OVER the years, government’s input has seen progressive growth and improvement in infrastructure, access to education, healthcare and increased agriculture production across the administrative regions and with the swearing in of eight new chairmen and two returning officials, the regions are expected to continue benefiting from massive investment and major advancement to better the lives of the people. The newly sworn in Chairmen of the 10 administrative regions yesterday outlined to the Government Information Agency (GINA) some of the priority areas and projects that they will address to ensure the development continuum.

Region One-Barima-Waini
Chairman, Paul Pierre said that emphasis will be placed on the strengthening of all sectors and on working in the framework of government’s policy to ensure that all of the region’s programmes are done in a timely manner.
“We have the solar system project which is very important for our region… we intend working very closely with the ministries to have that come off. My intention also is to work closer with the manganese company (Reunion Manganese) as they are making significant contributions in the Matthews Ridge area, so that development can occur at various locations.”

Region 2-Pomeroon-Supenaam
Parmanand Persaud indicated that he will continue in the areas where his predecessor, Alli Baksh, left off. “He did an excellent job in Region 2, and I promise to continue all these various works… I intend to work with the youths of the region to make sure that things are better, especially in the area of sports and education.”
Support for rice farmers in the region is also on Persaud’s agenda.  “The region enjoys an agricultural based economy and rice is one of the major crops growing in my region, I will work hard with rice farmers to make sure things go better for them.”

Region 3-Esseequibo Islands/West Demerara
Julius Faerber, who retained his post as chairman, said his efforts will be directed at extending the region’s social development.
“There are a few issues pertaining to social aspects, truancy, and domestic violence, and we in the region will be working with agencies in ensuring we minimise some of those instances that are happening across the region,” Faerber said.
“We will be working very closely with farmers in ensuring that we upgrade their access to farm lands as well as having proper D&I areas so that they can have better crops,” he said.
Other focus areas are education and health, and these will be brought up to acceptable standards, the chairman promised.

Region 4-Demerara -Mahaica
Like Faerber, Clement Corlette retained his post as Regional Chairman of Region 4 and he expressed pleasure at the opportunity to continue the region’s work.
“We are anxious to have our budgetary releases, the priority would be to get the D&I work on the ball,” Corlette said.
The RDC will work with the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development to support and guide the functioning of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) in the region, the Chairman said.

Region 5-Mahaica-Berbice
“Region 5 is an agricultural based region, the economy is about 70% agriculture related, so our priorities would be looking at the D&I structures,” newly elected chairman, Bindrabhan Bisnauth said.
Education and health, he said will not be left behind, as those will be priorities,along with helping the NDCs to move along with their programme.”

Region 6-East Berbice-Corentyne
Region Six’s Permaul Armogan said he will emphasise the need for supportive programmes to advance agriculture in his region, and drainage and irrigation will be a key area.
“We have problems at our NDCs, so very quickly we have to be able to resuscitate those NDCs so to ensure they are working again, as quite a number of them are defunct; so unless these NDCs function, the residents would not benefit the way they are expected to,” he continued.
Armogan also said that education and health will also be priority areas and while work was ongoing through the years, a lot more can be done. The region has been doing well in education, but, “we want to bring it back to what it used to be in the 1960s and 80s,” the chairman explained.

Region 7-Cuyuni-Mazaruni
Gordon Bradford is back as chairman for the region, after serving from 2001 to 2006. “One of my visions is to have the community of Bartica cleaned up, because it is not in a state that we would like to see it,” Bradford said.
Listing other areas to be addressed, he said, “We have to look at mining issues, we have to create avenues for the sustainability of our region…health also, I don’t think we can be satisfied with the state of our health services within the region, also education, the lack of qualified teachers.”

Region 8-Potaro-Siparuni
Mark Crawford is the chairman for the only Alliance For Change controlled region.
“I’m humbled to be elected as RC, and as you know Mahdia, Region 8, is a mining industry, mining actually sustains the economy of Region 8, so one of my first priorities is to ensure that proper mining procedures are practised at all times, according to GGMC’s specifications,” Crawford said.
He said he looks forward to working with the government and the other parties to ensure that the region play an important part in Guyana’s development.

Region 9-Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo
Region 9, Chairman Wilson Lorentio said that he would effect his work to the satisfaction of the people of Region 9 as he was elected to do.

Region 10-Upper Demerara- Berbice
Kuice Sharma Solomon, who replaced Mortimer Mingo, said that among some of Region 10 priority areas will be addressing employment and agricultural expansion. He also said emphasis will be placed on more involvement in developing the region.