MINISTER within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Jaipaul Sharma, has assured residents of Potarinau, Region Nine that their land titling issues will be addressed at the upcoming National Toshao Council Conference.

“This administration is committed to dealing with these issues…soon there will be the National Toshao Council and various toshaos will be raising the same issue and it will be addressed,” he said. The minster was at the time responding to questions by residents during a community meeting on Saturday. Explaining how the matter was dealt with, Minister Sharma explained, “The previous administration would have given you (Potarinau) an extension to your land. However, this became an issue because that land was already requested by another village…the coalition government is now working to sort out this issue.”

The minister noted that issues such as land titling should have consultations involving all the respective persons or groups before making a decision. The residents thanked the minister, noting that once this matter is settled, it will allow them to further develop the community’s infrastructure. To this end, the junior Infrastructure Minister disclosed that there are plans to construct a bridge at the entrance of the village so residents can have easier access to their community.

Before wrapping up his meeting, Minister Sharma distributed 10 electronic tablets to the village and a quantity of cricket gear for the village’s cricket club along with volleyballs, footballs other sports equipment and several farming tools. Minister Sharma is one of several government ministers who have fanned out across the Rupununi Region over the weekend to meet and engage with residents of Region Nine. The exercise is organised to listen to the concerns of the residents and to craft solutions. (DPI)