AS a sign of the government’s commitment to engaging with every community to promote development, the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, and a group of technical officials visited the Island of Wakenaam (Essequibo River) on Tuesday.

The Minister met with the local leaders of the island along with the residents of various communities and addressed their concerns regarding drainage, agriculture, public assistance, and other issues that the residents raised.

The Guyana Chronicle spoke with Minister Indar, who explained that he was on the island recently and realised that the residents were facing some issues that needed urgent attention.

The Minister said that “I revisited the communities and decided to do a house-to-house visit so that I could understand, at a household level, what some of the issues were that they were faced with personally, and on a community level and try to address them the best way that I could.

While some people had simple drainage issues that were bothering them, some people had issues with their pension books, disability benefits, and public assistance issues, and some voiced their concerns about the speedboat operators.”

According to Minister Indar, the visit to the island and the other community visits throughout the country are instructed by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who believes in taking the government to the people.

The Minister said that having a meet and greet/walkabout in the different communities enables him and the other Ministers to understand better what is happening on the ground and see how best they can work to bring relief to the citizens of Guyana.

Apart from addressing the more minor issues in the community, Minister Indar also stated that they would continue to help the small contractors and persons in the communities throughout Guyana who are “willing to work” towards bettering their lives and the lives of others.

He said, “We are trying to ensure that the people of the community do the work in those communities rather than employing people from other villages. That will be done as long as there is a willingness and capability among the people. We are trying to help those who are interested and are willing to start up their own small business.”

Speaking with the Regional Democratic Council, Sheikh Ahmad said Minister Indar’s visit was very “fruitful,” and the residents were pleased with his addressing and resolving some minor issues affecting them.

The RDC councillor also said that “we, the residents of Wakenaam, cannot complain, the PPP/C administration has invested approximately $800 million for infrastructural works on streets, the main roads, street lights, a new Arthurville Primary School, and a Health Centre among other developments on the Island.”

The RDC councillor also thanked President Ali and his government for all the work that has been done and the continuous developmental progress on the Island.

Ahmad said, “Over 500 residents were once walking through the mud to get to and from their destinations, but now they have roads and street lights, and we are thankful.”