RESIDENTS of Wakenaam, Region Three were, on Tuesday evening, told that the PPP/C has plans to utilise revenues garnered from the oil and gas sector to develop the island. This disclosure was made by the party’s Presidential Candidate, Dr. Irfaan Ali, during a public meeting held at Belle Plaine.

Ali said should the PPP/C win the island at the upcoming March 2 General and Regional Elections, there will be transformative changes, particularly in the infrastructure and transportation sectors. He said the changes will directly impact agricultural activities and improve the livelihood of residents.

The PPP/C presidential candidate said transportation and linkages are very important on the island, especially for farmers to be able to take their produce to market.  With that said, he emphasised that the PPP/C has intention to complete the Del Conte Road Link, a project he said that was on the card since May 2013.

“Many of you may say that we have been talking about the project a while now but you should recall that we did not have the resources at the time, from the oil and gas resources, we will use it to create opportunities for you, we will use it to build the infrastructure and give you better opportunity; the infrastructure will reduce your cost of production,” Ali said.

He also said the Wakenaam Stelling will be repaired to ensure a viable transportation network both on land and water.

“The cost to move your agriculture produce is very costly, you have to travel and sometimes you have to waste an entire day to conduct one transaction. The boat comes only once per week, there is no transportation system to support the pensioner or the children, we will correct the issues,” Ali further lamented.

Promising to help cash crop and rice farmers, Ali said the PPP/C government will be aiming at opening more lands by providing better drainage and irrigation.

He said it is not the intention of the PPP/C to increase land leases nor land tax but to reduce the cost so that farmers can benefit. He also promised markets for the agricultural produce by creating an agricultural hub with other nearby lands such as Parika and East Bank Essequibo.

Ali told the islanders that the plans can only become reality if they come out March 2, 2020, and vote for the PPP/C. He, therefore, urged them to support the PPP/C and its initiative and to ensure the party wins the upcoming Regional and General Elections with a landslide victory.