REGION 6 Regional Chairman David Armogan is optimistic that their activities for the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of Independence will be a resounding success since many businesses are onboard for both the region’s float parade, as well as the one to be staged in Georgetown.He told the Guyana Chronicle that they launched their Jubilee activities two weeks ago and the Minister within the Ministry of Education with responsibility for Sport, Nicolette Henry was there for the opening.

Armogan stated that since then, they have had a few activities but because of the inclement weather the street lime had to be postponed.
FOOD FESTIVAL IN NA
The Regional Chairman said that they are hoping they will be able to pull off their street affair, which will bring out hundreds of Berbicians for the Food Festival in New Amsterdam this week.

In addition, he said they have quite a few indoor activities, including sports, as well as debating competitions in schools.

Armogan told this newspaper that for the float parade they have a-100 strong participant band.

He said they also have a float parade in New Amsterdam as well, and many businesses are expected to participate, making it the biggest parade ever for Guyana’s 50th anniversary.

BUSINESS IN BERBICE
Meanwhile, Armogan explained that business in the region has been very slow as elsewhere in Guyana. He explained that it is because money is not circulating and so the spending power of many people has diminished significantly.

Sales have dropped and this has been noted for about a year now where sales have gone down to almost 50%, compared to two years ago.

Armogan noted that the Berbice economy depends heavily on rice and sugar. Many Berbicians are sugar workers and once sugar is not doing well, automatically the spending power would decrease as well.

The regional official added that the out-of-crop period is longer and the prognosis is not good since a lot of people are employed in the sugar industry.

CRIME SITUATION
Moreover, Armogan observed that the crime situation has escalated in the region over the past five to six months and it seems to be getting worse by the day. He further stated that almost every night someone gets robbed and more so the business community is being targeted.

Armogan noted that with the increase in armed robberies, fear has gripped the general population because they don’t know who is next and now businesses are closing up earlier than usual.

He said the bandits are attacking the business people and it is a worrying trend in the region, but they have had meetings with the police who have highlighted their efforts so far.

Armogan pointed out that while the police are trying to implement newer strategies to fight crime, especially on the Corentyne, the bandits seem to be a step ahead.

He said the bandits are using technology to plan crimes and utilise cell phones to coordinate attacks and remain aware of what is happening around them.

The senior regional official stated that even some locals are involved and feed information to criminal elements, who have been successful in carrying out robberies.

DEVELOPMENTAL PLANS
Armogan told this newspaper that they will roll out their regional programmes to be executed with money provided to further develop the region. He stated that they have been allocated $490M in the capital budget and a further $1B in current expenditure, which will also see several contracts being given out for remedial works and repairs to schools and public buildings, etc.