Gov’t ‘good-life’ promise is all-inclusive –Minister Ally assures Region Six
Minister of Social Protection Ms Amna Ally, speaking to residents at Moleson Creek,Corentyne,Berbice
Minister of Social Protection Ms Amna Ally, speaking to residents at Moleson Creek,Corentyne,Berbice

MINISTER of Social Protection, Ms Amna Ally, sees the huge investments in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) as being indicative that the government’s “good-life” promise does not exclude anyone.
She said as much last Wednesday at an event in the Crabwood Creek, Jackson/Moleson Creek area, and proceeded to name those projects, among them the refurbishing of over 30 roads; the building and repairing of several access bridges; the installation of water-distribution networks; and the provision of several vehicles, free of cost, for taking particularly schoolchildren to and from school.
She even went as far as to assure them that they need not fear being discriminated against, even though the APNU+AFC coalition did not have a strong showing in the region at either the general or local government elections.
“Some of you may have seen the ‘David G’ buses taking schoolchildren to school; we did not say that the people of Region Six didn’t support us,” Minister Ally said, adding:
“I must tell you that Region Six has the most ‘David G’ buses; we have three buses in Region Six.
“And we have one boat in Baracara and hundreds of bicycles across the region. And that is a demonstration that we do not believe in segregation.”
It was learnt that during the minister’s previous visit to the area, residents had raised with her many issues that were of major concern to them, and had even called on the government to address the various needs of the communities.
MADE MANIFEST
On Wednesday, the government’s response was made manifest with the installation of a water-distribution network at Moleson Creek, which was a first for the area.
It was also announced by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI)’s Managing- Director, Dr Van-West Charles, that not only will a well be installed in the area by December, but that what is called “a well field” will soon follow.
Minister Ally used the opportunity to urge residents and executives of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) to speak out, so that the government would know what their needs are, and make every effort to have them addressed.
“We believe in wholeness; togetherness, and that everyone must have equal opportunity,” she said, adding:
“Today, that is being demonstrated here in Crabwood Creek; not only water in Crabwood Creek, but we have done developmental works in the entire region…
“I want to tell you that since we came into office approximately two years now, we’ve been able to refurbish 31 streets and roads across this region; we have been able to do access bridges in this region, and right now, a sore point, the East Bank Berbice Road, that is being addressed.”

She said that President David Granger, in maintaining his stance that he is the president of all Guyanese, has encouraged his ministers to take their ministries to the people through community visits so as to better understand the needs of those communities.
It was through one such community visit, she said, that Moleson Creek, for instance, was able to access potable water, thanks to the government’s quick intervention.
She assured Region Six that though their needs are many and tremendous, the government has taken a keen note of them all, with the intention of addressing them.
“It’s one day at a time,” she said, “and I am sure that before you know it, all of your problems will be solved, and you are going to have that “good life” that His Excellency President David Granger promised you.”
She later told the Guyana Chronicle during an interview that apart from their not having water, the residents of Moleson Creek had earlier complained about a number of things, such as people not receiving their pensions and the closing of a school in the area.
“They have also spoken about their roads and dams and so on,” the minister said. “But when it comes to the infrastructural work and physical works to be done in the area leading to the school, we would have to look at that…

“For years they would have been enduring this same situation to get to school. At any risk, I will encourage the children to go to school, even though the dam or the road is not in the best condition, and we will seek to alleviate that problem.”
As to the matter of senior citizens not receiving their pensions, Minister Ally said: “When I investigated the matter, it is a case where sometimes the person is out on the coastland, and sometimes he is in the interior, and his proof of address really could not have been verified.

“But that has been verified now, and so they are looking into effecting it.”
On the issue of roads and how they affect Moleson Creek residents, the minister said that though public infrastructure does not fall under her ministry, she has already raised the matter with Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr David Patterson.
“It has to do with budget; whether they have money for it,” she said, adding:
“In this region alone, we have done 31 roads and streets; and we have 10 regions. We have really inherited a situation which is bad, so what we are doing now is taking corrective actions.
“And that can’t be done in a day. We will take time; we have to get money and other resources to ensure that it is done, but I can assure you that it is going to be high on our agenda.”

 

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