THERE is great economic potential in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), and the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), once re-elected, will capitalise on this to raise the standard of living of the region’s people, President Donald Ramotar reassured residents there during a visit to the Rupununi on Saturday.The President was at the time addressing hundreds of people from more than 50 communities in the North, South and Central Rupununi at Rodeo Ground, Lethem, who gathered to meet and show support for a return of the incumbent government at the upcoming polls.

Outlining major development plans the incumbent government has in store for Guyana and Region Nine specifically, the Head of State urged the people of the Rupununi to prepare for the highly-skilled jobs and opportunities for economic ventures that will be created through planned investments.
“The Rupununi and Region Nine is just a microcosm of what has been taking place in our country,” the President said, adding, “And over the next five years, we have more plans… Here can become a centre for creating higher-paying jobs for our country; and that is why the PPP/C Government has focused on preparing people to capitalise, by providing free education, from nursery to secondary, and technical education, as well for those who did not complete the formal system.”
TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

On this note, the President announced that the government plans erecting a technical institute in Region Nine to equip persons with the necessary technical skills to provide support services to the expanding and emerging industries.
High on the development agenda, once his government is re-elected, President Ramotar said, is the construction of a Deep-Water Harbour in the Berbice River, and a highway from Lethem to Linden that will connect Brazil to the existing road network all the way to Berbice.
All this will be undertaken, “so that Guyana can become a maritime hub, where Brazil and other South American countries can do international trade via Guyana, and we would be able to integrate more with the South American neighbours,” he said, adding:
“That gives us the opportunity to create an economic free-zone that will be able to create a lot of jobs for our people…So we have to prepare our people here in Region Nine to take the jobs that are coming here.”
He noted that many of the plans government had for development and the creation of jobs for Guyanese were shot down by the political opposition in the National Assembly.

“The last three years have not been easy in our country. Every major plan we had the opposition cut. Never one day did they use their majority seats to help build schools, or roads and or help develop our society. All they did was cut, cut, cut!” he said. He added that the cuts were deliberately aimed at stymieing progress and making Government’s task difficult.
Among the plans affected was the hydro power project, which would have accelerated Guyana’s growth by providing cheap energy and, “that is why we had identified the Amaila Falls as one of the areas that we should generate electricity from. We are also looking at other hydro electric possibilities,” he said.

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY

The President disclosed that the government, in collaboration with neighbouring Brazil, is exploring other possibilities for hydro-electricity in Guyana, and that at present, feasibility studies are being done to locate other areas of opportunities. He told Region Nine residents that the power lines for the ‘hydro’ project will “pass through here, and you will get power; and we will be able to sell excess power to Brazil.
“That will allow us to develop our country to become a manufacturing country; and that will give us thousands of new jobs so that our people would have greater opportunities to earn a decent salary and make a living.”

He noted that in spite of the anti-development thrust of the Political Opposition, the government has managed to have an average growth of five per cent yearly. He also noted that the government is trying to build the capacity of the workforce so that the country could attract high-end investments, based on its highly-skilled people, and not on the basis of cheap labour, as is common in many developing countries.
Given the importance of value-added production to the development of both the region and the country as a whole, President Ramotar reassured Region Nine that the Administration is working assidiously at putting the necessary infrastructure in place, “so that we can turn our agricultural products into more industrial produce; so that we can transform cassava from the staple you eat, and also use it to make fuel.”
“We want to produce new crops to broaden the base of the economy, and increase our yield per acre, thereby increasing production,” he said. “The Savannah could capitalise on crops such as soya beans and corn, and support stockfeed for the livestock industry. The infrastructure we are putting in could allow us, in a very short time, to develop.”

BRIDGE OVER KURUPUKARI
On the issue of local development, the President said the government plans to bridge the Kurupukari Crossing and connect the entire Rupununi via road as far as Region Eight. Such a connection, he said, will not only make travel easier and less time consuming, but cheaper as well.

Residents were told of his optimism that Guyana will find oil from the current exploration activities, which will make the task of development less challenging, and earn Guyana more money to spend on its people and “a lot of resources we need to accelerate development across these villages.”
Education is the tool that will prepare the country to eliminate poverty and hence, persons in the Rupununi should ensure they stay in school and pursue their education even after secondary school, he urged.
While Government has managed to reduce the poverty rate from 80 percent of the population living in poverty to 20 per cent, further reduction is highly dependent on every child securing a sound education.
“The potential and opportunities that exist in these areas,” he said, “are enormous for development, and we are investing in the human capital, our people to ensure that they will be able to take up the challenge and benefit directly from the development.”
The President also urged all, young and old, to take advantage of the information technology hubs being created in the hinterland to ensure they learn to use the computer, as Information Communication Technology has tremendous potential, as well to create jobs and bridge traditional disparities between the hinterland coastal areas.
The President reassured Amerindians and hinterland residents that the government has their best interest at heart, and reminded that it was the PPP/C Government that created many opportunities for them to have equal access to social and other services and economic opportunities as coastlanders.

These efforts have resulted in there being about 33 Amerindian doctors up from a single one in the past, an Amerindian girl from Region One topping President’s College at CSEC a few years ago, and numerous persons studying at the University of Guyana, the Guyana School of Agriculture and the Cyril Potter College of Education.

NO FAIR PROMISES
He noted that the PPP/C Government has invested heavily in the hinterland, and is not making elections promises like the Opposition, but rather has a consistent development agenda focusing on the people. He said that the Opposition cannot be trusted, as they now profess to care about Amerindians after cutting funding for several initiatives from the national budget that were geared to help Amerindians. “Now that it’s coming near to elections there are lots of promises…but can you trust them with your future? How can they claim to love young people and try to stop them from having a university education? These are not luxury things they were cutting from the budget these were essential things to help you…and when we put it back, they moved a no confidence motion.”

Seeking their support at the May 11 polls, the President said, “The votes are in your hands,” and urged that they reflect of the progress under the incumbent government and use their votes to continue this trend.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett also noted that there has been much progress for Amerindians under this government, including the allocation of the entire month of September to promote their culture. She said there are now numerous schools in Region Nine, especially secondary schools, since in the past there was a single secondary school at St. Ignatius.
“This shows we are serious about Amerindian development and that includes culture, preserving and promoting it,” she said. The PPP/C has a proud record in office, while the opposition shies away from the past because of their 28-year record that left Guyana beaten and wounded, she said.
Prime Ministerial Candidate for the PPP/C Elisabeth Harper also pointed to the progress and strong leadership under this party for Amerindians, noting that once re-elected, the government would ensure all activities aimed at Amerindian development and preserving and promoting their culture will receive support.
She also promised to ensure that the legal framework is in place and enforce to ensure the protection of the rights of women, the elderly, children and persons living with disabilities.
Speaking to young people, she noted that Guyana is growing and there will be many opportunities for them to stay here and capitalise as government is working to put measures in place to create more jobs. These include further facilitating micro enterprises’ development and amending the Small Business Act to encourage such ventures and give greater protection to small entrepreneurs.
Other speakers spoke of the many achievements for the Region under the current government, especially improvements in the social services and increased focus on training for professionals such as teachers and medical staff. (GINA)