– Minister Ramsammy tells Region Five residents
THE most recent Cabinet Outreach, like similar such outreaches in the past, saw government Ministers and other officials coming down to the level of the people, to the grassroots level, and at Number Nine and Seven Villages in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy made it clear that, for more than a decade now, the government has never stopped working for the Guyanese people.
“This is your meeting,” he said, adding:  “This is the people’s meeting…we want to know what is not good and what can be better…we are here to listen to you.”
The Health Minister met with close to 80 persons at both locations – Krishna Shop Square at Number Nine Village and at the roadside assemblage at Number Seven Village Middle Walk.
Ramsammy said the current administration’s intentions and desires may not be carried out in the way expected, for whatever reasons, but putting aside the blame game, the reality is that there is more to be done.
The Health Minister maintained that the government is not unaware of the challenges; rather it is making efforts, the cabinet outreach included, to address these.
“We do not want to make hardships for anyone…we are trying to preserve the law and accommodate the needs of the Guyanese people,” Ramsammy said.
He added that “real progress” has been made and this is not something that can be disputed.

FLASHBACK
Ramsammy pointed to education, health and the housing sectors, as well as the opportunities for training that have been made available to the Guyanese people and the infrastructural developments.
“There are fewer mud dams today,” the Health Minister said, pointing to the advancements being made.
He also alluded to the conditions of 1991 and those of present day and gave credit to the visionary Dr. Cheddi Jagan.
In 1991, six per cent of the national budget was spent on social services and under Cheddi Jagan, that number was 16 per cent.
Today more is being done; 12 per cent of the 2010 national budget is being spent on education and 16 per cent on health, as well as massive investments in the housing sector, among others.
The Health Minister noted that there has been many promises to the people by the previous administration, but today’s government is delivering on those promises.
He pointed to the promise of hydro-power which has been a promise for decades and stated that Guyana, in 2014, expects to advance the electricity sector with the Amalia Falls project.
He further alluded to the fact that computers in 1989 were a novel concept in Guyana and today Government is promising 30,000 laptops for homes in Guyana.
“Yes we are being criticized and people saying it will not work, but you go tell the family that is without access, an important thing in today’s world, that this is a stupid idea…we are empowering our people,” the Health Minister posited.
Ramsammy added that life expectancy in 1991 was 59-years-old, whereas today it is 70-years-old.
Change never occurs overnight and without effort, and the evidence of development is clear for all to see.
Ramsammy reminded the community residents that the country inherited by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) was a poor country with a large debt.
In 10 years, he said Guyana’s problem has been that it has been working to service its debt and pay public servants, leaving little to do much else.
However, Ramsammy stated that Guyana now stands as one of the few developing countries that have moved from under the burden of debt.
“Today we are faced with accelerated development,” he said.
The Health Minister added that under President Bharrat Jagdeo, both as former Finance Minister and President, Guyana has undeniably moved forward.
“No one can deny that there has been progress, but there are challenges in every community,” he noted.
Ramsammy said, at the end of the day, the bottom line is improving the lives of each and every Guyanese today, as well as “past them”, for the future generations.
“We are Guyanese people together…our successes are ours and so are our challenges,” he said.
The Health Minister noted that while there has been progress, the acknowledgment across the board is that more needs to be done, hence the community engagements.
“We have to make sure that for those who have supported us we continue to deserve their support, and for those who have not that we earn their support,” he asserted.
Ramsammy said the changes, the developments that are being made can be done because Guyana, without the burden of debt, has the ability to do so, and the administration has a vision to change the infrastructure of the country.
“The road to development is long, but the government is committed to making our communities better, committed to making our country better.”

COMMUNITY ACCESS
Highlighting the fact that the current administration makes itself available to the Guyanese people, something that happens in few other democracies around the world, Ramsammy said it is at this level that the people share their views on development and raise their concerns with those elected to lead and govern.
“We are here because of the people and we have the privilege of working for our people…forgetting the views of the people will be a fatal mistake,” Ramsammy declared.
The concerns raised at both Number Nine and Number Seven Villages were similar and ranged from works on the dams to facilitate farmers, improvement of drainage and irrigation, better roads, a review of the pension age from 65-years-old to 60-years-old, the need for streetlights, harassment of farmers on the public road with equipment and the need to demarcate bus stops to improve safety on the roads.
In Region Five, the Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary/ Agriculture Development Authority (MMA/ADA) is responsible for much of the work here, but the community residents agree that the body is lacking.
On the note of increasing the pension age, Ramsammy pointed out that several variables are involved before such a decision is made, inclusive of the availability of funds to do so.
He made it clear that the current administration is pursuing development, but will do so within its means so as to avoid a repeat of history, referring to a large debt which will hinder development in the long run.
Ramsammy informed residents that police were told to act reasonably with farmers who make their way along the public roads with their equipment and promised to raise the matter with the subject ministers as well as the Divisional Commander.
Ramsammy added too that communication is very important with regional authorities and other support bodies, so that all parties can be clear on the way forward.
Residents raised the point that they are in the dark about construction efforts, for example, until the contractor shows up and works begin.
But Ramsammy cautioned that “bit by bit we are making things better for our people.”
The Health Minister said not all these issues will be addressed overnight, but maintained that the meeting is a step in the right direction.
“We do not want these problems repeating themselves,” he said.
In this context, the Health Minister promised to take the concerns of the people to Cabinet level, so as to effect some action, and provide feedback though the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

“There has been development yes, but there are some things that could have be
en done better…the PPP will never underestimate or undervalue the feelings of our people who put us here,” Ramsammy posited.