WHEN President David Granger addressed regional chairmen following their swearing-in in June he urged each of the Regional Democratic Councils to fashion a Plan of Action for Regional Development (PARD). It should include initiatives for attracting investments leading to new economic activities and job-creation.
Addressing the newly elected councillors of the 10 RDCs at a leadership forum held at the Arthur Chung International Convention Centre (ACICC,) Liliendaal, last Friday morning, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan advised that the regions will not be left on their own to craft their respective PARDs.

He disclosed that the RDCs will be receiving full support and active collaboration from the ministry to assist in this task. He further stated that the ministry has approached several agencies as well for support. The ministry has already engaged the Ministry of Finance which has agreed to provide technical consultants who will work with the RDCs to provide the specialised skills needed to prepare the action plans.

Minister Bulkan also advised that the ministry has approached the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP,) the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB,) and UNICEF. All of these agencies have indicated their willingness to provide support to the RDCs and have pledged to approach other international agencies to support and guide the councils, the minister said. He said that one such agency is Conservation International, which has done considerable work and provided significant support in the past to hinterland communities.

The ministry has also initiated contact with some of Guyana’s leading private sector companies regarding providing skilled personnel to be a part of an Advisory Board to give support and guidance to the council in this endeavour.

The Regional Democratic Councils will be fashioning PARDs’ for the period up to 2020.

The PARDs are in keeping with President Granger’s earlier address to the National Assembly and declaration that his administration “will wage war against poverty under a social compact characterised by an inclusionary process,” and that “providing jobs for our people-particularly our young people-will be one of our priorities.”