– following protest by residents

THE Ministry of Communities is preparing to dispatch a team to the Port Kaituma, Region One district to meet and discuss with residents a detailed community development plan following protests over bad roads in the area. The team will include Ministerial Liaison, Mark Crawford; Principal Regional Development Officer, Surendra Khayyam; Project Manager, Naeem Khan; Member of Parliament, (MP) Richard Allen and officials from the region.
The visit is a follow-up on a previous trip taken by officials to the area last week to meet with residents and gather their inputs on a Local Area Economic Plan (LAEP).
However, officials reported that the turnout at the meeting was dismal and far from encouraging. Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan said the ministry is aware of the considerable challenges facing several regions, particularly the hinterland. However, he noted that central government is committed within the parameters of its financial resources to address these challenges.
“We are prioritising the most critical areas. In my estimation, this road falls within that priority range and so within our budgetary allocation we are prepared to make an emergency intervention,” Minister Bulkan said.
He added that the ministry, through collaboration and the necessary inputs of the regional and local authorities, will continue to engage residents.
Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley met with residents of Citrus Grove, Port Kaituma, on June 30 and after listening to their concerns highlighted the region’s plan for the community.
He explained that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) remains committed to a collaborative approach with all stakeholders and is hopeful that the road can be rehabilitated as early as possible.
“I told the residents that while the NDC might be responsible for getting it fixed, there must be a collaborative approach between government, the RDC and residents. I also asked them to consider their options and examine what can be accomplished through self-help,” Ashley stated.
Regional Executive Officer Leslie Wilburg echoed similar sentiments that the region is committed to having issues affecting residents resolved and that regional authorities are supportive of any developmental effort that will be of benefit to residents and the region at large.
Only last week, contracts were awarded by Cabinet for rehabilitation of two sections of roads in Port Kaituma. Government has already awarded contracts to begin work on the stretch of road from Port Kaituma to Matthew’s Ridge and to Baramita.
Under the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) initiative, a technical team from the ministry is working to develop a Local Area Economic Profile (LAEP) for Port Kaituma, Arakaka and Matthew’s Ridge. (Ministry of Communities)