FOLLOWING the swearing-in Wednesday of the Members of Parliament (MPs) to serve in the  11thparliament,  the Government Information Agency (GINA) spoke with a few of the regional MPs, who are also newcomers, about  some of the areas of precedence in their respective regions for which they would be seeking to make representation in the House. Region Ten APNU MP, Jermaine Figueira expressed confidence that the region would have the government’s support given the fact that it has, over the years, been behind the party. He said he would be making representation for a university campus within the region.

“We are of the view that we are in dire need of an arm of the University of Guyana in Region Ten,” Figueira said. He noted that not only does the region have the qualified people who can provide the services that such an enterprise requires, but it also has over 26,000 people, inclusive of residents from 14 indigenous communities in the Upper Demerara River.
Also from Region Ten, APNU’s Valerie Patterson said that she will be looking at the streamlining of the Linden Hospital Complex, and the provision of health care. “We have to look at the Linden Hospital Complex. We have a situation there where we have a tripartite arrangement, and it is causing confusion. We are going to look at bringing all our employees under one umbrella,” Patterson explained.
Patterson will also be looking at having the lawmakers, rethink the operations of NICIL in the region, since, the widespread ownership of land in there, is stymieing development, she said.
“There are many buildings, land that are under NICIL, and it is affecting development. People who want to come and bring inward investment into Linden do not have access to it, because the lands and buildings they are all under NICIL,” Patterson explained.
Making available the facility of the Linden Enterprise Network, will also be given much focus, Patterson said. She noted that the LEAP entity, which was set up to give credit to micro small businesses, has not been functioning since 2010.
Meanwhile, Charandass Persaud, the AFC MP representing Region Six will focus on getting increased recreational facilities for the region. “We do not have a proper sport facility in Berbice. We do not have a proper cricket ground in Berbice. We used to have a few; they have all gone into mud. Albion is there, but it is flooded when it rains, they have flood lights but they do not have a proper ground,” Persaud explained.
He noted that sport is the avenue for youths, pointing out that “the devil makes work for idle hands,” and this is why a number of the region’s youth are incarcerated.
“We do not have a cinema in Berbice, where people can go and watch a movie, sit down and pass time or a proper park. Take two fields in the sugar estate and make a proper park for us to walk around in the afternoon and during the day, like we have National Park in Georgetown,” he said.

The AFC MP will also be focusing on pushing diversification and placement of businesses within the region towards creating jobs.
“Agriculture is the main focus of employment in Berbice, a couple (of) private persons have established businesses, but that is not enough. We do not have a head office of any ministry in the country, based in Berbice. We need to focus on job creation in Berbice, and as a Member of Parliament I intent to rub shoulders with those who are responsible and turn the screws tight, on those who can make things happen in Berbice,” he said.
Among other Regional MPs who took the oath Wednesday were: Michael Carrington, Rajcoomarie Bancroft, Richard Allen, Audwin Rutherford, John Adams, Jennifer Wade and Haimraj Rajkumar. (GINA)