PPP/C “unmatched” development track record in Amerindian communitieshighlighted – at Mabaruma public meeting
Georgetown, GINA, November 1, 2011
Source - GINA
PPP/C Presidential candidate Donald Ramotar speaking to residents of Mabaruma during a public meeting
The ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) took its campaign to Mabaruma, Region One today telling residents of its “unmatched” track record of development in Amerindian communities.
The basic rights that many Amerindians were denied and the opportunities that they were afforded under the current regime were highlighted at an open air public meeting held in the community.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, performing the duties of President, PPP Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, Minister within the Ministry of Health Dr Bheri Ramsaran and Minister of Local Government Norman Whittaker were among those who implored the residents to continue backing the ruling party for the development agenda to continue.
A section of the gathering of Mabaruma residents during a public PPP/C meeting
The PPP/C is proud of the fact that its supporters within the sub-region account for approximately 90 percent and that one of the top performers at the recently held Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) HAILS from the Region.
Ramotar said that the latter achievement is testimony to the investments government has been making in education in Amerindian communities, achieving the goal of universal access to primary education and narrowing the gap at the secondary level.
“Our children in the interior are now beginning, not only to catch up but in some cases, to even outpace children on the coast,” Ramotar said, describing as criminal circumstances in the past that resulted in only 30 of children entering secondary school.
Whereas in the past, the services of teachers from the coastland were in demand to supplement and sometimes offset the problem of teacher shortage in the interior regions, schools are now being managed by graduate teachers from the interior.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds speaking to residents of Mabaruma during a public meeting
Leomie Wilson a resident of the community said students from Mabaruma are now copping eight and 10 grade ones at the CSEC level while many are being trained at the technical and tertiary levels.
Minister Sukhai said that that hot meal and school uniform programmes have been a stimulus to improved school attendance and performance in the hinterland. She also alluded to the $94.5M dormitory at Liliendaal that houses over 120 students of the Hinterland Scholarship Programme (HSP).
Improved access to health in Amerindian communities has been a noteworthy achievement of the PPP/C and Toshao Alnes Samuels of White Water told many success stories. He compared the days when malaria was the main threat in the community to today where health care delivery has far advanced.
Recently the community benefitted from the services of a team of medical professionals who performed gallstone removal operations and hysterectomies. Minister Ramsarran disclosed that up to late Monday evening about 17 surgeries were performed through the work of the medical team.
“We don’t visit with one and two doctors now. When I put a team of doctors on a plane… it is ten or 12 of the best in the country… to come here to help you the Amerindian people,” Minister Ramsaran said.
Mabaruma is benefitting from the services of a $250M hospital which Minister Ramsaran said was criticized as a white elephant by the opposition but has today proven to be a necessary facility.
“The PPP will build such ‘white elephants’ in any Amerindian community where we see it’s needed,” Minister Ramsaran said.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Prime Minister Hinds who acknowledged that it is costly to get services to the hinterland but at the same time a worthwhile investment. He reiterated Government’s policy of ensuring all Guyanese benefit from equal access the necessary services regardless of their religion, race or creed.
“We look after the broadest number of people. In our housing programme, in our roads and in everything that we do… we set out to serve the people, not only a certain set but everyone,” Mr. Hinds said.
The government’s scholarship programme that has allowed young Guyanese to pursue career studies overseas has led to a record group of students from the hinterland benefitting from the opportunity.
Two Cuban trained doctors are at present permanently stationed in Mabaruma and with the large batch of Guyanese soon to return from Cuba, the numbers will increase.
Georgetown, GINA, November 1, 2011
Source - GINA
PPP/C Presidential candidate Donald Ramotar speaking to residents of Mabaruma during a public meetingThe ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) took its campaign to Mabaruma, Region One today telling residents of its “unmatched” track record of development in Amerindian communities.
The basic rights that many Amerindians were denied and the opportunities that they were afforded under the current regime were highlighted at an open air public meeting held in the community.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, performing the duties of President, PPP Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, Minister within the Ministry of Health Dr Bheri Ramsaran and Minister of Local Government Norman Whittaker were among those who implored the residents to continue backing the ruling party for the development agenda to continue.
A section of the gathering of Mabaruma residents during a public PPP/C meetingThe PPP/C is proud of the fact that its supporters within the sub-region account for approximately 90 percent and that one of the top performers at the recently held Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) HAILS from the Region.
Ramotar said that the latter achievement is testimony to the investments government has been making in education in Amerindian communities, achieving the goal of universal access to primary education and narrowing the gap at the secondary level.
“Our children in the interior are now beginning, not only to catch up but in some cases, to even outpace children on the coast,” Ramotar said, describing as criminal circumstances in the past that resulted in only 30 of children entering secondary school.
Whereas in the past, the services of teachers from the coastland were in demand to supplement and sometimes offset the problem of teacher shortage in the interior regions, schools are now being managed by graduate teachers from the interior.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds speaking to residents of Mabaruma during a public meetingLeomie Wilson a resident of the community said students from Mabaruma are now copping eight and 10 grade ones at the CSEC level while many are being trained at the technical and tertiary levels.
Minister Sukhai said that that hot meal and school uniform programmes have been a stimulus to improved school attendance and performance in the hinterland. She also alluded to the $94.5M dormitory at Liliendaal that houses over 120 students of the Hinterland Scholarship Programme (HSP).
Improved access to health in Amerindian communities has been a noteworthy achievement of the PPP/C and Toshao Alnes Samuels of White Water told many success stories. He compared the days when malaria was the main threat in the community to today where health care delivery has far advanced.
Recently the community benefitted from the services of a team of medical professionals who performed gallstone removal operations and hysterectomies. Minister Ramsarran disclosed that up to late Monday evening about 17 surgeries were performed through the work of the medical team.
“We don’t visit with one and two doctors now. When I put a team of doctors on a plane… it is ten or 12 of the best in the country… to come here to help you the Amerindian people,” Minister Ramsaran said.
Mabaruma is benefitting from the services of a $250M hospital which Minister Ramsaran said was criticized as a white elephant by the opposition but has today proven to be a necessary facility.
“The PPP will build such ‘white elephants’ in any Amerindian community where we see it’s needed,” Minister Ramsaran said.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Prime Minister Hinds who acknowledged that it is costly to get services to the hinterland but at the same time a worthwhile investment. He reiterated Government’s policy of ensuring all Guyanese benefit from equal access the necessary services regardless of their religion, race or creed.
“We look after the broadest number of people. In our housing programme, in our roads and in everything that we do… we set out to serve the people, not only a certain set but everyone,” Mr. Hinds said.
The government’s scholarship programme that has allowed young Guyanese to pursue career studies overseas has led to a record group of students from the hinterland benefitting from the opportunity.
Two Cuban trained doctors are at present permanently stationed in Mabaruma and with the large batch of Guyanese soon to return from Cuba, the numbers will increase.