NINE of the 10 Administrative Regions across Guyana received equipment and tools from the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development yesterday.
Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) did not receive their equipment because of the absence of a representative at the handing over ceremony.
Their Regional Executive Officers (REOs) received the purchases, valued a total of $22M, from the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Nigel Dharamlall at the Fort Street, Kingston, Georgetown Ministry. Solar systems for lighting, refrigerators, land tillers, gasolene and diesel generators were among the things handed over and Dharamlall said the recipients will do the distribution in the respective communities and villages.
He commended the REOs for the progress made in dealing with their capital and current works programmes despite the fact that the weather has been one of the negatives in executing road building and other construction.
Dharamlall disclosed that a management information system (MIS) was recently established within the Ministry so that regional officials could, at any given time, determine the physical aspects of works, completion level, expenditure to date, etc.
He said a hotline telephone number was also made available, through which officers can respond to issues on a daily basis.
Dharamlall said the ministry has employed monitoring staff who would check all health and other facilities, in the various regions.