–Dr. Cummings urges Coomacka residents

OVER the last four years, the residents of the mined-out communities of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) including Coomacka, Old England-Siberia and Three Friends-Maria Elizabeth, have benefitted from noticeable developments; these developments range from rehabilitation of roads to the regularisation of lands. The residents, who hailed the government for these projects during a community outreach last Friday, were urged by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Karen Cummings, to stay on the path of sustainable, transformative development.

Dr Cummings was addressing scores of residents, who had gathered at the Coomacka Community Centre to air their concerns as part of the ‘Government- Comes-to-You’ initiative. Representing the region were Regional Chairman Renis Morian and Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira.

While it was evident that government has prioritised the development of communities there, Dr Cummings said it was still important to understand the issues residents face and provide solutions.
Focusing on the bigger picture of national prosperity and development, the Foreign Affairs Minister urged the residents to keep their eyes on oil production, as it will bring lucrative rewards, nationally. She said the benefits will also trickle down to the smaller communities.

“It is imperative that astute political leadership, firmly rooted in integrity, the rule of law, good governance and accountability prevails; the transformative development that has commenced across Guyana since the APNU+AFC government took office in 2015, is phenomenal and will be significantly accelerated when the nation benefits from the lucrative rewards of oil and gas resources,” the Foreign Minister told residents.

Dr Cummings said her government has been in preparation mode for the oil-and- gas era, and has worked over time to ensure that a positive trajectory in preparing the economy for this influx of finances. “Within four and a half years, the APNU+AFC Government has placed Guyana on a positive trajectory and is steering the country forward as a stable and growing economy…..You will decide if you want to return to a time of developmental stagnation, or if you wish to see the communities and lives transform for the better, under the astute and positive leadership of David Arthur Granger,” she told the residents.

Dr Cummings assured the residents that each and every one of them will benefit from the oil funds. “Our leadership is exemplary, our policies are people-centred and based on empirical research, our road map for prosperity and development, is one that will ensure each and every Guyanese citizen have access to all public services that deliver tangible solutions,” she said.

Her message was positively embraced by the residents. In response to earlier concerns raised by residents, Dr Cummings presented the Coomacka Nursery and Primary Schools with water dispensers and sealed water bottles. The residents had also spoken of the need for street lights in the community and as such, the Foreign Minister presented six street lights to the Community Development Council (CDC) with the promise of providing more.

The minister, before attending the meeting, visited all three of the mined-out communities and engaged residents to get a first-hand feel of their challenges. In Maria Elizabeth, residents told her they are currently working on an Information and Communication Technology hub and are in need of plyboards for its construction; she immediately provided same. In her drive about, Dr Cummings also engaged some residents who spoke of the need for the desilting of a spring, which is their only source of water for domestic purposes.

Dr Cummings discussed the issue with the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Region 10 Engineer, to have the issue addressed urgently. The NDIA will also render assistance with the backfilling of the Maria Elizabeth ballfield, as was requested by the residents.

In voicing their concerns, residents called for repairs to be done to the Coomacka Primary School stairs; for a better transportation system to be implemented so that more students can benefit from the Public Education Transportation System; for assistance in constructing a hot-meal kitchen for the Coomacka Nursery School and for more representation to be made at the regional level.

Dr Cummings’s Coomacka meeting was one of three held in Region 10 on Friday. Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sidney Allicock, visited the community of Rockstone, while Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, visited Ituni.