at the Good Hope Mosque, Ahmad Husain also said the community needs security since policy alone is unable to provide protection. He then said persons are encountering much difficulty acquiring firearm licences; impeding their ability to protect themselves and families. Another resident Sabir Hussain said too the policing group is ineffective since members have no equipment or weapons to defend themselves.
In response Anthony urged them to keep applying for the licences. He also advised them to send their applications to the police commissioner and he assured them that he will bring the matter to the attention of Cabinet at the next meeting.
