A MAJOR multi-ministry Public Day is set for Wednesday, March 27 at the Square of the Revolution (Cuffy Square) as the government ups its efforts to bring critical services to the people.

From 9:00hrs, ministers and officials from 17 ministries and 12 departments and entities would be available to address the concerns of citizens. The government is advising persons to bring along extra copies of all documents to aid in the acceleration of the pace at which their issues are addressed.

Officials from the Ministries of the Presidency, Communities, Public Security, Education, Social Protection, Business, Public Infrastructure, Finance, Agriculture, Legal Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Telecommunications, Indigenous People’s Affairs, Public Health, Natural Resources and Social Cohesion and the Office of the Prime Minister would be present.
The Department of Citizenship, the Department of Public Service, the Central Housing and Planning Authority, GO-Invest, Guyana Power and Light, Guyana Water Incorporated, Guyana Revenue Authority and the National Insurance Scheme are among entities that will also be present at the outreach.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who will be among ministers present, said where possible, the authorities on the ground will be able to make on the spot decisions as he urged citizens to capitalize on the opportunity.

“We will be taking government to the people. We will be moving out of the offices and we’re going to be taking government and its departments into communities where people can bring their concerns and have it addressed right there,” he said while addressing a group of people at Durban Backlands Squatting Area on Saturday.

He said the public day provides a platform for citizens to engage ministers on issues.
The State said the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government has taken critical steps to decentralize public services. Explaining that there are three tiers of government in Guyana – Central Government, Regional Government (Regional Democratic Councils), and the Local Government, Minister Harmon said regional and local leaders are now better equipped to provide the required services and address concerns of residents within their districts and local areas.

“In the past, you had to go to Central Government, many of you had to go to Freedom House to meet a minister (but) what we have done since we came into office, we have revitalized the local government system. We have given power, we have given the authority to the local government officers,” he explained.

The Minister alluded to the fact under the APNU+AFC Administration, Local Government Elections have been held twice within three years as constitutionally required. “We are now broadening the way in which government operates with the creation of new townships in this country. So you don’t have to come from Bartica, from Linden, from Lethem to come to Georgetown to get service. Passport offices are now being decentralized; our Lands and Surveys offices are now being decentralized and several areas of government activities are being decentralized,” he said.

Public Services are now better reaching citizens right in their communities, Minister Harmon emphasized, noting that all communities will be a part of the developmental process.

Apart from the major public day planned for Wednesday, Minister Harmon noted that the government ministries and their departments will be going throughout the country to engage citizens on issues affecting them.