Minister Whittaker engage residents in San Souci Wakenaam - assured of non-discriminatory support
Georgetown, GINA, November 18, 2012, Source - GINA
Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Norman Whittaker has assured farmers of San Souci, Wakenaam, Region Three that the PPP/C party and government is not supportive of discrimination based on class or status as it relates to providing supportive services to them.
Minister Whittaker was at the time responding to complaints during an engagement with residents this morning at the Wakenaam Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) building in San Souci. Minister Whittaker was among a delegation of Ministers that today visited the Region Three island, fanning out to different communities and meeting residents, as part of the aim of getting a better sense of the people’s concern, an important undertaking since the views expressed will help to shape the government’s planned programme for the island.
Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Norman Whittaker addressing residents of San Souci, Wakenaam at the meeting at the Wakenaam NDC building
During the meeting, some farmers had complained that favouritism was determining the use of the excavator that was made available by former President Bharrat Jagdeo to the Wakenaam NDC to provide drainage and irrigation services for the island.
The discontent was that farmers of a certain standing and wealth were having preferential use of the equipment whilst other farmers of a lower class and in dire need of the service were being “by-passed.”
Minister Whittaker in responding was firm that the PPP/C Government is committed to providing resource and supportive services in a fair and equitable manner to all its citizens. The Minister stated strongly that if indeed the excavator was being used in a discriminatory manner, then this will not go down well with government and with the President.
A resident expressing his concern at the meeting
As it is, it is the NDC’s responsibility to regulate the use of the excavator, Minister Whittaker suggested that councillors decide where the services of the equipment are needed and work out an appropriate un-biased schedule for its use.
Another pressing concern was that of the hours of electricity presently being afforded the residents. At present the island of Wakenaam is receiving 16 hours of electricity from 4pm in the afternoon to 8am the next day. The residents found this insufficient and sought additional hours of the service to aid the businesses in the area and as well as the schools and other facilities.
Whilst Minister Whittaker reminded that any additional hours will come at the cost either to the government or the residents, he still committed to raise this issue at the level of Cabinet about the feasibility of the residents’ suggestion.
Minister Whittaker also committed to bringing to the attention of the respective ministries, residents’ call for the review of the tenancy law governing agriculture land use on the island, and for a more consistent ferry schedule that meets the need of the large proportion of the Wakenaam commuters.
Councillors of the Wakenaam NDC
Earlier Minister Whittaker had explained to the residents that the outreach to the island involving the Cabinet Ministers is in pursuance of government’s policy of reaching out to the people.
“What has been happening over this weekend and what has been happening over many months is that we have been reaching out to people across the various communities across the ten regions of Guyana, looking at their success stories, looking at projects, listening to their issues and concerns that the people expressed with a view of working with them to see how we could address these issues and concern and listen also to their recommendations on the way forward,” the Minister said. A delegation of Ministers on November 17 also visited several communities in Leguan.
Minister Whittaker also assured that the administration is committed to fulfilling promises made to residents and citizens across the country despite the fact that resources are limited for meeting these demands.
Minister Whittaker also reminded residents that it is important that when they put forward their various concerns and advance their argument for more resources being made available for their community development that they are also to consider the mitigating circumstances government face in delivering on these due to the Opposition’s inflexibility in the Parliament.
He stated that when one would have thought that in return for the votes cast for them that the Opposition would have been working to see more goods and services delivered to the people, in a timely manner, instead what is happening is a “Parliament is not being used to talk about the local government reform that they are very vocal about in the public;…Parliament is not being used to talk about how we can improve education delivery and healthcare, bring a better service to our people…Parliament is being used for personal issues.”
Minister Whittaker however assured that Government has a mandate not only to those who would have voted for them in November 2011 Election but a mandate for all Guyanese people and is determined to carry out these irrespective of the hindrances.
During the afternoon, Region Three Chairman Julius Faerber joined Minister Whittaker at the NDC for a meeting with the NDC councillors. At this meeting Minister Whittaker sought to remind the councillors how integral they are to the island’s development.
Among the delegation that today visited the communities were Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Ganga Persaud and Permanent Secretary Collin Croal, Minister within the Ministry of Finance Bishop Juan Edghill and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture Alli Baksh.