-Minister Dharamlall urges residents to bid for small contacts

By Indrawattie Natram

MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, has announced that the Aberdeen/Zorg-en-Vlygt Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in Region Two will soon get a new building.

He made this disclosure at a public meeting held at Queenstown Village on Wednesday last. Minister Dharamlall, during his address to those gathered, advised the Chairperson of the NDC to identify a plot of land for the building as his ministry will soon release money for construction.

He informed that he had visited the community to listen to the concerns of residents with a view of finding amicable solutions. Among the issues recorded and addressed were the delayed payment of trench cleaners, road construction and the awarding of contracts to small contractors.

Residents informed the minister that they were not paid for the trenches cleaned in January. In response, the Regional Engineer, Kawan Suchit, explained that the contract was only awarded earlier in February. He said the trench cleaners took it upon themselves to clean the trenches before the contract was awarded.

Minister Dharamlall, on hearing the explanation, told the concerned workers that there is a clear procedure which must to be followed. Later, he said that the Government of Guyana under the leadership of President Irfaan Ali is creating an environment so that small contractors can benefit.

He pointed out that while 20 per cent of the contracts in the budget can go to small contractors, they have to ensure that their documents are in order.

“This government is trying to ensure that people get money so if there is a project in your community you must be able to bid for that project. Let the monies remain in your community, and let there be a domino effect,” Minister Dharamlall said.

He also called for the community enhancement workers to be dispatched to various villages within the NDC. He added that there are plans to hire more team leaders for the Community Enhancement Programme. Those workers have to ensure that the all the trenches and the drains in the communities assigned to them are cleaned.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Aberdeen/Zorg-en-Vlught NDC, Jayshree Persaud welcomed the idea of the construction of the building. She explained that the current building is dilapidated and it was the councillors who made a request to the ministry for a new building. She thanked the minister for his intervention.