– Prime Minister
CABINET on Friday returned to Region Ten, but this time the consultations were concentrated in Linden as the government continued to encourage entrepreneurship and wealth creation, and a weaning off from the traditional sectors, which have proven vulnerable to exogenous shocks.

Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali (at right) speaking with a resident during Friday’s Cabinet outreach to the town.

After President Bharrat Jagdeo and ministers fanned out to various sections of the mining town earlier in the day, they gathered shortly after midday for a Cabinet meeting at Watooka House, the site of the May 22 Cabinet outreach meeting.

Speaking to the people of Linden on the need to push the emerging sectors of the economy, Prime Minister Sam Hinds said that in the old days, bauxite “was very good to us.” But he said that by the 1960s, because of the emergence of other bauxite producers and other world factors, the best days of bauxite “were already behind us.”

He said the challenge is to develop the capacity of other economic activities of the region.

“We have been doing this for the last [almost] 20 years,” Hinds said. He said that while the government is trying to refashion old industries so that they can at least pay their way, most prospects lie in the new sectors.

He, however, drew some light heckling when he said that Linden is much bigger and brighter than before.

(From left to Right) Prime Minister Sam Hinds, President Bharrat Jagdeo and Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon sharing a light moment during Cabinet Outreach in Linden on Friday.

But he noted to the sizeable turnout, “What we see in Amelia’s Ward was not there 15 years ago.”

The Prime Minister pointed out that while the country and its various communities continue to have their challenges, “we see development of partnerships important.”

He said: “We are focused on changing the mindset of people. They must see themselves as potential entrepreneurs.”

The Prime Minister said too that the community is seeing a greater focus on agriculture.

He noted his pleasure at seeing that the call centre in Linden, after three or four attempts, seems to be on a successful path.

Hinds said that the government cannot legislate that Linden does well, but this commitment to do well must come from the people.

A member of the community posing a question to the team of visiting Cabinet members.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, said that travelling throughout the country, Cabinet members have seen a reawakening of interest by families and communities.

He said process and progress are two factors that “we cannot lose sight of” taking into consideration where the administration started off with when it took office in 1992.

He said: “We want to recognize the contributions made by our leadership, not only the government but of [communities and residents].” He said the government is making itself accountable to the people through the Cabinet outreaches.

“Some say that we are dictators, arrogant and imbued with our own successes…we have something to say to the world. We should not walk with our tail between our legs,” he declared. The HPS noted that “we are proud and confident that we have been able to mobilize Guyanese.”

Luncheon characterized the Cabinet consultations as part of the efforts to reaffirm its commitment to the people of Guyana.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Roger Luncheon speaking at the outreach on Friday.

He said the government wanted to give the average Guyanese quality of life, to restore hope so that they may have the satisfaction in the contribution that they are making to the country’s development.

“As long as there is work to be done, we must commit ourselves to fulfilling our destiny,” he said. According to Luncheon, inclusive governance is not a political topic. “It is for us a venerable tool, an instrument to achieve what has been [achieved],” he said.

At the end of the meeting, ministers and other officials sat with residents and made notes of issues, both personal and communal, with a view to following up in the appropriate manner.

Since the May 22 meeting, the government has allocated about $300 million to repair and upgrade roads and for other interventions, the need for which was raised at that meeting.