Dear Editor,
FIRST of all, let me take this opportunity in extending New Year greetings to the management and staff of your newspaper. I wish that in 2018 the good works will continue as to provide this nation with accurate news and views of the people.

I will like to bring to the attention of the readers and residents of Region Five, the many positives that took place in the year 2017. As we all know that the RDC was on a standstill for several months due to the unprofessional manner of the ‘PPP regional chairman’ by refusing to carry out investigations, whereby an NDIA excavator was misused in 2017 at Bath Settlement by PPP NDC officials and also the hiding of letters from the RDC pertaining to the housing rebate in 2016. While during that time the PPP cried that there was a standstill in works within the region, works were actually ongoing at a tremendous pace.

Region Five in 2017 under the watch of Mr. Ovid Morrison, who is the REO, did exceptionally well in ensuring that there was progress in all sectors across the region although the RDC statutory meetings since April 2017 wasn’t happening due to the ‘PPP chairman’.

I must congratulate Mr. Morrison for his professionalism and work ethics that he has shown to the workers of the region, the RDC councillors and also the public. This man is truly for the people and wants to see development within the region. He has ensured that all the workers are being treated and heard fairly. His interaction with the staff of the RDC and the public is being admired by all and that is one of the reasons why Region Five is once again on the road to major development in 2018.

In 2017, the regional administration must be commended for works in all sectors, be it in education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, etc. The region has seen vast improvements in road networks within villages and other facilities that benefitted the people of the various communities. In the health sector, there have been tremendous improvements. Hospitals and health centres have seen major improvements-be it in staff, drugs, facilities, etc. There have been improvements in patient care at the health facilities and moreover better health services. Several awareness programmes were kept so that the public can be health conscious and know the effects.

In 2017, the Health Department added two more new health centres that are being considered as smart facilities at No.3 Village, West Coast Berbice and at High Dam Mahaicony. Both of the health centres are expected to be commissioned in early 2018.
I must commend the health department for the vision and also all the staff for putting lots of efforts into ensuring Region Five has better health services. I know that in 2018 there will be more positives from this sector. In the education sector, there have been lots of enhancements. We saw the upgrade of school facilities. Better teaching services in the various schools, be it nursery, primary or secondary. The region’s children benefitted from several outdoor educational programmes, debates and work studies.

The schools’ welfare department has done a fantastic job once again in 2017 by ensuring that children go to school and after school, they quickly get home because the welfare officers are on the road. There have been fewer children liming on the roadways since. There were several programmes that benefitted the teachers, children and public during education month 2017. There are lots more happening but I will not go further.

The education department did not end their work there in 2017. As I have said in 2016 and would like to repeat in 2017, what could not have been achieved in the past decades under the PPP has been achieved by the department. It will soon be a reality for the children in Perth Village and surrounding areas, as works are ongoing for a brand new nursery school in the area.

Allow me to say thanks to all the staff within the Department of Education Region Five for a job well done towards improving the education sector. I know that 2018 will be better for our children and teachers under the department work programme. We saw works being done to great satisfaction throughout the region. It is being well monitored and I can clearly say, we are having value for money. Several village roads and bridges were constructed and some rehabilitated to the satisfaction of the villagers.

I must commend the Regional Engineer, Mr. Sukha and team for a job well done during 2017 and do look forward to more and greater success in 2018. The agriculture sector has seen vast improvements. We all know that Region Five is a heavy agricultural area. Works have been done to improve the lives of the people in all the sectors.
Works on drains and canals have been high on the agenda so as to avoid major flooding in the region and also to get water to both the cash crop and rice farmers. Outreaches were done with organisations such as NAREI and the Agriculture Ministry so as to benefit the people.

In 2017, at Mahaicony a tarmac was constructed and saw the fisher folk benefitting tremendously since. Overall, as a regional representative of the people, I must say that Region Five has done exceptionally well in ensuring that the people of the region benefitted in all sectors. On behalf of the APNU+AFC RDC Region Five councillors, I will like to say congratulations once again to the Region Five RDC Administration for working towards “Creating A Better Life For All” and looking forward towards greater development in 2018.

Regards
Abel Seetaram
Regional Councilor
Region Five