…PM tells Essequibo residents during gov’t outreach

RESIDENTS of Huis’t Dieren, Pamona and surrounding communities were admonished to hold their local leaders accountable, since some of the issues they face are as a result of neglect and lack of concern for their welfare.

Giving this strong admonition was Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, during a community meeting on Wednesday evening at the Aurora Secondary School, where scores of residents attended and voiced their concerns over issues that are affecting them at the neighbourhood and regional level.

Nagamootoo expressed astonishment that he, as prime minister, had to visit to listen to simple issues that are in the remit of local leaders, who were elected at the lower tiers of government, by the very same residents. He said no excuse should be given since central government allocates millions of dollars yearly with the expectation that it will be filtered down to the people. The PM was surprised at the fact that the NDC officials were not even present at the meeting to hear the concerns of the people. “You elect an NDC and the NCD supposed to look after your little problem. They consider themselves to be politicians, and they came to you for your vote, put me in office and I will serve you, there it is, when the prime minister comes to your community, your local leaders are not here. That speaks volumes of your local leaders, that they don’t have your interest at heart and you gotta pull them up for that,” he urged. He added, “I didn’t see the Chairman of this region, I didn’t see the Deputy Chairman of this region.”

“While these officials are absentees, residents are suffering, students are suffering, dorms are without lights, drains need desilting, drainage and irrigation is of major concern, schools are in a terrible state, revetment work needs to be done, among other things.”
These were some of the concerns raised by residents at the meeting. “The government gives the region huge sums of money a year to take care of agriculture, health, education, water supplies, basic services like drainage and irrigation, huge sums of money year after year and you come to the communities and people complain that they don’t have these services,” the prime minister said.

DONATION OF SPORT GEAR
In trying to bring urgent solutions to the issues, Nagamootoo committed to donating $100,000 in sports gear and equipment to the community centre, as well as to make representation with Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, for a more effective internet system to come to the community. The Regional Executive Officer, Denis Jaikaran, was also able to provide answers on some of the issues raised and promised to have them resolved at the earliest opportunity. In fact, the residents at the meeting, praised Jaikaran for the good work he has been doing in the region since the commencement of his tenure. The residents also commended President David Granger and his administration for genuinely trying step-by-step to bring the good life to all Guyanese. “In fact, we can see development in Supenaam, in Anna Regina and other areas; I must say I am happy to see what has happened. My honourable prime minister, please tell the President to keep on doing a good job, don’t look left, don’t look right, just keep on trusting God. You guys are doing a wonderful job,” Mr. Thom said.

In this regard, Nagamootoo urged the residents to stay the course with the government as what is left to be completed, will be, in another term since the coalition government made a good start. He said the government is committed to doing good for all Guyanese. “We need politicians of doing good, not just of winning power,” he said. Similarly, residents of other communities were engaged with other ministers at community meetings across the Essequibo Coast. This followed a massive government outreach that occurred earlier in the day.