LOCAL Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall on Friday presented cheques worth millions of dollars to eight Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and one Municipality in Region Two. The simple handing-over ceremony was held in the boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) at Anna Regina.
During the handing-over ceremony, cheques worth $2.5M were presented to each NDC, while $9M was presented to the Anna Regina Town Council (ARTC). The eight NDCs are: Annandale/Riverstown; Good Hope/Pomona; Aberdeen/Zorg-en-Vlugt; Evergreen/Paradise; Charity/Ursara; Nile/Cozier; Kitty/Providence; and Moruka/Pheonix in the Pomeroon River.

Speaking to NDC chairpersons, deputy chairpersons, contactors, overseers and the Mayor of the town of Anna Regina, Minister Dharamlall said the disbursement of the monies is part of the government’s commitment to spurring physical development in every community. He, therefore, said that he desires for the NDC leaders to use the money to conduct transformative projects geared at improving the lives of Guyanese.

According to the minister, Region Two is poised for development, and the Government of Guyana is committed to providing the necessary resources to help communities. He made mention of the recent award of $638M in projects that will further enhance the region.
The minister reminded NDC officials that it is part of their mandate to ensure that the government’s Manifesto is achieved by providing employment and equal opportunities for all citizens who reside in their respective communities.

“It is part of the government’s commitment that we provide physical development in every village. What is even more important is that you as leaders, you have to see the transformation of lives in your communities,” Minister Dharamlall said.
He also announced that road works will be done at Lima, and that there will also be enhancement work on the Charity/Ursara tarmac. Plans are also in place to get a third landfill for waste disposal in the region. The minister urged those contractors who are working within the various NDCs to work along with officials in further developing those communities, and to ensure that they carry out their corporate social responsibilities.

“We expect that contractors when they go into an NDC area that they notify the NDC, and they will try as best as possible to employ persons from within the NDC area. Our economic philosophies as a government is that when we put resources into communities we would like resources to revolve,” Minister Dharamlall said.  He also called on contractors to provide local employment for persons in the communities where they are executing projects. The minister said the region was affected over the last five years because it did not benefit from enough development support from the previous government.

The minister also stressed that the recent floods had affected the livelihoods of persons, and as such, the resources invested must be accounted for. “We would like the resources we invest and the partners we have, which include the database of contractors we have, to help us get the economy revolving… I hope that the NDC officials are taking these things seriously, especially when investments are made. We do not want to recycle the labour force” the minster added.

He also called on officials in the region to ensure that they overlook the projects, and that persons within the region are employed. He also urged persons to get vaccinated during the pandemic, so that they can protect themselves and their families. Chairperson of the Annandale/Riverstown NDC, Jayshreee Persaud said she is happy for the subvention that will assist her NDC to provide more enhancement works for the villages. Persaud thanked the minister and the Government of Guyana for making the money available for the people in Region Two.