MINISTER of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan promised residents of Fort Island that he would look into the issues that the community is facing, in an attempt to improve the tourist hotspot.

On Sunday, the Minister visited the island to participate in its maiden Mashramani celebrations. While there, he spoke to some of the residents who shared their concerns briefly and asked that he returns another day to have an in-depth discussion with them.

“One of the issues has already been identified as the stelling,” Minister Ramjattan told the Guyana Chronicle.

“This is an extremely important heritage site… it has the Dutch Court of Policy and so many other aspects of that Dutch history that we have to make sure that the stelling is overhauled and repaired and rehabilitated,” he stressed.

During his visit, he noticed several groups of tourists– both foreigners and locals– who visited the island as part of a popular ‘Essequibo River tour’. And with these tourists frequenting the island, he said, “… it is important that we get all the infrastructural work that will help them.”

One young boat captain, who lives on the island, stressed that the stelling was a sore point for many of the tourists who would go there to enjoy the rich culture found on the island.

Other residents also highlighted that they had no playground or community centre in which they could engage in leisure activities. They claimed that they had a plot of land that they would use, but that had been taken over by farmers.

“We are going to come again and talk to them,” Minister Ramjattan said.

He also shared that the residents had told him that they had confidence in the government.

“They like what the government have done so far. They like the fact that we are present and the fact that when called upon, we did arrive, and that is important,” he said.