AFTER 23 years under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), the hinterland region of Guyana is finally developing at a rate which brings to reality the coalition government’s vision of equity in development.

Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams said on Friday at a Peoples National Congress press conference that the people in the hinterland are no exception in President’s David Granger’s mission of securing a better life for all Guyanese.

She listed the establishment of 171 Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Hubs countrywide; the construction of modern roads in Mahdia in the Potaro-Siparuni region; in Mabaruma in the Barima-Waini region and in Bartica in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region.
Hastings-Williams said that the government has also created green spaces Hosororo in Barima-Waini; Lethem in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo and in Bartica.

The minister also said that the children in the hinterland have also benefitted from the President’s Five Bs initiative of the provision of free transportation through boats, busses and bicycles and the provision of books and breakfast.

“Today, children in the Pomeroon River, Mazaruni River [and] Barima River are accessing school through the David G school boat and children who have to go to school by road are attending school by using the David G school buses and bicycles. Adding to that, children are also receiving health breakfasts if not in all of the schools, in most of the schools in our hinterland,” she said.

She said that recently there have been improvements in the examination results coming from pupils and students in the hinterland which is vision of the President becoming a reality.

Hastings-Williams added that students coming from the hinterland to access tertiary education in Georgetown will now be housed in the soon-to-be launched $186M Hinterland Tertiary Dormitory located in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

“In the past, it was very difficult for them; they had to leave their comfortable homes and then had to find monies to pay rent, find places to stay and find money for transportation. [However], the government of today, which is a caring government is now providing accommodation for our hinterland students who will be attending the University of Guyana, the Guyana School of Agriculture, the Guyana Technical Institutions and others,” she said.

The Minister of State pledged that the coalition government will continue its efforts in this provide a good life for all Guyanese despite their region of residence.