Over the weekend, a team of government officials, including the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Ganga Persaud, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran and  Minister in the Ministry of Finance,  Juan Edghill and other officials visited Region 1, where they engaged residents.

To culminate their visit, they witnessed the commissioning of the Santa Rosa/Kumaka tarmac.
The $34.6M structure at the Kumaka waterfront will benefit vendors and taxi operators in particular.
Minister Persaud, in his presentation, acknowledged that the commissioning of the tarmac is another part of the success story of the PPP/C government as it moves closer to making life better for all Guyanese, regardless of their location. He pointed out that government’s investments will bring greater access and order in the way business is conducted.
The minister stated that to maintain the tarmac, a management committee comprising representatives from the Regional Democratic Council(RDC), Village Council and vendors was instituted.
For the next two years Cassandra Rodriques, Zola DaSilva, Eddie James, Richard Cornelius, Timothy Mendonca, Helen Thomas and Winston Baptiste will be responsible for the management and operation of the facility, on behalf of the RDC.
At the end of the two -year period, persons will be asked to submit names for the next management team, and it is anticipated that those who would have performed well in the initial committee will be re-nominated.
The committee members were urged to be fair and transparent in their actions, with the highest degree of accountability, and to constantly involve, not only the vendors and taxi operators, but the villagers as well so that they too can contribute to how the use of the tarmac can be maximised.
The minister restated  President Donald Ramotar’s position regarding  the maintenance of connectivity with all Guyanese, and the need to work as hard as possible to bring greater joy and happiness into the lives of everyone, since nation building requires unity and togetherness.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Collin Croal, said the tarmac’s construction commenced on April 15 with the contract being awarded to Sattaur Mohamed and Sons construction and Hardware Supplies. He added that the contractor is currently sourcing materials for the rehabilitation of the Santa Rosa bridge, which when completed, will enable easy movement of vehicles.
Croal also emphasised that the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is committed to working continuously with the communities in the Moruca sub-district to ensure that they benefit from government programmes.
Toshao Richard Cornelius noted that the realisation of the tarmac is a good example of development, hence the villagers must care for the facility.
While expressing appreciation for the structure, he highlighted that the community is developing positively and its needs are many, due to the number of vehicles which now exist in the sub-district.
He also expressed appreciation to the vendors who relocated willingly so as to facilitate the construction of the tarmac, and added that, along with the tarmac, the Village Council has envisaged the construction of a market complex.
A three-page document governing the use of the tarmac will be shared with the vendors and taxi operators so as to ensure their activities are carried out in an orderly manner.
The ministry has built about a dozen tarmacs in several regions to ensure roadside vending is eliminated.