WHILE many were celebrating in Georgetown, Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, accompanied by Regional Executive Officer Rafel Downes, was in Region 8, where he celebrated the arrival of New Year’s with residents there.The minister intends to listen carefully to the concerns of Region 8 residents. He is scheduled to spend one week in Region 8, during which he will visit several communities, including Chiming Mouth, Kurukabaru, Itabac, Kanapang, Lamana, Kato Waipa, Sand Hill, Kaibarupai, Kopinang and Chenopai.

Minister Bulkan departed Georgetown on the morning of January 1, 2016 and arrived in the region within the hour.
A release has said his first day visit was to the communities of Monkey Mountain and Paramakatoi. In his remarks to Monkey Mountain residents, shortly after his arrival in the region, Minister Bulkan expressed his pleasure to be among the villagers during their New Year’s celebrations. He wished the residents a happy New Year, and said, on behalf of the administration, that government cares about all the people of Guyana, including those who reside in the hinterland regions.

Region 8, the minister said, is as important as any other region. And on that note, he said that although his visit is not the first he has made to the villages and communities of the region, he hopes to return before the end of 2016.

Minister Bulkan delivered similar greetings and sentiments while in the other Region 8 communities. In his remarks to all the communities he visited, the minister stressed that each village is part of Guyana, and residents of all communities will be treated with respect by the Granger administration.

He said that each citizen is entitled to the attention and service they receive from the Government, and promised that this would be delivered.

As he travelled from village to village, the minister noted that Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) have the principal role of identifying the needs of their respective regions.

He promised Central Government’s full support to RDCs, as they are allowed to carry out their constitutional mandates.

In a new development, Minister Bulkan revealed that village leaders are now being invited to attend meetings of the RDCs, unlike what obtained in the past.

Shabakie Fernandes, the local representative of Caring For Others Inc (CFOI), was invited by Minister Bulkan to accompany him. Her Atlanta-based charitable organization has donated several items of clothing, to be distributed during the trip as part of a collaborative effort between the Government and CFOI.