Forty Buxton women have been approved for loans under GBTI’s Women of Worth (WOW) initiative following a visit by bank representatives on Saturday, and President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday pledged to find alternative means to help unsuccessful applicants.
Jagdeo met some members of the community yesterday at Office of the President, where he also took the opportunity to donate 20 computer systems and 8 steel pan sets to them. This comes after a visit by the President to the community last month, where he made several promises to residents. Among these were to assist with agriculture, education, access to low interest loans for single parents, and the restoration of the historic Tipperary Hall.
At yesterday’s meeting, Pastor Terry Thomas told the President that on Saturday, GBTI representatives visited the community and accepted 40 applicants. Under the WOW scheme, individuals can access loans of up to $250,000 without collateral at a six per cent interest rate from GBTI, with which the government has an arrangement. Thomas reported too that the Bankers’ Association had visited the community and that Courts was scheduled to visit residents yesterday.
Jagdeo said he was pleased with these developments but would need to do something to help the others who did not qualify under the WOW programme.
Regarding his donation of computers and steel pans, the President said he wanted the items to be used right away. Concerning the computers, he said that he wanted both the young people and the older residents to be trained in their use. He suggested to the community that they could approach GT&T for free internet access. He also called on other private corporations to lend assistance to the community.
Jagdeo lauded the community of Buxton and said that unlike many other villages, there were several volunteer groups. He said that in the past government had found it difficult to sustain community projects because there were just not many interested persons or groups.
However, the President stressed that this initiative involved more than projects. “It is not just about doing projects, it is about changing the village,” he said. He alluded to the stigma that had been attached to the community because of the past, while stressing that many of the residents did nothing to deserve this.
Meanwhile, Jagdeo said that the government is continuing to pushing to fulfil all that had been promised at the meeting. He said that Dr Bheri Ramsaran, the Minister within the Ministry of Health, has promised to fix the health centre.
Presidential Advisor on Empowerment Odinga Lumumba said that plans are on stream to have the Practical Instruction Centre operational shortly. President Jagdeo urged that the board include prominent members of the community.
Lumumba said that Tipperary Hall, a historic meeting place in the community which is currently just brick stumps on land, will be rehabilitated and said that when this is done, the President would be invited to commission it. Lumumba also pointed to work being done to improve drainage in the community and agriculture production.
