By Michel Outridge

COALITION government councillor with the Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) for the catchment areas of Parika/Mora, Harriram Samlall,
said the administration has made great strides to enhance the lives of the people.

The businessman was one of the two councillors who reached out to the Pepperpot Magazine and provided a tour of Naamless Village this week.

The team comprised party stalwart Alshazie Ramlakhan and Samlall, who took the opportunity to meet and greet residents, some of whom expressed their concerns.

He highlighted some of the development fostered by this administration which included the granting of free Wi-Fi access to Parika Community Playground, Salem Primary School and Grove Multi-Purpose Centre.

Samlall added that they have desilted the Parika main drain (after more than 10 years of blockage) from the Parika koker to the end at the Parika backdam koker.

He added that the coalition government also provided electricity to Parika backdam and Naamryck backdam after decades of no power.

“They also paved a new asphalt road at Jessamy Street after it was destroyed by a businessman and constructed new toilet facilities at Parika/Salem Secondary Schools and a new concrete bridge for the Parika Nursery School,” he said.

Samlall stated that the government provided a $1.5M grant which facilitated the repairing and construction of a new fence a the Grove Multi-Purpose Centre.

The businessman disclosed that one mile of all drains and their shoulders from Parika backdam to Hubu were cleaned and cleared by the RDC equipment and this process was repeated in 2018.

Samlall pointed out that under this government the floors of the Parika Health Centre were raised and re-surfaced to prevent flooding and the entire building was re-painted.

He reported that a new state-of-the-art bridge was built at the Kent Dam in Parika backdam for farmers to access both sides of the main drain.

The councillor added that a state-of-the-art footpath bridge was constructed over the Parika main drain so that residents from Barnes Avenue can have safe and easy access to other communities.

Samlall said an old wooden main access bridge across Parika Façade was replaced with a concrete one.

“A grant of $2 million was provided to upgrade the Parika/Salem playground and for a new concrete fence to be built in front of it. The grant also helped with the enhancement of the Lookout Playground and the construction of a sport stand there,” he said.

Samlall reported that 200 metres of sea defence were constructed behind the Parika Burial Ground to strengthen sea dams and revetment of the sea defence was also done in Parika/Salem and Grove villages.

He added that a more suitable wharf was built by the RDC at Hubu Koker for farmers to offload their produce and a CCTV system was installed at the Parika junction for the safety of businesses and road users.

Samlall said salary increases for NDC staffers also came to fruition with the intervention of the Local Government Commission, in keeping with the minimum wage approved by the government.

The councillor was more than willing to provide all the developmental works that have been accomplished in the village.