MAJOR infrastructural development is in the pipeline for Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) in 2019, said Minister of Public Affairs, Dawn Hastings-Williams in her presentation on the fourth day of the budget debates on Thursday.

Hastings-Williams, who is responsible for the region, said the government is doing way more for the communities in the region than what was done by the previous administration.
She lamented the inadequate infrastructure which the current administration met when they took office in 2015. The minister contended that from 2011-2014, monetary allocations for public works in the region was a mere 10 per cent.

Monetary allocations in the region have since increased by 4.8 per cent, taking the total allocations to about 13.4 per cent from 2015 to 2018. “We are on track in the region and we are beginning to have roads,” said the minister, who managed to attract the attention of her colleagues who started to shout “proper roads too.”
Among the communities to benefit from road upgrades is Bartica where government will be constructing a pedestrian pavement and asphalting some of the main access roads in the town. Roads from Kato to Waramadong will be rehabilitated as well, as part of an effort to improve transportation between the communities.

Residents of Kaburi will also be able to travel freely since government has made provisions to rehabilitate the Kaburi Bridge. A special education building will also be constructed at Bartica while living quarters for doctors will be constructed in Kamarang where the villagers will have a resident paediatrician. The minister said there are many more infrastructural projects in the pipeline; projects which she believes will enhance the entire region.

Minister Hastings-Williams said government will be constructing a $50 million airstrip at Philippi and installing photovoltaic systems (solar powered systems) in the community.

She contended that budget 2019 has a lot in store for ordinary people, especially in the hinterland regions.

Another major project in the pipeline for the region is a $375 million investment in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Hubs in the hinterland.

“This government will not embark on projects on elections, we look at our people in a better way,” said the minister.

Government remains committed to supporting the preservation of indigenous peoples’ culture. To this end, government has contributed $203 million in 2018 to support indigenous peoples’ cultural celebrations. In 2019, government will contribute $210 million to sustain the hinterland people‘s festivities. These include: the Heritage Pageant, Rupununi Rodeo, Rupununi Music and Arts Festival and Upper Mazaruni district games.

Government has prioritised development of hinterland regions as reflected in the increased investments in infrastructure, education and health. These interventions will directly and indirectly impact the lives of our hinterland people.