— Lindeners complain as Gov’t looks to address concerns

By Vanessa Braithwaite

WHEN a Government ministerial team comprising Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Junior Minister of Communities, Valarie Patterson; Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix; Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sidney Allicock; and Junior Minister of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, visited the mining town of Linden for a second time on Friday, Lindeners took the opportunity to raise their concerns about bad roads, land allocation issues, and public assistance.Intent of getting their concerns addressed, scores of Region 10 residents flocked the partially inundated Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, braving the inclement weather to seize the opportunity to speak to members of this team.

The team of Government ministers paid keen attention to the residents’ concerns and responded to their queries.

Also in attendance were top Government officials representing various agencies, such as the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Social Protection, the Guyana Revenue Authority, the National Insurance Scheme, the Guyana Water Incorporated and the Lands and Surveys Commission. Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, was also there.

Minister Harmon told the gathering that the administration is bringing the Government to the people. “This is not just a meet-the-people, this is an exercise in dealing with issues which affect you as citizens, and what we have done is actually brought the Government out here…. The decision makers are here, and we expect that once you come to them and there are issues which affect you, they will be able to make decisions here on the ground,” Harmon said.

Minister Simona Broomes echoed similar sentiments in stating that, as a mining community, Region 10 residents may have issues relative to mining and the environment, and she is here to assist them.

“We are here to serve the people of Region 10 if; they have concerns in mining, forestry, environment, we are here,” she declared.

Though residents met with various representatives individually or as a group, many persons revealed to the media that their issues had to do with land allocation and the tedious process of acquiring land.

In addition, residents bemoaned the terrible state of roads in many communities. Concerned citizens flocked Minister Valarie Patterson and team, yearning for answers and solutions to infrastructural development in their communities, and for answers in relation to land allocation.

HIGH FARES
Moblissa resident Denise said she had journeyed all the way to Linden to chat with the team concerning infrastructural development within Moblissa.

She told the media that residents, farmers and students are forced to walk seven miles to the Linden Soesdyke Highway in order to avoid paying the $2500 drivers demand for a drop, because of the deplorable state of the roads.

Denise said Moblissa is in dire need of infrastructural development. “Because of the transportation problem, we have a lot of dropouts, we have teenage pregnancy; only yesterday we had a high school student coming from lessons and get rob in the trail,” she said, adding: “Well, they promised that they are going to look into it, but we need more than looking into, because is a long time now we just getting ‘we gon look into it’ and promises, and nothing is being done… We want something to be done immediately,” she said.

Some residents expressed satisfaction with the responses they received from the team, while others were optimistic that solutions would be forthcoming soon.

Owell Hinds of Amelia’s Ward told reporters he is satisfied with the process thus far, and that he was given all assurance that his issue concerning water would be remedied in a matter of days.

Another resident who visited the Ministry of Citizenship’s booth expressed satisfaction with the way her issue was handled, and was optimistic that it would be resolved earliest.

“My birth certificate was burnt in a fire. Every time I try back at GPO, they don’t have any records of my birth; so I come here today, and I am pleased with what I heard, and I will do what they say on Monday, so I can get it back,” she said.

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
Many single mothers asked the officials from the Ministry of Social Protection to provide them with public assistance. They revealed that it is very hard economically to fend for their children single-handedly while being unemployed.

Merna Andries told this publication that she is really in need of public assistance, as she cannot afford to send two of her school-aged children to school.
Andries is unemployed, and recently gave birth to a baby boy.

“I get a son and another lil daughter, and deh father don’t give them nothing; and a wan help, cuz is high school and is til over the river, and I ain’t get no money for transportation,” the mother related.

The regional officials expressed appreciation to the Government for bringing the initiative to Linden for a second time in the year thus far.

Regional Member of Parliament (MP) Jermaine Figueira described the efforts of the Government and Ministers as a reflection of selfless service to the people.

“This exercise demonstrates that the ministers are committed towards serving the interest of the people in the sense that they are not serving from their offices, but are actually bringing Government directly to the people of Guyana,” he said.

According to Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland, a monthly outreach of this nature would be appreciated.
“The people are looking for answers, and answers that are sometimes out of the reach of the local authority; and I believe that we want to hear from the Ministry.”

The ministerial outreach was organised by the Ministry of the Presidency, and Region 10 is the fifth region that has benefited since the APNU+AFC Administration assumed office.

Though all issues will not be solved immediately, the ministers assured the residents that there will be follow-ups to ensure that all the issued raised are addressed.