– as CDCs celebrate 10th anniversary
President Bharrat Jagdeo has promised that more money will be allocated to the Community Development Councils (CDCs). This was announced yesterday by the National Director of CDCs, Philomena Sahoye-Shury, in her closing remarks at the CDC’s annual conference at the Guyana International Convention Centre under the theme “Uniting Communities across Guyana”.

As government continues to improve the lives of citizens through community development, Sahoye-Shury said these councils will receive these moneys once it has been proven that they are capable, have the capacity, and could be accountable.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon addresses the conference.

The idea of CDCs was developed by the late President Cheddi Jagan in the late 1980s, when he traversed the country encouraging persons to form these councils. At that time, Guyana was at the crossroads socially and financially. Nineteen years later, Sahoye-Shury was appointed as National Director and tasked with going out to communities and forming CDCs. Accordingly, Sahoye-Shury said CDCs are now celebrating its tenth anniversary.

There are 400 CDCs countrywide, with the mandate to ensure a clean environment, healthy lifestyles, emphasising education and eradicating poverty. There has been active participation of CDCs with Parent Teachers Associations, women’s groups, farmers groups and drainage and irrigation projects.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, who attended the conference, said that there were some government projects which could be aided by CDC’s involvement.

He said the President was very instrumental in planning the conference. He noted that through the CDCs, this will allow for mobilisation of people at the grass roots, since projects could be implemented, but their inputs were needed.

The HPS said that their contribution will have to be a lasting one, one that will continue to enjoy the support of the government. He encouraged that CDCs work on a review of their functioning, rather than patting themselves on the back.

In assuring government support for these councils, Dr Luncheon stated that government is “not going to change” a winning horse if they work, since it brought empowerment to the people in these communities as well. Government has also provided management, human resources and finances for these councils.

Commenting on the world economic crisis, the HPS said that CDCs could aid in planning the way for the future.

He stated that through CDCs, division in societies could be transcended. For example, they could bring together religious forces, since community development is not a political, ethnic or religious concept.

In addition, the CDCs were formed by government to provide job creation, since it was found that there were large numbers of unemployed youths living in communities. The HPS urged that community councils look into this issue since “job creation is a must”.

Another aspect that he encouraged communities to look at is economic ventures. President Bharrat Jagdeo had said recently that village economies need to be rejuvenated. An economic venture that the HPS said should be explored is the burning of bricks for roads because there is a demand for this.

Dr Luncheon said that emphasis by the CDCs needed to be on community rehabilitation and the discussions yesterday needed to concentrate on that. Some $1B has been allocated by government at the community level for drainage and irrigation.

According to the HPS, the concept of community activation must be explored. For example, in Canal No. One, where he visited recently, residents claimed that their inputs were not utilised in the design of certain projects.

It is the view of Dr Luncheon that through CDCs, more community dialogue could be forged with a melting-pot being formed. (GINA)