–during anniversary celebrations

THURSDAY marked four years to the day since President David Granger declared Bartica a town.

Given the current state of the country and the township, in light of the Coronavirus, the usually celebratory way of this milestone is hindered.

However, the people of the town and the Mayor and his Council have chosen to celebrate President Granger, since it was he who initiated the unprecedented development of their hometown over the years of his leadership.

Since being declared a township in 2016, Bartica has benefitted from a steady increase in regional budgetary allocations, moving from $226M in 2015 to $1.9B in 2019. This budgetary increase has been largely responsible for the transformation of the town’s infrastructure with the Bartica-Potaro Road being a major achievement, along with the redesigning of the water-front area. Other major roads within the community have also been upgraded and a modern stelling is currently being erected. The regional hospital was also enhanced, the water distribution system is being restructured, and the waste disposal system vastly improved.

Additionally, after suffering for decades from unstable power supply, the township now boasts a brand new $800M power station, which is capable of transmitting current without load-shedding and frequent power outages to all of Bartica.

The Bartica Community Centre was also greatly enhanced, and a sports complex was built at the venue. The municipality’s market was also modernised, with ample space for persons to vend and earn a living.

These are but a few of the reported projects that were reeled out in Bartica.

Mayor Gifford Marshall, in a public statement, said it was thanks to President Granger that democracy has been restored to this great country of ours.
“Today, we celebrate four years since Bartica was declared a town. On this occasion, we honour His Excellency David Arthur Granger for his leadership in local governance. President Granger, you restored local democracy, and strengthened our nation with the establishment of four new towns. It was the first time in our history that hinterland villages received township status. My President, Guyana’s democracy is stronger because of you,” Mayor Marshall said in his statement.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that as the municipality commemorates yet another anniversary of its being gazetted a town, he celebrates with each and every Bartican, as they measure the long but worthwhile way that they have come.

“While the current pandemic has greatly affected all of our celebratory activities, we must still reflect on all that has been accomplished thus far. My Council and I remain thankful for all of the support shown to us by all stakeholders,” Mayor Marshall said, adding: “We must specially recognise the David Granger Administration for the sterling commitment to Bartica town. It was out of the hard work and vision of President Granger that we were mandated to be the model ‘green’ town of Guyana. We have also found tremendous support from the Ministry of Communities; the Office of Climate Change; UNDP, and even locally, in partnerships with the Regional Council, private sector and other groupings. We must be grateful for these things as we celebrate.”

Under his public statement on his Facebook page, residents were commenting in agreement that the Granger administration indeed transformed their way of living.

Persons alluded to developments such as the school buses, bikes and boats for children who live far from school, the increased hinterland scholarship for tertiary students, the access to tertiary level education in the township, and more.