– residents encouraged to take advantage of the event, to get issues addressed, meet the ministers

THE approximately 4,000 residents of Port Kaituma will have the opportunity to air their issues and concerns as the ‘Government comes to you’ outreach will be taken to the Barima-Waini, Region 1 community today, September 20, 2019.

His Excellency, President David Granger, along with several government ministers are expected to lead the outreach which will see several ministers and representatives from government agencies and ministries addressing the needs and concerns of the residents of Port Kaituma.

Port Kaituma is considered by many as the gateway to the North West District where the main economic activity is small-scale gold mining. It is the first time an activity of this nature is being held in the community.

The event will begin at 08:00 hours today with the president handing over an ambulance to the Port Kaituma Hospital and boat and engine to the riverine community of Sebai. This will be followed by an official opening ceremony of the outreach at the Community Ground in Fitzburg, after which residents will have an opportunity to directly engage with the ministers and department heads. The Department of Public Information (DPI) visited the venue yesterday where persons were seen erecting booths for today’s activity.

Port Kaituma has the only secondary school in the sub-district and the only commercial bank in the Region. This community also has a nursery and primary school and police station. The residents receive electricity from the Port Kaituma Power and Light Company. A modern hospital is also currently under construction in the community.

The exercise today is part of a national outreach programme that is being taken to communities across the country to bring government services to the people. Mabaruma Township, which is located about two hours, by boat, from Port Kaituma will benefit from this initiative in the coming weeks. Several communities in Regions 8 and 9 will also host similar events.

In the meantime, some of the ministers expected at the outreach today are: Prime Minister, Hon. Moses Nagamootoo; Hon. Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence; Hon. Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe; Minister of Legal Affairs, Attorney General, Hon. Basil Williams SC; Minister of State, Hon. Hastings-Williams and Minister of Social Cohesion, Hon. Amna Ally.

Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to get their concerns addressed. (DPI)