…residents heartened at first ever visit by sitting gov’t ministers

RESIDENTS of Winiperu, the small riverine community in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), have been assured that the government is well aware of their existence, and is working to transform them into a self-sufficient community.

Visiting the village on Wednesday, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings were told by Natasha Lowenfield, a resident, that in her 15 years living in the village, it was the first time that ministers has ever paid it a visit.

Gathering at a villager’s residence, the Bennet Shop, the minsters spoke directly to residents and were able to set in motion plans and ideas to improve communication, electricity, water and finance-related problems.
Between 150 to 300 persons live in the village, with the majority of them being employed in a logging company in the area. Some of the company’s employees who live in the village away from their families, requested an improvement in the area’s cell phone connectivity so they can not only communicate with their relatives, but also access government services.

Another resident, one Lawrence Williams, stated that transportation in the village is affecting access to emergency care, and there is limited staff at the community health post. Standing to speak, too, was Community Health Worker at the post, Ryan Joseph, who informed the minister that the facility is currently utilising lamps to see at nights due to an issue with the solar panel’s battery.

Resident at the meeting requested swift “action” to fix the issues, and suggested that a river ambulance be provided for emergencies. “I think an ambulance and the transportation is very important. Being a medical doctor, when we look at some of the maternal mortality or even neonatal mortality, it has to do with delays; a delay in transportation; access to the facility,” Minister Cummings said in response.

“We want to improve in that area, and so…I’m going to follow up that personally with the Region to see what systems can be put in place,” she said.
Minister Cummings also informed the residents that interested persons with three or five CXC subjects can be trained to work at the health post in their communities as a means of giving back.

BATTERY FOR SOLAR PANEL

Minister Patterson committed to supplying a battery for the solar panel at the health post shortly, while he committed to speaking directly with the Minister of Public Telecommunication about improving the signal in the village. One Fedal Garraway had suggested that the government set up a solar farm in the village, as community residents would be only too willing to pay for the service monthly to ensure its longevity.

Minister Patterson noted that the easiest part of that suggestion is acquiring the solar farm, but connectivity will pose an issue due to how sparsely they are spread out. “I must admit that we have never looked at [a solar farm] for Winiperu, but it’s something that can be explored,” he said.

At the meeting, there were also issues raised related to the collection of pensions,which is also affected by transportation; access to the village’s river landing; and the need for computers at the village’s primary and nursery schools. “I am quite distressed to hear about the pensioners, and I will raise this as an urgency,” Minister Patterson said, even as Minister Cummings took note that placement of a paymaster may be the best option.

Regarding access to the river-front, Minister Patterson said he will ask the Ministry of Natural Resources to relocate the access way and clear a path to do so. Other residents brought forward issues relating to accessing birth certificates and other documents which the ministers referred to as “hanging fruits” that can definitely be addressed.

CHOOSE YOUR FUTURE

At the outreach, the ministers also took the opportunity to remind Winiperu residents that with elections now fast approaching, they must decide which group of leaders is best suited to lead them into Guyana’s prosperous future. Minister Patterson said that while members of the Opposition may very well roll into their region soon as a part of their political campaign, residents must be not be swayed by idle promises which were not fulfilled in their 23 years in government.

“We have a vision. People will come and tell you all sorts of bad things about this government. And that’s politics,” Minister Patterson said. “But when they come, I would like you to ask them: ‘What is your vision?’ We had four years, and they had 23 years, and a minister never came here.”

Residents couldn’t agree more when he said that “big thinkers” are needed to move the country forward, and not on a selective basis, but so that all Guyanese, no matter where they reside, can benefit.
As he reminded his audience, under the rule of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Guyana was deemed a ‘narco state’, a state of affairs that is now being significantly improved and reversed under the present government.
He said that after such a tainted past, people like Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo are seeking to professionally “make over” themselves as more appealing to the public. In comparison, Patterson described President David Granger as a leader “grounded in discipline” who will not allow anything ill to befall the people of his country.

BETTER TOGETHER

Meanwhile, Minister Cummings told residents that millions of dollars have been injected into the Region for projects in education, health, infrastructure and more, and that the government wants to continue doing so.
However, to achieve this, she told them that they must redouble their efforts to support the Coalition for a landslide victory in the upcoming elections.

“Now more than ever we need to work together for the good of our community and our country,” Dr Cummings said. She also urged Winiperuans to rally together to place greater emphasis on meaningful community organising techniques in their leadership structures and at the level of Party.

Among some of the projects she described as being transformative to the Region were a new CT Scanner at the Bartica Hospital; roads in housing schemes network refurbished to the tune of $11M; the construction of the Kamara Bridge to the tune of $6M; the $3M upgrade of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) section of the Bartica Hospital; and the completion of the Primary School in Parima to the tune of $28M.

“After suffering 23 years of the PPP’s underdevelopment and oppressive governance, we brought a change, comrades. We brought a new lease on life, so to speak, to this beautiful country of ours,” she stated, adding:

“The time has come for all of us to put aside our petty personalities and differences and work together. We must go out there and tell our story, and be as persuasive as we can so that we can convert those who do not recognise or realise that our government is the right government to take care of Guyana.”

Following the interactive session, long-time resident, Natasha Lowenfield, who had initially noted that the ministers’ visit was much appreciated, said on behalf of her fellow villagers, “We’re very thankful for what you’re doing here today, and we’re looking forward for your support in the future.”
Before leaving Minister Cummings also paid a visit to the Winiperu Primary and Nursery Schools to examine their needs and to encourage the pupils and teachers while Minister Patterson visited the health post.