President Ali promises to assist Reg 5, 6 communities with development

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday conducted several outreaches in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) during which he promised to assist several communities with their development.

The Head of State told the residents of Baracara and neighbouring communities in Canje Creek, Region Six, that his Government would work hand-in-hand with them to ensure that they benefit from development opportunities.
According to the President, his entire Government is ready and willing to walk in every single community, to embrace every single Guyanese and to create a journey through which the children of Guyana can live in a future where there is no difference in the community they live in or the way they look.
“We are only cemented together in one singular piece that is called Guyanese. We are ‘One Guyana’… Let us start living in this country [and] what it means to be Guyanese and what it means to be Guyanese is where we look out for each other and where we are the keeper of each other.”
He went on to outline his vision for future developments. President Ali related that his Government wants to create a pathway that will see tremendous results but not in the near future.

Development agenda
The Guyanese leader further stressed that his Administration’s development agenda targets every segment of the population but specifically women, children and the elderly.
“What I want is for us to have a broad conversation in Baracara and the entire Canje Creek to see what are the things we can do to ensure that your children can study under the GOAL programme, that they can have the scholarships, that you can expand education, that you can have the children under better facilities. What is it that we can do to support the further upliftment of children.”
President Ali told the residents that they already know of the various programmes and initiatives that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government has implemented but what he wants to know is how to advance this even further to benefit them.
To this end, he disclosed that in a recent meeting with Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, they discussed using skills from communities along the Canje Creek to build two cargo boats to help farmers transport their produce out to the markets.
“We don’t only want the produce to go to the market… We are working now on the development of a municipal airport [in Region Six] … If we develop this airport and we produce all the foods here, we can take it straight to the cargo facility and fly it to the Caribbean; and have fresh produce, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, fresh food production in the Caribbean. That is the long vision.”
But the Head of State noted that first they have to build the necessary infrastructure to support this. He added too that the Government and the communities also have to work together to link infrastructure with food production.

Accelerate agricultural production
He announced that a team will return to Canje Creek for two days and work with residents on detailing how to accelerate agricultural production there.
“What do we need to do? Do we need to bring in two machines and keep it in here for a few months and use those machines for the impoldering of lands? These are the types of discussions that we want to have. If that is what is required then I can commit to you now that the President is going to work with the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that you get that.”
President Ali also spoke about enhancing healthcare delivery in the communities as well as improving conditions for teachers.
However, he told the residents that Government needs their support in doing these and other things to not take the country further but ensure that all communities are simultaneously developed.
Nevertheless, President Ali, after listening to the concerns of the residents, assured them of assistance in several areas including access to the internet, the provision of drainage and irrigation equipment, and assistance with livestock farming and other agricultural opportunities.
Baracara, in Canje Creek, was the first stop in President Ali’s outreach. The President also met with residents in Abary Creek, Region Five, on Thursday.
During that engagement, the Head of State told residents of Abary Creek that the importance of communities such as theirs, to national growth and development, is often understated.
As such, he announced immediate and medium-term interventions in several areas to further assist in their development.
From October 1, he said a full system will be in place to ensure that health services will be provided to residents throughout Abary Creek.
In addition, the President mandated an immediate examination of the school boat to ensure the comfort of the school children upon the request of the residents.
He said too that monies will be allocated for the rehabilitation of two miles of the farm-to-market access road before the end of the year.
The residents, the Guyanese leader assured, will also benefit from the Government’s solar programme.
To follow up on these promises, he said that by next week, a team comprising of representatives from various Ministries and agencies would return to the creek.
The Head of State also said that his Government will ensure residents benefit from investments in education, healthcare, agriculture and sport.
Abary Creek was the second stop for President Ali during Thursday’s outreach. He was accompanied by Minister Mustapha, representatives from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, regional officials as well as representatives from the Office of the President. (G8)