The Cabinet outreach programme kicks off today in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) with President Bharrat Jagdeo and his Cabinet members visiting communities to interact with residents.

This was disclosed by Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) Dr Roger Luncheon yesterday at his post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown.

He said at its last Friday meeting, Cabinet decided to start its 2010 outreach programme in Region Six which would see ten teams of Cabinet members organising and engaging residents of 30 communities in that region.

“The outreach will consume the better part of Tuesday, January 12, at the end of which the statutory Cabinet meeting would take place in New Amsterdam,” he told reporters.

He said the teams would focus in their engagements with the communities and residents on garnering inputs into the planning process for the 2010 budget which is due, and is being finalised.

The Cabinet Secretary said the team would also be addressing with the residents three matters, all of which address Government’s effectiveness.

He revealed that these areas are: improving accountability, gathering and obtaining value for money in public procurement, and improving the delivery of public goods and services within the communities.

“The teams would be holding three meetings that will give rise to 30 community meetings starting from 10:00 h, the second at about 13:00 h, and the final meeting to commence at 16:00 h,” he outlined.

He said President Bharrat Jagdeo would be meeting residents in Crabwood Creek, Black Bush Polder and specifically in Mibicuri, and Port Mourant, and later, the Head of State would be hosting a press conference in New Amsterdam.