-development evident in region
SEVERAL issues of national development were raised, and a number of priority projects suggested by residents as a team of Local Government officials, led by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, conducted a four-day outreach to Region 9. Dharamlall, accompanied by Hinterland Development Coordinator Harrypersaud Nokta; Regional Executive Officer, Region 9, Ronald Harsawack; and Hinterland Engineer, Ministry of Public Works and Communications, Naim Mohammed held meetings in various communities, including Sand Creek, Katoonarib, Shulinab, Shiriri and Potarinau.
The visit, which served as a continuation of Government’s unwavering commitment to addressing matters of concerns affecting the grassroots, was aimed at exploring options where development can take place.
Dharamlall, in his address at Sand Creek, spoke of the many developments undertaken in the village which have aided its rapid transformation over the years, allowing residents to benefit from basic amenities.
He said that, for too long, Amerindians were isolated, and through the PPP/C Administration, their livelihoods became on par with residents on the coast. This will be further advanced this year as villages will soon benefit from projects with financing from the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) Hinterland Electrification Programme.
To improve the living standards of Amerindians, the Administration initiated the Hinterland Electrification Programme through the Office of the Prime Minister, which will see over 11,000 households benefiting from solar home systems.
Dharamlall stated that during 2002 to 2010, 1,750 hinterland homes were illuminated through the use of solar power, allowing residents to move away from kerosene lanterns.
“The electrification programme’s implementation is also linked to the much touted Amaila Falls Hydropower project, a major component of the LCDS to transform the country’s economy and eliminate the country’s dependence on fossil fuels and rising fuel prices for electricity generation,” he said.
Region 9’s REO, Ronald Harsawack, spoke of the many developments, especially in improving the road network, which has significantly improved the time-span to traverse each community when transporting produce.
Access has been a major hindrance for residents in the past, and according to Harsawack, this will soon be rectified as works are moving apace for the upgrade of the main access road to Lethem and Aishalton.
He said, “$990M has been injected to complete major road construction and rehabilitation in Region 9 for this year alone.”
He posited that while many culverts were rehabilitated and constructed in the region, due to its vulnerability to flooding, a doctor will be permanently stationed at the Sand Creek health post shortly.
Harsawack told the residents that three veterinary and four extension officers are currently stationed in the various communities to assist cattle, rice and cash crop farmers with proper husbandry practices.
They will also benefit shortly from the distribution of livestock under the Ministry of Agriculture’s Breed Enhancement Programme which is expected to complement government’s food security policy.
During the visit, Toshaos of Karasabai and Achawib, Elvis Edwards and Reginald Wilson, received an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) each, to aid in the transport of their village produce.
School attendance and punctuality have always been  major concerns for government, and over the years, several policy initiatives and programmes were implemented to ensure attendance level increases.
These include the school uniform programme, for which $300M has been budgeted for this year, and the school-feeding programme, which has seen over 100 primary schools in Regions 1, 8 and 9 benefiting.
This initiative was highly lauded by Shulinab’s Toshao, Vibert Ignace, who stated that since its inception, positive results were garnered as school attendance has been boosted. A call was then made for Government to continue the programme this year.