A TEAM headed by Chairman of Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Mr. Ali Baksh held a series of meetings with residents of Akawini, Lower Pomeroon River, on Thursday.
Speaking at Front View in Akawini, Baksh said the government’s focus is to develop all Amerindian communities, which he’d visited many times in the struggling days when the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was in the opposition.
He and former Member of Parliament (MP), Mr. Isahack Basir travelled to Akawini in a small 15-horsepower (hp) engine boat, and spent days in the vast savannah talking to residents.
Baksh told them that government has done well over the past 18 years, and there has been a big transformation across the country in every area of development.
He said the late Founder of the PPP and President of Guyana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan worked all his life for the people of this country, and that is what the party he founded is doing.
Baksh maintained that the government has a special interest in their communities and provided excellent free health care services for all Amerindians.
He said there are now new schools with secondary tops and dormitories in Amerindian communities and teachers are trained to deliver better quality education to children.
Baksh said the government aims to educate families and communities in general and he pointed out that a branch of Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) was established at Anna Regina, on the Essequibo Coast, for Amerindians to pursue studies there and then move to University of Guyana.
He said the government is also building a $60M dormitory to accommodate students from hinterland areas while they are studying at GSA or at the Government Technical Institute at Anna Regina.
Baksh also updated Amerindians on the One Laptop Per Family Programme, and the solar electricity scheme for Amerindian communities and interacted with residents on problems facing them.
Some people raised the issue of boundaries for their communities, brush-cutters to weed and keep their sports grounds in playing condition, and public assistance for handicapped persons.
Baksh promised 40 gallons of gasolene from the Regional Administration to transport 15 students between June 21 and 24 to write the third form examination at Charity.
He said the Regional Administration is also expected to donate a boat to the community to assist in transporting students to and from school.
Baksh was accompanied, as well, by vice-chairman, Mr. Vishnu Samaroo; Parliamentarian, Mr. Parmanand Persaud; Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Member, Mr. Omesh Oditt; Regional Development Officer, Mr. Daneshwar Gangoo and PPP members, Mr. Basil Persaud and Mr. Ayube Khan.
They visited Bara Cara and White Canima, too.