THE A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government is still in the process of working out the key geographical logistics for Mahdia to become a town.Mahdia, located in Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni), was among four areas identified by the David Granger administration for township status. In an Official Gazette (Extraordinary) dated October 21, 2015, Bartica in Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); Lethem, in Region 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo); and Mabaruma, in Region 1 (Barima-Waini) have been named towns.
These new townships now complement Georgetown, the capital, and the other towns New Amsterdam, Corriverton and Rosehall in Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne); Anna Regina, in Region 2 (Pomeroon-Supenaam); and Linden, in Region 10 ((Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).
“Unfortunately, we have not been able to work out the arrangements to allow for Mahdia to be named as a township, principally because of the issues relating to the constituency boundaries within the intended township or municipality,” Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan told the Guyana Chronicle Friday.
In an attempt to work out the geographical logistics involved in the process, the government has commenced consultation with residents in the targeted areas in the hope of drafting a timetable that will outline critical projects necessary for the transformation of these communities into townships. This general plan of action is expected to be completed by 2016. Transformational projects will be executed between 2016 and 2020, when the towns are expected to be fully transformed.
Minister Bulkan said key areas will be addressed within the four-year period. “It has to do with solid-waste management in an effective and environmentally-friendly manner. This, unfortunately, is a sad feature of the management of many of our communities throughout the country. It has to do with adequate provision of continuous and reliable energy or electricity, and the focus now is for the provision of ‘green’ energy; renewable and alternative energy,” he explained.
BRAZILIAN ASSISTANCE
Already, Brazil has offered to assist Lethem in its transformational plans, according to Region 9 Chairman Bryan Allicock.
According to Allicock, two Brazilian companies have offered to assist in the development and construction of a drainage network, and the re-designing of roads in the community.
“At the moment, we have no drainage network in place… Our Brazilian counterparts have volunteered to work with us; they build roads, and do landscaping,” Allicock said.
But for this partnership to bear fruit, he said, it has to be done through a government-to-government arrangement through the Foreign Affairs Ministries.
As part of infrastructural development, Allicock said, there is an urgent need for a fire station.
“We have a fire tender, but no servicemen; just volunteers. No fire department; just volunteers who drive. So we have spoken to the Minister of Communities, so we can have trained people; paid people; people to be on standby, because, recently, we had about six fires and by the time they got there, it was too late,” Allicock said.
Meanwhile, another area for development, which has been placed on the table by the regional authorities, is the improvement of the water-supply system in the community. It was explained that though the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is in control of several drilled wells in the community and across Region 9, much more can be done to improve the quality of water being supplied to residents.
Currently, there are 55 wells across the district, with more than 90 per cent being photovoltaic (PV) system wells, while the remaining 10 per cent include hand-dug windmill wells, and hand-dug shallow wells with Mark II hand pumps.
Over in Bartica, residents are eagerly awaiting the status of township, saying that it is long overdue. “It is a known fact that Bartica is a beautiful land with beautiful people.
“It is undoubtedly one of South America’s major tourist attractions, and the gateway to some of the world’s most valuable natural resources: gold and diamonds.
“So, it’s our belief that our township status will benefit Guyana; economically, politically and socially,” Gifford Marshall, one of the regional councillors, had said during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle.
President Granger, during his visit to Bartica in June, had announced that the mining community would gain township status by April 23, 2016, in keeping with an ordinance made by the British Government some 178 years ago.