Touring Region Two…
MINISTER of Housing and Water, Mr. Irfaan Ali visited three Amerindian communities in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) last Friday, in keeping with the commitment, by Government, to the development of the indigenous people. Speaking to residents of the scenic riverain village of Capoey, he told them it is very important that they understand Government’s programmes and policies.
In relation to a concern about the road that allows to access the village, Ali assured that President Bharrat Jagdeo is, indeed, very concerned about all the roads across Guyana.
Ali reminded that not only has the Head of State announced a plan for developing more than a thousand roads along the coastal region but he also disclosed a hinterland roads strategy in which some $1 billion will be expended.
Ali noted that Mainstay recently derived benefits from approximately $75M spent on road development and asserted that His Excellency has a special place in his heart for Amerindian communities and peoples.
Against that backdrop, the Minister said President Jagdeo has committed the Champion of the Earth cash prize of US$40,000 to those communities.
“So that shows you how dear to the President and his heart the Amerindian people and their communities are,” Ali declared.
“He continuously refers to Amerindians as the custodians of most of our natural beauty and our forest, because the Amerindians are the persons who have been safeguarding these forests to a large extent,” the Minister pointed out.
He said the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) has now gotten Guyana international fame and posited that “not only is it a strategy that would benefit the world, in terms of global warming but it also would promote and accelerate Guyana’s own development pathway.”
The country will now be looking  towards a low carbon economy, which will mean that it will have to aggressively pursue hydropower, as well, Ali said.
He observed that the Capoey community is an excellent example of a low carbon community, alluding to electricity being generated by a solar system powered by the sunlight, made possible through the Government’s objective of hinterland electrification.
“We are willing to find innovative ways of solving your problems. So, I am very happy that your electricity problem is solved to a large extent,” Ali stated.
Turning to water supply, he acknowledged that, for a long time, residents have been using water from the creek and two wells.

HARDSHIP

“I know the hardship you have gone through but, with the intervention of the Government, I am proud to say now that we are  almost completing the trestle with the storage tanks at an approximate cost of $3M and, in addition to that, we will be installing a solar pump and the entire system, which cost approximately $1.5M and, together with installation and transportation, the final sum is about $2M,” Ali informed.
He said the investment of nearly $5M to improve the water system is, indeed, massive but is fully subsidised by the Government.
Asked about the possibility of getting water to every house, Ali replied: “As development goes to a different level, expectation also goes to a different level. You have all right to demand a higher level.”
He gave the assurance that the Government will ensure aggressive work to give them better service and the incremental development, not all at once but as it gets revenue.
Meantime, the multi-purpose hall, the health hut and school facilities are going to get direct connections to the water system, Ali said.
“What we will also examine is to see how, as far as practicable, we can set up some standpipes along the way so residents don’t have to come right up in front,” he stated.

“This Government, your Government stands committed to you. We stand committed to ensuring that we give you the best of service we possibly can. You are always in our thoughts,” he reiterated.
“I can assure you that, at Cabinet, the President would ensure that, even the smallest of villages is reflected in every development plan that we pursue,” Ali stated.
Toshao of the village with a population of 410, Ms. Valerie De Younge welcomed the ministerial team and explained that the Village Council, with the help of the Government, has been maintaining the access road to the village but asked if it could be improved as early as possible.
“You (Government) have been investing and spending so much on us. It is very good and we do appreciate it,” she said.
Joined by Mainstay/Wyaka Toshao, Ms. Yvonne Pearson, the Minister and party then inspected a $3.6M water project being executed near to a new housing scheme being funded by Food for the Poor.
At Lake Tapakuma Village, where they were welcomed by the Toshao, Ms. Doreen Jacobs, villagers raised several concerns.
However, the community is getting a new trestle with storage capacity, utilising a solar system to be installed for $3.5M, including a network that will go directly to the cassava mill, the Village Office, the school and the health centre.
Accompanying Ali were Permanent Secretary in his Ministry, Mr. Emile Mc Garrell; Regional Chairman, Mr. Ali Baksh and Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) Hinterland Manager, Mr. Akram Hussain.
Their tour included Tapakuma, St. Deny’s and Mainstay/Wyaka.