MINISTER of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, has said that Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West DEmerara) will soon get a capital town as part of government’s drive to promote economic development at the regional level and bring easier access to public services for citizens.

“This administration was elected on a pledge and promise to breathe new life into local democracy and to put local democracy at the front and centre of our development,” Minister Bulkan told a gathering of Region Three residents.

In so doing, he highlighted that budgetary allocations to all regions were increased equitably; this forms part of a public policy of decentralisation and local empowerment, aimed at enabling local issues and challenges to be addressed by local persons.

“This is designed to remove decision-making from Georgetown — a misplaced and dated approach to managing our resources and economy– which in the past has produced much poverty, unemployment and under-employment,” he posited.

The minister reminded that Mabaruma, Bartica, Mahdia and Lethem were upgraded to capital towns since the APNU+AFC government assumed office and brought back focus to local governance. And in so doing, he noted that the communities have since received a “tangible, rapid transformation” of the landscape.

“Lest you are wondering, we have not forgotten the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara region. Soon your region will also be able to boast of its own capital town, with its own mayor,” he shared.

This, he said, is a move that the government is using to confront issues that the regions face by “handing the decision-making power back to the people where it belongs, as envisaged by the crafters of our constitution.”

“We will be examining possible locations in consultation with the regional administration, the Chamber of Commerce and industry and you, the residents, for the capital for your region,” Bulkan noted. “Whether it will be Vreed-en-Hoop, Parika, or somewhere in between, it will be an area with development potential.”

He also noted that it is the aim of government to continue empowering and building the capacity of regional and local governments to take responsibility for creating growth and business opportunities for the constituents of the areas.

President David Granger had highlighted that it was his vision to have a capital town in each region to promote economic development and enhance the delivery of public services in each region.

As such, Bulkan related: “We believe that each of our 10 administrative regions can be rich and deliver to each of its citizens enhanced services, whether it is health, education, etc, which will improve the quality of life of citizens nationwide.”

And in keeping with the government’s mandate to focus on regional development and promoting a better life for citizens, another leg of the massive government outreach programme, dubbed “Bringing Government to the People,” will be held on Sunday at the Leonora Track and Field Centre in Region Three.

This event is specifically to address the concerns of citizens residing in Region Three, and will provide them with the opportunity to interface directly with their ministers and other public officials.

The event begins at 10:00hrs and citizens are advised to bring along extra copies of all documents related to the matter they intend to discuss with their ministers.