After years of infighting during the last administration, the two new top officials in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) have pledged to cooperate to tackle the many issues affecting the vast hinterland region and anticipate a budget of $4 billion this year to advance development projects.
Regional Chairman Bonaventure Fredericks and Regional Executive Officer (REO) Raphael Downes told Stabroek News that development needs to be addressed together. They said that allowing party politics to intervene, could distract from this goal. Fredericks was voted in by the APNU+AFC alliance on the Region Eight council and Downes was appointed by the APNU+AFC government.
Downes told Stabroek News that he envisions a 2016 regional budget of $4B to comprehensively tackle the issue of poor infrastructure that limits access to certain areas. He said previously, with a limited staff and a small budget, the region was left to its own devices.
According to the REO, since June, over $10M was spent on extending the Regional Democratic Council’s administrative offices which will allow for the accommodation of staff. He said the administration as a whole is aware of the problems being faced by citizens inclusive of the high cost of living, travel limitations and the ongoing problem with the pension delivery system.
Downes said a “real” budget that takes into account not the population size but the scattered nature of the people throughout the region would be the only way to really tackle basic development issues.
He said attracting workers in the public sector is difficult given the salary limitations. He also highlighted that housing is not available to accommodate staff necessary for social areas in the region such as a social worker and probation officer. The official emphasised that for certain full time staff, a care package needs to be prepared.
“Imagine we have no bank,” Downes exclaimed. He related that residents have to rely on shops to cash cheques including for their pension. The REO said a bank would significantly improve life in a hub like Mahdia. He added that a significant budget would be able to address some of the concerns.
The REO also suggested that two or three Ministry of Finance officers be stationed throughout the region. Currently, he said, a large percentage of his staff as well as himself, travel to and from Georgetown due to the centralised governance.
However, he said he has a “good” chairman and councillors. Since June, the focus has been on getting everyone on the same page, he asserted.
Meantime, Fredericks said there wasn’t any communication between the former chairman and REO and this resulted in inefficiencies. He echoed Downes’ statement that the region needs a bank. While the former Chairman was appointed with support from APNU and the AFC, the former REO was an appointee of the then PPP/C government. Fredericks pointed out that both he and the REO are from the region and, as such, have a better grasp of the needs of the people.
As it relates to ongoing issues with the water and electricity supply in Mahdia and the surrounding areas, Fredericks said these have been at the forefront of his chairmanship. Over $400M will be spent on reworking the gravity pull water network which will allow more persons to access water, he said.
The chairman added that a system needs to be in place for regular checks on the pipes from the Salbora Falls that lead to Mahdia. Since 2011, the water supply to Mahdia and the surrounding communities has been unreliable due to several factors including miners destroying the pipes. Fredericks said the ongoing expansion of the well system in Mahdia will serve as a secondary system should pipes from the Salbora falls be damaged again.
According to the chairman, things are happening one step at a time. He acknowledged that working with the REO was necessary for cohesion.
Meantime, it was disclosed that expansion of the electricity grid is also ongoing and Fredericks said that water, electricity and transportation needs are being looked at first as they would lay the foundation for development.
Speaking specifically of the issues faced by pensioners, the chairman said a system needs to be worked out to alleviate some of the travel, time and costs for pensioners to collect their books. He said once a full time probation officer arrives now that the housing situation has been addressed, then a transportation plan that is cost and time efficient and manageable for both the officer and the pensioners she will be assisting, would need to be worked out.
Pensioners
Stabroek News had received multiple calls from pensioners residing in Mahdia who expressed frustration over late pension payments.
Montgomery Roberts told Stabroek News that late pension payments have immediate ramifications such as late bill payments and without cash, he is unable to buy food. According to him, the lack of a pension officer continues to keep pensioners “hostage.”
A former councillor volunteered her time and would aggressively pursue the issue, Stabroek News was told. However, there is a lack of regional staff, thus dependency on the Social Protection Ministry head offices in Georgetown continues. Roberts slammed the current system as highly ineffective. He related that pension book deliveries to various communities rely on unscheduled flights and there is no standard method for their delivery.
