Whittaker responds to needs, aspirations in Moruca Sub-Region
YOUTHS in Karaburi Village of Moruca Sub-Region, of Region 1 (Barima/Waini), though probably having qualifications and great aspirations, have been encouraged to make good use of the types of employment available in that area, as a stepping stone to achieving what they really want. Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker issued the exhortation after a villager, Vivian Abraham told him, last Friday, that many youths in Karaburi were successful at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) tests but can find no jobs.
The minister was on an outreach visit to the community, to hear the people’s concerns and record their recommendations.
He was accompanied by Regional Executive Officer, Mr. Nigel Fisher and Regional Democratic Councillor, Mr. Marko Boyal. Two more teams, comprising other ministry and regional officials, went to several other villages simultaneously.
Responding to the issue raised at Karaburi Primary School, the minister explained that government helps to create employment when it undertakes work on schools, health posts, hospitals, roads repairs, building bridges, etc.

Sole creator
However, the government should not be viewed as the sole creator of employment, as it cannot simply use taxpayers’ money to do just that, he said.
“Young people have to understand that we have to accept what is there, before us, until our desire is fulfilled.
“They have to accept and bless until what they want comes their way. Some young people only want jobs of the desired type. But, sometimes, you have to use what is available to launch into what you really want,” Whittaker advised.
Recalling how former President Cheddi Jagan felt that youths were neglected under ‘Burnham’s rule’, the minister said that is the reason so many schools were established by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government.
He said that, previously, youths could not have accessed secondary education.
Now, though, Whittaker highlighted that government is spending millions of dollars to build schools, purchase books, distribute uniforms and provide hot meals.
But he observed that, of the 209 children enrolled in the Karaburi Primary School, on average, only 91 are attending classes there.
“In order for them (children) to become successful, we have to educate them,” Whittaker reminded parents, while urging them to desist from keeping the children at home.
He remarked that some parents would not send their children to school but, in the end, when they fail their examinations, teachers and the government are blamed.
“You have to send them to school. Otherwise, there is a law that could cause you to be charged,” the minister warned.

Obtain scholarships
He reminded parents that those children who do well could even obtain scholarships.
Karaburi, currently, has a health post and one health worker and a resident lamented that surgeries and x-rays, among other things, cannot be done in the village whenever there is an urgent need.
Whittaker promised to look into those issues, acknowledging that the job of a health worker includes reaching out to people and not just waiting for them to visit the health hut.
He said a good health worker would find out how the elderly ones in the village are doing.
Another resident, Peter Abraham expressed his desire for the health post to be upgraded to a health centre, stating that many cases would have to be referred to the “big hospitals.”
But Whittaker responded that several factors would have to be considered in such upgrading, such as the size of the population etc.
He admitted that there is a need for the village to have its own toshao as the one now in place is responsible for Santa Rosa Village.
“I would, personally, volunteer to be the village captain,” Abraham told the minister, before thanking the  government for the solar panels that have been received.
Whittaker said there are requirements to becoming a titled village and told Abraham to look at the Amerindian Act to see if Karaburi qualifies.
The minister said government’s focus on agriculture has positive results, because Guyana does not have a food crisis and lines cannot be found anywhere.
Again, he referred to the ‘Burnham days’ and said that was a time when there were “food lines like flies.”