Minister within the Ministry Agriculture, Mr, Ali Baksh, visited Dartmouth on the Essequibo Coast and addressed several concerns during interactions with residents and farmers.

The concerns centred on the development of a playfield in the community, the high rate of teenage pregnancy, school dropouts and the establishment of a bakery in the community.
Baksh welcomed the idea of a recreational facility for the children in the community and has since referred the matter to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for consideration.
On the matter of teenage pregnancies, he noted: “The issue of teenage pregnancy and school dropouts are indeed an alarming situation and one which should be addressed with urgency.”
Minister Baksh also entertained requests by farmers for assistance in securing planting materials and committed to their procurement.
Additionally, the drainage and irrigation works at the community level by the ministry and the regional administration was lauded.
“I want to thank the government and the region for assisting us in ensuring that we have proper drainage especially at the community level…we are a farming community and as such, drainage is essential,” one resident said.