Minister Benn reaches out to several Region One communities

Residents of several Region One communities that included White Water, Wauna, Tobago, Barabina, Bumbury, Hosororo and Mabaruma Settlement were able to raise their concerns with Minister of Public Works, Robson Benn while he was on an Outreach to the Region over the weekend.

The Minister, speaking of the development that has occurred in the hinterland communities, said, “We come out on these ministerial outreaches to get a sense of where we are, to get an understanding of the challenges of the communities, get  new ideas, to get criticisms and to get an understanding of where the problems are,”  he said.

These are necessary, he said to drive the development process.

Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn interacting with residents at White Water, Region One.

Minister Benn also apprised residents of the budget cut to the transportation sector with respect to the Ogle aerodrome modernisation, the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and airstrips. He said that this act has affected the sector.

“Critical to the hinterland communities, and with respect to the big idea we have of a Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS)…monies were coming to be put into funding for the interior communities – that funding has been completely cut,” the Minister explained.

Minister Benn noted that the budget cuts are not only unfriendly, but create the conditions which can result in the country going backwards, and if they are not fixed, the people will suffer.

He told the residents that President Donald Ramotar has said that he will do whatever can be done legally to overcome the cuts so as to continue the development thrust. This stance will also include discussions with the Opposition, however, thus far there have been none, but the door is still open.

“We in the PPP/C, our position with respect to Guyana has always been progress…we are interested in the progressive development of the country, and of its people,” Minister Benn said. While development is evident, the government’s intention is to take development to the small distant communities, particularly the Amerindian areas.

Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn taking note of a Bumbury resident’s concern

He emphasised that in recent times, most of the budget allocations have been put towards education, health and infrastructure development since it has been recognised that these aid in sustaining Guyana’s economy and better the lives of citizens.

It was observed that the community does not practice subsistence farming of cash crops, and as a result residents have to pay high costs for vegetables. Aside from that, Minister Benn has committed to sending in some cash crop seeds for the residents of White Water, Aruka and Bumbury.

Discussions have been had with the local agriculture group for the provision of citrus and other crops such as coffee and cocoa so that the residents can have some permanent products and at the same time sustain their income, Regional Vice Chairman, Fermin Singh said.

Minister Benn encouraged the community to set up a plant nursery as another mechanism to encourage the farmers.

Residents complained that the agriculture extension officer does not visit the communities and the nursery at Hosororo does not have an adequate number of seedlings unless an order is made.

Residents reported that students at the Wauna and Hosororo schools have been affected by what they refer to as a ‘mysterious illness’. Minister Benn encouraged the parents to be more involved in their children’s education, and most importantly the social worker and the education department in the region should be made aware of the situation since the students may be affected psychologically.

Residents of Mabaruma Settlement sharing their concerns with Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn.

Many of the residents expressed interest in sports development however, one of the recurring concerns, throughout the villages, was that the Sports officer attached to the Regional Administration was not visiting the communities.

It was suggested that the Sports Coordinator have a weekly work schedule so that the RDC can monitor his movements, and ensure at the same time, that sports is developed in the communities. Concerns were also raised about the non-receipt of sports gears and funding for the development of sports ground.

Residents of Tobago, Barabina, Bumbury and Mabaruma Settlement made requests for a health facility in their respective villages.

In relation to electricity, the Regional Administration has indicated that poles are to be laid in Barabina by month-end, while in White Water; the village council has set up a generation system which will serve the central part of the community while its satellite and the extreme ends in the village receive electricity via solar panels.