–to roll out US$150M YEIRP projects

UNDER a US$150,000 Youth Empowerment, Inclusion and Reconciliation Project (YEIRP), Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Mr. Norman Whittaker, ventured to Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam) last Wednesday to commission two of the many projects to be materialised through the YEIRP.

At Supenaam, Minister Whittaker congratulated YEIRP participant and Chairperson of the proceedings, Ms. Gangadai Persaud, for proposing that a bus shed be erected at the Supenaam waterfront.

Persaud is one of 30 participants who had been exposed to a two-year project with seven modules of training which had been funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Giving an overview of the project was UNDP Programme Analyst Mr. Trevor Benn, who noted that participants were asked to design a community project for the benefit of those within their environment.

He congratulated Persaud for her choice of project, stating that the bus shed “is very important for the use of commuters in Essequibo.

With focus in Regions 2 (E/bo Coast), 3 (E/bo Islands/West Demerara), 4 (Demerara/Mahaica), 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice); The YEIRP is a US$150,000 scheme aimed at addressing the challenges of inadequate youth participation in governance, and persistent social changes that deprive them of their rights. It is being executed in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Speaking on behalf of the UNDP, Deputy Resident Representative Ms. Chisa Mikami expressed her organisation’s willingness to aid in projects which invoke youth and community development. “The Youth Empowerment, Inclusion and Reconciliation Project aims to address the challenges of youth participation in governance, and the persistent social challenges which deprive youth of the fulfillment of their rights,” she said.

Not only will the project encourage the youth to become “protagonists for good social and governance practices”, but it will also, “increase youth participation in development programmes, and develop a feedback mechanism for youth and policy makers to monitor policy and programme implementation.”

Also addressing the gathering was Region Two’s Democratic Chairman Mr. Parmanand Persaud, who disclosed that, for some time, passengers traversing the Parika-Supenaam route have longed for a waiting area to shelter from the elements as they await speedboats docking at the area.

He disclosed that he had been involved in some talks with Ms. Gangadai and the Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region 2, Mr. Sunil Singh, to effectively consider which project would benefit the residents of the region.

The RDC Chairman declared that while there had been much concern and many suggestions on how to utilise the $1M granted to Ms. Gangadai, priority had been placed on the much needed bus shed.

He affirmed that the Regional Administration had played its role in aiding to refurbish washroom facilities for males and females around the area of the waiting shed.

The bus shed, which cost an exact figure of $999,960, will benefit some 700 commuters along the Parika-Supenaam route on a daily basis.

Supenaam resident Gangaram Seosankar expressed appreciation for the shed, considering that some commuters have been forced to brave the elements during the rainy season.

At Cotton Field on the Essequibo Coast, Minister Whittaker moved the day’s proceedings when he re-commissioned the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Hub at the Cotton Field Multi-Purpose Building, donated by the UNDP through the Local Government Ministry.

In his remarks, Whittaker reaffirmed the commitment of the Government of Guyana to facilitating scientific and technological advancements in Guyana. “Our Government determined many years ago that a computer-literate population was essential for accelerating the pace of development and the quality of that development,” he said.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Ms. Chisa Mikami declared: “The hub will be a place where technology-oriented individuals gather and bounce ideas around and network for the benefit of their respective communities.”

She said, “The hub will open an enabling environment where (the) community of tech entrepreneurs can grow, and innovative ideas can be born from collaborations through an atmosphere of working together.”

The officials urged the students present to make the best of the centre in advancing their abilities for a professional career, thus empowering themselves to face society’s many challenges.

(By Derwayne Wills)