–AG tells West Berbice residents

ATTORNEY-General Basil Williams on Friday recounted the efforts of the government in providing amenities for a better quality of life in communities across the country, many of which, he said, were neglected during the 23-year tenure of the previous administration.
Williams was among several ministers who held meetings in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) on Friday. He was at the time addressing residents of Zee Lust Edderton and Mon Choisi villages on West Coast Berbice. “There is no community in this country that had been previously marginalised in those 23 years where some positive development has not touched over the past four years,” he said, adding: “If you didn’t have community street lights in 23 years, you have lights in quite a few now. If you never had water in 23 years, you have water now. If you never had good streets in 23 years, you have some provided now. If canals were not cleaned in 23 years, they are being cleaned now; trenches and canals are being dug now under our watch.”

AG Williams also drew attention to the provision of transportation — buses, boats, bicycles, breakfast (meals) and books, free of charge to the nation’s children to ensure they have easy access to education.

In more recent developments, he spoke of the increase in the minimum wage. “In a mere four years, the salaries of public servants have moved from a minimum of $39,500 per month in 2015, when the Coalition Government took office, to the current minimum wage of $70,000, with the increases being granted retroactively from January 2019.” He reminded the residents of the reality of oil production, and urged them to learn as much as they can about the oil-and-gas industry and its implications for Guyana. “We are a rich people; that cannot change. The world is excited about the huge quantities of oil in Guyana, and I hope you are excited also. You have bright children, make sure that they are educated so that they can eventually take over the reins of this industry,” he said: “I urge you to put your best foot forward to ensure that you partake in the patrimony of this country,” he added.

During the community engagement, residents raised individual concerns ranging from the need for extension of potable water supplies to newly-occupied areas of the villages, the need for cadastral surveys to regularise the boundaries, and alignment of freehold lands in the villages, the need for support for the sports ground and recreational facilities and telephone landlines for5 the community. The AG promised to alert the various agencies involved in the provision of these services for them to take action soonest.

RETURN TO THE SOIL

At Ithaca, residents were encouraged to transform their community by taking to the soil. During a community engagement there, Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix said: “Ithaca, create a plan! Work on that plan and transform your community; get into farming, and give back to your country. Our country will be welcoming oil and gas, but farming is very essential.”
Minister Felix reminded his hosts that while agriculture is one of the most important productive sectors of Guyana’s economy, food is also essential. Therefore, the sector remains a key focus of the Coalition Government, even with the advent of the profitable oil industry.

He also advised several farmers present at the meeting to consider expanding their businesses by diversifying their crops and going into the export business. The minister noted that the Caribbean is a lucrative market to take advantage of, and noted that they must “up their game” and consider venturing into agro-processing. During the interactive session held at the Ithaca Primary School on Friday, residents also spoke of the changes they wish to see in their community. A group of young football players also grasped the opportunity to relay to Minister Felix the issue of an incomplete recreational facility in the community. He reassured the youths that measures will be put in place to have Director of Sport Christopher Jones intervene in the matter for timely completion of the facility by year-end.

Among the residents was 68-year-old Janet Grannum who said that for many years she was living without receiving her old age pension. “However, thanks to a previous community meeting held earlier in the year,” she said, “my concern was raised before Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection Keith Scott, who promised he would assist me. And today I am pleased to say I am finally getting what was owed to me.” After hearing Grannum’s testimony, Minister Scott told the gathering that the government’s promises may not be fulfilled in a day, but with time and commitment, the people of Guyana will be served.

STABILITY RETURNS
Meanwhile, Minister of State Dawn Hastings-Williams, addressing a packed-to-capacity crowd in the village of Golden Fleece, also in West Berbice, told her audience that the APNU+AFC Coalition Government, since taking office in 2015, has returned stability to the nation. She explained that though the government is functioning in “an interim mode”, it is in adherence to the Constitution of Guyana.

The State Minister emphasised that government’s policy of having citizens involved in the decisions affecting their communities has been realised in the hosting of two Local Government Elections (LGE) since taking office in 2015. This is in comparison to none under the former administration which was in office for a much more extended period.
Reflecting on the recently announced salary increase for government employees, the minister chided the Opposition for criticising the administration for not paying a Christmas bonus to members of the Joint Services. She explained that instead, members of the Disciplined Forces and public servants will be receiving an increase in their monthly salary rather than a one-off bonus at the end of the year.

According to the State Minister, the current administration has demonstrated a push towards providing a better life for all Guyanese, and to that end, the country has seen a significant increase in the minimum wage; a total of 77% over past four years. “When one looks around, there is evidence of development implemented by the current administration in the form of better roads, improvement in the quality of service in the public sector in general with the education sector,” Minister Hastings-Williams said.
Those developments, she noted, were achieved despite the challenges the current administration faced on entering office, such as the enormous debts it inherited and was obligated to honour. The residents, while commending the administration for the improvements seen in the community, did state some areas of concern, but were assured that the relevant authorities will address such matters in good time. (DPI)