A better Guyana needs people committed to national development
…Ramsammy says
Region One (Barima/Waini) celebrated the country’s 45th Independence Anniversary, focusing on the potential for greater change and the hope that exists for all Guyanese in modern Guyana. Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, representing President Bharrat Jagdeo and the current administration, joined the hundreds who came out from the different communities to the Mabaruma Recreation Ground.

A cross section of the gathering at the Region’s Independence celebrations

Addressing the gathering, Ramsammy’s call made it clear that a better Guyana needs people committed to national development, committed to taking the country forward from the springboard on which it is currently poised.
He stressed that Guyanese are now truly masters of their destiny, with the availability of more opportunities to translate dreams into reality.
“This is a special evening for us and we stand as proud Guyanese…we are not there yet, but we have come a long way and made sacrifices for a better Guyana, sacrifices that are worth the opportunities we have today,” he said.

OPPORTUNITIES AT HAND
The Health Minister added that the task ahead now is to take advantage of the opportunities at hand and propel Guyana much further, make Guyana a better place for future generations.
“In the area of health, we aspire for long healthy and productive lives for all Guyanese and we are making significant inroads to that target. In education, the dream is to achieve universal secondary education for all Guyanese children, as we have already succeeded in attaining universal primary education. And it is so in all the sectors, we can aspire for better and greater things because Guyana has the potential to do it,” he said.

Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
Ramsammy underscored the fact that the current administration is committed to investing in Guyana’s people, committed to advancing development through different initiatives, such as the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project and the moves in diversifying the economy.
He maintained that the future is bright and a stronger and better Guyana is built every day; and reiterated his call for a committed people, people who must ensure the reality of a better Guyana.
“We in Guyana can achieve greater success, moving forward as a united people,” Ramsammy assured.

ON THE MOVE
Region One Chairman, Mr. Fermin Singh, in adding his bit, maintained that Region One and, by extension, Guyana is on the move.
He recalled that Guyana was once the ‘Bread Basket’ of the Caribbean, which much of that ‘Bread’ coming from Region One.
“Government is supporting the revamping of agriculture and the region will soon, once more, be the productive district of Guyana,” he said.
According to him, steps are being taken to encourage farmers to advance from the subsistence level at which they now function and stressed that the potential is sitting and waiting to be developed.
At present, the Regional Chairman explained, more or less everyone is considered to be a farmer, working at a subsistence level, and those farmers that supply market demands, Singh said, do that on a fortnightly basis via the ferry, the MV Kimbia, which comes from Port Georgetown.

He noted that due to marketing strategies that did not work out well, farmers turned to other activities, like mining and logging, and farming fell to almost zero.
However, he affirmed that the ‘Grow More’ campaign has made a significant impact in changing this.
Singh observed, that the Ministry of Agriculture support also include advancing training programmes, coupled with the Region’s Secured Livelihood Programmes, which support the rights of the 20 Amerindian communities in the region.
He said, “We are talking about diversification now, and yes the farmers are adapting…soon we will be making more progress with processing our produce.”
Singh pointed out that a total of eight communities are assisted by the secure livelihoods programme.
Additionally, the Regional Chairman highlighted that economic projects are supported through grants of between $700,000 and $1.5M, made possible by the Government of Guyana.
“We recognise our independence and unity is the key to developing our Region and our country…development will continue as we make more moves to meet the needs of our people,” Singh said.

AWARDS
A community member receives a long service award for significant contribution to the Region.

The Independence ceremony was also used as an opportunity to award several community members who have contributed to development of the region.
They were awarded in the fields of agriculture, sports, youth and culture development, education, public works, health and administration of region.
A show of the local talent was also on the programme, and a cross-section of the community participated, particularly youths.

Students from the Hosororo Primary School perform a dance (Vanessa Narine photos)

The cultural items focused on the potential for greater change and the hope that exists for all Guyanese in modern Guyana.
At midnight, after the speeches were made and the local talent was displayed, the region stood still for that solemn moment – the hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead.
As the National Pledge was recited, Guyanese in Region One recommitted themselves to the vision of an even better and prosperous Guyana.

One People, One Nation, One Destiny