-Local Gov’t Minister tells Region Eight residents

GUYANA is now a full-fledged democracy that has witnessed monumental social and economic changes, and it’s people can celebrate Republic anniversaries because pride and dignity have returned to the celebrations.

This view was adumbrated by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr Norman Whittaker, last Saturday evening on the eve of the nation’s Republic anniversary, to residents of Kopinang in the remote Region 8.
The Minister and the Regional Executive Officer, Mr Ronald Harsawack, joined the residents in commemorating the country’s Republic anniversary at the community centre. Speaking of the difficult years prior to the PPP/C government taking over, he said, “Now we celebrate because pride and respect have returned to us.”
The minister spoke of the role played by the People’s Progressive Party in “moving us from where we were in the gutters” and in advancing the country and rights of all the people, including the Amerindians. “Let us celebrate tonight (Saturday) the fact that the indigenous people in this country are now in a position where they can make decisions for themselves, without unnecessary interference at the level of government,” he said.
Guyana has come a long way since its first republic anniversary, out of a period of being an undemocratic state, under a dictatorial government which suppressed the people. Significant strides were made since those days following the restoration of democracy in 1992, under the PPP/C rule, with the groundwork set by the late President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan. This has since been built on by each successive PPP President and Government.

“What we are saying is that when you look at where we were in 1970, when those people said that we were a Republic, to where we are now, in those times they had nothing to celebrate, because we had achieved nothing. But today, 44 years later, we have a lot to celebrate,” Minister Whittaker noted.
From 1992 to present, the PPP Government has not only improved the rights of the people, but has maintained a stable macro-economic environment conducive to creating employment and economic growth, and has modernised and built critical infrastructure. Minister Whittaker noted that Amerindians too are part of this success story.
“We have today Amerindians who are doctors, Amerindians who are engineers, Amerindians who are education officers and Amerindians who are Ministers. You too have something to celebrate, our achievements in the social services…and though we may not be doing well enough in terms of the village economy, I say to you that Rome was not built in a day and we cannot achieve everything at one time, but we will work together with you to ensure more improvements as we go along,” he said.
The PPP Government has worked since the advent of its ascension to office to ensure all the races of Guyana have an equal share in the country’s resources. “We have always delivered on all our promises set out in our manifestos,” Minister Whittaker noted. He told the residents that government will continue to work and will do all of the things that the Opposition is seeking to block or cut, and bring progress in education, health, infrastructure, roads, transportation and water.
Harsawack spoke of government’s tangible support and contribution to the development of the residents of Region 8. “Last year we saw the completion of miles of roads, new bridges, culverts, schools and health centres… education delivery through our increase budgetary allocation saw pass rates significantly increasing in the areas of Maths, Science, English and Arts.”
He said that upgrades and renovation were done to school buildings, sanitary facilities, teachers quarters’ and dormitory facilities throughout the region, while the health services improved with the expansion of new services and training of key and critical medical personnel.
Harsawack said for Kopinang in 2013, government delivered on its commitment to rehabilitate the nursery and primary school, the community health centre, and supply school furniture and solar panels.

(GINA)