OREALLA, an Indigenous community in the East Berbice-Corentyne region, has seen unprecedented development since 2015, according to its Toshao Carl Peneux.
At a recent community meeting, Peneux said the $132M road project that will bridge Orealla and Siparuta is a welcomed initiative; under this project, the community’s internal roads are also being rehabilitated.

There is also a plan in the pipeline to link Orealla to Kwakwani via a carriageway.
In his address to the residents, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson said all efforts are being made to complete the Orealla-Kwakwani road, since the construction of the Linden-Lethem roadway will enable communities such as Orealla to benefit from trade relations and the expansion of eco-tourism.

“Everywhere will be interconnected… that is one of our priorities,” Minister Patterson told the residents.

Alluding to other initiatives that are benefitting the people of Orealla, Peneux said the decision by the Ministry of Social Protection to issue pensions and public assistance disbursements at the level of the community augurs well for its people. Describing the move as historic, Toshao Peneux remarked, “this has never happened before and all of this is coming with the help of the government.”

Also highlighted were: the provision of six free Wi-Fi hotspots within Orealla; the construction of a public restroom and a $1.5M presidential grant for construction of the village’s first guest house; the $22.5M river ambulance which has improved healthcare delivery in both Orealla and Siparuta and a regular supply of fuel for the generator in the village.

Peneux contended that since 2015 Indigenous communities have received the full attention of the coalition government; many of these projects were identified as record-breaking for the community of nearly 1,200 residents.

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan and Minister of Public Telecommunications Catherine Hughes, also delivered remarks at the community engagement in Orealla. Appearances were made at Radio Orealla where they reiterated the government’s commitment to the people of Guyana. The ministers also visited Siparuta where sports gear and electronic tablets were handed over to youths in the community.