COMMITMENT to resolving concerns pertaining to water, transportation, and land titling issues were made when Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker, held a series of meetings with residents of several Region 7 communities.

The communities visited were Batavia, Kartabo, Riverview, Itaballi and Agatash. Accompanying the Minister was Regional Executive Officer Peter Ramotar.
Access to potable water was among concerns shared among Batavia, Itaballi and Agatash, that Minister Whittaker pledged to bring to the attention of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) for resolution. For Itaballi, the concern was that the well servicing the community is shallow and unable to meet the needs of all residents.
Another common concern was the challenges faced by senior citizens who have to bear the cost of travelling to Bartica to collect their monthly pension. Exploring possible options with residents, Minister Whitaker suggested that the pensioners authorise either the village toshao or councillors to uplift their monies.
One Itaballi resident having experienced the cost attached to paying for her child to travel to Bartica to conduct research and photocopy documents for her School Based Assessments (SBAs), suggested that the village be boosted with a library and  resource centre equipped with computers.
These suggestions will be explored, but in the meantime, Minister Whittaker suggested that the community seek to establish the library as soon as possible, using a section of the school.
At the Riverview meeting, a councillor of Faul Mouth called for a multi-purpose building for that community, that will also serve as a venue for visiting government officials to hold meetings.
Minister Whittaker suggested that the villagers consult with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs about using its presidential grant to meet some of the cost of constructing such a building.
For the reason that Faul Mouth does not have the facilities to hold meetings, and the decision to hold meetings in the village will mean the disruption of the school as this is the only venue available, the meetings must be in Riverview.
Minister Whittaker expounded on the need for the village council to hold regular meetings with residents, and to provide a financial report of the resources and spending, following concerns raised in the villages of residents being unaware of the money collected as royalties for logging and mining.
The minister explained that it is the duty of the village council to keep the village informed by presenting these monthly reports that clearly break down the inflow of cash received and from which enterprises, the outflow of cash and the cash balance. The report will also clearly state where this balance was being kept, the minister said.
Questions were also put to the minister pertaining to the council’s rights as it relates to fees for use of the village lands for logging and mining. One resident of Riverview questioned the council’s move to charge an entrance fee to the community’s backland for mining, even before the actual operation, which again carried a fee.
Minister Whittaker explained that the council governs the use of the village resources, provided that the council’s rules concerning the use of these resources are not contrary to the existing laws or are not discriminatory. (GINA)